The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-07
RELATIONS BROKEN OFF. MEXICO--GUATEMALA. Nothing Worse Than Diplo- matic Rupture Expected
 Between Them.

Washington, May 6.-Although tele- graph wires have not brought to Washington the actual news of the
 severance of diplomatic relations of
 Guatemala and Mexico, officials here have no doubt that Mexico took the
 action to-day that will result in giving to the Guatemalan minister in Mexico
 passports for his withdrawal The Mex
 ican minister in Guatemala is now pre-
 pairing to return home and the Am
 erican charge, Philip Brown, secretary
 to the legation, has been instructed to
 look after Mexican interests in the
 Guatemalan capital upon the departure
 of the Mexican minister.
 Ambassador Creelof Mexico, has been
 in hourly anticipation of a message
 from his government informing him
 that the break had occurred between
 his country and Guatemala. He was
 advised that Guatemala had denied the
 request for the surrender of Gen. Jose
 Lima, who is suspected of being i'm
 plicated in the murder in Mexico of former President Barillas of Guatemala and that there was no alternative but
 for Mexico to consider the refusal as an insult necessitating the discontinu- ance of relations between the two countries The break was to take place to-day and the absence of any message announcing it does not mean that it has not occurred in accordance with the program.
 The state department had numerous messages to-day from Minister Lee, who is about to leave Guatemala for the United States on account of illness, and from Secretary Brown. These des- patches confirmed the advices received from diplomatic representatives in Washington of the two countries that there was no possibility of Guatemala and Mexico arranging the controversy over the demand for the extradition of Gen. Lima
 The formality of issuing passports in the two countries each for the with ldrawal of the minister of the other will probably require day or two. It is not known here what diplomatist will attend to the interests of Guatemala in Mexico, but it is not impossible that the United States will perform this service as well as act for Mexico in Guatemala.
 The serevance of diplomatic relations does not mean war, although the fact that the countries adjoin causes great anxiety in that there might be at any time invasions by one or the other in- to territory of the enemy by irrespon- sible bands and doubtless trouble would result that might easily end in declara- tions of hostilities Officials of the state department intend to use their good offices in an effort to adjust the pres ent difficulty.
 pr. Toledo Herrerate, the Guatema- Ian minister, conferred with Assistant Secretary Bacon to-day concerning the situation, and said that he hoped there would be a settlement soon. He de- clared that under the treaty between Mexico and Guatemala one country | had no right to demand the surrender | of a citizen of the other. The extra | Hilton treaty is intended for the sur- 'ender of fugitive from his own coun- | try, but in the case of Gen Lima the !! sxtradition could be expected only as m act of courtesy. Dr. Herrarte be- ieves also that if, President Cabrera should be disposed to surrender Gen. lima the GuateniaIan cortez would | lold that there was no authority in | aw for such action. At the time of he interview the Guatemalan minister lad not received any information direct rom his government indicating that diplomatic relations with Mexico had | 1een broken off.