Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1919, Volume I

818.00/725

The Attorney for Costa Rica (Hazelton) to the Acting Secretary of State

Washington, June 17, 1919.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: I take the liberty of enclosing herewith a copy of a cablegram received yesterday from the President of the Republic of Costa Rica by his representative in this city.

The situation set forth in this cablegram is one which should be called to your attention, and in that connection I am authorized to say that tranquility exists in every portion of the Republic of Costa Rica, and there is not [no] necessity whatever for the landing of marines, or the employment of any force of any character for the protection of American life or property there.

And, I may add that the actual government of Costa Rica deems itself fully competent of coping with the situation.

In consequence of this, I venture to request that the necessary order be given for the retirement of the American cruiser from Costa Rican waters, as it places the government and people of Costa Rica in a false position in the eye of the world, as being under the ban of a foreign power which they do not merit.

The Government and people of Costa Rica are not only the excellent friends of the United States, but the authorities are sufficiently strong to give complete and absolute protection to American Citizens, as well as to all foreigners, and there is no higher evidence of this than the testimony already furnished by said cablegram of the action of the group of diplomatic representatives of foreign powers in Costa Rica, and I am able to inform your Excellency that I am reliably informed by more than ninety per cent of the American interests with large investments in Costa Rica, that they are receiving ample protection from the Government of Costa Rica not only within its borders, but in repelling hostile invasions from Nicaragua over which this Government, through the Department of State has ample control, and from many of these there comes an expression of dissatisfaction with the attitude of the American Consul, Mr. Chase, in the conduct of his office as a representative of a foreign government, which would seem to suggest that the substitution of a more gracious appointee in his place might go far to remove the irritation that his occupancy of the office seems to create.

Sincerely yours,

Geo. C. Hazelton

[Enclosure—Telegram]

President Tinoco to the Costa Rican Agent in the United States (Lara)

San José, undated.

This morning an American Cruiser arrived at the Port of Limon with orders to land marines for the pretended protection of the American Consul and American citizens.

This outrage is the result of untruthful information of the American Consul, Chase. Costa-Rica is absolutely tranquil, and the Government solid and strong, guaranteeing life and property of foreigners.

The Captain of the Cruiser declared that before landing marines he would wait for new instructions from Washington.

The Diplomatic Corps and some Consuls telegraphed to the Captain of the Cruiser that in view of his purpose, they stood ready to inform him that the landing of marines was absolutely unnecessary in view of the tranquility reigning in Costa-Rica and to that effect they would go to Limon or the Diplomats would receive him in the Capital.

The Captain said that he would ask for further instructions from Washington.

My Government hopes that friends of justice and right in Washington will give their support as it is more than cruel that Costa-Rica having given to the American People the use of its ports and waters in the Great War against Germany should now, in exchange, be treated with baseless and unnecessary injustice.

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