"ART. 2. Never in any case, therefore, shall the said republics go to war. Should any differences occur between them, they shall furnish the necessary explanations, and if they do not settle the difficulty and re-establish a good understanding, they shall resort to the arbitration of a friendly nation.

“ART. 3. If, unfortunately, any nation should go to war with Costa Rica or Nicaragua, the high con racting parties agree, in the most absolute manner, not to make an offensive alliance or to lend any aid whatever to the enemies of either of the two republies; but they declare that this does not prevent them from concluding defensive alliauces for the defense of their respective territories in case of invasion."

Not having lately received any complaints from the government of Nicaragua, or any questions concerning any acts which could be interpreted as hostile to the tranquillity of Nicaragua, the government of Costa Rica ought to rest tranquil in the faith of the treaties; that is, if these have any significance in the relations among peoples and governments. Besides, the government of Costa Rica had other reasons to think that it had a guarantee from the government of Nicaragua. It felt implicit confidence in the personal character of the head of that republic, whose antecedents, in its opinion, were in favor of peace between the two republics, that he would exercise bis influence, if he had any in the government, for the good of Costa Rica, instead of promoting revolutions in the neighboring republics. On account of all these antecedents, it is easy to understand why the government of the undersigned deemed the report unworthy of special attention when it was announced that the governments of Guatemala and Salvador had accredited a legation near the government of Managua. Being at peace and in harmony with both of those republics, having a solemn treaty with Nicaragua, which made war impossible, since it provided means for the settlement of any difference that might arise, this government paid no heed to the published statements which declared that the legation was hostile to Costa Rica.

Thus it was that, resting its faith on these bases, the government gave all its attention to the work of the railroad, and even thought to make it interoceanic, not only for the good of Costa Rica, but of all Central America and all the nations of the earth, when she was surprised by the treaty of alliance between the three republics, which was published for the first time in the Official Bulletin of Salvador. It is not necessary to enter into an analysis of this document, so highly offensive and menacing to the dignity, tranquillity, and independence of Costa Rica; it is sufficient simply to read it to perceive that its whole spirit is of a low, personal character that should never enter into negotiations on so grave a question. Apart from the opprobrious terms of the treaty toward the legitimately established government of a sovereign nation; apart from the calumnious accusations which it contains, there is at the bottom of it a provocation which is almost equivalent to a declaration of war, and this although not a single note had been addressed to this government asking for explanations or showing in any manner that there existed cause for complaint, so that the government of Costa Rica might have an opportunity to explain its conduct. It is surprising that the three states mentioned should have thought proper to act in violation of that which is prescribed by the laws and usages of nations in similar cases; but more especially is this surprising in the case of Nicaragua, with which country there existed rigorous compacts for the prevention of such an event. That government ought, if she had any complaint, to have addressed the government of Costa Rica, asking explanations or demanding satisfaction, and, not being satisfied with the explanations, or satisfaction having been denied, she should have resorted to arbitration, as mentioned in article second of the treaty of peace and friendship above referred to. Had the government of Costa Rica opposed all these means of conciliation, then that government would have a right to ally itself as it thought fit, and even to declare war. By acting as she has, the government of Nicaragua has openly infringed the stipulations of that treaty, and Costa Rica is justified in providing for her security and in vindicating her offended dignity without regard to the treaty. Even without having had official botice of the agreement adjusted at Managua, the chief magistrate of Costa Rica, though he had only heard rumors concerning that alliance, solemnly declared that he would not raise a single soldier in Costa Rica to go and invade any of the other states. This programme shall be maintained, notwithstanding the provocation contained in the treaty of Managua. The government and people of Costa Rica desire to work, and know too well the value of peace to permit themselves to break it thoughtlessly; but at the same time they know how to protect their territory and to preserve their indeprudence. The government of the undersigned cannot foresee what measures prudence will counsel them to adopt for their protection. This depends upon the Rivas-Carazo traty and the conduct of the three mentioned states; but from this time forth we CO ine all responsibility which may arise from the unjustifiable acts which have prodered the present state of feeling.

I beg you to submit these considerations to the government which you represent, a to accept the assurance of the distinguished appreciation with which I have the har to subscribe myself,

Your very obedient servant,

VICENTE HERRERA.

No. 54.]

No.76.

Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.

UNITED STATES LEGATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA, Guatemala, Nov. 15, 1873.' (Received December 30.) SIR: I have the honor to inform you that on my return here I found that President Barrios, with two of his chief ministers and his counselor of state, accompanied by a small military escort, had gone to the borders of Honduras and Salvador to confer with President Gonzalez, of Salvador, in regard (especially) to the successor to President Arias, of Honduras. It is reported that Arias has consented to vacate his office of President in favor of any one who may be selected by the Presidents of Salvador and Guatemala. My latest information is that Leiva is likely to be chosen on account of his popularity, although he lacks the military prestige which seems so necessary to a continuance in power in these states, and is supposed not to be in full accord with the political sentiments of Presidents Barrios and Gonzalez. His reputation is that of an honest man, of deliberale judgment, and in favor of the speediest economical reforms of which Honduras is susceptible in her present unhappy financial and industrial condition. He is also reputed to be quite wealthy, as the result of his good sense and prudent management. I propose, as soon as he is inaugurated, and there is some degree of quiet restored in Honduras, to go direct to Comayagua, to present my letter of credence.

I have, &c.,

No. 77.

GEO. WILLIAMSON.

Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.

No. 55.] UNITED STATES LEGATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA, Guatemala, Nov. 15, 1873. (Received December 30.)

SIR: I have the honor to inclose you herewith a copy of my note of this date, addressed to the minister of foreign affairs of Costa Rica, in reply to the circular of which I sent you a translated copy with my No. 52. After carefully considering the whole subject it occurred to me to be wiser to limit myself to a tender of the good offices of our Government, without engaging in any discussion to show why they should be cheerfully and gratefully accepted. The statesmen of these countries are said to be very argumentative, and I did not wish to incur the risk of failing to do a practical good by an unintentional invitation to a discussion that would settle nothing.

I have, &c.,

[Inclosure.]

GEO. WILLIAMSON.

Mr. Williamson to Señor Herrera.

UNITED STATES LEGATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA,

Guatemala, November 15, 1873.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the interesting circular issued by your government, under date 24th ultimo, touching the late treaty between Guatemala, Salvador and Nicaragua. You will please accept my thanks.

I beg to reiterate to you more formally the substance of what I had the honor to address verbally to your esteemed predecessor, Mr. Montufor, during our last interview, about the 19th of August. Substantially, I stated to him, if without offense to either party, and by their joint consent, the good offices of my Government could be employed with a fair prospect of success in bringing to an honorable and peaceable settlement the long-vexed question of boundary between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, that I felt authorized to tender them. Since then I have made a similar offer to the government of Nicaragua, and I am pleased to inform you it was accepted with cordiality by the president and his minister of foreign affairs. I now make the offer to your government, accompanied with the remark that as the Government of the United States is only animated in this tender of good offices by its friendly disposition to the states at variance upon this question of boundary, and is not willing to seem to assume either the part of interfering in affairs of other states without invitation, or to have her benevolent intentious become liable to misconstruction, that you will be pleased to understand, if your government considers the discussion of the question of boundary with Nicaragua has been removed beyond the limits of diplomacy, I shall thank you to say so in the same frank and friendly spirit which inspires this note.

I have, &c.,

GEO. WILLIAMSON.

No. 78.

Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.

No. 60.] UNITED STATES LEGATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA, Guatemala, Nov. 25, 1873. (Received December 30.)

SIR: I have the honor to inclose you correspondence with the minister of foreign affairs of Nicaragua, in regard to a printed circular sent me to be forwarded to the Government, and also translated copy of said circular. Allow me to call your attention to my letter, of which a copy is inclosed.

I have, &c.,

GEO. WILLIAMSON.

[Inclosure 1 in No. 60.-Translation.]

Señor Rivas to Mr Williamson

MANAGUA, November 11, 1873.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit to your excellency the inclosed communication, which under this date I address to the minister of foreign relations of Costa Rica, in answer to the circular-note which he addressed to the diplomatic and consular bodies On the 24th of October last.

Requesting your excellency to bring this document to the knowledge of your Government, I have the honor to subscribe myself your excellency's very humble servant, A. H. RIVAS.

[Inclosure in 1 in No. 60-Translation.] Circular of the government of Nicaragua.

NATIONAL PALACE, Managua, November 11, 1873.

SIR: The ministry under my charge has received the circular-note that your ministry thought proper to address, on the 24th of October last, to the governments with Which the republic of Costa Rica holds intercourse, on the subject of the treaty of alare concluded on the 26th of August previous, between Nicaragua, Salvador, and

Gatemala.

Your excellency says that, in view of that document, wherein solemn pre-existingergagements are completely forgotten, as well as the most common rules of international law, the forms in constant use among nations, and the respect and considera

tion due from one government to another, your government cannot remain indifferent, but must raise its voice to answer the injurious accusations and the threats made against it, and also to protest against the intervention of the other republics in affairs which concern Costa Rica exclusively.

Your excellency adds that, with this object, you have received instructions from your government to make a statement of its policy in regard to the other states respecting the acts which preceded the convention in question, and of the nature of the treaties broken by Nicaragua by the act of siguing it; because, however much your government may wish it, it cannot consider that treaty under any aspect save that of an offensive and defensive alliance, concluded against the peace and independence of Costa Rica, and consequently it has to assume such an attitude as is proper in the situation in which it has been placed, declining at once all responsibility for the consequences that may be originated by said treaty, so unjust and so injurious to your excellency's govern

ment.

Your excellency proposes to show in that statement, that since the triumph of the liberal revolution of 1871, in the republics of Salvador and Guatemala, up to the date of the circular-note herein referred to, no correspondence has taken place between Costa Rica and the other republics without expressions and acts of cordiality, there not being the least motive to suspect the existence between them of any cause of complaint; but, on the contrary, that everything has tended to show that they were to be considered as being in a state of profound peace, and perfect harmony with each other. In regard to this republic, your excellency acknowledged that the existing relations, though friendly and fraternal, were somewhat impaired by coldness on account of the boundary question, the existence of which your excellency attributes to Nicaragua, because the executive power of this republic manifested some doubt before the congress of 1870 upon the validity of the boundary treaty concluded on the 15th of April, 1858, accepted and acted upon by both parties during twelve consecutive years. Your excellency says that the question in itself is a grave one, because, if the treaty were annulled, as Nicaragua desires, Costa Rica would be free from the obligation which is thereby imposed upon it of keeping at a distance from the great lake and a part of the shore of the San Juan River, and it would be to the interest of Costa Rica to regain the limits it formerly possessed, to which it believes it has a right according to ancient titles. You further say that Nicaragua, for its part, with a prospect of opening the inter-oceanic canal, wishes to possess this route, to the exclusion of Costa Rica, and even now has a great interest in the Colorado River, which unquestionably belongs to that republic, throughout its extent; that in spite of this cause of difference between the two countries, and although at various times the question has been discussed with some warmth on either side, it has been agreed upon never to resort to extreme measures, but to arrange all disputes amicably by mutual consent or by arbitration, which method was lately accepted by Costa Rica, with the proviso that its right to Guanacaste should not be questioned, for the reason assigned in the presidential message of the 1st of May of this year.

As a proof of these assertions and of the prudence and justice that guide the acts of the government of Costa Rica, your excellency copied the first three articles of the treaty of friendship signed between Costa Rica and this republic; adding, that no communication having been addressed to your government for some time past by that of Nicaragua stating any cause of complaint, or demanding explanation of any act that might be construed as hostile to the tranquillity of Nicaragua, your government felt able to rest tranquil upon the faith of the treaties, believing them to have some significance in the relations between nations and governments; that, besides, the government of Costa Rica had another reason for believing itself secured by that of Nicaragua, and had full confidence in the personal character of the chief magistrate of this republic, whose previous conduct was, in its judgment, a guarantee of peace between the two countries: that with such a conviction it was to the interest of Costa Rica to use the influence of the government, if it had any, in arresting rather than precipitating the revolutionary movement in this republic, postponing it for the legal opportunity of the coming elections.

Your excellency says that, in view of all these precedents, your government remained tranquil, directing all its attention to the important work of the railroad already undertaken, and even thought to make it interoceanic for the good of Central America and the world, when it was painfully su prised by the treaty of alliance concluded by the three republics, which in its form and purport is highly offensive and threatening to the dignity, peace, and independence of Costa Rica, adding that its simple perusal reveals that in its conclusion nothing has been considered but private passions, individual hatred and prejudices, founded on superficial views, that ought never to influence negotiations of such importance and gravity; and after expounding the conduct that ought to be observed by states before agreeing to any alliance, and expressing especial surprise at that observed by Nicaragua, with which other treaties existed, your excellency ends by stating that the government of Costa Rica feels authorized to provide for the security of that republic, and to vindicate its offended dignity, without

injury to the ties that unite it to Nicaragua; that in spite of the provocation offered to Costa Rica by said treaty, your government will maintain its programme of not raising a single Costa Rican soldier to invade the other states, on which it throws all the responsibility of the events that may occur in consequence of the adoption of measures suggested by prudence and necessity to provide for the security of the republic. Mr. Minister, I have considered with due attention the allegations contained in your note, which I have brought to the notice of his excellency the President of the republic, in accordance with whose instructions I proceed to answer them one by one and in the order in which they are stated, having at the same time received orders to transmit copies of this dispatch to the governments to which your excellency addressed the circular-note in question, so that the nations interested may be able to judge with impartiality and accuracy concerning this important question.

Your excellency lays aside the vital question which led to the alliance of the states, making them appear as if moved by the impulse of secondary interests, or by an illegitimate wish to interfere with the internal affairs of your republic, which unquestionably only concern the people of Costa Rica.

In consideration of this view, so highly offensive to the honor of the states, and particularly to that of Nicaragua, which is the only one that has pending questions with your republic, it is the duty of my government to raise its voice most energetically against it, and to make manifest the true motives which have induced it to adopt the line of conduct it has recently followed in regard to its relations with the other states of Central America.

As may be seen by all the stipulations of the treaty, the object of the alliance is not the acquisition of material advantages, much less to favor the intervention of the states in affairs that do not concern them, but to provide for their mutual security against attacks which have been considered as proceeding from prominent members of the Costa Rican cabinet. Nor can any one dispute their right to adopt that measure, which vitally interests them; and if the Costa Ricans have any duty to fulfill under such grave circumstances, it is to investigate the facts and to lend support to their government, if those acts have been performed justly and legally and with a view to the advancement of the general interest; or to call them to account if, on the contrary, they have acted in violation of law, both domestic and international, and have disrəgarded the usages practiced by civilized and Christian nations and the obligations by which a nation is bound as regards its neighbors.

In the statement made by your excellency of the conduct of your government, you do not mention the protection received from it by certain exiles from the other republies; protection exceeding what humanity and other social considerations demand. Far be it from me and from the government of whose sentiments I have the honor to be the interpreter to criticis the generous and humane act of granting an asylum to citizens cast away from their homes by revolution. Nicaragua has also received and protected with its laws thonsands of those unfortunate beings, even at the risk of its own peace, and although heavy expense was thereby incurred; but at the same time it has been very careful to prevent the asylum granted from being prejudicial to its neighbors, watching the emigrants very closely, and refusing entrance into the republic to those whose residence there, on account of their position in regard to the established governments, was deemed dangerous to the peace of the states whence they came. These acts have been a proof of the prudence with which the government of Nicaragua has acted with respect to those emigrants, it being now quite notorious that nearly all of them took an active part in the attempt made in the north of Honduras to upset the existing governments of Central America.

Can your excellency say as much of the conduct of your government? Even admitting that the expedition of the steamer "General Sherman" was undertaken in spite of the vigilance of the authorities, and that the conduct of the emigrants who concocted it during their stay in Costa Rica was so cantions as to conceal from the cabinet their intention to disturb the peace in the other states, how can the fact be explained that some of the leaders of that expedition, after having established their pretended constitational government on the island of Utila, returned to your republic to reside in it, with the confidence of the soldier who returns to his quarters to rest after the fatigues of a campaign? How can the fact be explained that the semi-official press of your republic has been devoted to the publication of the most absurd news and of the most setseless effusions of the opponents of those governments?

I beg your excellency to allow me to say that such precedents were not of a nature to induce your government to rest upon the security of not having given cause for compaint, especially when the free press of all Central America had denounced the conduct of your government as hostile to the peace of all.

Be this said in regard to the republics of Guatemala, Honduras, and Salvador. With respect to Nicaragua, the inclination on the part of your government to proTake a rupture has been very evident. In the year 1870, when the present president of your republic held the supreme power provisionally, the provisional government committed an act of incivility toward Nicaragua, by declaring void the Montealegro