Originally Posted by
1bad65
Here is a full text of the letter 10 Democrats, including the Speaker of the House, Jim Wright, sent to the communist dictator Daniel Ortega:
Office of the Majority Leader
Washington, D.C., 20313
March 20, 1984
Comandante Daniel Ortega
Coordinador de la Junta de Gobierno Casa de Gobierno
Managua, Nicaragua
Dear Comandante:
We address this letter to you in a spirit of hopefulness and good will.
As Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, we regret the fact that better relations do not exist between the United States and your country. We have been, and remain, opposed to U.S. support for military action directed against the people or government of Nicaragua.
We want to commend you and the members of your government for taking steps to open up the political process in your country. The Nicaraguan people have not had the opportunity to participate in a genuinely free election for over 50 years. We support your decision to schedule elections this year, to reduce press censorship, and to allow greater freedom of assembly for political parties. Finally, we recognize that you have taken these steps in the midst of ongoing military hostilities on the borders of Nicaragua.
We write with the hope that the initial steps you have taken will be followed by others designed to guarantee a fully open and democratic electoral process. We note that some who have become exiles from Nicaragua have expressed a willingness to return to participate in the elections, if assurances are provided that their security will be protected, and their political rights recognized. Among these exiles are some who have taken up arms against your government, and who have stated their willingness to lay down those arms to participate in a truly democratic process.
If this were to occur, the prospects for peace and stability throughout Central America would be dramatically enhanced. Those responsible for supporting violence against your government, and for obstructing serious negotiations for broad political participation in El Salvador would have far greater difficulty winning support for their policies than they do today.
We believe that you have it in your power to establish an example for Central America that can be of enormous historical importance. For this to occur, you have only to lend real force and meaning to concepts your leadership has already endorsed concerning the rules by which political parties may compete openly and equitably for political power.
A decision on your part to provide these reasonable assurances and conduct truly free and open elections would significantly improve the prospect of better relations between our two countries and significantly strengthen the hands of those in our country who desire better relations based upon true equality, self-determination and mutual good will.
We reaffirm to you our continuing respect and friendship for the Nicaraguan people, and pledge our willingness to discuss these or other matters of concern with you or officials of your government at any time. Very sincerely yours,
Jim Wright
Michael D. Barnes
Bill Alexander
Matthew F. McHugh
Robert G. Torricelli
Edward P. Boland
Stephen J. Solarz
David R. Obey
Robert Garcia
Lee H. Hamilton
Source:The Wall Street Journal, April 17th, 1984