715.1715/797b
The Secretary of State to the Special Representative of the President (Corrigan)
Sir: You have been designated by the President as his Special Representative with the rank of Envoy Extraordinary, to meet with representatives of the Governments of Venezuela and Costa Rica for the tender of good offices to the Governments of Honduras and Nicaragua with the object of facilitating a pacific solution of the controversy which has arisen between them over the definition of their common boundary.
It has been tentatively agreed that the representatives of the countries tendering good offices will meet with representatives of the Governments of Nicaragua and Honduras in San José, Costa Rica, on about November 1. You will therefore arrange to be in San José on that date or as soon thereafter as possible.
While it is obvious that during the conduct of your mission you will have to be guided in a large measure by the circumstances, you should endeavor at all times to keep the Department of State promptly informed of developments by telegraph and radiotelephone and you should only give your agreement to important measures which may be proposed for the accomplishment of the objectives of the tender of good offices after consultation with the Department.
In the tenders and acceptances of good offices the five Governments concerned have agreed that the preliminary discussions should be confined to the examination of measures for the alleviation of the present tension in the relations between the Republics of Honduras and Nicaragua and, once that obstructive tension has been removed, to discuss the means which might be adopted by the two countries with the object of reaching a definitive settlement of the fundamental territorial issue.
- I.
- In the discussion of steps which might be taken to relieve the
existing tension the representatives may wish to consider the
desirability of agreement between the parties to the controversy
on the following points:
- (a)
- Prevention, by all lawful means at the command of both Governments, of public statements of an inflammatory nature over the radio or through any other medium of publicity;
- (b)
- Protection of nationals of either country resident in the other by all government authorities;
- (c)
- Withdrawal of all unusual detachments of troops at or near the border;
- (d)
- Immediate suspension of further purchase of arms;
- (e)
- Prohibition of flights by military planes over border areas;
- (f)
- Cessation of the issuance of any maps, stamps, or other material to the public bearing upon the territorial dispute.
- II.
- It is the belief of the Department that as soon as may be practicable after the meeting in San José, it would be desirable for the representatives of the three countries tendering their good offices to proceed, in the manner most agreeable to Honduras and Nicaragua, directly to the territory in dispute for the purpose of making such initial inspection and studies as may be necessary, and thereafter, by arrangement, to visit the capitals of the two countries for discussions with their governments.
It is possible that there may be a delay between the preliminary discussions and active examination of the possible bases for a solution of the fundamental issue and, in such event, it may not be practicable for the three governments to maintain their representatives in session in a nearby country. During this period it is possible that new incidents might occur in one or the other country which might impair or even nullify the subsequent negotiations. Accordingly this Government believes that the commission of good offices should constitute in a nearby country a headquarters with a permanent secretariat, the duty of which would be to follow all developments bearing on the controversy, to give study to measures for its solution and to observe the carrying out of measures which may have already been agreed upon. The Department believes that the representatives of the three governments should endeavor to obtain agreement of the two parties to the controversy that they will submit all communications bearing on the controversy to the secretariat of the commission of good offices and that they will facilitate all visits and investigations which the representatives or, in their stead, members of the secretariat, may decide should be made with respect to the controversy.
You will be assisted in the performance of your mission by Mr. William P. Cochran, Jr., Foreign Service Officer of the United States. Appropriate instructions have been issued to Mr. Cochran.
A separate instruction is being issued to you regarding the reimbursement of the expenses which will be incurred in connection with your mission.
Very truly yours,