715.1715/1223: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Costa Rica ( Hornibrook )
26. For Ocheltree. It has been suggested to the Department by the Nicaraguan Minister in Washington that the absence of any indication of the probable duration of the postponement announced in [Page 260] the Commission’s note of June 2 may give rise to misunderstanding in Central America of the real intentions of the Commission. Please call on Dr. Zuniga Montufar and convey to him the suggestion that as President of the Commission he may wish to consider the desirability of informing the press that it is hoped that the studies of the various phases of the situation and conferences relating thereto will have advanced to such a point that it will be possible for the Commission to be able to report real progress in the not distant future, probably by September 1. Such a statement would of course be made on behalf of the entire Commission without reference to the desires or suggestion of any one member thereof.
With reference to your telegram no. 71 of June 7, 11 a.m., please discuss with Dr. Zuniga Montufar and Dr. Rodriguez the question of the extension of the provision of the agreement of December 10, 1937 with regard to purchase of armament. It is felt that assurances by the governments of Honduras and Nicaragua to the Commission that no purchase of armaments would be made other than for normal and necessary replacement purposes would greatly reassure public opinion throughout the Americas. Such assurances would of course be highly gratifying to the governments of the countries participating in the work of the Commission.
Please report results of conversations by telegraph.