The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-04
THE RIGHTS OF COSTA RIGA.
A DISPUTE WHICH MAY AFFECT
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

The Costa Rican Minister Denies the
Published Report That the SAN
Juan Delta ana GreytOwn Arc
Part of Nicaragunn TerrftOry-A
Reference TO the Treaty of 1853,
which Requires Costa R1ca's
Consent for Canal Through Nic-
nraguan Soil.
Washington, Oct. 3.-Senor Calvo, the
Costa Rcan minister, to-day called atten-
ton to a publication regarding the rights
Of Costa Rica In the delta of the San Juan
river, a matter which has strong bearing
on the future OF the Nlcaragusn canal
project.
The published statement was as follows;
Gen. Alexander decides that the bounda-
ry between the two republics shall CONF
mence at the extremity of Punta de Cas-
tilla, at the mouth of the River San Juan,
and shall continue, following the right
bank-that is to say, the Costa Rica bank
Of said river until point is reached three
miles from Castillo Viejo. He located
this point, according to the treaty stipu-
iations. at place that puts the San Juan
river and it's delta wholly within the ter
rtory OF Nicaragua. Nicaragua owns
the River Summo Imperio as part Of her
domain and exercises over it the usual
rights OF sovereignty and DOMAIN. Grey
town. instead of being on Costa Rican soil.
as was contended, is determined 70 be I'm
Nicaragua. The whole claim OF the Cos
ia Ricans thus falls to the ground"
In this connection Senior Calvo sayss
This statement not being correct deem
it civil to present the facts as they are.
The limits between Costa Rica and Mic
aragua were settled by a treaty between
the two countries, dated April Is, 1858.
Questions having been raised by Nicara-
qua, thirteen years after this treaty was
in existence. and respected by the two
countries, long contention followed and
sixteen years afterwards the subject was
submitted to the decision of President
Cleveland as arbitrator, who by his award
Of March %, 1888. declared the treaty to
be valid, as Costa Rica claimed. Although
the award was accepted by both parties.
and Notwithstanding the friendly efforts
of the government OF Costa Rica to have
the boundary line marked by monuments,
this work remained unfinished, not on ac-
count of any omission on the part of Costa
Rica. The government of Salvador offered
last year its s'fraternal mediation" and
through It's good offices a convention was
signed in order to establish the form in
which the boundary line will be materially
marked. According with the provisions of
this convention, the two governments re-
quested the appointment by the President
of the United States of an engineer to act
as an arbitrator In any case of disagree-
ment between the two respective survey
ing commissions from the two countries,
and President Cleveland appointed Gen.
e. 2. Alexander of Georgeton, 8. G.
After discussing the work of this COM
mission Senor Calvo said: 'In regard to
the river San Juan and the canal pro-
jected, / want TO remind you that Costa
Rica has always maintained the validity
of the treaty of limits and as stated I'm
President Clevelands award.
"The republic of Costa Rica can deny
to the republic of Nicaragua the right OF
deviating the waters of the river Sam
Juan, In case such deviation will result
in the destruction or serious impairment
of the navigation Of the said river, or any
of its branches. at any point where Costa
Rlca Is entitled to navigate the same.
Finally, beside the natural rights OF
Costa Rica and as defined In the same
award The republic of Nicaragua re-
mains bound not to make any grants for
canal purposes across her territory with
out first asking the opinion of the repub-
lie of Costa Rica, as provided in article s.
Of the treaty Of limits of the 18th OF
April, 1853. The natural rights of the
republic of Costa Rica, alluded to in tha
said stipulation, are the rights which,
in views of the boundaries fixed by the
said treaty of limits she possesses Ia the
soil thereby recognized as belonging ex-
clusively to her: the rights which she
possesses in the harbor of San Juan del
Norte, and Salinas bay, ETC."