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Cryptonym: ESCOBILLA

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Definition:
ESCOBILLA was probably Doctor Hector Goicolea, junta cabinet minister for the economy in July, 1954, and brother of future Guatemalan Foreign Minister, Domingo Goicolea. According to a report on May 12, 1954, ESCOBILLA was a local businessman.
Status:
Probable
Discussion:
Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), 1952 to 1954, Guatemala, described ESCOBILLA as a Guatemalan national.

A dispatch in April of 1954 mentioned that ESCOBILLA had bank accounts in the United States and El Salvador. Also, ESCOBILLA could and would serve as the cut-out between Eliot P. Razmara and SEMANTIC (probably Domingo Goicolea Villacorta) in Guatemala.

A cable on May 15, 1954, stated that ESCOBILLA was the funds and communications channel to SEMANTIC for arms distribution. ESCOBILLA was the emergency contact of SECANT (Major Enrique Trinidad Oliva) and SEMANTIC, while ESQUIMOID was the present Guatemala Station cut-out to ESCOBILLA. In addition, a cable on May 30, 1954, mentioned that police had confiscated lists of names and, according to ESCOBILLA's brother, a new code. ESCOBILLA's home was raided on the morning of 29 May. ESCOBILLA was apparently hiding out, and police had confiscated papers. Moreover, a memo on 30 May, 1954, stated that ESCOBILLA had been acting as the (REDACTION - probably financier) of the Carlos Castillo Armas organization, and arrangements were presently being made to open a bank account in his name in New York City.

A cable on June 1, 1954, clarified that it was only SEMANTIC's brother, Hector, who had sought refuge in the Salvadoran Embassy, and not in the Ecuadoran Embassy. Furthermore, a memo on June 8, 1954, mentioned that ESCOBILLA was the cut-out for SECANT and SEMANTIC, and believed that he was uncontaminated. ESCOBILLA was still in touch with the Guatemala City Station.

A New York Times article on July 7, 1954, stated that the junta had named Hector Goicolea as the minister for the economy. An entry on the geni.com website for Hector Francisco Goicolea Villacorta stated he was born on January 16, 1922 and died on November 19, 2015. He was also known as "Yeto." According to an article in 2017, Dr. Hector Goicolea graduated with a business degree.
Sources:

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954: Guatemala: Current Section: Abbreviations and Cryptonyms

Page xv: ..."ESCOBILLA, Guatemalan national..."

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000923795.pdf

04/14/54: Dispatch from LINCOLN to Chief, Western Hemisphere: Subject: General - Operational: Specific - Transmittal of Operational Notes from Ontrich: "1. Forwarded for headquarters' information are copies of handwritten notes received from Ontrich (Nestor Sanchez). 2. Two of the memoranda are undated but are believed to have been written in early April 1954. (REDACTION) for Jerome C. Dunbar." - - - Page 2: ..."2. Calligeris (Carlos Castillo Armas) is doing everything possible to get Guatemalans inside the country to contribute to the campaign against the present regime. Thus far ESCOBILLA has given about (REDACTION)...3. The present system of sending funds into Guatemala is somewhat cumbersome and the exchange of dollars into quetzales is daily becoming more difficult. After a long discussion with SEMANTIC and SECANT (Major Enrique Trinidad Oliva) it was agreed that it would be a good solution to deposit dollars in one of ESCOBILLA's accounts in the States and then draw drafts in quetzales thereon. ESCOBILLA has agreed to this plan. If we go along, SEMANTIC upon return can get full information from ESCOBILLA as to what account and bank in the States he wants money deposited. 4. Other possibilities include the exchange of dollars for quetzales in El Salvador, the deposit of dollars in ESCOBILLA's account in El Salvador, or the deposit of dollars in the accounts of other individuals in the States, such as that of (REDACTION) in New Orleans...5. ESCOBILLA could and will serve as the cut-out between Razmara and SEMANTIC in Guatemala. This will compartmentize ESSENCE and provide SEMANTIC with a secure means by which to pass all original reports, etc., to us. SEMANTIC is taking instructions in photography and in the future he will send all of his information to PANCHO (Carlos Castillo Armas) via their couriers on unexposed film..."

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000923429.pdf

05/12/54: Report Made by: George S. Vincent. Approved by William D. Playdon (Tracy Barnes): "Source Cryptonyms: ESCOBILLA (Para 1-3); ESSENCE (probably Lionel Sisniega Otero) (Para 4)..." - - - Page 3: "Subject: Non-Commissioned Officers Not Eager to Fight. Place Acquired: Guatemala, Guatemala City. Source: Para 1-3 Local Businessman (B). Para 4 Student Leader (B)."

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000136128.pdf

05/15/54: Cable from LINCOLN to Director: Slugline RYBAT PBSUCCESS: "1. Ref A stated need to make GUAT Station channel to ESCOBILLA-SEMANTIC-SECANT (Major Enrique Trinidad Oliva). ESCOBILLA is funds and commo channel to SEMANTIC for arms distribution. SEMANTIC also supervises SECANT garrison organization and KUFIRE (Intelligence). 2. Importance these ops requires case officer who will be in routine contact with ESCOBILLA, emergency contact with SEMANTIC and SECANT. (ESQUIMOID, present GUAT Station cutout to ESCOBILLA, is live letter drop only). Case officers function would be principally to pass KUHOOK (CIA Paramilitary Operations Staff) instructions from Cadick (William Robertson) and Ontrich/Calligeris (Nestor Sanchez/Carlos Castillo Armas) to ESCOBILLA for SEMANTIC. He would also have strictly limited authority to adjust minor discrepancies between instructions and SEMANTIC's capability to comply. Case officer would also receive SEMANTIC and SECANT reports to pass to GUAT Station. 3. Without foregoing, cannot effectively have secure channels between Calligeris in WSHOOFS (Honduras) and Calligeris personnel in WSBURNT (Guatemala). Only this way can dependence on Calligeris courier system be reduced. 4. As stated Ref B, Clower (Joseph G. Sancho) not basically needed by Page (probably Henry Hecksher). He fully agrees to assume functions outlined above. GUAT Station, LINCOLN consider him competent to do so. 5. Clower's tourist cover adequate. Association with ESCOBILLA, if detected which unlikely, can be explained by story of mutual PBPRIME (U.S.) friends. Clower looks sufficiently Latin to blend into atmosphere..." - - - 05/16/54: This dispatch confirmed that Wilfred O. Clower/Joseph G. Sancho was the case officer of ESCOBILLA, SECANT and SEMANTIC: https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000915230.pdf

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000923014.pdf

05/30/54: Cable from Guatemala City to Director: Slugline RYBAT PBSUCCESS: "1. Guardia Civil raided SEMANTIC (probably Domingo Goicolea Villacorta) home 0600 hours 29 May. 2. SEMANTIC escaped and now unofficial guest home SWALLOW. Do not believe authorities aware SEMANTIC whereabouts. 3. Police confiscated lists names and, according brother ESCOBILLA, new code. Do not know exactly what this is. 4. ESCOBILLA home raided morning 29 May. ESCOBILLA hiding out. Police confiscated papers, etc but again do not know just what. 5. Consider probable Quezaltenango radio plan and Piedras Blanca (REDACTION) arms shipment compromised. 6. Page (probably Henry Hecksher) seeing SWALLOW 1000 hours 30 May. Should get more info through this contact. 7. ESSENCE (probably Lionel Sisniega Otero) possibly hot. Is now under cover. 8. Do not believe Razmara nor Clower (Joseph G. Sancho) compromised. 9. Massive and long awaited crackdown seems underway. 10. Oriseldas whereabouts unknown. Do not know if he compromised. Cable Secretariat Comment: Mr. Esterline notified of receipt of this MSG at 0530 30 May 54."

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000922998.pdf

05/30/54: Memorandum for the record: SUBJECT: Calligeris Net Communication with the Guatemalan Station: REFERENCE: GUAT 705: "1. Attached are three diagrams showing the methods of communication between the Guatemalan Station and the Calligeris (Carlos Castillo Armas) nets as it has developed since the Calligeris assets were gradually brought under the station's control. 2. Brief sketches of the principal agents involved follow: a. ESCOBILLA - (REDACTION). He has been acting as the (REDACTION) of the Calligeris organization and arrangements are presently being made to open bank account in his name in New York City. The station has attempted to make him the sole channel for passing information and instructions to SECANT (Major Enrique Trinidad Oliva) and SEMANTIC from the outside and vice versa, although for a long time there was direct contact between SECANT and SEMANTIC..." - - - Page 3: Diagram: Prior 5 May: Station/Burnette, one line to Razmara (PS), then to ESSENCE. From Station/Burnette, a line to ESCOBILLA and then to SECANT. Finally, a line from ESSENCE to SEMANTIC (formerly ESSENCE-3). - - - Page 4: Diagram: Period 5-23 May: Station/Burnette, a line to ESKIMOID, then a line to ESCOBILLA. Then one line to SEMANTIC and another line to SECANT (from ESCOBILLA). - - - Page 5: Diagram: After 23 May 54: Station/Burnette, a line to Clower (Joseph G. Sancho), then one line to the left to ESPERANCE-3, one line down the middle to ESCOBILLA, and one line to the right to Page (probably Henry Hecksher), and then a line to ESQUIRE. From ESCOBILLA, one line to SECANT, and another to SEMANTIC. There is a line from Page to Burnette with "alternate/emergency" written alongside it. From ESPERANCE-3 there is a line to SECANT. There is a total of three redactions at the bottom of this diagram.

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000922877.pdf

06/01/54: Cable from LINCOLN to Director: Slugline RYBAT PBSUCCESS: REF: LINC 3328 (IN 12824): FOR CADICK (William Robertson): "1. WSBURNT (Guatemala) (REDACTION) announced SEMANTIC (probably Domingo Goicolea Villacorta) in DTFROGS (El Salvador) Embassy and brother Hector in Ecuadoran Embassy. Dated (REDACTION). 2. GUAT advised ESSENCE (probably Lionel Sisniega Otero) received following from SEMANTIC: A. SEMANTIC brother not SEMANTIC in DTFROGS Embassy (note contrary to para 1 above)..."

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000922633.pdf

06/08/54: Memorandum: Subject: Progress Report - PBSUCCESS for the Period 1-7 June 1954: ..."H. As pointed out in the Progress Report of 1 June 1954, the Guatemalan Government started what appears to be an extensive roll-up of the Calligeris (Carlos Castillo Armas) net in Guatemala. SEMANTIC (probably Domingo Goicolea Villacorta), head of political intelligence, took asylum in the Ecuadoran Embassy and subsequently departed for Quito, Ecuador, via El Salvador where he was cursorily debriefed by SEQUIN. The head of military intelligence, SECANT (Major Enrique Trinidad Oliva), is planning to leave Guatemala in the near future and is in hiding at present. ESCOBILLA, the cutout for SECANT and SEMANTIC, believes himself to be uncontaminated and is still in touch with the Guatemala City Station..."

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP62-00865R000300200002-7.pdf

CIA document: News Highlights: Page 120: 07/07/54: Article in The New York Times: Headlined: Guatemala Freezes All Property of Leaders Of the Ousted Regime: ..."The junta appointed the following Cabinet...Economy - Hector Giocolea..."

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954: Guatemala: Current Section: 285. 8/29/54-Telegram From the CIA Station in Guatemala to the Central Intelligence Agency

08/29/54: Telegram from Guatemala Station: "208. Re: GUAT 185; (2) DIR 14411. (3) Have held further series conversations with contacts this situation and following is resume info obtained. 1. Political situation continues to worsen with probability that groups regular army will soon attempt coup or when and if cadets participating in Aug 2 and 3 uprising are sentenced by court martial...8. ESCOBILLA, (REDACTION), ESGAIN, and ZPSEMANTIC advised that Calligeris (Carlos Castillo Armas) had collected more than $200,000 for aid to army of liberation but these funds have been spent on other 'confidential' matters. Funds embarked by Arbenz govt for Congressional expenditure have also been spent for intelligence activities by Calligeris!...12. (REDACTION) and ZPSEMANTIC advised that following individuals are ready to resign from govt in mass protest against Calligeris political activities: Hector and Domingo Goicolea, Carlos Salazar, Carlos Sosa, Carlos Cifuentes, Gabriel Martinez del Rosal, Enrique Salazar Liquens, Mario Sandoval, Oscar Cobar, Adan Manrique Ríos, Manuel Orellana, Adan Serrano and Luis Coronada Lira..."

https://www.geni.com/people/H%C3%A9ctor-Goicolea-Villacorta/6000000014264002099

Entry on the geni.com website for Hector Francisco Goicolea Villacorta: "Also Known As: 'Yeto.' Birthdate: January 16, 1922. Birthplace: Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala. Death: November 19, 2015 (93). Place of Burial: Guatemala. Immediate Family: Son of Enrique Goicolea y Sánchez and Clara Villacorta y Francés. Husband of María Teresa García Rodríguez. Father of Private; Private; Private; Private and Private. Brother of Domingo Enrique Goicolea; Clara Goicolea Villacorta de Conde and Luz Dolores Alcira Goicolea..." - - - ccee.org.gt website: College of Economists, Public Accountants and Auditors and Business Administrators, Guatemala (possibly also: The College of Professionals of Economic Sciences)/ Colegio Economistas y Accountores Public Auditores de Guatemala (founded in July, 1951): ..."The first Board of Directors of the College was integrated as follows...Dr. Héctor Goicolea Villacorta, Assistant Secretary, Collegiate No. 14, Active..." https://ccee.org.gt/quienes-somos/

https://elperiodico.com.gt/opinion/opiniones-de-hoy/2017/08/05/ochenta-anos-de-vida-de-la-facultad-de-ciencias-economicas-de-la-universidad-de-san-carlos-de-guatemala-i-parte/

05/08/17: Article by Eduardo Antonio Velásquez Carrera on the elperiodico.com.gt website: Headlined: Eighty years of life of the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (I part): ..."In 1931, several students who graduated from the School of Commerce, eager to broaden their horizon with knowledge and appreciation of the economic disciplines, began efforts to found a Faculty, within the National University, destined to higher commercial studies and studies economic. These efforts were crowned with success in 1937. The Faculty was created by Decree Number 1972 of May 25 of that year, issued by the President of the Republic, General Jorge Ubico Castañeda. The Decree stated: 'The Faculty of Economic Sciences is created in the National University, which is integrated in accordance with what is indicated in Article 5. of Legislative Decree Number 1826 and will be inaugurated on June 30 of this year'...Through Legislative Decree Number 2270 of March 19, 1938, the foundation of the same was approved. The Executive approves first and then the Legislative. It was not done the other way around. Classes began with 30 students on August 6, 1937, which is considered the anniversary of our beloved college. The first study plan is from 1937. The Faculty of Economic Sciences began its work in a house located at 13 calle 6-71, zone 1; from the capital city. By then, Guatemala City did not have 180,000 inhabitants. The first Dean of the Faculty of Economic Sciences was Dr. Luis Beltranena Sinibaldi. The University conferred on them the title of Economists and Public Accountant and Auditor in the academic degree of Doctor. The first graduate was Dr. Arturo Classon Mazariegos and he was the guild's first collegiate. Also Deans were Drs. Julio Gómez Robles, Gabriel Orellana, Manuel Noriega Morales, Gustavo Mirón Porras and Héctor Goicolea Villacorta in their first twenty years of life..."

Contributors:
Gavin McDonald

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