817.00/8037
The Minister in Nicaragua (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 9.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that yesterday while I was calling at the Foreign Office, General José Maria Moncada, ex-President of the Republic, called at the Legation and left word that he should like to call on me at my residence during the course of the day. Having an appointment with the President at 12:30 P.M., and recalling the allusions which have been made regarding the coincidence of my having had luncheon with General Moncada on February 21 last, I decided not to make an appointment with General Moncada until I had advised the President of the General’s proposed call. President Sacasa, when I advised him of the foregoing, said that he supposed that it would not be possible for me to refuse to see General Moncada and that I had no alternative but to receive him.
I told the President that I felt that I should see General Moncada but that I wished to show my good faith to the President in advising him beforehand. I subsequently got in touch with General Moncada and invited him to my house where he spent the greater part of the afternoon.
After referring to the events of February 21 and to my having been accused with him as having instigated the killing of Sandino, he said that when he left my house on the afternoon of February 21, he endeavored to get in touch with don Federico Sacasa, brother of the President, to discuss some matters of business in which the two are interested. Not being able to locate don Federico, he said that he had gone for a drive in the direction of Las Piedrecitas and that he had later met the sons of don Federico at a restaurant on that road and had remained with them until about 10:30 P.M. They had heard some shots, whereupon General Moncada, so he said, had suggested that they return to Managua to investigate. Having left the Sacasa boys at their home, he proceeded to leave the city for his home in Masatepe but was stopped by a sentinel on the outskirts of Managua, who, General Moncada said, did not wish to allow him to leave without permission of the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police, according to the General, soon arrived on the scene and told him of the killing of Sandino. The General said that he told me of the above in order to show that he was not present when the killing took place. He said that he had advised General Somoza in the days immediately following the killing to be loyal to President Sacasa, as it was his duty to support the constituted authorities.
[Page 553]Referring to my visit to San Salvador and my conference there with Mr. Beaulac,63 General Moncada said he wished to know what our policy is with respect to the Guardia Nacional, and particularly with regard to possible changes therein which might be made not in accordance with the agreement of 1932. I said that as I understood our policy, it is that the Guardia is a matter entirely for Nicaragua to decide; that Nicaragua as a sovereign nation must decide her internal problems; but that our silence should not be interpreted either as approval or disapproval. (When I saw the Vice-President, Dr. Espinosa, this morning and he asked me the same question, I gave him an identical answer.)
General Moncada said that he entirely approved our policy of noninterference, and that he personally did not desire further intervention or further war in Nicaragua. Referring to the forthcoming elections, in which he frankly said that he had made an arrangement with General Chamorro for the latter’s support of General Moncada’s candidacy as Senator from Rivas, he said that when Congress re-opens on May 15, a bill introduced by the Executive and already passed by the Senate would come before the Deputies for consideration, providing that the President of the Nicaraguan Board of Elections shall be nominated by the President and not, as he said is the case now, by Congress. He said that both he and General Chamorro will fight against the passage of this bill, for it would give the Executive even greater power over the elections than is at present contemplated. He said, for instance, that although he feels that he would have an easy majority in Rivas, should he be nominated, his nomination could be prevented should the Executive decide to do so through a government-controlled Board of Elections. He said that the situation in the Nicaraguan elections is somewhat similar to our primary system in the United States. When he asked what the policy of the United States would be with regard to the elections, I replied that we felt that we should take no part therein either directly or indirectly, and should use no influence in any way in connection therewith. General Moncada said he fully understood this situation, but said that although neither he nor General Chamorro wished a conflict (he added that they were both too old and too tired for war), they intended to insist on free elections. As I recall, I commented substantially as follows:
“Even though a friend may not wish to meddle in matters which are none of his concern, there is no reason why he should not give a word of advice. I feel sure that you will understand why I cannot say any more”.
General Moncada said that was all he wished to know; that an expression from us regarding the freedom of the elections would, he felt sure, help to realize such a hope; and that this statement on my part, entirely satisfied him.
I trust that I may have correctly interpreted the Department’s policy in regard to the situation which may arise in connection with the forthcoming elections. As I indicated to the Department in the last paragraph of my despatch No. 147 of March 26, there has been at times some question in my mind as to how the “Hands Off” and “Good Neighbor” policies should or may be reconciled. I feel, and so felt at the time my despatch No. 147 was written and was consequently guided accordingly, that we should not interfere in Nicaraguan internal affairs; should we feel, however, that a word from us might serve to maintain the peace of the country and consequently avoid bloodshed and disorder, we should not refrain from assuming the responsibility of the “Good Neighbor” by expressing our views, preferably as the personal views of our diplomatic representative.
Should the Department consider it desirable, I should appreciate an expression of opinion on my interpretation of our policy.
Respectfully yours,
- The Minister, under instructions from the Department, had proceeded to San Salvador on April 26, where he had consulted for a few days with Frank P. Corrigan, the new Minister to El Salvador, and with Willard Beaulac, Assistant Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs, on temporary detail in Guatemala.↩