34. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State to the President 1

SUBJECT

  • Invitation to President Carlos Castillo Armas of Guatemala for a State Visit

Nearly a year has passed since the forces led by Castillo Armas overthrew the Communist-dominated government of Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala. The administration Castillo Armas heads is now engaged in the task of restoring orderly government procedures and rebuilding the country’s shattered economy.

Appreciable progress has been made. Last fall the voters gave Castillo a larger majority than Arbenz received in 1950. A Constituent Assembly is now at work drawing up a new constitution. His government has adopted an enlightened view on such touchy social problems as labor organization and rural resettlement.

On the other hand the level of economic activity is lower than it was prior to the liberation. U.S. economic development grants and technical assistance are helping, but Castillo Armas needs an additional political boost which will clearly indicate that he enjoys our support and that we regard his government as stable.

Moreover, it is important to us that we support Castillo Armas, since he is the only political leader on the Guatemalan scene who is neither of the extreme right nor soft toward the left and with whom we can satisfactorily collaborate. His fall would be a serious blow to the prestige of the United States. An appropriate gesture on our part at this time would increase the confidence of the Guatemalans in his administration and thus contribute to an improvement in economic activity.

I, therefore, recommend that you invite President Castillo to visit you some time this year, the exact date to be agreed later. I believe a public announcement of this invitation should be made as soon as possible.2

Herbert Hoover, Jr. 3
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 714.11/6–2155. Confidential.
  2. In telegram 666 to Guatemala City, June 30, the Department informed the Embassy that the President approved the invitation to Castillo for a State visit in the fall. (Ibid., 714.11/6–3055) In telegram 29 from Guatemala City, July 27, the Embassy informed the Department that President Castillo accepted the invitation and the scheduled dates, October 31–November 2, for his Washington visit. (Ibid., 714.11/7–2755) On October 1, the White House announced that President Castillo would make a State visit to the United States.
  3. Printed from a copy which bears this stamped signature.