, 1890-12-11
Correspondence Transmitted
to the House.
THE KILLING OF BARRUNDIA
They Wanted the General Badly.
and the Minister Ordered
His Capture.


San Jose.
Secretary Blaine, in a letter laying
the correspondence before the president,
says 1t will DO observed that the last re-
port OF Minister Mizner contains matter
essential to full and accurate under
standing of the case, was dated Septem-
Der %, and was not received at the de-
partmept until October 8, several days
after the adjournment OF congress.
The correspondence consists Of ten
Enclosures. The first is u telegram from
Minister Miner to Blaine, dated
August 28 last.
Miner, dated November ls announcing
that he can see no just lca,ion of MINERS
course, that the government disavows
his action, and directing him to turn
over the affairs of the legation to KIM
berly, charge d 'atfaircs and return to the
United States.
Mizner's first letter to Secretary Blaine
dated August 20, was in regard To the
killing of Barrundia. lie quotes the
communication to Captain Pitts, dated
~, tn stating that Guatemala, like any
other nation, has the right to arrest a per-
son on neutral ships in its own waters in
time of war for any cause deemed an
ofiense under the international law.
In later telegrame TO Captain Pitts,
Miner says:
"If your ship Is within one league of
the territory OF Guatemala and you
have on board Barrundia. 1t becomes
your duty, under the law OF nations, to
deliver him to the authorities of Guate-
mala, upon their demand, allegations
having been made to this legation that
Darrundia is hostile to and an enemy to
this republic, guarantees having been
made to me by this government that his
life shall not be in danger or any other
punishment inflicted upon him other
than for causes charged"
Allusions to Barrundia's personal
safety, Miner says, were at his request
promised the night before Dy the presi-
dent. Subsequently he received tele-
gram from Com mander Reiter, of the
navy, acknowledging Guatemala's right
over the steamer. and requesting the
minister to obtain permission from the
government to return Barruudia to
Mexico in the Thetis.
The minister of foreign relations posi-
lively declined to accede to this request.
All the circumstances and Barrundia's
well-known hostility TO the republic
and his attempted invasion from Mex
leo. Miner says, decided his course, and
he accordingly, in response to request
for the written and not telegraphic or
der, presented Captain Pitts letter, ad-
vising the captain to submit to the ar
rest of his passenger.
The following day Commander keiter
telegraphed Barrundia's death while re-
sisting arrest.
Uunder date of September %, In
letter to Secretary Blaine, Mizner justi-
fies his course and says:
"On the 18th lie called on the minister
of foreign relations for an explanation
OF the affair In the interview the min
lister stated with emphasis his govern
ment had given positive orders to take
Barrundia from the Acapulco, even to
the sinking of the ship, notwithstand-
ing it might involve q conflict with our
two war vessels. This, he said, would
exercise the undoubted right of his gov
eminent over its own water, in which he
would have sustained him."
Mr.. Miner says he had never heard
these orders before. He then gives the
decision of Secretary Bayard in the
Gomez Mexican case In support of his
action, and concludes: II confidently
add that nothing will tend so much to
the establishment of permanent peace
in these republics us the plain declara-
tion that our fleet of steamers can not
ha II In, ha
for revolutionists."
The correspondence closes with q let
ter from Mr.. Blaine to Mr.. Mizner,
lated November Is, in which he reviews
the case at length, and says:
THE more the question is examined
in the light of important facts disclosed
the deeper becomes the regret that you
so far exceeded your legitimate author.
ity rs TO sign u paper which, in the
hands of officers Of Guatemala, became
their warrant for the capture OF Bar
rundia."
The case OF Gomez, which Miner Of
fered as an excuse for his conduct, Sec
retary Blaine fails to find in II any sup
port of Mzner's action.
81 am aware" says Secretary Blaine,
that it may be said that after ail you
merely advised the CAPITA n to do his
duty. But the captain did not simply
seek advice. In his telegram from
Champerico he says that on his arrival
at Sayose he will place himself under
orders of the American minister. He
again telegruphed to you later, from
that he was awaiting your
and at San J ose he ex peeled
your written order. In mis- last telegram
to You, dispatched from San Jose, on
August 27, he categorically inquiries
Shall | deliver General Barrundia
to the authorities here? II so, please
send me letter with your signature to
that effect. There is not the slightest
suggestion that CAPTAIN Pitts proposed
to act otherwise than by your order and
your responsibility. 1t was under those
you wrote the letter
which became In the hands of the
Guatemalans q pretext for the at
tempted seizure OF Barrundia."
The secretary says, through MINERS
action, the naval force of the United
States in these waters thus became an
spectator to the events.
although merchant vessel Of the
United States was then lying under the
muzzie of guns manned by men, VINO,
as you state, had every reason to believe
were prepared to resort to any act of
violence, even, as Scnor AnGuiano has
since declared to you, TO sinking q ship,
notwithstanding II might have involved
a conflict with our two war vessels then
and there present.
~ attn not disposed, continues Secre-
tary Blaine. 10 pay undue regard to
those post facto threats which are now
reported TO the department.. ! prefer TO
think that by the extravaganza of the
language, uncontrolled by the actual
present problem which he whs permitted
TO solve and so much TO his satisfaction,
Senor Anguiano has done injustice to
his own sense of humanity to have sunk
the Acapulco with her freight Of