Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-26
MAY AREITRATE THE MATTER.
President Cleveland Understood to
Be Willing to Act. .-=-=----


Be Willing to Act. t.-s--7---
The United States government has shown
its interest in the pending boundary dis
pute between Mexico and Guatemala by
making a diplomatic tender of its good
| offices for a peaceful settlement of exist
ing troubles. Secretary Gresham has noti-
fed the Representatives of both govern
rlents that it would be source of great
| regret to the United States government If
they should fail to agree between them
selves upon some peaceful method of set
Ting the existing contentious, and express
ing the sincere hope that, If they cannot
| reach such an agreement, they will sub
nit their differences to the arbitration OF
| some friendly government
1t is understood that Secretary Gresham
makes q strong intimation of President
Cleveland's willingness. in the interest OF
peace and good viii among all the govern
| ments of the western conticent, to accept
the post of mediator. A strcng point is
made of the great danger of foreign inter-
ference and aggression that might result
from a war between the two republics.
What is Admitted.
1t is admitted at the State Department
that the President has taken steps to avert
hcstilities between Guatemala and Mexico.
but all applications for a sight of the cor
respondence that has passed on that point
are denied There is an impression in dip
Ii matte circles that the war crisis is over.
and that the peaceful suggestions OF the
United States VIII be accepted.
Both Ministers Hopeful.
Senior Romero, the Mexican minister, has
been almost daily in consultation with Sec
retary Gresham, and, while he declines to
tell what his purpose is, 1T is significant
that he steadily maintains that the trouble
Will be adjusted without harsh measures.
hopeful OF a peaceful adjustment of The
dispute The Guatemalan government Las
all along been ready to submit the issue
between Mexico and Guatemala to arbitra-
tion, and 1t is now said that in case the
Mexican government should look with IA
vor Secretary GreSham's proposition,
Guatemala would like Brazil to act as ar
Ditrator. Qua Is party to the con-
veLtion of South and Central American
nations providing for the submission of all
disputes to arbitration, but Mexico has
never joined in the treaty.
Minister Gray's Instructions.
Mr.. Isaac p. Gray, the United States min
lister to Mexico. who has been in this city
for several days. will start for his port OF
duty Monday. He has had several con-
ferences with Secretary Gresham in regard
to the situation and is fully advised as to
the policy of the administration in the mat
ter. Minister Gray is sad TO be of opinion
that the boundary dispute is susceptible OF
settlement by peaceful methods, end il not
by diplomatic negotiations, by arbitration.
He declines to discuss the situation for pub
ioatlon on the ground that it would be i'm
polite to do 80 at tb:S time, when the rela-
items between the countries are strained al
most to the point OF war. he has been at
his home in Indiana for the past six weeks,
nursing an invalid son, and only left his
SIDE because Of the Importance of his pres
ence at the City Of Mexico at the present
time.
Secretary blaine in 1851.
The present relations between: Mexico and
Guatemala and the United States also are
almost identical with those existing in the
summer of 1881, when the first two named
countries were on the verge Of war over
their boundary line. The United States
acted the peacemaker at that time, Just as
she is enoeavorfng to do now.
The position of this government in 1881
is contained in letter from Secretary
Blaine to Minister Morgan, in which he
said
no state in the American system has
more unequivocally condemned the forcible
extension of domain than Mexico herself;
and no state more heartily concuTS in the
condemnation of 1libusteriSm In every
form than the United States. 1t Is clearly
to the interest OF the two countries. 10
whose example the success Of republican
institutions on this continent Is largely
due, that their policy in this regard should
be identical and unrnstakable.
Diplomacy of our day affords peaceabie
recor rse to principles OF equity and justice
in the settlement of controversies like that
between Mexico and Guatemala, the out
break of a war between them would, in the
Judgment of the President, involve much
farther reaching results than the mere
transitory disturbance of the entente cor
dale SO much desired by the United States
government between all the American re-
publics Besides the transfers of territory
which might follow as enforced compensa-
ton for the costs of war, it is easy to fore
see the serious complications and conse-
ouent dangers to the American system
should an opening be afforded to foreign
powers to throw their influence or force
into the scale in determination OF the con-
test.
Mexico herself has but too recently re-
covered from the effects of such a foreign
constraint not to appreciate at its full force
the consideration just presented. The peace
full maintenance of the status quo of the
American commonwealths is Of the very
essence of their policy Of harmonious alli-
ance for self-preservation and is OF even
more Importance to Mexico than to the
United States"
1t is understood that President Cleveland
has adopted the same general policy in the
present crisis.