Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, American Republics: Central and South America, Volume VII

436. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the President, Washington, August 23, 1955¹

Washington, August 23, 1955

. . . . . . .

I referred to the situation in Colombia, where the President had shut down the newspaper El Tiempo.² The President authorized Ambassador Bonsal to approach the President of Colombia and to indicate the concern in the United States over what seemed to be arbitrary action interfering with reasonable freedom of the press. President Eisenhower felt that this should be done very carefully, putting the emphasis upon informing the President of Colombia as to the state of feeling which was being created in the United States on the part of the American people, a feeling which would make it difficult for the Government to maintain the close relations it desired with the Government of Colombia. He thought the emphasis should be on the popular reaction here rather than on a desire of the President of the United States to interfere in Colombian affairs.³

. . . . . . .

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Meetings with the President. Top Secret; Personal and Private. Extract. Drafted by Dulles.
2. The Bogotá daily newspaper was closed on August 4, 1955.
3. This portion of the memorandum was forwarded to Holland on August 24 in a memorandum from Hanes. (Department of State, Holland Files: Lot 57 D 295, Colombia) In telegram 74 to Bogotá, August 23, Holland instructed the Embassy to convey President Eisenhower’s views on the El Tiempo incident to President Rojas. (Ibid., Central Files, 721.11/8–2355)