Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The American Republics, Volume V

615.6231/19: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Honduras ( Erwin )

Washington , December 23, 1938—6 p.m.

29. Your no. 37, December 20, 1 p.m. Please state to the Minister for Foreign Affairs informally that while this Government sincerely appreciates the courtesy of the Honduran Government in requesting an indication of our attitude on the question of the renewal of the commercial treaty between Honduras and Germany, it is not felt that the question is one on which this Government could appropriately express an opinion.

While the Department does not wish you to make any statement to the Foreign Minister which might be interpreted as intended to influence the decision of the Honduran Government, you are referred to instruction no. 40 of January 11, 1938¹² in which there was set forth for your information the policy of this Government with regard to the principle of bilateral trade balancing and the extension of the principle of most-favored-nation treatment.

Welles

12. Not printed.