817.00/5172: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Nicaragua (Munro)
216. Legation’s telegram number 357, dated December 2, 10 a.m. The views of the Department regarding the proposed retirement of President Diaz are as follows:
Consequent upon a long period of violence and chaos during which the Government of the United States could find no government in Nicaragua which it could legally recognize, Diaz was finally chosen President in such manner and form as to make it possible for the Government of the United States, as well as many other governments, to come to the conclusion that the Presidency had been filled in due compliance with the Nicaraguan Constitution. Accordingly, the Government of the United States recognized him. Notwithstanding this general recognition, the Liberals continued the fight to expel him and to obtain control of the country. The actual conditions which developed finally forced the United States to take active measures for the protection of its interests and those of its citizens. These culminated in the special mission of Colonel Stimson. Colonel Stimson finally persuaded the Liberal leaders to lay down their arms and cooperate in the restoration of peace and order. The basic moving considerations for the arrangement which resulted from Colonel Stimson’s intermediation were very simple. In return for an undertaking by the Government of the United States to supervise the election of a successor to Diaz, the Liberals relinquished their efforts to expel the recognized Government under Diaz and agreed to cooperate for peace and stability. There was a definite and perfect understanding that, pending the holding of the supervised election, the status quo was to be maintained. In the meantime, any maneuver involving the retirement of President Diaz, voluntary or otherwise, will not only give rise to a grave suspicion of entailing some advantage to one faction or the other, but in effect would strike at the very foundation of the transaction by which peace and order have been restored. For the reasons mentioned, the Government of the United States cannot fail to regard with the utmost disapprobation such a disturbance of the status quo as the retirement of President [Page 386] Diaz. The Government of the United States had nothing to do with the selection of Diaz. Diaz was merely recognized as the Constitutional President of Nicaragua for the time being. Upon the fact of such recognition rests the arrangement under which we are now proceeding. It is the firm and unalterable intention of the Government of the United States, at the request of the recognized Government in Nicaragua and both political parties therein, to do all in its power to see that a perfectly fair and impartial election is held. No changing of the basic facts of the situation as they were when the undertaking to supervise the election was given, can be tolerated without giving rise to certain speculations and fears regarding the impartial attitude of the Government of the United States in this matter. A change in the office of President at this time seems to the Department not only an unfortunate circumstance, as intimated in your telegram, but also a proposition which can be entertained by no one who is sincerely interested in the carrying out of the pending plan.
With reference to the first paragraph of your telegram, the Department, of course, is interested in any genuine doubt which may be raised regarding the constitutionality of the Stimson arrangement whether affecting the reorganization of the guardia or the appointment of General McCoy. The Department has not understood that there could be any constitutional ground of objection. The Department should be informed immediately if the Conservatives or any other faction really intend to attack the constitutionality of the arrangement, or even to cast a cloud upon its validity. The Department will then consider what measures it may be necessary to take in order to fulfill the obligations which the United States has assumed. For the purpose of making known the emphatic views of the Government of the United States you are authorized to use informally all or as much of this telegram as you deem advisable.