No. 102.
Mr. Logan
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States In Central America,
San Salvador, March 5, 1880.
(Received April 10.)
No. 63.]
Sir: Expecting by each mail to receive instructions
relating to the proposed canal in Nicaragua, I have delayed a visit to the
capitals of Central America, lest at a moment when I might be required I
should be absent from the seat of my legation. Learning, however, of the
impossibility of the arrrival of another mail for a whole month, owing to
the irregularity of the Pacific Mail steamers, caused by a strike among the
laborers at Panama, I thought the time an opportune one for a visit to
Salvador.
I left Guatemala, therefore, on the 18th of last month and arrived safely,
after a hard and tedious journey, at this capital. Sending the usual
announcement of my arrival to the government, and soliciting a personal
audience with the President, I received a notification that he would be
pleased to receive me upon the 4th instant.
The ceremony of reception took place, accordingly, yesterday at 2 p.m. with
much state and circumstance, all of the troops, bands, and civil officials
taking part. The document marked No. 1 accompanying this dispatch is a copy
of the remarks made by myself upon the occasion, and that marked No. 2, the
response of President Zaldivar.
* * * * * * *
The expressions were of the most cordial character upon both sides, and I
leave Salvador with the assurance that there is a better feeling toward us
now than formerly; an assurance finding vent in the most unreserved
declarations by the President and the various State officials.
I have, &c.,
[Page 116]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 63.]
Copy of Mr. Logan’s remarks upon the occasion of his
official reception by the President of Salvador.
Mr. President: Having had the honor to forward
you by mail upon a prior date the autographic letter which accredits me
as minister resident of the United States near your excellency’s
government, I now embrace the earliest opportunity of presenting myself
in person at your excellency’s capital. The cordial relations of amity
and good will which so fortunately exist between our governments render
it quite unnecessary that I should reiterate the well-understood desires
of my own government to perpetuate and strengthen them, or that I should
assure you that my mission will best be fulfilled by endeavoring to
reflect those desires in the very highest degree.
The government of which I am the representative in Central America, while
possessing the enlarged desire of enjoying the friendship of and
witnessing universal peace and prosperity among all the nations, has a
particular interest in those whose forms of government tend to a
similarity with that of the United States; and this-interest is felt in
a very special degree in the republics of Spanish-speaking America.
The reason for this should be plain enough, as it seems the most natural
of all things, that those who move in the same directions and whose
thoughts run in the same channels should possess ties in common, which
such circumstances alone can create. But, further than this, there is an
additional reason in the fact that the republics of Central America, are
our near neighbors by geographical location, and it is our avowed policy
to build up with them the strongest ties of mutual friendship and mutual
interest. Our government will take every proper measure to secure this
result, and will endeavor to make the interest an eminently reciprocal
one. If we send flour and hardware and agricultural implements, railroad
and other machinery, to Central America, we shall hope to become large
purchasers of the coffee, sugar, indigo, and tropical productions of our
commercial and friendly allies. Exchange of products is the great secret
of trade, and the intercommunication among nations produced by
remunerative trade is the most certain means of promoting peace and
establishing national and individual prosperity among all peoples.
Upon behalf of my government, then, I tender to your excellency’s
government, as well as to all your sister republics in Central America,
the right hand of a good will which I trust may be as lasting as I know
it to be sincere.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 63.]
Translation of the reply of President Zaldivar upon
Mr. Logan’s reception.
Mr. Minister: Since the Government of Salvador
recognized you in the character of minister resident of the United
States of America, I have much desired the opportunity of your official
presentation, which to-day I have the pleasure of seeing realized. It is
some years since we began the cultivation, with the greatest care, of
the relations of friendship between the great republic which you
represent and that of Salvador, the satisfactory result which has ensued
being influenced largely by a strict compliance with the treaties
between both governments; and there is no doubt that the maintenance of
those relations becomes more important each day in view of the notable
extension which the commercial movement between the countries is
acquiring, creating new interests which it is fitting for us to
reciprocate.
The government of this republic, Mr. Minister, congratulates itself upon
being placed in such fortunate circumstances respecting your powerful
nation, which is not only to be admired for its gigantic progress and
its tendencies toward peace and universal fraternity, but because it has
known how to win the respect and consideration of other peoples by its
spirit of Americanism (Americanismo) and by the
care with which it has endeavored to strengthen the ties of friendship
with the neighboring republics upon the same continent.
It is highly satisfactory to me to be able to manifest upon this solemn
occasion my appreciation at their full value of the demonstrations which
you have made in the name of your government; and I hope, Mr. Minister,
that you will transmit my acknowledgments with the assurance that the
sympathies of the people and Government of Salvador are firm and true to
the government and people of North America.
I conclude, then, Mr. Minister, by felicitating myself upon your happy
designation for the diplomatic charge which you exercise with such
dignity, and I express the sincerest desires that the great North
American Republic may continue in its career of progress, claiming the
admiration of the other civilized nations.
