Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The American Republics, Volume IV

714.00/6–2354: Telegram

The Ambassador in Guatemala (Peurifoy) to the Department of State

confidential
priority

Guatemala City, June 23, 1954—4 p.m.
[Received June 23—11:33 p.m.]

1088. I called on Foreign Minister Toriello yesterday afternoon to discuss protection of American citizens during present emergency.

He endeavored assume offensive by again bringing up Department’s press release of June 19,¹ and suggesting that I issue clarification. I said I was informing Department to best of my knowledge and would not consider clarifying earlier statements.

He also complained because yesterday Krieg had indicated to Chief of Protocol Garcia Galvez (on my instructions) that I was pained at President Arbenz’s statement in his radio address June 19 (Embtel 1056, June 20)² that “President Eisenhower had scant regard for his high office…” and that I was sure President Eisenhower had never made any personal allusions to President Arbenz. Toriello said that in Washington he would not have sent Chocano to Department with such a message.

I replied that I was happy to have occasion to reiterate and emphasize personally what Krieg had said. I then repeated it. He asserted President Eisenhower had made certain observations on Guatemalan situation; I said this was quite different from making personal allusions.

Taking the initiative, I said I wished discuss protection of American citizens. I pointed out five Americans had been picked up by police today and detained for periods of from few minutes to several hours; one was still in jail. He said police had to exercise extraordinary precautions in times like these. I said I understood this but felt there should be some reason for arrests other than fact of being American. In view this situation, I continued, I was seriously considering ordering all Americans evacuated.³ Toreillo looked startled and, as previously urged me not to take such a step which, he said, “would do us great harm.” He agreed furnish all possible protection if Americans obeyed laws and emergency regulations.

I then pointed out regulations were extremely vague: no regulation prohibited use of candles during blackouts, but there were reports of shooting at any light however dim; a little known regulation prohibited taking photos but several Americans had been hauled off to police station for photographing innocuous objects. I said I especially resented fact that two CGTG men had taken initiative in having Henry Wallace, Time correspondent, detained.

Toriello said that no lights at all should be shown during blackout and journalists should know better than to take photos in existing circumstances. I urged that clear and precise regulation be issued to clarify situation.

Turning to Guatemala’s present situation, Toriello said he hoped US would act to stop fighting, saying government forces were completely successful on ground but could not cope with air attacks. I said I did not see how US could stop Castillo Armas without landing Marines, a solution which he quickly said would be unsatisfactory. He next inquired whether it was not against US Government policy to sell arms to private individuals. I answered that many arms had found their way to private persons and that Colonel Julian had attempted to purchase arms for Guatemalan Government in USA.

I then asked why Guatemala had appealed to Security Council⁴ rather than OAS, the proper organization for handling inter-American disputes. Toriello replied that Guatemala preferred Security Council because members of OAS were under great economic pressure from USA and pointed out proudly that Guatemala had never asked for US loans. I asked if decision to appeal to SC was not because USSR was represented there and said Russian veto of Colombian-Brazilian resolution⁵ stuck out like sore thumb all over free world.

On parting, he again urged USA use its influence stop bloodshed.

After returning to Embassy I learned the one American remaining in jail had been released.

Peurifoy

1. For text of a statement issued by the Department of State on June 19, see Department of State Bulletin, June 28, 1954, p. 981.
2. Not printed (714.00/6–2054).
3. The record of the 204th meeting of the NSC, held in Washington, June 24, 1954, dated June 24, notes in part that Secretary Dulles and Mr. Allen Dulles pointed out that the “chief reason” for announcing evacuation measures would be for “psychological effect”. At the meeting the NSC adopted Action No. 1163–b noting that the “President authorized the Departments of State and Defense, with appropriate assistance of other agencies, to arrange evacuation of U.S. civilians from Guatemala if deemed desirable.” (Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file) In telegram 1361, to Guatemala City, dated June 26, 1954, not printed, Secretary Dulles authorized the Ambassador to activate evacuation immediately (214.1122/6–2654). Additional pertinent documentation on this subject is in file 214.1122.
4. Regarding this appeal, see the editorial note, p. 1174.
5. For text of Resolution S/3236, as introduced by Brazil and Colombia on June 20, 1954, see United Nations, Official Records of the Security Council, Ninth Year, 675th Meeting: 20 June 1954 (New York, 1954), p. 15.