714.1515/75: Telegram
The Chargé in Guatemala (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 3, 7.25 p.m.]
My February 1, 3 p.m.5 The instructions contained in the Department’s cablegram January 29, 6 p.m. were thoroughly complied with by me yesterday morning in an interview with President Cabrera. An interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs followed immediately afterwards to whom energetically presented the context of the Department’s instructions. Very definite notes also sent to the President and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
I regret to report that President Cabrera utterly failed to respond to the situation. His mind seems to be positively fixed on the purpose of stopping the Cuyamel advance, and he made the astounding remark that “The Cuyamel is not working in disputed territory but in Guatemalan territory,” in reply to which I informed him the Government of the United States maintained that it could not be determined where trespass on foreign territory had taken place until the boundary line had been definitely determined upon.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has just called to inform me that the President, upon the receipt of my note, reconsidered his views and now states that in view of the fact that the Government of the [Page 96] United States couples the work of the Cuyamel Company with the winning of the war, Guatemala as a true Ally responds to the call upon it and will be glad to consider the question of allowing this company to operate. To this end the Guatemalan Government desires to be informed of the exact scope of the work to be done by the Cuyamel. I now believe that can handle situation and will request the Department furnish me as soon as possible the information about scope of activities Cuyamel, immediately upon receipt of which I feel certain Guatemalan forces will be withdrawn from Cuyamel line and its work gone forward with.
- Not printed.↩