817.812/522

The Chargé in Nicaragua (Beaulac) to the Secretary of State

No. 1317

Sir: With reference to the Department’s telegram No. 17 of February 7, 5 P.M.,46 concerning a proposed agreement under which the Nicaraguan Government would grant free transportation to the United States Army Engineers in Nicaragua in return for which the latter would carry out a survey of a rail route from Lake Nicaragua to the Atlantic Coast, I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the notes referring to this agreement exchanged between the Legation and the Foreign Office together with a translation of the Foreign Office’s note.

It will be observed that the arrangement outlined in the Legation’s note No. 14, of February 8, 1930, referred to, and concurred in by the Nicaraguan Government in its note of February 10, 1930, in reply, is that outlined by the Legation in its telegram No. 4 of January 8, 3 P.M.,46 and agreed to by the Department in its telegram No. 17 of February 7, 5. P.M.

Since information concerning the proposed agreement had reached the Nicaraguan press from Washington, the Minister of Foreign Affairs asked me if I had any objection to his releasing the notes for publication locally and I told him that I had none. He told me that he would have immediate instructions issued to the Railroad in accordance with the terms of the arrangement reached.

I have [etc.]

Willard L. Beaulac
[Enclosure 1]

The American Chargé (Beaulac) to the Nicaraguan Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs (Cordero Reyes)

No. 14

Excellency: I have the honor to refer to a recent conversation with Your Excellency concerning a proposed agreement between the Government of Nicaragua and the Government of the United States of America under which the Government of Nicaragua will grant to the United States Army Engineers engaged in conducting a survey of the Nicaragua Canal Route free transportation over the railroad and lake steamers belonging to the Pacific Railroad of Nicaragua, in [Page 710] return for which those engineers will carry out a survey of a rail route from Lake Nicaragua to the Atlantic Coast via the San Juan River Valley and make such survey available to the Government of Nicaragua. In accordance with the understanding reached in our conversation I have the honor to suggest the following as the terms of the agreement between the two Governments:

(1)
The Government of Nicaragua agrees to grant to the United States Army Engineers engaged in conducting a survey of the Nicaragua Canal Route free transportation of men and supplies on the railroad and lake steamers belonging to the Pacific Railroad of Nicaragua during the period they have been and will be engaged in their present work in Nicaragua.
(2)
In return for this exemption the Army Engineers referred to will carry out in connection with their present duties a survey of a rail route from Lake Nicaragua to the Atlantic Coast via the San Juan River Valley and make such survey available to the Government of Nicaragua.

Accept [etc.]

Willard L. Beaulac
[Enclosure 2—Translation]

The Nicaraguan Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs (Cordero Reyes) to the American Chargé (Beaulac)

No. 17

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Note No. 14 of February 8, 1930, with reference to a proposed agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Nicaragua under which the latter will grant to the United States Army Engineers engaged in conducting a survey of the Nicaragua Canal Route free transportation over the railroad and lake steamers belonging to the Pacific Railroad of Nicaragua, in return for which those Engineers will carry out for the Government of Nicaragua a survey of a rail route from Lake Nicaragua to the Atlantic Coast via the San Juan River Valley.

In reply, I beg to state to you that my Government accepts with the greatest pleasure the agreement referred to as outlined in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of the note to which I reply.

Accept [etc.]

M. Cordero Reyes
  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed.