Mr. Baker to Mr.
Gresham.
[Extract.]
Legation of the United States,
Costa Rica, Nicaragua,
and Salvador,
Managua, July 31, 1893.
(Received September 5.)
[No. 58.]
Sir: I have the honor of submitting to you
certain correspondence which passed between your minister and the
leaders of what is known as the Leon insurrection, in reference to the
bombardment of this city at an early hour on the morning of the 24th
instant.
The facts in the case are: Two steamboats well armed with cannon in
possession of the Leoneses came over from Momotombo, between 5 and 6
o’clock (just before sunrise) on the morning referred to. As soon as
they reached the position desired they commenced throwing shells
promiscuously into the city, without any notice whatever, so far as I
have been able to learn.
Each steamer had aboard one modern Krupp gun of 6½ caliber.
I have the testimony of an officer on board of one of the steamers that
52 shells were fired into the city. The American legation is situated
four blocks from the plaza and five from the cuartel, at which these
parties claim to have aimed their guns, and on much higher ground, yet
the inmates of this legation will testify that 10 shells passed over or
very close to the roof of the house, one of them killing a woman and
wounding a man who were in a kitchen of a neighboring house still
farther back from the lake. Another shell dug into the street within
one-half block of the legation, exploding, and rattling our windows.
As the woman who was killed was a servant in the family of a brother of
Gen. Zelaya, the commander of the armies and president of the junta, and
it was in his house that the ball exploded, I could readily acquit him
of having ordered such wild shooting, but I saw no reason, even after
the junta’s explanation to modify the terms of my protest.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 58.]
Mr. Baker to
Gen. Zelaya and the revolutionary
junta.
Legation of the United States,
Managua, July 24, 1893.
Gentlemen: The undersigned, a diplomatic
representative of the Government of the United States, residing at
the capital of Nicaragua, which is the seat of the legation, noticed
with pain and humiliation an act of barbarism, at an early hour this
morning, committed by officers and men presumably acting under your
authority and direction. I refer to the bombardment, with
death-dealing missiles, of this city, without previous notice, thus
jeopardizing the lives of American citizens, the citizens of other
foreign governments, women, children, and other noncombatants.
I need scarcely call your attention to the fact that such proceedings
are condemned by civilized nations throughout the world, and in the
name of the civilized sentiment of this age, in the name of a common
humanity, in the name of the Government which I represent, I enter
this my firm and solemn protest.
I am, etc.,
The consular corps residing in this city, founded on the same
reasons of the minister of the United States, agrees in the
whole to the preceding protest.
- Vicente
Rodriguez,
Vice Consul
of Spain.
- H. E. Low,
- Consul of
Austria-Hungary.
- Pablo Giusto,
In his name and that of the Italian
Colony.
[Page 207]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
58.—Translation—Telegram.]
Señor Callejas
to Señor Gamez.
The “Junta de Gobierno” deplores sincerely the misfortunes which
occurred in Managua, as we learn from the mail exBrasil in consequence of the bombardment, all the more
as the greatest damage was done to our friends.
We earnestly desire that the genera] in chief give as early a notice
as possible to the diplomatic corps, in the event of our being
compelled to the grievous necessity of continuing the attack.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
58.—Translation.—Telegram.]
Señor Gamez to
Señor Callejas.
Please call a continuous session of the junta de Gobierno and cabinet
to hear a report on diplomatic matters which I shall lay before them
hereafter.
A foreigner has just arrived, under a flag of truce, from
Managua.
[Inclosure 4 in No.
58.—Translation.—Telegram.]
Señor Callejas
to Señor Gamez.
We are in permanent session.
[Inclosure 5 in No.
58.—Translation.]
Señor Gamez to
the members of the “Junta de
Gobierno.”
Mr. Gallard, a French citizen, has just arrived, under a flag of
truce, and brought a dispatch of the American minister, subscribed
also by the consular corps in which they protest against the
bombardment of Managua without previous notice, an action which they
consider contrary to the laws of war, although they recognize that
the said action comes from subordinate officers and not from any
preconcerted arrangement of the junta whose former proceedings place
it above any unfavorable opinion. Mr. Gallard also admits that
inasmuch as but a few shots were fired, the bombardment clearly was
not meant as an actual bombardment but a feint, with a strategic end
in view. The action, according to official reports from the
commander of the squadron, was only meant for a warning that
preparation be made for protection against any subsequent similar
attack that might be made in earnest. They only took aim at the wall
of the main barracks, but the rather heavy motion of the waves
deflected the aim, and some shells fell on the houses of persons
dear to the chief of the revolution, among others that of his
brother, Francisco Zelaya, and of his friend and associate Gen. Juan
de Dios Moriera, thus demonstrating that he is not responsible for
what occurred in the city.
I believe with the general commander that these facts may be
announced and assurance given to the diplomatic corps that in case
the revolution be compelled to resort to actual bombardment,
previous notice will be given so that the persons placed under the
protection of the laws of civilized nations may seek shelter, it
being understood, however, that the diplomatic corps will guarantee
that the enemy will respect the same laws in the persons of our
bearers of flags of truce. The bearer of the answer to the proposal
of peace contained in a letter from Dr. Luciano Gomez sent to them
several days ago was taken prisoner, and has never been allowed to
return, an act against which the junta must now enter its
protest.
I am, etc.,
[Page 208]
[Inclosure 6 in No.
58.—Translation.]
Señor Gamez:
The “Junta de Gobierno” applauds the terms of your telegram which we
have just received, and request that you enter a counter-protest
with the American minister and diplomatic corps in our name against
the arrest and detention of the message-bearer who took the answer
to Dr. Luciano Goméz, concerning terms of peace, a detention which
is in complete violation of the laws of war. This junta wishes for
the utmost regularity, if it should unfortunately become necessary
to continue the hostilities, and expects that the chiefs of the army
will conduct their operations in strict compliance with the law of
nations. The demonstration against Managua which took place this
morning was not in our mind meant to cause damage to a city which we
esteem so much, and we sincerely lament its results. The junta also
solemnly declares that the action which it deplores was a mere feint
of bombardment, a strategic move directed against the main barracks,
and in no way a formal attack of which it has always been our
purpose to give due notice. Please tell us when the session may be
adjourned.
- F. Baca, Jr.,
- Pedro Balladares.
[Inclosure 7 in No.
58.—Translation.]
Señor Gamez to
Mr. Baker.
Sir: Duly authorized by the honorable Junta
de Gobierno, residing in Leon, as you will see by the telegram which
I inclose and also by the President of the same junta and general
commander of the army, Gen. J. S. Zelaya, I answer your esteemed
communication, received to-day from the bearer under flag of truce,
Mr. Gallard, and dated yesterday in that capital.
The Junta de Gobierno, for which I speak in this instance, has been
very much surprised at the harsh and insulting language used by the
American minister in his said communication in appealing to the
humanitarian sentiments of said junta, a language which the junta
attributes to the unpleasant impression created, as you say, by the
act of war against the enemy which is fortified in that capital, and
not to any premeditated intention of offending in the name of the
Government of the United States a friendly nation like that of
Nicaragua.
The circumstances to which the minister refers happened in the
following manner: Four days ago the enemy occupied this town
(Mateare,) and was attacked during seventy hours by the steamers Angela and Progresso
in cooperation with the land forces until completely defeated.
Nobody called us barbarians or savages because we made use of the
artillery of the steamers and on land against the besieged place.
There were numerous families there, who retired prudently when they
saw us arriving with warlike purposes.
The enemy vanquished in Mateare, fled and took refuge in the
neighboring forts of the capital from which they resist us. As a
consequence the steamers have gone in pursuit to harass them, while
our land forces cooperate with their artillery in the attack upon
them in the same way they did here. However, wishing to avert
casualties they remained for several hours in front of the city
sounding the alarm with their fifes, and giving unmistakable
indication that they were engaged in warfare and even when their
first fire was answered from land with four pieces of artillery they
confined themselves to firing some twenty shots npon the main
barracks, situated near the shore of the lake, and which is the most
important bulwark of the enemy.
You complain that the chief of the steamers did not give previous
notice of some hours before firing, and say that such is the usage
of civilized nations whenever a town is about to be bombarded. The
minister has forgotten that it was not a case of bombarding a
defenseless city, but of attacking a fortification of the enemy, who
defended themselves with equal arms, that the steamers were the
victors in pursuit of the vanquished endeavoring to bring about a
definitive surrender, and thus were allowed by the laws of war to
act as they did. If an inhabitant suffered personally he must blame
himself for not seeking a place of refuge, after seeing two enemies
confronting each other, who have been fighting for some time
past.
But, inasmuch as the American minister is pleased to believe that the
revolution of Nicaragua must give him previous notice of its war
operations against the enemy in the capital, I will make it a duty
of courtesy to gratify him and to give him notice by the presents
that so soon as our land forces occupy certain positions the
[Page 209]
artillery at its command
on land and water will fire without interruption until it achieves
victory or suffers defeat.
Having thus given the so-much-desired notice, I hope the minister
will impress upon the families the advisability of leaving as soon
as possible, if the enemy, for lack of regard for those people,
decline to look for a battle in some uninhabited place, as humanity
and patriotism demand.
Before concluding I must counter-protest to the minister upon an act
contrary to the laws of war committed by the enemy residing in your
city. They spoke about peace, they proposed an armistice, and as
soon as they succeeded in taking advantage of our good faith, to the
extent of our sending a message-bearer under a flag of truce, they
took him prisoner and have unduly held him for over eight days.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 8 in Xo. 58.]
Mr. Baker to
Gen. Zelaya and the members of the Junta de
Gobierno.
Legation of the United States,
Managua, July 26, 1893.
Gentlemen: I have your reply to my
communication dated July 23, in regard to the bombardment of this
city, without previous notice to noncombatants and at an hour so
early in the morning as to awake the people to the startling music
of whistling cannon shells.
Your explanation is a reasonable one, and is accepted in full faith.
I am sure that no one could imagine that you would direct the
indiscriminate throwing of explosive bombs into the houses of
friends and foes alike without previous warning. After more than one
shell had whistled over the roof of my residence and one had
exploded in the house of a neighbor not far removed, dealing death
in its explosion to an innocent inmate, I thought it proper to enter
my protest in language that could not well be misunderstood. You
enter a counter-protest that you sent a messenger with a white flag
to the officers in charge of the Government at the capital, and
that, in bad faith, they detained him. This is the first intimation
I have had of this occurrence. I have no hesitation in condemning,
in terms strong and emphatic, any such behavior, and I regret that I
was not promptly advised of this act in order that I might have
exerted any influence I might possess in the enforcement of good
faith and well-approved methods.
I am, etc.,
