Guatemala History and Literature
History. - President Y. Fuentes soon manifested his authoritarian character both towards the opposition and towards some friendly states: he renounced the technical aid of the USA, expropriated German agricultural funds, collided with neighboring Mexico for fishing reasons, raised against Great Britain the age-old territorial dispute of Belice (see British Honduras). A turning point in relations with the USA came in 1960 when Ydígoras allowed the creation in Guatemalan territory of a secret base for the training of Cuban exiles. Guatemala thus found himself indirectly involved, together with North Americans and anti-Castroists, in the failed attempt to land in Cuba (April 17, 1961). In November 1962 a part of the armed forces rebelled and bombed the capital; but Ydígoras managed to control the situation. Its dictatorial systems became harsher, corruption…