St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-03
is IT BRITISH INVASION?
ENGLISH WAR SHIP LANDED TROOPS
AT BLUEFIELDS,
NEAR THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The United States May Become
Involved in the Question as to
the Government of the Mosqui-
to Territory-Engiis Claim a
Protecsoratc Over This Dis.
puted Country.

to Territory-Engiish Claim a
Protecsoratc Over This Dis.
puted Country. .
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE report
that the British war ship Cleopatra has
landed troops at Bluefields. Nicaragua,
and interfered in the dispute between
Nicaragua and the reigning Mosquito
chief, is regarded with keen interest in
Washington, although, so far, this gov
eminent has taken no step beyond keep
ing Informed of the progress of events
through reports from Mr.. Braida, the
United States consul at San Juan del
Norte. The point involved i'll the pres
ent dispute is not new, but because OF
the fact that Bluefields, only sixty miles
distant from Greytown, the eastern
terminus of the Nicaraguan canal. occu-
pies location of great strategic impor-
lance toward that project. it may be
that the United States will become in
volved in the dispute in the fut-
ure. Certainly this is likely to
be the case If the british go
beyond the point of asserting protect
crate and seek to secure possession of the
place. The latest official news received
here from the United States consul at
San Juan del Norte is of the date of
Feb. and 10. He reports that 200 Mic
araguan soldiers were about to leave for
Bluetields to overthrow the Mosquito
government. This force occupied the
town on Feb. 10. The Mosquito chief
lodged protest with the British consul
at San Juan del Norte, Mr.. Bigham,and
besought his assistance in recovering
his rights.
THE UNITED STATES CONSUL
says it is believed that the Nicaragua
government does not intend to incorpo-
rate the Mosquito country by force, but
that an assembly of all the Indian
chiefs will he called to choose a new
council and municipal authorities.
The excitement was very great
when the British government re-
linquished to Nicaragua and Hon
duras her protectorate over the Mos
quito country by the treaty of 1860, it
was with condition that the Mosquito
Indians should be permitted to maintain
their own government. Under color of
this article. the British in times past
have INTERVIEWED between the indians
and Nicaragua. But the United States
government has always insisted that
the British had absolutely lost all claims
to a protectorate and that Nicaragua
held absolute sovereignty over the Mos
quito country. LII recent years the ma
tive Mosquito population at oiuehelds
has practically disappeared and the
town has fallen into the hands of
Jamaica negroes and other British sub
jects, who have directed the government
and established British forms of law.
The Nicaraguan government has been
DESTROYS of asserting its sovereignty
over the place, and it was possibly an
attempt of this kind that caused the
landing of British troops.
CONSUL STRAUSS TALKS.
New YORK, March "A. ID. Strauss,
the Nicaraguan vice consul, was seen
at his office this afternoon by the Asso-
ciated Press representative. After
reading the above dispatch. Mr.. Strauss
said. We'll, that is very plausible
story. You see, about three weeks ago
lot of drunken negroes arrived in the
Mosquito territory from Jamaica and
got into row with the Mosquito chief,
who is a worthless, drunken, good-for-
nothing fellow, and very illiterate.
They raised great deal of disturbance,
to the annoyance of the tradera residing
there, the majority of whom are Amer
leans, and OF the remainder. the British
traders are in the minority.
although the territory has had its
autonomy secured by treaty, the Mica
raguan government decided to protect
the resident traders and declared mar
tial law. The Nicaraguan soldiers were
sent into the Mosquito chiefs territory
to quell the riots and disturbances.
That is all l know about the matter
l had not heard of the landing OF Brit
iSh soldiers there until the Associated
Press dispatch was shown to me-"
Sir William Booker. the British con-
sui. when the telegram was handed to
him, said: Il have not heard anything
III reference to the matter, but, in my
opinion, the rights OF the Mosquito ter
ritory are protected under the treaty
equally by Great Britain and American