715.16/30

The Chargé in Salvador (Arnold) to the Secretary of State

No. 615

Sir: Referring to my cablegram of May 9, 9 P.M.,6 I have the honor to inform the Department that President Meléndez informed me that he had just received a telegram from the frontier stating that troops crossed from Guarita in Honduras and invaded the small [Page 731] village of Arcatao in Salvadorian territory. No details of the invasion have been received and he did not know if the invading force consisted of revolutionists under Arturo Araujo or Honduranean troops. The Salvadorian Army is repelling the attack and the fighting is at present taking place. The President said that strict orders had been given to the Army to repel all attacks made on Salvadorian territory but not to cross the frontier and enter Honduras. He stated that all efforts had been made between the Salvadorian Government and the Government of Honduras to prevent them from assisting Arturo Araujo in his revolutionary designs. The Honduranean Government denies that any assistance had been given to Arturo Araujo and promised to concentrate all Salvadorian refugees in Tegucigalpa. Unimportant people have been concentrated while the chief supporters of Araujo were allowed to remain on the frontier.

For the past few days telegraphic communications sent by the Salvadorian Government to Minister Rossi in Honduras have been received by him in such a mutilated condition that they are undecipherable and he has called for repetitions.

The President again stated that Arturo Araujo was receiving aid from the Honduranean Government and that while in Tegucigalpa was continually in the company with government officials who could not have been ignorant that he was purchasing all available arms and ammunition. The Honduranean Government promised the Salvadorian Government to have Arturo Araujo escorted to Puerto Cortez where he was to embark for England. They sent a telegram to the Salvadorian Foreign Office stating that Araujo had left for Puerto Cortez. A few days later a cablegram was received that he had escaped their escort and that his whereabouts was unknown.

I received the impression from the conversation with the President that he was aware that Arturo Araujo was at the head of the invading forces and that the revolution against the present Salvadorian Government had begun.

I have [etc.]

Frank D. Arnold
  1. Not printed.