Evening star., 1928-11-15
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

With the "co-dperation" of the United
States Marines, Nicaragua has held the
most peaceful election of President In
the history of the country. And now, in
spite of the alleged imperialism" OF
the North American monster, known as
the United States, all the American ad-
visers are Immediately withdrawing
from that country and the Marines are
preparing TO follow within few days
or as soon as the native police can be
organized to take over the task of keep
ing order.
It was a remarkably quiet, orderly
election on November T. Even the bandit
chief, Sandino, who had been in re-
bellion against the de facto and de jure
administration. and who had defied the
Americans when we were asked by both
parties to preserve order, failed to dis
turb election day. while 100000 citizens
went to the polls and cast their ballots
without outside influence controlling a
single one. And Sandino's Gen. Mon
cada is elected President!
There was no question as to who was
boss around the polls. There were
them were American Army officers, with
Liberal and Conservative Nicaraguan
completing each of the l3 committees
In every voting precinct there was an
American n-commissioned officer or
private-all competent to speak the
language Of the country-351 of them
on duty throughout the day. And SO
Gen. Moncada, the Liberal who was
formerly chief critic Of the United
States was elected and will depend
upon the force and influence of the
United States to uphold him in his Of
fee. AS the election was so fair and
legal, he may rely upon that support
while he upholds the Nicaragua consti-
ton and laws, and respects our inter-
national rights and the rights of other
nations.
In an article published by Foreign
Notes, written by Isaac j. Cox, pro-
fcsSor of Latin American history, North
western University, this is said:
stormy times are evidently aheao
for the new administrat alton. Such. in.
tervention as has occurred can only bt
justified as 1t promises to establish
permanent peace and order and insure
continued protection to foreign property
interests, including those of our own citi-
zens If the United States Is willing
nAbcl CdCIl lOuL years, W COuClIluC ouNI
experiments as we have just witnessed
and in the interim to watch carefully
that no setback occurs, we may in the
course Of one or two generations meas
ure respectable advance on the part
Of Nicaragua and her neighbors towarc,
political -Sufficiency. In the mean
time, there is little prospect that our
Marines can be withdrawn from tina,
troubled land or that its people VII
make substantial advance toward self
government or that other Latin Amerl-
can countries will cease to criticiz
American procedure there and at othci
| points in the Caribbean"
u X y
How much of Prof. Co3's remarks
must be taken as criticism of the policy
Of American Intervention to preserve or
der among Latin American neighbors oil
the request of their government is no
quite obvious. Does he question the
propriety or obligation of the United
States to so act? If 1t is sarcasm,
is misleading, to say the least.
This same Prof Cox has written a
book, Nicaragua and the Unite.
States" in which he publishes man.
quotations from Central and South
American newspapers denouncing tn.
alleged imperialism" of President Cool
idge and Secretary kellogg one sucf
editorial from La Nacion of Buenc;
Aires, which he classes as a judicial
utterance," makes this allegation:
President Coolidge, In the matter OF
protecting the rights of his country be-
fore weak Central American nation,
practically establishes doctrine of act
ing in an unwarranted manner on mere
disquleting or vague threats OF injur.
to his country's potential rights"
X \
"Unwarranted?"
In answer to the too ready attacks OF
partisanism at home. and unintelligen'