No. 171.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Señor Montúfar.
Washington, July 24, 1882.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your note of the 21st instant, in which, with reference to the questions heretofore discussed between [Page 332] Guatemala and Mexico concerning the boundaries between them, you state that the President of Guatemala, being in this capital, has instructed you to apply, through me, for the exercise of the good offices of this government in bringing about a conclusion of the difficulty between the two countries, within the terms expressed in your letter.
As I understand those terms, the Government of Guatemala, in the interest of harmony, removes altogether its claim advanced to the possession of Chiapas, including Soconusco, and desires that the President of the United States will signify his assent to the proposal of Guatemala that he shall act as arbitrator in tracing the boundary line between Guatemala on the one hand and the State of Chiapas—including, as stated, Soconusco—on the other, and not elsewhere.
Understanding the question thus, the President directs me to say that if an agreement be reached between Guatemala and Mexico, tendering to him the post of arbitrator for the determination of the boundary line, on bases of submission, to be specified in such agreement, he will have great pleasure in accepting the high trust proposed.
Your note leads me to believe that, with the announced elimination of the question of territorial right to the disputed district, and the offer to narrow the scope of the arbitration to the physical determination of a boundary line, the negotiation between yourself and Mr. Romero has progressed so far toward a pacific and harmonious solution that the remaining details of a settlement will offer no difficulty. Accept, &c.,