No. 481.
Mr. Morgan
to Mr. Blaine.
Sir: I had a visit this morning from the Guatemalan minister. He brought with him two newspapers containing articles upon the subject of the differences between Mexico and Guatemala, in both of which the action of the United States Government was sharply criticised. As they are of the same character with those which I have on several occasions forwarded to you, I do not consider it necessary to inclose them in this dispatch.
Señor Herrera informed me that he had had an interview with Señor Mariscal since the interview which I informed you in my dispatch No. 297 (November 2, 1881) he had had with President Gonzalez. I called his attention to a paragraph which I had seen in the Trait d’Union newspaper a few days ago, to the effect that the difficulties between Mexico and Guatemala were in fair way of being amicably and honorably adjusted. He said that there was no truth in the statement. He, however, in the course of conversation, said that there was a proposition pending by which Guatemala was to receive a certain sum of money from Mexico and a portion of territory adjoining, as I understood him, British Honduras, and that this agreed upon, surveyors were to be appointed upon whose report a boundary line between the two countries was to be established. I inquired of Señor Herrera whether this did not show that negotiations were going on between him and Señor Mariscal. His answer was evasive. I said to him I thought it was proper I should know precisely how he was acting, as I considered it only due to my government that it should be informed of what was going on.
I called his attention to the fact that great offense had been taken by the Mexican Government and the people at the offer of mediation [Page 814] which had been suggested by the United States, and I said it appeared to me, if Guatemala was in earnest in asking for friendly assistance, she should not do anything until that proffered assistance had been definitely acted upon. At all events, I said to him that I should inform you of the negotiations which were being carried on between them.
I am, &c.,