811.0141SW2/172
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of the American Republics (Duggan)
Señor Caceres informed me that he had come to present to the Department a note reserving the rights of sovereignty which Honduras believes it has in the Swan Islands. The Chargé then handed to me the note attached hereto.9
I took occasion to assure the Chargé—and requested him to transmit this assurance to his Government—that this Government in establishing the meteorological station on Swan Islands was not endeavoring to present any fait accompli to the Honduran Government with respect to sovereignty over the Islands. I told him that this Government was committed to the peaceful settlement of any differences through the processes of negotiation, and that that was its desire with specific reference to the Swan Islands.
I informed Señor Caceres that since his last call, at which he had discussed this matter orally and informally, the Department had been making certain studies in the matter and that while I had not yet seen the results of these studies I was hopeful that within the not distant future this Government would be in a position to take up with the Honduran Government the question of sovereignty over the Swan Islands.
- Supra.↩