Mr. Ryan to Mr. Blaine.
Mexico, July 27, 1890.
Mr. Ryan reports that he immediately forwarded to Guatemala the Department’s telegram of the 26th. Salvadorian censorship undoubtedly held at Libertad the telegrams sent by the Department directly to Mr. Mizner. Guatemala asserts that she was forced into war by territorial [Page 646] invasion. The statement is made by the special agent in Mexico of the Ezeta government that Ezeta was asked to yield his pretensions to the presidency to Alvarez by the President of Guatemala, who emphasized it by sending the flower of his army to the border under the command of Alvarez with instructions to march into Salvador should Ezeta decline. This is proven by dispatches taken from Alvarez. The Salvadorian army did not enter Guatemala until they had twice defeated Alvarez on Salvadorian territory. The probable cause of the war is that the government of Ezeta is based upon opposition to the Guatemalan scheme of federation. In regard to which of the powers precipitated the war, that the first two fights took place in Salvador, the logic of the issue, the ambition of the general commanding Guatemalan troops to be President of Salvador, are very suggestive. The special agent of the Ezeta government, Mr. Pou, had his attention called to the holding of telegrams between the United States and Mr. Mizner, and was informed that the United States would permit no censorship over its dispatches and instructions. Whereupon Mr. Pou promised to report the matter to his government and expressed the belief that favorable action would be taken, but that line is in danger of being interfered with by the presence of an army, and for some time to come it will be well to forward, communications through this legation.