815.00/3105: Telegram
The President’s Personal Representative in Honduras (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 20—1:30 p.m.]
7. My 5, April 16, 5 p.m. After repeated conferences between the American
Minister and myself and the members of the Council of Ministers the
following solution was yesterday definitely accepted by them:
As soon as this written proposal was signed by the Council of Ministers I called a meeting of the chiefs of the revolution, who had [Page 309] the afternoon previous signified their willingness to agree to the solution proposed. The meeting was attended by Generals Carias, Tosta and Martinez Funes. All indicated their approval but refused to sign the written proposal until the agreement of General Ferrera, the remaining leader, now absent in San Lorenzo, was obtained. I am today certain General Ferrera is in accord with the solution above referred to except that he insists upon the selection of Dr. Fausto Davila as Provisional President and will not agree to the selection of a Provisional President from list of names presented by all the delegates present at the initial conference suggested. I have fixed the next meeting with the chiefs of the revolution for tomorrow afternoon when General Ferrera will be able to attend. I shall then advise him as I have already advised the three other chiefs that in the opinion of the Government of the United States a provisional government presided over by the titular head of one of the political parties, as is Dr. Davila, and entirely controlled by one of the political parties, cannot guarantee the holding of fair elections in which the adherents of all candidates would have equal rights; that it is for that reason that I have proposed the selection of the Provisional President from a list of names determined upon by the delegates of both factions and representatives of all parties in the Cabinet of the Provisional President.
In view of the urgency of the situation here, it has appeared best to hasten the suspension of hostilities by proposing the selection of the Provisional President and the signing of a preliminary pact on an American warship in Amapala with the sole mediation of the United States. I have, however, favored the additional mediation of the Central American republics in the negotiation of the final agreement since in my opinion Central American participation in the solution of the problem will be of great value. Central American mediation in the negotiation of the final agreement … will attach [sic] the criticism that the coming government was placed in power by the United States. Furthermore, while I [am?] informed [by?] the Minister that the better class of Honduraneans welcomed the entrance of American marines into the Capital and believed it justifiable and necessary as I myself understand it to guarantee [sic] from all information at my disposal, the measure has undoubtedly caused bitter protests among certain elements in the Republic which will certainly be subsequently disrepute [sic] throughout Latin America. For this reason in particular I believe it desirable that our responsibility in effecting a satisfactory and equitable settlement of the present difficulties in this Republic be shared by all the countries represented in the last Central American conference. This opinion is concurred in by the American Minister.
[Page 310]I shall advise the Department by cable immediately should General Ferrera’s approval be obtained to the agreement proposed, in order that the Department may cause the necessary invitations to be extended to the Governments above indicated.