File No. 815.77/105.
The American Minister to
the Secretary of State.
No. 95.]
American Legation,
Tegucigalpa,
February 15, 1912.
Sir: Referring to my cablegrams of the 7th
instant and the 9th instant, and to your telegraphic reply of the 10th
instant, I have the honor herewith to enclose copies of the three notes
addressed to me by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 7th and 8th
instant in regard to the action of Commander Dismukes of the Petrel in landing forces at Puerto Cortés in
connection with this Government’s resumption of possession of the
National Railroad. Translations accompany the notes.
Your instructions contained in your telegram of the 10th instant were at
once formally complied with. Yesterday in conversation the Minister for
Foreign Affairs showed some disappointment because greater satisfaction
was not offered to this Government and expressed the hope that written
instructions in that sense might be oh the way.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to the American
Minister.
Foreign Office,
Tegucigalpa,
February 7, 1912.
Mr. Minister: The Comandante of Puerto
Cortés reports by telegraph this morning that an armed force has
disembarked from the American war-vessel at present anchored in
those waters; and that this force, having subsequently reembarked,
left one of its members, armed, in the office of the agent of the
wharf, Mr. Greely, where he remains.
The presence, of American vessels in Honduran waters is always
pleasing to this people and its authorities, likewise that of their
marines on its soil; but always with the understanding that they
come unarmed, as is international practice between friendly
nations.
The present situation in Honduras being perfectly tranquil, so that
no danger threatens American lives and interests and, on the other
hand, said interests and lives being perfectly guaranteed by the
laws and Government, the disembarking of said force and the fact
that afterward, when it had been retired, one of its members still
remained, as a sentinel, in a place that is not and cannot be for
that purpose in view of the friendly relations that exist between
Honduras and the United States and it being a question of foreign
territory, could not fail to cause surprise.
With this understanding, I have the honor, with instructions from the
President, to address your excellency in order to ask whether you
have notice of the acts cited and of their significance, since, if
true, they do not correspond with the orderly and constitutional
condition of the country nor with the friendly sentiments that
inspire the relations of the two Governments, which that of Honduras
has always desired should be close and sincere.
With sentiments [etc.]
[Page 600]
[Inclosure 2—Translation.]
[Untitled]
Foreign Office,
Tegucigalpa,
February 7, 1912.
Mr. Minister: With instructions from the
President, I have the honor to transcribe to your excellency the
following telegraphic messages:
Puerto Cortés, February 7, 1912.
At this moment, which is quarter before 11 of the morning, I
have received from the Vice Consul of the United States in
this port, Mr. J. H. Watts, the communication which
literally says:
“American Consular
Service,
Puerto Cortés, February 7, 1912.
General, and Departmental Governor,
Present:
My Dear Sir and General: I have
the honor to advise you that, having refused us a brief
delay in taking possession of the railroad, sufficient to
permit instructions to be received from Washington and
Tegucigalpa, the captain of the war-vessel now in the port
has taken possession for the time being of said railroad
until able to receive replies to his telegrams and cables,
in which case he will return the railroad in accordance with
his orders.
With high respect [etc.]
J. H. Watts.”
In order to reply to this communication I await your
instructions.
Yours [etc.]
Andrés Leiva.
Puerto Cortés, February 8, 1912.
Mr. President: At this moment 10
armed marines disembark without consent of this
Comandancia.
I await your orders.
F. C. Quintanilla.
My Government, Mr. Minister, has with profound surprise seen the
conduct of the Commander of the war-vessel Petrel, inasmuch as the matter in question has as yet no
international character and the act committed by him, with violation
of the national territory, is in every light contrary to the
universally recognized principles of the law of nations.
This act, Mr. Minister, constitutes, further, a transgression of the
sovereignty of the nation, for the exercise of jurisdiction belongs
to its established authorities alone, in conformity with legal
precepts.
In view of what is here set forth, the Government is in duty bound to
protest against the acts committed by the Commander of the
war-vessel mentioned, acts which it attributes exclusively to said
Commander; for it does not for a moment imagine that the American
Government, cultured and civilized as it is, has authorized such
acts, much less if there are taken into account the frank and
cordial relations that today more than ever strengthen the bonds of
friendship between the Governments of Honduras and the United States
of America.
With the most distinguished consideration [etc.]
[Inclosure 3—Translation.]
Foreign Office,
Tegucigalpa,
February 8, 1912.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
transcribe to your excellency the following telegram:
Puerto Cortés, February 8, 1912.
We have the honor to transcribe to you the communication
which at this moment, which is 10.15 a.m., we receive from
Mr. D. E. Dismukes, Captain of the American war-vessel Petrel, of which the translation that
accompanied the Spanish says:
“Puerto Cortés, February 7, 1912.
“Mr. F. C.
Quintanilla, and Mr. Andrés
Leiva,
“Puerto Cortes,
Honduras.
“Sirs: I have the honor to
acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 7th instant, in
which you warn me to withdraw the armed force which I
disembarked in the territory of Honduras in connection with
taking possession of the National Railroad on the part of
the authorities of the Government of Honduras, formally
protesting against this action on my part and making me
responsible for the same.
“In reply I must remind you that before taking these steps to
avoid your taking possession by force of the general office
of the Railroad, you were respectfully and urgently
requested by the American Consul in a written communication
to delay your action until he, as well as I, could telegraph
to our respective Departments and receive replies.
“My opinion, as well as that of the American Consul, is that
the manner in which you attempted to violate the rights of
American citizens, which are recognized or at
[Page 601]
least, were
actually enjoyed under the previous Government of Honduras,
was very precipitate, and arbitrary. For these reasons, you
not having conceded the time necessary to enable me to
communicate with my Government, upon my own responsibility I
disembarked the force mentioned in your letter. And I have
the honor to assure you that it will not be possible for me
to comply with your request to retire said forces without
first receiving instructions from my Government.
“I have [etc.]
“E. D. Dismukes.”
Yours [etc.]
F. C. Quintanila.
Andrés Levia.
In the foregoing message the Captain of the war-vessel Petrel, Mr. E. D. Dismukes, personally
assumes the responsibility for the act in violation of our national
territory committed at Puerto Cortes; therefore your excellency will
find no difficulty in intervening to terminate the unauthorized acts
of the Captain of the Petrel, giving to my
Government the reply which it awaits from your high justification to
the notes which I have had the honor to address to you.
With sentiments [etc.]
