Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-01-28
MINERS VIGOROUS KICK.
The ex-M mister to Central America An
swers Mr.. Blaine.

due deliberation, Lansing 2. Miner,
eXminister to Guatemala, who was re-
called by Secretary Blaine because of
his attitude in the Ba,rundia case, has
concluded to make public his official re-
ply to Mr. Blaine's letter of recall before
its delivery to the State Department at
Washington. In giving his reason for
this proceeding Mr.. Miner said: 81
consider | am thoroughly justified in
making this document public now, in
view of the precedent established by
Mr. Blaine himself The text of the
Socretary's letter to me was given to the
public through the newspapers three
weeks before it could possibly have
reached me. Only on these grounds do
| consider publication of my letter at
this time justifable. | believe it CON
tains a complete review of my actions
in the matter, and will set me right be-
fore the public Mr.. Miners official
communication is as follows:
LEGAS ON OF THE UNITED STATES IN
CENTRAL AMERICA, GUATEMALA Dec
81. 1690-I7te Hon. james G. Blaine. Sec
rotary of State, washington, ID. C.--SIR:
I have the honor to acknowledge the re-
18th of last month, and TO report that L
have this day turned over tne legation to
Mr.. Kimberly, charge daffairs. | am also
III receipt of a copy of the Presidents an
nual message delivered to the present
session OF Congress, in which my official
services In the recent establishment of
peace between these republics is approved.
[ am at a loss to know how my
conduct OF mere incident Of
war, the attempted arrest Of a
single person. should meet with
the Presidents diSapprOfal, when it is re-
membered that the incident occurred on
the 18th of August, the very day when the
first condition Of the basis of peace, tO-Wit:
the retiring OF The armies from the from
tiers III forUy-elGht hours, was about to be
carried out under my direction, as dean OF
the diplomatic corps, neceSsltatIng my
constant presence al the legation to COM
pose any difficulties that might arise; and.
as a matter OF fact, several complaints
were presented to me in writing by these
governments, charging bad faith, which
were arranged to the satisfaction Of all
On the 10Th of August two hostile
armies, estimated at 10000 on each side.
after several severe battles, confronted
each other on the frontier, awaiting the eff
forts Of the diplomatic ccrpS to effect the
basis of peace which, as stated by the
president, was contaminated by the active
:ffOrtS of the repreSen LatlVe OF the United
states, Mr.. Miner, on the next day, so
that on the 9th of August the all absorb
lag question was peace to over 2,OO0GO0
people; and the arrest of a citizen of Guat-
eInala, on one OF our merchant ships,
either in time OF war or III peace, was an
incOnsiderable matter compared with the
vast interests involved; as no one could
possible fOreSee that the person to be ar
rested would resist, nor could 1t be sup
posed that the person was armed and
would fire upon his benefactOr, the cap
tain of the ship. or that any fatality what
/ ever would occur.
A resolution of the lower house Of Con-
gresS having Oeen passed in October. call
ing for the papers in the caSe it is to be re-
GREETED that action was taken i'll the mat
ter before a committee had an opportunity
to report, as am absolutely certain that a
full Investis alton OF the case before that
committee, including my presence before
it, if necessary, would have explained ev-
erythlng to its entire satisfaction. 1t will
be consolation to me- compromising for the
Presidents GlSapprOVal OF the attempted
arrest OF single person on one OF the
merchant vessels IN the local waters,
whether IN war or IN peace, that ! was
largely instrumental IN retiring two hos
tile armies to their quiet homes thus say
ing thousands of human lives, aVerting
untold disaster, and restoring harmony
ana good will To neIghboriDg states.
Mr.. Miner cites Secretary Bayard's
action in the Gomez eases, and says he
rundia affair, and continues:
Barrundia was citizen and political of
fender against the laws of Guate nala. be-
sides being indicted for common crimes.
lie came voluntarily into the Jurisdiction
of Guatemala ON the merchant steamer
Acapulco. The authorities so Lght to ar
rest him. The captain OF the ship asked
me to instruct him, and | advised him as
follows: IF your ship is within Que
league of the territory of Guatemala, and
you have on board Gen. j. M. Barrundia.
becomes your duty under the law of the
ittlOnS to deliver him TO the authorities of
guatemala upon their demand"
If there IS any difference between the
two cases 1t is in favor of Guatemala, aS it
was sought to make the arrest on the
grounds of his beng both political and
common crimes offender, and sustained
me in giving advice, as 1t was earnestly
sought by the master of the Acapu CO:
While in the Gomez case, the captain of Itle
Honduras was silent.
Details in both the Gomez and Barrundia
cases. were to have been left 10 respective
captainS and to local cOnSuls as it would
be impossible for a minister, hundreds of
miles away, to give his personal attention
to such arrests.
In the Presidents first annual message
to Congress it was said that diplomacy
should be frank and free from intrigue
thereby implying that 1t had not been so in
the past If, as must be conceded, Guate-
maIa had the undoubted right to arrest
Barrundia, would it have been Crank TO
have thrown any obstacles in the way OF
the exercise of that right? On the con
traIy would it not have been ''intrgUe'' to
lave abetted the captain of the AGA oulcO
in evadlng elementary Internal onal law,
as we exercise the right to arrest all Kinds
of offenders on foreign merchant ships
when in orr ports?
On the 4th OF July last Capt. Pitts per-
mi ted the authorities of Salvador to ar
rest >enor Delgado, the minister of foreign
relations OF that republic; and take him
against his VIII from the steamer
Acapulco; as per his affidavit sent you, it
would seem that the same privilege should
bave been extended to Guatemala.
The entire diplomatic corps in Central
America, excepting the representatives
from Mexico, have in writing endorsed my
course N the Barrundla case. Belieying
that, under the circumstances, l acted in
strict accordance with the laws OF nations,
and beng absolutely certain of the recti-
tude of my own intentions, submit my ac-
ton and unprecedented treatment to the
consideration of my countrymen. Trusting
that this communication may have some
lDIicty and place in the permanent dlplo-
H. IL. 80