Consul Moffat to the Secretary of State.

No. 142.]

Sir: I have the honor to communicate the text of the demand of Executive Delegate Julian Irias (commanding the Nicaraguan man-of-war Venus) upon Gen. Juan J. Estrada, general in chief of the revolution, for the surrender of the city of Bluefields and the Bluff.

The demand, dated May 16, 1910, was transmitted to Gen. Estrada through the medium of the U. S. S. Paducah and this consulate, being delivered on May 16, 1910, at 8 p.m.

Executive Delegate,
Aboard Man-of-War “Venus,”
Bluefields, May 16, 1910.

Gen. Juan J. Estrada,
General in Chief of the Revolution:

In my capacity as executive delegate, with the functions of commander general of the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua, I hereby intimate to you in the most formal manner to surrender the fortress of the Bluff and of the city of Bluefields, offering you and to your followers every guaranty in accordance with the laws of war; and, in case of nonacceptance, I notify you categorically that I hereby grant unto you the term of 24 hours—that is to say, until 8 p.m. to-morrow—in order that the aged and infirm, women and children, and all other noncombatants may vacate the places above indicated. When the said mentioned time has expired, I Bhall proceed to open an attack and bombardment, directing fire upon the places occupied by military forces, endeavoring as much as possible not to permit private property to suffer, further declining from this moment all responsibility for the loss of blood or damage to property.

You should, complying with your duty, bring the present to the notice of all foreign subjects and noncombatant residents in order that they may retire to safe places without the line of danger.

Julian Irias,

Executive Delegate.

I have, etc.,

Thomas P. Moffat.