The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-30
Trsusl. s.,w..n Mexico ..a ea.sem.l.


Washington City, Jan. 2s.-Late this
afternoon Senior Romero. the Mexican
minister. and Senior Arraigo. - Qua
tenaia minister. called at the state de-
partment. They were admitted at once
10 the diplomatic room. and entered
upon a discussion of the troubles be-
tween their respective countries with
Secretary Gresham. In such cases tha
ministers are generally charged with
power by their governments to offer and
receive suggestions looking to a settle
ment OF the dispute In question, sub
1ect Of course to the approval of the
nome governments, but In this case
both officials have denied that the mat
Ter Is In their hands. 50 the inference
= that Secretary Gresham is simply
urging them to advise their govern
nsents to show spirit OF mutual con-
cexsion.
City OF Mexico. Jan. 2s.-President D:az
continues to receive offers Of aid in case
OF war. It is denied that any foreigners
have been offered the command of troops
IL war occurs. The army OF Mexico now
on the border contains at least 9.000 well
equipped men. and achievements are
hurriedly being sent on to the border.
The land involved In the boundary dis
pute between Mexico and Guatemala Is
covered for the most part with dense for
ests of precious woods. Tae Mexican
choppers from the north and the Guaie-
malan choppers from the south have
clashed In the heart OF the forest that
sringes the banks Of the rivers Usuma-
cinto and Lacantun and their tributaries.
and this has precip!tated conflict that
might otherwise have slumbered indefi-
niteiy. Pretty much the whole contro-
the Lacantun or one Of the forks OF the
usumacinto constitutes the boundary be-
tween the Mexican state of Chiapas and
Guatemala The old traditional boundary
was the Lacantun. but according to the
treaty of 1852 the boundary was pushed to
the eastward. The Guatemaians do not
now accept the Usumaeinto as the bound
airy, and companies declining to acknowl-
edge the title OF the little republic TO the
territory have recently invaded the coun-
try about Aqua Azul and the left bank
OF the Lacantun. Don Miguel Turroco
had one OF the largest concessions. In
SAhUs Aas-t kiSS pu2trittdis@u dQtHuItkicS
ordered him TO cease exploiting the for
ests. AS he denied the authority OF
Guatemala. company OF soldiers was
sent to enforce the order and capture the
chief offender. Other complications OF
the same sort followed. Mexico declining
TO allow holders CT Guatemalan conces-
stons to strip the forests. An American
engineer. Niles Rock, was sent out to
survey the boundary. He ran a line
through the forests stin farther west
t the Lacantun. and included as
/. nalan territory the country OF pre-
c.1t woods in which the complications
had arisen. Diplomatic protests and an
swers have been exchanged without
smoothing the trouble over. and now Mex
leo Is awaiting definite statement from
Guatemala before sending an ultimatum
that VIII mean yield or fight According
to the Guatenlalan claim the lands under
dispute have been Guatemalan territory
for over fifty years. The Guatemaians
believe that Mexico's desire to extend her
territory Is at the bottoai OF the compls-
cation on the Chiapas border. They say
that not until the last year or two has
the Mexican government Objected. though
for years Mexican companies have been
paying fees to Guatemala for ne privi-
lege OF cutting the precious woods.