Mr. Mizner to Mr. Blaine .
Guatemala , July 9, 1890. (Received July 24.)
Sir: I have the honor to confirm my cable dispatch of yesterday.
I deem the presence of a war vessel here important, from the fact that the troubles growing out of the revolution in Salvador seem to increase each day, and our interests in all these republics correspondingly endangered.
Our Navy Department is, of course, aware of the good roadsteads of San José, in this republic, and of Acajutla and La Libertad, in Salvador, and the fine harbor of the Gulf of Fonseer, on which fronts the territory of Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, where coal can be easily supplied from Panama or elsewhere.
Referring to the matters stated in my No. 114, of June 25, and No. 117, of the 2d instant, I may add that on the 25th of last month the minister for foreign Relations of this Republic forwarded a circular letter, by telegraph, to the Governments of Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua declining to recognize the new state of affairs in Salvador, denouncing it in strong terms, and inviting the cooperation of those states for the purpose of reëstablishing order in Salvador, to which each of them promptly responded, promising all moral support possible in the premises; Nicaragua and Costa Rica each sending a minister plenipotentiary to Guatemala to aid in maintaining peace.
On the 26th of June Señor B. Molina Guirola sent a dispatch to the minister of foreign relations of this Republic, inclosing a copy of his appointment as minister in charge of all of the cabinet departments of Salvador, setting forth the organization of the new Government, requesting recognition, etc.
To which the minister here replied, in severe terms, that Guatemala would in no manner recognize the so-called Government of Salvador or answer further communications therefrom.
All of these documents being voluminous, and in the Spanish language, are retained in this legation, copies of which can be forwarded to you, if required.
On yesterday Señor Francisco E. Galindo called upon me, stating that on the 23d of last month he was directed by the so-called new Government of Salvador to come to Guatemala as minister, for the purpose of establishing cordial relations between the two countries; that the President of Guatemala refused to receive him, and directed that he (Galindo) should not leave this city. Later, he obtained an interview [Page 32] with Señor Sobral, who refused to receive him officially, or to recognize the new order of things in Salvador. Señor Galindo also stated to me that he had made the proposition to Señor Sobral that General Ezeta, the new Provisional President of Salvador, should give way to Señor Ayala, the duly elected Vice President, next in lawful succession to the deceased President, General Menendez, but that his offer was declined.
The armed situation today may be stated as follows:
Salvador has, in and near Santa Ana, and within 10 or 15 miles of the Guatemalan line, about 14,000 men, well housed from the present rainy season.
Guatemala confronts this force with about an equal number of soldiers, better armed, but not so well sheltered.
The reënforcing power of Guatemala is greater than that of Salvador.
Honduras will, if necessary, assist Guatemala, attacking Salvador from the northeast with 3,000 or 4,000 men.
I do not think that Nicaragua or Costa Rica will interfere by force.
The most intelligent opinion here is that, in case of a conflict, the result will be very uncertain, and that, if the Salvadorians should be victorious on the frontier in a decisive battle, they will move upon and capture this city.
While I am not an alarmist, and have heard of an army marching up a hill and then marching down again, still, as a matter of precaution, the presence of a man-of-war in these waters would have a salutary effect on victors as well as vanquished.
I am informed by the German and English representatives that their Governments have no war vessels in this neighborhood.
I have, etc.,