Mr. Hay to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
Washington, April 16, 1899.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of yesterday’s date, by which you inform me of the receipt by your Government of advices that a revolution has broken out in Bolivia and that British lives and property are urgently in need of protection in that country. In view of this and of the circumstance that there are no British representatives, either diplomatic or consular, in Bolivia you inquire, in pursuance of the telegraphed instructions of the Marquis of Salisbury, whether this Government will instruct the United States minister there to protect British subjects and interests should such protection be necessary.
Minister Bridgman’s dispatches have advised me of the outbreak of a revolution in Bolivia about the middle of December last, and of the critical condition of American and other residents of that country, except in La Paz, which he reported as safe for foreigners up to February 10; but two ministers besides Mr. Bridgman—namely, the Brazilian and French representatives—had remained at La Paz, and they had joined in the protection of foreign interests as far as possible. The French minister has subsequently quitted La Paz. By a recent instruction sent by mail Mr. Bridgman was authorized, should such a course appear unavoidable, to assist American citizens to leave the country and to close the legation and to go to a place of safety on the neighboring coast.
On January 14 Mr. Bridgman reported that the telegraph line to the coast had been cut and the mails interrupted. Since that date but one telegram had been received from Mr. Bridgman, dispatched February 21 from Mollendo, Peru, to which point it is supposed to have been conveyed by an Indian runner.
[Page 343]Under these circumstances there appears to be small chance of direct communication with Mr. Bridgman. I have, however, adopted the safest and probably the speediest means of doing so, and have had pleasure in telegraphing to the United States consular agent at Mollendo to forward to the minister at La Paz an instruction to protect British subjects and interests if necessary, and to notify the Bolivian authorities of his assumption of such protective office.
I have, etc.,