Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 7, 1874
No. 99.
Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.
Guatemala, March 16, 1874. (Received April 20.)
Sir: Inclosed I have the honor to send you copies of correspondence with the government of Nicaragua. Allow me to invite your special attention to my reply, and also to the dispatch of the late Hon. W. H. Seward, to which it refers. It is dated October 28, 1862, and is addressed to Mr. E. O. Crosby, the minister to Guatemala. I am thus particular in describing this statesmanlike paper, because I have not seen it published among the public documents.
The translated copy of Mr. Rivas’s dispatch of 20th of December, of which he inclosed me a duplicate-original in his of the 10th of February, was sent you with my No. 89.
I have, &c.,
Señor Rims to Mr. Williamson.
Monagua, February 10, 1874.
Sir As, since your return from Costa Rica, I have not had the pleasure of receiving any of your esteemed favors, I do myself the honor of accompanying, this with my duplicate dispatch of the 20th December last.
[Page 145]The situation of Nicaragua in respect to Costa Rica is pacific, that government having ceased all its acts of hostility, but the diplomatic relations have not been renewed, although this office has made an overture with that view to the government at San José.
The equal silence which prevails on the part of Guatemala and Salvador is readily explained by their occupations with the questions of Honduras, and on account of the presence at the capitals of these republics of the minister plenipotentiary from this government, I place these matters specially before the notice of your excellency, because the interest you have manifested in having a general and permanent peace established in Central America entitles you to these minute details of the relations between the governments.
Just now it has become privately known that Dr. Lorenzo Montufar has started, or is about to start, on a mission from Costa Rica to the governments of Guatemala and Salvador. It is generally believed to be a pacific mission, but the coolness existing between this government and that of Costa Rica, and, perhaps, a suspicion of a secret enmity on the part of the latter, does not allow us to feel secure that it is altogether with the end of promoting peace and harmony.
Being well assured of your excellency’s impartiality and correct judgment and noble anxiety for the tranquillity of these states, I lay before you the situation, so that you may be able to examine into these things, in order to give effect to the laudable desire that has always inspired you. I improve the opportunity to renew to your excellency the assurance of the high respect and consideration with which I subscribe myself,
Your true and attentive servant,
Hon. Señor Don George Williamson,
Minister of the United States in Central America,
Guatemala
Mr. Williamson to Señor Rivas.
Guatemala, March 16, 1874.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s esteemed favor of the 10th ultimo.
Let me first assure you that a want of a reply to your favor of the 20th of December has been caused by my long absence in Honduras on official business; and the delay of one mail in answering that of the 10th of February is due to the fact that since my return, on the 3d instant, I have found the fatigue and exposure I had undergone had so affected my health, and particularly my eyes, that it was almost impossible to attend to my correspondence. I shall hope your excellency will be pleased to accept this apology.
Notwithstanding the flattering terms in which you have chosen to speak of the interest I have taken in the pacification of Central America, upon a basis that promised permanency, you do nothing more than simple justice to me and my Government in your estimate of its degree. But your excellency justly understands that the states, being sovereigns, and under able administrations, are capable of managing their own relations far better than any foreign country, no matter how friendly that country may be; and also, that I might defeat the very honorable object of my Government, of promoting the pacific settlement of all debatable questions in Central America by taking a more active part than has already been done, or by prosecuting that part further at present.
If what seemed to me, a stranger, a desirable mode of adjusting complications between the states is defeated, or declined for any cause, it affords me no occasion for complaint, nor will it in the least abate the concern with which I shall regard future developments. It may prove a consolatory reflection, should any disappointment be experienced, that I did not inaugurate the plan, and possibly it may be allowable for me to flatter myself by a recollection of the fact that all active preparations for war ceased, on both sides, so soon after it seemed probable the re-union of the Presidents would take place.
Whatever merit attaches to my participation in producing this happy truce, or peace, is but another evidence of the sincere friendship of my Government for Nicaragua. As the representative of my country in these states, my mission is to promote a good understanding, as far as it is allowable, without giving cause of offense or involving my Government in a voluntary responsibility, which it does not pertain to its functions to assume.
The experience of your excellency renders it almost needless to say that the sympathetic interest the United States has always taken in the republics of Central America [Page 146] has not been inspired by sentimental ideas, but is rather the natural outgrowth of near neighborhood, and of a generous desire that other independent states on the continent may enjoy the blessings of republicanism a good Providence has so bountifully bestowed on them. I submit, for your excellency’s perusal, the accompanying copy of a dispatch from Mr. Seward, when Secretary of State, and take leave to add, that distinguished statesman, in this eloquent paper, suggests a policy of the United States in regard to the affairs of Central America which seems to be based upon a philosophy so sound, that I do not question it will commend itself to your unqualified approval.
Your excellency will allow me to express my profound regret that diplomatic relations had not been resumed between Nicaragua and Costa Rica at the date of your letter, and also the hope that they will be happily established before this reaches you.
In reply to that part of your excellency’s letter in regard to the mission of Mr. Montufar, I have only to say that he is reported generally to be here on a confidential mission from the government of Costa Rica. He has had no official reception, and he has not been officially recognized here, up to this time, by the diplomatic body. I have had the pleasure of seeing him several times socially, but have no information as to his mission, if it be of a political nature.
By this mail I send, to the care of your excellency, four volumes, entitled “Papers relating to the treaty of Washington,” which you will oblige me by causing to be delivered, with my compliments, to the Hon. Tomas Ayon, the recent minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary of your government to Guatemala, whose pleasant acquaintance I had the good fortune to make. I have the honor to renew to your excellence the assurance of my high consideration.
Your obedient servant,
Hon. A. H. Rivas,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Monagua, Nicaragua.
(Inclosure in 2 in No. 114.)
Mr. Seward to Mr. Crosby.
Washington, October 28, 1862.
Sir: Your very interesting dispatch of the 21st of September, No. 22, has been submitted to the President. He is profoundly affected by the consideration which is manifested toward this Government by His Excellency the President of Guatemala in his proposal to confer with it concerning projected organic changes in the governments of Guatemala and other Central American Republics. Whether the natural positions of these states, their respective material resources, their natural and artificial channels and highways, and the interests, sentiments, habits, aspirations, and sympathies of their various populations favor at the present time an intimate political and mutually defensive union, are questions upon which it would be presumptuous for foreign statesmen to pronounce. The inquiry about the proper government for any country is not always what is theoretically the best possible, political system which has hitherto been devised among men, but what is the best political system which the people of the country will peacefully accept and confidingly maintain. How to choose this best possible political system is a question upon which foreign advice is not only naturally but even justly and wisely suspected. Jealousy upon that subject is the chief foundation of national independence. The President regards the agitation of the question of a re-union of the Central American Republics with favor, not, however, because he is prepared to say that the measure is practicable or expedient, but simply because it indicates a conviction that there are some common evils existing in the several states of Central America which are constantly reproducing civil and international wars, and a will and a purpose on the part of American statesmen there to correct them. The United States are too earnestly desirous for that correction to embarrass the parties concerned with advice which any class of the people of Central America, or any foreign state, might injuriously represent as proceeding from other than the most disinterested motives. Whatever may be the decision at which the consulting parties may arrive, it will be respected by the United States as wise and judicious, and they will remain equally the friends of the Central American powers, whether they re-unite or prefer to remain distinct and independent.
You may read this dispatch to the minister for foreign affairs, and give him a copy if he shall desire it.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Elisha O. Crosby, Esq.,
&c., &c., &c., Guatemala.