817.00/5451
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Munro) to
the Secretary of State
Managua, January 27,
1928.
[Received March 7.]
No. 601
Sir: With reference to my telegram No. 39 of
January 21, 3 P.M.,85 I
have the honor to inform the Department that Admiral Sellers, during his
recent visit to Managua, asked my opinion regarding the advisability of
making a final effort to persuade Sandino and his followers to lay down
their arms before the extensive military operations which are now
contemplated should be carried into effect. I considered the idea an
excellent one, not so much because there appeared
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to be any probability that Sandino would
accept any proposal for his surrender as because the moral position of
the United States Government in the matter would be stronger if it could
be shown that every effort for a peaceful settlement had been made
before measures were undertaken which seemed likely to result in the
extermination of a part at least of Sandino’s forces. I understand that
General Lejeune and General Feland were of the same opinion.
There is transmitted herewith a copy of the letter which was sent in
English, with a Spanish translation, to Sandino. The letter was composed
by Admiral Sellers and a Spanish translation was prepared under his
direction.
In order to reach Sandino a Nicaraguan named Lobo from Jinotega, who had
been imprisoned here for some weeks on suspicion of connection with the
Sandino movement was released upon his promise to see that the letter
reached its destination. Two additional copies were dropped from
airplanes upon outlaw bands near Chipote. No reply has thus far been
received.
I may say that several efforts to impress upon Sandino the desirability
of surrendering have been made by the marine command during the past few
months and they have in each case met with a defiant and usually a very
insulting answer. Despite the probability that the present attempt will
be received in the same manner, I believe that there will be a decided
advantage in having on record a letter to Sandino couched in
conciliatory terms showing clearly that the United States Government did
not take final action against him until it had exhausted every means of
a peaceful settlement.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The Commander of the U. S. Special Service
Squadron (Sellers) to General
Sandino88
Sir: As you are aware, the United States
government, in accordance with the so-called “Stimson Agreement,”
signed in May last,89 has undertaken to
protect the lives and property of both American and foreign citizens
and to preserve order in Nicaragua pending the regular presidential
election to be held in November next.
During the past few months the task assigned to the United States
forces stationed in Nicaragua has been much hampered in the Province
of Nueva Segovia by the hostile activities of a certain portion of
the population under your leadership.
This refusal of yourself and your colleagues to accept, or abide by,
the provisions of the Stimson Agreement, taken in conjunction with
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the unlawful
operations of your men, has resulted in causing a considerable
amount of blood to be shed unnecessarily and has created a situation
in the province that is intolerable.
Fully realising the solemn obligation to preserve order in Nicaragua
that the United States assumed in disarming the population, the
forces under my command have recently been very largely augmented
with men and munitions and it is our intention to utilize fully all
of the vast resources that our government has placed at our
disposal.
It is needless for me to assure you that our sole object in view is
to restore order in Nueva Segovia and bring about such conditions as
will enable all peaceful, law-abiding citizens of Nicaragua to live
with their families and property in that measure of security that
they have a right to expect.
It is equally superfluous for me to point out that the energetic and
intensive campaign that our forces are shortly to inaugurate can
have but one final result.
The unnecessary sacrifice of human lives is a very serious matter and
it has occurred to me that, while heretofore you have refused, in
the light of subsequent events you might now be willing to consider
the advisability of discontinuing the present armed resistance to
the United States forces and that you might be willing to follow the
example of your countrymen of both political parties who in May last
agreed to settle their differences in a high-minded and patriotic
manner without further bloodshed.
Carrying out the policy of my government to restore order as
expeditiously as possible, I do not feel justified at this time in
halting any of the preparations that are now going forward
energetically, unless you see fit to notify me immediately and in
writing that you are willing to discuss ways and means for an
acceptance by you and your colleagues of the Stimson Agreement.
I shall be glad to receive any communication that you may care to
send me, addressed in care of the United States Legation,
Managua.
Very truly yours,
D. F. Sellers
Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy
