LOCATION OF EMBASSY, GUATEMALA, AND OCCUPANCY OF SPACE THEREIN

Created: 12/1/1953

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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FCP.! Special Deputy to CWH, Project PBSXCCSS

Location of Bobasay, Guatemala, aad Occupancy

of Space Therein

1. Tbe following iiiforuetlon ia cat forth in order that it nayatter of record and guidance Co you infactore relating to operatlono in thla Project. Thelaix-story building located on the Northeast corner of 8th Avenue (one way going South)h Street (one way going Wast). The Government's comunicationa offices (telephone exchange, post office, radio tracaxittar antenna, and other equipment for eoncuiilcatious purposes) arearge building betveen 7th and 6th Avenues on the liorth aideh Street. The Palace of ccouunications in "itlcb the governaent'a cocsaini-cations officers aro located faceh Street for the entire block. The Palace of ca Tunlcatlons ia slightly higher then tha frbaasyone floor, u. The Aserleaa Club, one of the two aost pracluont downtown dubs, whloh has two bars, bowling alleys, djnjn^ rod and large hall used for banquets and dancesibrary, ia located on ths Southwest corner of 8th Avenueh Street. Tharb areorclal houses on the Southeast comer of the sane Intersection. The American Club and tbe conacreI houses oo the alore-aeationad corners are not as high as the BBbaaay endsoult froa windows ln the Enbaaay on ths upper floors, it la posslbla to observeonsiderable distance across the roofs of ths city buildings, <nfijng tha Headquarters oflvJtl located at 7th Avenueh Street. revious revolutionary atteapt bull eta froa the Guard fa Civil building have penetrated the Enbassy. Cur offloos, however, are not located on that aide of the Etbaasy building. The Sabaasy is lnairly busy area of downtown Cuato.ala City, is located four blocks Southlock East of the Southeast corner of the Central Plaza. The National falaco whore the Presidentesbers of his cabinet have offices is on ths North side of 6th Street between 6tb and 7th Avenues and faces South towards the mentioned Central Plaza. Tho National Cathedral faces Vest and is located on the Bast sido of ths Central Plaza. The Central Plaza covers the area between 6th Street on the North, 8th Street on the South, 7th Avenue on the Bast and 6th Avenue on the Wo at. Another park.

known as Cente;iarlq. Joins Uie Central Pines to theetween 6th Street on tba North, 8th Street on tbs Sou'-h, 6th Avenue on tha East, and 5th Avenue on the West. The Central Plain and the Plana Centenarlo ln combinationarge area co: parable to four square blocks vhsre parades and demonstrations terminate. Such manifestations usually begin at aboutStreet and proceed north on 6th Avenue to the Central Plaza which la invariably the sret Tor tarainatlon of atiy parades. Tliooe parados and demonstrationn proceed north oik 6th Avenue, although that Avenue is inne way atreat going south. Covarnnent peraiesicci (legally) cust be obtained for airy deaonctratica. It can be seen that the Embassy is two blocks cvcy from the customary line ofh Avenue) and five blocks away from the real center ofho danger area of practically any demonstration. Sixth Avenueheater and ccunaarcial house district, vhlch la the nearest thing in Quateaalacc hi nation of Fifth Avenue end Tires Square, New fork. It la not possible to oboorve activities ln tbe Central Plaza from the roof of tl-o .bossy because of the obstructions caused by buildings ln downtcwi. Gun taenia City-, ihore arc no buildings Immediatelythe Aaarlcanr': than two stories high.

Occupancy of spftco jjj Sqb/iflqy

Tbe sixth floor (referred to lccclly us Hebich is actuallyoof because it isully covered story,co ofnail cuouaet hut for storage of Embassyoc with mi'aeo&roph raechlnee, paper supplies therefor,oa occupied byossy ccatlsssry, which io freely operated, carries staple products, canned and bottled goods, delicacies, scoetimae frozen foods such as hams, chick one, which ere imported, butter, margarine, cheese, loe cretn, liquors, coodi.-tents, dry milk; cereals, etc. It does not carryats, ncrilk or vegetables, except lettuce. Adequate supplies arc available at all tl&es in the coeunisaary to provide an adequate ration for tho entire ataff for an extendedweeks or JXire. revolution, ln ay opinion, could conceivably lost for juch operiod. 'to other group of perocos In Guataxala City would be Lo well supplied.

fifth floor (referred to locally as tha fourth}by tha Air Attache, Colonel Vernon L. Martin, andassistant Air Attaches, Lt. Colonel Theodore HacadaaaVernon Ingrahaa,taff of an AaerlcanSteppe, vho does the photo graphic vork, afor the Attache'sarrant officer, andreceptionist. The Amy Attache has en Americana warrant officer,uatemalanin. Incidentally, the sister of the receptionist for the

Air Attache. Both are daughters of Adrianomor Ambassador to the united Statesormer Candida to for President of Guatemala andolitician who is not publicly active. These girls are fairly wall known in Guateaala and are related to the wife of Carlos Simons, anti-Ccmnuaiat leader now in exile. The girls are, in my opinion, definitely on ths auU-CoramunlBt, anti-Government aide, and they are young, extroverts, pleasant, and probably would think nothing of telling their father or othkrroppositionists of persons visiting the Any and Air Attaches' offices.

fourth floor (referred to locally as thethe Ambassador and the Political Section of theEmbassy and Station file roomsuard's office (combined). The elevatorInto an area usedeception room for allbusiness on that floor. The switchboardlass-enclosed temporary type room next todoor. The switchboard ie In the processor beinga lover floor, which vill make that area, aftersuitable for the Embassy stenographer vhoarrived at the post. Other rooms on the floorinto the above-mentioned reception room. Tbe otherof i oneext tofile room (whloh, aa stated, la seal-oomblned withfile room). 2. Former office of the Firstvas recently aoved to the second floor as officer inthe Economic Section, and now occupied by thewho will move to the presentroom. 3. Ambassador's secretary and another Babassy 4. Ambassador. 5. Counselor of Embassy.

6. Second Secretary and clerk-stenographer who types hloStation file roomelatlvelv small area and orowdodareIt Is impossible

for any othor person to work ln that room, anC the presentare not satisfactory, but ve may find that we havebut to keep than working under suchpre mint occupancy of one small room b;

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le not satisfactory, but uc may find it necessary tothese circuuotancea. Tha adjoining rooo, No. 2ba Insisted upon for our uae, and it iareaentputtherein or acquire apace for

one of -fahan ia* oca* occupied by the Any Attache on the fifth floor or on the third floor, now completely occupied by the USIA. With the removal of the switchboardower floor, the fourth floor will ho the only floor not occupied y a

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5* The third floor (referred to locally as tho eocond) la wholly occupied by the USIA. The seaond floor ia occupied by the Economic Section, including an Agricultural Attache, the Administrative Offlcor, Disbursing Officer, Messengers officend will bouse the switchboard and guard when the wrttchboard ie roaoved frox the fourth floor.

ground floor is occupied by the Culturalpartially by the USIA which distributes cn thatpropaganda, booklets,o the publicoctu in which there isarge nunber ofcans of photographic film for distributionshowings by locally employed USIA personnel. Areceptloniat rainesk on the groundshe handles all visitors who desire to call on She telephonically notifies tbe officerisitor and receives hlo porDiosion for tho

per boo to goigher floor. Ho poos system is employed.

Embassy building is considered relativelyany possible forced entry. Heavy steel grills haveat tha elevator entrance on each floor, and agrill ls located at tho entrance to tho stalnwoy onfloor. These grills are locked with padlocks withon the grills to each elevator entrance on thethe elevator side of the grill. Tbe padlock to thethe ground floor at the stairway entrance ia on thethe stairway. It would be fairly difficult for anygroup of persons to force their entrance. The Marineduty at all hours< niphtistol.

Curing the

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nlght hours

of an additional clark-ate^grophar. CS-5 itT,

lt^ 1that th* Jabaanador wuj. BOJco appropriate arrangements at our request.

S

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cc; Chief of Station, Guatemala

SECfiET

Original document.

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