The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-26
WARM SAN SALVADOR.
The Situation Discussed at Wasn-
ing,on-Cause OF the Conflict.

The New York Herald s ashington
correspondent says: The intelligence
that a battle has taken place between
the forces~of~ ~Guseenals- those OF
San Salvador will create no surprise
| for the news of the outbreak of hos,
tiGties has been daily expected. For
some time past it has been known
that a large military force has been
modified at Guatemala along the
| frontier of San Salvador, ready to
strike blow at the proper moment.
slonal president of Salvador, know
ing that Guatemala would be sure to
interfere in the politics of San Saliva
dor, as has been her wont for years,
has been making preparations to meet
| force with force, and has been distrib-
uting arms among his people to ena-
| BILE them to meet the anticipated at
tack. Shortly before his death Presi-
dent Menendez laid in quite a supply
of rifles, which he imported from Eng
been placed by Gen. Ezeta in San
Francisco and elsewhere for ammuni-
| ton. While Guatemala has never at
tempted to subjugate or annex San
Salvador, she has generally contrlved
TO control the politics OF her neighbor
by having one of her tools at the head
of affairs in that country. Such
was Gen. Menendez, and now it is
a conceded fact that Gen. Alvarez is
the man Guatemala wants to see pres
ident OF San Salvador, because, with
him at the head, Guatemala would be
able to carry out her cherished plan
of uniting the five Central America
countries into one federal union. To
accomplish this has been the plan of
Guatemala rulers for years, and it was
Gen. Barrios lost his life. There is
great opposition among the people OF
Salvador to the scheme of a federal
union, because they fear the over
whelming influence that Guatemala
would have in the councils of such a
union, owing to her greater popula-
tion and wealth, Guatemala, how
ever, is as determined as ever to push
through the federation scheme, and
she has an active ally in Gen BOgram,
the president of Honduras, who
is ready and willing to abet
the aims of Guatemala. Together
they would prove too strong for San
Salvador were it not that Nicaragua
and Costa RiCa must he taken into
consideration. These two states are
4 S. x..h,l Ia
they taCitly agree to give theprOposed
union a favorable consideration they
| are only too glad Of aneXcuse to break
off with Guatemala on this question.
This excuse the present crisis affords
them, and it is predicted that should
San Salvador reach point where she
needs their assistance they will prob
ably come to her relief This would
make the contest about equal and in
that contingency a separate conflict
may be anticipated. Perhaps the
early hostilities may result as they
have on several prior occasions, in
the discontinue of Guatemala, and
under such circumstances that govern
l.ment may conclude to play a waiting
game and let matters rest for the pres
I emu. IflNaIb duNlCeS from lnS lily
OF Mexico, both by wire and by letter,
Eliminate a concentration of Indian
troops in the state OF Chiapas, bOr-
on the frontier Of Guatemala
From @ 1000 to Z, 900 men are said to
| be distributed among the principal
Itowns along or near the frontier. II
Mexico should see fit to warn Guat-
Iemela TO desist from her hostile inten-
tions regarding San Salvador. Guat-
emela would be compelled to listen to
| her northern neighbor's voice, for the
| pd1s would be too great for them. DIR.
|, Fernado Cruez, the Guatamalan min.
lister TO the United States, is absent in
Europe, but it is reported that he has
been notified by his government to re,
turn TO Washington at once in view ol
the serious aspect OF affairs in Central
America. This is the first difficulty
1 among the Latin American seats that
has occurred Stree the Adjournment oi
Che paD4Amtrican congress. DIR. Tain.
| fiesta, the Salvadoran minister at
Washington,. has been absent for
some time.