813.00/1156
The Acting Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs, Department of State ( Munro ) to the Under Secretary of State ( Fletcher )
Dear Mr. Fletcher: Without prejudice to any subsequent action which the Department may consider, I wish to call your attention to the urgent necessity for making representations to the Central [Page 161] American countries at once which will prevent the international situation from getting entirely beyond control. The situation is exceedingly and increasingly serious. Honduras and Salvador have rather broadly intimated to us their intention of intervening in Guatemala under pretext of maintaining the authority of the Federal Government, and I fear that they will regard our refusal to express an opinion upon such intervention as permission to go ahead. The Provisional Government in Guatemala telegraphs us48 that Salvador is mobilizing forces and that the Guatemalan Government declines any responsibility. Nicaragua’s confidential agent in Salvador informs Mr. Schuyler that Nicaragua is planning to join with other enemies of the Union to attack Honduras. All of these countries are looking to us for action which will prevent a general Central American war. I therefore submit the attached telegrams49 for your consideration, and I wish to recommend also that the Navy Department be asked, at once, to send warships to Puerto Barrios and to the Pacific ports of Central America. Our representations will not have full effect unless we back them up in this manner.