The morning call., 1894-10-30
UNFOUNDED NEWS
The Consul General of
Guatemala Speaks
AND DENIES WAR RUMORS
Of Rupture With the Mexican
Republic.
HOW TRADE HAS INCREASED.
j. Diaz Duran Shows That Trade
With Guatemala Is BOOM
ing.

at is really time to deny the unfounded
news that has been published for the last
month about Guatemala. Such reports are
very damaging to the commercial interests
between his country and that
It was Senior j. Diaz Duran, the Consul
General of Guatemala, who said the above
words yesterday as he sat in his Office sur
rounded by official reports. documents and
kilograms, which plainly showed that he
was in receipt of constant news from his
native country by no means accessible to
the general public. The Consul had just
explained that he received on an average
90 TO 60 applications month for iUforma-
ti0n about Guatemala from people anxious
to settle there Tor business purposes, who,
however. were deferred by wild and un-
founded rumors about the unsettled condi-
tion of the country. Said Senior Daz:
"Of course there are houses here doing
business with Guatemala that dis
credit all these absurdities. but there are
great many people contemplating going
TO that country who are misled. It seems
TO me that the question naturally arises.
WIN the circulation of sensational stories
about the condition of Guatemala be
favorable to the development of American
trade?
"Why is the press so persistent in affirm
ing that for the last month the Mexican
Government has been moving troops with
the intention of fighting Guatemala? This
statement has given rise to inquiries
through reliable sources, and it has been
officially stated that the boundary Ques-
ton between Mexico and Guatemala is on
much the same footing as the boundary
question between Mexico and the United
Staies-that is. a rurely technical and
mathematical one. The question is now
in the hands of surveyors, who will settle
it 10 accordance with the treaties of the diff
ferent countries which have been signed
by both parties"
Signor DiaZ Duran. who stated that he
was in the daily receipt of cablegram
from Guatemala. laughed at the idea of
moving troops with the intention of Occu-
pying Mexico. ''It would be the most dar-
ing and eXtravagant idea," he said, lust
about the same thing, in fact, as to assume
that Mexico intends to conquer the United
States.
''Such a stale or things would be setting
aside the power that modern diplomacy
has fortunateIv acquired. That arbitrates
differences between countries having a
common interest. Il would be assuming,
too, that the Pan-American Congress,
which the United States initiated and
signed, as well as the republic of Guate-
maa IS dead letter when the time ar
lives to make practical use of its princi-
pies OF confraternity and American fed
eration."
After showing by external evidence that
a var between Mexico and Guatemala was
the last thing on the cards, the Consul
General went on to clinch his argument
oy Speaking OF the internal Government
of Mexico. "President DiaZ the head of
the Mexican republic, is traditional for his
peaceful policy, his progressive views and
his principles of cOnfraternity toward the
neighbOring countries. We do not believe
that be would throw aside in moment
the handle of the regulator Of his coun-
try's progress to seize the sword aud rush
into an unprOvoked fght-a fight which, if
1t unfortunately happens, will be desperate
and sanguinarv.
The war question being dismissed,
Guatemala's representative became en-
thusi ;stic over the wonderful increase of
trads between the United States of Amer
lea aud his native country during the last
few years. He produced pile of official
papers and glancing over them said: ''To
appreciate this increase it will be enough
to say that during the last twelve months,
ending the 30 h of September last. the con-
sular statistics Of Guatemala in this port
show that the coffee imported has reached
the sum of 81. .929,07 Co. and various other
products, such as sugar, hides. hard woods
and indiarubber, the sun of $l27, 005 32
In gold the sum of S34. 020 has been i'm
ported fran Guatemala to the United
States, making a total of S2.O78. 524 81.
This shows an increase of $685., ,116 81 on
the previous years trade.
he Importations from this port to Qua
temala in general merchandise last wear
amounted to S1.43O. 1913 81 and the exports
10 com ana bnIllo1 10 S1SG,000, makiog
total of S1,6l6, 1913 81. This shows an in
crease Of S462, ,924 SO Oh The previous years
exports.
'Oa resuming the stated figures" said
the Consul-GeneTal, still quoting from his
of1clai reports, 1tappears that the general
trade between both countries during the
last twelve months reached the sum of
S3,604, ,71S 81, against 81, $50. SIC So in the
previous year. Of course these figures do
NOT include the cost of packing, freight.
insurance, commissions. etc. which also
remain to the benefit Of this country The
figures also do not include the numerous
goods which are exported as part of the
baggage Of the numerous tourists from
Guatemala who annually visit the United
States. One hundred and fifty young hovs
from our country are being educated in
this city alone, and as they are mostly the
sons of wealthy people their relatives fire.
quenty visit the2 and spend a good deal
OF money here.
Putting down the general bulk OF our
trade with California in round figures as
S3,694,718 81. and our trade with New
York and ether North American ports as
$500, 600, itiappears that the sum total Of
ihe trade between Guatemala and the
United States reached last year 81. 500. 600
in imports and exports. The sum total of
the whole foreign trade in Guatemala was
to the amount of 500, 100000. of which
nearly S10.000000 was exchanged with
Great Britain. The United States came
next, then followed France, Germany, etc.
The chief articles of export from San
Francisco to Guatemala are included In
165 articles and the houses that carry ON
the trade exceed seventy-fve. According
TO The new tariff of the last Legislature OF
Guatemala, which Came into force on the
first of January last, 132 articles were re-
leased from paying any custom-house
e, duties. According to the treaty of reci-
procity with the United States of May,
1892, there were twenty-nine articles al
ready freed from duty.
"Of these 161 articles which 20 into Guate-
mala Tree, about one-third are products
and manufactures of California"