The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-27
He Will Return to His Post and Assist
in Averting the War with Guate-
maIa, If Diaz Is Willing.
VIEWS OF SENIOR ROMERO
FORMER EFFORT OF THE UNITED
STATES TO ACT AS MEDIATOR.
Blaine's Policy Reversed by Arthur
President Diaz Interviewed on the
Situatfon-War Sentiment.
Special to the indianapolis Journal

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-Minister Gray
has been in Washington for day or two
on his return from Indianapolis to Mexico
Mr.. Gray has taken occasion to see Secre-
tary of State Gresham, and has given Mr.
Gresham much information that will prove
valuable to the State Department in the
troubles that appear to be impending be-
tween Mexico and Guatemala. Mr.. Gray
will leave Tor his post on Monday, rein
forced with Secretary Greshams instruc-
lions for strict noninterference. Tonight
the minister to Mexico attended the ball
of the Chinese legation, the greatest social
event of the season in Washington.
An Associated Press dispatch says that
Minister Gray is acquainted with Secretary
Gresham's wishes in the matter of bring
ing a friendly and peaceable settlement of
the boundary dispute between Mexico and
Guatemala, and if the appeal of President
Cleveland is fayorably entertained, Mr.. Gray
will probably cooperate with United States
Minister Pierce Young, in Guatemala, in
the effort to arrange basis of settlement
Of the trouble.
Senior Romero, the Mexican minister, in
an interview this evening, said that he is
and always has been friend of peace,
and that he has done everything in his
peaceful manner, and that he favors peace
not because of any personal motive. but
because he considers as calamity a war
between two nations of the same race and
civilization. having the same interests and
the same destinies in this hemisphere, and
because for general principles, he is
against the use of force to settle interna-
tional disputes. Mexico never thought to
make war on Qua temala to gain territory
or other kind of advantages. In 1881. while
Mr.. Blaine was Secretary of State, the
government of the United States interfered
in favor of Guatemala in her boundary dis
pute with Mexico, but said interference,
instead of assisting the settlement of the
question. only increased considerably the
difficulties of the case, and, as Mr. Morgan,
the United States minister at the City of
Mexico, reported to Mr.. Blaine 1t devel-
oped in Mexico some feeling, and he, there
fore, advised that unless the United States
was prepared to announce to the Mexican
government that it will actively, if neces-
sary, preserve the peace, it would be the
part Of wisdom on our side to leave the
matter it is.
When Vice President Arthur became
President of the United States and Mr..
Frelinghuysen Secretary of State they re-
versed Mr.. Blaine's policy and expressed
to Guatemala that the United States GOV
countries, would not take the part of one
as against the other, and that, therefore,
they would not interfere in their dispute,
unless both countries should ask fol, such
interference Then the President of Guate-
mala came to Washington, and when he be-
came satisfied that he could not have the
active assistance of the United States in
her dispute with Mexico he signed. in New
York, on Aug. p 1882. a treaty with Senior
Romero, in which he. recognized that
Chiapas, which was then the disputed ter
ritory, lawfully belonged to Mexico. and
agreed that a formal boundary treaty
should be signed at the City of Mexico. 1t
was stipulated in the New York agreement
that the boundary between the two coun-
tries should be the one then recognized by
both, with such alterations, to have natural
boundaries of parallels of latitude as both
governments should agree on, and in case
they disagreed about the line then recog-
nzed by both parties in a certain locality
and in specific case, they should ask the
President of the United States to decide
their difference as arbitrator. The line was
fixed in the treaty of Sept. "a, 1882, by the
mutual agreement of both interested par
ties, and, therefore, there was no occasion
to ask the good offices of the President of
the United States, and the stipulation of
the New York agreement bearing on the
subject came to end. as 1T was not in
tended by the agreement that all future
differences regarding boundaries between
the two countries should be submitted to
the arbitration of this government Senior
Romero said that, Notwithstanding the
news received showed a serious aspect,
he still hopes that this unpleasant question
will be settled in peaceful and friendly