817.00/4935a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt)
109. Department’s telegram number 106, dated July 7, 1 p.m., and Legation’s number 166, dated July 2, 3 p.m. To the end that you may clearly understand Colonel Stimson’s views, he wishes to point out that there is no commitment to Moncada to give him more than the jefes politicos in the six Liberal departments. On the other hand there is a definite commitment to hold free and fair elections in 1928, and Colonel Stimson feels that if the Diaz government should control the internal revenue collections in all the departments, free and fair elections would be impossible.
The Department is now at work on a plan following the lines suggested by Señor Guzman14 to Colonel Stimson, which, it is hoped, will adequately solve all difficulties on this point, and when it has reached the stage where there is something more definite to discuss, the Department of course will take up the matter with both factions. Meanwhile the Department is disposed to let the matter of the internal tax collectors in the Liberal departments remain in abeyance. Whether this will be possible or not will depend to a large extent upon the attitude which the Diaz government will take toward the elections in the Liberal departments on September 4. When Colonel Stimson left Nicaragua it was understood that the Conservatives would not contest the elections [Page 403] in the Liberal departments. If this is the case, it would be possible to allow the matter of internal tax collectors to remain in abeyance for the time being. Otherwise, the Department must consider the question whether it should not insist that these offices be handed over to the Liberals. Telegraph Department Conservative attitude toward the forthcoming September elections, and whether or not the Conservatives will present candidates.
- Nicaraguan Minister of Finance.↩