Mr. Braida to Mr.
Uhl.
Consulate
of the United States,
San Juan del
Norte, March 17, 1894.
(Received March 26.)
Sir: I beg to report that on the morning of the
13th instant I arrived in Bluefields on board of the steamship Yulu, in compliance with the request of Mr. Seat,
United States consular agent at that place, and
[Page 253]
also in compliance with the urgent appeals made to me
by American citizens, several of whom had gone to Greytown as a delegation
to bring me back with them to this place.
Mr. F. H. Bingham, the British consul at Greytown, returned with me. On
arrival in Bluefields we found the place occupied by the British marines and
soldiers as had been previously represented, and good order maintained by
them as a police authority. Every day since my arrival I have met Mr.
Bingham and General Lacayo, or his representative, in conference concerning
the creation of a provisional government for the Mosquito Reservation, and
propositions and counter propositions have been made, but none could be
agreed on by all the parties up to the present date on account of the wide
range of power sought to be obtained by the Nicaraguan representatives. They
ask to make Lacayo virtually the governor of the reservation, with very
large discretionary powers, while the American elements insist that there
should be no interference by any other than the people, who should be left
free to create their own local régime. The matter o Corn Island was also
taken up and a petition of the citizens of that island considered. It asked
protection from the British. A British man-of-war was at Corn Island
recently.
I had anticipated this in a telegram to Minister Baker at Managua some ten
days ago.
The American element do not consider themselves as being the parties to
settle the questions now in issue here, but both the Nicaraguans and the
British seem especially anxious that the Americans shall take a prominent
part in the arrangements made, and do not seem inclined to agree upon
measures and settle matters themselves, but to be determined to shoulder a
great part of the responsibility upon the Americans.
The Americans residing here realize the necessity of getting clear of the
incompetent negro domination, but they are afraid of Nicaraguan cupidity and
tyranny.
Something may be effected within the next few days, as all parties are
growing anxious under the present situation. I beg to include Mr. Seat’s
last dispatches explaining the situation, which is still unchanged.
I beg to say further that the Americans in a meeting held at the clubroom on
the evening of the 13th instant appointed Sam Weil and B. B. Seat as a
special delegation to proceed to Washington to place matters before our home
Government, and they will probably go on the return trip of the steamship
John Wilson, about the 20th instant.
I have, etc,
S. C. Braida,
United States Consul.
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Seat to Mr.
Braida.
United
States Consular Agency,
Bluefields, Nicaragua, March
11, 1894.
My Dear Sir: Since my last to you on the 6th
instant the situation has remained in statu quo.
The protocol for a provisional council, mentioned in my last report which
had been adopted by Consul Bingham, the captain of the Cleopatra, and Lacayo, did not receive full favor, and I
suggested that the number of delegates to the proposed council should be
eight instead of
[Page 254]
four, so as
to represent in the council not only the Nicaraguan and American
elements, but also the British subjects, the Indian and native
Creoles.
This amendment was accepted and agreed on between Captain Howe and Lacayo
in this office in my presence on the evening of the 7th instant.
It was to be presented to the council at its first meeting by Mr. Lacayo,
the chairman, and adopted as an amendment to the original protocol.
The first meeting of the council was called by Lacayo on the evening of
the 8th instant, and the amendment was opposed by the Nicaraguan
delegates, and finally the meeting adjourned without having accomplished
anything toward the creation of a provisional government. Another
meeting was held yesterday, but resulted very much as the first one
had.
The American delegates will not attempt the formation of a provisional
government unless every element of the population has a fair
representation.
On the other hand, I think it is the policy of the Nicaraguan delegates
not to recognize any representation except the Nicaraguans and
Americans. In that way they expect to control, inasmuch as three
Nicaraguans can always outcount and outvote two Americans.
The attempt to establish a provisional government by agreement I believe
will prove a failure, as the Nicaraguans do not seem to regard equal
representation as being important or essential; whereas the American
delegates will not recognize any other principle in the adjustment of
the present affairs of Mosquito. The marines of the Cleopatra continue their occupation for the protection and
preservation of life and property by request of the inhabitants. Almost
the entire population, native and foreign, is now in active sympathy
with British marines; because they fear that if Nicaragua should have
exclusive dominion here it would subject them to the vengeance and spite
of those holding official power. Captain Howe says he hopes to see an
American man-of-war here soon to relieve him.
Hoping you are well,
I remain, etc.,
B. B. Seat,
United States Consular Agent.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Seat to Mr.
Braida.
United
States Consular Agency,
Bluefields, Nicaragua, March
11, 1894.
My Dear Sir: Since closing a dispatch forwarded
to you this morning by the hands of Mr. William English, I have been
called into a meeting of the American residents at the clubroom. The
local complications are such that your presence is considered
indispensable. They send a delegation on board the steamship Yulu to bring you to Bluefields. Permit me, in
their behalf and on my own account, to respectfully urge you to comply
with their wishes and return with them.
Hoping to see you on the return of the Yulu.
I remain, etc.,
B. B. Seat,
United States Consular Agent.
