No. 101.
Mr. Logan
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States in Central America,
Guatemala, December 20, 1879.
(Received January 22, 1880.)
No. 45.]
Sir: Under cover of this dispatch I inclose a
printed copy of the new constitution of Guatemala referred to in my dispatch
No. 44. The articles discussed in that dispatch, numbered 5, 14, and 23,
stand as previously reported. I also inclose a copy of the note addressed by
myself to the minister of foreign relations in connection therewith.
A note, in similar terms, was also addressed to the minister by the
representatives of Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, and Spain. I also
add a translated copy of the minister’s reply. I shall be glad to receive
any instructions you may desire to give me.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 45.]
Mr. Logan to Señor
Heirrera.
Legation or the United States in Central
America,
Guatemala, December 19,
1879.
Sir: The undersigned has to acknowledge the
receipt of Your Excellency’s note of the 17th instant, inclosing six
copies of the constitution recently adopted by the National Constituent
Assembly of Guatemala, and now officially promulgated as operative from
the first day of March next.
Having carefully perused the printed copy, he has noticed certain
articles of the constitution which seriously affect the plainest rights
of his countrymen as well as his own faculties and prerogatives as a
foreign representative. In view of the instructions of his government,
he has therefore to declare that he will continue in the future as in
the past to protect the person and interests of his countrymen, to cause
their just rights to be respected, to sustain their proper claims, and
to demand redress in all cases in which diplomatic intervention may be
justified by the law of nations. With sentiments of respect, I have the
honor to subscribe myself,
Yours, &c.,
Hon. Manuel Herrera,
Minister in charge of the Department of Foreign Relations of
Guatemala.
[Page 115]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
45.—Translation.]
Señor Herrera to
Mr. Logan.
Office
of the Minister of Foreign Relations of
Guatemala,
Guatemala, December 24,
1879.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive the polite
communication which your excellency has been pleased to address me under
date of the 19th instant, informing me that, having read attentively the
constitution promulgated the 12th of the present month, you have found
several of its articles affecting the faculties and prerogatives of
yourself, as well as the rights of your countrymen, in consideration of
which you think it proper to declare that in the future as in the past
you will continue to defend the persons and interests of your
countrymen, causing their rights to be respected, sustaining their just
claims, and asking (pidiendo) justice in all
cases in which diplomatic intervention may be justified by the law of
nations.
In reply to your excellency as to the reservations which you have thought
necessary to make respecting certain articles of the constitution, which
your excellency has not specified in the note to which I have the honor
to refer, I have to say that my Government has the intention to proceed,
as always, to guard (guardar) the constitutional
prescriptions in the cases which occur, in conformity with the general
principles recognized by international law.
I am, &c.,
Hon. C. A. Logan, &c., &c., &c.
