817.24/148
The Nicaraguan Minister ( César ) to the Secretary of State
Most Excellent Sir: Under the express instructions of my Government I have the honor to address you in the following sense:
After a long and unfortunate conflict for the maintenance of order and the institutions of the Republic, the Nicaraguan Government views its war materials considerably diminished, and it is therefore obliged to restore its stocks of such materials at the earliest possible moment, in order that it may be placed in a better future position to guarantee the national defense and the security of lives and property of its nationals and of foreigners. It therefore approaches your government confident that it will meet with the same disinterested spirit of friendship which it has always found, and which has come to be proverbial in the relations between Nicaragua and the United States; and which invariably has contributed to fortunate results for our country.
In view of the foregoing I take the liberty of expressing to you the desire of the Nicaraguan Government to enter into negotiations to secure war materials, completing therefor a purchase and sales [Page 455] contract with the United States Government, under conditions and terms similar to those stipulated in the agreement signed in Washington the 14th of November, 1921 between Mr. Glenn E. Edgerton, Director of Sales, United States War Department, and General Emiliano Chamorro, Minister Plenipotentiary of Nicaragua in Washington.52 This contract contains terms and conditions of payment which the Government of Nicaragua would again be able to assume, confident that it would be able to comply therewith without default or delay, in the same manner as it did on the previous occasion, since these terms and conditions are within the economic possibilities of the country.
The terms and conditions of the transaction would be as follows:
- (a) The Government of Nicaragua
proposes to purchase immediately:
- 3000 Krag rifles, 1898 model.
- 500,000 cartridges for the above.
- 200 Browning machine guns, automatic rifle type.
- 3,000,000 cartridges for the above.
- (b) The cost of this war material would
be paid in installments in the following manner:
- $5,000 at the end of each month, the first payment to be made January 31, 1929, and the additional payments each month thereafter until the account is settled.
- The Government of Nicaragua will pay 6% interest annually on the amount due.
These materials are urgently needed by the Nicaraguan Government; but I am obliged to state that for the complete reorganization of the army, which my government has in mind to carry out as soon as the general situation of the country is normalized, larger quantities and other classes of war materials will undoubtedly be required. I therefore postpone until that time the amplification of the request which my government makes in this communication.
As soon as the necessity of completing the national armament is met, through the benevolent aid of the United States Government, the Nicaraguan Government will unfailingly attain the end of assuring the most perfect conditions of peace and tranquillity within the Republic, these being the fountain of all progress and well being, and surely the people and government of Nicaragua will thereby contract a new debt of gratitude toward the people and Government of the United States.
I take [etc.]