817.00/3163: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Nicaragua (Thurston)
117. Your 201, October 1, 8 a.m. You will please address the following note to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in reply to his quoted in your telegram under reference:
“I am instructed by my Government to inform Your Excellency that it has learned with surprise that the Nicaraguan Government having requested American Marines to observe the conduct of the elections, has now declined to have them sent unless they go in civilian clothes. Your Excellency will understand that it is impossible for members of the Legation Guard to undertake the work originally requested by the President except in uniform. This is obvious for many reasons not the least of which is the protection of the men themselves. Should the Marines not be in uniform it is highly possible that despite the greatest good will and best intentions of the Nicaraguan Government, their identity might not be clear to the local officials and regrettable incidents might occur. My Government therefore will not permit the use of the Marines in the manner requested by President Martinez unless they are in uniform.
In communicating the decision of my Government to you I am instructed to state that the desire of my Government throughout has been to lend its advice, assistance and cooperation to the Nicaraguan Government merely with a view to promote peace, order and constitutional government in the Republic. In informing the Nicaraguan [Page 501] Government of the Department’s intention to withdraw the Legation Guard on January 1, next, the Legation stated, under instructions from the Department of State, that the United States Government had been gratified by the steps already taken to assure freedom and fairness in the approaching elections, the foremost of which was the enactment of the electoral law. My Government hoped that should this step be followed by such effective measures during the electoral period as would insure a free expression of the will of the people all parties would willingly accept the Government resulting from the elections as the constitutional government in Nicaragua with the support of the people of Nicaragua. Such a condition would permit the withdrawal of the American Marines upon the inauguration of that Government without danger to the peace and internal order of Nicaragua.
It was purely in order to help the Nicaraguan Government in this most important measure that after the desire of the Nicaraguan Government for free and fair elections had been shown by inviting Mr. Dodds to draw up the electoral law and enacting it that the Department gave its subsequent advice and counsel for the carrying out of the necessary supplemental measures to this end. Accordingly my Government suggested that the Nicaraguan Government consider the advisability of asking Mr. Dodds to go to Nicaragua to assist in the installation of this new electoral system which was unfamiliar alike to the officials charged with its enforcement as to the Nicaraguan, electorate which will exercise its rights according to its provisions. Mr. Dodds was invited to help during the period of registration and his assistance at that time proved to be invaluable. The Government of the United States therefore suggested that the Nicaraguan Government consider the desirability of inviting Mr. Dodds to carry this work to its logical conclusion by assisting during the actual electoral period. The Nicaraguan Government after it first apparently arrived at the same conclusion decided not to act upon this suggestion. On further consideration, however, your Government requested me to permit members of the Legation Guard to help in the carrying out of the electoral law by verifying electoral documents and counting the ballots. As I had the honor to inform you at the time my Government stated that it could not permit members of the Legation Guard to take any participation in the conduct of the elections but would be willing to permit them to go to places in the Republic chosen by me merely for observation. My Government has felt that the elections should be conducted wholly by the Nicaraguan Government or by such technical experts as it might care to contract for.
It is thus abundantly clear that the attitude of the United States Government throughout has been to give its advice and counsel, and assistance if so requested, on behalf of peace, order and constitutional government and its advice was always with a view to help Nicaragua to conduct the elections in such a manner that the authority of the Government resulting therefrom will not be disputed by any serious elements in Nicaragua and that the new Government of Nicaragua can consistently be recognized by the Government of the United States as the constitutional government of Nicaragua. My Government although it feels that it has fulfilled to the utmost its obligation to Nicaragua as a friendly sister republic in giving [Page 502] the counsel above outlined is nevertheless ready to give any further proper assistance and advice but it regrets that it cannot for the reasons given accede to the present request of the Nicaraguan Government that American Marines be used in civilian dress in the manner indicated.
The responsibility now therefore rests entirely with the Nicaraguan Government.”