No. 32.
Mr. Hall to
Mr. Frelinhuysen.
Legation of
the United States in Central America,
Guatemala, September 29, 1882.
(Received October 23.)
No. 20.]
Sir: For several months past the government of
Guatemala has been receiving information of projected invasions of its
territory by expeditions of armed forces, having for their object the
enticing or compelling the inhabitants of the frontier, who are mostly
Indians, into subscribing or adhering to public acts of annexation to the
bordering States of Mexico; it is said that those expeditions have been
preparing in Campeche, Yucatan, Tabasco, and Chiapas. The first of these
invasions has taken place during the present month in the department of
Peten; all the information in regard to it, thus far received, is contained
in the accompanying copies of dispatches and letters to the minister of war
of Guatemala, and which have been received during the past week. For
convenient reference I inclose a tracing from an authentic map, showing what
is believed to be the correct boundary lines between Mexico and Guatemala,
and the location of the towns said to have been invaded, as well as those
which are mentioned in the inclosures.
The first information comes from the alcalde of an Indian town named
Silvituk. As well as can be made out, from a letter dictated by a person who
can neither read nor write, it appears that the place was invaded, and that
the inhabitants were compelled to go to the village of Tenchac and there
declare their adhesion to Campeche. He charges, also, that deception was
practised upon them by a priest named Bersunea, “who told them that the
Republic of Guatemala was taken.” This priest is a native of Campeche, and
is well known to the Guatemalan government.
The several communications embraced in the inclosures are numbered from 1 to
5. Nos. 2 and 3 are translations of dispatches from the military commandant
of Peten to the minister of war,- they report the fitting out of an
expedition in Tabasco, with the knowledge and consent of the governor, for
the invasion of that department; that one commercial firm has given therefor
the sum of $5,000, and another has contributed 60 Winchester rifles5 that
the expedition would be sent by steamboat from Tabasco to a place called
Tonosique, on the Umacinta River, six days from his headquarters. He reports
also the invasion of the towns of San Antonio and Concepcion. The remaining
letters and telegrams merely corroborate the general news of the invasion.
This affair has given the Government of Guatemala a vast deal of trouble and
anxiety, besides the expenses which it can illy afford to incur, of sending
500 troops from Coban to the frontier. I have time only by this mail to
communicate the facts, and to say that the government is reluctant to
believe that the Government of Mexico has any knowledge of these hostile
movements. At the earnest solicitation of the President of Guatemala, I
cabled to you on the 26th the following:
President Orantes has information of invasion of Guatemalan districts
Concepcion and San Antonio by Mexican troops, compelling inhabitants
to declare for annexation to Campeche. President hopes invasion not
authorized by Mexico. Five hundred troops sent to invaded districts.
I apprehend hostilities may ensue unless Mexicans retire.
No suggestion of any action in the premises on your part has been made; it
was desired only that the Government of the United States should be advised
of these movements.
I have, &c.,
[Page 50]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 20.—Translation of
communications received by the Government of Guatemala in relation
to the invasion of the department of Peten by Mexican armed
forces.]
Governor Tuz to the prefect and military commandant
of the department of Peten.
San
Juan Silvituk, September 2,
1882.
Sir: I send this for your information, having
received no reply to a dispatch I sent making known to you that forces
were coming from Campeche to take possession of these places, which was
carried out. A commission having been sent, they made us go down to
Tanche (Tenchac) to subscribe to an act of adhesion of these towns to
Campeche. Finding ourselves without resources for resistance we had to
yield, but we offer not to take up arms against that department. This
happened through the deceptions of the Curate Bersumsa, who told us that
the Republic of Guatemala had been taken and that we could not resist a
state like Campeche. Hearing this we were afraid, and we told them to
continue, that we could not, inasmuch as we had taken an oath (to
Guatemala probably), but afterwards we learned that you had sent
circular orders, and these papers were taken in Tanche (Tenchac) and we
had no knowledge of the orders which you sent us. Besides this, orders
have been given to collect provisions for the troops that are going to
Concepcion, or for your headquarters, I am not sure which.
This is all I have to make known to the respectable headquarters.
For the Governor José Ma Tuz.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
20.—Translation.]
Military commandant department of
Peten to Minister of
War.
Peten
La Libertad, September 4,
1882.
Dear Sir and Friend: I write to communicate to
you the news given me by a merchant who has just arrived from Tabasco.
He says that in the capital of that state, with the knowledge and
permission of the governor, a party of bandits is being formed to come
and rob the department; that the house of Bulues &; Company has
given them $5,000, and the house of Valenzuela, 60 Winchesters; that
sixty persons were ready who were expecting to complete the number to
one hundred, to go out; they will come to Tenocique in a steamer of the
house of Bulues; that place is not more than six days from here.
Many of these rogues have been woodcutters in this department; have
failed and wish to retrieve their fortunes by robbing and pillaging. The
person who has given me this news is very respectable, and from the
names of the individuals he mentioned, and whom I know, I believe it,
because they are bandits capable of anything that is bad, and one of
their pranks is to ruin the house of Jumet and Sastre to which the
Bulues are in hostility.
I will do everything possible not to be surprised, and will defend myself
to the last. I have no other arms than 25 Remingtons, second class. I
have therefore asked for 25 of first class, and I again ask you most
earnestly to send them to me immediately with corresponding ammunition.
With fifty men well armed I will teach these bandits a lesson.
* * * * * * *
I remain, &c.,
[Inclosure 3 in No
20.—Translation.]
Military Commandant department of
Peten to the Minister of
War.
Peten,
La Libertad, September 13,
1882.
Sir: I have the honor to annex a dispatch from
the alcalde and governor of the town of Silvituk (see No. 1), in which
he communicates to me that the towns of the district of San Antonio have
been invaded by forces from Campeche, who drew up acts in those towns
annexing them to Campeche. Besides this, I have news that in the town of
Concepcion, near the boundary of Campeche (state of), and 112 leagues
from here, there are two hundred troops of Campeche that are preparing
to march on these headquarters. * * * * *
I am, &c.,
[Page 51]
[Inclosnre 4 in No.
20.—Translation.]
Señor Cruz to
Minister of War.
Coban, September 21,
1882.
Sir: I have had news from Peten, given me by a
person who has just arrived from there. There are two hundred men from
Campeche in the town of Concepcion preparing to march upon the capital
of Peten.
I expect you to send me orders and two competent officers for the
emergency, I deem expedient.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 5 in No.
20.—Translation.]
[Telegram.]
Coban, September 21,
1882.
To the Minister of War:
At this moment I have received a courier from the prefect of Peten,
recommending the following telegram to be sent to you:
“On the 15th instant one of the spies sent to the frontier of Campeche
returned, stating that forces from that state to the number of 200 men
have invaded the department and are marching upon this capital.”
I await your orders,
