To his Excellency the Hon. Geo. Williamson to Senor Lic’do Don Marco A. Soto, October 6, 1873

Mr. Williamson to Señor Soto.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed communication of the 4th instant, inclosing a copy of a report made to your excellency on the 2d instant by Don Delfino Sanchez, the consul of Guatemala at the establishment of Belize, in regard to the movements of the steamship General Sherman and the bombardment of the fortress of Omoa by the British man-of-war Niobe. This very interesting report will be promptly forwarded to my Government, and I do not hesitate to assure you that I shall recommend the adoption of such a course toward the General Sherman as will be likely to prevent her, or similar crafts, from engaging in revolutionary expeditions against any of our neighbors of Central America.

I shall also call the attention of my Government specially to the statement of the consul in regard to bombardment of Omoa; but, at the same time, it will be my agreeable duty to communicate the facts upon which the commander of the Niobe (as I understand) rests his justification for bombarding the fort of a friendly power without having first afforded the government an opportunity to make redress for the wrongs complained of. It is probable the government of your ally and our friend, Honduras, will put me in possession of the statement or report of its commanding officer at Omoa, General Straeber.

Before concluding this communication, I beg to thank your excellency for the copy of the report of your consul, and to renew assurances, heretofore given, that my Government takes the most lively interest in all matters that concern the peace and prosperity of Guatemala and the other states of Central America, and cordially sympathizes with their governments in their efforts to suppress factious disturbances of public order.

I have the honor to assure your excellency of my distinguished consideration, and to subscribe myself your obedient servant,