TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS CONCLUDED AT THE CENTRAL AMERICAN PEACE CONFERENCE, HELD IN WASHINGTON 1907, BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF COSTA RICA, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS. NICARAGUA AND SALVADOR. The United States Government was not a signatory party to these conventions, but as the conference met on the initiative of the Presidents of the United States of America and the United States of Mexico and the treaties were concluded under the auspices of the Governments of the United States and the United Mexican States, represented, respectively in said conference by Mr. Wm. I. Buchanan, and Ambassador Don Enrique Creel, who were, by the Central American plenipotentiary representatives of the five Central American Republics, invited to be present at all the deliberations of the conference, the treaties referred to are included in this compila tion. 1907. Preliminary Protocol. We, the Representatives of the five Republics of Central America, having met in the city of Washington on the initiative of Their Excellencies the Presidents of the United States of America and of the United Mexican States, to settle upon the means of preserving the good relations between the said Republics and of obtaining an enduring peace in those countries; and with the purpose of fixing upon the bases for bringing to a realization these ends, being duly authorized by our respective Governments, have agreed to the following: ARTICLE I. Upon receipt of the formal invitation which, as is understood, will be issued simultaneously to each one of the five Republics of Central America, by Their Excellencies the Presidents of the United States of America and of the United Mexican States, a Conference of the Plenipotentiary Representatives, which the Governments of the Republics referred to shall appoint for that purpose that is to say, Costa Rica, Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua-will meet in the first fifteen days of November next, in the city of Washington, to discuss the steps to be taken and the measures to be adopted for the purpose of adjusting any differences which exist between the said Republics or between any of them, and for the purpose of concluding a treaty which shall define their general relations. ARTICLE II. Their Excellencies the Presidents of the Republics of Central America will invite Their Excellencies the Presidents of the United States of America and of the United Mexican States to appoint, if agreeable to them, their respective representatives who, in a purely friendly character, shall lend their good and impartial offices toward the realization of the purposes of the Conference. ARTICLE III. While the Conference is in session and discharging the high mission entrusted to it, the five Central American Republics-that is to say, Costa Rica, Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua— agree to maintain among themselves peace and good relations, and they assume, respectively, the obligation not to commit, nor to permit to be committed, any act that can disturb the mutual tranquility. To such end, all display of arms on the respective frontiers shall cease and the maritime forces shall be withdrawn to their jurisdictional waters. ARTICLE IV. If, unfortunately, any unforeseen question should arise between any of the said Republics while the Conference is in session, and if it can not be settled by amicable diplomatic course, it is mutually agreed that the interested parties shall submit the difference to the friendly advice of His Excellency the President of the United States of America, or of the United Mexican States, or of both Presidents conjointly, according to the case, and in conformity with the agreement to this effect which may be reached. ELEVENTH. The session adjourned at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. J. B. CALVO, F. MEJÍA. President. LUIS TOLEDO HERRARTE. LUIS F. COREA. ANGEL UGARTE, Secretary. 1907. GENERAL TREATY OF PEACE AND AMITY CONCLUDED AT THE CENTRAL AMERICAN PEACE CONFERENCE, OF 1907, BETWEEN COSTA RICA, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, NICAragua, and SalVADOR. GENERAL TREATY OF PEACE AND AMITY. The Governments of the Republics of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador, being desirous of establishing the foundations which fix the general relations of said countries, have seen fit to conclude a general Treaty of Peace and Amity which will attain said end, and for that purpose have named as Delegates: COSTA RICA: Their Excellencies Doctor Don Luis Anderson and Don Joaquín B. Calvo; GUATEMALA: Their Excellencies Doctor Don Antonio Batres Jáuregui, Doctor Don Luis Toledo Herrarte, and Don Víctor Sánchez Ocaña; HONDURAS: Their Excellencies Doctor Don Policarpo Bonilla, Doctor Don Angel Ugarte, and Don E. Constantino Fiallos; NICARAGUA: Their Excellencies Doctors Don José Madriz and Don Luis F. Corea; and SALVADOR: Their Excellencies Doctor Don Salvador Gallegos, Doctor Don Salvador Rodríguez González, and Don Federico Mejía. By virtue of the invitation sent in accordance with Article II of the protocol signed at Washington on September 17, 1907, by the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the five Central American Republics, their excellencies, the Representative of the Government of the United Mexican States, Ambassador Don Enrique C. Creel, and the Representative of the Government of the United States of America, Mr. William I. Buchanan, were present at all the deliberations. The Delegates, assembled in the Central American Peace Conference at Washington, after having communicated to one another their respective full powers, which they found to be in due form, have agreed to carry out the said purpose in the following manner: ARTICLE I. The Republics of Central America consider as one of their first duties, in their mutual relations, the maintenance of peace; and they bind themselves to always observe the most complete harmony, and decide every difference or difficulty that may arise amongst them, of whatsoever nature it may be, by means of the Central American Court of Justice, created by the Convention which they have concluded for that purpose on this date. ARTICLE II. Desiring to secure in the Republics of Central America the benefits which are derived from the maintenance of their institutions, and to contribute at the same time in strengthening their stability and the prestige with which they ought to be surrounded, it is declared that every disposition or measure which may tend to alter the constitutional organization in any of them is to be deemed a menace to the peace of said Republics. ARTICLE III. Taking into account the central geographical position of Honduras and the facilities which owing to this circumstance have made its territory most often the theater of Central American conflicts, Hon duras declares from now on its absolute neutrality in event of any conflict between the other Republics; and the latter, in their turn, provided such neutrality be observed, bind themselves to respect it and in no case to violate the Honduranean territory. ARTICLE IV. Bearing in mind the advantages which must be gained from the creation of Central American institutions for the development of their most vital interests, besides the Pedagogical Institute and the International Central American Bureau which are to be established according to the Conventions concluded to that end by this Conference, the creation of a practical Agricultural School in the Republic of Salvador, one of Mines and Mechanics in that of Honduras, and another of Arts and Trades in that of Nicaragua, is especially recommended to the Governments. ARTICLE V. In order to cultivate the relations between the States, the contracting Parties obligate themselves each to accredit to the others a permanent Legation. ARTICLE VI. The citizens of one of the contracting Parties, residing in the territory of any of the others, shall enjoy the same civil rights as are enjoyed by nationals, and shall be considered as citizens in the country of their residence if they fulfil the conditions which the respective constituent laws provide. Those that are not naturalized shall be exempt from obligatory military service, either on sea or land, and from every forced loan or military requisition, and they shall not be obliged on any account to pay greater contributions or ordinary or extraordinary imposts than those which natives pay. ARTICLE VII. The individuals who have acquired a professional degree in any of the contracting Republics, may, without special exaction, practice their professions, in accordance with the respective laws, in any one of the others, without other requirements than those of presenting the respective degree or diploma properly authenticated and of proving, in case of necessity, their personal identity and of obtaining a permit from the Executive Power where the law so requires. In like manner shall validity attach to the scientific studies pursued in the universities, professional schools, and the schools of higher education of any one of the contracting countries, provided the documents which evidence such studies have been authenticated, and the identity of the person proved. ARTICLE VIII. Citizens of the signatory countries who reside in the territory of the others shall enjoy the right of literary, artistic or industrial property in the same manner and subject to the same requirements as natives. |