The differences between the two Governments have been amicably settled
through mutual explanations; a protocol was agreed to and signed by the
minister for foreign affairs of Guatemala and General Zavala, on the 27th
instant. I have the honor to inclose a translation of this document and of
the Nicaraguan minister’s note accompanying it. He has also expressed to me
verbally that, notwithstanding the just reasons his Government has had to
think otherwise, he is now satisfied the Governments of Guatemala and
Salvador are disposed, as it is to their interest to maintain peace with
Nicaragua. It is to be hoped that he is not mistaken.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
404.—Translation.]
General Zavala to
Mr. Hall.
Legation of Nicaragua,
Guatemala, August 30,
1885.
My Dear Sir:* * * I transmit to you a copy of
the protocol, which I have signed with the minister of foreign affairs,
re-establishing the frank and cordial relations which have heretofore
existed between Guatemala and Nicaragua.
It is a pleasure to me to express to you, on the part of my Government,
its sincere thanks, and my own, for your friendly mediation, through
which this result has been obtained.
* * * * * * *
[Inclosure 2 in No.
404.—Translation.]
Protocol of the conference which took place on the 27th
August, 1885, between General Joaquin Zavala, envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of the Government of Nicaragua, and the
licentiate Señor Don Manuel Ramirez, secretary of state in the
department of foreign relations, as plenipotentiary on the part of the
Government of Guatemala, with the object of making certain explanations
necessary for establishing upon bases of cordiality and frankness the
relations of friendship existing between the two Republics.
The plenipotentiary of Guatemala stated that his Government had
considered the autograph letter of his Excellency the President of
Nicaragua, dated the 16th May last, as little friendly in its terms,
which are far from being in sympathy with those which the general in
charge of the Presidency used in communicating to the former his
elevation to office.
The plenipotentiary of Nicaragua declared that he admits the justice of
this observation that the document was written under the pressure of
difficult circumstances, which had powerful influence over his
excellency Señor Cardenas; and that in the opinion of the exponent the
fault is exculpated in the autograph letter which accredits him as envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary near the Government of this
Republic.
The plenipotentiary of Guatemala stated that one of the conditions
stipulated for the re-establishment of peace between the five Republics
was that each one of the Governments should issue a decree of amnesty in
favor of its respective political exiles, and that the Government of
Nicaragua had not fulfilled that stipulation.
The plenipotentiary of Nicaragua replied that his Government, in giving
its power to Dr. Zaldivar, then President of Salvador, to make peace,
reserved to itself, as did Costa Rica, the right to be consulted as to
the details of the treaty; that notwithstanding Nicaragua was not
consulted, but desiring to realize that object it gave in its adherence
to the treaty, and did not decree an amnesty, because the exiles
themselves created obstacles and, through the press, rejected the
amnesty, and boasted that the Governments of Guatemala, Salvador, and
Honduras protected them in their aggressive designs, against the
constitutional Government of that Republic.
The plenipotentiary of Guatemala admitted that the foregoing explanations
justify the omission of the decree of armistice, and added that inasmuch
as the interior tranquillity of Guatemala cannot be secure if there
should be any disturbances in Honduras or Salvador, he confidently
expected that the Government of Nicaragua would display an efficient
zeal in preventing the formation of factions either from that State or
of the malcontents of either of the other two Republics.
The plenipotentiary of Nicaragua declared that his government has not
protected nor will it protect nor consent, within its territory, to the
formation of any faction which might carry perturbations into the
neighboring republics.
The plenipotentiary of Guatemala declared that the difficulties between
Nicaragua and Guatemala being thus terminated, the frank and cordial
relations of friendship, which unfortunately have been altered by late
events, are hereby renewed.
In testimony of which the said
plenipotentiaries have signed the protocol in duplicate and have
attached thereto their respective seals. Done in the city of
Guatemala, the 27th day of August,
1885.
[
seal.]
JOAQUIN
ZAVALA.
[
seal.]
MANUEL RAMIREZ
.
