CABLE TO DIRECTOR FROM LINCOLN RE GUATEMALA 1954 COUP

Created: 4/11/1954

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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ZI 6 ( OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE

TOS (OPIM) SLINC

RYBAT PBSUCCESS

REF: A. )

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IH PARA *

1. FOLLOWING SUMMATION SITUATION REPRESENTS LINC'S VIEWS BASED UPON DEBRIEIlNG 0NTR1CH WHO* GALVEZ WEAKENED AND EQUIVOCATED^ JtO DECREE THAT REQUIRED FIRM ACTION TO ESTABLISH DEFINITE COOPERATION* LATTER ACTION TAKEN BY SKILLET WHO, WHILE KEEPING SKIMMER VERSION AND STRESSING ODYOKE NON-INTERVENTION, KEPT GALVEZ riN LINE WHILE USINGND ONTRICM TO PRESS FOR FIRM OPERATIONAL DETAILS.

SKILLET DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL POLITICAL SKILL IN KEEP INC VICE PRES FROM RESIGNING THUS HOLDING GOVT TOGETHER FOR PBSUCCESS* THIS ACTION ENDEARED SKILLET TO GALVEZo LATTER APPARENTLY NOW-LEANING ON SKILLET AS SOURCE OF STRENGTH DURING CURRENT POLITICALLY UNSTABLE PERIOD PRECEDING ELECTIONS*

If IS FORBIDDEN TO'NVwJ^CoW OF THIS MESSAGE Copy

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C, EXCELLENT SECURITY APPEARS PRESENT DESPITE ABOVE ONLY GALVEZ, VICE PRES, FORKIN AND CHIEF AIR FORCE CUT IN WITHIN WSHOOFSv NO DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE NOP WITNESSES TO SKILLET TALKS* PLAUSIBLE DENIAL REMAINS INTACT*

De GALVEZ HAS GENERAL UNDERSTANDING WITH OSORIO TO ACT AGAINST WSBURNT TOGETHER* SAFFRON-1, FIRM CALLIGERIS SUPPORTER, DUE SEE OSORIO RPT OSORIO NEXT FEW DAYS* MORE GALVEZ BECOMES COMMITTED IN INTERIM, STRONGER WILL SAFFRON-I'S PRESSURE ON OSORIO BE* OSORIO'S SUPPORT ALSO REQUIRES ODACID APPROACH IN MANNER BELIEVED IN PROGRESS AT HQS LEVEL.

E. REMOVAL MINDEFENSE IS ESSENTIAL EARLIEST BUT ISREREQUISITE FOR RUNNING INITIAL FLIGHTS* TIME FACTOR IMPORTANT AS SECURITY WEAKENS WITH EVERY DAY'S DELAY ONCE FLIGHTS INITIATED* NEED HQS ACTION*

Fl LINC WITHDRAWS OBJECTIONS TO INTERMEDIATE STORAGERECENT REPORTS INDICATE INCREASED ENEMY ACTIVITY BOTH

SIDES OF BORDER-) THUS GEAR WOULD BE MOVED

WITH MINIMUM DELAY INTO TARGET AREASo

C, OBJECTIONS RE EVIDENCE OF ODYOKE PARTICIPATION WITHDRAWN; VIEW ABOVE CLARIFICATION AS NOW EVIDENT WSHOOFS WOULD BE THOROUGHLY IMPLICATED ONCE PERMITTING ARMS ENTER COUNTRY> RE-AFFIRMATION SKILLET'S ROLE WOULD PROVE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO SUSTAIN GALVEZ'S COURACE FOLLOW THROUGH, BELIEVE GALVEZ'S POSITION TOO UNSTABLEIS CARIAS TO DOUBLE-CROSS CALLIGERIS* THUS CONCLUSION IS THAT GALVEZ WILL BE MOST ANXIOUS MOVE GEIR INTO TARGET COUNTRY

if APRIL & ^

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-3-

hapidly as possible.

ha test flight alheady laid onber ref c. linc strongly believes that calve2 must not be allowed to falter now that he hasd flights and once gear arrives he has little choice but to follow through* he very anti-communist and desires elimination wsburnt but recognizes his own weakness to act* pbsuccess provides his answer,,

certain essential factors appear more firmly established than ever, namely*

ituation devaopinc rapidly and favorably in wsburnt* archbishop's call for national crusade against communism, friction, distrust and uneasiness apparent in govt* people fully expecting chance in government- thus greatest time problem is to hold off abortive action and real action must not be delayed beyond present schedule..

bb political instability in wshoofs dictates adherance to schedule as any delay will only jeopardize this ally. loss of wshoofs could mean loss ofs above*,

failure continue maximum effort to meet present ops plans which still intact and capable fulfillment unquestionably means loss of curkent year and possibly last chance overthrow communists short direct military

H aphil 5k m ^

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3* VIEW ABOVE FACTORS ANDINC ACTING WITHIN AUTHORITYAS DETERMINED TOEST BLACK FLIGHT ON SCHEDULEPRIL PER REF D.

*0 IF HOS DESIRES FURTHER EXPLANATION OF FORECOINC, IT IS REQUESTED DUNBAR BE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE SOONEST.

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CABLE SECRETARIAT OOAWENTi NOTIFIED OF

RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE CABLE0

Original document.

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