The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-04
BoUNDARY-LINE DISPUTE.
senior CaIvO on the Rights of Costa
RIca I'm the San Juan Delta.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.-Senor Calvo, the
Costa Rican 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 Nicaraguan canal
project. The published statement was as
follows:
General Alexander decides that the
boundary between the two republics shall
commence at the extremity of Punta de
Castillo. at the mouth of the riven 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 stipula-
tons, at g. place that puts the San Juan
river and it's delta wholly within the terri
tory of Nicarauga. Nicaragua owns the
river Summo Imperio as part OF her do
main and exercises over 1t all rights of
sovereignty and domain. Greytown. in
stead Of being on Costa Rican soil, as was
commended is determined to be in Mica
ragua- The whole claim of the Costa
Ricans thus falls to the ground.
In this connection Senior Calvo said: This
statement not being correct, deem it con-
venient to present the facts as they are
Inc HIillLS DclWeSn OOSld 1NlCd dllu 4NlCd-
ragua were settled by treaty between the
two countries, dated April 10, 1853. Cues
tons having been raised by Nicaragua,
thirteen years after this treaty was in ex-
istence and respected by the two countries
a long contention followed, and sixteen
years afterwards the subject was submit
ted to the decision of President Cleveland
as arbitrator. who, by his award of March
az, 1883, declared the treaty to be valid, as
Costa Rica claimed Although the award
was accepted by both parties, and not
government of Costa RIGA to have the
boundary line marked by monuments, this
work remained unfinished, not on account
of any omission on the part of Costa RIGA.
The government of Salvador offered last
year its 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 prS visions OF this con-
vention, the two governments requested the
appointment by the President of the United
States of an engineer to act as an ar
ptraIor IN any case OF ulsagreeeht ne
missions from the two countries, and
President Cleveland appointed Gen. A. +.
Alexander, of Georgetown, ). G..
Senior Calvo reviews the work of this
commission and concludes: In regard TO
the river San Juan and the canal projected,
/ want but to remind you that Costa Rlca
has always maintained the validity OF the
treaty limits, and, as stated in Presluent
CloVelandS award: Inc republic Oi COold
RIGA can deny to the republic of Nicara-
qua the right of deviating the waters of
the river San Juan, in case such deviation
will result in the destruction or serious I'M
pairment of the navigation of the said
river or any of its branches, at any point
where Costa Rica is entitled to navigate
the same Finally, besides the natural
rights of Costa Rica, and as defined in the
same award: The republic of Nicaragua
remains bound not to make any grants Tor
canal purposes across her territory with
out first asking the opinion of the republic
Of Costa Rica, as provided in Article ca,
of the treaty of limits of the 18th or April.
1858. The natural rights of the republic of
Costa RIGA, alluded to in the said stipula-
ton. are the rights which, in view OF the
boundaries fixed by the said treaty or
limits she possesses in the soil thereby
recognized as belonging exclusively TO her
the rights which she possesses IN the mar
bors of San Juan del Norte and Salinas
haY etc "