The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-06-06
FIRST PRACTICAL STEP
New Treaties Between Nicar.
aqua and Honduras.
ONE CENTRAL AMERICAN NATION

ONE CENTRAL AMERICAN NATIOl
A Defensive Alliance in Case of War an,
an Offensive Alliance Against
Common Enemies.
Washington, May 2S.-New treatie
OF far-reaching Importance have recent
ly been made between Nicaragua ant
Honduras, and official copies have jus
been received at Washington. TIL,
treaties have been under negotiation fol
some time, and were finally put into
effect by proclamation April 15. They
are the first practical steps toward the
formation of a Central American nation
out of several small republics, Nicar.
aqua, Honduras, Guatemala, Salvador
and Costa Rica.
The first treaty forms defensive al
lance in case of foreign war, and an
offensive alliance against common en-.
emies. 1t obliterates commercial from.
tiers, so that foreign goods once ad.
mitted to one country are free to enter
the other. An express provision is
made against the possibility of war be-
tween the countries by an article re-
quiring differences to be adjusted by
arbitration by some government on the
American continent. Article So is the
one looking to union in a single ma
ton, and is as follows:
1.-The high contracting parties sol
EMMY 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 cor
diality in their relations, making a
common cause in case of war or diff
culties with foreign countries, and
mediating in their international rela-
tions. The present treaty will he sub
mitted to their consideration, inviting
them to subscribe to it as a common
Central American treaty until the ar
rival Of the day when they shall be in
corporated in single nation.
The detailed features of the treaty
show the closeness of the alliance now
formed between Nicaragua and Hon
duras. Article 1 binds the government
to ''unify their foreign policy, to act
jointly in matters concerning Central
America, and to endeavor to bring
about the same uniformity and har-
mony with the other governments of
Central America. The article pledg-
ing mutual defensive alliance is DIS
follows:
"Both governments declare that
there shall exist between them de-
fensive alliance in case of a foreign
war, and an offensive one against COM
mon enemies.
Article arranges plan OF arbitra-
ton affecting all Central American
states. The succeeding articles agree
on uniform postal tariffs and all other
laws, uniform diplomatic representa-
ton abroad, etc. In every way pos
sible the boundary line is wiped out,
and the countries form complete po-
litical union or alliance. Article 10
expresses the text of this union as fol-
bows:
"These contracting governments, de-
sirous of acting jointly in everything
effecting their interests, besides endea-
voring to make uniform their foreign
policy and to have common represen-
tation before other nations, shall en-
deavor 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 infringed in
any way, or should any other cause OF
disagreement between the two repub-
lies arise, it is expressly stipulated
that neither of the contracting parties
shall order or authorize acts Of reprlsal
nor declare war until all peaceful
methods of satisfaction or agreement
have been exhausted. These means
shall be the setting forth in memorials
of offenses or damage inflicted, with
competent proofs or testimony, to be
presented by the aggrieved government,
and, should satisfaction be denied, the
decision of the matter shall be submit
ted to the arbitration of one of the gov
ernments of Central America or OF the
American continent.
There has been more Or less conjec-
ture as to the formation Of a Central
American nation, but this treaty ap-
pears to be the first practical step TO-
ward it's accomplishment. Its procla-
nation at Tegucigalpa April 10 was
followed by meeting at Managua OF
the ministers of Salvador, Honduras
and other republics, with a view to
carrying out articles So of the accept
ance of the treaty by all countries.
The text of another Nicargua-Hon
duras treaty has also been received. 1t
provides for the arbitration OF their
boundary question by commission &c
be chosen by the two countries, and
if an agreement ON commission is not
made, then Spain is constituted as ar
| bitratOr.
Yellow Fever Advices.
Washington, May 28.-Advices re-
ceived from Havana by the surgeon
general today are that the situation IN
that country with reference to yellow