817.00 Woodward Electoral Mission/22: Telegram
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Beaulac) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:30 p.m.]
5. Department’s 5, January 12, noon. Admiral Woodward and I conferred yesterday with the Brigade Commander and the Jefe director of the Guardia Nacional and arrived at the following unanimous recommendation:
That a minimum of 1,800 marines in addition to the number already in Nicaragua and to the number to be furnished by special service squadron (about 150) will be needed for protection purposes during the electoral period (about 5 months beginning June). If it should become practical to increase the Guardia Nacional beyond its present strength during the electoral period the number of additional marines mentioned above may be reduced by the total of such increase. It should be understood that the figures above set forth do not include electoral personnel.
It is evident that the Nicaraguan Government during the present year will be hard pressed to meet its existing financial obligations, including the cost of supervision.
I therefore recommend that the Department not request the Government of Nicaragua to make any large increase in the Guardia Nacional and that plans be made to furnish at least the 1,800 additional marines referred to above.