Page:Difficulties Between Mexico and Guatemala.djvu/47

 Chacon testified that the President of Guatemala, Don Rufino Barrios, not only favors the filibusters but furnishes them arms, ammunition, and even explosive projectiles. This he knows from having been in December of last year at Costa Cuca, Guatemala, with Basilio Saenz, of Tapachula, a fugitive from justice for crimes not political. Saenz informed him that President Barrios had given him $400 in cash, and loaned him $3,000 for two years without interest, on condition that he would head a party of filibusters who should take possession of Soconusco, causing to be signed in the towns petitions in favor of annexation to Guatemala. This Chacon believes to be true, because Barrios himself has proposed to give the witness money and official positions with the same object of annexing Soconusco to Guatemala; that it is a notorious fact that President Barrios gives aid and comfort to all discontented Mexicans who arrive at his capital for political reasons, on condition of their taking up arms against Mexico, and that the week before last two small parties of Guatemalan soldiers invaded Mexican territory near Cuatepec, having penetrated two leagues within the municipality of Ayutla.

Timoteo Leon testified that it is true that President Barrios favors the filibusters who invade Mexico, which fact he knows because they are habitually organized and armed in Guatemalan towns in the presence of the authorities, who do nothing to impede them, although they have at their command the telegraph by which they might give information.

Lastly, Coutiño gives a similar opinion, based upon the fact that the filibusters themselves have publicly boasted of the protection given them by President