Office of the Historian

714.02/7–1054

Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the President

secret
Washington, July 9, 1954.

Subject:

  • Recognition of New Guatemalan Government

We have received telegrams1 from Ambassador Peurifoy in Guatemala reporting that the new Government is constituted in Guatemala and that it has sent our Embassy a formal note2 stating that it is prepared to fulfill the international obligations of Guatemala. The new Government, which was formally established on July 2, appears to control the entire territory of Guatemala.

We are ready to send a circular telegram3 to all the other Governments of the American Republics (and to London, Paris and Ottawa which have indicated from time to time that they wish to coordinate recognition actions with us) asking for the views of the Governments, of the other American Republics and indicating that we are considering recognition of the new Guatemalan Government on July 13. This will allow time for some other countries to recognize sooner (El Salvador and Costa Rica have already done so), and for other countries to coordinate with us, so we will not be conspicuously in the lead or behind.

I would appreciate your informing me whether you approve of this action.4

John Foster Dulles
  1. Apparent reference to the following telegrams from Guatemala City, none printed: unnumbered, dated July 2, 1954 (714.00/7–254); 26, dated July 6, 1954 (714.02/7–654); and 31, dated July 6, 1954 (714.00/7–754).↩
  2. Reference is to Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Relations note no. 10248, dated July 7, 1954, not printed; the note and a translation were transmitted to the Department of State under cover of despatch 7 from Guatemala City, dated July 8, 1954, not printed (714.00/7–854).↩
  3. Sent as circular telegram 24, dated July 9, 1954, to all diplomatic posts in the American Republics, except Guatemala City, and also to London, Paris, Ottawa, and Taipei; repeated for information to Guatemala City (714.02/7–954).↩

  4. The source text bears the following handwritten notation initialed by President Eisenhower: “10 July 1954 O.K.”

    The United States extended recognition to the new Guatemalan Government on July 13, 1954 (714.02/7–1354).

    ↩