817.00/3163: Telegram
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8 p.m.]
201. My 197 and 198 September 27th and 28th [29th]. The Minister for Foreign Affairs called Monday to inform me that the efforts to have the political parties request that the marines participate in the electoral process had failed. He then stated that the President had asked him to suggest to me that the marines to be sent out as observers should wear civilian dress. I objected to this and the suggestion apparently was withdrawn.
That evening I sent a note to the Minister for Foreign Affairs giving the names of the members of the Legation guard to be employed and their destinations and requesting that orders be issued to the authorities of those places to afford them the protection necessary to the fulfillment of their mission. Yesterday the Minister for Foreign Affairs called again and on behalf of the President insisted that the marines wear civilian dress and insinuated that otherwise their employment as observers would be opposed. He advised me that political use was being made by Chamorro of their employment which was detrimental. I promised a final answer by 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon and discussed the matter with the commander of the Legation guard who feels as I strongly feel that to send the marines out in civilian clothes on election day with conditions as they undoubtedly will be on that day would be to invite serious trouble. It was therefore agreed that I should refuse to employ the marines unless they should be in uniform and be guaranteed protection. However before I was able to arrange an interview with him I received a long note from the Minister for Foreign Affairs which stated definitely that the President desired that the marines should go out “not as marines, nor with official character of any kind, nor wearing the uniform of any corps, but as simple private in the common clothing of civilians who intend to witness the election without taking any part therein, otherwise he should have the painful obligation to manifest his frank disapproval.”