813.00/1340a
The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics 1
Sirs: The Department has noted an increase in the scope and intensity of political activities in Central America in recent months. There appears to be a possibility that this may, in certain instances, lead to political turmoil. Domestic strife in any of the United Nations would, of course, be disquieting under the present circumstances, and our enemies would doubtless seek to derive advantage from it. In the course of these political activities many efforts have been made both by the Administration forces and the opposition to secure from the United States Embassy accredited to the country some sign of favor which might be effectively used for political propaganda. A basic tenet of this Government’s policy—that of non-interference in the internal political affairs of the other American republics—is thus undergoing a severe test at a delicate moment.
The Department has noted the many ingenious devices by which the contending political factions have sought to draw United States officials into local politics. It has been much gratified to observe the skill and tact with which the officers of the respective missions have sought to escape from committing themselves. In more than one situation, as the missions reporting the incidents have pointed out, a refusal to act would have been interpreted as far more significant from the viewpoint of internal politics than a positive noncommittal gesture.
In view of the particularly delicate situation existing at the moment, the Department wishes to reiterate its injunctions against any avoidable act of omission or commission which might be interpreted as reflecting on the local political situation. Excessive public friendliness toward the Administration in power or the participation of United States officials in pro-administration meetings of a political nature would be almost as undesirable as the identification of the Embassy with opposition to the existing Administration. It is to be remembered [Page 1392] that there is bitter open or covert opposition to virtually all of the administrations in power; that it is almost inevitable that this opposition will eventually come to power in some countries; and that the rule of non-interference in internal politics applies even to those regimes which, in seeking to perpetuate themselves in power, have gone out of their way to emphasize their friendship for the United States. The respective missions will doubtless find it very difficult to define the line where friendliness toward the government of an allied sister Republic ends and friendliness toward a particular political regime begins; but the Department is confident that they will handle this problem with particular discretion.
The Department would appreciate the views of the missions to which this instruction is addressed as to the possibility of making its policy of non-intervention in any way clearer in those countries in which doubts regarding this point may still linger in the popular mind.
Very truly yours,
- Sent to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.↩