Peace in Peril

Nicaragua has dangerously heightened tensions in Central America by expelling U.S. diplomats, suppressing the opposition newspaper and the radio station of the Roman Catholic Church and breaking up opposition demonstrations. With these grave actions, Managua has placed in peril the whole peace process so carefully constructed over the last 11 months.

President Reagan has been only a reluctant participant in that peace process. He may even relish the new confrontation that strengthens the hands of those within the Administration who have always favored a military solution. Nevertheless, the President was left little choice but to retaliate when Ambassador Richard Melton and seven other U.S. diplomats were given 72 hours to leave Managua. Reagan wisely postponed a decision on an alternative response--an outright break in diplomatic relations. But the resulting situation will make it more difficult to restore normal relations.

We have no way to judge the accusation of the Nicaraguan foreign minister, Miguel D’Escoto,that U.S. diplomats were “openly and shamelessly interfering in Nicaragua’s internal affairs by supporting domestic opposition groups.” It is a matter of public record that La Prensa, the opposition newspaper, receives U.S. government support. U.S. Embassy personnel were at the opposition demonstration on Sunday. The ambassador and others almost certainly met with opposition political figures on a regular basis. The U.S. government has until recently supplied arms to the Contra guerrillas at war with the government of Nicaragua.

But none of those actions would appear to justify the sudden, crude expulsion order issued Monday. On the contrary, the activities of the U.S. Embassy as we know them conform to normal diplomatic practices, and in fact seem to parallel the vigorous efforts by the Nicaraguan ambassador in Washington, Carlos Tunnermann, to encourage opposition to the Reagan Administration and its policy of support for the guerrilla war.

Furthermore, the coincidence of the expulsion of U.S. diplomats with new repression of the political opposition within Nicaragua suggests a more sinister reversion on the part of the Sandinistas to the undemocratic, authoritarian policies that prevailed before they signed the Central American peace agreement last Aug. 7. They have, in rapid succession, jettisoned the basic elements of reconciliation, political freedom and open expression to which they are committed by the peace accord.

This sudden deterioration comes at a critical moment, just as Oscar Arias Sanchez, president of Costa Rica and author of the peace agreement, was seeking to restore negotiations between the Contras and the Nicaraguan government to implement the peace agreement fully. Arias had pointed out that both the Contras and the Sandinistas had contributed to the breakdown of the peace talks last month and both should move now to come to terms. It was sound advice.

The deteriorating situation gives urgency to the Central American summit meeting already planned in observance of the first anniversary of the peace agreement. In the meantime, forbearance by the United States, in staying assistance for the Contras, and by the Soviet Union and Cuba, in withholding further arms for Nicaragua, can help create a climate in which the Central Americans themselves contrive a way out of the crisis.