New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-21
MFXTCO NOT DESIRING WAR.
SENIOR ROMERO EXPECTS \ FRIENDLY SETTLE
MENT or THE TROUBLE WITH GUArE-
MALN-ORIGIN OF THE psPITE.

MAI.A-oRGGIN OF THE DISPUTE
Washington. March 2o-Among the internationh!
questions holding attention in diplomatic and official
circles In Washington that pertaining to the solu-
tlon Of the Mexico-Ciuatemala boundary i. regarded
As % no little prominence. and various views not
exactly In accord with the precise status Of the
position of these Governmeuts have been frequently
discussed Without elaborately detailing the provis-
tons of the treaty between these two republics
which located boundary line. the limits OF which
appear now 10 De- In dispute. 1t may be said that
preliminary agreements signed in Ncw-York on
August T. lSS2. contained a recognition from Qua
teuAla that Chiapas and Soconusco cgitimately be-
lonscd L. Mexico; that a boundary line between
the two countries should be fixed in final treaty
20 be signed At the CRY OF Mexico. and that the
boundary between Chiapas and Soconusco should
bc the line recognized by the inhabitants of both
countries With a view 70 prevent one country from
occupying portions of the territory belonging the
other. IL stipulated in the preliminarcs that
actual possession should be respected until the line
was agreed upon. But 1t appears that Guatemala
contends that such stipulation means that each
country shall remain In possession OF the territory
which she held before. but which. under the treaty
had 20 pass to the other country.
This. II * explained Is against the provision OF
Ar,lc!e VI OF the boundary treaty which expressly
declares that each country should enter into pos
session OF the newly acquired territory within six
months from the first meeting OF the Boundary
Commission and that meeting took place No
vembcr /. lSS} In accordance with MeXico's under
standing OF this stipulation. tha' Government long
ago transferred t. Guatemala Ayutla and towns
farms and settlements which were within her ter
ritoral limits before the lire was agreed upon in
the treaty and which passed to Guatemala under
the same. These now In possession of Guate-
mal. Passing many details 1t may be said
that the pending question between them is plain
one thch country claims mat under inc DE iacto
session Of the disputed territory. and both agree
that it belongs to Mexico under the line marked
by the treaty. As the treaty line is paramount
Mexico considered the action of Guatemala IN send
Ing armed force to destroy the logging camps
established there by Mexicans an incident which
Is a decided feature Of the pending trouble These
Mexican Government and the seizure Of the logs
and the arrest OF the men were regarded
Government has asked Guatemala TO apologize and
TO pay an indemnity To the victims of the outrage
II Is now officially said that If Guatemala wishes
to settle the question It Is for her to make amends
ister says that Mexico Will ask any unrea SON
able indemnity. As for the action Of the Mexican
Congress or tn" question, Sehor Romero said to-day
that it would not become him to anticipate 1t, but
he thought that his Government did not desire a
is Mr dinners MS drawbacks and dsadvantagSs adv H %
hoped that tn" negotiations which are now being
friendly settlement of the difficulty lie had heard
nothing recently which would had him to believe
that there was now any greater danger of "A rupture
than there had been from the beginning of the con-
troVersy.
The Guatcmalan Minister Mr. Arriaga referring
to-day to certain statements regarding the dis
putcs between Guatemala and Mexico. emphatically
denied that Guatemalan authorities invaded Mex
lean territory. FOR the simple reason, he says.
that do not like to offend other nation.
1t Is not true that the responsibility OF the delay
in the survey Of the boundary line rests upon
Guatemala. because the Guatemalan Boundary
Commission engineers has worked always ahead
OF the Mexican Commission during the last eight
years 1t IL not true that the Guatemaan Gov
ernmcnt has received IA large revenue for conces-
slons to cut timber; these concessions almost
invariably made in favor of Mexican citizens. and
the revenue raised from this source is almost in
significant As far | am informed. | do
anv reason why peaceful settlement OF the
pcnding difficulties might not be reached"