REPORT OF QUESTIONABLE ACTIVITY IN CONNECTION WITH PROJECT PBSUCCESS (W/ATTACHM

Created: 10/11/1979

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

UNCLASSIFIED

CONFIDENT!

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SENSITIVE/EYESeport of Questionable Activityon with Project PBSUCCESS

F. Donnelly Chief,4 Has

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Director of Central Intelligence Deputy Director for Operations

F. Donnelly

Chief( Information Management staff

Directorate of Operations

of Questionable Activity in Connection with Project PBSUCCESS

1; This memorandum reports the investigation by the Information Management Staffa possible questionable activity in connectioneview of the records of Directorate of Operations projectvehicle for the overthrow of the communist dominated regime of Guatemala

2. Whileystematic review forof the records of project PBSUCCESS duringhe Classification Review Divisionirectorate of Administration,ile entitled "Disposal List -Guatemala". emorandum in that file seemed to indicate that in2 consideration had been given to killinguatemalan communistsilitary action (presumably an overthrow of the Guatemalan Government) to be carried outuatemalan exile group. The memorandum also called for the

exile or imprisonment ofther Guatemalan communists. econd memorandum in the file, datedan updating of older lists, nameduatemalan communists to be disposed of. The discovery of the file was reported by CRD to Chief, Information Management Staff, and in turn by him to the DDO on The Inspector General and the DDCI were also informed.

WARNING NOTICE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED

the discovery, further review of records by CRD surfaced an additionalseven otherreferred to the subject of disposing of orcommunists. Two of the documents recordwith Department of State officials In which thementioned. In one of94 neootanduarecord, c eeting in Mr. C

J ice with Mr. Thomas Mann and Mr. Raymond LeddyDepartment of State to discuss the resultsecentand project PBSUCCESS. ssked Mr. Mann if

he had changed his thinking since the conference on themethods to get rid of the ARBENZ government. AccordingMann repeated that in his opinion "the elimina-

tion off thotie in high positions of the government would bring about its collapse. He then qualified this statement by saying thatmaller number,ould be sufficient."

second memorandum for the recorduneMr. Frank Wi finer reporting discussions held withHolland seems to refer to the subject. The twoa memorandum prepared by Mr. Tracy Barnes inc d presentedossible alternative toconceived, carefully-timed paramilitarythat prove difficult ofadded) alternative of leaflet drops, and possibly political assassinationeansthe Guatemalan army to move against thec ^reported:

Concerning one very sensitive type of treatment, which was raised directly for the firsc timen his memo preparedonsidered this and ruled it out, at least for the immediate future, on the grounds that it would probably prove to be counter-productive. This decision was not conclusiveuggested that we come up with more specific plans both concerning thetargets, the timing and the statement of tne purpose sought to be achieved with respect to each. This wouldairly solid showing of the advantage to be gained by this type of activity.

SENSITIVE/KYES ONLY

ENSITIVT/EYES ONLY

Is no indication in the records ofas reviewed by CRD, that the subject ofpursued further. It never received Agency orapproval evenontingency plan. Totho project as formally approved by the DO on

3 called for the removal covertly, and without bloodshed it possible (underlining added) the menace of the present communist controlled government of Guatemala. The removal was to be accomplished by bringing toeries of progressively heavier pressures including propaganda, economic sanctions, sabotage and finally, to the extent necessary, overt military actionuatemalan exile force aimed primarily at achieving the defection of the Guatemalan Army which in turn would bring about the President's resignation.

matters proceeded, not only was there nocommunist leaders during the operation, there was The operation was successful In bringing aboutof the Army. President Arbenz, whounta, took refuge in the Mexican Embassy. government officials sought similar refuge. John E. Purerifoyeace betweenand Col. Castillo Armas, leader of the Guatemalan Castillo Armas was subsequently appointedand allowed all political refugees to leave President Arbenz was granted political asylum One hundred and twenty Guatemalan communists The above events are matters of public record.

heck, the Information Management Staff traced the names ofuatemalan communists included in the various disposal lists. In no case did it appear that any of them died as tho rostilt of the upheaval in Guatemala.

portions SECRET.

William P. Donnelly |

CONCUR:

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SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY

Deputy Director for

Original document.

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