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Apr. 19 (23)

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

556

Information that U. S. S. Memphis has been ordered to

Ceiba.

Apr. 19 (24)

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

556

Instructions to inform President Colindres that bombs are not available.

Apr. 19

From the Vice Consul at Puerto Cortes (tel.)

556

Information of armed uprisings around San Pedro and of reported participation of General Ferrera.

Apr. 19 (61)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

557

Receipt of telegram from Tela (text printed) requesting
Marines; recommendation that warships be sent to Tela and
Truxillo as well as Ceiba.

Apr. 19 (25)

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

557

Apr. 19 (63)

Advice that three cruisers have been ordered to north coast.
From the Minister in Honduras (lel.)

Report of insurrectionary movements in Tela, Puerto Castilla, and Truxillo districts, apparently recruited from unemployed, communists, riffraff and criminals of Northern Honduras, and of instructions to Consuls for appropriate measures for American protection.

From the Vice Consul at Puerto Cortes (tel.)

557

Apr. 20

558

Apr. 20 (29)

Report of fighting in Department of Yoro led by secretary
to General Ferrera; assurances from Commandante of San
Pedro Sula of protection to foreign life and property.
From the Minister in Guatemala (tel.)

559

Information that General Zelaya and four companions on their way to join Honduran revolution have been arrested. Undated Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Current Information of Press Conference by the Secretary of State, Monday, April 20, 1931

Apr. 21 (16)

Apr. 21 (65)

Apr. 22 (66)

Secretary's review of the situation in Honduras and elaboration on a press release statement (text printed) that U. S. forces will limit themselves to protection of American lives and property and not take part in warfare.

To the Minister in Guatemala (tel.)

Instructions to express U. S. gratification at Guatemalan observance of 1923 treaty and of good neighborliness in the arrest of Zelaya group.

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Report of movement of rebels toward Quimistan-San Pedro Sula highway, possibly to join with General Ferrera; of beneficial effects of presence of U. S. warships in northern ports, and of Honduran gratitude for good offices of the American Legation at Guatemala in the arrest of Zelaya and his companions.

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Information from United Fruit Co. of Honduran Government's efforts to use company's vessels for transport of troops, and company's willingness to make one ship available, with Department's sanction.

559

561

562

562

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Apr. 22 (67)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

563

Telegram (text printed) from Boston office of United Fruit Co. authorizing use of one or two vessels for troop transportation on written order from the President or the Minister; request for instructions.

Apr. 22 (27)

563

Apr. 22 (68)

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Non-objection to informal acquiescence to proposal of United Fruit Co. provided unnecessary restrictions on company property be lifted and adequate compensation for use of property is paid.

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

564

Report of comparative quiet, and expectation that insurrection will drag into weeks or months, as neither rebels nor Government troops show any disposition to take the offensive; movement of U. S. S. Memphis from Ceiba to Tela.

Apr. 23 (69)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

564

Information that Government has agreed to use United Fruit Co. equipment only when essential for immediate military use and on payment.

Apr. 23 (71)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

565

Report of continued calm and rebel withdrawal from San
Pedro Sula area and opening of the railroad.

Apr. 24 (72)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

565

Retirement of rebels west and southwest, apparently followed by Government troops; murder of an American citizen on Lerida farm of United Fruit Co.; resumption of normal operations of fruit companies in most districts.

Apr. 27 (75)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

565

Desire of Honduran President that Major Geyer, U. S. Naval Attaché, go as observer in United Fruit Co. plane to reconnoitre rebel forces; request for instructions.

Apr. 27 (78)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

566

Telegram from Major Geyer at San Pedro Sula (text printed) reporting firing by bandits on outposts, and his intention to stand by for establishment of neutral zone if necessary.

Apr. 27 (30)

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

566

Instructions that U. S. Naval Attaché should not take part in any military or political affairs; apprehension at use of American-owned airplane.

Apr. 28 (79)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

566

Compliance with Department's telegram No. 30; information that President is contemplating purchase of United Fruit Co. plane for observation purposes.

Apr. 28 (32)

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

567

Approval of Major Geyer's action (as indicated in Legation's telegram No. 78, April 27), and desire to have him remain in San Pedro Sula for evacuation of Americans if necessary.

Date and number

1931 Apr. 28 (80)

May 2 (83)

HONDURAS

INSURRECTION IN HONDURAS-Continued

Subject

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Report of breaking of deadlock at San Pedro Sula with General Ferrera's withdrawal, and belief that two warships on the north coast are sufficient; imposition of news censorship by the President; Legation's emphasis on fact that the present disturbance is not a revolution.

Page

567

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

568

Report of Ferrera's massacre of Santa Rosa de Copan garrison and civilian officials; arrival of U. S. naval officers on courtesy call, and excellent impression made by their visit.

May 6 (88)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

568

May 7 (37)

Undated [Rec'd May 7]

May 12

Concern of Honduran President and press over reported declaration by U. S. Secretary of State of political nature of Honduran trouble and U. S. position of strict neutrality.

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Advice that memorandum of Secretary's press conference has
been forwarded, and that President Colindres may be informed
of Secretary's views and of his emphasis on fact that the
question of recognition of belligerency was not involved.
From the Manager in Honduras of the United Fruit Company to
the United Fruit Company (tel.)

Report on the use of company planes by Government only on
regular passenger route; suggestion that one plane be kept
strictly for company use and for American Legation mail.

To the Attorney for the United Fruit Company

Department's approval of United Fruit Co.'s proposed policy of refusing both parties the use of its vessels and equipment in revolutionary disturbances.

May 12 (91)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

May 13 (40)

May 14 (95)

May 15 (41)

May 17 (100)

Inquiry concerning Associated Press report published locally (text printed) in which Secretary allegedly referred to Honduran trouble as a genuine political revolution; comments of local press.

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Instructions to inform Honduran authorities that U. S. Government continues to give its moral support to constituted Government of Honduras; advice that Secretary's statement was to indicate the internal character of the trouble and U. S. nonparticipation except for protection of American and foreign interests.

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Desire of President Colindres upon being informed of
Department's telegram No. 40, to make the information public.
To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Non-objection to Honduran Government's publication of
information in Department's telegram No. 40, May 13,
provided text is examined by Minister.

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Expectation of attacks by Ferrera on Progreso and on Tela; request for warship and for Department's approval of Minister's measures for protection of Americans and foreigners.

568

569

569

570

571

572

572

572

Date and number

HONDURAS

INSURRECTION IN HONDURAS-Continued

Subject

Page

1931 May 17 (42)

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

573

Approval of course outlined in Legation's telegram No. 100.

May 19 (102)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

573

Report of eastward movement of bandits without attacking
Tela and of return of U. S. S. Marblehead from Tela to Puerto
Cortes; concern of Government over situation as Ferrera forces
are growing.

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

May 20 (105)

573

Information that position outlined in Department's telegram No. 40, May 13, evoked favorable press comments and President Colindres' appreciation.

May 20 (106)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

574

Opinion that one warship on north coast is sufficient and another not necessary at present.

May 21 (107)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

574

May 23 (45)

Information from Honduran authorities that munitions destined for rebels have been shipped from Belize and that authorities desire interference by U. S. vessels; request for instructions. To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

574

May 25 (235)

June 3 (113)

Improbability of illicit transport of munitions by a United Fruit Co. vessel; impossibility of use of U. S. warships for patrol, as their function in Honduran waters is the customary protection of American lives and property.

From the Minister in Honduras

Information that the Honduran Government has been informed of U. S. attitude on function of U. S. warships; opinion that the vessel mentioned is not of United Fruit Company, but one of small vessels which engage in "gun running" from Belize to Honduras or Nicaragua; information on patroling by U. S. warships of Bay of Fonseca in 1927 to prevent "gun running". From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

575

577

Information that young American pilot has contracted services of himself and plane to Honduran Government for 15 flying days of military operations.

June 4 (114)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

577

Report of comparative inactivity of armed forces; rumors that Ferrera will join Sandino; financial embarrassment of Honduran Government.

June 5 (48)

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

578

Inquiry concerning American pilot and information for him and Honduran Government that the intent of the U. S. neutrality laws is to discountenance enlistment of American citizens in foreign armed forces.

June 5 (115)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Report of possible trouble from Ferrera near Puerto Castillo, of danger to United Fruit Co. property and of Government's orders for delivery of gasoline there for the bombing plane.

578

Date and number

1931 June 6 (49)

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June 10 (122)

June 12 (50)

Instructions that Honduran Government should be advised at Minister's discretion of U. S. objections to employment of American aviators and of U. S. expectations of protection to American lives and property; that American pilot should be warned against indiscriminate bombing.

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Information from American pilot of Government's plan for bombing attack on Ferrera's forces; communication of U. S. objections to President Colindres, who stated that the pilot would be instructed to carry no more bombs and inquired as to U. S. attitude toward purchase of the plane.

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

579

580

Instructions to thank President Colindres for his considerate attitude and to advise him that United States has no control over sale of the plane; also to report further on Krupp bombs recently received by Honduran Government.

June 15 (127)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

580

Report of trip to north coast and arrangements with U. S. S.
Richmond for protective measures.

June 17 (51)

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

581

Advice that American citizens should present claims for losses to Honduran Government and that Legation should request Foreign Office to give them prompt consideration.

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June 21 (133)

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

581

June 23 (54)

Inquiry if U. S. Government would object to the American pilot's purchasing a plane and machine gun in the United States for Honduran Government and his flying the plane back.

To the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Non-objection to an American citizen's acting as purchasing agent for Honduran Government, and advice that application for the necessary export licenses will be considered when received. From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

582

June 27

582

(135)

Report that Ferrera has been killed by Government troops.

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Request for views on Commander Special Service Squadron's recommendation of withdrawal of remaining warship from Nicaraguan and Honduran coasts.

From the Minister in Honduras (tel.)

Opinion that naval vessels can be withdrawn and advice that
Commander of Special Service Squadron was so advised on
July 6.

591381-46-VOL. II- -5

583

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