Mr. Finch to Mr.
Day.
Legation of the United States,
Montevideo, October 22,
1898.
Sir: The within correspondence refers to the
case of the colored soldier John B. Dick, a member of the Fifth
Regiment, Uruguay Cavalry, who recently deserted. Later he solicited the
assistance of the United States consul here, claiming exemption from
military duty on the ground that he is an American citizen and had been
“pressed” or conscripted into the Uruguayan army and there held against
his will.
The consul referred the case to me, and I presented it to the minister
for foreign affairs. The result was an honorable discharge for Dick and
full pay.
Respectfully,
[Inclosure 1.]
[Translation.]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Montevideo, October 17,
1898.
Mr. William R.
Finch,
Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform
your excellency, in response to your notes dated the 7th and 13th
instant, that the minister of war and marine has given the necessary
orders for the dismissal of the man John B. Dick from the Fifth
Regiment of Cavalry, Uruguayan army, together with full pay and
proper discharge papers.
I avail myself of this opportunity,
[Inclosure 2.]
Legation of the United States,
Montevideo, October 19, 1898.
Señor Jacobo A.
Varela,
Minister pro tempore for
Foreign Affairs,
The Republic of Uruguay.
Sir: I have much pleasure in acknowledging
the receipt of your communication dated the 17th instant, in which
you state that the honorable minister of war and marine has ordered
the dismissal of the colored soldier John B. Dick from the military
service of Uruguay with full pay and proper discharge papers. Your
excellency’s note advising me of the action of the honorable
minister came to hand this forenoon, and I hasten to thank you for
so promptly responding to my representation in Dick’s behalf, and
through you, if you will allow
[Page 1127]
me, permit me to thank the honorable minister
of war and marine for so cheerfully and promptly releasing the
soldier the moment he was convinced that his claim to United States
citizenship was fairly well founded. Dick’s discharge by the
Uruguayan Government, under circumstances not calculated to inspire
a sentiment of generosity, is additional evidence that it never
hesitated to act the part of honor and magnanimity toward the
deserving individual, no matter how humble or insignificant he may
be.
Allow me also, your excellency, to assure you that I attribute to
your high sense of honor, fairness, and justice the happy
termination of this case, which has resulted satisfactorily to all
concerned.
Your obedient servant,
[Inclosure 3.]
United States Legation,
Montevideo, October 19,
1898.
Col. A. W. Swalm,
United States Consul, Montevideo,
Uruguay.
Dear Sir: Monday, the 17th instant, you
were at the legation, and in speaking of the colored soldier John B.
Dick, who deserted from the Uruguayan army, I understood you to say
you had supplied him with an “underground railroad” ticket or pass
to Buenos Ayres, Argentina, for which you paid $300, and $10 for
pocket money. This is the man who claimed exemption from service in
the Uruguayan army on the ground that he is an American citizen. His
claim was duly presented to Hon. Jacobo A. Varela, minister pro
tempore for foreign affairs, and on the 19th instant I had the honor
to receive a note from Mr. Varela, stating that Dick had been
honorably discharged from the service, given his proper papers, and
pay in full. This was an example of generosity not to have been
expected, the man having deserted before presenting his claim to
United States citizenship, after a service of two years in the army
without, so far as I could learn, making so much as a simple
protest.
I have thanked the Uruguayan Government through Mr. Varela for its
liberality and forbearance, and write you as I do now since you
were, apparently, at the time you fitted Dick out with the
“underground railroad” ticket to Buenos Ayres, and the loan or
present of $10 pocket money, not aware that he had been duly
discharged from the Uruguayan army and given his pay in full.
Very truly,
