GOVERNMENTAL EFFORTS TO ACQUIIRE SOUTH AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN MARKETS FOR AGRICU

Created: 7/20/1953

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

U.S. Offle

SEC

M FULL

REPORT8

rfcW HISTORICAL REW

COUNTRY SUBJECT

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

INFORMATION REPORT

Guatemala

Governmental Efforts to Acquireand European Markets for

PLACE ACQUIRED _

(bv source) Ouatcmala City

DATE ACQUIRED mid-MayBY SOURCE)

DATE (ofay 53

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this is UNEVALUATED information

OF ENCLS.

SUPP. TO REPORT NO.

SOURCE Guatemalan ManagerS corporation vhich does an extensive business in that country.

The following is extractedonfidential report to source's us principals datedis US principals have complete confidence in the accuracy of source's reports.

1. There haveumber of rumors during the past month regarding an attempt by tbe government to ascertain how iteplace the banana industryeplace the US coffee market.

Prom several sources we have been told that the Guatemalan Government has been studying ways and means of replacing the United Fruit Company. It Is reasonably certain that exploratory discussions have been heldroup of Argentines about shipping and marketing Guatemalan bananas, and rumor has it that some approach has been made to Europeans for the same purpose. tudy has also been made on the possibility of making alcohol from bananas with the aim of forcing filling stations toigh proportion of alcohol vith gasoline.

There axe several reportszechoslovaklan economics expert has recentlytudy of the possibility of selling Guatemala coffee In Europe and has arrivedaximum markethousand, wt. annually. Since Guatemala' producesillion cwt of coffee per year, those who resent Guatemalan economic dependence upon the US will find little comfort In these figures.

Although the Items mentioned above are$ authenticated, there is undoubtedly some truth in the rumorsm reporting them to show the trend In government thinking. More detailed information will be sent as It is acquired.

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U.S. Offl/laU Only CORTT^KBTIAL

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Original document.

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