The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-08
MEXICAN PRESS LESS
HOSTILE TO GUATEMALA

Fanciful and grotesque tales concern
ing the situation in Guatemala are
no longer accepted without reserva-
ton. Curiously enough, a reaction is
noticeable in the newspapers Of the City
Of Mexico. from which city most OF the
remarkable stories have been sent by tel
egraph and mail 20 the United States.
The Mexican press, apparently, has begun
to see that the dissemination Of such
tales. emanating from the group of Qua
temalan emigres. who have found an asy-
lum IN the capital Of Mexico. depicting
the administration Of President Estrada
Cabrera as one OF wholesale political
slaughter. may have the unfortunate ef-
feet Of making it appear as If the gov
eminent OF President Diaz were giving
tacit consent and approval TO these dia-
tribes.
Quite the contrary is the fact. as Is
evident by recent copies of Mexican jour
nails received in Washington. II appears
from these publications that Mexico felt
that In requesting from Guatemala the
extraditlon Of Gen. Lima. who was
charged with completely in the murder OF
Gen. Barillas in Mexico City last April,
L was extending to Guatemala an pppor-
tunity TO aid in the eiucidation Of that
crime But, on the other hand it is
pointed out that In refusing that extra
ditiOn. Guatemala acted within her rights.
under both international law and treaty
stipulations. Hence. it follows that there
has never been any casus belll on this ac-
count between Mexico and Guatemala.
Indeed. since that question arose, Pres
ident Dlaz has been 10 the trouble OF
making a written statement that the re-
fusal Of Guatemala TO grant the request
Of extradition was not a violation Of
treaty stipulatiOns This statement VIII
recall The declaration made some time
ago by Ambassador Creel at Washington.
intended 10 reassure the American people
as 20 the continuance Of pacific relations
between Mexico and Guatemala. For
these reasons. the Mexican press has be-
gun TO deplore the publication OF tales
invented with the purpose Of exciting
popular feeling IN that country and in
the United States against Guatemala.
It is declared that when emigres from
Guatemala are enjoying the protection
OF Mexico's flag and the security Of its
territory, 1t Is at least In bad form that
they should abuse the hospitality Of that
country by making its capital the base
Of attacks upon the administration OF
President Estrada Cabrera, which, II Is
insisted. is exercising all Of its activities
for the promotion Of peace and OF do
nestle industry.
Some of the Mexican journals are out
spoken IN their resentment against what
they evidently construe as a concerted
attempt to involve Mexico IN the turmoil
Of Central American politics. The con-
viction Is emphatically expressed that
these dime novel stories may have the
effect of placing Mexico in an altogether
undignifed position before the rest of the
world Close students OF the situation
have been impressed all along by the
fact that the reports derogatOFy 10 Qua
temala originate with suspicious uniform
ity in the City OF Mexico. although they
pretend 70 describe incredible happenings
many hundreds Of miles distant from that
city. Their partisan purpose is thus be
coming apparent in both the United
States and Mexico