Evening star., 1927-05-06
Moncada, After Interview
With Stimson, Asserts He
viii Lay Down Arms.
''USELESS TO FIGHT
AMERICA" He SAYS
All Forces to Be Disarmed Pending
Elections-General Amnesty
Is Declared.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, May g.
After months of fighting between the
Liberal and Conservative factions, the
civil war in Nicaragua appeared to-
day to be at an end.
While no definite peace settlement
had been reached. Gen. Moncada, Lib
eral, announced he was ready to lay
down his arms. His decision fol.
lowed an interview yesterday with
Henry l.. Stimson, personal repre-.
sentative Of President Coolidge. Gen.
Moncada said it seemed certain that
the United States was prepared to
take the field against the Liberals if
fighting continued and that therefore
he was prepared to order his troops
to lay down their arms.
Fears Fight With u. s.
The Liberals, Gen. Moncada de-
clared, refused to sign or consider
peace agreements containing the pro-
vision that Adolfo Diaz (Conserva-
tive) continue as president, but that
since it was established the United
States would force disarmament of
lli6 11ACIAt lIS was pIGpILGu III CdN4SC
them to lay down their arms as it
was useless to attempt to fight the
United States.
Moncada prepared a proclamation
requesting the Liberals to hand in
their arms and return to their
homes.
Conservative troops, by order of
Diaz, left for Tipitapa from the Boaco
region, to turn in their arms to the
United States Marines.
The Marines took up positions be-
tween the Conservative and Liberal
lines to receive the guns of both
armies. This was done at the request
of the Diaz government so that pro-
posed elections might be unhampered
by disorders. After certain period
all persons bearing arms are to be de-
clared bandits and authorized con-
stabulary and the Marines will pro-
ceed to disarm them.
Sacasa's Delegates Concur.
The peace delegates sent by the
Liberal president, Juan B. Sacasa,
coneurred i'm Gen. Moncada's state
ment that the Liberals would not ac.
cept the offer of representation in the
Diaz cabinet and courts for the re
mainder OF his term, as they were not
agreeing TO any terms Of peace with
Diaz.
Moncada said that the Liberal presi-
dent had stated repeatedly that the
Liberals would continue to fight until
ordered to cease by the United States,
but that they never would fight the
Marines.
Gen. Moncada, who is minister of
war in the government set up by
Sacasa at Puerto Cabezas, while
maintaining that Sacasa's claim to
the presidency was constitutional
said he was in agreement with Mr..
Stimson that peace from the present
time until the elections would guar
antee the most honest elections ever
held in Nicaragua. He also agreed
that peace would prevent famine,
which threatened If the warfare con-
tinued.
Forced to Desist.
I'VE are forced by a greater power
to cease our fight" said Moncada,
'but as peace will be the result, /
shall devote my effort to help in re-
storing order, so that the Liberals
may gain legitimate and honest con.
troll in the 1928 elections, which will
be supervised by the United States"
President Diaz signed a general am
nesty decree which was distributed on
the streets Of Managua. He issued
statement saying that as soon as or
der was assured, the freedom Of the
press would be restored.
Mr.. Stimson arrived in Managua on
April IL and Immediately went into
conference with leading Conserva-
tives. Subsequently he invited Sacasa
to meet him, but the invitation was
declined, 'Sacasa sending three mem
bers of his cabinet instead.
On Wednesday Mr.. Stimson, the
American Minister, Charles C. Eber-
hardt, and Rear Admiral Latimer. in
command Of United States naval
forces in Nicaraguan waters, and
Gen. Moncada and the Liberal dele
gates, began conferences at Tipitapa.