File No. 817.00/1784.
The Secretary of State to the Attorney General .
Washington , July 24, 1912 .
Sir: The American Legation at Managua has been informed that General Luis Mena, Secretary of War in the Cabinet of President Díaz of Nicaragua, has recently, without the knowledge of the President of that country, placed an order for the account of the Government of Nicaragua with Park Benzinger and Company of New York for two gasoline launches, each armed with six Colt machine guns and equipped with a large amount of provisions. It is reported that this order refers to the launches Zorayda and Kasagi, to be purchased from the Jennings Yacht Brokerage Company, and amounts in all to $30,000.
As this may be preparatory to a revolutionary movement against the present Government of Nicaragua, and in order that the Legation may be advised as to the truth of this report, I have the honor to request that the result of such investigation as you may deem expedient to conduct in this connection be communicated to this Department at your early convenience.
I have [etc.]