The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-31
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
THE WAR CLOUD.
THE OFFER TO INTEacEDE FOR
PEACE


In Mexico That Guatemala Is En
'eanoring to Elude Compliance
With Treaty Obligations.
Olty OF Mexico, Jan. 29.--It ;s nrobo
o.e Mexico will decline with thanks tho
aelempt OF the United States TO ;ntar1
eeue 10 tne Guatemalean affair. The re-
eeepuom IN this city today of a telegram
SILL toh aSnlngton saying that the United
ana that Minister Gray has storted ~.
ms return to Mexico TO co-onerate ,,,;.ii Vh
United States Minister Young of Gnata,
lhala, created much unfayorable con,
ment in the limited circles in which -
was made public. President Diaz yvbor
asked how the proffer would he raco;rod
by Mexico politely replied that tba
country In general naturally said he faIt
grateful to the United States. as n sister
republic IN its desire to sustain peace
wmch We're exactly his own wishes. bnt
Wnlle expressing his gratitude the nre-
cepted. "u'u oe ac-
In all such cases, settlement of tba
matter at issue must depend upon tbe
consent of the parties directly concarn.
ed said General Diaz.
Wnlle giving no hint that Mexico will
aoI nsten to proper voice of the IJnited
suites suites the press was given the impression
.nat MEXICO viii continue the present
Positioh ON the Doundry dispute And
nold to the claims for DAMAGES from
guatemala which it has all along hold
resident Diaz is known to be far too
wise statesman to ignore any genuine
nelp from the preservation of peace. but
II Is generally understood among those
close to the seat of power that he will
ua no.hihg come IN the way of the per-
manent settlement at an early date.
The Daily Two Republicans of TODAY
contained an editorial on the interven-
tion of the United States in the Gaute-
malan dispute, which may be considered
as indicative of the general feeling in
Mexico, as follows:
Ihe telegram announcement from
Washington that the United States
would if agreeable to Mexico. mediate
IN the Mexican-Guatemalan question.
created no little surprise and consider,
lable dissatisfaction. Guatemala has
from the commencement of the present
dispute insisted on submitting the ques-
tion to the arbitration of the government
OF the United States. Mexico has main
tanned that the question, having been
practically settled by the treaty Of 1852.
is not of the character that should be sub.
mitted to arbitration. There is no quess
tlon as to the Interpretation of the treaty.
1t is perfectly clear and explicit without
single clause over which dispute can
be raised. But the present administra-
ton does not like the provisions of the
treaty and wishes to ignore it or with.
draw from it. In proposing to submit
the subject to arbitration it merely wishes
that matters which have been fully dis
cussed and definitely agreed upon by the
two countries be re-opened to discussion
with the hope that new decision may
be reached.
1T was with this view that Guate-
mala purposely caused the invasion of
territory which had formerly been in
dispute, but which it was agreed in the
treaty of 1882 should be regarded as
Mexican pending the final survey of the
boundary.
When Mexico protested against this
procedure Guatemala cooly proposed that
the matter be left to arbitration, and it
is understood that the Guatemalan minis
ter in Washington, on four different oc-
casions, requested the United States gov
ernment to offer its services as arbitra-
ter, and on those four occasions the re-
quest was fatty refused. Now the an
nouncement is made that the United
States government will offer to mediate
in the interests of peace. Mediation is
not necessary, but amounts to almost
the same thing In this case it would be
interference in the interest of nation
which is endeavoring to elude cOmpli-
ance with its treaty obligations. Should
the proffered Intervention be accepted
Guatemala will naturally desire to have
the treaty of 1882 ignored, and thus
reopen to discussion the almost intermin-
able question, which, after years OF dip
lomatic consideration, was definitely ad-
justed in 1882. Upon the whole, the
offer of the United States government,
if correctly reported, seems to be il-con-
sidered and inopportune and will prob
ably prolong another vexatious ques-
ton which now seems to be drawing rap
idly 10 settlement. A crisis has been
reached, and if there is not outside inter-
ference there will be an end, pacific or
otherwise, put to the question in a very
short time"