817.00/4781: Telegram
The Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 16—11:52 a.m.]
134. Following from Stimson:
“The civil war in Nicaragua is now definitely ended. Nearly all the Government troops and practically the entire insurgent army of Moncada have been disbanded and substantially all of their arms have been turned over to our custody. We have received thus far 6,200 rifles, 272 machine guns and 5,000,000 rounds of ammunition. There has been very little disorder and not a single American shot [Page 348] has been fired against the organized forces of either side. Among the Nicaraguans themselves bloodshed has substantially ceased since our actions of May 4th.
There also seems less danger of banditry and guerilla warfare than I at first feared. Even Cabulla, the guerilla chief of Chinandega, has notified us that he would follow the lead of Moncada and turn over his arms. The troops of both sides after giving up their arms are hastening to their homes so as to be in time for the planting of this year’s crops and the resumption of their peace time occupations. This result has been accomplished by the faith of both sides in our promise to supervise the elections of 1928 and to give both sides a free and fair election. This was well expressed by Moncada in his final conference with me on May 11th when he formally made the following statement:
‘The Liberals cannot believe that the Government of the United States through the personal representative of President Coolidge will give a promise which it will not fulfill. Once again the Liberals place their confidence in the United States. The leaders of the army will try to convince their men that this promise of fair elections will be fulfilled. The central point which the army wishes to be assured of is that the United States will do its best to give Nicaragua a fair election in 1928.’
I believe that our action meets general approval among the thinking men and women of Nicaragua irrespective of party. Evidence of this is apparent on every side. Almost the only malcontents are the extremely small group of personal associates of Sacasa, who, through their well organized press bureaus in Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the United States, have sought to convey an entirely false impression of the situation. The views of these men who have done no fighting for their cause carry little weight in Nicaragua. The fighting men of the insurgent army have taken a truer and more generous view of our action and are preparing to cooperate in the future work. In this work of conciliation and reconstruction the Diaz Government has taken an encouraging lead. Amnesty was declared even before the troops were disarmed and pledges have been given to restore the courts and the Congress to the status existing before the Chamorro coup d’état. There has also been promised the appointment of Liberal local officials in the Liberal provinces. I am bringing with me the formal request of the Government for American supervision at the 1928 election.74 I believe that the way is now open for the development of Nicaragua along the lines of peace, order and ultimate self-government.”