715.1715/1049a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Costa Rica (Hornibrook)
17. For Corrigan. As will be seen from a study of the memorandum attached to the Department’s instruction of December 11, 1937,65 at the time the three Governments tendered their good offices to the Governments of Nicaragua and Honduras there was some discussion between them, as well as with the Nicaraguan and Honduran authorities, with regard to the seat of the conference. Although no written understanding was formulated, it was our understanding that it was agreed that it would be desirable, (1), that the seat of the conference during the preliminary stage be near the two disputant countries in order to facilitate the formulation of the protocol; (2), that once this protocol had been signed, a permanent secretariat should be established at San José to observe compliance with the terms of the protocol; and (3), that the seat of the further discussions be removed from Central America in order that these might take place in a dispassionate atmosphere. At the time Caracas was mentioned as a suitable seat for the second stage of the conference.
Under instructions from his Government, the Minister of Honduras today called at the Department and recalled that his Government had, in agreeing to San José, made reservations with regard to continuing [Page 116] at San José during the second stage. He indicated that his Government would look with favor upon the selection of Caracas.
This matter was discussed informally with the Costa Rican Minister today. He recalled the discussions regarding the seat of the conference, and stated that he had not informed his Government in detail regarding them, but had merely indicated to his Government that it might expect that after the first stage of the conference was over there might be discussions with regard to the seat of the conference for the second stage. To date he has had no indication as to what the attitude of his Government might be, although he stated his personal belief that his Government would of course wish to follow the desires of Nicaragua and Honduras in this regard.
Under these circumstances the Department is concerned because of the press report referred to in your telegram no. 44 of December 15, 2 p.m. Please seek an immediate interview with the Minister of Foreign Relations and, after stating that the report referred to is incorrect, make clear to him that the Department has no fixed attitude with regard to the seat of the second stage of the conference but, on the other hand, is prepared to agree to whatever is satisfactory to the disputant governments and to the other governments extending good offices. In particular, an effort should be made to disabuse any belief that the Minister may have that this Government and Venezuela have engaged in conversations with the object of deciding where the seat of the second stage of the conference shall be.
The best manner of handling this delicate matter is left to your discretion. However, you might suggest to the Minister and to the Venezuelan delegate that the preferences of the two disputant governments should be the guiding considerations in the decision and that it would be well, therefore, to ascertain directly from the delegations the desires of their respective governments.
- Not printed.↩