715.1715/740c: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Costa Rica (Hornibrook)43
35. You are requested to obtain at the earliest moment an interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and make to him the following oral communication:
As the Government of Costa Rica is aware, there has existed a longstanding controversy between the Governments of Nicaragua and of Honduras as to the location of their common boundary. An Arbitral award was rendered by the King of Spain in 1906, but full effect has not been given to it. Various and unsuccessful efforts have been made to negotiate a final settlement of the controversy. Recently, unfortunately, the controversy has become more acute and various incidents have occurred tending to create tension between the two countries. The Government of the United States has regretfully come to the conclusion that the dispute has now reached such proportions as to involve the actual danger of possible hostilities.
The Governments of Honduras and Nicaragua44 have today informed this Government that they would welcome the tender of good offices jointly on the part of Venezuela, Costa Rica, and the United States for the purpose, first, of removing the present tension in the relation of the two republics and thereafter for the purpose of suggesting the means which might be adopted by Honduras and Nicaragua towards arriving at a definitive settlement of the fundamental territorial question.
[Page 91]The Government of the United States has advised the Governments of Honduras and Nicaragua that it would be happy to inform the Governments of Venezuela and of Costa Rica of this disposition on the part of Honduras and Nicaragua to welcome the good offices of Venezuela, Costa Rica and the United States. In view of the spirit of the conventions and resolutions unanimously adopted by the American republics at the recent Conference at Buenos Aires for the maintenance of peace and in view of the unfailing devotion of the Government of Costa Rica to that high ideal, the Government of the United States hopes that the Government of Costa Rica may be willing to take part in this common effort for the pacific solution of the unfortunate dispute which has arisen between Honduras and Nicaragua.
Should the Government of Costa Rica feel itself disposed to proffer its good offices, jointly with the Government of Venezuela and the United States, it is suggested that the text of the tender of good offices may be conveniently agreed upon by the Ministers of Costa Rica and Venezuela and the Department of State in Washington and that, once such text is determined upon, the tender of good offices might be made directly but simultaneously to Honduras and Nicaragua by the three Governments above mentioned.
The steps to be taken in carrying out in the most efficient manner possible the tender of good offices may perhaps be discussed in the same manner. It would seem probable that representatives of the three Governments tendering their good offices might well visit the two countries involved in the controversy in order that they may on the spot suggest practical means for the alleviation of the existing situation.
The Government of the United States likewise suggests that should the Governments of Venezuela and Costa Rica agree upon the tender of good offices, jointly with the United States, the three Governments might immediately thereafter advise all of the other American republics of the assistance they intend to offer with the hope of facilitating a pacific solution of the dispute between Honduras and Nicaragua.
Please telegraph at the earliest possible moment the result of your interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.