The United States And 1954 Guatemalan Coup

Guatemala is a small country in America's backyard. The America's first Covert Action toward Latin America took place in this state. When Arbenz government opened the exhibition democracy reform inside Guatemala, the American government arebuking that Guatemala was already "threatened by communism", authorized the CIA implement a Covert Action toward the local government. The code name of the Covert Action is OPERATION SUCCESS. The CIA through looked for the agent inside Guatemala, and gave them funds and weapon equip, made use of the long-term diplomacy pressure and psychological war finally subverted the Arbenz government. This operation also set up a mode for CIA's activity in Latin America hereafter. Guatemala's coup in 1954 which directed by the U.S. not only influenced Guatemala, but also produced the profound influence to the whole Latin-American country and the U. S. Currently, the domestic study of this topic is still slightly weak. With the released documents by American government in recently years, through drawing lessons from the past study result, this thesis trying to analyze the whole sequence of events of Guatemala's coup completely and objectively, from which to find out the true motive and purpose that the United States implement the coup.This paper is constituted by foreword, text, conclusion, the text is divided into three parts.The foreword introduces the research both at home and abroad at present, and summarizes the significance and value of the theme.The first part, primarily discusses the position of Guatemala in America's Cold War strategy. Before the Guatemala revolution 1944, Guatemala had been controlled by the U. S. in politics and economy. After the Revolution, the propertied class government of Guatemala launched the race democracy reform, especially Arbenz's leftist government policy causes the U. S. tremendously uneasy. The U. S. at the base of the Cold War strategy consideration, worrying about that this Central America small country would throw in the bosom embrace of Soviets and light a fire in the backyard, so the U. S. pays much attention to each and every move of Guatemala's Arbenz government.The second part, mainly discussed the economic conflict and political contradiction between America and Arbenz government. The economic conflict between America and Arbenz government primarily concentrated in the land reform that Arbenz's government promoted, the political contradiction between two countries concentrated that Arbenz accepted the communists participate ruling. The land reform of Arbenz government confiscated the United Fruit company which is the large monopolized company in Guatemala millions of acres idle land, made the company's officers and the American officers are dissatisfied with Arbenz. In addition, Arbenz got along with communists, so America attributed Guatemala's situation to the communistic influence. America's policy toward Guatemala experienced a change process: from Truman to Eisenhower, from hesitation to bring pressure and finally to implement Covert Action to subvert Arbenz.The third part, in order to subvert Arbenz government, Eisenhower government established and implemented a Covert Action——"OPERATION SUCCESS". With the development of Guatemala's situation, America regarded with hostility to Arbenz government, and the hostility deepen continuously. America through the Caracas Conference manufacturing propaganda and obtained the legal jacket to interfere with Guatemala, at the same time, CIA made full use of time to provide arms and train to a Guatemala's exile——Armas. After a series of preparation, CIA launched a large-scale psychological war and the ground invade in Guatemala. Finally Arbenz government was subverted. With the help of the U. S., Armas took office in Guatemala.The fourth part, analyses the influence of the coup. The event of interference not only influenced the development of democracy progression in Guatemala, but also produce profound influence to the whole Latin America and the United States. Although OPERATION SUCCESS seemed obtained victory, the operation is false at the beginning. It arose the anti-American wave tide in all Latin-American countries, it's a serious error of America's policy toward Latin America.Conclusion, Conclusion: the United States implemented the Covert Action toward Guatemala is the importance part of the US Cold War strategy. Under the coldwar situation, even a small Central America country opened the democracy reform also been Strangled by America, this event reflected that America was filled with fear of the ability of extend of international communism as well as Soviets. Guatemala coup also exposed the false of the democracy that the U. S. promoted, so-called democracy only exist when it matching the US national interest. On the other hand, the occurrence of the coup also reflected the vigorous degree and harsh of the cold war struggle at the beginning of 1950.