714.1515/1078a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Honduras (Merrell)
24. Negotiations between Honduras and Guatemala have been carried on now for somewhat over four months in a spirit of friendliness but with little or no flexibility on the part of either delegation. Both delegations apparently have very categoric and rigid instructions. While very considerable advance has been made, namely, a tentative agreement on the line from Cerro Brujo to Cerro Mirador, progress beyond that point has been hampered by the unyielding position taken by both delegations under instructions from their Governments.
While the Guatemalan delegation for sometime has maintained an intransigent position in demanding the Merendon range from Cerro Elencia to the sea, it now seems possible that if Honduras is prepared to deal with the matter in a more liberal spirit, not maintaining an intransigent position on the lines it has heretofore taken, that Guatemala will consent to renounce its claim to a portion of the right bank of the lower Motagua River.
The Honduran delegates state that they are bound by very rigid instructions limited to listening informally to any proposals that are made. They are thus prevented from entering into any serious negotiations with a view to a settlement. The Department relied upon the statements of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Legation as set forth in your telegrams 114, 117, and 118, of November 26, 10 a.m., November 30, 11 a.m., and December 3, 6 p.m.,78 respectively, as indicating that the Honduran delegates would have full powers to negotiate a settlement of this question. The Department therefore desires you to recall these statements very earnestly to the attention of the Honduran Government and say that it feels that the two Governments are now nearer a settlement than they have been in the past and that if it will give more latitude to its delegation not binding it to stand out for any particular line but authorizing it to enter into a full and frank discussion with the Guatemalan delegation and the Department it feels that a settlement can be reached. In this connection, I may say that the Guatemalan Government informed the American Minister in Guatemala that the Guatemalan delegate [Page 347] has been given full powers. Please take this matter up actively with the President and Minister for Foreign Affairs and cable the results. Also cable any indication you may get as to concessions that Honduras would be willing to make to arrive at a settlement.
You will of course point out that this Government has no interest in the matter other than to help two friendly Governments arrive at a just settlement of their difficulty and this Government has been expending a great deal of time and effort for the last four months in an endeavor to bring about a satisfactory settlement. If the delegates of the two Governments, however, do not have ample authority to negotiate a settlement this Government’s helpfulness in the matter is limited and an agreement under such circumstances is improbable.
[Paraphrase.] The following is strictly confidential. While the Honduran delegation did suggest a line running from Cerro Mirador to Cerro Jubuco, Cerro Morjá, Las Playitas, Las Quebradas, and thence to the Motagua at Quebrada Grande, following the Motagua thence to the sea, they have, nevertheless, very informally indicated in conversation to members of the Department that they might be willing to support a line from Cerro Morjá to the Cordillera and thence along the northern slope to Cerro Chachagualia, leaving Jocornal and Cerro Jocornal in Honduras and from Cerro Chachagualia to the Rio Chachagualia, thence to the Motagua. However, if a settlement is to be made, it will be necessary for Honduras to agree to a line farther east than the Rio Chachagualia. This seems evident from the situation developed in our conversations with the Guatemalan delegation.
The Department desires that Minister Lay, immediately upon his arrival in Tegucigalpa, follow up the representations of the Chargé in the same manner indicated in this telegram and report the results. [End paraphrase.]