Mr. Baker to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
Costa Rica, Nicaragua,
and Salvador,
Managua, September 8,
1893. (Received October 4.)
No. 87.]Sir: I have received your dispatch No. 53, relating to the Krupp gun
incident at Corinto. It is, perhaps, proper for me to say that, within
two days after my arrival in this capital on the 12th of May and the
presentation of my credentials to this Government, I had a personal
conference with President Sacasa upon the subject under discussion, in
which I stated with much emphasis how the United States Government must
necessarily view such a proceeding. I received from him the positive
assurance that there should be no repetition of the offense.
I have now to report that I have addressed to the present Government a
communication, in which I have related the story in full, and I have
pointed out the fact that demonstrations of this character are contrary
to the precepts of international law and humanity, and are liable to
lead to extremely unpleasant results. I inclose the minister’s
reply.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 87.]
Mr. Baker to
Señor Madriz
Legation of the United States,
Managua, September 8, 1893.
Sir: Under date of August 18, I am
instructed by his honor the Secretary of State of the United States
to call your attention to certain occurrences at the port of Corinto
on the 10th and 11th of last May, during the incumbency of a
preceding administration of the Government of Nicaragua.
On the morning of the 10th of May, as the Pacific mail steamship San José sailed into the harbor at Corinto on
her regular trip from Panama to Mexican ports, the military
authorities at the town of Corinto trained a loaded Krupp gun upon
her. It appears that the gun carried a 50-pound shell, and was
pointed at the steamer and pivoted on her from the time of rounding
Icacos Point until after she anchored. An officer held the firing
lanyard in his hand, and the slightest accident would have Caused
the gun’s discharge and the possible sinking of the ship, especially
as the range was quite close.
On the 11th day of May the newly appointed envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary from the United States arrived at Corinto
on the steamship City of New York on his way
to this capital to present his credentials to the President of the
Republic. This ship had come directly from Panama, not having
stopped at any
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intermediate port, and this fact had been officially communicated to
the governor of the place, coupled with the information that the new
American minister was on hoard. Yet the gun was trained upon the City of New York in the same manner as it had
been on the previous day upon the San
José.
I am instructed by my Government to say to you that, although no
actual injury was inflicted upon the steamers, yet the readiness
with which the military authorities prepared to fire upon and injure
or destroy a passenger steamer sailing under a friendly flag and
filled with non-combatants can hardly fail to cause disquietude for
the future, especially in seasons of abrupt political vicissitudes
like that through which Nicaragua is passing at this time.
I most respectfully submit to your honor that demonstrations of this
character are contrary to the precepts of international law and
humanity, and I may be permitted to express the confident hope that
they will not be permitted to recur in a Nicaraguan port.
With sentiments, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
87.—Translation.]
Señor Madriz to
Mr. Baker.
National
Palace,
Managua, September 10, 1893.
Mr. Minister: I refer to your excellency’s
polite dispatch, addressed to this office the day before yesterday,
in which you state that the Secretary of State of the United States
sent instructions to your excellency, with date of August 18, to
call the attention of this Government to some facts which occurred
in the port of Corinto on the 10th and 11th of May of this year,
during the civil war in Nicaragua at that time. Said facts show that
the military authorities of the port placed a piece of artillery
pointing to the steamers of the Pacific Mail, notwithstanding that
your excellency came on board of one of them as envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary of the United States and having advised
the governor of the city about it.
In reply, it is extremely satisfactory to me to tell your excellency
that such occurrences are not nor have ever been a general rule in
Nicaragua, in whose ports all the ships sailing under the flag of a
friendly nation have always been received with entire trust and with
demonstrations of hospitality. Perhaps the Government which at that
time existed had fears that an expedition against Corinto might be
equipped in the port of San Juan del Sur, occupied by the
revolutionists, and this undoubtedly caused its military authorities
to adopt extra precautions for their security.
As circumstances are now different, and the Republic is in perfect
peace, I can assure your excellency that the fact you protest
against has not been repeated during this administration, and there
is certainty that it will not occur, since the orders issued about
this matter will be punctually complied with by the inferior
authorities.
With sentiments of high esteem and distinguished consideration,
I have, etc.,
