Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-03-26
Central American Affairs.

IN tAttuilNt SCNSlbu IO-udNs
consideration the state of affairs i'll Central
America. and a short message from the
Secretary of State in answer to the Senate
resolution of last week. was read, giving
history of Barrio's project for the union of
all Central American States, together with
the steps taken by Mexico IN view OF the
threatened complications. All the points
in the narrative have already been pub
lished. Some discussion took place regard
ing the propriety of declaring it to be the
sense of the Senate that steps should be
taken to protect the rights of this country
in Nicaragua under the pending canal
treaty. The point was made that the
Senate had no knowledge of the pending
canal treaty since the withdrawal and
that The Senate, in its last session, adj
iourned without action.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE discus
sion OF Central American Affairs. begun
Yesterday, was resumed IN the Senate to-
day, the pending question being the reso-
luton offered Friday by Edmunds, declar-
ing IL To he the sense of the Senate that
Barrios, President OF Guatemala should he
prevented from carrying on his scheme Of
annexing neighborIng republics. The
resolution was criticised as amounting
substantially To "A declaration of war, and
Senator Ingalls, proposed an amendment to
modify it in this regard. The amendment
was lost
The resolution was then adopted with
only seven negative votes. Senator Ed
munds moved that the injunction of
secrecy he removed from the resolution
and the vote upon II. but "A single oblec-
tion carried il over under the rules for the
day.
WASHINGTON, March Il. - Secretary
Bayard has written letter TO Senator
Miller, chairman of the Senate committee
on foreign relations, giving him all the in
formation possessed by thc State Depart
ment concerning Barrios' movement. The
first intimation received by the Depart
ment in regard to n revolutionary move
ment was a telegram from Barrios To the
President announcing tha. he had assumed
the title of Supreme Military Chief and
that the Minister on foreign relations at
Guatemala would soon come to Washing
ton. Later dispatches were received stat
ing that the Republics of San Salvador,
Nicaragua and Costa Rica would resist
Bdrrios, aud requesting the interference OF
the United States government. A telegram
from Hall. L. =. Minister To Central
America, reported that Honduras was an
active party to Barrios' movement Upon
these representations the State Department
sent a dispatch to Minister Hall. at Guate-
mala, instructiDg Lhim that this govern
ment, while believing the voluntary associ-
alton OF the interests of Central American
States desirable, would not countenance
any display of force by any one or more
States to the course OF others, and that the
United States, stands ready 70 exert Its in
fluence To avert a conflict and TO promote
peace. Similar messages were sent the
governments OF Nicaragua and SanSalvador,
and like verbal assurances given the Minis
ter of Costa Rica in respect to his govern
ment. No communication has been re-
ceived from or sent to the government OF
Honduras.
The Mexican Minister here conferred
with Secretary Bayard as TO the course to
be taken by Mexico and was informed that
this government would use all moral in
fluence and lend its good offices to prevent
the destruction OF the autonomy of Central
American States, and to this end would be
glad to have the cooperation of Mexico.
Later but unofficial details state that on
the 10th inst. the Guatemalan expedi-
sNdn
was stopped, and Barrios asked President
Zalvedor to send two commissioners 20
arrange n settlement.
Secretary Bayard further states that
Senior Bartres, Minister of San Salvador
at this capital, has been deprived of his
mission because of his association with
Barrios, and n new minister will soon be
sent here. The orders given to naval ves-
sells for the protection of American inter
ests in Central America are given in de-
tail, and the Secretary expresses the opin-
ion that no obligation to interfere rests
upon this government under any treaties
with the States involved.
The department has no intimation that
any European power has interfered or con-
templates interference in the present diff
fculties in Central America.
In conclusion Mr.. Bayard says that this
government cannot coun,enance any meas
ures subversive of the free autonomy of
any of the several States. and believing
that the moral influence and good offices of
the United States can be made a perpetual
agency in the preservation of peace, he is
unable to suggest any action Tor the Sen
ate
The dispatch from the President of San
Salvador, alluded to in Mr.. Bayard's letter,
states that Barrios is trying to enforce a
Central American Union with the avowed
purpose of annulling the canal treaty with
Nicaragua