Mr. Uhl to Mr. Bengifo.
Washington , March 14, 1894 .
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 22d ultimo in relation to the settlement of the pending boundary question between your country and Costa Rica.
It is very gratifying to be assured, as I now am by your note, that the Government of Colombia appreciates the friendly desires and earnest hopes of the United States for a speedy settlement of a controversy in which this Government can but feel a deep interest as the neighbor of the parties to the contention and in view of its existing treaty guarantees with respect to the territory of the Isthmus.
The withdrawal of the note which, following the President’s direction, the U. S. minister at Bogota addressed to the Colombian Government simultaneously with a like communication made through our legation in Central America to the Government of Costa Rica may serve to explain the impression I discern in your note that Mr. McKinney’s representation conveyed an offer of some sort looking to the mediation of this Government toward the adjustment of the matter, and this view is strengthened by the circumstance that the Colombian minister for foreign affairs asked the cooperation of this Government [Page 189] to induce Costa Rica to accept the proposal for a new treaty negotiation for the revival of the arbitration. The withdrawn note of Mr. McKinney was careful, following my instruction, to make it clear that the Government of the United States expressed no opinion touching the question raised by Colombia in regard to the lapse of the Spanish arbitrators’ powers, and limited itself to conveying to Colombia, as to Costa Rica, the President’s sincere belief “that the agreement of arbitration entered into by the two nations constitutes an obligation between them which neither is morally free to disregard on grounds of technical formality, and his conviction that both governments will endeavor to promote its successful issue.”
With cordial gratification I learn from your note that the Government of Colombia is inspired by the same high motives, and as the disinterested friend of both nations the United States trusts that an honorable adjustment of the dispute may be speedily reached.
Accept, sir, etc.,
Acting Secretary.