sideration thus presented. The peaceful maintenance of the status quo of the American commonwealths is of the very essence of their policy of harmonious alliance for self-preservation, and is of even more impor tance to Mexico than to the United States.

"I have adverted in my No. 138 to the desire of the United States that its neighbors should possess strong and prosperous Governments, to the assurance of their tranquillity from internal disturbance and outside interference. While we wish this happy result for Mexico, we equally wish it for the other Spanish-American nations. It is no less indispen sable to the welfare of Central America than of Mexico, and, by moral influence and the interposition of good offices, it is the desire and the intention of the United States to hold up the Republics of Central America in their old strength and to do all that may be done toward insuring the tranquillity of their relations among themselves and their collective security as an association of allied interests, possessing in their common relationship to the outer world all of the elements of national existence. In this enlarged policy we confidently ask the cooperation of Mexico. A contrary course on her part would only be regarded as an unwise step, while any movement directly leading to the absorption, in whole or part, of her weaker neighbors would be deemed an act unfriendly to the best interests of America.

"It is desired that you should make earnest but calm representation of these views of the President to the Mexican minister of foreign affairs. In addition to embodying the main points of my previous instruction, No. 138, you will make use of such temperate reasoning as will serve to show Señor Mariscal that we expect every effort to be made by his Government to avert a conflict with Guatemala, by diplomatic means, or, these failing, by resort to arbitration. And you will especially intimate discreetly, but distinctly, that the good feeling between Mexico and the United States will be fortified by a frank avowal that the Mexican policy toward the neighboring states is not one of conquest or aggrandizement, but of conciliation, peace, and friendship.

"I have written this instruction rather to strengthen your own hands in the execution of the delicate and responsible duty thus confided to you than with a view to its formal communication to Señor Mariscal by reading and leaving a copy of it with him. If, in your discretion, the important ends in view will be subserved by your making the minister acquainted with portions hereof, you are at liberty to do so, while regarding the instruction as a whole in a confidential light, and as supplementary to my No. 138, which you have been authorized to communicate in extenso, if desirable."

Mr. Blaine, Sec. of State, to Mr. Morgan, June 21, 1881; MSS. Inst. Mex.; For.
Rel., 1881.

"Referring to your correspondence with this Department since its instruction tendering the good offices of the Government of the United

0

States in aid of the amicable settlement of the differences between Mexico and Guatemala, I have to remark that it would be a matter of the gravest disappointment if I found myself compelled to agree with you in the conclusion which you seem to have reached in your last dispatch.

"Reporting in your No. 273, of September 22, 1881, your most recent conversation with Señor Mariscal, the Mexican secretary for foreign affairs, you say:

"I venture to suggest that, unless the Government is prepared to announce to the Mexican Government that it will actively, if necessary, preserve the peace, it would be the part of wisdom on our side to leave the matter where it is. Negotiations on the subject will not benefit Guatemala, and you may depend upon it what we have already done in this direction has not tended to the increasing of the cordial relations which I know it is so much your desire to cultivate with this nation.'

"To leave the matter where it is,' you must perceive, is simply impos sible, for it will not remain there. The friendly relations of the United States and Mexico would certainly not be promoted by the refusal of the good offices of this Government, tendered in a spirit of the most cordial regard both for the interests and honor of Mexico, and suggested only by the earnest desire to prevent a war useless in its purpose, deplorable in its means, and dangerous to the best interests of all the Central American Republics in its consequences. To put aside such an amicable intervention as an unfriendly intrusion, or to treat it as I regret to see the Mexican secretary for foreign affairs seems disposed, as a partisan manifestation on behalf of claims which we have not examined and interests which we totally misunderstand, can certainly not contribute to the increasing of the cordial relations which you know it is so much our desire to cultivate with Mexico.'

"But, more than this, 'to leave the matter where it is' is to leave Mexico and Guatemala confronting each other in armed hostility, with the certainty that irritation and anger on the one side and extreme apprehension on the other will develop some untoward incident leading to actual collision. In such event no successfull resistance can be anticipated on the part of Guatemala. Whether the claims of Mexico be moderate or extravagant, whether the cession of territory be confined to the present alleged boundary lines or be extended to meet the necessities of a war indemnity, there would be another lamentable demonstration on this continent of the so called right of conquest, the general disturbance of the friendly relations of the American Republics, and the postponement for an indefinite period of that sympathy of feeling, that community of purpose, and that unity of interest, upon the development of which depends the future prosperity of these countries. "The Republic of Guatemala, one of those American Republics in whose fortunes the United States naturally feel a friendly interest, com

municated to this Government that there exisited between it and Mexico certain differences which, after much diplomatic consultation, had failed to reach a satisfactory settlement. Recognizing the relation of the United States to all the Republics of this continent, aware of the friendly services which this Government has never failed to render to Mexico, and presuming not unnaturally that Mexico would receive our amicable counsel with cordiality and confidence, the Government of Guatemala asked our good offices with that power for the purpose of inducing it to submit to an impartial arbitration those differences upon which they had been unable to agree.

"To refuse such a request would not only have been a violation of international courtesy to Guatemala, but an indication of a want of confidence in the purposes and character of the Mexican Government which we could not and did not entertain.

"In tendering our good offices, the Mexican Government was distinctly informed that the United States is not a self-constituted arbitrator of the destinies of either country or of both in this matter. It is simply the impartial friend of both, ready to tender frank and earnest counsel touching anything which may menace the peace and prosperity of its neighbors.'

"Before this instruction could have reached you, information was received that large bodies of Mexican troops had been ordered to the frontier in dispute. You were therefore directed to urge upon the Mexican Government the propriety of abstaining from all such hostile demonstration in order to afford opportunity for the friendly solution of the differences between the two Governments. It is unnecessary now to repeat the reasons which you were instructed to submit to the consideration of the Mexican Government, and which were stated in the most earnest and friendly spirit, and which were communicated by you to the Mexican secretary for foreign affairs with entire fidelity.

"I now learn from your dispatches that our information was correct; that Mexican troops have been ordered to the disputed boundary line, and that, while the Mexican Government does not absolutely reject a possible future arbitration, it is unwilling to postpone its own action to further discussion, and does not receive the good offices of this Government in the spirit in which they have been tendered. The United States does not pretend to direct the policy of Mexico, nor has it made any pretension to decide in advance upon the merits of the controversy between Mexico and Guatemala. The Mexican Government is of course free to decline our counsel, however friendly. But it is necessary that we should know distinctly what the Mexican Government has decided. It is useless, and from your dispatches I infer it would be irritating, to keep before the Government of Mexico the offer of friendly intervention, while, on the other hand, it would not be just to Guatemala to hold that Government in suspense as to whether there was a possibility of the acceptance of the amicable mediation which we have offered.

f

"You will, therefore, upon the receipt of this instruction, ask for an interview with the secretary for foreign affairs. You will press upon his reconsideration the views which you have already submitted to him; assure him of the earnestness with which this Government desires a peaceful solution of the existing differences, and inform him of our profound regret and disappointment that the tender of our good offices has not been received in the spirit in which it was made. In reference to the union of the Central American Republics, under one federal government, the United States is ready to avow that no subject appeals more strongly to its sympathy, nor more decidedly to its judg ment. Nor is this a new policy. For many years this Government has urged upon the Central American States the importance of such an union to the creation of a well-ordered and constitutionally governed Republic, and our ministers have been instructed to impress this upon the individual Governments to which they have been accredited, and to the Central American statesmen with whom they have been associated. And we have always cherished the belief that in this effort we had the sincere sympathy and cordial co-operation of the Mexican Government. Under the conviction that the future of the people of Central America was absolutely dependent upon the establishment of a federal government which would give strength abroad and maintain peace at home, our chief motive in the recent communications to Mexico was to prevent the diminution, either political or territorial, of any one of these States, or the disturbance of their exterior relations, in order that, trusting to the joint aid and friendship of Mexico and the United States, they might be encouraged to persist in their effort to establish a government which would, both for their advantage and ours, represent their combined wealth, intelligence, and character.

"If this Government is expected to infer from the language of Señor Mariscal that the prospect of such a result is not agreeable to the policy of Mexico, and that the interest which the United States have always manifested in its consummation renders unwelcome the friendly intervention which we have offered, I can only say that it deepens the regret with which we will learn the decision of the Mexican Government, and compels me to declare that the Government of the United States will consider a hostile demonstration against Guatemala for the avowed purpose, or with the certain result of weakening her power in such an effort, as an act not in consonance with the position and character of Mexico, not in harmony with the friendly relations existing between us, and injurious to the best interests of all the Republics of this continent.

"The Government of the United States has the sincerest sympathy and the profoundest interest in the prosperity of the Spanish Republics of America, and is influenced by no selfish considerations in its earnest. efforts to prevent war between them. This country will continue its S. Mis. 162-VOL. I-22

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policy of peace even if it cannot have the great aid which the co-operation of Mexico would assure; and it will hope, at no distant day, to see such concord and co-operation between all the nations of America as will render war impossible."

Mr. Blaine, Sec. of State, to Mr. Morgan, Nov. 28, 1881; MSS. Inst., Mex.; For.
Rel., 1881.

As to mediation in wars in which Mexico was a belligerent, see supra, § 49.

As to recognition of changes of Government in Mexico, see infra, § 70.

As to a temporary protectorate by the United States over the northern portions of Chihuahua and Sonora, see President Buchanan's message of 1858, quoted supra, § 50e.

As to claims against Mexico, see infra, § 223.

The following references to documents relative to Mexico are taken from the list of papers concerning foreign relations attached to the register of the Department of State:

Commercial intercourse with.

Not deemed advisable to communicate correspond

ence on the subject of its extension. President's message. July 19, 1876. (H. Ex. Doc. 185, Forty-fourth Congress, first session.)

Relations with. Historical review. Texas border troubles and extradition report. Committee on Foreign Affairs. April 25, 1878. (H. Rep. 701, Fortyfifth Congress, second session.)

Resolutions touching the relations with. May 8, 1878. (S. Mis. Doc. 63, Fortyfifth Congress, second session.)

Commercial relations with. President's message. January 7, 1879. (H. Ex. Doc. 15, Forty-fifth Congress, third session.)

Commercial treaty with. Report favoring the negotiation of such treaties. February 13, 1879. (H. Rep. 108, Forty-fifth Congress, third session.) Railroads in. Concessions granted by Mexico for. President's message. February 28, 1879. (S. Ex. Doc. 73, Forty-fifth Congress, third session.) Austin-Topolovampo Railroad survey across Mexico. President's message. July 1, 1879 (S. Ex. Doc. 38, Forty-sixth Congress, first session), stating that the Department of State has no information.

De

Protection of the Rio Grande frontier. Report of Committee on Military Affairs favoring the erection of suitable posts on the frontier for that purpose. cember 9, 1879. (S. Rep. 40, Forty-sixth Congress, second session.) Protection of the Rio Grande frontier. Report of Committee on Military Affairs favoring the erection of suitable posts on the frontier for that purpose. Jan. uary 14, 1880. (H. Rep. 88, Forty-sixth Congress, second session.) Seizure and detention of the Montana by the customs authorities at Mazatlan. Claim of Max Bromberger. President's message. February 27, 1880. (S.

Ex. Doc. 96, Forty-sixth Congress, second session.) Amendment to the resolution thanking Mexican Government and people for courtesies extended to Amèrican merchants who recently visited that country. April 8, 1880. (H. Rep. 1015, Forty-sixth Congress, second session.) p. 1. Resolution asking whether the United States have objected to Mexico bringing suit in United States courts rs. American citizens. February 8, 1881. Doc. 33, Forty-sixth Congress, third session.) Proposed reciprocity treaty with. February 6, 1982. (S. Mis. Doc. 45. Fortyseventh Congress, first session.)

(S. Mis.

Relations between Guatemala and the United States-the boundary question. President's message. February 17, 1882. (S. Ex. Doc. 156, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.)