finding a government either at the capital or elsewhere. I hope this painful anarchy may soon cease. I have, &c., GEO. WILLIAMSON. P. S.-Your letter contained my first intimation of the outrage upon the consulate, but to-day a dispatch, No. 296, dated November 12, reached me from Mr. Consul Follin, containing the particulars, and stating all the consulates had fared alike. Your obedient servant, GEO. WILLIAMSON. No. 90.] No. 91. Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish. [Extract.] UNITED STATES LEGATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA, SIR: I have the honor to inclose you, herewith, translated copies of the answers of the government of Nicaragua to my communications of which I sent you copies with my Nos. 76 and 77. Your attention is respectfully called to the difference in the tone of the letter of the 12th and that of the 20th. In the former no objection is raised to any plan of pacification. In the latter numerous diplomatic suggestions or objections are quite pointedly made. I have, &c., GEO. WILLIAMSON. [Inclosure 1 in No. 90.-Translation.] Señor Rivas to Mr. Williamson. NATIONAL PALACE, OFFICE OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, SIR: I have had the honor to receive the dispatch of your excellency of the 8th instant. I thank your excellency for the attention paid to all my communications, and for your congratulations upon the prospects of peace between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. My government receives it as a happy omen that we may come to that issue through the interposition of your excellency's good offices. My government sincerely applands the good inclinations of your excellency in that direction, and has instructed me especially to express its gratitude for your tender of good offices in the settlement of the boundary question with Costa Rica. Your excellency may be assured upon that point there will be found on the part of Nicaragua all the acquiescence compatible with the dignity of the state, in order that a conclusion of this vexatious question may be reached. Up to this time no communication has been received from the cabinet of Guatemala relative to the projected meeting of the tive Presidents of Central America, with the view of establishing among them friendly relations. This idea having been discussed, as your excellency informs me, by the Presidents of Salvador and Guatemala, the government of Nicaragua will not throw ary obstruction in the way of the realization of so important an end. But I must say frankly, it will take part in it without much hope (or faith) in the result, for the reason it does not see what guarantee President Guardia and his minister, Herrera, can give for the fulfillment of what may be agreed upon at the conference. Nevertheless the question of peace to those states is so vital (as your excellency has well said) that no means must be spared to establish it. I have the honor to renew to your excellency the assurances of my high consideration. Yours, &c., [Inclosure 2 in No. 90.- Translation.] A. H. RIVAS. Señor Rivas to Mr. Williamson. NATIONAL PALACE, OFFICE OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, Managua, December 20, 1873. SIR: I have had the honor to receive your excellency's esteemed communication, dated at Punta Arenas, on the 14th instant, inclosing a copy of the memorandum of the conversation held with President Guardia on the 10th instant, at that port. I brought to the knowledge of the President your excellency's esteemed dispatch, and of the memorandum, from which, as well as from some other documents received at the same time, he infers, as your excellency, that President Guardia has at last come to a peaceful disposition. As I stated to your excellency in my dispatch of the 12th instant, neither the government of Guatemala nor that of Salvador has advised this government of their disposition to promote a peaceful settlement with President Guardia, nor have they informed us of what steps they proposed, through your excellency, to take to that end. I call your excellency's notice to this circumstance, because my government does not consider it in conformity to the letter and spirit of the treaty of alliance by which they agreed as allied republics to take no steps without common consent that would lead to the best guarantees of their interests and welfare. But this circumstance alters not in any manner the disposition already assured to your excellency, that on the part of Nicaragua no obstacle will be put in the way of carrying out any idea that may tend to the re-establishment of peace and harmony among the states, especially if the valuable intervention of your good office may be invoked. Nicaragua being able to show with authentic documents the culpability of the government of Costa Rica in the acts subversive of peace, is in duty bound to raise to that government its just claims for serious damages to the state and to several citizens; but neither these claims, nor the question of limits for the settlement of which your excellency has tendered your good offices, shall be an obstacle to Nicaragua in entering upon any treaty or convention to secure the peace of Central America. In reference to this idea of permanent peace, in which your excellency has taken so great and so laudable an interest, the President begs me to call it to your notice that the statements and assurances of President Guardia, made in the convention of the 10th instant, have not yet had the sanction of the actual government of Costa Rica. It would appear any efforts made should have such a firm basis of legality that the acts resulting therefrom should be permanent. In this Nicaragua is more interested than any of the states, owing to her proximity to Costa Rica and the nature of the question now pending between them. Respecting the personal presence of the President of this republic at the place to be designated for the re-union, there is a constitutional obstacle. He has been authorized by the law, of which I send you a copy, to leave the republic solely with the object of treating about the national unity and not about regulations of peace among the states. However, your excellency may rest assured that the government of Nicaragua shall be properly represented at the meeting, With the highest consideration, I have the honor to be your excellency's obedient servant, A. H. RIVAS. [Inclosure in 2 in No. 90.-Translation.] MANAGUA, October 22, 1873. The President of the republic of Nicaragua to its inhabitants: THE SENATE AND CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA. Decree. ARTICLE 1. The President of the republic is authorized, if he thinks it necessary or convenient, to leave its territory with the object of facilitating the negotiations and ar rangements relating to the reconstruction of the political union of Central America, leaving the executive power in deposit. ART. 2. During the next recess, and until the new meeting of the legislative power, the executive may, if the circumstances so require, employ the senators and deputies in diplomatic missions having in view the great interoceanic canal, the national reorganization, and the peace of the Central American states. Given in the hall of sessions of the senate-chamber, Managua, October the 15th, 1873. Fernando Gurman, S. P.; José L. Avendaño, S. S.; Pedro P. Prado, S. S. To the executive power. Hall of sessions of the chamber of deputies, Managua, October 15, 1873. José Salinas, D. P.; J. D. Rodriguez, D. S.; Francisco Padilla, D. S. Therefore, let it be executed. Managua, October 21, 1873. Vincente Quadra. The minister of the interior, Francisco Barberena. No. 92.] No. 92. Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish. UNITED STATES LEGATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA, Guatemala, January 7, 1874. (Received February 5.) SIR: I have the honor to enclose you herewith a translated copy of an article on the "general situation" in Central America, published in the "Porvenir," of Nicaragua, in its issue of the 21st instant. The statements contained therein are so correct, according to my information, that I venture to send it to you, only remarking that I am credibly informed the proffered intervention of Nicaragua alluded to therein was rejected by President Arias. He demanded the troops of Guatemala and Salvador should be withdrawn from the soil of Honduras. At last accounts they were preparing to move on his intrenchments in Comayagua. His force is reputed at six hundred; that of his opponents at twenty-five hundred. I have, &c., [Inclosure in No. 92.] GEO. WILLIAMSON. General Situation. [Article in the "Porvenir," of Nicaragua, of the 21st December, 1873.-Translation.] The affairs of Central America are getting so complicated that it is very difficult to foresee how they will end, and they are creating such confusion in the ideas of the different political parties that for some time past have been struggling to establish the predominance of their respective principles, that we believe, without fear of error in our calculation, that they will all, before long, be completely at a loss as to the best course of conduct to be followed in order to secure the objects of their aspirations. Or perhaps this very confusion of ideas, this fruitless and constant struggle of parties which destroys to-day at the cost of great sacrifices the work done yesterday with equally great efforts, may at last cause in the minds of the people of Central America the belief that principles are not discussed, and that the object of this party strife is not the triumph of this or that idea, but that all the issues at stake are questions of interest and personal advantage. If the people become convinced of this the result will be beneficial, as they will not then listen to the call to fight under this or that banner, knowing that obedience to such a call will not be for their advantage, but only to procure to such and sch persons the satisfaction of riding over them. The present state of the affairs of the sister republic suggests these reflections. In that of Costa Rica Señor Guardia continues to perform his farce of self-denial and patnotism, of love and peace, and of zeal for the national interests. On the 30th of November last he addressed to his excellency the first designado, then in the exercise of the executive power, a letter which was published in the Official Gazette, No. 55, of the 6th instant, in which he stated that grave motives of public policy obliged him to return to the presidency; that nobody had believed in the good faith with which he had laid down the same for the sake of peace and tranquillity; the different parties having thought it a brilliant opportunity to grasp power, and thus gratify personal ambition; that though not in the exercise of power, he could not forget that he was the true president of the republic, and responsible to the nation if, unfortunately, it should be plunged into anarchy; that, as a principal cause of distrust, the belief was alleged that Gonzalez was an accomplice in the bad management of Guardia, and that this fear, whether founded or unfounded, obliged him to put himself again at the head of the administration, although it might be but during the re-establishment of tranquillity and confidence, thus putting a stop to those party struggles. Mr. Guardia ended his letter by thanking Mr. Gonzalez for his self-abnegation and patriotism in coming to that post when called to do so; he acknowledged the upright intentions with which he (Gonzalez) had tried to reconcile the interest of all for the public good, and signed himself his obedient servant. Mr. Guardia's conviction of the necessity of peremptorily removing Mr. Gonzalez before he should compromise, through the policy already inaugurated by him, the future well-being of the republic, is clearly seen in this letter. However, after having again assumed power on the 1st instant, by a simple decree of the first designado, in which, without any considerations at all, he declares Guardia in possession of the supreme command of the republic, and having accepted the resignation of their respective portfolios, which was tendered by Don Rafael Ramirez and Dr. José M. Castro, he appointed successors to those gentlemen. On the 2d he summoned the second desiguado, Don Rafael Barroeta, uncle of Mrs. Guardia, alleging that it was not necessary to prolong his continuance in power in view of his desire to return to private life, and adding that Mr. Gonzalez had declared that he could not remain in office. Al this is a badly played comedy, because in the very documents published the facts can be seen. In spite of the great confusion which reigns in these affairs, it can clearly be perceived that in the administration of Costa Rica a sentiment of peace prevails, and it cannot be otherwise, after the failure of Mr. Guardia in all his attempts to disturb the peace of Central America and to obtain a decisive influence in its affairs. On the other hand it appears that the idea of establishing peace in all the states was a result of the conference held at Chingo. Mr. Guardia has received an invitation to meet with the other presidents of Central America and put an end to the indefinite provisional presidency of Mr. Arias in Honduras, whose government, in the opinion of many persons, is an obstacle to the realization of that idea on account of its excessive rigidity. It seems very likely that this invitation will be accepted by Mr. Guardia, as it is really to his interest to re-establish friendly relations with the other governments in order to strengthen his rule in Costa Rica. What will our government do in such a case? Will Mr. Quadra, with his good faith and candor of past times, again set out on a fatiguing journey to hear protestations and promises that, for him, have no value whatever? We shall see; but in the mean time let us be permitted to doubt. In regard to the Honduras question, we believe it has attained proportions not foreseen at Chingo. The discredit into which Arias has fallen is well known, and it seemed very natural to suppose that when a more popular citizen was proclaimed President, under the protection of the allies of Honduras, the whole country would also proclaini such citizen. It seems, however, that some error was committed in the modus operandi by which the national susceptibility was awakened, and that Mr. Arias is now in possession of much more power than before. Still the proclamation of Mr. Leiva has continued its course, he having organized his government at Tegucigalpa on the 8th instant, his cabinet being composed of Messrs. Adolfo Zuniga, Trinidad Ferrari, and General Juan Lopez, who represent the three political parties, viz, radical liberal, moderate, and conservative liberal. The faction of Finoco proclaimed Mr. Leiva, offering him their respect and love, and protesting that in entering the territory of Honduras they had no object save the overthrow of their country's tyrant. In the mean time Marshal Gonzalez had collected a considerable number of troops, with artillery and a flotilla, at La Union, with the object of attacking the port of Amapala. Commander Vargas and his garrison behaved like true soldiers, rejecting every summons made them to surrender. Notwithstanding the inferiority of their force, they declared their determination to fight if they were attacked. On the 13th instant, at 3 p. m., the attack against the port began. The small Honduran garrison made a vigorous resistance, but, after a long and bloody conflict, was forced to yield to superior numbers. Forty Salvadorians and seven Amapalians were killed, while many were wounded on both sides. Marshal Gonzalez directed the attack and General Samayoa was chief of the operations. Soon after the port was taken Marshal Gonzalez landed and took possession of it. The commandant and the garrison of the port were held as prisoners. Hostilities were thus commenced between the Salvadorians and Hondurans, who have so often fought side by side in defense of the same cause. The government of Nicaragua, however, offered its intervention in favor of peace, but, as is always the case, seems to have arrived too late to prevent the shedding of Central Americau blood. This was unavoidable, no manifestations or declarations having been made beforehand to make known such a state of things to the neighboring governments, so that, when this was least expected, the belligerents met with arms ready for battle. No. 93.] No. 93. Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish. UNITED STATES LEGATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA, Guatemala, January 10, 1874. (Received February 5.) SIR: I have the honor to transmit you herewith a translated copy of the pronunciamiento or decree of Señor Leiva, in which he assumed the provisional government of Honduras on the 23d of November last. It has been impossible for me to get a copy at an earlier date. The serious charges it contains against President Arias are corroborated from many quarters, and particularly by Consul C. R. Follin, of Omoa and Truxillo. Like most Spanish-American documents of its kind, its enunciation of principles is worthy of commendation. If Señor Leiva, when installed in power, (as he intimates indirectly in paragraph sixth he will,) gives freedom to the press in Honduras, it will be a step far in advance of any of his cotemporary Presidents in Central America. I have, &c., GEO. WILLIAMSON, [Inclosure.-Translation.] Decree of Señor Leiva. Ponciano Leiva, citizen of the republic of Honduras, having been called to the presi dency of this country by public opinion, expressed in various ways Considering the notorious unpopularity and discredit into which the administration of Mr. Arias has fallen; That during the eighteen months of his government he has proved himself incapable of maintaining order in the interior or of repelling aggression from abroad, as recent facts have shown, and as is well known to ali Central America; That Mr. Arias, turning his back to the noble and generous principles proclaimed by the past revolution, has established a government which is purely personal and arbi trary: That the government of Mr. Arias has maintained the dictatorship longer than was Decessary, without any reason of public good, and only with the object of imposing his election upon the people; That he has suppressed all liberty, keeping the press muzzled, and restricting the right of suffrage, which are the basis of all republican governments; That the most sacred civil rights, which existed prior to and are above all legislation, have been violated in all the departments of the republic by order of the government of Mr. Arias, or with his consent; That the military executions, proscriptions, and arbitrary imprisonments, accompaEid by the most inhuman acts, confiscation in all its forms, have been exercised on a large scale in the republic, all in the name of democracy and liberty: That the anarchy into which Honduras is sunk is the logical consequence of his errors and arbitrary management; |