715.1715/195
The Minister in Nicaragua (Jefferson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 20.]
Sir: Supplementing my telegram No. 58 of November 19, 11 A.M.74 I have the honor to report more in detail on the conference that took place in Amapala on November 16th and 17th between Presidents Chamorro and Lopez Gutierrez and their Ministers for Foreign Affairs.
Both of the Presidents invited me to be present at the conference and all during my stay there they kept me fully informed as [to] their private conferences. After the terms of the Pact had been agreed to President López Gutiérrez, through his Chargé d’Affaires to Nicaragua, Señor Córdova, who was present at the conference, asked me if it would be convenient for me to sign the Pact as a witness. I replied that I could not do that but would be very glad to use my good offices in the future to see that its provisions were complied with.
The articles of the Pact were submitted to me by Dr. Máximo Zepeda, member of the Nicaraguan delegation, before they were signed for any suggestions that I thought convenient. I suggested [Page 322] that all care be taken not to interfere with the early termination of the boundary question, especially since both Governments had submitted the question to arbitration and had asked the Department of State to use its good offices in helping to bring about an early solution of the question. I also suggested that great care should be taken relative to the wording of the article in regard to Nicaragua’s position concerning the sending of its delegates to the Central American Union Conference which is to be held in Costa Rica, December 1st next;76 that the Nicaraguan Government should carefully observe its obligations in connection with the United States, etc., before subscribing to a pact of a Central American Union.
Attached herewith is a Spanish copy and translation of the full text of the Amapala Pact.
President Jorge Meléndez of El Salvador sent his regrets for nonattendance by Dr. Alberto Echandi, Costa Rican Minister accredited to the Central American countries. It is said that President Melendez’ reason for not coming was due to urgent matters which required his presence at home in connection with the economic and political situation of the country.
The following is a list of some of the prominent men who were present in Amapala during the two days session of the conference:
- Señor Pedro Quartin, Spanish Minister accredited to the Central American Republics, en route to Costa Rica.
- Dr. Alberto Echandi, Minister of Costa Rica, and his secretaries, en route to Costa Rica.
- Dr. Carlos Salazar, representative of Guatemala, en route to Costa Rica.
- Dr. Salvador Falla, representative of Guatemala, en route to Costa Rica.
- Dr. Alberto Uclés, representative of Honduras, en route to Costa Rica.
- Dr. Mariano Vásquez, representative of Honduras, en route to Costa Rica.
- Dr. Ochoa Velásquez, Vice President of Honduras.
- Dr. Fontecho, expert of Honduras on the Honduranean–Nicaraguan boundary question.
- Señor Don Jesus Alvarado, Honduranean Minister of Fomento.
- Señor Don Eduardo Guillen, Government official of Honduras.
- Mr. Willing Spencer, American Chargé d’Affaires at Tegucigalpa.
- Judge Gutiérrez Navas, of Nicaragua.
- Dr. Máximo Zepeda, of Nicaragua. General Carmela Barberana Díaz.
The gentlemen mentioned in the above list as representatives en route to Costa Rica are the representatives to the Central American [Page 323] Union Conference to be held in San José, Costa Rica, December 1st next.
Apparently during the Amapala Conference a spirit of good feeling prevailed and it is to be hoped that the results thereof will be of mutual benefit to both Governments.
I have [etc.]