HO–1. Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Snow)1
SUBJECT
- Call on the Secretary by Honduran Foreign Minister and Honduran Ambassador-designate
PARTICIPANTS
- The Secretary.
- Sr. Andrés Alvarado Puerto, the Foreign Minister of Honduras.
- Sr. Céleo Dávila, Ambassador-designate of Honduras.
- Sr. Carlos F. Hidalgo, Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Honduras.
- Mr. William P. Snow, Acting Assistant Secretary for Inter-American Affairs.
- Mr. Charles Spruks, Assistant Chief of Protocol.
At 3:30 this afternoon the Honduran Foreign Minister, Sr. Andrés Alvarado Puerto, paid a courtesy call on the Secretary, accompanied by the Honduran Ambassador-designate, Sr. Céleo Dávila.2 Having arrived in Washington only the day before, the ambassador-designate had no official status until he had made the customary initial call upon the Secretary. It was therefore arranged for him to enter the Secretary’s office first accompanied by Mr. Spruks, to deliver copies of his credentials and related documents. The Foreign Minister was then brought in and introduced to the Secretary by Mr. Snow.
The Minister brought friendly greetings from the President of Honduras, Sr. Villeda Morales.3 He said that President Villeda M. wished the Secretary to know that he shared his belief in the desirability of achieving a closer relationship between the North Atlantic Treaty [Typeset Page 800] Organization and the Organization of American States. He had already made public statements to that effect in Honduras and was working to persuade the presidents of the other Central American countries within the ODECA framework to his point of view. If the five ODECA countries could reach a common position in favor of the proposal, they could bring their influence to bear with some effect upon the other Latin American countries in the Council of the OAS.
[Facsimile Page 2]The Secretary stated in reply that he had not contemplated any organic relationship between the regional organizations. He did believe it very desirable, however, to develop a means of informal contact so that they could exchange information and share experiences. The NATO countries were not always inclined to realize the significance of developments in the OAS area. It would be well for them to become more aware of the problems in Latin America and to learn to attach a greater degree of importance to them. He was especially desirous that the Western European countries should learn of the most encouraging progress made by the OAS itself in furthering the peaceful settlement of disputes, in promoting the acceptance of precepts of international law and in facing common problems in a frank and friendly atmosphere. While the OAS was not yet in a state of perfection, there being much ground still to cover, it was definitely an advanced organization, as he often took occasion to point out when addressing other regional groups such as NATO, SEATO, etc.
The Foreign Minister indicated that President Villeda was in favor of having Secretary General Mora and Secretary General Spaak authorized to develop a procedural plan for the interchange of views. He then spoke of the perplexities facing the new regime in his country. Honduras had for many years been under a certain form of government which was not the most fortunate one for the country. Now President Villeda was seeking to establish a completely new administration with different (i.e. democratic) ideas and different personalities. Naturally, it was a slow process at first and fraught with difficulties. The most serious basic problems encountered were financial and economic in character, the first order of business being to balance the budget, which might require funds from abroad. Another great need was for a proper system of roads. The Ambassador-designate added that there was also a serious deficiency in education.
The Secretary remarked that borrowing was not the soundest way of balancing a nation’s budget, as we ourselves had discovered. He also inquired whether the Pan American Highway would not be of substantial benefit to Honduras once it was completed. The Minister answered that the Inter-American Highway passed through only a small portion [Typeset Page 801] of Honduras; it did not enter the capital or reach to the Caribbean coast. A good road from the capital to the north coast was definitely required. The Secretary spoke of the benefits which would accrue from a road system capable of attracting American tourists from the north, coming down through Mexico and Guatemala. The Minister agreed but indicated that his Government’s main attention at this time was centered on the development of Puerto Castilla, situated on the Caribbean shore, as a tourist resort. It was formerly a United Fruit Company port but had been abandoned by the Company. It [Facsimile Page 3] could be reached by air, the flying time between that port and Miami being three hours or less. His Government was treating with Pan American Airways to see if an airport, hotel accommodations, and other facilities might be financed and developed there by that Company.
The Minister also commented on the fact that Ambassador Willauer, at the inauguration of President Villeda last December, had announced the decision of the U.S. Government to assist technically and financially in developing an engineering unit in the Honduran Army which could be employed in building and maintaining highways. His Government was keenly interested in this and hoped that the project would move forward rapidly. (This is an ICA project.)
Another of his country’s needs was money, by which he meant bank credit, available to small farmers and small industry. The Honduran banks had ample knowledge of the local situation but lacked the funds for such a loan program. His Government hoped to be able to borrow enough money abroad to make up for this lack.
The Minister spoke of President Villeda’s contemplated trip through South America. He had been invited by President Ibañez to visit Chile in May and, when the other South American governments heard of this, they also had extended invitations. As a result Dr. Villeda planned to visit them all and to deliver lectures at leading universities, etc., lecturing being one of his fortes.
At the conclusion, the Secretary expressed his pleasure at having had the opportunity to meet the Foreign Minister as well as to receive the new Ambassador, whom he wished to assure of a cordial welcome at any time during his tenure of office.