810.154/3–3147

President Truman to the Public Roads Commissioner, Federal Works Agency (MacDonald)3

My Dear Mr. MacDonald: I understand construction work by the Public Roads Administration on the Inter-American Highway through Central America and Panama has already been suspended in certain countries due to the lack of funds. I understand also that work is practically at a standstill elsewhere along the route of the Inter-American Highway and on the Rama Road in Nicaragua for [Page 147] the same reason. I am informed that work was suspended some time ago on the Matagalpa–Jinotega spur in Nicaragua although the balance of available funds already appropriated is said to be sufficient to complete this spur.

The successful and prompt completion of the above-mentioned roads has an important bearing upon our relations with the governments of Central America and Panama. Our commitments to them make it advisable that we take steps immediately to complete these roads.

You are accordingly directed to resume work at the earliest possible date on the Matagalpa–Jinotega spur in Nicaragua,4 and to submit immediately to the Bureau of the Budget5 for presentation to the Congress legislation providing for necessary additional appropriations to complete the Rama Road in Nicaragua and the Inter-American Highway through Central America and Panama.6

Sincerely yours,

Harry S. Truman
  1. Draft letter transmitted to President Truman by Under Secretary Acheson on May 23, and signed by the President on May 26.
  2. In a memorandum of June 6 the Chief of the Division of Caribbean and Panama Affairs (Newbegin) reported on a conversation with the Chief of the Inter-American Regional Office, Public Roads Administration (James). Mr. James said that he had just returned from a visit to Central America; while in Nicaragua he had seen President Leonardo Argüello who had assured him that Nicaragua would continue to make its payments of $30,000 monthly for the Rama Road (810.154/6–647).
  3. A memorandum of July 10 by Fred G. Heins, of the Division of Central America and Panama Affairs, indicated that the proposed legislation had been submitted by the PRA to the Budget Bureau, but the Director (Webb) had some doubt as to whether a request to Congress for an appropriation for the Rama Road should be made at that time in view of the United States current refusal to recognize the de facto regime in Nicaragua (817.154/7–1047).
  4. In a conversation with Mr. Newbegin on July 18, Mr. James stated that no action was then being taken with regard to new appropriations for the Inter-American Highway and the Rama Road: that Secretary Marshall had decided that that was an inopportune time to submit any bills to Congress authorizing further expenditures on either of the two roads (810.154/7–1847).