◆ SpookStack

invasion. He then leaked the word that he was ac- cepting offers of Cuban exiles in Guatemala to as- sist his country in its defense against a Castro attack. All of these activities were being carried on directly between the President of Guatemala and the Agency's representatives in the field. The Department of State, if informed of the GOG support for JMATE, chose to appear ignorant of any involve- ment of the us Government. Beginning in early August of 1960, Guatemala Air Force B-26's and P-Sl's flew to all parts of the country to provide additional support for the cover story; and as Ydigoras had indicated in the earlier part of the month, joint Army/Air maneuvers began in the San Jose, Retalhuelu, and Champerico areas to give further support to the story that the increase in training activity was related to improv- ing the status of the GOG's own military. To insure the security of the area where the Agency activities were centered, the newspapers and the public were advised that they should not trespass in the training areas because live ammunition was going to be \