714.15151/618: Telegram
The Representative of the United States on the Guatemalan-Honduran Boundary Commission (Davis) to the Secretary of State
5. Honduran proposal apparently not made clear to the Department. Honduras claims Motagua River as boundary from the Managua River to the sea; however, south of the Motagua from the Managua to the Chachahualia, Guatemala is in possession of a strip of territory approximately ten miles in width. Guatemala insists control south of Motagua in this region is necessary to protect its railroad which parallels Motagua. Honduras, reserving its claims under permanent arbitration, apparently willing to raise no question as to indefinite status quo in this region under which Guatemala controls considerable territory claimed by Honduras but insists upon the [Page 736] Motagua River as provisional boundary from the Chachahualia to the sea.
Both Commissions apparently consider that the duty of the present Mixed Commission is to fix a provisional line from Chachahualia to the sea for the purpose of avoiding repetition of the recent difficulties in this section. After a series of conferences they cannot agree upon this provisional line in this section and both have filed signed statements presenting their respective claims and arguments and calling upon the mediator to fix a provisional line under the conditions stipulated in their telegrams accepting the mediation of a representative of the Department.
My suggestions relative to negotiations for permanent arbitration contemplated not a mere recommendation on the part of the Commissions but a joint declaration under special instruction from their respective Governments that plenipotentiaries will be appointed to begin negotiations at a designated place within a designated time. While I would be pleased if present Commission could draw up arbitration convention, the relations between the two Commissions are so strained that negotiations will be difficult. The Guatemalan Commission is dissatisfied with local conditions and feels that advantage is given Honduras by meeting here. I am also under the impression that Dr. Salazar will do everything possible to avoid assuming responsibility in signing an arbitration convention. I shall be pleased if the Department will immediately instruct the Legations at Guatemala City and Tegucigalpa to make representations to the Governments to which they are accredited urging them to empower their respective Commissions to draw up a treaty submitting the controversy to final arbitration. I shall submit this proposal to the conference on April 23rd and would like for representations to be made at Guatemala City and Tegucigalpa concurrently. Please reply by cable direct to Cuyamel.
- Telegram in two sections.↩