Mr. Kimberly to Mr. Blaine.

No. 243.]

Sir: Referring to your instruction, No. 7, of December 22, 1890, and to my No. 238, of January 24, 1891, I have the honor to report that on Thursday, the 29th instant, between the hours of 4 p.m. and sundown, the formalities prescribed in my interview with Señor Don Anguiano, the minister for foreign affairs, in expiation of the Colima arms matter, occurred on board of the Pacific Mail steamship City of New York, in command of Capt. Frank H. Johnston. I transmit a copy of the captain’s detailed report of all the circumstances.

I have, etc.,

Samuel Kimberly,
Chargé d’Affaires ad int.
[Inclosure in No. 243.]

Capt. Johnston to Mr. Kimberly.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter bearing date of January 28, 1891, in which you inform me that on to-morrow (Thursday, the 29th instant) Col. Toriello, commandant of the port of San José, would, in full-dress uniform, [Page 55] visit this ship for the purpose of making such explanations and apologies as would in my judgment he satisfactory to me and most meet to the honor of our flag.

I have the honor to inform you that at 4 o’clock this afternoon Col. Toriello, accompanied by his aid-de-camp, Capt. Calderon, of the Guatemalan army made an official visit to this ship and was received with all the honors that could possibly be paid by a ship of the United States merchant marine.

Col. Toriello and I agreed upon the proper form in which the necessary apology to our Government and nag should be carried out.

The officers and crew were ordered to be mustered to starboard, and the passengers arranged themselves on the port side.

Accompanied by Col. Toriello, I then took position on the bridge, and in presence of those assembled read to them first your communication of yesterday, after which I explained in detail the unwarranted seizure and unceremonious return of the arms and ammunition taken from the Pacific Mail ship Colima on July 18 last and returned to steamship San Bias on August 31, 1890, while I was in command of the latter ship.

I then read to those assembled the order of Mr. J. H. Leverich, our special agent in Guatemala, in which order I was instructed that, in accordance with an understanding with the American minister, I was to receive on board the San Bias the arms and ammunition seized on the steamship Colima in the preceding month, they being delivered to me in proper condition by an official of the Guatemalan Government, but that the spirit of this agreement being in no way complied with, and certain arms and ammunition being delivered to me in a manner that I could not consider other than contemptuous, I made formal protest to our company’s special agent at Guatemala.

Col. Toriello then explained that at the date of seizure war with Salvador was by his Government deemed inevitable, and an “excess of zeal” prompted him to an act that, on mature consideration, his Government refused to indorse.

Col. Toriello further stated that by reason of the fact that a subordinate officer (who here shall be nameless) disobeyed a positive order, the arms and ammunition were not delivered befitting the occasion.

Appealing to those present, I then proposed three cheers for our national flag, which were promptly responded to, the colonel and his aid-de-camp joining heartily, after which a uniformed officer of my command hoisted the flag of Guatemala at the fore, to which a similar salute was paid.

The hospitalities of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company were then partaken of by all, and Col. Toriello left the ship at 7 o’clock p.m., expressing the warmest regard for our countrymen at home and abroad.

In conclusion, I wish to say that during this occasion an American ensign, 40 feet in length, was flying from the main truck in addition to the national colors daily worn at the after flagstaff by all ships of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company’s fleet.

I have, etc.,

Frank H. Johnston,
Captain Pacific Mail Steamship Company, Commanding Steamship City of New York.