These revelations about de Conti's character should discount him from all circles within the Nationalista regime. He has been revealed as a traitor and a liar, without the spine to go through with a plot that he may or may not have created. However, he has no bearing on the elections, and I am sure that, given popular sentiment, he will no longer be relevant within Chile after the elections. We must take real action against his secessionist state, instead of allowing them to force through thickly worded declarations of status quo. The status quo now is that our territory of Panama is occupied, and we must relieve this occupation. I have extended to Senor de Conti the olive branch, allowing his person and his Government to retire to their soundly won territory of Martinique.
It is true that there is much controversy surrounding the original Nationalist coup, but this controversy must be laid to rest. De Conti has made his position known; he fled in the face of the Communists. Therefore, we must count him out now and forever from our Government. Who is to say that this treacherous and malicious man, who has the audacity to scold me for merely leaving a political party to join one more suited to my views, will not turn against us if given the chance! He declared himself an agitator against our Government, and he has abandoned the only positions he ever supported.
As he may now have seen, to attack a statement by a true and principled Chilean was a poor idea; his legitimacy has been rightfully slandered, and I will stand no longer for his games. Thus, should I be elected President, I guarantee that Panama will be reconquered by either the sword or the pen. There will be no deal regarding Communists, no deal for the scuttling of navies, no deal for anything if Panama is not ours. I will not budge, and I will not concede anything for a territory that is rightfully ours. De Conti shall give me Panama, or he shall die there. More likely, given his record, he will flee to Martinique. Either way, should I be elected, Panama will be returned.
Candidate Alejandro Ruiz de Escovedo,
Minister of Foreign Affairs