The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-04
MR.. GRESHAM'S STORY
SECRETARY OF STATES ACCOUNT OF
THE BLUEFIELDs TROUBLE.
Three Hundred Pages of Official Cor
ident on Request of the Senate.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3-The President to-
day sent to the Senate about three hun
dred pages of correspondence relative to
Bluefields, summarized in the following let
ter from Secretary Gresham to the Presi-
dent:
The Secretary of State to whom was re-
ferred resolution adopted by the Senate
on the 4th ult., requesting the President,
IF not incompatible with public interests
to send to the Senate any reports or cor
respondence relating to affairs at Blue
fields. in the Mosquito territory. and also
TO inform the Senate whether any Amer
lean citizens have been arrested the
rights of any American citizens at Blue
fields have been interfered with during the
past two years by the government of Mica
ragua,' has the honor to submit the cor
respondence called for. and the same may
President deem it compatible with the pub
lie interest to do SO. Although the reso
the past two years the events to which it
relates occurred within the last twelve
months.
In December 1893. war broke out between
Nicaragua and Honduras. In January a
detachment of Honduran troops seized Cape
Gracias a Dies, in Nicaragua about sew
enty miles above the Mosquito strip The
kearsarge was ordered to Bluefields TO pro-
tect the interests of American citizens, but
was wrecked the way on Roncador reef
Early in February the government of Mica
ragua sent a military force to the strip
to repel the threatened invasion. On Feb
IL the Nicaraguans occupied the bluff, and
on the 18th they took possession of Blue
reservation Against this action Clarence.
the so-called Mosquito chief protested.
the United States were sent to Bluefields
to. protect the respective foreign interests
in that locality. The Nicaraguan commits
sioner of the reservation attempted, with
the concurrence of the British naval and
consular representatives, to organize a pro-
visonal administration for the strip in
which Nicaraguans and foreigners were to
take part but the endeavor proved abortive
a
of Nicaragua and American interests at
Bluefields and refrained from participating in
the proposed administration British ma
rines were temporarily landed to protect
life and property, in view of threatened
the necessity for their presence no longer
existed and thereafter an American vessel
sufficed for all needs of foreign protection
In July last a movement against the Mica
raguan authority was temporarily success
full. the so-called Indian government was for
time restored, the bluff was captured with
out loss of life on the part Of Nicaragua
and the Ncaraguan garrison of Bluefelds
expelled. few citizens of the United
States were believed to have had part in
this insurrection. Two Americans-Lemp-
ton and Wiltbank-accepted municipal office
under the short-lived regime and they and
ten or twelve others, mostly English and
Jamaicans, were arbitrarily arrested and
government and it's demand that the two
Americans be allowed a hearing, and in
aff s before egpuison resulted n BEER per
mission being given them to return to Blue
fields under pledge of good behavior. With
these exceptions, and perhaps that of one
Ausbern, whose return was for a short re-
fused. but afterwards allowed, the under
signed is not advised that American citi-
zens in Bluefields have been arrested. Sum
dry complaints growing out of Interrupt
tons OF trade and use Of American vessels
by the Nicaraguan authorities have had
proper attention and will doubtless yield
to the usual methods of treatment.
in question the Nicaraguan government
withdrew the exequatur of Mr.. Braida, the
United United states consul at at s San , Juan Del
friendly acts, but it was subsequently re-
stored. An unfortunate incident threatened,
for time, to strain the good relations be-
tween this government and that of Nj
caragua. One Wilson, American citizen,
having been murdered at Rama by Ar
guellO, the temporary governor of the town,
a demand for the trial and punishment of
the criminal and his accomplice was made.
Arguello was arrested at Rama, but
capped with the evident connivance of the
local authorities, and his rearrest and de-
tention at BIuefelds We're followed by a
second escape under circumstances ind-
eating gross negligence, to say the least,
on the part Of those responsible for his
safe custody. He is said to have fled the
country. thus battling the efforts of the
proper authorities to do justice in the case.
The Nfcaraguan government, however, tes-
titled it's adherence of the atrocious crime
by disnissing Torres from the office of gov
ernor of Rama and by sending a commits
SiOner to the reservation in place of La
cayo, who in command at Bluefields
at the time of the second escape.
The facts above stated and incidental
references to the treatment of the question
of the interOceanic canal by the government
of Nicaragua appear in the correspondence.
1t will be observed from the beginning of
the conflict which at times, serious,
this government has steadily recognized
the paramount sovereignty of Nicaragua
over the entire reservation, yielding to no
pretenSOnS inconsistent with that sover-
eighty. At no time during the last forty or
f IA the spe heen raa indian
contrary 1T has been an alien municipal
government administered according to
alien methods Although Americans and
American interests have some time domi-
mated in the strip, this government, while
Intervening In proper cases for their pro-
of its own or it's citizens to govern the
reservation or participate in the political
the Indians enjoyed under the treaty con-
Guided between Great Britain and Nicara-
qua was to be exercised by themselves and
not by aliens in their name. That treaty
contemplated the eventual surrender by
the Indians of of their fs strip and their i'm
on the same footing as other citizens of
the republic
+ copy of convention concluded on the
goth of November last is herewith com
municated by which it is declared that
the Mosquito Indians. while retaining
their customs and racial disposition
have agreed wholly to submit to the
laws and authorities of Nicaragua for the
and administrative organization
Great Britain, it is proper to say, has
given this government the most positive
assurance that she asserts no right of
sovereignty protection over the terri
tory, but, on the contrary respects the
full and paramount sovereignty of the gov
eminent of Nicaragua
COMMANDER O'NEIL'S REPORTS
Another interesting portion of the CORE
spondence is made up of the reports of
Commander Neil of the cruiser Marble
head, describing the status of the American
residents at Bluefields. He says they are
respectable, but preferred the mild and easy
government of the Mosquitoes to Nicara-
guam rule, and he was obliged to caution
them not to be too outspoken. The British
subjects Jamaica negroes identified
with the Mosquitoes and hating the Mica
raguans. On his advice. after the fight of
July s. Cabezas withdrew the Nicaraguan
troops and tranquility ensued every for
eigner rejoicing at the turn of affairs. The
Commander says that Cabezas laid the
blame of the outbreak Mr.. Hatch the
acting British vice consul. and he (O'NeiD
would not be surprised if this were So as
Mr.. Hatch was on most intimate terms
with the Mosquitoes. Cabezas also said that
he had allowed the British ship Cleopatra
to take away $50 soldiers. as it was a mat
ter of coercion.
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