Office of the Historian

816.01/361: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State (Phillips)

S. S. “Santa Barbara,” January 16, 1934—7 p.m.
[Received January 17—3:30 a.m.]

98. I questioned Whitehouse12 at Buenaventura about Salvadoran situation. He expressed the positive opinion that existing non-recognition policy had good effect in keeping down revolutions and should be preserved. He also stated that the present President of Salvador had no right to reelection under the Constitution without being out of office 6 months. He then suggested that if he were content to go out for 6 months and allow his successor under law to act in the meantime and then secure his own election to the presidency our Government could properly recognize him and his Government. This for whatever it may be worth. Skinner Klee of Guatemala, Foreign Minister, strongly supports present non-recognition policy.

Hull
  1. Sheldon Whitehouse, American Minister in Colombia.↩