No. 309.
Mr. Torbert to Mr.
Fish
No. 35.]
United States Legation, San Salvador,
February 23, 1871. (Received April
1.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
translation copy (marked 1) of a dispatch just received from the minister of
foreign relations for Salvador, in answer to mine, (marked A,) forwarded
with legation dispatch No. 34, in regard to the United States having
guaranteed the neutrality of the Honduras interoceanic railway.
In this connection it is not out of place to say that I am pretty well
assured that both Salvador and Guatemala do not favor the construction of
said railroad, as they fear an increase of emigration to Central America,
and for this reason, under the present state of affairs, I fear that the
work may be interfered with, notwithstanding the guaranteed neutrality of
said road by the United States and England, if neither power has a
man-of-war here to enforce said guarantee.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
No. 1.
[Translation.]
Department of Foreign Relations of
Salvador, San
Salvador,
February 22,
1871.
Sir: I have communicated to his excellency the
President of the republic the contents of your Excellency’s dispatch of
the 20th instant, accompanying copies of the note addressed by your
legation to the department of foreign relations of the supreme
government
[Page 686]
of Honduras, and of
the one from the latter to the honorable minister resident of the United
States in that republic, with reference to the neutrality of the
Honduras railroad route, stipulated by the United States in the
fourteenth article of the treaty entered into between that Government
and that of Honduras on the 4th of July, 1864.
Your excellency, in view of the positive terms in which the said article
is worded, calls upon this government to adopt, in the event of an
invasion of the territory of Honduras by Salvador military forces, such
measures as shall avoid any difficulty that, in consequence of the
neutrality referred to, might occur between your Excellency’s government
and that of this republic.
His Excellency the President, being duly advised, has directed me to
reply thereto, assuring your Excellency, on his part, that should the
extreme case arrive of having to invade the territory of Honduras, the
requisite orders will be issued to the forces of this republic to
respect the neutrality of the railroad route, provided there is a due
reciprocity on the part of the government of Honduras, the latter not to
make use of any portion of said territory for military operations
against this government.
This is the answer I have to return to your Excellency’s note above
mentioned, it being at the same time very satisfactory to me to avail
myself of this occasion to subscribe myself as your very attentive and
obedient servant.
In the absence of the minister of foreign relations, the chief of the
foreign bureau,
His Excellency General Alfred T. A.
Torbert, Minister Resident of the United
States, &c., &c., &c.
