Sandino fell dead instantly. His three companions were gravely wounded. Sandino went to Managua because his life and his liberty had been guaranteed by the Department of State of the United States.” “Washington — February 22 — Officials of the Department of State have stated that they will begin immediately to investigate the causes of Sandino’s murder. This crime was a brutal action and a violation of the guarantees offered by the Department of State of the United States to General Sandino.” (El Imparcial, February 23, 1934). When the civilized world awaited the official declaration of the North American government clarifying its responsibility for that horrendous crime, the same North American journalistic agencies report, dated February 24 of this year, that: “Nothing indicates that official or public mourning will be declared on the occasion of the death of General Sandino and so far no arrest has been made, the murderers are unknown, and it is feared that they will never be discovered.” (El Mundo, February 24, 1934). We clarify that the so-called National Guard that assassinated the great patriot is a mercenary military body organized by the government of the United States under the command of North American officers, upon whom falls forcibly all the weight of this enormous responsibility. It should not be difficult to know which officers were involved in this crime. It is the height of audacity to want to cover up this vandalic act with silence because the Liberator Sandino was the living heart of Our America, which demands a clear explanation of what happened. The government of the United States has the floor. As a sacred admonition to prevent the repetition of barbaric acts that violate all civilized laws and customs in peace and in war, we declare that the imposition of gangster methods in international struggles will bring with it the most bloody reprisals that history knows. The Homeland is covered in mourning at the passing of the heroic and generous ally of the independence of Puerto Rico. The national flag will be flown at half-mast for nine consecutive days.
Given in San Juan de Puerto Rico, on February 25, 1934, in the 66th year of the Proclamation of the Republic. Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico The National Board P. ALBIZU CAMPOS President JOSE LAMEIRO General Secretary