355. Memorandum For the Record1 2
SUBJECT:
- Meeting at Department of State
PRESENT:
- Mr. Charles A. Meyer
- Mr. Robert A. Hurwitch
- Mr. Wymberley DeR. Coerr
- Mr. James R. Gardner
- Mr. John W. Fisher (for Bolivia)
- Mr. John R. Breen (for Guatemala)
- Mr. William P. Stedman (for Uruguay)
- Mr. Arnold Nachmanoff
- Mr. James E. Flannery
- [text not declassified]
[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to Guatemala.]
3. Guatemala
a. Mr. Flannery said that a rather extensive review is being completed regarding the Guatemalan security services’ participation in counter-terrorism with the active knowledge of President Arana. Copies will be distributed as soon as it is completed. [text not declassified]
b. Details were then provided about the fact that the civilian security service was making up for its low sense of professionalism by simple expediency of liquidating those terrorists on whom they could lay their hands. For example, since January 1971 twenty five-out of thirty-two persons known to have been arrested by them have been executed. This information was considered fairly hard but there was no documentary proof at this point. It is not known but might be assumed that this state of affairs is true for all security organizations in Guatemala, including the Army, although Agency information refers only to the civilian security service.
c. Mr. Nachmanoff asked whether this apparent policy of killing prisoners was a recent one or our knowledge of this was recently acquired. Mr. Flannery replied that the latter was the case [text not declassified] [Page 3] Mr. Nachmanoff asked whether Ambassador Davis had this overall assessment, to which Mr. Flannery replied that he did not because this assessment was drawn together back in Washington at CIA Headquarters using pieces of information from many quarters plus the most recent revelations; however, it was being pouched as soon as we put the finishing touches on the formal assessment.
d. Mr. Flannery then provided details about the blood relationship between President Arana and Major Elias Osmumco Ramirez, the head of the security service, and described the extremely poor security of this service as a center for gathering intelligence. Mr. Flannery again stated in response to a question that Agency information indicated direct participation by President Arana in drawing up death lists. Mr. Nachmanoff commented that while recognizing the need to protect our sources, he believed that this situation did raise fundamental questions about U.S. policy toward Guatemala and could result in holding up current and planned programs because something must be done. He wondered whether a talk directly with Arana on this situation would be advisable, because once the subject was broached, the U.S. would have to be ready to go to the wall with Arana on this matter. Mr. Hurwitch said that the main problem is to establish the facts and determine how firm this information is, particularly whether President Arana is both aware of the general situation and participating directly in choosing those to be killed.
e. Mr. Flannery said that he would shortly provide copies of this assessment and Mr. Nachmanoff suggested that one should also go to Department of Defense, probably Mr. Packard. [text not declassified] Mr. Nachmanoff commented that if Arana knows what is going on and is using the security service in this way, it could imply that there is no hope. [Page 4] Mr. Hurwitch emphasized the need to brief Ambassador Davis and said that an additional consideration is that the Department will be briefing the Fascell Subcommittee on Guatemala in September. Mr. Nachmanoff expressed an interest to obtain information on what the military services are doing and Mr. Flannery said he believed the Embassy and military groups could seek out this information.