817.00/3079: Telegram
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 2—4:50 p.m.]
102. On evening May 30 I visited President Martinez and read to him Spanish translation of your 62 May 29, 5 p.m. He seemed neither displeased nor surprised, but he did show an unchanged intention to become a candidate according to the conditions which are described below. He asked me to notify the Department that he has not accepted the Presidential nomination which was offered to him on May 25, and would not unless the Liberal Party should ratify it. If, however, the Liberal Party should ratify it, he would accept the nomination, since he believed from reports of eminent American attorneys acting in his behalf in Washington that in that case our Government would approve his candidacy; that his policy thus to unite the Conservative and Liberal Parties offered the only way to avoid civil war. He said he had received the opinion of 15 attorneys that under article 100 of the new election law (Spanish version) he could become a candidate for Senator; after his election he could admit his disqualifications, band over his office to the Vice President; the latter would then bring about a new election at which he would be legally elected. He did not desire to take such a course, and he intimated that if our Government should continue to view his candidacy in an unfavorable light, he would withdraw.
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