815.00 Revolutions/59: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State TEGUCIGALPA, May 2, 1931-11 a. m. [Received 8:44 p. m.] 83. The President informs me that yesterday Ferrera with 350 men attacked Santa Rosa de Copan defended by 100 Government troops. When its ammunition was exhausted the garrison surrendered and those who had been unable to escape, numbering about 50, were massacred. Those thus slaughtered included the Governor of the Department, the Military Commandant, the Chief of Police and a number of civilians who had taken refuge in the barracks. This act of barbarity has evoked great indignation in Honduras among Nationalists as well as Liberals. Ferrera holds Santa Rosa today but it is expected he will retire with the considerable booty taken there when Government forces numbering 1,000 under General José Maria Reina reach that town to morrow. Quiet prevails in all other Departments. Admirals Smith and Kempff with Flag, Lieutenant Commander, arrived here yesterday morning and made their courtesy calls. I believe their visit here is making an excellent [impression?]. Admiral Smith requests that this be repeated to the Navy Department. LAY 815.00 Revolutions/66: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State TEGUCIGALPA, May 6, 1931-5 p. m. [Received 10:15 p. m.] 88. Cronista, Tegucigalpa daily, editorially expressed great surprise at declaration telegraphed through Salvador that Secretary Stimson has announced that the present movement in Honduras is of a political nature distinct from that in Nicaragua and that the United States is disposed to observe a conduct of strict neutrality with respect to Honduras. Please telegraph me some explanation that I can give President who is much concerned over this announcement. LAY 815.00 Revolutions/72: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Honduras (Lay) WASHINGTON, May 7, 1931-7 p. m. 37. Your 88, May 6, 5 p. m. The Department is unable to determine from your telegram what specific statement has been attributed to the Secretary. In the Memorandum of the Press Conference held April 20 on pages 3 and 4 you will find a complete transcription of the inquiries addressed to the Secretary on this subject by the correspondents and the Secretary's reply. This memorandum should have reached you in the pouch which left Washington April 28. Should President Mejia Colindres again broach the subject you may informally and orally convey to him the substance of these conversations, pointing out that the Secretary made it quite clear that the question of recognition of belligerency was not involved in any way. STIMSON 815.00 Revolutions/71: Telegram The Manager in Honduras of the United Fruit Company (Turnbull) to the United Fruit Company [TEGUCIGALPA, undated."] "Our planes have not been used by Government for reconnoitering purposes over any zone other than regular passenger route. Planes have carried a few military and civil Government employees as regular pay passengers over our regular route. Planes have refused to carry Government officials to zone of trouble also refused to transport rifles and arms for the Government. Planes have also carried American Legation and Naval Officers over regular route. American Legation has seen foregoing and confirms it. We have and will keep in constant touch with American Legation regarding all our operations. Suggest we dismantle two of our planes and keep one strictly for company use and for American Legation mail etc." [File copy not signed] 815.00 Revolutions/76 The Secretary of State to the Attorney for the United Fruit Company (Woolsey) WASHINGTON, May 12, 1931. SIR: The Department has received your letter of May 4, 1931, in which, as attorney for the United Fruit Company and with especial reference to a recent incident concerning the request of the Government of Honduras for use of the Company's vessels to transport troops against revolutionists, you point out that the Company, through its subsidiaries, owns a large number of ocean-going steamships, the use * Ante, p. 559. B Received May 7, 1931, by the Boston office of the United Fruit Company. Left at the Department May 7, 1931, by Lester H. Woolsey, attorney for the United Fruit Company. 'Not printed. of which during revolutionary disturbances may be demanded by constituted and revolutionary leaders during the progress of revolutions in countries to which those ships ply; that the diversion of the ships to military uses results in substantial damages to the Company, for which it is difficult to obtain compensation; and that voluntary compliance on the part of the Company with such demands may result in charges of partiality by one party or the other leading perhaps to serious complications. You add that, in view of the circumstances, the Company is inclined to refuse compliance with demands of constituted authorities or revolutionary leaders for the use of its vessels and equipment in times of revolutionary disturbances unless forced to do so by formal requisition or forceful seizure. In response to your statement that you hope that the proposed policy meets with the approval of the Department, it may be stated that such is the case. Very truly yours, For the Secretary of State: 815.00 Revolutions/80: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State TEGUCIGALPA, May 12, 1931-3 p. m. [Received 8:14 p. m.] 91. Department's telegram No. 37, May 7, 7 p. m. Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the President, informally and orally enquired of the Legation how the following from the Associated Press as published in the local papers should be construed. "The Department of State has emphatically stated that the situation which confronts the American authorities in Honduras-a genuine political revolution-is different from that in Nicaragua where outlaws are operating. Secretary Stimson has described the case of Nicaragua as a campaign of pillage and assassination which demands protective measures, but in Honduras American forces will maintain strict neutrality.' The Undersecretary stated that the President was particularly anxious to know the significance of the description "genuine political revolution". I then read in translation to the Undersecretary appropriate extracts from the memorandum of the press conference of April 20th laying stress on the Secretary's explanation that the statement given to the press on April 19 had nothing to do with recognition of bellig erency. El Sol in a long editorial believes that Secretary Stimson will change his opinion that the Honduran movement is essentially political; that this description has no importance and in any event interprets the renewed assurances as enunciation of a new policy of non-interference in internal politics in Honduras, which it applauds. In the only unfavorable editorial La Opinion argues that the Secretary's qualification of the Honduran movement as essentially political is equivalent to a tacit recognition of the belligerency of the revolution which receives with it a great moral force within and without Honduras. Copies of all editorials were sent the Department by the pouch today. Repeated to San Salvador. LAY 815.00 Revolutions/84: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Honduras (Lay) WASHINGTON, May 13, 1931-3 p. m. 40. Your 91, May 12, 3 p. m. You may say, in reply to the inquiry of the Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs, that this Government of course continues to give its moral support to the constituted Government. Our support of the provisions of Article II of the General Treaty of Peace and Amity of 1923 is well-known and no change has been made therein. Furthermore, there is still in existence an embargo on the shipment of arms to Honduras and licenses to export arms are to be given only to shipments for the Honduran Government. The Secretary's press statement was to indicate to press correspondents that this revolutionary movement is an internal matter to be handled solely by the Honduran Government and that we are not actively participating in any way, and that our ships were sent to the north coast of Honduras purely for the protection of American and foreign interests. Your 92, May 12, 4 p. m. The Chargé d'Affaires in Washington has not informed the Department of any supposed shipments of munitions for the rebels in Honduras and the Department is therefore, in view of your telegrams, getting in touch with him to see what information he has in order to trace the matter down and to take such measures as may be appropriate. "Not printed. STIMSON 815.00 Revolutions/85: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State TEGUCIGALPA, May 14, 1931—noon. [Received 2:55 p. m.] 95. Read the Department's telegram No. 40, May 13, 3 p. m., to President Mejia Colindres who has asked me if he can give immediately the substance thereof to the Honduran press. LAY 815.00 Revolutions/95: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Honduras (Lay) WASHINGTON, May 15, 1931-6 p. m. 41. Your 95, May 14, noon. The Department perceives no objection to the publication by the Government of Honduras of the substance of its 40, May 13, 3 p. m. It is believed however that it would be desirable for you to examine the text of the proposed statement prior to its publication. STIMSON 815.00 Revolutions/100: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State TEGUCIGALPA, May 17, 1931-1 p. m. [Received 5 p. m.] May 17, 10 a. m. Ferrera 100. Following from Vice Consul, Tela. expected to arrive Progreso about noon. about 250 men San Pedro Sula direction Progreso by rail. I am informed that no Government troops Progreso now and Mayor Progreso has advised residents leave town. Tela authorities advise me 100 troops in Tela, attack Tela expected tomorrow and local insurrection support probable. If Ferrera demands train to Tela, should Consulate advise company refuse? Warship assignment advisable at once. Should Tela be attacked should neutral zone be established, warship present or not? Have advised Marblehead now Puerto Cortes and Admiral Smith. Have advised Vice Consul Tela that neutral zone should not be established unless lives of Americans and foreigners cannot be amply protected by Government forces or evacuated on one of company's ships and warships and armed force should not be landed in any case unless absolutely necessary and the approval of the authorities should be first requested. Please rush answer whether Department approves. LAY |