Caliz to minister of foreign relations, January 17, 1871

Mr. James Maddey to minister of foreign relations

Most Excellent Sir: I have the honor to inform your excellency, and the government, of my return to this country again to perforin the duties of my position as the representative of Mr. James Brunlees, of London, engineer of the railway for the government of Honduras.

I much regret to find myself obliged, by justice to the contractor, to appeal immediately to the government for protection to the employés of the third section of the road.

The state of things in Goazcoran, the headquarters of Mr. Stanley, director of the works of said section, is such that the lives of foreigners employed there, of the agents of the contractor and of his workmen, are daily exposed and in great danger, and those employés may be killed or forced to kill their antagonists in their own defense, both of which occurrences would be very prejudicial to the building of the road, and might, moreover, paralyze the whole enterprise. The worst is that the local authorities are opposed to the laborers on the railroad instead of assisting them. The alcalde of Goazcoran disarmed a servant of the engineer’s, and declared that no foreigners should be allowed to carry arms in the town, and that, too, in a town where the inhabitants have sworn to kill all foreigners, and have come around their houses at night and told them so. The government has already sent some soldiers, but as these are frequently removed for one or two days, the employés of the road have no resource left but to defend themselves. I need not say that the withdrawal of the soldiers for a time renders the fact of their presence an absurdity, for the hostile inhabitants never withdraw. Besides, the alcalde has openly declared against the railway.

In consequence of these difficulties, Mr. Stanley has suggested that the following steps be taken:

1st. That the alcaldes be ordered to give all the assistance in their power to the officers of the road, and that they be not allowed to speak openly against them, as the alcalde of Goazcoran is now doing.

2d. That all foreigners belonging to the road be at liberty to carry arms both in and out of the towns, and that they be placed upon the same footing as the officers of the government.

3d. That some difference be made in the jurisdiction of the alcaldes over the officers of the road and the natives of the country.

4th. That the soldiers sent for the protection of the employes of the road be not removed for any other service, and that a force sufficient to prevent any disorder be obliged to remain at Goazcoran, and at any other point of the line where threats have been made or bad feeling exists against the employés of the road.

Allow me to add that I consider the petition of Mr. Stanley reasonable, and that the government ought to accede to it out of regard to its own interest in the completion of the road. I hope that your excellency will communicate this petition, as soon as possible, to his excellency the President, on whom I hope to call soon.

Inclosed are copies of two letters from Mr. Drew, with regard to which I have no observation to make; but they will confirm what I have said in relation to the necessity of the immediate interposition of the government for the protection of those who are engaged in the building of the road. Unless things be put on a different footing it will be impossible for the contractors to complete their work, and I repeat that, as an engineer of the government, I consider it essentially to the interest of the government to give them all the assistance and protection possible.

With the highest respect, I sign myself, your excellency’s, &c.,

JAMES MADDEY.

Comayagua, January 19, 1871.

A correct copy.