Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to transmit to
your excellency a copy and translation of the convention of the 1st of
April last, which put an end to the recent difficulties between
Guatemala and Mexico, and which has just received the legislative
sanction of both Republics.
The friendly interest of which the United States gave proof upon
interposing their good offices for the purpose of preventing the
continuation of a serious conflict between two neighboring nations is
highly appreciated by the people and Government of Guatemala, and it is
for that reason, in obedience to special instructions, that I express to
your excellency, and, through your worthy medium, to His Excellency
President Cleveland, the sincere acknowledgment of my country for the
part which, for so noble an end, you were pleased to undertake.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Convention between Guatemala and Mexico.
The undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, after the correspondence
exchanged and the conferences held between them to the end of
settling in a peaceful manner, honorable alike to Guatemala and
Mexico, the difficulties which have arisen between the two countries
through the exercise of acts of sovereignty within the territory
lying west of the Lacantun River, have agreed upon the articles
following:
Article I.
Guatemala declares, as she has heretofore, that, believing it to be
her right, she has exercised acts of sovereignty within the
territory lying west of the Lacantun River, and therefore she has
had! no intention of offending Mexico in the premises.
Article II.
Notwithstanding this, in the interest of good harmony the Government
of Guatemala agrees, as a matter of equity, to indemnify the parties
injured by its agents for the value of properties occupied or
destroyed, and for the damages directly done to such occupation or
destruction. An arbitrator mutually agreed upon shall determine the
amount of such indemnity.
Article III.
The Government of Mexico waives its claim to reimbursement for the
expense incurred in mobilizing troops and other warlike preparations
growing out of the occupation of the lumber camps situated west of
the Lacantun River by agents of the Guatemalan Government, as well
as the demand made in paragraph 4 of the note of November 30, of
last year, inasmuch as reason therefor no longer exists.
Article IV.
Guatemala consents to the immediate occupation by Mexico of the
territory lying west of the Chixoy and Usumasinta rivers, and Mexico
in turn, in the light of better data, agrees that the true intent of
the boundary treaty of September 27, 1892, is that there be
established definitely as the boundary line between the two
countries (in so far as regards the territory comprised between the
Chixoy and Pasion rivers), the parallel of latitude which, as laid
down in said treaty, intersects a point 4 kilometers beyond Ixbul
Hill, running thence eastwardly until it reaches the Chixoy River,
where it will end, as has been maintained by Guatemala; following
the middle line of the deepest channel of said river, and then that
of the Usumasinta until it strikes the parallel situated 25
kiLômeters south of Tenosique, in Tabasco, measured from the plaza
of said town.
Article V.
Both parties accept the average of the differences in the remainder
of the surveys made by the respective boundary commissions; that is,
from the intersection of the Usumasinta with the second of said
parallels forward, as the boundary line is described in the treaty,
provided such differences shall not exceed 200 meters. Otherwise,
the surveys shall be corrected by mutual agreement by the scientific
commissions appointed pursuant to Article IV of said treaty; and
should these commissions fail to agree, the disagreement shall be
submitted to an expert arbitrator.
Article VI.
The geographical position of the Chixoy and Usumasinta rivers shall
be established as follows: That of the Chixoy, from its intersection
with the first parallel, referred to in Article IV of this
convention, to the point where it joins the Pasion River to form the
Usumasinta; and that of this last river, from such point to its
meeting with the second of said parallels; erecting, besides, the
monuments that may be wanting, all in accordance with the protocol
of the arrangement concluded between Messrs. Jose Fernandez and
Manuel Herrera on the 14th of September, 1883.
[Page 771]
Article VII.
This convention shall be submitted to the approval of the senate of
the United Mexican States and the National Legislative Assembly of
Guatemala without prejudice to its being published at once in the
official organs of both Governments. The exchange of ratifications
shall take place in the City of Mexico before 31st of May next.
Done and signed in duplicate, in the
City of Mexico, this first day of
April of eighteen hundred and ninety-five.
- Emilio de Leon. [seal.]
- Ignacio Mariscal. [seal.]
