Mr. Dickinson to Mr. Seward
No. 128 bis.]
Legation of the United States,
Leon, Nicaragua,
March 6, 1867.
Sir: I transmit herewith a copy and translation
of a note which I have received from the minister for foreign affairs of
this government, reporting the capture by revolutionists of the two
forts on the transit route, and a copy of my answer thereto.
I am happy to say, however, that the report has turned out to be entirely
false, and that the forts referred to have not been assaulted or
disturbed, or the transit steamers interfered with, either by
revolutionists or other hostile parties.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Page 688]
[Translation.]
Señor Silva to Mr. Dickinson
National Palace, Managua,
February 13, 1867.
Mr. Minister: According to the report
received to-day from the alcalde of Pueblo Grande of Ometepe,
Castillo Viejo and Fort San Carlos have been assaulted and taken by
the enemies of the peace of Nicaragua; and as it is certain that for
this operation the revolutionists have made use of some of the
Transit Company’s steamers, his excellency the President has ordered
me to communicate this news to your excellency, and such as shall be
hereafter received, as I have the honor of doing, availing myself or
the honor to assure your excellency of the sentiments of esteem and
respect with which I sign myself your excellency’s very attentive
and obedient servant,
Hon. A. B. Dickinson, Minister Resident,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Dickinson to Señor Silva
Legation of the United
States, Leon,
February 15, 1867.
Sir: I received to-day your excellency’s
note of the 13th instant informing me that Castillo Viejo and Fort
San Carlos had been assaulted and taken by revolutionists, and that
some of the Transit Company’s steamers had been made use of by the
revolutionary party to effect this result.
It is so clearly against the interests of the Transit Company to aid
the enemies of the peace of Nicaragua that I cannot believe that the
company or any of their agents have been in the least accessory or
instrumental in bringing about this result, and I therefore do not
believe it possible that any of their steamers have been voluntarily
used to assist the revolutionists to the command of two of the most
important positions on their route, thereby giving the
revolutionists the complete control of the transit.
It is so easy to capture the boats while under the guns of either of
these forts that it is quite possible that some of them may have
been forcibly taken and used after one of the forts had been
captured.
I shall await further news of this deplorable event with much
anxiety, as I am satisfied that it will endanger the interests of
the Transit Company even more than it is likely to jeopard the peace
of Nicaragua; for while the transit will be interrupted and
disarranged, to its very serious detriment, the government, with its
present excellent military status, will undoubtedly be able to keep
the peace within the remaining portions of the republic, and to
retake the forts in due course of time.
Meantime, rest assured that I shall spare no exertions on my part to
aid the government in its just endeavors to preserve its authority,
even to the calling, if necessary, for the support of my government
to keep the transit from being broken up by lawless violence.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest esteem and
respect, your excellency’s very obedient servant,
His Excellency Antonio Silva, Minister
General, &c., &c., &c.
