Office of the Historian

457. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, August 22, 19561

Washington, August 22, 1956

SUBJECT

  • Failure of Colombian Government to take Steps to Improve Protestant-Catholic Situation in Colombia

PARTICIPANTS

  • Colombian Ambassador Francisco Urrutia Holguin
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary Roy J. Rubottom, Jr.
  • Colombian Minister-Counselor Ricardo Anaya
  • OSA—Albert H. Gerberich

Mr. Rubottom told the Ambassador he was sorry that we have to bring to his attention the failure of the Colombian Government to improve the situation in Colombia so far as United States Protestants are concerned. It seems as if every time the Colombian Government takes a step forward it takes two steps backward. We cannot understand why it is so difficult for the Colombian Government to take a firm, consistent position with respect to this troublesome problem.

Despite assurances that a formula was to be found which would permit the Protestant churches that have been closed by Government orders to reopen again, nothing has been done. Moreover, incidents of violence against United States Protestants continue. We are especially disturbed to learn that President Rojas has again made statements linking Protestantism with Communism.

The Ambassador asked that we tell him specifically what statements President Rojas has made. Mr. Rubottom paraphrased a portion of a telegram from our Embassy containing a public statement from President Rojas to the effect that he is about to publish a Red Book which will show that Protestants and Communism are linked together. The Ambassador said he was indeed surprised to hear this; he had been given positive assurances that President Rojas would make no more statements of this kind.

Mr. Rubottom said the Ambassador is aware that Secretary of State Dulles views the Protestant problem so seriously that he was particular to bring it to the attention of President Rojas when he was in Bogota. He said he has no doubt that this news from Colombia will greatly disappoint the Secretary. He will also be unhappy to hear that an 82-year old American lady, a missionary, was jailed on an unsubstantiated charge of printing and distributing Communist literature.

[Page 929]

Ambassador said he would try to discuss these matters by telephone with Bogota tonight and would ask for an appointment to talk further on the subject with Mr. Holland in the morning.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 821.413/8–2256. Confidential. Drafted by Gerberich.↩