Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part I

No. 402.
Mr. Biddle to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
San Salvador, May 11, 1872. (Received June 19.)

No. 48.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith a copy and translation of a communication, and of its inclosures, dated the 3d May instant, received from the minister of foreign relations of Salvador, informing me of the declaration of war with Honduras and of the proclamation of President Gonzalez thereof, and also of his address to the people of Salvador and to those of Central America upon the same subject. On the morning of the 5th instant the President left the capital for the frontiers at Chalatenango, to direct in person the military movements. When he crosses the boundary the government will be assumed for the time being by the Vice-President, Señor Manuel Mendez.

I visited him the evening prior to his departure. He spoke of his deep regret at having been thus forced into war, and that he hoped for an early peace. To attain which I proffered cordially any friendly services which I might be able to render both States with propriety in my official position. He said that he would gladly accept my kind offer at the propitious time.

The successes thus far have been signally for Salvador. General Espinosa writes from Pasaquina, as follows:

Yesterday, the 1st of May, I have invaded the Honduranean territory. The invading forces met the enemy a little beyond the river Gouscoran, and after a short combat the enemy were completely routed, leaving four dead on the battle-field, besides wonnded, &c. Tomorrow, May 3, I propose invading Honduras with my whole command, as all obstacles to my advance seem overcome.

Meantime General Estrever, with the army at La Union, marched toward Amapala.

The President Gonzalez will combine his operations upon the Honduranean province of Gratias, along with his ally President Granados of Guatemala. Nacaome, a small Honduranean town, has fallen before the march of the forces of General Estrever. The most important success, however, is that of General D. Juan Antonio Medina, of Salvador, who overcame General Yelez, in Sabana Grande, on the 6th instant. The enemy left a number on the field, both killed and wounded, six hundred Chassepot and Remington rifles, a piece of artillery, and a hundred and fifty animals. The famous Garcia, of Curaren, was made prisoner. General Medina marched next on Tegucigalpa, all the department of Choluteca remaining without forces of the enemy. General Espinosa then marched upon Comayagua, where he expects no resistance.

Two important positions have thus been acquired, and President Medina separated from the departments of Choluteea, Tegucigalpa, Paraiso, Comayagua, and Olancho. With a just cause and the prestige of success, we may hope for an early dawn of peace.

I have, &c., &c.,

THO’S BIDDLE.

[Inclosure No. 1.—Translation.]

Mr. Arbizu to Mr. Biddle.

Ministry of Foreign Relations of Salvador,
San Salvador, May 3, 1872.

Mr. Minister: By the decree which I have the honor to transmit by the present opportunity you will see that the government of Salvador, consulting its interests, has found itself under the necessity of accepting the state of war which the government of Honduras, presided over by General Don Jose Ma. Medina, has provoked.

The reasons of this government for that resolve are comprised in the considerations” of said decree, a determination which has been forced by the most imperious necessity, to which it has been indispensable to sacrifice momentarily the peace of these countries.

In this connection, I have the honor to repeat myself, with every consideration, your obedient servant,

GREGORIO ARBIZU.

[Inclosure No. 2.—Translation.]

Proclamation of war.

Santiago Gonzalez, field marshal, constitutional president of the republic of Salvador, considering—

1st. That the government of the republic of Honduras, by decree of the 25th of March last, has declared itself in a state of defensive war toward Salvador, which implies an actual declaration of war, reserving to itself the advantages of the defensive.

2d. That the rupture of official relations with this cabinet, considering them indecorous and humiliating, and the exaction by the legislative body of Honduras of guarantees for the payment of pretended indebtedness, has indicted grave injuries upon the government and people of Salvador, with whom, besides, it has prohibited private relations.

3d. That in asking reparation for such injuries, unexampled in our history, we cannot use diplomatic means, whose object would be to avert the greater evils, accruing from the violent rupture of official relations.

4th. That, apart from this, it is of public notoriety that the government of Honduras conspires constantly to change the public order in Salvador, and in our friend and ally the republic of Guatemala, the principal object of which is to uproot the republican institutions which sway in both republics, to which end it has collected all the elements which in Central America oppose liberal principles.

5th. That threatenings from the government of Honduras are perpetual, that even before the promulgation of the said decree of the 25th of March it maintained forces upon our frontier, and clearly manifested the tendencies of that government to disturb at every hazard the peace of Salvador, and, although it had not openly declared war, it secretly prepared for the strife for some time, and arranged also to precipitate itself upon this country at a moment least expected.

6th. That all hope is lost of re-establishing friendly relations between both governments, by the mediation of friendly powers, because, having adverse interests, and seeing the said decree, tantamount to a declaration of war in full peace and under futile pretexts, we have arrived at the conviction that with such antecedents it is impossible to establish peace based upon any confidence inspired by that government.

7th. That this alarming state of affairs has made it of the last necessity for this government to raise and maintain upon a war-footing a respectable army, which weighs upon the exchequer, and upon the people, it becoming every day more urgent to settle in some way the difficulties created by that government.

8th. That public opinion imperiously demands the prompt solution of these questions, from the great depression suffered in the anomalous condition of affairs by labor, commerce, and particularly agriculture, which is the life of these people.

9th. That finally the honor and dignity of the republic, cruelly outraged, the pressure of circumstances, the imperious necessity for ending the emergency, the view of avoiding financial and industrial evils to the republic, the obvious convenience of at once destroying the evil, which soon would occasion greater difficulties to Salvador, the truly exceptional predicament in which the government of Honduras has placed this republic, has decided this government to make the best of the circumstances, and obliged it to declare its course in the case, consulting as paramount the public interest.

Therefore, and after slow and mature deliberation, resolving in so critical a condition of affairs to preserve the dearest interests of the republic, I decree:

• Article 1. The republic of Salvador declares itself in a state of war against the government of the republic of Honduras.
• Article 2. Consequently, through the proper channels, measures will be adopted for the national defense.

Given at San Salvador, in the national palace, the 25th day of the month of April, 1872.

• SANTIAGO GONZALEZ.
• The Minister of Foreign Relations,
  Gregorio Arbizu.
• The Minister of the Treasury and of War,
  Borja Bustamente.
• The Minister of Public Instruction,
  Manuel Mendez.
• The Chief of Bureau in charge of the Ministry of the Interior, (Gobernacion,)
  Antonio G. Valdez.

[Inclosure No. 3.—Translation.]

Address of President Gonzalez.

Santiago Gonzalez, field-marshal and constitutional President of the republic, to the people of Salvador and to those of Central America:

There are times in the lives of nations when equilibrium and harmony are disturbed, necessary conditions of peace, and it becomes necessary to re-establish them by violent means, to insure the tranquil enjoyment of these blessings, and that the nation may preserve its autonomy and dignity in the eyes of the world.

Salvador unhappily finds itself at this time in one of these exceptional positions, and an imperious and irresistible necessity impels it to take up arms to assert the dignity of its flag.

The government of General Medina, which has for eight years oppressed our sister and friendly republic of Honduras, after having collected all the remaining colonial elements in Central America, with the intention of drowning in blood the liberal institutions implanted here and in the republic of Guatemala; after having intrigued for a civil war in both countries, and its efforts having been baffled by public opinion; after, in fine, having accompanied with insulting threats a claim for pretended debts, with the design to create a conflict; at this date, in derogation of peace, and without lawful cause, he has promulgated the decree of the 25th of March, breaking abruptly official and private relations, and having “deposited his authority” has placed himself at the head of an army to commence a campaign.

However monstrous might be that document, if it merely had for object to disturb the sincere friendship which has always united Salvador and Honduras, faithful to its proposition to conserve the peace so necessary to these people, this government would confine itself strictly to the right of reprisals. But the government of General Medina has wished to fill the measure of provocations; it has called to arms the Honduranean people; it has declared itself in a state of defensive war toward Salvador; it has augmented to the extent of its power the forces with which for some time it has menaced our frontiers; and, as if this did not suffice to raise the national pride of the Salvadoreneans and impel them to combat, in the “considerations” of the decree he has perpetrated one of those injuries which the majesty of the nation cannot endure; he has intended to inflict upon the honor of the country a stain which with men and nationalities only blood can wash away. General Medina has permitted himself to qualify as indecorous and humiliating to his government political and private relations with this heroic and honored nation, which in the half century of its existence presents itself to the eyes of history unblemished by a faithless act.

The honor and dignity of the country arouse before the political audacity of the government of Honduras, and it becomes necessary to exact a full satisfaction in vindication of our outraged honor. Much as would this government desire to attain this desired result by diplomatic means which civilization has established; but the cabinet of Comayagua has closed the door to every pacific solution, severing the relations; and besides, it is logical to deduce from the premises that it designs to kindle war with Salvador at every cost, and upon frivolous pretexts.

In such a state of affairs it becomes indispensable to strengthen the national defense, and consequently a respectable army has been organized which demands constantly many supplies.

The Salvadorean people, essentially agricultural and industrial, neither can nor ought longer to support the uneasiness which is felt in all classes of society, and makes it necessary to extricate itself as quickly as possible from the embarrassment which the government of General Medina has dared to interpose to its march of progress.

These are, people of Central America, the weighty motives which have obliged this government to issue the decree of the 25th instant, accepting the war which, with as much audacity as injustice, the government of Honduras has provoked. So the honor of the republic exacts the preservation of our institutions, our agricultural and industrial interests, the indignant public opinion, and the lamentation of the Honduranean people which for so many years has groaned under the lash of a President who, in his insatiable thirst for blood, appears to have declared himself the irreconcilable enemy of mankind.

Once again in Central America will be seen on the battle-field liberty and tyranny. Victory will crown our efforts, for on our side will contend our just cause, and the regenerate principles of humanity, sustained by the warlike people over whom I have the honor to preside, fighting in unison with our ally, the republic of Guatemala, and with the sympathetic though unhappy population of Honduras, who will see our flag as the symbol of political redemption.

Salvadoreneans! in this emergency the government that, without distinction of party, you will come to contribute to the triumph of this cause, which is a national cause, to show to the world once more that a community of citizens is invincible when it strives for those two great things graven on the heart of every man, and under whose influence all heroes are created—liberty and our country.

SANTIAGO GONZALEZ.