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MEMCSURDUM FOR: ACT DC CHIEF
PSYCHOLOGICAL AMD PARAMI LIPERATIONS STAPF
on Actions Taken to Counteract Unfavorable
World Reaction to Overthrow of Arbenz Regime in Guatemala
he following is in response to your requesteport on tho status of area division and field efforts to counteractworld reaction to the recent events in Guatemala.
SR DIVISION
Radio Athensadio Free Russia, Radio Reek? and Vatican Radio carried favorable broadcasts oa Guatemala, coverage given once oreek stressed tbe following lines:
was pointed to as on example or bowinroads would fail without tbe support of the Red Army,
was citedoolhardy coasiunistanother example of the labor and welfare of thebeing squandered to pay for expansionist anbltlonaKremlin.
Guidance and background material furnished to SR vacto emigre groups and atoriea in the emigre press gave eventa in Guatemala favorable coverage.
DIVISION
Greece: Reaction favorable so no intensive action called for, guidance Bent and C Jasked to pouch useful pressfor play other areas.
Albania: Lead erticle in August edition of Shqulperia Dificst will be on Guatemala.
PR DIVISION
Philippines: Headquarters suggested Hagsayaay sendcable to Armas. Field objected on grounds Conaunists would
have chance to
have chance to term. S. puppet. Headquarters
but aa yet the message has not been aent.
Thailand; Materials aent for use in anti-communiotschool ao caoe study in communiat takeover techniques.
Japan; Advised by headquarters of priority nature of matter but no reports on action taken by field.
China: Instructed to use Guatemala events to encourage anti-communists on the China mainland.
Malaya: Local press favorable bulbeen asked
to uae influence to get good coverage from Philippine press picked up.
Indonesia; No capability for. line across since country anti-American.
Burns: Ho guidance sent. FE wonted to make thiadid not routinely ootid out material* to all
Eg DIVISION
Germany: Special arrangements made with quasi-official agency which undertook to perouade numerous papers to uae favorable materials on Guatemala. Articles and editorials received ao faresult of thia are not considered very usefulone. In fact, quotas the Reston piece on CIA participation in Guatemala. No other reports received from field on action taken. Germannormally sympathetic to. reacted very unfavorably to Guatemala and uiviaion baaes only feasible line to counter this is that the communiata by. with colonial aggression are trying to mislead world opinion to cover their own aggreoolvc designs.
NBA DIVISIOH
India: Cable guldanco to New Delhi with lines to support tbe theme It can happen here" (Communist aggreeslon) andto uae tbe lines to counter adverse publicity only if the Guatemala issue isews item, to take no Immediate action If the issue le dead, and to prepare to exploit the issue when the trials begin in Guatemala. The Tie Id replied that light emphasis waa placed on the Guatemala situation and that further exploitation at this time not feasible.
In response to
In responseeadquarters suggestion tbe RevIs planning toontrolled Indian Journaliet to
Guatemala to cover the trials.
Jordan: Cable was sent to Annan containing lines to"It can happen here? thono and some instructions ae to Now Delhi. Ho raply has yet been received from tho field.
Egypt; Cable to Cairo identical vith that to Amman. Ho reply yet received.
Iran: Cable to Teheran requestingof
local press reaction to events in Guatemala anu on&ing whether Guatemala is still receiving editorial comment. Teheran replied that little Interest shown, that general assumption wee that. vaa responsible for tho revolt and tbe feeling woe that.efinite right to protect itself inital area.
WK DIVISION
Prance: Field advised of continuing nature or priority on counterbalancing original unfavorable impression aboutvith Agence France Press* suggested as best outlet for material. Contact made with head of AFP for this purpose but difficult to evaluate result oince AFP coverage from tbe beginning was the most factual. Headquarters also suggested treatment in La Verite, the Feature News Service and the Economic-Political Journal. No action on these hao been reported. The C . now attempting toinformation that members of the Guatemalan Eobnaey in Parle are preparing to escape to Czechoslovakia on false passports. If tbe Information can be confirmed exploitation la planned.
United Kingdom and Italy: Unsuccessful attempts made to get Guatemalan embassadors to make statements favorable to.
Scandinavia: Well-documented article has been prepared for use In Denmark, no firm publication date hao yet been reported. Background material sent to Stockholm and Oslo for poBBible use in series of feature articles.
IV IS IPS
Tbe International Organizations psychological warfare coordinating group in Parle has been requested to consider means
of telling tbe true story in Guatemala. Support materiaare being forwarded to enable such organizations as tbe Congress for Cultural Freedom to mate reports on the methods and results of coot mlat takeover. It has also been suggested for field consideration that IOD assets mighteam to go to Guatemala at the request of tbe nev regime and make first hand observations. No reports on action taken in the field have been received.
cnier
Information Coordination Division
Original document.
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