File No. 818.00/286

The Minister in Panama ( Price ) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

Your December 29, 6 p.m.2 complied with. Volio seemed much discouraged. He stated that Tinoco would never yield to any moral pressure but only to physical compulsion and would completely ruin Costa Rica rather than retire voluntarily; that there seems to be nothing to be done except either to select an agreeable place to locate until it should be safe to return to Costa Rica or go to Washington and take up matters direct; that he would return Wednesday after considering the matter further; that they did not expect the Government of the United States to give any active encouragement but would be satisfied with its keeping hands off. To my inquiry as to his plans, in such event he said that he would proceed to Nicaragua and invade Costa Rica as previously stated, but he admitted that he had been assured of permission to do this by Nicaragua only on condition that the United States made no objection. He stated that they decided to initiate their movements from the outside because they were convinced that it would occasion much less bloodshed.

Price
  1. Op. cit., p. 349; also quoted in the Department’s telegram of January 4, 1918, post, p. 230.