710.5/1–1850

The Chargé in Guatemala (Wells) to the Department of State

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No. 74

Subject: Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance To Be Sent to Congress for Ratification During March Session.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the press on January 17 that the Ministry will in due course submit the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, which was signed in Rio de Janeiro in September 1947,1 to the Guatemalan Congress for consideration with a view to ratification possibly early during the next regular session due to convene on March 1.

It will be recalled that President Truman, in his reply to the remarks of the newly appointed Ambassador of Guatemala, Senor Antonio Goubaud Carrera, reminded Guatemala that it has failed to ratify this Inter-American treaty.2

No doubt this reminder accounts for the Ministry’s announcement. The several past inquiries made by the Embassy from time to time [Page 867] as to Guatemala’s intentions in respect to ratification of the Rio treaty brought forth only the evasive reply that the matter was still “under study”. Past inaction on the part of the Ministry is believed due at least in part to the reluctance of ex-Foreign Minister Munoz Meany. The fact that the present incumbent, Licenciado Ismael Gonzalez Arevalo, was a member of the Guatemalan delegation to the Rio de Janeiro meeting, and, so far as is known, has expressed no objections to the Treaty, would seem to enhance the prospects of early ratification by this country.

Milton K. Wells
  1. Text of the Treaty, opened for signature September 2, 1947, is printed in Department of State. Treaties and Other International Acts Series (TIAS) No. 1838, and in 62 Stat. (pt. 2) 1681.
  2. Ambassador Goubaud had presented his letters of credence to the President on January 11, 1950. Texts of his remarks and the President’s reply are printed in Department of State, Press Releases, No. 29, January 11, 1950.