Foreign Relations of the United States, 1894, Nicaragua (Mosquito Territory)

No. 74.
Mr. Baker to Mr. Gresham.

Legation of the United States,
Managua, July 14, 1894. (Received August 3.)

Sir: The Government here gave out word some days ago that “an insurrection of the negroes at Bluefields had broken out under the leadership of a Hollander named Renling, and participated in by American citizens,” and announced the purpose of sending at once 1,000 men and 4 cannon to put down the uprising.

When questioned by me, the President and his minister for foreign affairs informed me that the news of this affair had been telegraphed to them from Port Limon, Costa Rica; that they were in possession of no further particulars; that the telegraph line between Managua and Grey Town was down; and that there was no way in which anything like speedy communication could be had between this place and Blue-fields. You may not be aware of this unpleasant truth, that neither telegrams nor letters are conveyed by this Government on such occasions unless entirely agreeable to them. In this case the President frankly informed me that communication with Bluefields was suspended.

In view of the fact that there is, and has been all the summer, a United States man-of-war at Bluefields, and the further fact that news from Bluefields via New Orleans to Washington can be sent in six or seven days, I am sure that you are in possession, both through the Navy Department and from Capt, B, B. Seat, the United States consular agent at Bluefields, of much more satisfactory reports than it is possible for me to obtain here.

I am still disabled from travel by an attack of fever, and am really disqualified for performing office work even; yet I am doing my best, under most discouraging circumstances, “to keep up my end.”

I have, etc.,

Lewis Baker.

[Inclosure in No. 74.]

Mr. Madriz to Mr. Baker.

[Translation.]

National Palace,
Managua, July 10, 1894.

Mr. Minister: In a telegram dated at Port Limon the Government is informed by the inspector-general of the Atlantic Coast that an insurrection of the negroes at Bluefields has just broken out, under the leadership of a Hollander, Reuling, and participated in by American citizens.

The inspector and the small force who were on duty have been compelled to evacuate the reserve after having witnessed the death of two of their number and the wounding and capture of others.

Confronted by such an attack the Government deems it expedient to take energetic steps toward the recovery of their national rights and the punishment of the authors of such a criminal act. It is very painful to it to learn that there are American citizens implicated in the uprising, because against its wish it will have to apply the penalties of the laws of war to them.

If your excellency can bring any influence to bear which may prevent the further participation of your countrymen you will be doing an act of humanity and free the Government from the painful necessity of severely punishing people whom it wishes to bring back to obedience and legitimate neutrality by peaceful and gentle means.

I hope your excellency will be good enough to inform me by telegraph at Leon, to which place the Government is going to-day, of the measures you may take for effectually preventing the intervention of the Americans in the rebellion in the reserve.

With the highest consideration, I subscribe myself, your very obedient servant,

José Madriz.