Office of the Historian

498. Telegram 1815 From the Embassy in Nicaragua to the Department of State1 2

Managua, October 16, 1970, 2225Z
[Page 1]

Subject:

  • Constituent Assembly Talks

Ref:

  • Managua A–135, October, 1970

1. On October 16 Conservative Party (PCT) President Fernando Aguero gave Embassy officer following resume of points which President Somoza made privately earlier this week to PCT Political Secretary Lacayo Maison re presidential succession question:

(A) Somoza does not intend to seek to extend his time in office beyond expiration present term;

(B) Shortly after Somoza’s return from upcoming trip to the United States, Liberal Party (PLN) will answer PCT’S July call for a dialogue about constitutional reform;

(C) Somoza will insist on changing the constitution through a Constituent Assembly instead of a partial reform by the Congress;

(D) Somoza will seek during the PLN-PCT dialogue guarantees (not further defined) for his personal property;

(E) Somoza believes a Constituent Assembly should be used [Page 2] to strengthen the two traditional parties but he gave no indication of what type of government he envisages coming out of a constituency.

2. Aguero said that despite Somoza’s statement about not seeking an extended term, he is still unsure of Somoza’s real intentions. Recalling that under Nicaragua’s constitution a Constituent Assembly is preceded by a period in which Congress is dissolved and all powers are with the chief executive, Aguero continued that he must obtain some guarantee against Somoza’s abusing these temporary powers to remain in office beyond 1972. Although vague about the nature of the guarantee and the likely guarantor, Aguero did mention the possibility of the diplomatic corps accredited to Nicaragua acting to “exert moral pressure” on Somoza during the critical period.

3. Comment: Somoza has not expressed any special interest in discussing the succession question with Department officials while he is in the United States, however, should the subject come up Aguero’s report plus reference airgram should provide necessary background.

White
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 12 NIC. Confidential. In Airgram A–135 from Managua, October 7, the Embassy detailed efforts by the Liberal and Conservative Parties to negotiate Somoza’s withdrawal from power and the establishment of a transition government. (Ibid.) In telegram 1938 from Managua, November 5, the Embassy described Somoza as “evasive on continuism” when asked during a press conference whether he planned to remain in office. (Ibid., POL 15–1 NIC)↩
  2. The Embassy reported that Conservative Party President Fernando Agüero had told them that President Somoza would not “seek to extend his time in office” as had been supposed.↩