817.00/6218

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

No. 914

Sir: With reference to my telegram No. 8 of January 4th (4 p.m.),62 I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy and an English translation [Page 647] of a note from the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in which he states that the President of Nicaragua, being desirous of laying the foundation for lasting peace in the Republic by the practice of free institutions and as the first step in a general plan aiming at the attainment of truly free elections in the future, requests that the President of the United States designate an American citizen to be appointed by the Supreme Court of Nicaragua as President of the National Board of Elections.

I have been informed by the President that, the Presidential elections of November 1928 having been completed in accordance with the Executive Decree of March 21, 1928, and General McCoy having resigned as President of the National Board of Elections, the Dodds Electoral Law of 1923 has again come into effect.

I have [etc.]

Charles C. Eberhardt
[Enclosure—Translation]

The Nicaraguan Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs (Cordero Reyes) to the American Minister (Eberhardt)

No. 64

Excellency: Under special instructions from His Excellency the President I have pleasure in informing Your Excellency that my Government being desirous of laying the foundation for peace in the Republic in a firm and stable manner, by the practice of free institutions, has arrived at an agreement with the Honorable Supreme Court of Justice, by which this High Tribunal, in the exercise of the powers which are conferred on it by the Electoral Law of March 20, 1923, will appoint a citizen of the United States of America, previously designated by His Excellency the President of the United States, as President of the National Board of Elections, in order to assure complete impartiality of this official, and as the primary part of a general plan aiming at the attainment of truly free elections in the future.

The President desires to obtain in a permanent way the valuable cooperation of the United States in the stability of the Republic in Nicaragua; and to this end, I venture to request that Your Excellency be so kind as to bring to the knowledge of the enlightened Government at Washington the aims above mentioned and to opportunely urge the designation of the American citizen to preside over the National Board of Elections.

I am also authorized to advise Your Excellency that the Government of the Republic will pay to the said President a salary of eight thousand dollars a year.

With confidence that Your Excellency’s enlightened Government will agree to continue lending us its assistance for such noble ends, I am pleased to convey to Your Excellency in advance the deep appreciation of my Government.

I avail myself [etc.]

M. Cordero Reyes
  1. Not printed.