Higher Power

The activities of President Coolidge, acting through his personal representative in Nicaragua, Henry Lewis Stimson, last week drew from U. S. Senator Robert Marion LaFollette (Republican) a comment:

"The admission [TIME, May 16] by the State Department that Mr. Stimson, speaking for President Coolidge, threatened open warfare on the Liberals of Nicaragua is an amazing revelation that the President, in carrying forward his policy of ruthless imperialism in Central America, is ready to violate the constitution, which gives the war-making power solely to Congress."

Meanwhile Mr. Stimson and some 3,000 U. S. marines in Nicaragua continued to carry out last week the President's orders. Perhaps significant is the official motto of the U. S. Marine Corps: Semper fidelis (ever faithful). Marine aviators, faithful, zoomed over the Nicaraguan Liberal Army last week, releasing proclamations, commands, from a Higher Power. . . .

Proclamation Text: ". . . For the purpose of avoiding regrettable and useless bloodshed, all those knowing the location of or having guns or munitions should immediately deliver them into the custody of the nearest detachment of American forces, where, upon delivery, payment of ten cordobas [$10] will be made in the presence of a commission of United State's officers. . . ."

The proclamation further informed Nicaraguans that the U. S. will supervise the Nicaraguan election of 1928, to assure an impartial vote.

During the week Nicaraguans surrendered their arms rapidly, payment being made out of funds supplied by the Conservative Nicaraguan Government (recognized by the U. S.).

Eight hundred additional U. S. marines were despatched to Nicaragua last week, and steps were taken by Mr. Stimson to organize a Marine constabulary for the disarmed republic.