Office of the Historian

No. 88.
Mr. Baker to Mr. Gresham.

Legation of the United States,
Managua, August 8, 1894. (Received September 4.)

Sir: On the evening of August 2 Mr. Gustavo Guzman came to this legation bearing, as he informed me, a verbal message from the President, to the following effect:

  • First. That the Government had sent a large number of troops to [Page 153] San Juan del Norte, where they had just arrived, on their way to Blue-fields.
  • Second. That this Government had chartered the steamboat Yulu, a boat owned by the Emory Company of Boston, flying the United States flag, to transport these troops from San Juan del Norte to Bluefields.
  • Third. That now the captain and crew of the Yulu, all Americans, refuse to carry the soldiers, for the reason that Commander O’Neil, of the U. S. S. Marblehead, had issued a proclamation forbidding vessels under the flag of the United States from “carrying bodies of armed men or military supplies” for either “party” to the controversy in the Mosquito territory.
  • Fourth. The President, therefore, requested that I, as United States minister, issue an order to the captain and crew of the steamer Yulu, assuring them that they run no risk in disobeying the warning of Commander O’Neil.

I could not believe it to be my duty to comply with this request; but, at the suggestion of Mr. Guzman, I gave him the accompanying telegram, marked Inclosure No. 1, which he had liberty to send if he so desired. Inclosure No. 2 is a copy of the proclamation of Commander O’Neil referred to.

I have, etc.,

Lewis Baker.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 88]

Mr. Baker to Commander O’Neil.

Legation of the United States,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Salvador,
Managua, August 2, 1894.

Commander O’Neil,
U. S. S. Marblehead, Bluefields:

The Nicaraguan Government had chartered, as I learn, the steamer Yulu, belonging to a company of Americans, to carry troops from Grey Town to Bluefields. The President desires to know if this is contrary to your order commanding the neutrality of American citizens. Please answer in care of Consul Braida, Grey Town.

Lewis Baker,
United States Minister.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 88.]

Order of Commander O’Neil.

U. S. S. Marblehead,
Off Bluefields, Nicaragua, July 14, 1894.

To the owners, agents, and captains of vessels under the flag of the United States trading in these waters:

In view of the fact that there is in effect a revolution going on in the Mosquito Reserve between the chief of the said reserve and his followers and the provisional council, which in a measure through its President represents, or assumes to represent, the Government of Nicaragua, these parties being in a hostile attitude to each other, and the former being at present in possession at Bluefields, you are hereby cautioned and counseled not to interfere with nor take part in the affairs [Page 154] of either faction by permitting vessels under your charge to engage in any military operations, that is, not to carry bodies of armed men or military supplies, knowing them to be such, for either party, nor to assist in any hostile demonstration; and should either party attempt to coerce yon to do so, or interfere with you in the peaceful pursuance of your legitimate business, you are advised to utter a vigorous protest, to show this notice, and to communicate the facts of the case to me.

Charles O’Neil,
Commander, United States Navy.