816.01/27a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Costa Rica (Werlich)29
42. After thorough consideration the Department has come to the conclusion that the regime headed by General Martínez is barred from recognition by the terms of Article 2 of the General Treaty of Peace and Amity of 1923. With reference to that Article it is clear (1) that General Martínez has come into power through a revolution and that the country has not been constitutionally reorganized by the freely elected representatives of the people; and (2) that even in the event of such constitutional reorganization General Martínez could not be recognized inasmuch as he held office as Minister of War within 6 months preceding the revolution.
The Department has stated on various occasions that the policy of the Government of the United States in its dealings with the Central American republics is to be guided by the principles established in the Treaty of 1923. The United States Government, therefore, will not recognize General Martínez as President of Salvador.
[Page 204]The Department desires you immediately to advise orally the Government to which you are accredited of the position of the United States Government as set forth above, to say that the action of the Legation of the United States in Salvador will be guided thereby, and to express the hope that the Government to which you are accredited may see its way clear to instruct its diplomatic representative at San Salvador to follow a similar course, in order that the signatories of the 1923 Treaty and the United States may act in harmony and that the principles which the Central American States established in that Treaty may thus be made effective.
Report by cable the attitude of the Government to which you are accredited and repeat to Legation at San Salvador for its information.
- The same on the same date to the diplomatic representatives in Guatemala (No. 36), Honduras (No. 94), and Nicaragua (No. 217).↩