No. 9.] [Inclosure.] Mr. Guachalla to Mr. Bridgman. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, SIR: It is pleasing for me to answer the esteemed note of your excellency dated the 4th instant, No. 11, in which you have the kindness to inform me that Messrs. George H. Bridgman and Gerardo Zalles had been urged by the British Government, according to dispatch transmitted to the State Department in Washington, to assume the representation of British interests in Bolivia, the first as chargé d'affaires and the second as consul. It will be very satisfactory to me to receive the usual documents which will accredit your excellency and Mr. Zalles in this new character, and that will procure me the pleasure to cultivate with your excellency double diplomatic relations. Meanwhile I offer, etc., FERNANDO E. GUACHALLA. No. 105.] Mr. Hay to Mr. Bridgman. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 4, 1900. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 154, of the 30th of November last, in which you state that you explained to the Bolivian Government that you were asked to temporarily assume the duties of chargé d'affaires, as diplomatic interests might require, over the subjects and interests of Great Britain, until the appointment of a representative by that Government, and that it was desired that Mr. Zalles might act temporarily as a consular officer of Great Britain, where consular interests were concerned, until the appointment of a consular officer by that Government. You add that the Bolivian foreign office replied that the Government would recognize you when furnished with the usual documents. In reply I have to say that it is somewhat unfortunate that in your request to the Bolivian Government you announced your temporary assumption of the duties of British chargé, and also Mr. Zalles's temporary assumption of British consular representation. So presented, the Bolivian Government may not unnaturally have attached a formality to your official position which would not have been the case had you followed the general rule of stating that you had been asked to continue your good offices in behalf of British subjects and interests pending the designation of British officers. The object was, not to invite your recognition in the character of British chargé d'affaires ad interim, but to ask that in the absence of any British representative you, as the United States minister, might be permitted to speak, unofficially and by way of good offices, in favor of any British interests which might appear to deserve that kind of mediation on your part. The latter is the usual way of proceeding when unrepresented foreign interests are provisionally intrusted to a representative of the United States in a foreign country. The officer whose good offices are thus permitted is in no sense an officer of the unrepresented Government he does not report to it, nor take its orders. His communication with it is indirectly effected through his own Government. Upon your making this clear to the Bolivian Government it is thought there can be no difficulty in the way of your exerting your good offices in the manner asked by the British Government and contemplated by the instruction sent to you. I am, etc., JOHN HAY. IMPRISONMENT OF CAPT. JOHN S. BOWLES. Mr. Hay to Mr. Bridgman. No. 76.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Referring to your unnumbered dispatch written at Keene, N. H., August 16, last, I have to say that you press again, and urgently, for the prompt trial or discharge of Capt. John S. Bowles, who was arrested October 4, 1894. You will report the result of your action to the Department. I am, etc., JOHN HAY. No. 117.] Mr. Bridgman to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, La Paz, Bolivia, April 28, 1899. SIR: Referring to dispatch from the Department, No. 76, dated March 4, I have the honor to state that I have been unremitting in my efforts to secure the trial of Capt. John S. Bowles, as was General Moonlight before me. In demanding his immediate trial I have employed most urgent terms; have quoted verbatim the request from the State Department, and urged everything save threats, which the Bolivian Government fully understand can not be easily fulfilled on account of their isolated position. Had this nation enjoyed 20 miles of seacoast, Captain Bowles would have been tried four years ago. The man is accused of perpetrating the crime of castration on several half-breed boys. From all I can learn his innocence is doubtful; certainly no reason, however, for refusing trial. The invariable reply from Sucre to my demands is that the trial "shall be brought about as speedily as possible." When I have urged the foreign minister to personally expedite matters he has replied that the delay is due to the absence of an important witness, and that as "State official he can not interfere with civil authority." What reason they have for this strange action I can not see, unless in line with the fact that all foreign ministers residing outside of Sucre have great difficulty in gaining any concessions from the Government. During the revolution it was impossible to accomplish anything, as several chairs in the cabinet were vacant most of the time. As soon as the trouble ended I spoke to an official here, Dr. Victor E. Sanjines, who will in all probability be in power under the new government, and he will use all his efforts to bring the matter to an issue. I shall also make the same personal appeal to Colonel Pando, who has just come into power. Before the inauguration of the new party, several months from now, it will be perfectly useless to make any effort for immediate action. When in Washington last July I personally consulted the State Department regarding the Bowles case, and asked for specific directions. With the government located in La Paz, or even Oruro, I can promise to accomplish something. I have not heard from Bowles since January and have not written since then, as there was nothing new to tell him. Everything shall be at once reported which bears on the case, and I am confident this last move of mine will accomplish more than all I have been able to do during the past ten months. I inclose herewith a copy of a letter I am on the point of sending to Dr. Victor E. Sanjines, one of the influential men in the new party. I have, etc., GEORGE H. BRIDGMAN. [Inclosure.] No. 44.] Mr. Bridgman to Mr. Sanjines. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, La Paz, Bolivia, April 23, 1899. DEAR SIR: An American named Capt. John S. Bowles was arrested in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on October 4, 1894, for alleged crime and has been ever since that date deprived of liberty and refused trial, although he has made frequent demands to have his case acted upon, and the State Department at Washington has made the same demand in urgent terms many times. The last request from Washington came three days since and I am directed to report the result of my application as soon as possible. Whether the man be guilty or not, all the demand made is that he be tried before a court of justice, and to delay this fair request for four and one-half years is of course an outrage and is so regarded by my Government. I therefore earnestly beg you, as one liable to have influence with the coming Bolivian government, to use your utmost efforts to simply have the man brought to trial and adjudged guilty or not guilty. I also trust you will interest Señor Reyes Ortiz in the matter and ask him to use his utmost influence for this act of justice. This is certainly not an unreasonable demand on my part for your services. I shall apprise my Government that I have invoked your aid in this and hope to be able to give you the credit, in a future report, of having brought this most unfairly delayed case to some decision. I have instructed Mr. Gerardo Zalles to give you all the aid and data he has and to help you in every way after my departure for the States. With renewed assurances, etc., GEORGE H. BRIDGMAN. No. 127.] Mr. Zalles to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: In the case of Capt. John S. Bowles, I have the honor to report that since the 25th of April he was released by order of Dr. Rafael Pinto, the leader of the revolution in Santa Cruz. SIR: I inclose for your perusal copy of a letter addressed to the President by the Rev. John Lee, chairman of a committee appointed by the Chicago Methodist Ministers' Meeting to make efforts to bring about larger religious liberty in the Republics of Bolivi: Ecuador, and Peru. This Government, practicing as it does at home the largest principles of freedom of thought and belief, is naturally desirous to see its citizens enjoy in other countries a reasonable freedom from restrictions or disabilities imposed by reason of religious faith. While recognizing that the determination of the internal policy of a nation is an attribute of its sovereignty, the United States have not hesitated to express this desire, in considerate and friendly ways, as in the instance of the marriage laws of Peru, to the end that the law-abiding citizens of the United States sojourning in lands to which our country is bound by ties of amity and similarity of representative institutions may be relieved from discriminations affecting their individual life, liberties, and domestic relations in a manner at variance with the tendencies of this liberal age. Instructions to be found upon your files show the deep interest this Government has long taken in procuring for its citizens in Bolivia a rational measure of freedom of worship and teaching, and due recognition of their domestic relations so far as may be consistent with the lawful practice of modern nations whose devotion to the cause of human advancement and the inculcation of high morality can not be questioned. You are requested to examine and report upon the present condition of the legislation of Bolivia in regard to the liberty of conscience and teaching enjoyed by foreigners and as respects the status of aliens contracting marriage according to other rites and codes than those of the established church. If in the course of your examination you shall deem the ascertained facts to warrant you in so doing, you are authorized to make such discreet representations in the proper quarters, by way of friendly but earnest suggestion, as may conduce to the desired end. You will, how ever, be cautious in such case to avoid wounding the sensibilities of a generous people or appearing to advocate any unduly exceptional treatment of the natives of the country. I am, etc., JOHN HAY. [Inclosure.] Mr. Lee to the President. CHICAGO, ILL., August 24, 1900. HONORED SIR: The committee appointed by the Chicago Methodist Ministers' Meeting to direct a movement to secure for Protestants in the Republics of Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia that same liberty of conscience which is enjoyed by Roman Catholics in the United States of America desires to invite your attention to the following resolutions, offered by the Rev. Dr. P. H. Swift, which were unanimously adopted: Whereas we have heard with greatest pleasure the report of Rev. John Lee, chairman of our committee on civil and religious liberty, giving a detailed account of the correspondence between the committee and the President and State Department of the United States: Therefore Resolved, That we hereby express our grateful appreciation of the prompt and satisfactory action of the President and Department of State, and trust and pray that the expressed wish of our Government may meet with prompt response, not only by the Government of Peru, but also by all of the Republics of South America. Resolved, That we commend our committee on civil and religious liberty for its vigorous and efficient service. We heartily indorse its action and urge it to continue its good work in the interest of the sacred rights of humanity. The communication from the Department of State said: The Department advised our legation at Lima of its hopes that Peru would adopt a marriage law more consonant with the general practice of modern nations, and expressed its concern lest the civil rights of American citizens in that quarter might be impaired through the deficiency of existing law. It was further stated that this Government would be glad to learn that the subject would be revived at the next session of the Congress and satisfactorily disposed of. Copy of your letter will be forwarded to our legation in connection with the instructions referred to. While the committee rejoices that Peru has already adopted "a marriage law more consonant with the general practice of modern nations," it would be more than pleased if the kindly offices of the United States Government would be exercised in securing in Bolivia, and especially in Ecuador, what has already been secured in Peru. The communications received by the committee from South America are in perfect harmony with a letter written to the Chicago Record from Guayaquil, Ecuador, July 12, by William E. Curtis, formerly United States commissioner to the South American Republics, and published in the issue of that paper for August 8. 1899. Mr. Curtis, after observing that "it is expected at the next meeting of Congress a law will be passed granting freedom of worship in Ecuador to all religious denominations," says: The marriage law, however, has not been amended. No Protestant clergyman is allowed to perform the ceremony, and, under the existing statutes, no marriage is lawful unless sanctioned by a Catholic priest. Children born after Protestant marriages are considered illegitimate and can not inherit property; but it is expected that this will be changed at the next session of Congress, and the civil right of marriage established. |