818.014C/94
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Costa Rica (Hornibrook)
Sir: In reply to your despatch no. 107 of December 22, 1937,1 reporting an invitation to visit Cocos Island in company with a number of Costa Rican officials and in which you refer to the possible purchase of Cocos Island by this Government, I wish to inform you that the Department has for a number of years consistently replied to inquiries regarding possible purchase of the Island, that this Government has no interest in acquiring it. In that connection you should refer to the memoranda which were transmitted to the Legation with instruction no. 41 of May 21, 1934,1 as well as an instruction dated November 21, 19341 to the American Consul in San José. You should be guided by this information in the event that the possible purchase of Cocos Island by the United States should be discussed with you by any officials of the Costa Rican Government.
In the event that the invitation for you to visit Cocos Island should be renewed, I believe that you should bear in mind the possibility that this visit might give rise to embarrassing newspaper speculation regarding our interest in the Island. In any event, it is not desired that the Naval Attaché of the Legation should accompany you on such a trip, and it is not desired that any effort be made to arrange for transportation to the Island on a vessel of the United States Navy.
Very truly yours,