The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-01-03
MONROE DOCTRINE.
The United States Has
Driven John Bull Clean
Out of Bluefields.
NICARAGUA ALONE RULES
Report Of Secretary Gresham to
the President-An Old Dlplo-
matte Sore Healed.
NICARAGUA ALONE RULES


ing all the correspondence relating to the
subject, which has passed in the last
two years, making formidable docu-
ment of over six hundred pages. 1t
shows that the administration has sue
ceeded in practically settling one of the
most annoying international questions
that has perplexed this Government for
about fifty years and to the settlement
of which some of the ablest statesmen
of the United States, including Clayton,
Marcy, Cass, Seward, Fish, Evarts,
Blaine, Frelinghuysen and Bayard de-
voted their best efforts.
The controversy resulted from the eff
forts of the United States to open
shorter route to California at 4the time
that the Pacific Coast territory was ac-
quired. Following the treaty of 1S46 with
New Granada (since Colunbia), which
led to the construction of the Panama
Railway, a treaty was concluded by the
United States with Nicaragua in 1S49 for
canal from Graytown by way Of Lake
Nicaragua. Great Britain, however,
maintained protectorate over the East
Coast of Nicaragua, claiming guardian
ship of the Mosquito Indians ahd their
territory under a treaty with Spain,
>lde in 1888 and to neutralize this Euro
pean menace to the Atlantic entrance of
the Canal which was repugnane to the
Monroe Doctrine, the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, which has since proved one of
the most irritating arrangements, was
ratified in 1853. From that date until
now the United States and Great Britain
have not ceased their contentious over
the status of the Mosquito Territory,
but as shown in the report by Secre-
tary Gresham covering the correspon-
dence and submitted today, the Mosqui-
tos have finally been completely incor-
porated under Nicaraguan sovereignty
and Great Britain has absolutely sur
rendered all claims to the protection of
the territory and recognized the para
mount sovereignty of the Government
of Nicaragua" Following is the re-
port
GRESHA3l'S REPORT
The Secretary of State to whom was re-
ferred resolution adopted by the Sem
ate on the fourth ultinno requesting the
president ''if not incompatible with
public interest to send to the Senate
affairs at Bluefields in the Mosquito
Territory; and also to inform the SEN
ate whether any American citizens have
terfered with during the. past two years
by the Government of Nicaragua" has
the honor to submit the correspondence
called for, that the same may be trans
mitted to the Senate should the Presi-
dent deem it compatible with the public
interest to do so. 80
at Bluefields during the past two years,
the events to which 1t relates occurred
within the last twelve months.
In DECEMBER 1898, war broke out be-
tween Nicaragua and Honduras. In
January a detachment of Honduranean
troops seized Cape Gracias a Dios in
nlrNr1t civ
Mosaato stp ipu' A Ths ea Kearsage pgse was sas
terests Of American citizens, but was
Early in February, the Government of
Nicaragua sent military force to the
strip to repel the threatened invasion.
cupied the bluff and on the 18th they
claimed martial law IN the reservation.
called Mosquito Chief, protested.
War vessels Of Great Britain, and
later of the United States. were sent
foreign interests in that locality The
Nicaraguan commissioner to the Res
ervation attempted, with the concur
renee of the British naval and consular
representatives,, to organize provision
al administration for the strip, in which
Nicaraguans and foreigners were to
tive. This government withheld its sane
ton of the scheme as ininiical to the
sovereignty of Nicaragua ard American
citizens at Bluefields refrained from par
ticipating in the proposed administration.
British marines were temporarily landed
to protect life and property in view of
threatened disturbances, but they were
withdrawn when the necessity for their
presence no longer existed, and there
after an American vessel sufficed for
all needs Of foreign protection,
AGAINST NICARAGUA.
In July last a movement against the
Nicaraguan authority was temporarily
successful. the so-called Indian Govern
ment was for a time restored. the Bluff
OF Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan gar
rison of Bluefields expelled. A few citl-
zens of the United States who are be-
lieyed to have, taken part in this insur-
leans, hampton and Wiltbank, accept
ed municipal Office under the short-lfved
regime, and they and ten or twelve
others, mostly English and Jamaicans,
were arbitrarily arrested and banished.
The urgent remonstrance of this gov
eminent and its demand that the two
in any event an opportunity to arrange
their affairs before expulsion, resulted
in permission being given them to re-
turn to Bluefields under pledge of good
behavior.
With these exceptions and perhaps that
of one Ausbarn. whose return was for
short time refused but afterwards al
lowed, the undersigned is not advised
that American citizens in Bluefie1ds
have been arrested. Sundry complaints
growing out of Interruptions 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.
During the period covered by the
events in question the Nicaraguan Gov
ernment withdrew the exequatur of Mr..
Brada, the United States Consul at San
Juan del Norte on the ground of his al
legged unfriendly acts, but it was SUBJ
sequently restored.
An unfortunate incident for a time
threatened to strain the good relations
between this government and that of Nj
caragua. One Wilson. an American citi-
zen, having been murdered at Rama
by Arguello, 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 escaped with the
evident connivance of the local authori-
ties, and his rearrest and detention at
Bluefields were followed by q second
escape, under circumstances indicating
gross negl gence to say the least en- the
part of those responsible for HIS safe
custody. He is said to have fed the
country. thus baffiing the efforts of the
proper authorities to do Justice in the
case. The Nicaraguan Govern nlent,
however, testified Its abhoIrence Of the
atrocious crime by dismtssing Torres
from the oiilce OF Governor Of Rama
and by sending another commissioner
to the Reservation in place Of Lacayo,
who was In command OF Bluefelds at
the time of the second escape
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