No. 204.]

Mr. Olney to Mr. Ransom.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, May 14, 1896.

SIR: Your No. 140, of the 4th instant, reporting that Chester W. Rowe has been convicted in the Mexican courts of bringing stolen property into Mexico and sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment, with a fine of $2,000 and political disfranchisement, has been received.

You may express to Señor Mariscal this Government's appreciation of Mexico's action in preventing this iugitive from the justice of the United States from going unpunished. Nevertheless we adhere to the position heretofore maintained by us in regard to his extradition, and regret that in criminals escaping from punishment here there may be a more or less pronounced failure of justice.

I am, etc.,

RICHARD OLNEY.

NICARAGUA AND SALVADOR.

POLITICAL UNION OF HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, AND SALVADOR.1

No. 697.1

Mr. Baker, chargé, to Mr. Olney.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Managua, Nicaragua, September 7, 1896. (Received Sept. 22.) SIR: Delegates have been appointed by the Republics of Nicaragua, Honduras, and Salvador to meet at San Salvador on September 15, 1896, and form what will be known as the Diet. This body will consist of one delegate and one alternate from each of the three Republics, whose terms extend for three years. They are to reside one year in San Salvador, one year in Tegucigalpa, and one year in Managua, the respective capitals of the three Republics.

The object of this junta is to continue in effect the treaty of Amapala made in June, 1895, in which a political alliance was made between these Republics, and they agreed to stand together in all war troubles, civil or foreign.

The value of this compact to Nicaragua was demonstrated during the late revolution in this country. Immediately on the breaking out of the war in February last Honduras came to the aid of the Government of her sister Republic with a large armed force, which was a very important factor in suppressing the rebellion in this country. Salvador also rendered assistance of a material character.

The delegate to the Diet named by Nicaragua is Don Eugenio Mendoza and the alternate is Juan M. Arce.

I have, etc.,

JOHN F. BAKER, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.

Mr. Olney to Mr. Baker, chargé.

[Telegram.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, October 14, 1896.

Have Nicaragua and Salvador ratified union of June, 1895? If so, does the Diet take charge of their diplomatic affairs? Minister to Guatemala telegraphs that Honduras has abolished foreign office, turning over international relations to Diet.

Mr. Baker, chargé, to Mr. Olney.

[Telegram.]

OLNEY.

MANAGUA, October 15, 1896.

At Salvador 15th September union ratified. The Diet has taken charge diplomatic affairs Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras. President

See also under "Greater Republic of Central America" and "Honduras."

of Nicaragua notifies the legation to-day that decree will be published in a few days abolishing foreign office. My dispatch October 3 announces José Dolores Rodriguez minister to Washington for three Republics.

BAKER.

No. 715.]

Mr. Baker, chargé, to Mr. Olney.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Managua, Nicaragua, October 16, 1896. (Received Nov. 2.) SIR: I transmit herewith copies of telegrams addressed to and sent from this legation upon the change in the diplomatic relations between the United States and the Governments of Nicaragua and Salvador.

The late minister of foreign relations in Salvador, Señor J. Castellanos, states very clearly that the Diet assumes the functions of the offices of foreign relations of the three Republics.

I had the honor to send you a copy of the circular to which his excellency refers in my No. 714 of October 14.

I have, etc.,

Mr. Baker, chargé, to Mr. Castellanos.

MANAGUA, October 15, 1896.

Has Diet taken charge Salvador diplomatic affairs and has your foreign office been abolished? Please answer by telegraph.

BAKER.

[Inclosure 2 in No. 715.-Translation.]

Mr. Castellanos to Mr. Baker, chargé.

SAN SALVADOR, October 16, 1896.

In answer to the cablegram of your excellency, I have the honor to indicate that the Diet established by the treaty of Amapala being installed, it assumes the functions of the offices of foreign relations of the three Governments. This I conveyed to the knowledge of your excellency through the medium of a circular addressed to the diplo matic corps, which I suppose you already have received.

J. CASTELLANOS.

No. 716.]

Mr. Baker, chargé, to Mr. Olney.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Managua, Nicaragua, October 17, 1896. (Received Nov. 2.) SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the regulations of the "Dieta de la República Mayor de Centro América" (Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America), and a translation of the same.

You will observe that this is printed in the official paper of the Nica raguan Government to-day, October 17, although it was adopted by the

Diet on September 16. It is the only official notice this Government has given out concerning the transfer of its diplomatic affairs from its foreign office to the Diet.

Following the interview I held with President Zelaya, on October 15, in which he announced that the abolition of the foreign office would take place simultaneously with the publication of this decree, I assume that the foreign office of Nicaragua no longer exists.

This legation will hereafter address all of its official communications concerning the affairs of Nicaragua and Salvador to the Diet, now in session at San Salvador.

You have doubtless received an official communication direct from the Diet concerning this new organization, as indicated in article 10 of the inclosed regulations.

I beg to refer you to my dispatches numbered 714 and 715 for other information concerning this new political body.

I have, etc.,

JOHN F. BAKER,

Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.

[Inclosure in No. 716-Translation.]

Interior regulations of the Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America.

The Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America, in accordance with the power granted in article 3, paragraph 3, of the treaty of Amapala, decrees the following regulations:

ORGANIZATION OF THE DIET.

ARTICLE 1. The Diet is to be composed of three regular members, each selected by the respective legislatures of the undersigned nations to the treaty.

ARTICLE 2. There will also be three deputy members elected in the same manner, to take the places of the regular members in cases of absence or failure to be present. ARTICLE 3. Annually they will elect from among their members, either by common consent or by lot, a president, a secretary, and a subsecretary, whose functions shall be hereafter determined.

ARTICLE 4. The Diet will reside in succession in cities of San Salvador, Managua, and Tegucigalpa, selected in that order by lot, in accordance with the spirit of article 12.

ARTICLE 5. Neither the Diet nor the members composing the same shall have any honorary title, and they will be designated only by the name of delegates.

DUTIES OF THE DIET.

ARTICLE 6. The duties of the Diet are the same as outlined in the treaty of union.

OF THE PRESIDENT.

ARTICLE 7. The president shall preside over the sessions of the Diet, and will speak in its name when necessary.

ARTICLE 8. His faculties and duties are the same as those of the other members, and he has no superiority over them.

OF THE SECRETARY,

ARTICLE 9. The secretary shall be the organ of communication between the Diet and the governments and the representatives of the foreign nations, notwithstanding the work shall be divided equally between all the members of the Diet.

AUTOGRAPHS AND CIRCUlars.

ARTICLE 10. The first act of the Diet after its installation shall be to direct autograph letters signed by all of its members to all governments with whom the undersigned Republics cultivate friendly relations, bringing to their knowledge the new political organization.

ARTICLE 11. Also a circular shall be directed, signed by the secretary, to the accredited diplomatic corps before the said Republics, enclosing a copy of the treaty and offering to cultivate the same cordial relations which exist with their respective governments.

OF THE SESSIONS.

ARTICLE 12. For the transaction of business the members of the Diet will meet daily between 8 and 12 a. m.

ARTICLE 13. The secretary shall give an account of all pending subjects, and if by their nature they can be acted upon without the necessity of previous consultation with one or any of the respective governments the Diet shall immediately decide (the question) by a majority of votes.

ARTICLE 14. For the settlement of all subjects of interest the respective delegate will ask instructions from his government by writing or telegraph, according to the urgency or importance of the business.

ARTICLE 15. In the locality in which the Diet resides the instructions can be solicited verbally from the President of the Republic by the respective delegate.

ARTICLE 16. When the business interests all the Governments, the instructions must be by writing, and it will be acted upon in accordance with the opinion of a majority of the delegates, except the case referred to in article 7 of the treaty. ARTICLE 17. The subjects will be acted upon regularly in the order in which they are presented, but the preference shall be given to such as may be desired or recommended by the Governments.

NOMINATIONS.

ARTICLE 18. As the representation abroad of the Greater Republic must be in one person, the Diet will send letters of withdrawal to the actual ministers plenipotentiaries and will cancel the patents of all consuls.

ARTICLE 19. In making the new nominations citizens of the Greater Republic shall be preferred, in default thereof Spanish Americans, and in the absence of these such foreigners as are actually invested with the consulships of any of the three Republics.

RECEPTION OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS.

ARTICLE 20. Before a special ceremony is decreed, the existing relations in the Republic of Salvador will be observed as far as they are applicable.

COAT OF ARMS AND FLAG.

ARTICLE 21. In conformity with the federal decree of August 21, 1823, the coat of arms will be an equilateral triangle. Its base will show a chain of five volcanoes placed upon a territory between two oceans; above, a rainbow covering them, and below the arch, the cap of liberty, surrounded by rays of light. Around the triangle in circular form there will be inscribed in letters of gold "República Mayor de Centro-América."

ARTICLE 22. The flag will consist of three horizontal bars, the upper and lower being blue and the center white, on which the coat of arms will be designed.

ARTICLE 23. This flag will be hoisted by the ministers and consuls of the Republic abroad.

ARTICLE 24. It is urged upon the undersigned Governments that they shall decree that their national vessels must use the same flag with the modification established in article 4 of the above-cited decree.

OF THE OFFICIAL PAPER.

ARTICLE 25. The Diet will have a paper to be called "El Federal," in which will be published the proceedings and such communications as should be made known, editorials and articles which will assist in preparing public opinion for the reconstruction of the old Republic of Central America, and any other articles which might be agreeable to the Diet.

ARTICLE 26. Before the periodical is established, the publication referred to in the foregoing article shall be made in the official papers of the undersigned Governments.

NEW NAME.

ARTICLE 27. The external individual sovereignty being abolished and the undersigned Republics having been consolidated into one, the Governments are urged in all documents and official publications, and particularly in its foreign correspondence, to use, instead of the words Republica de "República Mayor de CentroAmérica, Estado de