Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-11
DOMESTIC.

The Mexico and Guatemala Affair Gorre-
spon6euce on the subject.
BosroN, February 1Oth.-The Transcript
tonight contains the correspondence called
for BY the Senate in the matter of the tender
of the good offices of this Government Ia the
settlement OF the question Of bound ~ be-
tween Mexico and Guatemala. The official
text of that portion Of this correspondence
published by the Mexican Department OF
Foreign Aft airs has been received here. The
latter of Mr. Blaine, as retraDslated from the
Spanish, will differ somewhat In language
from the original, but its tenor remains un-
changed. Il is az follows:
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
WASHINGTON, June 16, 1881.
To Philip H. Morgan, Esq.,, etc.-Sr: In my in
structiors OF the 1st instant and to-day have so
closely explained the friendly spirit which anirnates
this Government toward that OF Mexico, that am
sure there cannot be any doubt about the sincerity
of our sentiment. Thinking that such friendship,
and the frankness which has always distinguished
the policy OF this country towards It's neighDors,
authorize il to give friendly advice when any coca
sion presents itself and considering that it Is our
province to give such advice, both on account OF
oar well-knowu imparta ity and the posiuon OF the
United States the founders, and TO certain eS'
tent the supporters and guardians OF republican
princiues on the American Continent 1t seems proper
TO send you now certain instructions on subject
in which we are naturally interested. refer to the
now handing between Mexico and Guatemala. In
the time OF the Empire, Iturbide's forces overrun
great portion of the territory that day constitutes
Central America, which has just separated ltSef
from Spanish domination. Changes OF fortune
DUNG the war ctused the Mexican troops to abandon
the greater portion OF that region, excepting the
impor ant provinces OF Soeonusco and Chiapas,
which remained in their power since then no
boundaries have ever been established in a salts
factory manner between the two countries When
Mexico became Republic, she did not desist from
fuI Na,fsrN Ff -
and ABSORPTION while Guatemala resisted the
progress of the Mexican arms, and disputing
step by step the ground already conquered, never
has reached a settlement with her more powerful
negbor In regard to the relative extension OF their
Jurisdictions over the disputed zone between the
Gulf OF Tehuantepec and the peninsula OF Yrcatan
Under these circumstances the government OF
Guatemala has formally addressed itself TO the Presi
dent OF the United States, asking his good Offices to
the end that good relations between the two repub-
lies NAV g established This appeal has been made
in frank and iii't1rV manner, addressing itself
to the natural protector Of the rig IS and national
integrity Of those countries with republican fonIn
of gov rlment which lie near our shore1, and to
which we bound by so many historical traditions
and material interests. This Government could not
but attend, in friendly and conslde1ate man
ner, 70 the appeal on Guatemala, as read
lily as it would have done IL Meslc)
had appealed to it account OF its interest TO have
iustice done and harmony restored. The events
which the present generation OF Mexicans remem-
ber-eyeuts which occurred when the moral and
material aid OF the United states, notwithstanding
thew were then engaged desperate civil war lent
itself generally to avert the danger with which q
foreign Empire threatened the national existence.
If such is satisfactory proof OF the good faith and
kind disposition with which Is regarded everything
which concerns the well being and existence OF the
sister republics OF the continent, why is 1t consid-
cred on the part of Guatemala, that the diplomatic
efforts which have been made to reach settlement
with Nexieo have been frutless? That there is pre-
imlnary and partial work begun to investigate the
true boundaries and that the Guatemalan exploring
Commissioners, sent to study the ground 10 order to
prepare basis for final arrange ment, were mprs
oned by the Mexican authoritiesf That Guatemala1
agents charged with taking the census OF the terri
tory in question have been treated in the same
manner, and finally, that the Mexican Government
has cautiously, but constantly, invaded the border
region, which has. up 70 this time. been IN posses
sion of Guatemala, replacing local authority, and
thus enlarged the OF the disputed territory Is
il not incumben the United States to express an
opinion about the right which Mexico or Qua
temala may have to that reg on Ihls Government
has not constituted itself an arbitrator OF the des-
tiny OF either country or both. In tins matter IL is
only an impartial friend OF BOTH ready to give frank
and sincere advice upon whatever may disturb the
peace and prosperity Of its neghbors. 1t anxously
desires above all, 20 do every act tending to
strengthen the natural union of the republics of this
continent, in opposition TO the tendencies OF other
distant countries, with different forms OF govern
ment, to influence the internal sfiairs OF Spanish
America 1t desires especially, while observing this
lofty policy, to the Central American republics
united more firmly than in the past, go that they
may be able to protect their common interest," which,
SO FIR as their foreign relations are c IL
cerned, are identical in principle with these
affecting Mexico and the United States.
This Government thinks that whatever
may diminish the goodwill and harmony, so deslr-
able among the republics of the Isthmus, must
finally dsastrously affect their mutual well-beng.
The responsibility for the conservation of this atti
tude common to all, to form union that may
strengthen them belongs to all, in the opinion OF
the President to the powerful States no less than to
the weaker oues Without consequently preludicng
in any way the question between Mexico aud
Qua emaa, AID acting as the disinterested adviser
of both the President deems it to be his duty to
press to the Government Of Mexico his conviction a
the dangers which the principles so signaliy and
successfully defended by Mexico would incur
if it should look with contempt
upon the boundaries which separate it from their
weaker neighbors, or ii they should appeal to
force to make good their rights upon the Territory
in dispute without due justification OF leg innate
title to it. and the President would especially CON
slider it as an act Of unfriendliness 10 the praise
worthy plan of consolidating republican govern
nent, in America, if Mexico. who ought to distin-
gujsh ITSELF in the case by its power well as by
its generosity should look for, or allow any dlscord
with Guatemala, when the peaceful putting an end
to the difficulties is go simple and OF sHca
imperious national necessity. You are authorized
20 have an interview with Mr. Marisca, with
a view to communicating to him the tenor
of this note. In doing it your sound judg
ment and dictum vii have large field TO
dtspel any misunderstanding on his part concern
ing the friendly spirit which has dictated this pro-
ceediny If Mr.. Mariscal shows himself disposed to
know more intimately the Presidents opinion after
yonr verbal exclamation you are authorized 10 read
this spatch to him. and ii he desires, to give him
copy. l am, etc, D. U. BLAINE.
To this letter the Mexican Minister of
Foreign Relations replied at length. The
following ara extracts from the published
memorandum, under date OF July -. 1881:
He would confas himself to showing that
neither force nor conquest bad at any itle
been the foundation Of the right which Mex
leo claimed to that portion Of her territory
which Guatemala disputed, as has been proved
on another occasion. The complaints
of the Guatemalan Minister ara not
sincere, and General Barrios knew how diff
ferent the facts were from those presented to
the Government ct Washington. The fact
that Mexico has tried repeatedly to accurate
" determine the boundary by meas of
engineers appointed from both countries, will
show TIVE things to Mr.. Morgan-6rst. that
the Mexican Government desires to bring
alb ut lust and pacific settlement OF the
boundary question second, that 1t IS not
possible even to say ct present Whistler that
question, or any part OF 1t, can be submitted
to arbitration. Mexico has repeatedly pro
tested that its right to the State of Chiapas.
with the department or district of Soconusco,
Which has been in its possession for so many
wears, cannot with propriety admit of that
oues,iou. Among the prstensions OF Gaate-
mala. the only questions which it could dis
cuss was regarding the boundaries OF CHA
mas and Soconusco from the direction of
Guatemala, and it ia because of this that the
frontier has been explored and mapped ont.
Mexico will never forget the generous moral
supuort of the United States when it was
being invaded By foreign army. In the
note OF MIR, Blaine, it is saiG that when the
forces under Emperor Iturbide occupied a
great part Of Central America, changes in the
fortune Of war caused them to abandon all that
territory excepting Soconusco and Chiapas,
and that when Mexico constituted itself
Republic it did not desist from the claims
founded in the Imperial policy of absorption
and conquest There ara some historical er-
rors in this. and one especially, arising, as
before stated, from impassioned statements,
or because unfortunately the history of Mex.
leo is not known even during the Empire OF
Iturbide. It was not conquest, but the free
will of the people of Soconusco and Chispas,
which determined their annexation TO Mex
ico, and this also determined the annexation
of all the urogince of Central America, ex-
cepting S.lya6o-. The latter, taking adj
vantlge If that same liberty. SET
arated from Mexico and formed q Re-
public with Guatemala. This did not
inc e Chiapas and Soconusco, which,
when Mexico became g republic, r
iterated their purpose Of remaining incorpo.
rated with this last nation. All eff 1rts to fix
the boundaries BY means of diplomacy have
!