817.51/1896: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt)

[Paraphrase]

48. Your telegram No. 93, February 25, 10 a.m. Department has no objection to Dr. Cumberland’s discussing the principal financial [Page 527] problems covered by his report with President Diaz and other authorities. It believes, however, that while Dr. Cumberland might discuss his conclusions as hypothetical, he should take care not to make it appear that the conclusions are definite or that they have the approval of the Department of State, because the Department, for various reasons, may be unable to follow his suggestions in all particulars and may find it necessary to modify the measures which he advocates. If after President Diaz and others in Nicaragua had been allowed to expect that certain recommendations would be approved and put into effect it should later be found necessary to modify them in some important particulars, it would be embarrassing to all concerned.

Kellogg