Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 7, 1874

No. 117.
Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.

United States Legation in Central America,
Guatemala, August 4, 1874. (Received Sept. 9.)

No. 200.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that the latest information from Nicaragua, through Mr. I. A. Gauffrau, acting consul at San Juan del Sur, justifies the apprehension that a revolution in that state is very probable.

There is great excitement about the election of President in October.

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In my No. 174 I had the honor to inform you that General Chamorro was the candidate who had the support of the government. He is still so, according to the latest information.

An event has recently occurred in Leon, of Nicaragua, which appears to show the contempt or defiance of the authority of the President which not uncommonly precedes revolutions in these states.

A decree, of which a translated copy is herewith inclosed was issued by the President, dated the 25th of June, calling to the exercise of the executive power General Don Joaquin Zavalla. He states in the preamble his reasons are of a domestic nature, and also that he is authorized by the 51st article of the constitution.

When the decree was served upon General Zavalla he declined to obey, alleging he had a sick family that required all his care.

A guard was put at his door, and a fine of one hundred dollars per hour for every hour he continued to decline obedience was assessed against him by the government.

He still continued contumacious, and a short time after President Quadra revoked the decree and resumed the executive power. I have no copy of the last decree.

This event, I am informed, increased the excitement in Nicaragua.

General Zavalla was supposed to be the friend of General Chamorro, the government candidate for the presidency.

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General Zavalla’s prudence and reputed courage, as well as devotion to the fortunes of General Chamorro, were thought by the friends of the latter to be necessary to success.

It is impossible to surmise what were General Zavalla’s real motives for declining to obey the decree, but the reason assigned publicly is that he is a friend of General Chamorro, and that he wishes to use all his influence in his behalf, which he could not have done with honor if he had accepted the executive office. A highly honorable motive, I would say.

This event is reported to indicate the state of feeling in Nicaragua at the present time, and to enable you to judge of the probable correctness of my opinion that a revolution there is very probable.

I have, &c.,

GEO. WILLIAMSON.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Señor Lopez to Mr. Williamson.

National Palace,
Managua, June 25, 1874.

president quadra’s decree.

Señor: The supreme executive power has been pleased to issue the following decree:

The President of the republic of Nicaragua undergoing grave domestic troubles that require all his care, and not wishing for this cause to check the course of numerous general and particular affairs that are pending the consideration of the government and need a careful attention, using the power that article 51 of the constitution confers, decrees:

• Article 1. Señor Senator-General Don Joaquin Zavalla be called to the exercise of the executive power, who will immediately enter upon the duties of the office.
• Art. 2. The Señor minister is charged with the fulfillment of the present decree, and of communicating it to whom it may concern.

Given in Managua, the 25th day of June, 1874.

VICENTE QUADRA.

The minister of war in charge of the portfolio of government,

ISIODORO LOPEZ.

And I communicate it to you for your information, signing myself your attentive servant,

LOPEZ.