Mr. Guzmán to Mr. Gresham.
Washington , August 13, 1894 .
Most Excellent Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s highly esteemed communication of the 11th instant (Saturday), together with which you were pleased to send me a preliminary warrant authorizing any judicial magistrate, whether Federal or State, in the United States of America, to institute, at my request, or at the request of any of my agents, such proceedings as may be necessary for the extradition of the five Salvadorean criminals, who, fleeing from justice in their own country, sought refuge, in the middle of June last, on board of the U. S. war ship Bennington, which was then anchored in the Salvadorean port of La Libertad.
Your excellency was also pleased to return to me the three applications which the judicial authorities of Salvador addressed, on the 22d and 26th of June last, to the commander of the aforesaid vessel, requesting him to surrender the fugitives, the originals of which documents, together with others that corroborate the statements therein contained, the Government of Salvador instructed me to place in your excellency’s hands.
Finally, your excellency was pleased to inform me of the steps which it is proper for me to take in order to obtain from the judge with whom I may have to deal the necessary order for the extradition of the fugitives, and to add that the applications and certificates to which reference has been made bear no authentication save that of the minister of foreign relations of Salvador, and that, to make sure of their acceptance by the competent judicial authorities of this country, additional authentication may be necessary.
I return my warmest thanks to your excellency for having sent me the preliminary warrant above mentioned, and for the promptness with which you were pleased to answer the note which I had the honor to place in your hands at a late hour on Thursday, the 9th instant, and I assure you that I shall avail myself, at the proper time, of your valuable suggestions. I propose to begin at once to take the necessary steps on the lines which have been so kindly pointed out to me by your excellency.
The performance of my task would be greatly facilitated if your excellency would have the kindness to inform me (in case you know and see fit to communicate this information to me) to what port the Bennington will next proceed, and whether I must address my communications or send my agents to San Francisco, Cal., or to any other port in the United States.
It is proper for me further to inform your excellency that the Government of Salvador, which I have apprised by cable, of your excellency’s observation relative to the authentication of the documents, is prepared to supply any omission that may be noted, hoping that the time necessary therefor will be allowed it.
I beg your excellency to accept, etc.,