817.00/5747
The Consul at Bluefields (Fletcher) to the Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt)2
Bluefields, May 26,
1928.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit a copy of a
letter received by the Manager of the La Luz y Los Angeles Mines and its
English translation.
In this consulate’s letter to the Legation dated May 17, 1928, paragraph
4, rumors indicated that Sandino had not sanctioned the wanton [Page 575] destruction of American
property, but the attached letter dated April 29th, 1928, if
authentic,3 indicates the present policy of
Sandino to be one of unrestrained destruction.
Rumor reached this port on the 22nd of May that Marshall had been
murdered. I have been unable to secure any authentic information
regarding this report, but the American military authorities stationed
in this city doubt the truth of the rumor.
With reference to the rumor that 50 raiders were operating near Rama on
the Escondido river you are advised that the patrol sent out to
investigate the report have returned to this city. They failed to make
any contacts.
I have [etc.]
General Sandino
to the Manager of the La Luz and Los Angeles
Mines
My Dear Sir: I have the honor to inform you
that on this date your mine has been reduced to ashes by order of
this command and to make more tangible our protest against the
warlike invasion your Government5 has made of our territory with no other
right than that of brute force.
Until the Government of the United States orders the retirement of
the pirates from our territory there will be no guarantee in this
country for North American residents therein.
In the beginning I confided in the thought that the American people
would not make themselves creditors of the abuses committed in
Nicaragua by the Government of Calvin Coolidge, but I have been
convinced that North Americans in general uphold the attitude of
Coolidge in my country; and it is for that reason that everything
North American which falls into our hands is sure to meet its
end.
The losses which you have had in the mine mentioned you may collect
from the Government of the United States—Calvin Coolidge, who is the
only one truly responsible for the horrible and disastrous situation
through which Nicaragua is now passing.
If you are a just man, you will understand that what has been
mentioned above is an effective reality.
The pretext that Mr. Calvin Coolidge gives for his intervention in
Nicaragua is to protect the lives and interests of North Americans
and other foreign residents in the country, which is a tremendous
hypocrisy. We Nicaraguans are respectable men and never in our
history [Page 576] have there ever
been registered events like those now taking place which is the
fruit harvested from the stupid policy of your Government in our
country.
The most honorable decision that your Government ought to make in the
present conflict with Nicaragua is to retire its forces from our
territory, thus permitting us Nicaraguans to elect our national
Government, which will be the only means of pacifying our
country.
Upon your Government depends the preservation of good or bad
friendship with our national Government; and you, the capitalists,
will be appreciated and respected by us as long as you treat us as
equals and not in the erroneous manner of today, believing
yourselves lords and masters of our lives and property.
I am your affectionate servant,
Fatherland and Liberty,
A. C. Sandino
