Page:Difficulties Between Mexico and Guatemala.djvu/23

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17

pare the basis for a definitive settlement were imprisoned by the Mexican authorities.

Third. That the agents of Guatemala charged to take a census of the territory in question were treated in the same manner.

Fourth. That the Mexican Government has cautiously but constantly invaded the frontier district which had heretofore been in the possession of Guatemala, replacing the local authorities which were there existing by those of Mexico, thus augmenting the area of the disputed territory.

It will be convenient to reply to these points in the same order.

I. Diplomatic efforts for the settlement of limits with Guatemala have always and exclusively been initiated by Mexico. In 1832 the Mexican Government sent Don Manuel Diez de Bonilla as Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary, and in 1853 Don Juan N. de Pereda with the same character, without obtaining any result. Señor Pereda remained in Guatemala until the year 1858. In the various interviews which he had with Don Manuel Pavon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of that republic, that gentleman constantly refused to celebrate a treaty of limits, and said that Guatemala proposed, in the pending negotiations with Mexico, to simply recognize the statu quo of the frontier between the two countries without any alteration.

Señor Pereda had to suspend his official relations with the Government of Guatemala on account of the refusal of the latter to treat concerning limits, and because the said government, in a discourteous and offensive manner, refused to grant the internment of several emigrados from Mexico, who were conspiring against the peace of this republic.