813.00 Washington/58: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Costa Rica (Davis)
23. Your 71, November 17, 10 a.m.
The Department has now received replies from all of the Central American countries.65 Three have requested the participation by the United States through duly appointed delegates and the remaining country has expressed a desire that the Government of the United States assist in any way it feels will be most beneficial, either through duly appointed delegates sitting in the Conference, or by giving its friendly aid. Two of the Governments have emphasized the earnest desire that the United States Government participate and their Ministers in Washington have expressed this desire to the Department. You will please orally bring this to the attention of the President and inform him that the Department’s only desire is to be of the most assistance in the coming conference and to act in such manner as appears to the Governments concerned will be most beneficial and useful to them. The Department earnestly desires to comply with the wishes of Costa Rica in the matter but is, of course, placed in a very embarrassing position due to the earnest request of the other Governments concerned that it participate in the Conference through duly appointed delegates.
[Paraphrase.] When you are presenting the present situation to the President you should not give him the impression that this Government [Page 433] wishes to persuade the Government of Costa Rica to act contrary to its desires. However, you can easily appreciate how embarrassing the present situation is and how gratifying it would be if this Government should receive from the Government of Costa Rica an invitation similar to those of Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Cable results. [End paraphrase.]
- Replies of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador not printed.↩