No. 74.
Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.
United
States Legation in Central America,
Nicaragua, November 2, 1873.
(Received Dec. 2.)
No. 49.
Sir: Inclosed I have the honor to transmit yon a
translated copy of the treaty of August 26, 1873, recently ratified by the
governments of Guatemala, Salvador, and Nicaragua, and which, without doubt,
will also be ratified by the new government that is proposed to be organized
in Honduras.
I beg to call your attention to the fifth article, and to remark that I
believe in the four states named there is a strong and growing disposition
to adopt the principle of confederation. Costa Rica stands aloof now,
because her people, in my opinion, are opposed to confederation with the
other states.
* * * * * * *
I have, &c.,
[Page 112]
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Treaty concluded between the republics of Guatemala,
Salvador, and Nicaragua, by General Don Buenaventura Carazo and Bon
Anselmo H. Rivas, in the city of Managua, on the 26th of August, 1873.
- Article 1. The republics of Salvador,
Guatemala, and Nicaragua pledge themselves in the most solemn manner
to labor with all zeal for the consolidation of liberal principles
in each one of them, lending for this purpose, mutually, all their
moral support.
- Art. 2. The high contracting parties,
being convinced that the present administration of Costa Rica is
hostile to the peace of the Central American States, pledge
themselves to maintain a defensive alliance against that government.
In consequence, should any of these states be invaded by forces of
the government of Costa Rica, or by expeditions of any kind
proceeding from that state, the other states will lend aid of all
kinds that may be asked, unless they find themselves in the same
condition.
- Art. 3. The high contracting parties
will agree among themselves in regard to the number of men which
each of them must furnish to guard the frontier of Costa Rica. The
auxiliary forces will be under the orders of the state, receiving
aid as soon as they enter the territory of such state.
- Art. 4. If all the resources shall be
exhausted which are recognized by international law as indispensable
to prevent disruption, and if the majority of the high contracting
parties shall consider the guarantee offered by the defensive
attitude mentioned in the above articles to be insufficient, an
offensive alliance shall be formed, the details of which shall be
settled by a separate convention.
- Art. 5. The governments mentioned agree
that, when the circumstances which cause this alliance shall no
longer exist, they will earnestly labor for the formation of a
common government for the republics of Central America, and in case
they shall meet with any serious unexpected difficulties, they will
take active steps to secure uniform legislation, weights, measures,
and foreign representation, and will do all in their power to
strengthen the bonds which unite the people of Central
America.
- Art. 6. The high contracting parties
solemnly pledge themselves from this time forth to develop, in
separate conventions, the principles laid down in the above article,
in order that the bonds of fraternity which now finite them may be
strengthened.
- Art. 7. The republics of Salvador and
Guatemala agree that, so soon as the present situation of Costa Rica
shall be changed, they will take the initiative, in order that the
boundary question pending between Nicaragua and that republic may be
arranged in a friendly manner and in accordance with the interests
of both parties, and if this cannot be done, that it shall be
decided by arbitration, as stipulated between the two countries, in
as short a time as possible, to the end that a stop may be put to
the hostile feelings which it originates between them.
- Art. 8. The high contracting parties
pledge themselves to solicit the adhesion of the government of
Honduras to the present treaty; also to propose its adoption to the
republic of Costa Rica whenever the circumstances of her government
may appear favorable and promise to be permanent.
- Art. 9. The present treaty shall be
ratified in due form and its ratifications exchanged at this capital
within seventy days, reckoning from its date, or earlier if
possible.
Having faith that each one of the high
contracting parties will religiously comply with all of the above
stipulations, the plenipotentiaries have signed and sealed the
present treaty at Managua, on the 26th day of the month
of August, in the year 1873.
- BUENAVENTURA CARAZO.
- A. H. RIVAS.
