No. 257.
Mr. Henry Baxter to Mr. Fish
No. 25.]
Legation of the United States,
Tegucigalpa, Honduras,
April 1, 1871. (Received May
2.)
Sir: Thus far all endeavors to arrive at a
peaceable settlement of the difficulties between Honduras and Salvador have
proved a failure, and on the 5th of last month war was declared by Honduras.
This step was avowedly taken by Honduras on account of the invasion of their
territory by a force of Salvadorians numbering about one hundred and twenty
men, and making an attack on a small police guard of thirty men, stationed
at a small town near the frontier (Goascoran) merely for the protection of
the workmen and works of the railway against local raids. On the 16th, a
division of the army of Honduras, commanded by General Lope, crossed over
into Salvador and, at Pasaquina, attacked
[Page 578]
a force of Salvadorians, were repulsed and forced to
retreat, sustaining considerable loss. Since this, President Medina, at the
head of the Honduras forces, has crossed over into Salvador and, it is
reported has had several engagements and met with decided success, which
reports, however, need further confirmation. The same reports of success
would undoubtedly be carried to Salvador with reference to the success of
the Salvadorian troops in Honduras. On Thursday, (30th of March,) a
detachment of General Xatruch’s division of Salvadorians, numbering about
one hundred men, marched into this city, which is entirely undefended, (and
with a decided feeling of opposition to President Medina,) taking full
possession. To-day, General Xatruch, commanding in person, occupies the city
with about eight hundred troops, and, it is reported, will, on Monday, march
on Comayagua. I forward herewith correspondence with the secretary of
foreign relations of Salvador and also of Honduras with reference to the
treaty of July 4, 1864, between the United States and Honduras, and the
guarantees of neutrality as to the interoceanic railway therein contained.
Comayagua is the capital of Honduras, is on the direct line of the railway
as surveyed and being worked, and the principal offices of the engineers and
conductors of the second section are here located, making it an important
point as to the railway interests. Honduras has not made the city of
Comayagua a base of military operation, nor has it had stationed here more
than a reasonable and ordinary police guard, leaving it entirely defenseless
as against an invading force.
I would respectfully ask instructions, under these circumstances, as to what
extent would the conditions of the said treaty bear upon the protection of
the private and public property of the capital of Honduras, and, further, as
to the free ports of Amapala and Porto Caballo.
I have, &c.,
No. 1.]
Mr. Henry Baxter to secretary of foreign relations, Salvador
Legation of the United States,
Tegucigalpa, Honduras,
February 13, 1871.
Sir: Owing to the very unsettled state of
affairs between the republics of Honduras and Salvador, and the possible
contingency of a war between the two republics, and in such event
invasion of Honduras by the forces of Salvador, your excellency will
permit me to make reference to a treaty existing between the Government
of the United States and the government of Honduras of July 4, 1864,
more especially to guarantees by the Government of the United States to
the government of Honduras, with reference to the route, building, and
permanency of the Interoceanic Railway, particularly referred to in
article 14 of said treaty, a part of section 2 of said article reading
as follows: “In consideration of these concessions, in order to secure
the construction and permanence of the route or road herein
contemplated, and also to secure for the benefit of mankind the
uninterrupted advantages of such communication from sea to sea, the
United States recognizes the rights of sovereignty and property of
Honduras in and over the line of said road, and for the same reason
guarantees positively and efficaciously the entire neutrality of the
same so long as the United States shall enjoy the privileges conceded to
it in the preceding section of this article, &c., &c.”
I have perfect confidence that nothing, under any circumstances, will
occur that shall in any manner interfere with or interrupt the friendly
relations and kindly understanding now existing between the governments
of the United States and Salvador.
Allow me to express a most earnest hope that the present differences
existing between the republics of Honduras and Salvador may be amicably
arranged, and that the horrors of a war may be avoided.
[Page 579]
With the assured best wishes for his excellency, the President, and the
continued peace and prosperity of your favored republic, I have the
honor to be, with many regards,
Yours, &c.,
HENRY BAXTER, United States Minister Resident
to Honduras.
[Translation.]
Mr. Salvador Gallegos to Mr. Henry Baxter
No 2.]
San Salvador, March 6, 1871.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your
excellency’s dispatch of the 13th ultimo, wherein, in view of the
misunderstanding existing between this government and that of Honduras,
and for the contingency of the invasion of the latter country by the
forces of Salvador, you call the attention of my government to the
treaty concluded between the United States and Honduras July 4, 1864,
and especially to the guaranty, stipulated in article 14, of the
neutrality of the line of the railway, stating, at the same time, the
confidence which you feel that nothing will be done by this government
in contravention of the friendly relations which exist between the
United States and Salvador.
The desires of his excellency the President of this republic being in
harmony with those of your excellency with regard to the avoidance of
any cause of misunderstanding with the Government of the United States,
on account of the neutrality to which you allude, he had already
determined to respect the stipulated neutrality; but my government has
considered, on the other hand, that if that of Honduras does not respect
the neutrality agreed upon, making use of the territory of the railway
for operations against Salvador, the guaranty of the United States will
be converted into a privilege highly prejudicial to this republic, and,
in view of this fact, it has required, as a condition, that the
government of Honduras shall not violate the same on its part.
Unfortunately, my government has received positive information that
various vessels have left the port of Amapala, armed and equipped for
warlike purposes, so as to capture vessels from the smaller ports of
Nicaragua bound to this city: and finally, one of said vessels has
committed the manifestly hostile act of seizing and holding as a
prisoner of war, at Amapala, Lieutenant José Maria Ballecillos, who was
on his way to this republic, likewise maltreating the mate of the vessel
on board of which he was. It is, moreover, positively known that the
government of Honduras has forbidden the sailing of small vessels
between the ports of Amapala and La Union, which act is in direct
violation of the afore-mentioned neutrality, according to which no
alteration can be made in private relations in the port of Amapala.
Events of this character, which may continue to occur in Honduras, with
the connivance of that government, and in violation of neutrality, would
undoubtedly relieve Salvador from any obligation contracted by it with
regard to respecting the guaranty of the United States; wherefore, by
order of the President of the republic, I must inform your excellency,
as I informed General Torbert, that the government of Salvador
positively recognizes the neutrality of the territory of the railway,
but it demands an effective reciprocity on the part of the government of
Honduras, as I have already stated.
I thus reply to your excellency’s aforesaid dispatch, and in so doing I
have the high honor to subscribe myself your very obedient servant.
In the absence of the minister.
SALVADOR GALLEGOS, Chief Clerk in the
Department of Foreign Relations.
[Translation.]
Sr. Don Francisco Alvarado to
Mr. Baxter
No. 3.]
Comayagua, May 24, 1871.
Sir: The government has this day learned that a
division from Salvador, under the command of General Miranda, invaded
the territory of the State on the 22d instant, at
[Page 580]
Goazcoran, and that a portion of these
troops occupied that town, while the other had gone to Langue.
As it is very possible that the expedition may advance on this capital,
which is one of the most important points on the line of the railway,
because the engineers in charge of the works have their workships
established here, and as the government has not taken this as a base of
operations, on account of its being neutral ground, I declare to your
excellency, in the name of my government, that in case the forces of
Salvador occupy this capital, its inhabitants and their interests are
under the protection of the great powers that have guaranteed the
neutrality, one of those powers being the great American republic, which
your excellency worthily represents in this country.
The government, therefore, hopes that your excellency will be pleased to
take the necessary steps to protect this city, and others on the line of
the railway, from a crime, since there is not even a pretext for their
being occupied or molested by the enemies of Honduras.
By order of the government I address the present communication to your
excellency, hoping that you will be pleased to answer me in due time,
and to accept the assurances of my respect and consideration.
Mr. Henry Baxter to Sr. Hon Francisco
Alvarado,
No. 4.]
Legation of the United States,
Tegucigalpa, Honduras,
March 26, 1871,
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 24th ultimo, informing me that the
government had been informed of the invasion of Honduras by a division
of Salvador troops, commanded by General Miranda, and that it is very
possible that the expedition should intend to move against the capital,
and in such ease it would be highly detrimental to the interests of the
interoceanic railway.
Permit me to say that the attention of the government of Salvador has
been called to the existing treaty of July 4, 1864, between the United
States and Honduras, and particularly to the guarantees of neutrality
affecting the route, building, and permanence of the Interoceanic
Railway, and that my Government Will most assuredly hold the government
of Salvador reponsible should it disregard or ignore the terms of said
treaty.
I inclose herewith a copy of my communication to the Secretary of foreign
relations of Salvador with reference to the treaty of 1864, and its
guarantees, and a copy of his reply thereto for your information.
With high regards, I subscribe myself your, &c.,
HENRY BAXTER, United States Minister Resident,
&c.
[Translation.]
Sr. Don Francisco Alvarado to Mr. Henry Baxters
No. 5.]
Camayagua, May 24, 1871.
Esteemed sir: I officially ask protection of
your excellency for this city in case of its occupation by the troops of
Salvador, which is to be feared; and as I do not
doubt that your excellency will be pleased to grant this protection, in
virtue of the guaranty of neutrality given by the United States of
America, I beg you to be pleased to inform me whether we may hoist the
American flag in the public square, as a sign of protection, on the
entrance of the enemies and during their stay in this capital.
I subscribe myself your excellency’s most obedient servant.
[Page 581]
No. 6.]
Mr. Henry Baxter to Sr. Don Francisco Alvarado
Legation of the United States,
Tegucigalpa, Honduras,
March 26, 1871.
My dear sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of the 24th ultimo, officially asking
protection for the city of Comayagua in case of its occupation by the
troops of Salvador, (as you say is to be feared,) which you doubt not I
will give, in virtue of the existing treaty. In reply, permit me to say
that the government of Salvador is well aware that Camayagua is on the
line of the Honduras Interoceanic Railway, and being apprised of the
treaty existing between the United States and Honduras of July 4, 1864,
both myself and the United States minister restident in Salvador
(General Torbert) will most assuredly give it due consideration.
It would, in my opinion, be exceeding my authority to officially
authorize the raising of the United States flag as a signal of
protection in the principal plaza of Camayagua, (as you suggest,) in
case of the occupation of the city by the troops of Salvador; but permit
me further to say that the government of Salvador will be held strictly
accountable by my Government for any disregard of the conditions and
stipulations of the referred to treaty.
With high regard, I subscribe myself, your, &c., &c.,
HENRY BAXTER, United States Minister Resident,
&c.
