File No. 817.00/2167.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State .
Managua , August 7, 1912 .
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith copies of letters1 sent to General Mena in an effort to prevent an armed conflict in Nicaragua.
Even after he had fled during the night from the capital to Masaya in violation of his pledge to deliver up his forces to the Nicaraguan Government I still continued to try to bring about a peaceful settlement of the difficulty, and with that end in view I sent a telegram on July 30, confirmed by letter, urging him not to resort to violence and intimating that he might still explain his departure from the barracks as a reasonable precaution for the protection of his men and for the avoidance of hostilities.
The same afternoon he replied by telegram in which, after trying to justify his conduct, he insinuated that President Díaz should retire in favor of the second designate, Marcos Mairena, passing over the first for the reason, unexpressed though none the less obvious, that Luis Correa, who was next in line of succession, was known to be friendly to the Government. Mena’s reply indicated that he was being advised in the matter by others, and, knowing how susceptible he is to influence, I wrote again on July 31, suggesting another personal [Page 1034] interview, discountenancing any disloyalty to President Díaz and impressing again on him to respond to the offer of reconciliation made by the President and General Chamorro.
That night the Government outpost intercepted two letters which proved conclusively that Mena was playing false and that he was already beginning to arm his allies, the Zelayistas, for the overthrow of the Government by force. In order to gain time to transport a certain number of rifles from Granada to León he continued his correspondence and on the 2nd of August he sent to the Legation a telegram, not completed because of the cutting of the wires, in which he said: “I am animated by the best intention to conclude happily your worthy and generous labor to reach a harmonious solution”; and lie added that, although appreciating my humanitarian motives in desiring to avoid strife, his army was insisting on a change in the presidency.
The following day I sent my third communication informing him of the protest made by the American owner of the railroad against his unlawful seizure and destruction of its property, and warning him to restore such part as was still in his possession and to desist from any interference in the future. This letter was delivered by one of the Government’s messengers who reported that he had been maltreated and cautioned under threat not to bring any more notes. Mena in his reply to me stated that he had referred the protest to his so-called national assembly, convoked by him in Masaya, and he enclosed a copy of a resolution of that body denying the American company’s right to complain. From another resolution of the same sort it appears that on August 1 he conferred on himself the title of “General in chief of the Allied Forces”, and assuming legislative powers declared that having been attacked in his office and compelled to resign as Minister of War, he therefore decreed that Adolfo Díaz be removed from the presidency and that the power be deposited in Marcos Mairena. This decree appears to have been approved by the rump assembly on August 3. The regular National Assembly in the capital at Managua adjourned on June 30 last.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩