810.154/3099a: Telegram
The President of Costa Rica (Calderón Guardia) to President Roosevelt
The engineer in charge of the Military Highway has just notified me of the total suspension of work in Costa Rica. This news has brought me profound regret because it is enormously prejudicial to this country, which will be the only one so harmed in Central America, in as much as the highway will be completed as far as Nicaragua, inclusive. I understand that it has not been the intention to cause us deliberately such injury and for this reason and since the Costa Rican section is the only one lacking for the United States to be able to establish contact by land with Panama, and also since the work is so far advanced and by virtue of the loss which suspension would [Page 78] mean of the millions already invested in the project, I take the liberty of appealing to the sentiments of friendship which you have always manifested so clearly to us, in order that through your good offices we may avoid this harm. I have confidence in the good will with which you, Mr. President, will receive this plea, for which I beg you to pardon me. I know that it will inconvenience you, but your aid in this case would be decisive and the people of Costa Rica would always be grateful for it.
With the greatest respect, I remain, your sincere friend.