817.00/3416: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt)
11. Your 18, October [January] 20, 5 p.m.8 Señor Castrillo addressed a formal note to the Secretary of State on January 19,9 informing him that Solorzano having resigned Chamorro took charge of the executive power on January 17. I sent him the following informal reply today:
“Dear Doctor Castrillo:
In your communication of the 19th instant addressed to the Secretary of State you advise that President Solorzano having resigned his office General Emiliano Chamorro took charge of the executive power on January 17.
The hope expressed in your letter that the relations which have been close and cordial for so many years between Nicaragua and the United States will continue and grow stronger has been noted with pleasure. The Government and people of the United States have [Page 785] feelings of sincerest friendship for Nicaragua and the people of Nicaragua, and the Government of the United States will of course continue to maintain the most friendly relations with the people of Nicaragua. This Government has felt privileged to be able to be of assistance in the past at their request not only to Nicaragua but to all the countries of Central America more especially during the Conference on Central American Affairs which resulted in the signing of a General Treaty of Peace and Amity on February 7, 1923, between the five Republics of Central America. The object of the Central American countries, with which the United States was heartily in accord, was to promote constitutional government and orderly procedure in Central America and those Governments agreed upon a joint course of action with regard to the non-recognition of governments coming into office through coup d’etat or revolution. The United States has adopted the principles of that Treaty as its policy in the future recognition of Central American Governments as it feels that by so doing it can best show its friendly disposition towards and its desire to be helpful to the Republics of Central America.
It is therefore with regret that I have to inform you that the Government of the United States has not recognized and will not recognize as the Government of Nicaragua the régime now headed by General Chamorro, as the latter was duly advised on several occasions by the American Minister after General Chamorro had taken charge of the citadel at Managua on October 25th last. This action is, I am happy to learn, in accord with that taken by all the Governments that signed with Nicaragua the Treaty of 1923.
I am, my dear Doctor Castrillo, Very sincerely yours, Signed Frank B. Kellogg.”
You will please send a copy of this in an informal note to Señor Gutierrez Navas10 saying that this represents the attitude and policy of this Government toward the present régime in Nicaragua. After your letter is delivered to Señor Gutierrez you may make a copy of my letter to Señor Castrillo public, telegraphing the Department when this is done in order that it may likewise be released to the press here.11