The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-06
BEFORE THE HOUSE.
Correspondence Regarding the
Barrundia Affair.
Submission Of MINERS Explanation and
Blaine'S Letter Of Recall.
Senor AnsuinO Threatened to Sink the ACa-
pulco if Necessary in Order 10
Secure the Refugee.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

board the Pacific Mail steamer Acapulco in
the port of San Jose. Secretary Blaine, in
his let ter laying the correspondence before
the President. says it will be observed that
the last report of Minister Miner contains
matter essential to a full and accurate un-
derstanding of the case. and was dated Sep
tember 23d and not received at the depart
ment until October 9th, several days after
the adjournment of Congress. The corre-
spondence consists of ten enclosures. The
first is telegram from Minister Miner to
Blaine, dated August 2Stll.
MIZNER's INSTRUCTIONS.
In Miners first letter to Secretary Blaine.
dated August 18th, with regard to the kill
ing OF Barrun0ia, he quotes a commuuica-
tlon to Captain Pitts, dated 27ih stating
that Guatem ala, like any other nation, has
tbe rlsh to arrest person Oh neutral ship
IN Its own waters in time of war for any
cause deemed an offense under international
law. In later telegram to Captain Pitts
Miner says: If your ship is within one
league OF the territory of Guatemala and
you have on board Ba rrundia it becomes
your duty under the law of nations to de-
liver him to the authorities of Guatemala
upon their demand, allegations having been
made to this legation that Barrundia is hos
uie to and an enemy 10 this republic.
guarantees have been made to me by this
government that his life shall not be in dam
ger or any ether punishment inflicted upon
him other than for the causes charged"
COMMANDER REITER's REQUEST.
Barrundia's personal safety, Miner says,
was at his request promised the night be-
fore by the President. Subsequently he re-
ceived telegram from Commander Reiter
OF the navy, acknowledging Guatemala's
right over the steamer and requesting the
Minister to obtain permission from the Gov
ernment to return Barrundia to Mexico in
the Thetis. The Minister OF Foreign Rela-
tions positively declined to accede to this
request All the circumstances and Bar
rundia's well known hostility to the repub-
Miner says, decided his course, and he ac-
cordingly. in response to a request for writ
ten and not Geographic orders. sent Captain
Pitts letter advising the captain to submit
TO the arrest of his passenger. The follow
ing day Commander Reiter telegraphed
an account of Barrundias death while re-
sisting arrest.
THREATENED TO SINK THE SHIP.
Under date of September 23d, in a letter
to Blaine, Miner justiheS his course, and
says that on the 18th he called on the MIN
ister OF Foreign Relations for an explain
alton of the affair. In the interview the
Minister stated with emphasis that his Gov
Barruudia from, the kcan,ilco even to simI,1
ing the ship. notwjthstandinn thai il might
involve. a conflict with our war vessels.
'Th his" he said, would have been in the
exercise of the undoubted right of his Cow
eminent over its own waters, in which lie
was confident the laws of nations would
have sustained him." Miner says he had
never heard of these orders before. He then
gives the decision of Secretary Bayard in
the Gomez (Mexican) case In support of his
action, and concludes: II confdenflv add
that nothing will tend so much to The ash III
lishment of permanent peace in these re-
puDilcs as tue plain declaration that our
heet OF steamers cannot be used in local
waters as the asylum 1or revo.utlonists."
RLAINE's REPLY
The correspondence closes with letter
from Blaine to Miner. dated November
18th in which he reviews the 90 SO at Ian 9th
and says: 1.-The more the question is ex-
amiped in the light of imnortsnt facts
tardily disclosed, the deeper becomes the
regret that you so lar exceeded your legiti
mate authority as to sign pauer which in
the hands of officers of GuatennIa. became
their warrant for the capture of Barrundia. /"
As to the case Of Gomez. which Mizner offers
as an excuse for his conduct Blaine fails to
find in il any support for Miners action.
Il am aware" saws Blaine. Chat If NAV
be said that after all YOU merely advised the
captain of his duty. but the canIain did not
simply seek advice. In his telegram from
Ghamperlco he says that on his arrival at San
Jose Jos, ne VIII plaes himself under orders OF
.le All AneIicah minister. de again tele-
graphed TO you later from ChamperIco that
9al Jose ne expected your written orders.
IA MS last Telegram to You, dispatched from
oan Jose on arriving at that port, on the
evening oI august 2'th. he categorlcally in
qu!ies: 1naii deliver General Barrundla
To tne autnoflties mere? Ii so, please seEd
Llc lttlSI. Will your signature tHaE ell
lecs.
THE NAVAL FORCE HANDICAPPED.
"There is not here the slightest sugses-
ton that Captain Pitt proposed t. act other
wise than on your order and your RESPONSE
billty. 1t was under these circumstances
that you wrote the letter which became. in
the hands OF Guatemalan officers, pretext
for the attempted SEIZURE of Barrundia -
The Secretary says that through Miners
action 'the naval force Of the United States
in those waters thus became an acuuiescent
spectator of events, although a merchant
vessel OF the United States was then lying
under the muzZle of guns manned by men.
who, as you state. had every reason to be-
lieve, were prepared to resort to any act of
violence, even as Signor Anguino has since
declared to you, to sinking the ship, not
withstanding it might involve conflict
Win our Two war vessels then and there
present.
A SIGNIFICANT THREAT.
I" 1 am not disposed" continues Blaine,
ITO pay undue regard to these post facto
threats, which are now reported TO the de-
partment. l prefer to think that by his
extravagant language Senor Anguino has
done an injustice to his own sense Of human
ity.. 10 have sunk the Acapulco with her
freight OF human lives in the execution of a
purpose, Tor the accomplishment of which
notnlng Dut unlawful and invalid excuses
have So far been advanced, would have been
an act VI sayagr warfare. and am instructed
by the President to say that he earnestly
trusts the time will never come when the
course OF events in Guatemala or the de-
ciared purpose OF her rulers will constrain
this government to insure the safety Of its
merchant vessels on entering the waters OF
guatemala by stationing naval vessels along
IN fhA NArf. nF tnne