File No. 714.1515/6
Minister Ewing to the Secretary of State
Tegucigalpa , February 19, 1917, 9 a.m.
Guatemalan authorities served notice upon the Cuyamel Fruit Company, American company, to stop work on railroad northwestern Honduras and upon refusal ordered a military occupation of the above territory. Honduran Government telegraphed immediately requesting explanation but without reply from Guatemalan Government.
The President desires Department advised that this would be invasion of territory always within Honduras’ jurisdiction and never before now claimed by Guatemala, being some miles from Motagua River and company in undisputed possession fourteen years. The President denies that large force has been sent ordered to attack invaders, but only one hundred men for the protection of company’s property as concession obligated.
Honduras has been ready to arbitrate boundary dispute but declares Guatemala evades the issue and declares present difficulty an attempt to exploit company. This despatch is repeated Guatemalan Minister.