Page:Difficulties Between Mexico and Guatemala.djvu/16

 that the decision it might pronounce in such case would certainly be impartial and just, since it had no other interest than to re-establish harmony and good understanding between Mexico and her southern neighbor. Entering upon various considerations concerning the evils of war, Mr. Morgan observed that, even if Mexico should be victorious in a war with Guatemala, as she could not fail to be, in view of the great superiority of her elements, she would nevertheless suffer grave injuries, and perchance experience a paralysis of the movement of internal improvements lately begun, besides affording the evil example of deciding, by force of arms, the discussions between two sister republics.

The undersigned replied that he was satisfied that the sentiment which guided the Government of the United States in the step then taken was friendly and loyal, but at once observed that it had not been correctly informed by the Government of Guatemala. He further said that he would waive, for the time being, the consideration of various inaccuracies, both upon matters of history and upon recent events, contained in the note of the Honorable Secretary of State, which were doubtless due to one-sided allegations on the part of the Government of Guatemala, and to the fact that, in general, the history of Mexico is not well known, reserving the privilege of preparing, within a few days, a memorandum in which, besides stating what had passed in the said interview, he would rectify the inaccuracies above mentioned, and could take more fully into consideration some of the ideas expressed by the Honorable Secretary of State.

He would consequently limit himself at that time to the statement that force or conquest had never been the basis of the rights alleged by Mexico to a certain