The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-04
State Department Impatient
Over SalVador's DELAY in
Paying the Award of
S5OO,OOO.
Minister Merry Has Advised
That Salvadorian Con-
gress Made No Provision
for the Payment.

Unless assurances are received imme
diately from the Salvadorian govern
ment that the award of the arbitration
commission in the case of FL Triunfo
Company will be paid without delay the
United States will take steps to collect
the claim.
The first move of this Government
will be TO send a warship 10 Salvador,
and in case that does not evoke a pay
ment from the Central American re-
public. some port will probably be seiz-
ed and the receipts taken by the United
States to meet the claim.
Minister Merry has advised the State
Department that the Salvadorian con-
gress ignored the claim of the American
company and adjourned without making
any provision for its payment The State
Department is unwilling to coerce such
small state as Salvador, but it is un-
der obligation TO uphold the principle
of arbitration.
The Nature of the Award
The award in the Ell Triunfo case was
made by a commission composed Of
Chief Justice Strong, of Canada; Don n.
Dickinson. representing the United
States, and DR.. Pacas, representing Sal
vador.. Af.er the announcement of the
award DR.. Pacas showed great indigua-
tion and denounced the commission, es-
pecially Chief Justice Strong, who pre-
sided over the body
The award was for more than $500 900.
From the time the decision of the COM
mission was made public, Salvadorians
have declared that they would not pay
the claim. The action of the congress,
therefore. seems 10 be in harmony with
public sentiment in the Central Ameri-
can country and a concession to il.
El Triunfo Company, Limited, is cor
peraticn of San Francisco capitalists,
which obtained a concession TO build
docks and develop the harbor of FL
Triunfo The company went into the
hands of a receiver. and the Salvadorian
government alleged that it failed 70 carry
out the terms of its franchise. The
property of the American corporation
was confscated by the Salvadorian gov
ernment
Members of the corporation deny the
charge that the terms of the franchise
were not met. They allege that the
Salyadorean government discovered the
concession was valuable and conflscated
their property without cause
Claim Chief Justice Was III.
Although little was said about Chief
Justice Strong's ill-hea1th at the time
the commission was hearing Ell Triunfo
case. it has been alleged by the Sal
vadorian authorities since the an
nouncement of the award that the Ca
madam jurist was so i'll all the time he
was in Washington that he should not
have sat on the commission, and was
wholly untitled to give proper considera-
tion TO the important case.
The deliberations of the commission
were held at the Arlington Hotel, where
the three members Of the body lived
during the weeks they were in this city.
1t is maintained ty the SaIvadorians
that Cher Justice Strong was unable TO
leave his room much of the time he was
in Washington.
G. Walton, who was one Of Salvador's
attorneys in the case, protested to the
commission against the award His con
nection with the case ended there, how
eFer. he said this morning that he
knew nothing of the action OF the con-
gress OF the republic further than what
he had seen in the papers, and that he
did not advise that the award of the
commission be disregarded
Col John p Irish. OF California. rep
resented the California company in the
hearing and added TO his reputation as
an orator. John B. Cotton and W f.
White also represented the salvadorian
government before the commission.
Minister Rafael S Lopez, diplomatic
representative TO this country from
Salvador. was seen by a reporter for
The Times this morning. He said he
had received no advices on the subject
and had no statement 10 make at this
time.