817.00/7560: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Hanna)
100. Your 184, October 3, 4 p.m. Please say to General Chamorro that this question is of course an internal one and depends for its final answer on the decision of the Conservative Party itself. However, [Page 827] since General Chamorro has consulted you in the matter and desires an expression of the Department’s views, we have no hesitation in saying that we are unwilling to believe that the Conservative Party sets so little store on the well being and enduring interests of Nicaragua that it would seriously contemplate abstaining from the presidential elections. On April 22, 1927, in the preliminary negotiations leading up to the Tipitapa conferences, Adolfo Diaz, who was at that time President of Nicaragua and head of the Conservative Party, proposed peace terms to the revolutionists, among his proposals being “supervision of the 1928 and subsequent elections by Americans”. Prior to the 1928 elections the candidates of the two historic parties, General Moncada for the Liberals and Señor Adolfo Benard for the Conservatives, agreed by an exchange of letters that the one who was successful would request the supervision of the next presidential elections in 1932 by the United States. In accepting the proposal made by General Moncada Señor Benard stated: “That peace which we all, as good Nicaraguans, should endeavor to obtain, will necessarily come as the logical result of a free and honest election in which each citizen may cast his vote, without restriction, for the candidate whom his sympathies favor.”
The United States Government, acquiescing in the request of the Government of Nicaragua and the two historic parties of that country, supervised the presidential elections of 1928 and the congressional elections of 1930. President Moncada, in pursuance of the agreement reached with the Conservatives in 1928, reiterated his request for the cooperation of the United States in the 1932 presidential elections. Again acquiescing in the wishes of the Nicaraguan Government and the political parties, the President of the United States designated Admiral Woodward to be appointed by the Supreme Court of Nicaragua as Chairman of the Nicaraguan National Board of Elections. Admiral Woodward made a temporary visit to Nicaragua in January, 1932, in order to pay his respects to the President of Nicaragua and to establish contact with the leaders of the political parties. At that time, the Department understands, he was assured of the support of the Conservative leaders as well as those of the Liberal Party in his efforts to give Nicaragua a free and fair election. Subsequent to that date active plans have been carried forward for the fulfillment by the United States of the obligation it assumed, on the request, be it repeated, of the Nicaraguan Government and the Nicaraguan political parties, to supervise the presidential elections this autumn. Admiral Woodward has returned to Nicaragua, has taken the oath of office before the Supreme Court as Chairman of the National Board of Elections, the necessary [Page 828] election personnel has been dispatched to Nicaragua and has dispersed to the various election posts. The amendments to the electoral law have been voted by the Nicaraguan Congress and the electoral law has been placed in effect. Registrations have recently been held successfully throughout the country, and the elections are but 30 days in the future. At the specific request of the leaders of the Conservative Party Admiral Woodward has made every effort to see that adequate guarantees as to freedom of suffrage are established for the forthcoming election and the Department understands that the Conservative leaders have expressed themselves as fully satisfied with the measures taken to this end.
Now, for the first time, following all the aforesaid measures extending over a period of years, there comes the intimation that the Conservative leaders are considering abstaining from the elections this fall. Any such course of action, on the part of either party, would undoubtedly wreck the admirable progress which has been achieved in Nicaragua through the holding of fair and free elections in 1928 and 1930, and would unquestionably seriously prejudice the hopes of peace and stability for the future of Nicaragua. Failure on the part of either party to participate in the elections would mean the election of a congress not truly representative of the people of the country, and the political party which by its decision not to participate had brought about this situation, would make itself responsible for whatever dissatisfaction and unrest might ensue. One of the major purposes of holding free and fair elections in Nicaragua has been to ensure the formation of an orderly and workable representation of the minority party so that the principles of republican institutions might be strengthened and safeguarded. Abstention from the elections by either party would defeat this purpose. Furthermore, plans have been made, in connection with which the leaders of the Conservative Party have been consulted, for the orderly turnover to Nicaraguan control of the Guardia Nacional and the establishment of the Guardia on a firm, non-partisan basis for the future. The cooperation of the Conservative Party through participation in the elections is a prerequisite to the successful carrying out of these plans.
The Department is convinced that upon thoughtful consideration of the commitments assumed by the Conservative Party and of the responsibilities resting upon the Party, the leaders of that Party will not seek to evade such responsibilities or lose sight of the broad and far-reaching principles involved, which affect the future well-being and orderly development of Nicaragua.