File No. 3691/69.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guatemala to the Secretary of State.
I have the honor to transcribe to your excellency for the information of your enlightened Government the cablegram reading as follows:
[From Tegucigalpa, February 15, 1907.]
I refer with the greatest pleasure to your excellency’s valued cablegram of yesterday’s date in which you are pleased to renew your friendly mediation to the end of effecting a pacific settlement in the conflict of my Government with that of Nicaragua. I have already had occasion to make known to your excellency the earnest endeavor with which I, for my part, sought a solution of this matter by arbitration, with the result that it could not be achieved because of the repeated refusals of the Government of Nicaragua to accept the conditions imposed by the tribunal of arbitration. This attitude, wholly antagonistic to a pacific settlement, places my Government in a position where it can not take the initiative of an arrangement for a new arbitration which, from the manifest dispositions of the Government [Page 623] of Nicaragua, might meet the same fate as its predecessor, thus putting before the civilized world another spectacle that would not be very edifying. Adhering, nevertheless, to the peaceful purpose well known to your excellency, I would not, for my part, interpose any obstacle to deferring to the arbitration the mediation may organize to avoid a war I have never desired, without injury to the rights of my Government. Thus acceding to your excellency’s generous wishes, I take pleasure in tendering you the sentiments of my regard and friendship.
Manuel Bonilla.
[From Managua, February 16, 1907.]
Noted contents your excellency cablegram renewing mediation to submit arbitration differences with Honduras. I return thanks for friendly efforts and repeat that Nicaragua wronged and insulted by the Honduranean Government accepts nothing but reparation. I deplore that in spite of previous statements of facts, the mediating brother Governments fail to exert themselves in that direction, convinced as they are that it is impossible for Nicaragua to submit to arbitration notorious outrages confessed by the offender. Reparation affords the only means of friendly settlement, but the armies being close to each other and receiving provocations, I do not guarantee delay if events are precipitated. I renew to you my acknowledgment.
Most affectionate friend,
J. S. Zelaya.
[From San Salvador, February 15, 1907.]
I have the honor to refer to your courteous telegram, elated yesterday, in which you are pleased to propose bases for the specific settlement of the question pending between Honduras and Nicaragua and express a desire that we address a joint invitation to the Governments of those Republics. In reply I have to say that my Government has already addressed those of Honduras and Nicaragua tendering them its friendly mediation, and that the bases indicated by your excellency being deemed by it very proper and opportune, I accept them with pleasure and should wish that your excellency would come to an understanding with the most excellent presidents of the sister Republics and invite them to accept in the name of Guatemala and Salvador. With full consideration,
I am your excellency’s obedient servant,
Manuel Delgado.
While transcribing these telegrams to your excellency I am,
Your most obedient servant,