SHERWOOD/TREATMENT OF UFCO STRIKE IN GUATEMALA (W/ATTACHMENT)

Created: 5/19/1954

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

CIA HISTORICAL

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title of person to take action and that of originator. Place comments thereunder by numbered paragraphs.

Wnltlal in center of page anda line access the poga Each recipient is to repeat above procedure until

action is completed and ready for filing. This cover shoot must be retained with enclosure.

C/PI'. FYI and further consideration

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MEMORANDUM POR THE RECOtlD

Subject: SHERWOOD/Treatment of UFCO Strike In Guatemala

1. ad sent yesterday the draft of text

re subject strike to Mr. Phillips, asking for ms anateamt8 comments and suggestions, withoutviews of my

. Today, Mr. Phillips came to see me and told mehad discusseddraft with the members of his

team twlthout,u.xiig them the text, merely telllnc them the general idea). Their consensus of opinion was,to Mr. Phillips, that use of the suggested line was inadvisable, primarily for two reasons:

has not yet sufficientlyprestige with its audience to makejnplieation: after we would haveblowing the train and using this for an immediate

spot broadcast, SHERWOOD's increased prestige maya less "conservative" attitude)

are afraid that SHERWOOD'a backing ofmay make lt appear responsible for the striketoo. Which, in view of SHERWOOD's openwith CALLIGERIS, might create all sorts ofrepercussions there.

3. Instead, they suggest that we should addroas the workers approximately along the following line: "We have no confidence In the communist bosses of your union. If you,

for your just demands and not for some political maneuver of the communists, we shall back youor words to that effect)

tl mmod^ately Pointed out to Mr. Phillips that thisoall8tic approach since everybody knows that the inaivldual worker has no chance of making himself heard against the communist union leaders, and so forth. I

J^Jentire project and

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Woasreed that he wouldtraight news item concert ing the calling of the strike, with no comment whatsoever, into

today's broadcast, In order not to fall too far behind with the news. tressed, however, that In vlow of the very delicate Issues at stake, ho must under no elrcumatancos record anyor editorial on tho strike, unless explicitly told so by this office.

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Original document.

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