818.00/6–2248
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of American Republic Affairs (Woodward)
Dr. Lleras1 said he had received an inquiry from an Ambassador to the Council of the Organization of American States concerning the action of other American republics concerning “recognition” of the Figueres Government of Costa Rica. It transpired in the conversation that the inquiring Ambassador was the Colombian Representative to the Council. Dr. Lleras asked Mr. Woodward what action the Government of the United States had taken with respect to diplomatic relations with the new Government of Costa Rica. Mr. Woodward informed Dr. Lleras that the Department had instructed the American Ambassador at San José that “in view of Resolution XXXVI [XXXV?] of the Bogotá Conference, the question of recognition of the new Costa Rican Government should not arise”. The [Page 530] American Ambassador had received a note from the Costa Rican Government concerning the composition of the new Government, and having received this telegraphic instruction from the Department of State, the Ambassador simply assured the Costa Rican Foreign Minister of his “desire to contribute in every way possible to the furtherance and strengthening of the cordial relations which so happily exist between Costa Rica and the United States”.
Dr. Lleras inquired whether the Department of State had received information concerning the action or attitude of any of the other American republics. After obtaining information from CPA, Mr. Woodward informed Dr. Lleras that the reports received by the Department implied that none of the other American republics had raised any question at San José concerning continuance of their diplomatic relations when the change in Government occurred. The Figueres Government had held a reception to which it invited the entire Diplomatic Corps. All members of the Diplomatic Corps attended; Colonel Figueres thanked the Corps for its attendance; he announced in particular that the new Government had been officially informed by the Chinese, Spanish and Guatemalan Governments that they were continuing their diplomatic relations with Costa Rica. Moreover, the Argentine Government had recently raised the status of its Legation to the rank of Embassy and a further indication to the continuation of Costa Rican relations with nearby countries was given by a visit to San Salvador by the new Costa Rican Foreign Minister. The only apparent exception to the continuation of diplomatic relations was the official notification sent by the Costa Rican Government to the Government of the Dominican Republic stating that Costa Rica does not wish to continue relations with the Dominican Republic.
Dr. Lleras was appreciative of this information and said that it would amply fulfill the desired needs.
- Alberto Lleras Camargo, Secretary General, Organization of American States.↩