STATUS OF PBSUCCESS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02627759
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 17, 2022
• Case Number: F-2019-02532
• Publication Date: October 29, 1953

Approved for Release: 2022/01/06 CO2627759
&purity Info ation
29 October 1953
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD:
SUBJECT t Status of PBSUCCESS
1. The present status is PBSUCCESS is as noted below:
a. Personnel:
Present planning calls for utilization of the following field
personnel:
Guatemala
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Chief of Station
Operations Officer
Operations Officer
Operations Officer
Reports Officer
GS-15 vice
GS-14 (b)(3)
PP
JGS-l1
GS-13 (b)(3)
GS-13
-9
(Attache) TI
(Asst. Attache)FI
(Political Asst.) PP
\GS
Admin. Asst.
Secty. Steno
Gs-5 (b)(3)
Secty. Steno
-Gs-5
C orruno�
(b)(1)
Guatemala
(b)(3)
Operations Officer, PP
Operations Officer, PP
Honduras
Operations Officer, Fl
Honduras
Donald O. Heddiger GS-7
Eliot P. Razmara GS-9
GS-7
Operations Officer PP
GS-12
Vincent N. Pivall
TDY replacement for Older,
Heddiger and Razmara are in place and operating.
Seekford is on operational TDY in the United States now
but is expected to return to Honduras Shortly.
by
is now at Headquarters but has not yet been released
ET
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
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Security Information
is now at Headquarters with WH studying language
and background. J
F-1
Now
is scheduled to leave Caracas 28 October.
(b)(3)
is on duty in Panama.
(b)(3)
is at Headquarters on duty with lee
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
is at Headquarters on duty with NH.
Slots for
\
\ Pivall
are
all awaiting CIA internal approval of T 0 for Project PBSUCCESS.
b. Military Assistance to Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras.
Action to provide assistance as outlined in the Guatemala
General Plan of Action was delayed by lack of approval on the
part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mr. Ledd
Y1 ABA State, advises,
however, that at the oCH meeting of 21 October action was taken
to obtain JCS approval, that the JCS later reported favorably
and that official notification from Defense to State is expected
very shortly. Upon receipt of notification, State will initiate
negotiations with Nicaragua. Negotiations with El Salvador and
Honduras are expected to follow.
el/
Official U.S. Pressure on Guatemala.
One aspect of the stronger, more critical attitude which the
United States Government is taking toward Guatemala was manifested
in Assistant Secretary Cabot's speech of 14 October. This has
received extensive press and radio publicity in Latin America and
will continue to be stressed through pp field outlets.
Newly appointed Ambassador John Peurifoy is expected to arrive
in Guatemala on 29 Octover.
d. /conomic Warfare.
As decided by DD/P and CUR, the Director of Security was
requested to obtain background information on a group of key
figures in business and industry who are judged to be in the
most advantageous positions to provide technical guidance and
operational support for EW operations directed against Guatemala.
Completed reports from IgtS are acted on as operational clearances
for the purposes of PBSUCCESS. Studies have been completed on
-2.
:ECRET
(b)(3)
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b)(1)
b)(3)
e. Psychological Warfare:
Operations in the field of psychological warfare have been
developed in close coordination with the principal agent in this
country, who has been established in a safe house near (b)(3)
Headquarters. Detailed planning has been materially advanced and
developmental operations initiated both here and in the field.
An initial sum of $30,000. has been provided for (b)(3)
operations during the months of October and November* Of this,
$15,000. has been transmitted to RUFUS and the second $15,000.
will be forwarded early in November. Expenditures are being
based on the following breakdown:
Development of Intelligence Nets
$ 8,000.
Development of Rumor Nets
4,000.
Subversion
10,000.
Production of Propaganda
5,500.
Contingencies
1,900.
$30,000.
Intelligence and rumor nets are now being expanded within
Guatemala and in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras.
An intensive study of opposition personalities has been
initiated to determine their potential value to the RUFUS
organization. In addition, key pro-government figures are being
investigated with a view toward possible subversion.
The RUFUS controlled student bulletin CEUAGE continues to
be published in Honduras and distributed clandestinely in Guatemala.
Production is 5,000 copies bi-weekly. Guatemalan government
reaction has been marked by press denunciation and efforts toward
supression and confiscation.
-3..
SECRF
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A RUFUS controkacitY148fgERIPlifirin El Salvador has
initiated broadcasting. Apolitical material is being used
for the present while RUFUS agents check reception in various
parts of the country.
RUFUS controlled ',committees', are being developed in Mexico,
El Salvador and Nicaragua to serve the following purposes:
1. Preparation of propaganda and its introduction into
Guatemala.
2. Provision of overt, controlled media for purchase of
newspaper advertising space and radio time throughout
Latin America.
3. Encouragement of Mexican and Central American support
for the RUFUS campaign.
4. Diversion of Guatemalan government attention from the
RUFUS group.
The RUGUS symbol-slogan, "God, Country, Liberty', is at present
being publicised throughout Guatemala through the UAGE bulletin.
In preparation for the more intensive campaigning to come, 600,000
symbol-slogan colored stickers and 1,000,000 smaller stamps have
been prepared and are ready for shipment to RUFUS.
A book, uI Accuse, written by RUFUS to present his aims and
plans for the future is ready for printing. As advance propaganda,
600,000 colored stickers have been prepared for distribution at
the appropriate time.
In Mexico, the non RUFUS controlled Committee for the Liberation
of Guatemala continues to produce its bi-weekly bulletin for
distribution within Guatemala and to a selected mailing list in
other countries. It has also prepared and distributed 30,000
comic books. Since it appears that distribution of both bulletin
and comic books has been faulty and since the material contained
therein has been criticized for obvious falsehoods and inaccuracies,
plans to visit Mexico in an effort to arrgJinproved
coor nation, distribution and editorial effort. intends
to offer the Mexican group a part in his overall p an an 0 if
proper control can be established, will provide financial support.
If not, support will be withheld from this group.
A staff agent in Guatemala under unofficial cover has contacted
an officer of the RUFUS affiliated (CEUA-Comite Estudiante
Universitario Anticommunista) and through him had distributed
106,000 window displays, handbills and stickers in Guatemala City
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Security informotiin
NO,
and in 123 outlying towns. He plans to continue this
distribution on a bi-weekly basis.
A staff agent from Mexico has completed a fact finding
tour through Guatemala, British Honduras, Honduras and El
Salvador and reports that RUFUS is highly regarded as a potential
liberator, that various potential support groups exist in
Guatemala and in neighboring countries. He reports strong
evidence of RUFUS, internal organizations being intact but
seriously discouraged and in danger of premature action motivated
by desperation. r 1 is aware of this condition.
A field memorandum has gone to reemphasizing
the importance of the anti-Guatemalan campaign and offering
supplementary financial support, news articles, photographs,
cartoons and themes to encourage through our covert media,
hemisphere wide KUGOTAN support of the Objectives of PBSUCCESS.
As an aid to RUFUS production of propaganda in the field,
procurement of three Gestetner machines ( simple, rugged,
multilith type devices), three mimeographs and three tape
recorders has been initiated. One tape recorder has been turned
over to
In order to check on RUFUS' activities and on the activities
of other anti-Communists, Station Guatemala has been directed
to take the following actions:
lo Transmit all rumors re Arbenz officials, the
Guatemalan Army, revolutionary activities and
Communist activities.
2. Prepare a weekly "psychological barometer" report
on local conditions.
3. Make a continuing study of morale factors anong
students, laborers, army officers, enlisted men,
government officials, farm owners, and business
and professional men.
4. Prepare a list of the 25 most dangerous Communists
and pro-Communists with information appropriate for
use in character assasination.
5, Forward copies of all anti-Communist propaganda
to headquarters with details of distribution and
reaction.
6. Provide headquarters bi-weekly with negatives and
captions illustrative of miserable living conditions
in Guatemala.
7. Prepare an operation designed to ridicule the October
National Fair.
"SECRE"
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
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f. Intelligence:
F1 activity on the part of Station Guatemala has
continued on a normal basis while production on the part of
the RUFUS group has increased materially. Significant
data has been received regarding Guatemalan Communist and
pro-Communist activity both internally and externally.
Stress is being laid on Obtaining factual material suitable
for use as evidence of Kremlin intervention in the internal
affairs of Guatemala and of Guatemalan intervention in the
affairs of friendly nations.
g, Paramilitary Action:
An initial shipment of approximately 15 tons of arms
and anmunition is now re4y for shi ent from
and subsequent trans-
shipment to RUFUS at Nicaragua. Requisite
arrangements with the Munitions Control Board and Customs
have been completed. Necessary maintenance can be performed
conveniently and legally This
material is intended for use by RUFUS in his Nicaraguan training
center and to test facilities for clandestine introduction of
arms into Guatemala.
2. UR has not yet been advised of the essential appropriation for
PBSUCCESS having been obtained from the Bureau of the Budget.
SECRET
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
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