File No. 2491/50–52.
Minister Squiers to
the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Legation,
Panama, January 1,
1909.
No. 410.]
Sir: Referring to department’s instructions
(file No. 2491/40) serial No. 137, December 1, last, respecting the
Costa Rica boundary dispute, I have the honor to transmit herewith a
copy of my note of December 21, last, to the minister for foreign
affairs, and his reply of December 26, with translation.
I have received department’s last instructions of December 16, last,2 and departments cable of
December 31, the latter of which I shall immediately bring to the notice
of the Panaman Government.
I have, etc.,
[Page 779]
[Inclosure.]
Minister Squiers to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
American Legation,
Panama, December 21,
1908.
No. 166.]
Your Excellency: Referring to legation
note, No. 78, January 14, 1908, and Mr. Aria’s esteemed reply No.
40/11, February 18, 1909, respecting the boundary treaty between
Costa Rica and Panama, I have the honor again to bring this
important matter to your excellency’s attention. The Government of
Costa Rica has solicited the good offices of my Government in
procuring a satisfactory solution of the long-pending question,
which is the cause of unrest in both countries, impairing their
reciprocal interests and feeling of good will and amity which have
alwaysunited the two peoples.
My Government expressly directs me to state to your excellency that
the United States would be happy to extend its impartial good
offices and mediation to Panama and Costa Rica, in the hope that the
boundary dispute, which has existed for many years, may be settled
to the satisfaction of each of the contending parties within the
very near future.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure
2—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister Squiers.
Foreign Office,
Panama, December 28,
1908.
No. 57/11.
Mr. Minister: Referring to your
excellency’s esteemed note of the 21st instant, No. 166, in which
your excellency informs me that the Government of Costa Rica has
solicited the good offices of your excellency, for the purpose of
securing a satisfactory solution of the pending boundary question
with Panama.
At the same time I note with much pleasure that the Government of the
United States has kindly offered its friendly services, with the
hope that the controversy respecting limits will be terminated to
the satisfaction of the parties interested.
My Government highly appreciates the offer which has been made by the
American Nation through your excellency for a prompt and happy
solution of this important matter, and I am especially pleased to
repeat in writing what I have already stated orally to your
excellency; that my Government has resolved to very soon establish a
legation in San Jose de Costa Rica for the purpose of settling this
question in a friendly manner.
At the same time it affords me great pleasure to state to your
excellency that the Panaman Government is animated with a desire
respecting the suggestion of your excellency of submitting the
settlement of this matter to the able and impartial arbitration of
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, which
it accepts in principle, and being under the obligation, as my
Government is, to adhere to the terms of the award rendered by
President Loubet in September, 1900, and also a compliance with the
provisions of Article III of the national constitution being
obligatory upon the Republic of Panama, my Government desires to
know, before coming to a conclusion relative to arbitration, the
points to be considered by the tribunal of arbitration.
I avail, etc.,
