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

GT–17. Memorandum of Conversation by the Officer in Charge of Guatemalan Affairs (King)¹

Washington, April 3, 1959

SUBJECT

• Suspension by Department of its Approval of Purchase of Six B-26 Bombers by the Government of Guatemala.

PARTICIPANTS

• His Excellency Colonel Carlos S. Antillón-Hernández, Ambassador of Guatemala
• Mr. Herbert B. Leggett, Acting Director, Office of Central American and Panamanian Affairs
• Mr. Bayard King, Officer-in-Charge, Guatemalan Affairs.

Ambassador Antillón came to the Department by request to discuss certain pending applications of the Guatemalan Government to purchase military equipment from United States sources.

Mr. Leggett, referring to the Ambassador’s interview with Mr. Rubottom on April 1,² said he wished to assure the Ambassador that ARA was actively following up the Guatemalan requests to purchase equipment. He said that in the matter of the two Bailey bridges, which had been pending since January, it was hoped that an early and favorable response to this request would be forthcoming. The Ambassador was informed that the Department understood that the two bridges would cost in the neighborhood of $120,000.

Mr. King then raised the recent request of Guatemala for the use, on a loan basis, of a large sea-going dredge,³ said to be in the possession of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Panama Canal Zone. Mr. King said this was a rather unusual request and it would be necessary to ascertain from the Department of Defense whether the United States Army Corps of Engineers had such a dredge available, where it was located, and whether it was feasible to move it by sea to Guatemala. The Ambassador said the Guatemalan Government would assume all expenses of moving the dredge to Guatemala, and returning it to the United States Army. Mr. King said the Department hoped to have further information in this connection for the Ambassador shortly.

Mr. Leggett said he wished to raise another request of Guatemala which the Ambassador had not discussed with Assistant Secretary Rubottom on April 1.

This was for six B–26 surplus bombers, Mr. Leggett reviewed the present tense situation existing in almost all Caribbean countries, and said that the United States, in the interest of relieving this tension, was not, at the present time, authorizing the shipment of certain combat equipment to the area. He said that the B–26s were considered in this category. Mr. Leggett emphasized that withholding approval of shipments of airplanes and certain other military equipment was merely a temporary measure dictated by the present situation in the Caribbean, and that it was hoped it would be possible at an early date to authorize resumption of shipments of military equipment legitimately needed. He said the Department felt it would not be helpful to relieving tension in the area if planes and other equipment were made available to the Caribbean countries at this time from United States sources, and that the United States chief interest in this matter was contributing to restoration of calm in the area.

The Ambassador indicated that he appreciated the Department’s view regarding this matter, and inquired whether this policy applied to other countries as well as to Guatemala. Mr. Leggett said that it did, and that it in fact would normally apply to all countries in an area of tension. The Ambassador asked whether suspension of approval of sale of the B–26’s applied also to a number of training planes that Guatemala had requested. Mr. King said that he understood what had held up the training planes was that the Guatemalan Government had found that the prices asked by the Defense Department were too high. The Ambassador asked whether the policy described by Mr. Leggett was a permanent one, and Mr. Leggett again assured him that it was temporary. He added that all requests for arms from Caribbean countries would continue to be studied by the Department on a case-by-case basis.

The Ambassador asked whether, in view of the foregoing, it would be inopportune for a team from Guatemala to come here at this time to inspect the places. Mr. Leggett said that under the circumstances it would seem desirable to postpone the visit of the team. The Ambassador said he would inform his Government accordingly.

Mr. King then raised the request of Guatemala for a number of jeeps and military trucks for the Guatemalan Armed Forces.⁴ He said this request, which had only been received by the Department towards the end of March, was now under active study, and that it was hoped favorable action would be taken soon. The Ambassador expressed his gratification and his hope that Guatemala would be able to obtain these vehicles at an early date.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 714.5622/4–259. Confidential.
2. Rubottom had told Antillón that prompt replies would be given to Guatemalan requests for military equipment, (Memorandum of conversation by King, April 1, 1959; Rubottom Files, Lot 61 D 279, “Guatemala 1959”)
3. Guatemalan request was not found in the Department of State files.
4. The Guatemalan request was not found in Department of State files.