NICARAGUA ASSISTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES LEGATION IN HALTING A REVOLUTIONARY OUTBREAK AT MANAGUA 817.00/2868: Telegram The Minister in Nicaragua (Ramer) to the Secretary of State MANAGUA, May 21, 1922-11 p.m. [Received May 22-11: 50 a.m.] 31. About one hundred revolutionists representing dissatisfied faction of the conservative party under Generals Arsenio Cruz and Salvador Castrillo quietly seized Loma fortress about noon today. Castrillo was captured shortly after in attempt to effect similar seizure of the Nicaraguan portion of Campo de Marte. Loma party gradually augmented by gathering sympathizers to about two hundred. Major Marston1 warned Cruz that any firing upon the American camp or the city of Managua would result in immediate intervention of American forces to preserve order and protect American interests (situation makes it impossible to fire upon Managua without jeopardizing American life and property). Cruz replied that he had no intention of firing upon city or camp. Legation repeating the warning of possible military intervention proposed and secured the agreement of both sides to a conference which was held in the Legation during the afternoon under the auspices of Major Marston, Mr. Muse and myself. Representatives of President Chamorro, Adolfo Cardenas, Acting for Foreign Minister, and Fernando Solorzano; [of] General Cruz, Adan Canton and Ramon Molina. Following is abbreviated text of agreement signed. Loma Fortress evacuated before ten oclock this evening. All arms and ammunition to be left in fortress as found fortress surrendered to American marine officer who will see that terms of agreement regarding arms is carried out. General amnesty extended to all civilian participants and maximum punishment of 30 days detention to all military participants in revolution. 'Maj. John Marston, commanding officer of a detachment of U. S. Marines assigned to guard the Legation. Benjamin Muse, 3d secretary of the Legation. Marston, Muse and I signed arrangement as witnesses. Seal of the Legation affixed. Loma Fortress surrendered to Captain Gregory of Marine Corps at eight o'clock according to agreement and Government forces took over half an hour later. Most of the American residents gathered in the marine camp during the afternoon as well as Nicaraguan officials with their families including President Chamorro and his Cabinet to all of whom protection was extended. Two insurgents and five regulars were wounded in desultory fighting before and during conference. No killed, no Americans or American property touched. Admiral Cole with squadron due here on 25th for courtesy visit was telegraphed to proceed immediately to Corinto. The Legation acted drastically in this crisis and I am eager to secure the Department's approval. As only hope of averting imminent bloody civil war I informed both parties that my Government would not permit this revolution in Nicaragua. In reply to repeated promise of the insurgents to respect the inviolability of Managua and of the American camp I indicated to them that they could not carry out their revolutionary plans without eventually involving this Government which would go to the limit in suppressing it and preserving order. I informed them of Admiral Cole's approaching visit and added that 10,000 additional Marines were within a few days call. Populace still agitated but Government has situation well in hand. Despatch follows.3 RAMER 817.00/2868: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Ramer) WASHINGTON, May 23, 1922-6 p.m. 21. Your 31, May 21, 11 p.m. Your action is approved and the Department desires to commend the prompt and capable manner in which you handled the situation. HUGHES 817.00/2873% Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Conversation with the Nicaraguan Minister (Chamorro), May 25, 1922 The Minister called to express his appreciation of the action taken by the American Minister in Nicaragua in quelling the recent revo 'Not printed. lution. The Minister thought that a very serious outbreak would have occurred had it not been for the prompt action of the American Minister. The Secretary said that this action had this Government's full approval. 817.00/2883: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Ramer) WASHINGTON, August 26, 1922-2 p.m. 34. Your despatch No. 93 of August 4th.* Except in an emergency which actually threatens the safety of the Legation or the lives of members of the Legation Guard, the Legation Guard should not intervene in any internal disturbances in Nicaragua without definite instructions from the Department. For its own protection it might be proper to prevent fighting in the quarter of the city where the Guard is stationed or where the Legation is situated, or to prevent firing by rebels from the Loma into the town. Any action of this nature, however, should be taken solely for the protection of the Legation and not for the purpose of intervening in local politics. The members of the government may of course be granted asylum in the Marine camp where necessary to protect their lives but they should under no circumstances be permitted to use the Marine camp as a basis from which to conduct the government or to direct operations against revolutionists. The Department of course leaves the handling of any sudden emergency to your discretion but it desires that you should not permit the Legation Guard to intervene by force in local political affairs except where such action is unavoidable in self protection. PHILLIPS AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENTS OF NICARAGUA, HONDURAS, AND SALVADOR AUGUST 20, 1922, ON BOARD THE U. s. S. "TACOMA" IN FONSECA BAY (See volume I, pp. 417 ff.) BOUNDARY DISPUTE WITH HONDURAS (See volume I, pp. 443 ff.) 'Not printed. PANAMA PROPOSALS FOR THE NEGOTIATION OF A NEW TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND PANAMA 819.52/150 The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Panama (Price) No. 775 WASHINGTON, January 7, 1921. SIR: The Department acknowledges the receipt of your despatch Number 2852 dated December 14, 19201 and containing the report of your conference with the Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs,2 in the course of which he informed you that the Panaman Government intended to consider the matter of negotiating a new Treaty with our Government promptly after the appointment by the Presi dent of Panama of a Minister Plenipotentiary to Washington. In view of the importance of this subject, the Department desires that you report minutely any information you may acquire relative to the modifications in the agreements now in force which the Panaman Government contemplates submitting at the time negotiations for a new Treaty may be entered into. I am [etc.] For the Acting Secretary of State: 811 f 244/50 The Panaman Secretary of Government and Justice on Special Mission (Alfaro) to the Secretary of State [Translation"] WASHINGTON, April 2, 1921. EXCELLENCY: In compliance with instructions received from my Government for the discharge of the special mission with which I am entrusted, I have the honor to lay before the Department of State for its enlightened consideration, various matters to which I desire to call the special attention of the American Government, as 1 1 Not printed. 'Ricardo J. Alfaro. 3 Left at the Department on April 4 by Señor Alfaro. 4 File translation revised. their satisfactory settlement is of vital importance to the Republic of Panama. These have their origin in the special relations created by the project of the Canal and the treaty of November 18, 1903,5 concluded for the purpose of facilitating the construction of a canal to unite the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The circumstance that the said treaty was concluded 15 days after the proclamation of the separation of Panama, and the urgent necessity that it be signed without delay by the two countries, explains why such a document contains articles, some of which are vague, some too broad, some inconsistent, and which, applied as interpreted by the American authorities of the Isthmus, impart to that covenant a unilateral and oppressive character which it is impossible to admit was the mature thought or deliberate intent of the two signatory countries. The application of several of these articles has given rise to constant controversies between the two countries because the Republic of Panama considers itself seriously menaced in its economic, commercial, civil and even international life by the manner in which the treaty is now applied and interpreted by the American authorities of the Isthmus. Panama, therefore, in opposing such interpretations is fighting for her very life. And, inasmuch as the United States not only cannot do us injury through the application of the treaty as Panama interprets it, but has on many occasions manifested its intention not to do us any injury or in any way hinder our development and prosperity, the Government of Panama considers that the time has come frankly to express its grounds of complaint and its wishes for the purpose of reaching with the United States an understanding that may once for all define the extent of the rights and obligations flowing from the treaty. All these differences are briefly enumerated in this memorandum. They show that the treaty in its present form is open to more or less conflicting and absurd interpretations and allegations and the two countries ought to be earnestly interested in removing those causes of disagreement. The Panaman Government proposes one of two measures: 1. The concluding of a new treaty amending or explaining that of November 18, 1903, and in which would be included all the clauses that facilitate the use and defense of the Canal that is now built. 2. The signing of a protocol in which by way of explanation, the juridical scope of each of the articles of the Canal treaty, about which there are divergent interpretations, shall be fixed. Those questions are as follows: 'For text of treaty, see Foreign Relations, 1904, p. 543. |