713.1311/218: Telegram
The Minister in Nicaragua ( Lane ) to the Secretary of State 4
[Received 6:40 p.m.]
32. With reference to Lawton’s January 27, 3 p.m.,5 President Sacasa told me this morning that he proposes to confer today with Honduran Chargé d’Affaires to inquire regarding President Carías’ views as to the form which invitation to the conference should take and as to the place of meeting. He said that tomorrow he would see Guatemalan Minister and state that he is prepared to join in inviting Costa Rica and El Salvador to conference in the manner which may appear most convenient to Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. (He said he would not mention to Guatemalan Minister the question of meeting place. Ubico’s views in favor of Guatemala having been previously communicated to him by Ubico.) The President expressed himself in substance as follows: He has no objection to meeting in Guatemala and will gladly abide by views of majority of five Central American states on this point. He would prefer Panama, however, (1)—because it is a “neutral” country and (2)—because if conference were meeting there it would be a simple matter to invite Panama to attend, rather than that Panama should send delegates to some far off point after the conference had assembled. If an invitation is sent to Panama it should be sent not merely by Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala but by the other Central American states as well. While agreeable to conference meeting in February he considers it wise not to move too hastily as the delegations should be chosen with care and the agenda fully discussed among the inviting states.
He said he would advise me of the results of his conversations with Honduran and Guatemalan representatives.