817.00/5097: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Nicaragua (Munro)
166. Your 295, October 26, 11 a.m. The matter of Estrada’s appointment was discussed with Moncada. At first he was inclined not to accept Estrada as he stated that he is working for the Conservatives and expressed fear that there might be disturbances and uprisings in the Department of Bluefields under the leadership of Sandoval. He also mentioned that many of the negroes in that province are in possession of arms and expressed fear that they would be prevailed upon by the Conservatives to start trouble and uprisings in order to thwart proper elections. He stated that he would like American Marine officers to be made Chiefs of Police in all the Departments of the Republic and that if this were done he then did not care who the jefes politicos are. He finally stated that it would be satisfactory to him if the Guardia Nacional should take over the policing of the entire country. It would then not be necessary to have Chiefs of Police in any of the Departments but the Commanding Officer of the Guardia National, under the orders of the Commander in Chief in Managua of the Guardia, would carry out the functions of the Chief of Police. Please discuss this matter with the Commanding Officer of the Guardia and see if this is feasible [Page 405] and how soon the Guardia would be in a position to assume police jurisdiction of the country and if it is feasible discuss it with President Diaz to see if he would accept. If this is done Moncada will accept Estrada as jefe politico at Bluefields.