814.00/381: Telegram
The Minister in Guatemala (McMillin) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 7—6:17 a.m.]
60. Immediately after receipt of Departments 29, April 1, 5 p.m. I carried out instructions contained in it and Department’s 21 March 18, 5 p.m. The President issued a proclamation yesterday morning embracing among other things all the points suggested in the Department’s 29, April 1, 5 p.m. The same afternoon I published verbatim the declaration embraced in instructions. Today I summoned Unionist leaders to the Legation and informed them the United States cannot countenance a revolutionary movement and that President Estrada had declared his firm intention to the Government of the United States that the actions outlined in his proclamation will be carried out. It became unnecessary to further insist on the inclusion in his proclamation of points additional to those required by the Department because they had been agreed to by Unionist[s] and President and published pending negotiations concerning his proclamation. In response to my above mentioned statement to Unionist[s] they declared that in all their actions they had kept within the law and would continue to do so and they showed disappointment at the action of our Government.
The session of the Assembly scheduled for today has been postponed until next Thursday.
Yesterday morning soldiers entered building in a suburb of this city where Unionist meeting was being held and arrested 27 men besides seizing furniture and archives. About the same time the Minister for Foreign Affairs came with President’s proclamation. I reported the arrests and complained at the bad faith it exhibited. He said that they should be released. I reminded him that the President had given assurance that normal political activities should not be interfered with and he would be expected to carry it out.