Mr. Braida to Mr.
Uhl
Consulate
of the United States,
San Juan del
Norte, August 23,
1894.
(Received September 5, 1894.)
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copies
of the correspondence in behalf of the release of the American citizens, Mr.
J. S. Lampton and Capt. George B. Wiltbank, in order to leave this country,
as offered to them at Bluefields by General Porto Carrero, in the name of
Minister Madriz.
Also the answer received from General-in-Chief Don P. Reyes I beg also to
report that Her Majesty’s ship Mohawk arrived last
night, 6 p.m., off Grey Town. Captain Stuart came immediately on shore and
had an interview with General Reyes, visited the prisoners, and called on
me. He sails back to Port Limon, expecting to find instructions concerning
the offensive policy recently developed by the Nicaraguan officials against
the British representatives. The Bluefields proconsul being arrested, and no
navy officer accepted to perform the consular service, Dr. J. Johnstone, new
appointed consul for Nicaragua, resident at San Juan del Norte, has also
been declared to be ignored, and so there is de facto not one British
consular representation along the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. The fourteen
prisoners will to-morrow be taken to Managua.
I have, etc.,
S. C. Braida,
United States Consul.
[Inclosure 1.]
Messrs. Lampton and
Wiltbank to Mr. Braida.
Grey
Town, Nicaragua, August,
1894.
Sir: On the 16th instant we, the undersigned,
were arrested in the town of Bluefields by order of Dr. Madriz, special
commissioner to the Mosquito Reserve, and informed that we had to
proceed to Managua to answer for our conduct in the reserve, the
particulars of which the officer in charge declined to give, as it was
the decree of Dr. Madriz that we had to be taken to Managua or leave the
country. We stated unless we could be informed of charges against us,
and not knowing any reasons for such arbitrary measures, and being a
different language and laws quite contrary to those under which we came
into the country, namely, the Mosquito Reserve, under the treaty of
Managua, English-speaking community, English laws, we elected to leave
the country than to proceed to Managua. We were informed that we had to
proceed to Grey Town. We have arrived here, and now ask that
[Page 330]
you demand from the general in
command our release, in accordance with the condition made by Dr.
Madriz, through his officer, Gen Porto Carrero.
We are, etc.,
- J. S. Lamptón, Planter.
- Geo. B. Wiltbank, Planter.
This is a true copy.
[
seal.]
S. C. Braida,
United States
Consul.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Braida to
General Reyes.
United
States Consulate,
San Juan del
Norte, August 22,
1894.
Sir: I received last night a communication from
the two American citizens, Mr. J. S. Lampton and Mr. George B. Wiltbank,
arrested at Bluefields and brought here in your charge. I beg to
transmit you herewith a copy of the same, and have the honor to demand
the release of the two gentlemen on the condition granted by his
excellency, Minister Don José Madriz—that they may leave this country. I
add to this request my exequatur, proving that I am the authorized
consul of the United States for San Juan del Norte and dependencies
thereof, expecting that you will be so good as to return it to me after
having examined it.
I have, etc.,
[
seal.]
S. C.
Braida,
United States
Consul.
[Inclosure 3.—Translation.]
General Reyes to
Mr. Braida.
San
Juan del Norte, August 22,
1894.
Sir: I have received your very attentive
communication of this date, together with the exposition, a copy of
which you inclose the same, which has been brought to your knowledge by
two American citizens. I am very sorry not to be able to accede to your
desire, for it is my duty to comply strictly with the written
instructions placed in my hands by Minister José Madriz, the
representative of the executive power on the Atlantic Coast. He has not
consigned in these instructions the faculty and power to give them, the
political prisoners, liberty to leave the country, who came guarded by
the forces which I command.
I have, etc.,
