817.00/5198: Telegram
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Munro) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:44 p.m.]
379. My December 21, 3 p.m. The Minister of Interior told me this morning that the Congress was about to adjourn over the holidays and that consequently, pending the necessary study of General McCoy’s electoral project, the Government was about to propose as an emergency measure that the terms of members of the existing electoral boards be extended by congressional action until the new law should be adopted. I declined to approve this procedure on the ground that the Liberals could with some justice claim the right to control the majority of the departmental electoral boards after January 1st unless General McCoy’s project should be approved before that date. I urged rather that Congress be persuaded to remain in session in view of the urgency of this matter and the desirability of early action on the guardia agreement.