Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The American Republics, Volume XI

811.24517/6–1846

The Ambassador in Nicaragua ( Warren ) to the Secretary of State

secret
No. 871

Managua , June 18, 1946.
[Received June 25.]

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s secret Instruction No. 235 of May 21, 1946,²³ instructing the Officer in Charge of this Mission to prepare, after consultation with the representatives of the Miami District Engineer acting for the United States Army, a Note for transmission to the Government of Nicaragua providing for the delivery to that Government of the Air Base at Puerto Cabezas in accordance with the exchange of Notes dated May 29 and June 5 [2], 1942.²⁴ The Department stated that the Note should be transmitted to the Department for its approval before delivery to the Nicaraguan Government.

On May 24, 1946, J. U. Moorehead, Lieutenant Colonel Corps of Engineers and District Engineer at Miami, Florida, of the United States Army, visited Managua and discussed the return of the Air Base with this Embassy. As a result of that discussion, the Embassy dispatched to the Department telegram number 335 of May 24, 5 p.m.,²⁵ containing a draft of the Note which it was proposed to send to the Nicaraguan Government. On May 28, 1946, the Department replied by its telegram No. 175²⁵ proposing certain changes in the last paragraph of the draft Note contained in the Embassy’s telegram number 335. Redrafted according to the Department’s instruction, the Note to be delivered to the Nicaraguan Government would read:

[Here follows text of draft of note, not printed.]

Reference to the exchange of Notes dated May 29 and June 5[2], 1942, will show that the United States Government was able to proceed rapidly with the construction of the Puerto Cabezas airfield because of the patriotic and wholehearted cooperation of Mr. H. D. Scott and the company which he represented, the Bragman’s Bluff Lumber Company, Inc., now the Standard Fruit a Steamship Corporation. The United States Government is also indebted in this connection to the Taca Airways which operates in Nicaragua under the name of Compañía Nacional Taca de Nicaragua. It will be seen that part of the land on which the airfield was constructed was leased from Mr. Scott at a nominal charge.

Desiring to reciprocate the good will which Mr. Scott and his company had shown to the United States Government in the time of war, the Embassy has informed him of the proposal of the United States Government to turn back the airfield at Puerto Cabezas in accordance with the provisions of the exchange of Notes mentioned above. …

… Mr. Scott has discussed the matter, as has the Embassy, with his attorney, Dr. Mariano Argüello, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, friend of Somoza and friend of the United States. Mr. Scott has emphasized to Dr. Argüello that he would like to see the field open on the same conditions to all airlines of the American republics. On this basis, Dr. Argüello has suggested and requested that there be submitted to the Department certain ideas for incorporation in the Note to be sent to the Nicaraguan Government. There follows a draft of a Note containing these ideas which the Embassy now submits to the Department for its approval. The Note would read:

“Excellency: I have the honor to refer to this Embassy’s Note No. 135 of May 29, 1942, and to Foreign Office Note L/No. 160 of June 2, 1942, constituting an agreement between our Governments for the enlargement and development of the airport at Puerto Cabezas, the stationing thereon of a detachment of United States troops, and the construction of housing and other facilities for the troops stationed at the airports at Puerto Cabezas and Las Mercedes.

“In accordance with this agreement, my Government leased from the Bragman’s Bluff Lumber Company, Inc., now the Standard Fruit a Steamship Corporation, for a period of ten years beginning on May 31, 1942, a lot measuring two hundred hectares plus a strip of land bordered on the south by the fence surrounding the landing strip of the airport. In the contract with the said company it was further stipulated that the airport could be used by the commercial planes of Government or private enterprises that might be in operation in Nicaragua engaged either in domestic or international service. This airport has in fact been built and is surrounded by fences on all sides.

“Your Excellency’s Government is now informed that the United States Government proposes to relinquish operation and control of the airport at Puerto Cabezas in the near future on a date to be agreed upon with the Nicaraguan authorities.

“In accordance with the eighth paragraph of the agreement, all fixed improvements, other than radio equipment, shall revert to and become the property of the Government of Nicaragua, including the rights acquired by my Government from the Bragman’s Bluff Lumber Company, Inc., over the land above described, subject to the terms of the agreement with the said Company as regards the use of the airport by airplanes of Government or private enterprises operating in Nicaragua.

“In terminating this cordial and highly satisfactory experience in military cooperation, my Government is confident that, in accordance with its repeated advocacy of unrestricted development of air navigation and transport, this airport will be freely available to all aircraft, Government, commercial, and private.

“My Government would greatly appreciate an expression from Your Excellency’s Government of its concurrence in this view.”

I trust that the Department may see its way clear to approve the Note as re-written and that it will promptly instruct the Embassy in the premises.²⁶

Respectfully yours,

Fletcher Warren

23. Not printed.
24. Exchange of notes of May 29 and June 2, 1942, not printed.
25. Not printed.
25. Not printed.

26. The Acting Secretary of State informed Ambassador Warren in telegram 230, July 9, 6 p.m., that the revised draft note to the Nicaraguan Government quoted in this despatch was approved with the following substitution for fourth paragraph:

    “In accordance with the eighth paragraph of the agreement, all fixed improvements other than radio equipment shall revert to and become the property of the Govt of Nicaragua. My Govt also intends to release to the Nicaraguan Govt the rights which the former acquired from the Bragman’s Bluff Lumber Co., Inc., over the land above described, subject to the terms of the agreement with the said Company as regards the use of the airport by airplanes of Govt or private enterprises operating in Nicaragua.” (811.24517/6–1846)