Mr. Warren to Mr.
Seward.
No. 32.]
Legation of the United States,
City of Guatemala,
January 6, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your dispatch of November 29, (No. 17.)
I send you with this a translation of a communication received this
morning from the minister of foreign affairs in relation to the
published reports of an impending war with Mexico. I am very certain
that there is no tangible foundation for the rumor, beyond a desire to
embellish the telegraphic column by a sensation paragraph. Beyond this
slight ripple of excitement, there is nothing to disturb the
tranquillity of the people.
The coffee crop promises a very large increase from the last year’s
yield, say, by estimate, one hundred thousand quintals against forty
thousand for the previous year. There are now at the roadstead of San
José eight vessels, a number never before known, and which indicates a
healthy increase of commercial intercourse. With a return to a specie
basis of currency, the trade of this country will tend largely to our
country, on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Now it is mainly with
California, where the currency assimilates to that of this country.
The chamber of deputies is still in session, but with great quietude of
debate, and but little progress in absolute business.
I remain, Mr. Secretary, with high respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Señor Aycinena to Mr. Warren.
Ministry of Foreign
Relations,
Guatemala,
January 9, 1868.
Sir: Several daily papers of the United
States which have been received by the steamer from Panama, give
notice that there was to be a war between Mexico and Guatemala, for
supposed grievances of this government offered during the revolution
which has just ended in that republic, and upon questions of
boundaries. The government of Guatemala have been surprised by these
statements, as there has transpired nothing which could justify
them. Between the authorities of the republic and those of the
states of Mexico there are the best relations, and we have received
the most explicit declarations of a desire to maintain the harmony
and peace so necessary between conterminous peoples.
There has been an armed invasion, which organized in and came from
the territory of Chiapas, but of emigrant Guatemalians, which that
government had no power to prevent, but for which they issued orders
to that intention—an invasion which was promptly suppressed and
energetically punished in our own limits.
With regard to the question of boundaries, although we have never had
a fixed line, which has given cause from time to time to complaints
and disputes between private citizens which could not be avoided,
the government of Guatemala has been disposed to have an adjustment
with that of Mexico, to the accomplishment of a friendly and cordial
[Page 339]
solution of the causes
of disagreement. These political events which have disturbed
frequently the neighboring republic have not permitted the attention
which the ques-tian merits. Such is at present the state of affairs
between the two republics; therefore there exists no reason which
could justify the statements of the dailies to which I have
referred. The newspapers of Chiapas have sometimes published
articles which have shown a spirit not the most friendly at the time
of the close of the late revolution which has agitated Mexico.
When these papers arrived at the capital there were published some
articles in some of the papers which intimated a desire to make
reclamations and reopen the dispute upon boundaries, and of which
they wrote with great inexactitude. These publications were probably
contributed by Guatemalian refugees, who would be gratified to see
their country involved in an exterior war to subserve their own
personal interest. They must most certainly have given origin to the
report—in all particulars false— which the dailies of New York have
published and circulated. Being sure that the government of your
excellency looks with interest upon everything which tends to the
preservation of peace between this republic and the neighboring
governments, the President has directed me to address your
excellency this communication, that you may make known its purport
to the government of the United States, so as to dissipate whatever
doubt those reports to which I have referred may have given
character and currency.
In compliance with the order of the President, I avail myself of this
opportunity to repeat to your excellency that I remain,
Your most obedient servant,
Major General Fitz Henry Warren,
Minister Resident of the United
States.
