Office of the Historian

810.20 Defense/7–1246

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Costa Rica (Johnson)

[Extracts]
confidential
No. 575
Washington, August 21, 1946.

The Acting Secretary of State refers to the Embassy’s despatch no. 2126 of July 12, 1946, concerning the problem of the United States Army in connection with navigation aids and meteorological facilities [Page 685] at Parrita Point, Costa Rica. As indicated in the Department’s instruction no. 522 of July 9,8 this matter was taken up with the War Department.

The War Department’s reply states, in substance, that a military requirement exists for the continued operation of the radio range and weather station at Parrita Point, and that such operation is necessary to insure the safe flight of a considerable number of United States military aircraft using the route in question.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In any case, it is the view of the Department that any arrangement made to meet the War Department’s desire for the continued operation of the radio range at Parrita Point should take the form of a new agreement. Such an agreement should not be for an indefinite period but should apply to a period of from three to five years, with the understanding, if necessary, that it can thereafter be renewed periodically.9

In this connection, the Department feels that the agreement for military cooperation between the United States and Costa Rica should now be terminated. Before taking this matter up with the War Department, however, the Department desires to have the Embassy’s comments on the advisability of initiating such action. It will, therefore, be appreciated if the Embassy will forward its views regarding the possible termination of the above-mentioned agreement.10

  1. Not printed.↩
  2. In note No. 531, October 22, 1946, to the Costa Rican Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (copy enclosed in despatch 2449, October 22) Ambassador Johnson requested renewal by an exchange of notes of the agreement (set forth in the exchange of notes of June 7 and July 12, 1943) concerning the operation by the United States military personnel of the radio range and weather station at Parrita Point (810.20 Defense/10-2246). In despatch 2485, October 28, Ambassador Johnson transmitted a copy of a note from the Costa Rican Foreign Office, October 24, agreeing to the requested renewal for an additional term of 3 years (810.20 Defense/10-2846). In a memorandum of December 6 the Secretary of War was advised of this agreement (810.20 Defense/10-2846).↩
  3. Ambassador Johnson stated in despatch 2449, October 22, 1946, “I am of the opinion, after consulting our Military Attaché, that there is no reason that the agreement for military cooperation between the United States and Costa Rica should not now be terminated.” No action, however, was taken to terminate the agreement.↩