810.154/3119a: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Nicaragua ( Stewart )36

Department’s A–558 of September 25, 7 p.m.37 The Department is issuing no press release with regard to the stoppage of work on the pioneer highway project. However, you are authorized to issue the following statement in the event that you deem it advisable:

The military situation which confronts the western hemisphere no longer justifying intensive efforts to complete various military projects, instructions have been given for the early cessation of work on the pioneer highway in Central America.

The expressed policy of the United States Government to cooperate in the construction of the permanent Inter-American Highway, which is intended to provide a through road to Panama, is not affected by the abandonment of construction on the pioneer highway. The Public Roads Administration is continuing its plans to carry through this project at the most efficient and economical pace for an undertaking of this nature. The work already completed on the pioneer highway project will be of definite value to the completion of the permanent highway project, and the pertinent officials are in consultation with respect to the transfer of the maximum benefits from the pioneer to the permanent project in the liquidation of the former. Agreements have already been concluded with all of the Central American republics and Panama38 for the cooperative construction of the Inter-American Highway in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 375 of December 26, 1941. Work will proceed under the terms of these agreements and the appropriations already voted by Congress.

In any discussions which are sought by any of the pioneer highway officials with the President or the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country to which you are accredited, you should be present and you should be informed of and approve the matter which the highway official proposes to discuss.

Berle
  1. The same, mutatis mutandis, September 30, to the Ambassadors in Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
  2. See footnote 27, p. 86.
  3. For texts of these agreements, see Department of State Executive Agreement Series Nos. 293 (Costa Rica), 294 (El Salvador), 295 (Nicaragua), 296 (Honduras), 345 (Guatemala), and 365 (Panama) or 56 Stat. (pt. 2) 1840, 1842, 1845, 1848, and 57 Stat. (pt. 2) 1111 and 1298, respectively.