Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-11
MORE OF BLAINE.

~>>~>~--'-t
Tender of the Good Offices of This COun
try In the Settlement of the Boundary
Between Mexico and Guatamala-COr-
spondence With the Mexican Minister.
BosToN, Feb. 10.-The transcript tonight
contains the correspondence called for by the
senate in the matter of the tender of the good
offices OF this government in the settlement of
the question of boundary between Mexico and
Guatemala. The official text of the portion
of this correspondence published by the Next
can department of foreign affairs has been re-
ceived here. The letter of Mr.. Blaine, as re-
translated from the Spanish, will differ some
what in language from the original, but the
tenor remains unchanged. 1t is as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON,
June 18th, 1881.
To Philip H. Morgan, Esq, &C., &c.
Shin my instructions of the first inst,
and to-day, have SO clearly explained the
friendly spirit which animates the government
toward that of Mexico, that am sure there
cannot be any doubt about the sincerity of our
sentiment Thinking that such friendship
and frankness which has always distinguish
ed the policy of this country towards its
neighbors authorize it to give friendly advice
when any occasion presents itself, and consid-
ering it is our province to give
such advice, both on account of our
of the United States as the founders, and to a
certain extent, supporters and guardians of
republican principles on the American CONT
nent. It seems proper to send you now GER
tain instructions on a subject in which we are
naturally Interested. / refer to the questi on
of boundaries and territorial jurisdiction now
psnding between Mexico and Guatemala. In
the time of the empire Iturbide's forces over
ran great portion of the territory that to day
constitutes Central America, which had just
separated itself from Spanish domination. The
changes of fortune during the war caused
the Mexican troops to abandon a greater
portion of that region, excepting the import
ant provinces of SOconusco and Chlapas which
remained in their power. Since then no
boundaries have ever been established in sat-
isfactory manner between the two ountries.
When Mexico became republic she did not
desist from the claims founded on the imperial
policy of conquest and absorption. While
Guatemala resisted the progress of Mexican
| arms and disputed, step by step, the ground
already conquered, she never has reached
a settlement with her more power
| full neighbor in regard to the
| relative extension of their jurisdictions
| over the disputed zone between the gulf OF
Tehuantepec and the peninsula of Yucatan.
Under the circumstances the government of
Guatemala has formally addressed itself to the
president of the United States asking his good
Office to.the END friendly relations between the
| two republics may be established. This ap-
peal has been made in frank and conciliatory
manner. Addressing itself to natural pro-
tector of the rights and national in
tegrity of those countries with
Republican forms of government which
| lie SO near our shores, and
| to which we are bound by SO many historical
| traditions and material interests, this govern
ment could not but attend in a friendly and
| considerate manner to the appeal of Guate-
mala as readily as it would have done if Mex
| leo appealed to it, on account OF its interest
| to have justice done and harmony restored.
The events which the present genera ton OF
Mexicans acknowledgements which occur red
when the moral and material aid of the
United States, Notwithstanding they were
| then engaged in desperate civil war, lent
itself generously to avert danger with which
foreign empire threatened the national
existence of Mexico, give satisfactory proof o!
the good faith and kindly disposition with
which the United States regard everything
which concerns the we'll being and existence
| of sister republics of the continent.
1t is alleged on the part of Guatemala that
L
| toreach settlement with Mexico, have been
| fruitless; that there is preliminary and par
| tial work begun to thoroughly inves-
| tigate the true boundaries, and
| that the Guatemalian exploring commissions
sent to study the ground, in order to prepare a
| basis for final arrangement. were imprisoned
| by the Mexican authorities; that Guatemalian
agents, charged with taking the census OF the
| territory in question, have been treated in the
l nd hot
government has cautiously but constantly in
| vaded the border region which has, up to this
| time, been in possession of Guatemala, placing
| local authority over this enlarged area of dis
puted territory.
It is not incumbent upon the United States
to express an opinion about the right which
either Mexico or Guatemala may
have in that region. This government
has not constituted itself the arbitrator
of the destiny of either country or both. In
| this matter it is only the impartial friend Of
both ready to give frank and sincere advice
| upon whatever may disturb the peace and pros
perity of its neighbors. 1t anxiously desires
| all to do every act tending to strengthen ana
| tional union of the republics of this continent
| in opposition to the tendencies of other dis
| tant countries, with different forms of gov
| eminent to Influence international affairs Of
America. It desires, especially, while Observ.
ing this lofty policy, to see the Central Ameri'
| can republics unite more firmly than in
the past so they may be able to protect their
| common interest, which, SO far as their foreign
| relations are concerned, are Identical in prin-
ciple with those affecting Mexico and the
United States.
The government thinks that whatever may
| dimish the good will and harmony so desirable
among the republics of the Isthmus must
| finally disastrously affect their mutual well
being. The responsibility for the conservation
of this attitude common to all forms of union
that may strengthen them belongs alike to all
| in the opinion of the president, to the power
| full states 10 less than to the weaker ones.