HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASEAS SANITIZED
transmittal slip
oom no.
A. The Thirst for Civic Dignity" and Popular Rovolt
1. Tho Fall of Ubico
The revolution which brought the Liberal Party to power in Ouatenala0 did not bring any degree of democracy to tho people of Guatemala. Under the regime of President Rufino Barrios, ins, separation between the Church and State was effected. This advent, however, marked tho end of the dominant influonco of the old conservative party, largely run by clerical and aristocratic elements, and marked the beginning of the efficient military dictatorships. The traditional ruling class of large landownors and tho powerful new coffee finquerostrong man in the presidency who could preserve peace and assure themarge and steady supply of cheap labor.
The pi-riod0U *as marked by strong-fisted dictatorships interspersed with relatively short periods of governmental chaos resulting from the struggle for power among groups of military men and politicians. Politics was the source of income for almost all educated Guatemalans who left the fincas; there was little place for professionals or Intellectuals in the national life. When revolutions occurred, their effects were felt chiefly by this relatively small group; they did not mean real social or economic improvements for the mass of the people. The lack of articulate public opinion and the weakness of the middle class gave full reign to the politicians. Manuel Estrada Cabrera ruled Guatemala with dictatorial efficiency for tho long period8 General Jorge Ubico became president1 and improved the techniques of an efficient military dictatorship.
6 and againeneral Ubico arranged that he be prevailed upon to accept another terra of office, ubico was responsible for the killing and imprisonment of unnumbered students, workers, and other citizens whom he accused of plotting rebellion against hiB regime. Thousands of Guatemalans lived in exile. At one time he proudly announced* m likexecute first and hold trial afterwards".1 Few Guatemalans felt free from observation by Ubico's efficient secret service. Two months before the sudden ond to his regime Ubico issuedhich exempted landownors and their representatives from responsibility for criminal acts committed against trespassers caught gathering game, fruit or firewood. In practice thisandowner the right toungry Indian picking berries or gathering firewood on his lands.
Ubico had succeeded in establishing peace and order in Guatemala. Foreign capital interests were granted liberal and virtually unrestrictedand foreigners in the country enjoyed rights and privileges unheard of for the average Guatemalan citizen.
1 Time,i-
Allies
h the popular feeling against Ubico had beon steadily mounting. The wartine Propaganda and especially tho Atlantic Charterignificant effect upon the thinking of the literate citizens of the country. The workers had long suffered under extremely low wages andi were beginning to feel tne pinch of higher prices. In April,isciplined general strike in San Salvador resulted in the overthrow of dictator llornandea Martinez of El Salvador and set the pattern for Ouatemala. Byh, all that was neoded was an initial stimulus to revolt. The students of San Carlos University in Guatemala City provided this initial spark.
The faculty and student body had asked the government for changes in tho organization of the University and for its autonomy from direct government Ond, after the government had rejected those suggestions, the students' association met and declared it wouldtrike of the entire student body unless its demands were met. Ubicotate of emergency and suspended constitutional guarantees. Contingents of the Dolice were sent to blockade the University buildings. tudent leaders and certain teachers wore oblieed to take refuge in the Mexican Ehbassy. Ond other students met to plan an organized anti-Ubico manifestation and were joined by some teachers. The demonstrations on the next day took the form of students casually and quietly strolling en masse up and down the main thoroughfare of Guatemala City. Socio studonts stood on the street reading the Atlantic Charter to small groups of the populaco. In the evening they illegally distributed inuneograohed sheets explaining their position to tho general public.
On the next day, Sunday,h, the demo?:strations continued on an augmented scale. The studonts were joined by many other people in the capital and anti-Ubico sentiment ran high. In the afternoon,roup of the demonstrators started to :nove towards the itatioiial Palace, they were fired upon by the nervous police. Mariaoung schoolteacher, was killed andymbol to the angry resistance to Ubico. On Bondsy the capital city was paralyzedeneral strike of students, toachors, shopkeepers, railway workers, and many professional people. There was .little violence. The general strike continued throughout the week. Tho government was powerless to restore nonftfil activities. Demands for Ubico's immediate resignation steadily mounted. On Julyk, only ton days after the initial manifestations by the students, it was announced that Ubico had resigned the presidency andilitary triumvirate would take his place.
2. The Triunvirato iaiitar and the October "evolution
On Saturday, Julyh, thelitar, consisting of General Fcdorico Ponce Vaidos and two other officers of Ubico's army, began ooerations as the new executive body of Ouatemala. On July 3rd, tho Legislative" Assombly attempted to meet toow government nut it was forced to wait until tha followinghile the Triunvirato Uilitar applied pressure on the deputies. On JulyPonce Vaidos was elected Provisional President by Ubico's hand-picked legislature. Five young lawyers who protested were imprisoned. The new government immediately made token gestures to the pojwlar demands by reestablishing
constitutional guarantees, making concessions to the University students, announcing that national elections would be held in November, and allowing the formation of political parties and labor unions. It soon became apparent, however, that Ponce had no intention of relinquishing his politicaly of Ubico's former collaborators reappeared as members of the Provisional Government and Ubico himself regained in Guatemala.
As the sunnerh wore on the Provisional Government came more and more to resemble the Ubico regime. The people were rapidly forming into political parties in anticipation of the election of their next presidont. They wero not disposed to accept another dictatorial regljce. But the prisons again began to be filled with political dissidents and it became evident that Ponce intended to allow only one man to be elected president in ths November elections -himself.
Ponco wont to great lengths to attempt to convince important elements of public opinion of the need fortrong military government in power in Guatemala. Feareneral Indian uprising had been frequently played up by dictatorial governments in the past as attempts to make their power more socure. Ponce now decided to use this strategy to his ends. He spent almost three months stirring up the Indian communities in the area between Chimaltenango and Lakeegion of dense Indian population. He apparently thought that the traditional respect for authority shown by the Indians would lead them to rise up and killngueros when told to and thus give him an excuse toermanent military government. However, of tha many Indianho liad instigated, the inhabitants of only one rose up to kill the ladlno landownors.
Inli, faced with the mounting opposition to his government Ponceew strategy. sent trucks into the countryside and brought back hundreds of Indians whoa ho marched through tho streets of the capital armed with machetes and carrying large pictures of himaolf on their chests. Apparently he hoped to frighten the people of the capital with "proof" that the Indians were on his side. The Indians were then housed at La Aurora on the outskirts of the capital, provided with sufficient liquor to keep them drunk, and kept thereonstant threat to the people of the capital. These Indians were obviously being treated to do tho bidding of Ponce. Tho people were reminded ofmeundred years ago when Carrera led anof Indians into the capital to ralso havoc with the urban population.
1 The entire story of these attempts by Ponce to .instigate the Indians to revolt is not known. The information given hore was offered by Lie. Antonio Coubaud Carrera, formerly Director of the Instituto Indigenista Macional and now Ambassador in Washington. *"
On Octoberu, the climax of totalitarian tactics came with tho assassination, on orders from Ponce, of Alejandro Cordova, founder and director of the newspaper EL Imparcialeading member of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly. This brutal act was followederiod of violence and terror. The supporters of Juan Jose Arevalo, presidential candidate of the opposition parties, had to go into hiding or take refuge in foreign legations.
The Uoxican embassy was so crowded with refugees that it had to rent part of the Palaco Hotel. There was no longer any doubt that thisictatorship as arbitrary and determined to remain in power as Ubico's. In the Manifesto del Frente Unido do Partidosaociaciones Civicas, reproduced on EicSographod sheets and distributed onh, the newly formedparties and the associations of University students and teachers declared their "paro politico" (political strike). They could no longer continue their political campaign in an environment which would make the outcome of thea foregone conclusion. The manifesto of Paro Politico, written by Juan Jose Arevalo, Jorge Garcia Granados, and Roberto Arzu, ended with: "United we will build the new Guatemalal" Two days later, onh, the faculty and students of the Universitytrike.
Onittlehe capital city was awakened by concentrated artillery fire. ew houra previously, approximately aeventy students and workers had been snuggled into the fort Ouardia del Honor, where they killed tho commander and took over. The fort, under its now commander, kujor Francisco Javier Arana, took up arms against the Provisional Government of General Ponce. apid and daring military strategy, conceived by CaptainArbenz, broke the resistance of the city's two loyal fortsew hours- University students and workers ran to the aid of theand were given arms at the Guardia del Honor. . the entire city, with the exception of the heavily defended National Palace, waa in the hands of tho revolutionaries. An ultimatum was sent to the National Palace with the tlireat that it would be bombarded if the government of Ponce did not immediately capitulate. The diplomatic Corps intervenedow government was constituted and took possession at five In the afternoon of the same dayU. undred persons had been killed and many more wounded but tho rovolutionuccoaa and, in the minds of many,h, came to mark the beginning of the "newountry under the leadership of men who were attempting to lay the foundations for permanent social and economic reform for the benefit of the majority of the people.
3. The Junta kevolucionaria and the Election of Juan Joso Arevalo.
The new Interim government, the Junta hevolucionarla, consisted of three raeni Major Francisco J. Arana, Captain Jocobo Arbenz, and Jorge Toriello. Major Arana, conmandor of the Guardia del Honor onh, wasof the young amp officers who had come up through the ranks. Captain Arbenz, tho strategist of the rovolution, represented the alumni of the Sscuela Polltocnica,ilitary acadony. Arbenz, the sonwiss pharmacistuatemalan mother, was onlyears of agei. Jorgeivilian, is the son of one of Guatemala's first families. The Junta Revoluclonarla remained in power until the constitutionally elected government of Dr. Juan Jose Arevalo replaced It in
The Junta Hevolucionarla im-nodiatsly announced that free elections would be held for deputiesew National Congress, and for president. The congreseional elections, held on November 3rd, Uth, and 5th, resulted in the victoryarge majority of tho revolutionary parties supporting Juan Jose
Arevalo for president. The old constitution9 was abolished oni,onstituent Assembly met toew constitution. InU, the presidential elections resulted in the victoryarge margin of Dr. Arevalo. Tho new Constitution was promulgated onij. Four days later, onh, the new president took office and the Junta Revolucionaria stepped aside.
It is accepted by almost all Guatemalans that Juan Jose Arevalo was elected In the freest election ever held in Guatemala. Heow man on the political scene, had not been involved in domestic politics in the past, ond represented in the ninds of tho majority of the people their hopes and idealsew and democratic Guatemala.
Arevalo was bom in the village of Taxisco, Department of Santa Rosa,o. His fatherelatively small cattle ranch. His motherchoolteacher. After graduating from the Central Normal Schoolrovalo taught in various public schools in Guatemala. 7 heovernment scholarship to study abroad and went to Argentina. After six years at the University of La Plata heoctorate in philosophy and education.
U ha returned to Guatemala and became Inspector General of Schools. Under Ubico, however, he was unable to carry out his functions to hisandhort time returned to Argentina, after some time spont studying in fiirope. In Argentina Arovalo's reputation as an educator grew. He held professorships at several of the leading Argentine universities and was invited by the government of Argentina to form the new normal school in San Luis. His outspoken denunciation of the Ramirez coup d'etat in Argentina and his political writings threatened on several occasions to get him into trouble with the authorities. Heaetnber of the faculty at the University of Tucuman when heelegram informing him of his nomination for the presidency of Guatemala by the two revolutionary political parties, Renovacion Kacional and Frente Popular Liberlador. He borrowed fundsocal Argentine bookseller as an advance on the publication of soaie of his writings and arrived in Guatemala on Sentsraberh, one week before hi3 fortieth birthday.
His arrival in Guatemala came at the height of the tension between the Ponco government and the opposition revolutionary elements. Ho was accused by Ponco of being "paid ty Hitler to transform Guatemala into another JJazi stronghold." He was contemptuously referred to as "the Argentine".1 Arovalo was forced into hiding during much of the time beforeh. Heall, handsome manery effective speaker. On his campaign tours of the country he wa3 greeted everywhere with fervid enthusiasm. Arevalismoenuinely popular movement which grew in strength andesounding victory in the election in-
1 Juan Jose Arevalo "Bl Pueblo Sano depeech delivered oni, Espritos Pqliticog, (Tipogrofia Sacional,,.
All told, fully twonty-two major aadintt thoof President Arevalo had been discovered In tho four year*6 Tho twenty-third, and by far the aoot eerloue of those, ocourred onhh ofhen Ouatenala Olty suddenly became the field of battleesperate struggle between several hundred well-armed rebels and tho forces defending tho Constitutional Government.
2. Labor's Part In the Defense of the Government During the Military Revolt of
About noon onolonel Pranclsco J. Araaa, Chief of the Arced Purees and one of tho main leaders of the4 Revolution, was shot and killed. Bis car was ambushed and riddled with bullets as he was returning from Amatitlau where he hadeposit of government munitions. VIth tain in tho automobile was Enrique Blanco, Subdlrootor General of tho Ouardla Civil, vho was also killed.
The identity of the assassins and the reasons for thsar act are in dispute. It osess clear, however, that tho assassination was related to Aran's aabttlon toresident of the Republic It has been reported that Anna, essentially an upright man butatal veakseos for flattery, had been
consistently urged by conservative and reactionary elements to depose Dr. Arevalo
andegisio mors favorable to conoervative Interests. It has boon claimed by some that Arena had boen swayed by these lnterosted parties and, convinced that he could not afford to wait for elections, was preparing to take
tho Presidency by force. Persistent rumors in Ouatenala City at the time seemed to give credence to tho belief that hie uprising was planned ford, only five days after his unexpected death. Host, if not all, of the Amy would
probably have followed his orders. The Constitutional Governtant would have had little chance. inal disagreement with his bookers may have resulted in his assassination, or government sympathisers any have discovered tbe plot and
attempted to forestall lt by killing its leader.
When the news of Aran*'t death reached tho capital, within an hour of its occurracce, eventb came ln rapid succession. Tho President ireed lately decreed
a state of national emergency which was quickly ratified by the unanimous vote of all the aer.boro of Congress who could be brought together. Lt. Colonel Arbens,
tho KlnlBter of Rational Defense, assumed tho duties of Chief of the Armed Porces. By three In the afternoon, as tho news spread through theeneral consternation was evident axong the people. The iron abutters of the etores were pulled down and buslaeso people in the center of the city were hastily leaving for the suburbs. All non-official telephone and telegraphuspended.
Meanwhile, in the fort Guardia del Honor, the Amy officers who had been closest to Colonel Arana dotorelncd to take up area and overthrow the government of President arevalo. Theyrovisional Junta to take over the government. Elthor thoy were convinced that government leaders were responsible for Arana's death and were determined to avenge him, or thoy wore partiesonspiracy which had been touched off prenaturely by hie dooth.
At aboutn the afternoon, tanks rolled out of the Guardia del Honor and advanced on the Rational Palace. The rebela deseeded Presidentmmediate surrender. Ho replied defiantly: "My term le six yeare. ill not serve one minute less and not one minute more." After sporadic firing between the tanks and the hastily organized defenders of the national Palace, the tanks temporarily retired to the fort and an ominous quiet settled over the city.
A quick inventory shoved that the government was in an extremely precarious position. The rebel fort oontalned more than half the military personnel
lnunediately available in tho city. The two loyal forte were extremely low in eouipmentjand the previous week, under one pretext orarge quantity
of army and munitions had been troncferred fron these forts to the Guardia del Honor. The rebels had poeeeeeion of tho only tanks and cost of the high caliber
artillery as well as largo stocks of rimes and hand grenades. Guatemala's small
Air Borce, pledged its support to tho government,rantic search failed to disclose any bombs. Bio Guardia Civil, after eone hours of apparent indecleton, alBo threw its lot with the government. It was apparent, however, that the rebels bad the Immediate advantage and that, unless the government could secure the Immediate active aid of sizeable sectors of the civilian population, it could hold little hope of lasting through the next twenty-four hours.
Shortly after five in the afternoon, the government aent oat word that civilian volunteers would be given arms at the Military Base on Aurora Airfield, about two miles from the center of the city. e headquartera of the two labor
federations became the scenes of feverish activity as organized workers gathered to volunteer their eorvicee. They arrived on the fields of Aurora in trucks, cars, on bicycles and on foot. As each new group of voluntecre arrived at
Aurora, it was greeted with resounding cheera. Between two and three thousand rifles were reportedly handed out to organized workers at this time. Bealdee labor union members, some students, teachera, and exiles fron other Central American countries took part in the fighting.
During the evening, the civilian volunteers.were organized into platoons ofen each. Bach was in chargean with some military training,oung cadet from the Military Academy. The volunteer platoons took such names as "BlBl Oeotc. Spirit and determination was high among these groups. The workers knew what they were preparing to fight for and were determined to defend their government.
At shortly after eleven in the evening, aa new groups of volunteers were still arriving and being organized at Aurora, the rebels emerged from the Guardia del Honor and launched strong and repeated attacks upon the National Palace, the Guardia Civil Headquarters, the Military Base, Aurora Airfield, and other strategic points in tbe city. The attacks continued with undiminished fury throughout the rest of the nigit and well into the next day with weapons as heavyllll-neter artillery. Street fighters keptunning battle with tbe tanks, and planes on the government side dropped hastily Improvised bombs and cans of gasoline in an attempt to knock out the tanks. Vhen rebel tanks approached tho National Palace, they were nethower of "Molotov Cocktails" froa tbe office windows. About noon onh, the loyal defenders of the Guardia Civil headquarters who had been under almost coaetadt attack for over ten hours,
hsuotod their ammunition and wore forced to ranhlto flag. Before tho
tho defender, were supplied with tore ammunition
ack entrance and were able to continue the fight. Some of the most ierioas fighting occurred In the area between the loyal base at Aurora and the amrdla del Honor. It was here that the volunteer forces of organised labor were instrumental in keeping the airport and important installations of the Military Base fron falling into rebol possession.
The volunteer foroes at Aurora bad begun to take the offensive in the early hours ofh and by mld-mornlng had reached the Avenida de la Heforma and wero coving closer to the Guardia del Honor. Although they were needed here, urgent calls fron other parts of the city made it necessary to send some of them to defend points where the need was tore desoerate. en, almost all of them cambers of SAW and the Union of Workers in Public Works were dispatched to help defend the airport when lt was threatened by rebels moving in fron the north. Some of the heaviest fighting took nlace here for aboat two hour, on the morning ofh. Another company of workers was sent to reinforce the defenses of the National Palace. Late in therge group of workers arrived free Escuintla to volunteer In defense of tha government out there ware insufficient rifles to eupply all of them. Other organized workers arrived from Villanueva.
At about noon onh the tide began to turn against the rebels. reinforcementa had arrived fron Chtmltenango, Escuintla and othor citieshipment of bombe enabled the government to bomb the rebol fort. Twoaake ran out of gasoline near the national Palace and were capturoe. . the rebel Junta asked for tome, and. firing ceased. Three hours later government troops aod volunteors entered the Ouardia del Honor. The rebel leaders took refuge in the Salvadorean Embassy. It was reported that approximately lbO persons had been killed andore wounded. Among the wounded was Jose Lule Oacoroe, who had retired as Secretary General of 8AKV two woeke previously.
schools and private hones had boon destroyed by inaccurate boeblajt and artillery fire.
Had the rebel forces been sufficiently well organized to capture strategic points within tbe city before government reinforcements arrived, they would undoubtedly hare succeeded in their purpose. Had lt not been for the volunteer
forces, chiefly made up of orpinlsed workers, lt Is ouite probably that tbe rebels would have been able to capture tho airport and the nearby mala ROYsmnent
bass. ThAswould bave prevented the decisive bombing by the airforoe and probably
lost tho day for the government.
The spontaneous aid offered by the workers was highly indicative of their loyalty to the government which had granted then the right toandother advantages they had never before enjoyed. Exceptew from Escuintla workers fron outside the capital wore not able to participate in tho fighting. Manv, however, on hearing of the revolt, prparsd to come to the city to volunteer. It has been reported that the DOnbers of SET-SAG in Tiquieatc wont so far aa toailway train to carry thai to the city. Before they could leave, however, they were Informed that the rebela had surrendered. The sombers of soce eampeslnc unions are reported to have set out on foot for tbe capital.
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