817.00/4720: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt)
[Paraphrase]
Washington, April 25,
1927—5 p.m.
75. For Stimson: In your telegram dated April 23 you express doubt as to whether Sacasa will accept peace proposal of Diaz and you intimate that forceful disarming of the insurgents by American armed forces may be necessary. In view of this the Department desires your considered opinion on the following points: [Page 328]
- 1.
- Could the insurgents be disarmed and order restored throughout the country by such American forces as are now available in Nicaragua?
- 2.
- How long would it take to do this? Do you think that order could be fully restored by June or by December 31 of this year? Is there any likelihood that armed insurgent bands could maintain themselves and thus necessitate intermittent guerilla warfare over an indefinite period?
- 3.
- What serious resistance could the insurgents put up against an attempt to disarm them by force?
- 4.
- If a policy of forcible disarming should be decided upon by the Department, do you think that an intimation to Sacasa that his refusal to accept the peace terms of Diaz would result in such action on our part, would be effective in inducing Sacasa to accept the offer of Diaz?
Reply as soon as possible.
Kellogg