817.00/4706a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt)
72. For Stimson and Eberhardt: According to reports from the Legation and Admiral Latimer the events of the past few days apparently justify the general conclusion that the Nicaraguan revolution, while not wholly suppressed, has ceased for the time being, at least, to be a serious menace. Perhaps it is too early to conclude that the revolution has collapsed and that Sacasa and his followers may not endeavor to repair their losses, and renew active military operations. Nevertheless, the Department is impressed by the fact that a very decided change has been brought about by the military success of the Nicaraguan Government. The Department feels that this new factor makes pertinent the following observations which are transmitted to you for your consideration.
- 1.
- The Stimson mission should not be characterized in any sense as an
act of mediation, and the Department believes you should use caution
so as not to do anything which might give the mission that
appearance. We should suppose that under the circumstances the
initiative in getting in touch with the avowed representatives of
the revolutionists ought not to be taken by you. Interviews with
such representatives should be purely informal. The Department is
inclined to think that such interviews should be of their own
seeking. The Government of the United States has never recognized
even a state of belligerency in that country. One overture looking
to a possible negotiation under the protection of the United States
the Department has deemed it wise to discourage. On April 13
Ambassador
[Page 322]
Sheffield
telegraphed the Department38 that Doctor
Zepeda, Chairman of the Nicaraguan Revolutionary Committee in
Mexico, has sent word to him indirectly expressing the wish to have
an interview with him to discuss, a prospective trip to Nicaragua in
the hope of being able to confer with Colonel Stimson. Ambassador
Sheffield stated that he understood that Zepeda wished to receive
guarantees from the Government of the United States that his person
would not be molested. Yesterday the Department instructed
Ambassador Sheffield as follows:39
“The Department does not consider that the Government of the United States can give any such guaranty as indicated and is not disposed to do so in this case even if it were possible. The Department, therefore, sees no reason why you should have an interview with Zepeda for the purpose indicated in Embassy’s 154, April 13, 1 p.m.”
- 2.
- The Department is not inclined to exert any pressure upon the Government of Nicaragua to give up any advantage it may have obtained as a result of its military operations or to sacrifice any substantial fruit of victory. However, at this juncture it would appear to be the part of statesmanship for the Government of Nicaragua to exhibit reasonable generosity toward the revolutionists, provided they should be disposed to lay down their arms and cooperate in the reestablishment of peace and order throughout the land. A proclamation of general amnesty under these conditions should be considered.
- 3.
- The Department fully realizes that the Government of the United States must participate in any permanent arrangement to be effected for the establishment of peace and order, and it is prepared to entertain reasonable proposals on this subject. An adequate number of our marines may have to be maintained in Nicaragua for a time to constitute an effective guarantee of stability if the Government of Nicaragua so requests. The Department hopes, however, that you may eventually discover a way to avoid our assuming the responsibility of supervising an election. The Department assumes that you will afford us an opportunity to deliberate on the subject here before commitments are made to any definite course of future action; but Colonel Stimson has gone to Nicaragua to study the situation, and while the Department makes these suggestions, it would be much influenced by judgments of both of you on the ground.