File No. 816.032/16
Chargé Tennant to the
Secretary of State
[Extract]
No. 76
American Legation,
San Salvador,
February 21, 1916.
Sir: On Friday morning last, the 18th instant,
the National Assembly of Salvador convened and the President of
Salvador, don Carlos Melendez, read his Annual Message before said body;
copies of said message are herewith transmitted. The ceremony was
attended by the Cabinet, the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, the Justice
of the Supreme Court and other high functionaries of the Government.
The message begins by a recital of the new conditions brought about by
the European War and reference is made to the attitude of our Government
in this crisis particularly referring to the attitude of President
Wilson in proposing a treaty between all of the Pan American States.
Following this President Melendez takes up the general economic
situation of the country and emphasizes the fact that Salvador’s great
agricultural riches have saved what might have been a serious economic
situation.
He mentions the cancellation of an old debt to Chile and goes into the
relations of Salvador with the United States and mentions especially the
McAdoo Financial Congress, the Second Pan American Scientific Congress,
and the Pan American Medical Congress. He shows his interest in the Pan
American Treaty proposed by President Wilson and commends the same
highly.
The rest of the message deals in a general way with the different
Ministries and the Departments under their respective charge.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure—Extract—Translation]
[Untitled]
With the Government of the United States of North America our
diplomatic relations have still continued close and cordial.
By virtue of an invitation extended to us, we participated in the
Financial Conference held at Washington last May, in the Second Pan
American Scientific Congress held very recently in that city, and in
the Pan American Medical Congress held last June at San Francisco,
Cal., in connection with the great Panama-Pacific Exposition.
A few days ago His Excellency President Wilson proposed to us the
conclusion with all the American Republics of a treaty in which the
high contracting parties solemnly agree to unite in a common and
mutual guaranty of territorial integrity and political independence
under a republican form of
[Page 956]
government. In order to definitely apply this guaranty the
contracting governments will undertake to settle all pending
boundary or territorial questions either by means of a friendly
agreement or by arbitration. It is likewise “provided that all
questions of whatever character which may arise between two or more
of them and can not be settled by ordinary diplomatic action shall,
before they cause a breaking out of hostilities or a declaration of
war, be submitted to a permanent international investigating
commission at least for one year, and if this investigation fails to
result in an adjustment of the dispute, the latter shall be referred
to arbitration if the matter does not affect the honor,
independence, or vital interests of the disputants or the interests
of a third party. The proposed treaty likewise embodies an express
undertaking not to permit the departure from the respective
territories of any military or naval expedition hostile to the
established government of any of the contracting nations, besides
which the exportation of arms, ammunition, and any other war stores
for use in revolts and insurrections is to be prevented.
This pact is very satisfactory and highly significant, setting out as
it does to provide that no American power, including the United
States, shall acquire any territory in future outside its lawfully
established boundaries, for this and nothing else will afford a
common guaranty of the territorial integrity and political
independence of the nations signing the treaty. Compulsory
arbitration as stipulated, even with the ample reservations which
restrict its scope, is a very advanced step in international
relations and implies evident progress, especially as regards the
stronger nations, which have refused on more than one occasion to
undertake to submit to absolutely compulsory arbitration. Then the
establishment of investigating commissions undoubtedly constitutes a
great legal stride in the settlement of international controversies,
since it substitutes study and due process of law in lieu of rugged
debate, which sometimes becomes strained when the discussion is with
the stronger powers. There is no doubt that investigation by a
committee of international officials is more apt to lead to good
understanding in the most difficult questions and disputes than
direct diplomatic negotiations between them, when each of the
contending parties endeavors to have its pretensions prevail while
weakening those of the adversary.
Consequently this Government looks upon the scheme of the North
American Government as a very laudable and sincere effort to
maintain peace among the American nations and remove many obstacles
from diplomatic relations which prevent good harmony among the
nations and engender diffidence and fear, especially when a
diplomatic controversy arises with strong governments which are not
always willing to acknowledge those possessing inferior means of
material defense as being in the right even if they are so.
