The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-26

4
IN CENTRAL AMERICA,
GUATEMALA, Dec 81, 1890.
Sir: l have the honor to nc D0wledge me re-
reinr of your DELAYED dispatch, No. 206. of the
18Th of last month, and to report that have this
day turned over the legation 10 MI. hIIhoeIlS US
Charge d'Affaires.
/ am also In receipt OF copy Of the Presl-
dents annual message delivered TO the present
session of Congress- in which my official services
in tie recent establishment of peac' between
these republics are approved and l am c0mpli-
mented by title in the following words:
The peace Of Central America has again been
disturbed through a Revolutionary change in
Salvador which was not recognized by other
Sta.es and hOStilitleS broke out between Saliva
dor and Guatamela threatening TO involve all
Central America in conflict, and to undo the
progress which had been made toward union
OF their interests.
'.rhe efforts of this Government was promptly
aud ZealOusly eXerted 10 compose their differ
ences, and through the active efforts OF the
representative OF The United States (Mr. MizneD
26th."
l am at loss to know how, in the next
sentence, my conduct OF mere incident of the
war-the attempted arrest OF single person.
should meet with the Presidents disapprOval,
when IL Is remembered that the incident oc-
CURED on the 9Th Of August, the yeryday when
the first condition of the basis OF peaee-lo wit,
the retiring OF the armies rom the frontier IN
forty-eight hOurs-waS about 10 be carried out
under my dir, cGons as Dean OF the Diplomatic
Corps, uecessitaIing my constant presence at the
Legation TO compose any dimeultles That might
arise; ma, as matter OF TACT, several com
plants were presented to me in writing by those
Governments, charging bad faith, which were
arranged To The sal sfdction of all.
On the 25th of August The two hostile armie s.
estimated al 10000 on side-afler several Sc
we're battles. confronted each other GU The from
tier, awaiting the efforts OF the Diplomatic
Corps 10 effect basis OF peace, which, as stated
by the President, was coDsummated through the
active Efforts of The representative of the United
States (Air. MiZueD OH the next day; so that on
the 27th, 2Sth and 29tB OF August the ALI
abSui Dlng question was, peace TO over two mill
ions OF people and the arrest of Il citizen OF
tllldtemlll mgIchHut
either iii time of war or peace. was an iucon-
siderable matter compared with tie vast inter
ests involved; as no one could possibly fOresee
that the person 10 be arrested would resist, nor
could II be supposed that the person was armed,
and would FIRST tle on his benefactof the cap
lam OF The ship, or that any IA aity whatever
wOuld occur.
a resolution of the Lower House OF Congress
having been passed in October last calling for
The papers In the case, IL Is TO be regretted mat
action was taken in the mailer before that com
mittee had ali opportunity to report, as am ab-
sOlutely certain thai full investigation OF the
ease befoi that committee, ineudng my pres.
ence before ii il necessary, would have explained
everything 10 its entire satisfaction.
Ii will ever be consolation To me, compeD sat
Ing for the RESIDENTS dlsapprOYal OF the at
tempted arrest Of single person on one OF our
merchant vessels IN local walters, whether in
war OF in peace. that was largely instrumental
in retiring Two hostile armies To their quiet
homes thus saving thousands of human lives.
aVeIting untold disaster, and restoring harmony
and goodwill to neighbOnng States. To the
statement Of the President that the attempted
arrest was in violation of precedent, permit me
TO say, with all due respect, that | considered
the law correctly laid Gown by your immediate
predecessor, Mr.. Bayard, when he said:
Ill is clear that MIR. Gomez entered the juTis-
dictiou OF the country whose laws lie HAD VIC
lated.
Under The circumstances it was plainly the
duty OF the captain Of the Honduras to deliver
quesl.''
Gomez was a citizen Of and political ofIe nder
against The laws OF Nicaragua, no charge of other
crimes being made against him. The captain OF
the steamer on which lie entered the local waters
had made no request upon any one concerning
him. yet Mr.. Bayard said ''t was plainly the
duty OF the captain 10 give him up to the local
authorities"
| Barrundia was citizen and political offender
against the laws OF Guatemala, besides being in
| dicted for common crimes, lie voluntarily came
| into The jurisdiction Of Guatemala on the nItr-
| chant steamer Acapulco; the authorities sought
10 arrest nm, the captain of The ship ask ed me
| TO Instruct him. l advised him as follows: - II
your ship Is within one league Of the territory of
| Guatemala and you have OH board General j. NJ.
| Barrundia, 1t becomes your duty under the law
| of nations, TO deliver him to the authorities of
Guatemala upon their demand"
II there is any difference between the two
cases ii Is in favor OF the right of Guatemala to
have made the arrest on the. ground of Ills being
both political aud common crimes offender,
and sustains me IN giving the advice. as II was
earnestly sought by the master of the Acapulco,
while III the Gomez case The captain OF The Hon-
duras was silent.
The details IN both the Gomez and BarrundIa
cases were 10 have been left to the respec cap
ldins and local cOnsus, as il would be impossible
Tor a Minister being hundreds oil miles away TO
give personal attention TO such arrests.
In The Presden, 5 FIRST annual message to Con-
gress IL was said that " diplomacy should be
frank and free from Intrigue" thereby implying
| II had not been so in Tie past; If, as must be
| conced; d. Guatemala had the uudoubted night
| 10 arrest BarrundIa would it nave been frank"
| 10 have thrown any obstacles 10 the way of the
! exercise of that righ On the contrary, would
1t not have been -" Intrigue" 10 have abeited the
captain of the Acapulco IN eyading elementary
International law, as we exercise The right to
rest all Kind OF offenders on foreign merchant
ships when in our ports?
On the 4th of July last Captain Pitts per-
mited The authorizes Of Salvador to arrest
Senior Delgado, the Minister of Foreign Rea-
tons OF that republic and take him against his
viii from The steamer Acapulco, per his Aft
davit sent you. IL would seem that the same
privilege should have been extended 10 Guate-
mala.
These republics have in the most emphatic
| manner. in bauquets and written communica-
| tions, thanked ME for our good offices IN making
peace, III which the people almost en- nlasse have
| joined.
The entire Diplomatic Corps in Central Amer
lea, excepting the representative from Mexico,
| have in writing Endorsed my course in the Bar
| rundia case.
Believing that under all the circumstances l
| acted Ill strict accordance with the law of ma
lions, and being absolutely certain OF the recti-
| Iude OF my own intentions, L submit my action
| and unprecedented treatment 10 the conside ate
| Judgment OF my countrymeu.
| Trusting that this communication may have
| the same publicity and place in the permanent
| to your dispatch, have the honor to lie your
Obpdieut II