Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-20
u. 5. Denies Claim
Guatemala Reds Are
Aggression Victims
By the Asseeiotsd Press

The United States yesterday
denounced as baseless a charge
by the Red-tinged Guatemalan
government that its strife-torn
country is victim of "aggres-
sion."
A statement issued by the
State Department took the posi-
ton that the uprisings are "a
revolt of Guatemalans against
the government" The spokesman
said this meant rejection of the
charge Of aggression which is the
basis Of a Guatemalan govern
ment appeal to the United Ma
tions Security Council to take up
the case.
A statement reported informa-
ton from Ambassador John E.
Peurifoy at Guatemala City.
Will Consult Other Nations.
The uprisings were described
by the State Department as evil
dence of the trouble which results
from Communist intervention in
Guatemala" The Department
declared its intention of contin-
uing to consult with other Ameri-
can nations regarding action
needed" to block further en-
croachment by international
communism" in the Western
Hemisphere.
The consultations are aimed
at bringing about a meeting OF
the Organizations of American
States to deal with the Guate-
malan issue.
The statement was issued after
q day of intensive consultation
among officials in the State De-
partment, headed over the week
end by Deputy Undersecretary
Robert Murphy.
Informants said that these Of
ficials were in touch with Sec
retry of State Dulles, who is
spending the week end at his re-
sort island in Lake Ontario.
The White House announced
that President Eisenhower was
being kept informed.
Arms Shipment Explained.
Safe Department officials were
asked by reporters whether the
forces acting against the Guate-
malan government had received
any American arms. Military
supplies were shipped to Nicara-
qua and Honduras after Guate-
mala in mid-May received a
2,000-ton, 81 million shipment
of arms from behind the Iron
Curtain.
A Department spokesman said
that the weapons supplied to
Nicaragua and Honduras were
given under a military defense
agreement designed to strength
en- the defenSes of the hemis-
phere, that they were not in
tended for the revolutionists and
that so far as is known here
none of them reached the revo-
lutionary forces.
State Department officials said
their communications with Qua
temala were slow and that their
information was running about
eight hours behind news reports
The statement on the situa-
ton quoted Mr.. Peurifoy as re-
porting that all Americans in
Guatemala City "are well and
safe" Mr.. Peurifoy, it said,
''has made strong representa-
tions to local authorities regard
ing their safety"
Some Congressman Pleased.
At the Capitol, several Con-
gressmen guardedly expressed
hope that the uprising would
bring a stable, non-CommuniSt
government to Guatemala.
Representative VoryS, Repub-
lican, of Ohio, a ranking men,
Der of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, said, 1T looks as if
Communist governments won't
last long in the Western Henri
sphere"
Representative C1arenc e
Brown, Republican, of Ohio:
"It was rather to be expected
that a lot of people in Guete-
mala and those who have been
driven out would not stand for
q continuation of the situation
in a leftist-dominated country.
I am hopeful this will bring
about q more stable and a more
friendly government in Guate-
mala."
Rep. Mccormack of MaSSa-
chuSettS, Deputy House Demo-
cratic Leader: 81 have been eX-
pecting for a long while that
the great majority of the peo-
pie of Guatemala who are OPP
posd to communism would take
steps to protect their liberty and
the way of life we all believe in"
Senator Smathers, Democrat,
Of Florida, said the uprising
shows citizens of this hemi-
sphere will not tolerate control
Of their government by a hand
flll of Soviet-trained leaders,"