Mr. Baker to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of
the United States,
Managua, August 30, 1894.
(Received September 14.)
Sir: I received your cable and I at once sent the
inclosed “demand” to the Nicaraguan Government.
I may here remark that Messrs. Lampton and Wiltbank, the two Americans who
were brought to Managua, and afterwards sent out of the country without
trial, were not aware that the United States naval commander had made any
protest against their arbitrary arrest, treatment, and expulsion. The
commander sent no word of information to me, and I was left with the
inference that our commander knew that these men were guilty of fomenting
trouble and should be sent out of the country. This seeming action, or want
of action, on the part of the commander made it the more difficult for me to
know how much I should demand.
Besides, having in view the fact that I made a “demand” in the Argüello case
in the name of the United States, which was virtually ignored by this
Government and apparently dropped by ours, I tried in this case to be
especially judicious and to not protest too vigorously.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Baker to Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Legation of the United States,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica,
and Salvador,
Managua, August 30,
1894.
Mr. Minister: On the 28th instant I had the
unpleasant duty of presenting, in the name of the Government of the
United States, a firm protest against the proceedings taken by the
Government of Nicaragua in the arbitrary arrest and expulsion from this
country, without trial and without previous notice, of two American
citizens who are engaged in business in Bluefields. Your answer,
received on the afternoon of the same day, asserted that these men were
guilty of high crimes against this Government. If this is true it is
susceptible of proof. In my note I appealed to your own constitution for
their protection and I now respectfully represent that your action in
hastily expelling these men is in direct violation of your treaty with
the United States of 1867.
I am instructed by the President of the United States to say to you that
he “is pained to learn that American citizens at Bluefields, who, on
invitation, visited the commissioner, were arbitrarily seized, denied
permission to see their families and friends, and forcibly taken to
Managua to answer unknown charges, and that protests of our naval
representative against this unlawful proceeding have been ignored. Such
arrest, besides violating the treaty of 1867, is an ungenerous response
to the friendly disposition recently manifested by this Government
[Page 334]
respecting the sovereignty of
Nicaragua over the Mosquito territory.”
And the President adds in his instruction to me: “You will demand
immediate, open trial of the accused, with all guarantees of defense
secured by treaty, and in default thereof, their prompt release.”
I am, etc.,
