816.01/145: Telegram
The Chargé in El Salvador (McCafferty) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 5—1:31 a.m.]
73. Referring to my telegram No. 72, April 2, 6 p.m., paragraph number 5. This morning the Ministers of Honduras and Guatemala and I received in this Legation a delegation of five representatives of the younger military officers who carried out the coup d’état of December 2nd.
These officers spoke at great length concerning their patriotism in [Page 595] having overthrown the incompetent Araujo administration, the constitutionality of the Martínez regime and the Salvadoran reservations to the 1923 treaty which made it inapplicable to that country. We explained to them very carefully and clearly the point of view of the other Central American countries and the United States regarding recognition and the Salvadoran reservations and stated that the decision had been made by these countries not to recognize Martínez and that it was useless now to discuss this matter any further.
They then said that they wished to have the assurance that Garay would be recognized if he assumed the Presidency. We read to them the pertinent parts of article number 2 of the 1923 treaty and said that we could not find anything therein which would bar Garay from recognition. They did not seem satisfied with this asssurance and said that on the morning after the revolution when Minister Curtis spoke to them at the Zapote Barracks Mr. Curtis suggested that Martínez as Vice President was the person according to the constitution who should assume the Presidency and that if this were done the United States would recognize the change in government. They said that they did not want a similar state of affairs if Garay assumed office and asked for a written statement that Garay would be recognized. Of course this put me in a most awkward position but the Honduran Minister explained to them the absolute good faith of Mr. Curtis in endeavoring to help in solving a difficult problem and said that this certainly was simply a misinterpretation of the meaning of the treaty on the part of Mr. Curtis who was incapable of deceiving them intentionally. Their attitude seemed to become more friendly after this explanation of the Honduran Minister.
I then told them that it was impossible to give them a written statement in advance. However in view of their apparently justified doubt I read to them the pertinent parts of the Department’s telegram No. 28 of February 17, 6 p.m., and they seemed to be satisfied and no longer insisted on a statement in writing. The Honduran Minister then told them that from the information he had received from the President of Honduras he was certain that Garay would be immediately recognized. The Guatemalan Minister asserted that he did not have any definite instructions on the subject, that he felt pretty certain Garay would be recognized by his government but that he would be glad to request an opinion from Guatemala.
At the conclusion of the meeting the officers said that they were glad to have had an exchange of views with us and they felt it would make easier a solution of the present difficulties.
Repeated to Tegucigalpa and Guatemala City.