Subject: Evidences of Guatemalan Complicity in
Luperón Invasion Attempt
There is enclosed a tabulation of reported happenings and events
which tend to establish that Guatemala was involved directly in the
Luperón invasion attempt. The evidence indicates that:
[Annex]
1. Evidences
a. At San Jose Air Base:
Between May 23 and June 18 there was considerable activity at the
Guatemalan Air Base in San Jose. This included the constant
movement to and from that base of a number of men believed to be
affiliated with the Caribbean Legion. In addition, there was
movement of aircraft under mysterious conditions. Mexican
registered aircraft XB–HOV and XB–HOS (this one formerly
registered in U.S. as NC–16003) were reported at San Jose from
May 23 through June 18. A C–46 and a PBY were also reported at San Jose during this
period. The presence of American citizens at San Jose during
this period also was reported. The base was maintained under
heavy guard and extreme secrecy surrounded all activities.
Upon the failure of the Dominican invasion attempt on June 19,
six mysterious aircraft carrying Caribbean Legion men and
materiel were detained in Mexico. They included XB–HOV and
XB–HOS and the Guatemalan Air Force transports T–1 and T–2. The
latter were in command of Guatemalan pilots and carried men of
various nationalities in battle dress as well as fighting
equipment. A C–46 also was detained which there is reason to
believe went to Mexico from San Jose and was piloted by two
Americans, Finley and Adams.
b. In the Vicinity of Puerto Barrios:
Most reliable sources reported the secret loading at Puerto
Barrios on the evening of June 17 of arms and ammunition aboard
a vessel belonging to the Guatemalan port captain. It is
reported that they were transshipped, further out in the harbor,
to a schooner of Cuban registry. Materiel is reported to have
included from 100 to 300 rifles and some machine guns. The
report is corroborated by another confidential and reliable
source as well as by members of the Guatemalan
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Air Force who stated the equipment
was for use in the Dominican Invasion.
There was probably another concentration in the vicinity of Lake
Izabal, presumably of seaplanes and waterborne equipment.
Americans were also reported among those seen loading the craft
at Puerto Barrios.
c. Guatemala City
For several weeks prior to the invasion attempt a great number of
men known to be affiliated with the Caribbean Legion movement,
and others unknown but suspected to be affiliated, moved through
Guatemala City. These included Juan Bosch, General Miguel Angel
Ramirez, Jorge Rivas Montes, and Juan Rodriguez Garcia. All of
them left Guatemala within a day or two prior to the invasion
attempt.
Also active were Spanish Republican elements known to be
interested in the movement including Dr. Antonio Roman Duran and
Dr. Amador Perrera. Their function was apparently the
recruitment of men and it is reported that Dr. Roman Duran was
in possession of considerable funds. There is indication that
these funds were obtained from Arévalo or indirectly through his
influence. Dr. Duran is reported to have been in close contact
with the Guatemalan Foreign Minister for two weeks prior to the
invasion attempt.
d. Response to our Inquiries
During the weeks immediately preceding the invasion attempt the
Embassy made formal inquiry of the Guatemalan Ministry of
Foreign Affairs with regard to the aircraft at San Jose and the
possibility that Americans were involved in activities inimical
to the peace of Middle America. Response was highly evasive and
unsatisfactory.
e. Remarks of Officials
Significant remarks of Guatemalan officials following the
thwarted invasion attempt were: Muñoz Meany’s statement to the
press on June 21 consisted principally of an attack against the
tyranny of Trujillo rather than a denial of the charges although
it did state that the Guatemalan Government “in no case has
intervened nor does intervene in the internal affairs of other
states”.
Later in response to Dominican charges of Guatemalan complicity
he avoided reference to the specific charges but denied
complicity in stating that not a single Guatemalan participated.
He stated that the only Guatemalan elements involved were
democratic ideas and countercharged that Trujillo and Somoza
abetted recent revolutionary attempts which Guatemala had
faced.
Muñoz Meany’s denial appears obviously false in view of the above
information and the indisputable fact that two Guatemalan
aircraft
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with
Guatemalan Air Force pilots were among those detained
temporarily by the Mexican Government.
Major Cosenza, Chief of the Guatemalan Air Force, in an obvious
falsehood attempted to deny charges that Guatemalan Air Force
planes T–1 and T–2 were detained in Mexico along with others of
the Legion force by stating that T–1 had never been outside of
Guatemala and that T–2 had been in Houston, Texas. A check with
Houston authorities indicated that T–2 had not been there for
months and, in any case, the fact that both aircraft were in
Mexico is indisputable.
f. Complicity of High Officials
There is other information known to Mr. Daniels which seems not
only to be evidence, but proof, that the highest officials of
the Government of Guatemala not only permitted the above
described activities to transpire within Guatemalan territory,
but also were directly involved through ordering such movements
of Guatemalan men and materiel.
