Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume V, Microfiche Supplement, American Republics

ES–16. Memorandum of Conversation by the Chargé in El Salvador (Downs)¹

San Salvador, June 7, 1960

PARTICIPANTS

• Lt. Col. José María Lemus, President of El Salvador
• C. Allan Stewart, Director, Office of Central American and Panamanian Affairs, Department of State
• Donald P. Downs, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., American Embassy, San Salvador

Mr. Stewart and I called on President Lemus at 10 a.m. on June 7. The conversation got underway with President Lemus painting in broad strokes a picture of the internal situation here in El Salvador. He revealed that he was very much disturbed over recent trends and particularly with the infiltration of the University, the labor unions, the press, and other public institutions that the Communists in hand with the Cubans had been able to accomplish. He said that it was now clear that El Salvador was the main target but that it held, at the same time, the key to this area’s future. He said that as long as El Salvador remained free the danger to other countries in the area was lessened. However, if El Salvador fell, then it would be a very easy thing for the Cubans and the Communists to take over the other countries of the Central American region. The President said that he had been very patient, that he had tried to conduct a democratic government and that he had attempted to avoid being repressive. He added, however, that the limits had now been reached and that the time for acting had arrived. Mr. Stewart asked President Lemus why his government had not availed itself of the Inter-American Peace Committee and the machinery which this Committee provided. He said he believed that it was exceedingly important that all the governments in this area inform the Inter-American Peace Committee of specific instances of interference in the internal affairs of their countries by Cuban representatives. In this way a documented file could be built up and could be used by the Peace Committee in carrying out the mandate which it had received from the Foreign Ministers in Santiago.² The President asked about the procedures that might be followed in doing this. This was explained to him and the President took down the name of Mr. John Dreier.³

The conversation then turned more specifically to Cuba. After recounting some of his experiences with the previous Cuban Ambassador here, President Lemus declared emphatically that he was willing to act jointly with other Central American countries in breaking relations with Cuba. He said he would prefer that all five Central American countries take this action jointly. Mr. Stewart then told President Lemus of his earlier conversations with President Villeda Morales⁴ who had stated his willingness to follow his (President Lemus’) lead in this matter. Upon hearing this, President Lemus authorized Mr. Stewart to tell President Villeda when he saw him the next day that El Salvador was willing to break relations with Cuba and was prepared to consult with Villeda’s emissary to work out the arrangements. He said that he would be prepared to receive Villeda’s emissary here or to send an emissary to Honduras to work out the specific date and time. He also authorized Mr. Stewart to tell President Echandi of Costa Rica the same thing. The more the President talked of this prospect, the more the idea seemed to appeal to him and he reiterated his authorization for Mr. Stewart to discuss the question with Villeda Morales and Echandi.

President Lemus then turned to the question of assistance. He explained that up to the present, El Salvador had carried the burdens alone. He mentioned the cost involved in the recent reconditioning in Costa Rica of 10 Corsairs belonging to the Salvadoran Air Force and recounted his conversation with Ambassador Kalljarvi of last fall in which he had made a request for assistance from the United States.⁵ This assistance was now more urgently needed than ever. El Salvador’s borders and coasts were wide open to anyone who desired to penetrate them. For example, not a single boat was available with which to patrol the coast. Mr. Stewart said that in this connection, he wished to tell President Lemus that the question of possible military threats against the countries of Central American from external sources had been discussed prior to his coming here and that he had Mr. Rubottom’s authority to assure him that the United States, working through the OAS machinery, would come to the assistance of any Latin American government so threatened. Our assistance would be immediate and more than fully adequate. On this point, President Lemus could rest assured. Mr. Stewart then explained at some length the problems involved in concluding a mutual assistance bilateral, emphasizing the congressional aspects, etc.⁶ He told the President that we were now exploring the feasibility of utilizing other channels through which it might be possible to provide certain types of assistance to the public security forces. He pointed out that the Embassy had, some two weeks ago, requested the Minister of Defense to provide it with information concerning the National Police, the Guardia Nacional, the Customs Police, and the Treasury Police. This information would be of great assistance to the Embassy in preparing recommendations on such a possible program. The President reached in a folder and took out the Embassy’s Aide Memoire to the Minister of Defense,⁷ which he had obviously been holding. He telephoned to the Minister and asked him to prepare a reply on an urgent basis for his prior review.⁸ He reiterated his hope that some assistance would be forthcoming, repeating that it was impossible for his government to do all that had to be done in the social field and elsewhere without outside assistance. He explained what he hoped to accomplish with the new development project at Metalio. He said he knew that this would not solve the campesino problem, but it could serve as an example of what could be done, an example to the landowners of the country who had to be made to appreciate that they had social responsibilities.

In closing the interview President Lemus spoke in heated terms about the articles on El Salvador which have been carried by United States magazines and newspapers over recent months. He said he was at a complete loss to understand why, for example, Time magazine persisted in depicting this country, one of the best friends the U.S. has, in a bad light. He referred specifically to the latest Time article in which a picture of each Central American country was printed, all of them, with the exception of El Salvador, showing positive aspects. He asked why El Salvador was being singled out for denigration. He said he appreciated that this was a delicate matter for a government to involve itself in, but he nevertheless hoped that the Department would use its influence whenever possible in an effort to correct the injustice being done his country. It was important as it could adversely affect the willingness of U.S. business to invest money in this country and the attitude of lending institutions as well.

The President thanked Mr. Stewart warmly for his visit and asked him to convey his very best wishes to Mr. Rubottom.

1. Source: Department of State, ARA/OAP Files, Lot 64 D 16, “Political International-General: El Salvador, 1960.” Secret. The source text is an unsigned carbon copy.
2. Reference is to the Fifth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American Republics, held at Santiago, Chile, August, 12–18, 1959.
3. Representative of the United States on the Council of the Organization of American States, and Chairman of the Inter-American Peace Committee.
4. Ramón Villeda Morales, President of Honduras.
5. For Lemus’ request of November, 20, 1959, see Document ES–17.
6. By airgram A-85, May 18, 1960, the Department of State instructed the Embassy at San Salvador that “current U.S. policy is directed toward economic development and utilization of national resources toward this end, deemphasizing unrealistic military expenditures.” It suggested ICA expansion of the public safety program in El Salvador including coastal and border patrols. (716.5–MSP/5–1860)
7. Not found in Department of State files.
8. Lemus handed the Salvadoran reply to Downs on June 16, 1960. The memorandum of their conversation at that time states that Lemus agreed to a suggestion by Downs that El Salvador might buy one or two coast guard boats from the United States, if they became available. (ARA/OAP Files, Lot 64 D 16, “Political International-General: El Salvador, 1960”)