HISTORICAL iqgg^mmRELEASE AS SANITIZED
SUBJECT: Guatemala
X. Attached are throe copies of reports received from
3escrieins; Colonel
C 3
. KLKfl
aori
From: CL-Number of Pages: Report Made by:
Merleuffner _
Mfo
NTIAL
ReportQ Local File No.:
Number of Enclosures: p
Approved by:
By copy to:
ilos
Orully to: None
Cryptonym:
Source, Operations! Data, and Comments:
COUUKKTSi Tbe informtion in this report ia not being divulged to the
local aabaoay or Military Attache's office at the presentt is requested that Headquarters also not dlssealnate this information yet. It la felt that this is necessary in order to protect tho highly confidential nature of the information. However, this station will keep ln touch with this situation. When and if it appears that there is any chance that the revolt nay be staged, the Bnbasay will be fully informed.
(Hdqs. Cosmenti Dlssem'duardedly. 7 lln good tine before the coup that failed.)
copt
Subjoct; Col. Carle* CASTILLO Armas in Initial Stag* of Organizing Arnod Coup Against Guatemalan QorsmaMot
of Information: Current
Acquired: Guatemala City
Acquired: X30
valuation:
of Keport: 0
Controlled American
Carlos CASTILLO Armas was released froa the penitentiary on 23 Apparently his roleaae was due to personal orders from Minister ofJacobo ARBKHZ. He had been arrested innd charged withof illegal possession of arms. He was to be tried with otherwith sedition in connection with the revolt following theCol. ARANA onuly When theae officers wore tried,he case against CASTILLO Armas woe not brought tothe charge against him was changed to that of theft of governmentCASTILLO Armas explained that the change ln the charge against hima device for keeping hia in Jail longer without bringing him to trial.
Ho stated that the charges against him were completely false and that he had been arrested merelyrecautionary measure on tho part of Col. AR3SNZ. He said that ARB3HZ knew that he, CASTILLO Armas, was in fundamental disagreement with him concerning tho way the army and the country was being managed.
Col. CASTILLO Armas held important positions in the Guatemalan army up until the time of the assassination of Col. ARA.YA. He bad been on the general staff, waa Director of the Military School, and from this position was changed to Coaraander of the Military Zone of Mazatonango. He was holding this position when the assassination of ARA HA occurred onuly Infonaation concerning the assassination arrived tardily at Mazatenango, and Col. CASTILLO Armas took no part in the revolt that followed. However, onuly ISIS Col. ARB KHZ ordered hia removed from his post. This was due to no overt action on the part of CASTILLO Armas but, he says, was ordered by ARBKNZ .because he knew that he oould not count upon CASTILLO Armaa as boin^ "one of his men".
On9 CASTILLO Armaa como to Ouatemala City and entered civilian life. He said he knew he oould have received en appointment from ARBEHZ to some post whore he would not haveommand of men and would have been under the close observation of ARBEHZ. However, he did not wish to compromise hiaby being associated with the group then running the government and the amy. Ho said he engaged in no plotting whatsoever during the tine prior to hie arrest, which followed several weeks after he entered civilian life.
Classification
flMKENTIAL
U- CASTILLO Armas stated that he was very nuch concerned about the present position of the Guatemalan amy and government. Ho said the army has been thoroughly corrupted by Col. ARBENZ and the President. He said that itannon practice for many of the officers in the army to receive extra monthly payments in addition to their regular salaries. This money comes from funds appropriated to the Ministry of Rational Defense and is handed out by ARBBNZ for the purpose of keeping those men in line. In addition to this has an extensive intelligence system throughout the army which operatos onormal and Informal basis. Because of this many of the officers are afraid to make any statements or do anything that would Indicate disapproval of present policies.
5- CASTILLO Armas said that ho sincerely wished that reforms could be brought about in the country through regular constitutional However, he has new become convinced that this will not be possible. He foels certain that if any one man should become strong enough toeasonable amount ofto present govenrsent leaders, he would be either assassinated, as was Col. ARANA, or imprisoned or sent out of the country. He said that ho had, therefore, become convinced that the only way to change the present government in Ouatemala was by means of anoup. He said he regretted that this method was necessary but that he felt that it was Justified.
He Indicated that ho is In the initial stages at tho present tine of plan-.ing such an amed revolt. This revolt would be directed at the amy. Ho thought that perhaps the firat objective rould be tho military base at La Aurora, Just outside of Ouatemala City. Ho said that ho would not run the risk of trying to lineegment of tho army to effect the revolt because of the above described position in which so many of the officers find themselves. Instead, he said heufficient number of -aen on the outside of thoany of them ox-army officers, who would be his source of nBapower.
The main problem troubling bin was the natter of arms. He believed it too risky to try to obtain arms locally either frtn sources in tbe army or outside of it. Ho was, therefore, thinkinj of contacting SC'OZA or TRVJILLO for these arms. He realised that other Guatemalans had probably contacted SOMOZA and TRUJILLO for this purpose on previous occasions and had met with no success. However, he said that those men had no standing or power in Guatemala and tliat this must have been knownnd TRUJILLO. He said that he wanted to make it clear, however, that the revolt which he plans will be strictly (iuatsnalan and that no foreigners will participate in it.
He said he also wanted to make it clear that he had no idea of establishing
a military dictatorship in Guatemala. He planned to continue the presentin the country and to hold free elections. He said that lie wanted true democracy in the cointry and that Ouateaala did not have it at the prosont time because of tho moral corruption of those in power. He said that he had no personal ambition for power and pointed out that ho has an independent tio-irce of income. He said his only motivo Is his concern forJ*rt> army and the country.
CONHDtNTAl
9- He said he believed that his revolt oould be successful largely because of the great number of personal friends he has in the top officer class in the army. He stated that all the nilltary tone comnanders in Guatemala are close personal friends of his. He said that these aan know his reputation for sincerity and honesty and the aoderate ideas which he holds. He said that he felt sure that immediately upon their learning that he waa leading the revolt they would do everything possible to hold back any resistance froa their units. For reasons of security, however, he did not plan to take any of theae comcanding officers into bis confidence prior to the staging of the revolt.
ource asked him how he would meet the problem of armed civilians. Ho said he realized that several of the labor unionsupply of arms and that othor civilians supporting tho government also havo thin. He stated that immediately upon beginning tho revolt he would have it announcod that thisatter completely within the army and that the revolt was for the purpose of freeing thefrom the state of corruption and disintegration to which it has boon subjected by the present government. He wouldequest that civilians abstain froa participating in the rovolt in any way. He said that he roallted that this might have little or no effect upon those armed civilians who are so anxious to see the present government continue in power. However,ilitary man he said he felt that he could cope with the problem of armed civilians. He said that If they see that tlie army is going with him in the initial stages, they wiU offer no resistance and will go to their homos.
U. Col. CASTILLO Araas made it plain to source that he does not plan to osUbllsh th* old conservative element in Guatemala back in power. He said he dot* at id the type of government that had been personified in Ouateoala by He realized that many of the so-called reactionaries in tho country would try to "jump on his coat tails" and ride into powor. He said, however, that he knows the army well and that thereumber of men in it, and several who have been forced to separate themselves from it, who are sincere and patriotic and accept the ideas of democratic government. It is upon those men that he will count most to help him in case the revolt is successful.
ASTILLO Armas said that he Is in no hurry. His plans are in the initial stage. It may bo months before he will take action.
CCTJ'SNTS: Col. CASTILLO Armas at tho present undoubtedly has more prestige than any othor man in the opposition. Us is well ro^ardod for his sincerity and honesty. It is believed that if any man ln Guatemala canuccessful revolt against the present regime, it will be he who will do it. His biggest problems are those of security and arms, 'lo believes at the present ti-ie that he is not being survetiled by the government, but he realizes that he is probably considered by tho Government as its most dan. erous opponent. He believes that heood cnance of success in getting arms fro- SO/OZA or TBUJILLO, but he does not anpear to have worked out as yet the all-important problem of how to set thea into '
Original document.
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