Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-15

Senior Corea the Washington repre-
sentative of the Madriz government of
Nicaragua, is advised that Gen. Madriz
has sent a message to President Taft
protesting against the attitude of the
American naval commanders at Blue
fields and, indeed. against the action
of the State Department itself.
Senior Corea has been making ener
getic representations to the State De-
partment within the past month. He
has produced what he declares to be
absolutely conclusive evidence that
President Cabrera of Guatemala has
been supplying arms and ammunition
to the Estrada forces, and that these
supplies have been carried directly into
Bluefields, although they could easily
have been stopped and seized by the
Madriz navy had it not been for the
interference of Capt. Giimer Of the
Paducah.
Censures Commander Gilmer
Senior Cores is wrought up over the init
nations that are given from official
sources that the Venus was irregularly
and in bad faith acquired by the Mica
raguan government. On that subject he
has made presentment to the State De-
partment. reciting what he declares to be
the facts in the case and quoting at
length from American diplomatic history
to show that the present attitude of the
State Department is in pure violation of
all precedents.
In brief, he states that there was no de-
ception about the matter at all; the
Venus was purchased by the Nicaragua1
government at New Orleans from British
owners by the Nicaraguan consul. Alt
schul, who held his exequator from the
United States. for delivery to the Mica
raguan government at Greytown.
= 1t is true, he says, that it carried some
arms and ammunition. but in so doing,
notwithstanding every effort of the Es-
trada faction to defeat her purpose, the
United States court at New Orleans held
that she was clearly within her rights,
and that the neutrality laws had not been
violated The Venus sailed for Greytown
under the British flag, was there deliv-
cred. the British consul authorizing the
change of register and of flags and as
sisting in the change of ownership
Therefore, the minister pointed out to the
state Department, she thereupon became
either war vessel of Nicaragua or
pirate. If the former, he holds. Com
mander Gilmer had no authority to in
terfere with her: If a pirate, Senior Corea
says, he grossly neglected his duty in
not seizing her. In either case his con-
duct. declares the minister, deserves Sc
Cites a Precedent.
In another communication, intended to
meet the objection of the State De-
partment, that Madriz was not chosen
by popular election to be president of
Nicaragua, Senior Corea recalls de-
clslon by Secretary Seward, which, he
asserts. directly fits Madriz's case In
brief, this was based upon two revolu-
tons In Haiti. in 1865 to 1867. After
a struggle Salnave was installed as
president by the act of a committee
sent by the provisional government to
| Turks Island to fetch him. He as
sumed control. and finding, himself face
to face with a revolution, such as that
led by Estrada he fitted out vessels
Of war and bought military supplies in
New York city.
Just as in Estrada case. according to
Senior Corea. the revolutionists attempted
to prevent the departure of the ship and
supplies. But Secretary Seward, as quot
| ed in Moore's Digest, refused to interfere.
holding that the Salmave government
was the de facto government of Haiti,
whose rights must be respected There
was no violation OF neutrality. there
were no governments interested between
which the United States government
should be neutral. Said Secretary Sew
| ard, as he is quoted by Senior Corea in
his representations to the State Depart
| ment: The supplies in question are des-
tined for the aid OF a legitimate govern
ment in the maintenance Of its integrity
| against insurgents
| Confirms Madriz Victory.
| a message just received by Senior Corea
confirms the press report of yesterday Of
the occupation by the government forces
of Cape Gracias a Dios substantially
| without resistance. Thus. the minister
points out. the entire gulf coast of Mic
aragua is in the possession of MadriZ. Be
ginning at Cape Gracias on the north. his
| troops occupy Pearl Lagoon, the bluff OF
| Bluefields harbor, Monkey Point and
Greytown. This fact. the minister says.
disposes OF any pretense for recognizing
the right of Estrada to set up an in
dependent republic on the gulf coast. For
Bluefields, itself. with the entrance to
the harbor controlled by Madras is prac-
ticalIy an interior town, and 1t, with
Rama. few miles up the river. and
both with a combined population not ex-
ceeding $500 people. is absolutely all of
lNicaraguan territory in Estrada's pos
session. So. to recognize Estradas pro-
iected republic, Senior Corea holds. would
amount to attempting to erect a tiny re-
public within the interior of another and
much larger sovereignty-an impossible
lcopdffion