Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-11
The Nicaraeuan Message.

The Nicaraguan Message.
President Coolidge has laid before
Congress in a plain statement the
situation with regard to Nicaragua,
and incidentally as to Mexico, in Il
manner calculated to check the criti-
cism that has been voiced recently
regarding the attitude and policy of
the United States toward the Central
american republic. He shows that
under our treaty agreements and in
conf0rmi'' with our established pol
Icy we are endeavoring to pre-
serve the existing status in Mic
aragua in order to prevent encroach-
nents upon American rights. He
shows further that there is evidence
that Mexico is engaged in an effort
70 disturb that status. there being
grounds for believing that munitions
have been sent into Nicaragua by the
Mexican government. or with its
knowledge and consent, for the use
of the revolutionists there
The situation in Nicaragua is com.
plicated. A rapid succession of
changes having occurred there in the
organization of the government, 1t is
not easy for those who do not closely
follow the sequence of events and
are not familiar with the conditions
10 determine where lie the rights of
the case. Whether Diaz or Sacasa
is the legitimate holder of the title
of president Is not for this country
to decide definitely, as umpire, for
the question has not been referred
to this Government in that capacity
But the administration must take
the situation as it finds it and de-
-termine, for its own guidance, which
with the cloak of authority We
cannot recognize two governments
at once. We must elect. And the
State Department has decided that
the Diaz rule has the authority of
Eicaraguan law and at the request of
that government an American naval
force has been dispatched and
marines have been landed and other
measures have been adopted to pre-
vent the destruction Of that au-
thority.
II Mexico has been itself interven-
ing in Nicaraguan affairs, by the
sending of arms and munitions to
the aid of the revolutionary party, it
is doing so secretly. What the
United States is doing is openly done,
with no concealment. The purpose
of this Government is plain-to pro-
tect the rights of its nationals. and
it's own rights under existing treaty
respecting the possible construction
of an interoceanic canal across Mic
araguan territory The purpose Of
Mexico, if it is, in fact, abetting the
revolution in Nicaragua, is only to
be surmised. For Mexico has no
such ground for action in the Central
American state as the United States
has. 1t has no rights that are in
jeopardy. 1t has no Justification for
endeavoring to supplant the estab-
lished order with another that is un-
friendly to the United States.
The Presidents statement Of the
case precedes the appearance before
the Senate foreign relations commit
tee of Secretary Kellogg, who ac-
copied an invitation to explain the
situation in full for the benefit of
that committee. Details Of the sit
uation not included in the Presidents
summary will doubtless be forthcom-
ing from the head of the State De-
partment. Already a change in the
tone of comment upon the admins
tration's course is observed. in con-
sequence of the message of yester-
day, which SO definitely stated the
basis of the American policy and
course in Nicaragua. 1t is to be as
sumed that President Coolidge is not
seeking to thrust this country into a
quarrel. There is no jingoism in his
course. There is no challenge to any
other power. If the implied charge
that Mexico is acting in an unfriend-
ly manner is resented it must be spe-
ciflcally refuted. Until disproved 1t
will be accepted by the American
people.