Mr. Rodriguez to Mr. Olney.
Washington, D. C, February 6, 1897. (Received Feb. 18.)
Sir: During the period of his first Administration, the Most Excellent. President Cleveland had the condescension to serve as arbiter between the Republics of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to decide upon the validity or invalidity of a treaty on boundaries celebrated by them on the 15th of April, 1858.
His award put an end to the controversy, and both parties received and acknowledged it with thankfulness. However, in carrying out some of its details they encountered difficulties which, up to the present, have impeded its complete execution. Said difficulties are mostly shown in the original minutes of the commissioners charged with determining the boundary line, and of their true nature I have endeavored to convey to your excellency a clear idea in my official communication of the 26th of December last, to which I take the liberty of respectfully calling your excellency’s attention.
With a view to obviate them the two Republics agreed to a new convention, which was by both of them duly ratified, the ratifications having been exchanged, on the 18th of December last, by the Greater Republic of Central America and that of Costa Rica, the former having at the time taken the place of Nicaragua in respect to its foreign affairs.
By that convention,2 of which I have the honor herewith to inclose a certified copy, as also an English translation of the same, two boards of engineers are provided for, one in behalf of each of the contracting parties, to determine the dividing line between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, said boards to be completed by an engineer appointed by the President of the United States of America, and who shall have the power—as ample as it is delicate—to finally decide upon all points of difference, whatever their nature may be, between the two boards.
It is also stipulated by said convention that the diplomatic representatives of both contracting parties shall, within ninety days from the exchange of ratifications, request that the President of the United States of America accede to make said appointment and select and appoint said engineer.
In compliance with such stipulation I, in accord with his excellency the minister resident of Costa Rica, under instructions and in behalf of our respective Governments, apply through your excellency to the President of the United States of America, requesting that he deign [Page 331] to condescend to the wishes of said Governments, thus solemnly expressed in the aforesaid compact, and newly oblige their acknowledgment.
And in so doing I avail, etc.
- For text of the Convention, see Foreign Relations, 1896, p. 100.↩