Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1894

Mr. Baker to Mr. Gresham.

Legation of the United States,
Managua, August 28, 1894. (Received September 13.)

Sir: On the morning of the 16th of August two citizens of the United States and twelve subjects of Great Britain, all residents of Bluefields, Nicaragua, were placed under arrest by order of Commissioner Madriz and sent immediately to Managua, without any opportunity to arrange any of their business or family affairs or to make any other preparations for their enforced journey or their comfort. They arrived at this place last evening, after twelve days of most disagreeable travel. They were in charge of General Reyes. I promptly called upon the General and upon the prisoners after their arrival. At my request the General kindly permitted me to take the two Americans to my house for the evening. The names of these gentlemen are J. S. Lampton and George B. Wiltbank. No charges have been made against any of the persons under arrest.

Of the two Americans, I believe it can truthfully be said that they have neither of them been unfriendly, by word or deed, to the Government of Nicaragua. Mr. Wiltbank accepted the position of magistrate to act during the time that the functions of the Nicaraguan Government were suspended at Bluefields in July last, and Mr. Lampton acted as a member of the council formed during, the same interregnum. Both of these men were urged to accept these respective positions by the business men of the place, and their acceptance met the approval of Commander O’Neil, of the U. S. S. Marblehead. During their incumbency of these positions they did not, either officially or unofficially, so they affirm, perform any act detrimental to the sovereignty or dignity of the supreme Government of Nicaragua, their official acts being confined to a preservation of the peace in the town and the promotion of the local business interests.

Having had a full consultation with these men, I will see the President in their behalf, at his convenience, to-day: As our mail for New York closes here this morning at 8.30, I hasten to get this in the post-office.

The names of the British subjects here under arrest follow:

E. D. Hatch, Her Britannic Majesty’s vice-consul at Bluefields; W. H. Brown, Captain Brownrigg, H. C. Ingram, John Taylor, M. Taylor, J. O. Thomas, W. Glover, S. Hodgson, George Hodgson, J. W. Cuthbert, attorney-general and chief adviser of the Mosquito chief, and Charles Patterson, the late vice-president of the Mosquito government.

It will be observed that in the list of prisoners the names of the vice-president and of the attorney-general and chief adviser of Chief Clarence appear. Chief Clarence was taken by the British man-of-war to Jamaica for preservation.

I am, etc.,

Lewis Baker.

P. S.—As I was about to mail the above my morning papers arrived announcing that Messrs. Lampton and Wiltbank are to be expelled from the country. Thinking that they might be sent this morning on the ship now due, I promptly addressed the inclosed statement and protest to the President.

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Baker to President Zelaya.

Legation of the United States,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Salvador,
Managua, August 28, 1894.

Mr. President: I observe it stated in a morning paper that Messrs. J. S. Lampton and George B. Wiltbank, together with several other residents of Bluefields, were arrested and brought to this city as prisoners for active participation in the outbreak in the Mosquito Reserve in July. It is also stated that your excellency has decreed that these two men, with others, are to be exiled from the country. Messrs. Lampton and Wiltbank are citizens of the United States. They deny that they participated in any way in the movement to overthrow the supremacy of Nicaragua in July last, or at any other time. They claim that their every movement during the time was intended to restore peace and preserve the business interests of the country.

But, Mr. President, should they be shown to be mistaken in this, the constitution of Nicaragua, if I read it correctly, guarantees to them a reasonable time in which to wind up their business affairs.

If the announcement that these men are to be expelled from the country is correct, and if it is the intention to send them at once in the face of this guarantee, I must, in the name of the Government of the United States, whose citizens they are, enter my respectful but most earnest protest. I ask that they be given a reasonable time in which to dispose of their business interests.

With great respect, etc.,

Lewis Baker.