[Inclosure 1.] ASSEMBLY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, La Paz, December 13, 1898. MOST EXCELLENT SIR: Yesterday the people of La Paz, united with the troops residing in this city, proclaimed the Federal Government of the Republic, and established an assembly composed of the undersigned and Col. Jose Manuel Pando. In placing within the knowledge of your excellency this event we have the pleasure to salute the Republic of the United States of North America, expressing to your excellency our sentiments of cordial esteem, with which we subscribe ourselves attentive servants of excellency. THE MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE your SERAPIO REYES ORTIZ UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA, Present. [Inclosure 2.] GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE GOVERNMENT ASSEMBLY, MOST EXCELLENT SIR: The undersigned has the honor to announce to your excellency that the most excellent Government assembly, appointed by the direct and unanimous vote of the people, of which your excellency is already informed, has decided to appoint him general secretary of state, in which connection it is pleasing to communicate to your excellency that the Government, again established, desires most sincerely to strengthen by all means in their power the ties which unite Bolivia with the Republic of the United States of North America, of which your excellency is its most worthy representative. This first opportunity is taken by the undersigned to offer to your excellency the assurances of his high and distinguished consideration. FERNANDO E. GUACHALLA. The Most Excellent Mr. GEORGE H. BRIDGMAN, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Bolivia, Present. No. 63.] Mr. Hay to Mr. Bridgman. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 24, 1899. SIR: I have to acknowledge he receipt of your No. 73, of the 15th ultimo, reporting the outbreak of a revolution at La Paz, and stating that it is probable you will be asked to shelter refugees. As to the question of shelter, as distinguished from so-called asylum, you may consult the Deparment's instruction to the minister of the United States to Ecuador, printed in Foreign Relations, 1895, page 245. I am, etc.. JOHN HAY. No. 78.] Mr. Hay to Mr. Bridgman. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Nos. 90,' of January 26; 91,' of February 1; 92,' of February 3, and 93, of February 10 last, reporting the serious condition of affairs at La Paz and in the surrounding country. You will understand that you can have no diplomatic relations with the insurgents implying their recognition by the United States as the legitimate Government of Bolivia, but that, short of such recognition, you are entitled to deal with them as the responsible parties in local possession, to the extent of demanding for yourself, and for all Americans within reach of insurgent authority within the territory controlled by them, fullest protection for life and property. If the situation at La Paz becomes unendurable or more perilous, you should collect all Americans within reach and quit that city, taking them with you, demanding adequate escort to the nearest place of safety. I am, etc., No. 111.] Mr. Bridgman to Mr. Hay. JOHN HAY. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR. I have the honor to report the occurrence of another hideous outrage and murder at the hands of the savages in Bolivia. On March 1 Colonel Pando sent, from his army at Sicasica, 120 men commanded by Arturo Eguino, to Ayopaya, there to confer with Mr. Orellana as to the best means for simultaneously attacking Cochabamba. On arriving at the town of Mohoza, Equino demanded a loan of 200 bolivians from the priest of the town and 100 bolivians from the mayor. These demands being refused, the priest and mayor were imprisoned. Meanwhile, however, the priest had dispatched couriers to the Indian villages asking that the natives attack Pando's men. A large crowd of Indians came, and in spite of all measures taken to pacify them, the arms of the soldiers were taken away, the men subjected to revolting treatment, and finally locked inside the church for the night. In the morning the infernal priest, after celebrating the so-called "Mass of agony," allowed the Indians to take out the unfortunate victims, two by two, and 103 were deliberately murdered, each pair by different tortures. Seventeen escaped death by having departed the day previous on another mission. Each day brings news of risings of the Indians in different sections of the northern part of the country. A large party of whites arrived in La Paz to-day, fleeing from Indian threats. Unless the savages are speedily subdued the question of outrages and attacks by them will be, as my dispatch of three months ago stated, a most serious problem for Bolivia to combat. I have, etc., GEORGE H. BRIDGMAN. 1 Not printed. No. 114.] Mr. Bridgman to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to state that since the battle reported in dispatch No. 113,' of April 13, matters have progressed quietly and the people generally accept the idea that the revolution has ended and that peace is declared. Alonzo, on the day of the engagement, fled to Antofagasta, and is still out of Bolivia, with a number of his officers. The number killed of Pando's army is 117, wounded 127. Of Alonzo's men they estimate 400 killed and wounded; 1,000 of Alonzo's army were taken prisoners; 20 pieces of artillery, 4 Gatling guns, 1,700 rifles captured, with 38,000 bolivianos from the treasure wagon. The local government of La Paz soon go to Oruro, there to arrange preliminaries for reorganization. Several months must elapse before regular Congress convenes and affairs are fully adjusted. I have to-day sent cablegram as follows: SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith to the Department the following inclosures: Spanish copy of the original announcement by the general secretary of the Government Assembly in Oruro, Bolivia, of the establishment of a new national government in Bolivia, with request that official announcement of the same be made to the Government of the United States and that good wishes be conveyed. Also an English translation of the same. I have instructed my secretary, Mr. Zalles, to inform the Bolivian Government of the reception of the documents by the Department of State and to suitably acknowledge the courteous words. He has already announced the mailing of the dispatch. The dates show the papers were delayed in transit. I have, etc., [Inclosure-Translation.] GEORGE H. BRIDGMAN. Mr. Guachalla to Mr. Bridgman. GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE GOVERNMENT ASSEMBLY, Oruro, April 28, 1899. MOST EXCELLENT SIR: The superior judgment of your excellency has enabled you fully to appreciate the magnitude and importance of the political evolution which the Bolivian people have realized, and the immediate consequence of which has been the organization of a 1 Not printed. new National Government composed of Mr. Serapio Reyes Ortez, Jose Manuel Pando, and Macario Pinilla. Your excellency must be convinced that the unanimous desire of the country and of their actual representative is to strengthen the ties of peace and friendship that unite Bolivia with the Republic which your excellency so worthily represents. Under this impression I take the liberty of begging your excellency to have the kindness to announce to your distinguished Government the establishment of the executive power of Bolivia, together with the good wishes I am instructed to transmit to your excellency for the welfare of the Republic of the United States of America. I shall be highly pleased to cultivate with your excellency, in my character as general secretary of the most excellent Government Assembly, the cordial relations which I have the honor to initiate, presenting to your excellency the assurances of my high and distinguished consideration. FERNANDO E. GUACHALLA. Mr. Adee to Mr. Bridgman. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 22, 1899. SIR: Having laid before the President the letter addressed to him by the provisional junta of Government of Bolivia under date of April 28 last, announcing its assumption of administrative functions, and having also submitted to him your dispatch No. 127, of the 8th instant, in which you recount the circumstances under which the provisional government was formed, and express your judgment that it merits recognition as an unopposed and orderly de facto government, I had the pleasure to send you to-day a telegram conveying the President's directions as to your entering into relations with the junta upon your return to your post, as follows: Upon your return to your post, if you then ascertain that the provisional government of Bolivia is being de facto administered by the junta according to regular methods, affording reasonable guarantees of stability and international responsibility, and without organized resistance, you will notify the junta that you are authorized by the President to enter into relations with the provisional government, and will notify the Department of your action in order that the President may make appropriate reply to the autograph letter addressed to him by the junta on the 26th of April last. Please acknowledge receipt of this telegram. Letter mailed you to-day. I am, etc., ALVEY A. ADEE, Acting Secretary. PROTECTION OF BRITISH INTERESTS. Mr. Bridgman to Mr. Hay. No. 115.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to report that I received on April 17 the following cablegram from the Department: On request British Government you will protect British subjects and interests if necessary. Notify Bolivian authorities. HAY. I will notify the Bolivian Government of the same as soon as possible. At present there is no need of protection, as everything is quiet. I have in several instances protected British interests in the absence of any English representative. I have, etc., GEORGE H. BRIDGMAN. No. 154.] Mr. Bridgman to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to report to the Department the attitude of the Bolivian Government toward this legation relative to the protection of British subjects and interests in Bolivia. As instructed by the Department, I reported to the Bolivian Government the several requests to assume such protection, quoting the language in the dispatch received, and asking consent to act as requested until permanent British consular officer should be appointed. The request to the new Government was sent shortly after my return. * * Last week's mail brought this reply, of which I inclose herewith copy and translation. There could have been no mistake in that the Bolivian Government regarded it as a regular appointment to ministership and consulship, for after quoting the sentence in dispatch and cablegram from Washington, I was careful to explain that, with my secretary, Mr. Zalles (also United States consul), we were asked to temporarily assume the duties of chargé d'affaires, I as diplomatic interests might require and Mr. Zalles as consular interests might require, over the subjects and interests of Great Britain until English consular officers were appointed. As shown in inclosed reply, they seem to make no distinction between temporary arrangement and regular appointment. The inclosed reply is what I feared would be sent, as anything in the line of omission of exact form and ceremony is hardly tolerated by these people. Their idea evidently is that the State has no right to interfere with the civil judiciary authority, at the request of this legation, until some official document accrediting me, to the temporary position even, has been received by them. They do not state the kind of document they name as "usual," and I do not know what they want, unless it may be a request similar to the one received, signed in the foreign office of the British Government. I am more than willing to give all possible aid and care to British interests, but under existing conditions it can not be very much. A virtual copy of the above has been forwarded to the office of the under secretary for foreign affairs, London. Awaiting your advice and directions, I have, etc., GEORGE H. BRIDGMAN. |