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Guatemala - Earthquake (4)
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4662786
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Guatemala - Earthquake (4)
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National Security Council Latin American Affairs Staff Files (Ford Administration)
Latin American Affairs Staff Country Files
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Guatemala
Earthquakes
Disaster relief
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1976-07-31
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1976
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1976-04-01
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 3, folder "Guatemala - Earthquake (4)" of the
National Security Adviser. NSC Latin American Affairs Staff: Files for Latin America at
the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
-Low
MEMORANDUM
1872
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506
(Correspondence Referral)
April 7, 1976
TO:
RALPH E. MARTIN
FROM:
JEANNE W. DAVIS mt
fn
REFERENCE:
To: The Vice President Date: March 5, 1976
From: Robert Cruz
Subject: Requests sponsor to assist in rebuilding
Chinautla, Guatemala.
Comment: Reply suggests the Miami Hotel Association
discuss their idea for assisting Guatemalan reconstruc-
tion with the Partners of the Americas, a private organi-
zation with experience in setting up relationships
between private organizations in Latin America and
the U.S.
A draft reply is attached at Tab A. The incoming letter is
attached at Tab B.
Attachments
FORD
GERALD
LIBRARY a
SUGGESTED REPLY
Dear Mr. Cruz:
This is in response to your letter of March 5 to Vice President
Rockefeller requesting information on how the Miami Hotel Association
might help a similar association in Guatemala. I understand you are
interested in obtaining additional sponsors to help the Guatemalan
Hotel Association in a program to rebuild the town of Chinautla which
was destroyed by the recent earthquake.
After looking into this matter, I suggest that you contact the
Partners of the Americas, a non-governmental organization whose
purpose is to assist private groups in the U.S. establish relationships
with private organizations in Latin America. During the coming weeks
the Partners will be discussing with one of their member groups in
Alabama reconstruction programs for Guatemala. At our request, the
Department of State has contacted the Partners and they are interested
in exploring with you possible ways of further assisting Chinautla.
You can reach the person handling Guatemala, Mr. David Luria, by
calling (202) 332-7332, or by writing to the following address:
National Partners of the Americas
2001 S Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
FORD
&
GERALD
LIBRARY
2
Mr. Luria has been forwarded a copy of your correspondence.
I hope this information will be of assistance to you, and I thank
you for your interest and concern.
Sincerely,
Mr. Robert Cruz
President
Greater Miami Hotel and
Motor Hotel Association
10 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33132
GERALD ? LIBRARY FORD
Partners of r Alliance
Sponsorship program
Greater Miami Hotel and
Motor cotel Association, Inc.
Founded as the Greater Miami Hotel Association in 1917
10 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD SUITE 301
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33132
7605888
March 5, 1976
TAMRA SHEFFMAN
Mr. Nelson Rockefeller
Executive Director
Vice President of the
OFFICERS
United States
BERT CRUZ
White House
iscayne Terrace Hotel
Washington, D.C.
resident
TER MOSS
liami Airport Inn
ice President
Dear Mr. Rockefeller:
BERT WEISS
niversity Inn
As President of the Greater Miami Hotel and Motel
ice President
Association, we are the brothers or sister Association
( BARBARINO
of the Guatemala Hotel Association.
rossway Inn
ice President
I am sure that you are completely aware of the tragedy
K STRAYER
that has recently occurred in Guatemala.
oward Johnson's
reasurer
The Guatemala Hotel Association has an emergency Sub-
DIRECTORS
Committee which has been appointed officially by the
government and which its main project is to rebuilt
BRUNS
the small town of Chinautla. This small town was
CLAUGHTON, JR.
devastated by the recent earthquake.
D DANKER
THE ELSON
Our Association has been collecting funds and we are
FERNANDEZ
wondering if you can give us any idea in an official
A GLADWIN
manner as to where we can obtain additional sponsors
RLEY HALVORSEN,
JR
or funds for this project since I am aware of your
BERT JACKSON
interest in South and Central America.
LIAM MOODY
NATHANSOHN
I am writing to you with the hopes that you can direct
DY PENNELLA
me to specific organizations that might be interested
'INA
in helping us with this project.
ORGE RUBIN
SHEPARD
Thanking you in advance for any aid that you can offer
KE STURGEON
us and I remain,
Most cordially
ROBERT CRUZ
President
RC/na
GERALD ? LIBRARY FORD
MEMORANDUM
2690
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
May 27, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: BRENT SCOWCROFT
SC
FROM:
STEPHEN LOW
SUBJECT:
Presidential Letter to President Laugerud
of Guatemala
Attached for your signature at Tab 1 is a memo to the President
forwarding a suggested reply to the President of Guatemala who
wrote him on March 29 to extend formal thanks for the earthquake
relief assistance which the United States provided to Guatemala.
The letter was delivered to U.S. officials on April 29. It has
been cleared with Doug Smith of Robert Hartmann's office.
GERALD
Pr FORD LIBRARY
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
2690
UNCLASSIFIED
ACTION
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
BRENT SCOWCROFT
SUBJECT:
Letter to President Laugerud of Guatemala
Guatemalan President Kjell Laugerud sent you the letter at
Tab B formally thanking you for all the assistance provided
by the United States after the February 4 earthquake in Guatemala.
The letter was delivered to Assistant Secretary of State William
Rogers on April 29.
The letter at Tab A to President Laugerud acknowledges receipt
of the letter and notes that the United States Government and
people are pleased to have been able to be of assistance to
Guatemala following the tragic devastation. The suggested
letter has been cleared with Doug Smith of Robert Hartmann's
office.
RECOMMENDATION
That you sign the letter to President Laugerud at Tab A.
FOHD
?
UNCLASSIFIED
GERALD
LIBRARY
Lew FYI
THE WHITE HOUSE
r
WASHINGTON
May 31, 1976
Dear Mr. President:
Assistant Secretary Rogers has given me your kind and
gracious letter of March 29. I am pleased and gratified
that the United States has been able to provide assistance
to the people of Guatemala following the terrible tragedy
that befell your country. In times of peril and suffering
it is important that neighboring nations and peoples
provide mutual assistance. In this regard, I have been
particularly proud of the many generous offers of
assistance which have been extended by private citizens
and groups throughout the United States.
The people and government of Guatemala have responded
to this unprecedented tragedy with admirable bravery and
fortitude. You have our continuing support and best wishes
for success in the momentous task of reconstruction.
Sincerely,
Heald R. 7nd
His Excellency
Kjell Eugenio Laugerud Garcia
President of the Republic of Guatemala
Guatemala City
GERALD ? LIBRARY FORD
Kjell Eugenio Laugerud Garcia
Presidente de la Prepublica de Guatemala
wew Excelencia
Gerald R. Ford
Presidente de los Estados Unidos de America.
Grande ye BuensAmigo:
Fongo a honra expresar a Thes tra Excelencia, per Questro digno
conducto_alnoble Puebloy Gobiano de los Estados Unidos de America,
el profundo agradecimiento del Pueblo Gobierno de Guatemala por la
generase y eficaz terremoto
asclara nuestro teritoridelcuatro,de, Sebreroreción pasado, trayendo
destruccion familias guatema ltecas.
ayuda moraly materialque/la gran Nacion
Americanaly Vuestro Hustrado Gobierno brindaron/p los guatemaltecas en mo.
mentos)de/intensa angustia y dolor para nuestro pueblo, no lamente ajeron
consuelo y esp beranza, sino le infundieson/mayordalentas para afrontar
la ardua tared de reconstruccion que/ya/se/ha/ emp prendido.
Mreiterar a Vuestra Excelencia el impereederos.receimients. de
lac Nacion Guatemalte dy del honor de presidish
aprovecha la oportunidad paralexpresares las seguridades/deimi mas/alta a
y distinguida/consideración
Say de Duestra Excelencia
GERALD
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DIVISION OF LANGUAGE SERVICES
(TRANSLATION)
LS NO. 56015
MSS/DT
Spanish
[Seal]
KJELL EUGENIO LAUGERUD GARCIA
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA
to
HIS EXCELLENCY
GERALD R. FORD
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AMERICA
Great and Good Friend:
I have the honor to express to Your Excellency, and through you,
to the noble people and Government of the United States of America,
the profound gratitude of the people and Government of Guatemala for
the generous and effective cooperation granted us in the wake of the
earthquake which devastated our territory on February 4, 1976, bringing
destruction and death to thousands of Guatemalan families.
The moral and material assistance and solidarity which your great
nation and your distinguished Government offered to the Guatemalans in
moments of intense suffering and grief for our people brought not only
consolation and hope, but also gave them greater courage to confront
the arduous task of reconstruction which has already begun.
FORD
?
GERALD
LIBRARY
2
Reiterating to Your Excellency the undying gratitude of the
Guatemalan nation and of the Government which I have the honor to
head, I avail myself of the opportunity to convey the assurances
of my highest and most distinguished consideration.
I am, Excellency,
Your Loyal and Good Friend,
[Signed] K. E. Laugerud
Done at the National Palace of Guatemala,
March 29, 1976
GERALD A FORD LIBRARY
3
MEMORANDUM
3003
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506
June 21, 1976
TO:
JON HOWE
FROM:
JEANNE W. DAVIS WA
for
REFERENCE:
To:
Vice President
Date: May 17, 1976
From:
James W. Schubauer
Subject: Guatemala Earthquake
Comment: The suggested reply outlines U.S. assistance
to Guatemala and stresses that our assist-
ance has been coordinated with Guatemalan-
determined priorities and with the efforts
of other donors. It further assures Mr.
Schubauer that our response is a continuing
one.
A draft is attached at Tab A. The incoming letter is attached at
Tab B.
Attachments
ERALD
RALO
LIBARY
4
MEMORANDUM
3003
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506
(Correspondence Referral)
July 22, 1976
TO:
JON HOWE
FROM:
JEANNE W. DAVIS
REFERENCE:
To:
Vice President
Date: May 17, 1976
From: James W. Schubauer
Subject: Guatemala Earthquake
Comment: The suggested reply outlines U.S. assistance to
Guatemala and stresses that our assistance has
been coordinated with Guatemalan-determined
priorities and with the efforts of other donors.
It notes that the long-term reconstruction effort
will be heavily dependent upon participation of
the Guatemalan people through projects such as
the one he has designed. The letter assures
Mr. Schubauer that our response is a continuing
one.
A draft is attached at Tab A. The incoming letter is attached at
Tab B.
Attachments
GERALD ? LIBRARY FORD
SUGGESTED REPLY
Dear Mr. Schubauer:
The Vice President has asked me to respond to your letter of
May 17 regarding the United States disaster-relief assistance to
Guatemala following the devastating earthquake last February.
I regret the long delay in responding to your thoughtful letter
with which you included a copy of the Master Plan for the
reconstruction of Tecpan, which you developed for the Salvation
Army.
As you know, the United States Government responded rapidly to
provide assistance to Guatemala. The assistance in the immediate
relief phase consisted primarily of medical facilities, drugs and
medicines, water purification equipment, tents and materials
for buildings including 500, 000 metal roofing sheets, poles and
tool kits. At the request of President Ford, the Congress gave
priority attention to and approved legislation authorizing $25 million
for the relief and recovery effort in Guatemala. Over $20 million
has already been expended.
In all instances the United States has coordinated its assistance
with the priorities determined by the Guatemalan Government and
in consultation with other organizations assisting in the reconstruction
effort. A United States Army Engineer Battalion, funded by the
FORD
&
Agency for International Development, succeeded in reopening in
GERALD
LIBRARY
April Guatemala's principal highway connecting the capital city
2
to the Caribbean. This was one of the Guatemalan Government's
highest priority requests. Additional road clearing and maintenance
equipment has been funded by the Agency for International
Development to help the Guatemalan Department of Highways
open and repair other important roads damaged by the earthquake.
United States assistance also aided municipalities in their efforts
to clear rubble and begin the reconstruction effort. Our
assistance to communities also focused upon the repair of water
systems and provision of materials for school construction.
United States assistance has concentrated on the rural communities
destroyed by the earthquake. In addition to the other assistance,
approximately $18. 4 million in food commodities has been made
available to Guatemala to help meet the needs of the most severely
affected individuals, primarily in rural areas. Other donors and
private agencies, such as the Salvation Army, have also been
providing assistance in the rural areas and their efforts are taken
into account in the programming of the United States assistance.
In the case of Tecpan, the principal United States input to the
relief effort has been the donation of PL480 Title II foods
distributed through CARE. In addition to private voluntary agencies,
the Government of Mexico and the Guatemalan Government have
been working in that area and have provided very substantial amounts
?
GERALD
SMARY
3
of housing materials as well as food, clothing, and technical services.
The result of the combined efforts of the various organizations involved
has been that the immediate relief requirements of the community have
been largely met. As you point out in your proposal, however, the
reconstruction effort in Tecpan as throughout Guatemala will be a
long-term one, heavily dependent upon participation of the Guatemalan
people through projects such as the one you have designed. Private
and international organizations will play an important role in this effort.
I want to assure you that the United States commitment to the recovery
and reconstruction effort is a continuing one and that, together with
other governments and organizations, we are continuing to support
Guatemala's recovery effort.
Your interest and desire to make a meaningful contribution to this
effort is deeply appreciated.
Sincerely,
Mr. James W. Schubauer
President
Schumacher and Forelle, Inc.
560 Northern Boulevard
Great Neck, New York 11021
FORD
&
GERALD
LIBRARY
SCHUMACHER & FORELLE, INC.
PLANNING
560 NORTHERN BOULEVARD
ENGINEERING
GREAT NECK. NEW YORK 11021
CONSTRUCTION
516 482-8730
May 17, 1976
Honorable Nelson A. Rockefeller
Vice President of the United States
Washington, D. C. 20501
Dear Mr. Rockefeller:
Recent newspaper articles indicate the concern of our government,
and you in particular, have to the earthquake in Italy. It was
noted that you are giving your personal attention to this and
that "Congress is acting quickly to provide $25,000,000 for the
Italian disaster."
Of course one cannot disagree with the obvious need in Italy and
the quick responses of our government, and you personally, to
this situation. However, I cannot find it possible to be silent
on the question of priorities in view of our firm's recent vol-
untary involvement in the Guatemalan earthquake; and, therefore,
our "firsthand" knowledge of the degree of severity of the Guate-
malan situation compared with the Italian situation (e.g., 24,000
deaths versus 1,000 deaths, etc.).
As you might know, The Salvation Army has given a major effort to
the Guatemalan earthquake disaster through direct involvement in
the Village of Tecpan, Guatemala. Tecpan, originally a village
of 24,000 residents, mostly Indians, was the most severly damaged
village in Guatemala; of the 24,000 total residents 3,000 were
killed, 7,000 were injured and every adobe home was destroyed.
The Salvation Army, without any direct reimbursement from the
United States Government, has practically singlehandedly provided
the emergency relief to Tecpan from early February, 1976 to the
present.
As a result of our firm's long association as Property Consultants
to The Salvation Army on their properties and many of their pro-
jects, we volunteered to provide initial technical guidance to
The Salvation Army efforts in Guatemala. I had never been to
Guatemala before, knew very little about the people, and thus had
no "cause" to "push." I personally have spent time in Guatemala
and in Tecpan together with some of our staff assisting The
Salvation Army in this terrible need of the Guatemalan people.
FORD
a
GERALD
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Continued
SCHUMACHER & FORELLE, INC
Honorable Nelson A. Rockefeller
May 17, 1976
Page Two
I have witnessed the incredible devastation and the desperate needs
of these people. I have met with Guatemalan businessmen in Guate-
mala City and find them groping and needing direction.
Knowing of your intense empathy for the people of Latin America
and having read about your concern and interest in the Indian
people there, I am sure you can appreciate the impact these people
had on me personally on my visits to Guatemala and the opportunity
I had while living within their camp in the aftermath of their
earthquake. Therefore, I find it indeed difficult to imagine that
the attention apparently being given to the current Italian earth-
quake could be as disproportionate in its attention, as compared
with the need in Guatemala, as the publicity indicates. I continue
to search through the news media for any mention of Guatemala, but
in vain.
Enclosed is the "Action Program: Tecpan, Guatemala Master Plan"
which our firm prepared. We have done this with absolutely no
reimbursement of any cost, expenses, etc. whatsoever from any
source. We paid for it ourselves. Further, in our continued in-
volvement with The Salvation Army in an advisory capacity to them
on this matter, it appears that the United States Government is
completely unresponsive to the urgency of getting something done
in Guatemala. It appears that the bureaucratic red tape will re-
sult, for example, in the current planning for the rehabilitation
and restoration of Tecpan being terminated shortly because no sup-
porting funds whatsoever are available and, in fact, USAID funds
are not really "available" to purchase building materials, techni-
cal assistance, etc. With the rainy season upon them, we have
"let the people down." We reacted honorably to the initial impact,
but it appears we didn't "follow through."
The guatemalan needs are for helping the poor and the Indians. As
you probably know, virtually 100% of the destruction was to the
Indian adobe homes. Therefore, these people are without a living
place and are staying in makeshift tin huts, tents made out of
blankets, etc. In Tecpan new permanent dwellings for the entire
village of about 21,000 surviving residents could likely be pro-
vided for less than $10,000,000. If the United States is consider-
ing giving $25,000,000 to the Italian earthquake cause in which
1,000 people were killed, is it then prepared to give $25,000,000
times 24 (proportionate to the number of people killed in Guatemala)
to the Guatemalan earthquake cause?
FOHD
&
GERALD
LIBRARY
Continued
SCHUMACHER & FORELLE, INI
Honorable Nelson A. Rockefeller
May 17, 1976
Page Three
I am generally not a letter writer on these kinds of issues. How-
ever, I am concerned with the apparent priorities and delays in
actual aid to the Guatemalans. I recognize that Guatemala does
not have the international stature of Italy. However, Guatemala
is a short distance from our country. Its Indian people, the
people who had almost nothing before the earthquake, are in des-
perate need of assistance. I personally have been making speeches
to churches and charitable groups in an effort to assist them in
raising funds. I am sure you appreciate the concern. However,
what is our government doing of a positive nature to quickly help
restore to these people the little they had but lost?
This letter is written without the knowledge or authority of The
Salvation Army. They are not complainers
they are doers. It
is written by a concerned citizen who thinks our government has
"missed the point" on the follow-up after its initial attention.
I would appreciate hearing from you and for your good offices to
arrange to "walk through" with me what help is being given and
getting to the people, - not studies, not promises, but HELP -
so that this effort we made immediately after the earthquake was
not the end of our concern for Guatemala. They need building
materials and technical assistance NOW
months before Italy
needed them, and a lot more than Italy. Are we simply reacting to
initial shock and then "forgetting"? Where are our priorities?
I'm for helping Italy
but I'm also for continuing to help
Guatemala
"help" being positive follow-up action and aid,
not just initial concern without follow-up.
Very truly yours,
James President W. Schubauer
pec
Enclosure
cc: Honorable James L. Buckley
(w/enclosure)
Honorable Jacob K. Javits
FORD
(w/enclosure)
&
GERALD
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