817.24/150

The Nicaraguan Minister ( César ) to the Secretary of State

[Translation]

Excellent Sir: I have the honor to refer to Your Excellency’s note dated February 18, 1927, in which you so kindly stated that you had been informed by the respective officials of your Government that it would be possible to sell to the Government of Nicaragua the arms and ammunition which are listed below, together with the prices therefor:

3,000 Krag rifles, M 1898 at $6 each $18,000
200 Browning Machine Guns, M 1917 at $302.19 60,438
2,000 Belts, Ammunition, 250 rounds for Browning Machine Gun at $1.81 3,620
3,000,000 Cartridges, Ball, Cal. .30, Grade 2 at $45.22 135,660
Total $217,718

Your Excellency mentions that these prices must be understood as f. o. b. warehouse and that they do not include the cost of packing and transportation, which would be added to the costs above shown.

It is also understood that the terms of payment will include an interest charge of 6% per annum upon the cost over the sale price of the above-mentioned materials, and to that end the Government of Nicaragua is obliged to give notes in the sum of $5,000 each, excepting the last which will be for the amount of the balance remaining. The principal and interest on the first note shall be paid on January 31, 1929, and the other notes shall be payable on the last day of each month, in each succeeding month, until the sum total of the cost plus accrued interest has been paid. In order that the sale of the above-mentioned materials may be made formal, a contract will be signed containing the foregoing stipulations.

Acting under full instructions from my Government I may state to Your Excellency that the Nicaraguan Government accepts the terms and conditions hereinbefore mentioned; and to carry these into effect I am ready to sign, on behalf of my Government, the respective purchase contracts and the notes or other instruments acknowledging the debt, for the amounts and in the form necessary. I therefore desire to inform Your Excellency that I wait only that you inform me that the above-mentioned documents are ready, before proceeding without [Page 458] further delay to sign them in the proper manner and on behalf of the Nicaraguan Government.53

I have noted that the War Department does not have ammunition for the Krag rifles but that certain factories in different places in the United States would be in position to furnish this ammunition.

Assuring you [etc.]

Alejandro César
  1. The contract was signed Feb. 25, 1927.