Office of the Historian

Señor Castrillo to the Secretary of State.

New Varnum Hotel,
Washington, September 12, 1910.

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of cable instruction received on Saturday evening, the 10th instant, from Señor Don Juan J. Estrada, President of the Provisional Government of Nicaragua, which is in peaceful and unrestricted possession of the entire Republic, and whose recognition I am now directed to ask of the Government of the United States.

For your excellency’s information I am further directed to represent:

1.
That a general election will be held within one year, the date to be fixed by a constitutional convention convoked for that purpose.
2.
That the Provisional Government will endeavor to improve and rehabilitate the national finances, to which end the aid of the Department of State will be asked in securing a loan in the United States.
3.
That such loan will be secured by a percentage of the custom revenues, to be collected in a manner agreed upon between the two Governments.
4.
That those responsible for the death of Cannon and Groce will be prosecuted and punished and a suitable indemnity paid to the families of the deceased.
5.
That, in order to facilitate compliance with the foregoing and in event there exist necessity for formal agreement, the Department of State is requested to send to Nicaragua a commission for that purpose.

Asking your excellency’s benevolent consideration of the foregoing, I am, etc.,

Salvador Castrillo, h.
[Inclosure.]

General Estrada to Señor Castrillo.

Managua,
September 10, 1910.

The Provisional Government over which I have the honor to preside being now in the peaceful possession of all the Republic, you will ask of the Department of State my recognition as Provisional President pending an election within a prudent period, not to exceed one year, and which will be fixed by a (constitutional) convention to be convoked within one month. My administration will endeavor to rehabilitate and develop the public treasury; to refund the national debt, to which effect it will ask the aid of the American Government to obtain there a loan, giving as security a part of the customs duties, the collection of which will be made in a manner agreed upon between the United States and Nicaragua; and to prosecute and punish those responsible for the death of Cannon and Groce and to pay reasonable indemnity to their relatives. In order to facilitate compliance with these and other arrangements you will request the Government of the United States to send to Managua a commission in event any of these negotiations require formal argeement.

Estrada.