Date: November 23, 1928
Location: Washington, D.C.
(Original document available here)
I haven’t seen what the State Department may have said in their comment on the Cumberland report on Nicaragua. I did notice from a hasty glance at the report that there was some suggestion in it of some supervision of the finances of Nicaragua by American citizens. I have forgotten whether they were to be selected by the Secretary of State or just what the process was. That is a suggestion that is frequently made to this Government and one which we always desire to avoid. Several times we have been compelled to disapprove of suggestions of that nature and undertook to say that if credit is extended to countries like Nicaragua that I it should be extended on a fair and equitable basis and one which does not interfere with the usual freedom of their government. Our Government would not want to undertake any supervision of that nature. I think, from what I know of Mr. Cumberland’s reputation, that he is a very able man and made a good investigation of the finances of Nicaragua and one which is worthy of confidence. Of course, if people are going to lend money, they naturally like to get all the guarantees they can in relation to it, so they often resort to suggestions that our Government should intervene in some way, that the people of that country should relinquish their own rights and turn them over to some one else.
I haven’t made any plans for my actions after the 4th of March. I think I suggested the other day that very likely you will see a great many press reports and suppositions as to what I might do, but there is nothing that I am considering. I don’t expect to make any decision until after that date. I have been invited to go to Mountain Lake, I think, in Florida, along about the 1st of February to dedicate a bird sanctuary and carillon that is being established there by Edward Bok. Of course, all my engagements have to be tentative, I’ll have got that under consideration. That is the only one, I think of now that I’ll take me out of town between the first of January and the 4th of March.
I have had no discussions concerning any reservations to the peace treaty. I do not think any reservations ought to be attached to it. I can hardly comprehend the nature of any reservations that any one might think would be desirable. I think the treaty itself carries all the reservations that are necessary to protect our rights and protect our interests.
I haven’t any plan about doing any hunting at Blue Ridge. I am advised that they have some fine clay pigeons down there. I may shoot a few of those.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge: Remarks by the President to Newspaper Correspondents
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