Mr. Beaupre to Mr. Hay.
Guatemala and Honduras,
Guatemala, March 3, 1899.
Sir: I have the honor to confirm the appended telegram.1
In view of the apparently reliable information that a steamer had left the United States with about 150 filibusters on board, with arms and ammunition, destined for an attack upon Honduras, I consider it an act of much courtesy and consideration on the part of the President of this Republic to inform the Government of the United States of his desire to prevent the landing of these filibusters upon Guatemalan territory, when in any event he would have perhaps been justifiable in stopping them without notice.
From the little information I have it would appear that the men were recruited with the ostensible purpose of working on the Northern [Page 365] Railroad of Guatemala, but were in fact to join other parties and invade Honduras, with the end of making Domino Vasquez President. Whether or not this project will now be attempted I can not say, but I think it would be well to have the Machias remain in Honduran waters for a time.
Mr. Allison, our consul at Tegucigalpa, has been notified of the situation, and I have wired him of the action of this Government.
I have, etc.,
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
- Printed, ante.↩