Omaha daily bee., 1895-05-27
SOUTHERN REPUBLICS UNITE
Nicaragua and Honduras Take the First
Practical Steps in that Direction.
EACH PRESERVES ITS OWN GOVERNMENT
Offensive and Defensive Alliance Against
Common Foes and tho Commercial
Frontier Alb bollshed-Others
Invited to Join.

WASHINGTON, May 26.-New treaties Of
far reaching Importance have recently been
made between Nicaragua and Honduras and
official copies have just been received in
Washington. The treaties have been under
negotiation some time and were finally put
into effect by proclamation on the 18th of
last month. They are the first practical
step toward the formation Of a Central Amer
lean nation out of the several small repub-
lics-Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Sal
vador and Costa Rica. The first treaty forms
a defensive alliance in case of foreign war
and an offensive alliance against common en-
emies. 1t obliterates commercial frontiers, so
that foreign goods once admitted to one
country are free to enter the other. An eX-
press provision is made against the possi-
bilty Of war between the countries by an
article requiring differences to be adjusted by
arbitration by some government on the Amer
lean continent.
Article lii is the one looking to the union
in single nation and is as follows: The
high contracting parties solemnly declare that
they cannot and will not consider as foreign
the other Central American countries, and
that they will labor constantly to maintain
the family bonds and the greatest cordiality
in their relations, making a common cause
with them in case Of war or difficulties with
foreign countries and mediating in their in
ternational relations To this end the present
treaty will be submitted to their considera-
tion, inviting them to subscribe to 1t as a
conm mon Central American treaty, until the
arrival of the day when they shall be incor-
porated in a single nation"
The detailed features of the treaty show
the closeness of the alliance now formed be-
tween Nicaragua and Honduras Article |
binds the governments to "uniGy their foreign
policy; to act jointly in matters concerning
Central America and to endeavor to bring
about the same uniformity and harmony with
the other governments of Central America" "
OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE ALLIANCE
The article pledging a mutual offensive and
defensive alliance is as follows: Both gov
erDments declare that there shall exist be-
tween them defensive alliance in case of
foreign war and an offensive one against cjm-
mon enemies"
Article iv. arranges a plan of arbtra-
tion affecting all Central American states.
Succeeding articles agree on uniform postal,
tariff and all other laws. uniform diplomatic
representation abroad, etc.
In every way possible the boundary line
is wiped out and the countries form a
complete political union or alliance.
Article xix. expresses the extent of this
union as follows: These contracting gov
ernments desirous of participating in every
thing affecting their interests, besides en-
deavoring to make uniform their foreign
policy and to have common representa-
tive before nations, shall endeavor to agree
upon a basis upon which they shall con-
eude subsequent treaties with foreign ma
tions and make concessions to steamship,
railroad and other companies.
Article l. against war or reprisals, is:
SHOULD any of the articles of this treaty
be violated or infringed in any way or
should any other cause of disagreement
between the two republics arise, 1t is eX-
pressly stipulated that neither of the con-
tracing parties shall order or authorize acts
of reprsal nor declare war until all peace
full methods of satisfaction or agreement
have been exhausted. These means shall
be the setting forth in memorials of the
offenses or damages inflicted, with COM
petent proofs or testimony to be presented
by the aggrieved governments, and should
this satisfaction be denied the decision OF
the matter shall be submitted to the arbi-
tration of one of the governments of Cen
tral America or of the American continent
There has been more or less conjecture
as to the formation of a Central American
nation, but this treaty appears to be the
first practical step toward its accomplish
ment. It's proclamation at Tegucigalpa on
April Is was followed by a meeting at
Managua of the ministers of Salvador, Hon
duras and the other representative countries
with a view to carrying out article liii for
the acceptance of the treaty by all the
countries.
The text OF another Nicaragua Honduras
treaty has also been received. 1t provides
for the arbitration of their boundary ques
tion by a commission to be chosen by the
two countries, and If an agreement of the
commission is not made then Spain Is
constituted As arbitrator.