The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-03
GuatemaIaH Danger HandicapS
 United States al The Hague
MEXICO CONNIVES AT II.
Will Not War With Little Republic About Refusal to Surrender Lima, But Will Let Junta
 Foment Revolution.

Washington, May 2.--The strained rela- tions between Mexico and Guatemala arising from the failure of the latter to surrender under extraditlon proceedings for trial in Mexico. General Lima, charged with complicity in the assassination of President Barrillas, Is a matter of seri- ous concern to the officials here. They are sincerely desirous of the maintenance of peace in all of the three Central Amer ican republics, pending the meeting and conclusion of the second Hague confer ence otherwise the presentation of cer- tain subjects to the conference by the United States would lose much of it's force. With this in view the state de- partment has gone to unusual lengths in it's efforts to terminate the war between Nicaragua and Honduras and prevent it's spread to other Central American coun- tries, and also to guard against further troubles in the future by providing for permanent peace commission to meet in Nicaragua.
 The details of this last arrangement particularly as to the time and place, are expected to be disclosed in the treaty LII AlHdpdld NHtl llC lCAl OA NiioI ic- gently negotiated convention reaches Washington. Hence the officials view with apprehension the increasing friction between Mexico and Guatemala, and there are frequent conferences at the state de- partment, the lats today between Secre- tary Root, Assistant Secretary Bacon and Ambassador Creel of Mexico, in pursuit of a common purpose to avoid a fresh outbreak of war. As the situation stands ta1au ha stated authority that the Mexican government does not believe 1t will be necessary to go to the extreme of actual hostilites. It does feel that it has a right to demand of Guatemala the surrender of fugitives who have com mitted the greatest crimes on Mexican soil It is feared the demand for Jose Lima will ultimately be denied by Guate- mala, if for no other reason .@than be- cause Lima is regarded as the right hand of President Cabrera, in whoch interests he is charged with having connived at the assassination of Barrillas. Even in that event war might not follow, according to this authority. The Mexican troops that have mobilized on the Gautemalan frontier to the number of 10000 would be retained there. and diplomatic rela- tions of the two countries would be terminated, but there would be no decla- ration of war, and no hostile acts on the part of Mexico so long as there was no fresh proyocation by Guatemala.
 Such a situation would me. unpleasant but not intoerable, and might be termi- mated In one or two days, either by the breaking out of a revolution directed against Cabrera's government, or by the decision of the latter to yield t@ the Mex ican demand for Lima's extradition. The Gautemalans assert that very active junta exists in Mexico with the object of financing and starting a revolution in Guatemala against the existing govern ment. and it is pointed out that General Barrillas was assasslnated because he was the head of that junta Naturally with the strained relations between Mex ico and Guatemala resulting from a termination of all diplomatic interchanges, it might be supposed that the Mexican government would not be particularly diligent and earnest in it's efforts to curb the activities of tins junta in the matter of getting arms and men across the bor- der to Guatemala; hence the belief that an active revolution may be expected