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THE BAY OF PIGS OPERATION Volume II Participation in the Conduct of Foreign Policy Part I Guatemala A. Background Direct participation in the affairs of Guatemala was not new in Agency history'. In 1954 CIA had pro- vided support and had motivated Guatemalan forces which ousted then President Castillo Armas, a pro-communist, in favor of the presidency of Jacobo Arbenz Guzmann. On 26 July 1957 Arbenz was assassinated and the political situation in Guatemala evolved into a three- way dog fight among the forces of the left, the right, and the center. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 ===========================================:::;- 1 _________________________Iand were opposed to both the leftists and to the party of Ydigoras Fuentes -- the rightist candidate who also had the support of the Army. When it became clear ~ Ithat Ydigoras was the most popular figure in Guatemala - 1 -