The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-22
COSTA R|CA'S SCORCH|hG
INDICTMENT OF GERMANY
Embodied In Declaration OF War
Signed By Republics President.
Regrets Inability to Help Allies.

The text OF Costa Rica's declaration
OF war against Germany, signed by
Federico Tinoco, constitutional presi
dent of the republic. has Just been
received in this country. Translated
is reads as follows;
Whereas. l. The war provoked by
Germany against the principal powers
with intent TO substitute In the world
the dominion of right by "a system OF
force as the supreme law OF nations,
ts virtually fGht for principles the
results of which interest in very
strong way all mem bers of the inter
national community. and. whereas.
q. In Nct. the ends which Ger
many pursues In the present war COM
promise the existence of the higher
ideals of humanity and make void the
most important intellectual and moral
conQuests OF civilization, as those con
templsted ends already shown In tn
course OF the conflict constitute a
deliberate violation OF international
laws and practices which regulate the
life OF nations: and their Immediate
substitution therefor Of an exclusive
and tyrannicai dictatorship which,
hasing Itself upon military power and
upon the exercise Of autocracy, tends
20 the fastening OF political and eco
nomicai servitude upon all the peo-
pies already subject to II or that in
future 1t may conquer by the force
OF arms. and. whereas
q Germany, by attempts against
the foundations OF international right.
hy means OF a long series Of acts
characterized by the spirit Of absolu-
ttsm, has stamped upon the most re-
gpecta BILE Institutions and human doc
trtnes sBd upon the high conception
Of liberty ard justice which are the
essence NJ universal morals. has VIC
lated the faith IN public treaties. the
war laws and the rights Of neutrals
and has nenaced with death the
principle of existence for small ma
tionalitles and the lndIsputable priv
lleee they have OF dispostgs OF their
own destinies In the use n their right
and their autonomy; aud whereas.
- In view af these snteceGents
though on account AZ her small ma
tertsl resources Costa RIGA cannot un-
der present conditions render 10 the
great cause Of humanity assistance
proportionate ta her high aspirations.
1t is obvious that on account OF THE
needs of her own conservation as well
as on account OF her we'll proven cen
'tments OF solidarity, she is under the
unavoidable moral duty OF co-operat-
ing with Arm help IN the work of
common defense into which 80 he
FCtCAuH are DcGHG NUMEROUS peoples
10 many Of whom the Costa Rlcan PEG
apie are tied with bonds Of old and sim
cere friendship. and whereas.
IS. The severance Of diplomatic re-
lations with the imperial German gov
eminent which the executive power
decreed on the 21st of last September
Is not enough for determining the at
titude which Costa Rtca shall reso-
lutely assume in the conflict. an attt-
tude which for small and weak coun-
try as ours having no other shield or
other cult than that Of right. shall
not be other than that of a beliger-
emit participation against the oppres-
sors Of the liberty, the existence, the
respect and the autonomy OF all the
nations Of the world.
Therefore. by virtue OF the author
ity which the constitutional congress
has given him in today's resolution.
and using the faculty conferred on him
by paragraph Sd, section 80 of the
political constitution; and In conform
ity with a resolution taken In cab
met council. he decrees
From this date a state Of war ex-
ists between the Republic of Costa
RIGA and the imperial German govern
ment
Given at the presidential residence,
San Jose. on the 23rd day of May, in
the year 1918.
IF TINOC0"