714.1515/63: Telegram
The Chargé in Guatemala ( Thurston ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 12, 8.55 p.m.]
My telegram of January 7, 10 a.m. On 7th instant the Minister for Foreign Affairs was sent to inform me the Guatemalan Government [Page 88] had that day issued an order for the withdrawal of troops and that only a small garrison would be kept in Sinchado and in Los Amates and (?) to maintain order. This intelligence was repeated in writing.
Today Minister for Foreign Affairs was sent to me by the President to inform me of the following state of affairs: First, that there is a force of 300 Honduraneans at Chachagualito [Chachahualilla] (near Tenedores); second, that 300 revolutionists, among whom were certain Guatemalan exiles, had landed on Honduranean coast and that their movements might be considered inimical to Guatemala and Honduras; third, that the special mission to Honduras had quoted from a note dated December 28, from Minister for Foreign Affairs of Honduras to the American Government [Minister] in Honduras stating that in view of the note received from American Government embodying instructions dated December 22, Honduranean Government would not sign any boundary treaty with the Guatemalan Government special mission at present in Honduras, but would accept the arbitration of United States so kindly offered, as stipulated in fifth article of the protocol.96
Minister of Foreign Affairs and President Cabrera … have instructed special mission to demand categorical answer from Honduras whether or not negotiations are to be continued. The Minister for Foreign Affairs reiterated contents of third paragraph of my December 24, 11 p.m.97
It is evident that Guatemala does not wish to submit matter for arbitration until it has been found that the respective Governments cannot arrange the difficulty between themselves. Guatemala states that it has proved its good faith by strictly complying with terms of protocol signed in September.
Without assuming to pass judgment as to which Government may be at fault either in the boundary dispute or the present disagreement over the signing of a boundary treaty, it is now my belief that the dispute must be eventually arbitrated by the United States and if a deadlock has now been reached, the time is opportune for us to point out to both Governments their apparent inability to settle their difficulties and definitely urge acceptance arbitration.