817.00/2591: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua ( Jefferson )
Your April 28, 2 [3] p.m.
Department has suggested to the Navy Department the advisability of the visit of a warship to Bluefields. You will be advised if this visit is practicable and you may confidentially inform the Consul at Bluefields of Department’s action.
In the Consul’s April 7, despatch18 he states that the signers of the petition to him had been notified that they must leave Honduras [Nicaragua] within 90 days. This information has been informally confirmed by the Nicaraguan Minister in Washington. The Department is unable to see anything in the petition which should cause its signers, mostly foreigners, to merit such treatment. The conditions in Bluefields appear to have been very bad and the petitioners apparently only ask the good offices of this Government, with the Government [Page 675] of Nicaragua, for their better protection. You will inform the Nicaraguan Government of the Department’s views and state that this Government would view the expulsion of the petitioners with grave concern.
You will further inform the Nicaraguan Government that the petition in question has caused this Government to realize that considerable lawlessness exists in Bluefields and that it is hoped that the Nicaraguan Government will take steps to end this lawlessness.