GENERAL- OPERATIONAL - SPECIFIC- RUMORED DISMISSAL OF CRUZ WER AS CHIEF OF THE

Created: 5/4/1954

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

?M. -

no.

CLASStn cation

; LINCOLN

hief of Station, Guatemala sudjfct; Operational

date:

MAY 44

INFO: Chief, WllD

Rumored'Dismissal oryCRUZ War as Chief of tho Guardla Civil

Reference:

Attached for Lincoln'and Headquarters is one copyemorandum prepared by Hr. William L. KRIEG concomlng above subject and dated

ulara H. Heagey

4

Enclosure:

Memo as noted

CHH/cmh

1tt

CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASEAS SANITIZED

RYBAT CLASSIFICATION

CONFIDENTIAL

VKR3ATXDM

4

PARTICIPANTS. Sr.Manager of El laparelel

William L. Ixleg. Charge d'AXfalrea ad. intorla

SUBJECT: Dlead seal of Crui War ae Chief of PoliceI Kiaoellaneoua Observations

I mat Sr. BUNCOeception given by Kr. Frana KRKLL. Sr. Blanco immediately apologised for having riven aa misleading information on Aprilo tha affaot that Colonel Bogello CRUZ Var had been dismissed aa Chief of Pollea and that ha had refuaed to turn orer hia office formally until the return to Ouatemala of Colonel Carloa Enrique Diis, Chinf of tha Armed Foroos* Sr. Blanco aald ha still believed SwitkW aome foundation for tha report and pointed out that, in hia statement to thadenying.'" that ha had been dismissed,Colonel Crua had aald that ha had not boon diBmieaed by tha President but made ao mention of too Minister of Interior. Sr. Blanoo apeoulated that Sr. GHARJUDD Mac Don aid, Minister of Interior, had triad to dismiss Colonol Crua but that tha latter had appealed to Pre eldB8SHZ and that Arbens had at tha last deferred final action pending Colonol Dins' raturn.

After remarking bitterly on the corruption end Inefficiency of Government officials, Sr. Blanco said there waa one figure connected with tha Administration for whoa ha had great affection i

Trorapudo" (Colonel CarlojiALDANA Sandoval, Minister of Communicationa). Blanoo eaid that Arbeni had ones promieed Colonel Aldana that Aldana would ba hia auocaasor in tho Frealdenoy. Slnoe then, both Colonol Diss and Colonol SANCHEZ, Minlater of Defense, had acquired prealdentlal aaplrationa, and tha Preeident had cracked down on thoaa who wore working on behalf of Colonel Aldana*

In these ciroumstancea, Colonol aldana's future waa uncertain, and hia position within tho Adoiniatration extremely weak. Sr. Blanco confirmed earlier reporte that Colonol Aldana la atay-lng out of tha limelight ae much aa possible and spends much of his time out of Quatomala City. Aa Blanco put it, "ho la lying low to aee how thlnge will develop."

cc: AA and MA

Original document.

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