Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-02
BY REX COLLIER.

The colorful luncheon party on the
U. S. s. Maryland that brought to-
gether those veterans of political strife
in Nicaragua-Gen. Jose Maria Mon
cada, fighting Liberal, and Gen. Emili-
ano Chamorro and President Adolfo
Diaz, campaigning Conservatives-was
bold stroke of Hoover strategy, potent
with goodwill possibilities.
The novel scene presented when this
| trio OF past, present and future PreSi-
dents of the revolution-we Central
| American republic sat down to break
| bread with the PreSident-elect of the
| United States was one to stir the mag
nation.
1t seemed incredible that the three
| Nicaraguan guests, laughing and eating
| and talking there beside Mr.. Hoover,
| were leaders of hostile factions who had
| witnessed or participated in some of
Nicaragua's outstanding political up
| heavals.
There at Mr.. Hoover's left was the
grizzled revolutionary leader, Gen. Mon
cada. former military associate of the
| outlawed Gen. Augusta SANDING, one
time political exile, retired publicist and
republic. The able and fearless general
| had unfurled the banner of DR.. Juan
B. Sacasa in the revolution of 1926-27,
as the outgrowth of which Intervention
by the United States had come about,
but he had dared to break with Sacasa
and with his former lieutenant, San
! dino, in order to accept the peace pro-
posals of Henry l.: Stimson Displaying
utmost faith in the fairness of Uncle
Sam as an election arbiter, the cham
plon of Liberalism had announced his
| candidadcy for President in opposition
to the Conservative nominee, Enoc
Aguado, and he had won an overwhelm-
ing victory IN a quiet election super
vised by American Marines.
Soldier Statesman.
The 57-year-old soldier-statesma
with kindly smile, slightly furrowed
brow and gray-tinged hair, looked more
IKE prosaic professor or retired BUSH
ness man than crusading politician as
he. sat there dabbling witt a Chicken
pattie and chatting, betimes, with those
about him.
To the right of Mrs Hoover, who sat
neSloe her husband, was President Diaz,
leader OF the Conservatives and un-
compromising political foe of Gen. Mon
caoa. The retiring Nicaraguan Presi-
cent had been an ardent supporter of
american Intervention policies from the
frst and had co-operated to the fullest
extent in the effort to substitute hal
lou iots Tor bullets in the settlement of po-
ntlcaI controversies in this country. He
was a rather short. well dressed man of
affable characteristics.
BESIDE Senior Diaz was the redoubt-
aoie Gen. Chamorro, noted soldier.
gentleman and a diplomat. He
nao gained renown for his mill
Cary exploits in the revolution
against zelaya in 1912 and 1918. and
had served his country as Minister
Plenipotentiary at Washington, then as
PRESIDENT and again, on retirement. as
Minister to the United States. For
years ne had been a political opponent
or Gen. Moncada, who not long before
had been quoted in an interview at
washington as saying that "Chanorro
is responsible for all the bloodshed and
happenings in Nicaragua since 1897"
During the 1926-27 revolution Gen.
Chamorro had proclaimed himself
President. but the United States had
refused to recognize him. The Mica
raguan congress then had elected Sena-
tor Diaz as President, and this election
met with international recognition.
AT the long table on the port side
OF the quarterback were seated some
two-score guests, including. in addition
to members of the Hoover staff. Gems,
Mccoy and Feland, Minister Eberhardt
and a number of Nicaraguan Officials
accompanying the three presidential
guests of honor.
Priced Service Used.
All OF the priced pieces of solid
silverware which the State of MARYLAND
had given the battleship and which
were brought out of their locked cases
only on rare occasions had been spread
upon the table, and tropical flowers
bedecked the board from one end to
the other. The rails of the ship were
afutter with signal pennants and tied
to the stanchions were clusters of palm
branches Shading the company from
the hot rays of the sun was a white
canvas awning which covered the entire
quarterback.
In accord with the spirit of the oc-
casion, the IS United States Marines
who comprised the Marylands original
complement and who were to be kept
aboard the ship when she sailed from
| Corinto had stacked their arms near
| the luncheon table, with the flags of
| the United States and Nicaragua crossed
above the rifles.
The u. S. S. Maryland Band sup
piled American and Spanish music.
When the white-coated Filipinos had
! cleared away the remnants of the feast,
President-elect Hoover arose and de-
| livered brief and informal address.
! 81 feel greatly honored." he said,
that ] should have been welcomed on