817.1051/82: Telegram
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11 p.m.]
113. Legation’s 99, June 2, 4 p.m.11 The person designated by the Minister of Gobernacion to prepare the rules and regulations of the National Guard and to confer thereon with the Legation guard is General Carreles, who during the constabulary negotiations published numerous articles over his signature in the newspapers attacking the plan and especially American participation and in which he consistently referred to us as Yankees in a disparaging manner. This representative made only two requests which were immediately granted by the delivery to him on June 10th and 13th of two plans relating to the recruiting and classification of personnel. No further requests for assistance were made and no intimation was given that the services of the marines as provisional instructors were anything but unwelcome. On June 3rd orders were received by the Legation guard to prepare for withdrawal on August 3rd. On June 30 Major Carter arrived at Bluefields and on July 1st one of his assistants arrived at Corinto.
With matters in this situation the Minister for Foreign Affairs called yesterday afternoon and informed me that his Government now possesses funds for the organization of the National Guard and requests that the marines undertake the organization and training of the recruits already in Managua. I replied that with Major Carter and one assistant already in Nicaragua I had not anticipated that [Page 635] the services of the marines would now be requested and that while the Legation is very much occupied with the difficult task of preparing for early departure I would consult Major Keyser and the Department. Major Keyser and I strongly feel that at this late hour the marines should not be made responsible for the organization of the National Guard.
I venture respectfully to recommend that I be instructed to inform the Government that inasmuch as the chief instructor and one assistant instructor of the National Guard are now in Nicaragua and should be in Managua within a day or two and inasmuch as the Legation guard is actively engaged in preparations for departure within a very few weeks it is not deemed necessary and is furthermore impracticable for the Legation to undertake the organization of the Nicaraguan National Guard.
- Not printed.↩