815.00/3148: Telegram
The President’s Personal Representative in Honduras (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 2—8:40 p.m.]
19. My number 18, May 1, 9 a.m.8 The first session of the conference took place this morning. The discussion was limited to a consideration of the articles of the preliminary agreement between the two factions in Honduras signed in Amapala on April 28th. It is my belief that the formal and definite arrangement between the two parties will be concluded in the second session which will take place this afternoon. All the Central American delegates are in entire accord with the provisions contained in the preliminary agreement.
I had last night an informal conference with the Central American delegates. I suggested that the conference undertake to make two formal declarations binding upon the nations represented: (1) [Page 316] that the Governments here represented declare their entire neutrality and impartiality as between the various political parties in Honduras and obligate themselves during the life of the Provisional Government not to favor any political party or candidate in the coming national elections by the exertion of influence or by the use of any other means; (2) that the conference declare that the Governments represented believe in the efficacy of the treaties and conventions signed as a result of the last Central American Conference as means of preserving peace, of favoring government by constitutional and orderly methods and as conducive to the development of general prosperity in Central America. That this declaration should likewise contain the expression of the hope that the signatory Governments would bring about the speedy ratification of these instruments.
The delegate from Nicaragua proposed the negotiation of a convention providing for the appointment of a standing commission of mediation in which all the nations here represented would participate through delegations to provide for joint mediation in all cases similar to that recently existing in Honduras. It is my opinion that the negotiation of such a convention might with advantage be postponed until the next government. I beg to request the Department’s instructions on this point.
- Not printed.↩