818.00/611: Telegram

The Minister in Nicaragua ( Jefferson ) to the Acting Secretary of State

Department’s May 7th, 3 p.m. Taking into account that the budget provides for 410 soldiers, 900 police, etc., it may be that a hundred of these might be sent to police the frontier without jeopardizing police protection of the interior.

The High Commission in case of emergency may authorize such additional expenditures as required; however, in such cases the Department should express an opinion regarding same.

In my opinion I am inclined to think that the sending of an additional 100 or 150 police to the frontier will not meet the needs as expressed to the Department May 3rd, 4 p.m. [May 5, 3 p.m.?]. However any additional police sent to the frontier will be a better protection for Nicaragua but will not prevent sympathizers of the exiles here from going to their aid.

Unless some invasion of Nicaragua is attempted by Tinoco I shall as heretofore counsel Chamorro against arousing more suspicion by sending too large a body to the frontier.

On account of interrupted telegraphic communication no news has been received from Costa Eica the last two days.

Jefferson