Evening star., 1947-04-25

Letters to The Star
Contradicts Ickes' Column on
Nicaraeuan Election
To the Editor OF The star:
regret that must contradict state
ments In the column of Harold L. Ickes
which appeared In The Star Of April
81. Mr.. Ickes is obviously ill-informed
for his article shows some lamentable
statements directly opposed to real con-
ditions in Nicaragua. I imagine that
MIR. Ickes. in alluding rs he did to the
recent elections in my country, must
have been misled by some interested
party.
Let me point out several Of the err
rors in his article: Mr.. Ickes' state
ment that citizens who voted In Fl
Viejo then went to Managua, the capt.
tai, where they voted again, shows
lack OF knowledge Of the geography Of
the country. The town Of EI Viejo. In
the west. and Managua, in the central
part OF Nicaragua, are separated by 1
distance of many kilometers. several
hours by train, and there Is neither
highway nor air service connecting them.
The Nicaraguan voters are not like birds
that can fly from one point to another
with the speed indicated by Mr.. Ickes.
Furthermore, all citizens voted in ac-
cordance with the registers and were
duly identified. Amusingly enough. the
capital, to which, according to Mr..
Ickes, voters came all the way from El
Viejo. was one of the places where the
opposition party won. Does Mr.. Ickes
realize that for years the Liberal PARTY
has enjoyed majority In Nicaragua.
as was demonstrated In the supervised
elections. in 1928 and 1892, so that no one
can be surprised at the defeat of Dr.,
Aguado, who was supported by the Con-
servative Party? Naturally, Aguado won
in the capital, which we readily admit is
the stronghold of the Conservatives. as
well as in other important places where
that party holds a majority.
Mr.. Ickes should also know that gov
ernment employees in my country voted
because they are citizens and obviously
they voted for the candidate they pre-
ferred. As for the cards that disturb
Mr.. Ickes SO greatly, should like him
to know that all political parties in
Nicaragua have been accustomed to is
sue such cards, solely for the purpose
OF knowing to which party the voters
belong.
1t is not a fact that the Liberals
were told by their "bosses" how they
should cast their votes. The charges
OF MIR. Ickes are totally unjust and I
am ready to prove that the recent elec-
tions were both free and honest. They
were held on the exact day established
by the constitution and at the end of
the six-year term of the President
in this case, Gen. Somoza-which is
likewise constitutionally prescribed. If
Mr.. Ickes chooses to assert that the elec-
tions were not free, that is his affair.
but this assertion has been contra
dicted by competent observers of the
foreign press. The absurdity lies in the
TACT that Mr.. Ickes is attempting to
judge the case of Nicaragua without
hearing both sides.
/ wonder If Mr. Ickes knows that
President Somoza has left the country
several times in the course of his admin
lstration, that each time he has been
welcomed back with enthusiasm, and
that IN his absence there have been
neither strikes nor political uprisings.
This surely would not be the case were
he the unpopular President pictured by
Mr.. Ickes. Furthermore, DR.. Arguello,
the future President, far from being a
"hand-picked candidate" has long been
the leader OF his party and Is recognized
throughout Central America for his
craftsmanship and outstanding ability.
His personal qualities alone suffice to
account for his victory at the polls.
Certainly there is no comparison be-
tween the elections in Nicaragua and
those of Poland, as Mr.. Ickes implies.
I need only point out that no other
country had anything to do with the
Nlcaraguan elections. Nicaragua is a
nation that Is worthy of the respect OF
every one, although she has been misin-
terpreted at times because of the in
gratitude of some Of her sons who lack
respect for her sovereignty and honor.
Concerning the other suggestions of
Mr. Ickes, think it better to make no
comment.
In conclusion, have the honor to in
vite Mr.. Ickes to attend the Inaugural
tion of President Arguello on May l.
Besides affording him a little vacation,
his visit would give him the opportunity
to observe at close hand constitutional
and democratic process in free, SOW
ereign, and independent nation.
DIR. GUILLERMO SEVILLA SACASA.
Ambassador of Nicaragua.
One Way to Help Europeans
To the Editor Of The Star.
In the general hue and cry heard on |
all sides about rising prices, permit me
to call to yOlIr attention one item the |