Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, For the Year 1887, Transmitted to Congress, With a Message of the President, June 26, 1888

No. 48.
Mr. Trail to Mr. Bayard.

Legation of the United States,
Rio de Janeiro, January 19, 1887. (Received February 23.)

No. 71.]

Sir: I was yesterday informed by Consul-General Armstrong of an alleged attack upon our consulate at Santos. The only facts in my possession are those set forth in Vice-Consul Broad’s communication to the consul-general. A copy of the said communication accompanied the latter’s note to me, and is herewith inclosed.

From the vice-consul’s statement it appears that when he called the attention of the chief of police to the outrage, that official explained—so I infer from Mr. Broad’s note—that, owing to the enactment of a local law regulating the closing of shops on Sundays, some persons felt aggrieved, and proceeded to express their indignation by stoning various shops in different parts of the city; that among the shops so stoned was one just under the consulate, and that the missiles that struck and damaged the consulate were intended for the shop. The chief of police, continuing, expressed his sorrow for the occurrence, and assured the vice-consul that the act of the mob was in no way intended as an insult to the United States.

The reply in writing of the chief of police to Mr. Broad’s demand for an explanation will be transmitted you as soon as received by me, together with any other facts bearing on the subject that I can obtain.

The chief’s verbal explanation, remaining uncontradicted, is presumably correct, and, in my judgment, an apology from the municipal authorities for the outrage committed unintentionally by a part of their citizens, and an indemnity for the damage done the consulate, coupled with a promise to punish the offenders, ought to suffice to be satisfactory.

As the case does not appear to be one that would be seriously damaged by a delay of a month or two, I do not feel called upon to take immediate action, but will await such instructions as you may be pleased to send me.

I have, etc.,

Charles B. Trail.

[Inclosure in No. 71.]

Mr. Broad to Mr. Armstrong.

United States Consulate,
Santos, January 12, 1887.

Sir: I beg to bring before your notice the following, which occurred on the night of the 9th instant. From inquiries I have made, this consulate was attacked on said night, about 9 o’clock, by a group of men and boys, who stoned the front of the consulate, breaking a number of panes of glass, the window-frame of one of the windows, injuring the arms of the consulate. I at once officially wrote to the delegado of the police, and I have delayed up to the present advising you, expecting an answer, so that I could have also furnished it to you. It has not come; but on speaking to the delegado on the subject, he will, he says, give me every information, expressing his sorrow that the affair should have occurred, and that the people who were concerned in the row did not intend in any way to insult the United States consulate. A municipal law has lately been passed to make all shops, etc., close on Sunday. This group took the law within their own hands, and a shop under the consulate was attacked, and for this reason the consulate suffered. Other shops in different streets were also stoned.

I considered it my duty to demand an explanation, and in so doing I think I have not done wrong.

I am, etc.,

Henry Broad,
Vice-Consul.