Mr. Blaine to Mr. Pacheco.

No. 38.]

Sir: Mr. Kimberly’s dispatches numbered 243 and 246, and dated, respectively, January 31 and February 4, 1891, have been received. The former communicates Capt. F. H. Johnston’s report of the ceremonial visit of Col. Toriello to his steamer, the City of New York, on [Page 62] the 29th of January and the explanation and apology made by him in regard to his connection with the seizure and return of the Colima’s cargo of arms and munitions. In the latter, Mr. Kimberly reports his refusal to comply with the request of the acting minister of foreign relations that the word “expiation” be changed to “explanation” in Mr. Kimberly’s letter of January 28 to Capt. Johnston instructing him as to the intended visit of Col. Toriello to the City of New York.

Capt. Johnston and Col. Toriello appear to have taken a rational view of the embarrassing parts they were called upon to play. With his frank and honorable expressions of regret and apology, Col. Toriello’s personal connection with the Colima arms incident drops out of sight, and with it any implication of accountability on the part of the Guatemalan Government for the omission to observe due courtesy in the return of the arms to the steamship company.

My instruction No. 35, of the 28th ultimo, will have already suggested to you the Department’s views upon the singular use of the word “expiation” in Mr. Kimberly’s letter to the captain.

It implies a completeness of satisfaction and reparation for all the wrongs involved in the Colima incident quite at variance with the facts, and which Col. Toriello was not competent to offer, nor did Capt. Johnston in fact assume to accept, in settlement of the distinct questions between the Governments of the United States and Guatemala growing out of the seizure of the arms and the treatment of an American ship. It is gratifying to see that the Guatemalan Government takes the same view and limits the apology and disclaimer of Col. Toriello to an “explanation” of his part in the incident.

No necessity is seen for retaining Mr. Kimberly’s letter to the captain upon record as between the two Governments. If, however, it can not conveniently be expunged, it might be amended in consonance with the facts.

I am, etc.,

James G. Blaine.