No. 92.
Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.
Guatemala, September 25, 1874. (Received Nov. 4.)
Sir: I have the honor to report the Central American states continue to be undisturbed by wars or rumors of wars, although, according to long-established usage in these unhappy countries, “the politicians” are availing themselves of the approaching elections in Nicaragua and Honduras to intermeddle, with the view of getting their “friends” into office.
In my opinion, at present, Don Pedro Chamorro will be elected President of Nicaragua in October, and Don Ponciano Leiva, the present pro visional incumbent, will be elected President of Honduras in November.
Ex-President Arias, of Honduras, is here, and seems to be the guest of Don Marco A. Soto, minister of foreign affairs, a young Honduranian.
He is reported to be plotting to induce the ruler of Guatemala to declare an armed intervention in the election in Honduras, with the view of defeating Leiva, and having Don Midence, a so called liberal, installed in his stead.
The decided position of the government of Salvador, in favor of Leiva, might present an occasion for serious disturbance were the President of Guatemala to assume such an attitude.
I think it likely now that both elections may pass off without a revolution in either state, or creating a war between others.
The President of Costa Rica, Guardia, after having decreed general amnesty, has retired to his hacienda in Guanacasta, quite remote from the capital. He seems to think all attempts to overthrow his government are at an end, an opinion in which he appears justified by the fact that all have heretofore been unsuccessful.
I have, &c.,