De Aycinena to Edwin Corbett, February 17, 1870

Mr. Aycinena to Mr. Corbett.

Sir: I had the honor to receive, at half-past nine o’clock last night, the communication which your excellency directed to me, dated the 15th instant, and which is in reply to mine of the 14th instant. Your excellency states that you do not consider yourself obliged to answer the demand which I. by order of the President, directed to you, asking “if it was really true that Don Miguel Garcia Granados was actually in the house of her Britannic Majesty’s legation, against whom an order, for his arrest had been delivered, for complicity with the seditious party that have disturbed the public order.”

I consider it to be my duty not to admit in all its latitude the principle claimed by your excellency, that international usages authorize your unlimited right to deny to the local authorities all information that they might be directed to ask of matters transpiring in your house.

The admission of such a principle would be equivalent, under many circumstances that could present themselves, to annulling completely the action of justice, and to establish the most complete immunity for abuses committed within the habitation of a foreign agent. The government of Guatemala admits and respects the doctrine of immunity, as the same has been taught by the practice of enlightened nations, and will always consider it a strict duty to respect such right.

With regard to the disagreeable incident which has provoked this correspondence, I have received orders from the President to inform your excellency that the President has truthful information that Don Miguel Garcia Granados is really in the house of her Britannic Majesty’s legation, and that it is with sentiments of sincere regret that the President finds himself obliged to make this affirmation, leaving the consequences of a proceeding so strange to the agreeable relations existing between this government and the representative of her Britannic Majesty with him. who, without cause, has sought to alter them.

In complying with the order of the President, &c., &c., &c.

Hon. Edwin Corbett, &c., &c.

[Editorial.]

During the time this correspondence was being exchanged, a body of soldiers was stationed opposite the house of the British legation, and sentinels placed on the corners and around the whole square of the legation building, with orders to prevent the escape and to arrest Señor Granados, should he make such attempt.

Afterwards Señor Granados accepted the conditions heretofore published, and obtained permission to leave the country, when the guard was withdrawn.