St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-27
In Which He Holds Himself
Justified in His Actions
While Abroad. Ed
The Entire Diplomatic Corps
In Central America En-
dOrSe Him.
He Submits His Case and I'm
usual Treatment to His
Country.

his attitude in the Bermuda case, Has
concluded to make public his official
reply to Mr.. Blaine's letter of recall, De-
fore its delivery to the state department
at Washington. In giving his reas Oh
for this proceeding. Mr.. Mizener said:
81 consider | am thoroughly JuStlned
in making this document public. now,
in view of the precedent established oy
MIR. Blaine himself. The text of the
letter to me was given to the
public through the newspapers, three
weeks before it could possibly have
reached me, and two weeks before con-
gress met. Only Oh these grounds do
consider the publication of my letter at
this time justifiable. believe it con-
tains a complete review of my action,
in the matter and will set me right be-
fore the public"
Mr.. MiZener'S official communication
is dated at the legation Of the United
States in Central America, Guatemala,
Dec. 81, 1890.
MiZenerss Defense.
1.-THE Honorable James q. Blaine, Sec
rotary of State, Washington, ID. C.-oir:
| have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your delayed dispatch zoo OF
the 18th OF last month and to report that
/ have this day turned over the legation
to Mr.. Kimberly. charge d'affaires. L
AIN also in receipt OF copy of the pres
ident's annual message delivered to the
present session OF congress In when
my official services in the recent eStaD-
lishment of peace between these repub-
lies is approved. | am at a loss to know
how my conduct of mere incident OF
war. the attempted arrest OF single
person, should meet with the .presl-
dents diSapproval, when it is re-
membered that the incident oc-
Cured on the 27tn of August, the
very day when the first condition of the
basis of peace, to wit, the retiring of
the armies from the frontiers IN forty
eight hours, was about to be carried
out. under my direction, as dean OF the
diplomatic corps, necessitatlng my con-
slant presence at the legation to com
pose any difficulties that might arise,
and as matter of fact several COM
plants were presented to me in writing
by these governments, charging bad
faith, which were arranged to the salts
faction of ALL On Aug. 25 two hostile
armies, estimated at 10000 Oh each side,
after several severe battles, confronted
each other on the frontier, awaiting the
efforts of
The Diplomatic Corps
to effect the basis of peace, which, as
stated by the president, was cOuSum-
mated through the active efforts of the
representative of the United States, Mr..
MlZener, on the next day, so that Oh the
9th of August the all-absorbing ques-
ton was peace to over two million peo-
pie: and the arrest of citizen OF Gua-
temala on one of our merchant ships,
whether in time of war or in peace, was
an inconsiderable matter compared
with the vast interests involved, as no
one could possibly fOresee that the per-
son about to be arrested would resist,
nor could it be supposed that the person
was armed and would first fire upon his
benefactor, the captain of the ship, or
that any fatality whatever would occur.
A resolution of the lower house OF con-
greSs having been passed in October,
calling for the papers in the case, it is to
be regretted that action was taken III
the matter before committee had time
to report, as | am absolutely certain
that full investigation of the case be-
fore that committee, including my pres
ence before it, it necessary, would have
explained everything to its entire salts
faction. 1t will be consolation to me,
compepsating for the
Presidents DisapprOval
of the attempted arrest of single per-
son on one of our merchant vessels in
the local waters, whether in war or in
peace. that | was largely instrumental
in retiring two hostile armies to their
Quiet homes, thus saving thousands of
human lives. averting untold disaster,
and restoring harmony ana good will to
neighboring states"
Mr.. Mizener cites Secretary Bayard's
| action in the Gomez case, and says he
(Mizener) was ruled by that in the Bar
| rundi affair. Barrundia was citizen
| and political offender against the laws
| of Guatemala, besides being indicted
for common crimes. He came volun-
| tarily into the jurisdiction of Guatemala
on the merchant steamer Acapulco; the
authorities sought to arrest him; the
captain of the ship asked me to instruct
| HIM, and | advised him as follows:
| IF your ship is within one league
| of the territory of Guatemala, and you
have on board Gen. j. M. Barrundia, it
| becomes your duty under the law of
| nations to deliver him to the authorities
| of Guatemala, upon their demand" If
| there is any difference between the two
cases it is in favor of Guatemala to
| have made the arrest on the grounds of
| his being both political and CON-
| mon crimes offender, and sustains me
| in giving advice. as it was earnestly
sought by the master of the Acapulco,
while in the Gomez case the
Captain of the Honduras
was silent. Details in both the Gomez and
Barrundia cases were to have been left
to respective captains and local cohsuls
as it would be impossible for minis
ter, 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 ant
free from intrigue" thereby implying
it had not been so in the past. Ii, a:
must be conceded, Guatemala had thu
undoubted right to arrest Barrundia
would it have been frank to have thrown
any obstacles in the way of the exercise
of that right? On the contrary, woult
it not have been intrigue" to hav,
abetted the captain of the Acapulco il
evading elementary international laws
as we exercise the right to- arrest all
kinds of offenders on foreign merehan
| ships when in our ports? On the Fourth
of July last Capt. Pitts permitted th,
authorities of Salvador to arrest Seno
Delgado, the minister Of foreign rela
lions of that republic, and take hin
against his will from the steamer AGA
pulco: as per his affidavit sent you
1t would seem that the same
privilege should have been extended {,
Guatemala. The entire diplomat
corps in Central America, excepting TIN
representatives from Mexico, have il
writing Endorsed my course in the Bar
rundla case. Believing that, under tn,
circumstances, I acted in strict accord
ance 18th the laws of nations. AND be
ing absolutely certain of reel tude 0