[Inclosure 1 in No. 329.]
Mr. Valentine to
Mr. Bayard.
Consulate-General of Guatemala, 345 Produce Exchange,
New York, February 13, 1886. (Received February
15.)
Sir: I have the honor to translate the
following letter I have just received from Guatemala, which I believe to
be of sufficient international interest to warrant my calling your
attention to it, demonstrating as it does the marked amity that exists
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between the Central American
Republics, and clearly evincing that such North American interests as
are vested in the Republics of Central America are by no means menaced
by such filibustering projects as have recently been discussed by the
press of the United States, and further showing that if ever a project
of any noteworthy dimensions should be put on foot to overthrow either
of the Governments mentioned, they would be staunchly met by the
combined forces of the interested Governments, who are determining to
preserve peace at all hazards. I communicate the subjoined letter to you
with a view that you may, if you deem proper, make public my assurance
that those who have interests of any kind in Central America need
cherish no fears as to their safety; and, further, I would remind all
that the dissemination of rumors of war, which I assure you are but
rumors, will by no means act as a remedy for the fact that still
six-sevenths of the trade of Central America is done with Europe, whose
merchants are not at all alarmed by what might prove an impediment to
the increase of the trade of the United States, if such assurances did
not exist as are portrayed by the following letter:
[Translation.]
Department of Foreign
Relations,
Guatemala,
January 18, 1886.
Doctor Fernando C.
Valentine,
Consul-General of
Guatemala in New York:
It has come to the knowledge of this Government that some persons
residing in New York City are endeavoring to send filibustering
expeditions intended to disturb the peace and order of the
Republics of Honduras and Salvador.
Inasmuch as the perpetuation of peace in Central America
particularly interests Guatemala, and actuated by a desire to
preserve the sister Republics from any disturbance, the
President commissions me to charge you to employ all of your
zeal and activity in the discovery of such steps as are taken in
the United States to the above ends, and that you do all in your
power to impede the said expeditions, and that you will take the
same interest in these matters as if they
concerned this Republic (of
Guatemala) exclusively.
You will inform me by cable of any matter that you may deem
important in this connection.
* * * * * * *
I am, &c.,
ANTONIO LOZO ARRIAGA.
In view of the foregoing facts that are borne out by the above letter,
and in evidence of the friendship of the United States of North America
towards the Republic of Guatemala, do you authorize me to cable my
Government as follows:
“Secretary State this Government assures me that its assistance is at our
command to prevent expeditions against Central America, should any
arise.”
While Guatemala has no fear of such expeditions as have recently been
mentioned, and while the letter I have transmitted expresses only a
desire for positive information, the cablegram above suggested will
counteract the unfavorable impression that cannot fail to be created in
Central America by some of the matter that has recently been published
in papers that will shortly reach our countries, and the context of that
matter may, I fear, produce in the minds of many a misapprehension of
the feelings of the Government of the United States towards Central
America, inasmuch as several of the reports make it appear that your
Government allows filibustering expeditions to be equipped and armed
undisturbedly against friendly nations. The cablegram I suggest will at
once annul any such erroneous conceptions.
Assuring you, sir, that the Government of Guatemala, under the Presidency
of General Manuel Lisandro Barillas, cherishes the most profound respect
for its great sister, the United States of America,
I have, &c.,
FERNANDO C. VALENTINE,
Consul-General
of Guatemala.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 329.]
Mr. Bayard to Mr.
Valentine.
Department of State,
Washington, February 19,
1886.
Sir: I have received your letter of the 13th
instant transcribing a note addressed to yourself by the minister for
foreign affairs of Guatemala, wherein he apprehends that filibustering
expeditions are about to be dispatched from New York against the peace
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of Honduras and Salvador.
You thereupon ask to be authorized to cable your Government that you
have received the assurances of the United States that its assistance is
at the command of Guatemala to prevent expeditions against Central
America should any arise.
Although the Government of the United States has given heretofore
abundant proor of its determination to uphold its neutrality statutes in
respect to the Governments of Central America, as well as in respect to
all other Governments which may be involved in wars, domestic or
foreign, I am unable to comply with your wishes as expressed. Violation
of our neutrality statutes is an offense against the domestic
sovereignty of the United States and is to be punished on competent
proof that the wrong complained of was done contrary to our laws and
within their jurisdiction.
This Government is disposed to take every possible means within the power
of the United States to prevent hostile attempts being set on foot
within their jurisdiction against the peace of the Republic of
Guatemala, should occasion arise. The same is also true as regards
either of the other Central American states. But to give assurance that
the power of this Government will be allied with that of Guatemala to
prevent alleged violations of our neutrality against the peace of the
other Central American Republics is a step which this Government cannot
take. In the event, however, of evidence of such violation being
presented in the proper way as respects any one of those States, no
effort would be spared to prevent and punish to the fullest extent of
the law any persons charged with the violation of the neutrality
statutes of the United States.
In this connection I take occasion also to acknowledge the receipt of
your telegram of the 19th instant upon this subject.
I am, &c.,
