Chapter VI: International Relations

Friendly relations with all countries, both neighboring and distant, is a leading point in President Estrada Cabrera's programme. The relations of Guatemala with the United States are particularly close and cordial.

In his annual message President Estrada Cabrera said:

"It is well known that the grand Republic of North America always
has shown the most sympathetic regard for our country and the
earnest effort of my government has been to strengthen the ties of
friendship which unite the two nations. With this feeling existing
there has been achieved during the period since 1898 the most
flattering results, so that it can be confidently stated that never
before have the relations between Guatemala and the United States
reached so great a degree of cordiality as to-day, and it may be
said that never has any cause of discord between the two
governments been so remote as now. The death of the illustrious
President McKinley, which was felt so deeply in Guatemala, and the
advent into the Presidency of Mr. Roosevelt in no way interrupted
the progress of affairs with our Republic and those which were
pending followed their tranquil course towards a satisfactory
arrangement."

The Secretary of Foreign Relations in his annual report said:

"Motives analogous to those which in foreign governments have
caused congratulation over the re-election of Senor Estrada Cabrera
as President of Guatemala have made it pleasing that the government
of this Republic on its part could extend its congratulations over
the re-election in the United States and Mexico respectively of
Messrs. Roosevelt and Diaz, two eminent statesmen whose
conciliatory policies are well known, as likewise their sympathetic
regard for Guatemala. The continuation of these illustrious
personages in power is considered by this government as a guaranty
of the increasing cordiality of the relations of Guatemala with
them and it has also enabled at the same time to be placed in
evidence with all sincerity the satisfaction which has been
produced by their re-election in their respective countries."

These are correct statements, for the sentiment of profound sympathy and admiration which President Estrada Cabrera and the whole people of Guatemala entertain for President Roosevelt and for the American people are very marked. For President Roosevelt on account of his grand traits of character, of mentality and of heart and the spirit of humanity, justice and rectitude which make of him the chief magistrate most conspicuous, most respected, most popular and most cherished of the present day; and for the American people on account of their intelligence, their enterprising disposition and their unceasing labors for progress, which have gained for them so pre-eminent a place among all the nations of the earth as one of the grandest, most nourishing and most powerful.

ADHERENCE TO THE HAGUE PEACE PRINCIPLES.

These quotations indicate the sentiment of Guatemala towards the two countries with which geographically and otherwise it is most closely allied. Further evidence of the friendship for the United States and of the desire to sustain its policies of international peace were afforded in the promptness with which President Roosevelt's suggestion of a second Peace Conference in The Hague was accepted. With regard to the United States the Secretary of Foreign Affairs stated:

"Knowing the importance of our relations with the great American
nation it was a grateful duty to send a special mission to
Washington with the sole object of congratulating President
Roosevelt. For the discharge of this function Senor Jorge Munoz was
selected and he discharged it with entire satisfaction to the
government. This mission having been disposed of he was accredited
permanently as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

"Inasmuch as it was not one of the ancient nations of Europe, but a
young and virile Republic, the strongest in America, which launched
the project through its distinguished President of a second Hague
Conference to perfect and complete the works of the first one in
favor of universal peace, it is to be hoped that this effort will
be seconded by all the countries of the civilized world and that at
no distant time when experience shall have shown the deficiencies
in the conclusions adopted by previous Congresses those which may
be adopted in the coming Peace Conference will be more efficacious
for the success of the humanitarian and praiseworthy end which the
United States proposes."

Guatemala previously had given its adhesion to the principles of arbitration promulgated under The Hague Convention. It was represented in the Second International American Conference held in Mexico 1901-1902, and the various treaties and recommendations made by that Conference were ratified or endorsed as in the case of the other signatory governments. The action taken by the government of Guatemala on the respective conventions and recommendations was officially transmitted to Senor Mariscal, Secretary of Foreign Relations of Mexico, in accordance with the resolution of the Conference.

PECUNIARY CLAIMS ARBITRATION.

Among the treaties promulgated by the Pan-American Conference in Mexico was one relating to pecuniary claims. This required the ratification of five governments in order to make it effective. Guatemala was one of the first to give its formal adhesion to this convention. This treaty was ratified by the United States Senate and promulgated by the Department of State from Washington in the spring of 1905, so that United States citizens can now claim its benefits. The treaty consists of five articles. Under its terms the high contracting parties agree to submit to arbitration, through the Hague Court, all claims for pecuniary loss or damage which may be presented by their respective citizens and which cannot be amicably adjusted through diplomatic channels and when such claims are of sufficient importance to warrant the expenses of arbitration.

By virtue of Article 26 of the convention of The Hague the high contracting parties agree to submit to the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration established by that convention all controversies which are the subject-matter of the Treaty unless both parties should prefer that especial jurisdiction be organized according to Article 21.

If for any cause the Permanent Court of The Hague should not be opened to one or more of the high contracting parties they obligate themselves to stipulate in a special treaty the rules under which the tribunal shall be established as well as its forms of procedure.

In 1902 the administration of President Estrada Cabrera negotiated and the National Assembly ratified an agreement with Germany, Belgium, France, England, and Italy, which disposed of many subjects that had been in controversy.

Spain, the United States and Mexico did not enter into the agreement because those governments preferred to postpone the claims of their citizens until the industrial crisis was over and the financial conditions were improved. Since that time a number of claims have been adjusted satisfactorily. President Estrada Cabrera stated in a recent message that there were no claims at the present time which were weighing upon the national treasury. These matters having been arranged satisfactorily he said that no subject had arisen which could alter the friendly relations with the countries of Europe. This friendship was shown in the tribute paid by the Diplomatic Corps on New Year's day. Subsequently the governments of Germany and France had shown especial consideration by conferring on the President the Order of the Red Eagle and of the Legion of Honor respectively.

With Mexico the relations of Guatemala have been cordial since the boundary dispute was settled in 1895. Recently the commercial relations, on account of the construction of the Pan-American Railway through Mexican territory to the Guatemalan border have required the establishment of various consulates in important places in Mexico, and the exequaturs have been granted by the Mexican government.

CONCORD IN CENTRAL AMERICA.

With respect to the neighboring republics of Central America the attitude of Guatemala has been open and pronounced. It desires to destroy every cause of discord among the Republics and to maintain a perfect equilibrium. Guatemala took part in the conference which was held at Corinto, Nicaragua, in August, 1904, and at which Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua also were represented. Through its delegate President Estrada Cabrera's government subscribed to the following declarations:

1. To maintain peace is the principal objective of our government,
not only because it is a necessity for the various peoples, but
also because it imposes itself as a duty which all Spanish American
nationalities should fulfil. For this reason we firmly believe in
the proposition to overcome in Central America every obstacle that
may stand in the way of peace and we will put forth our strongest
efforts to frustrate the schemes of those who seek to sow distrust
and jealousy among us impelled as they are by the spirit of
ambition or disorder.

2. The strict compliance with the international compacts which bind
us shall be the test to which we submit our acts so that every
effort to the contrary will be vain and barren since it is
necessary to recognize that the generality of the labors of the
enemies of each administration tend to no laudable ends but rather
are the work of selfish egotists, of personal enmities or the
aberration of unbalanced judgment.

3. We do not hesitate then in declaring that whatever scheme of
discord, subversive attempt, or suggestion which proposes to break
our loyal friendship shall receive no support among us because the
sincerity and firmness of our relations as representatives of the
peoples whom we serve are and always will be affirmed in this
solemn agreement, which we make at the instance of Central America;
an agreement which is the fruit of the efforts we have made as
public men on different occasions.

4. We expect that all good citizens will give us in the sense
indicated their patriotic co-operation inspired in ideals of peace
and fraternity and contributing by supporting us in this accord to
place an end to the discord which the enemies of the public
tranquillity cause. And also upholding the liberal and progressive
policy which governs our acts.