Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-20
NEW u. S. POLICY CHANGING
NICARAGUA POLITICAL SKY
Sacasa Rapidly Gaining Popularity as
Moncada Declines in FavOr-Reasons
Seen for Mission to Washington.

waited until the end Of his term 20
realize all of q sudden the Importance
of introducing minority Representations
in the electoral laws of Nicaragua,
/ further strengthens the suspicious OF
those who assert that President Mon
! cade and his followers have other con-
stitutional reforms" in mind. And If
/ one stops to think that the Consti-
| tutional Assembly would be probably
made up of President Moncada's
friends. it is not hard at all to guess
the nature of such reforms.
Further evidence of the political plans
of President Moncada is found in re-
cent decree he had promulgated by Con-
greSS stipulating that the appointment
Of minor judges, who have something
to say in connection with the cleo
ticns-should be made by the Supreme
Court out of lists submitted by the ex-
decree has been overruled by the court.
MAY Abandon Plans.
Probably those who are thinking of
President Moncadas reelection or con-
tinuance in power will soon abandon
their plans. To do so they only have
to remember the number of South
American chief executives who have
been overthrown in the last few years,
victims of a similar ambition. Another
| thing which they might do well to re-
member is that by solemn treaty the
Central American countries agreed in
1923 to maintain in their respective
constitutions the priciple of non-re-
election to the office Of President and
Vice President of the republic" And
recent events have proved that the
treaties Of 1923 are something more
than scraps Of paper"
However, the position Of President
Moncada is not the only problem. Even
If his promises of relinquishing the gov
eminent at the end Of his term are sim
cere. the calling OF constitutional as
Sembly when a presidential election is
the population suspects its aims is a
dangerous step for the internal peace
of Nicaragua
This continuous strife which has
lately been going on between the Mica
raguan government and the majority
OF the Liberal party, then with Congress
and now with the Supreme Court, is
only creating unrest, discomfort, under
mining the peace Of the country and
augmenting the uncertainty prevailing
as to the final intentions Of the men
now in power.
DIR. Sacasa Most Favored.
In the meantime, the great bulk Of
the Nicaraguan people which Is decid-
edly liberal, is rallying overwhelmingly
around its candidate, DR.. Juan B.
Sacasa, former Vice President and
Minister to Washington. and becoming
more and more disSat SIZED with the
political maneuyering of those at pres
ent in the government
1t is probably this growing popular
antagomiSm which prompted President
Moncada to seek in Washington the col
Liberation Of the State Department. In
doing so, he was only following the ex-
ample of many Of his predecessors, who
had the bad taste of relying on foreign
bayonetS for the success of their politi-
cal schemes But he probably forgot
that in the last few years a new Latin
American policy of non-intervention,
equality, and respect for the sover-
eighty of small states has been in evo-
luton in the State Department
He also forgot that the Central
American treaty of 1928 specifically
! provides that every act, disposition or
measure which alters the constitutional
| organization IN any of them (the Cen
| trail American nations Signatories) is to
be deemed menace to the peace Of
said republics. whether 1t proceed from
any public power or from the private
| citizens"
He, finally, forgot that the State De-
partment, only few weeks ago, and
very much in accordance with the spirit
of that new Latin American policy, had
issued q communique to the effect that
the sole interest of the United States
as regards these elections (the forth
coming presidential elections IN Mica
ragua) is that by means Of fair and
open elections, at which everybody who
is entitled to vote has an opportunity
Of doing so, the preference of the
Nicaraguan people may freely be ex-
pressed"
Poor memory is the cause of many
false step, even among political
schemerS.
Copyright, 1897