817.00/3078a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Nicaragua (Thurston)
62. You are instructed to call on President Martinez and say to him privately that the Department views with concern the persistent reports that he intends to run for office to succeed himself. The Government of the United States does not wish to intervene in Nicaraguan domestic affairs, and is impartial towards political parties and candidates therein. However, on January 1st next it will have to decide whether it can consistently extend its recognition to the new administration as the constitutional government of Nicaragua. It is its desire that no question should arise at that time regarding the eligibility of the one who shall have been elected President. It desires that the situation should afford an opportunity for this Government to extend to the new Government its fullest and most sympathetic cooperation. After a thorough study of the question the Government of the United States feels itself constrained to express the view that it would be contrary to the Constitution of Nicaragua if a person holding the office of President during the next preceding term should be elected President.13
[Page 507]In stating the above to President Martinez you may say that you have been instructed to assure him that its decision is based solely upon its policy concerning the recognition of new governments and is not due to any personal objection to him. You may assure him that this Government has the highest regard for him. You may add that you have been instructed to take up this matter with him privately, and that you are not informing anyone else of what has taken place, not even the other members of the Legation staff, because the Department does not desire to cause him any embarrassment or permit its action to come to the attention of his political opponents.
If you so desire, you may let him see the translation of your instruction. Cable result of your interview.
- See art. 104 of the Constitution, Foreign Relations, 1912, p. 997.↩