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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)