817.00/2589
The Consul at Bluefields (
Sanders
) to
the Acting Secretary of State
Bluefields
,
April 9,
1919
.
[Received April
22.]
No. 241
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy
of a report which I have just made to the Legation at Managua concerning
the lawless conditions prevailing in this consulate [consular district], a petition which was presented to me in
connection therewith, and my representations in the case.16
The decree exiling the foreign merchants has not yet been revoked and
apparently there will be an attempt to carry it out. The local Governor,
though maintaining his lack of accord with the decree, has,
nevertheless, served notice of its demand on many of the merchants who
signed the petition.
One of the difficulties in handling the situation is the evident effort
on the part of certain Nicaraguan politicians to make use of the
merchants’ complaint to affect the interests of certain political
groups. I am taking particular pains to see that neither the petitioners
nor this office are compromised in any way.
I am [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
Petition of Certain Residents
of Bluefields to the American Consul (
Sanders
)
Bluefields
,
April 2,
1919
.
Dear Sir: Whereas the East Coast of
Nicaragua and particularly the city of Bluefields finds itself
without guaranty of legal protection for either life or property, as
is evidenced by the fact:
- (1)
- That murders and rob[b]eries are almost of daily
occurance.
- (2)
- That the murderers and robbers go unmolested about the
streets.
- (3)
- That great conflagrations take place so often and so
evidently from arsons that insurance companies have either
refused to carry our insurance or only at the exorbitant
rate of 10%.
Whereas the local Government is clearly unable to give us that
guaranty of life and property which is essential to the continuation
of the vocations and ordinary pursuits of organized society, as is
evidenced by:
- (1)
- The lack of policemen and other peace officers,
- (2)
- The absence of adequate jails in which to confine
criminals and persons accused of crimes,
- (3)
- The fact that officers who would dare arrest and bring to
justice lawless persons, and jurymen who might condemn such
persons, would thereby endanger their own lives and property
through incurring the ill will of the persons
condemned.
Whereas we can obtain no assurance from the Government of Nicaragua
that the lawlessness about us will be speedily terminated, for the
chief officials of the Government admit:
- (1)
- That policemen can be had only by drafting into
service,
- (2)
- That they have no funds for repairing jails,
- (3)
- That they have no money wherewith to buy food for
prisoners; all of which may be true, yet immense sums are
monthly collected from us in taxes and duties, and
Whereas we respect your judgment and believe in the good will of the
United States of America towards all distressed peoples;
Therefore we, the undersigned residents of Bluefields respectfully
petition you to lay our plight before the Government of the United
States and endeavor to obtain for us, in whatever way may seem most
proper and effective, protection for ourselves and property to the
end that we may continue to reside here and follow in peace the
pursuit of our legitimate occupations.
We are [etc.]
[Here follows a list of 74 names]
