File No. 817.51/683.

The Secretary of State to Minister Jefferson.

[Telegram.]

Your September 23. We are greatly distressed at the situation in Nicaragua and regret exceedingly that it has been impossible to get action on the treaty. The Senate has been in constant session for a year and a half, something never known before. We are in the midst of a campaign in which nearly a third of the Senators are candidates for reelection. Under the circumstances it has been impossible to make progress. The President is very anxious to secure ratification of the treaty. If we can find any means of hastening action Ave shall employ it.

Please communicate the substance of this to Foreign Minister Chamorro.

W. J. Bryan
.