CARIBBEAN PATROLS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29383, 9 December 1960, Page 18

CARIBBEAN PATROLS

U.S. Forces Withdrawn .

(!V.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, December 7.

The United States is withdrawing the naval and air patrol it established in the Caribbean last month to head off any Com-munist-directed invasion threat to Guatemala and Nicaragua, the White House announced today. President Eisenhower’s press secretary (Mr James Hagerty), said the two Central American Governments had now informed the United States that the emergency which led to their request for the patrols had passed. Mr Hagerty said that the United States was informing the other members of the 21-nation organisation of American States of its decision to order the ships and aircraft to "return to normal operations.’ ’

President Eisenhower announced the stationing of the units off the coasts of Guatemala and Nicaragua on November 17 after receiving written requests from both for assistance. He said then: “Surface and air units are in a position in which they could assist the governments, should it become necessary, to seek and prevent intervention on the part of Communist-directed elements in the internal affairs of Guatemala and Nicaragua through the landing of armed forces or supplies from abroad.” The leaders of the two Central American republics alleged that Cuban-backed revolutionaries had participated in insurrections in their countries shortly before they asked for United States help,