714.1515/555

The Guatemalan Legation to the Department of State

Memorandum

With a view to reaching an agreement relative to the existing boundary dispute between the two Republics, the Government of Guatemala, early in the year 1927, invited the Government of Honduras to discuss with it an amicable settlement of this question.

The Government of Honduras apparently accepted the invitation to a friendly discussion of the matter, and it was understood as a basis for a satisfactory settlement, that both Governments should agree to refrain from any kind of activity in the territory claimed by both.

However, during the last few months of 1927, the Government of Honduras, contrary to its declarations of friendship and to its announced intention of respecting the status quo in the disputed territory, permitted its military authorities to make repeated incursions into Guatemalan territory, interfering with the industry of the inhabitants and spreading disorder and alarm throughout the region.

At this time there is under construction a railway line between two places known respectively as Cacao and Chachagualillo, in Guatemalan territory, on the right bank of the Motagua River, which the Government of Guatemala considers contrary to the declarations of friendship of the high authorities of Honduras.

The Government of “Guatemala, desirous of maintaining harmonious relations with the neighboring Republic of Honduras and of continuing the policy of conciliation and of prudence which it has always employed in its relations with the latter and with other Central American countries, has to date contented itself with reiterating protests against such predatory acts; but succeeded thereby only in securing a temporary suspension of the armed invasions, which have promptly been renewed against its territory without consideration of the rights of Guatemala.

The Government of Guatemala has already demanded that the Government of Honduras suspend these invasions and stop the construction [Page 713] of the above mentioned railway; but if, as the previous conduct of the latter Government leads it to fear, these demands are not acceded to, the Government of Guatemala will be under the obligation of making its rights respected by such means as are necessary, in order to preserve the sacred interests of the Nation, and responsibility will rest upon the Government of Honduras for the consequences of its unjustifiable acts.

The Minister of Guatemala in Washington, in accordance with instructions from his Government, has the honor to place the above facts before the Department of State of the United States, for its consideration.