Mr. Hosmer to Mr.
Wharton.
Consulate
General of the United States,
Guatemala, August 29, 1890.
(Received September 18.)
No. 243.]Sir: Concurrently with dispatch No. 150 of the
minister of the United States, to which I beg respectfully to refer as
continuing the history I am about to narrate, I have the honor to report
that on Monday
[Page 87]
morning, the 25th
instant, during the absence of the minister of the United States at
Acajutla, Salvador, I received a telegram from Mr. Florentine Souza,
consular agent of the United States at Champerico, copy of which, with
translation of the same into English, I inclose herewith, wherein it appears
that the commandant of the port of Champerico states that Gen. J. M.
Barrundia is a passenger on board of the steamer Acapulco, on his way to Salvador, charges him with high treason
and other crimes against Guatemala, and requests permission to visit the
vessel for his arrest and removal, the consular agent closing with the
inquiry as to what he shall do in the matter.
I replied by telegraph to Mr. Souza, copy of which I inclose herewith, to the
effect that I thought Guatemala had the right to search foreign vessels in
her own waters for persons suspected of hostility to her during time of war,
and that he was at liberty to communicate my opinion to the commandant.
On the following morning at about 10 o’clock I received a note from the
President of this Republic asking me to call upon him at his house to
converse about a matter of importance, copy of which note, with translation
into English, I inclose herewith.
I called upon the President promptly in response to his request, and he
recited to me in the interview a number of charges which the Guatemalan
Government had against General Barrundia, with secret information, as he
expressed it, that General Barrundia was on board of the steamer Acapulco, at that moment in the port of Champerico,
en route to join the forces of Salvador against his own country. The
President furthermore informed me that a copy of my telegram to Mr. Souza of
the previous day had been shown to him, and he requested me to repeat it, in
substance, by wire to Captain Pitts, commanding the steamer Acapulco.
I had received no information at that time when the minister of the United
States would return, or that the bases for peace had been signed by General
Ezeta on the part of Salvador. I accordingly promised to address a telegram
to Captain Pitts immediately, which I did at the central office of
telegraphs, and copy of which I inclose herewith.
On my return to this office a messenger from the foreign office brought to me
a note from Señor Anguiano, minister for foreign relations, which, as will
be observed in the copy and translation into English inclosed herewith, sets
forth the reasons which inspire the Government of Guatemala in its desire to
arrest General Barrundia and remove him from a vessel sailing under the
American flag.
At the time I received this note I was informed that the minister of the
United States would arrive in this capital at 2 o’clock of the afternoon. He
did so, and on his arrival at this legation I reported to him at once all
that had occurred in the matter which is the subject of this report.
About a quarter past 5 o’clock of the same day, and while I was on my way
from this office to my hotel, I was met by a messenger of the telegraph
office, who handed to me a telegram from Mr. Souza, containing the following
words only: “Please answer Captain Pitts’s telegrams as soon as
possible.”
On reading Mr. Souza’s request, and not having received any telegrams from
Captain Pitts, I proceeded at once to the central office for telegraphs, and
upon inquiry found a clerk making a corrected copy of a telegram from
Captain Pitts addressed to me, which I inclose herewith, the substance of
which was that J. M. Barrundia had embarked on his ship at the port of
Acapulco with a direct ticket for Panama, and
[Page 88]
that he the captain would suggest that, as a guaranty
for the ship and himself, the passenger Barrundia should be retained on
board until arrival at San José, where Captain Pitts would place himself
under the orders of the minister of the United States, and requesting me to
submit the telegram to that official.
I replied at once to Captain Pitts in the following words: “Your telegram
just received. Will submit same to United States minister for his
answer.”
Immediately after dinner I returned to the legation and submitted Captain
Pitts’s telegram and my reply as above to the minister of the United States,
thus concluding all official action in the matter upon which I have herein
reported.
I am, sir, etc.,
James R. Hosmer,
Consul-General.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
243.—Translation.]
Retalhulen, August 25,
1890.
Consul-General of the United States
of America:
The commandant of Champerico has sent me the following communication:
“I have had notice that Barrundia intends to embark on one of the Pacific
Mail steamers coming from the north as a passenger for Salvador, and, as
he has been found with arms in hand against Guatemala, he has committed
the offense of high treason and other crimes, as the public well know. I
have the order of my Government to arrest the said Barrundia on the
anchoring of the ship that brings him, for which reason I beg that you
will please suggest to the captain to aid as best he may, so that said
person can be delivered to me according to the law of nations, besides
the extradition treaty for criminals ratified in 1870 between the
Governments of Guatemala and the United States, which applies in the
present case.
“I beg that you will please answer me for my present information, and I
remain your obedient servant,
“Augustin Paniagua.”
Accordingly, I beg that you will communicate to me instructions as
promptly as possible, as it is thought that the steamer in which
Barrundia is a passenger will arrive at Champerico to-morrow, and it is
necessary to have your orders to know what I ought to do in this
matter.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
243.—Telegram.]
Mr. Hosmer to Mr.
Souza.
Guatemala, August 25,
1890.
Señor Don F. Souza,
Agente Consular de los E. E. U. U. del Norte,
Retalhulen, Guatemala:
United States minister absent. I think Guatemalan Government has right to
search foreign vessels in her own waters for persons suspected of
hostility to her during time of war and to arrest them. You may
communicate this opinion to the commandant.
James R. Hosmer,
United States
Consul-General.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
243.—Translation.]
President Barillas
to Mr. Hosmer.
Guatemala, August 26,
1890.
Gen. Manuel L. Barillas courteously salutes the Hon. Mr. James R. Hosmer
and requests him to please come to his house for conversation upon an
important matter.
[Page 89]
[Inclosure 4 in No. 243.]
Mr. Hosmer to
Captain Pitts.
Champerico, Guatemala, August 26, 1890.
The Guatemalan Government has the right to search your steamer for any
person or persons hostile to this Republic, and, if found, to arrest him
or them. You will therefore please see that no obstacle is permitted to
that right of search in accordance with the law of nations. The United
States minister is not here, but is expected this afternoon.
- James R. Hosmer,
United States Consul-General. - Captain Pitts,
Captain of Pacific Mail Steamer
Acapulco.
[Inclosure 5 in No.
243.—Translation.]
Minister Anguiano
to Mr. Hosmer.
Office of Minister
for Foreign Relations of Guatemala,
National
Palace, Guatemala,
August 26, 1890.
Honorable Sir: The captain of the steamer which
anchored to-day in Champerico resists, as the commandant of the port
informs me, to permit the arrest of Gen. J. M. Barrundia, who is aboard
of that vessel. This Guatemalan general has not only in different ways
attacked his country, Guatemala, but has armed himself against her,
raising an armed faction on the Mexican frontier to invade her.
Barrundia landed a few days since in San Benito, a Mexican port, having
arms with him, and when he put them in hands in Tapachula, and moving
upon Guatemala, was arrested and deprived of his arms; finally, be dared
to penetrate the territory of Guatemala, leading an armed faction.
The facts referred to, Honorable Sir, show the perfect right which exists
in the Government of Guatemala, being in a state of war, to capture
Barrundia on the steamer which is anchored in Champerico; for certainly
the consul-general and secretary in charge of the business of the United
States of America knows that every nation, being in war, can examine or
inspect foreign vessels in its own waters and capture those simply
suspected of being hostile.
Besides, by the contract which the Government made with the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, that company should not permit the bringing or taking
to Guatemala, nor to the adjacent countries, any element of hostility in
time of war, such as exists at this time.
Accordingly, I address myself to the honorable consul-general and chargé
d’affaires of the United States that he will, if he thinks proper, give
his directions by telegraph to the effect that the captain of the vessel
referred to may not offer any resistance to the capture or arrest of the
said Gen. J. Martin Barrundia.
With assurances of my high consideration, etc.
- F. Anguiano.
- Hon. James R. Hosmer,
Secretary in Charge and Consul-General of
the United States, present.
[Inclosure 6 in No.
243.—Telegram.]
Captain Pitts to
Mr. Hosmer.
Champerico, August 26, 1890.
(Received in Guatemala 5:10 p.m.)
Hon. James R. Hosmer,
United States Consul-General:
The passenger J. M. Barrundia embarked at Acapulco with a direct ticket
for Panama. Under these circumstances, I would suggest, as a guaranty
for my ship and myself, to hold the passenger on board until my arrival
at San José, where I will place myself under the orders of the American
minister. As you expect him this afternoon, please submit this to him
and give me an answer.
Please ask Hockmeyer & Co. for the cipher word in the Pacific Mail
code of my name, and insert the same in your answer. Please send
man-of-war with your written orders, and avoid telegraphic orders, if
possible. Answer.
