740.00111A Neutrality Patrol/64a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in El Salvador (Frazer)
1. Your telegrams No. 1, January 2, 3 p.m.7 and No. 2, January 5, 11 a.m. In your continuing discussions please make it clear that this Government greatly appreciates the willingness of the Government of El Salvador to cooperate with this Government for the purposes indicated in the establishment of an effective collective neutrality patrol. This Government is in entire agreement with the Government of El Salvador as to the proposed qualifications8 but feels that in order to avoid any possibility of misunderstanding, both Governments should have a full meeting of minds as to the interpretation of the phrase “a positive threat of hostile action on the part of any non-American belligerent”.
You should then explain to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that although the vessels on patrol could of course not establish the true facts concerning any reports indicating a positive threat of hostile action by any non-American belligerent individuals or vessels without an adequate and undelayed investigation, which might involve patrol operations, at any time when on presumptively well-founded possibility the patrol officers believe that such “a positive threat” exists, they will make every endeavor to advise the Department of State and the Legation promptly so that the Government of El Salvador may be [Page 53] immediately informed. You should emphasize that the patrol officers will not undertake investigation operations in any case even one of utmost urgency without simultaneously taking every precaution to enable this Government to advise the Government of El Salvador at once.