Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-18

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day 10 the Governments ef Nicaragua
| and San Salvador, from which direct
application for our support had been
received. have also since then, in a
verbal conference with tho Minister Of
Costa Rica, communicated like as
surancc with respect to his Government.
No communications have been re-
ceived from or sent to the Government
Of Honduras in this regard. The Next
can Government, at the instance Of the
President Of San Salvador, took at once
active measures, which che contiguity
Of it's territory TO that Of Guatcmals
and the possible distrust Of General
Barios's friendliness towards itself
make alike practicable and perhaps
political necessity, and announced its
intention of preventing the execution
! Of General Barrios's threat against Sis
ter nationalities. The Mexican Minis
ter at this capital has conferred with
me as to the course taken by Mexico,
and ] have had pleasure in informing
Mr.. Romero that this Government will
protest theoretically against and use all
its moral influence and lend its good
Offices to prevent the destruction of the
autonomy Of the Central American
States, and to this end would be glad
TO have the cooperation Of Mexico.
Later details Of the situation have
been furnished TO me by the Central
and South American Telegraph Com
pany, which has station at La Liber-
tad, in San Salvador. These kilograms,
although unofficial, are herewith
communicated for the information Of
| your committee. II appears therefrom
that ON the 10th instant the Guatemalan
expeditionary movement against San
Salvador was stopped, and that General
Barrios has asked President Zaldivar
to send two commissioners to arrange
settlement. may add that the Costa
Rican Minister on the 18th informed
me that the Mexican Government had
Withdrawn its legation from Guate-
mala to San Salvador, and that
Senior Batres, who. in addition to
representing Guatemala and Honduras
at this capital was also accredited Min
lister of San Salvador, has been deprived
Of this latter mission because of his as
ISOLATION with the movement of General
Barrios in Guatemala. A telegram re-
ceiyed on the 18th from the Minister Of
Foreign Affairs of San Salvador informs
me that q new Minister will be sent
hithcr by that republic and | have
answered, promising him cordial re-
ception.
At my request, made when the situa-
ton in Central America created by the
movement of General BarriOs first be-
came clear, the Secretary of the Navy
has directed the available vessels Of the
Atlantic and Pacific squadrons to pro-
coed to Central American waters to be
ready for any emergency requiring the
protection of American interests. The
Swatara is supposed by this time to
have reached Livingston, Guatemala;
the Galena and the Powhatan are now
at ASpinwall, where they will await
orders. as it is unlikely that their
presence will be Immediately required
on the Atlantic coast of Central America
unless the Government Of Hondu-
ras should take the aggressive and
their presence at the lsthmuS of Darien
is deemed necessary, in view of the
formidable instruction which now con-
trolls the seapOrts Of Colombia, on the
Caribbean, up to the borders of the
State of Panama. The Tennessee flag
ship, Alliance. and Yantic are at New
Orleans within easy call. On the Pa
cifc side the Wachusett, now en- route
TO San Francisco, has been cabled to
proceed to La Union, San Salvador,
there to await orders. The Shenan-
doah, now on the CHILEAN or Peruvian
coast, has been ordered to Panama to
receive instructions.
Your letter calls for information as to
the steps taken or contemplated for pro-
tecting or maintaining the rights of the
United States in Central America under
existing or pending treaties. The only
treaties comforting rights or imposing
obligations which l&1ht be constructive
" or cOntngently affected by the ex-
tinction of the independent sovereignty
Of the contracting States are those
heretofore entered into with Hondu-
ras and Nicaragua. The fifteenth ar
ticlc Of the treaty of 1864 with
Honduras has especial reference to
the unrealized project Of ship-railway
across HOnduranean territory, and qua
rantccS the entire neutrality Of that
road so long as the United States shall
enjoy the stipulated privileges of tran
sit and, further, that the United States,
Jointly with Honduras. will protect the
said road from interruption or seizure
from whatever quarter. The road re-
naming unbuilt, and Honduras being a
party to the revolutionary attempt to-
subjugate the liberties OF. sister repub-
lies, it is not evident that any obliga-
ton rests upon this Government under
that treaty.
The treaty of 1867 with Nicaragua
contains stipulationS of protection and
guarantee with respect to the overland
transit and the projected ship canal
through Nicaraguan territory. by Ar
ticlc Is the United States agree to pro-
tcct those lines Of communication and
to guarantee the neutrality and inno-
cent use Of the same. Article lG pro-
yides that if military force be re-
quired for the protection of persons or
property passing over the transit route
or through the canal, and should Mica
ragua fail to effect such protection, the
United States. with the consent or at
the request of Nicaragua, may employ
force BY this and for no other purpose
and further, that this employment of
force shall only take place in pursuance
of the laws Of Congress, which laws
have not as yet been enacted.
The canal contemplated when the
treaty Of 1867 was concluded has not
been built or even commenced, and the
overland transit route has fallen into
disuse. In the absence Of the requi-
site legislation by the Congress of the
United States regulating the employ