No. 69.
Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.
United
States Legation in Central America,
Guatemala, October 6, 1873.
(Received November 4.)
No. 35.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith the
correspondence between the secretary of foreign affairs and myself in regard
to the report of the consul at Guatemala about the actions of the General
Sherman, and the bombardment of Omoa by the British man-of-war Niobe. It is
proper for me to mention that the report is but a written declaration of the
verbal statement made to me by the said consul at the President’s house, at
the invitation of the President and in the presence of the chief members of
his cabinet. At my suggestion it was reduced to writing. The British
minister, Mr. Edwin Corbett, also did me the honor to read to me the report
made to him by a Mr. Bain, who was acting as vice-consul of Her Britannic
Majesty at Omoa at the time of the occurrences referred to. The two
statements correspond as to the conduct of the “Sherman,” and do not, in my
judgment, vary materially as to the bombardment, except that in the British
statement very great prominence is given to the sacking of Omoa, and insult
to the British flag, and trespass upon the (so-called) British soil of the
island of Zapodilla, when the authorities of Honduras (General Straeber
commanding) captured the Spanish and Portuguese consuls there.
In the absence of any report from our own consul at Omoa, Mr. Chas. R.
Follin, I have had to rely upon their statements in order to make up an
opinion on the subject. I wrote to Mr. Follin, but presuming he lived at one
or the other of the ports to which he is nominated as consul, I addressed my
letter wrong. It seems he does not reside at Omoa or Truxillo, but a little
village opposite the village of Puerto Cadballo. Hoping that it may not be
considered improper, but on the contrary perfectly proper, that I should
give you my opinion, I beg leave to say that I am compelled to believe the
captain of the Sherman has
[Page 103]
unjustifiably and outrageously abused the flag of our country, and also that
General Straeber’s conduct in the sacking of Omoa and pillaging (or allowing
to be pillaged) the British consulate was disgraceful, to say nothing of his
barbarity in firing upon a party from the General Sherman, which, under a
flag of truce, approached the fortress of Omoa to accept its delivery
according to previous arrangement with the treacherous fellow who was in
command. This fellow’s name I have been unable to learn. Whether the said
party was composed of filibusters or not does not alter the barbarity of
slaughtering in cold blood human beings who had a right to believe they were
protected by a white flag, and who, relying upon the sanctity given by such
protection among civilized nations, placed themselves at the mercy of their
slayers. I also venture to recommend that the General Sherman be seized. Is
she not a pirate? If the reports about her repeated changes of flag be true,
and she is an armed vessel of a private person, General Palacios or any of
his confederates, and is being used for hostile purposes against peaceful
states, would she not be rightfully classed among those piratical vessels in
the possession of a crew and acknowledging obedience to no flag whatever,
but, in defiance of all law, levying war for purposes of private gain? It
occurs to me she could not complain of such a classification, if the
statements made in regard to her are true. I venture to throw out the
suggestion.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
35.—Translation.]
Señor Soto to Mr.
Williamson.
Guatemala, October 4,
1873.
Señor: I have the honor to inclose to yon the
certified report of Señor Don Delfino Sanchez, our consul at the
establishment of Belize. From this document you will be able to inform
yourself concerning the principal facts of Pallacio’s expedition, and
especially the facts concerning the abuse of the American flag and of
the strange behavior of the American vice-consul. I hope that you will
transmit the report to your Government, and in the meanwhile, with your
known disposition for justice, you will take whatever steps in your
power to put a stop to the evils occasioned to the governments of
Guatemala and Honduras by the expedition, which is assisted, directly Or
indirectly, by agents and citizens of the nation which you so worthily
represent.
With the most distinguished consideration, I have the pleasure to
subscribe myself your humble servant,
To his Excellency the Hon.Geo. Williamson,
&c.
[Inclosure in 1 in No.
35.—Translation.]
Report of the consul of Guatemala at
Belize.
Having been honored by the supreme government of the republic as consul
to the establishment of Belize, I arrived at that place about the end of
last July.
I immediately presented to the lieutenant-governor my credentials, and
was recognized provisionally in the character of consular agent of
Guatemala while the customary exequaturs should be received from
England. I am happy to be able to state that my reception by the
lieutenant-governor was truly frank and cordial, showing on his part a
spirit of consideration and friendship for the republic of Guatemala
which was confirmed afterward by acts conducive to the peace and general
welfare of this republic which I will mention presently.
In compliance with one of the principal charges in the mission which I
carried to Belize, I went to the lieutenant-governor’s, soliciting the
embargo of the armament which is in the house of Guild & Co. This
armament, as the government knows, was
[Page 104]
brought from the United States for Vincente Cerna,
to be employed in hostilities agains this republic: but when he wished
to carry them away from Belize they were not delivered, because our
minister in England had interposed and obtained a retention. Afterward,
when that retention had been countermanded by the same English
government, there appeared in the Belize waters the steamer Gen.
Sherman, with the American flag flying, claiming the arms for the
purpose of carrying them off; the consul of Honduras, Señor Nutrie,
affirming that Don Vicente Cerna sold these arms to the president of
Costa Rica, Thomas Guardia, presenting in corroboration a letter from
Señor Cordez, vice-consul of that republic in Colon. Notwithstanding,
the governor would not permit the arms to be delivered, being certain
that they would be used against this republic, as they surely would have
been, as is proved by the warlike acts of the Gen. Sherman immediately
after her departure from Belize. The house of Guild & Co., in view
of the governor’s negative, presented him a writing, with the view,
perhaps, of bringing charges against him for these proceedings. The
governor then, with the advice of his council, prohibited for the space
of six weeks the exportation of all material of war in consideration of
the state of invasion of the coast of Guatemala and Honduras, which
disposition was legalized by reason of the continuance of the same
causes which prompted the act. By that very just and loyal disposition
the governor of Belize has given to these republics menaced by
filibusters a proof very much to be appreciated of his good intention
not to permit those who are disposed to war against us to have direct or
indirect assistance from the establishment, which is now at peace with
us and desirous of maintaining the best political and commercial
relations. I can add with satisfaction that that proceeding, so
favorable to the order and good of these republics, does not altogether
ensue from the good spirit of English legislation, but principally from
the honor and impartiality of the lieutenant-governor and his council,
who, understanding perfectly the purposes why the arms were wanted, did
not permit themselves to be surprised into delivering them on frivolous
pretexts or menaces. In order to explain the foul measures adopted by
the invaders, headed by Palacios, for recruiting men in Colon, I will
give a few dates and facts obtained from the attorney-general of the
Queen in Belize, which will elucidate the subject. At my request, he
gave me the following: Some natives of Jamaica, and English subjects
which were in Colon, were asked by Captain Gordon to be employed in the
Sherman, telling them that the vessel was his by virtue of purchase, and
carried the American flag. Twelve of them agreed to go for six weeks to
the port of Limon and Belize, not suspecting that the voyage was of a
hostile character. In Colon about forty embarked with them as
passengers, among whom was one they called General Palacios.
From Colon they went to the port of Costa Rica, where they met a schooner
which carried the flag of Costa Rica, from which was transferred to the
Sherman a great number of boxes; some were long boxes, which contained
Remington rifles. They then proceeded to the Key of Culabra, in the
colony of Belize, where were disembarked the greater part of the
passengers, the steamer proceeding to Belize, where she remained a few
hours, while Captain Gordon went on shore and returned with some
provisions. On returning to the key, several boats came to her from
Belize, bringing the Englishmen Morgan and Garnier, the Americans Tracy
and Clotter, and various others. Those who were left at the key were
re-embarked. They then commenced to open the boxes which were taken from
the schooner and to arm the passengers; they then proceeded, flying the
American flag, to the islands of Utilla and Ruitan, taking prisoner the
governor of the latter, leaving in his place the Englishman Garnier, who
obliged the inhabitants to take arms and embark on the Sherman for
Truxillo, which place they took, always flying the flag of the United
States. After they had disembarked, there took place a little firing,
when Colonel Oriza was killed. Two days after the taking of Truxillo was
celebrated the installation of the government of Honduras, which they
called “legitimate constitutional,” and they also changed the name of
the steamer to “Col. Oriza,” and hoisted the Honduras flag. From here
they went to Zapotiila Key, where they took a sloop with a Colonel
Lubin, six soldiers, and two Spanish subjects, keeping all in
confinement except the Spaniards, who were free. They went to the port
of Cortes and Omoa, having also made a trip to Livingston and Santo
Tomas, where they took by force about thirty men. At the port of Cortes
the witnesses to the above report demanded to be dismissed, as their
time of contract had expired and they had no wish to belong to any
filibustering expedition. These men testify that they went to the
vice-consul of the United States, Mr. Brinton, to complain against
Captain Gordon for the swindle which he had put upon them, and that this
functionary refused to receive any information whatever upon the matter,
and even advised them to desist from their intentions. That which proves
the partiality of the United States vice-consul is his reply made to the
lieutenant-governor’s observations in regard to the Sherman and the
arms, that there was nothing to fear, since the papers which she carried
were all regular, when it is known to the undersigned that she had no
papers whatever. Another event upon which I deem it necessary to
enlighten the government is the bombardment of the castle of Omoa, which
was done by the captain of the English ship Niobe. The captain of this
vessel communicated to General
[Page 105]
Straeber the peremptory demand to deliver the sum of one hundred
thousand dollars as a guarantee for the losses sustained by English
subjects at Omoa when that place was sacked by his permission, the
immediate surrender of the English subjects held as prisoners in the
castle, and the salute of twenty-one guns to the English flag. General
Straeber requested an interview, which was denied. He then sent Gen.
Mariano Alveres to inform him that the demands were altogether unjust;
that he had no money; that he was not responsible for the losses of the
English citizens, but the government of Honduras; and that, inasmuch as
he could not submit to such demands, he protested against the threat of
bombardment. The captain of the ship then modified his demand to fifty
thousand dollars, the delivery of the prisoners, and the salute to the
flag, giving until two in the evening of that day, the 19th of August,
to decide, when, unless satisfied, he would commence the bombardment.
Not being able to give the satisfaction demanded, the bombardment
commenced at a quarter after four, and continued until six; commencing
next morning at four and continuing to half past five, when they ceased,
on seeing the white flag on the fort. That entering on a new
arrangement, the captain remained satisfied with the delivery of the
prisoners and a document signed by General Straeber obligating the
government of Honduras to pay all losses claimed, and dispensing with
the salute of twenty-one guns. This salute was required by the captain
of the Niobe in satisfaction for supposed outrages toward the English
consulship in Omoa, which was in “charge of Senor F. Debrot, he having
abandoned Omoa some time before, even before any hostile demonstrations
took place, and went to Belize, leaving in charge Mr. Baine, the
director of the railroad of Honduras, who resides in Porto Cortes. It
was not then possible to have outraged the consulship when the person
who was in charge lived in another place. This Mr. Debrot knows very
well, that he, more than any other, has assisted Palacios, and that he
abandoned Omoa, fearing the consequences of a toast made in public in
favor of J. M. Medina, ex-president of Honduras. General Alveres
remained on board the Niobe, and says that he met the vice-consul, Mr.
Baine, who he believes to be complicated in favor of Palacios, since it
is a fact that the forces of the latter used the trains on the railroad
to carry on the war, using one of the cars with a mitrailleuse during
the battle at the Chemilicon, and after the defeat to carry off their
wounded. He also provided the Sherman with engineers and coal belonging
to the same road. There is nothing more at present of any importance to
report.
Your obedient servant, &c., &c., &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 35.]
Mr. Williamson to
Señor Soto.
United
States Legation in Central America,
Guatemala, October 6, 1873.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your esteemed communication of the 4th instant, inclosing a
copy of a report made to your excellency on the 2d instant by Don
Delfino Sanchez, the consul of Guatemala at the establishment of Belize,
in regard to the movements of the steamship General Sherman and the
bombardment of the fortress of Omoa by the British man-of-war Niobe.
This very interesting report will be promptly forwarded to my
Government, and I do not hesitate to assure you that I shall recommend
the adoption of such a course toward the General Sherman as will be
likely to prevent her, or similar crafts, from engaging in revolutionary
expeditions against any of our neighbors of Central America.
I shall also call the attention of my Government specially to the
statement of the consul in regard to bombardment of Omoa; but, at the
same time, it will be my agreeable duty to communicate the facts upon
which the commander of the Niobe (as I understand) rests his
justification for bombarding the fort of a friendly power without having
first afforded the government an opportunity to make redress for the
wrongs complained of. It is probable the government of your ally and our
friend, Honduras, will put me in possession of the statement or report
of its commanding officer at Omoa, General Straeber.
Before concluding this communication, I beg to thank your excellency for
the copy of the report of your consul, and to renew assurances,
heretofore given, that my Government takes the most lively interest in
all matters that concern the peace and prosperity of Guatemala and the
other states of Central America, and cordially sympathizes with their
governments in their efforts to suppress factious disturbances of public
order.
I have the honor to assure your excellency of my distinguished
consideration, and to subscribe myself your obedient servant,
His Excellency Senor Lic’do Don Marco A.
Soto,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Guatemala.
