81. Editorial Note

The Council of the Organization of American States met on May 1 to consider two notes from Honduras that charged that Nicaragua had invaded its territory to occupy the town of Mocoron. Honduras requested that the Council take appropriate action under provisions of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty). On May 2, Nicaragua also invoked the Rio Treaty, stating that Honduras was the aggressor in this situation. The Council appointed a committee composed of representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Panama, and the United States to investigate. After meeting with government leaders in Tegucigalpa and Managua, the OAS investigating committee drafted a cease-fire agreement which was accepted by both parties on May 5. At the Secretary of State’s Staff meeting on May 6, presided over by Under Secretary of State Robert Murphy, Rubottom reported on the situation in Central America as follows: “Mr. Rubottom said that Ambassador Dreier had called him last night to report on the very rapid action in both capitals taken by the Fact Finding Group and of their apparent success in getting agreement on a cease fire. Amb. Dreier, however, is very apprehensive about the situation which he considers to be the worst in many years in the Central American area, with an ugly mood prevailing. Mr. Rubottom also said that it was probable some military support in the form of observers and airplanes, probably from other Latin American countries, would be needed.” (Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75) Additional documentation on this subject is Ibid., Central Files 615.17 and 615.1731.