818.00/756
The Consul at Port Limon (McMillin), Temporarily in the United States, to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received July 10.]
Sir: I have the honor to report the following with regard to the recent political disturbances in Costa Rica up to the time of my departure on June 22nd on leave of absence.
On the afternoon of June 13th American Consul Chase in San José sent telephone messages to me which stated that American lives and property in San José were in danger, and requested that these messages be wired at once to Commander Porterfield at Bluefields, Nicaragua in charge of the gunboat Castine. This was done.
At 7:00 A.M. of the following day the Castine came to anchor in Limon harbor some fifty rods from the wharves where she still remained at the time of my departure for the United States. No guns were fired and no flags were flown save those of our own nation.
An hour later I received an official call from Commander Porter-field. Together we conferred on the situation. He told me that the urgency of Consul Chase’s call for protection for American lives and property had brought him to Limon without orders from Washington and that he thought it would be highly rash and inadvisable and certain to involve our country in some undesirable way and to commit it to an undesired course if he were to proceed without such [Page 841] orders unless lives and property of American citizens were actually in serious and immediate danger. He therefore thought it well to remain in Limon for the present and would appreciate any information I might have to offer which would throw light on the situation.
In Limon there has been absolutely no trouble and no demonstrations involving American citizens and property. Frequently of late and in order to satisfy myself of the Costa Rican’s feelings toward us, I have gone alone on foot all over the city of Port Limon by day and between the hours of eight and twelve at night, and I have never received nor known any other American—save perhaps a drunken seaman—to receive even a hostile or averted look. On the contrary we have received the most courteous and friendly treatment from citizens and officials alike. Property is absolutely safe. In the light of our present attitude toward Costa Rica it is clear that embarrassing situations must at times arise, especially at social gatherings where American representatives and Costa Rican officials are both present, but there is nothing to show really bad feeling for us on the part of Costa Rican Government officials.
To the Commander of the Castine I spoke of all this and added that I had talked with a number of Americans from San Jose whose experiences there had been the same. All evidence appears to show that while there has been great dissatisfaction in San José the present government and various small affrays with the police all has been between the different factions of Costa Rican population itself and has in no way affected American lives or property.
Commander Porterfield then said that what had occurred among the Costa Ricans themselves and what might occur among them in the future was no concern of his so long as it did not affect American lives and property and that he intended to proceed very slowly and cautiously until he could receive orders from Washington, and felt that if he acted hastily or injudiciously the consequences might and very probably would be deplorable.
I described to him the mountainous country and showed how perilous would be the situation for a trainload of marines going through it with bridges being blown up in front and behind the train. We agreed that if troops had to be sent into the interior it must needs be under the protection or at least permission of the Costa Rican officials. I added that I did not wish to influence him in any way, especially if American interests in San Jose might really be imperilled, but that I thought it well to be certain that the situation really demanded it before landing marines, and that in the light of the testimony of several citizens of San Jose—all with whom I had spoken—I did not, with all due respect to the opinion of Consul [Page 842] Chase, believe that either lives or property were in danger, and that there is such a thing as being too close to a thing to see it properly.
Commander Porterfield then spoke by telephone with Consul Chase in San Jose and arranged for hourly telephonic communication with him over the wires of the United Fruit Company, an agreement being reached that the troops were to be landed only in case of unmistakable peril to American interests there and the Consul’s positive demand for their presence.
Afterward we unofficially visited Antonio Castro, governor of Limon city and district. He was informed that the Castine had come to Limon harbor at the urgent request of Consul Chase to protect American lives and property, and that no other purpose was intended. He was further informed of the arrangement made for hourly communication with Consul Chase and told that so long as American interests were safe no landing would be made. The governor replied that absolute protection would be afforded the American Consulate, Consul Chase, and to all American interests.
We then visited Mr. G. P. Chittenden, General Manager of the United Fruit Company in Costa Rica, who offered to put at the disposal of Commander Porterfield at the shortest notice whatever cars he might need for the transportation of the marines to San José. In every other possible way Mr. Chittenden has aided us and has served Consul Chase. Regardless of possible complications for the company and regardless of great inconvenience to it and to himself Mr. Chittenden has always stood ready to do whatever good American citizenship appeared to dictate. Or so I have found him.
Hourly communication by day and by night has been maintained with the Consulate in San José, and up to the time of my departure on the night of June 22nd everything was reported quiet and [things] were apparently almost normal. A heavy guard of mounted Costa Rican policemen was ranged about the Consulate, though the words of Americans arriving in Limon indicated that it was not really needed.
On the morning of June 19th a delegation of diplomats accredited to Costa Rica came to Limon to confer with Commander Porterfield, to submit information which they had at first hand, and to offer their services in arriving at a happy solution of the situation. The delegation consisted of Julio C. Garces, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from Chile, and Horacio Fernandez, his First Secretary of Legation, A. J. A. Murtinho, Chargé d’Affaires of Brazil, Adolfo Confuegos, Secretary of the Mexican Legation, and of J. Margeirat, Consul General from Argentina. Mr. Chittenden’s secretary, Mr. Farrer, was present in the capacity of interpreter.
As the representative of the State Department in Limon Commander Porterfield invited me to be present.
[Page 843]Under the circumstances the delegates waived their rights to salutes from the vessel, and the persons named proceeded aboard.
Commander Porterfield put many questions to the ranking member of the delegation—the Chilean Minister—which together with the answers will have reached the State Department before this in his reports. The substance of the information afforded us was that the troubles in San José have been entirely revolutionary and between the government and Costa Rican citizens dissatisfied with it, that neither American citizens nor property has been in danger, and that the force of Costa Rican government troops and police on hand or available are entirely capable of handling the situation.
Commander Porterfield then asked me if I had any questions to ask. I replied no; that I felt he had pretty thoroughly covered the situation.
. . . . . . .
I have [etc.]