713.1311/149
The Minister in Costa Rica (Eberhardt) to the Secretary of
State
No. 1242
San José
, December 27,
1932.
[Received January 3, 1933.]
Sir:—In confirmation of my telegram No. 78
dated December 24, 12 Noon (1932),15 I have the honor to forward herewith Executive
Decree No. 10 dated December 23, 1932 of the President of the Republic,
in the form of a clipping from La Gacetar–Diario
Oficial no. 291 of December 25, 1932, as well as the copy and
translation of Note No. 555–B which was addressed to me by the Minister
for Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica on December 24th last. These
enclosures contain the text of the Executive notification of
renunciation by Costa Rica of the General Treaty of Peace and Amity,
signed at Washington [Page 346] on
February 7, 1923, as well as the text of the relevant notification of
Costa Rica’s action to the other signatories.
Dr. Leonidas Pacheco, the Minister
for Foreign Affairs, has just called at the Legation to inquire what the
policy of the United States Government will be in respect of these
treaties, subsequent to the inauguration of Mr. Roosevelt. I professed the utmost
ignorance.
He then spoke about the ambiguous position in which his country is now
placed through the arrival in San José during the last few days of a
Salvadorian Consul; he said that the Consul had come to him this morning
and requested an exequatur, and that refusal had been necessary due to
the non-existence of diplomatic relations between El Salvador and Costa
Rica. He added that he told the new Consul to enter into his functions
without official recognition.
Dr. Pacheco then said that, much to
his regret, his Government would not be able to recognize the Martínez régime in El Salvador until the
first of January 1934, on account of the restrictions of the Treaty.
The Foreign Minister professed regret at the failure of his recent
mission to Guatemala (vide despatch No. 1204 of
November 21, 1932 et seq.).16 He said, with some
attempt at sardonic wit, that every country has its “White House” but
that in Guatemala City there were two; that the influence there of Mr.
Sheldon Whitehouse is
unlimited.
Beyond the mere announcement of the denunciation of the Treaty, there has
been no press statement in the matter, nor have local observers
commented on President Jiménez’
decision of December 23d.
Respectfully yours,
For the Minister:
McCeney Werlich
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Costa Rican Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Pacheco)
to the American Minister (Eberhardt)
No. 555–B
San José
, December 24,
1932.
Mr. Minister:—The Government so worthily
represented by Your Excellency was invited by the Central American
Republics to attend the discussions which resulted in the signing of
the so-called Washington Treaties.
In view of the decision of the President of the Republic to denounce
the General Treaty of Peace and Amity signed on February 7, 1923, I
have deemed it an obligation of courtesy, which I discharge with
pleasure, to notify Your Excellency of that decision, and I
consequently have the honor to transcribe for Your Excellency the
respective [Page 347] Decree and the
note which this Ministry is addressing to the Central American
Republics, reading as follows:
“No. 10. Since by virtue of Law No. 21 of November 24, 1924,
Costa Rica approved the General Treaty of Peace and Amity
signed by the Central American Republics in the city of
Washington on February 7, 1923, and—Considering—That some of
the provisions of said Treaty have not had in practice the
results which were expected of them,—Therefore, in
conformity with the procedure outlined in Article XVIII of
said Treaty,—The President of the Republic—Decrees:—Denounce
the Treaty in question and communicate the fact to the other
Republics of Central America.—Given in the Presidential
House, in San José, on the 23d day of December, 1932.
(Signed) Ricardo
Jiménez.—The Secretary of State in the
Portfolio of Foreign Affairs, (signed) Leonidas Pacheco.”
“No. 64–A.–000–83—San José, December 23, 1932.—Mr.
Minister:—I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that
the President of the Republic by Decree dated today has
denounced the General Treaty of Peace and Amity, concluded
in Washington on February 7, 1923, by the Central American
Republics, having had recourse to Article XVIII of said
Treaty to accomplish said denunciation, and that the
Republic of Costa Rica is consequently freed of the
obligations contained therein, starting from the first of
January 1934, the date on which the ten-year period of life
established in the Treaty will expire.—The Government of
Costa Rica desires it to be clearly and definitely
understood that in proceeding to denounce the Treaty, it
does not want to be considered as having been motivated by
the purpose of removing itself from the interests which are
common to Central America, neither does it object to the
majority of the provisions which the Pact contains; but it
believes that notwithstanding the good intentions and the
fraternal spirit which animated the Central American
Republics at the time they signed the Treaty, the results
obtained to date do not justify the preservation of some of
its clauses establishing obligations which affect the
sovereignty and independence of the signatory Republics, and
which do not deserve to be perpetuated considering the
actual state of affairs and the events which have occurred
during the period the treaty has been in effect. The
President likewise desires to make known his very genuine
wish, even more, his fervent desire to enter into new
negotiations with the sister Republics tending to the
revision of this pact, whereby from that labor may result
not only the adequate re-establishment of the present (one),
but also the signing of others, which, while scrupulously
respecting the absolute sovereignty of each of the Central
American Republics, may create new clauses designed to
reinforce the spirit of cordiality and to invigorate the
bonds of common purpose which have united and each day will
unite the Central Americans more and more in the pursuit of
their greater progress and wellbeing.—On the basis,
therefore, of absolute respect, and with the sovereignty of
the five Central American Republics untrammelled, the
President expresses his earnest desire that at the earliest
possible opportunity the interested Parties reconsider the
denounced Pact in [Page 348]
order to study with the highest cordiality the new forms to
which our relations should conform, with due consideration
of all the peculiarities, advantages and guarantees required
by the feeling of sincere brotherhood which ought to prevail
in Central America.—I seize the opportunity to renew to Your
Excellency the assurances of my high and distinguished
consideration, (s) Leonidas
Pacheco.——His Excellency the Minister for
Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of—Guatemala—Honduras—Nicaragua.”
I avail myself of the occasion afforded to reiterate to Your
Excellency the assurances of my high consideration.
