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

816.01/84: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Guatemala (Whitehouse)

Washington, February 9, 1932—6 p.m.

6. Your 14, February 8, 4 p.m.¹² You may say to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the diplomatic representative of the United States in Salvador has stated categorically on several occasions to Martínez and to other officials of the de facto regime that the position of the United States is based on the 1923 Treaty and that in the Department’s view it is clear that under that Treaty Martínez cannot be recognized. You may add for his confidential information that when the Department learned of Martínez’ intention to send Luis Anderson to Washington to attempt to obtain recognition for his regime, the Department advised both Martínez and Anderson that the latter would not be received by any official of the Department in connection with this matter. Furthermore, the Department has in the past 24 hours been informed by the Legation at San Salvador that Martínez desires to send a financial representative to Washington to discuss with the Department the financial situation in connection with the 1922 Salvador loan.¹³ The Department has replied that it is not in a position to receive such a representative.

In view of the foregoing, the Department feels its position has been made amply clear to Martínez. The situation, however, is of course a difficult one. Martínez appears to have strengthened his position in Salvador as a result of having put down the recent disorders and he apparently has a favorable majority in the recently elected Salvadoran Congress. On the other hand, the 1923 Treaty appears clearly to bar him from recognition, and the other Central American states and the United States have announced their decision not to recognize him because of the provisions of that Treaty. It is evident that Martínez has been trying by every possible means to bring pressure to bear on the other states, including the United States, to alter their decision. It would seem, however, that Martínez must before long realize that these efforts have failed and that the only way which appears to be open to escape from the present impasse is for Salvador to put its Government on such a basis that it can be recognized by the other Central American states and the United States consistently with the obligations of the Treaty.

The Department would be interested to know just what “definite steps” the Minister for Foreign Affairs feels should be taken in order, as indicated in his conversation with you, to bring home to Martínez that the other states intend to support the Treaty.

Stimson

12. Not printed.
13. See Foreign Relations, 1922, vol. ii, pp. 885 ff.