Mr. Baker to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
San Jose Costa Rica, April
24, 1895. (Received May 2.)
No. 506.]
Sir: I have just received from the Government
of Nicaragua the inclosed telegraphic message in regard to the trouble
of that Government with Great Britain. I hand you both the original and
the translation, notwithstanding that Government has doubtless forwarded
the same to you through Minister Guzman. I simply acknowledged the
receipt of the message by wire.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
506—Telegram—Translation.]
Mr. Matus to Mr.
Baker.
Palace,
Managua
Nicaragua, April 23, 1895, 10.30
a.m.
On February 26 our minister at London was notified of the ultimatum
of Great Britain concerning the expulsion from Nicaragua of certain
English subjects who took part in the rebellion of the Jamaicans,
which broke out at Bluefields last year. The ultimatum contains
three points: First, payment of £15,500 for the arrest,
imprisonment, and expulsion of British subjects; second,
unconditional revocation of the decree by which that action was
taken; third, payment of indemnities to private subjects which may
be accorded to the said subjects by a mixed commission.
The period fixed for the compliance with the ultimatum was seven
weeks, counting from February 26, a period scarcely sufficient for
it to come to the knowledge of my Government, from which a reply by
cable was demanded.
Nicaragua replied that there was no occasion for the revocation of
the decree of expulsion, as all the persons guilty of taking part in
the Mosquito rebellion had been pardoned, and that, so far as
related to the right to an indemnity, it proposed that it be
submitted to the arbitration of an impartial nation. England did not
accept arbitration, and insisted on her demand. Nicaragua then asked
her to await instructions to her (the Nicaraguan) minister at
London, giving assurances that an amicable arrangement would be
reached. She was as little disposed to listen to her voice. Since
then three English war ships have arrived in our waters to forcibly
demand immediate compliance with the ultimatum, at a time when
Nicaragua, the victim of three revolutions, has exhausted her
treasury and is making efforts to recover in order to meet numerous
prior engagements.
England has denied to Nicaragua the right inherent in her sovereignty
of expelling dangerous foreigners guilty of the crime of armed
rebellion, and has closed all discussion. A friendly voice
endeavoring to reach a harmonious conclusion has not been listened
to, and appeal has been made to the menace of superior force as a
last argument.
Under such circumstances no other recourse remains for this weak
country than to protest in the presence of civilized nations, and it
becomes the duty of my Government, the friend of that represented by
your excellency, to make known the facts stated as sole evidence
before the tribunal of national conscience.
With all consideration, I am, etc.,
[Page 1032]
Admiral Stephenson to the Nicaraguan
Government.
[From the Pall Mall Gazette, April 25,
1895.]
I have received instructions from Her Majesty’s Government to hand
you the accompanying dispatch from Lord Kimberley, Her Majesty’s
principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, and I have the
honor to present to your excellency Commander Stokes, of H. M. S.
Royal Arthur, who is the bearer of the
dispatch, together with a letter and a proclamation from me. I have
the honor to inform your excellency that unless I receive a reply
within three days’ date containing the full compliance of the
Nicaraguan Government with the demands contained in Lord Kimberley’s
dispatch, or in the event of an answer being received within the
time fixed, if that answer should be unsatisfactory, I shall at once
land an armed force and take military possession of Corinto by
occupying the custom-house and other Government buildings, and
appointing Capt. Frederick Percival Trench governor of the port. The
lives, private property, and trade of all foreigners will be
respected, but, in the event of any resistance or disturbance
arising, I shall use the force at my disposal to maintain order. A
copy of the accompanying proclamation will be issued to each
official in Cocrino, both Nicaraguan and foreign, on my taking
possession of the place.
proclamation.
Whereas the Nicaraguan Government having unlawfully seized the
persons of Her Britannic Majesty’s vice-consul at Bluefields,
together with some twenty British subjects, and has either confined
them in the town of Managua or expelled them from Nicaraguan
territory, I have in consequence received orders from Her Majesty’s
Government to occupy Corinto, and to seize all vessels carrying the
Nicaraguan flag, and to hold the same until such time as the
Nicaraguan Government shall have complied with the demands of the
British Government. Be it known that during the occupation of
Corinto the lives, property, and trade of all will be respected, and
the force now landed will occupy only the Government buildings. In
the event, however, of any resistance or disturbance arising, I
shall be compelled to use the means at my disposal to maintain
order. I have constituted Capt. Frederick Percival Trench, of H. M.
S. Royal Arthur, governor of the port.
H. L. Stephenson, Rear-Admiral.