No. 71.
Mr. Hall to
Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States in Central America,
Guatemala, December 24,
1886.
No. 600.]
Sir: With my No. 477 of the 12th of March last, I
transmitted to the Department a translation of the treaty signed in this
city on the 12th of September, 1885, between Guatemala, Salvador, and
Honduras. I had occasion also to refer to the same treaty in my dispatches
No. 478 of the 15th March, and No. 514 of the 7th June last.
The treaty referred to embraces the following subjects: Peace, friendship,
union, alliance, extradition, commercial reciprocity, and postal,
telegraphic, and monetary union. Nicaragua and Costa Rica were invited
[Page 86]
at the time to become parties to the
treaty, but they found many of its stipulations objectionable and
consequently declined.
On the 31st of July last the minister for foreign affairs of Guatemala
addressed a circular note to the several Central American Governments,
inviting their acceptance of the treaty, with such modifications as would
remove the objectionable features, or that they should enter into a new
treaty embracing the same objects. The answers of the several Governments
were such as to induce the Government of Guatemala to issue another circular
note, under date of the 15th ultimo, inviting them to send delegates to a
congress of all the states and proposing that it should meet in Guatemala on
the 20th January, 1887, for the purpose of discussing and uniting upon a
general treaty which will assure the peace and the mutual friendship and
harmony of the Central American states, This invitation has been very
cordially, accepted by all, and the delegates are announced to meet in this
city on the day named therefor.
I have the honor to inclose herewith the official newspaper of Guatemala of
the 21st instant, containing Señor Cruz’s note of the 15th ultimo, and the
communications in reply of the Governments of Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa
Rica, and Salvador. I have also annexed partial translations.
It has appeared to me that the efforts thus put forth to bring about harmony
and a good understanding between the Central American Governments, which
have not existed in many years, is highly creditable to the Government of
Guatemala to which, the initiative is wholly due,
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
600—Translation.]
Circular addressed to the departments of state of
Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica upon the subject of a
meeting of Central American plenipotentiaries in the city of
Guatemala.
Department of Foreign Relations,
Guatemala, November 15,
1886.
Mr. Minister: In due course I reported to the
President the reply of your excellency to the note I had the honor to
address you on the 31st July last, which had for its chief object to
propose that the Republics of Central America should enter into a treaty
which would be acceptable to all, and having for its bases reciprocal
equality, guaranties, and utility, should establish in an enduring
manner close relations of unalterable peace and loyal friendship by
every stipulation required to strengthen the ties that unite them, give
expansion to their commerce, identify their interests, invigorate their
fraternal sentiments, and to consolidate lasting friendship as a
spontaneous and natural result of the conditions, necessities, and the
aspirations of all. The President, desirous that the project thus
initiated should be carried out, and, taking into consideration the
tenor of the reply of your excellency’s Government as well as those of
the Governments of the other Republics, has instructed me to invite the
Government of that Republic, should it be favorably disposed, to
accredit a minister plenipotentiary to a meeting of the representatives
of the Central American States. In case the invitation should be
accepted, as desired, my Government will esteem it an honor that this
capital should; be selected therefor, and the 20th of January next,
1887, fixed upon for the meeting.
The object of this meeting will be to decide upon the questions which
were the subject of my note of the 31st July, and of the several replies
thereto. If the result of the deliberations should be as my Government
desires and believes, the unanimous acceptance of a treaty in such terms
that it shall be an unequivocal token of fraternity and harmony which
will insure the peace, strengthen the sympathy, establish the
confidence, identify the interests, aspirations, and tendencies of these
peoples that for no cause should be alien or indifferent to each other,
nor fail in their duties and
[Page 87]
family ties then a great step in its opinion will have been taken in
promoting the prosperity and great destinies of Central America.
Persuaded that your excellency’s Government shares the same sentiments
and that not less than Guatemala its patriotic interest is not only to
remove every motive or appearance that could give rise to coldness or
reserve, but to carry out with certainty and efficiency whatsoever may
tend, to unite more closely the Republics of Central America, to enliven
them with the warmth of reciprocally frank and cordial intercourse and
common interests, and giving to all active participation in the
prosperity or adversity of each, I venture to believe that your
excellency will honor me with an early and favorable reply.
Be pleased, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
600.—Translation.]
Señor Elizondo to
Señor Cruz.
Department of Foreign Relations,
Managua, Nicaragua, December 1, 1886.
Mr. Minister: I have had the honor to receive
your dispatch dated the 25th ultimo, in which your excellency is pleased
to inform me that in conformity with the reply of my predecessor to your
note of the 31st July last, his excellency the President of that
Republic, desirous of carrying out the project then initiated, and
taking into consideration the analogous terms of the replies of the
Governments of the other sister Republics, has interested your
excellency to invite this Government, should it be deemed expedient, to
accredit a minister plenipotentiary to a meeting of the representatives
of the Central American Republics.
* * * * * * *
I have informed the President in regard to your excellency’s
communication, and have received his instruction to reply to it in the
following terms: the Government having already set forth in its dispatch
of the 13th of August last its views and sentiments entirely in accord
with the laudable purpose that animates the President of that sister
Republic, it seems unnecessary that I should express in this
communication the pleasure with which my Government accepts the idea of
establishing, by a congress of plenipotentiaries of the five Central
American Republics, inviolable rules that will assure, in an efficacious
manner, the development of their common interests, the maintenance of
peace and harmony, indispensable to the fulfillment of their future
destinies by means of a treaty, as your excellency suggests.
To prepare in this way the advent of the common heritage of the sons of
Central America is an honorable work, and for that reason well worthy of
all who are inspired by the patriotism that animated our eminent
legislators of 1884.
The President therefore accepts sincerely the invitation contained in the
dispatch of your excellency, as also the idea of a meeting of the
plenipotentiaries to take place in that capital, and will in due time
appoint a citizen to represent Nicaragua.
Your excellency will be pleased to inform me if, in view of the answers
your excellency’s Government should receive from the other. Central
American Republics, the day of meeting should be postponed.
With sincere satisfaction for the terms in which I am able to reply to
your excellency, I reiterate, etc.,
[Inclosure 3 in No.
600.—Translation.]
Señor Zelaya to
Señor Cruz.
Department of Foreign Relations,
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, December 2, 1886.
Mr. Minister:
* * * * * * *
The President of this Republic being informed in regard to the
enlightened sentiments of your excellency’s note (of the 15th November)
has instructed me to reply to it in the following terms:
My Government, Mr. Minister, cannot do otherwise than accept with
enthusiasm and lively sympathy the mature conception of your
excellency’s Government, the promoting the meeting of a congress of
plenipotentiaries of the Republics of Central America, that for so many
reasons, and especially because, they constitute one sole family,
[Page 88]
ought to draw closer their
interests and unite their aspirations and destinies and assimilate in
sentiments of intimate confraternity.
It is an obvious necessity, Mr. Minister, that the Central American
peoples should live in peace and order; under these auspices only will
they be able to develop their material and moral progress, perfect
themselves in the practice of the free institutions that they have
adopted, and give impulse to their growing importance. The Governments
of Central America will fulfill the most imperative of their duties in
devoting themselves to the generous and patriotic work of cementing upon
solid bases that order and peace so long hoped for, uniting in a solemn
compact of family, as it may be called, to watch over the interests, the
repose, the welfare, and prosperity of the political communities whose
destinies are confided to their care, and to maintain among them an
inviolable harmony. Such is the object of the noble initiative of your
excellency’s Government, for which that of Honduras sends through my
medium its most enthusiastic congratulations.
In conclusion, I am happy to inform your excellency that my Government
accepts with pleasure the courteous invitation of that of Guatemala, and
will not fail to be represented at the proposed meeting of the
plenipotentaries your excellency has suggested.
* * * * * * *
This occasion affords me the pleasure of renewing to your excellency,
etc.,
[Inclosure 4 in No.
600.—Translation.]
Señor Fernandez to
Señor Cruz.
Department of Foreign Relations,
San José, Costa Mica, December 9, 1886.
Excellency: I have had the honor to receive the
esteemed note your excellency has been pleased to address me under date
of the 15th November last.
It is very satisfactory to my Government to notice once more the laudable
interest your Government has taken in carrying out the projects of a
treaty which will secure the peace of Central America, protect and
consolidate the friendly relations which exist between the five
Republics, protect the private interests of each, and give increment and
all possible unity to those interests which may be considered as common
to all.
Your excellency, with much reason, gives assurances that if a treaty
should be realized in such terms as will make it an unequivocal token of
that fraternal friendship and harmony which will assure the peace,
strengthen the affection, establish confidence, identify the interests,
aspirations, and tendencies of peoples who never for any cause should be
alien or indifferent to one another, nor omit their duties and family
affection, then a great step will have been taken in advancing the
prosperity and the great destinies of Central America.
The Government of Costa Rica, which is of the same opinion and sentiments
with that of Guatemala as regards the advantages that will result from
such a treaty can not do otherwise than favorably accept the idea
announced in your note. The President of the Republic has given
instructions to so inform your excellency and to announce that by this
mail the required credentials will be sent to the licentiate, Hon.
Ascension Esquivel, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
this Republic near your Government, to enable him to present himself as
delegate to the congress of plenipotentiaries that will meet at that
capital on the 20th of January next.
In thus informing your excellency it is highly satisfactory to me to
offer, etc.
[Inclosure 5 in No.
600.—Translation.]
Señor Delgado to
Señor Cruz.
Department of Foreign Relations,
San Salvador, Salvador, December 11, 1886.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to refer to the
courteous dispatch of your excellency of the 15th ultimo, in which you
are pleased to inform me that you reported to the President of your
Republic the note I addressed to your excellency on the 24th August, in
answer to your highly important one of the 31st July last, and that he,
being desirous that the project initiated by your excellency in that
communication
[Page 89]
shall be carried
out, has given you instructions to propose to my Government, should the
idea be acceptable, to appoint a minister plenipotentiary to a meeting
of the representatives of the Republics of Central America. Your
excellency is pleased to add that your Government would appreciate it
should Guatemala be accepted as the place of the meeting of the
plenipotentiaries, and the date therefor fixed for the 20th of January,
1887.
* * * * * * *
The important conceptions contained in your note have impressed the
President with great satisfaction, and he has given me instructions to
say in reply that he observes with pleasure that your Government has
interpreted his sentiments in regard to the fraternity and concord that
ought to reign between the members of the Central American family, and
the constant and positive efforts that their Governments to make to
assimilate their interests to strengthen the ties of mutual affection
and cordial friendship that bind them together, and thus to hasten the
day when the longed-for union, that ardent ideal and aspiration of
Central American patriotism, may be realized. Consequently it is a
pleasure to me to assure your excellency that if, as I have no doubt,
the other Governments of Central America should accept favorably the
fraternal invitation of your excellency, Salvador will send its
representative to that capital on the date that your excellency has been
pleased to fix for the meeting.
Renewing, etc.,
