817.812/771
The Minister in Nicaragua (Nicholson) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
My Dear Mr. Welles: The introduction in both houses of the American Congress of bills looking to the construction of a canal under the Bryan-Chamorro Treaty has given fresh impetus to discussions of that project by the press and by government officials. These matters have been fully reported, and I have made known also President Somoza’s desire, as expressed to me in informal conversations and more recently announced in the local newspapers, to visit Washington at an early date with a view to urging action.
I have at no time expressed any opinion as to the proposed visit. Last night at a dinner the President gave in honor of the Mexican [Page 722] Ambassador to the United States he told me, as most confidential, that the Nicaraguan Minister in Washington had advised him that an invitation to visit Washington would be forthcoming sometime in the spring—probably after the visit of King George.5
In spite of President Somoza’s injunction of secrecy, I shall not be surprised if this intelligence finds its way to the newspapers sooner or later. It would be ungracious for me to express a doubt as to the promise of an official invitation, but I think you should know that he has spoken of this as having been arranged between Minister DeBayle and the Department. I may add that the President yesterday told our naval attaché for air exactly the same thing and with a similar injunction as to its confidential nature.
I feel constrained to say that this subject has now assumed so great an importance with Nicaragua and its government that President Somoza will not easily be diverted from his purpose to press for action. If, as seems likely, the Constituent Assembly extends his term of office he undoubtedly expects to make the realization of the canal the great achievement of his administration.
With best wishes,
Sincerely yours,
- King George VI of Great Britain visited the United States in June 1939.↩