File No. 9160/18–30.

Chargé Sands to the Acting Secretary of State.

No. 15.]

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have received from the consul general in this city information concerning what seems, at first sight, to have been a very violent and unprovoked attack on several American negroes living in the town of Zacapa, by the governor of the Province, Gen. Ariz, and the officers of his suite.

Immediately upon receipt of Mr. Kent’s report, I communicated with the minister for foreign affairs informally, requesting him to cause an investigation to be made of this affair. This he promised me to do, and to-day, in an official interview he again assured me that he would do everything in his power to have a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation. I have no means of following the progress of the case at Zacapa, unless I am permitted to order the consular agent at Puerto Barrios to proceed to Zacapa and make a full report.

I have, etc.,

W. F. Sands.
[Inclosure 1.]

Consul General Kent to the American Legation.

No. 782.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose copies of the complaints of Simon Shine and George Milliken, two American citizens, together with copies of several documents,1 wherein it is shown that a most brutal injury has been inflicted upon these American citizens at Zacapa, this Republic, by the jefe politico, or governor, of that department.

It would seem proper that this officer should be brought to punishment and that an indemnity should be paid to his victims.

I submit these complaints for your consideration and for such action as you may deem proper.

I am, sir, your obedient servant.

Wm. P. Kent.
[Inclosure 2.]

Chargé Sands to Consul General Kent.

No. 5 Consular.]

Sir: Referring to your No. 782 of October 2, and to your 805, dated October 9,1 concerning the beating of Messrs. Shine and Milliken, American citizens, at Zacapa, I have to inform you that upon receipt of your first communication I requested the minister for foreign affairs to cause an investigation of this affair by the proper authorities, which he promised to do.

I have had to-day an earnest conversation with His Excellency on this subject, in which he gave me every assurance that a strict and impartial investigation was in progress at Zacapa, of which he hoped to furnish me details very shortly. Permit me to observe that the claiming of an indemnity for these men, as you suggest in your No. 782, is a matter for the State Department to decide upon. In no case is it permitted for the legation to bring a money claim [Page 411] against that Government to which it is accredited without special instructions from the Department of State. Our duty ends with the bringing of the guilty parties to justice, whether they are the Americans or the jefe politico and his officers.

I have to request that yon will inform the consular agent at Livingston (Puerto Barrios) that the Government of Guatemala has promised this legation a prompt, thorough, impartial, and strict investigation, and that the minister for foreign affairs has given me his assurance that these men can return to Zacapa in perfect safety.

Let him so inform Milliken and Shine, if they have not already returned to their residence.

I have to request also, that you will instruct Mr. Reed to continue to keep you minutely informed of the progress of the case.

I am, respectfully,

W. F. Sands.
  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed.