60. Editorial Note
According to notes of the Secretary’s Staff meeting of August 7, Snow discussed the situation in Guatemala as follows:
“Mr. Snow summarized the information (Guatemala 43) on the Communist background of the assassin but pointed out that there is not yet demonstrated a link with the Communist movement and therefore it is difficult for USIA to play up the Communist affiliation with the assassin. The Secretary took strong exception to this, finding that the fact that the assassin was himself a Communist should permit an emphasis on the Communist connection especially because Communists have a fundamental motivation which leads them to violent revolution; he did not think that a direct tie to Moscow had to be demonstrated in order to show the Communist connection.
“Action: Asked ARA, in coordination with P, to continue to exploit as fully as possible in our publicity the Communist implication in the assassination of the President of Guatemala.” (Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75)
Reference in first line is to telegram 43 from Guatemala City, August 5. (Ibid., Central Files, 714.11/8–557) In a memorandum dated August 8, Hoyt informed Snow of several reports on the situation in Guatemala. According to the memorandum, a small group, possibly confined to the Presidential palace, was involved in the assassination of Castillo Armas. The memorandum stated further: “Since these persons are not as yet known, the assassination cannot be identified as a leftist or rightist plot.” (Ibid., ARA Special Assistant’s Files: Lot 59 D 376, Guatemala 1957)