Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1932, The American Republics, Volume V

816.01/50a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in El Salvador (McCafferty)

Washington, January 13, 1932—7 p.m.

6. The following principles should govern your action in the present situation in Salvador:

1) In view of the provisions of the 1923 Treaty⁵ Martínez can under no circumstances be recognized. This is not due to any animus against Martínez, but because of the clear provisions of the Treaty. The other Central American states are in agreement concerning this. It would be useless for Martínez or his adherents to send a representative to Washington to seek recognition for him, and if anything of this nature is proposed you should discourage it.

2) It is the earnest hope of the Department that a Government may be established in Salvador at the earliest possible moment on a basis permitting its recognition by the other Central American countries and by the United States. See suggestion mentioned in Caffery’s telegram No. 128, December 30, 6 p.m.,⁶ 5th paragraph. The Department neither favors nor does it oppose any individual for appointment as first designate, its sole interest being that the appointment may fall on a person who can be recognized in conformity with the provisions of the 1923 Treaty. So far as the Department is concerned the door is wide open for the selection of any individual as first designate, the only essential qualification being that he be eligible for recognition under the Treaty. You will of course make the foregoing clear on appropriate occasions to the military authorities who are in control of the situation.

Stimson

5. General Treaty of Peace and Amity, signed February 7, 1923, Conference on Central American Affairs, Washington, December 4, 1922–February 7, 1923 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1923), p. 287.
6. See telegram from the Minister in El Salvador, Foreign Relations, 1931, vol. ii, p. 210.