815.00/3743: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Honduras (Dennis)

61. Your June 6, 1 p.m.,25 and other correspondence regarding revolutionary difficulties.

Before the Department could consider lending more active support to the Government of Honduras in maintaining stable political conditions it would have to be certain that the Government of Honduras itself was taking active and energetic steps to establish more orderly conditions, particularly in such districts as Ceiba, Tela and Trumillo, and it would also desire a formal request in writing from the Government of Honduras indicating in just what way the Government of the United States could be of assistance.

The Department views with concern the situation existing in the north coast districts mentioned, where the failure of the constituted authorities to maintain order and repress crime is a menace to the security of the very numerous Americans living there. It desires therefore that you should discuss with the appropriate officials the necessity for taking active steps to deal with that situation. If they express a desire to have the assistance of the United States in doing so you may say that the Department would doubtless require a definite statement in writing indicating in what manner its assistance was desired, if it were to give consideration to the matter. You may also say that any steps taken would presumably be more likely to be successful if taken with the full approval and support of Carias,26 Martinez Funes and Tosta, and that your Government would presumably wish to know that these leaders had formally expressed their approval of any request for assistance which the Honduran Government might make.

Kellogg
  1. Not printed.
  2. Tiburcio Carias, Chief of the National Party.