Office of the Historian

Mr. Sansón to Mr. Hay.

[Translation.]
National Palace, Managua, December 5, 1898.

Mr. Secretary: I have the honor herewith to transmit to your excellency the autograph letter which is addressed by His Excellency General President Zelaya to His Excellency the President of the United States of America, informing him of the political change which took place in Nicaragua on the 1st instant.

Begging your excellency to forward the autograph letter in question to its high destination, I offer you the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.

Your excellency’s faithful and obedient servant,

J. Sansón.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

J. Santos Zelaya, General of Division and Constitutional President of the Republic of Nicaragua, to His Excellency the President of the United States of America.

Great and Good Friend: The military occurrences which have taken place in the State of El Salvador since the 13th ultimo have put an end to the Federal Republic of the United States of Central America, and the Executive Council which represented it was obliged, on the 29th of the same month, to declare the de facto separation of the signatory States.

The result of this situation has been that Nicaragua, an integral part of the federation, has recovered her absolute sovereignty as a free and independent nation, and has adopted her former name of a Republic, governed by democratic institutions.

While the end of this new attempt to form a federation, which was so greatly desired by all Central American patriots, is to be lamented, I entertain the firm conviction that the antecedents of this country and those of my Government in its relations with other nations, and especially with the United States, will render it possible to reestablish those relations in a satisfactory manner, and to strengthen them on a footing of the sincerest and most advantageous cordiality.

My Government will spare no pains to promote the accomplishment of these desires, and I avail myself of this occasion to inform you that the people and Government of Nicaragua feel the most lively sympathy for your beautiful country, and earnestly desire its further progress and prosperity.

With the sincerest wishes for the peace and well-being of the United States, and for your own personal happiness and welfare, I beg you to accept the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.

Your faithful friend,

  • J. S. Zelaya.
  • J. Sansón.
Done at the National Palace of Managua, on this 5th day of the month of December, 1898.

A true copy of its original.

[l. s.]
J. Sansón.

Managua, December 5, 1898.