815.248/29: Telegram
The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 11—10 a.m.]
122. Department’s telegram No. 49, June 6, 6 p.m., and Legation’s 120, June 8, 5 p.m.10 Some aerial bombs of type dropped on Tegucigalpa in 1924 of English manufacture and weighing about 7 pounds each have been found in Ministry of War … was instructed today that tomorrow he would load these bombs and fly over Ferrera forces on which bombs would be dropped by Honduran engineer as his passenger … at once informed the Legation. It thereupon appeared opportune and advisable to communicate verbally to the President of Honduras the Department’s objection to the employment of American aviators in aerial bombing. The personal opinion was also expressed to the President of the futility of attempting to bomb a small body of enemy troops in a country where the concealment provided [Page 580] by dense foliage is ubiquitous. The harm which might come to innocent bystanders was also emphasized. The President then stated that he would instruct … to carry no bombs. He then inquired if the Government of the United States would object to the purchase of … plane and its use for bombing by a Honduran aviator. In reply he was told that the Legation had received no instructions in that regard. … states that Honduran authorities have told him that there are some Krupp bombs weighing 25 pounds each at Amapala; presumably they have just arrived from Germany or perhaps from Salvador.
Ferrera last reported 25 miles due south of Olanchito.
- Latter not printed.↩