The record-union., 1895-05-27
NICARAGUA AND HONDURAS.
IMPORTANT TREATIES BETWEEN
THE TWO REPUBLICS.
The First Practical Steps Toward tho
formation of Central
American Nation.
special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.

WASHINGTON May 26.-New treaties
of importance have recently been signed
between Nicaragua and Honduras and
official copies have just been received In
Washington. The treaties have been
under negotiations for some time. and
were finally put into effect by prociama-
ton on the 18th Of last month. They are
the first practical steps toward the forma-
ton of a Central American nation out of
several small republics. Nicaragua,
Honduras, Guatemala, Salvador and
Costa RIca.
The first treaty is for defensive and
offensive alliance. and in. case OF foreign
war an offensive alliance against the
common enemies. II Obiiterates COM
mercial frontiers, so that foreign goods
once admitted to one country are free to
enter the other. An excess provision Is
made against the possibility of war be-
tween the countries, by any article re-
quiring that the differences are to be ad-
justed by arbitration by some Govern
ment on the Am erican continent.
Article 81 is the one looking to the
union in a single nation, and Is as fol-
lows: "The high contracting parties
solelnnly declare that they cannot and
will not consider as foreign The other
they will labor constantly TO maintain
the family bonds and the greatest cor
diality in their relations, making COM
mon cause i'll case of war or difficulties
with foreign countries, and mediatlng in
their International relations. The present
treaty will be submitted to their consid-
Grafton inviting them to subscribe to it
as a common Central American treaty
until the arrival OF the day when they
shall be incorporated in a single nation"
The detailed features of the treaty
show the closeness OF tie alliance now
formed between Nicaragua and Hon
duras. Article binds the Governments
to ''unify 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"
The article pledging mutual offensive
and defensive alliance Is AZ follows:
both Governments declare that there
shall exist between them defensive alli-
ance in case Of foreign war, and an Of
tensive one against common enemies"
Article arranges plan OF arbitration
affecting ali Central American States. and
succeeding articles agree on uniform
postal tariffs and all other laws, uniform
diplomatic representation abroad, etc,
In every way possible the boundary
line is wiped out, and the countries form
complete political union Or alliance.
Article 19 expresses the text of this union
as follows: "These contracting Govern
ments desirous of acting jointly in
everything affecting their interests, be-
sides endeavoring to make uniform their
foreign policy, and to have a common
representative before other nations, shall
endeavor TO agree upon basis upon
which they shall conclude subsequent
treaties with foreign nations, and make
concessions to steamship, railroad and
other companies"
Article So against war or reprisals, is:
"Should any OF the articles OF this treaty
be violated or infrnged in any way, or
should any other cause Or disagreement
between the two repu olics arise, it is ex-
pressly stipulated that neither OF the con-
tracing parties shall order or authorize
acts of reprisal, nor declare war until all
peaceful methods of satisfaction or agreo-
ment have been exhausted. These means
shall be the setting forth in memorials Of
offenses or damages inflicted, with COM
petent proofs or testimony to be pre-
sented by the aggrieved Government,
and should such satisfaction be denied,
the decision shall be submitted to the
arbitration of one of the Governments of
Central America or American continent"
There has been more or less conjecture 9
as to the formation of q Central Amer
lean nation, but this treaty appears to be
the first practical step toward its accom-
plishment. Its proclamation at Teguci-
galpa on April 18th was followed by a
meeting at Managua of the Ministers of
Salvador, Honduras and the other re-
publics, with a view to carrying out
Article % OF the acceptance OF the treaty
by all countries.
The text OF another Nicaragua Hon.
duran treaty has also been received. 1t
provides for the arbitration of their
boundary question by commission to
be chosen by the two countries. and if an
agreement of commission is not made,
then Spain is constituted as arbitrator.