No. 380.
Señor Ubico to Mr. Blaine.
New York, June 22, 1881. (Received June 24.)
Sir: Although the territory known as Central America is at present divided into five independent republics, the idea of their being constituted under one government and of their appearing before the world as one single nationality is neither a new one, nor have the many advantageous changes that its accomplishment would bring about, been a secret to a good many of the inhabitants of those countries. That idea has been advocated by well-known and influential men throughout the country ever since its independence from Spain was effected. Attempts to realize it have been made on several occasions, and although they have not been crowned with success, the existence of a widely spread [Page 601] and respectable party, which bears the name of “Nacionalista,” and the only aim of which it is to unite the five republics under one government, furnishes ample proof that the efforts made in this direction have not been lost.
Central Americans cannot fail to recognize that a goodly share of the energies of their country is spent in the sustainment of small governments, which cannot give them the security at home and the respectability abroad that a stronger and more firmly established government formed with the elements of the five existing small ones would give them.
Security of life and property and lasting peace are the true aims of government; they are essential to the welfare of a nation; without them labor cannot be performed, and industry flies from the land troubled by political revolutions; in such a case the natural advantages of soil and climate are forgotten, for the plowman unwillingly plants the seed which some strange hand may harvest; and that peace and that security require the government to be strong enough to enable it to vanquish and destroy the plans of personal ambition and partisan interests. These facts, obvious everywhere, impress themselves more strongly, and make their logic more forcibly felt in Spanish-America, where the conditions of race, climate, &c., so much favor their development.
The union of Central America is a popular and accepted principle with all well-meaning and honest patriots in that country; and when the work towards its accomplishment is begun, cordial co-operation, coming voluntary from all the corners of the land will not be wanting.
Nevertheless there are numerous and strong obstacles to be overcome; personal interests, and the attachment to high-sounding titles and to honors which would vanish with small governments for a good many men, will struggle fiercely against any attempt to realize the union; besides, all the bad elements which exist in the country, and which are wanting nowhere, will combine in that effort. As matters stand to-day the work could be achieved without any foreign aid, for the party is strong enough and powerful enough for that, but it would require great sacrifice from the land and the loss of human life. The help and influence of a strong foreign government are therefore needed. They would act by their presence alone, and by their moral weight would quickly and favorably decide the question. That government can be no other than the United States. The United States are the most powerful and best constituted nation on the American Continent; they uphold the flag of the republican principles which they vindicate before the world by their prosperity; besides, their highest political authority proclaimed more than a half century ago the principle of the integrity of the American continent against any attempt at usurpation from foreign powers. They are therefore the natural protector of all the American sister republics, where principles identical to their own are sustained, if not with as great a success, until the present at least with an equal faith in their final beneficial results.
Guatemala, from the fact of its having more than a half of the population of Central America, and of its having enjoyed peace, but with one short interruption, during the last thirty years, possessing further more elements of all kinds than any one or even all of her sister republics, and being governed by men who are respected all through the land, is the only one of the Central American republics able to carry this work into execution. The governments of Salvador and Honduras are her [Page 602] warm friends, so that it may be said that Guatemala can speak also for the governments of the two last-mentioned republics.
Possessed of these facts, namely: the convenience of the union, the popularity of the idea, the necessity, for its accomplishment, of the help of the Government of the United States, and, finally, acknowledging that Guatemala is the only one of the Central American republics which can take the work in hand, my government gave me full powers and ample instructions on the subject of the Central American Union.
In the conferences which I had the honor to hold with your excellency during the course of last week, I had the pleasure to see that the people of Central America had not been mistaken in looking for assistance towards the United States, and that the views of the American Government were entirely favorable to the Central American Union.
The note passed to the American representative in Central America asking him to inform concerning the political and social state of those republics, as well as of their revenues, debts, internal and external, &c., and, above all, as to the popularity and acceptance of the idea of the union with the prominent men of the country, showed me well the tendency of the American policy; besides, the generous utterances of your excellency in behalf of this idea, as well as the words of the President himself, who expressed his hope to see that union accomplished before the end of his term, fully convinced me that such another opportunity will not present itself, and that more efficient, frank, and just help from the United States Government could not be desired.
The Government of Guatemala has anxiously waited for such an opportunity. The principle of the union is consigned in the constitution of Guatemala, the second article of which says as follows: “Guatemala will maintain and cultivate the most intimate and friendly relations with the remaining Central American republics. And whenever the Central American nationality be proposed in a firm, just, popular, and convenient manner, Guatemala will readily accept and enter it.” It also accords the rights of citizenship to all persons born in Central America as long as they reside on her territory.
These facts show the tendency of our politics and intentions, and I, in the name of my government, feel it my duty to express our gratitude to the American Government for its readiness to co-operate with us in this matter.
After examining the question under its many aspects, I decided to hand to your excellency, as a base for further proceedings, a memorandum containing the conditions under which Central America would enter into a treaty with the United States, or rather, I should say, the Government of Guatemala.
I have communicated all these facts to my government. When known they will create great sensation in my country. Action, and speedy action, is needed. I therefore request your excellency’s attention on this subject, and beg to ask your decision on the proposed basis, or, should they not be accepted, their substitution for those which your excellency would propose, so that the question may soon cease to be a mere diplomatic correspondence and pass to the world of facts.
Accept, &c.,