Notwithstanding, in view of the points which Your Honor submits in your note of the 25th alluded to, so that they may be answered by this Government, through deference and to give once more proof of the special consideration which it owes that of the United States, it has no objection to do so in the following form. To the first which literally says: Will the Government of Honduras retain up to the end of the present World War the lighters of the German firms at present seized by the Government of Your Excellency? I answer that the Government of Honduras will retain said lighters up to the end of the present World War. [To the second which reads: Is the present plan of action of Your Excellency's Government not to grant a concession or special privilege to any agency that has been or may be established in the port of Amapala? Is the business to be conducted in Amapala of a competitive nature? I reply that the Government of Honduras will grant no privilege or concession in this respect. To the third which reads: Will the income derived by Your Excellency's Government from the temporary operation of the lighters in the port of Amapala be retained. by the Government of Honduras and not turned over to the Germans or German firms or agents of said firms established in Amapala? I reply that the Government will retain the proceeds of the freights and will not remit them to the Germans or German firms or their agents. To the fourth which reads: Is Your Excellency's Government's present plan of action only to operate the lighters in the port of Amapala temporarily until persons desiring to establish an agency are afforded the opportunity to obtain the outfit required for effective operation? I reply that the plan of the Government of Honduras is to operate the lighterage service as long as it deems it necessary to the interests of general commerce. To the fifth which reads: Will the Government of Honduras allow reasonable time to the agency that may wish to establish itself in Amapala in which to register the company or agencies under the laws of Honduras? I reply that the Government has absolutely nothing to do with the subject matter of this inquiry. Anyone may individually attend to the registration of one's own business or for the account of a third party on any day one sees fit and, in the case of a company, in so far as it shall have complied with the requirements of the commercial law.1] In the express terms I have received instructions from Mr. President to answer the various questions contained in Your Honor's aforementioned note dated the 25th of the current month. I shelter the hope that with such explicit declarations of my Government the difficulties which have arisen in the port of Amapala for the regular passage of steamers will cease. With sentiments of my distinguished consideration, etc. Signed, Mariano Vásquez. Respectfully suggest, if this settlement of Amapala situation entirely satisfactory, prompt reply in most friendly terms and imme 1 1 The bracketed portion of note is in accordance with the Department translation of a repetition of the Spanish text cabled Feb. 3 by the Legation at the request of the Secretary of State. (File No. 763.72112Am1/36.) diate resumption of steamer service at Amapala. Government somewhat uneasy as to claims that may result to Germany after the war and look to United States for protection. Representatives Pacific Mail, Rosario, consider note entirely satisfactory and will take immediate steps to establish agency upon approval of United States Government. Most anxious next steamer call Amapala. Any further parleys would not be taken gratefully [gracefully], Government considering it has effectively settled entire situation. Prompt reply respectfully requested. File No. 763.72112Am1/38 BELT The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Honduras (Belt) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, February 6, 1918, 7 p. m. Your February 2, 4 p. m.,1 and February 4, 11 a. m.1 Text of note of Honduran Government dated January 27, amended and corrected by your telegram February 3,2 was transmitted to War Trade Board for its consideration. The guarantees of the Honduran Government appear satisfactory and resumption of traffic to Amapala through agent of Pacific Mail is approved. This information has been communicated to Rosseter. POLK File No. 763.72112Am1/43 The Chargé in Honduras (Belt) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] TEGUCIGALPA, February 8, 1918, 4 p. m. Notified Government yesterday contents of Department's February 6,7 p. m. Minister for Foreign Affairs today acknowledged note expressing gratification at resumption of steamer service. Representative of Pacific Mail publicly announces sailing dates together with appointment of De Hart as agent. Business later will be handled by Commercial Export Co. Preparations already made to handle cargo next steamer. No Germans Amapala or Island Amapala. Situation appears satisfactorily settled all parties. BELT J. M. De Hart, Vice President of the New York and Honduras Rosario Mining Co. File No. 763.72112Am1/54 The Chargé in Honduras (Curtis) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] TEGUCIGALPA, February 15, 1918, 6 p. m. [Received February 16, 3.26 p. m.] Referring to my cable of February 14, 10 p. m.1 Minister for Foreign Affairs took me this morning to see the President who insisted that Department's telegram of February 6, 7 p. m., permitted absolute freedom of traffic between Amapala and San Lorenzo. He declared also that he now forbade all transportation of freight between those places except by the National Agency, at least for the present but probably for the duration of the war. He said that this was a step taken because of the existence of martial law and was just what our Government had done as to the ships and railroads of the United States. I pointed out to him that in view of the orders of the United States Government this would cause the immediate closing of the port of Amapala to American vessels, to which he assented defiantly. He complained rather violently that our Government had consented to purchase of the German lighters by De Hart but that it would not permit their use by the Government after it had confiscated them. I attempted in vain to get him to delay his decision as reported above until that of the War Trade Board was known. As to the Fairhaven the President said that according to title 22 of the customs code it could not obtain clearance until it had [discharged] all its cargo for this country, but that it would not be molested if it chose to leave without clearance, although it would be fined if it returned to a Honduran port. U. S. S. Yorktown is warning all American vessels not to enter Honduran waters. It is most important that you should cable me immediately any decision of the War Trade Board which is to be effected. Unless it has already rendered a decision, I recommend urgently that the Government of the United States assume a very strong attitude. The Minister for Foreign Affairs seemed greatly disappointed at the attitude of the President. I elicited from the President a direct denial of the statement reported in my February 14, 10 p. m.,1 that the Government paid for the lighters. 1 Not printed. 59665-33- -25 CURTIS File No. 763.72112Am1/51 The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Honduras (Curtis) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, February 16, 1918, 6 p. m. Your February 9, 6 p. m.,1 Department's February 6, 7 p. m. Department stated resumption of traffic through agency of Pacific Mail at Amapala was approved. Since the contemplated operation of German-owned lighters was only until "agency was established and had secured other lighters" (January 18, 1 p. m. [midnight]), and since this condition has been complied with, the necessity of possibly utilizing German material no longer exists. In view of the early resumption of traffic at Amapala, Department feels confident any past inconvenience has been eliminated. Legation's January 24, 10 a. m.,1 and January 23, 11 a. m. [p. m.]1 do not indicate that in government-seized lighters German taint has been eliminated. This phase of question is at present before the War Trade Board. LANSING File No. 763.72112Am1/59 The Chargé in Honduras (Curtis) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] TEGUCIGALPA, February 17, 1918, 11 p. m. [Received February 18, 4.45 p. m.] President this afternoon in the presence of De Hart and others stated to me that as soon as favorable decision by the War Trade Board was received he would open traffic between Amapala and San Lorenzo to every one. He had earlier assured De Hart that if he could get the bulk of this in open competition the National Agency would withdraw entirely. Please use every effort to get the War Trade Board to render an early decision as delays are arousing official and public resentment here. 1 Not printed. 2 Ante, p. 378. CURTIS File No. 763.72112Am1/59 The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Honduras (Curtis) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, February 23, 1918, 7 p. m. Your February 15, 6 p. m., and February 17, 11 p. m. Orally bring to the attention of the President of Honduras and to his Minister for Foreign Affairs the following: Fully cognizant of the seriousness to Honduras of the termination of ship service on her Pacific coast, the Government of the United States has untiringly interested itself in seeking to bring about a condition which would produce a temporary relief at Amapala and solve the greater problem of the new port. This has been proven by the surveys now under way upon the favorable report of which depends the despatch of engineers to make the final survey. That the temporary solution has been somewhat delayed is due to the complexity of the situation and to the lack of full understanding traceable in large part to information in possession of the War Trade Board to the effect that the seizure of the lighters was suggested by an enemy and that a public celebration on the part of enemies followed the announcement of the proposed formation of this agency, which, by direct inference, meant that Amapala firms on the enemy trading list would endeavor to exert directly or indirectly some influence over shipments made by American firms in American bottoms. It is confidently believed that the President of Honduras had no knowledge of these enemy activities, but he will readily understand the effect of such a report on those administering the Trading with the Enemy Act, and that if interest of such firms in the lighters were proven, it would render liable to prosecution Americans employing them. It is to reduce to a minimum all probability of such a contingency, which would probably have a disastrous effect upon Honduran trade, that the following course of action has been determined. In presenting this you will make clear to the President of Honduras that the information given above came to the attention of the War Trade Board after the Honduran Government's note dated January 27 had been received by the Legation. Inform the President that upon receipt of an official assurance, based upon adequate up-to-date investigation, that the National Agency is entirely free from interest and control of above-mentioned firms, and that its management will be changed to persons independent of their influence, who shall be approved by the American Legation, special licenses will be temporarily granted without delay to such American |