Mr. Blaine to Mr. Pacheco.

No. 27.]

Sir: I am constrained to instruct you to express to the Governments of Guatemala and Honduras the concern which the Government of the United States can not but feel because of the disquieting reports which reach it in regard to the prospects of continued peace and good-will among the republics of Central America, and especially in regard to the relations of Guatemala and Honduras, on one hand, with Salvador on the other.

The conclusion of an honorable peace between Guatemala and Salvador, after the unfortunate hostilities of last year, gave gratifying promise of an era of stability and good-will in Central America, wherein the several States could pursue the paths of domestic well-being and cultivate relations of common benefit among themselves, besides fulfilling the orderly obligations of good neighborhood to the countries around them with which their commerce and friendly interchanges are carried on.

Guatemala, Honduras, and Salvador have been among the foremost of the states of the American continent to recognize the duties of good neighborhood and the higher obligations of peace, by joining in the signature of the treaty of arbitration, which was the first and most conspicuous result of the International Conference held in this capital. By that step, and pending the formal ratification of the compact, the measure of Guatemala’s moral responsibility to her neighbors is established.

It is not conceivable that, in the light of that great reform in the relations of the countries of America among themselves, any of the signatory Central American States can in truth contemplate an act or course of action tending to annul the principle which they have so lately accepted and defended before the world.

The Government of the United States is credibly informed that the Government of Guatemala is moving military forces to the Salvadorian frontier; and circumstantial reports are current that Guatemala and Honduras are in accord, if not actually in secret alliance, as to their united course with respect to Salvador. These statements have gained publicity in the press, and have attracted attention to the extent of being deemed worthy of correction, through the same channel, by the publication of the following telegrams addressed by the Presidents of Guatemala and Salvador to the consul-general of those Republics in New York:

Guatemala, February 9, 1891.

Baiz, New York:

The rumors about the revolution in Honduras and Central America are untrue. All Central America is at peace and busily engaged in gathering the coffee crop, which will be the largest Guatemala has yet produced.

Barrillas

Honduras, February 9, 1891.

Baiz, New York:

Complete peace reigns in Central America. Reports to the contrary are false. Honduras is all right.

Bogran.

It is therefore proper to expect that even more definite assurances will be tendered to you by the Governments of those countries when it [Page 57] is learned that the reports in question have caused deep anxiety to the Government of the United States.

The imparted friendship of the United States toward the Republics of Central America has been too often and too evidently shown in the past to render renewed assurance necessary. On several occasions the good offices of this Government have been exerted to compose actual differences between the Central American States, and notably so in the recent unhappy conflict of Guatemala and Salvador.

Not only are the good offices of the United States equally ready toward averting possible causes of difference, but it is deemed the friendly duty of this Government to do all that it can to prevent strife among its neighbors. The interests of humanity and peace are paramount, and scarcely less so are the interests of undisturbed interchanges between Central America and the United States.

A condition of hostilities at our doors checks the peaceful operations of commerce in its natural channels, closes avenues of international communication, and tends to spread disorder in other States of the Central American group, besides entailing upon the neighboring communities responsibilities in direct proportion to the magnitude of the general interests affected.

You will seek from the Governments of Guatemala and Honduras frank and positive assurances of their peaceful intent toward their Central American neighbors, coupling your request with expression of the confidence felt by the Government of the United States that nothing in the conduct of those Governments will tend to derange the good relations which happily exist in Central America.

You will further say that this Government trusts, in the light of the moral obligations created by the accords of the International American Conference, that nothing will occur to precipitate disorder in Central America or which may constrain the United States to friendly action for the preservation of peace or to the adoption of positive steps to protect the vast interests of this Government and its citizens in that region.

I am, etc.,

James G. Blaine.