File No. 715.1715/10

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua ( Jefferson )

No. 8

Sir: The Department transmits, herewith, for your information, a translation of a memorandum concerning the boundary line between the Republics of Honduras and Nicaragua. This memorandum was handed to the Secretary of State by Mr. Alberto Membreño, the Minister from Honduras, with the request that the Government of the United States use its good offices with the Government of Nicaragua in order to suggest that the arbitral decision, as given by His Majesty, the King of Spain, in the year 1906, be respected by Nicaragua.

To this end you may seek a suitable opportunity and suggest to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua that the Government of the United States, moved by the feeling of sincere friendship which it entertains for the Republics of Nicaragua and Honduras and having at heart the interests and well-being of both those countries, would view with great satisfaction the early settlement of the misunderstanding, which unfortunately exists between those two countries, as to the line of demarcation of their frontier.

The Government of the United States understands that in the year 1904, the Governments of Nicaragua and Honduras signed a convention for the purpose of defining their boundary and that a mixed commission was afterwards appointed for the actual work of demarcation; and that still later, in the year 1905, the King of Spain was asked as arbitrator to decide the questions arising from the difference of opinion which occurred in the tracing of the frontier line from the Pass of Teotecasinte and the Atlantic coast. After the arguments of both parties were presented and carefully studied, the King of Spain pronounced his decision.

As the agreement to accept the arbitral decision of the King of Spain was entered into in entire good faith by both contracting parties, and as the decision was, as the Department is advised, admitted to be valid, there would not appear to be any good reason why the Government of Nicaragua should decline to cooperate with the Government of Honduras in bringing the matter to a speedy termination. It would be a matter for deep regret if any detriment should come to the beneficent operation of the principle of arbitration through the failure of either Government in the present instance to give full effect to the award of the arbitration.

I am [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
J. B. Moore

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Nicaragua ( Jefferson )

[Telegram]

Referring to Department’s instruction of December 2, No. 8, regarding Honduran-Nicaraguan boundary award of arbitration, cable present status of your representations to Foreign Office in premises and what reply, if any, made by Nicaraguan Government.

Bryan