The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-04-11
A Friendly Letter to President Coolidge
Mr.. President:


your special envoy, Mr. Henry L. Stimson is steam
ing toward Nicaragua to find, If he can, some way
out of the mess State Department has got us into
This newspaper and it's many readers sincerely
hope he will succeed. The more so, because of the
growing conviction that you are in the same boat
with the rest of us. That is, we are more and
more convinced that you, personally never sought
this trouble but had it wished on you by those in
trusted with foreign relations
Already Scrpps-Howard newspapers have made
an exhaustive study of the situation in Nicaragua
for their own guidance. Their representative has
spent considerable time with both sides-with the
liberal faction the east coast, as we'll as with
the conservatives at Managua. Unbiased, with no
AK to grind, and only truth to serve he reported
his observations and in them we presume to believe
can be found digned solution for us and for both
sides in the Nicaraguan war;
We respectfully suggest, therefore, the follow
ing as basis on which lasting peace can be made
in Nicaragua:
l. An immediate armistice.
z The withdrawal of both presidents-Juan B.
Sacasa of the liberals and Adolfo Diaz of the con-
serVatlVes-ln favor of temporary regime as gov
ernor preferably Ncaraguan neutraD said regime
to last until 1928, when the next election is due
3. Between now and 1928, prepare the ground
"AA AAOAiOSI
By this time it should be obvious to ALL even to
Secretary of State Kellogg that the bulk of the PEG.
pie of Nicaragua do not want President Diaz. whom
we have recognized.
His overthrow by DR.. Sacasa, regarded by most
Ncaraguans as the constitutional president of the
country, was imminent when we interviewed Yet.
despite the fact that our warships blockade both
coasts and our marines have destroyed all the mill
tary bases of the antiDiaz faction and neutralized
most of the country to Diaz's advantage the w.r
still goes on.
This would be impossible were II not that tho
people OF Nicaragua, even many Diaz soldiers are
IN sympathy with the liberals In fact for months
Ihe guns and ammunition with which the liberals
nave peen hghting were captured from the conserv
atiVes with suspiciousy little neutrality-suspicious.
"hlch our own Government sold to Diaz
we nold the lnter-oceanic canal rights across
southern Nicaragua Some day, even comparatively
soon' we INFER from your statements, we NAV start
oiggng that canal 1t is imperative even vital that
tnls greatest canal of all time the most gigantic
trlVance ever built by mortal man. this billion dol,or
ADDITION to our national defense. should NOT he
through hostile country.
Inc pest guarantee Of safety for the Nicaraguan
canal is the friendship of the Nicaraguan peonle
ncKeu' cowed and sullen population would constitute
"n 0Ner present menace.
0acasa insists that all he wants is fair election
no says ne stands ready to eliminate himself at
H1n' IL tne United States will guarantee that.
'laI meanS Dlaz must go, too; for in Nicaragua.
as is unfortunately the case in manv LATINA
countries, the side that is in mower coos - -
it wins w ~ '"''
IL is necessary, therefore, to neutralize the nous
Inc plan suggested does not mean anv backra
uo"h on our part or on Diazs part. or on sacasa,s
IL merely suggests an honorable way out of miser.
aoie business which is hurting us all and which 1,o
all regret WHICH, we
~ Is unworthy of our great country to hold tho
nanoS OF one side and put guns in the hands ~ The
o'ner mat an unwanted president of our CHOOSING
sna De saddled upon their country Yet that 10 the
position are in "' 10 INC
mere Is way out, fair to all concerned. we no.
heVe, and humiliating to none We