818.00/588
The Costa Rican Agent (Lara) to the Acting Secretary of State
Sir: I am instructed by cablegram just received from my Government to bring to Your Excellency’s knowledge the fact of which my Government is reliably informed that an armed body of mercenaries organized in open day in Nicaragua, under the protection and with the knowledge, consent and encouragement of that Government, under the leadership of General Luis Mena and the Mexican General Manuel Chao, well known outlaws, are on the point of invading the territory of Costa Rica for the wanton destruction of life and property.
That notwithstanding the imminent menace in which Costa Rica could be placed by this hostile movement, it has not mobilized a single soldier for the defense of its territory, but has relied on the good will of the Government of the United States to intervene with its controlling influence in Nicaragua, and on the hope that it will exercise that powerful influence to remove all demonstrations of this kind, which are not only a menace to the peace and good order of the people and Government of Costa Rica, but, if left free to work out [Page 810] their destructive purposes, must necessarily involve Central American countries in a condition of revolution so much to be dreaded by all law abiding citizens.
As on former occasions, I have had the honor to indicate to Your Excellency, Costa Rica desires to live, as up to the present moment she has lived, in peace, without injury to anyone and without permitting injury to herself on the part of others. In the interior of the country perfect order and absolute calm reigns throughout; the inhabitants are engrossed in their daily labors; nationals and foreigners are surrounded by every kind of guaranty that can be furnished by a government that is a free and spontaneous expression of the popular will and that has given the most eloquent expressions of sympathy and friendship for the people and Government of the United States, more especially since the outbreak of the great world tragedy.
In the minds of all Costa Ricans, as well as foreigners resident in Costa Rica, a very especial American colony, it is an indisputable fact that the former government presided over by Senor Alfredo Gonzalez was not only characterized by marked and strong pro-German inclinations, but by hostility to the United States, against which country it publicly arraigned [arrayed?] itself through the press.
These facts and considerations heretofore set forth before Your Excellency, justify my Government in hoping that the Government of the United States will be pleased to take such steps as may be necessary to prevail upon the Government of Nicaragua to perform the duties imposed upon it by the conditions in question, and by international law, and I am peculiarly keen in this emergency in serving as the authorized mouthpiece of my Government for the reason that during my term as Minister of Foreign Relations of Costa Rica it was my distinguished privilege to offer to the American people, through the medium of Your Excellency’s Government, the use of the ports and waters of Costa Rican territory, during the duration of the war, and to break off diplomatic relations with Germany, and later, to declare war against that nation.
With assurances [etc.]