136. Memorandum from Edwin M. Martin to U. Alexis Johnson, March 271

[Facsimile Page 1]
  • To: G—Mr. Johnson
  • THROUGH
  • S/S
  • FROM: ARA—Mr. Martin

SUBJECT

  • Guatemala Situation—Information Memorandum

Conclusion:

Imposition of a state of siege on March 25 was a political maneuver by Ydígoras to provide legal basis for denying Arévalo entry into Guatemala for at least the next 30 days.

The armed subversive acts alleged by the GOG to be justification for the state of siege are either staged or non-existent.

Background:

1. Ex-President Arévalo, strongest potential candidate in the presidential elections scheduled for the end of this year, has announced his intention to return to Guatemala in March to begin his campaign.

2. Arévalo, while not a Communist, is a super-egotistic leftist of confused political thinking whose return to power could dangerously facilitate growth of Communist influence in his country, as it did during his administration 1945–51.

3. The Arévalo threat has thoroughly frightened moderate and other anti-Communist political elements in Guatemala, but they have no effective leadership and have not come forward with anything resembling an agreed political program.

4. Ydígoras has found himself in a dilemma. He claims to believe Arévalo can be beaten in fair elections and that it is wiser to allow him in the country rather than give him the martyrdom other courses of action would afford. On the other hand, Ydígoras has been under heavy pressure, particularly from his military, to exclude Arévalo.

5. The Guatemalan Army Chief of Staff on March 18 informed our Embassy in Guatemala of “guerrilla activity” in Guatemala which might result in requests to United [Facsimile Page 2] States for helicopters and other [Typeset Page 339] equipment. Intensive efforts by the Embassy have failed to elicit any evidence of guerrilla threat. A series of more or less of harmless bomb explosions has taken place in Guatemala City, with nothing to indicate they could not have been provocations staged by GOG.

6. Guatemalan Minister of Defense Peralta on March 21 in what was no doubt an unintentional gaffe admitted to reporters that he had no information of guerrilla activity. He later issued vague announcements alleging guerrilla activity in outlying areas.

7. Guatemalan Supreme Court on March 22 issued provisional injunction against exclusion of Arévalo from Guatemala by Government authorities.

8. Anti-Arévalo demonstration planned for March 23 was uneventful.

9. Guatemalan Government on March 25 decreed a 30-day state of siege due to “vast Communist plan of agitation and violence”, suspending, among other constitutional guarantees, Article 46, which accords all Guatemalans the right to enter or leave the country.

Cleared in substance

CIA—Mr. Shivers

DOD—Capt. Sanborn

  1. Background information on March 25 siege imposed by President Ydígoras. Confidential. 2 pp. DOS, CF, POL GUAT.