817.00/3738a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Nicaragua (Dennis)
63. I sent for the Nicaraguan Minister today and made the following statement to him. You should immediately ask an audience with General Chamorro and leave a copy with him, stating that you do so under instructions from your Government:
“The Government of the United States has viewed with grave apprehension the situation existing in Nicaragua brought about by the unconstitutional usurpation of the executive power by a military leader. That General Chamorro, who was one of the delegates to the Central American Conference of 1923 and, as the representative of his country, signed a treaty which has as its basic principle the prevention of revolution and the seizure of the Government through a coup d’etat, could have permitted himself to have brought disaster upon his country through the usurpation of the executive power is [Page 789] almost unbelievable. The Government of the “United States reaffirms its statement that it will not recognize General Chamorro as President of the Republic of Nicaragua.
Since the assumption of power by General Chamorro last January two revolutionary movements have already broken out in Nicaragua, and reports which have reached the Department show a state of unrest in that country which cannot but cause serious concern. Should events in Nicaragua continue their present course which can only result in ultimate civil war and economic chaos and imperil the lives and property of Americans and other foreigners in Nicaragua, the United States Government will be compelled to take such measures as it may deem necessary for their adequate protection.
While anxious and desirous to avoid interference in the purely domestic affairs of Nicaragua the Department of State cannot but point out that actions on the part of those in control of the Government of Nicaragua which according to present advices received by the Department are tending to prevent the free operation of the Financial Plans of 191713 and 1920,14 entered into between the Nicaraguan Government and its foreign creditors under the good offices of the Department of State, are being viewed with considerable anxiety by the United States Government.
It would now appear that the only way by which further bloodshed and serious disorders, which can only bring about the ruin of the country, may be avoided is by the withdrawal of General Chamorro from the position which he now holds and a prompt return to constitutional government. It is believed that as a first step towards this consummation a conference could be held attended by the political leaders of importance of all parties in Nicaragua, with a view to deciding upon a feasible plan.”
[Paraphrase.] In case the political leaders should desire to take advantage of the neutral character of a United States war vessel on which to hold such a conference the Department of State would have no objection. However, should such a suggestion be made, the Department prefers that it should be made by the Nicaraguans themselves. It is the feeling of the Department that the situation calls for an agreement by all factions in Nicaragua which can guarantee the establishment of an administration satisfactory enough to all parties to prevent further revolutionary outbreaks and can facilitate the restoration of constitutional government in due season. [End paraphrase.]
- See Foreign Relations, 1917, pp. 1112 ff.↩
- See César Arana, Compilacion de contratos celebrados con los Banqueros de New York, con el Ethelburga Syndicate de Londres y con el Banco Nacional de Nicaragua, Inc.–Leyes relativas a los mismos contratos, 1911–1928 (Managua [1928–9]), vols. ii and iii.↩