The Acting Secretary of State to Vice Consul Caldera.1
Washington, March 14, 1910.
Mr. Wilson says that the following statement, given to the press to-day, is to be discreetly made public by Mr. Caldera:
The Secretary of the Navy has to-day ordered the return to Panama of the marines who, some time ago, were taken by the Buffalo to the vicinity of Corinto and by courtesy of the Government of Salvador had permission to encamp on an island in the Gulf of Fonseca. These marines had been held in readiness to protect American interests. The Navy Department, for sanitary reasons and in order to enable the Buffalo to resume its regular duties, has for some time desired to issue this order. Now that there is no fighting in progress in western Nicaragua, the Department of State has consented to the withdrawal of the marines, especially since, if their presence is needed, they could again be brought from Panama in three or four days. It is not necessary to add that this step has no bearing upon the question of the possible recognition of any Government of Nicaragua, which question was fully discussed in the Secretary of State’s note to the then chargé d’affaires, Mr. Rodriguez, of December 1, 1909. Dr. Madriz has appealed to the President for recognition, but thus far the attitude of the United States remains unchanged.
- Same to American consulate at Bluefields.↩