File No. 715.1715/48
The Honduran Minister ( Lopez Gutierrez) to the Secretary of State
Most Excellent Sir: Notwithstanding the disinterested good offices tendered by this Government to arrive at a settlement of the existing difficulties between Honduras and Nicaragua over their boundary dispute, the Government of the last-named country, ignoring the award of His Majesty the King of Spain and overlooking its promise to evacuate the village of Las Trojas, of which it had taken military possession, continues to hold the village, thereby giving provocation to the Government of Honduras which will be compelled to use force as a last resort while declining responsibility for the maintenance of its rights and the upholding of the Nation’s dignity.
[Page 30]President Bertrand sent me on the subject the telegram dated the 15th instant which I have the honor to transcribe hereinbelow, with a request that you kindly acquaint me at the earliest possible date with the decision that your excellency’s Government may reach in the matter.
President Bertrand’s telegram reads word for word as follows:
Minister of Honduras, Washington, D. C. Notwithstanding the conciliatory conduct of the Government of Honduras and the good offices of the American Government, the Government of Nicaragua continues its military occupation of Las Trojas with repeated and grave provocations in reiterating its complete and offensive disregard of the award. In the presence of such proceedings, this Government, declining every responsibility, is placed under the duty of guarding the rights and dignity of the nation by the use of force which will shortly create between the two Republics a situation fraught with incalculable consequences. I communicate this to you in order that you may have the antecedents of the case and inform the Department of State on the subject.
Francis Bertrand
I take [etc.]