Adolfo Zuniga to Geo. Williamson, February 19, 1874

Señor Zuniga to Mr. Williamson.

Most Excellent Sir: I had the honor to receive your excellency’s official dispatch of this date, in which you make known to this government that, about the 10th of July of the year just passed, citizens of Honduras and soldiers belonging to the forces under the command of General Richard Straeber, at Omoa, broke into the office of the United States consul, Don Charles R. Foillin, sacking the archives of the consulate, and scattering and destroying some of the papers, and that on account of these acts your excellency expected the government of Honduras to give prompt and complete satisfaction to the Government of the United States.

The citizen President, before whom I have laid your excellency’s dispatch, instructs me to inform your excellency that the government of Honduras deplores these events; that, led by the public rumor of their having occurred, he has given orders for the reconstruction of the judiciary at Omoa, and for a rigid inquiry to be instituted in regard to the acts that are the foundation of the reclamation of your excellency. If they are found to have been done, then the government of Honduras will have no difficulty in doing justice to the Government of the United States, according to the laws of nations. Perhaps the fact of the overthrow of the government of Señor Arias, under whose orders General Straeber acted, is one of the best satisfactions which the government and people of Honduras may have been able to give to the Government of the United States.

I hold it a great honor, Señor Minister, to offer myself as your attentive and obedient servant,