Fernando Cruz to Hall, March 24, 1885
Señor Cruz to Mr. Hall.
memorandum.
The minister for foreign affairs of the Republic of Guatemala has the honor to inform Mr. Henry C. Hall, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States in Central America, that there is no declaration on the part of the President of Guatemala in which it is pretended to annul the treaties concluded with any of the states of Central America before the 28th of February last.
The decree of that date states that those which maybe concluded will not be recognized—that is, those which shall be signed after that day; but even that was with the belief that the union would be accepted at once by virtue of the promises made beforehand by Dr. Zaldivar, and never having a wider interpretation than that of including only the states which pronounced in favor of the union; so much so that this immediate adhesion not having taken place, and in view of its taking more or less time in bringing it about, it has been communicated to the diplomatic representatives who have made any inquiry in that respect, that no objection is made, nor will be made in any case, to any treaty concluded even after the date of the decree, and even should it be with Honduras, which at once embraced the cause of the union.
Furthermore, the undersigned has instructions from General Barrios to confirm to the American minister the same, of which he has personally assured him, that neither to-day, nor under any circumstance, and least of all if the union be effected, no difficulty of whatever nature will be placed in the faithful and full accomplishment of any treaty, previous or posterior to the 28th of February, made by the United States with any of the Republics of Central America. On the contrary, his desire is not only that all of them be observed, but that they contain concessions more liberal and ample in every sense for the Government and people of North America. He has instructions not only to repeat this, but also that the President of Guatemala will hear with the greatest satisfaction any indications which come from the Government of the United States concerning the subject of the union.