817.00/4334: Telegram
The Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:20 p.m.]
257. Department’s 148, December 30, 4 p.m. President Diaz telegraphed a reply yesterday to President Jimenez’s offer of mediation stating that he had received similar [offer] from the Guatemalan Government which he had answered with a proposal to send a diplomat to Guatemala. While these conversations with the Guatemalan Government on mediation were in course, Diaz stated in his telegram he could not discuss a new offer of mediation.
President Diaz expressed surprise at the Department’s indorsement of the Costa Rican offer of mediation, pointing out that, of the four Central American Republics, Costa Rica was alone in definitely declining the invitation of the American Government to recognize his government, moreover that President Jimenez had in an official and published statement declared that Sacasa had “title” while Diaz had “control” or “possession” and that the Costa Rican Government could not recognize a government in Nicaragua which did not realize these two conditions of title and possession. President Jimenez had therefore prejudged the political issue in Nicaragua and pronounced publicly a judgment against the constitutionality of the Diaz Government exactly in contradiction of the opinion officially proclaimed by the United States Government. Under these circumstances Diaz did not see how he could be expected to accept as impartial the mediation of President Jimenez and surely the United States could not recommend that he accept mediation by a biased party. Diaz added that he would prefer the mediation of the Guatemalan Government which while unfriendly to him was frank in its hostility and had at least observed in its communications to his government the courtesy of giving him and his Minister of Foreign Affairs the official titles which they claimed, while the President of Costa Rica had addressed President Diaz without using a title.
(Admiral Latimer just telegraphed that main base of supplies for revolutionists is Port Limon, Costa Rica.)
Diaz failed to see how the mediation of Costa Rica, known to be prejudiced against the Conservative Party in Nicaragua, could be expected to succeed in bringing about an agreement where the good offices of the United States, known to be impartial, had been unsuccessful owing to Mexican support of the revolution. The situation with respect of Mexican [influence?] remained unchanged. All Central American countries, in view of recent events in Nicaragua, [Page 822] now naturally in awe of Mexico wherefore a conference held under the auspices of any one of them would necessarily be dominated by the overwhelming Mexican influence over both the Central American Government mediating and the Liberal delegates. The Salvadorean representative in Managua had confidentially indicated to Diaz (he made the same statement to this Legation) that in view of recent unchecked Mexican aid of the revolution his Government regretted its hasty recognition of Diaz at the invitation of the American Government since it was feared that Mexican displeasure thereat might soon result in a decision to support a revolution to overthrow the Salvadorean Government and since it was now generally understood that the United States was not disposed to check Mexican armed expeditions against Central American Republics, thereby leaving Mexico a free hand.
Diaz remarked that no conference held under the auspices of one Central American State had ever settled a conflict similar to that in progress and he referred to the proposal made by Guatemala last September for “fraternal action” to be taken by the Central American countries to bring about peace in Nicaragua in respect of which the Department had stated that it did not “think any beneficial results would be obtained by such action” (Department’s telegram 71, September 10, 8 p.m.47).
Diaz concluded by saying that he is still repeatedly offering to treat with the Liberals for peace on the broadest bases but they so far decline to consider his offers.
The Legation is conferring with some Liberal leaders this afternoon with a view to bringing about conference between them and the Government.
- Not printed.↩