714.1515/627: Telegram
The Representative of the United States on the Guatemalan-Honduran Boundary Commission (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:30 p.m.]
8. Referring to the last paragraph of the Department’s cablegram to Minister Geissler dated April 19, 9 p.m.,15 relative to qualified acceptance of mediation by Guatemala.
Dr. Coello, in presenting Honduran case, proposed middle of Motagua River as provisional boundary between Chachahualia and the sea. Dr. Salazar prepared reply to the Honduran case which contained the objection relative to Honduran proposal.
“Never at any time has Honduras pretended to possess the Motagua River: it had concreted its desires for territorial expansion to the right bank of the river”——“I will not discuss it because there are things which do not admit of their being considered when, as in this case, they are prejudicial to the dignity and honor of the Republic. [In] Guatemala accepting the friendly mediation of the Government of the United States of America it precisely made the reserve that the provisional frontier should not compromise the integrity of the [Page 739] territory, the liberty of commerce and the security of the railroad to the Atlantic; and these three conditions would not be complied with in case of the insinuation of the Honduran commission being accepted because it is evident that the Motagua River never has been in dispute.”
When I remarked that the inclusion of this statement would appear to deny the mediator the right to consider the Honduran proposal, Salazar withdrew the statement from his reply.
However the general tone of the Guatemalan representations indicates they will use conditional acceptance of mediation as a basis for refusing to accept a provisional line which is not in accord with Guatemalan aspirations.
Repeated to Guatemala City.