"Transition to Peace"

A Manhattan lawyer who had disarmed the Republic of Nicaragua in 60 days with the aid of 3,000 U. S. marines arrived last week at the White House and reported to the President.

Officially Lawyer Henry Lewis Stimson had held no rank or office, though styled by courtesy "Personal Representative of President Coolidge" (TIME, April 18). Actually, with the President behind him, and with Congress not in session, Mr. Stimson had wielded power of life and death. By persuasion and threats of force* he had compelled the embattled Conservative and Liberal Nicaraguan armies to lay down their arms and submit to U. S. control of Nicaragua until 1928, when the U. S. guarantees to supervise an impartial election.

Faith. To newsgatherers Mr. Stimson said:

"This transition from war to peace has been accomplished by the faith which both sides have in the promise of the President of the United States, by arranging for American supervision to give Nicaragua a free and fair election in 1928. . . ."

Friends. Since the Conservative President of Nicaragua, Dr. Adolfo Diaz, will now be maintained in office by U. S. marines until 1928, the Liberal President of Nicaragua, Dr. Juan B. Sacasa, recognized by Mexico (TIME, Dec. 20), fled to Costa Rica and was banqueted in San Jose last week by a group of Costa Rican deputies.

The deputies wished further to express their sympathy by holding a great mass meeting in the National Theatre, at which Dr. Sacasa might present his views. But President Ricardo Jiminez of Costa Rica refused to allow the deputies to use the National Theatre for this purpose, saying:

"If I write in my communications to the President of the United States the words 'great and good friend,' I must be a great and good friend so long as there are no motives between his Government and mine for changing such an attitude. ... We must refuse the permission requested. . . .

"The Costa Rican public freely and without interference from my Government has already carried out a sumptuous manifestation of sympathy for Dr. Sacasa. . . ."

*The U. S. ultimatum to Nicaraguans read-"The forces of the U. S. will be authorized to accept the custody of the arms of those willing to lay them down . . . and to disarm, forcibly those who will not do SO."