The morning call., 1895-02-12
IN GUATEMALA
Mexico Has Made One Little
Concession.
TROOPS HURRIED FORWARD.
Talking Of Peace While Preparing
for War.
HARDLY TO Be CAUGHT MAPPING.
Yet Diaz Will Have a Hard Fight
Against a Confederation Of Central
American States.

GUATEMALA, Feb. 1.-THE news from the
City of Mexico that that country is willing
to submit the question of amount of indem-
nifty to either mixed committee or to ar
bitration is considered an important con-
cession in favor of Guatemala.
CITY OF MEXICO, Feb 1.-THE State of
Oaxaca. over which Guatemala and Mexico
are wrangling, has suddenly become the
stamping ground of contending factions.
The sappers of the Guatemalan army have
arrived and have struck camp near the
inner line of the Guatemalan frontier.
Toward Tehuantepec stretches a military
road that leads from the city of Oaxaca,
the capital of the State by the same name.
Over this road is moving the Mexican from
tier army, and steps are being taken to
defend the stand taken by Diaz regarding
the disputed territory.
The true reason for the differences be-
tween the two Southern republics is out
lined in an explanation made by the Diaz
Cabinet to the diplomats of foreign coun-
tries In the southeast corner of the State
of Chiapas, and lying near the Rio Salinas,
is a small district called Soconusco.
The place is principally inhabited by
log-cutters and lumbermen who are en-
ployed by the merchants of the capital
CITY of Mexico. The Guatemalans have
also for years been taking up land in So
conusco until they have gradually out
numbered the Mexican population.
1t was in the early part of 1882 that
Mexico called conference of Guatemalan
and Mexican officials and ceded the de-
partments of Ocos and Acajutla to Guat +
mala. Mexico demanded that her sis' ;r
State pay several millions OF dollars I'D
as an indemnity for property destroyed.
The Guatemalan Government took the
matter under consideration and delayed it
as much as possible. Finally Mexico could
stand the snub no longer and demanded
satisfaction. For this reason war is
talked Of
Guatemala knows that she has no right
to the territory, but still she refuses to re-
lease her grip upon it. She is practically
bankrupt, and is in no pc ition to engage
in war, but with the customary arrogance
that has always marked her career she is
going blindly forward to her fate.
Mexico is too well equipped to be caught
mapping by her neighbor. While the
Guatemalan troops near the frontier and
at the capital city of Guatemala only
number about 5000 men all told, Mexico
has $4,000 regular troops within a few
miles of the border ready to move at a
moments notice.
In addition to this army the States of
Oaxaca and Chiapas could raise 10000 men
in very short time. Mexlco's Indian allies,
regular army and national guards would
almost number the male population OF
Guatemala, and could flood the country OF
the enemy with armed men.
There is truth in the story of the alliance
of the four principal Central American re-
publics and this, it is expected, will make
Mexico's fight hard one. Already troops
from Salvador and Honduras have been
sent into Guatemala to report to Barrios,
and some of these have been sent to the
frontier, although neither of the republics
mentioned will admit this.
Active preparations are being made at
Vera Cruz for the transporting of troops
south. The harbor has been chosen as one
of the supply stations for Mexico, and is
assuming very warlike appearance.
SAN SALVADOR, Feb. n.-Rumors of Sc
cret alliance or coalition between Guate-
mala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and possi.
bly, Costa Rica, against Salvador, causes
the greatest excitement here.