133
PAPERS OF :Mm..-1.BEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
tials as a diplomatic agent of the French Emperor - Shrewd obseners, however, hare had their suspicions, all along, that it was for nothing he came - Now the news this morning is, that, accompanied by the President of Costa Rica, Senor Toledo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other gentlemen of note and influence, this same ~I. Felix Belly proceeds to Nicaragua, by the steamer of the 20th. with the view, and the determination, of breaking (if possible) the Treaty (known as the "lryssarri Treaty") which Nicaragua has just ratifietl - .Astountling as this intelligence may be, I confess it does not wholly suprize me - The night that the news came up from Punta Arenas, that this Treaty had been so ratified, I had the best opportunity of ascertaining the opinion of fhe leading people of San Jose with regard to it, - It was the same night that the Ball to M. Felix Belly took place - I was present by invitation - The ratification of the Treaty in question was the principal topic of conversation - To a man, all present (with the exception of the foreigners, of course, and M. Belly was exquisitely silent upon the subject) condemned it strongly - "It was the edge of the fatal wedge of North Americanism" that in a word (to quote the expression of one of the gentlemen who spoke to me) summed up the objections (and they are vehement and inveterate) to the Treaty - The hostility with which the news of its ratification by Congress of Nicaragua has been received, now takes a decisive shape - This depu- tation to Nicaragua of the President of Costa Rica and a French inter- meddler is undertaken with the intense purpose, if possible, to revoke it - Anyone who has read M. Felix Belly's productions - his papers upon the Central-American question - can readily conclude that a vicious enemity towards American interests, and the just and legitimate political supremacy the United States should exercise and mantain in these countries, will inspire every advice he gives and the controul he may acheive over his sycophantic admirers in Central America - If the information I give you be correct, Costa Rica should be neutralized and driven back from a question, which is now exclusively at the dis- posal of the Senate and the President of the United States - If cor- rect, it also demonstrates the necessity which exists for the political and diplomatic agents and representatives of the United States being vigilant, faithful, prompt and powerful to say (but the duty I owe my adopted country compels me to inform you) that the United States is to the last degree, inefficiently represented - The Consul at San Jose is not worthy of the flag, the honour and political consequence of which have been entrusted to his guardianship - · As I said in my former letter, I shall remain here until the steamer from San Juan del Sur arrives at Punta Arenas the 4th. of June, and should you honour me with any despatches for Wash- ington, will be proud to Le the bearer of them -
With sincere esteem believe me,
My dear General Lamar, Your's most faithfully T. F. MEAGHER
To his
Excelleucy,
General ::'IL B. Lamar U. S. Minister Nicaragua
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