710.Peace/761
The Minister in Nicaragua ( Long ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 15.]
Sir: With reference to the forthcoming Conference at Buenos Aires, I have the honor to report that in an informal conversation with a member of my staff yesterday, the Nicaraguan Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that a few days ago the Foreign Minister of Costa Rica telephoned to invite him to a preliminary meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Central American Republics at San José, Costa Rica, to discuss and formulate plans for the Conference at Buenos Aires.28 Dr. Debayle said he had accepted in principle but had requested the Costa Rican Foreign Minister to send him a written communication on the subject. He added that as yet he had heard nothing further in that connection.
Referring to the Buenos Aires Conference, Dr. Debayle said he was in full sympathy with the aims of the United States and was particularly anxious to cooperate in every way. He said that it is, of course, needless to state that Nicaragua desires peace in the Western Hemisphere. He pointed out, however, that insofar as Nicaragua itself is concerned the paramount question is not that of maintaining international peace but of preventing internal strife.29
Dr. Debayle said he had intimated to the Costa Rican Minister for Foreign Affairs that if he attended a preliminary conference he would [Page 25] be primarily interested in formulating some plan for preventing revolutions in Nicaragua and the other Central American Republics. He referred to the possibility of a court of arbitration and a new agreement among the various Republics not to recognize any government which came into power by armed rebellion, and suggested that it might be practicable to have all the countries agree to render assistance to the Constitutional Government in the event of a revolution. Dr. Debayle further developed his idea by adding that it might be a good plan if such a policy on non-recognition could be adopted by all the American Republics, that is to say, the United States and the other nations represented at Buenos Aires would sign a pact not to recognize any government in the signatory countries which might come into power by overthrowing the Constitutional Government through force of arms.
Dr. Debayle apparently still hopes to go to Washington about November and sail from New York with the American delegation.
The above observations on the part of Dr. Debayle were made casually, but they are transmitted as being of probable interest because of the fact that he is expected to head the Nicaraguan delegation to Buenos Aires.
Respectfully yours,