Hall to The Diplomatic, April 15, 1885

Mr. Hall to Mr. Bayard.

Sir: In the midst of the panic throughout Guatemala, the demoralization of the army, and the apparent helplessness of the Government which followed the death of General Barrios, at the personal and earnest solicitation of Señor Cruz, the then minister for foreign affairs, the foreign representatives residing in this city met at this legation on the night of the 3d instant, with the object of rendering the Government any assistance in their power to avert the anarchy which then threatened the country. Señor Cruz was present, as was also General Barrundia, the minister of war.

After much discussion it was decided that, in view of the revocation of the decree of the 28th of February, and there being no motive for keeping up the warfare, with the object of averting further bloodshed, to propose to the Presidents of the several states an armistice of one month. The proposition was telegraphed the same night to President Zaldivar. By reference to the inclosure it will be seen that it was simply proposed to obtain a truce, leaving the Governments of the states to settle their differences in their own way.

President Zaldivar replied on the following day, the 4th instant, in a dispatch, in which he entered at length into the merits of the contest, and declared that he would give neither truce nor repose to Guatemala until the ministry of Barrios had disappeared; until Salvador and her allies had received a satisfaction and an indemnity, so far as possible, for the expenses and sacrifices they had been obliged to make in consequence of the decree above mentioned. It was evident that he desired to enter into a discussion of the merits of the contest, which the diplomatic body were not inclined to do.

The President of Honduras replied on the 6th, accepting the proposed armistice on the condition that the other states should also suspend hostilities.

No answers were received from Nicaragua or Costa Rica.

The diplomatic corps replied to President Zaldivar on the 7th instant, and expressed their regret that his Excellency had not seen fit to accept the armistice, which, in their opinion, offered an honorable means of terminating pending difficulties by negotiations for peace, and that, in regard to the terms and conditions of the peace, the neutral character of the corps prevented their expressing officially, any opinion.

To the latter President Zaldivar replied on the 10th instant, expressing regret that his refusal to concede an armistice had been understood as a non-acceptance of an honorable means of terminating pending difficulties with Guatemala through negotiations for peace; that nothing would have been more acceptable to him than the mediation of the foreign representatives; he then gives his reasons for not accepting their proposed armistice, and concludes by declaring that he had not refused and does not refuse any proposition leading to a definite and permanent peace, much less when coming through their friendly mediation.

On the 11th instant President Zaldivar telegraphed me personally, repeating what he had previously stated to the corps—that he had not provoked hostilities, nor did he refuse an honorable settlement, but that he required, in addition to the guarantee of the diplomatic corps, the presence of a new and independent personnel in the cabinet of Guatemala.

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It would seem that up to the 11th instant, the date of his last-mentioned telegram, President Zaldivar had not been informed of the change of ministry here. As to any guarantee of the foreign representatives, the idea was not for a moment entertained by any of them, nor to discuss with him the merits of his dispute with Guatemala. Their object was to avoid bloodshed and to promote peace in the interest of humanity.

On the 12th instant President Zaldivar informed me that Honduras had entered into a treaty of peace with the other states, and that it would be equally satisfactory to him to terminate the difficulties still pending with Guatemala, to which end he would be glad to have the mediation of the diplomatic corps.

The two last mentioned telegrams from President Zaldivar were acknowledged by me on the 12th, suggesting to him that inasmuch as the present Government of Guatemala and himself were inspired by the same sentiments, I had no doubt they would come to an honorable settlement, to which I promised him my own aid and that of the diplomatic corps.

Again, on the 13th instant, President Zaldivar communicated by telegraph to the several members of the diplomatic corps, thanking them for their friendly offices, expressing his opinion that an honorable settlement, upon which so many interests depend, would be possible, and substantially requesting them to propose the bases for a treaty of peace and to communicate the same to him by telegraph. Acting upon this invitation, my colleagues came together again at this legation, and decided to send to the President the following:

* * * Under existing circumstances, the diplomatic corps, acceding to the expressed wishes of your Excellency, with the same motive of averting the effusion of blood and to facilitate the consummation of a treaty of lasting peace, as friends, propose to the five Governments that a frank and solemn declaration of peace and friendship, without conditions or reclamations of any kind, shall be made, and that an absolute amnesty be conceded to all those who are in any way implicated in political matters relating to this war.

After the foregoing bases for a treaty had been submitted to and approved by the President of Guatemala, they were transmitted by telegraph to the President of Salvador, and they have been unconditionally accepted by him. The two Governments have to day entered into communication with each other, and there remains no longer a doubt as to the termination of the troubles growing out of General Barrios’ attempt to establish by force a union of the Central American States, and this has been brought about without imposing on any of them humiliating terms

I have, &c.,