817.1051/467
The Minister in Nicaragua (Hanna) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23.]
Sir: Supplementing my despatch No. 268 of December 13, 1930, concerning the reduction being made in the strength and cost of the Guardia Nacional, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of General McDougal’s reply36 to President Moncada’s letter of December 10, 1930, a copy of which latter letter was transmitted with my despatch under reference.
General McDougal’s letter submits his plan for carrying into effect the reduction in the strength of the Guardia to 160 officers and 1650 enlisted men as contemplated in the recent exchange of correspondence between the Secretary of State and President Moncada. It will be noted that the Guardia serving in the four bandit infested Departments is to be maintained at a strength of 1000 men and that, to effect [Page 693] a reduction to a total of 1650 enlisted, the strength of the Guardia serving in the remaining nine provinces of the Republic must be reduced to 366 men (the remaining 284 men to make up the total of 1650 are comprised in the Headquarters, prison guard, band, presidential guard and other like miscellaneous services).
It should not be overlooked that General McDougal has not expressed any opinion in his letter concerning the places where the reduction is to be made but has, on the contrary, requested the President to indicate the stations he desires to have abandoned and the number of men he desires to remain at the stations not abandoned so that the total serving in those stations will not exceed 366. In this same connection, General McDougal also makes special mention of President Moncada’s statement that “it is of great importance that this reduction be made as conditions permit”, and General McDougal states that he will be guided by the President’s instructions as to the places where and the date on which the reduction is to take place. I understand that it is General McDougal’s desire to avoid all responsibility for decisions of this nature in connection with the reduction.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩