715.1715/662: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Honduras (Erwin)34
31. Department’s No. 30 of October 1, 7 p.m. In reply to the friendly and informal suggestions proffered by this Government, the Government of Honduras has replied that it would be willing to consider reaching an agreement with Nicaragua for the purpose of soliciting the good offices of one or more American states in order to promote a pacific and definitive settlement of the boundary dispute. The Government of Honduras has further indicated that because of the past [Page 79] familiarity of the Government of the United States with this pending boundary controversy, it would prefer that the good offices in question be undertaken by the United States.
The Government of Nicaragua has stated in reply to the suggestion proffered by the United States that the recent conduct of the Honduran Government “towards certain Nicaraguan Consuls and towards the persons and goods of Nicaraguans resident in Honduras” would make it impossible for Nicaragua to attempt through direct negotiations with Honduras either to seek peaceful solutions or jointly to solicit the good offices of other countries. Nicaragua is considering the desirability of expressing unilaterally the satisfaction with which she would see the United States, either alone or associated with other powers, extend good offices for the solution of the dispute.
In view of the willingness thus expressed by both parties to the controversy to accept the good offices of one or more of the American states to facilitate the pacific solution of the controversy, the Government of the United States suggests for the consideration of the Governments of Honduras and Nicaragua the desirability of accepting the good offices of three American powers, one to be selected by common accord from the republics of South America, one by common accord from the republics of Central America and, should this procedure be acceptable to the two Governments concerned, the Government of the United States will gladly serve as the third of the powers to tender their good offices.
You are instructed to communicate orally the foregoing to the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the earliest opportunity and to state that should this suggestion meet with the approval of his Government, this Government would propose as the most expeditious manner of obtaining the friendly services of the three American states above referred to, that the Government of Honduras indicate to the Government of the United States three governments of South America and three governments of Central America whose good offices it would be prepared to accept, indicating the suggestions in the order of preference. Upon receipt of the opinion so expressed by the Governments of Honduras and Nicaragua and should it be possible in the panels submitted to select two Governments acceptable to both parties, the Government of the United States would then gladly inquire of the Government of South America and of the Government of Central America so selected whether they would be disposed to join with the United States in the tender of good offices for the purposes in mind.
In conclusion you should make it clear that, while the Government of the United States, because of its interest in the maintenance of [Page 80] peace in the world at large and in particular in the Western Hemisphere, would be happy to be of service to the two Governments in suggesting a pacific settlement of the present controversy, it would not care to undertake these friendly services alone. It would prefer to be associated with at least two other American republics in this endeavor. As was made clear by the pacts adopted at the Conference at Buenos Aires, any threat to the maintenance of peace on the American Continent is a matter of concern to all of the American republics, and this Government strongly believes that it would be preferable from the standpoint of inter-American relationships that in the present instance the task of assuring a peaceful and satisfactory settlement of this dispute be entrusted to at least three American republics and not to one alone.
Please telegraph the Department as soon as possible of the reply of the Government to which you are accredited.
- The same, mutatis mutandis, October 6, 7 p.m. to the Chargé in Nicaragua as telegram No. 64.↩