New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-04
RIGHTS TO SAN JUAN DELTA.
COSTA RICAs SIDE OF THE BOUNDARY
DISPUTE.
PUBLISHED sTATEMENrs TINT THE CANAL
MOUTH is IN NICARAGUAN TERRITORY De-
CLAEED TO BE INCORRECT BY
SENIOR CALVO


Washington. Oct 3-senor Calvc the costa Rican
Minister. to-day called attention TO publication
regarding the rights of Costa Rica in the della OF
the San Juan River. 4 matter which has a strong
bearing the future Of the Nicaragua Canal
project. The published statement was as follows;
General Alexander decides that he boundary De
remit remiy ' Of P pun ds cas'a At the mouth Of tie
River San Juan and shall GPnn o.o fIlG cS bne
Of said river until point Is reacied min moin, M
r lfom Sas no t Is5p .igpotons at place that
puts the San Juan River and its delta Mholy N'','
river as part Of hcr domain and exercises over
1t all rights OF sovereignty and domfn. Frey'o~ OWL"
tended. is determined TO ne IN Nlcar1suua' Inc
whole claim OF the Costa Rieans '"'S i""S 10 '"'
In regard 70 the matter Senior Calyo said: This
statement not being correct deem 1t important
to presen; the facts they are. The limits between
Costa Rica and Nicaragua were settled ny treaty
between the two countries. dated April 10, 1858.
Questions having been raised by Nicaragua thir
teen wears after this treaty in existence and
respected by the TWO countries. long contention
followed. and sixteen years afterward the subject
was submitted the decision OF President Glove
land as arbitrator. who by his award of March %,
iSSS declared the treaty TO he valid Costa Rica
claimed. Although the award accepted by
both parties. and notwithstanding the friendly ef-
forts OF the Government Of Costa Rica 10 have the
boundary line marked by monuments, this work
remained unfinished. not on account OF any omis
sion on the par; of Costa Rica. The Government
OF Salvador offered last year its fraernal media
ton and through it's good offices a convention
was signed In order 10 establish the form in which
the boundary line Will be materially marked. Ac-
cording to the provisions OF this convention. the
two governments requested the appoin tment by the
President of the United States of engineer 20
act arbitrator In any case OF disagreement be-
tween the TWO respective surveying commissions
from the two countries, and President Cleveland
appointed General A. p Alexander OF Georgetown
S. c.
Article OF the convention reads as follows:
The contracting Governments bind themselves
each TO name a commission Of two engineers or
surveyors for the purpose Of properly tracing and
marking the boundary line between the republics
OF Costa Rica and Nicaragua. pursuant to the pro
visions Of the treaty of April Is 1855 and the arb
of America, Grover Cleveland
Article II of the treaty of limits. 1853. says
The dividing line starting from the Atlantic,
at the mouth of the San Juan River and shall con-
tinue following the right bank Of that river TO
point situated in the water below the castle and
three miles from the fortihcatons. etc.
Part third of President Clevelands award 1855.
says:
The boundary line between the republics of Costa
Rica and Nicaragua the Atlantic side, begins
at the extremity of Pnnta de Castillo, at the mouth
existed on April Is. 1858, etc.
And the argument submitted by the Costa Rcan
Commission Engineer Alexander page :. is as
follows:
"on examining any Of the maps Of said port pre-
vious to the ISIS the difference which has been
mentioned can be perfectly and distinctly seen. In
to- By the ss NcaTasuan some viii
be made 10 the one which the Ncaraguan Minister
the United States. Mr. Cleveland. during the arbi-
tration of ,SS& On that map Punta Arenas or
Punta de Castillo is represented with those iden,
cal names which are the that belong 10 said
place. forming kind OF peninsula or. more prop
erIy speaking. end OF point. OF long and narrow ap-
pearance slightly curved. which. from the eastern
mainland extends 10 the west or toward the OPEN
ing entrance OF Port San Juan. With prece-
dents OF this nature nothing can be mere easy than
70 locate from legal standpoint. the boundary
line the Atlantic side. since II has been concur
sively declared by President Cleveand,s award
said line begins at the extremity OF Punta De
Nicaragua. they both existed on April ID. lsos'
Nov In regard 10 the River San Juan and the
canal projected l want but TO remind you that
Costa Rica has always maintained the validity OF
the treaty of limits. and as stated in President
Cleveland's award:
1.-The Republic Of Costa Rica can deny 70 the E s
pubuc of Nicaragua the right OF deviating the
waters OF the River San Juan. in case such utNid
ton will result in the destruction or serious impair
ment OF the navigati ton OF said river. or OF us
branches. at any point Wnere Costa MIA 10 -"
titled TO navigate the same
FINALLY besides the natural rights OF costa
Rca and as defined in the same award:
The Republic Of Nicaragua remains bound not 70
make any grants for canal purposes across her ter
ritory without first asking the opinion OF me re.
nuSic OF Costa Rica as provided in Article VIII OF
the treaty Of limits OF April 10 lss Inc ma! uraI
rights of the Republic of Costa Rica sIuoea 20 ~,
The said stimulation are the rights which, IN view
~ the boundaries fixed by the said treaty OF limits
She possesses in the soil THEREBY recognzed as pc
longing exclusively to her; the rights ~!r t nd
possesses In the haroors OF San 1ua" uV' -'N' '
ali