515. Telegram 966 From the Embassy in Nicaragua to the Department of State1 2
Subj:
- National Governing Council Takes Office
1. Summary: The mantle of presidential power passed peacefully from President Somoza to the National Governing Council on May 1. Although a spirit of bipartisan cooperation prevailed, Aguero did take advantage of the occasion to assert his independence and act more like an opposition figure. His mildly provocative performance contrasted noticeably with that of the two Liberal members and was generally well received. The launching of the Council left the impression that the interim government may be more lively and interesting than anticipated. End summary.
2. The three member National Governing Council (Junta Nacional de Govierno) officially took office as the chief of state and executive authority of the GON at 11:30 hours May 1. The transmission of power took place during a special session of the Constituent Assembly in the Ruben Dario National Theatre. It was effected by outgoing President Somoza surrendering the “presidential sash” to the [Page 2] Assembly President Cornelio Hueck who then administered the oath of office to incoming Junta members Martinez and Lovo and placed special “sashes” on each of them.
3. The ceremony was peaceful and dignified, though an almost three hour delay in starting caused it to last for five hours. It was attended by members of the Assembly, Supreme Court, Electoral Tribunal and other local dignitaries as well Special Missions from the Central American countries and Panama, the Papal Nuncio and Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions. The Archbishop and other local church hierarchy boycotted the event. However one bishop, Chavez Nunez, who supports the Somoza government and the Liberal-Conservative pact, did attend to bestow the traditional blessing of God and deliver a rebuke to his absent clerical colleagues.
4. The cermony featured a farewell address by Somoza and inaugural speeches by the three Junta members. In his speech Somoza enumerated the many achievements of his administration (roads, health centers, schools and silos constructed and electricity extended). He cited the goals set forth in the 1967 Declaration of American Presidents at Punta del Este and gave examples of the progress his administration had made toward achieving each of them. With considerable pride he proclaimed that “during my government constitutional guarantees have never been suspended”. Martinez led off for the Junta (note: the members are of equal rank but they have been arranged in following order: Martinez first, Aguero second and Lovo third). Martinez’ brief remarks were primarily statements of praise for the “brilliant” administration of President Somoza who had “complied with capability in all that he had promised” and expressions of admiration for the Somoza family. Martinez said he hoped the Junta could equal Somoza’s admirable record. Aguero followed with an overly long (35 minutes) but nevertheless well thought out address which he delivered with his usual polish and oratorical skill. Aguero began with praise for the political pact and recognition of Somoza’s statesmanlike more partisan stance as he described some of the more serious problems facing the nation (poverty, illiteracy, lot [Page 3] of the campesino and working man) and outlined programs for dealing with them. He also called for basic change in the social, economic and political structures of the country, criticized the attitude of the church in opposing the pact and strongly denounced communism and other alien ideologies. Picking up for the Liberals, Lovo Cordero tried to respond to Aguero by saying that Aguero “talked like a Liberal” but Lovo did not possess the eloquence to make an effective retort. He then read his prepared text which was rather dull and uninspiring. Throughout the speeches any mention of the Somozas brought heavy applause from the friendly audience.
5. Press reaction to the inaugural followed predictable partisan lines. Government supporting Novedades printed the written text of all speeches, and emphasized Aguero’s reference to Somoza as a statesman. It omitted some of Aguero’s more pointed remarks, which were departures from his text, but printed Lovo’s off-the-cuff response to Aguero. Opposition La Prensa, giving vent to editor Chamorro’s hatred of Aguero, played heavily on Lovo’s improvised reply to Aguero. Noting that Somoza spoke to Lovo before he went to the podium, La Prensa asserted that Lovo, under orders from Somoza, had forcefully “put Aguero down” and had “baptized” him a Liberal. Initial public reaction indicates that Aguero’s self-assertive performance was generally well received, particularly among Conservatives who had been concerned over the party’s collaboration with Somoza. At the post-inaugural reception for over three thousand local and foreign dignitaries, Embassy officers heard many favorable comments on Aguero’s independent stance, particularly as contrasted with the generally unimpressive performances of Martinez and Lovo.
6. The Junta’s first official act was to swear in Dr. Cornelio Hueck as its Executive Secretary with authority to act in good faith in the name of the Junta. Its second act was to swear in General Anastasio Somoza Debayle as the Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces (Jefe Supremo de las Fuerzas Armadas). Although the constitution grants this power to the President, the Assembly in creating the Junta provided that the Junta would designate [Page 4] someone to hold this position during the period of the Junta.
[Page 5]7. Comment: It is worthwhile to note that the mantle of presidential office passed peacefully in an atmosphere of bipartisan cooperation. Aguero clearly emerged as one intent on playing the role of chief of state with definite ideas of trying to guide the government from his Junta position. He appears to have scored some points and improved his opposition image, particularly with members of his own party. If he continues in this vein, the interim arrangement will be subject to strains and stresses and may turn out to be more lively and interesting than anticipated. The bishops’ boycott makes it clear that their recent pastoral letter (Managua A–31) was directed at the government and the pact and it further aggravates the division between the church and the government which has emerged in recent months.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 NIC. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa, San Salvador, San José, USCINCSO, and USCINCSO for POLAD.↩
- The Embassy reported that Somoza had officially resigned as President and handed over authority to the three member National Governing Council, which was elected on February 6. Somoza was to remain as the Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces.↩