817.00 Woodward Electoral Mission/132: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Hanna)
77. Your 139, July 23, 4 p.m. The Department is not in a position to interpret the provisions of the electoral law and regulations and the party statutes, nor has it any authority concerning decisions of the Nicaraguan Electoral Board. Even when Admiral Woodward acts as Chairman of the American Electoral Mission it is far preferable that decisions should not be referred here for review but should be fully, frankly and sympathetically discussed by him with President Moncada and the other Nicaraguan authorities concerned.
In the present case there does not seem to be dissent by either faction to Admiral Woodward’s statement that “after making a minute and complete analysis of the facts and party laws relating to the situation I find, and so resolve, that neither of the foregoing Juntas constitutes the legal governing body of the Liberal party according to its own statutes”. (See sixth paragraph your 132, July 18, 1 p.m.). In view of Admiral Woodward’s denial of legality to either of the factions of the Liberal party, it is not clear why he selected the appointees of the electoral agency of one of the illegal factions as the body to conduct the elections. If both factions are illegal it would seem that the Electoral Commission appointed by one of them is also illegal. In view of the foregoing please request Admiral Woodward to amplify further to the Department his statement that “the Comision General Electoral organized by the March 1932 Convention at Leon was designated by me as the body charged with the duty of conducting and supervising said plebiscite because this was strictly in accordance with the laws of the party and the existing facts”. (See sixth paragraph your 136, July 22, 5 p.m.).
Ask Admiral Woodward whether he has considered the advisability of employing General Electoral Commission of February which was appointed before there was any split in the party and may therefore be acceptable to both factions.
President Moncada should be encouraged to discuss his electoral problems frankly with Woodward. If he feels he can constantly [Page 818] appeal over Woodward’s head it will make the latter’s task vastly more difficult, and as stated, the Department has not authority to pass on decisions of the Nicaraguan Electoral Board. This does not mean that the Department is not following the situation with the greatest interest and with full sympathy for all concerned, but a definite task has been assigned to Woodward and Department does not want to cause any unnecessary complications or to add to his already heavy burdens.