816.00/12–2048
The Ambassador in El Salvador (Nufer) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my telegram 237 of December 18, 1948, and to transmit a copy, with translation, of note No. SP. 1335 [Page 122] A.800–D–2662 of December 18, 1948,1 the first received by this Embassy from the Foreign Minister of the de facto government, Dr. Miguel Rafael Urquia.
In this note, Dr. Urquia informs the Embassy that because the Castaneda Government had attempted to prolong the President’s term in “manifest violation of the laws”, it had been overthrown by the Salvadoran army “in exercise of a right recognized by the Constitution.” He further states that all of the powers of Government have been assumed, as of December 14, 1948, by a “Civic-Military Junta”, composed of Lt. Colonel Manuel de J. Cordova, Major Oscar Osorio, Major Oscar A. Bolaños, Dr. Humberto Costa and Dr. inf. Reinaldo Galindo Pohl. These names have previously been reported to the Department.
Dr. Urquia further lists the names of the members of the Cabinet of the de facto government. The list is the same as that transmitted to the Department in the Embassy’s despatch No. 502 of December 17, 1948.1
I, of course, have not acknowledged the receipt of Dr. Urquia’s note which will be held pending instructions from the Department regarding the recognition or continued non-recognition of the regime. My views in this latter connection are being set forth in a separate communication to the Department.2
Respectfully yours,