816.01/237: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Morgan)
79. Your 109, September 20, 11 a.m. For your information and possible use in conversation with the Foreign Minister. This Government, at the request of the Central American Governments, announced in June, 1923, that, in the matter of recognition of new Governments in Central America, it would support the principles of the Central American General Treaty of Peace and Amity adopted by the five Central American Republics in February, 1923, as an effort on their part to promote stability in Central America and discourage revolutions in those countries. Article II of the treaty provides, in brief, that recognition shall not be extended to a Government coming into power through a revolution if, among other things, the head of that Government should have held a cabinet office within 6 months preceding the revolution. General Martínez was Minister of War at the time of the revolution in December, 1931, which overthrew the Araujo Government. There can, therefore, not be any doubt that under the treaty Martínez can not be recognized as President of Salvador. The other Central American states have been unanimous in this opinion and have refused recognition to Martínez. The United States, in view of its policy of supporting the treaty, has also declined to [Page 610] recognize Martínez and will not recognize him. Of course Brazil is in a somewhat different position, since it has not taken any stand in regard to the 1923 treaty, but it would nevertheless seem that the position taken by the Central American states themselves in an effort to promote stability and discourage revolutions in their countries merits the sympathetic support of other states on the American continent.