Evening star., 1928-01-15

United States has undertaken to supervise the
election next Fall.
In the eyes OF some critics OF the United
States, however, this supervision OF the Nicara.
guam election is the natural and expected out.
come of the recognition policy of this country
in Central America They contend that once
the policy OF supervising elections has been
established in Nicaragua there is no reason
to believe that 1t will not be esta bshed else.
where, for conditions existing today in Nicara-
qua may be found to exist tomorrow in some
one Of its sister republics.
For many years the United States recog-
nized de facto governments in Central America.
But revolutions and recurring relationships
made these governments unstable or short
lived that they endangered increasing Ameri-
can as well as foreign investments and In.
terests in the Central American republics and
brought about the need for a new arrange
ment. In 1907, at conference in Washington
held under auspices of the Presidents OF the
United States and OF Mexico, the five Central
American republics signed convention agree
ing not to recognize governments coming into
power In the five republics in consequence Of
revolution coup d'etat long as the
freely elected representatives of the people did
not consttutionally reorganiZe the country.
In 1928, at another conference in Washing
ton. this agreement was strengthened by a
treaty, and while the United States was
not party to il. this country was morally
by the American State Department In keep
ing with the spirit OF the agreement the United
States has refused TO accord recognition to
such revolutionists Hnerta, in Mexico;
Tinoco In Costa Rica; Ayora. in Ecuador,
and Chamorro. in Nicaragua.
:: ~
The policy a good one far as it
went. but it did not go far enough. 1t would
probably have worked successfully except for
the fact that fair elections. as they are known
N the United States and elsewhere. are un-
known In some OF the Central American repub.
lies. ban on revolutionary governments alone
did not guarantee fair government, for the
government in power controlled the elections.
The party In possession Of the treasury and
the army could be ousted only by revolution
coup detat. The United States. therefore.
has been placed in the position Of guaranteeing
to support the party in power, and by forbid
ding revolution has helped 1t to remain in
power indefinitely. Refusing to recognize
revolutionary government tended to support
continuous relationships. Fair elections were
impossible unless the United states would
guarantee TO take charge OF them. but. until
the agreement in Nicaragua. the United States
hesitated TO take such drastic step
u xx
Decision To go into Nicaragua and hold the
election there this Fail. maintaining order by
United States Marines has already brought
director Of the Foreign Policy Association
points out for instance. that from the exreri-
ence in Panama 1t may be counted as certain
that the defeated party in supervised election
will accuse the United States of pa rtiaiity and
that disputes over the results of the election
and the manner of Its holding will serv. TO
breed III win. He points out that zoo American
supervisors were necessary to watch the polls
in Panama and a greater number will he neces.
sary in Nicaragua. He believes that IL the
United States really intends to make revou.
tions ethically unjustified throughout Central
America. the supervision OF elections as in
Nicaragua. must be installed throughout all
ihe Caribbean and Central American countries.
and the practical difficulty OF bringing great
numbers OF Americans into the Central A,neri,
can countries periodically TO supervise elections
would be enormous. In view OF these grave
difficulties" he writes. lit would seem more
desirable to abandon our present policy of