718.1915/293: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Panama (Price)
18. Department’s February 28, 2 p.m., and your March 1, 9 p.m.68
The Government of the United States has seen with the deepest regret the hostilities which have taken place between the armed forces of Panama and Costa Rica, from which loss of life has resulted, and which have caused public sentiment in both countries to be inflamed to a dangerous degree. It will be evident to the Government of Panama that this Government, by reason of its special interests in the Isthmus, could not but view with the gravest apprehension any developments which will disturb the peace and tranquillity of Central America. While the Government of the United States appreciates the assurances conveyed through you by the Government of Panama, that this Government will be consulted before any declaration of war is issued by the Government of Panama, the Government of the United States feels that a declaration of war because of a controversy growing out of the inability of the Republics of Costa Rica and Panama to agree upon a solution of the boundary dispute, would be inadmissible. The dispute is one, as pointed out in the Department’s February 28, 2 p.m., which has already been examined during a period of years in the most disinterested and judicial manner, and it cannot but be evident that the only lasting solution which can be found will be reached as the result of the friendly offices of an impartial party [Page 178] to the controversy and not by hostilities of the character which have already taken place, which tend only further to excite the passions of the unruly element in the populations of both Republics.
The Government of the United States therefore desires to urge upon the Government of Panama, in the most earnest and friendly manner, the necessity of withdrawing at once all troops now on the Panaman side of the status quo line to the Cerro Pando–Punta Burica line and giving the strictest instructions to the Panaman troops which may be in that neighborhood to take no action which would provoke hostilities. If the Government of Panama will agree to take this action, the Government of the United States will suggest to the Government of Costa Rica the advisability of instructing its troops to advance no further towards the Cerro Pando–Punta Burica line. It is the belief of this Government that such action will be the only means of insuring an avoidance of a renewal of hostilities in the near future.
Once such steps have been taken by both Governments concerned, the Government of the United States will be glad to recommend to the Government of Panama and to the Government of Costa Rica a means of reaching a final and definite solution of this longstanding boundary dispute. It should be made entirely clear to the Government of Panama that the solution which would under these circumstances be suggested by this Government would be a recommendation as to a method acceptable to both Governments of carrying out the terms of the award of Chief Justice White, giving thorough consideration in this connection to any contentions which may be advanced by either party to the controversy.
You are instructed to communicate the foregoing to President Porras at the earliest opportunity and report by cable the result of your interview.
- Latter not printed; it conveyed Panaman assurances that the United States would be consulted before any declaration of war.↩