James A. Williamson to To his Excellency the, January 18, 1878

No. 63. Mr. Williamson to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: Referring to my No. 747, I have, now the honor to hand you a copy and translation of the decree of the Government of Costa Rica breaking off relations with that of Guatemala; a copy and translation of the letter of the minister of foreign affairs of Costa Rica in reply to that of the minister of foreign affairs of Guatemala, sent to you with my No. 734, and a copy and translation of a printed circular sent to this and other legations here by the minister of foreign affairs of Costa Rica, all relating to the rupture of relations between Costa Rica and Guatemala.

The decree announces the closing of relations of every kind between Guatemala and Costa Rica.

The answer of the minister of foreign affairs of Costa Rica is a defense of President Guardia against the charges made against him by the minister of Guatemala, and seems to be intended to show that those charges, if true, do not justify the government of Guatemala in the course it has adopted.

The printed circular is mainly a repetition in a different form of the reply to Dr. Montufar. The government of Guatemala appears to anticipate war. The army is being recruited. A person has been sent to San Francisco recently to buy a steamship to be equipped as a man-of-war.

I have, &c.,

Thomas Guardia, general-in-chief of the army and Provisional President of the Republic of Costa Rica:

Considering that the Government of Guatemala has refused to recognize the Government of Costa Rica, and that an act so grave and offensive against this republic demands the adoption of a measure for the preservation of the national dignity and honor, decrees:

The Government of Costa Rica, not recognized by the Government of Guatemala, closes all official relations with that republic while it is governed by General Refino Barrios.