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1553481
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June 22, 1976 - Ford, Guatemalan Ambassador Abundio Maldonado
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1553481
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document
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June 22, 1976 - Ford, Guatemalan Ambassador Abundio Maldonado
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Guatemala (Guatemala)
Earthquakes
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22
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1976-06-22
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6
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1976
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22
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1976-06-22
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6
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1976
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
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MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Ford
Colonel Abundio Maldonado, Ambassador of
the Republic of Guatemala
Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
Amb. Harry W. Schlaudeman, Assistant Secretary
of State for Inter-American Affairs
Amb. Henry Catto, Chief of Protocol
DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, June 22, 1976
4:10 - 4:17 p.m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
SUBJECT:
Presentation of Credentials
Maldonado: It is a great honor to be here. It is the honor of my life to
meet with you. [The press comes in. ] My President was to express his
appreciation for your assistance during our recent time of troubles.
NSC BY W MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES, state Buiew3/12/04
President: [Discussed earthquake and reconstruction.
Maldonado: The road is now open again and your engineers have moved
NARA, DATE 1/21/04
back to the Southern Command.
It is great to be here. I went to university here and three of my children
are citizens. I know the United States well and I am a soldier of the
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
American philosophy. The humanism of the founders of this country
is an inspiration to all who seek freedom. I wish you the best of luck.
Bless you, bless America. I hope next January I can work with you
in the same position.
CONFIDENTIAL
FIED BY
Bren Subscrift
ENEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
SCHEDULE OF ENECUTIVE ORDER 11652
EXEMPTION CATEGORY
5
AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON
CONFIDENTIAL
BRIEFING MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
lb
Name of Ambassador:
Colonel Abundio Maldonado
(mahl doh NAH doh)
Appointed as Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala
Addressed as "Mr. Ambassador"
Ambassador Maldonado is a 52-year old career Army officer.
He has attended several U.S. universities and speaks fluent English.
Intelligent, competent and very ambitious, Maldonado's overriding
aim is to be President of Guatemala. He ran for that office in
1962-63 but a military coup overthrew the government and the
election was cancelled. Because of his political ambitions,
successive governments have kept him out of Guatemala in various
diplomatic assignments almost continuously since 1963. He has
been military attache in the United States twice and Ambassador to
Mexico and El Salvador. He is a moderate and is a strong friend
of the U.S. Four of Maldonado's children are U.S. citizens by
birth.
Basic Facts about Guatemala
Guatemala is a Republic with an elected President (General
Kjell Laugerud, pronounced LAO gurrude) and a unicameral
legislature. It has approximately 6 million people, about half
of them pure blood Mayan Indians. The basis of its economy is
agriculture. Most of its foreign exchange earnings came from five
principal commodities - sugar, coffee, cotton, bananas and meat.
Guatemala is a strong country economically and has the possibility
of becoming an oil producer in the next five to ten years. Last
February a devastating series of earthquakes left more than 23,000
dead, 75, 000 injured and more than 1, 100, 000 homeless. The U.S.
responded with a massive flow of assistance, including a 100-bed
U.S. Army field hospital, 17 large helicopters, an Army engineering
battalion to reopen a critical road (completed in April), water
purification equipment, food, medical supplies, and roofing materials
for emergency shelter. Secretary Kissinger visited Guatemala on
February 24. On April 21 you signed the Guatemala Relief and
Rehabilitation Act which authorized $25 million in U.S. assistance.
Almost all of the funds have now been obligated. The Guatemalan
Government is extremely grateful for our help. President Laugerud
sent you a formal letter of thanks to which you responded.
CONFIDENTIAL
DECLASSIPIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES state 3/12/04
<
NARA DATE 7/27/DL
GERALD
CONFIDENTIAL
Bilateral Relations
We have no major bilateral problems with Guatemala. Our
relations have been close and friendly for many years. There
were some periods of strain recently over our reluctance to sell
certain types of military equipment. We were concerned the
equipment might be used in an attack on the neighboring British
colony of Belize, which Guatemala has always claimed. However,
negotiations have resumed between the British and the Guatemalans
over the future of Belize and we have resumed our normal military
supply relationship.
Significant Programs or Issues
Guatemala's main focus now is on reconstruction programs.
The U.S., joined by the IBRD, the Inter-American Development
Bank, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration
is providing assistance. We are concentrating our efforts in the
rural areas in such programs as restoration and upgrading of
municipal facilities, rural education and agricultural credit.
Talking Points
I am most pleased the United States was able to be of
assistance to the people of Guatemala during the recent
earthquake. It was a terrible tragedy but your people and
your government responded with courage and fortitude.
The United States is actively assisting in the reconstruction
effort.
The U.S. and Guatemala have had close and friendly
relations for many years. I hope these bonds will continue
and be strengthened in the future.
(if raised) The U.S. lauds efforts by the countries involved
to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the Belize problem
and hopes for their success.
CONFIDENTIAL
Photo- sequed ander
a
P/anet maslando
22 jun 26
NL Itisa just hower to be here. Its the
life to meet w/ege
(Presson)
Usy President worth Xpres his offer for
your dises during on recent Time & tranks
P earthquiches + re constru time
In The road is even you ag aim and jan engineers
be hr enered hn h to Somether university Goal
It is nent A h here, I went to sthool here,
5 fun chichen and entiges. I human us
will & I am soldin of assise photosoper
Tsh is hmrrine of femily of this country
are an inspiration to all who seeh preadm
demish your best of he h. Bls you, less
America. I lope crept Jan I can
work w/ ayan in c same forting
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
BY
NSC hh MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES state Review 3/12/04
NARA. DATE 7/21/04