816.00/850: Telegram
The Chargé in El Salvador (McCafferty) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:20 p.m.]
52. The de facto Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs called this morning and said that he came with the full authorization of General Martínez to speak regarding a solution of the present political situation. He said that Martínez felt that the provisions of the treaty of 1923 would be complied with if he “deposited the power” in the First Designate and had the Legislative Assembly approve his action. (See the last sentence of first paragraph of this Legation’s telegram [Page 580] No. 128, December 30, 6 p.m.14). The First Designate would then assume the Presidency in accordance with the Constitution.
The Under Secretary stated that Martínez desired to be absolutely frank with the United States Government regarding the matter and that if it were possible to follow this course he would legally continue to be Vice President and that if the First Designate should resign in say 6 or 7 months he would still be able to resume the Presidency in accordance with the Constitution and that there would then be no question of recognition by hesitating Central American States and the United States as the treaty would then not apply.
The Under Secretary then spoke again at some length of the latent but very serious danger of communism and said that Martínez was very concerned regarding his own protection, and that the very grave economic situation and the continually increasing political intrigues of ambitious persons demanded that the Government continue as at present constituted without any important change. Apparently Martínez feels that such a plan if possible to be carried out would give him adequate guarantees for the future.
I told the Under Secretary that I doubted very much whether the United States Government could accept any such an arrangement as it might be construed as an attempt to get around the clear provisions of the treaty, and I suggested that it would be preferable for Martínez to resign outright and that he could undoubtedly work out some plan to assure himself against future trouble.
He insisted, however, that I submit this proposal to the Department for its consideration and said that Martínez did not want to do anything which would not have the approval of the United States Government towards which he had the most friendly feeling.
For the Department’s information I might add that the situation is extremely difficult because of the fact that Martínez has been giving a very efficient and honest administration and the people of the country are generally back of him. There has been some division evident among the military officers especially since each one was hoping that he might be named First Designate but the Army in general seems to be supporting Martínez. Garay is very little known, and is said to be a man of no outstanding ability and some of the higher officers resent the fact that he was chosen as First Designate. An early reply from the Department would be appreciated.
This telegram will be repeated to the other missions in Central America if the Department so instructs.