Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, American Republics: Central and South America, Volume VII

92. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, January 20, 1955¹

Washington, January 20, 1955

SUBJECT

• Visit of Ambassador Sevilla Sacasa of Nicaragua

PARTICIPANTS

• ARA: Edward J. Sparks
• AR: E.A. Jamison
• MID: John L. Ohmans
• Ambassador Sevilla Sacasa; Dr. Quintana.

The Ambassador called at his request and immediately launched into a discussion of the Costa Rican case before the OAS.² He reported that Nicaragua promptly and enthusiastically agreed with the suggestion of the investigating committee to institute a buffer zone along the Costa Rican-Nicaraguan border.

The Ambassador also delivered a note to the Department requesting the United States to sell immediately to Nicaragua four F–51 fighter planes as had just been done to Costa Rica. He said the Costa Rican pilots already had violated the Nicaraguan frontier on their first day of action. He believed this was deliberate. In view of the great distrust his government had of Figueres’ actions and the probabilities of action against Nicaragua, his government was very anxious to obtain an equal number of planes to combat the Costa Rican F–51’s, if that should be necessary.

The Ambassador pled at length and with great emotion along the lines that U.S. friendship with Nicaragua was at a test. He said that this was truly an hour of fear in Nicaragua and President Somoza, especially, needed the planes for protection. He added that Nicaragua did not want these planes as a gift; it was ready to buy them, but it wanted them on the same terms which Costa Rica received.

Mr. Sparks was silent during most of this long impassioned discussion, but finally asked the Ambassador whether he truly believed what he had just said. The Ambassador did not answer clearly. Mr. Sparks added that he found it difficult to believe that Figueres would confuse the issue at this stage by flying the planes over Nicaraguan territory. He asked the Ambassador how many planes Nicaragua had for its own protection; again he received no clear answer, but the Ambassador said that the Department knew Nicaragua’s military strength as well as he did.

After more emotional discourse on Nicaragua’s need for an equal amount of air strength for protection, Mr. Sparks said that he would see that the request was given prompt consideration. He promised to inform the Ambassador shortly of the response to this request.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 717.5622/1–2055. Confidential. Drafted by Ohmans and initialed by Sparks indicating his approval.
2. For documentation on the January 1955 attempt to overthrow the government of Costa Rican President José Figueres and the efforts of the Organization of American States to resolve that conflict, see vol. vi, Documents 172 ff.