File No. 818.032/5
No. 92
American Legation,
San José,
May 2, 1916.
[Inclosure—Extract]
international relations—canal treaty
Our international life, traditionally so tranquil, registers in the
year which has just terminated events of importance.
I refer, in the first place, to the discussion that we have had with
the Governments of the United States and of Nicaragua on account of
the conclusion of the Bryan-Chamorro Canal Treaty, which discussion,
as it has not been possible for us to come to a direct agreement, we
have been obliged to carry up to the Central American Court of
Justice.
The case is well known to all Costa Ricans: against the clearest
prescriptions of existing treaties stipulating Nicagarua’s
obligation previously to obtain the opinion of Costa Rica in every
negotiation relating to an interoceanic canal, the Government of
Nicaragua, giving to those stipulations the most erroneous and
inadmissible interpretation, and concealing from Costa Rica its
motives, entered into a convention with the Government of the United
States whereby it cedes in perpetuity to the latter all the rights
necessary for the construction, maintenance and protection of an
interoceanic canal along the route bathed by the Great Lake and the
San Juan River.
My Government could not remain indifferent before such forgetfulness
of its proclaimed and unquestionable rights, and hastened to lay
before the signatory Governments the reasons for its opposition,
which, if indeed they were sufficient for both the notified parties
to recognize our right in principle, unfortunately failed to cause
the proceeding to be reformed as Costa Rica asked and as the
treaties stipulate.
Consequently there remained to us no other recourse than to the
Court, in order to obtain before this august tribunal a civilized
and fraternal solution of the very sensible difference between us
today.
white award
The difficulties which more than a year ago arose with the neighbor
Republic of Panama in consequence of the promulgation of the White
Award have not yet been overcome, in spite of the incessant endeavor
which the Government has made to that end.
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The subject, as you know, is under the friendly mediation of the
Government of the United States, and Costa Ricans may rest assured
that at no distant day it will be settled in perfect consonance With
the sacred and unrenounceable rights of the Republic.
