714.1515/1184

Memorandum by Mr. Richard M. de Lambert of the Division of Latin American Affairs

On July 16, 1930, delegates of Guatemala and Honduras in Washington signed a treaty21 providing for the settlement of the boundary controversy between those two countries by arbitration by a tribunal of three members to be presided over by the Chief Justice of the United States. Chief Justice Hughes accepted to act in the capacity indicated. On the same date a supplementary convention was signed22 providing for the delimitation of the frontier after the award is rendered.

The Honduran Congress approved ratification of the treaty and supplementary convention on February 23, 1931.

Similar action was taken by the unanimous vote of the Guatemalan Assembly on May 29, 1931.

The Honduran Government has appointed the following commission to present its case before the arbitral tribunal:

  • Dr. Mariano Vasquez—Minister Plenipotentiary on Special Mission—Chief of Honduran Mission.
  • Mr. Augusto C. Coello—Adviser.
  • Mr. Augustin P. Barranco— “
  • Dr. Arturo Martínez Galindo—First Secretary.
  • Mr. Miguel Paz Paredes—Second Secretary.
  • Mr. Medardo Zurñga V.—Technical Member.
  • Mr. Felix Canales Salazar— “ “
  • Mr. Carlos Izaguirre V.
  • Mr. Jorge Fidel Duron.

On August 18, 1931, the Guatemalan delegation was appointed, comprising the following:

  • Mr. Carlos Salazar, Chairman.
  • Dr. Adrian Recinos, Consulting Attorney.
  • Mr. Manuel Echeverria y Vidaurre, Consulting Attorney.
  • Mr. Charles Cheney Hyde—Consulting Attorney.
  • Mr. Alfonso Carillo—Secretary.

This delegation has now arrived in the United States.

A representative of the Honduran Government in Washington informed the Department of State on July 18, 1931, that he was authorized to proceed with the exchange of ratifications of the treaty and supplementary convention. The President of Guatemala signed the instrument of ratification on August 17, 1931, and in accordance with the terms of the agreements the ratifications are to be exchanged in Washington within sixty days after that date.

[R. M.] de L[ambert]
  1. Received by the Assistant Secretary of State on September 18, 1931.
  2. League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. cxxxvii, p. 231.
  3. Ibid., p. 236.