817.00/5152: Telegram
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Munro) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:37 p.m.]
344. My 340, November 19, 10 a.m. Moncada’s representatives have now formally raised the question of the control of the electoral boards which will serve during remainder of the period 1928 to [19]32 after the completion of the Presidential election. They assert that the result of the election of 1924 under article 22 of the electoral law gave the Liberals the right to the presidency of the most of the [Page 382] departmental boards and that this right was recognized by Mr. Stimson. They desire therefore that the National Electoral Board should elect these new departmental boards next month and that the new boards should hold office throughout the next 4 years although their functions would be suspended while General McCoy is supervising the Presidential election.
I have thus far not communicated the Department’s 196, November 17, 6 p.m., to the President as I considered it advisable that this question should first be settled one way or the other. If the question is left open by the Department there will be a controversy which may make it possible for those Conservatives who oppose real supervision of the election to defeat the proposed law in Congress.
Please note that the phrase “existing boards” in my telegram of November 19, 10 a.m., refers to the boards which will be in existence when the new law goes into effect. Please expedite reply.