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  4. Document 708

817.1051/245: Telegram

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

[Paraphrase]
Managua , January 31, 1929—2 p.m.
[Received 8 p.m.]

34. Complying with request contained in your 16, January 28, noon, I have the following to report:

Congress is now (today) in its 40th session with 5 more regular and 15 extraordinary to follow.

[Page 613]

My personal opinions with regard to the Department’s questions are:

(1)
Congress is primarily responsible for the amendments.
(2)
If I should hand to President Moncada in the form of a strong note the Department’s decision that it cannot accept the amendments, preferably in the presence of both Sellers and Feland49 early next week, the agreement should pass unamended. This is concurred in by the best informed Nicaraguans and Americans here.
(3)
It appears very probable that the existing agreement will be continued in force as heretofore should Congress adjourn without taking final action, but Vice President Aguado has informed me confidentially that he is certain that it will not reach that stage.

The people of Nicaragua are seemingly unanimously in favor of the guardia under American officers. Many political leaders of both parties are opposed to a strong constabulary and would defeat it if by doing so they could throw the blame on their opponents. For a time this appeared to be Moncada’s own attitude, but my insistence that the bill be passed unamended appears to have had its effect, and it is believed that he can and will effect this. Moncada’s statement that the Conservative majority would prevent him from carrying out our wishes is hardly to be taken too seriously. Some weeks ago he told me that even with this majority he felt that he could always find a way to win over the required votes from the Conservatives if this became necessary. This morning he stated that it seemed best to let Congress discuss the guardia bill for a few more days at the end of which he felt he could secure the passage of the bill unamended.

Eberhardt
  1. Rear Admiral David Foote Sellers, U. S. N., Commander of the Special Service Squadron; Brigadier General Logan Feland, U. S. M. C, Commander of the Second Brigade.↩