No. 295.
Mr. G. N. Riotté to Mr. Fish.
No. 33.]
Leon,
March 2, 1870. (Received April 11,
1870.)
Sir: I have the honor of laying before you
inclosed copies, respectively translation of the following documents,
viz:
1st. Inclosure A, letter from her Britannic Majesty’s chargé d’affaires
in Central America, Mr. E. Corbet, of January 25th last, in answer to my
communication, of December 28th ultimo, on the case of Mr. and Mrs. M.
Glenton.
2d. Inclosure B, note to the Nicaraguan government, of January 29th *
ultimo, on the action of the directors of the Panama Railroad Company
against Captain T. A. Douglass.
3d. Inclosure C, reply thereto by the government, of February 5th, with
translation.
4th. Inclosure D, letter of General A. T. A. Torbert, United States
minister in San Salvador, of February 21st last, on the importance of
establishing a naval station of the United States on Tigre Island, Bay
of Fomeca.
5th. Inclosure E, my reply thereto, of February 26th last.
I will permit myself to submit a few remarks on the subject of these two
last notes. As you perceive from my answer to General Torbert, I do
fully agree with his view. I will not attempt to argue the strategical
and topographical side of the question. To do full justice to that, my
colleague is more competent authority than I; and besides, a mere glance
at the map, showing that in thé long-stretched and every day in
importance growing western coast of America south of San Francisco, our
country is destitute of even a good harbor of her own, let alone a naval
establishment or place of refuge, if only for cases of accidents or
disasters, will at once powerfully advocate General Torbert’s plan.
There is another consideration in its favor, namely, the fact that not
one of these Spanish North American republics, little Costa Rica
excepted, until now has been able to erect on their dangerous coasts a
single light-house. The pecuniary considerations entering into the
question, I must deem it out of my sphere. But there is an international
and political consideration eminently sustaining the plan. It cannot be
denied that these republics, however slowly, and impeded by their
political convulsions, are growing in commercial importance at a par
with the increasing commercial facilities between them and the marts of
the
[Page 503]
world and the demand of
the civilized world for their valuable productions. This tends to give a
more and solid growth to their productive energies and to their
attractive power upon foreigners and particularly Americans; but it not
less contributes toward imparting them with an idea of their importance
among nations.
* * * * * *
A.
Mr. Edwin Corbet to Mr. C. N. Riotté.
Guatemala,
January 25, 1870.
Sir: * * * * * * I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 28th ultimo, which
reached me by last mail, informing me of the steps you had taken to
procure redress from the government of Nicaragua for Mr. M. Glenton,
who had been compelled to contribute to a forced loan decreed by
that government, and I beg to thank you for the trouble you have
taken in his behalf.
As he has furnished me with no proofs of his nationality I cannot at
once address the government of Nicaragua in support of his claim. If
I receive satisfactory proof that he is entitled to the protection
of her Majesty’s government, I shall at once demand the redress to
which he will be entitled.
B.
Mr. C. N. Riotté to Hon. Tomás Ayon.
Legation of the U. S. A.,
Nicaragua,
Leon, January 29,
1870.
Sir: * * * * * * * Toward end of the month
of August last I received information that Captain Douglass, of the
Panama Railroad Company’s steamer Guatemala, had compromised the
neutrality of his company and of the flag under which its steamers
sail, by carrying for and delivering to the agents of the so-called
provisional government at Leon powder, lead, and caps. The
information was of such trustworthy character that I did not
hesitate, in vindication of my country’s flag and of the to me
well-known perfectly neutral intentions of said company, to report
the transaction to it. The company thereupon at once suspended
Captain Douglass from office. The instruction of the case, ordered
by the company, consumed some time, in part owing to the distances
and in part to the fact that it was difficult to procure witnesses.
On November 10th an inhabitant of this city made affidavit before me
on what he, August 15th and next days, witnessed in the Bay of La
Union and at Tempisque, which was communicated to the company. On
the strength of that affidavit and gome additional proof the
company, as I have been advised by a letter received the 25th
instant, has dismissed from its service not alone Captain Douglass,
but the purser of the steamer, Mr. E. Hansen, too. That letter
states that although the case of Captain Douglass was not an
entirely clear one, the company thought it well to make an example
of him. Inasmuch as on different occasions during revolutionary
movements within the Central American States, the good faith and
strict neutrality of the Panama Railroad Company has been doubted,
and even incriminations of the reverse have been advanced, I
consider it proper to advise your government of this its recent
action.
Hon. Tomás Ayon,
&c., &c.
C.
[Translation.]
Hon. Tomas Ayon to Mr. C. N. Riotte.
Managua,
February 5, 1870.
Sir: * * * I received the note with which
you addressed me under date of 29th ultimo, communicating to me that
toward end of last August, (here follows
[Page 504]
a literal repetition of the contents of my
note.) I laid your dispatch before the President of the republic,
and was ordered to thank you for your good offices in the matter.
The conduct of Captain Douglas, who, from the fact that he entered
into independent contracts on new steamer lines, was considered to
have left the company’s service, had indeed caused surprise, not
alone in Nicaragua, but also in the neighboring republics, for his
open participation, by carrying elements of war to the rebels, who
were devastating the country. The government was engaged in
collecting all proofs in the case, with a view to remonstrate
against the conduct of the employés of the company, but the measure
it has taken in order to prove its neutrality dispenses the
government from taking further steps.
If, during the revolutionary movements in other republics, the good
faith and strict neutrality of the Panama Railroad Company has been
doubted, the government is ignorant of the causes. So far as regards
Nicaragua, the conduct of Captain Douglas furnishes cause for just
incriminations, which the company, by dismissing him from service,
has dispensed.
The foregoing are true copies and translation.
D.
Mr. A. T. A. Torbert to Mr. C. N. Riotte.
United States Legation,
San Salvador, February 21, 1870.
Sir: * * * Will you unite with the rest of
the ministers in Central America to press upon the home Government
the importance of having a naval station in the Bay of Fonseca, on
Tigre Island? We have no station between San Francisco and Panama,
and the place I name is the best harbor between the two places, and
convenient to all the republics; and for various natural reasons the
presence of one of our ships of war is constantly needed in Central
American waters. I think the best thing would be for the United
States to get possession or control of Tigre Island.
I have written to Baxter by this mail. I was in Gautemala last week
and had a talk with Mr. Hudson, and he will urge this point on the
Government. Let me hear from you.
E.
Mr. C. N. Riotte to Mr. A. T. A. Torbert.
United States Legation,
Nicaragua, Leon,
February 26,
1870.
Sir: * * * I have received your note of the
21st instant, and will not omit to call the attention of the
Department of State to the important subject therein mentioned.
During the last trying six months I seriously felt the absence of a
national vessel, which I was unable to have sent here in spite of
repeated requests on my part.
These are correct copies.
