The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-12-06
Minister Iiznsf Unmsrcifully Scored
By Secretary Blaine.
REQUESTED TO COME HOME
The United States Has No Use for
Representative Who Bun
gled the Barrundla A.
fair So Deplorably.

uiuniNauou to Nnlaah iiNs ua~u sot
9Th, stating that Guatemala, like any
other nation has the right TO arrest per
son on neutral ship in It's own waters in
time Of war for any cause deemed an Of
Tense under international law. In later
telegram 20 Captain Pitts, Miner says:
II your ship Is within one league OF Guatemala
and you have on board BaTrundia II becomes
your duty under the law ~ nations 10 deliver
him 10 the authorities oi Guatemala upon their
demand. Allegations having been made 10 this
legation that BarnIncA is hostile 10 and an
enemy 10 this rcpubiis, guarantees have been
made 10 me by this government that his life
shall not be in danger or any other punishment
inflicted upon him Other than for the causes
charged.
The illusions 10 Barrundia's personal
safety, Miner says, were, at his request,
promised the night before by the presi-
dent. Subsequently be received tcle-
gram from Comms uder Reiter OF the
navy, acknowledging Guatemala's right
over the steamer, and requesting the
minister TO obtain permission from the
government 10 return Barrundia TO Mex
leo in the Thetis. The minister OF foreign
relations positively declined TO accede TO
this request. All the circumstances and
Barrunda's well known hostility 10 the
republic and his attempted invasion from
Mexico. Miner says, decided his course
and he accordingly In response TO a re-
quest for written and not telegraph or
ders sent Captain Pits letter advising
the captain 10 submit, TO the arrest Of his
passenger. On the following day, Com
mander Reiter telegraphed Barrunda's
death while resisting arrest.
Under date Of September %, in letter
10 Blaine, Mizner justifes his course and
says OH the 18th he called on the minister
Of foreign relations for an explanation
OF the affair. In the interview the min
lister stated with emphasis that
his government had given positive orders
10 take Barrundia from Acapulco even TO
the sinking of the ship, Notwithstanding
that il might involve conflict with our
two war vessels. This. he sand, would have
been an exercise u the undoubted right
OF his government over It's own waters, in
which he was confident that the laws Of
the nation would have sustained him.
Mizner says he had never heard these
orders before. He then gives the decis.
ion Of Secretary Bayard In the Conner.
Mexican case in support OF his action,
and concludes:
~ confidently add that nothing will
tend so much 10 the establishment OF per-
manent peace in these republics as n
plain declaration that our fleet OF steam
ers cannot be used in local waters as an
ASYLUM for reyolutionistsN
The correspondence closes with letter
from Blaine TO Miner, dated November
Is, in which he reviews the case al length
and says: "The more the question is ex.
amned in the light OF important facts
tardily disclosed, the deeper becomes the
regret that you so far exceeded your le-
gitimate authority as 10 sign a paper
which in the hands Of officers Of Guate.
mala became their warrant for the
capture OF Barrundia." In the
case OF Gomez which Miner
offers as an excuse for his conduct.
Blaine fails TO find any support Of Miz.
ner's action: al am aware" says Blaine,
"that IL may be said that after all you
merely advised the captain Of bis duty.
But the captain did not simply seek ad.
vice. In his telegram from Champerico
he says that on his arrival at San Jose he
will place himself under the orders OF the
American minister. He again telegraphed
TO you later from Champerico that he was
waiting your instruct ions, and at San
Jose he expected your written orders.
In his last telegram to you,
dispatched from San Jose on arriving a,
that port on the evening of AugGst "a, he
categorically inquiries: Shall | deliver
General Barrundia to the authorities
here? II so, please send me letter with
your signature 10 that effect There is
not here the slightest suggestion tina,
Captain Pitts proposed 10 act otherwise
than by your order and your responsible.
| ity. II was under these circumstances
that you wrote the letter which became in
the hands OF the Guaiemalans a pretert
for the attempted seizure OF Barruudia. y
The secretary says through Miners ac.
ton the naval force of the United States
in these waters thus became an acquies.
cient spectator Of the events. "Although
the merchant vessel United States was
then lying under the muzsle Of guns
manned by men, as you state. and had
reason 10 believe, who were prepared to re,
sort TO any act Of violence, even as Senor
Anguino has since declared 20 you, 20 the
sinking Of the ship, Notwithstanding tina
il might have involved confiic
with our two war vessels then art
there present, ] am not disposed,
continues Blaine, ito pay undu,
regard to these post fscto threats which
are now reported to the department.
prefer 10 think that by his extravagan
language, uncontrolled by the aetua
presence Of the problem which he wa
permitted 10 solve so much TO his salts
faction, Senior Anguino has done injus
tice to his own sense Of humanity. T,
have sunk the Acapulco with her freigh
Of innocent lives In the execution Of /
purpose for the accomplishment o
which nothing but unlawful ant
invalid excuses have so far beeI
advanced, would have been an act o
savage warfare, and ! am instructed b!
the president 10 say that no earnestl!
trusts the time will never come when th'
course Of events in GuaIamala or the de
clared ptlrDose of her rules will roustrail