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

GT–37. Telegram from the Secretary of State to the Embassy in Guatemala¹

Washington, November 14, 1960, 2:47 p.m.

328. Joint State-CIA Message.

1. Confirming telephone conversation between Secretary and Ambassador this morning² [text not declassified]

2. This message also confirms Secretary’s statement to Ambassador that U.S. prepared to consider promptly and favorably a written official Guatemalan Government request of U.S. to assist Guatemala in air and sea within limits of Guatemalan national jurisdiction to seek out and prevent any attempt at reinforcing or supplying rebel forces from outside Guatemala. We have in mind particularly Cuban and communist agents. Our opinion is that Guatemala has sovereign right to request such assistance without invoking Rio Treaty.³ U.S. suggesting to Governments of Costa Rica and Nicaragua that they may wish to make similar request of U.S. for assistance within their national territories.⁴

3. In any such request for assistance should probably be followed promptly by formal request of Guatemalan Government for OAS action under Rio Treaty. We are giving this aspect of problem our urgent attention and you are requested obtain preliminary views Government of Guatemala on this subject. Whether Articles III or VI should be used would depend on available evidence.⁵
Please telegraph promptly any information concerning Cuban involvement which may come to Embassy’s attention.

4. Ability of Ydígoras’ regime to survive rebellion would seem to hinge largely on support of armed forces. Please cable urgently Embassy’s estimate of attitude armed forces and recommendations concerning action which may be taken in Washington or by Embassy to strengthen will of officer corps to defend regime.

5. Embassy’s estimates concerning probable strength of rebel forces their supplies equipment available and sources of same also urgently required.⁶

Herter

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 714.00/11–1460. Top Secret; No Distr; Niact. Drafted by Mann and signed by Hugh S. Cumming, Jr., Director of Intelligence and Research, Department of State.
2. In this telephone conversation at 9:50 a.m., Herter instructed Muccio, who was to see Ydígoras in five minutes, to try to get from Ydígoras a request under the Rio Treaty for U.S. assistance to prevent any external aggression. Muccio was to make it clear that if Ydígoras made the request, “it would not be just for surveillance but interdiction.” [text not declassified] (Eisenhower Library, Herter Papers, “Phone Calls and Miscellaneous Memos, November 1960–January 1961”)
3. Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, opened for signature at Rio de Janeiro September 2, 1947; for text, see 4 Bevans 559.
4. Instructions for the American Embassies to offer U.S. assistance were sent by telegram 134 to Managua, repeated to San José and, for information, to Guatemala City, November 14. (741B.5811/11–1460).
5. Article 3 deals with “an armed attack;” article 4, with “an aggression which is not an armed attack;” extra continental or intercontinental conflict; or “any other fact or situation that might endanger the peace of America.”
6. Telegram 227, [text not declassified] from Guatemala City, November 14, replied to paragraphs 4 and 5 above: Regarding paragraph 4, the majority of the Army and Air Force were behind the Government; [text not declassified] message had no suggestion to strengthen the will of the officer corps; Barall’s message (offer of $10 million in special assistance) was most helpful; news of U.S. surveillance of the coast was being given widest word of mouth distribution within military circles. Regarding paragraph 5, [text not declassified] reported on the strength of Guatemalan forces and their supplies before the rebellion because the number of troops siding with the rebels and the amount of supplies they had taken was unknown. (714.00/11–1460).