Mr. Mizner to Mr. Blaine.
Guatemala, September 10, 1890. (Received September 25.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instructions numbered 146 and 147 of the 6th of August last, the first containing eight copies of telegrams and the second fourteen copies, the same being to and from the Department of State and this legation, and also to and from the legation in Mexico.
Such as have not been hitherto confirmed or acknowledged by me are valuable in completing the files of this legation.
Referring to my No. 144 of August 20 last, and to Mr. Ryan’s telegram to you of the 28th of the same month, being inclosure No. 6 in your instructions numbered 146, I may state that it is well known here that copies of all telegrams to and from the different legations are first submitted by the operators to, and inspected by, the Government.
Señor Girola, minister in Salvador, must be mistaken when he states that there has been no detention or interruption in that Republic, as our consul was not permitted to cable to his Government or to this legation last month, except in a restricted manner, and the operator at La Libertad informed me that sentinels were placed at his door to control the cable business.
The Spanish minister in Guatemala states that for three weeks in July he could hold no communication with his Government, and, I believe, the other foreign representatives had the same experience.
These Governments own the wires on land, and, it is said, claim the right of inspection.
Your important telegraphic instructions of the 20th of July, of which you send a copy as inclosure No. 5 in No. 143, demanding instant release of Colima and cargo, never reached me.
Please send the cipher copy by mail, so that I can trace the matter of its detention here, if possible.
I have, etc.,