817.00/3130: Telegram
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 8—11:55 p.m.]
159. Legation’s 157 and 158 of August 6. Inasmuch as I was unable to reconcile the purport of the Foreign Minister’s note with his assurance that it did not definitely reject Department’s proposal as contained in its no. 82, July 16, 4 p.m., I called on the President today. He said positively that the note expressed Nicaragua’s definite and final refusal to accept Department’s suggestion that Nicaragua engage Dodds and his assistants to come here and assist in the elections.
Since the note lays special stress upon the futility of supervising elections with only 14 people, I asked him if it would be desirable to have a more elaborate supervision made at the expense of our Government. He replied that even an extensive supervision would prove ineffective, and that he would be obliged to consult his Cabinet before he could speak on the advisability of a supervision which was unsought. My impression was that such a policy would be opposed by him. …
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