The Hartford republican., 1917-05-04
GUATEMALA HAS
DONNED war TOGA
CENTRAL AMERICAN REPUBLIC
GIVES GERMAN WALKING
PAPERS.

! Washingto, April 2S.-Guatemala
has broken of diplomatic relations
with Germany; handed to the Ger
man Minister his passports and can
celed the exequaturs OF German con-
suls there.
Official advices of the break com
ing from the American legation in
Guatemala City, say President Estra-
da Cabrera assigned as the reason
for his act his desire to stand with
the United States in the fight for
democracy ~d the preservation of
international law.
For some time President Cabre-
ras advisers here have been urging
him to take the step and join the
family OF nations against Prussian
autocracy.
Minister Mendez issued state
ment tonight saying the Guatemalan
governments decision to break re-
lations was taken ION account of the
plots of the Germans against the
safety and the Independence not
only of Guatemala, and thru solidar-
ity with the principles and the rights
OF the peoples, the freedom of the
seas, and universal Justice
Friend OF L. $.
Guatemala, who has always been
a sincere and loyal friend OF the
I United States" the statement con-
tinued, takes pleausure and pride
in fnding itself identified more than
ever with the principles which have
been proclaimed by the Government
OF Washington in the crisis which the
world is going thru.
! Immediately after the American
Minister, DR.. William Hayne Leavell.
and the legation in Washington in
formed as to the attitude OF the
| United States on the submarine war
fare without restrictions threatened
by the German imperial government,
the Government OF Guatemala hast
! ened to declare TO the Government
! in Washington that understanding
/ the motives which Obliged 1t to take
! that attitude and the seriousness of
! the measures taken by the Germans
against neutral commerce, il was dis
posed to cooperate with the United
States in its exalted ends in favor OF
the peace of the world and that it
would approximately take the same
attitude as the United States, to
which Guatemala is bound by the
/ most solid and close ties.
! Answers German Note.
In answering the note of Ger
man Mister Lehamann about sub
marine warfare the government OF
! Guatemala said to him: The gov
! ful study of the measures taken by
! the German imperial government as
to the suspension of commerce with
Great Britain, France. Italy and the
East finds that those measures en-
danger unjustly the lives of the citi-
zens of Guatemala who travel in
those countries. aud that they injure
highly the country's commerce,
which has already suffered great
losses since the beginning of the war.
"As this situation is not in agree
ment with the principles of internat-
ional law, nor with the impartial
conduct of Guatemala during the
struggle of the nations of Europe,
have the honor. in the name of the
| President of Guatemala, to present
to the German imperial government,
thru your eXcellency. respectful
but formal protest against the meas
ures taken against neutral COM
merce, at the same time reserving its
rights for the injuries that the at
titude of the government of Germany
may cause to the persons and inter
ests of the citizens of this. republic