740.00111A.R.–N.C./36
The Minister in Costa Rica ( Hornibrook ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 5.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s circular telegram of January 27, 3 p.m., advising that a resolution adopted by the Neutrality Committee now in session at Rio de Janeiro contains an inquiry as to the competence of that Committee to deal with the problems arising from the Declaration of Panama, and that this inquiry is being submitted by the Pan American Union to the Governments of the American Republics through their representatives at Washington.
The Department further advises that it feels very strongly that it would be highly desirable to remove at once any doubt as to the competence of the Neutrality Committee to deal with such an important matter, since it appears to be ideally equipped to study and coordinate rapidly the proposals made by the other American Republics with a view to making definitive recommendations on the subject, and directs that, at my discretion, these views be informally made known to the appropriate officials of the Government of Costa Rica.
There is attached a copy of an informal communication delivered to the Secretary of Foreign Relations under date of January 27, 1940.27 During the course of an interview granted me by the Secretary of Foreign Relations28 on January 27, prior to the receipt of the telegram under reference, for the purpose of discussing another matter, the Secretary informed me that he had received an inquiry direct from the Costa Rican member of the Neutrality Committee with regard to the question of the competence of the Committee to deal with problems arising out of the Declaration of Panamá; that in reply he had informed the Costa Rican representative that the Pan American Union, which is in direct contact with the Department of State, is the medium through which such a point should be resolved; and that, since the Government of the United States is supporting the other American Republics, Costa Rica will in turn be guided by any resolution taken by the Pan American Union.
The foregoing statement appears to be lacking in clarity in some respects, but it is my understanding that the Secretary of Foreign [Page 274] Relations intended to convey the impression that Costa Rica would undertake to support any position taken by the Government of the United States with regard to this matter, and I am of the opinion that Costa Rica’s representative in Washington will be so instructed in connection with the resolution submitted by the Pan American Union.
Respectfully yours,