The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-29
MEXICO AND GUATEMALA.
7he Dfspute Over the boundary Line
VIII Not Cauae War.

Will Not Cause War.
WAsHrSGToN CITY, Oct. 2s-Scnor Lazo
Arriga, the Guatemalan minister. today
made this statement in regard to the po-
iitical difficulties between his country and
Mexico:
"With the object of ending the old and
vexatious boundary question, the pre-
hminary basis for a definite treaty was
agreed upon and signed in New York city
on the 12th OF August, 1852, and the for
mai treaty was subscribed 10 on the 2Tth
of September of the same year. In the
preliminary treaty it was agreed, among
other points, that in the denmark alton Of
the boundary line the actual possession
should be generally considered base, but
that both governments by agreement
could change the rule by max
ing mutual compensstions: that un..
I'll the boundary line is marked
each of the contracting parties should
respect the party in actual possession, and
that. in the event that said parties should
not agree about the total or partial desg-
nation of the line. the differences that
would rise should be- settled by arbitration
of the president OF the United States of
America. The definite treaty provides
that parallel beginning near Ixbul shall
run east TO the Usumaeints river, il this
river was to be reached in that direction,
or TO the Chixoy river. II the former was
not in the way of said parallel. This
parallel did not rsach the Usumscinta.
this river being north of il. and according
TO the treaty said parallel should have
stopped ~ the Chixoy river, but the Mex
can engineers sndeavored to prolong il to
the Cancusn river. under the groundless
assertion that this il the Usumacinta
river, thus giving to Mexico over LOCO
square miles of Guatemalsn territory.
The government of 6uatemala made
q very strong protest thereon, and
the Mexican governments accepted
its views on this point, although
under the condition that no other similar
question should arise. There were no
other difficulties in fact. except very small
differences IN the work OF the engineers
aud this they think can be arranged by
themselves In the meantime, each of
the governments has preserved, according
10 the treaty, the dominion of their re.
spective territories that will be annexed
BY the other upon tue final demsrkation
OF the boundary line. and the authorities
of the two countries have granted conces-
sions 10 cut mahogany in said territories
From an immemorisl time Guatemala
has eeen In possession, never questioned
before by Mexico. of large portion of the
land located on the west side Of the Chixoy
aud UsumaciniA rivers, and, upon this
territory being invsded recently by Mexi-
cans. the Guatemalan authorities were
obliged to expel them and 90 protest
against the invasion, asking al the same
time for . due explanation, but the Mexi-
can government now asserts Ia at said ter
Eitory belongs TO Mexico, evidently being
mislnformed by It's engineers The gov
eminent Of Guatemala had not then. nor
has II q, present. any armed force outside
of its own terrifory.
Senior Arriga besievss that 50 soon ss the
Mexican government ia informed Of the
real facts IL will change il. attitude
towards Guatemala. and also Believe. that
q var hesxeen the two nations is q very
improbable contingency. not only because
the present difficulties are not of grea; i'm
portance, but chiefly because the treaty
provides that ali questions inc ident to the
cemarkaiion Of the eoundry line shall be
settled as above stated by the civilized
means Of arbitration Should the actual
difficulties. be added. reach this point, the
prsssden. Of shs United States will be in
vised TO act ss arbitrator.