The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-03
WAR NOT EXPECTED
FRICTION BETWEEN MEXICO AND GUATEMALA.
nefusal of the CeptrnI American Re- public to Surrender Jose I.ina May
 Not Result in open Hos
 tf1itfes.

Washin gton, D. C., May 2-The strained relations between Mexico and Guatemala, arising from the failure of the latter to surrender. under extra ordinary proceedings for trial in Mexi- 70, General Lima, charged with com plicfty in the assassination of president Barrfllas, is a matter of serious con cern to the officials here. They are sincerely desirous of the maintenance of peace in all of the three American { republics. pending the meeting and conclusion of the second Hague confer- s ence, otherwise the presentation or cer- tain subjects to the conference by the United States would lose much or It's force.
 With this in view, the state depart ment has gone to unusual lengths in its efforts to terminate the war be- tween Nicaragua and Honduras and prevent it's spread to the other Central American countries, and also to guard against further troubles in the future by providing for a permanent peace commission to meet in Nicaragua. The details of this last arrangement, par ticularly as to time and place. are ex- pected to be disclosed in the treaty or Amapala when the text of that recent ly negotiated convention reaches Washington.
 Hence the officials view with appre- hension the increasing friction be- tween Mexico and Guatemala and there are frequent conferences at the state department the last thing being today, between Secretary Root, Assistant Secretary Bacon and Ambassador Creel of Mexico in the pursuit of common purpose to avoid a fresh outoreak or war.
 As the situation stands today 1t may be stated on authority. the Mexican government does not believe 1t will be necessary to go to the length of ac- tual hostilities It does feel that It has a right to demand of Guatemala the surrender of fugitives who have created the greatest crimes on Mexican soil.
 It is feared the demand for Jose Lima will be ultimately refused by Gu atemala, if for no other reason than because Lima is regarded as the right hand man of President Cabrera. in whose interest he is charged with hav- ing committed the assassination of Barallas. But even in that event, war might not follow according to this au- thority. The Mexican troops, that have mobilfzed on the Guatemalan frontier to the number of 10000. would be retained there and diplomatic rela- lions of the two countries would be terminated but there would be no dec- laratton of war and no hostile acts on the part of Mexico so long as there was no fresh provocation by Guatemala. Such a situation would be unpleasant but not intolerable and might be ter minated in one or two ways, either by the breaking out of a revolution di- rected against Cabrera's government or by the decision of the latter to yield to the Mexican demand for Lima's ex- tradition The Guatema1ans assert that a very active junta exists in Mexico with the object of financing and start ing a revolution in Guatemala against the existing government and it is pointed out that General Barilfas was assassinated because he was the head of that junta..
 Naturally. with the strained rela- tipns between Mexico and Guatemala resulting from a termination of all dip iomatic interchanges, it might be sup posed that the Mexican government woould not be particularly diligent ane earnest in its efforts to curb the ac tivities of this junta in the matter O getting arms and men across the bor der into Guatemala: hence the belle that an active revolution may be ex pected.
 It Is said at the state department that nothing can be done now by thi: government to remove the friction be tween Mexico and Guatemala and the officials must content themselves witt anxiously awaiting developments.