Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1886

No. 40.
Mr. Hall to Mr. Bayard.

Legation of the United States in Central America,
Guatemala, March 19, 1886. (Received April 17.)

No. 480.]

Sir: In his dispatch No. 466, of the 27th January last, Mr. Pringle reports to the Department that a treaty of peace between Nicaragua and Salvador was signed at Amapala, on or about the 12th of December, 1885, as the result of a conference of delegates from all of the Central American states. The conference did not take place in December, but on the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January, and resulted in the re-establishment of friendly relations between those states through the mediation of the delegates from the others. The convention, it cannot be called a treaty, was signed on the 13th of January. I inclose a copy and translation. The spirit manifested at the conference appears to have been highly conciliatory; the parties agreed to waive all explanations and the discussion of their respective grievances, limiting such discussion to the prime object of the conference, the renewal of their interrupted friendly relations, and the promotion of peace and tranquillity among the peoples of their states as an imperative necessity.

The fourth and last article of the convention provides for the settlement of future questions and disputes by arbitration; after having made use of other peaceful means of conciliation, it is agreed that such questions shall be submitted to the foreign diplomatic representatives in Central America, and, in case they should object, to the decision of one or more friendly Governments.

The convention was signed by the delegates of Nicaragua and Salvador as parties thereto, and by the delegates of Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica as mediators. It has since been ratified by the Governments of the two states most interested.

The conference at Amapala and its satisfactory result are due to the initiative of President Bogran, of Honduras, who took steps to bring it about immediately after the invasion of Nicaragua by an expedition fitted out in Salvador, as reported in No. 441, of the 4th November, 1885.

I inclose a copy of the protocol of the conference, but as its substance is contained in the convention, I have deemed it unnecessary to append a translation.

I have, &c.,

HENRY C. HALL.

[Enclosure in No. 480.—Translation from El Diario Nicaragüense of 15th January, 1886.]

peace in central america.—re-establishment of relations between nicaragua and salvador.

We take pleasure in publishing in continuation the peace convention agreed to at Amapala on the 13th instant, between the plenipotentiaries of Nicaragua and Salvador, with the presence and mediation of the representatives of Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

The agreement appears to us to be highly satisfactory for both Governments. No recriminations, no exigencies, nor irritating explanations; the object of that diplomatic meeting of all Central America has been reached with exclusion entirely of past differences.

We know that the convention has been generally well received, and that President Menendez telegraphed to Señor Castellano expressing himself as well satisfied with the bases.

All good Central Americans ought to be well pleased in regard to the meeting at Amapala. To the enlightened Government of Honduras belongs the high honor of having initiated the patriotic idea, and of co-operating actively and intelligently in carrying it out.

convention of amapala.

In virtue of the bases proposed, with the authorization of the plenipotentiaries of Honduras, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, for the settlement of the disagreement existing between the Governments of Nicaragua and Salvador, as appears in the protocol to that effect, signed by them and having unanimously accepted those bases at the public session of yesterday, and in compliance with the agreement expressed in the finale of the proceedings, His Excellency Dr. Don Tomas Ayon, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Nicaragua, of the one part, and His Excellency Dr. Don Jacinto Castillano, of the other part, both of them competently authorized by their respective Governments, have agreed to the following stipulations:

(1) The plenipotentiaries of Nicaragua and Salvador, faithfully interpreting the sentiments of conciliation and mutual benevolence that animate their respective Governments, leaving put all discussion and even explanations that might cause ill feeling, considering the primordial object of their mission the imperative necessity of establishing upon solid bases the exterior peace and interior tranquillity of the peoples, consign to oblivion every motive of disagreement between the Governments, and recognize in their full force and vigor the conventions and treaties hitherto existing in which friendship between the two Republics was stipulated.

(2) With the view of renewing the relations unfortunately interrupted between the Governments of Nicaragua and Salvador, each Government shall issue on the 10th of February next a decree declaring their official relations to be mutually reestablished, and in order that the contracting Governments shall be reciprocally informed of the approval of the present convention and of the date thereof, each one shall give notice by telegraph to the minister for foreign affairs of Honduras, so that he may, by the same means, inform the contracting Governments.

(3) For the re-establishment of the most perfect confidence and tranquillity in Nicaragua and Salvador, and in order that the asylum of the enemies and malcontents may not in any case be prejudicial to either of the Republics from whence they proceed, it is stipulated that the Governments of the mentioned Republics shall concentrate the refugees, in order to keep a watch over them and to prevent their providing themselves with arms and implements of war that might be made use of for antagonizing their Governments. For the due information of the said Governments upon other points, it is likewise stipulated that whenever there is any suspicious emigration from Nicaragua in Salvador, or vice versa, or either of them shall have information of machinations or plottings of the malcontents against the Governments of one or the other of said Republics, the one so informed shall give official notification to the other, in order that it may take suitable and seasonable measures.

(4) Whatever may be the motives of disagreement that in future may unfortunately occur, the Governments of Nicaragua and Salvador solemnly stipulate to abide by arbitration as a necessary and civilized medium to avoid war, and previously to make use of all pacific measures of satisfaction and agreement.

These measures shall be the exposition of the offenses and injuries, verified by proof or by trustworthy witnesses of the Government which considers itself aggrieved, and if due explanations or satisfaction be not given, then, as is stipulated, the matter shall be submitted to arbitration of the diplomatic representatives accredited in Central America, and that in case these should object to accepting the duty, it shall be submitted to the decision of one or more friendly Governments.

In testimony of all which we sign and seal, with our respective seals, the present convention in Amapala, the 13th day of the month of January, 1886.

TOMAS AYON.

JACINTO CASTELLANO.

The plenipotentiary mediator of the Government of Honduras:

JERONIMO ZELAYA.

The plenipotentiary mediator of the Government of Costa Rica:

R. VILLEGAS.

The plenipotentiary mediator of the Government of Guatemala:

MARIANO CRUZ.