The first result of the recent negotiations for forming a
Federal Union among the Republics of Central America has been an outbreak of hostilities between the forces of Guate- mala and San Salvador. As yet, the details of news are dubious and conflicting ; but it appears that a battle took place last week on the San Salvador frontier. The Guatemalan commander sent an aide-de-camp to General Ezeta, of San Salvador, asking him " to consent to the ratification of the proposed union of the five Central American Republics, and to a meeting of representatives of those States at Teguciguepa on August 20th." General Ezeta replied that San Salvador was a Sovereign State, and knew how to act without foreign inter- vention. The President of Guatemala then ordered the fron- tier to be crossed without any formal declaration of war. The Salvadorians were, says one account, able to repel this attack, though they did not follow up their advantage, " wishing only to preserve the integrity of their territory." The Mexicans have, it is said, massed troops on the Guatemala frontier, with orders to cross if San Salvador is again attacked ; while Guatemala declares that she will appeal to the United States for protection if Mexico intervenes in the struggle. The situation, in fact, appears to be something like that in The Critic, when " the nieces," " Don Whiskerandos," and "the uncles " hold each other in check. Guatemala cannot strike San Salvador, for fear of Mexico; and Mexico cannot strike Guatemala, for fear of the United States. Mr. Blaine has here an excellent chance for acting the part of the Beefeater. Will he, we wonder, be able to discover as good a solution the situation as did Puff ?
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