◆ SpookStack

TOP ~RET that after a session with Thomas Mann the Guatemalan Ambassador, Carlos Alejos, felt that the Guatemalan cause was lost. IL -----"I apparently was unaware of the contents of the Ydigoras letter to Kennedy which presumably precipitated Mann's reaction, but in any event, he cabled OPIM to Headquarters re- porting on Ydigoras's feeling. Roberto Alejos was successful in setting up a meeting with President Kennedy on 7 March 1961 with Thomas Mann and an Agency representative also in attendance. * The letter from the President of Guate- mala, which incidentally had been prepared in both Spanish and in a bad English translation, was discussed.** Mann's Memorandum of Conversation and copies of the Spanish and English versions of Ydigoras's letter were transmitted to Ralph Dungan of the White House Staff on 16 March 1961, and in the transmittal it was noted * It is believed that Tracy Barnes, rather than Jake Esterline, represented the Agency. ** The English translation had been prepared by GOG not by State.