817.00/8407
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Chargé d’Affaires of Nicaragua64 came in to see me. He frankly stated that he was in a very difficult situation on account of certain exigencies, in the nature of a political crisis, which exist in his country just now in connection with the forthcoming presidential election there. He undertook to get before me what appeared to be a memorandum or translation of a despatch from his Government, setting out the danger of a revolution or of a collapse of the Government on account of the candidacy of Somoza, Commander of the Nicaragua National Guard and a nephew of the present President, Mr. Sacasa. The despatch then suggested that I be requested to say anything possible relative to their political affairs in Nicaragua that might be calculated to aid in avoiding a revolutionary outbreak or an uprising accompanied by force in connection with the coming election.
[Page 820]I promptly replied that there was not a single word I could say about the domestic affairs of Nicaragua, either pro or con; that the attitude of the twenty-one American nations towards each other, I felt sure, was a hope and a prayer for the good welfare of each and for the fullest measure of success for the people in each country.
The Chargé then sought to ask me a somewhat similar question for his personal information or guidance, and to this I made a similar negative reply, accompanied by expressions of warm personal friendship and a disposition to be of all possible service in any other way. He finally inquired as to what would be the policy of the United States on recognition in case the election should go off in a way as to raise the question of recognition or of non-recognition. I again said that I regretted exceedingly there was nothing I could say on this subject at this particular lime, for the reasons already advanced.
The Chargé at the conclusion said that he fully understood and appreciated the position of this Government as set forth in my statements. I repeated that all of our twenty-one nations had been steadily preaching the doctrine of non-interference with the domestic affairs of each other and naught could be said or done that would lend color to the opposing view.
- Henri De Bayle.↩