Office of the Historian

Mr. Merry to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
Bluefields, Nicaragua, May 4, 1899.
No. 245.]

Sir: The British, cruiser Proserpine having arrived here yesterday with the English consul from San Juan del Norte on board, and her commander having promised to remain here until the return of the Detroit, I have arranged with Commander Dayton to leave here at midnight, calling at San Juan del Norte early in the morning to land Consul Sorsby, and proceed to Limon, where Commander Dayton and myself can cable the Departments with hope of reply, which we can not entertain here, as I am confident Colonel Torres prevents it. I beg to inclose copy of protest which I shall hand him when I call to announce my departure. Commander Marx, of the Proserpine, informs me that while at Limon two days since the British vice-consul and some British citizens came on board to suggest his return, as trouble is expected when President Yglesias arrives. This and the fact that, for the present, I can do no more here will probably induce my return to Costa Rica for the present. On her return here the Detroit will call at San Juan del Norte and take Consul Sorsby on board for this port. The merchants here request his being accorded permission to visit Washington for a short time, twenty to thirty days, and I shall include this request in my cable from Limon. It is possible that the Detroit may have to go to Colon to coal, in which case I shall repeat cable thence, lest it should be mutilated or delayed after passing the Costa Rica frontier to San Juan del Sur. Mr. Sanson, minister of foreign affairs, left for Managua this morning, and assured me that Colonel Torres will follow on the 14th instant. But as he promised that he should go with him I have not full reliance on this last assurance. However, as Colonel Torres will soon have all his “evidence” complete he will desire to take it with him, and so will no doubt leave here some time this month. There will then in all probability be an interval of quiet until the results of the “court-martial” are apparent through prosecutions founded on Colonel Torres’s work at Bluefields.

With assurances, etc.,

William Lawrence Merry,
United States Minister.
[Inclosure.]

Mr. Merry to Colonel Torres.

Legation of the United States,
Bluefields, Nicaragua, May 4, 1899.

After a stay of thirteen days at Bluefields I find myself and Commander Dayton, U. S. S. Detroit, unable to communicate with our Government over your telegraphic [Page 579] lines, and am consequently obliged to proceed to another port, where I shall be permitted to do so. During these thirteen days doubtless your lines have been inoperative a part of the time, but that this has not been the case all the time is proven by the fact that yourself and other parties have repeatedly received messages from Managua, Guatemala, Honduras, and elsewhere. To the treatment accorded my Government in this matter, both unfriendly arrd wanting in the usual courtesy, I respectfully enter my protest.

After communicating with my Government and obtaining the necessary instructions, the U. S. S. Detroit will return to her post here, leaving American interests meanwhile under protection of H. B. M. S. Proserpine.

I have, etc.,

William Lawrence Merry,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States.