Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President, Transmitted to Congress, December 4, 1893

Mr. Baker to Mr. Gresham.

Legation of the United States,
Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Salvador,
Managua, August 5, 1893. (Received September 5.)

No. 59.]

Sir: I have the honor of inclosing a list of the officials of the present Government of Nicaragua, which occupies this capital.

Also a copy of the new articles of peace between the junta and the Zavala government, which retreated from Managua to Granada.

Also copy of a letter addressed to me by the junta, inviting me to interpose in behalf of peace.

Prior to the receipt of this letter a commission from Granada waited upon me with a similar invitation.

Unfortunately, during the past week I have been confined to my bed by an attack of fever, and my doctor did not permit me to even know that I was being called for in the interest of peace in this Republic.

I am, etc.,

Lewis Baker.

[Inclosure 1 in No. 59.—Translation.]

Señor Barrios to Mr. Baker.

National Palace,
Managua, August 1, 1893.

Mr. Minister: I have had the honor of receiving two polite dispatches from your excellency, dated yesterday.

In the first one your excellency acknowledges receipt of my communication of the same date, in which I advised you that a treaty of peace had been agreed upon, which treaty put an end to the unfortunate civil war that had afflicted the country, and at the same time the Government organized in Leon the 11th of last month was recognized, and you ask me for a list of the persons which form the present Government and a copy of the said treaty.

In the second communication your excellency sends me copy of the telegram which the honorable Secretary of State of the United States addressed to you that you might protest against hostilities on the part of this Government without previous warning to the foreigners, so that they may save themselve from said hostilities.

I have the pleasure to inclose you herewith the official list and a copy of the treaty of peace.

In regard to the cablegram, I suppose it refers to the occurrence of the shells thrown by our steamers against the barracks and other fortifications of this city and that, unfortunately, went wide of their mark and alarmed the neighborhood. Your excellency already knows that this Government has deplored the occurrence sincerely, and your excellency has received the explanations about the case.

In this connection I beg to inform your excellency that there are grave fears that certain people displeased with the treaty of peace in Granada may offer to hinder the carrying into effect of the treaty, thus making it necessary for our army to take effective action. We would very much deplore this, since the purpose of the Government organized in Leon, and now recognized by almost all the country, is not to annihilate its enemies, but to restore peace and to guarantee to all the Nicaraguans the exercise of their rights. In prevision of the anticipated trouble a dispatch will be sent to-day to the honorable consul of Her Britannic Majesty at Granada, so that he may continue the commendable efforts which he has been exercising in the interest of peace, and if his efforts should not meet with success in avoiding a new battle, that he be pleased to notify his countrymen and other foreigners residing in that city of the definite purpose, although regretted by us, of making use of all the means of destruction which we dispose of, including the bombardment of that city, in order that the stipulations of the treaty of peace may be respected and carried into effect.

If, on the part of your excellency, who has already shown so much interest in favor of Nicaragua, and for which we owe him a debt of profound gratitude, should like to contribute with your powerful influence to avoid further bloodshed and destruction of property, I hasten to tell you that my Government would feel very much pleased, and I immediately place at your excellency’s service the train which runs between this city and Granada at the hour you may need it.

I repeat to your excellency the assurance of my high consideration.

Modesto Barrios.

[Inclosure 2 in No. 59.—Translation.]

treaty of peace.

In the city of Managua, at eleven o’clock a.m., on the thirtieth of July, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, Messrs. Jose D. Rodriguez and Augustin Passo, commissioners of the government existing in the city of Granada, and presided over by General Joaquin Zavala, and the members of the Junta de Gobierno, established in Leon and residing in Managua, Generals J. S. Zelaya and Anastacio J. Ortiz, Mr. Petro Balladares, and Mr. Francisco Baca, jr., having met the former, declared that they had come with full power to propose certain modifications and explanations which their constituent makes to the treaty of peace agreed upon by the Junta de Gobierno and the commissioners, Messrs. Santiago Morales, Isidoro Lopez, and Gabriel Lacayo, yesterday, and having presented their credentials, which were found correct, the proposed modifications and explanations were discussed and the following agreement reached:

Pact.

1st. There will be peace and amity between the belligerent parties, reciprocal forgetfulness of their dissensions, and ample and unconditional guaranties for all.

2nd. From this moment a constituent assembly, to meet in this city the 15th of September, is called. This assembly, besides framing a new political constitution and a new electoral law, will pass upon any point it may see fit touching the provisional situation in which the Republic stands. The departments of Chinandega, Leon, Managua, Granada, and Rivas will elect four representatives each to the said assembly, the others two each, and the electoral districts one each.

3. The principle of direct and secret suffrage is recognized. The election of the representatives to the constituent asssembly, in accordance with this principle, will be the object of a special disposition which the Junta de Gobierno will issue within fifteen days after the final acceptance of this pact.

4. The troops of both belligerents will be disbanded by degrees and with prudence in their respective barracks in conformity with directions of the Junta de Gobierno. In the meanwhile neither side shall move from the positions respectively held at present, and the term fixed for the execution of this article shall not exceed eight days.

5. The debts of both belligerents will be recognized and paid in the same manner as they may have been contracted. The military ranks accorded by either side will also be recognized.

6. Eight days after the final approval of this pact the tribunals of justice will be reopened.

7. The present pact will be ratified and the ratification exchanged at Masaya tomorrow at 8 o’clock in the morning at the latest.

In faith of which we have signed in duplicate of the same tenor in Managua in the said day and hour: J. D. Rodriguez, Ag. Pasos, J. S. Zelaya, F. Baca, jr., Pedro Balla-dares, Anastacio J. Ortiz.

The Government having examined the preceding pact and found it in accordance with the instructions given to the commissioners who concluded the same in its name resolves to approve it, Zavala, the minister of Gobernacion; Solorzano, in the city of Masaya, at 1 p.m., of the thirty first of July, of eighteen hundred and ninety-three; Dr. D. Modesto Barrios, minister of Government of the Junta de Gobierno, existing in Managua, and special commissioner for the exchange of the ratifications of this agreement, and Dr. Alfonso Solorzano, special commissioner of the Government residing in Granada, appointed to that end, after having shown to each other their credentials and found the same correct, proceeded to the exchange of the above-mentioned agreement of peace, concluded in the city of Managua at 11 o’clock in the morning, yesterday, and sign.

• Modesto Barrios,
• Alfonso Solorzano.

[Inclosure 3 in No. 59.]

List of members of the Government.

Members of the Junta de Gobierno.—Gen. J. Santos Zelaya, Gen. Anastacio J. Ortiz, Francisco Baca, jr., lawyer, Señor Pedro Balladares.

Members of the cabinet.—Dr. Modesto Barrios, minister of foreign relations and of Gobernacion and annexes, Señor José D. Gamez, minister of Fomento, Señor Santiago Callejas, minister of war, Señor Leonardo Lacayo, minister of finance.