Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, American Republics: Central and South America, Volume VII

454. Memorandum of a Conversation, Bogotá, July 24, 1956¹

Bogotá, July 24, 1956

SUBJECT

• Status of Protestants and Treatment of the Press in Colombia

PARTICIPANTS

• The Secretary of State²
• The President of Colombia
• Assistant Secretary Henry F. Holland

After initial amenities, the Secretary told the President that he would like to discuss frankly two subjects which he felt were detracting from the excellent relationships between the United States and Colombia. He said that they were internal Colombian problems and matters in which our government had no intention of intervening officially, but that he wanted to make certain statements personally to the President.

The first subject, the Secretary said, was the matter of the status of Protestants in Colombia. He said that the closing down of Protestant churches and schools was causing a very adverse public opinion in the United States.

The President of Colombia replied that he had a difficult problem with certain religious fanatics in Colombia and that he was working to try to diminish the problem.

Mr. Holland stated that before leaving Washington he had been advised that there was a possibility that the Government might issue orders permitting the reopening of the Protestant churches and schools which had been closed. This, he said, would make a very excellent impression throughout the United States, and stated that he felt that if this could be permitted at this time the effect would be particularly favorable. The President was evasive in his reply, merely stating that he was working in that direction.

The Secretary then said that the other of the two points that he wanted to mention was that of the treatment of the press. He said that he realized that the institution that we know as the free press had many defects; that in the United States and everywhere it was guilty of occasional excesses and injustices, but that, as bad as these defects might be, worse than a free press would be a press without freedom. He emphasized how the press of the world united to resist any attempt to limit freedom of the press in any country, how world press had bitterly attacked the Government in Argentina on account of its closing down of La Prensa.

Mr. Holland then stated that on the occasion of his last visit the President and he had discussed this same problem, and that the President had told him that it was his intention to nominate a panel of legal experts to draft a press law which would guarantee freedom of the press while assuring its responsibility. Mr. Holland pointed out that this announcement had been received very favorably abroad and asked whether the issuance of such a decree was in prospect. The President replied that he was working to enlarge freedom of the press; that recently a press congress had been held in Bogotá; that out of some 35 publications, 31 were present. He said that the panel of jurists which he had named to draft a press law had, in fact, produced such a draft, but that it was receiving study and that he expected certain improvements to be made in it.

The Secretary then said that he was pleased to be able to advise the President that the administration had offered legislation authorizing the lending of destroyers to Colombia; that it was not probable that the legislation would be enacted in this Congress, but that the administration would continue its efforts to secure enactment of the legislation.

The President spoke somewhat feelingly of his affection for the United States, saying that he had lived there; that he had been educated there; that his son had been educated there and that he considered the United States his second country.

The Secretary said that he hoped that the President viewed favorably President Eisenhower’s proposal to name representatives of the various Presidents who would, in turn, prepare recommendations as to measures which could be adopted to improve the activities of the Organization of American States. The President said that he considered the proposal an excellent one and that he felt sure that it would produce worthwhile results.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 821.413/7–2456. Secret. Drafted by Holland on August 20.
2. Secretary Dulles accompanied President Eisenhower to the Meeting of Presidents of the American Republics in Panamá July 21–23, 1956. For documentation on this meeting, see vol. VI, Documents 109 ff. From Panamá, Dulles went to Colombia on July 24, Ecuador on July 25, and Peru July 26–28.