714.5 MSP/11–2454
The Secretary of Defense (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: I refer to your letter of 27 October 1954,1 with regard to a possible military assistance program to Guatemala. You urge prompt consideration be given to developing a defense role for Guatemala and to making funds available to initiate and carry out a suitable military assistance program for that country.
You are aware, of course, that because of the limited MDA funds available for Latin America, a military assistance program for Guatemala can be carried out only at the expense of other programs world-wide. You will appreciate that the cumulative effect of supporting numerous new programs in Latin America, by diversion of the limited MDA Program funds, is of much greater significance than would be indicated by the relatively small amount of funds required for individual country programs in the area. In the case of Guatemala, such diversion of funds at this time can be justified primarily by political considerations only.
Before the Department of Defense can develop a proper defense role and force bases for Guatemala, it will be necessary to make a military survey of that country in order to examine defense requirements, status of equipment and troops, and ability of the country to support military forces. Such a military survey is necessary to prevent recurrence of the hastily implemented program for Honduras, in which there was considerable duplication of equipment and in which there has been criticism from the U.S. Ambassador as to the type of unit supported. It is realized that conduct of the survey might make it difficult to meet your timetable for presentation of a bilateral military assistance agreement to the government of Guatemala. However, dispatch of a survey team before presentation of a bilateral agreement might provide some psychological advantage and, in any event, will provide a basis for development of a sounder program for Guatemala than would otherwise be possible.
[Page 1237]It is requested that the Department of State obtain political clearance for the conduct of a military survey of Guatemala. Concurrently, the Department of Defense will make preparation for prompt dispatch of a military survey team, as well as subsidiary actions required before negotiation of the necessary bilateral agreements with Guatemala can take place.
It is further requested that your Department be prepared to initiate action to obtain the required Presidential determination as to the eligibility of Guatemala for grant military assistance. In the meantime, direct contact may be established with the Chairman, US Delegation, Inter-American Defense Board,2 who will be responsible for the military survey of Guatemala, and for carrying out the necessary bilateral negotiations for the Department of Defense.3
Sincerely yours,
- Supra.↩
- Lt. Gen. Howard A. Craig, USAF.↩
- In a letter to Secretary of Defense Wilson, dated Dec. 2, 1954, not printed, Deputy Under Secretary Murphy stated that the military survey requested by Secretary Wilson had already been completed, and that upon receipt of a letter from the Department of Defense indicating that defense plans required the participation of Guatemala, the Department of State would seek the necessary Presidential determination as to Guatemala’s eligibility for grant military assistance (714.5 MSP/11–2454).↩