Mr. Baker to Mr. Gresham.
Managua , May 21, 1894 . (Received June 12.)
Sir: It is a pleasure to be able to announce my safe return to the legation from my visit to the Mosquito Reservation, which visit was of exactly one month’s duration.
On arrival at this place I promptly called upon the President to discuss the condition of affairs in the reserve and to bring to his immediate attention the grievances of my Government in the Braida and the Wilson cases.
There were present at this conference the vice-president and minister of war, General Ortiz; the minister for foreign affairs and special commissioner to the reserve, Hon. Jose Madriz, in addition to the President and myself.
At this conference I was assured by all three of the gentlemen named, and in the most earnest manner, that no effort would be spared to recapture the culprit Argüello. I was told, also, that Argüello’s trial would not be postponed on account of his escape, but that he would be cited to appear in court, and that a most searching investigation would be made of the whole criminal affair, and that then, when caught, he should be adequately punished.
I was also privately assured by the President, in the most positive terms, that he would remove Commissioner Lacayo for his part in this affair, and for other reasons, in response to my numerous complaints of his arbitrary, unlawful, and insulting course toward American citizens.
I have, etc.,