Evening star., 1915-11-07

both Mexico and the United States
could follow with advantage.
Porfrio DiaZ disclaimed any aggres-
siEe designs on Guatemala, and the in
c1dent was smoothed out; but at regu-
lar intervals the charge would be made
against him He ended all this talk at
the pam m-American conferences in Mex
leo City in the winter of 19O1-1902.
by specific pronouncement against
land grabbing by any of the pan
american countries.
The Guatemalan situation. however,
was always delicate one for Mexico.
Guatemalan exiles and revolutionists
could not be prevented from using the
country as a refuge and as a base of
operations.
Guatemala. on her part, often embar-
rassed the Mexican government. When
former President BarrilIas was making
Mexico his temporary residence he was
assassinated by Guatemalans, who es-
caped. The Guatemalan government
showed marked Indifference to Mexico's
demand for their extradition.
Whatever ambition Mexico may have
cherished for Guatemalan territory in
the past, the de facto Carranza gov
ernment is not likely to nourish ter
ritorial designs. 1t has enough to do
with establishing itself in the borders
of Mexico proper. Yet it is perfectly
understood that there will be revolu-
tionary movements formed along the
border by dissatisfied Guatemalans, and
the open question is what the Carranza
authorities can do or will care to do to
stop them.
The choleric old gentleman who. by
the action of the Washington admins
tration, has become the temporary head
of Mexico does not like Estrada Ca
like him. 1t is not, therefore, improba-
BILE that any exchange of views be-
tween Cabrera and Carranza on the
border situation will be pointed:
Whether they will lead to an actual
rupture cannot now be guessed.
: The reverse side of the situation is
the possibility Of Mexican revolution
against Carranza which will seek sup
port from Guatemala. Carranza has had
a nominal control on Tehuantepec and
the state of Chiapas since the Huerta
federal commanders gave up or became
bandits.
Chiapas has shown considerable inde-
pendence of all the factions. at one
time it was reported to be in the move
ment with the adjoining states to form
a new republic, but this movement new
er got farther than the exercise of an
unusual degree Of local independence.
If the state is handled wisely by the
CarTanZlSCaS IneTc neeu De hO tiouDic.
If it is handled arrogantly and with
Indifference to local interests the pros
pect of the southern segment of Mex
leo precipitating an imbroglio between
the de facto Carranza government ana
Guatemala is not remote.
The international bridge over the
Suchiate has a military advantage
which is frankly recognized on both
sides of the river. When the pam
American railway reached the southern
frontier the expectation was that the
Guatemalan railway lines would be
linked up to the river bank and that
the bridge would be the international
link. President Cabrera had been very
strong in his railway policy, and had
extended the lines from Guatemala City
SO that the linking UP could be easily
done.
Some American politicians. one OF
them a former cal binet officer and an
other one an ex-minister, formed syn
dicate to take over the railway from
to the border, and part of
the bonds were placed in the United
States They took for themselves, as
their part of the transaction, the
bridge The presumption was that 1T
would yield as great profits proper
tionately as the bridge across the Mis-
stssippi at ST. Louis.
One factor was lacking in this cal
culation; they had not taken into ac-