The herald., 1895-03-21
Another Tale About the Qua.
temala-Mexico War
THE MEXICAN CONGRESS
War, According to the Story, Is to Be Declared
Against the Sister Republican,
Interview With Romero

( WASHINGTON. March 2O.-The state
ment was published in a local paper to-
day that the Mexican Congress would de-
clare war on Guatemala as soon as the
Congress assembled, next month, and an
account of the reasons therefor was given.
When the article was shown to the Qua
temalan Minister. Lazo Arriaga with the
request that he state the actual condition
of the Guatemalan- Mexican affairs, he
said:
This article contains several incorrect
affirmations. 1t is not true that the Qua
temalan authorities invaded Mexican ter
ritory, for the simple reason that we do
not like to offend any other nation. 1t is
not true that the responsibility OF the de-
lay in the survey of the boundary line
rests upon Guatemala. because the Guate-
mala boundary commission of engineers
has worked always ahead of the Mexican
. commission during the last eight years.
1t is not true that the Guatemalan Gov
ernment has received a large revenue for
was almost invariably made in favor of
Mexican citizens, and the revenue re-.
ceived from this source is almost insig-
nificant.
'As far as I am concerned" continued
he. II do not see the reason why a peace
might not be arranged
Senior Romero, the Mexican Minister,
today said regarding the Guatemalan-
[, Mexican dispute:
Mexico and Guatemala agree that the
boundary treaty of 1882 is binding on both
countries, and there is, therefore, no need
of any new convention, as has been sug-
gested. In fact, Guatemala has not even
intimated the convenience of any such
step; ,.s u :.
tween the two governments about the con-
struction of the boundary treaty in SO far
as the boundary line is concerned, and,
therefore, no need of an arbitration for
that purpose.
The pending question between Mexico
country claims that under the de facto
line existing before the treaty of 1882, she
was in possession of the disputed terri
tory, and both agree that it belongs to
Mexico under the line marked under the
treaty. As a treaty line is paramount.
Mexico considers the action of Guatemala
in sending an armed force to destroy the
log camps established there by Mexicans
who were cutting wood under grants OF
the Mexican Government, seize the logs
and arrest. the men as an unwarranted IN
vasion of her territory. and has asked
Guatemala to apologize for it and to pay
an indemnity to the victims OF the out
1 rage. II Guatemala wishes to settle the
question it is for her to make amends for
her conduct. Mexico will not ask an un-
reasonable indemnity"
Senior Romero said he was sure that his
Government would not be willing to sub
nit to arbitration the amount to be paid
for damages; that he could not see how
Mexico could recede from her demands
for an apology. AS for the actions of the
Mexican Congress on the question, Senior
Romero said that it would not become
him to anticipate it, and he thought
neither his country nor his Government
desires war, as they are fully conscious
of its dangers, drawbacks and disadvan-
tages. and therefore he hoped that the
negotiations which are now being con-
Quoted in the City of Mexico would end
in friendly settlement of the difficulties
and that he had heard nothing recently
which would induce him to believe there
was now any greater danger of rupture
than there has been from the beginning