Evening star., 1922-12-03


sentative of the United States. Mr..
Welles has been acting as commits
sioner for the President in connection
with the proceedings looking to the
withdrawal Of the military govern
ment in Santo Domingo.
AS stated in the invitation Of the
United States government October q
for the conference to convene in
Washington. these subjects will be
taken up:
THE negotiation of a treaty or
treaties to make effective those pro-
visions Of the treaties signed at
Washington on December 20. 1907.
which experience has shown to be
effective in maintaining friendly re-
lations and cooperation among the
Central American states.
Measures whereby. in view of the
achievements accomplished with re-
gard to the limitation Of armaments
by the powers participating In the
conference at Washington in 1921.
the Central American states may car
ry on this endeavor and set an ex-
ample to the world and above all to
the powers of this hemisphere by
adopting effective measures for the
Limitation of armaments in Central
America.
THE working out Of plan for
setting up tribunals of inquiry when
ever any disputes or questions re-
garding the proposed treaty or
treaties, which cannot be settled by
diplomatic means. shall unfortunate
iy arise between any two or more
Of the countries.
ANY other questions which the
countries represented at the con-
ference unanimously desire to con-
sider."
Origin OF Conference Plan.
Tho conference is the outgrowth Of
a meeting on board the U. S. S. Ia
coma in Fonseca bay. August 20. be-
tween the presidents of Nicaragua.
Honduras and Salvador. 1t was call
ed at the request OF the Nicaraguan
government in order to concert meas
ures looking to the establishment of
more peaceful relations between
their three countries.
The result of this conference was
the signing Of an agreement. already
published, acknowledging the gen.
eral treaty Of peace and friendship
signed at Washington December 90,
1907, by the five republics of Central
America as being in force between
them. 1t was further stipulated in
this agreement that the Guatemalan
and Costa Rican governments, would
likewise be asked to adhere thereto
and that a preliminary conference
would be called in December to dis
'cuss further measures looking to the
well-being of Central America
The Guatemalan and Costa Rican
governments. in answer to the in
vitation to adhere to the August 20
agreement, replied that they did not
consider this necessary, as they re-
gard the general treaty of peace and
friendship as still in force and stated
their intention to abide by its pro-
visions.
Information reached the State De-
partment that 1t was tho desire of
the powers to hold the conference in
Washington in December.
Invitations Issued.
The department Immediately issued
invitations to such a conference by
instructing the American legations
at Guatemala City, San Salvador,
Tegucigalpa, Menagua and San Jose
to extend to the presidents OF these
countries the following invitation:
'The government of the United
States has watched with attention the
measures taken in August last by
the presidents Of Nicaragua. Salvador
and Honduras at the conference held
on board the U. s. 8. Tacoma to effect
more friendly and peaceful relations
in Central America The American
government was gratified at the ac-
tion of those countries in acknowl-
edging the Validity of the general
treaty Of peace and friendship signed
at Washington on December 90, 1907,
and at the action Of the governments
Of Costa Rica and Guatemala in
definitely declaring that that treaty,
In so far as they are concerned, is
still in force.
'The government of the United
States believes that q great step has
been taken towards peace and stabil-
ity by these declarations of the five
Central American states. and is fur
ther of the opinion that the peaceful
and friendly relations and the pros
perity of these countries could still
further be insured by a frank and
friendly exchange OF views and rec
concentrations. the results thereof to
be embodied in a treaty for the per-
manent regulation of their mutual
interests and relations.
''The government of the United
States consequently takes pleasure
In inviting the governments of Qua
temala. Nicaragua, Honduras, Saliva
dor and Costa Rica to send plenipo-
tentiaries to Washington for a con-
ference to be held beginning Monday.
December f."
TWO DIE IN TRAIN CRASH.