Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-02
MEXICO AND GUATEMALA AT ODDS.

TSCuTTeHt IbtNoiuliOh theiS
D1urnal is almost a diurnal "condi-
Troubles. ton. not a theory" due to
which are inherent
and quite manifest to the ethnologist.
Mexico however Is one OF the exceptions
to this rule. and should not be classed
among the uncertain governments which
lie Immediately south of her borders on the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans. TWO men Oh
extraordinary viriity have recreateo
Mexico Renito Juarez and Porfirlo DiaZ
are the fathers of their country, who nave
made that state not only a dominant ng-
IRE in the Latin union, but a powerlui
ally and friend of the United states III '"e
croupment for mutual defense which must
come in the future.
The rupture of diplomatic relations oe-
tween Mexico and Guatemala 49, py 'e"so'.
of the foregoing considerations an e'eh'
of more than ordinary Importance.
1t should be recalled that scarcely three
months ago NJ Manuel ESTRADA taoiei d: d,
president of the republic of Guatehiai', III
a message to the national assembly tMarch'
1gO7) referring to the trouble between dua-
temala and Salvador. said:
Fortunately the disagreeaoie spec.aci,s,
that Central America presented to the Worlu
at that time was relatively OF snort aura
tion and terminated in a manner nohorapie
to Guatemala by the treaty or peace ot
July 20, 1905. signed on BOARD ,ae a Huei
American cruiser Marblehead and ratlneo
by the honorable legislative Assembly III
August of the same year.
Neither the government nor the Guate-
maan people will ever forget tnat ..e ts.
bration of that compact was brought ABOUT
by the timely mediation OF Presidents Roose-
Welt and Diaz, who view with dlspieasuIe
the presence of serious dlff1cuitles among
the peoples of Central America. to Wnom
they are bound by ties Of sincere friendship:
Our relations with the United states anu
Mexico, whose governments never ran 10
give evidence Of their friendship ana SYM
pathy toward Guatemala have peen
strengthened and my government IS ear
uestly striving for the continuance OF these
relations at the same time observing a IKE
policy with respect to other governments OF
America and Europe In the interest OF sooo
will and cordiaity."
The rupture between Mexico ana Guate-
mala is due a priori. to the ASSASSINATION
of Gen. Barillas, ex-pres1-
Cause Of dent Of Guatemala, who had
Runture. sought refuge in Mexico.
The assassns, two Guate-
malans named Morales and Mores, when
arrested by the Mexican authorities, de-
clared that they. had been employed to
commit the deed by the Guatemalan gem
eral, Jose Maria Lima, the personal friend
of President Cabrera,
The Mexican government tnereupon,
through its representative In Guatemala.
NJ Gamboa, demanded that Gen. Lima ap-
pear before the Mexican tribunals.
Pending the correspondence on the SUB.
ject the ministry of foreign analrs or
Guatemala announced the attempt to as
sassinate President Cabrera by means OF
mines. Following the arrest Of nineteen
persons implicated and their summary
trial and condemnation to death, came the
threat of joint protest of the diplomatic
representatives of the powers in Guatemala
city because Of the irreguarity of the pro-
ceedings. Such threatened action. 1t Is
said. stayed the execution OF the con.
demned and secured revision OF the
trial before the military court Of appeals.
where. according to the latest reports, the
cases were being heard under the superVl-
sion of the foreign representatives whose
subjects were under condemnation. There
are many rumors in the press regarding
the situation, but they are conflicting and,
lest injustice be done, it is well to abstain
from comment.
1t appears certain however. that Mexico
will not recede from the attitude she has
assumed unless Qua temala renders ample
/ satisfaction for Mexico's wounded honor
~.
A Mexican Journal declares that Next
cans consider that there is something still
more odious II possible
Mexicans than the crime itself, name
INDIGNANT. ly, that the crime has been
perpetrated on Mexican
soil. Barillas. poor. prescribed and aged,
sought Mexico's hospitality That his enc
mics should have dared cross the frontiers
of the country and thus desecrate her soil
has stirred the Mexican soul to anger
The friendly accord between the United
States and Central and South American
states as testified by the recent cordial re-
ception rendered Mr.. Root, Is essentially
true OF Mexico, whose president Porfrlo
Diaz, is as much admired and respected in
-pit Cfofn he q
loved by Mexicans. That the public may
know their sympat hetic neighbor we'll it Is
opportune to recite just here a page Of
Mexicos history.
That history may be divided into three
periods: First the period anterior to the
Spanish conquest; second, the Spanish
domination third, the period Of Mexican
independence. Anterior to the coming or
Europeans Mexico was already inhabited
by different peoples, the Mayas and Oto-
mites savage red men. In the sixth century
the Toltecs came from the north to Ana
huac or Central Mexico. These latter were
highly civilized and constructed rare monu-
ments Toward the fourteenth century the
Aztecs replaced the Chichimeques. who
colonized Anahuac and QUILT the city OF
Mexico naming 1t after one OF their tribes.
the Mexicas. The names OF MonteZuma
and Guantimozin, the last OF the Indian en-
perors are inseparable from the name OF
Cortez, the Spanish conqueror Of Mexico;
Montezuma, who starved himself to death:
Guantimozin, who was hung by order OF
Cortez in 1922 That the indomitable spirit
of this people may be understood. 1t Is re-
cited that Guantimozin and his minister
were stretched upon a bed of burning Goals
to extort the secret Of the hiding places OF
coveted treasures. When his minister
turned his eyes in agony toward his master,
asking If he might confess, Guantimozin
answered: And I, am l on bed of
roses?'
terminated In
1920 by the nomination Of Cortez as COVER
nor. Under his administration
Cortez' Mexico was rebuilt and the peo-
Rule pie converted to Catholicism.
This condition was maintained
without interruption until Spain became en-
tangled in her continental struggles in 1908.
There were three vain efforts at independ-
ence-under Hidalgo in 1910. under Morales
In 1915, and under Nina in 1915
Iturbide, a Mexican general, Joined the
insurgent cause. defeated the royal forces
and caused himself to be proclaimed En-
peror of Mexico under the name Of Angus
tin 1 in 1922. In 1928 Iturbide was over