Mr. Merry to Mr. Hay.
Managua, Nicaragua, March 6, 1899.
Sir: I cabled you yesterday as follows (translated): “Revolution Mosquito Territory is ended. Nicaragua quiet.” I received from Consul Sorsby, San Juan del Norte, yesterday, the following telegram in Spanish, translated: “Marietta arrived to-day from Bluefields and says Reyes left with passport March 1 for Bocas del Toro. Troops of the Government took possession peaceably of Rama, March 2, finishing the revolution. All quiet at Bluefields. All the foreigners mixed up in the revolution prematurely with the right of protection of the consulate, left Bluefields with passports, March 2, for New Orleans. Commerce in Bluefields without interruption.” The issuance of passports removes any cause for complaint that can be made by the Nicaraguan Government in regard to the protection of Americans involved in the revolt. In a friendly conversation held yesterday with President Zelaya he characterized as a piece of stupidity the granting of these passports, but it appears to me that in this he may do his military commander injustice as lie does not know, at this time, the conditions which controlled his action. I have a list of these parties, Americans, Englishmen, Cubans, Norwegians, etc., for future reference. Bocas del Toro being near the boundary line of Colombia and Costa Rica, General Reyes may find asylum in either Republic. He is either a very weak man or has greatly overestimated his following and influence. He was a close friend of President Zelaya, and in the government of the Mosquito Coast had been granted a large discretion. With the collapse of the Reyes revolt we have probably an end [Page 557] to revolutionary attempts in Nicaragua for some time. The location of this last attempt was greatly in favor of the insurrection, and had aid been given by western Nicaragua, the Government might have encountered great difficulty in suppressing it.
With assurances, etc.,