very carefully considered, and pending this consideration the board of trade are necessarily unable to formulate any definite opinion with regard to it, or to judge finally of the merits of the conflicting proposals of Canada and the United States. I am instructed, however, to explain to you that, with the view of minimizing a delay which can not, in the circumstances, be altogether avoided, Her Majesty's secretary of state for the colonies has, acting on a suggestion made by the board of trade, invited the Canadian Gov. ernment to make their observations on the arguments set forth in your note to me of March 11 last. GREATER REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AMERICA. RECOGNITION OF THE POLITICAL UNION OF HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, AND SALVADOR.1 Mr. Mendoza to Mr. Olney. SAN SALVADOR, September 22, 1896. SIR: I have the honor herewith to transmit to your excellency, together with the usual office copy, an autograph letter, which the Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America addresses to His Excellency Mr. Cleveland, President of the United States of North America, informing him of the new political organization agreed upon by the Republics of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador. Begging your excellency to be pleased to transmit the letter to its high destination, I have the honor to beg you to accept the assurances of my most distinguished consideration. E. MENDOZA. [Inclosure.] The Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America to His Excellency the President of the United States of America. GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND: The Republics of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador, by a treaty concluded in the port of Amapala, Honduras, on the 20th day of June, 1895, which was ratified by the respective legislative bodies of the three Republics, and the ratifications of which were exchanged in this city on the 15th instant, agreed to form a single political organization for the exercise of their external sovereignty, with the title of the Greater Republic of Central America, to be represented by a diet composed of three members, elected by each of the legislative bodies. The undersigned, having been honored by being chosen as such representatives, deem it to be their just duty to inform your excellency of the change which has been effected and of their firm purpose to continue to cultivate, with the utmost diligence, the cordial relations which have existed between the United States of America and the signatory Republics individually. They further desire to inform you that all obligations contracted by each one of them will be religiously fulfilled, provided that they are not incompatible with the new political organization which has been adopted. With best wishes for the prosperity of the North American nation and for your excellency's personal happiness, the undersigned have the honor, etc., [SEAL.] SAN SALVADOR, September 19, 1896. JACINTO CASTELLANOSs. EUSEBIO BRACAMONTE, See also under Honduras and Nicaragua. Mr. Rodriguez to Mr. Olney. [Translation.] WASHINGTON, D. C., December 1, 1896. Señor J. D. Rodriguez has the honor to offer his respects to His Excellency Mr. Secretary Olney, and to state to him that he is the bearer of letters which accredit him as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Greater Republic of Central America to the Government of the United States of America, of which letters he transmits a copy. Señor Rodriguez begs, at the same time, of His Excellency Mr. Secretary Olney to be pleased to indicate to him the day and hour when His Excellency President Cleveland will deign to receive him in his official character, and he likewise sends him in advance herewith a copy of the brief address which he proposes to make to the President on that occasion. [Inclosure.-Mr. Rodriguez's letters of credence.-Translation.] The Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America to His Excellency the President of the United States of America. GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND: A few days ago we had the honor to bring to Your Excellency's knowledge the political transformation effected by the Republics of Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua by merging their exterior sovereignty in one sole [sovereignty]; and in the desire of continuing to cultivate the relations which have existed individually between those Republics and the United States of America we have seen fit to appoint Don José Dolores Rodriguez envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Government of your excellency. The personal qualifications of Señor Rodriguez lead us to hope that your excellency will be pleased to receive him with benevolence and give full credit to all that he may affirin, especially when he assures your excellency of the friendship and sympathy with which the great nation of the continent inspires them and the prayers they offer for its prosperity and the personal welfare of your excellency. With sentiments of the highest consideration, we have the honor, etc., your faithful and good friends. [SEAL.] SAN SALVADOR, October 1, 1896. A true copy. JACINTO CASTELLANOS. E. CONSTANTINO FIALLOS. EUSEBIO BRACAMONTE, Chief Clerk. Mr. Rodriguez to Mr. Olney. [Translation.] LEGATION OF THE GREATER REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AMERICA, Washington, December 7, 1896. DEAR SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith, reduced to writing, the suggestion of which we spoke on Saturday last toward the close of our interview, which will, I trust, as was understood, remain subject to whatever we may finally agree upon. My secretary will likewise place in your hands the translation of the treaty of Amapala,1 which you were pleased to intrust to me and which has been corrected by the official translator of your Department. I am, etc., [Inclosure.-Translation.] J. D. RODRIGUEZ. LEGATION OF THE GREATER REPUBLIC The President of the United States of America, in recognizing the Greater Republic of Central America, constituted conformably to the stipulations of the treaty of Amapala, of June 20, 1895, between the Republics of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador, and in entering upon diplomatic relations therewith, gives such recognition and enters upon such relations upon the distinct understanding that the responsibility of each of these Republics toward the United States of America remains wholly unaffected. NOTE.-Mr. Rodriguez was received by the President on December His address and the President's reply on that occasion are 24, 1896. as follows: Address of Mr. Rodriguez. [Translation.] Mr. PRESIDENT: The Greater Republic of Central America has honored me by appointing me its envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Government of your excellency. In conferring that honor upon me the diet which constitutes the bond of union between the three Republics which organized that new entity has given me special instructions to assure your excellency, as it is gratifying to me to do, that the Greater Republic of Central America entertains the same sentiment of cordial and sincere friendship toward the American Government and people as have always been held by the peoples and Governments which formed the same, and that it cherishes sincere desires that neither the energetic progress nor the power of this great nation may ever be interrupted or impaired, and also that your excellency may enjoy personal happiness. It is highly satisfactory to me to place in your excellency's hands the letters which accredit my representation in the character mentioned. Our firm conviction that the sentiments which I have expressed find on the part of your excellency and of the American nation the most complete reciprocity has induced us to solicit the efficient intervention. of your excellency to the end of bringing to a happy termination one of the questions which most interest the confederation by reason of the influence which it may exert upon the pacific developments of its great elements of wealth and prosperity. I trust, Mr. President, that in this, and in the other matters which I shall have to treat with the Government of your excellency, I will win FR 96 For treaty see under Honduras, page 390. -24 your benevolent reception, and that the results which I may attain will merit the approval of those who have appointed me in additional confirmation of their friendship and gratitude for the interest which the United States of America have ever shown in favor of the well-being of the Central American Republics. Reply of the President. Mr. MINISTER: I take pleasure in receiving at your hands the letter of the Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America, whereby, in representation thereof and of the Republics of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador, which form that union, you are accredited as their envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to this Government. In recognizing, in the name of the United States of America, the Greater Republic of Central America, constituted pursuant to stipulation of the treaty of Amapala, of June 20, 1895, between the Republics of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador, and, in entering into diplo matic relations therewith, such recognition is given and such relations entered upon in the distinct understanding that the responsibility of each of those Republics to the United States of America remains wholly unaffected. I discern in the articles of association from which the diet derives its powers a step toward a closer union of Central American States in the interest of their common defense and general welfare, and I welcome it as the precursor of other steps to be taken in the same direction, and which it is hoped may eventually result in the consolidation of all the States of Central America as one nation for all the purposes of their foreign relations and intercourse. To you individually I extend a cordial greeting, both personal and official, and I trust that your renewed residence at the capital of this country, where you formerly held an important representative mission, will be as agreeable in its personal relations as I believe it will be useful and profitable for the countries you represent, between each of which and the United States has always existed, and it is hoped will always exist, the closest ties of friendship. Mr. Olney to Mr. Mendoza. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 29, 1896. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's note of September 22, 1896, wherewith you inclose, with an office copy, the letter of the Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America, addressed to the President advising him of the new political organization of the Republics of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador, agreeably to the provisions of the treaty concluded between them at Amapala, Honduras, June 20, 1895, the said treaty having been formally ratified and exchanged. I inclose the President's reply, dated the 29th instant, with the customary office copy, and request that, through your courtesy, it may properly reach its high destination. I avail, etc., RICHARD OLNEY. |