817.00 Bandit Activities, 1931/127: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua (Hanna)
119. The Department has received from Mr. J. A. Willey a letter dated April 29, 1931, enclosing a communication dated March 30, 1931,22 signed by the Committee of the Foreign Colony of Matagalpa protesting against the withdrawal of American Marines from that region and requesting that a detachment of 150 Marines be retained there until banditry shall have been eradicated. Please obtain from Mr. Willey copies of both communications.
The views of this Government with respect to the obligation which rests upon the Government of Nicaragua to afford protection to foreign lives and property within its territory have been communicated to you, as have its opinions with respect to the competency of the Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua to perform that function. You will [Page 819] so inform the Committee of the Foreign Colony of Matagalpa, and as suggested by President Moncada as reported in your No. 76, May 14, 7 p.m.,23 suggest to the Committee that, if the foreigners resident in that region consider the plans made for their protection by Guardia Nacional forces to be inadequate, it give consideration to the wisdom of making such additional special arrangements as have been made by the Neptune Mine Company and as are now being made by the Standard Fruit and Steamship Company. Please report results.