Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume V, Microfiche Supplement, American Republics

NI–21. Memorandum of Conversation by the Officer in Charge of Nicaraguan Affairs (Godfrey)¹

Washington, June 7, 1960

SUBJECT

• NICARAGUA: Visit of Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa to discuss Nicaraguan-Honduran Relations and Request for Asylum by Pro-Batista Exiles.

PARTICIPANTS

• Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa, Ambassador of Nicaragua
• ARA—Roy R. Rubottom, Jr., Assistant Secretary
• OAP—Richard A. Godfrey, Nicaraguan Desk Officer

1. Nicaraguan-Honduran Relations

Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa stated that he had been instructed by President Somoza to acquaint the Department of State with certain views of the President on current Nicaraguan-Honduran relations. The GON continues to view with great concern the continued presence in Honduras near the Nicaraguan border of revolutionary groups, which from time to time have made incursions into Nicaragua, the last cited example being that of April 27, 1960. The GON expects the GOH to take immediate, effective measures to eliminate these revolutionary groups. Should the GOH continue, what the GON considers an evasive attitude on the elimination of these revolutionary groups, then the GON proposes, (1) to withdraw from the Mixed Military Mission now meeting in Tegucigalpa, and (2) to withdraw its Ambassador from Tegucigalpa, since his continued presence there served no useful purpose. President Somoza had also expressed the opinion that President Villeda was misleading the U.S. Ambassador by stating that the GOH lacked sufficient facilities to search out and eliminate these revolution groups. President Somoza had stated that the location of the groups was well-known to the GOH, and that members of these groups had circulated freely in Tegucigalpa and had even visited with certain GOH officials. After presenting the above views of President Somoza, Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa requested that the U.S. Government use its good offices through the U.S. Ambassador in Tegucigalpa to press for prompt and decisive action on this matter by the GOH.

Mr. Rubottom observed that President Somoza has every reason to feel as he did in the face of the continued provocations and harassments by these revolutionary groups and he was justified in expecting the GOH to take effective action against those groups using Honduras as a base of operations. However, Mr. Rubottom emphasized that, even though sorely tried by these provocations, it is hoped that President Somoza will bear in mind that Hemispheric obligations constrain all of us to exercise infinite patience and forbearance rather than jeopardize the notable gains we have thus far achieved. This applies particularly to Central America which has experienced during the past few years a series of minor miracles in evolving toward stable, democratic governments. Mr. Rubottom illustrated these gains by pointing out (1) that Honduras now enjoys a stable government after years of near-anarchy, (2) that Panama has just experienced the most exemplary election in its history, (3) that the democratic system in Costa Rica continues to flourish in spite of President Echandi having to face a majority opposition in the Costa Rican Assembly and (4) that Guatemala had rid itself of a Communist government and together with Nicaragua and El Salvador are all progressing toward more democratic forms and practices. Mr. Rubottom pointed out that the patience of the United States was also being sorely tried in our current relations with Cuba but that we have chosen the path of patience and forbearance, rather than a course of direct action. He expressed the hope that President Somoza would bear all of these things in mind in his current relations with President Villeda and that he would not resort to withdrawal of his Ambassador or of the Nicaraguan members of the Mixed Military Commission. In the meantime, as we have done in the past, the United States will continue to use its good offices in behalf of resolving frictions between Nicaragua and Honduras.

The Ambassador thanked Mr. Rubottom and promised to inform President Somoza of our views.

2. Request for Asylum by Pro-Batista Exiles

Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa said he would also like to mention another matter not related to Nicaraguan-Honduran relations but a matter which had been brought to the fore by the request for asylum in Nicaragua of a group of pro-Batista Cubans now in the Dominican Republic. He stated he had been told by the Dominican Ambassador in Washington, Dr. Luis F. Thomen, that as a result of an “understanding”, or “truce”, between Trujillo and Fidel Castro, some sixty pro-Batista exiles in the Dominican Republic had been given the choice of either leaving the country or being placed in prison. A group of twenty or more of the Cubans have requested President Somoza to grant them asylum in Nicaragua, which request Somoza is reluctant to grant.

Another development of which Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa was also informed by the Dominican Ambassador, is that Aureliano Sanchez Arango, a Cuban exile, formerly pro-Castro but now in Venezuela, is making a visit to the Dominican Republic. Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa stated he was at a loss as to how to interpret such a trip by Sanchez Arango, except that President Betancourt is somehow interested in the current “understanding” between Trujillo and Castro or might be attempting some sort of understanding himself with Trujillo.

Mr. Rubottom stated that in his opinion President Somoza should take great care in the matter of granting asylum to a group of pro-Batista exiles, since such a development would undoubtedly have many repercussions unfavorable to Nicaragua. He said he wished it to be clearly understood that, whatever should happen in Cuba, the United States does not want to see another Batista-type regime in Cuba. [text not declassified] The GON should consider well before taking any action which would favor in any manner the pro-Batista exiles.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 615.17/6–760. Confidential.