714.44A15/103: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Guatemala (Cabot)

1. From the Under Secretary. Your No. 1, January 12, noon. The British Ambassador informed me yesterday that the British Minister in Guatemala will be instructed within the immediate future to inform the Guatemalan Government that the British Government agrees to submit the question to arbitration by a tribunal in which the Umpire will be a citizen of the United States selected by the President of the United States. The suggested terms of reference have been completed and the British Ambassador informs me that these terms of reference will empower the proposed arbitral tribunal to effect a settlement of all the issues involved in the event that there has not been compliance with Article 7 of the 1859 treaty. I am further informed by the Ambassador that the terms of reference suggested by the British Government will be submitted to the Government of Guatemala within the next 10 days.

I suggest that the Minister immediately after his return inform the Minister of Foreign Affairs confidentially of the above. [Welles.]

Hull