File No. 812.113/4960
The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Leavell 7
Washington, October 19, 1916, 6 p.m.
Department has reports indicating that an attempt may be made to acquire munitions of war in Central America for use in Mexico. Informally and unofficially say to Foreign Office [Guatemala] that [Page 795] this Government is deeply interested in restoration law and order in Mexico; that it is feared that if munitions are permitted to go to Mexico from Guatemala they would eventually fall into the hands of lawless elements and tend to prolong the strife which unfortunately exists in Mexico, and that the Government of the United States would consider it a very friendly act if the Guatemalan Government would prevent shipment of munitions of war to Mexico, pending the return of more nearly normal conditions in that country.
Keep Department promptly informed of any apparent plan to send munitions to Mexico through sale or otherwise.
- Same, mutatis mutandis, to the American Legations at Tegucigalpa, Managua, San José and Habana.↩