715.1715/550: Telegram
The Chargé in Nicaragua ( Castleman ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 7—2:22 a.m.]
97. To Mr. Duggan. In pursuance of instructions telephoned by Mr. Duggan to telegraph covering the period subsequent to our telephone conversation of Saturday 3 p.m., I report as follows: Saturday night at 9 o’clock Dr. Debayle, the President’s intimate counselor, returned from the country. I then discussed with him the proposition of the exchange of Honduran-Nicaraguan assurances against the movement of troops to the frontier and arranged to see the President next morning.
Sunday morning the President received me at 11 o’clock and we talked until 12, when he left town. The only arrangement which we could conceive, in view of his insistence upon American assistance in arranging things, as he now deeply distrusts the Hondurans, was to have the American Legations in Managua and Tegucigalpa arrange synchronization of the presentation of assurances at the two capitals.
It was emphasized as clearly understood that any action which must be taken by his [this?] office would be merely to help the two Governments get together, and nothing more, without any guarantee of engagements which the two countries might enter into.
Telegraph offices being closed most of Sunday, I could not communicate until after 5 p.m. and by that time a more desirable plan suggested itself, which I could communicate to our Chargé in Tegucigalpa, and get his reply and comments, more expeditely by telephoning next morning.
I saw Dr. Debayle next morning at 10. I suggested to him the proposition of having the heads of the Nicaraguan and Honduran Foreign Offices talk by telephone and arrange matters between them and, in our conversation, led him to consider that the points to be covered might well be (1) the hour for the presentation of assurances by the diplomatic representatives accredited in the two countries, (2) the form and extent of the assurances, and (3) the handling of publicity. Debayle telephoned to the President and obtained his approval. The telephone conversation between the two Ministers was tentatively set at 4 p.m. and the presentation of the assurances by the diplomats at 11 tomorrow morning (Tuesday).
[Page 68]At 12 I talked by telephone with Cramp at Tegucigalpa, conveying these propositions for the consideration of the Government of Honduras. He telephoned me at 1:30 that President Carias was “enthusiastic and delighted”. At 4 Cramp and I introduced the two Ministers for Foreign Relations over the telephone and both definitely retired, leaving them to discuss matters and make their arrangements.
After the telephone conversation the Nicaraguan Minister of Foreign Affairs told me that it had been agreed that the two accredited diplomats are to present the assurances to the two Presidents at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning.
The assurances are to be worded essentially as follows (from the telegram of instructions sent by the Foreign Office to the Nicaraguan Minister at Tegucigalpa):
“The Government of Nicaragua, desirous of facilitating a pacific settlement of the present friction, has authorized me to inform Your Excellency that, on a basis of strict reciprocity it engages itself not to send troops to the frontier region between the two countries. It is with the greatest satisfaction that the Government of Nicaragua avails itself of this opportunity to reiterate to the Government over which Your Excellency so worthily presides its good wishes and respectful consideration.”
Publicity is to be released to the newspapers simultaneously in the two capitals.
President Somoza appears anxious to end the friction if he can do so with decorum according to the criteria of the country. The public aspect here is calm, now that radio blackguarding has ceased. Still, the spontaneity and enthusiasm of demonstrations in the provincial cities at the time of the radio war, the growing sentiment in Managua at that time, the more recent mass offers of services received by Somoza from chauffeurs, railroad men and similar, as well as other evidences, indicate that there is a feeling under the surface which, if provoked, can create a serious situation.
Repeated to Tegucigalpa.