Office of the Historian

180. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in Nicaragua1

Washington, January 12, 1955—3:50 p.m.

165. See President immediately and, talking to him as a friend, advise him public opinion and Congress here aroused by possibility that revolutionary forces receiving air and ground facilities from sources outside Costa Rican territory. Our own treaty obligations are recalled and also danger that UN may take jurisdiction. Department values highly friendship of Nicaragua and of Somoza and does not want to be in situation where its actions might appear in opposition to Somoza or Nicaragua. Inform him Department urges Somoza take vigorous measures to prevent any possibility abuse of Nicaraguan territory be supporters of revolutionary forces in violation of provisions of Habana treaty 1928. Cable reply soonest.2

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 718.00/1–1255. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Holland and Dulles.↩

  2. In telegram 178 from Managua, January 12, 9 p.m., Ambassador Whelan informed the Department of President Somoza’s response. The telegram reads:

    “President Somoza fully appreciates Department’s interest and views as expressed in Department telegram 165 January 12. He asked me this evening convey his statement ‘Nicaraguan territory will not be used to give assistance to rebels but they have my full sympathy’. He reaffirmed movement is 100 percent Costa Rican and an internal one.” (Ibid.)

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