817.5011/1: Telegram
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Munro) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:10 p.m.]
314. Moncada’s representatives state that they consider a new census necessary for the proper conduct of next year’s elections. They assert that the preparations for distribution of Deputies in Congress is inequitable and that the distribution has not even been revised in accordance with the last census which was taken in 1920. They request therefore that the Congress at its approaching session should be asked to enact a law authorizing a census and instructing the Executive to establish new congressional districts on the basis thereof. If the holding of a new census proves impracticable they ask that the congressional districts be at least revised in accordance with the census of 1920.
While I have been very reluctant to take up this matter because of the expense and difficulty of the undertaking I have little doubt that the Liberals’ objections to the present apportionment are well founded and that a new census would be of great value in connection with the election. The marines and the guardia could help conduct one in the districts where they are stationed and it might be possible to utilize any Americans who may be employed in connection with the supervision of the elections. I have therefore promised the Liberals to place the matter before the Department for its consideration and to recommend [Page 372] that General McCoy and Dr. Dodds98 be consulted. The latter I believe has already looked into the matter of reapportionment somewhat.
- Dr. Harold W. Dodds, who accompanied General McCoy on his trip to Nicaragua. Dr. Dodds had been engaged in 1921 by the Nicaraguan Government to assist in the revision of the electoral laws of Nicaragua. See Foreign Relations, 1923, vol. ii, pp. 605 ff.; also ibid., 1924, vol. ii, pp. 487 ff.↩