[Subinclosure.] Mrs. Stebbins's affidavit. I, Mrs. Al Stebbins, hereby certify that on Saturday, July 30, 1904, while sitting in company with my husband, Mr. Stebbins, in our shanty, situated on our place called La Polonia, in the department of Escuintla, I saw a number of men approaching under command of Meleton Agreda, captain of the soldiers at La Gomera, and as my husband suspected their intentions were not friendly he told me to go upstairs, which I did. Said Agreda approached my husband and asked him to return the rubber my husband had taken from Agreda's men the day before, which rubber my husband refused to return, at the same time asking for Agreda's authority to come and recover it. Agreda pulled a paper, with writing on it, from his pocket and held it aloft, but refused to allow either my husband or myself to read it; neither would he himself read it to us. Agreda then forced his way into our house and my husband came into the loft to get his gun. All this time the soldiers accompanying Agreda were there with cocked rifles and Agreda had his revolver in his hand, also cocked. When my husband came into the loft I entreated him not to shoot, and I myself descended to the floor of the shanty where Agreda and his men were, at the same time getting between his men and the rubber that was on the same floor. The soldiers were ordered to seize the rubber, but were apparently afraid to do so while I was in front of them, though repeatedly ordered to do so by Agreda. At last one of the soldiers, while his rifle was still cocked, placed the end of his rifle barrel against my body and pushed me to one side, upon which my husband ordered me to offer no further resistance, but let them take it, as they were too many for us. Before leaving, in addition to the rubber the men took possession of almost everything they could lay their hands on, including a saddle, spurs, shotgun, and other articles. While we still lived there some of the same men returned and partly burned our house down. Since leaving there it has been completely reduced to ashes. MRS. AL STEBBINS. The Acting Secretary of State to Chargé Brown. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Combs's dispatch No. 270, of the 26th ultimo, inclosing a copy of correspondence relating to the complaint of Mr. Al. Stebbins and his wife that a squad of soldiers, by the orders of Meleton Agreda, commandante of La Gomera, forcibly entered his premises on July 30 and 31, 1904, took there rom certain property, and assaulted Mrs. Stebbins. In reply I have to say that Mr. Combs's efforts to bring about an unofficial adjustment of the matter by the payment to the injured parties of a small sum is approved by the Department. I am, etc., No. 274.] F. B. LOOMIS. Chargé Brown to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, GUATEMALA AND HONDURAS, Guatemala, May 20, 1905. SIR: Referring to Mr. Combs's dispatch No. 270, dated the 26th ultimo, concerning the adjustment of a complaint lodged against the Government of Guatemala for abuses by government officials, I now have the honor of transmitting herewith a copy of a communication, dated the 3d instant, from Mrs. Al. Stebbins, informing the legation that the matter had been adjusted to her entire satisfaction. Mrs. Stebbins received five promissory notes from one of the leading commercial houses of this city, Fed. Koper & Co., for 1,000 pesos each. FR 1905-34 One note is payable each month from May to September of the current year. In the notes it is stated that Fed. Koper & Co. pay Mrs. Al. Stebbins the amount stipulated for account of Meleton Agreda, the offending official. I have, etc., PHILIP BROWN. [Inclosure.] Mrs. Stebbins to Minister Combs. GUATEMALA, May 3, 1905. SIR: Referring to the complaint of my husband, Mr. Al. Stebbins, against ill-treatment and robbery at the hands of one Meleton Agreda, commandante of La Gomera, and my affidavit of February 20 last, confirming same, I beg to inform you that the matter has just been adjusted to my entire satisfaction. As indicated to me in your letter to me of the 18th ultimo, I was called to the office of the minister for foreign affairs yesterday, where I received five promissory notes, each for 1,000 pesos, one payable the 20th instant and one each succeeding month for four months. The notes are signed by Federico Koper & Co., of this city. Embracing this opportunity to thank you for your good offices in my behalf, I beg, etc., MRS. AL. STEBBINS. No. 305.] ARREST OF CHARLEY MACMORLEY. Minister Combs to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, GUATEMALA AND HONDURAS, Guatemala, September 21, 1905. SIR: I have the honor to report the recent arrest of an American negro, Charley Macmorley, by mistake for a Jamaican fugitive wanted for extradition. Prompt measures were taken in his behal, but he was already on his way to this city under guard before I had the information upon which action could be taken. Immediately upon his arrival here ne was released and presented with 100 pesos by the British chargé in behalf of the Jamaican authorities and with a small sum by himself. I waived the reimbursement suggested in my note of the 19th instant to the Guatemalan Government, a copy of which, with other inclosures, is hereto attached, since the British authorities desired to assume the expense mentioned. I have, etc., LESLIE COMBS. [Inclosure.] Minister Combs to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. AMERICAN LEGATION, GUATEMALA AND HONDURAS, MR. MINISTER: I have the honor to inform your excellency that I am in receipt of a telegram stating that the negro, Charley Macmorley, arrested at Chichicastenango under the supposition that he was a Jamaican defaulter, is an American negro from Alabama, brought here by Mr. Fred. Prescott, the contractor, years ago as a cook, and that he has been sent forward to this capital. I request that I may be informed of his arrival and where he may be seen. If the facts are as represented to me I am sure your excellency's government will recognize the propriety of treating this man with consideration and supplying him with the means of a comfortable eturn to the place of his arrest. With renewed assurance, etc., LESLIE COMBS. [Inclosure 2.] The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Minister Combs. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA, CENTRAL AMERICA, Guatemala, September 19, 1905. MR. MINISTER: In reply to the kind note your excellency was pleased to address me to-day concerning the detention in Chichicastenango of an American citizen, Charley Macmorley, in the supposition that he was a criminal from Jamaica, I have the honor to make known the following: His Britannic Majesty's legation having asked, by means of a petition for extradition from the government of Jamaica, for the capture of a criminal, and unfortunately the facial description of that individual coincided in some points with that of Macmorley, hence the mistake. But as soon as the mistake was discovered Macmorley was put at liberty, as I had the honor to make known to your excellency by telephone, and even before the conclusion of the translation of the note I have the honor to reply to. Your excellency will be pleased to see the lively desire that animates my government to avoid every difficulty that may arise with the citizens of the Republic you so worthily represent out of consideration for the cordial frank harmony that unites Guatemala with the United States of America. I renew, etc., [Inclosure 3.] JUAN BARRIOS M. Minister Combs to the British Chargé. AMERICAN LEGATION, GUATEMALA AND HONDURAS, DEAR MR. HARRISON: The bearer of this is the American who was arrested by mistake for the Jamaican fugitive you are seeking. As the proper procedure would have been for the Jamaican officers to go to Chichicastenango instead of having him brought here, I think it quite right that they should bear the expense of his maintenance coming and going. I am therefore pleased to accept for him your kind offer of 100 pesos for that purpose, with the distinct understanding, however, that it is a governmental and not a personal contribution. Yours, sincerely, The Secretary of State to Minister Combs. LESLIE COMBS. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 305, of the 21st ultimo, reporting the arrest of an American negro, Charley Macmorley, by mistake for a criminal fugitive from Jamaica. The Department approves your action which resulted in the speedy release of Macmorley and his indemnification for the expense to which he was put. I am, etc., ELIHU ROOT. HAITI. EXCLUSION OF SYRIANS FROM HAITI. NOTE. For previous correspondence see Foreign Relations 1904, p. 393. No. 1657.] Minister Powell to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Port au Prince, Haiti, February 21, 1905. SIR: I have the honor to state that the government has served a notice for those Syrians who held false naturalization papers to leave the country by the next steamer after they had received the notice from the Interior Department, and in they did not leave at the time stated, the authorities would embark them. Many of these people received their notices within three days of the departure of the next steamer to New York. It was impossible for them to dispose of their goods in the time named for them to leave. Many of them carried a line of goods valued at from $10,000 to $15,000, for all of which they were indebted to American firms. They appealed to me to intercede in their behalf and to request the government to allow them a sufficient time to dispose of their goods. This request I deemed a just one and sought an interview with the minister of foreign relations, requesting that his government grant to these people a longer time; that it was impossible for them to liquidate their business within the time granted to them by the government; that they had committed no crime against the laws of the Republic, were peaceable, and if compelled to leave at the time stated by the government, their creditors would no doubt make a demand on the government for the value of the goods that remained unsold, which would possibly give rise to more claims for the government to pay; while if the government would extend the time, this difficulty would be obviated and no claims could be made against the government. The delay asked for would do the government no harm. I also called the attention of the minister to several articles that had appeared recently in one of the papers, the purpose of the writers to stir the passions of the lower class of people against all this people, to have them pillage their houses, and possibly the loss of many lives might result before the government could control the situation. I therefore requested the minister to take this matter under consideration and request the editors not to publish these incendiary articles. Mr. Férère, discussing the matter, said that in the United States and in Europe the government expelled persons who they thought were enemies and that these people were not Americans and they should leave the country. In reply to this argument I asked him to do this, not referring to their nationality, but simply as a matter of justice and right: that in granting this delay they were only giving these people time to close out. He then asked: "If we grant this time will they not request a longer time?" I informed him that I thought not. He at last informed me that he would use his influence with the President to extend the time three months, and that he would see that these articles did not appear in the paper against these people. Our interview was pleasant. I have, etc., No. 677.] W. F. POWELL. The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Powell. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 1657, of the 21st ultimo, reporting the use of your unofficial good offices on behalf of certain Syrians whose expulsion was ordered from Haiti without a sufficient time being granted them to enable them to dispose of their stocks of goods. The use of your unofficial good offices in their behalf is approved. I am, etc., ALVEY A. ADEE. Minister Powell to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Port au Prince, March 18, 1905. (Mr. Powell reports that a proclamation has been issued to-day by the Haitian Government that the Syrians must leave this Republic on April 1.) The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Powell. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Adee asks whether the order expelling the Syrians affects merely those fraudulently naturalized or whether it is general. Instructs him in the latter case to remonstrate against the application of the order to lawfully naturalized citizens of the United States of Syrian origin.) Minister Powell to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMREICAN LEGATION, Port au Prince, March 21, 1905. (Mr. Powell reports that Syrians, naturalized citizens of the United States, are not included in the order of expulsion; that he has instructed American citizens to close their stores on April 1 in order to prevent danger from the populace, who may pillage and set fire to the houses of our citizens. All quiet at the present moment.) |