814.01/32b: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to the American Missions in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua
The Department is advised by the Legation in Guatemala that the Assembly met at 4 p.m. on December 31, and accepted the resignations of Palma and Luis Chacon as Second and Third Designates, respectively. (The ex-First Designate Leon was killed in the fighting on December 16.) The Assembly then elected Reina Andrade First Vice President by 50 votes to 11 for General Ariza and 3 for Chief Justice Midrano. General Reyes was elected Second Vice President and General Solorzano Third Designate. The first reading was then given to President Chacon’s resignation. On January 2, the Assembly met for the third reading of the resignation of Chacon after which Reina Andrade assumed the provisional presidency.
[Page 397]After the publication of the call for new elections to be held within 6 months the Department is disposed to extend recognition to Señor Andrade as its information would seem to indicate that he has come into office as Provisional President in a constitutional manner. Please discuss the matter at once with the Government to which you are accredited in an endeavor to find out the attitude which it will take in the premises and whether it would be disposed to recognize Andrade also.
I am taking this step because I feel it appropriate and highly desirable that we act in harmony in this matter with the signatories of the General Treaty of Peace and Amity of 1923 in as much as we took a position opposed to General Orellana in order to support the action initiated and the policy laid down by the five Republics of Central America in that treaty.
Reply by cable as soon as possible.