File No. 817.48.

The American Minister to the Secretary of State .

[Telegram.]

Owing to a partial failure of crops last year and the financial exhaustion of the Republic under the Zelaya régime, there was wide-spread want approaching famine throughout the country before the outbreak of the present trouble. On account of existing hostilities and consequent prospect of increase of this suffering, does the Department think it advisable to ascertain whether the American Red Cross is prepared to send on short notice supplies to be distributed to non-combatants under American supervision?

Weitzel.