A. H. Rivas to Geo. Williamson, December 20, 1873

Señor Rivas to Mr. Williamson.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your excellency’s esteemed communication, dated at Punta Arenas, on the 14th instant, inclosing a copy of the memorandum of the conversation held with President Guardia on the 10th instant, at that port.

I brought to the knowledge of the President your excellency’s esteemed dispatch, and of the memorandum, from which, as well as from some other documents received at the same time, he infers, as your excellency, that President Guardia has at last come to a peaceful disposition.

As I stated to your excellency in my dispatch of the 12th instant, neither the government of Guatemala nor that of Salvador has advised this government of their disposition to promote a peaceful settlement with President Guardia, nor have they informed us of what steps they proposed, through your excellency, to take to that end.

I call your excellency’s notice to this circumstance, because my government does not consider it in conformity to the letter and spirit of the treaty of alliance by which they agreed as allied republics to take no steps without common consent that would lead to the best guarantees of their interests and welfare. But this circumstance alters not in any manner the disposition already assured to your excellency, that on the part of Nicaragua no obstacle will be put in the way of carrying out any idea that may tend to the re-establishment of peace and harmony among the states, especially if the valuable intervention of your good office may be invoked.

Nicaragua being able to show with authentic documents the culpability of the government of Costa Rica in the acts subversive of peace, is in duty bound to raise to that government its just claims for serious damages to the state and to several citizens; but neither these claims, nor the question of limits for the settlement of which your excellency has tendered your good offices, shall be an obstacle to Nicaragua in entering upon any treaty or convention to secure the peace of Central America.

In reference to this idea of permanent peace, in which your excellency has taken so great and so laudable an interest, the President begs me to call it to your notice that the statements and assurances of President Guardia, made in the convention of the 10th instant, have not yet had the sanction of the actual government of Costa Rica. It would appear any efforts made should have such a firm basis of legality that the acts resulting therefrom should be permanent. In this Nicaragua is more interested than any of the states, owing to her proximity to Costa Rica and the nature of the question now pending between them.

Respecting the personal presence of the President of this republic at the place to be designated for the re-union, there is a constitutional obstacle. He has been authorized by the law, of which I send you a copy, to leave the republic solely with the object of treating about the national unity and not about regulations of peace among the states. However, your excellency may rest assured that the government of Nicaragua shall be properly represented at the meeting.

With the highest consideration, I have the honor to be your excellency’s obedient servant,