714.44A15/25
The Minister in Guatemala (Des Portes) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 27.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that on August 19, 1937, in an interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I informally called to his attention the fact that no reply had as yet been made to Secretary Hull’s note of February 13, 1937, in which the United States consented to make available its good offices in the solution of the boundary controversy between Guatemala and Great Britain, provided both governments concerned would make the joint request, and in which the Guatemalan Government was asked for a clarification of the scope of its request.
Minister Salazar went into great detail to explain the matter, stating that the question had been under consideration for some time and that only recently definite information had been received from the British Government that arbitration by the United States was not acceptable to it but offering to place the case before the Hague Court. The Foreign Minister said that this suggestion had not met with favor with his Government as it feared that because of Great Britain’s influence at the Hague the Guatemalan claim might not receive the full justice it merited. However, Dr. José Matos, who was this country’s representative to the Coronation of King George VI, was instructed to make a thorough study of the matter while in England with particular reference to past decisions of the Court and the [Page 131] character and nationality of the judges who might be called upon to settle the claim.
Foreign Minister Salazar said that upon the return of Dr. Matos to Guatemala today, the question is to be very carefully considered and he expressed the belief that his Government will suggest a compromise whereby the United States Government or President Roosevelt be asked to select the arbitration judges.
Respectfully yours,