The National tribune., 1885-03-26
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Secretary Bayard's Views in Regard 10 the Trouble.
Barross Ambitions Schemes-tnited States
Men Of War Ordered 10 the Isthmns.


Secretary of State Bayard has transmitted tc
the Senate his reply TO resolution OF inquiry
in regard to the attempt Of Barrios, Prcsiden;
| of Guatemala, to consolidate under his military
dictatorship the Republics of Central America
The Secretary says that on March President
| Cleveland received n telegram from Barrios
| announcing his action, and that the Minister OF
| Foreign Relations of Guatemala would soon be
in Washington. Late in the same night Scnor
CastletOn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mica
ragua, telegraphed that Nicaragua was ready at
all costs TO repe Barrios and that, 10 avert war,
it requested the interference Of the Govern
ment of the United States. On March 9 tele-
gram from President Zlldivar, of San Salvador,
stated that San Salvador. Costa Rca and Mica
ragua were resolved to resist Barrios, and, in
view OF the reported dispatch Of Guatemalan
! troops to attack San Salvador, urged that this
Government should check the impending con-
ict by a cablegram. \ dispatch from Mr.. Hall,
! United States Minister 10 Central America an
| nounced that the decree of the Guatemalan
Assembly was adopted without consultation
| with other States, and that only Honduras was
| III sympathy with it.
Secretary Bayard continues as..follows: This
| Department at once gave expression to the
| views of this Government in opposition to the
revolutionary scheme of Gen. Barrios and a
telegram dispatched TO Minister Hall at
! Guatemala, instructing him that this Govern
| a
OF interests of the Central American States de-
| srable. would not countenance any display of
| force by any one or more States to coerco the
Others, and that the United States stand ready
to exert influence TO avert conflict and pro-
mote peace. Similar messages were sent the
next day to the Governments of Nicaragua and
| San Salvador, from which direct application for
our support had been received. | have also,
since then, in verbal conference with the Min
| lister of Costa Rica communicated the like as
| surancc with respect to his Government.
In conclusion, Dir. Bayard says: This De-
! partment has no intimation from any quarter
| whatever that any European power has inter
fered, participated, or contemplates interier-
| ence or participation IN the present difficulties
in Central America. In response to the invita-
! tion of your committee that ! submit such
| suggestions in the premises as desire to make,
can only express my conviction that, while
| this Government has an undoubted interest in
| the assimilation of the aims of the Central
American States, so that they may act volun-
tariy and harmoniously together under repub-
llcan forms toward the realization OF national
and continental ends, it must infeXibly refuse
its countenance to any measure subversiye of
the free autonomy of any of the several States.
| The interest and duty of the United States in
| the affairs Of the Central American States, and
which, so far as existing treaty obligations are
| concerned ] have already rected, must be
and consistent policy of this Nation toward the
States Of the American system. Believing that
the moral influence and good offices of the
United States can be made a potential agency
in the preservation Of peace within the line of
this policy, am unable TO suggest any action
of the Senate"
The official correspondence alluded to by Mr..
Bayard accompanies his communication. The
dispatches from the authorities of Costa Rica,
Nicaragua and San Salvador are united i'll as
sertlng that the purpose of Barrios is to annul
the canal treaty between the United States and
Nicaragua. No communications between the
United States and Honduras has been had on
the subject Secretary Bayard also states that
Senor Batres, who, in addition to representing
Guatemala and Honduras nj this Capital was
the accredited minister of San Salvador, has
been deprived of this latter mission because of
his association with the movement of Barrios.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of San Salvador
has informed the State Department by telegraph
that new minister will be sent here and Sec
retary Bayard replied, promising a cordial
reception.
ACTION OF THE SENATE.
In the Senate last week, in executive ses-
sion, Mr. Edmunds offered the following pre-
amble and resolutions which were agreed to-
Whereas the Senate of the United States has
learned that the Government OF the Republic of
Guatemala has set foot threatens to set on
foot invasion of the territories of the Republic of
Nicaragua, Costa Rica and san Salvador with the
professed object of consolidating into one govern
ment the Republics of Central America by force Of
arms and against the wishes of the several repab-
lies concerned; and
Whereas there is pending between the United
States and the Republic of Nicaragua treaty pro-
viding for the construction of interoceanc canal
across the continent and in the Republic of Ncara-
qua, for the general benefit Of all the Central Amer
lean Republics well as the United States, which
treaty il is understood the Republic of Nicaragua
has ratified therefore be il
AS he inlD nj Of he (pTlgt hot in
view of the special and important interests of the
United States, III conjunction with those of the Re-
publics of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, in the inter-
oceanic transit across the continent now in progress
of adjustment, any invasion of the territory of Mic
aragua or Costa Rca by the forces of Guatemala,
under the circumstances and with the purposes be-
fore stated is regarded by the Senate and ought TO
be treated by the United States as act of
friendly and hostile interference with the rights of
the United States and of the Republics of Nicaragua
and Costa Rica in respect of said matter.
Resotred. That copy of the foregoing preamble
and resolution be transmitted TO the President OF
the United States.
PROTECTING UNITED STATES INTERESTS.
Secretary Whitney has telegraphed to Com
mander Mahon, of the Wachusett, at Panama
instructing him as TO the condition of affairs in
Central America with relation to President
Barrios's action, and ordering him to proceed
with his vessel to La Union and La Libertad,
San Salvador, and such other places in Central
America as may be necessary, to protect Amer
the statement that emissaries of Barrios threat
ened to destroy the sub marine cables of the
Central and South American Telegraph Com
pany. Commonder Mahon is instructed to pro-
tect il as far as possible.
FIGHTING ON THE IsTHMUs.
A telegram from Panama, via Galveston,
March II, says: "The attack which began at 4
o'clock yesterday morning on the city of Pan
anna by the revolutiOnists commanded by Gen.
Aizpurn, has terminated temporarily. The
revolutionists numbered at the outstart $50
men, but were re-enforced. Heavy firing ceased
at p. IN. last night. The rebels retired to
Buena Vista to recruit. The British gunboat
Heroine landed 40 men yesterday, with Cat |
ling gun, TO protect property. Traffic on the
Panama Railroad and business is suspended to- |
day, and there is great excitement as second
attack is expected. President Arosemena took |
refuge on the Heroine. Colon is reported to be |
in possession of the rebels kilograms via Gal |
weston are delivered without delay in Panama. |
The forces under Gen. UTeta attacked BaIran- |
quilla. The fight lasted seven hours. When |
il was raging most severely the vessels arrived |
with the division commanded by Gen. Gaitan. |
Some men were disenbarked; but notwith- |
standing the reyolutonsts were thus re-en- |
forced the battle did not cease for two hours |
afterwards. The losses on both sides were, it is |
estimated, 60 killed and 100 wounded. Among |
the prisoners taken were Gen. Ureta Adi't |
Cotes, Co.'s. Olacirequi Sacedo Il. Mendoza and |
Jovane. ut.-Col Dandon, and about 80 other
officers and $50 men,"