817.00/2679: Telegram
The Special Military Attaché at Managua ( Miller )5 to the Secretary of State
[Received September 11—10:15 a.m.]
2. Military Intelligence. My comparison of registration books with census completed in August this year under the supervision of American authorities discloses that registration lists are padded to a great extent. Population of Nicaragua approximately 640,000 and registration total approximately 140,000. In several departments registration lists contain between 28 and 33 per cent of population. Since fair registration ought not to include over 15 per cent of population it is evident that present registration lists have been enormously padded.
On the other hand Coalition Party claims that large numbers of their supporters have not been inscribed on registration lists and that many of their supporters whose names appear on lists of previous years have been stricken from current lists without cause thus disqualifying them from voting in coming elections. This charge is true. For example: list of voters for Department of Jinotega for 1920 discloses that 800 voters whose names appear in list for 1916 have been eliminated.
Present electoral law provides that no citizen can vote unless inscribed in catalogue or registration list. Government intends to allow vote only to citizens whose names appear in catalogue for current year. Coalition Party contends that fair election can be held only by repeal of present law and passage of new law allowing every citizen to vote at coming election whether he is inscribed or [Page 299] not. Coalition claim amendment of the law necessary to obviate fraud growing out of padded catalogues and elimination of Coalition supporters from catalogues of prior years. To carry their contention into effect would require special session of Congress much [which] in view of shortness of time before coming election is highly practicable [impracticable?].
I think it is possible to hold fair election under present law notwithstanding padded catalogues and elimination of Coalition voters from current catalogues by adopting following procedure: As to padded catalogues, the President should decree that each man who votes must be marked on the hand or the arm with indelible ink as soon as he has voted and that no man will be allowed to vote if he has already been marked. This will make it impossible for Government to use repeating voters now listed in election catalogues. As to Coalition voters eliminated from the current catalogues, President should decree that any citizen may vote if his name appears in any catalogue for any year from 1906 to 1920 unless it affirmatively appears on catalogue that his name has been eliminated for one of the reasons authorized by the Constitution or the election laws.
Adoption of the two suggestions outlined above ought to lay foundation for fair and representative vote. The only alternative is the adoption of suggestion of Coalition Party which will require special session of Congress. Fair election impossible unless either my foregoing suggestions or the suggestion of Coalition is adopted.
Government proposes to hold election of election boards for various voting precincts on September 19th. Under Government’s proposed plan election boards thus elected will be composed of five members all of same party. If present plan is carried into effect it will undoubtedly result in election boards composed entirely of representatives of Conservative Party. Coalition will therefore have no representation on any election board. This of course will render fair election impossible. It is, however, possible under present law to appoint election boards instead of electing them in the manner now proposed by the Government. I think election boards should be composed of three Conservative and two Coalition members designated by respective parties. Fair election impossible, unofficially informed that election boards are appointed as indicated above [sic].
In view of urgency of these matters and short time remaining in which my suggestions can be put into effect request an immediate reply indicating approval or disapproval of my suggestions. If suggestions are approved request authority to make urgent representation to the President that same be put into effect.
- Assigned to observe the course of the Nicaraguan elections.↩