Office of the Historian

817.00/9–2347: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Nicaragua

confidential
Washington, September 24, 1947—6 p.m.

217. Reurtel 331, Sept 23.80 Dept believes safe conduct is part of right of asylum not granted by this Govt except when immediate danger to life involved. Should you believe Chamorro’s life immediately endangered, Dept authorizes you to request informally safe conduct to airport. Above is predicated on Dept’s belief you concur in Chamorro’s statement of his situation. In such case, Dept suggests you consider possibility asking entire diplomatic corps to accompany you. Thus onus of unilateral action could be avoided.81

Lovett
  1. Not printed; it concerned General Chamorro’s request that the Embassy secure safe conduct for his departure to Mexico (817.00/9–2347).↩
  2. In telegram 336, September 27, noon, the Chargé reported that General and Mrs. Chamorro had left on that date by PAA for San Salvador, and that at the Embassy’s request he had been granted safe conduct by General Somoza the day before (817.00/9–2747).↩