Mr. Mizner to Mr. Blaine .

No. 125.]

Sir: Referring to the closing paragraph of my No. 124, of the 23d instant, I now have the honor to inclose to you herewith a printed copy of decree No. 436, issued by the President of Guatemala, on the 21st day of July, 1890, in which Guatemala, in the language of the decree, “accepts the unjust war to which she has been driven by the government de facto established in Salvador,” etc.

To this copy I append a translation of the same into the English language, making it a part of the above inclosure.

I have, etc.,

Lansing B. Mizner.
[Inclosure in No. 125.—Translation.]

Decree No. 436.

Manuel L. Barillas, General of Division, and Constitutional President of the Republic of Guatemala, whereas:

That, on account of the late events which have taken place in Salvador, the Government of Guatemala had to place a part of her army on the frontier for the sole purpose of preserving the peace and guarding the public order, threatened by those events; that, notwithstanding the protests of peace made by Guatemala and her having exhausted all possible means to secure it, the forces of the neighboring state have invaded the national territory, and in different ways have performed unjust provocations against the people of Guatemala; and, as it is the duty of the supreme authority to cause the integrity of the national territory and the sacred rights of the Republic to be respected, it being obligatory upon the executive power to defend the independence and honor of the nation and the inviolability of her soil: Therefore, in council of ministers, it is decreed:

  • Article 1. Guatemala accepts the unjust war to which she has been driven by the Government de facto established in Salvador, and declines all responsibility of the dire consequences that may be occasioned to persons and property on the part of those who have promoted the fratricidal straggle which now exists between the two countries.
  • Art. 2. The minister of war is charged with the execution of this decree, and to take the most energetic and necessary means for the defense of the Republic and to carry such military as a state of war may require.


M. L. Barillas.

The Secretary of State and of the Department of War.

C. Mendizábal.