No. 26.
Mr. Hall to
Mr. Frelinghuysen.
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
Guatemala, July 6, 1883.
(Received July 26.)
No. 136.]
Sir: With reference to my dispatch No. 110, of the
19th of May ultimo, reporting the steps taken by the Government of Salvador
to obtain some concerted action of the Central American states in favor of
the projected interoceanic canal of Nicaragua, I now accompany, for
convenient reference, a duplicate of the inclosure transmitted therewith,
and the following translations, which, I am persuaded, will be found of
[Page 59]
interest in connection with that
subject: The circular of the Government of Salvador to the several
Governments of the Central American states; the answers of Honduras, Costa
Rica, and Nicaragua. These communications are published in the Diario
Oficial of Salvador, of the 14th and 21st of May ultimo, also inclosed.
I respectfully invite your attention to the communications from Costa Rica
and Nicaragua. The former declines, for the present at least, to participate
in any action respecting the canal, but her objections relate to questions
with Nicaragua which are connected with a long-pending dispute concerning
the boundary lines between the two countries. An attempt has been made
recently to settle them by a treaty, proposed by Costa Rica, whose
Government has since rejected the negotiations of its own
representative.
Nicaragua also declines to take any action in the matter. The reasons
therefor are set forth in the note of her minister, Mr. Castellon, to Mr.
Gallegos. The Government is evidently disheartened and under the impression
that the Congress of the United States will take no action favoring the
enterprise.
* * * * * * *
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
136.—Translation.]
Circular of the Government of
Salvador to the Governments of the
Central American states.
Department of Foreign Relations of the Republic of
Salvador,
San
Salvador, May 12,
1883.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to remit to your
excellency an authorized copy of a note which this office has addressed
under date of the 4th instant to the minister of Salvador in Washington,
in relation to the project of the Nicaragua interoceanic canal.
As your excellency will see from the inclosed, motives of particular
interest relative to the situation and progress of this Republic have
obliged the Salvadorean cabinet to take the initiative toward the
American Government, to call its attention and solicit its aid, in order
that, under such powerful auspices, the realization of that important
enterprise may be promoted in a decisive manner.
But, apart from such considerations, my Government believes that that
work is above all essentially Central American, as it is destined by its
transcendental consequences to produce the most complete and favorable,
transformation in the destinies of these Republics: and by virtue of
this fact, without ignoring the labors which, for a long time past, nave
been preparing on the part of the Republic of Nicaragua, or with its
consent and aid, it thinks that the five Governments of Central America
should unite their forces, to direct their instances, offer their
co-operation and influence as far as they may be able, to the end of
assuring the Nicaragua interoceanic communication, which should be so
fruitful in beneficial results to our people.
The Government of Salvador, then, feeling the importance and
opportuneness of this measure, and with the conviction that that of that
Republic of which your excellency is the worthy organ is perfectly
identified with its ideas, as far as they tend to promote Central
American interests, has given me instructions to earnestly request you,
as I do by the present, in order that, if you think proper, you may
direct your offices toward the Government of the United States of
America, in the same sense as this Republic has done, concerning the
object indicated.
The uniformity and concurrence of such action, in addition to the
political effect they might produce, would protect the Republics of
Central America, in the opinion of my Government, from the charge of
indolence, which might, perhaps, be made against them, in an affair
which, like that of the interoceanic canal, is of so much interest to
their aggrandizement and progress.
I renew, &c.,
[Page 60]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
136.—Translation.]
The minister of foreign affairs of Honduras to that
of Salvador.
Department of Foreign Relations of the Republic of
Honduras,
Tegucigalpa, June 1,
1883.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to refer to your
excellency’s dispatch, dated the 12th of last month, whose contents I
have with satisfaction brought to the notice of the council of ministers
in the exercise of the executive power.
The Government of Honduras applauds the patriotic idea of that Republic
relative to working with decided energy to draw the attention of the
United States of America and solicit their aid, in order that, under
their powerful auspices, the most important enterprise of the
interoceanic canal across the territory of Nicaragua may be
promoted.
The realization of so grand a project is destined to change the face of
Central America, contributing efficaciously to its rapid advancement and
prosperity, and operating the most complete transformation in benefit of
these countries, for which a fortunate future is reserved, by their
excellent geographical situation and by the riches of all kinds inclosed
in their privileged territory.
Central America, as your excellency very well says, should protect
herself from the charge that might be made against her of indolence in
an affair which interests her so much; and it is necessary to unite all
forces that the Nicaragua route may be accepted and the interoceanic
communication made there.
The Government of Honduras, animated by those ideas, accepts with
pleasure the initiative taken by your excellency, and in consequence
instructions will be given to our minister in Washington, analogous to
those which your excellency has communicated to Mr. Batres Jáuregui,
minister plenipotentiary of Salvador and Guatemala in the United States
of America.
The minister of Honduras will be recommended to proceed in an affair of
such capital interest in accord with the representatives of the other
Central American Republics.
I shall have the honor to send to your excellency in due time an
authorized copy of the dispatch to the said minister of Honduras.
With assurances, &c.,
[Inclosure 3 in No.
136.—Translation.]
The minister for foreign affairs of Costa Rica to
that of Salvador.
National
Palace,
San
José, June 6, 1883.
Mr. Minister: I have had the honor to receive
your esteemed communication of the 12th of May ultimo, and the copy with
which you were pleased to accompany it.
I am pleased to inform your excellency that my Government is in accord
with your excellency’s observations as regards the importance of the
Nicaragua Canal, and at the proper time to manifest with deeds the
interest with which the realization of that work inspires all the
Central American states; but an observation has been made on the part of
this Government, by virtue of the treaty which exists between the two
Republics, and I am awaiting its result; so that in the mean time it
will not be possible, notwithstanding the good disposition of this
Government, to take any step which might be interpreted as a tacit
renunciation of our rights.
I entertain the hope that soon perhaps we may labor in harmony in favor
of so important an enterprise, and in whatever tends to promote Central
American interests your excellency may be sure of the opportune
co-operation of Costa Rica.
I improve, &c.,
[Inclosure 4 in No.
136.—Translation.]
The minister for foreign affairs of Nicaragua to
that of Salvador.
Department of Foreign Relations of Nicaragua,
Managua, June 12, 1883.
Mr. Minister: I have had the honor to receive,
with your excellency’s esteemed dispatch, dated the 12th of May ultimo,
a copy of that which, on the 4th of the same month, you addressed to the
minister of Salvador in the United States, giving him instructions to
ascertain the opinion which prevails in the councils of the Washington
[Page 61]
Cabinet relative to the
projected Nicaragua interoceanic canal, and the hopes which may be
entertained as to its co-operation in favor of the enterprise.
Your excellency explains the motives of interest for that Republic and
for all Central America which move your Government to take that step,
and in their name asks that of Nicaragua to direct its offices towards
the Government of the United States in the same sense.
My Government is grateful for the fraternal solicitude shown by that of
that Republic in favor of a work in which Nicaragua has placed her most
nattering hopes of political advancement and of pacific aggrandizement,
in common with her sisters of the Central American Isthmus.
Understanding the grandeur of the work, and the incalculable benefits it
should produce to these countries, she has labored alone, but
constantly, in promoting its execution by such means as have been in her
power, and particularly sending to Europe and the United States, at
different times, legations charged with laboring to that end. She has
done so recently after celebrating the contract with Mr. A. G. Menocal
in conditions which assure to the other states of the Center the same
advantages as to the sovereign of the territory in which the work should
be constructed.
But in view of the meager result obtained up to the present in the United
States, and of the lukewarmness manifested by the provisional company,
concessionee of the privilege, this Government thinks best to abstain
for the present from undertaking new efforts toward the Government of
Washington, hoping that your excellency will be pleased to communicate
to me the information which the minister of Salvador may obtain in
virtue of the instructions which have been transmitted to him.
I reiterate, &c.,
