vided by dense foliage is ubiquitous. The harm which might come to innocent bystanders was also emphasized. The President then stated that he would instruct. . . to carry no bombs. He then inquired if the Government of the United States would object to the purchase of . . . plane and its use for bombing by a Honduran aviator. In reply he was told that the Legation had received no instructions in that regard. . . states that Honduran authorities have told him that there are some Krupp bombs weighing 25 pounds each at Amapala; presumably they have just arrived from Germany or perhaps from Salvador. Ferrera last reported 25 miles due south of Olanchito. LAY 815.248/30: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Honduras (Lay) WASHINGTON, June 12, 1931-2 p. m. 50. Your 122, June 10, 4 p. m. 1. Please see President Mejia Colindres and orally and informally thank him for his considerate action in instructing . . . to carry no bombs. 2. With regard to the purchase of . . . plane by the Government of Honduras you may, if again approached on the matter, orally state that the United States Government of course has no control over the sale of a privately owned plane now in Honduras and which the owners desire to sell. 3. Please endeavor discreetly to ascertain and report without delay the source, date of arrival, purchasing agent and any other information obtainable concerning the Krupp bombs said recently to have arrived at Amapala. STIMSON 815.00 Revolutions/181: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State TEGUCIGALPA, June 15, 1931-7 p. m. [Received June 16-11: 50 a. m.] 127. I returned to Tegucigalpa today after a very worthwhile trip on the north coast. Arranged with the Captain of the Richmond and Consuls about evacuating Americans and other protection measures in event of danger. Conferred with Consular Inspector Davis. LAY 815.00 Revolutions/182: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Honduras (Lay) WASHINGTON, June 17, 1931-5 p. m. 51. Your 239 June 1." Department considers you would be justified in suggesting to interested American citizens that they prepare statements of losses supported by evidence now available, and present such statements to Honduran Government, advising you of such action. It would apparently be advisable to accompany suggestion by counseling moderation in amounts claimed. It is further believed that at the proper time it would be appropriate for you to inform the Foreign Office that you have been advised that American citizens have presented such statements, and to ask that they be given prompt consideration with a view to equitable adjustments. STIMSON 815.00 Revolutions/186: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State TEGUCIGALPA, June 19, 1931-noon. [Received 4 p. m.] 128. The President of Honduras informs me that yesterday Government forces under General Torribio Ramos defeated Ferrera decisively at Jaral which is located at north end of Lake Yojoa. He states that at least 70 of the insurgents were slain and that Ferrera is now fleeing westward with 90 men. 815.248/34: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State LAY TEGUCIGALPA, June 19, 1931-4 p. m. [Received 9:50 p. m.] 130. Department's telegram of June 12, 2 p. m. . . . sold his plane to the Honduran Government yesterday and states he is leaving Honduras in a few days. His plane is now being piloted by Honduran aviator . . ., of limited flying ability, and is carrying small bombs. ... 815.248/35: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Secretary of State LAY TEGUCIGALPA, June 21, 1931-3 p. m. [Received June 22-12:24 a. m.] American aviator, to go 133. President of Honduras desires to United States to buy a Waco airplane for Honduran Government. " Not printed. . . . to fly it to Tegucigalpa. Also purchase machine gun for this plane to be shipped by steamer. desires to know whether he would be permitted to do this by American Government. Please rush answer. LAY 815.248/36: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Honduras (Lay) WASHINGTON, June 23, 1931-6 p. m. 54. Your 133, June 21, 3 p. m. The Department perceives no objection to an American citizen coming to the United States to act as a purchasing agent for a foreign government and to his acting as pilot of an airplane from the United States to a foreign country, provided the question of entering the armed service of a foreign government does not arise. Application for license to export airplane and machine gun from the United States to Honduras (which must contain complete information for identification) will be considered when received by this Department. In order to be flown over the United States en route to Honduras it would be necessary for the plane to be licensed by the Department of Commerce. Furthermore, the Department of Commerce has indicated that. pilot's license in the United States has expired and would need to be renewed. ... STIMSON 815.00 Revolutions/194: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Acting Secretary of State TEGUCIGALPA, June 27, 1931-11 a. m. [Received 2:20 p. m.] 135. I have been informed officially that Ferrera was killed yesterday by Government troops near San Pedro Sula. LAY 815.00 Revolutions/210: Telegram 12 The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Honduras (Lay) 12 WASHINGTON, July 9, 1931-5 p. m. 57. Commander Special Service Squadron reports that conditions on east coast Nicaragua and north coast Honduras are entirely tran "The same on the same date to the Minister in Nicaragua as Department's No. 152. quil and therefore recommends withdrawal of the only remaining United States war vessel, the Sacramento, from those regions. Please telegraph your views to the Department. CASTLE 815.00 Revolutions/213: Telegram The Minister in Honduras (Lay) to the Acting Secretary of State TEGUCIGALPA, July 10, 1931-10 a. m. [Received 1: 15 p. m.] 137. Department's telegram No. 57, July 9, 5 p. m. In my opinion present conditions warrant the withdrawal of all naval vessels from Honduran waters and I so advised Commander of the Special Service Squadron on July 6. LAY RESTRICTIONS ON THE EXPORT OF WAR MATERIAL TO HONDURAS 815.24/143 The Secretary of State to the Minister in Honduras (Lay) No. 90 WASHINGTON, January 22, 1931. SIR: Reference is made to the Legation's confidential despatch No. 151, dated December 13, 1930,13 relating to the failure of negotiations between the Honduran Government and the California Arms Company for the purchase of certain military equipment, and the resultant renewed request of the Honduran Government that it be permitted to acquire that material from the Government of the United States. The Department has inquired of the War Department whether these supplies are available, but pending receipt of its reply desires to advise you as follows: In February, 1925,14 in response to the request of the Honduran Government that it be permitted to purchase certain arms and ammunition from this Government, the Department replied that it would be disposed to arrange for the sale of the articles requested after receiving a communication stating that the Honduran Government planned to organize a Constabulary, and would give its consideration to the appointment of foreign instructors. The assurance requested was readily given and, basing its action on Article II of the Central American Convention for the Limitation of Armaments signed at Washington February 7, 1923,15 the Government of Honduras engaged 13 Not printed. "See telegram No. 18, February 6, 1925, to the Chargé in Honduras, Foreign Relations, 1925, vol. 11, p. 320. an American Army officer as technical director for the organization of a Honduran National Guard. Necessary legislation for the creation of that body failed of accomplishment, however, and after making partial payment to the American officer in question of his first year's salary the matter of the creation of the National Guard appears to have been definitely abandoned. In the meantime the Government of the United States sold to the Government of Honduras 3,000 rifles, 10 machine guns and 250,000 cartridges-other purchases of ammunition bringing the total amount up to somewhat more than 2,000,000 rounds. In January, 1927, the Honduran Government notified the American Legation at Tegucigalpa that it desired to purchase in the United States 5,000 rifles, 50 machine guns, and 1,000,000 cartridges, and it appears that in fact 10 machine guns and 500,000 cartridges were thereafter obtained from the California Arms Company. In July, 1927, the Honduran Government stated that the contract entered into with the California Arms Company had been cancelled, and inquired whether the Government of the United States would sell to it 2,000 or 3,000 rifles and other material. As a result there was sold to the Honduran Government by the War Department 2,000 rifles, 50 machine guns and 200,000 rounds of ammunition.16 Should the Government of the United States at this time furnish the Government of Honduras the 2,000 rifles, 25 machine guns, and 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition requested in the communication submitted with your despatch under acknowledgment, a total of 7,000 rifles, 4,000,000 cartridges, and 95 machine guns will have been acquired by the Government of Honduras within a period of approximately five years subsequent to the ratification of the Convention for the Limitation of Armaments, whereunder the Government of Honduras agreed to maintain a military establishment not to exceed 2,500 men. It may safely be assumed that important quantities of war material apart from those just enumerated also have entered Honduras during the same period. The Department understands it to be the practice of the Government of Honduras, whenever any serious emergency arises, to distribute its official military equipment to civilian supporters, who thereafter retain the arms thus furnished; and that in consequence it finds itself from time to time with a depleted supply of military equipment and confronted by a populace more or less under arms. While the Government of the United States considers that it has been warranted, as an act of international comity, in lending such support to the duly constituted Government of Honduras as may have been implied by the sale to it of surplus military supplies from the stock of the War De 16 Correspondence not printed. |
