816.00/856: Telegram
The Chargé in El Salvador (McCafferty) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:16 p.m.]
58. The Guatemalan Minister just called on me and stated that he had instructions from President Ubico to endeavor to have Gómez Zárate named President of Salvador. The Minister said he would like to have my views regarding the matter.
I told him that it was the policy of the United States neither to favor nor oppose any particular individual for appointment as First Designate its only interest being that he should be a person who can be recognized in conformity with the 1923 treaty and that I had most carefully abstained from any action which might be construed as favoring any individual. I told him further that the military were in control of the political situation and that on various occasions when I had spoken to Martínez and other military officers they stated categorically that no civilian would be acceptable as First Designate. Consequently any such suggestion on the part of the Guatemalan Government would only complicate the situation especially as it now appears that sincere efforts are being made to bring about a solution of the political difficulties. I said also that I could not see how the appointment of Gómez Zárate could be brought about as it would be clearly a case of mixing in the internal affairs of Salvador.
The Guatemalan Minister stated that he was in complete agreement with my opinion and that he would suggest to his Government the inadvisability and the impracticability of endeavoring to have Gómez Zárate named First Designate.
For the Department’s information I might add that I believe that politically Gómez Zárate has been considerably weakened by the turn of events since December 2d and that a large number of his followers have changed their allegiance over to the military party now in control. His appointment as Chief Justice was made apparently to influence his partisans to support the present regime.