715.1715/425: Telegram

The Chargé in Nicaragua (Sumner) to the Secretary of State

28. My telegram No. 27, February 3, 6 p.m. President Moncada held a long conference with most of the Liberal deputies and senators yesterday afternoon. I am reliably informed that the President sought to impress on the confreres the advantages which Nicaragua will gain from ratification of the boundary protocol and the importance which he attaches thereto, but I understand that a number of the confreres were not convinced.

In view of the criticism which delay in presenting the protocol has provoked and in view of the fact that the text has now been made public in Honduras the Nicaraguan Government felt that it would be unwise to delay any longer in sending the protocol to Congress. The protocol was accordingly submitted to Congress this morning. [Page 794] It is the hope of the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the protocol will remain in committee for a time during which further efforts will be made to line up the recalcitrant members of the Liberal Party.

Criticism of the pact continues in the newspapers and La Prensa the Conservative organ which has hitherto confined itself to printing signed articles and letters against the protocol has now come out with a bitter attack on the government for its delay in making public the text of the agreement.

The final outcome seems to depend principally on President Moncada’s ability to hold his party in line. As the Department knows he has many enemies in his own party and it may be that some of them will make use of the protocol in such a way as to embarrass him. However, if he puts forth his best efforts as I am assured he is doing he should be able to secure ratification.

Repeated to Tegucigalpa.

Sumner