DISPOSITION OF PRINCIPAL GUATEMALAN COMMUNIST LEADERS

Created: 7/15/1954

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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KEMORAKDUM PGR: DKFOTI DIRECTOR, PLAKS

of Principal Guatemalan

ConmuniBt leaders

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1- Pursuant to your requeat for suggestions on thathose Gun torn lane nov In prleon or asylumesult ofof tho Arbenz regime, the foUowlng io submitted for

If the problem is strictly limited to "principal Communist leaders,1 our suggestion would be that they be put on trial for reel (or notional) common lav crimes, or charged with treason for taking orders fron the USSR, If Guatemalan law or other factors permit. In any case, the charge should be airtight and skilfully handled that tha trial. may not boomerang (a* tho trial of Mossadegh tonded to do).

If the problem extends tohe new regime should be careful not to antagonise sclents of its own population, experience in Iran has shown ub that the Zehedindiscriminate arrest, subsequent harsh treatment, and eventual release of Mossadegh sympathisersarge body of dedicated enemies of the new government, which could have been avoided. Tudeh ICommunlst} leadership, on the other hand, went underground, remaining practically untouched. We would suggeot, therefore, that so-called sympathisers be. treated wellhanceresh start. Wb understandimilarwas used with captured huks in the Philippines withsuccess and to some degree by the Chinese ttetionaliets in Formosa

Chief

Division of Soar hast and Africa

Attachment Reference Cable

Original document.

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