The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-11-03
BOUNDARY LINE DISPUTE.
Cause of the Contention Between Msx-
leo and Guatemala.

Cause of the Contention Between Msx-
leo and Guatemala.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28.-Senor Lazo Arri-
ga, the Guatemalan minister, made a state
ment in regard to the political difficulties
between his country and Mexico.
With the object of ending the old and
vexatious boundary question, the prelimi-
nary basis for definite treaty was agreed
upon and signed in New York city or the
18th of August, 1882 and the formal treaty
was subscribed to on the 9th of September
the same year. Iu the preliminary treaty
it was agreed, among other points, that in
the demarkation of the boundary line ac-
iual possession should be generally consid-
cred the base, but that both governments.
by agreement, could change this rule by
making mutual cOmpen sations; that, until
the boundary line is marked, each of the
contracting parties should pect the party
In actual possession; and that. in the event
said parties should not agree ABOUT the to-
tai or partial designation of the line. the
differences that would rise should be settled
by arbitration OF the president of the Unit
ed States of America.
The definite treaty provides that the
parallel beginning near IxbuI shall run east
10 Usumacinta 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 reach
Usumacinta, this river being north of it,
and according to the treaty, said parallel
should have stopped at Chixoy river, but
the Mexican engineers endeavored to pro-
long it TO The Cancuen river under ground
less assertion that this is the Usumacnta
river, thus giving Mexico over one thou
sand square miles of Guate malan territory.
The government of Guatemala made a yery
strong protest The reon, and the Mexican
point, although under conditions that no
other similar questions should arise.
There were no other difficulties, in fact
except very small differences III the work Of
the engineers, but his they think can be
arranged by themselves.
In the meantime each of the govern
ments has preserved, according 70 the
treaty, the dominion OF the respective terri
tories that Will be annexed by tina other
upon the final denarkatlon of the boundary
line, and the authorities of the two coun-
tries have granted concessions to cut ma
hogany In SAID territories. From an inn
memorial time Guatemala has been in pos
session, never questioned before by Mexico.
OF large portion of the land located on the
west side of the Chixoy and Usumacinta
rivers, and upon this territory being in
vaded recently by Mexicans, the Guatema-
Ian authorities were obliged to expel and
protest against the invasion, asking at the
same time for a due explanation, but she
Mexican government now asserts that SAID
territory belongs to Mexico evidently be-
ing misintormed by its engineers. The
government of Guatemala had not then,
nor has at present, any armed force outside
of its own territory"
Senior Arriga believes that as soon as the
Mexican government Is informed of the
real facts it will change its attitude toward
Guatemala, and also believes that a war be-
tween the two nations is a very improbable
contingency, not only because the present
difficulties are not of great importance, but
chiefly because the treaty provides that all
questions incident to the demarkation of
the boundary line shall be settled as above
stated, by civilized methods of arbitration,
Should actual d faculties. he added, reach
this point, the president of the United
States will be invited to act as arbitrator.