The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-29
BOUNDARY SQUABBLE
TROUBLE BETWEEN THE REPUBLICS
OF MEXICO AND GUATEMALA.
Senior Laxao Aragia's Statement oi
the Question-War Not Likely
to BE the Outcome.

WASHINGTON. Oct 2s.-Senor Lazao Ar
agia, the Guatemalan minister. made, to-
day, the following statement In regard to
the present difficulties between his country
and Mexico:
with the object OF ending the old and
~vesatious boundary question, the prelimi-
nary basis for a definite treaty was agreed
upon and signed in New York city on the
18th Of August, 1852. and the formal treaty
was subscribed on the 9th OF September
of the same year. In the preliminary treaty
it was agreed among other points that for
the demarkation Of the boundary line the
actual possession should be generally con-
sidered a base; but that both governments,
by agreement, could change this rule by
making mutual compensations; that until
the boundary line is marked each or 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 designation OF the line
the differences that would rise should be
settled by arbitration of the President OF
the United States of America.
1.-The definite treaty provides that a paral-
lei, beginning near Ixbul, shall run east
TO the Usuamacinta river, If 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 the Usumacinta, this river being north
of it, and according to the treaty, said
parable. should have stopped at the Chixoy
river; but the Mexican engineers e~ndeavored
to prolong it to the Cancuen river, under
the groundless assertion that this is the
Usumacinta river, thus giving to Mexico
over one thousand square miles Of Guate-
malan territory. The government Of Guate-
mala made a very strong protest thereon
views on this point. although under the con.
dition that no other similar questions should
rise. There were no other difficulties, in
fact, except very small differences in the
work of the engineers, and these they think
can be arranged by themselves. In the
meantime each of the two governments has
nminion of the respective territories that will
be annexed by the other upon the final de-
markation of the boundary line and the
authorities of the two countries have
| granted concessions to cut mahogany In
said territories.
From an immemorial time Guatemala
has been in possession, never questioned be-
fore by Mexico, of a large portion OK iana
| located on the west side Of the Chixoy and
usumaeinta rivers, and upon bo t this territory DRY
| Guatemalan authorities were obliged to ex-
pei them and to protest against the in
explanation; but the Mexican government
now asserts that said territory belongs to
Mexico, evidently being misinformed by its
| engineers. The government of Guatemala
had not then, nor has at present, any
armed force outside of its own. territory
Senior Lazao Aragia believes that as soon
as the Mexican government Is informed OF
the real facts Ii will change its attitude
toward Guatemala. He also believes that a
| war between the two nations is a very i'm
| probable contingency, not only because the
present difficulties are not of great I'M
portance, but chiefly because the treaty
provides that all questions incident TO the
l demarkation of the boundary line shall be
| means of arbitration. Should the actua'
| difficulties, he added, reach this point, the
President of the United States OF America
will be invited TO act as arbitrator.