Mr. Thompson to Mr. Gresham.
Rio de Janeiro, February 1, 1894. (Received February 1.)
Mr. Thompson states that on the part of the insurgents the only change in their attitude that occurred since Mello inaugurated the rebellion was brought about by Da Gama, who succeeded him in the command of the forces at Rio de Janeiro, and exerted more vigorous efforts to hamper commerce, which had met with no serious obstruction under the enforcement of the notice which he inclosed in his dispatch No. 122, and was given, on the 6th of November, to Admiral Mello by the foreign commanding officers.
It was about December 12 that these officers, except the Germans, apparently modified their attitude toward the insurgents, at least by failing to enforce the terms of said notice against Da Gama, who at that time declared that it was his purpose not to allow merchandise to be brought to the shore or to the custom-house, as stated in inclosure 4 in the same dispatch. The result was that although there was no line of fire, except when a launch happened to run along the water front firing upon the land forces on shore, Da Gama carried the object he had in view, a blockade of commerce. He adds that, as the situation is understood by him, Admiral Benham, except perhaps by refusing to recognize Da Gama’s authority, has maintained the same attitude as was from the first assumed by the forces of the United States. He adds that the other commanding officers are now in accord with Admiral Benham and have agreed to ask for authority to use force, that his own relations with the Government of Brazil and Admiral Benham are very cordial, and that the action of the latter meets the views embodied in his dispatch No. 123, even though he was not consulted before it was taken.
As a consequence of said action protection is now afforded to merchant vessels of the United States, and the actual line of fire of the insurgents is the only restriction to their freely receiving and discharging cargoes. He explains that although the insurgents were apparently aiming at a blockade there was none in fact.