817.00/6007: Telegram
The Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:50 p.m.]
355. Several weeks ago General Moncada informed the Legation that he would be glad to enter into an agreement with the Conservatives for the supervision by the United States of the election of 1932. He realized that the Department of State could not commit itself now to such supervision but he thought that it would be desirable for both parties here to commit themselves before the outcome of the election was known. Action on his suggestion by the Legation has been delayed pending the return of the Conservative candidate.
We feel that an agreement between the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of both parties, obligating the new administration to request effective measures by the United States over the Presidential election of 1932 would do much to promote political stability here during the next 4 years. Little of permanent value will be gained by holding a free election now if the defeated party feels that future elections will be dominated by the administration and that it therefore has no hope of subsequently attaining power except by violence. It would of course have to be understood that the United States Government was not obligated to accept the invitation to exercise its supervision but the hope that we would accept when the time came would [Page 506] enable us in the meantime to exercise a powerful influence with discontented elements for the maintenance of peace. [Paraphrase.] Such an agreement would also influence the defeated party peacefully to accept the result of the election of 1928, and would lessen a rather strong possibility that there will be a deliberate obstruction of the final canvass in Congress or an armed resistance when the results are known. [End paraphrase.]
We fully realize the very serious objections to supervising another election here but we feel that if we do not do so the same conditions which have caused us so much embarrassment in the past will continue to exist and that there will be absolutely no possibility of bringing about peaceful changes of government in any other way. Now that we control the National Guard we shall more than ever be subject to well-founded criticism if we permit one party to perpetuate itself in power by dishonest elections. The situation in Nicaragua is different from that in any other Central American countries because the strength of the two parties is so nearly equal and party feeling is so bitter.
If the Department approves I will convey Moncada’s proposal to President Diaz and Adolfo Benard for their consideration. I should like to say that the Department is sympathetic toward the proposal although it cannot assume any commitment regarding the action which the next administration in the United States will take.