Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1931, Volume II

817.00/6962

The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy ( Adams )

Washington , January 28, 1931.

Dear Mr. Secretary: I have your letter of January 26 enclosing a proposed communication to the Marine Officer in chargé of the Nicaraguan National Guard.³⁴ You state that you feel some hesitancy, however, in sending such an order without asking whether I see any objection on the ground that it is wholly likely that such policy would shortly be known in Nicaragua with the result of its being taken as an indication of a determined policy to withdraw our Marine force in 1932. You ask if I have any suggestions as to the form in which I should like to see this order sent.

I do not feel that it would be disadvantageous should this proposed policy be known in Nicaragua and be interpreted as a determination to withdraw our Marine force in 1932, or perhaps more correctly, after the installation on January 1, 1933, of the Government coming into office as a result of the elections of 1932. In fact, I have already intimated as much to President Moncada in a personal letter which I addressed to him on November 24. I pointed out that the presence of our Marine forces have always necessarily created an abnormal situation and one which can not be permanent; that they have remained in Nicaragua at the request of both Nicaraguan political parties solely because of the sincere desire of this Government to assist temporarily in the solution of certain crucial and fundamental problems, and that after the elections of 1932 this country will have helped Nicaragua for five years to police its territory and to keep banditry in check. I told President Moncada that public opinion in this country will hardly support a further continuance of that situation and that the result of these controlling factors necessarily indicates that the problem of these northern provinces must be solved by that date.

Accordingly I have no suggestions to make regarding the communication enclosed in your letter under acknowledgment, as it seems to me to cover the situation.

Yours sincerely,

Henry L. Stimson

34. Neither printed.