817.00/8618
The Acting Secretary of State to the Fortner President of Nicaragua (Sacasa)
My Dear Dr. Sacasa: The receipt is acknowledged of your letter of November 30, 1936, which was signed also by General Emiliano Chamorro and don Adolfo Diaz, in which you refer to the political situation in Nicaragua and request “the disinterested and moral cooperation on the part of the Government of the United States in favor of the Nicaraguan people”. You state specifically that the friendly influence of the United States might be exerted in order to correct certain conditions which you state have resulted from the organization of the Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua.
As has frequently been stated during the last four years, this Government considers that its relations with Nicaragua since January 2, 1933, when the marines were withdrawn, are on the same basis as those with any other American country, any special relationship having terminated. In order that there might be no misunderstanding on this score, the Government of the United States issued a public statement on January 2, in which it stated, among other things, that:
“This act of turning over the direction of the Guardia to Nicaraguan officers marks the realization of the other major commitment which the United States assumed at Tipitapa.
“The withdrawal of the American forces, therefore, follows upon the fulfillment of the above-mentioned obligations and marks the termination of the special relationship which has existed between the United States and Nicaragua.”
This Government is, of course, desirous of cooperating with all governments of the world in any legitimate way, with a view to advancing [Page 850] the interests of its people and the peoples of other countries. But the kind of action which you appear to have in mind would not, in the opinion of this Government, constitute legitimate and appropriate cooperation with the Government of Nicaragua, because it would appear to constitute interference in Nicaragua’s internal political affairs.
In view of the circumstance that no special relationship any longer exists between the United States and Nicaragua, and in view further of the announced determination of this Government to refrain from intervening in the internal affairs of other countries, a determination which has just been reiterated at the Conference now in session at Buenos Aires, I am sure you will realize upon consideration that this Government cannot give favorable consideration to the request contained in your letter under acknowledgment.
Sincerely yours,
Assistant Secretary