816.01/21: Telegram
The Minister in El Salvador (Curtis) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:25 p.m.]
120. General Martínez is showing considerable concern regarding recognition by the United States.
Yesterday evening he called in the Acting Fiscal Agent, assured him loan payments would be continued, asking him to offer freely advice concerning financial and taxation matters, and broached the subject of recognition but desisted when informed that his visitor was not an American citizen.
This morning he called in the American representative of the Panama Mail Line and asked him to get me to urge you to grant recognition. [Page 201] I informed the latter that the decision in this matter was entirely in your hands.
He also called in the manager of the International Railways and asked him to get his home office to recommend that you recognize his Government. [Paraphrase.] General Martínez informed him that he felt that he could continue for a limited time without recognition, and he could maintain an orderly government indefinitely thereafter, but that if recognition were withheld for a protracted period the political leaders would promote troubles which he felt certain he could not suppress. [End paraphrase.]