Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1894, With the Annual Message of the President, Transmitted to Congress, December 3, 1894

Mr. Pringle to Mr. Gresham.

Legation of the United States,
Guatemala, February 9, 1894. (Received March 2.)

No. 63.]

Sir: Mr. Peterson, consul at Tegucigalpa, wrote this legation saying that there were several Americans serving with President Vasquez in Honduras, and that if the revolutionists under Policarpo Bonilla captured them they would undoubtedly be shot.

The situation has become desperate for President Vasquez, and from the present information in my possession I deem his downfall only a question of a few days. As Mr. Peterson is cut off from all outside communication I thought it best to cable you.

Amongst the Americans serving with Vasquez is a Mr. Imboden, who owns large mining interests at Yuscarán, and who is a bitter personal enemy of Bonilla. His brother is at present in Guatemala and appealed to me two days ago to take such steps as I thought proper to avert such a possibility.

I informed Mr. Imboden that I could not act officially, as he must be well aware of the fact that all Americans serving during revolutionary times must accept the consequences of defeat.

It is possible, however, that you might take another view of this matter, inasmuch as the Americans are all serving in the army of the constitutionally recognized Government, and in most instances are fighting for the preservation of their property and interests.

As I have reason to believe that the Ranger is at Amapala, which is about three days’ journey from Tegucigalpa, I thought it best to call your attention to this fact, that in case you wished to communicate with the capital, an officer might be sent from there.

I have, etc.,

D. Lynch Pringle,
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.

P. S.—I inclose copy of letter from Mr. Imboden, the gentleman referred to in this dispatch.

[Inclosure in No. 63.]

Mr. Imboden to Mr. Pringle.

Guatemala City, February 8, 1894.

Dear Sir: I beg to call your attention to the many official telegrams from the seat of war at Tegucigalpa, Honduras, published in the daily newspapers of this city. All these advices claim that the allied troops of Nicaragua and revolutionists of Honduras have reduced Gen. Vasquez and his army to a state of siege in the capital and will force his retreat or capitulation. In the latter event many people believe that should any of the Americans now serving as officers or soldiers under Gen. Vasquez, who is the President of Honduras, become prisoners of War they would be murdered by the revolutionist forces.

While I do not believe this would occur, it is nevertheless possible, and as there is at least a doubt on the question, I suggest it is worthy of the prompt attention of the American Government. Many of the Americans serving now with Gen. Vasquez are long resident in that country, are men of character and good position, commercially and socially, and they maintain they have the same right to enlist their services with the Government of Honduras that an Englishman or German had who joined the American Army in 1861, and are entitled to all the amenities of civilized warfare.

Trusting you will give this effective attention,

I am, etc.,

F. M. Imboden.