715.1715/446: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Hanna)
111. Legation’s 64, May 6, 3 p.m. The Department is highly gratified by your report that President Moncada has again submitted to the Nicaraguan Congress for approval the Nicaragua-Honduras boundary protocol, and it earnestly hopes that favorable action will be accorded it during the present session of that body.
It is believed by the Department that effective control over Sandino16b will be difficult if not impossible of accomplishment so long as the disputed boundary zone between the two republics can be availed of by him in his operations. The existence of a disputed frontier region has unquestionably made it additionally difficult for the Government of Honduras to render the cooperation which considerations of comity and the Central American Treaties obligate it to give. If Nicaragua should now ratify the protocol it is to be expected that Honduras would then be in a position to meet its responsibilities in this respect.
The wisdom and general desirability of the acceptance of this protocol are matters of course for the exclusive determination of the Nicaraguan Congress and Executive, and this Government does not desire by any act or statement to be placed in the position of appearing to influence that determination. Nevertheless, should such a course not seem inadvisable to you, you are authorized to convey the foregoing views to the appropriate authorities. Should you discuss the matter you may point out that the interest of this Government arises not only from its desire to see expedited the removal of a cause for dispute between the two republics, and from its own participation throughout an extended period of years at the request of both Governments in the negotiations looking toward that objective, but likewise and urgently from its conviction that any measure which will facilitate the restoration of peace to Nicaragua should be adopted when practicable.
- Augusto Cesar Sandino, Nicaraguan bandit leader.↩