817.011/52: Telegram
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Beaulac) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:21 p.m.]
21. Doctor Carlos Morales, a Liberal member of the Supreme Court, and Doctor Horacio Argüello Bolaños, a Conservative Deputy and member of the National Board of Elections, left by plane today for Washington to discuss with the Department President Moncada’s plan to amend the Constitution. They are going as representatives both of President Moncada and their respective parties. President Moncada told me in conversation last week that the Department had informed Doctor Sacasa by note that he [it?] would not object to the Constitution’s being amended if the political parties agreed.
Doctors Morales and Arguello have been authorized to make the trip by the national and legal boards of their respective parties. The President obtained the authority of a majority of the Liberal board only after much effort and persuasion. Prominent leaders in the Liberal Party have privately expressed their opposition to the mission and their opinion that it represents a continuation of the President’s effort to extend his term of office. It is understood that the Liberal Grand Convention which was in session in Leon last week will issue a statement in the sense that the mission does not represent the party since the national board has no authority to handle such matters (see article 7 page 2 enclosure number 1 despatch No. 617, January 7, 1932).9
Both General Chamorro and Adolfo Diaz representing the Conservative Party have told me that the reform of the Constitution is a matter of indifference to them and that in sending Doctor Arguello they are merely complying with President Moncada’s wishes. The Conservative Party is apparently impelled by two desires in the matter, first, a possible political alliance with President Moncada whose control of the funds of the Liberal Party gives him great power, and second, a desire to increase the dissension within the Liberal Party, a majority of whom appear to be opposed to the mission. I have seen the instructions of the Liberal delegate. At first glance the reforms suggested appear to be inoffensive. The important point of how the reforms are to be completed this year is not touched upon. President Moncada and the two delegates have expressed to me their belief that a Constituent Assembly meeting this year may complete the reform of the Constitution initiated during the de facto Chamorro regime. The opinion of leading Conservatives 2 years ago when the reform [Page 771] of the Constitution was prepared was directly opposed to this thesis (see Legation’s correspondence during that period).
President Moncada has not chosen to discuss this mission with me at length. He did tell me, however, that he had written you a letter lately concerning it. I would appreciate receiving a copy of the letter and of the note which it is alleged the Department sent Doctor Sacasa concerning a reform of the Constitution.
- Not printed.↩