The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-01
KNOX WARNS MGDRIZ NAVY
MUST NOR INTERFERE WITH
ANY AMERICAN VESSELS.

Orders sent % Csmmander GIlmsr IN Ne.
gard 10 the VEINS ami lieT Capture,
FstrNdA AulhsriRed % Opsn . New
Bluenelrla Custom Houss at Ones
WAsWN0rCN. May 81. Secretary Of
STATE Knox has served notice on. the
MadriE gunboat Venus. which recently
attempted b. blockade the port IT Blue
fields. Nicaragua. that further intsrfeT-
ence with American vessels will not he
tolerated This word was sent through
Commander ". ". Gilmar. o. y. n.
commanding Officer of tho gunboat
Paducah and senior naval oficer In
NicaraUian waters. The action was
taken after the Department had been in
formed by Thomas p Moha {, American
Consul AZ Blushelds that IN, American
owned slOop Adelaide had been seized
and that the American owned schooner
Esfusrso vas stopped and her cargo.
which was owned by Americans. ssibsi
by MSdriE supporters
Secretary Knox denied the right Of
either faction 90 interfere with American
commerce. There il some question a. h
whether or not the position assumed IL
retroactive aud cnntsmplates the ~
covery 81 the vessels which have already
been taken by the Madriz faction. The
general belief here is that Commander
Gilmer viii require the return % the
vessels and cargoes
Secretary knoS has also recognised tho
right - the ESTRADA faction o. establish
a new custom houss a. supersede the one
on the Bluh. about four miles fr1m Blue
fields which has been captured by Madriz's
army. This right was recognized because
Bluefelds s still IN the control q the
Estrada faction The Department IL fol-
loving ont the policy adopted several
months ago. when the administration Of
the customs revenues IN western Mic
aragua was recognized az belonging
20 the MadTiz faction because il was in
de facto control oi the territory
The following instructions have been
sent 10 Commander Gilmer
The attitude OF the United States
remains precisely as -et forth in the
~ cretary Of States letter TO Rodriguez
December /. 1910. which continues en-
tirely spplicabie 10 the present situation.
The capture by the Madriz faction Of the
former Custom House az the BhlT does not
aiec, the fact that Bluehslds with certain
adjacent territory. for which goods
hitherto passing that Custom House are
intended. appears 10 remain. a. hereto
fore. under the DE- facto control oi the
Estrada faction THIS Government there
fore admits the right n the Estrada
faction 70 collect customs for Bluehelds
and denies this right 70 the other faction.
lnasmuch az this Government recognizes
neither faction a. Government NJ Near
aqua hut merely a. in ~ fact0 control u
portions Of the country. proclamation
on either part which are inconsistent with
thi. attitude are without eHec, on the
[ niied States aud IT, citizens.
The Consul a. Bhsehelds reports that
ne American owned slOop ADELAIDE has
been seized by the Madriz faction and that
the American owned schooner Esfuerzo
was stopped and American owned cargo
seized by thOss m control az the BluH
This Government denies the right Of either
faction 20 seizs American vessels or prop
erty without consent ~ and recon
penss 10 the owners In such cases Won
will Instantly act 10 accordance With this
policy
You viii immediately notify both fac
tons and tho shining interest. OF the
foregoing