Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 4, 1876

No. 28.
Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
Central America,
Guatemala, September 3, 1876. (Received Sept. 28.)

No. 547.]

Sir: I have the honor to make the following report of the present political condition of Central America:

The constituent assembly (convention) of Guatemala has met to frame a constitution, and has elected its officers. It is composed of the friends of the president and his prime minister, Mr. Samayoa. The several interests and aspirations of these personages are not likely to disturb the harmony of the assembly, it being well understood that the President is to have his own way in all measures. It is believed the constitution which the convention will adopt has been prepared by the government. My information is that it is to be short, and that its principal feature will be to fix the term of the presidential office so that the present incumbent will continue to hold his office for six years longer. He has now been President for more than three years. No one except the government people and the members seems to take the smallest interest in the convention. Nominally it has been called for the purpose of embodying in the organic law what are called the principles of the revolution of 1871.

The accompanying proclamation of General Medina states that no resistance to Mr. Soto assuming the presidency of Honduras will be made by the Medina party. General Medina and his friends, it was apprehended at one time, might give Mr. Soto trouble. Public allegations are made that the government of Guatemala quieted Medina’s opposition by the use of money, which I must say is not at all improbable. There was no danger of resistance from any of the other various claimants to the presidency of Honduras.

Mr. Soto is at Amapala, preparing to go to the capital, where he expects to arrive about the middle of this month. His proclamation, to be issued when he assumed the executive office, was prepared before he left here. It has probably been issued at Amapala before this time.

President Zaldivar has restored order and maintained the peace in Salvador. He seems to be succeeding well, so far, in satisfying the politicians and keeping the people quiet. No apprehension of any disturbance in that country for some time is now entertained.

Nicaragua is still under arms without any well-founded reason. The revolutionists, Jarez and Selva, have neither resources nor men at present. The enemies of the government of Nicaragua say it is doing exactly what they wish by expending large sums in useless military displays.

They expect that government to create so much dissatisfaction by these heavy expenses that a revolution in the heart of the country will be successfully initiated. I should not be greatly surprised at that event, but my latest information from reliable sources says the government of Chamorro is both strong and popular.

Ex-President Guardia has returned to Costa Rica. The provisional government of Herrera is still in power there, but it is presumed that Guardia will either assume the presidency himself or have his son-in-law, a Mr. Sisano, elected to that office. The vexatious question of boundary with Nicaragua will then again be brought forward and war threatened. I do not apprehend there is any danger of hostilities beginning (if they begin at all) until, perhaps, about the first of January.

* * * * * * *

You will see from the foregoing report that there is, in my judgment, a prospect of Central America remaining at peace for several months. Here coming political events do not cast their shadows before, and no one can venture to say what a day may bring forth.

I have, &c.,

GEO. WILLIAMSON.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

José Maria Medina, provisional president of the republic of Honduras, to his fellow-citizens:

In my manifesto of June 11th, I recorded, in a clear and determined manner, my firm resolution not to return to the exercise of supreme power, even should I be called thereto by a general election. Up to the present I have seen no reason which would induce me to alter this determination; and, in consequence, I have refused to accept the power which passed into my hands by virtue of the decree issued on the 12th instant by the Ex-President, Don Crescencio Gomez. The republic is, therefore, without a head, and ought not to remain in that condition, as such a situation will lead to all the horrors of anarchy. In order that this danger may cease to exist, it is necessary that the government should be intrusted to some citizen who by his honesty, his talents, and his patriotism may be worthy of such an elevated post.

Fortunately, these qualities are united in our fellow-citizen Don Marco Soto. Young, of good ideas, without party hatreds, and animated by the best sentiments, I am convinced that in occupying the chief magistracy he will know how to fulfill, to the satisfaction of all, the just hopes of patriotism and of the future. Señor Soto has further merited the confidence of the governments of Guatemala, Salvador, and Costa Rica; he has been proclaimed by some of the towns, and therefore, for these reasons, I have invited him to assume the presidency of Honduras.

For my part, I compromise myself to recognize him in that character, and I offer him from the present moment my adherence and respect. Give him also your important co-operation, and let us force all motives of discord among us to cease, forgetting forever the miserable petty hatreds which have divided us.

As I am desirous of clearing away any false ideas which might tend to lead public opinion astray, allow me to protest against the iniquitous rumor which has been circulated that the government of Guatemala pretended to dominate us. This is not true; and its falsity is proven by the frank and sincere protestations which that government has so often made, to the effect that it will ever respect the autonomy and institutions of these states.

May the government of Señor Soto be inaugurated under the auspices of union and peace; may he encounter no difficulty in bringing the mission intrusted to him to a happy termination; and may he, as far as possible, contribute efficiently to realize the ideas of Central-American policy, viz, the national union. Such are the wishes of your fellow-citizen and friend,

J. M. MEDINA.

Gualsinse, August 18, 1876.