710.11/11–144
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Nicaragua ( Stewart )
Sir: The Department has been much concerned at reports which have been reaching it indicating a widespread misunderstanding by many of the peoples of this hemisphere of this Government’s policy of non-intervention. Charges have been made with increasing frequency that, by furnishing arms and ammunition to certain Governments under Lend-Lease, the United States has been supporting dictatorships and has enabled them to remain in power by force. It is, of course, the fact that Lend-Lease armaments were furnished under agreements entered into when there was a definite threat of invasion of the continent, and that they were so supplied solely for the protection of the hemisphere against that threat.
This Government’s attitude toward other governments should be quite clear to all the world. The Government of the United States desires to maintain friendly relations with all countries. The fact that such relations are maintained does not necessarily imply that we approve all such governments. It is widely recognized that the many revolutions which have periodically harassed the countries of America have been due primarily to the existence of military dictatorships which could not be unseated by any other means. It is equally realized that the Governments of a number of the other American Republics did not come to power through democratic processes, that some have maintained their positions unconstitutionally, and that similar regimes may arise in the future. These situations are to be deplored, but it is no function of the Government of the United States [Page 1406] to attempt to impose the practice of democracy upon other governments or peoples. Furthermore, the Government of the United States is obligated by treaty22 to refrain from intervening in the internal concerns of other countries. While the Government of the United States intends to observe such treaty commitment, and does not intend to deviate from its policy of non-intervention, and while the Department will continue to maintain cordial relations with all established and recognized governments, it is not incompatible with those policies to state unequivocally the self-evident truth that the Government and people of the United States cannot help but feel a greater affinity and a warmer friendship for those governments which rest upon the periodically and freely expressed consent of the governed. You are authorized to use the foregoing statement of the attitude of this Government in your private conversations, at such time or times as you may deem appropriate, so as to clarify our position in these matters.
Very truly yours,