817.00/2674: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Jefferson)
39. Your 33, August 23, 3 p.m.
Press reports that disturbances similar to the one which you report took place in Managua incident to the registration of voters in that city have taken place generally throughout the Republic; that thousands have been unable to register and that intimidation and violence have been resorted to by the governmental authorities. You are therefore instructed to deliver the following statement verbally to President Chamorro:
“The Department of State has received with the deepest concern reports showing that disturbances have arisen throughout Nicaragua incident to the registration of voters. Information has reached the Department that very many voters have been deprived of the right to register, and it appears that several persons have been killed in the disturbances which have ensued. Furthermore, the Department has been advised that certain political leaders have been arrested and imprisoned by the Government authorities.
While the Department does not presume to form any judgment as to the reasons for the disturbances which arose, it cannot but view with the gravest apprehension the imprisonment of the leaders of one of the political parties. The Department recently had occasion to make its position very plain by stating publicly that the Government of the United States favored no candidate in the coming elections in Nicaragua, and that its only interest, because of the close relations which exist between Nicaragua and the United States, was that the election should be conducted in such a way that every qualified voter in Nicaragua should be enabled to register with complete liberty and to express freely his opinion in the subsequent elections. The action taken by the Government in arresting and imprisoning the leaders of one of the political parties is bound to produce the most unfortunate impression upon the people of the United States.
The Department of State trusts that the reports which have reached it regarding alleged acts of violence on the part of the governmental authorities during the registration period are incorrect or have been exaggerated. It hopes that the Government of Nicaragua will realize that elections cannot be held in such a manner as to permit a candidate for the Presidency to be chosen by the full and [Page 298] free expression of public opinion if acts of intimidation are now undertaken by the authorities under the control of the Government. It therefore feels confident that the Government of Nicaragua will take steps immediately to dispel the impression created by the arrest of these political leaders and will take no further action which will cause this Government to feel that the people of Nicaragua will not be able to vote freely, without constraint or hindrance of any kind, in the coming elections.”
If this does not produce desired result you may publish above statement.