Evening star., 1933-02-19

FIER SIX years OF almost mceS-
n SAINT civil warfare, domestic
"A peace reigns again in Nicara-
4 \ qua Scarcely month after
the last United States Marine
had left Nicaraguan soil the last rebel
gun was fired.
Newspapers and private correspond
ence just arrived from that Central
American republic tell of the Joy with
which the people of Nicaragua, forget
ting for the moment political colors and
differences of opinion, have celebrated
the re-eStablishment of internal peace.
The day in which the peace pact was
signed by President Sacasa, Gen. San
dino and representatives Of the Liberal
and Conservative parties. church bells
spread the happy news throughout the
country, bands played in the streets Of
Managua. and the government an
nounced that it would designate peace
day. as a national holiday.
According to press reports the expert
guerrilla fighters who. led by Gen. San
dino, fought numerous battles with gov
ernment forces and with United States
Marines in the course Of their five-year
revolt, will become peaceful farmers in
Northern Nicaragua. Within few days
all "Sandinistas" are expected to sur
render their arms in the town of San
Rafael del Norte.
The same press dispatches add that
discussion of the bases of peace was
found unnecessary, because the parties
were all moved primarily by determi-
nation to devote themselves wholly to
the rehabilitation of Nicaragua. Conf
dental reports, however which have
reached this writer reveal the extreme
tact and diplomatic ability displayed
H,y fr1 h,iV, oh
a settlement.
Peace Promise Fulfilled.
1t may seem appropriate, in this
connection. to recall the statement made
in these columns some time ago, when
DR.. Sacasa then Minister to Wash
ington, first entered the Nicaraguan
presidential contest, that his accession
to power would give the only assurance
of an early termination of the civil war.
Considering, first, the unique position
of DR.. Sacasa in Nicaraguan politics
respected by all sectors Of public
opinion-and, then, the fact that
Sandino had previously fought under
his orders for the defense of the re-
public's constitution, it was not too
daring to predict that of all Nicaraguan
leaders. Dr. SacaSa was the only one
who had chance to induce the in
surgent leader to give up his fight
So it has been. Less than 40 days
after he was inaugurate9 Chief Execu-
tive OF Nicaragua, President Sacasa is
able to announce: with the co-opera-
tion of the two Nicaraguan parties,
aided by the good will of Gen. Augusta
Cesar Sandino and his delegates, my
government has been able to effect the
modification of the country" !"
Thus falls the curtain on one of the
bloodiest civil wars in modern Latin
American history-one which had inter-
national implications which will be long
remembered in this Western Hemi-
sphere. 1t was during the course of it
that the United States changed almost
radically its Latin American policy and
took the first right steps toward new
deal' in American relations;
new deaP' based on non-intervention
and greater respect for the sovereignty
of the smaller Caribbean republics.
This Is the other factor which made
possible the re-establishment of domes-
tic peace in Nicaragua. The first was
the election of DR.. Sacasa to the presi-
dency The second is this changed at
titude on the part of the United States,
this new Latin American policy Of the
State Department. which, in the last
four years, has been endeavoring to
regain the good will lost on the other
side of the Rio Grande by previous
Republican and Democratic administra-
tionS
Pledged Change in Attitude.
Ever since his return from his pre-
inaugural tour of South America Presi-
dent Hoover promised change in the
big brother" attitude toward Latin
America which under Theodore Roose-
velt's "big-stick' policy, Woodrow Will
sons non-recognition policy and Calvin
Coolidge's theory of protection of citi-
zenS abroad had given rise to the legend
of Yankee imperialism"
To prove the sincerity of his promise
President Hoover appointed Col Henry
L. Stimson his Secretary of State. Col
Stimson had lived in Latin America
and had succeeded both in gaining the
confidence Of the Latin Americans and
in understanding their domestic prob
lens, paramount among which was that
of the preservation of their national
sovereignty. For Nicaraguans, in par
ticular, the presence of Col. Stimson
in the State Department was especially
gratifying, because not long before he
had contributed, as peace envoy of
President Coolidge, to put an end to
the civil war between Liberals and
Conservatives in that country.
Once in office, Secretary Stimson
condemned military interventionS, dis
avowed any designs of political hege-
and announced as the best line of con-
duct for the State Department to follow
one of complete aloofness from the