Page:Difficulties Between Mexico and Guatemala.djvu/36

 of the limits between Guatemala and Mexico, the line should be drawn as straight as possible, in view of the broken character of the region through which it must pass. The Department of Soconusco, on the southern coast, forms an angle entering the territory of Guatemala, of which the base is the river Ciutalapa, proceeding from the Bay of Zacapulco as far as the towns of Motocinta and Mazapan, and the vertex being formed by the mouth of the river Tilapa, in the Bay of Ocós. Consequently the base for the demarkation of the line from the Pacific Ocean should be the Bay of Zacapulco, tracing thence a straight line to the river Dolores, the recognized limit of the state of Chiapas. Guatemala could not accept the imperfection of a line starting from the Bay of Ocós, going thence north to Tajomulco, then receding eastward along the mountain chain of Tajomulco, and finally descending the river Blanco to Mazapan.

From the river Dolores to the Northern Sea, the undersigned proposes for basis for the tracing of a line the actual possession, with the understanding that a scientific commission should be appointed by agreement of both governments, in order to make the necessary surveys, and mark the definitive limits between Guatemala and Mexico in accordance with the bases above suggested.

Respecting treaties of friendship, commerce, and extradition and a postal convention, the undersigned abstains from speaking of them in the present memorandum, so as to proceed with order, making due separation between the subjects which have been intrusted to him. (Signed)R. URIARTE.