No. 2.] Mr. Leverich to Pacific Mail Steamship Company. [Telegram.-Translation.] GUATEMALA, July 17, 1890. Referring to Guatemala mail contract, Guatemala Government requests deposit arms on board steamship Colima with United States consul at San José de Guatemala. J. H. LEVERICH, No. 3.] Mr. Leverich to Pacific Mail Steamship Company. [Telegram. Translation.] Special Agent. GUATEMALA, July 17, 1890. I have ordered arms to be transferred to steamship City of Sydney for storage ou hulk Alaska. Mr. Wharton to Mr. Mizner. J. H. LEVERICH, Special Agent. No. 144.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Your No. 120 of the 16th ultimo, confirming your telegram of the same date in relation to the expected arrival at San José of certain arms intended for Salvador by a steamship of the Pacific Mail Company, was received on the completion of the instruction of yesterday on the subject of those arms. Your dispatch omits to state that the telegram of the 16th ultimo was transmitted by the Guatemalan secretary for foreign affairs, Señor Sobral, to the Guatemalan Minister in Mexico, a fact having an important bearing on communications with your legation. I am, etc., WILLIAM F. WHARTON, Mr. Wharton to Mr. Mizner. No. 145.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I transmit herewith copies of the instructions which the Department has addressed to you by telegraph in relation to the tender of the impartial good offices of the United States to compose the conflict between Guatemala and Salvador. For further convenience, and in order that this instruction may convey to you a connected view of the position of the Government in this regard, copies are also appended of the telegrams exchanged between this Department and our legation in Mexico touching the proposal of the Mexican Government to act, either jointly or concurrently, with the United States in the interest of peace on the basis of a full recognition of the autonomous sovereignty of the several states of Central America. Only the existing uncertainty, as to whether you have received the Department's instructions in this relation, and as to your ability to effectively execute them, by simultaneous communication with Salvador and Guatemala, has postponed a definite reply to the suggestion of the Government of Mexico. The minister of the United States, being accredited equally to the several powers of Central America, will be expected to use his good offices and proffer earnest counsel, without dietation and with conspicnous impartiality, in the interests of peace and harmony among them. Whatever may be the temporary situation of affairs in any of those states, the Government of the United States withdraws none of its friendship for each, and maintains unaltered its respect for their independent sovereign rights. Barred by the highest considerations of reverence for the principle of self-control, on which all truly constitu tional forms of popular government must rest, from interfering with the autonomous rights of other commonwealths, it is equally impossible for us to countenance forcible interference from any quarter. Our sole desire is that complete good will may prevail among republics which, by their geographical position and because of the many interests they possess in common, seem especially fitted to move in concord toward the attainment of their conjoint ends. It is believed that the instructions which have been sent to you to proceed to San José and there avail yourself of the coöperation of our naval vessels, which has been promised in order to open safe and speedy communication with the Provisional Government of Salvador, will enable you to fulfill your instructions with impartial friendship to both contestants, and at the same time to preserve communication with the other Central American governments and take avail of whatever disinterested efforts they may be disposed to put forth toward the restoration of peace. Your mission is important as well as delicate, and, with confidence in your zeal and sound discretion, your report of the result of your endeavors is awaited with anxious interest. I am, etc., WILLIAM F. WHARTON, Mr. Wharton to Mr. Mizner. No. 146.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: The question of the prompt and certain communication with you during the perturbed condition of Guatemala and Salvador has for some time had the earnest attention of the Department. It was evident that communications by way of the land lines from Guatemala City to La Libertad were very early interrupted by the hostile operations on the borders of Salvador. Whether the land lines, via Mexico and Nenton, afforded a speedy and secure channel by which to reach you was not so evident. The Department has made every effort to instruct you in regard to the tender of good offices, which we were and are so earnestly desirous to make, and touching, also, the Colima incident; but neither of the two telegrams so far received from you since the 17th of July appears to be in response to the instructions sent you in cipher. Dispatches repeated to you through the United States legation in Mexico have been equally without acknowledgment, except, perhaps, the plain telegram which was forwarded to you by Mr. Ryan on the 1st instant, directing you to go to San José, and to which your telegram received on the 2d, via Nenton and the City of Mexico, may be a reply. I inclose herewith, for your information, copies of all the telegrams sent to you, and exchanged with Minister Ryan, in regard to the apparent obstruction of communication with you. It is desirable that you should carefully compare the dates of the dispatches addressed to you, noting those received by you and the day and hour of their delivery. It is also desirable to know whether you have sent any other telegrams than the few which the Department has received from you through Mr. Ryan. The Department would be greatly relieved to learn that there has, in fact, been no interruption or interception of your dispatches in any quar ter; but in this relation it is interesting to recall that in 1885, at the time of General Barrios's attempt to coerce a union of the Central American States, the Department's telegram of March 10, 1885, deprecating the use of force to that end was unaccountably delayed in transmission, although dispatches immediately preceding and following it were delivered to Mr. Hall with reasonable promptness. A full report and, if the facts require it, a searching investigation by you is necessary. The right of inviolable and unimpeded communication between a government and its envoy in another country is one of the most important in the intercourse of nations. This is especially the case with such a mission as yours. You are equally accredited to each of the five states of Central America, and your official utility depends, in time of disturbance, on your ability to keep open communications with them and with your own Government. Should the facts disclose any intentional or avoidable interference with your rights in this regard, no more serious cause of complaint could well be presented. Hence, also, the evident occasion for the Department's instruction to you to proceed to San José, and there open communication with Salvador by the aid of our naval vessels now on that coast. So long as your correspondence with the authorities of Salvador must pass through hostile Guatemalan channels the Department can feel no confidence that its instructions in regard to the impartial tender of our good offices to both combatants are being effectively carried out. Your report on the subject is awaited with interest and even anxiety. To guard against possible interference or delay, the present instruction will be forwarded to you through the commanding officer of the naval vessels, by way of Acapulco, and steamer thence to San José, in the expectation that it can be personally delivered to you at that port.. Should you, unfortunately, not then be at San José, the commander will be requested to send an officer to seek you and place the instruction in your hands. I am, etc., WILLIAM F. WHARTON, Mr. Wharton to Mr. Mizner. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Mr.Wharton informs Mr. Mizner that General Guirala has telegraphed that messages from the Department to Mr. Mizner are not detained in Salvador. Mr. Wharton adds that the detention would appear to be in Guatemalan territory, and instructs Mr. Mizner to be watchful in that direction. Mr. Wharton to Mr. Mizner. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Mr. Wharton acknowledges the receipt of Mr. Mizner's telegram of this date; asks Mr. Mizner if the attack upon the consulate was made by the Government's order or at the instigation of rioters; directs him to make a full and detailed report on the subject; instructs him to say that, unless the rights of the Government and citizens of the United States are observed, the President will be compelled to devise measures for their enforcement; and directs him, if necessary, to proceed to the capital of Salvador and demand that the consul be reinstated and protected. Mr. Mizner to Mr. Blaine. [Telegram.j LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, La Libertad, August 8, 1890. (Received August 8.) Mr. Mizner informs Mr. Blaine that during a battle in the city of San Salvador General Ezeta's forces seized the United States consulate, hauled down the flag, damaged some and destroyed other property. He reports that he has demanded immediate reparation, and that a firmer manner is needed towards Guatemala and Salvador and a stronger American naval force in Central American waters. Mr. Mizner to Mr. Blaine. [Telegram.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, La Libertad, August 9, 1890. (Received August 10.) Mr. Mizner acknowledges receipt of Mr. Blaine's telegram of the 9th instant, and informs him that the reparation asked for on the 8th is promised for the 10th before noon. He reports his intention to go to San Salvador on the 10th under Department's instructions and at the Provisional Government's urgent solicitation, and that he will advise the Department from that place. Mr. Mizner to Mr. Blaine. [Telegram.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, San Salvador, August 11, 1890. (Received August 11.) Mr. Mizner informs Mr. Blaine that the Salvadorian Government, in accordance with our minister's demand, hoisted the flag of the United States over our consulate in San Salvador, firing a salute of twenty one guns; reinstated the consul in his office and guarantied his rights. He reports the satisfactory conclusion of the incident by an adequate letter of apology from the Salvadorian minister for foreign affairs. Mr. Wharton to Mr. Mizner. No. 149.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 11, 1890.. SIR Referring to previous correspondence relating to the seizure by the Guatemalan Government of certain arms on board the American steamship Colima and to the detention of the vessel, I now inclose a copy of a letter from the president of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company to this Department, dated the 7th instant, in regard to the same subject. I am, etc., WILLIAM F. WHARTON. [Inclosure in No. 149.] Mr. Houston to Mr. Wharton. NEW YORK, August 7, 1890. (Received August 8.) DEAR SIR: The Pacific Mail Steamship Company begs to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 5th instant, and notes its contents and that the Department awaits the detailed report from the United States minister, Mr. Mizner, of the incident complained of by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. Since my last communication to your Department I have received an extract from the report of Capt. J. S. Long, commanding the U. S. S. Colima, dated Panama Bay, July 25, 1890, a copy of which is hereto annexed, and have also received copies of telegrams and letters relating to the matter, also hereto annexed, and a marine note of protest, all of which speak for themselves. I also inclose, for your information, a copy of the mail contract between the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and the Guatemalan Government, dated February 25, 1886, together with supplementary contract renewing and modifying the first mentioned contract dated June 17, 1889. A perusal of these contracts will, I believe, convince you that there is no justification therein for the course pursued by the Guatemalan Government. In considering this matter, you will probably recall these facts: That when the Pacific Mail Steamship Company's steamer left the port of San Francisco, destined for Panama and intermediate ports, on the 3d of July, 1890, there was not even a rumor of disagreement between Guatemala and Salvador; that the shipment of arms destined for Salvador was not unusual, either in character or destination, and was received in the ordinary course of affreightment; that on the 16th Guatemala sought to charter one of the company's steamers for the conveyance of 2,000 soldiers, not to Salvador, but to Honduras; that on the 17th the Colima, without having received any notice of rupture between the two Republics, reached San José de Guatemala; that on the evening of the same day, the Colima having arrived in the morning, the company's steamer City of Sydney arrived in the same port; that the commandant on the same day boarded the steamer and demanded peremptorily the delivery of the freight in question to the Government of Guatemala, and ordered that the ship should not leave until such delivery was made, accompanying his demand with the threat that the ship would be held by the artillery of the Government; that, acting under this and other threats, Mr. Leverich, special agent of the company, arranged with the representatives of the Guatemalan Government to transfer the freight from the Colima to the steamship City of Sidney, which was proceeding northward, destined for San Francisco and intermediate northerly ports; that while this transfer was being made under the official permit of the commandant of the port, and on the 18th of July, after the Colima had been detained under orders of the commandant, the arms and ammunition were seized by the authorities of Guatemala in direct contraven FR 90- -5 |
