714.44A15/28
The Minister in Guatemala (Des Portes) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 29.]
Sir: With reference to the Legation’s previous despatches relative to the boundary difficulties between Guatemala and British Honduras and the desire of this country to have the matter arbitrated [Page 132] by President Roosevelt, I have the honor to inform the Department that Minister for Foreign Affairs Salazar stated to me recently that he had had further conversations with the British Minister to Guatemala and that the latter had suggested the willingness of his Government to have the matter arbitrated, if not by the Court of International Justice at The Hague, by any other European power or authority acceptable to Guatemala. Minister Salazar said that he informed the Minister that Guatemala would not go outside of the continent to arbitrate the difficulty. He then made a counter-offer to the British Minister, informing him that Guatemala would consider the matter settled if Great Britain would consent to the moving of the frontier of Guatemala from its present line, the River Sarstoon, northward approximately twenty-five miles to the Rio Grande which enters the Caribbean immediately above Punta Gorda in British Honduran territory.
It appears that Guatemalan authorities would be eminently satisfied with this concession since it would give a convenient and practical outlet by sea from the Petén district of the country. This offer, however, was flatly rejected by the British Minister as being unacceptable to his Government.
Respectfully yours,