No. 217.
Mr. Perez to Mr. Bayard.
Washington, D. C., July 30, 1887. (Received July 30.)
Sir: I have the honor herewith to inclose a copy of the treaty* relative to arbitration which was signed at Guatemala December 24, 1886, [Page 268] by plenipotentiaries of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, through the friendly mediation of the Government of the Republic first named (Guatemala), in which treaty it is stipulated that both contracting nations shall submit the question of the validity or invalidity of the boundary treaty concluded by them on the 15th of April, 1858, to the decision of the President of the United States of America.
In the name of, and in obedience to, special instructions received from the Government of Costa Rica, I beg your excellency to be pleased to use your good offices with his Excellency the President, to the end that that high magistrate may deign to lend my country the eminent service in question.
My Government entertains the hope that it will obtain this signal favor, which hope is based upon the confidence which it feels in the good will of your Excellency’s Government, and in the traditional interest felt by this great nation in the peace, tranquillity, and welfare of its sister nations in America.
I have, etc.,