816.01/20: Telegram
The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4 p.m.]
196. Legation’s telegram No. 191 of December 9, 1 p.m. Having talked with a number of persons here including a very prominent nationalist leader I find that feeling of Government officials and people in general is that present regime in Salvador cannot and should not be recognized in conformity with Washington Treaty of 1923. As the Government of Honduras intends to decide on recognition in conformity with the decision of the Government of the United States it will obviously be placed in a very difficult position if the Department should decide to recognize the present regime and, feeling that the Department has placed it in such a position, will be resentful. Moreover such action will tend to undo the restraining and stabilizing effects of the 1923 treaty at a very unsettled time here and give encouragement to certain unruly elements to overthrow this Government by a coup d’état or revolution.