SURVEY OF HONDURAN-SALVADORAN RELATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000400140023-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2012
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: August 2, 1967
• Content Type: CABLE

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American Embassy, Tegucigalpa
NO.
DATE: August 2, 1967
Survey of Honduran-Salvadoran Relation-)7_,,?..2 3 3-; - i'/AI
Oera 32 -/
Embassy's A-121 of October 26, 1966 and A-268 of April 3, 1967
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The border dispute which flared between Honduras and El Salvador
in May 1967, and which continues to be a partly unsettled political
issue between the two countries, calls for a summary of this basic
problem together with other issues which may have a bearing on its
final solution. This airgram discusses the border problem, the
problem of Meanguera Island, the disparity of military power between
the two countries, and the immigration issue.
The border issue. Honduran-Salvadoran relations have been
flawed in several ways in the past few years. The most important
cause for discord between El Salvador and Honduras has been their
partly undemarcated border. Though much of the border is not con-
tested, there are several sizeable disputed areas in remote regions
between the two countries, and considerable confusion and misunder-
standing has resulted from the lack of demarcation. The legal and
public security problems in these areas are many: criminals may
seek refuge in them, claiming that they are outside the jurisdiction
of one or the other government; persons born in them may claim
citizenship of one or the other government; squatters from one
side may obtain land title documents from their government; and
public security forces from one country may enter what the other
country considers its territory. Even trivial events occurring
in these areas can become major international problems.
The most recent serious incident between Honduras and El
Salvador was triggered by a private feud between Hondurans and
Salvadorans in one of the disputed areas. In May 1967, a Honduran
FORM
10-64E1S-323
GSweany:gmg
CONFIDENTIAL
Drafting Date: rmeg;.:
7-31-67
For De artment Use Only
In ED 00
Contents' IM: Classification Approved y:
Jean M. Wilkowski, DCM
Clearances:
Col. Schroeder, MILGRP: Col. Pagano, DATT:=81319C80011 (all in draft)
tx U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1966 0 - 202-219 (258)
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/28: CIA-RDP08001297R000400140023-0
CONFIDENTIAL Tegucigalpa A-34
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rancher, who claims that his ranch is in Honduras, was reportedly arrested
by Salvadoran authorities on his ranch, taken to El Salvador and jailed.
Honduran authorities believing that the ranch is on Honduran soil, attempted
unsuccessfully to "save" their countryman. An exchange of shots resulted,
and in the following week there were several armed clashes between police
and soldiers of the two countries. There were small numbers of dead and
wounded on each side, and both countries alerted their Air Forces and moved
regular Army troops into the border area. By May 31, the shooting had
stopped, and a joint military border commission had begun to arrange for
troop withdrawals and an exchange of prisoners. Despite several later
incidents in border areas, the intervention of the Archbishops of the two
countries eventually resulted in an agreement to have the Foreign Ministers
of Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua mediate,and this may lead to a
lowering of tensions.
Despite the partial settlement of this latest dispute, the mutual
confusion over the undefined border will remain until it can be demarcated.
Since this will probably take months or years of technical work and negotia-
tions, the border issue may well continue to agitate relations between the
two countries for some time.
IMeanwhile, confusion is compounded by the fact that the two countries
publish maps showing wide variations of the border line along several
stretches of their common frontier. US public and private maps are of little
help in trying to decide where the border is or should be, since no two avail-
able here seem to be exactly alike.
The Meanguera issue. In the minds of most Hondurans, and as seen by
the local press, the dispute between the two countries over Meanguera Island,
in the Gulf of Fonseca, cannot be separated from the general border issue.
Since the most recent discussion of the border issue between the governments
seems to have ignored the island for the most part, it might remain a separate
and only occasional bone of contention. However, we think it more likely that
the Hondurans will press their claim to sovereignty over it when the general
discussions of the disputed land border areas take place. (The Honduran claim
to sovereignty over the island was treated in the Embassy's A-268 of April 3,
1967.)
Disparity of military power. With ripe territorial issues outstanding
between Honduras and its neighbor, the thoughts of many Hondurans have gravi-
tated to Honduras' military posture and its ability to defend its frontiers.
Most Hondurans believe, correctly, that Honduras is somewhat stronger mili-
tarily than El Salvador, and they want this advantageous disparity to continue.
However, as early as June 1967, the Honduran military was aware that the
Salvadorans are at least tentatively interested in obtaining a number of new
armaments, possibly including jet fighter aircraft.
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The Country Team is firmly opposed to Honduran acquisition of expensive
new weapons such as jet fighters?there are numerous military, political and
financial reasons for this. We also appreciate the efforts of the US Mission
in El Salvador to exert a moderating influence on Salvadoran aspirations
along this line, because acquisition of advanced weapons by El Salvador
would certainly stimulate Honduran desires to maintain its favorable balance
of military power. President Lopez has stated to the Ambassador his concern
at the possibility that the Salvadorans may acquire jets. He said this
would put him under great pressure from public opinion and the military,
although he has no desire or need for jets and the GOR can not afford to
spend its resources, needed for development, on such luxuries.
The immigration issue. There is heavy immigration, both legal and
illegal, from El Salvador to Honduras, and there are large numbers of
Salvadoran workingmen engaged in Honduran agriculture and industry. Esti-
mates of the total Salvadoran population run up to 300,000 though the lack
of good statistics on this migrant population casts doubt on the accuracy
of such estimates. (Immigration has gone on historically and some geo-
graphers estimate that over half the population of Honduras is of Salvadoran
ancestry.)
A treaty between the two countries has liberalized Honduran require-
ments regarding the residence in Honduras of Salvadoran citizens (A-121 of
October 26, 1966). However, since the treaty took full effect (in April
1967) there have been a number of complaints from Honduran groups about
the presence and behavior of Salvadorans in Honduras. From time to time
Honduran radio commentators and editorial writers complain of the alleged
opportunism and criminal tendencies of the Salvadoran settlers.
A recent cause for Honduran complaints is the failure of Salvadoran
immigrants to comply with the provisions of the immigration treaty which
allows them to qualify easily for permanent legal residency in Honduras.
(El Salvador has opened a number of new consulates in Honduras to facili-
tate this.) However, it seems that thousands of Salvadoran residents have
no interest in qualifying. Honduran officials, who had hoped to control
immigration better by establishing records on existing Salvadoran settlers,
find that their hopes are being largely frustrated. More important, the
immigration treaty affords Honduran authorities a legally valid reason
to deport those who do not qualify. In the event that anti-Salvadoran
sentiment in Honduras should become more fierce, Honduran authorities
might see fit to deport more Salvadorans, thus angering the Salvadoran
Government.
A related problem, which is closely tied to the recent border clash,
is that of illegal Salvadoran immigration into the disputed border areas.
Honduran Minister of the Presidency, Ricardo ZURIGA, recently told the
Ambassador that the Hondurans do not regard such settlers as bonafide
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/28: CIA-RDP08001297R000400140023-0
CONFIDENTIAL Tegucigalpa A-34
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immigrants because: 1) some have settled on "Honduran" soil and attempted
to change the sovereignty of the land they live on by registering it in
El Salvador, and 2) they have come in droves during times of Honduran
national weakness or preoccupation with other matters, taking advantage
of Honduras' inability to drive them off. Zuftiga said that Honduras must
depend on private citizens to "protect Honduran sovereignty" in the
disputed areas, and he cited the Honduran rancher who was arrested in
May 1967 by Salvadoran authorities as an example of these so-called private
border guards.
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/28: CIA-RDP08001297R000400140023-0