714.001/8–1054
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Holland) to the Secretary of State
Subject:
- Asylee Problem in Guatemala
Discussion:
There has been no progress toward satisfactory disposition of the Communist and other dangerous asylees in Guatemala. Of the 770 persons who took refuge in nine Latin American missions in Guatemala after the fall of the Arbenz Government, only a few women and children have been granted safe conducts out of the country. The Guatemalan Government while investigating the cases of asylees for evidence of Communist or criminal activities, has developed no policy other than to resist the growing pressure for safe conducts for all asylees, recognizing the danger of releasing into the hemisphere many Communists and sympathizers among the asylees. The OAS can probably contribute little toward a settlement besides extended debate, either inconclusive or adverse to Guatemala. However, a continued impasse will lead to serious difficulties between Guatemala and other Latin American countries, especially the host governments. Of these, Mexico is the most important with over 300 asylees in its Embassy.
[Page 1223]The most desirable solution would be one clearly establishing the principle that the traditional benefits of asylum should be denied international Communists. It would probably best be embodied in bilateral arrangements between Guatemala and the respective host governments along the following lines: (1) host to withdraw benefits of asylum from Communists and criminals against whom charges supported by prima facie evidence are presented, i.e., evict them from diplomatic premises into Guatemalan jurisdiction; (2) Guatemala would immediately give safe conducts out of Guatemala to the relatively harmless asylees and guarantee humane treatment to persons evicted from the embassies. In this respect Guatemala would specifically undertake to prosecute in good faith those accused of crimes, to offer transportation to Iron Curtain countries to Communists who elect to go there and are admitted, and to attempt to rehabilitate the remainder, releasing those found to be harmless.
In the event this kind of solution cannot be achieved, consideration should be given the alternative of Guatemala’s granting safe conducts for dangerous asylees conditioned on their being transported to and accepted by an Iron Curtain country. These alternatives have been worked out in our conferences with Amb. Peurifoy.
Recommendation:
That Embassy Guatemala seek the Guatemalan Government’s concurrence on the proposals suggested, and that if given, I personally visit President Ruiz Cortines of Mexico to try to persuade him to accept a solution along the lines outlined.1
- Secretary Dulles approved this recommendation “subject to CIA views.”↩