No. 98.
Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Hall.
Washington, February 27, 1888.
Sir: I learn that much disquietude is felt in Nicaragua by reason of rumors that the plan of consolidation or amalgamation of the Central American Republics, which received so serious a check when undertaken by General Barrios a few years ago, is proposed to be revived by his successor, General Barillas.
The strong disapproval of the United States exhibited to any steps of coercion or constraint by one or more of the Central American States toward their neighbors to bring about a union was unequivocally manifested in the instructions sent to you in 1885. The circumstances under which General Barillas assumed the reins of government in Guatemala after the death of General Barrios seemed to afford hopes of permanent tranquillity in that State and its good relationship with the other States of the Central American group, and the Government of the United States has indulged the friendly hope that no schemes of dictatorial power or undue predominance in the councils of Central America, and no disturbance of the peace of our neighbors, would meet with encouragement under the presidency of General Barillas. We are unwilling to abandon this hope, and it would be very gratifying to have it confirmed by receiving assurances from the Government of Guatemala of the groundlessness of the reports which now reach us.
The great interest expressed in the proposed construction of the inter-oceanic canal by citizens of the United States, under charter granted according to the laws of the United States, and the concern naturally felt for the security of the vast capital necessary for the accomplishment of such a work under effective guaranties of stability and order, should serve to advise the statesmen of Guatemala of the new and important enterprises thus inaugurated, and lead them to realize the magnitude of the concern which would necessarily be felt should any ill-counseled plans of domination or control cast a doubt upon the capacity of the independent Central American States to maintain orderly and local self-government, and observe relations of good-will toward each other.
Military movements are at all times hostile to peaceable commercial interests, and any observable tendency in such a direction at the present juncture could not fail to seriously discompose the excellent plans now in progress to construct the canal, and thereby to advance the commercial position of all the Central American States, in which general advancement Guatemala could not fail to share in due proportion to her commercial importance and the enterprise of her citizens in the paths of commercial advantage.
You will carefully inquire whether any ground exists for the apprehensions to which I have adverted, and will likewise take an early and [Page 132] discreet occasion to convey to the Government of President Barillas the views of the Government of the United States, which are consistently and strongly in disapproval of a coercive union of the Central American Republics and favorable to their independent, tranquil, and harmonious continuance under the reign of constitutional law. It will require but little statement or argument on your part to emphasize the feeling of disquietude and the grave results of unfriendliness which would be created if the capital and interests of citizens of the United States in Central America should be jeopardized by the ambitions of any of those States, and the paramount urgency of avoiding such a contingency by all available means, of which frank and friendly counsel is not the least.
I am, etc.,