813.00 Washington/58: Telegram
The Minister in Costa Rica (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:15 p.m.]
71. Department’s circular November 13, 11 a.m. [November 11, 6 p.m.] President Acosta called at the Legation to inform me that the participation of the United States Government in the Washington [Page 432] conference by giving its friendly aid would be appreciated and is desired by Costa Rica.
The President feels that it would be best for the United States to participate in this manner for the following reasons; first, the invitation and preliminary conference did not indicate that the United States would participate by delegates; second, such participation would be in keeping with the spirit of the 1907 agreement relative to conferences;64 third, that the participation of the United States by regularly appointed plenipotentiaries would be seized upon by a large element as a means of attacking its results on the basis the United States would thus be in a position to impose its will upon the smaller republics, a charge which would be without foundation in fact but which might result in the nullification of the work of the conference.