[Inclosure.]
Grover Cleveland, President of the United States.
Whereas, by a convention of arbitration between the Government of the
Republics of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, signed at Guatemala City on
the 24th day of December, 1886, the high contracting parties agreed
to submit to arbitration the question pending between them in regard
to the validity of the treaty of limits of 15th April, 1858, between
the said Governments, together with such other points of doubtful
interpretation as may require decision in the event of the said
treaty of limits being found valid;
And whereas, under the terms of the said convention of arbitration,
the contracting parties have solicited my acceptance of the office
of arbitration to decide such question or questions, and the charge
has been accepted by me;
And whereas, within the periods named in the said convention of
arbitration, the parties to the arbitration have submitted to me
their respective arguments, which have been duly communicated to the
opposing parties as required by 6aid convention; and, further, the
respective replies of each of the parties to the argument of the
other
[Page 456]
have been laid
before me in due time, so that all evidence and arguments necessary
to a decision of the point or points in dispute are now before me as
arbitrator thereof;
And whereas, by the final paragraph of the fifth article of the said
convention of arbitration of December 24, 1886, it is provided that
“the arbitrator may delegate his powers, provided that he does not
fail to intervene directly in the pronunciaton of the final
decision”:
Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States
of America, in the capacity of arbitrator as aforesaid between the
Governments of the Republics of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and to the
end that the fullest examination of the point or points in dispute
between those Governments shall be made to enable me to reach a just
and equitable conclusion in the premises and pronounce a final
decision or award thereon, do by this present instrument delegate my
powers to George L. Rives, Assistant Secretary of State, to the
extent contemplated and permitted by the aforesaid convention of
arbitration, hereby enjoining the said George L. Rives to use all
due circumspection and diligence in examining the arguments and
evidence submitted on both sides, and to make to me, as soon as may
be, a report thereon for my consideration and upon which my decision
of the matter in contention may rest.
Given under my hand and the seal of the
United States this 16th day of January, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, and of
the independence of the United States the one hundred and
twelfth.
[
seal.]
Grover
Cleveland.
By the President:
T. F.
Bayard,
Secretary of
State.
