715.1715/518: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Honduras ( Cramp )

17. On August 28 President Somoza informed our Legation at Managua of his concern regarding the present friction between Nicaragua and Honduras and stated his interest in having the United States Government act as arbitrator or offer its advice as to the arbitration of the boundary difficulty, particularly with respect to the offer of the President of Guatemala to act as mediator or arbitrator. On August 30 the Legation was instructed to seek an interview with President Somoza and to express to him the confidence of this Government that the Nicaraguan reply to the first Honduran note would be conciliatory in tone and offer a basis for peaceful resolution of the present friction. The Legation was instructed to inform the President, if he made further inquiry, that consideration was being given to his suggestion that this Government might arbitrate the question of territorial rights.

Please endeavor to arrange through the Minister of Foreign Affairs for an immediate interview with President Carias in which you should inform him that this Government has viewed with increasing concern the controversy between Nicaragua and Honduras. You should express to him the confidence of this Government that the Honduran Government will do all in its power not to permit the present friction to develop into a more serious controversy which would endanger the friendly relations between the two countries. You should remind him that the recent conference at Buenos Aires21 was devoted primarily to the adoption of accords for the maintenance of peace on this hemisphere, and that it would now be a misfortune that so shortly after that conference two friendly nations could not get together and compose their difficulties on a high plane of statesmanship. A peaceful solution of the present friction would add to the international renown for statesmanship of President Carias and his Government. You may state that the Government of the United States is disposed to do whatever it can to be of assistance.

The Department has noted with interest your own belief that the Honduran Government might accept the good offices of the United States, merely however, from the point of view as to whether or not the arbitral decision of the King of Spain of 1906 is legal. If the President makes any suggestion that the United States use its good offices you are instructed to inform him that you feel confident that your Government will give any suggestion that he cares to make the most serious consideration.

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In this connection please endeavor discreetly to ascertain whether the President of Guatemala has also offered his services as mediator or arbitrator to Honduras and if so the reaction or reply of the Honduran Government to this offer.

Please repeat to the Legation at Managua all telegrams to the Department.

Hull
  1. See Department of State Conference Series No. 33; also Foreign Relations, 1936, vol. v, pp. 3 ff.