The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-06-16
The Colombia Costa Rica
boundary Questions.

New York, 15.-HeTQtQS Washing
ton: Although an appropriation of
5000, 900 for the establishment of naval
stations and coal depots on the Isthmus
of Panama was m 4de available immedi-
ately, the secretary ofthe navy hiss done
nothing yet towards expending dollar
of the amount. Until the dispute between
Colon bia and Costa RIGA as to what
is the boundary of the latter is settled, it
is doubtful whether the navy department
will take any steps to establish stations or
coal depots on Chiriqui soil. The right
to defend them and protect them would
have 10 be included in the purchase Of
sites. privilege which neither Colombis
or Costa Rica govern ments, It is said, are
willing to concede. The only interests
the United States had in the
question was whether the claim of Costa
Rica included so much of the Isthmus
as would 10 the event Of the decision be-
ing favorable to their country bring the
proposed canal within the limits Of Costa
Rica. The state department ascertaiRed
that under no possible contingency could
the territorial rights of Costa Riea be
extended beyond the province Of Chiri>
qui. The narrow strip adjoining that
country on the south, between CLiriqui
and the Isthmus of Panama proper, over
which we have agreed to exercise neu-
trality under the treaty with New Ora
NADIA, ia distance of several hundred
miles, The United States not only would
not object to the proposed arbitration
which has been referred to the king of
Spain, but congrEtalstes these republics
on the acceptance of such. honorable
and peaceful means as will here
after remove the cause for quarrel
and i'll feeling so long existing between
Colombia and Costa RIGA, and it i.
probable that private interests have urged
the question to settlement by arbitration,
for until it is definitely decided whether
Chirigui belongs to Colombia or Costa
Rics, no progress could be made by
private companies In improving their
grants. The hope perhaps that srbitra-
ton will decide that the disputed territory
should be held by Colombia, would ex-
plain the reasons for DeLesseps urging
the mstter to final settlement, In that
event, the company would gain advaR-
tages within the jurisdiction of Colon bia
sntsgonistic to his enterprise.
WoTLd'S Washington special says:
Careful inquiry to day into the report
yesterday, sent to the World, touching
the alleged treaty between Costa RIGA
and Colombia, under which the question
Of boundary between those states is
10 be submitted to arbitration by
European sovereigns, developes the fact
that the two combating states have
agreed to submit the question, in the first
instance, to the King of the Belgians;
should he decline, to the King of Spain;
and should he decline, to the President
of the Argentine Republic. Notwith-
standing the fact that the settlement of
the boundary between Costa Rica and
COlombis must directly affect the inter-
ests of the United States, which has
guaranteed the sovereignty. indepen-
dence and integrity of the territory OF the
United States of Celomb ia, il is not be-
lieved here that the government of the
United States will permit this treaty to
be submitted either to the King of the
Belgians, the King Of Spain or the Pre-
sident Of the Argentine Republic, with
out entering distinct and unmistakable
declaration 10 the effect that the govern
ment of the United States will not be
bound, nor allow its existing rights to be
effected by any result Of the arbitration.
Well informed diplomats here do not be-
lieve that either the King of the Belgians
or the King of Spain will accept the re-
sponsibility sought to be put by this
treaty, in what can only be called sale
put surreptitiously upon one or the other
of these potentates.