In July 1889, there was a small scale rebellion, and Minister Merrill landed Marines to protect Americans; the State Department explicitly approved his action. Merrill's replacement, minister John L. Stevens, read those official instructions, and followed them in his controversial actions of 1893.
In July 1889, there was a small-scale rebellion, and Minister Merrill sent Marines to protect Americans; the State Department gave its approval for this action.  Minister Stevens, taking over after Merrill, followed those instructions when he took controversial actions in 1893.