Chargé Sleeper to the Secretary of State.
(Mr. Sleeper reports that at an interview that afternoon with the President in the presence of Captain Colwell he called attention to alarming rumors relative to attack in Habana, accompanied with internal disorders, requesting to know if the Government could guarantee adequate protection to lives and property of American citizens in case of such events. The President said no; that he thought it would be a wise precaution, and he would like to have an armed force land to assist in the protection of American interests. He adds that it has, therefore, been decided between Captain Colwell and himself to land a battalion of 100 men, with three field pieces, to occupy a central position near the Plaza de Armas, covering the two main thoroughfares of the city, said force to be used only in case of disorders within the city menacing American citizens’ life and property.)
[Note.—See Mr. Sleeper’s dispatch of September 15, which explains that he sent this telegram before receiving Mr. Bacon’s direction not to land troops.]