The Washington herald., 1907-05-20
MEXICO'S POSITION OUTLINED.
Quarrel Is Against Guatemalan
Government, Not People.

Government, not feopie-
From the City Of Mexico Herald
Our dispatches from Washington. pub
lished to-day, seem to show that il has
there been announced that diplomatic re-
lations between Mexico and Guatemala
have been severed, virtually. IL not actu-
ally.
Happily this IS not the case as yet.
and IT is sincerely 10 be hoped that il
viii be averted.
The severance Of diplomatic Intercourse
would not necessarily mean war; but be-
ing itself the outcome or the expression
OF a strained condition Of relations. 1t is
In turn calculated 10 intensity that con-
dition and to produce a state Of feeling in
which the smallest incident may precipi-
tate hostilities. for the very suspension
Of the machinery by which international
attrition is attenuated when diplomatic
relations exist renders an accommodation
almost impossible when those relations
are severed.
A war would be very regrettable for
a variety Of reasons, but chiefly because
Mexico has no quarrel with the people Of
Guatemala, 70 whom she desires nothing
but happiness and prosperity and whom
the Mexican people regard as brothers
Mexico thinks. on the other hand. that
she has very just cause 10 feel aggrieved
by the conduct Of the present government
Of Guatemala.
Indeed, the attitude Of the government
Of the neighborlng republic is inexpli-
cable
In refusing the exuadItion Of Gen.
Lima, il would seem that il would have
coupled its decision with q denial on be-
half of Lima Of the charges stsnding
against him.
This denial perhaps, would not be be-
heved, but it would al least serve 10
save appearances 10 some extent,
But, as the case now stands. no denial
has been forthcoming either from Lima
himself or from the government, which
retains him in high office and in marked
favor.
It would seem, then, that the charge is
tacitly admitted, both by the Guatemalan
government and by Lima himself. and II
II is. Lima stands convicted not only
Of being the originator and instigator Of
a cruel and perfdious murder Of arm
ing the hand Of the assassin. but also Of
having committed an outrageous breach
Of international comfy in deliberately
sending TO this country an emissary 10
break its most sacred laws, viz, those
which safeguard human life.
There is no escaping from this dilemma.
Either the Guatemalan government be-
leves or does not believe that Gen. Lima
was the real author of the murder of
Gen. Barillas in this city.
If it does not believe il. why does II
not say so. and thus seek an externally
logical basis for its attitude7
II il does believe il. how is It that Il
retains in its service, loaded with honors.
a man who, besides plotting a treaCherous
crime. had the audacity to choose the
territory Of a neighboring and friendly
power for its preparation, thus putting
an uumerited affront on Mexico?
Surely Guatemala ought 20 be able. In
view of this dilemma in which she stands
before the world. to find some formula.
even short of granting the eXtradition of
Lima, whereby she could, az one and the
same time, place herself in a more credit
able light and offer a reparation which
Mexico, stretching a point, perhaps, in
her sincere desire for peace, could at
least accept
Can Guatemala seriously contemplate
presenting herself before The Hague Con-
ference with the blot on her escutcheon.
which her allowing that dilemma to stand
as IL now appears would involve2