817.00/5677: Telegram
The Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:45 p.m.]
231. After a full discussion between the Legation and Colonel Parker, the following joint message is submitted:
Part 1. The course followed here has been in accordance with the general policies set forth in the Department’s telegrams No. 114, May 18, 5 p.m., and No. 117, May 22, 7 p.m. Message in preparation when the Department’s telegram No. 117 was received will follow as part 2 of this message. The numbered and lettered paragraphs refer to the Department’s telegram No. 117, May 22, 7 p.m.
(2) Conclusion noted; the importance of reserving complete freedom of action by the National Board of Elections has been thoroughly understood, both as regards the general course to be taken and as regards the specific questions of defining parties and regulating nominations, and the undesirability of any injection of the National Board of Elections or the Legation into questions within any party has been fully realized. In the meantime careful consideration has been given to some procedure whereby an appropriate solution by the Conservatives themselves might be brought about. The general situation within the Conservative Party is similar to what it was at the time when General McCoy departed, with such subsequent detailed developments as were reported in the following telegrams from the Legation: 202, May 5, 3 p.m.; 206, May 10, noon; 207, May 11, 5 p.m.;46 212, May 15, 5 p.m.; 214, May 16, 6 p.m.; 216, May 17, 11 a.m.; 218, May 17, 3 p.m.; 222, May 20, 5 p.m.; 223, May 20, 6 p.m.;46 225, May 22, 2 p.m.;47 the division which has long been apparent has now been formally registered by the action of the two conventions of May 20.
(a) The two factions can unite any time provided that a few leaders, including Chamorro, can be shown that union will promote their several individual purposes and interests better than division. It is impossible to foretell what their ultimate conclusions will be on this point. In part 2 of the present message there is outlined a suggested procedure directed toward convincing them that a continuance in their present course will not conduce to success in the elections, but it is quite possible that one or both factions may purpose obstruction of the electoral plans rather than a bona fide participation in a duly supervised election.
[Page 495]Paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e): It is believed that a present or future statement emphasizing the principles of the Tipitapa agreement, the party’s duties and obligations, and the Department’s wishes and expectations, would have little effect upon the conditions existing in the Conservative Party. It is believed that the only effective way to convince both factions that the election will be so conducted as to insure a majority vote for one of the candidates for President, thus eliminating the possibility that the election will be thrown into Congress, is for the National Board of Elections to make an announcement which would definitely restrict participation in the election to two parties. The present is not regarded as the opportune moment for such an announcement. If participation by a united Conservative Party can be brought about later, such an announcement would then probably be advisable.
This is the end of part 1. Part 2 follows.48