Official History of the Bay of Pigs Operation- Volume 2- Part 1

In response to a question of how it happened
that he was sent to Guatemala, Esterline remarked:
state said, "Oh, we don't want to touch
that," and Ydigoras said, "well, I'm not
going to do it unless it is signed by some
responsible individual." We looked around
the Agency and said to J. C. [King], "J. C.,
this kind of ... " "No, no," he said. "I
don't think I ought to do that." He said,
"Jake, you are in charge of the project,
why don't you do it." So being a brash
young man I said, "Well, we're never going
to get this thing going unless somebody
signs it."
So I flew to Guatemala black with Roberto
Alejos, who is now a substantial banker in
Miami, and with Bob Davis, who! . !
I lat the time, and I thlnk, with
the powers and full knowledge of the Ambas-
sador, although I didn't meet him because
I was there black. I went in illegally
and left illegally. We drew up the partic-
ulars of the base agreement -- if you will,
a Status of Forces Agreement.
When asked if Bissell and Dulles were aware that
he had been sent to negotiate with Ydigoras, Esterline's
response was: "Oh, hell yes! Ohl hell yes! I went as
an instructed delegate from Washington. The wording
'an expendable pawn.' No, I went on specific instruc-
tion from Bissell and Dulles.'" 68/*
* Despite Esterline's conviction that a piece of paper
actually passed between himself and Ydigoras, the
author thinks it more likely that Esterline's story,
as noted above, reflects an honest confusion of the
(footnote continued on following page)