817.011/47
The Secretary of State to the Nicaraguan Minister ( Sacasa )
My Dear Mr. Minister: With reference to your conversation with me on September 24, in which you asked my opinion regarding the electing of a Constituent Assembly to revise the Constitution of Nicaragua in a number of important matters before the Marines finally evacuate Nicaragua,2 I have been thinking this matter over since and my views are as follows:
- (1)
- I feel there should be no attempt made to amend the Constitution unless public opinion in Nicaragua is decidedly in favor thereof and the two major political parties are also in agreement. I do not think that steps should be taken to amend the Constitution merely by the party now in office.
- (2)
- The Constituent Assembly, if it is decided to hold one, should be chosen at elections supervised by the United States Marines3 in order to give confidence to the people of the country in the fairness of the election.
- (3)
- It would be far too costly to hold two supervised elections within a year, and this Government would not be prepared to participate in more than one. Therefore, if the Constituent Assembly is to be elected, I feel that the election should be held in November, 1932, at the same time that elections for the President and the new Congress will take place.
There are, of course, a number of details in the arrangement which will have to be worked out by constitutional lawyers in Nicaragua, such as the date when the Constituent Assembly will meet and whether the Constituent Assembly and the Congress can be in session at the same time, et cetera.
The other matter which you brought up at the same time, regarding a moratorium for one year on the sinking fund provision of the [Page 767] foreign debt of Nicaragua and the interest still being paid, is receiving very careful consideration in the Department, and I shall communicate with you later regarding it.
I am, my dear Señor Sacasa,
Very sincerely yours,