The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-21
PEACE MOVE BY DIAz.
READY TO STOP WARS
Mexican President Thinks the Five Republics Should
 Be Amalgamated.


 in the palace at Mexico City Presi- dent Diaz gave to the American peo- pie, through the New York Herald, statement of the exact feeling of Mexi- co toward Guatemala and his ideas for remedying the deplorable condition ex- isting in some of the Central American republics.
 Please say to the American people" said he, 'Fthat Mexico has throughout all this trouble with Guatemala, which came so near forcing us into war, maintained the attitude of a friendly power. That attitude is still main- | tained. We do not want to shed blood to show the Guatemalan government the error of it's ways and will not re- sort to- that extreme measure unless overt act or insult be committed which will demand the infiction by Mexico of short, sharp punishment.
 If 1t becomes necessary to have war, we will make 1t a very brief one. Mexico's present wonderful develop ment and progress must not be hin- dered by long drawn out conflict. The blow, if struck, will be hard and quick.
 This is the story of the trouble with Guatemala: Political refugees from that country sought an asylum in Mex leo. The moment they started a rev. olutionary movement against Guate- mala, we interfered and forbade it. Mexico is opposed to revolutions or any kind, whether domestic or aimed at a neighboring nation. The instiga- tors of this movement were not only stopped but held under governmental surveillance from doing hurt to Guate- mala.
 Then two brutal assassins were sent from Guatemala. They vilely murder ed in the very shadow Of this palace a distinguished Guatemalan, q former president of that country, whom Mexi- co was holding almost as a prisoner for the welfare of Guatemala The inves- tigaItion of the murder implicated off, l ficers high in the Guatemalan army as instigators of the crime
 That the Guatemalan government | eA4lNl 1AhlJ AllSAb ClCcI. llSCll Ol llllo implication we requested that the ac- cused officers be detained until requisi- tion be effected and they would come to this city and deny the charge. If they were innocent, it would put Qua temala In the right light before the world, If they could not explain and were guilty, they should be punished.
 Mexico did this in a spirit of abso- lute friendliness and a desire to help a sister nation, The request was twice refused on the ground that the offense charged was political and not criminal and not covered by the treaty, which rdoes not demand that either nation l should give up a citizen for trial, but at the same time does not forbid it.
 Rather than settle the matter with bloedshed Mexico has withdrawn her minister to the Central American na- tions from Guatemala and transferred him to Salvador, not with the idea of severing diplomatic relations with that country, but to get him out of the way of receiving any insult from that gov- ernmett which would compel Mexico to administer a deserved punishment by force of arms. There the matter rests | for the time. That is why there Is no war
 I Tt is only temporary condition, however. The problem of the Central American republics is a great one that for the benefit of their salvation must be settled sooner or later. It is none of my business and am not ambi- tious to settle 1t. Nevertheless have an idea. l believe the best solution would be an amalgamation of all the l Central American countries into one strong government under a man with enough strength of character and hon. 1 est common sense to hold in check the revolutionary spirit that has done so much to retard the progress and devel- l opment of these countries.
 Mexico Is willing at any time to CO., operate with the United States in protectorate over them and in any measure that will be beneficial. I do not know the feeling of your govern ment in this matter but I assure you I stand ready to work with it.
 q want it distinctly understood, how | ever, lldL lIl6I6 muSl D6 IlO lLOuBut UT act of territorial acquisition in this compact. Mexico wants no addition It is big enough now. We have quite l enough to do to develop the territory We have without acquiring further re- responsibilities. Any report to the con- | trary is absolutely unfounded | Please tell the American people that the Mexican government stands for | peace and progress, not revolution and conquest"
 l At the close of the interview David D. Thompson, United States Hmbassa- dor, who was with the Herald corre- 1 spondent, spoke few words of condo 1 lence to General Diaz on the recent | death of his mother-in-law. When he I had finished Don Port1rio Diza, the "iron ruler" the law and the com- mandments between the Rio Grande and Tehuantepec, the father of our great sister republic, burst into tears. The tender heart in the great man to whom Mexico owes SC much was re- vealed.