◆ SpookStack

TOP/RET D. guid Pro Quos Alejos's displays of temper may have had a less than subtle influence on subsequent negotiations with the Agency's representatives in Guatemala. Shortly after the foregoing incident, Chief, WH/4 (Jake Ester- line) requested authority to obligate $150,000 for compensation to property owners in the area of the Retalhuleu air base for damages resulting from reno- vation of the airfield. Seventeen kilometers of road- way were reportedly "damaged considerably" when used as an access road to Roberto Alejos's finca, and repair on the seventeen kilometers was set at $100,000 -- plus an additional $50,000 to pay for rock taken from the river on property owned by one Senor Ralda on 5 acres of his property. 29/ Following Headquarters authorization of the payments to Alejos and Ralda, [went to Headquarters with a cable on ~------~ 4 Nov 1960 reading: 1. Payment of the $50,000 has to be made to Ralda immediately upon prepara- tion and delivery of the local legal documents, as this Alejos understanding, and he had made the commitment to Ralda. 2. Operational activities and liaison with high Guat government officials would have been seriously affected, and the