No. 78.
Mr. Hall to Mr.
Bayard.
Legation of
the United States in Central America,
Guatemala, April 17, 1885.
(Received May 16.)
No. 338.]Sir: In continuation of my dispatch No. 337 of the
15th instant, I have the honor to report to you the result of the last act
of mediation between the Governments of Guatemala and Salvador on the part
of the foreign representatives accredited to Central America.
In that dispatch I reported to you the unconditional acceptance by President
Zaldivar of the terms of peace submitted to him, at his request, on the 13th
instant. This prompt acceptance merited and received from them a proper
recognition, which was communicated to him in the following telegram, dated
the 15th instant:
The diplomatic corps accredited to Central America greet your
Excellency, and in acknowledging the receipt of your courteous
telegram, congratulate your Excellency the Government of Salvador,
and the other Republics of Central America upon the satisfactory
result of the mediation initiated by the corps in favor of
peace.
The same day another telegram from President Zaldivar, addressed to the
corps, was received; he transmitted with it a project of a decree declaring
peace; a translation is inclosed herewith; he proposed also, that if
accepted, it should be published simultaneously by the Governments, of the
several states. As this project is in consonance with the terms proposed by
the diplomatic corps, it was at once submitted to the Guatemalan Government,
and as promptly accepted, with the few modifications required by the
different conditions existing here.
I inclose also a translation of a note, dated the 15th instant, from the
minister for foreign affairs of Guatemala, with which he transmits a copy of
the declaratory decree, No. 323, of the Guatemalan Government, issued in
consonance with the above-mentioned project.
It is to be hoped that with these declarations of peace between Guatemala and
Salvador, which it was proposed should also be made simultaneously by the
other states, the difficulties between them will terminate. There is as yet,
however, no positive assurance that such will be the result.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
338.—Translation.]
President Zaldivar
to the diplomatic corps.
Santa
Ana, April 14,
1885.
As you will readily understand, every hour that passes in this state of
war involves sacrifices and difficulties that we should endeavor to
terminate as soon as possible, and being already in accord as to the
declaration of peace, I take the liberty to submit, through your worthy
mediation, to the Government of Guatemala the project of a decree
relating to this matter, trusting that, if it should be accepted, I may
be informed of the day on which it can be published by both Governments.
I have also communicated it to the Governments of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica, inviting them to adopt an identical determination.
I am, &c.,
[Page 113]
project of decree.
The executive power of the Republic of Salvador, considering:
(1) That the causes which placed this Republic in a state of war with the
Republic of Guatemala having ceased through the revocation by the
assembly of the latter of the decree of the 28th February last past,
which proclaimed, de facto, the union of Central
America, and by the death of General Don J. Rufino Barrios, who, for the
purpose of carrying it out, assumed the military command of this
Republic;
(2) That the allied Governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica are animated
by the same ideas in regard to interests of such vital importance, all
having been in accord for the celebration of peace with the Republic of
Honduras;
(3) That, through the medium of the honorable diplomatic corps accredited
to Central America, a perfect understanding with the Government of
Guatemala has been reached, the honorable basis of a firm and stable
peace between the two Republics having been agreed to:
Therefore, in the exercise of the powers with which he is invested, he
decrees:
- Article 1. Be it declared that the
Republic of Salvador returns to-day to peace with her sister and
neighbor Republic, Guatemala.
- Art. 2. Be it declared on the part
of Salvador that the stipulations of the treaties with the
Republic of Guatemala are in force as they were on the 28th of
February last past, until a new treaty shall be made upon the
same or more liberal bases, which establish the mutual relations
of the two Republics.
- Art. 3. Let ample and safe amnesty
be conceded to all those Salvadorians who are implicated in the
union cause, which the Government of Guatemala proclaimed on the
28th of February, and, generally, to all those Salvadorians now
absent on account of political offenses.
- Art. 4. Let a note expressive of
national gratitude be communicated to the honorable diplomatic
corps accredited to the Republics of Central America for their
friendly and efficient mediation to obtain the re-establisment
of peace among them.
- Art. 5. Let Sunday next, the 19th
instant, be designated for due solemnization of the
re-establishment of peace with Guatemala.
- Art. 6. The department of foreign
relations is charged with the execution of the present decree,
of which an account shall be given as soon as possible to the
Legislative Assembly of the Republic.
Given in the National Palace, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
338.—Translation.]
Señor Arroyo to Mr.
Hall.
Department of Foreign Relations,
Guatemala, April 15,
1885.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to transmit to
you a copy of decree No. 323, which the general in charge of the
Presidency of the Republic, in the exercise of the executive power,
issued to-day in the council of ministers.
It is very gratifying to me to transmit to you this document, in which
you will be pleased to notice that, with great justice, it is disposed
to communicate a note of thanks to the honorable diplomatic corps
accredited in Central America for their friendly and efficient mediation
to obtain the restoration of peace between the Republics of Salvador,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.
Be pleased, &c.,
decree no. 323.
Manuel L. Barillas, general of brigade, in charge of the Presidency of
the Republic, in exercise of the executive power, considering:
- First. That by virtue of the revocation
of the decree of 28th February, in which the Central American
Union was proclaimed in the form therein expressed, and that by
the death of the Bene-Merito, General Don
J. Rufino Barrios, who for carrying out the same had assumed the
military command of Central America, the causes that placed this
Republic in a state of war with the Republics of Salvador,
Nicaragua, and Costa Rica have ceased;
- Second. That under such circumstances
it becomes a patriotic duty to attract the peoples by sentiments
of fraternity and concord, so that they may enjoy the blessings
of peace the first and most imperious of necessities;
- Third. That the Governments of the
Republics of Central America are animated by identical ideas as
regards matters of such vital interest, and the Governments of
Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica by mutual accord having made
a peace with the Republic of Honduras, which adhered to the
proclamation of the President of Guatemala;
- Fourth. That through the friendly
mediation of the honorable diplomatic corps ac credited to
Central America a perfect understanding with the Government of
Salvador has been readily obtained, and the honorable bases of a
firm and lasting peace between both Republics and the allies of
the latter having been agreed to:
- Therefore, in the exercise of the authority conceded to the
Executive by decree No. 99 of the Legislative Assembly, and in
accord with the council of ministers, I decree:
- Article 1. Be it declared
that the Republic of Guatemala, from to-day, returns to
the state of peace with her sister and neighbor, the
Republic of Salvador, and her allies, the Republics of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
- Art. 2. Be it declared that
on the part of Guatemala the stipulations of the
treaties with the Republic of Salvador as they were on
the 28th of February last past are in force, until under
the same or more ample bases a new treaty establishing
the relations of the two Republics shall be made:
- Art. 3. Let an ample and
secure amnesty be conceded to all Guatemalans implicated
in the union cause that the Government proclaimed in its
decree of the 28th of February ultimo, and to all
Guatemalans now absent for political offenses committed
during the six months previous to that date, the
Government proposing to issue, as soon as circumstances
permit, the decree of general amnesty which has been
under study since the present acting executive came into
power.
- Art. 4. Let a note of
national gratitude be communicated to the honorable
diplomatic corps, accredited to the Republics of Central
America, for their friendly and efficient intervention
to obtain the re-establishment of peace.
- Art. 5. Let Sunday next, the
19th instant, be designated for duly solemnizing the
re-establishment of peace with Salvador and her
allies.
- Art. 6. The department of
foreign relations is charged with the execution of the
present decree, of which account shall be given to the
Assembly.
Given in the national palace of
Guatemala
the 15th of April,
1885.
- MANUEL L. BARILLAS.
The Secretary of
State in the Departments of Foreign Affairs and of
Public Instruction, - ANGEL MA. ARROYO.
The Secretary of
State in the Departments of the Treasury and of Public
Credit, - ANTONIO AGUIRRE.
The Secretary of
State in the Departments of Government and
Justice, - MANUEL T. DARDON.
The Secretary of
State in the Department of Public Works, - E. MARTINEZ SOBRAL.
