m 
 
 
 
 M'i'>/ 
 
 W:,X 
 
 m" 
 
 •^^■ 
 
 x, 
 
 
 V''^->i. 
 
 f ■ 
 
 
 iW&is 
 
 
 
CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
Cornell University Library 
 F 1405 1889 .A4 
 
 Minutes of the International American co 
 
 3 1924 020 428 086 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924020428086 
 
^^S^^^<::^/^?o^^.t^' v-^!it^4^^ 
 
 ^A" 
 
 
 y-Z^£^fp*-<,^*^~ 
 
 T 
 
 /^ /^ . S . sMla^tX'^'^^'ik^^ 
 
 «.*«- 
 
MINUTES 
 
 Iflternafaal Iramo 
 
 WASHINGTON. 
 i890. 
 
 AOTAS 
 
 Ammana. 
 
 WASHINGTON. 
 
 J890, 
 
 (^ 
 
A' 3 Z^GS^ 
 
 U-NIVEfBiTYi 
 LIBR-AkV 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. 
 
 An act of Congress was passed and approved on the 24th day of May, 
 1888, entitled 
 
 An act authorizing the President of the United States to arrange a conference 
 between the United States of America and the Republics of Mexico, Central and 
 South America, Hayti, San Domingo, and the Empire of Brazil, 
 
 which is in words and figures as follows, to wit: 
 
 Be it enacted 'by the Senate and House of Eepresentatives of the United States of America, 
 in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, 
 requested and authorized to invite the several Governments of the Republics of 
 Mexico, Central and South America, Hayti, San Domingo, and the Empire of Brazil 
 to join the United States in a conference to be held at Washington, in the United 
 States, at such time as he may deem proper, in the year eighteen hundred and 
 eighty-nine, for the purpose of discussing and recommending for adoption to their 
 rrspeotive Governments some plan of arbitration for the settlement of disagreements 
 and disputes that may hereafter arise between them, and for considering questions 
 relating to the improvement of business intercourse and means of direct communica- 
 tion between said countries, and to encourage such reciprocal commercial relations 
 as will be beneficial to all and secure more extensive markets for the products of each 
 of said countries. 
 
 Sec. 2. That in forwarding the invitations to the said Governments the President 
 of the United States shall s«t forth that the Conference is called to consider — 
 
 First. Measures that shall tend to preserve the peace and promote the prosperity of 
 the several American states. . 
 
 Second. Measures toward the formation of an American customs union, under 
 which the trade of the American nations with each other shall, so far as possible and 
 profitable, be promoted. 
 
 Third. The establishment of regular and frequent communication between the 
 ports of the several American states and the ports of each other. 
 
 Fourth. The establishment of a uniform system of customs regulations in each of 
 the independent American states to govern the mode of importation and exportation 
 of merchandise and port dues and charges, a uniform method of determining the 
 classification and valuation of such merchandise in the ports of each country, and a 
 uniform system of invoices, and the subject of the sanitation of ships and quarantine. 
 
 Fifth. The adoption of a uniform system of weights and measures, and laws to 
 protect the patent rights, copyrights, and trade-marks of citizens of either country 
 in the other, and for the extradition of criminals. 
 
 lie 1 
 
2 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Sixth. The adoption of a common silyer coin, to be issued hy each Government, the 
 same to be legal tender in all commercial transactions between the citizens of all of 
 the American States. 
 
 Seventh. An agreement upon the recommendation for adoption to their respective 
 Governments of a definite plan of arbitration of all questions, disputes, and differ- 
 ences that may now or hereafter exist between them, to the end that all difficulties 
 and disputes between such nations may be peaceably settled and wars prevented. 
 
 Eighth. And to Consider such other subjects relating to the welfare of the several 
 States represented as may be presented by any of said St.ates which are hereby invited 
 to participate in said Conference. 
 
 Sec. 3. That the sum of seventy-tive thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may 
 be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise 
 appropriated, the same to be disbursed under the direction and in tno discretion of 
 the Secretary of State, for expenses incidental to the Conference. 
 
 Sec. 4. That the President of the United States shall appoint, by and with the ad- 
 vice and oonsen t of the Senate, ten delegates to said Conference, who shall serve 
 without compensation other than their actual necessary expenses, and (he several 
 other states participating in said Conference shall be represented by as many dele- 
 gates as each may elect: Provided, however, That in the disposition of questions to 
 come before said Conference no state shall be entitled to more than one vote. 
 
 Sbc. 5. That the Secretary of State shall appoint such clerks and other assistants 
 as shall be necessary, at a compensation to be determined by him, and provide for 
 the daily publication by the Public Printer, in the English, Spanish, and Portuguese 
 languages, of so much of the proceedings of the Conference as it shall deterniine, 
 and upon the conclusion of said Conference shall transmit a report of the same to the 
 Congress of the United States, together with a statement of the disbursements of the 
 appropriation herein provided for. 
 
 REPEESENTATION AT THE CONFERENCE. 
 
 Under and by virtue of the provisions of said act invitations were 
 extended to the Governments of Mexico, Central and South America, 
 Hajti, and San Domingo, which invitations were accepted by'tbeGrov- 
 ernments hereinaftjr named, and delegates accredited by said Giovern- 
 pents, to wit: 
 
 Argentine Republic. — Vicente G. Quesada, Roque Saenz PeSa, Manuel 
 Quintana. 
 
 Bolivia. — Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 Brazil. — Lafayette Eodrigues Pereira, J. G. do Amaral Valente, Sal- 
 vador de Men donga. 
 
 Chili. — Emilio C. Varas, Jos6 Alfonso. 
 
 Colomhia. — Jos6 M. Hnrtado, C4rlos Martinez Silva, Climaco Oal- 
 der6n. 
 
 Costa Rica — Manuel Aragon. 
 
 Ecuador. — Jos6 Maria Pldcido Caamano. 
 
 Guatemala. — Fernando Cruz. 
 
 Uayti, — Arthur Laforestrie. 
 
 Honduras. — Jeronimo Zelaya. 
 
 Mexico. — Matias Eomero, J. N. Navarro, Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 
 Nicaragua. — Horatio Guzman. 
 
 Paraguay.-^ J oa6 S. Decoud. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 6 
 
 Peru. — F, 0. 0. Zegarra. 
 
 Salvador. — Jacinto Oastellanos. 
 
 Uruguay. — Alberto Nin. 
 
 Venezuela. — jSTicanor Bolet Peraza, F. A. Silva, Jos6 Andrade. 
 
 The President of the United States appointed under the pro- 
 visions of the act of Congress above copied the following delegates : 
 
 John B. Henderson, Cornelias N. Bliss, Charles E. Flint, Clement 
 Studebaker, T. Jefferson Coolidge, William Henry Trescot, Andrew 
 Carnegie, Henry G. Davis, Morris M. Estee, and John F. Hanson. 
 
 The lirst meeting was held on the 2d of October, 1889. 
 
CONFERENCIA INTERMCIONAL AMERICANA. 
 
 introducciOn histOrica. 
 
 En 24 de Mayo de 1888 se aprob6 la ley votada por el Congreso con 
 el titulo de : 
 
 Ley autorizando al Presidente de los Estados XJnidos para arreglar la celebraoi(5n 
 de una Conferencia entre los Estados Unidos de Am(Srica y las Eepriblicas de Mexico, 
 Centro y Sud America, Haitf, Santo Domingo, y el Imperio del Brasll, 
 
 la cual dice literalmente come sigue: 
 
 "M Senadoyla Cdmara de Sepresentantes delosEstadoa Unidos de Am6rica, reunidoB en 
 Congreso, deciden : Que por la presente se autoriza al Senor Presidente do los Estados 
 Unidos para iuvitar, como se lo suplica que lo haga, Si Jos diversos Gol)iernos do las 
 Eeptlblicas do Mexico, Centro y Snd America, Haiti, Santo Domingo, y el Imperio del 
 Brasil, para que en unidn cou los Estados Unidos celebren una Conferencia en Wash- 
 ington, en los Estados Unidos, en la iSpooa del alio do 1889 que Si dicho Senor Presi- 
 dente le pareciere oportuna, con el objeto de discutir y recomendar & sus respectivos 
 Gobieruos la adopci6u de un plan de arbitraje para el arreglo de los desacuerdos y 
 cuestioues que puedim en lo futuro suscitarso entre ellos ; tratar do asuntos relacio- 
 nados con el incremento del tr^fico comercial y do los medios de comunicaci6u directa 
 eutre diohos palses; fomentar aquellas relaciones comerciales reclprocas que sean 
 provecbosas para todos y asegurar mercados m^s extensos & los productos de cada 
 uno de los rcferidos palses. 
 
 Sec. 2. El Presidente de los Estados Unidos expresar^, al transmitir la invitaci6n 
 & los respectivos Gobiemos, quo la Conferencia estii Uamada S, considerar: 
 
 Primero. Medidas que tiendan £i couservar la paz y fomentar la prospori'dad de los 
 diversos Estados americanos. 
 
 Scguudo. Medidas (ncaminadas d la formaci6n de una uni6n aduanera americaua 
 bajo Ja cual se fomente en cuanto sea posiblo y provecboso, el comercio entro las 
 naoiones americauas unas con otras. 
 
 Teroero. El establocimlento de comunioaciones frecuentes y , regulares entro los 
 puertos do los diferentes Estados americanos unos cou otros. 
 
 Cuarto. La adopci<5n por cada uno de los Estados independientes do America do un 
 sistema uniforme do disposiciones aduaueras que doban observarso para la importaci 6n 
 y exportaci6n de mercaderias y para el page do los derecbos y cargos de puerto, esta- 
 blecidndo m^lodo igual en todos los paises para la clasificaci6n y avaMo do las merca- 
 derias y para la forma en quo deban hacerse las fracturas, asl como tambi(5n idduticos 
 preoeptos en materias de sanidad y cuarenteua. 
 
 Quinto. La adopcidn de un sistema uniforme do pesos y medidas y de leyes que 
 protejan los derechos adquiridos bajo patentes 6 privliegios de invenci6n, y marcas 
 defdbrica, y la propiedad literaria, de modo que los derecbos do los ciudadanos de cada 
 
6 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 pals sean respetados en todos los dem^s, asl como tambien de disposicioneB id^ntioas 
 sobre extradicidu de criminales. 
 
 Sexto. La adopcidii de una raoneda comiin de plata acunada por cada cnal de los 
 Gobiernos, que sirva de medio circulante legal en las transacciones oomerolales delos 
 ciudadanos de todos los Estados de America, unos con otros. 
 
 S6ptlmo. El arreglo y recomendacidn de un plan definitivo de arbitraje para todas 
 las cuestiones, disputas y diferencias que existan 6 puedan suscitarse enfre los dife- 
 rentes Estados americauos, ^ fin de que todas las dificnltades y cuestiones entre tales 
 Estados puedan terminarse paclficamente y evitarse guerras. 
 
 Octavo. Y las dem^s materias relacionadas cou la prosperidad de los diversos Esta- 
 dos representados en la Couferenoia, que cualquiera de ellos qptime oportuno someter 
 & estudio. 
 
 Sec. 3. Se asigna la suma de setenta y ciuco mil pesos, 6 la parte de ella que fnere 
 necesaiia, de los fondos del Tesoro no destinados ya ^ otros objetos, para atender ^ 
 los gastos de la ConfereDcia, debiendo hacerse los desembolsos bajo la direcci<)U del 
 Secretario de Estado y i£ su discreci6n. 
 
 Skc. 4. El Presidente de los Estados Unidos nombrar^, pi'6vio acuerdo y consenti- 
 miento del Seuado, diez delegados que represtnten al Gobierno en esta Confereucia, 
 los cuales servirfo sin compensacidn ; pero se les pagai^i sus gastos. Los dem^ 
 Estados que tomaren parte en la Conferencia ser^n representados por el nlimero de 
 delegados que cada uno designare ; pero en la resoluci6n de las cuestiones que se 
 sometieren & dicha Conferencia no se reconocer^ & ningun Estado m&s de un veto. 
 
 Sec. 5. El Secretario de Estado nombrar^ los empleados y auxiliares que se necesi- 
 ten, y sefialarS la remuneracirtn que deba satisfac6rseles ; disponiendo igualmente lo 
 que corresponda para que los trabajos de la Conferencia, 6 )a parte de ellos que la 
 misma tenga & bien senalar, se impriman dia por dia en la Imprenta del Gobierno en 
 inglfe, castellano ypoitugu^s; y terininada que sea la Conferencia, presentarii un 
 iuforme al Congreso de los Estados Unidos dando cuenta de lo que se hay a lieclio, y 
 los gastos que se hayau cubierto con la suma para el efecto seualada en esta ley. 
 
 PAfSBS KEPRESBNTADOS EN LA CONFERENCIA. 
 
 En cumplimiento de lo mandado eu esta ley, se hicieron las opor- 
 tanas invitaciones, k los Gobiernos de Mexico, de los paises de la 
 America Central y del Sud, de Haiti y de Sauto Domingo; y los que 
 las aceptaron acreditaron delegados 6 representantes en el orden que 
 sigue : 
 
 Bepublica Argentina. — Senores Vicente G. Quesada, Eoque Saenz 
 PeQa, Mcinuel Qnintana. 
 
 Bolivia. — Seiior Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 Brasil.—^enov Lafayette Eodrigues Pereira, J. G. do Amaral Va- 
 lente, Salvador de Mendonga. 
 
 Chile. — Senores Emilio 0. Varas, Jos6 Alfonso. 
 
 Columbia.— ^enov&s. Jos6 M. Hurtado, CArlos Martinez Silva, Cliraaco 
 Calderon. 
 
 Costa Rica. — Senor Manuel A.rag6n. 
 
 Ecuador. — Senor Maria Pldcido Caamaiio. 
 
 Guatemala. — Seiior Fernando Cruz. 
 
 Haiti. — Senor Arthur Laforestrie. 
 
 Honduras. — Seiior Jeronimo Zelaya. 
 
 Mexico,. — Senores Matias Romero, J. N. Navarro, Enrique Mexia. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. ( 
 
 Nicaragua. — Senor Horacio Guzman. 
 
 Paraguay. — Senor Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 
 Peru. — Seuor P. 0. 0. Zegarra. 
 
 Salvador. — Senor Jacinto Gastellanos. 
 
 Uruguay. — Senor Alberto Nin. 
 
 Venezuela. — Senores Kicanor Bolet Peraza, P. A. Silva, Jos(§ Andrade. 
 
 El Presidente de los Estados Unidos, por su parte, usando de 
 aatoridad que le concedi6 la ley iintes copiada, propuso al Senado, y 
 nombr6 cou la aprobacion de dicho cuerpo los sigaientes delegados : 
 
 Senores John B. Henderson, Cornelius K. Bliss, Charles E. Plint, 
 Clement Studebaker, T. Jefferson Ooolidge, William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, Henry S. Davis, Morris M. Estee, y John P. Hanson. 
 
 Las sesiones de la conferencia se inauguraron en Washington el 2 de 
 Octubre de 1889. 
 
FIRST DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 1. 
 
 Washington, D. C, October 2, 1889. 
 In the city of Washiugton, District of 
 Columbia, on the 2d clay of October, A. 
 D. 1889, at 12 o'cloclj noon, the Delegates 
 met at tlie diplomatic room of the De- 
 partment of State of the United States, to 
 wit: 
 
 For Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Jnan F. Velarde. 
 For Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Lafayette Eodrignez Peroira. 
 
 Mr. J. 6. do Aniaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendon^a. 
 
 For Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hiirtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder<5n. 
 For Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Arag<5n. 
 For Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 For Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jer6uimo Zalaya. 
 For Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 For Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 For Pern : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 For Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 For the United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Hcndersou. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. T. Jeiferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 
 Washington, D. C. , Ooluhre 2 de 1889. 
 En la ciudad de Washington, del Dis- 
 trito de Columbia, de los Estados Uuidos 
 de America, se reunieron Si las doce del 
 dia, del dos de octnbro del alio del Seuor 
 1889, en el salon de aotos diplom^ticos 
 del Departameuto deEstado, los Souores 
 Delegados que & continnaci6u se expre- 
 san: 
 
 Por Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Por Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. Lafayette Rodrignes Po- 
 
 rcira ; 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valeutc ; 
 El Sr. SalvaJor do Mcndonga. 
 Por Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 El Sr. Ciirlos Martinez Silva; 
 El Sr. Climaco CalderOn. 
 Por Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Por Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss; 
 El Sr. Clement Studebalier ; 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee; 
 EI Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 ElSr. Henry G. Davis; 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Por Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Por Honduras : 
 
 El Sr Jerdnimo Zolaya. 
 Por Mdxico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero. 
 Por Nicaragua: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzmilu. 
 Por Peru : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Z6garra. 
 Por S.alv.ador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
10 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCB. 
 
 For Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 For Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nioauor Bolet Peraza. 
 Mr. Jos6 Audrade. 
 The Delegates were all Introduced to 
 the Hon. Jambs G. Blaine, who addressed 
 them as follows : 
 
 Gentlemen of the International Ameri- 
 can Conference: Speaking for the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States, I bid you 
 welcome to this capital. Speaking for 
 the people of the United States, I bid you 
 welcome to every section and to every 
 State of the Union. You come in response 
 to an invitation extended by the Presi- 
 dent on the special authorization of Con- 
 gress. Your presence here is no ordinary 
 event. It signifies much to the people of 
 all America to-day; It may signify far 
 more in the days to come. No conference 
 of nations has ever assembled to consider 
 the welfare of territorial possessions so 
 vast and to contemplate the possibilities 
 of a, future so great and so inspiring. 
 Those now sitting within these walls are 
 empowered to speak for nations whose 
 borders are on both the great oceans, 
 whose northern limits are touched by the 
 Arctic waters for a thousand miles beyond 
 the Straits of Behring, whose southern 
 extension furnishes human habitations 
 farther below the equator than is else- 
 where possible on the globe. 
 
 The aggregate territorial extent of the 
 nations here represented falls but little 
 short of 12,000,000 of square miles — more 
 than three times the area of all Europe, 
 and but little less than one- fourth part of 
 the globe; while in respect to the power 
 of producing the articles which are es- 
 sential to human life and those which 
 minister to life's luxury, they constitute 
 even a larger proportion of the entire 
 world. These great possessions to-day 
 have an aggregate population approach- 
 ing 120,000,000, but if peopled as densely 
 
 For Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Por Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza; 
 El Sr. Jos(S Andrade. 
 
 Despues que los oxpresados senoros 
 fueron presentados al Honorable Seuor 
 James G. Blaine, Secretario de Estado de 
 los Estados Unidos, y tomaron sus asien- 
 tos, el Senor Secretario de Estado les 
 dirigi6 la alocucidn siguiente: 
 
 Senores de la Conferencia: Hablaudo 
 en nombre del Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos, OS doy la bieuvenida & esta capi- 
 tal. Hablando en nombre de su pueblo, 
 OS la doy tambien ^ todas las secciones y 
 S, todos los Estados de nuestra Uni(5n. Os 
 enoontrais entre nosotros & invitacidn del 
 Presidente, con autorizaci6n expresa del 
 Cougreso. Vuestra presencia aqnf no es 
 uu aeon teci mien to ordinario. Significa 
 mucho para el pueblo de la America de 
 nuestros dias, y es posible que signifique 
 mucho mils para la America del porvenir. 
 Jam^s he ha visto couvocada una confe- 
 rencia de nacioues que tenga como ^sta, 
 por objeto, proveer al bienestar de terri- 
 tories tan vastos, y & cuya vista se des- 
 pliegue el espectSculo de un futnro tan 
 grande 6 inspirador. Los que ahora nos 
 encontramos reunidos dentro del reciuto 
 de estas paredes, estamos autorizados para 
 hablaren nombre de nacioues, cuyos limi- 
 tes se marcan por los dos grandesoc6anos 
 que tienen h^ia el Norte las aguas 
 ^rticas, mil millas miis alld del estrecho 
 de Behring, y queofrecen, hd^ciael sud, en 
 solo los paises de m& alM del Ecuador, 
 habitacidn mejor y m^s estensa para la 
 raza humana, que la que es posible encon- 
 trar en cualquiera otro punto de nuestro 
 globo. 
 
 La totalidad de la superficie de las 
 nacioues aqul representadas llega con 
 corta diferencia S, doce millones de millas 
 cuadradas, que es mSs de tres voces el 
 iirea total de Europa, y poco m^nos que 
 la cuarta parte de la de fodo el globo. Y 
 en cuanto ^sus potencias productivas, ya 
 sea de los artfculos esenciales para la 
 vida humana, ya de los quo sirven para 
 satisfacer las exigencias del lujo, el nivel 
 que corresponde A esos palses es tambien 
 muy elevado, puesto que en ellos se 
 encuentran loj unos y los otros snminis- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 11 
 
 as the averiige of Europe, the total num- 
 ber -would exceed 1,000,000,000. While 
 considerations of this character must in- 
 spire Americans, both South and North, 
 with the liveliest anticipations of future 
 grandeur and power, they must also im- 
 press them with a sense of the gravest 
 responsibility touching the character and 
 development of their respective uatiou- 
 alities. 
 
 The Delegates whom I am addressing 
 can do much to establish permanent rela- 
 tions of confidence, respect, and frionil- 
 ship between the nations which they rep- 
 resent. They can show to the world an 
 honorable, peaceful couference of seven- 
 teen iudependent American Powers, in 
 which all shall meet together on terms 
 of absolute equality ; a conference in 
 which there can be no attempt to coerce 
 a, single Delegate against his own con- 
 ception of the interests of his nation; a 
 couference which will permit no secret 
 understanding on any subject, but will 
 frankly publish to the world all its con- 
 clusions ; a conference which will toler- 
 ate no spirit of conqusst, but will aim to 
 cultivate an American sympathy as broad 
 as both continents; a conference which 
 will form no selfish alliauce against the 
 older nations from which we are proud 
 to claim inheritance — a conference, in 
 fine, which will seek nothing, propose 
 nothiug, endure nothing that is nob, in 
 the general sense of all the Delegates, 
 timely and wise and peaceful. 
 
 And yet we can not be expected to for- 
 got that our common fate has made us 
 inhabitants of the two continents which, 
 
 trades por la naturaleza, en proporci6n 
 m^8 grande que en el resto del mundo. 
 Estos graudes territories contienen pr6- 
 ximamente, en el dia, una poblaci6n de 
 ciento veinte millones do habita.utes ; y si 
 ostuviesen habitados, en la misma pro- 
 porci6n, 6 con el mismo grado de densidad, 
 que las uacioues europeas, su poblaci6n 
 podria exceder, sin difloultad algnna, de 
 m^s de mil millones. 
 
 Consideraciones de esta especie deben 
 inspirar d los Americanos asl del Sud 
 como del Norte, el mils vivo presenti- 
 miento del poder y de la grandeza que les 
 espera ; pero deben tambien impresionar 
 profuadamente sus espiritus, con el co- 
 nocimiento de la responsabilidad gravi 
 sima que respectivamente les corresponde, 
 por el desarrollo que debe darse, y por el 
 car^cter que debe imprimirse S, sus res- 
 pectivas uacionalidades. 
 
 Los delegados ^quienes me dirijo,pueden 
 hacer mnoho paraestablecer relacionesper- 
 manentesdeconfiauza, amistad, yrespeto, 
 entre las naciones que representan. EUos 
 pueden dar al mundo el espect^culo de una 
 couferenoia dediez y siete naciones ame- 
 ricanas independieutes, H que concurreu 
 todas en condiciones de la niiis perfecta 
 igualdad, y en que ninguno de los indi- 
 viduos que las representan pnede ser com- 
 pelido S, decir nada contra sus propios 
 sentimieutos, 6 contra el concepto que 
 tenga formado de lo que conviene ^ su 
 propio pals ; una conferencia en que no 
 caben ni se permiten inteligencias secre- 
 tas ; en que se publicard^n, con franqueza, 
 ante el mundo entero las determinaciones 
 adoptadas ; en que no se tolerar^ el espi- 
 ritu deconquista ; en que por el contrario 
 se har^n esfuerzos para cultivar senti- 
 mientos de amistad y simpatia entre los 
 pueblos de America, tan dimplios y tan 
 extensos como son iimplios y exlensos sus 
 continentes; una conferencia, en fin, quo 
 no formar^ alianzas egoistas contra las 
 naciones m^s antiguas de que con orguUo 
 podemos decir que descendemos; y que 
 nada buscar^, nada propoudr^, nada su- 
 frir^, que no sea en la opini6n general de 
 todos los delegados, pacifico, prudente, y 
 oportuno. 
 
 No es, sin embargo, de esperarse, que 
 podamos olvidar, por un memento, el 
 hecho priictico, de que sea, como lo es, 
 
12 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 at the close of foar centuries, are still re- 
 garded beyond tlie seas as the New World. 
 Like situations heget like sympathies and 
 impose like duties. We meet in firm be- 
 lief that the nations of America ought to 
 be and can be more helpful, each to the 
 otber, than thoy now are, and that each 
 ■will find advantage and proQt from an en- 
 larged intercourse with the others. 
 
 We believe that we should be drawn 
 together more closely by the highways of 
 the sea, and that at no distant day the 
 railway systems of the North .and South 
 will meet upon the Isthmus and connect 
 by land routes the political and commer- 
 cial canitals of all America. 
 
 We believe that hearty co-operation, 
 based on hearty confidence, will save all 
 American States from the burdens and 
 evils which have long and cruelly af&icted 
 the older nations of the world. 
 
 We believe that a spirit of justice, of 
 common and equal interest between the 
 American States, will leave no room for 
 an artificial balance of power like unto 
 that which has led to wars abroad and 
 drenched Europe in blood. 
 
 We believe that friendship, avowed 
 with candor and maintained with good 
 faith, will remove from American States 
 the necessity of guarding boundary lines 
 between themselves with fortification and 
 military force. 
 
 We believe that standing armies, be- 
 yond those which are needful for public 
 order and the safety of internal admin- 
 istration, should be unknown on both 
 American continents. 
 
 We believe that friendship and not 
 force, the spirit of just law and not the 
 violence of the mob, should be the recog- 
 nized rule of administration between 
 American nations and in American na- 
 tions. 
 
 nuestro comiin destine, habitar estos doa 
 continentes, ^ los que, todavfa, y no obs- 
 tante el transcurso de cuatro siglos, se 
 lesdesignadel otro lado de los mares, con 
 el nombre de Nuovo Mundo. Cuando las 
 situaciones son an^logas, tienen tambien 
 que serlo las simpatlas y los deberes. Y 
 al reuuirnos ahora, lo hacemos en la firme 
 creenoia de que las naciones de America 
 deben y pueden ayudarse, m£is de lo que 
 ha sucedido ha^a el presente, y de que 
 resultar^ ventaja para todas, de que se 
 ensanchen sns relaciones mlituas. 
 
 Creemos que es mejor para nosotros 
 aproximarnos m^s, estrechar nuestras re- 
 laciones, establecer nuevos medios do 
 cornunicacidn maritiraa, y aspirar, & que 
 en un dia no lejano se reunan en el istmo 
 los sistemasde ferrocarriles delas Ameri- 
 cas del Norte y del Sud, acerc^ndose de 
 este mode por medio de rutas terrestres, 
 f^ciles de recorrer, las capitales comer- 
 ciales y politicas de toda la America. 
 
 Creemos que un sisteraa de cooperacidn 
 cordial, basado en cordial confianza, li- 
 bertar^i ^ todos los Estados americanos de 
 los males y de los cargos que por tanto 
 tiempoy tan cruelmente hanpesadosobre 
 otras naciones del mundo mils antiguas 
 que las nuestras. 
 
 Creemos que el espiritu de justicia, lo 
 mismo que el interns comun, sentidos 
 ambos igualmente en todos los Estados 
 americanos, har^n imposibles lasllamadas 
 balanzas de poder, artlfieiales tempera- 
 mentos, que ban sido causa de muchas 
 guerras eu Europa, y ensangrentado mu- 
 chas veces su suelo. Creemos que estos 
 sentimientos de amistad, deolarados in- 
 genuamente y mantenidos de buena {6, 
 harSn desaparecer de los Estados america- 
 nos la neoesidad deguarnecer sns fronteras 
 con fortificaciones y fuerzas militares. 
 Creemos que los ej^rcltos permanentes 
 m£Js numerosos de los que estrictamente se 
 requiere para la conservacidu del 6rden 
 publico y la seguridad de la administra- 
 cidn, deben ser desconocidos eu ambos 
 continentes americanos. 
 
 Creemos que la amistad y n6 la fuerza ; 
 que el espiritu de la ley justa, y n6 la 
 violencia del motln, debeu ser la regla de 
 Gobierno reconocida entre las naciones 
 americauas unas con otras, y entre los 
 miembros de cada naoi6n americana in- 
 dividualmente. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 13 
 
 To these subjects, and tlioee which are 
 coguate thereto, the attention of this Con- 
 ference is earnestly and cordially invited 
 by the Government of the United States. 
 It will be a great gain when we shall 
 acquire that common confidence on which 
 all international friendship must rest. It 
 will bo a greater gain when we shall be 
 able to draw the people of American 
 nations into close acquaintance with each 
 other, an end to be facilitated by more 
 frequent and more rapid intercommunica- 
 tion. It will be the greatest gain when 
 the personal and commercial relations of 
 the American States, South and North, 
 shall be so developed and so regulated 
 that each shall acquire the highest pos 
 sible advantage from the enlightened and 
 enlarged intercourse of all. 
 
 Before the Conference shall formally 
 enter upon the discussion of the subjects 
 to be submitted to it, I am instructed by 
 the President to invite all the Delegates 
 to be the guests of the Government dur- 
 ing a proposed visit to various sections 
 of the country, with the double view of 
 showing to our friends from abroad the 
 condition of the United States and of 
 giving to our people in their homes the 
 privilege and pleasure of extending the 
 warm welcome of Americans to Americans. 
 
 A quorum of the Delegates being pres 
 ent, the Secietary of State declared the 
 Conference duly assembled and asked the 
 pleasure of the body, when the following 
 resolution was offered by Mr. Romero, a 
 Delegate from Mexico, and unanimously 
 adopted, to wit : 
 
 " Mesolved, That this Conference names 
 as President pro tempore the Hon. John B. 
 Henderson, a Delegate to this Confer- 
 ence representing the United States of 
 America." 
 
 Thereupon the honorable Secretary of 
 State retired, and John B. Hbndbrson 
 assumed the chair and announced the 
 Conference ready for the transaction of 
 business. 
 
 Hilcia eatos asuntos, y los que con ellos 
 se relacionan, el Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos invita cordialmente y con empeQo 
 la atenci6n de la Conferencia. Se habrfi 
 gauado mucho, cuando se haya Hegado ^ 
 adquirir aquella comTin confianza sobre 
 que debe descansar toda amistad interna- 
 oioual. Pero mayor seid cl provecho, 
 cuaudo so logre que los diversos pueblos 
 americanos se aproximen mils y so conoz- 
 can mejor, los unos S, los otros, colociiudoso 
 en relaciones m^s estrechas, como sin duda 
 sucederd; si se ejstablecen comunicaciones 
 r^pidas y m& frecuentes. Y se habr^ 
 Hegado al colmo de las aspiraciones, cuan- 
 do las relaciones personales y comerciales 
 entre los Estados americanos del Sudy los 
 del Norte hayan adquirido tal grado de 
 desarrollo y regularidad, que & todos y 
 cada uno les sea posible obtener, como 
 fruto de tan amplio 6 ilnstrado comercio 
 de ideas y de intereses, la mayor suma de 
 beneficios. 
 
 Antes de que la Conferencia comienze 
 formalmente ^ discutir los asuntos de su 
 competenoia, debo mauifestar que el Presi- 
 dente me ha ordenado invitar & todos sus 
 miembros ^ que visiten, como hu^spedes 
 del Gobierno, diversas partes del pals, con 
 el doble objeto de mostrar S, nuestros ami- 
 gos extrangeros la situaci6n en que se 
 eucuentrau los Estados Unidos, y de pro- 
 porcionar ^ nuestro propio pueblo, en sus 
 respectivos hogaros, la satisfacci6n y el 
 honor de darles la afectuosa y cordial bien- 
 venida que corresponde de americanos & 
 americanos. 
 
 Siendo el nlimero de los Delegados pre- 
 sentes sufioiente para formar quorum, ol 
 Senor Secretario de Estado declar6 abierta 
 la Conferencia, 6 inquiri6 si algo se de- 
 seaba propouer. A ello contest6 el Sefior 
 Romero, Delegado por Mexico, propo- 
 niendo el siguiente proyeoto de resolu- 
 ci6u, qu6 f u6 aprobado por uuanimidad : 
 
 "Sereauelve: Que la Conferencia nom- 
 bra al Honorable Senor John B. Hender- 
 son, delegado por los Estados Unidos de 
 AmiSrica, Presidente interino." 
 
 Acto continue, el Honorable Senor Se- 
 cretario de Estado se reiir(i ; y el Hon. 
 Seilor John B. Henderson ooup6 su puesto 
 y anunci<3 que la Conferencia estaba dis- 
 pnesta ^ empezar sus trabajos. 
 
14 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEREKCE. 
 
 Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Hortado, 
 Charles E. Flint, one of the Delegates of 
 the United States, was unanimously 
 elected as Secretary pro tempore of the 
 Conference. 
 
 Thereupon the following resolution was 
 offered by Mr. Romero, a Delegate from 
 Mexico, and was unauimously adopted, 
 to wit : 
 
 "■Resolved, That the President pro tem- 
 pore is hereby authorized and requested 
 to appoint a Committee on Organization, 
 to consist of five members, whose duty it 
 shall be to recommend to the Conference 
 the name of some suitable person as per- 
 manent President thereof. 
 
 "And it is furiJier resolved, That said 
 committee shall recommend to the Con- 
 ference the manner in which presiding 
 officers shall be selected in the absence of 
 the President.''' 
 
 Under the provisions of the last-named 
 resolution the President pro tempore ap- 
 pointed the following committee, to wit : 
 Matias Romero, Lafayette Rodriguez Pe- 
 roira, Alberto Niu, Horatio Guzman, Jos6 
 M. Hurtado; which said committee, hav- 
 ing retired, made the following report, to 
 wit : 
 
 "Resolved, That the Hon. James G. 
 Blaine, Secretary of State of the United 
 States of America, be elected President 
 of the International American Confer- 
 ence. 
 
 "And it i^ further resolved, That in the 
 absence of the President, the chair will 
 be occupied by one of the Delegates of 
 each of the nations represented in the 
 Conference by turn, selected by lot. 
 
 "M. ROMEKO. 
 
 "Lafayette Rodriguez Peeeika. 
 'Alberto Nin. 
 " Horatio Guzman. 
 " Josifi M. Hurtado." 
 
 Which said report was unauimously 
 adopted by the Conference. 
 
 On the order of the Conference, the 
 President pro tempore appointed the fol- 
 lowing-named committee to notify the 
 Hon. James G. Blaine of his dleotion as 
 President of the Conference, to wit: Jos6 
 M. Hurtado, Cornelius N. Bliss, F. C. C. 
 Zegarra, JuanF. Velarde, ManuelArag6n. 
 
 The following resolution was offered by 
 
 El Sefior Charles R. Flint, delegado 
 por los Estados Unidos, previa moci6n al 
 efecto, presentada por el Senor Hurtado, 
 fu6 elegido por unanimidad, secretario in- 
 terino de la Conferenoia. 
 
 Se present6, en seguida por el Senor 
 Romero, delegado por Mexico, y fu6 g,pro- 
 bada un^nimemente, la proposici6a si- 
 guiente : 
 
 "Seresuelve: Que se autoriza al Presi- 
 dente interino, para nombrar una comisi<in 
 compuesta de cinco delegados, la cual 
 propondrd; Si la Confereucia la persona 
 que deba desempenar en propiedad el 
 puesto de Presidente. 
 
 "Se resuelve ademds : Que la misma co- 
 misidn proponga & la Conferencia cl modo 
 de elegir la persona que sustituir^ al Pre- 
 sidente en caso de ausencia." 
 
 En cnmplimiento de esta resoluci6n el 
 Sefior Presidente interino nombr6 para 
 formar la coa)isi6n dispuesta & los Seno- 
 res Matias Romero, Lafayette Rodrigues 
 Pereira, Alberto Nin, Horacio Guzmiiu y 
 Jos6 M. Hurtado, los que despues de ha- 
 berse retirado y conferenciado, dieron 
 cuenta con el siguiente dictimeu : 
 
 " Se resuelve : Que el Honorable Sefior 
 James G. Blaine, Secretario de Estado de 
 los Estados Uni dos de America, sea elegido 
 para el puesto de Presidente de la Con- 
 ferencia Internacional Americana. 
 
 " Se resuelve ademds: Que en anseucia 
 del Presidente, ocupe su puesto por turno, 
 uno de los Delegados de cada uaci6n re- 
 presentada en la Conferencia, seglln el 
 6rden que designo la snerte. 
 
 "M. Romero. 
 
 " Lafayette Rodrigues Pbreira. 
 
 " Alberto Nin. 
 
 " Horacio GuzmXn. 
 
 " 3osk M. Hurtado." 
 
 Aprobada esta resolucidu por unanimi- 
 dad, el Senor Presidente interino nombr6 
 en comisi6n a los Sefiores Jos<S M. Hur- 
 tado, CorneliusN. Bliss, F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 Juan F. Velarde y Manuel AragCn para 
 que notiflcaran al Honorable Sefior James 
 G. Blaine su elecoi<5n de Presidente de la 
 Conferencia. 
 
 La siguiente proposici6n fu6 en seguida 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 15 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 and unauimously adopted, to wit : 
 
 "Besolved, That a committee of seven 
 members be appointed by the President 
 pro tempore, whose duty it shall be to pre- 
 pare and submit to the Conference, on its 
 re-assembling in Washington in Novem- 
 ber next, a set of parliamentary rules for 
 the government of the body in the trans- 
 action of business." 
 
 Under which said resolution the Presi- 
 dent ^co iempoj-e appointed tlie following- 
 named committee, to wit : Jo8(5 Alfonso, 
 Manuel Quintana, J. G. do Amaral "Va- 
 leute, William H. Trescot, Jos^ Maria Pla- 
 cido Caamano, Matlas Romero, Jacinto 
 Castellanos. 
 
 The following resolution was then of- 
 fered by Mr. Zegarra, a Delegate from 
 Peru, and unanimously adopted, to wit : 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee of five 
 members be appointed by the President 
 pro tempore, whose duty it shall be to des- 
 ignate and report to the Conference, on 
 its re-assembling in November next, such 
 committees as in its judgment should be 
 appointed to facilitate the business of the 
 Conference, and the number of members 
 which each committee shall have." 
 
 Under the provisions of said resolution 
 the President pro tempore appointed the 
 following-named Delegates to constitute 
 said committee, to wit, Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza, Fernando Cruz, F. 
 C. C. Zegarra, Alberto Nin. 
 
 Thereupon, Mr. Mat! as Romero offered 
 thefollowing resolution, which wasunani- 
 mously adopted, to wit : 
 
 "Besolved, That the members of the In- 
 ternational American Conference accept 
 with pleasure the invitation of the Presi- 
 dent of the United States of America to 
 be the guests of this Government in an 
 excursion through the territory of the 
 United States, and that they express their 
 thanks for said invitation." 
 
 The committee appointed to notify Mr. 
 Blaine of his election as President of the 
 Conference then repor.ed that they had 
 discharged their duty, and he would ac- 
 cept the office. 
 
 presentada porelSeuorRoMBKO, delegado 
 por M(5xico, y unilnimemente adoptada: 
 
 "Se resuelve, Que el Seuor Preaidoute 
 interiuo norabre uua comisi(5u de siete 
 Dolegados que prepararii y someterii H la 
 Conferenoia en su proxima reunion en 
 Washington, eu noviembre immediato, el 
 Reglamento que debe observarse en la 
 discusidn y despacho de los asuntos." 
 
 En virtud do esta resoluoifin el SeEor 
 Presidente interino nombr6 la siguiente 
 comisidn : SeQorcs Jos6 Alfonso, Manuel 
 Quintana, J. G. do Amaral Valente, Will- 
 iam Henry Trescot, Jos6 Miiria Pliicido 
 Caamafio, Matfas Romero, y Jacinto Cas- 
 tellanos. 
 
 La siguiente proposioi6u fue entdnces 
 presentada por el Senor ZiSgarra, dele- 
 gado por el Peru, y unSnimemente 
 adoptada, ^ saber : 
 
 "Se resuelve: Que se uombre por el 
 SeDor Presidente interino una oomisi6n 
 de cinco delegados con el objeto de iudi- 
 car 6 informar ^ la Couferencia, al reu- 
 nrse nuevamente en noviembre pr6ximo, 
 el nlimero de coraisiones, que S, su juicio 
 deban establecerse para facili tar los traba- 
 jos de la Conferenoia, y el numero de 
 miembros de que oada comisi6n deber^ 
 oomponerse." 
 
 Conforme con lo dispuesto en esta reso- 
 luci6n el Sellor Presidente interino, nom- 
 br6 para formar la dioha comisi6n & los 
 Senores Cornelius N. Bliss, Nicanor Bolet 
 Peraza, Fernando Cruz, F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 y Alberto Nin. 
 
 En seguida el Senor MatIas Romero 
 delegado de Mexico, propuso la siguiente 
 resoliici6n que {a6 un^uimemente adop- 
 tada, ^ saber : 
 
 " Se resuelre : Que los miembros de la 
 . Couferencia Internacional Americana, 
 aceptan con placer la invitaci6n del 
 Sefior Presidente de los Estados Unidos 
 do America, para hacer una excursidn 
 por el territorio de los Estados Unidos, 
 como hn^spedes del Gobierno, y A&n por 
 ello las debidas gracias;" 
 
 La comisi6n nombrada para notificaral 
 Hon. Senor James 6. Blaine su eleccidn 
 de Presidente de la Couferencia, inform6 
 que habia cumplido con su encargo, y 
 que el Senor Blaine aceptaba el nombra- 
 
16 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Whereupon, by order of the Conference, 
 he was escorted to the chair by the com- 
 mittee, and assumed tie duties of Presi- 
 dent of the luternatioual American Con- 
 ference. 
 
 It was thereupon unanimously ordered, 
 upon motion, that when the Conference 
 adjourns to-day it adjourns to meet in the 
 city of Washington, on Monday, Novem- 
 ber 18 next, at 11 o'clock a. m., at 1801 I 
 street northwest. 
 
 Thereupon, on motion, it was ordered 
 that the Conference do now adjourn. 
 Chas. R. Flest, 
 
 Secretary pro tempore. 
 Read, approved, and signed, Washing- 
 ton, January 27, 1890. 
 
 F. C. C. ZEGA.EUA, 
 
 First Vice-Preaident. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Crdz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOSlfi M. HURTADO, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Salvador dk MEND0X9A, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jee6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 JBolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebakkk, 
 William Henry Tkescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 JouN F. Hanson, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 United States. 
 
 miento hecho en favor suyo, y se presen- 
 tarfa en el salon inmediatamente. 
 
 Asf sucedi6, en efecto, y por orden de 
 la Conferencia, la comisidn acompan<5 £i 
 su asiento al Seuor Blaine, que qued6 por 
 tanto en posesi6n de su puesto de Presi- 
 dento de la Conferencia Internaclonal 
 Americana. 
 
 Se acord6 en seguida unSnimemente, 
 que cuando la Conferencia levantase hoy 
 su sesidn, lohiciese parareunirse de nuevo 
 en esta ciudad de Washington, el Mnes 18 
 de noviembre pr6ximo, ^ las once de la 
 manana, en la casa No. 1801, calle I, del 
 noroeste. 
 
 Acto continuo, previa mocidn al efecto, 
 se levant6 la se8i6n. 
 
 Chas. R. Flint, 
 Secretario Interino. 
 Leida y aprobada y firmada en 27 de 
 Enero de 1890. 
 
 F. C. C. ZtOATl-RA, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidente. 
 Horacio GuzmXn, 
 
 Niearaeiua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 J0S:6 M. HURTADO, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Cosla Bica. 
 Salvador de MEND0N9A, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 JEstados Vnidos de Norle Amirica. 
 
SECOND DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 2. 
 
 Washington, Xovember 18, 1889. 
 The InteinjitioQal American Coiifor- 
 Buco «ii8 called to order at 1 p. m. by tbo 
 President, Mr. Blaine, with the follow- 
 ing Delegates present : 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz Pcna. 
 
 Mr., Manuel Quintaua. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonf a. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Jo86 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Cliniaco Calderdn. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zcjjarra. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 
 Sesion del 18 de, Noviemhre de 1889. 
 Presideuoia del- Sr. James 6. Blaine 
 Estando presentes : 
 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roqne Saenz Peua; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quiniana. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mondonga. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jbei5M. Hurtado; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Mar; inez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calderdu. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Josi? Alfonso. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 ElSr. Cornelius N. Bliss; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studel)aker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot : ■ 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles E. Flint. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. ,Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 ' El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El. Sr. J08<5 S. Decoud. 
 Perfi: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zdgarra. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr, .Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
 2 I 
 
 17 
 
18 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Venezuela: 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. J086 Andrade. 
 
 Mr. Antonio Francisco Silva. 
 
 The President congratulated the Dele- 
 gates upon their safe return after their 
 long trip, and ordered the journal of the 
 previous session to be read. 
 
 The Chair suggested that it would be 
 well to fix days when the Conference 
 should raeet. 
 
 The journal of the proceedings of the 
 second of October having been read in 
 English, the Chair requested, at the sug- 
 gestion of Mr. Varas, a Delegate from 
 Chili, and Mr. Quintana, a Delegate from 
 tic Argentine Republic, that said jour- 
 n.il should also be read in Spanish, and 
 Mr Romero, at the request of the Chair, 
 proceeded to do so. The journal having 
 been read, it was ordered to be printed 
 in both languages. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 submitted the following resolution : 
 
 "Mesolved, That the President appoint a 
 committee of three Delegates, whose duty 
 it shall be to examine the credentials of 
 tUe other Delegates to the International 
 American Conference and report on the 
 same at their earliest convenience." 
 
 The resolution was unanimously 
 adopted, and the President appointed Mr. 
 Romero, Mr. Quintana, and Mr. Coolidge 
 as members of the said committee. 
 
 Mr. Quintana, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, for himself, and on 
 behalf of the other members of the Com- 
 mittee on Rules, submitted the following 
 form of resolution, namely: 
 
 " First, to elect at the next session by 
 an absolute majority of votes, two Sec- 
 retaries who speak both the Spanish and 
 English languages correctly. 
 
 " Second, to designate as Secretaries 
 pro tempore the youngest Delegates who 
 speak Spanish and English correctly. 
 
 "Third, it shall be left to the Presi- 
 dent to appoint interpreters, stenogra- 
 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 ElSr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza; 
 
 El Sr. .)os6 Andrade; 
 
 El Sr. Antonio Francisco Silva. 
 
 Abierta la sesidn por el Senor Presi- 
 dente, manifestd que daba el parabl^n S, 
 los Senores Delegados por su feliz regreso 
 despu^s del largo viaje que habian dado, 
 y ordend que se leyese el acta do la 
 anterior sesi6n. Afiadi6 que ^ juicio suyo 
 debia tambi(?n determinarse en qa6 dias y 
 & qa6 hora debian celebrarse las sesiones. 
 
 Leido que fa6 el diario de los procedi- 
 mientos del dia dos de octubre anterior, 
 que habia sido redactado en ingles, dis- 
 puso el Senor Presidente, conforme & los 
 deseos expresados por el SeSor Varas, de- 
 legado por Chile, y por el Sefior Quintana, 
 delegado por la Kepllblica Argentina, que 
 se leyese tambi6n en castellano, para cuyo 
 efecto se suplic6 al SeSor Romero, dele- 
 gado por Mexico, que tuviese ^ bien jiro 
 coder ^ la traducoidn, lo que hizo en se- 
 guida. Acorddse la impresidn del expre- 
 sado diario en ambos idiomas. 
 
 El Sr. Romero (Mexico) sometid A la 
 consideracidn dela Conferenciala resolu- 
 ci6a siguiente : 
 
 " Se resuelve: Que el Presidente nom- 
 bre una comisi6n de tres delegados, que 
 examine lascredencialesdelos otros dele- 
 gados & la Conferencia Internacional 
 Americana, y 6.6 cuenta de sua trabajos 
 t.au pronto como sea posible." 
 
 Aprobada esta resolucidn por unanimi- 
 dad, el SeSor Presidente nombr(5 S, los 
 Senores Romero, Quintana, y Coolidge, 
 para formar la comisldn. 
 
 El Senor Quintana, por si y ^nombre 
 de los demSis Sefiores de la Comisi6n de 
 Reglameiito, someti6 el proyeeto de re- 
 80luci6n que dice asl : 
 
 " 1". Elegir en la prdxima sesidn por 
 mayorla absoluta de votes, dos secreta- 
 ries que hablon correctamente el caste 
 llano y el ingles. 
 
 "2°. Designar como secretaries interi- 
 nas & los delegados mSsj6venes que hablen 
 correctamente ambas lenguas. 
 
 "3°. Confiar al Presidente el nombra- 
 miento de los int^rpretes, taqulgrafos, y 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 19 
 
 phers, and such other employes as are iu- 
 diepeiisable for the purpose of the Confer- 
 ence." 
 
 After debate it was agreed to take ac- 
 tion at once upon the second paragraph 
 of the resolution, and Dr. Guzman, of 
 Nicaragua, and Dr. Zegarra, of Pern, 
 were appointed Secretaries pro tempore, 
 and proceeded to discharge the duties of 
 the office. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss, a Delegate 
 from the United States, submitted a re- 
 port from the Committee on Committees, 
 and it was agreed that it be printed in 
 Spanish and in English and distributed 
 to the Delegates. It was also agreed that 
 no debate be had upon said report nor 
 upon the first and third sections of the 
 resolution introduced by Mr. Quintana 
 until the next session. 
 
 lu the course of the discussion Mr. 
 Quintana, a Delegate from the Argentine 
 Republic, explained that he had until 
 then addressed the Conference while sit- 
 ting, bnt that it was on account of its 
 being the practice in the Parliament of 
 his country and the habit he had there 
 acquired of so doing. But, as the prac- 
 tice in this country was to rise when ad- 
 dressing the Chair, he would follow it in 
 future. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 made the same explanation. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that the Committee on Rules had 
 almost finished the preparation of their 
 report, of which a revision was only nec- 
 essary. It was ordered that it be consid- 
 ered as presented, for the purpose of being 
 printed and distributed to the Delegates. 
 
 Mr. Flint, a, Delegate from the United 
 States, stated that Mr. W. H. T. Hughes 
 had reque'sted him to invite the Delegates 
 to be present at Chester, on Saturday, the 
 23d instant, to witness the launching of 
 a steamer. 
 
 Mr. Quintana, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine Republic, proposed, and it was 
 so agreed to, that these invitations, for 
 
 dom& cmpleados iudispeusables para el 
 mejor sorvicio de la Conferencia." 
 
 Diseutida conveuieutemeute la proposi- 
 ci6n del Sefior Quintana se acord<i pro- 
 ceder desde luego & la adopci<3n del se- 
 gundo extreme del mismo proyecto, de- 
 sign^ndose al efeoto para desenipeBar el 
 puesto de secretaries interinos de laCou- 
 ferenciaSlos Senores Dor. D. Horacio Guz- 
 man, y Dor. D. F. C. C. Z6garra, los que 
 inmediatamente pasaron & ooupar en la 
 mesa sus asientos respectivos. 
 
 Procedi6se ent6nces & dar leotura del 
 Informe de la Comisidn de Comisiones, 
 sometido S, la Conferencia por el Sefior 
 Delegado Cornelius N. Bliss, en nombre 
 de sus dem^s compafieros ; y se acordd 
 imprimirlo en castellano y en ingl<5s, y 
 que se repartiese impreso entre los Senores 
 Delegados. Se acord6 igualmente que 
 nada se discutiese sobre ese dict^men ni 
 sobre los otros dos articulos de la pro- 
 poaioifin del Sefior Quintana, hasta la se- 
 sidn pr6xima. 
 
 En ol curso de la discusi6n, hizo pre- 
 sente el Senof Quintana que si hasta 
 entdnces habia hablado, sin levantarsede 
 su asiento, era debido & ser 6sta, la cos- 
 tumbre del parlamento de su pals, y por 
 virtud delhdibito contraido en eserespecto. 
 Pero que vista la costumbre de ponerse en 
 pi6, que parece adoptada aqui, para hacer 
 USD de la palabra, se conformaria & ella 
 en lo sucesivo. 
 
 El Sefior Delegado por Chile, Sefior 
 Josii Alfonso, hiio la misma manifes- 
 tacidn. 
 
 Auuucid el Seuor Alfonso, que la Comi- 
 sidn de Reglamento habia concluido su 
 trabajo, y s61o faltaba revisarlo; en 
 con&eouencia se acordd darlo por pre- 
 sentado desde luego, con s61o el objeto de 
 mandarlo imprimir, y repartirlo despu^s 
 de impreso entre los Senores Delegados. 
 
 Expusoent6nee8elSenorFLiNT(Estados 
 Unidos) que el Seuor William F. T. Hughes 
 le habia suplicado iuvitara en su nombre 
 & la Conferencia & presenciar el acto de 
 echar al agua, en Chester, cl siibado 23 
 del corriente mes, uno de sus vapores : y 
 S, indicacifin del Sefior Quintana, qued6 
 determinado que estas iuvitaciones, auii- 
 que agradecidas cordialmente, debiau 
 
20 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 which the JJelegates were very siucerely 
 thankful, should be understood to be ad- 
 dressed to the Delegates individually and 
 in their private capacity, and not to the 
 Conference, which could not take action 
 upon subjects not comprised in the law 
 of Congress providing for its meeting. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, moved that the Conference 
 meet on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thilrs- 
 day of each week at 1 o'clock. 
 
 Objection having been made to this 
 motion by Mr. Quintana, as well as by 
 Mr. Varas, it was agreed to suspend ac- 
 tion upon it until the report of the Com- 
 mittee on Rules had been acted upon. 
 
 At the request of Mr. Henderson, a Del- 
 egate from the United States, it was 
 ordered that a letter from J. Madison 
 Cutts, advising the remittance of several 
 copies of the last writing of Stephen A. 
 Douglas upon the American Union, be 
 placed on record, and that the copies of 
 said writing be distributed among the 
 Delegates. 
 
 Mr. EsTBE, a Delegate from the United 
 States, requested to have read and entered 
 upon the records a letter which he had 
 received from the Chamber of Commerce 
 of San Francisco, California, calling at- 
 tention to the important matter of inter- 
 oceanic communication by means of a ship 
 canal across the Isthmus of Central 
 America, and recommending that the proj- 
 ect should be encouraged, and support 
 giveuto theNicaragua Canal Company of 
 New York, now engaged iu its realization, 
 as provided by law of Congress. 
 
 The letter was read and ordered print- 
 ed, as requested. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, moved that the Conference 
 adjourn to meet on Wednesday, the 20th 
 instant, at I o'clock, and this was agreed 
 to. 
 
 Read, approved, and signed on Jan- 
 uary 29, 1890. 
 
 F. C. C". Zegarra, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Gczman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 ontenderse hechas individualmente d.lo8 
 SeSioresDelegados, en su car^cter privado, 
 y n6 ^ la Conferencia que no tiene car^oter 
 oficial sino respecto & los asuntos para que 
 ha sido convocada. 
 
 Hizo moci(5n el Senor Hk.sderson (Es- 
 tados Unidos) para que las sesiones se 
 celebrasen los md^rtes, mi^rcoles y ju^ves 
 Si la una de la tardc ; y habi^ndose prosen- 
 tado objeoiones al dicho arreglo, asf por 
 parte del SeSor Quintana, como por parte 
 del Sefior Varas, delegado por Chile, qned6 
 el asunto en suspense hasta que se diese 
 cuenta con el dictamen de la Comisidn de 
 Reglamento. 
 
 A propuesta del Sefior Henderson (Es- 
 tados Unidos) se mand<5 poner en cl archive 
 una carta del Senor J. Madison Cutts, re- 
 mitiendo varies ejemplares impresos del 
 liltimo trabajo de Stephen A. Douglas 
 sobre Unidn Americana, y que se distri- 
 buyesen lostiltimosentre los Sefiores De- 
 legados. 
 
 El Sefior Estee (Estados Unidos) ijidifi 
 que se ley era y mandara imprimir en el 
 diario de la ses (5n una carta que la C&- 
 mara de Comercio de San Francisco, de 
 California, dirigia por sn conducto & la 
 Confereucia, llamando la atenci6n de ^sta 
 al importante asnnto de la comunicaoi6n 
 inter-oce^nica por medio de un canal para 
 baroos al trav^s del istmo de Centro- 
 Am^rica, y recomendando que se apo- 
 yase el pensamiento que trata de llevar S, 
 cabo, en el antedicho sentido, la Compa- 
 fila del Canal Maritime de Nicaragua, 
 establecida en New York, en virtud de 
 una ley del Congreso de los Estados Uni- 
 dos. 
 
 Se leyd la carta, y se ordend su impre- 
 si6u, como se solicitaba. 
 
 A moci6n del Sefior Henderson (Esta- 
 dos Unidos), se levantd la sesidu para 
 continuarla cl midrcoles 20 del corriente 
 mes, a la una de la tarde. 
 
 Leida, aprobada y firmada eu 29 de 
 Euero de 1890. 
 
 P. C. C. ZfeARRA, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidente. 
 HoRACio GuzmAn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 21 
 
 Fernando Ckuz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 
 Jast M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepuhlie. 
 Jos:6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mesdon5a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 JerOnimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan P. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trescot 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 United States. 
 Jos]fi Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JoslS Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 
 JOSlS M. IlUKTADO, 
 
 CXrlos Martinez Silva 
 ClImaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colomhia. 
 RoQOE Saenz PkSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Josi: S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentb, 
 Salvador dk Mendon9a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mfyico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Sti;debakkr, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 JoslS Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela, 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:^ Maria Placido CaamaNo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
THIRD DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. ;^ 
 
 Washington, November 20, 1889. 
 The International American Confer- 
 ence W.18 called to order at 2 p. m. by the 
 President, Mr. Blaine, aud later by Mr. 
 Laforestrie, with the following Delegates 
 present : 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Niu. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Cliraaoo Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Peila. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica: 
 
 Mr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 ISolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. William Heniy Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela! 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 « Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C.Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 22 
 
 Sesidn del 20 de Noviemhre de 1889. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine, 
 y del Sr. Laforestrie, Di'legado por Haiti. 
 Estando presentes : 
 
 Hayti : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perri: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Joa6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos .Martinez Silva; 
 
 El Sr. Cllmaco Calder6n. 
 Argentina: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz Pena; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 ErSr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
 El Sr. Jos<5 Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 23 
 
 Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jaciuto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido Caamano. 
 
 The President having opened the 
 session, the following lour reports were 
 submitted by Mr. Romero, a Delegate 
 from Mexico, and chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on Credentials: 
 
 "The committee appointed to examine 
 the credentials of the Delegates to the In- 
 ternational American Conference and re- 
 port on tlie same has examined those pre- 
 .sented up to date, and finds that the one 
 issued by theGovernment ofCbiliacoredits 
 its Delegates as envoys extraordinary and 
 ministers plenipotentiary on special mis- 
 sion before this Conference, and that the 
 Government of Salvador accredits itsDele- 
 gate as minister plenipotentiary before 
 this same Conference. The otherGovern- 
 ments accredit their representatives as 
 Delegates. 
 
 "The committee submits to the ap- 
 proval of the Conference the following 
 resolutiou : 
 
 "Resolved, That the credentials accred- 
 iting as Delegates to the International 
 American Conference the hereinafter 
 named gentlemen are in good and due 
 form : 
 
 " Argentine Republic. — SeSor Doctor Don 
 Roque Saenz Pena. 
 
 "Bolivia. — Senor Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 "Chili — Sciior Don Emilio C. Varas 
 and Senor Don Jos<? Alfonso. 
 
 " Costa Rica. — Senor Don Manuel Ara- 
 g6n. 
 
 "Guatemala. — Senor Doctor Don Fer- 
 nando Cruz. 
 
 " Henduras. — Senor Doctor Don Jer6- 
 nimo Zelaya. 
 
 "Nicaragua. — Senor Doctor Don Hora- 
 cii) Guzman. 
 
 "Salvador. — Senor Don Jacinto Castel- 
 lanos. 
 
 " United Stales of America. — Mr. William 
 H. Trescot and Mr, Monis M. Estee. 
 
 " Uruguay. — Sefior Doctor Don Alberto 
 Nin. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Plticido 
 Caamafio. 
 
 Abiertala sesi6n porel Senor Presidonte 
 se procedi6 inmodiatameute & la lectura 
 de onatro dict^menes presentados por el 
 Sefior Romero, delegado por Mexico y 
 Presidente de la Comisi6n de Crcdenciales, 
 a saber : 
 
 "La Comisi<5n nombrada para examinar 
 las crcdenciales de los Delegados & la Con- 
 ferencia Internacional Americana y dic- 
 taminar respecto de ellas, ha exarainado 
 las que hasta ahora se lo han presentado, 
 y encuentra que las expedidas por cl Go- 
 bierno de Chile acredita (t sns delegados, 
 con el car^cter de Enviado Extraordina- 
 rio y Ministro Plenipotenciario en misi6n 
 especial, ante esta Conferencia, y que el 
 Gobieruo del Salvador acredita S, su dele- 
 gado con el oar^cter de Ministro Plenipo- 
 tenciario ante la misnia Conferencia. 
 
 "Los dem^s Gobiernos acreditan sus 
 representantes con el carictcr de delega- 
 dos. 
 
 " La Coraisidn somete S, la aprobaci6n 
 de la Conferencia la siguienteproposici6n: 
 
 " Est^n exteudidas en buena y debida 
 forma las crcdenciales que acreditan eomo 
 delegados ante la Conferencia Interna- 
 cional Americana ^ los caballeros siguien- 
 tes : 
 
 " Par la Republica Argentina. — ElSr. Dr. 
 Roque Saenz PeQa. 
 
 " Por Bolivia.~El Sr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 • "Por Chile.— Sr. Don Emilio Varas, y 
 Senor Don Jos(5 Alfonso. 
 
 " Por Costa iJica.— Senor Don Manuel 
 Arag6n. 
 
 " Por Guatemala. — Seiior Doctor Don 
 Fernando Cruz. 
 
 " Por Honduras.— ^6^oT Doctor Don 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 
 "Por Nicaragua.— SenoT Doctor Don 
 Horacio Guzmd^n. 
 
 " Por Salvador.— Sefior Don Jacinto 
 Castellanos. 
 
 " Por los Estados Unidos de AmMca. — 
 William H. Trescot y Sr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 "Por el Uruguay.— El Sr. Dr. Du. Al- 
 berto Nin. 
 
24 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 " The committee will examine ttie other 
 credentials as soon as they are presented 
 and will report on the same without delay. 
 "M. Romero. 
 
 " MaN'L QUINTAlfA. 
 
 "T. Jefferson CooLiDGB." 
 " The committee appointed to examine 
 the credentials of the Delegates to the 
 International American Conference and 
 report on the same, has examined those 
 presented hy Senor Don Matias Romero, 
 Delegate from the Government of the 
 United Mexican States before this Confer- 
 ence, and submits for the approval of this 
 sanu^ Conference thefollowing resolution : 
 "Resolved, That the credentials ac- 
 crediting SeBor Don Matias Romero as 
 Delegate from the United Mexican States 
 to the International American Conference 
 are in good and due form. 
 
 " Man'l Quintan a. 
 "T. Jefferson Coolidge." 
 " The coimiiitteo appointed to examine 
 the credentials of the Delegates to the In- 
 ternational American Ccnferenoo and re- 
 port on the same has examined those pre- 
 sented by Senor Doctor Don Manuel 
 Quintana, Delegate from the Government 
 of the Argentine Republic before this Con- 
 ference, and submits for the approval of 
 this same Conference the following reso- 
 lution : 
 
 " Resolved, Th t the credentials accred- 
 iting Sefior Doctor Don Manuel Quintana 
 as delegate from the Argentine Republic 
 to the International American Conference 
 arc in good and due form. 
 "M. Romero. 
 " T. Jefferson Coolidge." 
 
 " The committee appointed to examine 
 the credentials of the Delegates to the In- 
 ternational American Conference and re- 
 port on the same has examined those pre- 
 sented by Mr. Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, 
 Del o-gate from the Government of the Uni- 
 ted States of America before this Confer- 
 ence, and submits for the approval of this 
 same Conference, thefollowingresolution: 
 
 "Resolved, That the credentials accred- 
 iting Mr. Thomas Jefferson Coolidge as 
 Delegate from the United States of Amer- 
 ica to the International American Confer- 
 ence are in good and due form. 
 "M. Romero. 
 " Man'l Quintana." 
 
 " La Coniisi6n examinar^ las derails 
 credenciales y dictaminar^ respecto de 
 ellastan luego como le fnereu presentadas. 
 "M. Romero, 
 "Manuel Quintana, 
 "T. Jefferson Coolidgk." 
 
 " Ea Comisidn nombrada para examinar 
 las credenciales de los delegados & la Con- 
 ferencia Internacional Americana y dic- 
 taminar respecto de ellas, ha examinado 
 la del Senor Matias Romero, delegado del 
 Gobierno de los Estados Unidos Mexica- 
 nos, ante dicha Conferencia y somete & la 
 aprobacidn de esta Conferenciala siguiente 
 proposicifin : 
 
 "Esti extendida eu buena y debida 
 forma la credencial que acredita como 
 delegado de los Estados Unidos Mexicauos 
 ante la Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana al Sefior Don Matias Romero. 
 "Manuel Quintana, 
 "T. Jefferson Coolidge." 
 
 " La Comisidn nombrada para exami- 
 nar las credenciales de los delegados & la 
 Conferencia Internacional Americana y 
 dictaminar respecto de ellas, haexaminado 
 la del SeBor Doctor Don Manuel Quintana, 
 delegado del Gobierno de la Eepliblica 
 Argentina ante dioha Conferencia, y 
 somete & la aprobacidn de esta Conferen- 
 cia la siguiente proposicidn : 
 
 "Estii extendida en buena y debida 
 forma la credencial que acredita como 
 delegado de la Reptiblica Argentina ante 
 la Conferencia Internacional Americana 
 al St'nor Doctor Don Manuel Quintana. 
 
 " M. Romero, 
 
 "T. Jefferson Coolidge." 
 
 " La Comisidn nombrada para exami- 
 nar las credenciales do los delegados & la 
 Conferencia Internacional Americana y 
 dictaminar respecto deellas.haexamiuado 
 la del Sefior Don T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 delegado del Gobierno de los Estad<is Uni- 
 dos de America ante dicha Conferencia, y 
 somete & la aprobacidn de esta Conferen- 
 cia la siguiente proj)osicidn : 
 
 "EstSi extendida en buena y debida 
 forma la credencial que acredita como 
 delegado de los Estados Unidos de Anidrica 
 ante la Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana al Sefior Don T. Coolidge. 
 " M. Romero, 
 ' ' Manuel Quintana." 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 25 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from CLUi, iu 
 the name of the Committee on Rules, sub- 
 mitted aplau wbicli that committee had 
 formulated, and after having been read 
 and discussed it was decided to leave the 
 examination of its various articles for an- 
 other session. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, proposed that a committee 
 of seven be appointed to designate the 
 names of those to form part of the various 
 committees of the Conference ; but he 
 consented to withdraw his motion for the 
 present, reserving the right to insist on it 
 on another occasion. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine Republic, proposed the following: 
 
 "Resolved, That the President be re- 
 quested to proceed, in the session of to- 
 day, to the drawing of lots, by nations 
 represented in the Conference, for the 
 purpose of filling the President's chair 
 during his absence." 
 
 After considerable discussion the above 
 was adopted by n. majority of 15 against 
 2 votes. 
 
 Those voting in the affirmative were : 
 Hayti, Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Co- 
 lombia, Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, 
 Honduras, Mexlco,Bolivia, United States, 
 Chili, Salvador, Ecuador. 
 
 Those voting in the negative wore : 
 Uruguay and Venezuela. 
 
 The names of the delegations present 
 were consequently inscribed on cards 
 and drawn from a hat by one of the pages 
 in the following order : 
 
 1, Hayti; 2, Nicaragua; 3, Peru; 4, Gua- 
 temala; 5, Uruguay; 6, Colombia; 7, Ar- 
 gentine Republic ; 8, Costa Rica ; U, Para- 
 guay; 10, Brazil; 11, Honduras; 12, Mex- 
 ico ; 13, Bolivia ; 14, United States ; 15, 
 Venezuela; 16, Chili; 17, Salvador; 18, 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 proposed that at the next session Mr. 
 Quintana's motion that two Secretaries, 
 speaking English and Spanish, be unan- 
 
 El Sr. Alfonso, delegado por Chile, en 
 nombre de la Comisifiu de Eeglameuto 
 pre8eut6 el pioyeoto del mismo que la 
 Coraisidn habia formulado, y se procedi6 
 m, su leotura. Qu6d6 acordado, despu^s 
 de alguna discusidn, que se pospusiese 
 para otra sesifin el ex^men de sus distin- 
 tos artlculos. 
 
 El Sr. Henderson, delegado por Estados 
 Unidos propuso que se nombrase una 
 comisi6n de siete senores Delegados para 
 que desiguase los nombres do los que 
 deben de formar parte de las diferentes 
 comisiones que ha de tener la Couferencia ; 
 pero consintid en retirar su mooi6n por el 
 momento, reserv^ndose insistir en ella en 
 otra oportunidad. 
 
 El Sr. QuiNTANA, delegado por la Eepu- 
 blica Argentina, prppuso el acuerdo si- 
 guiente : 
 
 " Se aouerda que se suplique al Senor 
 Presidente proceda en la sesidn de hoy ^ 
 sortear los nombres de las naciones repre- 
 sentadas en la Couferencia, con el objeio 
 de suplir las faltas del Presidente." 
 
 Despn^s de alguna discusidn, se decidid 
 de conformidad con esta proposici<5n por 
 un vote de quince contra dos. Votaron 
 aflirmativamente: Haiti, Nicaragua, Perri, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Honduras, Mexico, Bo- 
 livia, Estados Unidos, Chile, Salvador, y 
 Ecuador, Votaron negativamente : Uru- 
 guay y Venezuela. 
 
 Escribi^ronse en consecuencia los nom- 
 bres de las naciones representadas S, la 
 Couferencia, en tarjetas deigualtamano, 
 que se colocaron dentro de una urna, y 
 despu^s de bien revueltas fueron saoadas 
 por UHO de los jovenes ugieres dela Sala 
 de la Conferencia en el 6rden siguiente: 
 
 1° Haiti, 2° Nicaragua, 3° Peru, 4° 
 Guatemala, 5° Uruguay, 6° Colombia, 7° 
 Repiiblica Argentina, 8° Costa Rica, 9° 
 Paraguay, 10" Brasil, 11° Honduras, 12° 
 Mfeico, 13° Bolivia, 14° Estados Unidos, 
 15° Venezuela, 16° Chile, 17° Salvador, 
 18° Ecuador. 
 
 A moci6n del SeHor Eomeko (Mexico) 
 se propuso para la sesi6n siguiento la con- 
 sideraoi6ndelaproposici6n del Senor Quin- 
 tana para que se nombreu por la Confe- 
 
26 
 
 INTERNATIONA!. AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 iraoualy elected for the Conference be 
 considered. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Com- 
 mittees was then approved as a whole, 
 and its study and discussion was agreed 
 upon for a future session. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, moved that the session be 
 closed, to continue to-morrow (November 
 21) at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 Read, approved,and signed January 31, 
 1890. 
 
 P. C. C. Zegarka, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 HORACIO Gdzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Crdz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 
 JOSl6 M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 KoQUB Saenz PbSa, 
 Mandel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublic. 
 JoslS S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G-. do AmakalValentb, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya , 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 .John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John P. Hanson, 
 
 United States. 
 JosA Andradb, 
 
 fenezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Cliili. 
 Jacinto Castbllavos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jo86 Maria Placido CaamaNo, 
 
 Eeuadm: 
 
 rencia, S, mayoria absoluta de votos, dos 
 secretaries que hablen correctamente el 
 castellano y el ingles. 
 
 En seguida se procedi6 i, aprobar en 
 globo el dictamen presentado por la Co- 
 misidn de Comisiones, ordendndose que 
 en la sesibn siguiente, 6 en otra que co- 
 rresponda, se proceda 4i su estudio y dis 
 cusi6n, artlculo por artlcnlo. 
 
 A moci6n del Senor Davis, delegado 
 por los Estados Unidos, se snspendi6 la 
 sesifiu para con^nuarla mafiana, 21 de 
 Noviembre, ^la una de la tarde. 
 
 Leida, aprobada, y firraada 31 de Enero 
 de]890. 
 
 F. C. C. Z^GARRA, 
 
 Primier Vicepresiden tr. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Niearagua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala, 
 Alberto Nin, . 
 
 • Uruguay, 
 Jos6 M. Huktado, 
 CXblos Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Calder6n, 
 
 Col<>ml)ia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Qtintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentb 
 Salvador de MBNnoNgA. 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 
 EnRIQDI: a. MEXfA, 
 
 M&cico. 
 John B., Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estke, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 JoslS Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 JoslS Alponso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos6 Maria PlXcido CaamaNo. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FOURTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 4. 
 
 Washington, November 21, 1889. 
 The International American Confer- 
 ence was Galled to order by the President. 
 Mr. Blaine, Mr. Guzman afterwards tak- 
 ing the chair, with the following Dele- 
 gates present: 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua: 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. P.-C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Job6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdu. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz Peua. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decond. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonca. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nirao Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Moxfa. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Tre.scot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Sesidn del 21 de, Noviembre de 1889. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James 6. Blaine, 
 y del Sr. Horacio Guzman, delegado por 
 Nicaragua, estaudo presentes : 
 
 Hayti : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peril: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz Pefia; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 S. Decond. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente . 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonca. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estadcs Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 27 
 
28 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicaiior Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Ml. Jo86 Maria Pliicido Caamafio. 
 
 The session being called to order by 
 the President, the report of the Commit- 
 tee on Credentials was read, proposing 
 that the credentials accrediting the fol- 
 lowing named as Delegates to this Con- 
 ference be declared as in good and dne 
 form, to wit, Messrs. Jos^ Maroelino 
 Hurtado, Carlos Martinez Silva, and Cli- 
 maco Calder6n, from Colombia; General 
 Jos6 Maria Pl^oido Caamafio, from Ecua- 
 dor ; Mr. Arthur Laforestrie, from Hayti ; 
 General Enrique A. Mexla, from Mexico ; 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Deooud, from Paraguay; Gen- 
 oral Nicanor Bolet Peraza, and Messrs. 
 Francisco Antonio Silva and Jos6 Andrade, 
 from Venezuela ; arid Messrs. Clement 
 Studebaker, HeniyG. Davis, and John 
 F. Hanson, from the United States of 
 America. 
 
 It was so agreed. 
 
 It was then decided to proceed with 
 the discussion of the rules, and the first, 
 second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and 
 seventh articles thereof were approved. 
 They were adopted in the following 
 form : 
 
 "Article I. The Conference will hold 
 itsordinary sessions on Mondays, Wednes- 
 days, and Fridays of each week, from 
 a to .') p. m., and may also call them on 
 such days and such hours as it may espe- 
 cially designate. 
 
 "Article II. In order to constitute a 
 quorum over one-half of the nations par- 
 ticipating in the Conference must be rep- 
 resented at the session by one of their 
 Delegates. 
 
 "Article III. The sessions shall be 
 presided over by the President of the 
 Conference and the Vice-Presidents in 
 their order. In case none of these should 
 be present, by the Delegate in accordance 
 with his precedence as determined by 
 lot. 
 
 "Article IV. The delegations shall 
 
 Venezuela . 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Job6 Maria Pl^ido Caa- 
 mafio. 
 Abierta la sesi6u por el Senor Presi- 
 dente, se procediodl darlectura alinforme 
 de la Comisidn de Credenciales, propo- 
 niendo que se declarasen extendidas en 
 buena y debida forma las qne acreditan 
 como delegados S, esta Conferencia ii los 
 Seiiores Don Josfi Marcelino Hurtado, 
 Don Ciirlos Martinez Silva y Don Climaco 
 Calder6n, por Colombia ; General Jos6 
 Maria Pl^cido Caamafio, por el Ecuador ; 
 el Sr. Arthur Laforestrie, por Haiti ; el 
 Sr. General Don Enrique A. Mexia, por 
 Mexico ; el Sr. Don Jos6 S. Decoud, por 
 Paraguay ; el Sefior General Don Nicanor 
 Bolet Peraza, Don Francisco Antonio 
 Silva, y Don Jos6 Andrade,por Venezuela ; 
 y los Sefiores Clement Studebaker, Henry 
 6. Davis y John F. Hanson, por los 
 Estados Unidos de America. 
 Asi se declarfi. 
 
 En seguida se acord<5 proceder H la dis- 
 cusi6n del Reglamento, del que quedaron 
 aprobados los artlculos 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, 5°, 
 6°, 7°, como sigue : 
 
 "ArtIculo I. La Conferencia eelebrarii 
 sesiones los llines, mi^rcoles y vi^rnes de 
 cadasemana, desde las dos hastalas cinco 
 de la tarde, sin perjuicio de hacerlo 
 ademfe en otros dias & las boras que ella 
 designe especialmente . 
 
 "ArtIculo II. Para que haya sesi6n es 
 necesario que la mitad m£is una de las 
 naciones concurrentes d la Conferencia 
 est^n representadas en el acto por alguno 
 de sns delegados. 
 
 "AjitIculo III. Las sesiones ser&a diri- 
 SAdan por el Presidente de la Conferencia, 
 y en su defecto por el delegado & quien co- 
 rresponda el turnode la Vicepresidencia, 
 de acuerdo con lo resuelto en la 8esi6n del 
 dos de octubre liltimo. 
 
 "ArtIculo IV. Las delegaciones toma- 
 
INTKENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCK. 
 
 29 
 
 sit and vote in the order established by 
 lot. 
 
 "Article V. The session being open, 
 one of the secretaries of the Conference 
 shall read in Spanish and in English, the 
 minutes of the previous session. The re- 
 marks which the President or presiding 
 ofiBcer, or any of the Delegates, may make 
 thereupon will be noted, and the minutes 
 will then be approved without discussion. 
 
 ' ' Article VI. After the approval of the 
 minutes, one of the secretaries will state 
 to the assembly each of the sublects i)re- 
 sented since the last meeting, and the 
 President or presiding officer shall assign 
 each of them to the respective commit- 
 tees. 
 
 ' ' Article VII. The President will then 
 submit for discussion each question for 
 the day. The Conference shall discuss 
 (hem first in general, and such as maybe 
 approved shall be submitted for a second' 
 discussion iu detail." 
 
 When the first article of the Eules was 
 adopted, and before the discussion of the 
 second was entered upon, the Hon. John 
 B. Henderson took the floor to propose 
 ti) the Conference the adoption of the fol- 
 lowing motion : 
 
 " Besolved, That this Conference is glad 
 to welcome the United States of Brazil to 
 the sisterhood of American Republics." 
 
 The motion was opposed by Messrs. 
 IluiiTADO and Varas, on the ground that 
 this Conference is composed of indi- 
 viduals, who, although Delegates, were, 
 at the same time, diplomatic represent- 
 atives of their respective countries, and 
 the adoption of the resolution proposed 
 by Mr. Delegate Henderson would imply 
 a species of recognition of the new order 
 of things iu Brazil which they were not 
 authorized to make, and respecting which 
 they had no instructions. 
 
 This view being sustained by Mr. Tkes- 
 COT, a Delegate from the United States, 
 aud other gentlemen, it was decided by a 
 vote of fifteeu to two that the consider 
 ation of Mr. Henderson's resolution be 
 indefinitely postponed. 
 
 r^n aslento, y daran su voto, en el <3rdeu 
 establecido per dicba resolucifin para el 
 ejercicio do la Vioepresidencia. 
 
 "ARTfcULO V. Abjerta la se8i6n, uno de 
 los secretaries de la Conferencia leerdl en 
 castellano y en ingl6s cl acta de la sesi6n 
 anterior. Se har£in constar las obscrva- 
 ciones quo el Presidente 6 cualqueira de 
 los delegados le dirigiese, y se aprobarii 
 en seguida sin discusi6u algnna. 
 
 "ArtIculo VI. Una vez aprobada el 
 acta, uno de los secretaries dar^ cuenta & 
 la Conferencia de los asuntos que hayau 
 entrado despues de 1^ sesi6u anterior: y 
 el Presidente 6 Delegado que prcsida dia- 
 pondrdi que cada uno de ellos pase al 
 estudio de la comisirtu que corresponda. 
 
 " ARTfcuLO VII. El Presidente poudr^ 
 en seguida S, discusi^n cada uno de los 
 proyectos it la drden del dia. La Confe- 
 rencia los discutiril primero en general, y 
 el que f uese aprobado pasar^ |)or una dis- 
 cusi6n en particular." 
 
 Aprobada ya el articulo primero del 
 Eeglamento, y antes de que empezase la 
 discusi6n respecto del segundo, el Hon. 
 Sr. John B. Henderson, delegado por 
 los Estados Unidos, i)iopuso il la Confe- 
 rencia el siguiente proyecto de resolu- 
 ci6n : 
 
 " Se resuelve : Que esta Conferencia se 
 complace en dar la bienvenida li los Es- 
 tados Unidos del Brasil iX la hermandad 
 de las Eeptiblicas Americanas.'' 
 
 Fu6 impugnada la proposici<5n por los 
 Senores Hurtado y Varas, por couside- 
 rar que varies de los Senores delegados 
 tienen tambi^n el caricter de repre- 
 sentantes diplom^ticos de bus respec- 
 tivos palses, y la aceptaci6n de lo pro- 
 puesto por el honorable delegado 
 Henderson implicaria una especie de 
 reconocimiento del uuevo 6rden do cosas 
 en el Brasil, para lo cual no estaban au- 
 torizados, ni acerca de ello tenian ins- 
 trucciones siendo adem^s ageno de la 
 Conferencia 6 impropio de ellael haccr la 
 declaraci(5u que se propoula. 
 
 Sostenido este punto de vista i)or el 
 Senor Trbscot, delegado por los Es- 
 tados Unidos, y otros Senores, el Senor 
 RoMBKO, delegado por Mexico, propuso 
 se dejtuio el asunto en suspense y 
 se determin6 por nn voto do quince 
 contra dos, que la proposicidn del 
 
30 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The delegations which voted for the iu 
 definite postponement were : Hayti, Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentine Republic, Costa Rica, Paraguay, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, United States, 
 Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Those -who vote dagainst it were: Uru- 
 guay and Venezuela. 
 
 Article VIII being under discussion, on 
 motion of Mr. Tkbscot, a Delegate from 
 the United States, the session was ad- 
 journed, to be resumed on Monday, the 
 35th instant, at 2 p. m. 
 
 Read, approved, and signed, February 
 5, 1890. 
 
 M; Romero, 
 
 Second Vice-President. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 j0s6 m. hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 Colombia. 
 KoQUB Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine BepuMic. 
 Jos^ S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador de MENDONriA, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 Mexico. 
 Jdan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studbbaker, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis. 
 
 United States. 
 Josis ANDRaDK 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos:^ Alfonso, 
 
 GMH. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 Josi) Maria Placido CaamaSo. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Seuor Henderson quedase pospuesta in- 
 definidameute. 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente : Haiti, Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Chile, 
 Salvador, Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron negativamente : Uruguay y 
 Venezuela. 
 
 Estando en diacusi^n el artfculo VIII, 
 previa proposici6n del Senor Trescot, dele- 
 gado por los Estados Unidos, se 8U8pendi6 
 la sesidn hasta el Wnes 25 del corriente S, 
 las dos de la tarde. 
 
 Le ley6, aprob6, y iirmd le 5 de Febrero 
 de 1890. 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Segundo Vicepresidente. 
 Ho CIO Guzman 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 3ost M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 CLfMACO CaLDEr6n, 
 
 Colonibia. 
 Roqde Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 JosiS S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador de MBNDONgA, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Enriqub a. MEXfA, 
 
 M&cieo. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studebakeh, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 Jos£ Andradb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos]£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:6 Maria PlXcido Caamano, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FIFTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 5. 
 
 Washington, ^November 25, 1889. 
 The f nternational Amerioau Conference 
 was called to order by Mr. F. C. C. 
 Zegarra, a Delegate from Peru, witUthe 
 following Delegates i)resent: 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Joa6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pefia. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Qnintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jon6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonf a. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Komero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Stndebaker. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Sesidn del dia 25 de Noviemhre de 1 89. 
 Presideucia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 delegado jjOrel Perfi, estando preseutes : 
 
 Hayti : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Gnzmdin. 
 Peru: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva.. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz Pena ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quiutana. 
 Costa Rii'.a : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil: 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juau F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos: 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Stndebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 31 
 
32 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Andrade. 
 
 Mr. Francisco Antonio Silva. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Vavas. 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido Caamano. 
 
 A report of the Committee on Clre- 
 dentials was read, stating that they 
 had examined the credentials issued in 
 favor of Messrs. Lafayette Eodrigues 
 Pereira, J. 6. do Amaral Valente, and Sal- 
 vador de Mendonpa, as Delegates from 
 Brazil, and of Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss, as 
 Delegate from the United States of Amer- 
 ica, and found them in good and due form. 
 Pursuant to the report of the committee, 
 they were approved. 
 
 The Conference then proceeded to the 
 election of the two Secretaries, to which 
 the motion made on the 18th instant re- 
 ferred ; and after some discussion it was de- 
 cided to proceed to an immediate election. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mex- 
 ico, proposed that Mr. H. Remsen White- 
 house lie elected as one of the Secre- 
 taries, commending his qualifications. 
 The vote having been taken by delega- 
 tions, it resulted in the unanimous elec- 
 tion of Mr. Whitehouse. 
 
 The election of the other Secretary was 
 then taken up, for which post Mr. Zelaya, 
 a Delegate from Honduras, proposed and 
 recommended Mr. Fidel G. Pierra, and 
 the result of the vote was, as in the pre- 
 vious case, unanimous, with the exception 
 of the delegation from Mexico, which 
 voted in the negative, explaining, how- 
 ever, that its vote signified not any per- 
 sonal objection to the gentleman named, 
 but merely a desire that the election 
 should be postponed until another day, 
 as it had requested. 
 
 This matter terminated, the Conference 
 decided to continue the interrupted dis- 
 cussion of the rules, taking up at once 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade ; 
 
 El Sr. Francisco Antonio Silva. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido 
 Caamano. 
 AbiertalasesidnporelSenorPresidente, 
 se di6 lectura & un informe de la Comi- 
 si6n de Credenciales, dando cuenta de 
 haber examinado las expedidas en favor 
 de los Senores Lafayette Eodrigues Pe- 
 reira, J. G. do Amaral Valente y Salvador 
 de Mendonfa, como delegados por el Bra- 
 sil, y del Senor Cornelius N. Bliss como 
 delegado por los Estados Un idos de Amer- 
 ica, y encontrSidolas en buena y debida 
 forma. De oonformidad con lo propuesto 
 por la comisidn quedaron aqu^Uas apro- 
 badas. 
 
 Pas6s6 en seguida & proveer & la Con- 
 ferencia de los dos secretaries Si que 
 se refiere la proposicidn hecha el 18 
 del corriente mes ; y despu^s de alguna 
 discusi6n qued6 acordado proceder A la 
 elecci6n inmediatamente. 
 
 El Sr. KoMBRO, delegado por Mexico, 
 propuso que se eligiese como uno de los 
 dos secretaries al Sr. H. Remsen White- 
 house, recomendando sus merecimientos. 
 T habifindose procedido S, votaci6u no- 
 minal por delegaciones results cl Sr. 
 Whitehouse electo por unanimidad. 
 
 Pasfise en seguida S, la elecci6n del otro 
 secretario, para cuyo puesto propuso y 
 recomendd el Senor Zelaya, delegEldo por 
 Honduras, al Senor Fidel G. Pierra. El re- 
 sultado de la votacl6n fu6 como en cl caso 
 anterior, un&iime, excepto que la dele- 
 gaci6n de Mexico vot6 por la negativa 
 explicando que sn vote no significaba 
 objeci6n personal al caballero propuesto 
 sine sfilo el deseo do que la elecci6u se 
 postergase para otro dia, segtin habia 
 solicitado. 
 
 Terminado este punto, re8olvi6 la 
 Conferencia continuar la discusidn iuter- 
 rumpida del Reglamento, ocupSndose en 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 33 
 
 the eighth article. Alono; discussion was 
 raised by reason of an amendment pro- 
 posed by Messrs. Nin.Trescot, Cruz, and 
 Calderdu, to the effect that the floor 
 should not be conceded for a second time 
 to any one of the Delegates when others 
 who desired to speak on the same subject- 
 matter had not yet had it, and that no 
 one should speak three times upon the 
 same subject, except in the case of the 
 person desiring the floor being a member 
 of the committee whose report is under 
 consideration ; and after considering the 
 point in all its aspects, the debate was 
 interrupted by a motion of Mr. Trescot, u, 
 Delegate from the United States, to ad- 
 journ the session. 
 
 The motion, being put to a vote, was 
 carried. 
 
 The session then adjourned, to be re- 
 sumed on Wednesday next at 2 p. m. 
 
 Read, approved, and signed February 
 7, 1890. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarka, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 HoKATio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Alberto Kin, 
 
 Uruguai/. 
 
 JOSt M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, . 
 
 ColomHa. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublic. 
 Jos:6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 3l C 
 
 seguida del articulo VIII. Suscitdse una 
 larga disousidu con motivode una adicidn 
 propuesta por los Sefiores Nin, Trescot, 
 Cruz, y Calder6n,paraquenoseconcedala 
 palabra por segunda vez & ninguno de los 
 SenoresDelegadoscuandootrosquedeseau 
 hablar sobre el mlBmo asanto no lo hayan 
 hecho aun, y que no pueda ninguno 
 hablar tres veces sobre el mismo asunto, 
 excepto en caso de que el que asl quiera 
 usar de la palabra sea miembro de la 
 comisidn cnyo dictiimeu se estii discu- 
 tiendo. Despu^s de considerarse el punto 
 bajo varies aspectos se interrumpid el de- 
 bate por una proposicidn del SeSor Tres- 
 cot, delegado por los Estados Unidos, para 
 que se suspendiese la sesidn. 
 
 Puesta al voto dioha proposicidn fud 
 aprobada y se levantd la sesidn para con- 
 tinuarse el rai^rcoles proximo ^ las dos de 
 la tarde. 
 
 Leida, aprobada, y firmada el 7 de Fe- 
 brero de 1890. 
 
 F. C. C.Zegarra. 
 
 Primer Vieepresidente. 
 
 HORACIO GUZMiN, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Josts M. Hurtado, 
 CiRLOS Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colorribia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 
 Argentina. 
 JosiS S. Decoud, 
 
 . Paraguay. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MATfAS Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mtiico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Solivia. 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 MoRiiis M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
34 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Jos£ Andrade, Jos:6 Andradb, 
 
 Venezuela. Venezuela. 
 
 Emilio C. Varas, Emilio C. Varas, 
 
 Chili. Chile. 
 
 Jacinto Castellanos, Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. Salvador. 
 
 Josi' Maria PljCcido CaamaSo, Jos£ MarIa PLiciDO CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. Ecuador. 
 
SIXTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 6. 
 
 Washington, November 27, 1889. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 2 p. m. by the Pres- 
 ident, Mr. James G. Blaine, followed by 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 with the following Delegates present : 
 
 Hayti: 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Huitado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Roqne Saenz Pena. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Elca : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matlas Komero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis, 
 
 SesiSn del 27 de Noviembre de 1889. 
 Presidencia del Hon. James G. Blaine 
 y del Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz, delegado 
 por Guatemala. Estandt) presentes : 
 
 Haiti : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Z6garra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 ElSr. Jos6M. Hurtado; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pena; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga, 
 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Eomero ; 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 EI Sr. John F. Hanson; 
 
 El Sr. Heury G. Davis. 
 
 35 
 
36 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 Venezuela: 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Audrade. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. EmilioC. Varus. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido CaamaHo. 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El rir. Nicanor Bolet Peraza; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Maria PMcido Caa- 
 
 Tlie President announced tbathe had 
 received a communication from Coun- 
 cilor Lafayette, a Delegate from Brazil, 
 regretting his inability to resume his 
 seat in the Conference on account of re- 
 cent political changes in his country. 
 
 The President announced the regular 
 orderto be Article XIII of the Committee 
 on Rules, and suggested that the last 
 clause, relating to the order in which 
 , Delegates should be rcLOgnized by the 
 Chair, be omitted, and the right to the 
 floor be left as a matter of courtesy by 
 the Delegates themselves. 
 
 Mr. Saenz PeSa observed how impor- 
 tant it was to have the matter decided as 
 provided in said article, and Mr. Quintana 
 a Delegate from the Argentine Republic, 
 stated in support of his colleague, Mr. 
 Saenz PeSa, that international congresses 
 did not ordinarily make roles, because 
 
 La sesidn se abrid ^ las 2 p. m. 
 
 El Senor Presidbntb manifesto : que 
 el Senor Consejero Lafayette, dolegado 
 por el Brasil, habia suplioado al Presi- 
 dente se sirviese anunciar qne, Si conse- 
 cuencia de los cambios pollticos reoi- 
 eutemente ocurridos en su pa£s, se veia 
 privado del honor de oontinuar siendo uno 
 de los miembros de esta Conferenoia, S, 
 pesar de que los poderes originariamente 
 otorg^doles por el Gobierno Imperial ha- 
 bian sido confirmados por el Gobierno 
 Provisional. 
 
 Tambi6n mauifest6 el Sr. Presidbntb 
 al poner Si discusidn el Artloulo VIII del 
 proyecto del Reglamento, que sentla 
 mucho no haber estado presente en la 
 sesidn anterior, por que deseaba liaoer 
 una observacidn S la Conferencia. 
 
 Esta observacidu era que en las Confe- 
 rencias de naciones iudependientes no est^ 
 en las facultades del Presidente decidir 
 acerca de los derechos que cada miembro 
 tenga para que se le conceda la palabra. 
 
 Que espera que el artfoulo que sobre el 
 asunto aparece en el Reglamento sea om- 
 itido dejando S la cortesfa de los dife- 
 rentes miembros delas delegaoiones resol- 
 verlos casos que se presenten. Que esta 
 ha sido la costu mbre en todas las Conferen- 
 cias Internacionales, y que, hasta en la 
 CSmara de los Lores de Inglaterra, cuando 
 dos miembros solicitan la palabra simul- 
 tdneamente, es en virtud de esta cortesia 
 que se resuelve el punto satisfactoria- 
 meute. 
 
 El Sr. Saenz Pena manifesto que : el 
 Articulo VIII, tal como estaba concebido, 
 tenia por objeto exonerar & la Presiden- 
 ciade toda responsabilidad, determinando 
 el 6rdeu en que debe concederse la pala- 
 bra. 
 
 El SeHor Quintana manifest6 en apoyo 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEKENCE. 
 
 37 
 
 generally they occupied themselves with 
 a single subject, cand consisted of few per- 
 sons. Ho added that when rules were 
 made because they had to occupy them- 
 selves with many subjects, and they were 
 composed of many persons, Ihey adopted 
 rules as provided in Article VIII, in order 
 to fix the order of speaking and to avoid 
 having to decide it in each special case. 
 He confirmed his idea by citing the rnles 
 of the Congress of Montevideo, from which 
 the article in question had been taken. 
 
 After some discussion, Mr. Bolet Pb- 
 RAZA, a Delegate from Venezuela, moved 
 that a separate vote be taken on each of the 
 two clauses of said article. The question 
 being put and the vote taken by States, 
 the motion of Mr. Bolet Peraza was unan- 
 imously approved. 
 
 A vote was then taken upon the first 
 clause of Article VIII, which was adopted 
 unanimously, as follows: 
 
 "The President will concede the floor 
 to the Delegates in the order in which 
 they make the request." 
 
 Mr. Bolet Peraza moved, as a substi- 
 tute for the second clause of Article VIII, 
 the following: 
 
 "When two or more Delegates shall de- 
 mand the floor simultaneously, the Chair 
 shall recognize the Delegate who shall 
 have spoken the least number of times." 
 
 A vote being taken upon the substitute 
 of Mr. Bolet Peraza, it was defeated. 
 
 do su colega, el Seuor Saenz Peua, que 
 los Congresos Internaoionales no hacian 
 ordinariamente reglamentos porque geno- 
 ralmente se ocupabau de uu s61o asunto y 
 se compoulan de pocas personas. Agreg<5 
 que cuando liacian reglamento por ocu- 
 parse de muchos asuntos y componerse de 
 muchas personas entonces adoptabau dis- 
 posioiones auiilogas ^ las contenidos en 
 el Articnlo VIII & fin de cstablecer el uso 
 delapalabra y no tener que decidirlo en 
 cada case especial. Confirm^ sus ideas 
 citando el Reglamento del Congreso de 
 Montevideo del cual se habia tomado el 
 articulo en discusifin. 
 
 Despu^s do alguua discusifin y exj)lioa^ 
 clones, el Sr. Bolet Peraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, raanifiesto que, oomponi^ndose 
 el citado articnlo de dos partes distintas, 
 pedia que estas fuesen sometidas d. vota- 
 ci6n separadamente, por cuanto queria 
 proponer una niodificaci6u ^ la segunda 
 parte ^ fin de quo cuando dos delegados 
 pidiesen simultSCneamente lapalabra, esta 
 fuese concedida, no segiin el <5rden de su 
 colocaci6n, sino al que hubiere heoho uso 
 de ella el menor nituiero de veces. 
 
 Puesta a votaoi6n nominal la mooidn 
 del Sr. Bolet Peraza (a6 aprobada por nn^ 
 uimidad. 
 
 Pusose en seguida ^ votacidn la primera 
 parte del Articulo VIII de la referenda, 
 y fu^ adoptada por uud^nimidad, que- 
 dando en la forma siguiente : 
 
 "ArtIculo VIII. La palabra serd; con- 
 cedida por el Presidente £i los delegados 
 en el 6rden en que la soliciten." 
 
 El Sr. Bolet Peraza propuso como 
 segunda parte del Articulo VIII la modi- 
 ficaci6n Sj que se hace referenda m&a 
 arriba. 
 
 Puesta & disousi6u la modificaoi6n del 
 Sr. Bolet Peraza, el Sr. Dr. Qdintana, 
 delegado por la Argentina, se opuso, 
 adudendo razones en apoyo de la couve- 
 niencia de dejar la segunda parte del 
 citado articulo seglin lo habia presentado 
 la Comisi6n. 
 
 Propoui^udose el Sr. Presidente to- 
 mar la votacidu sobre laenmienda del Sr. 
 Bolet Peraza, el Sr. Nin, delegado por el 
 Uruguay, pidid ii la Mesa que iuvirtiese el 
 drden de aquella, tom^ndola primero so- 
 bre la parte segunda del Articula VIII 
 propuesta por la Comisidn. El Sr. Dr. 
 
38 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The following voted aye: Hayti and 
 Venezuela. 
 
 The following voted no: Nicaragua, 
 Pern, Guatemala, Uruguay, Colombia, 
 Argentiiie Repnblic,"-<lo8ta Rica, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, UnitedStates, 
 Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 The second clause of the article was 
 then put to a vote, and was rejected. 
 
 The following voted aye: Colombia, 
 Argentine Republic, Costa Rica, Chili, 
 Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 The following voted no: Hayti, Nic- 
 aragua, Peru, Guatemala, Uruguay, Bra- 
 zil, Bolivia, United States, and Venezuela. 
 
 Article IX of the Rules having been 
 submitted for discussion, Mr. Quintana, 
 a member of the Committee on Rules, 
 stated that no provision had been made 
 for the translation of the proceedings into 
 Portuguese as provided by the act of the 
 United States Congress, as the honorable 
 Delegates from Brazil had kindly in- 
 formed the committee that, being famil- 
 iar with both Spanish and English, they 
 could follow the proceediugs of the Con- 
 ference without diiHculty. 
 
 Mr. COOLIDGE, a Delegate from the 
 United States, move 1 that the words "or 
 French" be inserted in Rule IX, after the 
 words "Spanish or Portuguese," and it 
 was so agreed. The article was adopted, 
 as follows : 
 
 "Artiolb IX. The Delegates may speak 
 in their respective languages, and when- 
 ever any of them shall cease speaking, he, 
 or any of the interpreters of the Confer- 
 ence, shall translate, at once, orally, his 
 fundamental ideas into Spanish if the 
 Delegate shall hav spoken in English, 
 or into English if he shall have spoken 
 in Spanish, Portuguese, or French. A 
 similar version shall be made of the words 
 
 QuiNTANA, delegado por la Argentina, 
 apoyd esa indicacidn, la cual no habl^n- 
 do side bastante S, oonvencer S, la Mesa se 
 procediese ^ votar la modificaci6n del Sr. 
 Bolet Peraza, siendo esta reohazada en 
 votacidn nominal. 
 
 Votaron por la afirmativa : Los Sres. 
 delegados por Haiti y Venezuela. 
 
 Votaron por la negati va : Los Sres. 
 delegados por Nicaragua, Perfi, Guate- 
 mala, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina, 
 Costa Rica, Brasil, Honduras, Mexico, 
 Bolivia, Estados Unidos de Norte Ame- 
 rica, Chile, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Puesto & votaci6n la segunda parte del 
 Artfculo VIII del proyecto de Reglamento 
 results tambi6n rechazada. 
 
 Votaron por la afirmativa : Los Sres. 
 delegados por Colombia, la Arjentina, 
 Costa Rica, Chile, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron pnr la negativa: Los Sres. 
 delegados por Haiti, Nicaragua, Perfi, 
 Guatemala, Uruguay, Brasil, Honduras, 
 Bolivia, Estados Unidos de Norte Ame- 
 rica y Venezuela. 
 
 Puesto 4 discusidn el Artioulo IX del 
 Proyecto de Reglamento, el Sr. Dr. QuiSf- 
 TAUA, informante de la Comisi6n, mani- 
 fest6 que no se habia establecido que los 
 procedimientos se virtiesen al idioma por- 
 tuguSs, uomo lo dispone la ley de convo- 
 catoria del Congreso, por cuanto los 
 SeQores Delegados por el Brasil mani- 
 fest^ron espont^neamente que conociendo 
 ellos el ingl6s y el castellano podian se- 
 guir sin dificultad los procedimientos de 
 la Conferenoia. 
 
 El Sr. CooLiDGB, delegado por los Es- 
 tados Unidos propuso, y asi se acordfi, 
 que las palabras "6 francos "se inserta- 
 sen en el Artlculo IX del Reglamento St 
 continuacifin de las palabras, ' ' espanol, 
 portugu^s." 
 
 El oitado artlculo fu6 aprobado en la 
 forma siguiente : 
 
 "AtIculo IX. Los delegados ppdr^n 
 hablar eu su idioma respective y siempre 
 que uno de ellos deje la palabra el mismo 
 6 cualquiera de los int6rprete8 de la Con- 
 ferenoia venirii acto continue, oralmente, 
 sus conceptos fundamentales al espanol, 
 si el delegado hubiese hablado en ingles 
 6 al ingles, si el delegado lo hubiese hecho 
 en espanol, portugu^s 6 francos. An^- 
 loga versi6n se harS de las palabras que 
 
INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 39 
 
 spoken by the President or Vice-President 
 of the Conference." 
 
 Article X was then submitted for dis- 
 cussion. 
 
 Dr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine Republic, observed that in the 
 Spanish translation two words had been 
 omitted in the printed report, and asked 
 that they should be incorporated, and it 
 was so ordered. The article, with the 
 addition of the above-mentioned words, 
 was approved, as follows: 
 
 "Article X. Each Delegate may offer 
 to the Coafereuce his written opinion 
 upon a matter or point in debate, read it 
 or hiive it read by one of the secretaries, 
 and Inserted in the minutes of the session 
 at which he shall offer it." 
 
 Article XI of the Report of the Com- 
 mittee on Rales was then submitted for 
 discussion. 
 
 The President observed that the 
 phrase "through a previous resolution 
 to that effect," as it appeared in the 
 English translation, was unnecessary, 
 and might lead to confusion. After re- 
 marks by different Delegates, Mr. Hen- 
 derson, a Delegate from the United 
 States, moved that in the English trans- 
 lation the phrase used in such cases be 
 employed; and it was so ordered. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 proposed that before the last clause of 
 said article the following should be incor- 
 porated : 
 
 "Amotion to gointo Committee of the 
 Whole shall be privileged, and shall be 
 voted upon without discussion." 
 
 The amendment was accepted, and the 
 article as a whole adopted, as follows: 
 
 "Article XI. The Conference may at 
 any time resolve itself into a Committee 
 of the Whole in order to exchange views, 
 without regard to the rules, upon any 
 subject in the order of the day, or any 
 incident that may arise therefrom. The 
 motion to go into Committee of the Whole 
 shall be privileged, and shall be voted 
 upon without djsonssion ; but during the 
 Committee of the Whole no subject what- 
 ever shall be voted upon." 
 
 Article XII of the Report of the Com- 
 mittee OP Rules was then submitted for 
 discussion. 
 
 pronuncie el Presidente 6 Vicepresidente 
 de la Conferencia." 
 
 El Sr. Presidente puso H discasidn el 
 Artlculo X del Proyecto de Reglamento. 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Quintana observd que des- 
 pu^s de las palabras "por escrito" se ha- 
 bian omitido las palabras "sobre la ma- 
 teria" las cuales aparecen en el original 
 manuscrito y pidiendo que se incorpora- 
 sen, asl se dispuso. 
 
 Con esa correccjdu, el citado artfculo 
 fu6 aprobado y dice: 
 
 "ARTfcuLO X. Cada delegado puede 
 presontar £i la Conferencia su opinion por 
 escrito sobre la materia 6 punto en de- 
 bate ; leerla 6 hacerla leer por alguno de 
 los secretarios y hacerla agregar al acta 
 de la sesidn en que la presente." 
 
 Pusose S, discusidn cl Articulo XI del 
 Proyecto de Reglamento. 
 
 El Sr. Presidente observfi que la frase 
 "previa resolnci6n alefecto" segrin apa- 
 recia en la version inglesa, no era uecesa- 
 ria y su interpretacifin podia dar lugar S, 
 dud as. 
 
 Despu^s de algunas observaciones, el 
 Sr. Henderson, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos de Norte America, propuso que en 
 la versiSn inglesa se emplease la forma 
 usual en ingles en ese caso y asl se acord(5. 
 
 El Sr. Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 propuso que despu^s de la palabra "pro- 
 ceda " se ins 'rtase : "La mocidn para con- 
 stituirse en Comisidn General ser£i con- 
 siderada moci6n preferente y se procederi 
 S, votar sobre ella sin discusidn." 
 
 La adicidn ia6 aceptada y el artfoulo 
 qued6 aprobado segtiu se expresa £i cou- 
 tinuaci6n: 
 
 "ARTfcuLO XI. La Conferencia podr^ 
 en cualquier tiempo, hecha la mociOu 
 correspondiente, constituirse en comi6«6n 
 general para cambiar ideas siu sujeci6n 
 al reglamento sobre cualquier asunto ^ la 
 6rden del dia 6 incidente que de ella pro- 
 ceda. La moci(5n para constituirse on 
 comisidu general sersi considerada de 
 preferencia y se sometera & votaoi6n sin 
 disousifin alguna. Durante la comisidn 
 general no podr£i votarse asunto alguno." 
 
 El Sr. Presidents puso & discusidn el 
 Artfculo XII del Proyecto de Reglamento. 
 
40 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Olvjectiou having been made to the En- 
 glish translation, Mr. Romero, a Delegate 
 from Mexico, offered a new translation, 
 ■which was accepted, and the article 
 adopted, as follows : 
 
 "Article XII. Reports of committees, 
 the measures they may recommend, and 
 the papers accompanying the reports 
 shall be printed in Spanish and English 
 and distributed among the Delegates at 
 the following session, for their considera- 
 tion ; but no debate shall be made on the 
 same until four days after the distribu- 
 tion.'' 
 
 At 4 o'clock p. m., the President hav- 
 ing retired, the chair was taken by Dr. 
 Fernando Cruz, a Delegate from Guate- 
 mala. 
 
 Article XIII of the Report of the Com- 
 mittee on Rules was then submitted for 
 discussion. 
 
 Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, pro- 
 posed several modifications, which gave 
 rise to explanations from Mr. Quiulana, 
 a member of the Committee on Rujes, and 
 the article was finally approved, as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 "Article XIII. At the end of each 
 session the chairman shall anDounce to 
 the Conference the business that remains 
 pending for the following session, but the 
 Conferince may make such alterations as 
 it may deem proper iu regard to the time 
 and order in which the matters submit- 
 ted for consideration are to be discussed." 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, moved that the term of each 
 Vice-President shall be limited to two 
 weeks; which was referred to the Com- 
 mittee on Rules. 
 
 Mr. IIuRTADO, a Delegate from CoIol:- 
 bia, moved that for the time being, and 
 until otherwise ordered, the printed re- 
 ports of the proceedings of this Conference 
 be limited to the minutes of each session 
 as approved. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 moved that the matter be referred to the 
 
 Se hicieron objeciones & la versidn in- 
 glesa de dicho articulo, y el Sr. Romero 
 present6 una traduccidu & ese idioma, la 
 cnal fu6 adoptada y aprobado cl articulo 
 en castellano sin variante alguna, {i sa- 
 ber: 
 
 •'ARxfoULO XII. Los dictamenes de las 
 comisiones y los proyectos de su referen- 
 da ser^n Impresos en espafiol y en ingles 
 y repartidos en la 8esi6n siguiente & los 
 delegados para su estudio, no pudiendo 
 entrar en discusida hasta despuiSs de los 
 cuatro dias siguientes £u aquelenque fue- 
 ron repartidos." 
 
 A las cuatro p. m., retir^ndose el Sr. 
 PfiESiDENTE pas6 S. ocupar la Presidencia 
 el Vicepresidente de turno, Sr. Dr. Don 
 Fernando Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala. 
 
 El Sr. Presidente de turno puso iidis- 
 cu8i6n el Articulo XIII del Proyecto de 
 Reglamento. 
 
 El Sr. Varas, delegado por Chile, pro- 
 pnso varias modificaeiones de forma y de 
 concepto, las cuales dieron lagar ^ expli- 
 caciones por parte del Sr. Qu in tana, 
 miembro iuformante de la Comisidu, que- 
 dando luego aprobado el articulo de la ve- 
 ferencia como sigue : 
 
 "ArtIculo XIII. Al coDcluIr la sesi6n, 
 el Presidente anunciara & la Conferencia 
 los asuntjos que quedan pendientes para 
 la siguiente : pero la Conferencia podrii 
 hacer la alteraci6u que crea conveuiente, 
 respecto de la hora u orden en el cnal los 
 asuntos pendientes de consideraci6n de- 
 beriin someterse & discusidn." 
 
 El Sr. Martinez Silva, delegado por 
 Colombia, present6 la siguiente proposi- 
 ci6u : 
 
 "FIjase en dos semanas el periodo de 
 turno para el ejeroicio de la Vicepresi- 
 dencia." 
 
 Por 6rden do la Mesa la proposici6n 
 del Sr. Silva pasd di la Comisi6n de Regla- 
 mento. 
 
 El Sr. Hurtado, delegado por Colom- 
 bia, present6 la siguiente proposicidn, 
 la cual fund6 extensamente : 
 
 "Mientras no se disponga'otra cosa, 
 solo se imprimirilu las actas aprobadas 
 de cada sesi6u." 
 
 El Sr. Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 pidi6 que la proposici<3u del Sr. Hurtado 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 41 
 
 Committee on Rules; and it was so or- 
 dered. 
 
 Upon motion of Mr. Trbscot, a Dele- 
 gate from the United States, the Confer- 
 ence adjourned at 5.20 o'clock p. m. 
 
 Jamks G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Perm. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Caldrr6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQOE Saenz Pena, 
 
 Argentine Bepublio. 
 Josls S. DiCCOUD, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador de MBNDON9A, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jek6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Tkescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos6 Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 Salvador. 
 
 JOSlfiTVlARIA PlXoIDO CaAMASTO, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 Signed, February 12, 1890. 
 
 pasase S, la Comisidn de Reglamcnto y as( 
 se acordd. 
 
 El Sr. Trescot, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos do Norte America, pidl6 que 
 ae levantase la sesidn. 
 La aesidn se levant6 & las !).20 p. m. 
 Jambs G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidenie. 
 HoRACio GuzmjCn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 Perii. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 CARLOS Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Calder6n, 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Argentina. 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador de MENDON9A, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MATfAS Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 Mexico. 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Eslndos Tfnidos. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Josifi Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Caste llanos, 
 
 Sahador. 
 Jost Mar! A PljCcido Caamano, 
 Ecuador. 
 Firmado, 12 de Febrero do 1890. 
 
SEVENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA BTo. 7. 
 
 Washington, November 29th, 1889. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order by the President pro 
 tempore, Mr. Nin, a Delegate from Uru- 
 guay, at 2 p. m., with the following Dele- 
 gates present : 
 
 From Nicaragua: 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 From Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 From Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 From Uruguay: 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 From Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 From Argentine Eepnblic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pena. 
 
 Mr. Manntl Quintana. 
 From Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 From Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decond. 
 From Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonfa. 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente 
 From Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerouimo Zelaya. 
 From Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 From Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 From the United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. William H. Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 From Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 4-i 
 
 Sesidn del 29 de Noviembre de 1889. 
 Presidencia del Sr. Alberto Nin, dele- 
 gado por Uruguay. Estando presentes : 
 
 Por Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Horacio Gnzm^n. 
 Por Perfi : 
 
 ElSr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Por Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Por Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Por Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 Por la Eepiiblica Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Eoque Saenz Pena ; 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Por Costa Eica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Por Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Por Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga ; 
 Por Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Por Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Eomero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Por Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Por loa Estados de Norte America : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebalier ; 
 
 El Sr. William H. Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson. 
 Por Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 43 
 
 From Chili : 
 
 Mr. 3os6 Alfonso. 
 From Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanoa. 
 From Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. P. CaamaSo. 
 
 The minutes of the previous meeting 
 were read and approved, 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, re- 
 quested that the following he entered 
 upon the Journal, to wit : 
 
 That when Article XII of the rules was 
 under dehate, Mr. Varas, a Delegate from 
 Chili, submitted that " propositions from 
 the Delegates" be printed iu Spanish and 
 English, as provided in the same article 
 for the reports made and measures pro- 
 posed by the committees. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, and 
 chairman of the Committee on Rules, sub - 
 mitted the following report : 
 
 Tour committee having carefully con- 
 sidered the following proposition, made 
 by the honorable Delegate from Colombia, 
 Mr. Hurtado: 
 
 "That for the time being, and until 
 otherwise ordered, the printed reports of 
 the proceedings of this Conference be 
 limited to the minutes of each session as 
 approved," 
 
 Respectfully submits that in the judg- 
 ment of the committee two different rec- 
 ords of the proceedings of the Conference 
 should be kept: One, a journal or acta, 
 containing a succinct statement of the 
 debate and the final action taken by the 
 Conference on the subjects submitted for 
 its consideration; the other, a general 
 record or "diario de sesiones," wherein 
 the proceedings be reported in full. The 
 former (journal or acta) is provided for 
 by Article V of the rules, already adopted, 
 and by Article XVII. No especial form 
 was then determined upon, as it is well 
 known how the journals or actaa of delib- 
 erative bodies are kept. In regard to 
 the latter (the full record), it is the opin- 
 ion of the committee that as the report of 
 the Committee on Committees, which will 
 soon be submitted for discussion, provides 
 for the appointment of an executive com- 
 mittee, whose duties, among others, shall 
 be to determine the form and manner in 
 
 For Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 For Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jaoin to Castellanos. 
 For Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. P. Caamafio. 
 Se abre la sesifiu & las 2 p. m. 
 Se ley6 el acta de la sesidn anterior y 
 hechas algunas pequeBas rectificaciones 
 fu6 aprobada. 
 
 El Sr. Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 pide que conste en el acta de esta sesi6n 
 que su colega, el Sr. Varas, al discutir el 
 ArtlculoXII del Reglamento propuso que 
 "las proposiciones de los delegados so 
 imprimiesen en espaBol y en ingl6a " como 
 se disponia que lo fuesen los dictSmenes 
 de las comisiones y los proyectos de su 
 referenda. 
 
 El Sr. Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 Presidente de la Comisidn de Eeglamento, 
 presenta el siguiente informe: 
 
 "La Comisidn de Reglamento ha estu- 
 diado deteuidamente la indioaoi6n del 
 honorable delegado por Colombia, el Sr. 
 J. M. Hurtado, para que ' mientras no se 
 disponga otra cosa, s61o se impriman las 
 actas aprobadas de cada sesidn'; y tiene 
 el honor de iuformar ^ la Conferencia : 
 
 "Que & su juicio deben redactarse actas 
 y diario de sesiones, destiuada la primera 
 S, hacer una exposicidn sucinta y breve de 
 todo lo sustancial que en cada sesidn 
 ocurra, y el seguudo & referir in extenso 
 todos los detalles de las discusiones y 
 acuerdos. 
 
 "A la necesidad de la existenoia del acta 
 ban proveido los Artfoulos V, ya aproba- 
 dos, y XVII del proyeoto de Eeglamento, 
 pues a-fin cuando no se determin6 la forma 
 en que las actas debian redactarse se 
 crey(5 que era inneoesario por cuauto es 
 bien conocida la que tieneu las actas en 
 los cuerpos deliberantes. 
 
 ' 'En lo que respecta al diario de sesiones, 
 opina la comisi6n que el proyecto some- 
 tido y^ S, la Conferencia sobre norabra- 
 miento de comisiones, y que eu breve aerS, 
 sin duda discutido, proved — por su parte — 
 •S su establecimiento. Dioho proyecto 
 crea — entre otras — uua Comisidn llamada 
 Ejecntiva, &\ a cual iacumbeseguramente 
 correr con las atenciones concernientes al 
 diario de sesiones. No seria por lo tanto 
 
44 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 which the full records shall be published, 
 it is unnecessary to consider the matter 
 in this report. 
 
 Therefore, yoiir committee recommends 
 that no action bo taken upon the matter 
 to which the proposition of the honora- 
 ble delegate from Colombia refers; but 
 the committee begs leave to submit that 
 if the proceedings of the Conference are 
 to be printed, whether in extenso (diario 
 de sesiones) or as as a journal (acta), 
 proper steps be taken to avoid the numer- 
 ous errors committed in the reports here- 
 tofore printed and not yet approved. 
 
 Jos:6 Alfonso, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 William H. Tresoot, 
 J. P. M. Caamano, 
 M. Romero, 
 Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
 It was explained by the Chair that, the 
 errors appearing in the printed proceed- 
 ings of the first five sessions were due to 
 the lack of time and the haste with which 
 the translations and printing had to be 
 done. 
 
 The Chair also explained that the 
 slight inaccuracies observed and cor- 
 rected in the journal {acta) of the sixth 
 day or session were due to the fact that 
 the Secretary had also served as inter- 
 preter, and in consequence, not being able 
 to make the necessary notes, was com- 
 pelled to rely on his memory for the prep- 
 aration of the journal (acta). 
 
 After sundry explanations and upon 
 the understanding that in future and 
 until otherwise ordered only a brief and 
 sncciuct journal (acta) of the proceedings 
 of each day or session shall be prepared 
 and printed, to be read and approved at 
 the succeeding day or session, and upon 
 the understanding also that for the prep- 
 aration and printing of "the records in ex- 
 tenso (dia/rio de sesiones) provision shall 
 bo made later, the journal (acta) was 
 approved. 
 
 Mr. EOMERO, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 and other Delegates, requested, and it 
 was so ordered, that the following be en- 
 tered upon the journal or acta: 
 
 oportuno ocnparse de la niisma materia 
 en doa disposiciones distintas. 
 
 "Como cousecuencia tie estas premisas, 
 concluye este informe proponiendo ^ la 
 Conferencia que no innove en la materia 
 & que se refiere la indioaoidu del honorable 
 delegado por Colombia." 
 
 Pero ya que de diario de sesiones se 
 trata, la Comisi6n se permite observar 
 que si hubiere de continuarse entre tanto 
 la redacci6n 6 impri'si6n de un verdadero 
 diario desesione»bajo el nombredeactas, 
 como se ha hecho, 6 en otra forma, serfa 
 muy fitil que se adoptasen los arbitrios 
 conduceutes S, evitar en lo suoesivo los 
 numerosos errores 6 incorreociones de que 
 dichas actas, aiin no aprobadas, adolecen. 
 
 JosiS Alfonso. 
 
 Manuel Quint ana. 
 
 William H. Trescot. 
 
 Josii: M. P. CaamaSo. 
 
 Mat! AS Romero. 
 
 Jacinto Castellanos." 
 
 El Sr. Presidbnte explicfi que los 
 errores que apareoian en los procedi- 
 mientos impresos de las cinco primeras 
 sesiones de la Conferencia, se debleron S, 
 la precipitaci6u con que hubieron de ha- 
 cerse lus traducciones y la impresi6n. 
 
 Explic6 tambi^n que habiendo el Se- 
 cretario tenido que desempenar las fun- 
 ciones de int^rprete en la sesidu anterior 
 no le fu6 posible tomar nota de los pro- 
 cedimientos, v de ahf las pequeHas omi- 
 siones que t-e notarou en el acta, la cual 
 tuvo qne redactar enteramente de me- 
 moria. 
 
 Despu^s de varias explicaciones se 
 lleg6 S, la inteligencia de que en lo fu- 
 ture, mientras otra cosa no se disponga, 
 s61o se redactarS 6 imprimirii acta sucinta 
 de cada sesi6u (Journal) para ser leida y 
 aprobada en la siguiente, y que m^s ade- 
 lante se proveer^ acerca de la redaocidn 
 6 impresidn del Diario de Sesiones (the 
 records in extenso). 
 
 Con esas modificaoiones fu6 adoptado 
 el informe S, que se viene haciendo re- 
 ferencia. 
 
 El Sr. Romero, delegado por Mexico, y 
 otros senores delegados piden que sehaga 
 constar en acta que las modificaciones al 
 ArtlculoVIIIdelProyecto de Reglamento 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 45 
 
 "The amendments offered to Article 
 VIIl of the rules by Mr. Nin, by Mr. Car- 
 negie, and others were withdrawn before 
 the vote was taken upon said article at 
 the session of the 27th instant.'' 
 
 The President pro tempore submitted 
 for oonsideratiou Article XIV of the re- 
 port of the Committee on Rules. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, stated that in view of 
 observations made by otherhonorable Del- 
 egates when Article II, already adopted, 
 was under consideration, and for the pur- 
 pose of conciliating the various opin- 
 ions on the subject, as well as in order to 
 facilitate the proceedings of the Confer- 
 ence, the Committee on Rules were dis- 
 posed to accept an amendment to said 
 Article II whereby it shall be provided 
 that a majority of the States represented 
 in the Conference shall constitute a 
 quorum for certain meetings or sessions, 
 and that for others the quorum required 
 shall be two-thirds. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, offered the following substi- 
 tute to Articles XIV, XV, and XVI of 
 the Report on Rules, namely : 
 
 "The conclusions arrived at by the Con- 
 ference upon subjects submitted to its 
 consideration shall be expressed by agree- 
 ments (aauerdosl. 
 
 "An agreement (aouerdo) shall not be 
 valid unless approved by an absolute ma- 
 jority of the votes of the respective dele- 
 gations, each one of which has the right 
 to a vote. 
 
 "The agreements {aouerdoa) shall be 
 published separately from the journal 
 {acta) in Spanish, English, French, and 
 Portuguese, but shall also include that 
 part of the journal or ucla recording the 
 vote of the delegations." 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA submitted that if such 
 radical modifications were to be intro- 
 duced the committee would prefer to 
 support the article as oft'ered. He further 
 submitted that the committee bad given 
 the name or title of decisions to tlie acts of 
 the Conference, because however called, 
 whether resolution, decision, agreement, 
 advice, or opinion, they were not binding 
 upon any of the delegations disagreeing, 
 nor their governments. 
 
 Iiropnestas por el Sr. Nin y por el Sr. C^t- 
 negie fueron retiradas en la sesi6n de 
 dia 27 del corriente ^utes de que dicho 
 artioulo fuese puesto S, votacidn. 
 
 En discusifin el Artioulo XIV del 
 Proyeoto de Eeglamento. 
 
 El Sr. QuiNTANA, delegado por la Ar- 
 gentina, manifiesta que la Comisidn, en 
 vista de observaciones hechas por otros 
 honorables delegados cuando estaba en 
 consideracidu cl Artioulo II, ya aprobado, 
 y con el objeto de conciliar las distintas 
 opiniones y facilitar los trabajos de la 
 Conferenoia, estaria dispuesta £i acoptar 
 una modificacidn al oitado artfculo, dis- 
 poniendo que para ciertas sesiones bas- 
 tard el quorum de la mayorla, y para 
 otras serd; necesario el de las dos terceras 
 partes. 
 
 El Sr. Martinez Silva, delegado por 
 Colombia, presenta la siguiente proposi- 
 oi6n en sustituci6n de los Articulos XIV, 
 XVI y XVII, apoy^ndolo en razones que 
 expresd ex'tensamente, la cual dice : 
 
 "Las conclusioues ^ que llegue la Cou- 
 ferencia, sol ire los puntos sometidos & su 
 deliberaoirtn, se raanifestar^n por medio 
 de aouerdos. Un acuerdo no pasarS sin la 
 mayoria absoluta de los votos de las res- 
 pectivas delegaciones, S, cada una de las 
 cuales corresponde un veto. Los acuerdos 
 se publicar^n separadameute de lasactas, 
 en espanol, francos, ingl6s y portugu^s 
 junto con aquel la parte del acta respectiva 
 en que conste qu6 delegaciones votaron en 
 favor y cuales en contra." 
 
 El Sr. QuiNTANA manifesto que si ha- 
 bfan de introducirse tan grandes modiflca- 
 oioneSj la Comisi6u preferla sosteuer su 
 artfculo. Explic6 Si la vez que la Conii- 
 sidn habia denomiuado decisionee S, las 
 actos de la Conferencia, porque ll^mense 
 resoluciones, decisiones, acuerdos, parecer 
 ti opinion en nada pueden obligar £i los 
 delegaciones disidentesni :i sus gobiernos. 
 
46 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 After sundry observations and expla- 
 nations, Mr. Quintana moved that the 
 Conference resolvejtself into a Commit- 
 tee of the Whole, and the motion pre- 
 vailed. 
 
 The following report was agreed to in 
 Committee of the Whole and submitted 
 to the Conference by Mr. Romero, a Dele- 
 gate from Mexico, namely : 
 
 "Article XIV. The Conference shall 
 vote upon matters specified in the law 
 authorizing i 03 meeting only when two- 
 thirds of the delegations of the States 
 represented at this Conference are pres- 
 ent by one or more of their Delegates. 
 
 "Article XV. The delegation from 
 each State represented in this Confer- 
 ence shall have only oue vote, and the 
 votes shall be taken separately by States. 
 The ayes and noes shall be recorded in 
 the respective minutes. Ou questions 
 not embraced in Article XIV, and when 
 there is no objection made, votes may be 
 taken viva voce.'' 
 
 The vote being talcen upon the report 
 submitted by the Committee of the 
 Whole, the report is adopted. 
 
 Article XVII is submitted for discus- 
 
 Despu^s de otras observaciones y expli- 
 oaoiones, el mismo Sr. Quintana pidi6 que 
 la Conferencia se constituyese en Co- 
 misi6n General, y as! se acordd. 
 
 Continuada la sesidn de la Conferencia 
 el siguiente informe de la Coraisidn Ge- 
 neral fu6 preseutado por el Sr. Romero, 
 delegado por Mexico : 
 
 " ARxfcuLO XIV. La Conferencia pro- 
 ceder^ & votar sobre los asuntos compren- 
 didos en la ley de'su convocatoria, ouando 
 est^n presentes las dos terceras partes de 
 las delegaciones de los Estados represen- 
 tados en esta Conferencia por uno 6 m^ 
 
 "Articulo XV. Ladelegacidn de cada 
 Estado representado en esta Conferencia 
 tendrdi uu solo voto, y los votes ser^n da- 
 dos nominal y separadamente. Las vota- 
 ciones Berd^n registradas en las actas res- 
 pectivas. En asuntos no comprendidos 
 en el Articulo XIV, y siempre que no se 
 objete ^ ello, la votaoidu podrdi ser viva 
 voce.'' 
 
 Pueato & votacidn el informe de la Co- 
 misidn fu6 adoptado. 
 
 En discusidn el Articulo XVII. 
 
 Mr. Qdintana explained that the rules 
 submitted by the committee were made 
 upon the understanding that no records 
 in extenso (diario de sesiones) were to be 
 prepared; and if such records are pre- 
 pared they will be one of the special 
 features of this Conference. 
 
 Mr. EsTEB, a Delegate from the United 
 States, moved to amend Article XVII of 
 the rules as follows : 
 
 " Strike out on the second line all after 
 the word 'President' up to and including 
 the word ' refer ' on the third line, and in- 
 sert the following : ' Or one of the Vice- 
 presidents and the Secretaries.'" 
 
 The article as amended would read : 
 
 "Article XVII. The minutes approved 
 by the Conference shall be signed by the 
 President or one of the Vice-Presidents 
 and the Secretaries, and shall be printed 
 on pages with double columns, one for 
 the text in Spanish and the other for the 
 text in English, in sufiScient number that 
 
 El Sr. Quintana explica que el Regla- 
 mento habia sido redactado en la inteli- 
 gencia deque no habrfadiariode sesiones, 
 el cnal seria, si se adoptase, una especia- 
 lidad de esta Conferencia. 
 
 El Sr. Estee, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, propone que se redacte el Ar- 
 ticulo XVII omitiendo en la segnnda 
 llnea "y delegados asistentes S, la sesidn 
 ^ que el acta corresponde" y sustituyendo 
 las palabras: "6 Vicepresidente y los 
 dos Secretaries" de mode que el articulo 
 quedase como sigue : 
 
 "Las actas aprobadas por la Conferen- 
 cia ser^n firmadas por el Presidente 6 el 
 Vicepresidente y los dos Secretaries 6 
 impresas en p^ginasconcolumnasdobles, 
 una, para el texto en espafiol y otra para 
 el texto en ingles hasta el ulimero nece- 
 sario para que cada uno de los delegados 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 47 
 
 each of the Delegates to this Conference 
 may receive two copies. The originals in 
 both languages shall bo deposited in the 
 archives of the Conference, and the copies 
 for the Delegates shall be certified to by 
 the Secretaries who act at said sessions." 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, in opposition to Mr. 
 Es'^ee, insisted upon the necessity of the 
 journal (actos) being signed by all the 
 Delegates. 
 
 As the President ^?'0 tempore was about 
 to take the vote upon Article X'VII as 
 offered by the Committee on Rules, sev- 
 eral Delegates questioned the correctness 
 of the procedure, and contradicting opin- 
 ions were expressed as to the order which 
 should be observed in taking the vote 
 npon an amendment and the main ques- 
 tion. Mr. Castellanos, a Delegale fiom 
 Salvador, moved that the Conference re- 
 main in session until final disposition is 
 made of the remaining articles of the re- 
 port on rules. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, of Chili, as the time was 
 past 5 o'clock p. m., moved that the Con- 
 ference adjourn. 
 
 Pending debate on Article XVII, the 
 Conference adjourned at 5 o'clock 25 min- 
 utes p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Priaident. 
 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 SicaragtM. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 Peru. 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 CuMACO Calder6n, 
 Colombia. 
 
 RoQUB Saenz. Pena, 
 
 Argentine Repuhlie. 
 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 
 Salvador ue Mendon^a, 
 Brazil. 
 
 Jer6ximo Zblata, 
 
 Monduras. 
 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 Mexico, 
 
 incorporados ^ la Conferencia, reciba dos 
 ejemplares. Los originales en ^mbos 
 idiomas quedar^u depositados eu cl ar- 
 chive de la Conferencia, y los ejemplares 
 para los delegados ser^n autorizados por 
 los Secretaries que aotfieu en la sesifin 
 respoctiva." 
 
 El Sr. QuiNTANA Lnsiste en la necesidad 
 de que las nctas se^u suscritas por los 
 Sres. delegados, eu oposioidn al Sr. Estee 
 que sostiene lo contrario. 
 
 El Sr. Presidentb se prepara ^ poner 
 ^ votaci6n el artlonlo segiiu aparece eu el 
 informe de la Comisidu, y se suscitan ex- 
 plicacionos entre la mesa y varies sefiores 
 delegados acerca del 6rden eu que deben 
 ser puestas la modifioacidn y la cuestidn 
 principal. 
 
 El Sr. Castellanos, delegado por el 
 Salvador, pide que no se levante la sesi<5n 
 hasta que se haya fcomado resolucidn 
 acerca de los articulos del Proyecto de 
 Reglamento, que alin no han sido consi- 
 derados. 
 
 El Sr. Alfonso pide que se cnmpla el 
 Reglamento, y que siendo ya m^s de las 5 
 de la tarde se suspenda la sesidn. 
 
 Pendiente la discusidn del Artloulo 
 XVII se levantalasesidniilas 5 y 25 mi- 
 nutos p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 
 HoRACio GuzmXn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 F. C. C. Zt5garra, 
 Peril. 
 
 CjCrlos Martinez Silva, 
 CLfMACO Calder6n, 
 ColomMa. 
 
 RoQUE Saenz PbSJa, 
 Argentina. 
 
 Jos£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 
 Salvador de MBNDONgA, 
 Brasil. 
 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mex£a, 
 Mexico. 
 
48 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Clement Studebakee, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henky Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castjsllanos, • 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:^ Maria Placido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 Signed February 21, 1890. 
 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 JoHv F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Eatados Vnidos. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos6 Maria Placido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecmador. 
 Firmado, 21 de Febrero do 1890. 
 
EIGHTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA NO. 8. 
 
 Washington, December 2,. 1889. 
 Tbo International American Confer- 
 ence was called to order by tho President 
 pro tempore, Mr. J. M. Hubtajdo, a Dele- 
 gate from Colombia, at 2 o'clock 10 min- 
 utes p. m., tbe following Delegates being 
 present : 
 
 From Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 From Nicar.agua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 From Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zogarra. 
 From Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 From the Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 From Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Prom Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 From Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Meudouga. 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 From Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jeronimo Zelaya. 
 From Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 From Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 From the United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Stndebaker. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Esteo. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 From Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Francisco Antonio Silva. 
 From Chili : 
 
 Mr. Erailio C. Varas, 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 
 4 I 
 
 Sesidn del 2 de Diciembre de 1889. 
 Presideiicia del Sr. J. M. Hurtado, 
 delegado por Colombia. Estando pre- 
 sentes : 
 
 Por Haiti : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Por Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman.' 
 Por el Peru : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Por Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. J. M. Hurtado. 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Por la Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Por Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Por el Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Por el Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Por Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerduimo Zelaya. 
 Por Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matfas Romero. 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 
 Por los Estados Unidos de Norte 
 America : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 El Sr. Clement Stndebaker. 
 
 El Sr. William H. Trescot; 
 
 EI Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Por Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Francisco Antonio Silva. 
 Por Chile : 
 
 ElSr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 
 El Sr. Jos(5 Alfonso. 
 
 49 
 
50 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 From Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 From Ecuador: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Plaoido Caamafio. 
 The journal or acta of the previous 
 session was read and approved. 
 
 The following communications were 
 submitted : 
 
 An invitation from the president of 
 the Georgetown College to the Delegates 
 to viait the College any day they may 
 find it convenient to do so. 
 
 It was ordered that the receipt of the 
 invitation he acknowledged, stating that 
 it will be submitted to the Delegates in- 
 dividually, and notice given of those ao- 
 cej)ting it and of the day appointed for 
 the visit. 
 
 A resolution from the Interstate Deep 
 Harbor Convention, greeting the Confer- 
 ence aud commending its objects. 
 
 Ordered, That receipt be politely ac- 
 knowledged. 
 
 A letter from Mr. W. L. Folsom propos- 
 ing plan of organization for a Confedera- 
 tion of the Nations of America. 
 
 Ordered, That action upon said letter be 
 postponed. 
 
 A letter from Mr. Fernando Cbuz, a, 
 Delegate from Guatemala, stating his in- 
 ability to be present owing to his leaving 
 for New York on pressing business. 
 
 Mr. Hanson, a Delegate from the United 
 States, submitted the following resolu- 
 tion : 
 
 ^'Resolved, That until this Conference 
 shall have adoj)ted rules for its govern- 
 ment and appointed the proper commit- 
 tees to act upon the several subjects com- 
 ing befare it, it shall not bo in order to 
 consider other matters without the con- 
 currence of two-thirds of the States rep- 
 resented." 
 
 The resolution was adopted. 
 
 The amendment of Mr. Estee to Article 
 XVII of the report on rules was sub- 
 mitted for consideration. 
 
 Mr. EsTBB insisted that it is unneces- 
 sary for the Delegates to sign the journal 
 of the sessions or meetings of the Confer- 
 ence. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA suggested that there was 
 
 For el Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 For el Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 M. P. CaamaHo. 
 So abre la sesi6n & las 2 y 10 minutos 
 p. m. Leida el acta de la sesi<5n anterior 
 fu(S aprobada. 
 
 Se di6 cueuta de las signientes comuni- 
 caciones : 
 
 InvitacidndelSr. Presidente del George- 
 town College & los Sres. delegados para 
 que visiten el^^olegio designando el dia 
 qne les convenga. 
 
 Se acord6 que se acuse recibo de la in- 
 vitacidn, y se manifieste que so comunicari 
 individualmente £i los Sres. delegados, y se 
 dar^ oportuno aviso de los que acepten, y 
 del dia que fijen para la visita. 
 
 Resolucifin del Interstate Deep Harbor 
 Convention saludaudo & la Conferencia 
 luternacional Americana, y alabaiido los 
 objetos de ella. 
 
 Se acord6 que se acuse recibo cortes- 
 mente. 
 
 Carta del Sr. W. L. Folsom proponiendo 
 nn plan de confederacirtn entre las na- 
 ciones de America. 
 
 Se acordd quo se reserve contestacidn 
 para mas luego. 
 
 Nota del Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz, dele- 
 gado por Guatemala, manifestando no 
 lioder asistir &, la sesi6u por tener que pa- 
 sar a New York i£ negocios urgentes. 
 
 El Sr. Hanson, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidoa, presents la siguiente resolu- 
 ci6n : 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que mientras esta Con- 
 ferencia no haya adoptado su reglamento, 
 y nombrado las comisiones que han de 
 ateiider £i los distintos asuutos que se pre- 
 senten ^ la Conferencia, nose tratarS de 
 ninguna otra materia & no ser que asi lo 
 acuerden las dos terceras partes de las 
 naciones representadas." 
 
 La resoluci6u del Sr. Hanson iu6 
 adoptada. 
 
 Se puso en discusi6n la modificacidn del 
 Sr. Estee al Articulo XVII del Regla- 
 mento. 
 
 El Sr. EsTKE insiste en que no ve la 
 necesidad de que todos los senores dele- 
 gados firmen las actas. 
 
 El Sr. Qdintana manifieste que hay 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 51 
 
 a misaijprclionsion Tvliich he should like 
 to see removed. It is that of confounding 
 tiis Conference, composed of representa- 
 tives of independentnations, with national 
 legislative bodies; that this Conference, 
 in consequence of the character of those 
 participating in it, is subject to the re- 
 quirements of international law; that the 
 only signatures which give authenticity 
 te the journal of the sessions or meetings 
 of the Conference are those of the Dele- 
 gates, and no others can be accepted or 
 recognized by the different nations repre- 
 sented ; and that the signatures of the Sec- 
 retaries of the Conference are insufficient, 
 inasmuch as they have no international 
 official character. 
 
 The vote being taken upon Mr. Estee's 
 amendment, it was defeated. 
 
 Those who voted aye were : Nicaragua, 
 Pern, Colombia, Costa Rica, and the 
 United States. 
 
 Those who voted no were : Hayti, Argen- 
 tine, Paraguay, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, 
 Venezuela, Chili, Salvador, Ecuador. 
 
 Article XVII of the Report on Rules 
 was then submitted for consideration. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 moved to strike out the word "two" and 
 to insert the word "four," so as to provide 
 that each Delegate shall receive four 
 copies of the journal of each session or 
 meeting. 
 
 The amendment was adopted by the 
 Committee on Rules. 
 
 In the course of debate Mr. Henderson, 
 a Delegate from the United States, moved 
 that the consideration of Article XVII of 
 the Report on Rules be postponed to the 
 next session, in order to enable the dele- 
 gation from the United States to confer 
 on the subject with the Committee on 
 Rules. 
 
 The motion was agreed to. 
 
 Article XVIII of the Report on Rules 
 was submitted for consideration. 
 
 Mr. Studebakbr, a Delegate from the 
 United States, moved, as an amendment 
 to said article, that the secretaries to the 
 Delegates be admitted to the hall of ses- 
 sion of the Conference. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine, opposed the motion, on the 
 ground that the private secretaries have 
 no official character, and moved that the 
 
 una preocupaci6n quo desearia ver desa- 
 parecer, y es la de confundir esta Confe- 
 rencia, compuesta de representantes de 
 naciones independientes, con los cuerpos 
 deliberantes de 6rden interuo 6 naoional. 
 Que esta Confereuoia, por el carioter de 
 los quo la forman, eaiSi sujeta ii las pre- 
 scripciones del derecho internaoional. 
 Que las linicas firmns que dan autenti- 
 cidad ^ las actas de sus sesiones son las 
 de los Sres. delegados, y las tinicas qne 
 pueden reconocer las diferentes naciones 
 representadas ; quo las de los Secretaries 
 de la Conferencia sou insuficientes por 
 cnanto ellos no tienen car^cter ofioial in- 
 ternaoional. 
 
 Puesta ^ votaci(5n la modificaci6n del 
 Sr. Estee fu6 rechazada. 
 
 Votaron por la afirmativa : Nicaragua, 
 Perd, Colombia, Costa Rica y Estados 
 Unidos de Norte America. 
 
 Votaron por la negativa : Haiti, Argen- 
 tina, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, Mexi- 
 co, Venezuela, Chile, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Signe la discusidn sobre el Artloulo 
 XVII del proyecto de Reglamento. 
 
 El Sr. Zegarra, delegado por el Porti, 
 propone que en vez de los dos ejemplares 
 de cada acta que, segtin dispone el citado 
 articulo, han de suministrarse ^ cada dele- 
 gado se disponga que sean ouatro. 
 
 La proposici6n del Sr. Zegarra es 
 adoptada por la Comisi6n. 
 
 Despu^s de alguna discusidn el Sr, 
 Henderson pidid que se pospnsiesepara la 
 pr6xima sesidn la consideraoi6n del Arti- 
 culo XVII del Proyecto de Reglamento 
 pues la delegaci6n de los Estados 
 Unidos de Norte America deseaba confe- 
 renciar con la coraisi6n aoerca de 6\. Asl 
 se acord6. 
 
 En discusi6n el Articulo XVIII del 
 Proyecto de Reglamento. 
 
 El Sr. Studbbakbr, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos de Norte America, pro- 
 puso, como modiflcaci6u al citado articulo 
 que los Secretaries de los Sres. delegados 
 fuesen admitidos & las sesiones. 
 
 El Sr. Quintana se opuso ii la modifi- 
 caci6n propuesta por el Sr. Studebaker, 
 funddindose en que los secretaries particu- 
 lares no tienen carSilcter oficial, y propuso 
 
52 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 words "their" and " tbe " be incorporated, 
 so as to include the official secretaries of 
 the delegations, hut no others. The arti- 
 cle as amended reads : 
 
 "ArticleXVIII. The discussions and 
 decisions of the Conference shall be con- 
 sidered private so long as it may not 
 decide otherwise in general or specially. 
 Consequently, only the following shall 
 have access to the hall of its sessions, to 
 wit: the President, the Delegates, their 
 Secretaries, and the Secretaries, Interpre- 
 ters, and Stenographers of the Conference. 
 The President shall, moreover, take such 
 measures as may be necessary for the 
 eflfectual enforcement of the prescribed 
 privacy." 
 
 Mr. Studbbaker withdrew his amend- 
 ment; and the vote being taken upon the 
 article, it was adopted. 
 
 The time being 5 o'clock 10 minutes p. 
 m., the Pkesident pro tempore declared 
 the Conference adjourned. 
 
 que al articulo se adicioucn las palabras : 
 " sus secretaries y los," ^ fin de incluir los 
 Secretaries oficiales de las delegaclones 
 pero no otros. El articnlo quedo corao 
 sigue : 
 
 "ABTfcuLO XVIII. Las disousiones y 
 decisiones de la Couferencia ser^n reser- 
 vadas mientras 611a no decida lo contrario 
 en general 6 en especial. Por consi- 
 guiente b61o tendriin acceso S, la sala de 
 sesiones el Presidente, los delegados, sus 
 secretaries y los seoretarios, int^rpretes 
 y taquigrafos de la Conferencia. El Pre- 
 sidente tomar^ ademfe las preoauciones 
 necesarias para que la reserva ordenada 
 sea eficaz." 
 
 Yhabiendo el Sr. Stddebakek retirado 
 su modificaci6n, pusose ^ votaci6n el arti- 
 culo de la referencia, y fu6 adoptado. 
 
 Se levanta la sesidn ft las 5 y 10 minutos 
 p. m. 
 
NINTH DAY. 
 
 Washington, December 4, 1889. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order by the President j)ro 
 tempore, Mr. Manubl Quintana, a Dele- 
 gate irom the Argentine Eepublic, at 2 
 o'clock p. m., the following Delegates 
 being present : 
 From Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrio. 
 From Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 From Pern : 
 
 Mr. F..C. C. Zegarra. 
 From Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Crnz. 
 From Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hnrtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 From the Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Qnintana. 
 From Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Mannel Aragon. 
 From Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 From Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 From Mexico: 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 From Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. .Jnan F. Velarde. 
 From the United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Eatee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 ACTA NO. 9. 
 
 Sesidn del 4 de Diciemhre de 1889. 
 Presidenoia del Sr. D. Manual Quin- 
 tana, delegado por la Argentina. Es- 
 tando presentea : 
 
 Por Haiti: 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Por Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzrad^u. 
 For el Peru : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Por Guatemala: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Por Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Curios Martinez Silva. 
 Por la Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Qulutana. 
 Por Costa Eica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Por Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonpa; 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Por Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Por Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Matias Eomero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Por Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Por los Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 53 
 
54 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 From Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 
 Mr. Francisco Antouio Silva. 
 Prom Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 From Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 From Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pldcido Caamano. 
 The journal or acta of the previous ses- 
 sion was read and approved. 
 
 The President ^ro tempore announced 
 that the absence of Mr. Saenz Pena, a Del- 
 egate from the Argentine, was due to ill- 
 ness. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 proposed the following rules, with the 
 request that they be referred to the Com- 
 mittee on Rules : 
 
 " To amend or repeal any of these rules, 
 a two-third vote of the delegations pres- 
 ent at the session shall be required. 
 
 "All resolutions presented by the Dele- 
 gates shall be referred by the President 
 to the proper committee, unless a two- 
 third vote of the Delegates present shall 
 order an immediate consideration thereof. 
 
 "Resolutions not reported by a com- 
 mittee shall not be discussed before the 
 second meeting followingthe one in which 
 they are presented. 
 
 " All amendments and amendments to 
 amendments shall be referred to the 
 proper committee, unless the Conference 
 shall otherwise decide, and shall be voted 
 upon before the article or resolution they 
 propose to amend." 
 
 It was agreed that the preceding rules 
 be referred to the Committee on Rules. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 submitted that, while considering the 
 proposition of Mr. Martinez Silva, a Dele- 
 gate from Colombia, which had been re- 
 ferred to the Committee on Rules, it had 
 been thought advisable not to confine the 
 report to the point of said proposition, 
 namely, the period during which each 
 Vice-President shall preside, bnt to sub- 
 mit such recommendation as in the judg- 
 ment of the committee appears most wise. 
 The committee therefore submits and rec- 
 
 Por Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade ; 
 El Sr. Francisco Antonio Silva. 
 Por Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Job6 Alfonso. 
 Por el Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Por el Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 M. P. CaamaSo. 
 Se abre la sesi6n ^las 2 p. m. 
 Se di6 lectura al acta de la sesidn an- 
 terior y fu6 aprobada. 
 
 El Sr. Presidente _pro tempore anunci6 
 que el Sr. Saenz Pefla no concurre hoy & 
 la sesidn por no hallarse bien de salud. 
 
 El Sr. Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 present6 los siguientes artlculos pidiendo 
 que pasasen S, la Comisidn de Reglamento 
 & saber : 
 
 " Para modifloar 6 derogar cualqniera 
 de las prevenciones de este Reglamento, 
 86 necesitael voto de dos terceras partes 
 de las delegaciones presentes en lasesi6n. 
 
 " Las proposicioues preseutadas por los 
 delegados se pasariin por el Presideute d. 
 la comisidn respectiva, S no ser que se 
 ordene desde luego su consideracidn por 
 el voto de dos terceras partes de las dele- 
 gaciones presentes. No se discutirii nin- 
 gnna proposicidn que no pasare & comi- 
 si6n siuo con dos sesiones intermedias ^la 
 en que se presenta la proposicidu. 
 
 "Todaslas modificaciones 6 sub-modi- 
 ficaciones que se propongan, pasar^u ft la 
 comisifin respectiva S, no ser que la Con- 
 ferencia decida otra cosa, y se votard^u 
 dntes quo el artlculo 6 proposici<5n que 
 intentan modificar. " 
 
 Se aoord6 que los artlculos que pre- 
 ceden pasasen S, la Comisi6n de Regla- 
 mento. 
 
 El Sr. Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 mauifest(5 que la Comisi6n de Reglamen- 
 to al oonsiderar la proposici6u del Sr. 
 Martinez Silva, delegado por Colombia, 
 la cual habia pasado S, la comisidn para 
 qne emitiera dict^men acerca de ella, ha- 
 bia creido prudente no cefiirse estricta- 
 niente Si la resolucidn del pun to S, que ella 
 se contrae, es decir, el periodo durante el 
 cual cada Vioe-Presideute de turno ejer- 
 cerSi sus funciones, siuo dictaminar sobre 
 el particular lo que S, juicio de la comi- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 55 
 
 ommends the adoption of the following 
 report : 
 
 " There shall he a First Vice-President 
 and a Second Vice-President, to be elected 
 hy a secret vote. They shall preside in 
 their regular order, and in the absence of 
 both, one of the Delegates, in the order of 
 their personal location, shall preside.'' 
 
 Mr. Alfonso farther submitted that 
 this report was agreed to by all the mem- 
 bers of the committee except one. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 stated that he was the member of the com- 
 mittee unable to agree with the majority, 
 because, In his judgment, only one Vice- 
 President should be elected, in order to 
 proceed in tliis matter more in harmony 
 with the opinion which had previously 
 been expressed. 
 
 Mr. Davis, a Delegate from the United 
 States, moved that the Conference pro- 
 ceed to consider the business pending 
 before it. 
 
 The President pro tempore requested 
 the Committee on Rules to present their 
 report on Article XVII of the Rules, which 
 had been referred to them at the previous 
 session. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a, Delegate from Chili, 
 submitted Article XVIJ, as follows : 
 
 "Article XVII. Theminntes approved 
 by the Conference shall be signed by the 
 presiding officer and by the Delegates 
 present at the session when the minutes 
 shall be approved, and they shall be 
 printed on pages with double columns, 
 one for the text in Spanish and one for 
 the text in English, in sufficient number 
 that each of the Delegates to this Confer- 
 ence shall receive four copies. The origi- 
 nals in both languages shall be deposited 
 in the archives of the Conference, and 
 the copies for the Delegates shall he certi- 
 fied to by the Secretaries who act at said 
 session." 
 
 Mr. HuRTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, moved the following addition to the 
 above rule : 
 
 sifin f uese ra&s recomendable. En tal vir- 
 tndla comisidn presentaba & laconsidera- 
 ci6n de la Conferencia el siguiente dicta- 
 men: 
 
 "La Vice-Presidencia ser^ desempella- 
 da, en el drden que oorresponde, por un 
 Primer Vice-Presidentey por un Segundo 
 Vice-Presidente, elegidos en votaoidn se- 
 creta, y en defecto de ^mbos, por cada 
 uno de los delegados en el orden de su 
 colocaci(5n personal." 
 
 Agreg() el Sr. Alfonso que ^ste era el 
 diotamen de todos los Sres. de la comi- 
 si6n menos uno. 
 
 EI Sr. Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 manifestd ser el miembro de la oitada 
 comisidn en deeacuerdo con la maj oria y 
 agregd que & su juicio no deberfa elegirse 
 sino un si51o Vice-Presidente, pues de ese 
 modo se prooederla m^s en consonancia 
 con lo que fotes se habia expresado acerca 
 del particular. 
 
 Sin que se tomase aouerdo acerca del 
 dictSmen de la comisidn, el Sr. Davis, 
 delegado por los Estados Unidos, pidi6 
 que se procediese i, la consideracidn de 
 los asnntos pendientes. 
 
 El Sr. Presidbnte pro tempore rog6 & 
 la Comisi6n de Reglamento se sirviese 
 presentar su dict^men acerca del Articulo 
 XVII, que le habia sido pasado en la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 El Sr. Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 preseutd, & nombre de la comisi6n, el 
 articulo & que se vieue haciendo referenda 
 redactado como sigue : 
 
 "Articulo XVII. Las actas aprobadas 
 por la Conferencia ser£in firmadas por el 
 Prealdente en ejercicio y delegados pre- 
 sentes en la sesifin en que se apruebe el 
 acta, 6 impresas en p£ilginas con columnaa 
 dobles, una para el texto en espauol y 
 otra para el texto en ingles, en numero 
 suflciente para que cada uno de los dele- 
 gados incorporados & la Conferenciareciba 
 cuatro ejemplares. Los orlginales en am- 
 bos idiomas quedard^n depositados en el 
 archive de la Conferencia, y los ejempla- 
 res para los delegados ser^n autorizados 
 por los Secretaries que acttien en la sosion 
 respectiva." 
 
 El Sr. HuRTADO, delegado por Colom- 
 bia, propone la adici(5n siguiente alcitado 
 articulo : 
 
56 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 " The omission of one or more of the sig- 
 natures mentioned, with the exception of 
 that of tlie Presiding Officer, shall not in- 
 validate the Jonrnal of the Proceedings." 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 moved that the addition proposed by Mr. 
 Hartado he not considered, as it is out of 
 order since it embodies a point already 
 decided in the negative by the Conference 
 yesterday. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 appealed to the Chair to decide the ques- 
 tion, it being a point of order. 
 
 The President pro tempore stiited.tha,t 
 he preferred to leave the decision to the 
 Conference. 
 
 The votebelng taken upon the question, 
 eight voted " aye " and eight " no." 
 
 The Chair declared the addition pro- 
 posed by Mr. Hurtado was defeated. 
 
 Those who voted aye were : Hay ti, Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa 
 Rica, the United States, and Venezuela. 
 
 Those who voted no were: The Argen- 
 tine Republic, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, 
 Bolivia, Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Mr. Andkade, a Delegate from Veue- 
 zuela, appealed to the Confereuce from 
 the decision of the President jjro tempore, 
 but the decision of the Chair was sus- 
 tained. 
 
 Those who voted aye were : Hayti, Nic- 
 aragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, the 
 Argentine Republic, Costa Rica, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, the United 
 States, Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Those who voted no were • Venezuela. 
 
 The debate upon Article XVII of the 
 Report on Rules was resumed. 
 
 Mr. ZeoaRRA, a Delegate from Peru, 
 submitted that the modification proposed 
 by the committee, to the effect that the 
 minutes be approved and signed by the 
 Delegates present at the session when 
 they shall be read, is an injudicious and 
 irregular proceeding, since no one can be 
 expected to certify to the correctness of 
 acts performed in his alisence. 
 
 The vote having been taken upon Arti- 
 
 " La omisidn de una <5 m^ de las Annas 
 mencionadae con excepci6u de la del Pre- 
 sidente no invalidar^ las actas.'' 
 
 El Sr. Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 manifiestdque la adici<5n del Sr. Hnrtado 
 envuelve uno de los puntos contenidos 
 en lamodifloaci(5n del Sr. Estee, resuelta 
 ayer negativamente por la Confereucia, 
 y de ser aceptada aquella, vendria & anu- 
 lar un acuerdo de la Conferoncia ; en tal 
 virtnd pide que»no sea tomada en cousi- 
 deraci<5n. 
 
 El Sr. Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 manifiestd que, siendo <5ste un punto de 
 6rden, S, la mesa toca resolverlo. 
 
 El Sr. Presidents pro tempore mani- 
 fiest6 que preferirla dejar la decision ^ la 
 Conferencia, y puesta & votacidn la cues- 
 ti6n de <3rden resnltaron ocho votes por 
 la afirmativa y ocho por la negativa. 
 
 El Sr. Peesidente declard que la adi- 
 ci6n del Sr.Hurtado habia sido desechada. 
 
 Votaron por la afirmativa : Haiti, Ni- 
 caragua, Peril, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Costa Rica, Estados Unidos y Venezuela. 
 
 Votaron por la negativa : La Argen- 
 tina, Brasil, Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, 
 Chile, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Habiendo el Sr. Andrade, delegado por 
 Venezuela, apelado d la Conferencia para 
 que afirmase 6 denegase la decisi6n de la 
 mesa y pu^stose S, votacidn resnlto afir- 
 mada. 
 
 Votaron por la afirmativa : Haiti, Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentina, Costa Rica, Bras'l, Honduras, 
 MiSxico, Bolivia, Estados Unidos. Chile, 
 Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Vot6 por la uegativa : Venezuela. 
 
 Contiuua la discnsi6n sobre el Articulo 
 XVII del Proyecto de Reglamento. 
 
 El Sr. Zegarra, delegado por el Peru, 
 impugn6 extensamente la modificacl(5u 
 introducida por la comisidn, que las actas 
 seau aprobadas y tirmadas por los dele- 
 gados preseutcs en la sesion eu la cual 
 scan aquellas leidas, porque S. su juicio, 
 esa diaposicidu es viciosa, no solaniente 
 on la foinia sine en el fondo; puea no 
 cabe exigir la aprobaci6n de un acta & 
 aquellos delegados que no presenclaron 
 los actos que constan en el relerido doctt- 
 mento. 
 
 Coutinuada la discusi6n varies senores 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 57 
 
 cle XVII of the Report on Rules, it vras 
 adopted. 
 
 Those who voted aye were: Hayti, 
 Argentine, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, the 
 United States, Chili, Salvador, and Ecna- 
 dor. 
 
 Those who voted no were : Nicaragua, 
 Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, 
 Houduras, and Venezuela. 
 
 Mr. Zelata requested that it he entered 
 upon the minutes that he voted in the neg- 
 ative hecanso he did not deem it proper 
 that a Delegate should approve the min- 
 utes of a session at which he was not 
 present. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 moves that the following article he incor- 
 porated in the rules: 
 
 "The President shall decide all ques- 
 tions of order which may come up during 
 the discussions of the Conference ; but any 
 delegation or any single Delegate may ap- 
 peal to the Conference from the decision 
 of the Chair." 
 
 The above rule was adopted. 
 
 The Chair suggested the convenience 
 of establishing a rule to determine how 
 questions shall be decided when the vote 
 is a tie: and the following rule being put 
 to the vote — "In cases of a tie in the vote, 
 the question shall be considered as de- 
 cided in the negative" — it was adopted. 
 
 Those who voted aye were : Hayti, Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, the 
 Argentine Republic, Costa Rica, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, the United States, 
 Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Venezuela voted no. 
 
 Mr. Trescot, a Delegate from the 
 United States, having inquired whether 
 the report on Rules had been adopted, 
 the Chair answered in the affirmative, 
 and suggested that it be referred to a spe- 
 cial committee for revising the language 
 and for the proper arrangement of the 
 articles. 
 
 delegados hacen uso do la palabra en pro 
 y en contra de la modiflcacidn propuosta 
 por la comisi6n. 
 
 Puesto ^ votaoi6n el artfculo que pre- 
 cede fu6 adoptado. 
 
 Votaron por la aflrmativa: Haiti, Ar- 
 gentina, Brasil, Mexico, Bolivia, Estados 
 Unidos, Chile, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron por la negativa : Nicaragua, 
 Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, 
 Honduras y Venezuela. 
 
 El Sr. Zei-ava, delegadopor Honduras, 
 pide que se haga constar que vota negati- 
 vamente porque no cree correcto que los 
 que no han asistido ^ una sesi6n aprueben 
 el acta de ella. 
 
 El Sr. Rojibro, delegado por Mexico, 
 propone que el signiente articulo se incor- 
 pore & los otros del reglamento : 
 
 "El Presidente decidiriilas cuestiones 
 de 6rden que se presenten en las discusio- 
 nes de la Conferencia, sin perjuicio de que 
 si alguna delegaci6n 6 un s61o delegado 
 lo solioitaso se someta la decisi6n del Pre- 
 sidente & la resolucidn de la Conferen- 
 cia." 
 
 Y asf se acord6 por la Conferencia. 
 
 El, Sr. Presidente manifest6 que de- 
 seando qnedase establecida una regla que 
 determiuase si en los casos eii que resnl- 
 tase empate en la votaci(5n se habia de cou- 
 siderar la cuestion resuolta aflrmativa 6 
 uegativamente pedia el voto de la Confe- 
 rencia sobre la signiente propo8ici6n : 
 
 "Rt'sultando empate en la votacidn la 
 cuesti6n se oonsiderarii resuelta negati va- 
 raente." 
 
 Puesta a votaci6n la proposicidn que 
 precede resultd aprobada. 
 
 Votaron por la aflrmativa : Haiti, Nica- 
 ragua, Perd, Guatemala, C lombia, Ar- 
 gentina, Costa Rica, Brasil, Honduras, 
 M<Sxico, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Chile, 
 Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Votd por la negativa : Venezuela. 
 
 Habiendo preguntado el Sr. Trescot, 
 delegado por los Estados Unidos, si el 
 Reglamento habia sido aprobado, la Mesa 
 contest6 afirmativamente, y propuso se 
 pasase £i una comisi6n especial para que 
 revisaselaredaccidn inglesaycastellanay 
 pusiese en el 6rden correspondiente los 
 artlculos del Reglamento, todo lo cual fu6 
 
58 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 It waa so ordered ; aud Mr. Cruz, a Dele- 
 gate from Guatemala, and Mr.' Mexia, a 
 Delegate from Mexico, were appointed to 
 serve as such committee. 
 
 Mr. Tkkscot, a Delegate from the 
 United States, requested that the con- 
 sideration of the report of the Committee 
 ou Rules and the Vice-Presidency should 
 not be delayed. 
 
 Mr. HuRTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, suggested that it was quite in order 
 to proceed to the consideration of said re- 
 port, as it formed, to a certain extent, a 
 part of the rules. He was supported in 
 his views by Mr. Aragon, a Delegate from 
 Costa Rica, and others, and it was agreed 
 to proceed to consider said report. 
 
 Mr. ESTEK, a Delegate from the United 
 States, moved that the Conference ad- 
 journ to meet to-morrow, Thursday, at 2 
 p. m. 
 
 The Conference adjourns at 5 o'cloot 20 
 minutes p. m. to meet to-morrow as afore- 
 said. 
 
 Makuel Akagon, 
 
 President pro tempore. 
 A. LAJ'OKKSTRIB, 
 
 Hayii. 
 H. Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zisgarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOSlt M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinkz Silva, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublic. 
 Jos:^. S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Jj5k6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Hondwas. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan P. Velarde, 
 
 Boliria. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Tresoot, 
 
 asl determinado, habiendo side nombra^ 
 dos para llevar S^ cabo el acuerdo los Sros. 
 Cruz, delegado por Guatemala, y Moxia, 
 delegado por Mexico. 
 
 El Sr. Trbscot, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Uuidos, manifest6 que se pusiese en 
 consideraoidn S, la mayor brevedad posi- 
 ble el dictamen de la Comisidn de Regla- 
 mento acerca de la Vioe-Presideucia. 
 
 El Sr. Hurtado hizo presente que 
 siendo ese asunto parte del Reglamento, 
 deberia tener prelacidn sobre todos los 
 dem^s, en lo cual fu6 apoyado por el Sr. 
 Aragdn, delegado por Costa Rica. 
 
 Despufis de algunas explicaoiones as! se 
 acord6. 
 
 El Sr. ESTEE, delegado por los Estados 
 Uuidos, propone que se levantela sesi6n, 
 y se coutiufie manana, jueves, & las 2 de 
 la tarde. 
 
 La sesidn se levanta & las 5 y veinte 
 minutes p. m., para ser continuada ma- 
 nana ^ la hora indicada. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Preaidente pro tempore. 
 A. Laforestrib, 
 Saiti. 
 H. GuzmXn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos:6 M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Sepililica Argentina. 
 Josjfi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Jer<5nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 MATfAs Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 M&ico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia, 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Tresoot, 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 59 
 
 Andrew Carkegib, 
 Morris M. Estkb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 JosA Andrade, 
 
 Venezutla. 
 J08:6 Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ Maria Flacido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidoa. 
 
 JoslS Andbade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josfi Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castkllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosA MarU PlAcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
TENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 10. 
 
 Washington, December 5, 1889. 
 Tho International American Conference 
 was called to order at 2 o'clock p. m. by 
 the President pro tempore, Mr. Manuel 
 Aragon, a Delegate from Costa Rica, with 
 tho following Delegates present : 
 
 From Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 From Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 From Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 From Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 From Colombia : 
 
 Mr. 3os6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 From the Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Qnintana. 
 From Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 From Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Prom Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerduimo Zelaya. 
 From Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 From Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 From United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Heuder.3on. 
 . Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 From Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. JosiS Andrade. 
 CO 
 
 Sesidn del 5 de Diciembre de 1889. 
 Presidencia del Sr. Manuel Aragdn, 
 delegado po;- Costa Rica. Estando pre- 
 sentes: 
 
 Por Haiti : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Por Nicaragua: 
 
 El Sr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Por el Peru: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. P. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Por Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Por Colombia : 
 
 El 8r. JosiS M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Por la Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Mauuel Quiutana. 
 Por Costa Rica : 
 
 EI Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Por Paraguay: 
 
 EI Sr. Dr. J036 S. Decoud. 
 Por Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdninio Zelaya. 
 Por Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matfas Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Por Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Juan F. Valarde. 
 Por lob Estados TJnidos: 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. William H. Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Por Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 61 
 
 From Chili : 
 
 Mr. Joa6 Alfonso. 
 From Salvitilor : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 From Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos(5 Maria Pliioido Caaraauo. 
 
 Tho journal of the previous session was 
 
 read and approved, and signed by all tho 
 
 Delegates present, after having made the 
 
 following correction, namely, that : 
 
 The motion to refer the adopted rules 
 to the committee for revision, composed 
 of Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 and Mr. Mexia, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 was made by Mr. Martinez Silva, a Dele- 
 gate from Colombia. 
 
 The order of the day was proceeded 
 with. 
 
 The President pro tempore submitted 
 for discussion the report of the Committee 
 on Rales concerning the Vice-Presidency. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, stated — 
 
 That in his opinion the adoption of the 
 Report on Rules concerning the election 
 of a First and Second Vice-President 
 would give rise in the Couference to fac- 
 tions and divisions which it was very 
 important to avoid ; that the most prudent 
 course was to leave undisturbed the es- 
 tablished order for tho rotation in tho 
 functions of the Vice-Presidency, fixing 
 on two weeks, or on one if so preferred, 
 tho period during which each Vice-Presi- 
 dent shonld continue in the discharge of 
 liis duties. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that the committee had carefully 
 considered the subject upon which they 
 had reported, and was perfectly sal isfied 
 that the established rule was subject 
 to serious defects, among which it was 
 sufficient to cite that the Vice-President 
 having been designated by mere lot, 
 it was impossible to examine into and 
 consider the aptitude and capabilities of 
 those called upon to discharge the duties 
 of tho Vice-Presidency, a most indispen- 
 sable requisite in order that the election 
 might fall upon the one who was the 
 most competent. He added further that 
 in making this declaration ho did not in- 
 tend to wound any one, since, as it is well 
 known, the duties of a President de- 
 manded special aptitude, it being fre- 
 
 Por Chile : 
 
 El Sr. J 086 Alfonso. 
 Por el Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Por el Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos(5 M. P. Caamafio. 
 Se abro la sesion ^ las '2 p. m. 
 Se di6 lectura al acta de la sesi<in an- 
 terior y fn(S aprobada y flrmada por todos 
 los Sres. Delegados presentes, despues de 
 hecha la siguiente aolaracidn : 
 
 La propoaioi6n de que pasase el Regla- 
 mento li la Comisidn Revisadora com- 
 puesta del Sr. Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, y del Sr. Mexia, delegado por Md- 
 xico, fu6 hecha por el Sr. Martinez Silva, 
 delegado for Colombia. 
 Se procedi6 ^ la orden del dia. 
 
 El Presidente pro tempore puso & dis- 
 cusi6n eldictameu de la Comisidu do Re- 
 glamento sobre la Vicepresidencia. 
 
 El Sr. Martinez Silva, delegado por 
 Colombia, raanifest6 : que iisu juiciosi se 
 adoptaba el dictamen de la Comisidn de 
 Eeglamento en el cual se x'^oponia la 
 elecci6n de un priniero y de un seguiido 
 Vicepresideute, surgirian en la Couferen- 
 ciaparcialidadesy divisionesqneera rauy 
 importante evitar. Que el ordeu mils 
 prudente era deja,r subsistente el esta- 
 blecido para el turno en el ejercioio de la 
 Vicepresidencia, tijando en dos semanas, 6 
 en una si se preferia, el periodo durante 
 el cual oada Vicepresidente ejerciera sns 
 funciones. 
 
 El Sr. Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 manifesto que la coraisidn habia medita- 
 do con todo detenimiento el asunto sobre 
 el cual habia emitido su dictamen, y es- 
 taba plenamente convencida de que el dr- 
 den establecido adolecia do muy graves 
 defeotos, entre los cuales bastaba citar el 
 de qne sieudo los Vicepresidentes desi- 
 gnados por el mero azar, no era posible 
 consultar y considerar las aptitudes <5 ido- 
 neidad del llamado & deseinpenar las fun- 
 ciones de Vicepresidente, requisite iudis- 
 pensable para que la elecci6n recayose y 
 fuese el puesto ocupado por los m£is com- 
 pententes como estabaen el interns de la 
 Confereucia que sucediese. Agregd que 
 al hacer csta declaracifin no creia inferir 
 agravio & nadie, toda vez que, como es 
 bien sabido, las funciones de un Presidente 
 
62 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 quently the case that the moat eminent 
 statesmen did not possess tliese. That 
 on this account he recommended to the 
 Conference the a option of the report of 
 the committee. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva stated that he 
 did not consider the duties of the Presi- 
 dent of this Conference weie so difiScult 
 as believed ; concerning which Mr Al- 
 fonso stated that he looked at It from a 
 different point of view. 
 
 Mr. Andkade, a Delegate from Vene- 
 zuela, stated that as the Conference had 
 agreed that the question nnder discus- 
 sion should be decided by lot, he consid- 
 ered it advisable to respect such prece- 
 dent. 
 
 The following is the report of the Com- 
 mittee on the Vice-Presidency, namely : 
 
 "There shall be elected by secret vote 
 a First and a Second Vice-President, who 
 shall discharge their duties in their regu- 
 lar order. In the absence of both Vice- 
 Presidents, the Vice-Presidency shall be 
 filled by the delegation in the order of 
 their personal location." 
 
 Being put to a vote, it was adopted by 
 twelve ayes against three noes. 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative 
 were: The delegations of Hayti, Nica- 
 ragua, the Argentine Republic, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Honduras, Mexico, Bo- 
 livia, the Uuited States, Chili, Salvador, 
 and Ecuador. 
 
 Those who voted negatively were : The 
 delegates from Guatemala, Columbia, 
 and Venezuela. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Com- 
 mittees was read. 
 
 Mr. Cuuz, a Delegate from Guatemala 
 and member of the committee, called at- 
 tention to the fact that in the English 
 version his name did not appear among 
 those who signed the report; without 
 doubt an error of the printers. He stated, 
 moreover, that the committee had tixod 
 upon five, and even npon three, as the 
 number of delegates ou some of the com- 
 mittees, because, on account of the insuf- 
 ficient number of Delegates composing 
 the Conference, it was not possible that 
 all the nations could be represented on 
 each committee. 
 
 He added, also, that as the order of 
 
 demandan aptitudes mny especiales d^n- 
 dose con frecnencia el caso de que los 
 hombres de estado mSa eminentes no las 
 reunen. Que por lo tanto recomcndaba 
 ^ la Conferenoia aprobase el dict^men de 
 laComis'6n. 
 
 El Sr. Martinez Silva manifesto que 
 no creia que en esta Conferencia las fun- 
 cionesdel Presidente fuesen tan dificiles 
 como se snponia, punto acerca del cual el 
 Sr. Alfonso manifesto quepensaba de muy 
 distiutamanera.^ 
 
 El Sr. Andradb, delegado por Venezue- 
 la, manifest6 : que toda vez que la Con- 
 ferencia habia aceptado que fuese la 
 suerte quien resolviese la cuesti6n que se 
 discutia, creia prudeute que se respetase 
 el precedente. 
 
 Se puso S, votaci(5n el dictaroen de la 
 ComisiOu acerca de la Vioepresidencia 
 qua dice : 
 
 " La Vioepresidencia ser^ desempefiada 
 en el drden que cori-esponde, por un primer 
 Vicepresidente y por un segundo Vice- 
 presidente, elegidos en votaci6u secreta, 
 y en defeoto de ambos, por cada uno de 
 los delegados en el drden de su colocacidn 
 personal." 
 
 Y resultd aprobado por doce votes con- 
 tra tres. 
 
 Votaron por la afirmativa : Las delega- 
 ciones de Haitf, Nicaragua, Argentina, 
 Costa Rica, Paraguay, Honduras, Mdxico, 
 Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Chile, Salvador 
 y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron por la negativa: Las delega- 
 ciones de Guatemala, Colombia, y Vene- 
 zuela. 
 
 Se ley6 informe de la Comisidn de Co- 
 misiones. 
 
 El Sr. Cruz, delegado por Guatemala, 
 y miembro de la Comisidn, llamd la aten- 
 ci6n & que en la versidu inglesa su nom- 
 bre no aparecia entre los que flrmaban el 
 informe, sin duda por omisidn del iuipre- 
 sor. Manifestd adem& que la Comisidn 
 limitd S, cinoo, y aun S tres, el ntimero de 
 los Sres. delegados en algnnas de las Comi- 
 siones que propone, por no ser suficientc- 
 mente grande el personal de que se corn- 
 pone la Conferencia para que todas las 
 nacionesestnviesen representadas en cada 
 nna de las Comisiones. Agregd tambien 
 que, habiendo sufrido alguna alteracidn el 
 drden de cosas que existia cuando se re- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 63 
 
 events had changed somewhat since the 
 report had been prepared, it would be nec- 
 essary to make some modifications; and 
 that these, as well as others which might 
 be suggested, would be carefully consid- 
 ered by the committee. 
 
 Mr. EoMEKO, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 proposed that Article I of this report be 
 revised by striking out all the words from 
 " to receive," in the second line, up to and 
 including the word "day," in the fifth 
 line, also the word "protocols,'' in the 
 seventh line, and to substitute "journals."' 
 
 Mr. HURTADO was of the contrary opin- 
 ion concerning the striking out of the 
 word "protocols," and stated that this 
 form and no other can be used in record- 
 ing the conclusions at which the Confer- 
 ence might arrive, as these conclusions 
 could not appear as a whole in their final 
 form in the journal or verbatim reports. 
 
 After debate, it was agreed that the 
 article read as follows : 
 
 1. Executive committee. 
 
 "Besolved, That there be appointed a 
 committee of five members, to be called 
 the Executive Committee, whose duty it 
 shall be to organize and supervise the 
 bureau of secretaries, stenographers, 
 translators, and other employes as they 
 shall deem necessary ; to superintend the 
 preparation and publication of the proto- 
 cols, journal, and verbatim reports of the 
 proceedings; and from time to time to 
 make such arrangements as in their judg- 
 ment may facilitate the transaction of 
 business aqd promote the comfort and 
 convenience of the Delegates.'' 
 
 Mr. Ckuz, a Delegate from Guatemala 
 and member of the Committee on Com- 
 mittees, moved that, as the other mem- 
 bers of the Committee were absent, the 
 consideration of Article I be postponed, as 
 several objections and ameudments had 
 been proposed. 
 
 After some debate, Mr. Cruz's motion 
 was put to the vote and was adopted by 
 13 against 1 vote. 
 
 dactd el dictamen, habia que hacer en este 
 algunas modificaciones ; las que, asl como 
 cualesqnieras otras quefuesen sugeridas, 
 serian ateutamente consideradas por la 
 Comi8i6n. 
 
 El Sr. ROMKEO, delegado por M(5xico, 
 propuso se modifioase el articulo priraero 
 del citado dictamen suprimiendo la pala- 
 bra "recibir" y siguientes do la segunda 
 lineajtodaslas delatercera,ouarta j quinta 
 lineas hasta la palabra "tambieu": asi 
 mismo las palabras "los protooolos" de 
 la s6tima lluea; anteponiendo al arflculo 
 plural, "las" ^la palabra " actas " en la 
 dicha llnea, y omitiendolasiialabras que 
 siguen hasta la primera de la octava 
 lluea, en Ingar de las cuales debe escri- 
 birse " y diario de los debates.'' 
 
 El Sr. HuKTADO, delegado por Colom- 
 bia, opin6 en contra de la supresidn de la 
 palabra " protocolos," fundSudose en que 
 en esa forma y no en otra habiau de cons- 
 tar las conclusiones & que Uegare la Con- 
 ferencia, puesto que 6stas no podrian apa- 
 recer en su conjunto y forma definitiva ni 
 en las actas ni en el diario de sesiones. 
 
 Despues de algunas explicaoiones se 
 convino redaotar el articulo en la forma 
 siguiente, ^ saber : 
 
 1 Comisidn ejeoutiva. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que se nombre una comi- 
 si6n de cinco individuos que se llamarsi 
 Comisi(5nEjecutiva, lacualdeberiiorgani- 
 zar y vigilar la oficina de secretarioa, ta- 
 qulgrafos, traductores y dem^sempleados 
 que se considereu necesarios; dirigir 
 la preparaci6n y pnblicaci6n de las actas, 
 protocolos, y diario de debates, y hacer, 
 siempre que sea oportuno, todos aquellos 
 arreglos que ^ su juicio faciliten el tra- 
 bajo del Congreso, y procuren la comodi- 
 dad de los delegados." 
 
 El Sr. Ckuz, delegado por Guatemala, 
 y miembro de la Comisidn de Comi- 
 siones, propuso que, no estando presentes 
 los otros mieuibros do la Comisifin, se 
 pospusiese la consideracidn del articulo 
 primero, toda vez que habia sido obje- 
 tado y se proponian varias modificacio- 
 nes. 
 
 Despues de alguna disousi6n, puesta S> 
 votaoifin la proposicidn del Sr. Cruz {u6 
 aprobada por trece votes contra uno. 
 
64 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Those who voted ia the affirmative 
 were the delegations of Hayti, Nicara- 
 gua, Columbia, the Argentine Republic, 
 Paraguay, Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, 
 the United States, Venezuela, Chili, Sal- 
 vador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Cost Rica voted negatively. 
 
 Mr. RoMBRO, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 proposed the following article of the 
 Rules, which had been accepted but not 
 committed to writing : 
 
 " Resolved, That all invitations made 
 to this Conference shall be answered by 
 the Secretaries thereof, expressing thanks 
 for the same and stating that they have 
 been communicated to the Delegates, who 
 will act on the premises in their individ- 
 ual capacity." 
 
 Article II is submitted for discussiou. 
 
 After some debate respecting the form 
 in which the article had been presented, 
 Mr. Guzman, a Delegate from Nicaragua, 
 moved, aud it was so ordered, that said 
 article be referred to the committee for 
 revision, in accordance with the suggea 
 tions made by the various delegates, as 
 meeting the views of the Conference. 
 
 It being after 5 o'clock, the President 
 asked if it was desired that the Confer- 
 ence should continue the session, and be- 
 ing answered in the negative, the Con- 
 ference adjourned at 5 o'clock and 25 
 minuten p. m. 
 
 Maxuel Aragon (Costa Rica), 
 
 President pro tempore. 
 Akthuk Laforestrib, 
 
 Sayli. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C C. Zbgarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOSlS M. HURTADO, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Qiiintana, 
 
 Argentine litpublic. 
 Jos± S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente : Las delega- 
 ciones de Haiti, Nicaragua, Colombia, 
 Argentina, Paraguay, Honduras, Mexico, 
 Bolivia, Estados Unidos,Venezuela,Chile, 
 Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Vot6 por la negativa : Costa Rica. 
 
 El Sr. Romero, delegado por Mdxico, 
 propuso el siguieute articulo del Regla- 
 mento, el cual se habiaconvenido pero no 
 redactado : 
 
 "Se aouerda cyie todas las iuvitacionos 
 que se hagan ^ esta Conferencia se con- 
 testen por sus Secretariosagradecifindolas 
 y avisando que se han comunicado ^ los 
 delegados para que procedan respecto de 
 ellas en su calidad personal." 
 
 En di8cusi(5n el articulo segundo del 
 dictamen de la Comisi<5n de Comisiones. 
 Despues de algnna discusidn acerca de la 
 forma en que aqu61 estaba redactado, el 
 Sr. Gnzm^u, delegado por Nicaragua, 
 propuso y se acord6, que el citado articulo 
 pasase £ la Comisidn para que lo redactaso 
 en la forma que, segun las int^icaciones 
 hechas por varios senores delegados, seria 
 satisfactoria S, la Conferencia. 
 
 Pasada ya la hora de Reglamento el Sr. 
 Presideute j)regunt(5 si deseaba la Con- 
 ferencia continuar la sesifin, y coutesttin- 
 dosele negativamente se levant6 la sesi6n 
 & las 5 y 25 minutos p. m. 
 
 Manuel Arag6n, (Costa Rica), 
 Presidente pro tempore. 
 
 Arthur Laforestrib, 
 Haiti. 
 
 HORACIO GUZmXn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarka, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Ckuz, 
 
 Guatemala. ' 
 
 JOSA M. HURTADO, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Bepiiblica Argentina. 
 Jos]£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MATfAS Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mex£a, 
 
 Mfyico. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 65 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebakek, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Tekscot, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 H. G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Jos^ Andrade, 
 
 Fetiezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Josl5 Alfonso, 
 
 CMH. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:6 Haria PlIcido CaamaSo, 
 
 JSciiador. 
 5 I C 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebakei;, 
 T. Jefferson' Coolidgk, 
 William Hk.vry Tukscot, 
 Morkis M. Estbe, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 H. G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Vnidos. 
 NiCANOR Bolet Peraza, 
 Josifi Andradb, 
 
 Umilio C. Varas, 
 Josifi Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:6 MARfA PlXcido Caamano, 
 
 Mcuador. 
 
ELEVENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 11. 
 
 Washington, December 6, 1889. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order by the President jpro 
 tempore, Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud, a Delegate 
 from Paraguay, at 2 o'clock 5 minutes 
 p. m., the following Delegates being 
 present : 
 
 From Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 From Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 From Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 From Colombia : 
 
 Mr. 3os4> M. Hurtado. 
 From the Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 From Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 From Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ S. Descend. 
 From Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jeronimo Zelaya. 
 From Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 From Bolivi a : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 From the United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 From Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jose Andrade. 
 From Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Josfi Alfonso, 
 66 
 
 Sesidn del 6 de Diciembre de 1889. 
 Presidencia doJ. Sr. Jos6 S. Descoud, de- 
 legado por Paraguay. Estando presentes : 
 
 Por Haiti : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Por Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Horacio Guaman. 
 Por Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Por Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Por La Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Por Costa Rica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Por Paraguay : 
 
 El.Sr. Dr. Jos6 S. Descoud. 
 Por Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Por Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique Mexla. 
 Por Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. . 
 Por los Estados Unidos de Norte 
 America : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William H. Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Johu F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Por Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 Andrade. 
 Por Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 67 
 
 From Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 From Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jo8(S Maria Pliicido Caamaiio. 
 
 The journal of the preceding day was 
 read, approved, and signed. 
 
 The President ^10 tempore announced 
 a communication from the Joint Commit- 
 tee of the Senate of the United States and 
 of the House of Representatives inviting 
 the Delegates to take part in the ceremo- 
 nies commemorating the inauguration of 
 George Washington, to take place in the 
 Hall of Representatives on Wednesday, 
 11th instant, at noon. 
 
 It was agreed that this being an official 
 invitation it should be answered by the 
 Secretaries, expressing the thanks of the 
 Conference and accepting the courteous 
 attention. 
 
 Passing to the order of the day, the 
 President stated that the election of Vice- 
 Presiiients would be proceeded with. 
 
 Mr. Laforestrib, a Delegate fromHay- 
 ti, brought forward the following mo- 
 tion: 
 
 "It is proposed that the two Vice-Presi- 
 dents to be elected shall not enter upon 
 the duties of their oiHce until after all 
 the Delegates called by lot to occupy the 
 Presidential chair shall have acquitted 
 themselves of this honorable duty." 
 
 Mr. TuBSCOT, a Delegate from the Uni- 
 ted States, considered that the proposi- 
 tion of the Delegate from Hayti was out 
 of order, and requested that the election 
 of the Vice-Presidents be proceeded with. 
 
 The Delegate from Hayti, in accordance 
 with a suggestion made by the Chair, 
 withdrew his proposal in order that it 
 might be considered after the election re- 
 ferred to. 
 
 Mr. Castellajstos, a Delegate from Sal- 
 vador, requested that a recess of twenty 
 minutes be declared, and it was so ordered 
 at 2.30 p. m. 
 
 The session re-opened at 2.50 p. m., and 
 the election by secret ballot was taken for 
 the Vice-Presidents. 
 
 The Chair nominated as tellers: Mr. 
 Trescot, Delegate from the United States, 
 and Mr, Alfonso, Delegate from Chili. 
 
 Por El Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Por El Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Josi5 M. P. CaamaJlo. 
 
 Se abre la sesi6n £i las 2 y 5 minutos p.m. 
 
 Se ley6 el acta de la sesidn anterior, y 
 fn6 aprobada y firmada. 
 
 El Sr. Presidente di6 cuenta de una 
 comunicaci6n de la Comisi6u del Seuado 
 y de la Cslmara de Representantes de 
 Estados Uuidos invitando & los Sres 
 delegados se sirviesen concurrir al acto 
 conmemorativo de la inauguracidn del 
 Presidente George Washington, el cual 
 tendr^ lugar en los salones de la C^raara 
 de Representantes el mi^rcoles, 11 del cor- 
 riente mes, & las 12 del dia. 
 
 Se acordd que, siendo 6sta una invita- 
 ci6n oficial, fuese contestada por la Se- 
 cretarla, expresando q.ie la Conferencia la 
 aceptaba y agra ecia la atencidn. 
 
 Pasando al tfrden del dia, el Sr. Presi- 
 dente manifestd que se prooederia & la 
 eleccidn de Vicepresideutes. 
 
 ElSr. Laforestrib, delegado por Haiti, 
 hizolasiguienteproposicidn, ^ saber: 
 
 "Que los dos Vicepresideutes que lia- 
 brSin de elegirse no eutrar^n en el desem- 
 pefi6 de sus fuucioues hasta despues que 
 las delegaciones hayan ocupado la silla 
 presidenoial, seguu fueron designadas 
 por suerte." 
 
 El Sr. Trescot, delegado por Estados 
 Unidos, manifest^ que la proposici6n del 
 Sr. delegado por Haiti estaba fuera de 
 6rden, y pidi6 que se procediese & la elec- 
 ci6n de Vicepresidentes. 
 
 El Sr. delegado por Haiti, consecuente 
 con la indicaci6n heoha por la mesa, re- 
 tir6 su propo8ici6n para que fuese consi- 
 derada despuiSs de la eleccidn ^ que se 
 viene haciendo referenda. 
 
 El. Sr. Castellanos, delegado por el 
 Salvador, pidi6 que se declarase un receso 
 de 20 minutos, y asf se hizo & las 2 y 30 
 minutos. 
 
 Se continu6 la sesi6n k las 2 y 50 minu- 
 tos p. m., y se procedi6 6, la eleccidn por 
 voto secreto de los Vicepresidentes. 
 
 Fueron nombrados por la Mesa, como 
 escrutadores, el Sr. Trescot, delegado por 
 Estados Uuidos, y el Sr, Alfonso, delegado 
 por Chile, 
 
68 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The ballot being taken and counted, re- 
 sulted as follows : 
 
 For First Vice-President: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra, Delegate from 
 Beru, 6 votes. 
 
 Mr. M. Romero, Delegate from Mexico, 
 5 votes. 
 
 Mr. J. Hurtado, Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, 3 votes. 
 
 Mr. M. Qnintana, Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, 1 vote. 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz, Delegate from Gua- 
 temala, 1 vote. 
 
 A majority not having been obtained 
 for any of those designated, the Chair pro- 
 posed that a new baUot be taken ; and, 
 on the suggestion of Mr. Qnintana, a Del- 
 egate from the Argentine Republic, it was 
 agreed that the voting be confined to the 
 two Delegates who had received the great- 
 est number of votes, namely: Mr. Zegar- 
 ra and Mr. Romero. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that, having filled the duties of 
 teller, he had not been able to observe be- 
 fore that is his opinion those Delegates 
 not present had no right to vote, as Dr. 
 Nin, the Delegate from Uruguay, had 
 done by a letter addressed to the Presi- 
 dent pro tempore. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso added that in his opin- 
 ion it was very important to decide this 
 question before proceeding to a new bal- 
 lot. 
 
 The Chair stated that the proposal of 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, was 
 in the nature of a previous question, and 
 ought to be decided before proceeding 
 with other bnslness. 
 
 Mr. Feraza, a Delegate from Venezuela, 
 stated that the votes of absent members 
 ought not to be accepted. 
 
 Mr. Zelaya, a Delegate from Honduras, 
 was of the same opinion, and advised that 
 this point be incorporated in the rules. 
 
 The Chair having stated that it ap- 
 peared that two motions were before the 
 Conference, one from Mr. Alfonso and one 
 from Mr. Peraza, the vote should be taken 
 in the regular order. 
 
 Mr. Peraza stated that his object had 
 only been to second the proposal of Mr. 
 
 Eecogidos los votes y practicado el es- 
 crutinio resultd como signe: 
 
 Para Primer Vicepresidente: 
 
 Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra, delegado poi 
 Perti, 6 votes. 
 
 Sr. Matlas Romero, delegado por Me- 
 xico, 5 votes. 
 
 Sr. J. M. Hurtado, delegado por Colom- 
 bia, 3 votos. 
 
 Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz, delegado por 
 Guatemala, 1 voto. 
 
 Sr. Dr. Manuel Qnintana, delegado por 
 la Argentina, 1 voto. 
 
 No habiendo resultado mayorfa & favor 
 de ninguno de los designados, la Mesa 
 dispuso que se procediese & nneva vota- 
 ci6n; y por indicaciiSn del Sr. Qnintana, _, 
 delegado por la Argentina, se acord6 que 
 la votacidn se ointrajese d^los designados 
 que mayor nfimero de votos habian reci- 
 bido, es decir, S, los Srcs. Zegarra y Ro- 
 mero. 
 
 El Sr. Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 manifesto que, por haber estado desem- 
 pefiando las funciones de escrutador, no 
 habia podido observar Stntes que, en su 
 concepto, no tienen derecho S, votar los 
 Sres. delegadoB ausentes, como lo habia 
 hecho, enviando pliegos cerrados ii la Pre- 
 sidencia con su voto, e],Sr. Dr. Nin, dele- 
 gado por el Uruguay. 
 
 Agreg6 el Sr. Alfonso que, S. su juicio, 
 era muy importante resolver este punto 
 ^ntes de pasar S, la nueva votaci6u. 
 
 La Mesa manifesto que lo propnesto 
 por el Sr. Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 tenia el car^cter de cuestii5n previa, y 
 debia resol verse ^utes de pasar S, otra cosa. 
 
 El Sr. BoLET Peraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, manlfestd que no debian ad- 
 mitirse los votos de los ansentes, en lo cual 
 estuvo de acuerdo tambi^n el Sr. Zelaya, 
 delegado por Honduras, quien indic6 la 
 conveniencia de que ese pnnto fuera ob- 
 jeto de nn articulo del Reglamento. 
 
 Habiendo manifestado la Mesa que, se- 
 gun aparecia, habia dos proposiciones ante 
 la Conferencia, fina del Sr. Alfonso y <5tra 
 del Sr. Bolet Peraza se procederla & la 
 votaci6u en el 6rden en que habian sido 
 aquellas presentadas. 
 
 El Sr. Bolet Peraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, manifesto que su objeto habia 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 69 
 
 Alfonso; but that he took the liberty of 
 making the observation that if the Con- 
 ference adopted the proposal of Mr. Al- 
 fonso it would become a rule that absent 
 members could not vote. 
 
 Mr. Velakde, a Delegate from Bolivia, 
 explained that the subject was a most 
 delicate one, adding that he disagreed 
 with Mr. Peraza, because in Bolivia, when 
 the subject concerning which a vote was 
 to be taken, had been previously an- 
 nounced, those absent had the right to 
 vote. 
 
 Mr. HuRTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, was of opinion that in principle the 
 right mentioned raigUt be admitted, and 
 as a precedent he cited that, according 
 to English rule, the votes of those ab- 
 sent were considered as given in favor of 
 the party they represented. He farther 
 added that, in his opinion, on important 
 matters the votes of all, absent or present, 
 ought to be admitted. 
 
 Mr.VAR.vs, a Delegate from Chili, stated 
 that in his opinion, and according to the 
 rules followed in Chili, those who were 
 not present during the session had not 
 the right to vote. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, u Delegate from Nicara- 
 gua, stated that for delegations composed 
 of a single member the subject under dis- 
 cussion was of vital importance. That as 
 it had already been stated, the Confer- 
 ence ought not to confine itself strictly to 
 the parliamentary rules governing legis- 
 lative bodies, on account of the differ- 
 ences existing between such and the pres- 
 ent Conference, and asked if in case a 
 question be discussed which closely 
 touched the interests of Nicaragua, could 
 such question be decided without his 
 vote, on account of his absence. 
 
 Mr. Aragon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, stated that the observations of Mr. 
 Guzman were very just and well founded, 
 but that it was a point which ought to be 
 settled later, and that in consequence the 
 vote ought to be taken on Mr. Alfonso's 
 motion. 
 
 Mr. CAAMASo,aDelegatefrom Ecuador, 
 stated that he was in accord with the ob- 
 servations of Mr. Guzman and Mr. Peraza, 
 but that he drew attention to the fact 
 that, the ballot being secret, the votes 
 
 side s61o apoyar la proposicion del Sr. 
 Alfonso; pero que se permitiria hacer la 
 indicaoidn de que si la Conferencia adop- 
 taba la proposici6n del Sr. Alfonso que- 
 dase establecidoque los ausentes no tenian 
 derecho & votar. 
 
 El Sr. Velarde, delegado por Bolivia, 
 hizo prosente que el asunto era sobrema- 
 nera delicado, agregando que disentia de 
 la opini6n del Sr. Bolet Peraza, pnesto que 
 en Bolivia cuando el asunto se anuncia 
 pr6 viamente los ausentes tienen el derecho 
 de votar. 
 
 El Sr. HuRTADO, delegado por Colom- 
 bia, opin6 que, en principio, puede admi- 
 tirse el citado derecho y como precedente 
 cit6 que, segun la priictica inglesa los 
 votos de los ausentes se consideran como 
 dados en favor del partido que represen- 
 tan. Agreg6, adem^s, el Sr. Hnrtado que, 
 en su opinion, en asuntos importantesde- 
 bieran admitirse los votos de todos, pre- 
 sentes y auoentes. 
 
 El Sr. Varas, delegado por Chile, ma- 
 nifesto, que, en su concepto, y segtin la 
 pr^ctica seguida en Chile los que no est^n 
 presentes durante la sesiOu no tienen el de- 
 recho de votar. 
 
 El Sr. GczmIn, delegado por Nicara- 
 gua, manifesto que para las delegacioues 
 unipersonales la cuestidn que se discutia 
 tenia importancia capital. Que, como 
 ySi iintes se habia hecho presenie, la Con- 
 ferencia no debia oefiirse estrictamen te & 
 las pr^cticas parlamentarias de los cuer- 
 pos legislatives por la diferencia que 
 existe entre aquOlla yOstow; ypregunt6si 
 en case de ventilarse una cuestiOn que 
 tocase directamente los intereses de Nica- 
 ragua, podia tomarse resoluoi6u acerca 
 de ella prescindiendo de su voto estando 
 ausente. 
 
 El Sr. Arag6n, delegado por CostaEica, 
 manifesto que, las observaciones del Sr. 
 Guzman eran muy justas y fundadas, pero 
 que era punto que deberia dejarse para 
 ser resuelto ulteriormente, y que, por 
 consiguiente, pedia se procediese & poner 
 ^ votaciOn la proposiciOn del Sr. Alfonso. 
 
 El Sr. CaamaSo, delegado por el Ecua- 
 dor, manifesto que estaba de acuerdo con 
 las observaciones de losSres. Bolet Peraza 
 y Guzman pero que debia llamar la aten- 
 ciOn ^que, siendo la votaciOn secreta, los 
 
70 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 could not be signed without the secret 
 ballot thereby losing its character as 
 8ucb. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, stated that he arose 
 to propose a question of order. That the 
 election of Vice-President had given rise 
 to a question of great importance, and that 
 had all the Delegates known what was to 
 be done they would probably have been 
 present ; he, therefore, proposed that the 
 consideration of the subject be postponed 
 until the next session. 
 
 Mr.CAAMASo, aDelegatefromEcuador, 
 seconded this motion. 
 
 Mr. Peraza, a Delegate from Venezuela, 
 stated that both of the gentlemen nomi- 
 nated for the Vice-Presidency were 
 equally acceptable to him as being both 
 persons who, in his opinion, united all 
 the necessary qualifications for the com- 
 petent discharge of the duties of the 
 oflSce. That, in order to facilitate the 
 proceedings, he considered it advisable to 
 proceed with the vote concerning the 
 question proposed by Mr. Alfonso, and 
 afterward with the election of the Vice- 
 Presidents; postponing until later the 
 consideration of the question as to 
 whether absent members could vote or 
 not. He added that he considered it of 
 great importance that this question be 
 decided in the affirmative. 
 
 Mr. Trescot, a Delegate from the 
 United States, stated that, in his opinion, 
 votes signed could not be admitted in a 
 secret ballot. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, a Delegate from Nicara- 
 gua, stated that in his opinion the election 
 of vice-presidents ought to be postponed 
 until after the settlement of the question 
 regarding the vote of absent members, 
 because if such votes should not be ad- 
 mitted in the ballot to which reference 
 has been made, the point would thereby 
 be decided. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that a special issue had been raised, 
 namely, Shall the vote of Dr. Nin be ac- 
 cepted or not ? He added that the Con- 
 ference having agreed to proceed to the 
 election of vice-presidents, it ought to 
 settle all the secondary questions which 
 arose, as otherwise they could not carry 
 out what had been agreed upon ; that in 
 
 boletos no podian ser firmados sin que 
 aqu611a perdiese su car^cter. 
 
 El Sr. QuiNTANA, delegado por la Argen- 
 tina, manifest6 que se levantaba para 
 proponer una cuestidn de drden. La elec- 
 cidn de Vicepresidentes habia heoho sur- 
 gir una cuestidn sobremanera grave, y 
 considerando que de haber sabido todos 
 los Sres. delegados lo que se iba & hacer, 
 probablemente habrian estado presentes, 
 proponfa que se pospusiese la considera- 
 ci6n del asunto hasta la pr6xima sesidn, 
 en lo cual estuvo de acuerdo el Sr. Caa- 
 mano, delegado por el Ecuador. 
 
 El Sr. BOLBT Peraza, delegado por Ve- 
 nezuela, manifestd que Smbos de los se- 
 Sores Indicados para la Vicepresidencia 
 eran igualmente aoeptables para 61, por 
 ser ^mbos personas que en su ooncepto 
 reunfau todas las condiciones necesarias 
 para el buen desempeBo del puesto. Que 
 para facilitar los prooedimientos creia 
 conveniente se procediese d. la votaci(5n 
 sobre la cuestidn propuesta por el Sr. Al- . 
 fonso, y luego S, la elecoifin de Vicepresi- 
 dentes aplazando para m^s luego la con- 
 sideraci6n de la cuesti<Sn de si los ausen- 
 tes podr^n votar 6 n6. Agreg<5 que creia 
 de alta importancia que la Conferencia la 
 resolviese aflrmativamente. 
 
 El Sr. Trbscot, delegado por Estados 
 Unidos, manifest6 que, en su conoepto, 
 votos firmados no pueden ser admitidos 
 en votaci(5n secreta. 
 
 El Sr. 6uzMi(N, delegado por Nicara- 
 gua, manifestd que, ^ su juicio, debia 
 posponersela eleccidn de Vicepresidentes 
 hasta despu^s de la resoluci6n del punto 
 respecto al veto de los ausentes, puesto 
 que ^ no ser 6atoa admitidos en la eleo- 
 ci6n ^ que se viene haciendo referencia, 
 aqu61 de hecho quedaria resuelto. 
 
 El Sr. ALroNSO, delegado por Chile, 
 manifestd haber propuesto una cuestidn 
 concreta, Si saber: que se resnelva si el 
 veto del Sr. Dr. Nin se admite 6 n<5. 
 Agregfl que habiendo acordado la Con- 
 ferencia prooeder S, la eleccidn de Vice- 
 presidentes debia resolver todas las cues- 
 tiones secundarias que se presentasen, 
 pnes de lo contrario no podria proceder 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 71 
 
 conBequeuee he opposed Mr. Qnintana's 
 motion. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, stated that he dif- 
 fered with Mr. Alfonso, beoanae the issue, 
 although a special one, still was possessed 
 of a general character, and that the result 
 of the ballot would be an agreement hav- 
 ing at least a binding moral force. That 
 the fact of its having been agreed to pro- 
 ceed to-day with the election of Vice- 
 Presidents was not a reason why such 
 ballot should not be postponed ; and pro- 
 posed that the election be held over until 
 the next session. 
 
 Mr. CaamaSo, a Delegate from Ecuador, 
 stated he agreed with Mr. Quintana, and 
 in seconding him, requested that the elec- 
 tion be postponed till next session, which 
 would probably be attended by Uruguay 
 and Brazil. 
 
 Mr. Andradb, a Delegate from Venez- 
 uela, having asked whether, if the elec- 
 tion for Vice-President be postponed, the 
 rights of each of those nominated for the 
 Vice-Presidency would be preserved, and 
 having been answered ia the affirmative, 
 the Chair declared the subject sufficiently 
 discussed and ordered a ballot concerning 
 the proposal to postpone the election of 
 Vice-Presidents until the next session. 
 
 This was adopted by 12 votes in the af- 
 firmative against 3 in the negative. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were Hayti, 
 Nicaragua, Guatemala, Colombia, the Ar- 
 gentine Republic, Paraguay, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Salvador, and 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Those voting negatively were : Costa 
 Rica, the United States, and Chili. 
 
 Mr. ARACfON, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, requested that it be recorded that 
 he had voted negatively, because a secret 
 ballot having been agreed upon, he did 
 not see the reason why two signed votes 
 having been cast, the election should be 
 postponed. 
 
 The Chair stated that Mr. Rodrigues, 
 having in li is charge the revision and cor- 
 rection of the stenographers' records of 
 the Conference, which necessitated con- 
 tinuous and careful labor, he was not 
 
 Si la ejecuoidn de lo que habia dispuesto. 
 Que, por consiguiente, se oponia & la mo- 
 ci6n del Sr. Quintana. 
 
 El Sr. Quintana, delegado por la Ar- 
 gentina, manifest6 no estar de cuerdo con 
 la opini6n del Sr. Alfonso, pues la cues- 
 tidn, no por haber side presentada de una 
 mauera concreta, dejaba de tener un ca- 
 riicter general ; y qrte lo que resultasc de 
 la votacidn seria, una resolucidn de la 
 Conferencia que tendria por lo menos 
 fnerza moral. 
 
 Que el haberse dispuesto que se proce- 
 siede hoy ^ la elecoi6u de Vicepresidentes 
 no erS. un inotivo para que aqu^lla . no 
 puediese ser diferida, y propuso que se 
 suspendiese hasta la pr6xima sesi6n. 
 
 El Sr. CaamaSo, delegado por el Ecua- 
 dor, opind como el Sr. Quintana, y apo- 
 y^ndole pidi6 que se pospusiese la elec- 
 oi6n de Vicepresidentes hasta la pr6xima 
 sesidn ^ la cual probablemente concurri- 
 rian las delegaoiones del Uruguay y Bra- 
 sll. 
 
 Habiendo preguntado el Sr. Andrade, 
 delegado por Venezuela, si al posponerse 
 la elecoi6n de Vicepresidentes se cousor- 
 varian los derechos que cada uno de los 
 individuos hubiere adqnirido, y ha- 
 bi^ndose acordado afirmativamente, la 
 Mesa declard el puuto suficientemente 
 discutido, y dispuso se procediese £i la vo- 
 taci6n sobre la proposioidn de posponer 
 la eleccifin de Vicepresidentes hasta la 
 pr6xima sesidu, la cual fu(5 adoptada por 
 doce votos contra tres. 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente: Las delega- 
 oiones de Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala, 
 Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Hondu- 
 ras, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Salvador 
 y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron negativiimente : Costa Rica, 
 Estados Unidos y Chile. 
 
 El Sr. Arag6n, delegado por Costa Rica, 
 pidi6 que se hiciese constar en acta que 
 habia votado negativamente porque ha 
 bi^udose dispuesto una elecci6u no veia 
 el motive para que se pospusiese porque 
 se hubiesen depoaitados los votos flrmados. 
 
 La Mesa mauifest6 que teniendo el Sr. 
 Jos6 Ignacio Rodriguez ^su cargo la re- 
 visi6n y correcoidu de las transcrip- 
 ciones de los taqulgrafos de la Confe- 
 rencia, lo cual exige continuo y asiduo 
 
72 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONB'ERENCE. 
 
 able to continue in the discharge of the 
 duties of Spanish interpreter of the Con- 
 ference, which office he had most satis- 
 factorily filled. In consequence, another 
 interpreter had been put in his place. 
 
 Article I of the Committee on Commit- 
 tees is submitted for discussion. 
 
 After along discussion, during which 
 several modifications were suggested, 
 Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, pre- 
 sented the article revised as follows : 
 
 " An Executive Committee shall be ap- 
 pointed, composed of the President and 
 Vice-Presidents and three Delegates, 
 whose duty it shall be to organize and su- 
 pervise the labors of the Secretaries, as 
 also to direct the editing and printing of 
 the journals and verbatim reports of the 
 sessions and the printing of the pro- 
 tocols of the Conference." 
 
 It being 5 o'clock p. m., the Chair 
 asked if the session should be continued, 
 and it was agreed that it should be pro- 
 longed until action had been taken con- 
 cerning Article I of the Knles of the Com- 
 mittee on Committees. 
 
 After considerable discussion, the arti- 
 cle referred to was voted upon, the result 
 being its unanimous adoption in the above 
 form. 
 
 Mr. Bliss, a Delegate from the United 
 States, moved that the session adjouru, 
 the Conference to meet and proceed with 
 pending business to-morrow (Saturday) 
 at 2 p. m. 
 
 Mr. Bliss's motion being put to vote, it 
 was carried by twelve votes against three. 
 
 Those voting in the affirmative were: 
 The delegations from Nicaragua, Guate- 
 mala, Colombia, Costa Eica, Paraguay, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, the United 
 States, Venezuela, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 Those voting in^ the negative were: 
 The delegatious from Hayti, the Argen- 
 tine Republic, and Chili. 
 
 The Conference adjourned at 5 o'clock 
 and 30 minutes p. m. 
 
 Arthur Lafokbstrie, 
 
 Hai/ii. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Ifiearagua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 trabajo, no podia seguir desempefiando las 
 funciones de int^rprete castellano de la 
 Confer encia que hasta ahora habia llenado 
 tan satisfactoriamente, y por cuyo motive 
 habia sido preciso designar otro int6r- 
 prete. 
 
 En discusi6n el Artioulo 1" del informe 
 de la Comisi6ii sobre Comisiones. 
 
 Despu^s de una larga discusidn durante 
 la cual se propusierou varias modiflcacio- 
 nes, el Sr. Varas, delegado por Chile, pre- 
 sents el citado artlculo en la forma si- 
 guiente, ^ saber : 
 
 "ARTfcuLO 1°. Se nombrar^ una Comi- 
 si6n Ejecutiva compuesta del Presidente 
 y Vicepresidentes y de tres delegados, i, 
 la cual corresponder^ organizar y vigil ar 
 los trabajos de la Secretaria, asimismo 
 dirigir la redaccidn 6 impresidn de las 
 actas y diario de sesiones, y la impresidn 
 de los protocolos de la Conferencia.'' 
 
 Siendo ya las 5 de la tarde la Mesa pre- 
 gunt6 si se continuaria la sesidu y se 
 acord(3 que asi se hiciese hasta que se 
 1 omase resolucidn acerca del Artlculo 1" 
 del informe de la Comisi6n sobre Comi- 
 biones. 
 
 Despu6s de algunas explioaciones se 
 puso a votaci6n el Artlculo 1" de la refe- 
 renda, y Sata results en la aprobaciSn 
 unSnime de aqu61. 
 
 El Sr. Bliss, delegado por los Estados 
 Uuidos, propuso que se levantase la sesi6n, 
 y que se reuniese la Conferencia para 
 proceder con los trabajos pendientes ma- 
 fiaua, s^bado, ^ las 2 de la tarde. 
 
 Puesta S, votaci6n la proposici<5a del 
 Sr. Bliss, fu6 adoptada por dooe votos 
 contra tres. 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente : Las delega- 
 ciones do Nicaragua, Guatemala, Colom- 
 bia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Honduras, 
 Mfeico, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Vene- 
 zuela, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron negativamente : Haiti, Argen- 
 tina y Chile. 
 
 Se levanta la sesi6n ^ las 5 y 30 minu- 
 tos p. m. 
 
 Arthur Lakorestrie, 
 
 Hayti. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragiia. 
 Fernasdo Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 73 
 
 JostS M. Hurtado, 
 
 Colomlia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine BepuMic. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador pe MENDONgA, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Tresoot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 Nicanor Bolbt Pbraza, 
 Jos:^ Andrade, 
 
 Veneziiela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosiS Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Jos:^ M. Hurtado, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublic 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 JosiS S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador de MENDONgA, 
 
 Brazil, 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 HonduYas. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MEXf a, 
 
 MAico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos de Norte America. 
 Nicanor Bolet Pbkaza, 
 JosIj: Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos:fi Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3oe& Maria PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
TWELFTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA Wo. 12. 
 
 Washington, December 7, 1889. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order by the President pro 
 tempore, Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya, a. Dele- 
 gate from Honduras, at 2 o'clock 20 min- 
 utes p. m., the following Delegates being 
 present : 
 
 From Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 Prom Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 From Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 From Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 From Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hnrtado. 
 From the Argentine Republic: 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 From Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragou. 
 From Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 S. Decoud. 
 From Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 From Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerfinimo Zelaj'a. 
 From Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 From Uolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 From the United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Heniy Tresoot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 From Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos(5 Andrade. 
 From Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 74 
 
 Sesidn del 7 de Diciembre de 1889. 
 Presidencia del Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya, 
 delegado por Honduras, y del Sr. Matias 
 Romero, delegado por Mexico. Estando 
 presentes : 
 
 Por Haiti : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Por Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Por Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Por Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Alberto Nin ; 
 Por Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Por la Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 For Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag(3n. 
 Por Paraguay: 
 
 El Sr. Job6 S. Decond. 
 Por Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Por Honduras : 
 
 ElSr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Por Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Por Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Por los Estados Unidos: 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson. 
 Por Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Por Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sit. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 75 
 
 From Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 FromEouador: 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Maria Pl£icido CaamaBo. 
 The journal of the preceding day hav- 
 ing been read, Mr. Hortado, a Delegate 
 from Colombia, stated that in parliament- 
 ary bodies there are instances in which 
 the opinions of the absent members in- 
 flnence the result of the ballot, and he 
 cited what takes place in the Congress of 
 the United States in reference to the 
 pairing of votes. 
 
 Mr. Castellanos, a Delegate from Sal- 
 vador, stated that in suggesting the re- 
 cess which is referred to in the Journal 
 his purpose had been the interchange of 
 opinions on the Delegates proposed for 
 the Vice-Presidency. 
 
 After these observations had been made, 
 and correction provided for, the Journal 
 was approved and signed by the Delegates 
 present. 
 
 A delegate from Brazil, Mr. Mendonfa, 
 having arrived during the session, and it 
 being his turn in the order of rotation 
 to preside, Mr. Zelaya, the Vice-Presi- 
 dent pro tempore, invited him to occupy 
 the Chair. 
 
 Mr. Mendon^a declined the honor, be- 
 cause, as he stated, the delegation of Bra- 
 zil had not agreed with their colleagues 
 concerning the rotation of Vice-Presi- 
 dents. 
 
 A report of the<JomTQittee on Creden- 
 tials was read, being as follows: 
 
 "Mesolved, That the credentials accred- 
 iting as Delegate of the United States of 
 America to the International American 
 Conference, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, are in 
 good and due form. 
 
 "M. Romero. 
 "Manuel Quintana. 
 "V. Jefferson Coolidge." 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 stated that the Committee on Rules had 
 not yet presented them in revised form 
 and in accordance with the modifications 
 adopted, as he had promised, because the 
 Secretaries had not furnished him the 
 necessary data in time to make such re- 
 vision ; but that he now had this data and 
 would speedily take the matter in hand. 
 
 Por el Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Por el Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Joa6 M. P. CaamaBo. 
 
 Se abre la sesi6u ^ las 2 y 20 minutes. 
 
 Leida el acta de la sesidn anterior, el 
 Sr. Hurtado, delegado por Colombia, 
 manifesto que, al referirse al derecho de 
 votar de los ausentes, lo que obsery<5 fu6 
 que en cuerpos parlaraentarios ejemplos 
 habia en que la opini6n de miembros 
 ausentes iufluia sobre el rosultado de la 
 votacidn, y cit6 lo que ocurria en el Con- 
 greso de los Estados Unidos con referencia 
 d lo que naman "pairing of votes." 
 
 El Sr. Castellanos, delegado por el 
 Salvador, manifestd que al proponer el 
 receso S. que se hace referencia en el acta, 
 fu6 para cambiar opiniones acerca de los 
 Sres. delegados que se propusiesen para la 
 Vicepresidencia. 
 
 Con estas aclaraciones el acta fu6 apro- 
 bada y firmada por los Sres. delegados 
 presentes. 
 
 Habiendo entrado en el salun el Sr. 
 Mendoufa, delegado por Brazil, £i quien le 
 tocaba el turno de la Vicepresidencia, el 
 Sr. Zelaya, Presidente pro tempore, lo in- 
 vit6 para que pasase ^ ocupar el puesto. 
 
 El Sr. MBNDON9A declin6 el honor por- 
 que, segun manifestd, la delegaci6u del 
 Brasil no habia estado de acuerdo respecto 
 de la Vicepresidencia por turno. 
 
 Se ley6 el siguiente informe de la Comi- 
 8i6n de Credenciales, S, saber : 
 
 "Estdi extendida en buena y debida 
 forma la oredenoial que acredita como 
 delegado delos Estados Unidos de America 
 ante la Confereucia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana al Sr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 " Mat! AS Romero. 
 "Manuel Quintana. 
 " T. Jefferson Coolidge." 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, manifestd que la Comisi6n de Re- 
 glamento no lo presentaba revisado y de 
 acuerdo con las modificaciones adoptadas, 
 seglin habia prometido, porque la Secre- 
 tarla no habia podido suministrar los 
 dates necesarios en tiempo para hacer la 
 revisidn; pero que ya la Comisidn tenia 
 los datos y se ocuparla del asunto & la 
 mayor brevedad. 
 
76 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The Presidbnt ■pro tempore stated that 
 the election of Vioe-Ji'residents would be 
 proceeded with, as had been agreed upon 
 in yesterday's session. 
 
 The delegation from Mexico abstained 
 from voting. 
 
 The ballot being talien and counted, 
 the result was as follows : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 8 votes. 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero, 8 votes. 
 
 A tie having resulted, the Chair sug- 
 gested a recess of fifteen minutes, in or- 
 der to exchange views on the manner of 
 proceeding with the election of Vice- 
 Presidents. 
 
 Before ordering the recess, Mr. Guz- 
 man, a Delegate from Nicaragua, pro- 
 posed that no new ballot be taken for 
 Messrs. Romero and Zegarra, as probably 
 another tie would be the result ; but that 
 Mr. Hurtado, a Delegate from Colombia, 
 be acclaimed Vice-President. 
 
 Mr. Hurtado opposed the motion on 
 the ground that it would be violating a 
 previous agreement of the Conference. 
 
 Mr. Aragon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, proposed that chance decide which 
 of the two Delegate^ voted for should be 
 first Vice-President and which second. 
 
 Mr. Hurtado, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, and Mr. Bolet Peraza, a Delegate 
 froiji Venezuela, seconded Mr. Aragon's 
 motion. 
 
 Mr. Vaeas, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that he was of the same opiuion, 
 and as there did not seem to be any op- 
 position, he moved that it immediately 
 be acted upon. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, proposed the recess sng- 
 gested by the Chair be ordered, and this 
 was done. 
 
 After Recess. 
 
 The session was continued at 3.40 p. m. 
 
 Two ballots were deposited in the box, 
 one bearing the name of Mr. Romero and 
 one that of Mr. Zegarra. The drawing 
 was then proceeded with, Mr. Alfonso, a 
 Delegate from Chili, and Mr. Trescot, a 
 Delegate from the United States, acting 
 as tellers. The first paper drawn from 
 the box by a boy in attendance bore the 
 
 El Sr. Pkbsidbntb jpro tempore anuncid 
 que se procederia ^ la elecoi6n de Vice- 
 presideutes, segfin se habia aoordado en 
 la sesidn de ayer. 
 
 La delegaci<)n de Mexico manifests que 
 se abstenia de votar. 
 
 Recogidos los votos y practicado el es- 
 crutinio resultaron como sigue: 
 
 A favor del Sr. P. C. C. Zegarra, 8 votos. 
 
 A favor del Sr. Matias Romero, 8 votos. 
 
 Resultando empate, la Mesa sugirid que 
 se declarase un receso de 15 minutes para 
 cambiar opiniones acerca del modo de 
 proceder fi la elecci6n de los Vicepresi- 
 deutes. 
 
 Antes de declararse el receao el Sr. Guz- 
 man, delegado por Nicaragua, propuso 
 que no se volviese d) votar por los Sres. 
 Zegarra y Romero, porque probablemente 
 rebultaifa otro empate y que se eligiese 
 por aclamaoi6n come Primer Vicepresi- 
 dente al Sr. J. M. Hurtado, delegado por 
 Colombia. 
 
 El Sr. Hurtado, delegado por Colom- 
 bia, se opu8od.laproposici6n, fund^ndose 
 en que ella vendria S, anular un acnerdo 
 de la Conferencia. 
 
 El Sr. Arag6n, delegado por Costa 
 Rica, propuso que se decidiese por suerte 
 qui^n habia de ser el primero y quiSn el 
 segundo Vicepresidente de los dos por 
 los cuales se habia votado. 
 
 El Sr. Hurtado, delegado por Colom- 
 bia, y el Sr. Bolet Peraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, apoyaron la proposicidu del 
 Sr. Aragdn. 
 
 EI Sr. Varas, delegado por Chile, mani- 
 fests que opinaba del mismo modo, y que 
 toda vez que no parecia haber objeciSn & 
 ello debia desde luego procederse asf. 
 
 El Sr. Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, propuso que se declarase 
 el receso indicado por la Mesa, y 'asi se 
 aoordd. 
 
 Despubs del Receso. 
 
 Continuada la sesidn d; las 3 y 40 p. m., 
 se procedi6 ^ la insaculacidu de dos bo- 
 letos, uno con el nombre del Sr. Zegarra 
 y 6tro con el nombre del.Sr. Romero. 
 
 A petlci6n de la Mesa pasaron & fun- 
 oionar como escrutadores el Sr. Alfonso, 
 delegado por Chile, y el Sr. Trescot, dele- 
 gado por los Estados Unidos, y sacado de 
 la urna por un nino el primer boleto results 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 77 
 
 name of Mr. Zegarra, the second that of 
 Mr. Romero. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra, in consequence, was de- 
 clared First Vioe-Piesident, and Mr. Ro- 
 mero Second Vice-President. 
 
 Article II of the report of the Commit- 
 tee oil Committees was submitted for dis- 
 cussion, reading as follows: 
 
 "II. — Committee on Customs Unions. 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee of five Del- 
 egates be appointed, whose duty it shall 
 be to report upon the possibility and ad- 
 visability of an American customs union, 
 formulating in such a case the basis for 
 its establishment." 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 stated in the name of the committee that 
 he hoped that the wording of the article 
 as now presented would do away with 
 the difficulties that formerly existed. 
 
 The vote being taken on this article, it 
 was unanimously approved. 
 
 Mr. Laforbstkie, a Delegate from 
 Hayti, requested that, as a question of 
 order, the consideration of the following 
 motion, made by him in the previous ses- 
 sion, might be considered: 
 
 "That the two Vice-Presidents to be 
 elected shall not enter upon the duties of 
 their office until after all the Delegates 
 called by lot to occupy the Presidential 
 Chair shall have acquitted themselves of 
 this honorable duty." 
 
 Mr. Laforestrie's motion having been 
 voted upon, it was defeated. 
 
 At 4 o'clock p. m. Mr. Matias Romero, 
 in the absence of Mr. Zegarra, took the 
 Chair. 
 
 The discussion of Article III of the re- 
 port of the Committee on Committees 
 was submitted, which reads as follows: 
 
 "III. — Committee on Communication on the 
 Atlantic. 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee of five be 
 appointed, whose duty it shall be to con- 
 sider and report upon the best means of 
 extending and improving the facilities 
 for transportation and postal and tele- 
 graph communication between the seve- 
 ral countries represented in this Confer- 
 ence that border on the Atlantic Ocean." 
 
 contener el nombre del Sr. Zegarra y el 
 segundo el del Sr. Romero, quedando, por 
 consiguiente, el Sr. Zegarra como Primer 
 Vicepresidente, y el Sr. Romero como Se- 
 gundo Vioepresidente,yaBffu(Sdeclarado. 
 Habi6ndose puesto S, discusidn el artl- 
 culo segundo del luforme de la Comisidn 
 de Comisiones, el cual dice : 
 
 "II. — Comisi6n de la XJnidn Aduanera. 
 
 " Se resuelve. Que se nombre una co- 
 misidn de cinco delegados, la cual deber^ 
 informar acerca de la posibilidad 6 con- 
 venienoia de una unidn aduanera ameri- 
 cana, propcniendo en su caso, las bases 
 para establecerla." 
 
 El Sr. Cruz, delegado por Guatemala, 
 manifestd & nombre de la Comisidn que 
 el articulo habia sido redactado teniendo 
 en cuenta las observaciones hechas en la 
 anterior sesitfn, y ^ fin de obviar las difi- 
 cultades que ent6nces se presentaron para 
 sn aprobacidn. 
 
 Puesto & votaci6n el citado articulo, 
 fa6 uniiuimemente aprobado. 
 
 El Sr. Laforestrie, delegado por Haiti, 
 pidid que como cuestidu de 6rden, se pu- 
 siese en consideraci6u de la Conferencia 
 la siguiente moci(5n, hecha por €1 en la 
 sesi6u anterior, S, saber : 
 
 " Que los dos Vicepresidentes que ha- 
 briin de elegirse no entrardu en el de- 
 sempefio de sns funciones hasta despu^s 
 que las delegaciones hayan ocupado la 
 silla presidencial, segfin fueron designa- 
 das por suerte.'' 
 
 Puesta Si votacidn la propo8ici6n del 
 Sr. Laforestrie, fu6 desechada. 
 
 A las 4 y 10 minutes p. m., estando au- 
 sente el Sr. Zegarra, delegado por Perti, 
 pas6 el Sr. Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 S. ocupar la Presidencia. 
 
 En discusidn el articulo tercero del 
 informe, el cual dice : 
 
 ArtIculo III. — Comis'lin de Comunica- 
 dones pnr el Atldntico. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que se nombre una comi- 
 sifin de cinco delegados, la cualdeberii es- 
 tudiar y proponer los medios ni^s propios 
 para aumentar y extender las facilidades 
 para los transportes, y la comunicaci6n 
 postal y telegr^fica entre los diferentes 
 pafses representados en esta Conferencia, 
 que coufinan con el Oc^ano Atldlatico." 
 
78 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Having been voted on, it waa approved. 
 Article IV of the above report was also 
 approved, as follows: 
 
 Puesto S, votaoidn fa6 aprobado. 
 En discusida el Articulo IV del referido 
 informe, el oual dice : 
 
 " IV. — Committee on Covimvnioation on the 
 Pacific. 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of five be 
 appointed, whose duty it shall be to con- 
 sider and report upon the best means of 
 extending and improving the facilities 
 for transportation and postal and tele- 
 graphic communication between the sev- 
 eral countries represented in this Confer- 
 ence that border upon the Pacific Ocean." 
 
 Article V was submitted in the follow- 
 ing form : 
 
 "ARTfcui-O IV. — Comisi6n de Comuni- 
 caciones por el Pacifico. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que se nombre una comi- 
 sidn de cinco delegados, la cual deberii es- 
 tudiar y proponer los medios m^s pro- 
 pios para aumentar y extender las fa- 
 cilidades para 1(^ trausportes y la co- 
 municaci6n postal y telegrSfica entre los 
 diferentes palses representados en esta 
 Conferencia que confinan con el Oc6ano 
 Pacifico." 
 
 Puesto Sivotacidnel articulo cuarto fu6 
 aprobado. 
 
 En discusjdn el Articulo V del citado 
 informe, el cual dice : 
 
 "V. — Committee on Communication on the 
 Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee of five be 
 appointed, whose duty it shall be to con- 
 sider and report upon the best means of 
 extending and improving the facilities 
 for transportation and postal and lele- 
 graphio communication between the sev- 
 eral countries represented in this Confer- 
 ence that border upon the Gulf of Mexico 
 and the Caribbean Sea." 
 
 Mr. Decoud, a Delegate froraParaguay, 
 and Mr. Velarde, a Delegate from Bolivia, 
 stated that according to the wording of 
 Articles III, IV, and V it would appear 
 that the nations not bordering on the At- 
 lantic or Pacific Oceans or on the Gulf of 
 Mexico were not included in the aims 
 for which the articles provide. 
 
 After several explanations it was agreed 
 that the committee word these articles so 
 as to avoid this difficulty, and with this 
 understanding Article V was approved. 
 
 Article VI was read as follows : 
 
 "ArtIculo V. — Comisidn de Comuniea- 
 cionespor el Golfo de M6xico yel Mar Caribe. 
 
 "Se resuelve. Que se nombre una comi- 
 sidn de cinco delegados, la cual deberd 
 estudiar y proponer los medios m^ pro- 
 pios para aumentar y extender las facili- 
 dades para los transportes, y la comuni- 
 caoi6n postal y telegrSfica entre los dife- 
 rentes palses representados en esta Confe- 
 rencia que confinan con el Golfo de Mfeico 
 y el Mar Caribe." 
 
 El Sr. Decoud, delegado por el Para- 
 guay, y asl mismo el Sr. Velarde, delegado 
 por Bolivia, manifestarou que segiin la 
 letra de los Artlculos III, IV, y V parecia 
 que las naciones no confinantes con el Pa- 
 cifico, el Atl^ntico 6 el Golfo de Mexico no 
 estaban comprendidas en los objetos & 
 que dichos artlculos se refieren. Despu^s 
 de algunas explicaciones se acordd que la 
 comisi5n se sir viese redactarlos de manera 
 que se salvase esa difioultad, y en esta 
 inteligencia puesto & votacidn el Articulo 
 V fn6 aprobado. 
 
 En discusidn el Articulo VI del informe 
 S que se viene haciendo referenoia, el cual 
 dice: 
 
 " VI. — Committee on Railway Communioa- 
 tion. 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee of seven- 
 teen be appointed, whose duty it shall be 
 to consider and report upon the subject 
 
 "ArtIculo VI. — Comisidn de Comunica- 
 ciones por Ferrocarril. 
 
 "Se resuelve, Que se nombre una co- 
 misidn de diez y siete delegados, la cual 
 deber^ examinar y preseutar informe 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 79 
 
 of railway communication between the 
 several countries represented in this Con- 
 ference. 
 
 After some discussion it was agreed to in- 
 sert the words "postal and telegraphic," 
 so as to make the article read as follows : 
 
 "VI. Committee on Railway Communication. 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of seven- 
 teen be appointed, whose duty it shall he 
 to cousider and report upon the subject 
 of railway, postal, and telegraphic com- 
 munication between the several countries 
 represented iu this Conference." 
 
 It was approved in the above form. 
 
 Article VII of the above mentioned re- 
 port is submitted to discussion, reading as 
 follows: 
 
 "VII. — Committee on Customs Regulations. 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of five be 
 appointed, whose duty it shall be to con- 
 sider and report upon the best methods 
 of simplifying the customs regulations 
 in the several ports of the countries rep- 
 resented in this Conference. 
 
 " (a) Formalities to he observed in the 
 importation and exportation of merchan- 
 dise. 
 
 "(!>) The classification, examination, 
 and valuation of merchandise. 
 
 "(c) Methods of imposing and collect- 
 ing fines and penalties for the violation 
 of customs regulations." 
 
 Mr. Aragon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, suggested, and the committee ac- 
 cepted, the advisability of inserting the 
 word " port, " making it read as follows : 
 
 aoerca de la comunicacidn por ferrooarril 
 entre los diferentes palses representados 
 en esta Conferencia." 
 
 Despu(5s de algunas explicaciones se 
 acord6 insertar las palabras "postal y 
 telegrJifica " de modo que quedase en la 
 forma siguiente : 
 
 "ArtIculo VI. — Comisidn de comunica- 
 Biones por ferrooarril. 
 
 " Se resuelve. Que se nombre una co- 
 misidn de diez y siete delegados, la cual 
 deberJi examinar y presentar iuforme 
 acerca de lacomunicaci6n por ferrooarril, 
 postal y telegr^fica entre los diferentes 
 palses representados en esta Conferencia." 
 
 En esta forma fu(5 aprohado. 
 
 En consideraci6n el Articulo VII del 
 oitado informe, el cual dice : 
 
 "ARTfcuLO VII. — Comisidn de Reglamen- 
 tos de Aduana. 
 
 "Se resuelve. Que se nombre una comi- 
 sidn de cinco' delegados, la cual deber^ 
 estudiar 6 informar acerca de los procedi- 
 mientos m^s adecuados para mejorar y 
 simplificar los reglamentos de aduauasen 
 los diferentes puertos de los palses repre- 
 sentados en esta Conferencia. 
 
 " (o) Forraalidades que han de obser- 
 varse en la importacidn y exportaci6n de 
 mercaderias. 
 
 " (6) Clasificaci6n, registro y avaltio de 
 mercaderias. 
 
 " (c) Procedimientos para imponer y 
 hacer efectivas las multas y penas por 
 la violaci6u de los reglamentos de 
 aduana." 
 
 El Sr. Arag6n, delegado por Costa 
 Rica, sugiri6 la conveniencia de agregar 
 lapalahra"pnerto"y demodoqueseinclu- 
 yesen los reglamentos de puertoy aduanii. 
 Adoptada la modificaci6n por la Comisidn 
 el articulo qued6 redactado como sigue : 
 
 "VII. — Committee on Customs Regulations. 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of five be 
 appointed, whose duty it shall be to con- 
 sider and report upon the best methods of 
 simplifying the port and customs regula- 
 tions in the several ports of the countries 
 represented in this Conference. 
 
 "ARTfcuLO VII. — Comisidn de Regla- 
 mento de Aduanas. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que se nombre una comi- 
 sidn de cinco delegados, la cual deber^ 
 estudiar 6 informar acerca de los procedi- 
 mientos mSs adecuados para mejorar y 
 simplificar los reglamentos de puertos y 
 aduanas en los diferentes puertos de los 
 paises representados en esta Conferencia. 
 
80 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 " (a) Formalities to be observed in the 
 importation and exportation of merchan- 
 dise. 
 
 " (6) The classification, examination, 
 and valuation of merchandise. 
 
 "(c) Methods of imposing and collect- 
 ing fines and penalties for the violation 
 of customs and port regulations.'' 
 
 A vote having been taken, it was 
 adopted in the above form. 
 
 No opposition having been raised Ar- 
 ticle VIII was voted upon and carried in 
 the following form : 
 
 "VIII. — Committee on Port Dues. 
 
 Besolved, That a committee of five be 
 appointed, whose duty it shall be to con- 
 sider and report upon the best methods 
 of securing uniformity of consular, port, 
 light-house, pilot, and other harbor 
 dues." 
 
 No objection was raised to Article IX, 
 and it was approved in the following 
 form: 
 
 " (a) Formalidades que han de obser- 
 varse en la importaoi6n y exportacidn de 
 mercaderlas. 
 
 " (6) Clasificacidn, registro, y avaWo do 
 meroaderfaa. 
 
 "(c) Procedimientos para imponer y 
 haoer efectivas las multas y penas por la 
 violaci6u de los reglamentos de puertos y 
 aduanas.'' 
 
 Y puesto S> votaci6n fn6 aprobado. 
 
 Se ley6 el Artlculo VIII, y qued6 adop- 
 tado sin oposicifen en la forma siguiente : 
 
 "AETfcui^O VII [. — Comisidn de Derechos de 
 Puertos. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que se nombre una co- 
 misidn de cinco delegados, la cual deber^ 
 examlnar y presentar la manera m^ pro- 
 pia de nniformar los derechos de consu- 
 lado, puerto, faro, pilotaje y los demiis 
 que se exijen en los puertos." 
 
 En discusidn el Artfculo IX del citado 
 informe, el cual dice : 
 
 "IX. — Committee on Weights and Measures. "AlSHcuLO IX.- 
 
 " Besolved, That a committee of three 
 be appointed, whose duty it shall be to 
 consider the adoption of a uniform sys- 
 tem of weights and measures by the 
 countries represented in this Confer- 
 ence." 
 
 Article X was voted upon and carried 
 as follows : 
 
 -Comisidn de Pesos y Medi- 
 das. 
 
 " Se resnelve. Que se nombre nna comi- 
 sidn de tres delegados, la cual deberd^ 
 estudiarlaadopcidnde un sistema comtiu 
 de pesos y medidas por los paises repre- 
 sentados en esta Conferoncia." 
 
 No hacifindose objecifin, fn6 puesto & 
 votacidn y aprobado. 
 
 En discusidn el Artlculo X del citado 
 informe, el cual dice : 
 
 " X. — Committee on Sanitary Begulations. 
 
 Besolved, That a committee of seven be 
 appointed, whose duty it shall be to con- 
 sider and report upon the best methods 
 of establishing and maintaining sanitary 
 regulations in commerce between the 
 several countries represented in this 
 Conference." 
 
 Article XI was read as follows : 
 
 " ArtIculo X. — Comisi6n de Reglamentos 
 Sanitarios. 
 
 " Se resuelve. Que se nombre ura comi- 
 sidn de siete delegados, la cual deberS 
 examinar y presentar el mdtodo mSa ade- 
 ouado de establecer y mantener regla- 
 mentos sanitarios para el comercio entre 
 los diferentes paises representados en esta 
 Conferencia.'' 
 
 No habiendo sido objetado fud puesto ^ 
 votacidn y aprobado. 
 
 Se leyd el Artfculo XI que dice : 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCK. 
 
 81 
 
 "XI. — Committee on Patents and Trade- 
 Marka. 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of three be 
 appointed to oonnider and report upou 
 the beat methods of protecting patent, 
 publication, and trade-marks rights in 
 commerce between the countries repre- 
 sented in this Conference." 
 
 Mr. BoLET Peuaza, a Delegate fromVen- 
 ezuela, moved that In place of the words 
 in the Spanish text " marcas de tr^tico" 
 be substituted "marcas de fiibrlca," and 
 this was adopted by the Committee. 
 
 Mr. Hdrtado, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, asked if by the word "publication" 
 in the English text "copyright" was 
 meant. He was answered in the affirma- 
 tive by Mr. Henderson. 
 
 The article was voted on and approved, 
 with the above change of words. 
 
 It being already five o'clock, Mr. Vel- 
 arde, a delegate from Bolivia, moved that 
 the session be prolonged until the remain- 
 ing articles of the report had been acted 
 upon. 
 
 A vote being taken, the motion was 
 carried. 
 
 Article XII was read as follows : 
 
 " XII. — Committee on Extradition. 
 
 " Besolved, That a committee of three 
 be appointed to consider and report upon 
 the establishment of a general convention 
 between the countries represented in this 
 Conference for the extradition of crimi- 
 nals.'' 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Kepublic, stated that he would 
 accept the abo.ve article if the heading 
 was made to read "Committee on Extra- 
 dition and Penal Jurisdiction," and on the 
 words "penal jurisdiction" being intro- 
 duced in the text, making the article read 
 as follows : 
 
 'XII.- 
 
 -Committee on Extraditionand Penal 
 Jurisdiction. 
 
 ^'Besolved, That a committee of three be 
 appointed to consider and report upon the 
 establishment of a general convention be- 
 
 "ArtIculo XI. — Comiaidn de Patentes y 
 Marcas Comerciales. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que se nombre una comi- 
 si6n de tres delegados, lacual deberd^ exa- 
 minar y proponer ol sisteraa msis ade- 
 cuado para proteger los derechos adquiri- 
 dos bajo patentes de invencidn, y marcas 
 de tr^fico, en los paises represeutados en 
 esta Couferenoia." 
 
 El Sr. BOLET Peraza propuso que dllas 
 palabras "marcas de tr^dco" se susti- 
 tuyesen las de "marcas de fdlbrica," lo 
 cual fu6 adoptado por la Comieidn. 
 
 El Sr. HuRTADO, delegado por Colom- 
 bia, preguntfi si en el texto ingles la pa- 
 labra " publication " debiaentendersepor 
 "copyright," S, lo cual el Sr. Henderson 
 contests afirmativamente. Con esos cam- 
 bios de palabras, el citado artlculo fa6 
 pucisto S, votaci6u y aprobado. 
 
 Siendo y a las 5 de la tarde el Sr.VELA rde, 
 delegado por Bolivia, hizo mocidn para 
 que se continuase la sesidn hasta que so 
 tomase resolucidn acerca de los dem^s 
 artioulos del informe S, que se viene ha- 
 ciendo referencia. 
 
 Paesta ^ votacidn la proposicidn fu6 
 aprobada. 
 
 En discusi6n el Artlculo XII del citado 
 iuforme, el cual dice : 
 
 " ArtIcclo XII. — Comisi6n de Extradi- 
 cidn. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que se nombre una co- 
 misidn de tres delegados, la cual deberd 
 examinar 6 informar acerca de la adopcidn 
 de una convenci6n general entre los paises 
 representados en esta Conferencia para la 
 extradicifin de criminales." 
 
 El Sr. QuiNTANA, delegado por la Ar- 
 gentina, manifestd que aceptaria el Ar- 
 tlculo XII si al membrete que tenia se 
 sustituia este otro : " Comisidn sobre ex- 
 tradicidn y jurisdiccidn penal ; y se inter- 
 calaban entre las palabras "Conferen- 
 cia" y " para " las palabras "sobre juris- 
 dicoi6n penal," de modo que el artlculo 
 quedase como sigue : 
 
 " ArtIculo XII. — Comisidn sobre Extra- 
 dicidn y Jurisdiccidn Penal. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que se nombre una co- 
 misidn de tres delegados, la cual deber3 
 examinar 6 informar acerca de una con- 
 
82 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 tween tho countries represented in this 
 Conference for penal jurisdiction and the 
 extradition of criminals." 
 
 After considerable discussion it was 
 agreed that Mr. Quintana's amplification 
 should be the subject of a separate article, 
 to be submitted to the consideration of 
 the Conference after all those in the re- 
 port had been disposed of. 
 
 Article XII was approved, after having 
 been voted on, in the form presented by 
 the committee. 
 
 " Besolved, That a committee of three be 
 appointed to consider and report npon the 
 establishment of a general convention be- 
 tween the countries represented in this 
 Conference for the extradition of crimi- 
 nals." 
 
 Article XIII was read as follows : 
 
 " XIII. — Committee on Monetary Conven- 
 tion. 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee of seven 
 be appointed, whose duty it shall be to 
 consider and report the basis of a mone- 
 tary convention between the countries 
 represented in this Conference." 
 
 Mr. EsTEB, a Delegate from the United 
 States, proposed that the above article be 
 amended to read in the following manner : 
 
 " Besolved, That a committee of seven 
 be appointed, whose duty it shall be to 
 consider all questions relating to the 
 adoption of a common silver coin to bo 
 issued by each Government, the same to 
 be a legal tender in all commercial trans- 
 actions between the citizens of all the 
 Americau States ; to report the basis of a 
 monetary convention between the coun- 
 tries represented in this Conference." 
 
 Mr. EsTEE supported his proposal at 
 length, and was seconded by Mr. Moxia, 
 a Delegate from Mexico. 
 
 After considerable explanation, Mr. 
 Estee's amendment was voted upon and 
 accepted. 
 
 Article XIV was read as follows : 
 
 veucidn general entre los palses represen- 
 tadosen esta Conferencia, sobre jurisdic- 
 ci(5u penal, y para la extradici6n de cri- 
 minales." 
 
 Despues de algunas explioaciones acer- 
 ca de la significacidn y alcance de las 
 palabras propuestas por el Sr. Quintana, 
 y con su consentimiento, se acord6 que la 
 modiflcaci6n fuese objeto de artlculo por 
 separado que podria proponerse S, la con- 
 sideraci6n de la Conferencia asi que hu- 
 biese tomado res«luci(5n acerca de los ar- 
 tlculos de que consta el informe. 
 
 Puesto £C votaoi6n el Artlculo XII fu<S 
 aprobado en la forma en que lo present6 
 la comisidn. 
 
 "Se resuelve. Que se nombre una co- 
 misi<5n de tres delegados, la cual doberii 
 examinar 6 informar acerca de la adop- 
 ci(5n de una conveuci6n general entre los 
 paises representados en esta Conferencia 
 para la extradici6n de orimiuales.'' 
 
 En di8cusi6n el Artlculo XIII del citado 
 informe, el cual dice : 
 
 "ArtIculo XIII. — Comisidn de Conven- 
 ddn Monetavia. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que.ee nombre una comi- 
 si6n de siete delegados, la cual AebevSi 
 • estndiar y presentar las bases para una 
 convenci6u mouetaria entre los paises 
 representados en esta Conferencia." 
 
 El Sr. EsTEE, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, propuso que al referido artlculo 
 se sustituyese el siguiente : 
 
 "Se resuelve, Que se nombre una comi- 
 si6n. de siete delegados para que estudie 
 6 informe acerca de la adopci<5n de una 
 meneda de plata comtiu, la cual ser^ 
 acuDada por los distintos Gobiernos y 
 tendr^ curso legal en todas las transac- 
 ciones comerciales entre los oiudadanos 
 de las naciones americanas. La comisi6u 
 tambiiSn presentarii un proyecto de cou- 
 vencidn mouetaria entre los distintos 
 paises representados en esta Conferen- 
 cia." 
 
 El Sr. Estee fuud6 largamente su 
 proposicion, la cual fuiS apoyada por el 
 Sr. Mexfa, delegado por Mexico. 
 
 Despn^s de varias explioaciones, y de 
 haber manifestado la comisi6n que acep- 
 taba la modificacidn del Sr. Estee, puesta 
 aquella & votaci6n fn6 aprobada. 
 
 En disousi<5u el Artlculo XIV del citado 
 informe, lecual dice : 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 83 
 
 " XIV. — Committee on Banking. 
 
 " Beaolved, That a committee of five Ije 
 appointed, whose duty it shall bo to con- 
 sider and report upon the methods of im- 
 proving and extending the banking facil- 
 ities and credit systems between the sev- 
 eral countries represented, in this Confer- 
 ence." 
 
 This article was unanimously approved 
 in its above form. 
 
 Article XV was read as follows: 
 
 " XV. — Committee on International Laio. 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee of five be 
 appointed whose duty it shall be to report 
 uniform rules of private international 
 law affecting civil and commercial mat- 
 ters and the legalization of documents." 
 
 There being no objection it was ap- 
 proved. 
 Article XVI was read as follows: 
 
 " XVI. — Committee on General Welfare. 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of seven 
 be appointed, whose duty it shall be to 
 report some plan of arbitration for the 
 settlement of disagreements that may 
 hereafter arise between the several na- 
 tions reprjesented in this Conference, and 
 to receive, consider, and report upon any 
 topics that may be proposed, other than 
 those included in the invitation from the 
 Government of the United States." 
 
 In discussing the above article, Mr. 
 Vakas, a Delegate from Chili, staled that 
 in the second part of this article the com- 
 mittee had exceeded the sphere of action 
 for the Conference, as provided by the 
 law passed by the Congress of the United 
 States, and that international courtesy 
 prohibited that they should exceed the 
 provisions of the said law. 
 
 After some discussion and explanation, 
 and upon the understanding that the com- 
 mittee word anew the latter part of this 
 article, taking into consideration the 
 views expressed by Mr. Varas, it was 
 acted upon and approved. 
 
 "AbtIculo XIV. — Comiaidn de Buncos. 
 
 " Se resuelvc, Que se nombre una coml- 
 si6n de cinco delegados, la cual deberd; 
 examinar 6 informar acerca de los medios 
 de raejorar y extender las faoilidadesban- 
 carias y los sistemas de crddito entre los 
 diferentes palses representados en esta 
 Conferencia." 
 
 No baci^ndose objecidn fu6 puesto ii 
 votaci6u y aprobado. 
 
 En dlscnsitfn el Artloulo XV del citado 
 iiiforme, el cual dice: 
 
 "ArtIculo XV. — Comisi6n de Derecho 
 Internadonal. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que se nomhre una eomi- 
 si<5u de cinco delegados, la cual deberS 
 presentar reglas uniformes de Derecho 
 Internaoional Privado respecto do ma- 
 terias civiles y comeroiales y legalizacifin 
 de docuraentos." 
 
 No siendo objetado, fu6 puesto dl vota- 
 ci6n y aprobado. 
 
 En disousidn el Artlculo XVI del citado 
 informe, el cual dice. 
 
 "AetIculo XVI. — Comisiin de Paz y 
 Amistad General. 
 
 " Se resuelve, Que se nombre una comi- 
 sidn de siete delegados, la cual deber^ 
 presentar un plan do arbitraje para el 
 arreglo de las diferencias que ocurran 
 entre las diferentes naciones representa- 
 das en esta Conferencia ; y deber^ tam- 
 bien recibir, examinar 6 informar acerca 
 de cnalesquiera otros puntos que se pro- 
 pongan para la paz y prosperidad gene- 
 ral, que no sean los expresados en la 
 invitacidu del Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos." 
 
 El Sr. Varas, delegado por Chile, mani- 
 fest6 que en el citado artfculo la Conii- 
 si6n se habia separado del texto de la ley 
 del Congreso de los Estados Unidos, y 
 que la« conveniencias internacionales no 
 permitian que se saliese do lo que la 
 citada ley dispone. 
 
 Despu<5s de algunas explicaciones, y en 
 la inteligencia de quo la Comisi6n re- 
 daotarla el citado artlculo teuieudo en 
 ouenta las observaoiones del Sr. Varas, 
 fa6 puesto S. votaoi6n y aprobado. 
 
84 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from tlie 
 United States, moved that the following 
 resolufion, which he had introduced on 
 the third day and which had remained on 
 the table, he now considered : 
 
 ' ' Resolved, That the President appoint 
 a committee of seven, whose daty it shall 
 be to designate and name the members 
 who shall constitute the several standing 
 committees of this Coufereuce, said des- 
 ignations to be subject to approval by the 
 Conference when reported." 
 
 The President stated that this motion 
 was out of order, as the session had only 
 been prolonged in order to consider the 
 report of the Committee on Committees. 
 
 Mr. Teescot, a Delegate from the 
 United States, suggested that the session 
 be prolonged in order to consider Mr. 
 Henderson's motion. 
 
 This was agreed to. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, stated that he agreed 
 with Mr. Henderson, in substance, that 
 it was indispensable that the Conference 
 at once appoint the committees which 
 were to study the various subjects sub- 
 mitted to them, but that at the same time 
 he desired to make an amendment which 
 he hoped would be acceptable to the Con- 
 ference. The right undoubtedly belonged 
 to legislative bodies to appoiut the mem- 
 bers of the various committees for the 
 consideration of subjects submitted, but 
 nevertheless it is customary for such 
 bodies to intrust to the president the 
 selection of such members as he may 
 deem best fitted to belong to the commit- 
 tees. The South American Conference of 
 Montevideo had done so, as had also the 
 present Conference on several occasions. 
 
 The tact shown on these occasions made 
 it undesirable to depart from such a suc- 
 cessful precedent, and he consequently 
 proposed that Mr. Henderson's suggestion 
 be modified so that the elections of the 
 members of the various committees 
 adopted by the Conference be directly 
 intrusted to the President. This task he 
 
 El Sr. Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, pidi6 que se tomase en 
 consideraci6n la siguiente resoluoidn por 
 (51 presentada en la tercera sesidn de la 
 Conferencia, y la cual se acord6 dejar 
 sobre la mesa. 
 
 "5e resuelve, Que el Presidente nom- 
 bre una comisi6n compuesta de siete 
 delegados, cuyo deber ser^ el de designar 
 y nombrar los miembros de que se com- 
 pondr^n las varias comisiones perma- 
 nentes de esta ♦Conferencia, y cuyos 
 nombramientos estar^n sujetos ^ la apro- 
 bacidn de la Conferencia, ouando se in- 
 forme sobre ellos." 
 
 El Sr. Presidente pro tempore mani- 
 festo que no podia procederse S, conside- 
 rarse esa resolucidn por cuanto la sesidu 
 se habia prorogado solamente para cou- 
 siderar el informe de la Comisidn de 
 Comisiones. 
 
 El. Sr. Trescot, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, propuso que se proro- 
 gase la sesidn para tomar en consideracidn 
 la mocidn hecha por el Sr. Henderson, y 
 asi se acord6. 
 
 El Sr. QuiNTANA, delegado por la Ar- 
 gentina, mani£e8t6 estar perfectamente 
 con forme en el fondo con la proposiciou 
 del Sr. Henderson por ser absolutaraente 
 indispensable que la Conferencia nombre, 
 cuanto ^ntes, las comisiones que ban de 
 ocuparse de los diversos asuutos que le 
 est^n sometidos ; pero al mismo tiempo 
 se proponia introducir una modificacidn 
 que esper^ba la Conferencia encontrase 
 aceptabel. Agregd que S. los cuerpos co- 
 legiados corresponde, sin disputa, el de- 
 recho de crear y de nombrar comisiones 
 para el ox^men de los asuutos sometidos 
 & su cousideracifin. Es, sin embargo, 
 una pr^tioa de los mismos cuerpos, cou- 
 fiar Si su Presidente la designacKiu de los 
 miembros que hayan de componer esas 
 comisiones. Aello hizo el Congreso Sud- 
 Amerioano de Montevideo, y asf lo ha 
 hecho tambiiSn esta Conferencia en di- 
 versas ocasiones. 
 
 El acierto de los nombramientos verifi- 
 cados es un nuevo precedente para que no 
 nos apart^mos de pr^cticas tan saludables, 
 y me permito proponer que el proyecto 
 de Eesolucidn del Sr. delegado Hender- 
 son sea modificado en el sentido de que 
 la designacidn del personal de las Comi- 
 siones oreadas por la Conferencia sea 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 85 
 
 felt confident the President would accora- 
 plisli with ability and Impartiality. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, agreed with Mr. Quin- 
 tana's amendment. 
 
 The amendment was voted npon and 
 was nnauimously carried. 
 
 Ihe Conference adjourned at 6 o'clock 
 and 15 minutes p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine. 
 Arthur Laforestrie, 
 
 Sayti. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguai;. 
 JOSIl! M. Hurtado, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Eepublic, 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Josi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Bonduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 United Slates. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Jos^ Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Josi5 Alfonso, 
 
 GMli. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:fi Maria PlIcido Ca amaNo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 directamente confiada al Sr. Presidente, 
 el cual lo harS sin duda con elevacidn y 
 reotitud. 
 
 Hablendo el Sr. Henderson aceptado 
 la modificacidn del Sr. Quintana, puesta 
 la resoluoidn S. votaci6n fu6 un^nime- 
 mente adoptada. 
 
 Terminados los asuntos para los cuales 
 se habia prorogado la sesida se levantd 
 6sta i, las 6 y 15 minutes p. m. 
 James 6. Blaine. 
 Arturo Laforestrie, 
 
 Haiti. 
 HORACIO GuzmjCn, 
 
 Nicaragtiia. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Jos)5 M. Hurtado, 
 
 Colomliia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador de MENDONgA, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MATfAS Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mixico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 JoiinB. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William H. Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson. 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 Jos^ Andeade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Josi5 Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos6 M. P. CAAMAffO, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
THIRTEENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA NO. 13. 
 
 Washington, December 9, 1889. 
 
 The International American Conference 
 
 was called to order by the President, Mr. 
 
 James G. Blaine, at 2 o'clock 5 minutes p. 
 
 m., thefoIlowiugDelegate.^beingpresent : 
 
 From Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 From N icaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 From Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 From Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 From Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 From Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 From Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 From Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Meudon^a. 
 From Honduras ; 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 From Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 From Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juau F. Velarde. 
 From the United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 From Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Audrade. 
 
 86 
 
 Seaidn del 9 de Diciembre de 1889. 
 Presidenoia del Hon. Sr. Blaine. Es- 
 tando presentes : 
 
 Por Haiti : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Por Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Gfuzm^n 
 Por Peru : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Por Guateniiila : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Per Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Por Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 
 Por Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Por Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Por Mdxico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Por Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juau F. Velarde. 
 Por los Estados Unidos do Norte 
 America : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William H. Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Esteo ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Por Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza; 
 
 El Sr. Jos(S Andrade. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 87 
 
 From Chili: 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 From Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellauos. 
 The journal of the preceding day hav- 
 ing been read, it was approved and signed 
 by the Delegates present. 
 
 The President thanked the Delegates 
 for the coniidenoe placed in him in sub- 
 mitting to him the selection of the various 
 Delegates to compose the several commit- 
 tees. 
 
 Mr. QniNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, not being present, 
 Mr. Trescot, a Delegate from the United 
 States, moved that the motion which had 
 been made by that honorable Delegate 
 in the previous session for the formation 
 of a committee on "Penal Jurisdiction" 
 be postjioned. 
 
 It was 80 ordered by the Chair. 
 
 The President stated that the order of 
 the day was exhausted, and asked what 
 order the Conference would take. 
 
 Mr. HuETADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, suggested that the Conference ad- 
 journ to meet on Friday, the 13th instant, 
 at 2 p. m. 
 
 This having been agreed upon, the ses- 
 sion was closed at 3.10 p. m. 
 Arthur Lajtoebstrib, 
 
 Hayti. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. 0. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala,. 
 JoslS M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Colomiia. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 Costa Bica, 
 Josii; S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valenth 
 Salvador db M7',ndon9a. 
 
 Bj'azil. 
 Jer6nimo ^blaya, 
 
 FTonduraa. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 Mexico. 
 
 For Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Jo8(5 Alfonso. 
 Por Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
 Se abre la S6si6n ^ las 2 y 5 miniitos 
 p. m. 
 
 Se leyi), aprob6yfirm6el acta do la se- 
 siou anterior. 
 
 El Sr. Presidbnte di6 las gracias il la 
 Conferencia por la prueba de con/ianza 
 quo lo daba dejando tt su jiiicio la elee- 
 ci(3n de los Sres. Delegados que debian 
 formar oada coraisi(5n. 
 
 Se pas6 S, la 6rden del dia, 6, saber, la 
 proposici6n del Sr. Qiiintana, Delegado 
 por la Argentina, acerca de la formacion 
 de una Comisidu sobro jurisdicci6n penal. 
 No estando el proponente preseute, el 
 Sr. Trescot, Delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, propuso que se pospusieso la con- 
 si.leraci6n de la proposicion paracuando 
 ost6 preseute el Sr. Quintaua 1 ; y asi se 
 acord6. 
 
 Habiendo tcrrainado el 6rden del dia y 
 pregnntado la mesa quo disponia la Con- 
 ferencia, el Sr. Hurtado, Delegado por 
 Colombia, propuso que se levantase la 
 8esi6n liasta el vi<5rnes 13 del corriente 
 a las 2 p. m. 1 ; y asl se dispuso levanttin- 
 dose la sesidn ^las 3 y 10 minutes p. m. 
 
 Arturo Laporestrie, 
 
 Haiti. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peril. 
 Fernando Ckuz, 
 
 G-uatemala. 
 Jos:6 M. Hurtado, 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colomhia. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Jlica. 
 
 J. G. DO Amaeal Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon(;'a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
88 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studbbakbr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, ■ 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris N. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry C. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Josfe Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josfi Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 Solivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studbbakbr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William H. Trescot, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Eatados Unidos de Norte Am^-iea. 
 Nicanor Bolbt Peraza, 
 Josi; An»radb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile, 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
FOURTEENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 14. 
 
 Washijtgton, December 13, 1889. 
 The Intemational American Conference 
 was called to order at 2 p. m. by the Pres- 
 ident, Hon. James G. Blai.ve, with the 
 following delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Pern : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calderon. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. JosS S. Decond. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry 6. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 
 Sesidn del 13 de Diciembre de 1889. 
 Presidencia del Hon. James G. Blaine, 
 Estaudo presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua :* 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzmiin. 
 Peril: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Ciirlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. * 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 M6xioo : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
 El Sr. Josd Andrade. 
 
 89 
 
90 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cidoCaamauo. 
 
 The minutes of the thirteenth session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, delegate from Guatemala, 
 handed the Chair the revised rules. 
 
 The President, before reading the list 
 of the members of the sixteen committees 
 included in the report of the Committee 
 on Committees, suggested that the num- 
 ber of members on the Committee on Cus- 
 toms Union be increased to nine instead 
 of five. 
 
 The suggestion was unanimously ap- 
 proved. 
 
 The Prksident then stated that the 
 duty of appointing the members of the 
 committees was a very delicate one, but 
 that ho hoped that he would be acknowl- 
 edged as having performed the task with 
 absolute impartiality. 
 
 The President then read the following 
 list: 
 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador: 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Pl&ido 
 Caamano. 
 Se abre la sesidn d las 2 y 5 minutos 
 p. m. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firm6 el acta de la 
 sesi6n anterior. 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Cruz, ^elegado por Gnato- 
 raala y miembro de la Coraisi<5n de Eevi- 
 si6n, pas6 £i la mesa el Eeglamento ya 
 revisado. 
 
 El Sr. Pkesidente, ^utes de proceder S. 
 dar lectura & la lista de los Sres. delega- 
 dos por 6\ designados para formar las diez 
 y seis comisiones, sugiri6 quo seria con- 
 veniente aumentar ji nueve el personal 
 delaComisidn sobre Eeglamento de Adua- 
 anas, iudicacifin que mereci6 la aproba- 
 ci6n unsinirae de la Conferencia. 
 
 El Sr. Pkesidente hizo presente que el 
 deber de nombrar el personal de las dife- 
 reutes comisiones era sobremanera deli- 
 cado; pero que esperaba se reconociese 
 qne lo habia desempeuado con absolufa 
 imparcialidad. 
 
 En seguida el Sr. Prcsidente di<5 lectura 
 & la lista que sigue, i saber : 
 
 committees 01' THE INTERNATIONAL 
 • AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Executive Committee. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra (First Vice-President), of 
 Peru. 
 
 Mr. Romero (Second Vice-President), 
 of Mexico. 
 
 Mr. Bliss, of the United States. 
 
 Mr. Hurfcado, of Colombia. 
 
 Mr. Mendonca, of Brazil. 
 
 The President of the Conference, ex 
 officio. 
 
 Committee on Customs Union. 
 
 Mr. Valeute, of Brazil. 
 Mr. Henderson, of the United States. 
 Mr. Saenz Pena, of the Argentine Re- 
 public. 
 Mr. Romero, of Mexico. 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, of Colombia. 
 
 Comiaidn Ejecutiva. 
 
 Sr. Zegarra (Primer Vicepresidente), 
 del Peril. 
 
 Sr. Romero (Segundo Vicepresidente), 
 de Mexico. 
 
 Sr. Bliss, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Sr. Hurtado, de Colombia. 
 
 Sr. Mendonca, del Brasil. 
 
 El Presidente de la Conferencia, ex offi- 
 cio. 
 
 Comisidn de Vhidn Aduanera. 
 
 Sr. Valente, del Brasil. 
 Sr. Henderson, de los Estados Unidos. 
 Sr. Saenz Pena, de la Repilblica Argen- 
 tina. 
 Sr. Romero, de Mexico. 
 Sr. Martinez Silva, de Colombia. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 91 
 
 Committeeon Communication ontheAtlantio. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pena, of the Argentine Re- 
 public. 
 Mr. Coolidge, of the United States. 
 Mr. Meudonfa, of Brazil. 
 Mr. Deooud, of Paraguay. 
 Mr. Laforestrie, of Hayti. 
 
 Committee on Communication on the Pacifie. 
 
 Mr. Caamalio, of Ecuador. 
 Mr. Varas, of Chili.' 
 Mr. Estee, of the United States. 
 Mr. Castellanos, of San Salvador. 
 Mr. Mexia, of Mexico. 
 
 Committeeon Communication on the Gulf of 
 Mexico and the Caribtean Sea. 
 
 Mr. Aragon, of Costa Rica. 
 Mr. Guzman, of Nicaragua. 
 Mr. Calderon, of Colombia. 
 Mr. Hanson, of the United States. 
 Mr. Antonio Francisco Silva, of "Vene- 
 zuela. 
 
 Committee on Railway Communication. 
 
 Mr. Valarde, of Bolivia. 
 Mr. Davis, of the United States. 
 Mr. Mexia, of Mexico. 
 Mr. Crnz, of Guatemala. 
 Mr. Zelaya, of Honduras. 
 Mr. Castellanos, of San Salvador. 
 Mr. Carnegie, of the United States. 
 Mr. Aragon, of Costa Rica. 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, of Colombia. 
 Mr. Andrade, of Venezuela. 
 Mr. CaamaBo, of Ecuador. 
 Mr. Zegarra, of Peru. 
 Mr. Varas, of Chih. 
 Mr. Quintana, of the Argentine Repub- 
 lic. 
 Mr. Nin, of Uruguay. 
 Mr. Valente, of Brazil. 
 Mr. Decoud, of Paraguay. 
 
 Comisidn de Comunicacionea por el Atldn- 
 tieo. 
 
 St. Saenz Pefia, de la Reptiblica Argen- 
 tina. 
 Sr. Coolidge, de los Estados Unidos. 
 Sr. Mendoufa, del Brasil. 
 Sr. Decoud, del Paraguay. 
 Sr. Laforestrie, de Haiti. 
 
 Comisidn de Comunicaciones por el Paci- 
 fico. 
 
 Sr. Caamafio, del Ecuador. 
 Sr. Varas, de Chile. 
 Sr. Estee, de los Estados Unidos. 
 Sr. Castellanos, de Salvador. 
 Sr. Mexfa, de Mexico. 
 
 Comisidn de Comunicaciones en el Golfo de 
 Mexico y el Mar Caribe. 
 
 Sr. Arag<5n, de Costa Rica. 
 Sr. Guzmfc, de Nicaragua. 
 Sr. Calderdn, de Colombia. 
 Sr. Hanson, de los Estados Unidos. 
 Sr. Antonio Francisco Silva, de Vene- 
 zuela. 
 
 Comisidn de Comunicaciones por Ferro- 
 carril. 
 
 Sr. Velarde, de Bolivia. 
 Sr. Davis, de los Estados Unidos. 
 Sr. Mexia, de Mexico. 
 Sr. Cruz, de Guatemala. 
 Sr. Zelaya, de Honduras. 
 Sr. Castellanos, de Salvador. 
 Sr. Carnegie, de los Estados Unidos. 
 Sr. Arag6n, de Costa Rica. 
 Sr. Martinez Silva, de Colombia. 
 Sr. Andrade, de Venezuela. 
 Sr. Caamafio, del Ecuador. 
 Sr. Zegarra, del Peru. 
 Sr. Varas, de Chile. 
 
 Sr. Quintana, de la Republica Argen- 
 tina. 
 
 Sr. Nin, del Uruguay. 
 Sr. Valente, del Brasil. 
 Sr. Decoud, del Paraguay. 
 
 Committee on Customs Regulations. 
 
 Mr. Nin, of Uruguay. 
 Mr. Alfonso, of Chili. 
 Mr. Romero, of Mexico. 
 Mr. Calderon, of Colombia. 
 Mr. Flint, of the United States. 
 
 Comisidn de Reglamentos de Aduanas. 
 
 Sr. Nin, del Uruguay. 
 
 Sr. Alfonso, de Chile. 
 
 Sr. Romero, de MiSxico. 
 
 Sr. Calder6u, de Colombia. 
 
 Sr. Flint, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
92 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. Mendonfa, of Brazil. 
 Mr. Davis, of the United States. 
 Mr. Aragon, of Costa Rica. 
 Mr. Bolet Peraza, of Venezuela. 
 
 Committee on Port Dues. 
 
 Mr. Bolet Peraza, of Venezuela. 
 
 Mr. Laforcstrie, of Hayti. 
 
 Mr. Varas, of Chili. 
 
 Mr. Studebaker, of the United States. 
 
 Mr. Nin, of Uruguay. 
 
 Committee on Sanitary Regulations. 
 
 Dr. Guzman, of Nicaragua. 
 
 Mr. Valente, of Brazil. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra, of Peru. 
 
 Mr. Hanson, of the United States. 
 
 Mr. Andrade, of Venezuela. 
 
 Mr. Laforestrie, of Hayti. 
 
 Mr. Nin, of Uruguay. 
 
 Committee on Patents and Trade-marTcs. Coniisidn de Patentes y Mareas de Fdlmca. 
 
 Sr. Mendonga, del Brasil. 
 
 Sr. Davis, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Sr. Arag6n,de Costa Rica. 
 
 Sr. Bolet Peraza, de Venezuela. 
 
 Comisi6n de Dereehos de Puerto. 
 
 Sr. Bolet Peraza, de Venezuela. 
 
 Sr. Laforestrie, de Haiti. 
 
 Sr. Varas, de Chile. 
 
 Sr. Studebaker, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Sr. Nin, de Uruguay. 
 
 ♦ 
 Comisidn de Eeglamentos Savitarios. 
 
 Dr. Guzman, de Nicaragua. 
 
 Sr. Valente, del Brasil. 
 
 Sr. Zegarra, de Peru. 
 
 Sr. Hanson, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Sr. Andrade, de Venezuela. 
 
 Sr. Laforestrie, de Haiti. 
 
 Sr. Nin, de Uruguay. 
 
 Mr. Decoud, of Paraguay. 
 
 Mr. Carnegie, of the United States. 
 
 Mr. Calderon, of Colombia. 
 
 Committee on Weights and Measures. 
 
 Mr. Castellanos, of Salvador. 
 Mr. Antonio Francisco Silva, of Vene- 
 zuela. 
 Mr. Studebaker, of the United States. 
 
 Committee on Extradition. 
 
 Mr. Zelaya, of Honduras. 
 
 Mr. Trescot, of the United States. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pefia, of the Argentine Re- 
 public. 
 
 Mr. Quintana, of the Argentine Re- 
 public. 
 
 Sr. Decoud, del Paraguay. 
 
 Sr. Carnegie, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Sr. Calderfin, de Colombia. 
 
 Comisidn de Pesos y Medidas. 
 
 Sr. Castellanos, de Salvador. 
 Sr. Antonio Francisco Silva, de Vene- 
 zuela. 
 Sr. Studebaker, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Comisidn de Extradieidn. 
 
 Sr. Zelaya', de Honduras. 
 
 Sr. Trescot, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Sr. Saenz Pena, de la Reptiblica Argen- 
 tina. 
 
 Sr. Qnintana, de la Repliblica Argen- 
 tina. 
 
 Committee on Monetary Convention. 
 
 Mr. Mexia, of Mexico. 
 
 Mr. Estee, of the United States. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, of Colombia. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, of Chili. 
 
 Mr. Coolidge, of the United States. 
 
 Mr. Velarde, of Bolivia. 
 
 Mr. Zelaya, of Honduras. 
 
 Committee on Banking, 
 
 Mr. Hurtado, of Colombia. 
 Mr. Mendon9a, of Brazil. 
 
 Comision de ConveneiSn Monetaria. 
 
 Sr. Mexta, de Mfeico. 
 
 Sr. Estee, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Sr. Martinez Silva, de Colombia. 
 
 Sr. Alfonso, de Chile. 
 
 Sr. Coolidge, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Sr. Velarde, de Bolivia. 
 
 Sr. Zelaya, de Honduras. 
 
 Comisidn de Bancos. 
 
 Sr. Hurtado, de Colombia. 
 Sr. Mendoufa, del Brasil. 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 93 
 
 Mr. Varas, of Cbili. 
 
 Mr. Flint, of tbe Uuited States. 
 
 Mr. Aragon, of Costa Rica. 
 
 Commitlee on International Law. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, of Guatemala. 
 Mr. Quintaua, of the Argentine Re- 
 public. 
 Mr. Trescot, of the Uuited States. 
 Mr. Alfonso, of Chili. 
 Mr. Caaraauo, of Ecuador. 
 
 Committee on General Welfare. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, of the Uuited States. 
 Mr. Quiutana, of the Argentine Repub- 
 lic. 
 Mr. Velarde, of Bolivia. 
 Mr. Bolet Peraza, of Venezuela. 
 Mr. Hurtado, of Colombia. 
 Mr. Valente, of Brazil. 
 Mr. Cruz, of Guatemala. 
 
 Committee on Bules, 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, of Chili. 
 
 Mr. Quiutana, of the Argentine Repub- 
 lic. 
 
 Mr. Trescot, of the United States. 
 
 Mr. CaaniaBo, of Ecuador. 
 
 Mr. Romero, of Mexico. 
 
 Mr. Castellanos, of San Salvador. 
 
 Mr. Valente, of Brazil. 
 
 The Chair having announced the order 
 of the day, the motion of Mr. Quiutana, 
 a delegate from the Argentine Republic, 
 for the creation of a Committee on Penal 
 Jurisdiction, was called up. 
 
 Mr. Trescot, a delegate from the 
 Uuited States, proposed that this subject 
 be confided to the Committee on Extradi- 
 tion. 
 
 Mr. QaiNTANA, delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine Republic, stated that that was 
 what he had before proposed. 
 
 It having been put to the vote it was 
 unanimously carried. 
 
 Mr. Trescot, a delegate from the 
 United States, suggested that Mr. Quiu- 
 tana be asked to serve on said Committee 
 on Extradition. 
 
 This was unanimously agreed to. 
 
 Ou the suggestion of the Chair, it was 
 agreed that the first-named delegate oa 
 each committee should be considered as 
 the chairman of that committee. 
 
 Sr. Varas, de Chile. 
 
 Sr. Flint, de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Sr. Aragdu, de Costa Rica. 
 
 Comisidn de Dereeho Internadonal. 
 
 Sr. Cruz, de Guatemala. 
 Sr.Quintana,de la Republica Argentina. 
 
 Sr. Trescot, de los Estados Uuidos. 
 
 Sr. Alfonso, de Chile. 
 
 Sr. Caamaflo, del Ecuador. 
 
 Comision de Bienestar General. 
 
 Sr. Henderson, de los Estados Uuidos. 
 Sr.Quiutana,de la Republica Argentina. 
 
 Sr. Velarde, de Bolivia. 
 
 Sr. Bolet Peraza, de Venezuela. 
 
 Sr. Hurtado, de Colombia. 
 
 Sr. Valente, del Brasil. 
 
 Sr. Cruz, de Guatemala. 
 
 Comiaidn de Eeglamento. 
 
 Sr. Alfonso, do Chile. 
 
 Sr.Quintana,de la Repdblica Argentina. 
 
 Sr. Trescot, de los Estados Uuidos. 
 
 Sr. CaamaSlo, del Ecuador. 
 
 Sr. Romero, de MiSxico. 
 
 Sr. Castellanos, de Salvador. 
 
 Sr. Valente, del Brasil. 
 
 Habiendolamesaanunoiadoqueel(5rden 
 del diaeialaproposicidn delSr. Quiutana, 
 delegado por la Argentina, para que se 
 crease una Comisidn sobre .Jiirisdicci6u 
 Penal, el Sr. Trescot, delegado por Esta- 
 dos Uuidos, propuso que se encargase ese 
 asunto & la Comisi6u de Extradicidn. 
 
 El. Sr. QuiNTANA, delegado por la Ar- 
 gentina, manifesto que asl lo habia pro- 
 puesto anteriormente y que, por oonsi- 
 guiente, aceptaba la modiflcaci6n del Sr. 
 Trescot, la cual habieudo sido sometida & 
 votacidn fue adoptada uu^nimemeute. 
 
 El Sr. Trescot, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, pidi6 que el Sr. Quiutana 
 formase parte de la Comisirin sobre Extra- 
 dici6n y asl se acord6 por unanimidad. 
 
 Por indicacidn de la mesa se ar.ordrt que 
 el Sr. delegado primeramente nombrado 
 en nada comisidn se tendria por el Presi- 
 dente de ella. 
 
94 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 The Chair announced the receipt of a 
 note from Mr. Laforestrie, delegate from 
 Hayti, stating that he had not been able 
 to attend the session on account of illness. 
 
 After considerable discussion and ex- 
 plauation, it was decided to adjourn until 
 Thursday, the 2d of January, at 2 p. m., 
 and the session was closed at 2.46 p. m. 
 
 Jambs G. Blaine, 
 President. 
 
 ABTHUR LATORKSTIirE, 
 
 Hayti. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guaiemala. 
 
 JOS:]ft M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. , 
 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Sal^'ador db Mendon^a, 
 J. G. DO Amarax Valentb, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Somduraa. 
 Matias Romero, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 JohnB. Henderson, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 Jos6 Andrade, 
 Francisco Antonio Silva, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jose Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ Maria Placido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 La mesa did cuenta de haber recibido 
 una nota del Sr. Laforestrie, delcgado por 
 Haiti, avisando que sa ausencia era de- 
 bida & indisposici6n de salud. 
 
 Despu^s de alguna discnsidn y explica- 
 ciones se acordd que se levantase la se- 
 8i6n hasta el dia 2 de Euero & las 2 p. m., 
 y se levantd la sesidn di las 2 y 46 minn- 
 tos p. m. 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 Arturo Lafoi^strie, 
 
 Haiti. 
 Horacio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jost M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Coeta Bica. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a. 
 
 Braail. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Dr. Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davts, 
 
 Estados TJnidos de Norte AmSrica. 
 Jos^ Andrade, 
 Francisco Antonio Silva, 
 
 Venezuela, 
 Jose Alfonso, 
 
 CUU. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador, 
 Dr. JosJb Maria Placido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FIFTEENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 15. 
 
 Washington, January '2, 1890. 
 The International American Confer- 
 ence was called to order at 2.10 p. m. by 
 the President, Hon. James G. Blaine, 
 with the following Delegates present : 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valoute. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jeronimo Zelaya. 
 . Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Audrade. 
 
 Mr. Francisco Antonio Silva. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 
 Sesidn del 2 de Enero de 1690. 
 Presideucia del Sr. James G. Blaine 
 Etitando presentes : 
 
 Hayti : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzmd^n. 
 Perfi : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. P. C. C. Zggarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos4 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva; 
 
 El Sr. Climaeo Calderdn. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. 6. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolida;e; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade ; 
 
 El Sr. Francisco Antonio Silva. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. J086 Alfonso. 
 
 95 
 
96 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Cas^ellanos. 
 Equador : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Maria Pl^cido Caamano. 
 The minutes of the fourteenth session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair suggested that the Com- 
 mittee on Customs Union be increased 
 from five to eight members, and submit- 
 ted the names of Mr. Alfonso, of Chili; 
 Dr. Guzman, of Nicaragua, and Mr. Bolet 
 Peraza, of Venezuela, as additional mem- 
 bers of this committee. 
 
 This was unanimously approved. 
 
 The Chair then announced that the 
 journals of the first five sessions of the 
 Conference had been prepared; and it 
 being resolved that they be read, the 
 Spanish Secretary began to do so. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, a Delegate from Nicara- 
 gua, stated that thes3 journals being an 
 extract of the proceedings already priu ted, 
 there was no necessity of reading them, 
 and proposed that they be approved. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate frooi Chili, 
 objected to Mr. Guzman's motion, stating 
 that these printed proceedings contained 
 many errors, some of which might have 
 been inserted in the extracts. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 agreed with the honorable Delegate from 
 Chili, and brought forward various rea- 
 sons why the journals which had been 
 read should not be approved. 
 
 After some discussion the Chair sug- 
 gested that the journals of the first five 
 sessions be printed and copies distributed 
 to the Delegates in order that they should 
 be able to examine them at their leisure 
 and to annotate them. 
 
 The suggestion of the Chair was ac- 
 cepted by Mr. Romero, and it was unani- 
 mously approved that the Journals be 
 ordered printed in both languages. 
 
 The order of the day being exhausted, 
 the Chair stated that the Conference 
 would consider any of the reports that 
 the committees might have prepared, 
 although it was to be supposed that none 
 were ready, which was the case. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 Sr. Jos6 Marfa Pl^cido CaamaSo. 
 
 Se abre la sesi6n ^ las 2 y 10 minutes 
 p. m. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firmd el acta de la 
 sesi6n anterior. 
 
 La Mesa indio6 la oonvenienoia de que 
 se aumentase ^ ocho miembros el personal 
 de la Comisi6n de Uni6n Aduanera. 
 
 Adoptada un^nimemento la indicacidu, 
 los slguientes senores Delegados fueron 
 nombrados por el SeiSor Presidente y apro- 
 bados por unanimidad: Sr. Alfonso, de 
 Chile; Sr. Guzrad^n, de Nicaragua^ Sr. 
 Bolet Peraza, de Venezuela. 
 
 La Mesa anuncid que ya estaban redac- 
 tadas las actas de las oinco primeras se- 
 siones, y habi^ndose resuelto que fuesen 
 leidas y procedldose £ haeerlo, el Senor 
 Guzman, delegado por Nicaragua, mani- 
 fest6 que, siendo dichas actas el extracto 
 de los procedimientos anteriormente im- 
 presos, no creia hubiese neoesidad de leer- 
 las ; por consiguiente proponia que se 
 aprobasen sin este requisite. 
 
 El Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 se opuso S, la proposioi6u del Senor Guz- 
 man, fundSndose en que los procedimien- 
 tos impreses conteuian varies errores, y 
 el extracto que de ellos se habia hecho 
 podia tambien contenerlos como en efecto 
 asi sucedia. 
 
 El Senor Romero manifesto que estaba 
 de acuerdo con las objecioues presenta- 
 das por el Senor Alfonso, y per varlas 
 otras razones, se opuso & que se aprobase 
 el acta que acababa de leerse. 
 
 Despu^s de alguna discusidn la Mesa 
 8ugiri6 que se imprimiesen las actas de 
 los oinco primeros dias en ingles y en 
 castellano para ser repartidas Silos SeBores 
 Delegados ^ fin de que detenidamente 
 pudiesen examinarlas y anotarlas. La 
 indicaci6n de la Mesa fu6 aoeptada por el 
 Senor Romero y adoptada por uniinimi- 
 dad. 
 
 Habidndose agetado el 6rden del dia la 
 Mesa maulfestd que la Cenfereuoia pro- 
 oederia il considerar cualquiera de los in- 
 formes de las distintas comisiones que 
 estuviese ya preparado, si bieusuponja 
 que ninguno lo estuviese, como en efecto 
 sucedid. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 97 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 after a fall statement of his reasons for 
 80 doing, iiresented the following resolu- 
 tion: 
 
 "Resolved, That the proper committee 
 of this Conference he requested to exam- 
 ine and repo.t about the convenience 
 and practicability of adopting a common 
 schedule of foreign goods, to be used by 
 the several nations represented in this 
 Conferenoe, for the purpose of collecting 
 import duties, making invoices, bills of 
 lading, etc., each country having the ex- 
 clusive right to fix the amount of duties 
 to be levied on each article, but the sched- 
 ule of the articles to be common to all." 
 
 It was decided that the resolution and 
 the reasons on which it was founded should 
 be printed in both languages and consid- 
 ered at the next session. 
 
 No further business being before the 
 Conference, Mr. Davis, a Delegate from 
 the United States, made a motion to ad- 
 journ until Monday, the sixthinstant, and 
 the session was closed at 2.5.5. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarka, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Arthur Laforbstrie, 
 
 Sayti. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fkknando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 j0s6 m. hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 (limaco Caldkr6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublio. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Jos^ S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentk, 
 Brazil. 
 
 Jbe6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 
 Mexico, 
 7 I 
 
 El Sefior Romero, /uud^ndola extensa- 
 mente, present6 la siguiente resoluoi6n: 
 
 " 8e resaelve : Que Se suplica ^ la comi- 
 si6n Si que oorresponda de esta Conferen- 
 cia, que examine y presente dict^men so- 
 bre la convenienoia y practicabilidad de 
 adoptar una lista comrin de meroancias 
 extiangeras, que se use en las diferentes 
 naciones represeutadas en esta Conferen- 
 cia, para el eiecto du cobrar los dereohos 
 de importaci6n y formar manifiestos, fac- 
 turas consulares, etc., etc., teniendo cada 
 nacidn el derecho de iijar el monto de los 
 dereohos que cobie sobre cada articulo y 
 debiendo ser la lista comtin S, todas.'' 
 
 Se dispuso que la resoluci6n y los rao- 
 tivos en que se funda se imprimiesen en 
 ingles y en castellano para ser aqu^Ua 
 tomada en consideraoidn en la pr6xima 
 se8i6n. 
 
 No habieudo ningun otro asunto que 
 ocupase la atenci6n de la Conferencia, el 
 SeBor Davis, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, propuso que se levantasela sesidn 
 hasta el llines 6 del oorriente, y as£ se 
 dispuso, levant^ndose la sesi6n ^ las 2 y 
 55 minutosp. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarba, 
 
 Primer Ficepresidente, Peru. 
 Arthur Laforestrie, 
 
 Hayti. 
 HORACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOSlS M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Repiiblica Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Cosia Pica. 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendonija, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zklaya, 
 
 Monduras. 
 
 MATfAS ROMICRO, 
 
 Mexico. 
 
98 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 Juan E. Vblakdi, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 CoRNELios N. Bliss, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 MoRKis M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 Kmilio C. Vaeas, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos6 Maria PlAcivo CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, • 
 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidosde Norte America, 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto C^tellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ MARf A Placido Caamano, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
SIXTEENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 16. 
 
 Washington, January 0, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 2.05 p. m. by the 
 President, Hon. Jambs G. Blainb, with 
 the following Delegates present : 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru; 
 
 Mr. F. C. C Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Josfi M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Kica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaiya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Tresoot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Eatee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Seai6n del 6 Enero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine y 
 Sr. F. C. C. Zfigarra, estando presentes: 
 
 Haytl : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaoio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 El Sr. Cllmaoo Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Bica : 
 
 El Sr. Manual Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jor6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Tresoot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 99 
 
100 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jaciuto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Maria Pl^oido Caamano. 
 
 After calling the Conference to order, 
 the President, Hon. James G. Blaine, re- 
 quested the First Vice-Prebident, Mr. Ze- 
 garra, to take the Chair, and himself left 
 the Conference. 
 
 The minutes of the iifteenth day were 
 read, approved, and signed by the Dele- 
 gates present. 
 
 The Chair announced that Mr. Saenz 
 Pena, a Delegate from the Argentine Re- 
 public, was prevented by sickness from 
 attending the session. 
 
 A conimnnicatiou from Mr. Arag6n, a 
 Delegate from Costa Rica, and Chairman 
 of the Committee on Communication on 
 the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean 
 Sea, was read, stating that as it had been 
 found necessary, in order to obtain the 
 desired data for the report of this Com- 
 mittee, to send to the Governments of 
 several of the members, the report was 
 not yet ready. 
 
 A scheme for aa International Tribunal, 
 prepared by Mr. C. Norsa, an Italian law- 
 yer, was presented. 
 
 After some explanation, it was decided 
 to refer the scheme to the Committee on 
 International Law and General Welfare 
 for consideration. 
 
 The Conference then considered the 
 following resolution presented by Mr. 
 Romero, a Delegate from Mexico : 
 
 ' ' Meaolved, That the proper committee 
 of th is Conference be requested to examine 
 and report about the convenience and 
 practicability of adopting a common 
 schedule of foreign goods to be used by 
 the several nations represented in this 
 Conference, for the purpose of collecting 
 import duties, making invoices, bills of 
 lading, etc., each country having the ex- 
 clusive right to fix the amount of duties 
 to be levied on each .nrticle, but the 
 schedule of the ai tides to bo common to 
 all." 
 
 After some discussion and explanation, 
 it was decided to refer the above resolu- 
 tion, with its preamble, to the Committee 
 on Customs Unions and Customs Regula- 
 tions, 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Pl^cido Caamano. 
 Abierta la 8esi6u ^ las 2 j 5 minutos 
 p. m. por el Senor Presideute, James G. 
 Blaine, pas6 & ocupar la presidencia el 
 Sr. Vicepresidente Doctor F. C. C. Ze- 
 garra por ausentarse el primero. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firm6 el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior.^ 
 
 El Selior Vice-Pkesidentk anunci6 que 
 el SeHor Saenz Pena, delegado por la Ar- 
 gentina, no conourria £i la sesidn por no 
 permitlrselo el estado de su salud. 
 
 Se di6 lectura &, una comunicaci6n del 
 Senor Arag6n, delegado iior Costa Rica, 
 y presidente de la Coniisidn de Comunica- 
 cioues en el Golfo de Mexico y el Mar 
 Caribe, haciendo presente que la comisidn 
 no podia presentar aliu su informe porque 
 los datos que habia solicitado de algunos 
 de los miembros habian tenido que pedirse 
 & sus respeetivos Gobiernos. 
 
 Se preseuto un proyecto de organiza- 
 ci6n para un tribunal internacional re- 
 d.-ictado por Cesare Norsa, de Milan, Ita- 
 lia. 
 
 Despues de algunas explicaciones se 
 dispuso pasase dicho proyecto, para su 
 consideraci6n, ^ las Comisiones de Dere- 
 cho Internacional y^ la de Bienestar Ge- 
 neral. 
 
 Se tom6 en consideracifin la siguiente 
 resoluci6n presentada por el Seaor Rome- 
 ro, delegado por Mexico, ^ saber : 
 
 " Se resuelve : Que se suplica £ la comi- 
 8i6n & que corresponda de esta Conferen- 
 cia, que examine y presente dictd.men so- 
 bre la conveniencia y practicabilidad de 
 adoptar una lista comlln de raercancias 
 extraugeras, que se use en las diferentes 
 naciones representadas en esta Conferen- 
 cia, para el efecto de cobrar los derechos 
 de importacidu y formar manifiestos, fac- 
 turas consulares, etc., etc., teniendo cada 
 naciiJn el derecho de fijar el monto de los 
 derechos que cobre sobre cada artlculo y 
 debiendo ser la lista comtin S, todas." 
 
 Despues de algunas explicaciones y 
 discusi6n se dispuso pasase dicha resolii- 
 ci6n con su pre^mbulo & las Comisiones 
 de Uui6u Aduanera y de Reglamento de 
 Aduanas. 
 
International ameeican conEekence. 
 
 lot 
 
 There being no further business before 
 the Conference, Mr. Tkescot, a Delegate 
 from the United States, proposed that the 
 session be closed, and that the Conference 
 adjourn till Monday next, the 13th in- 
 stant. 
 
 There being no objection, the Chair or- 
 dered the session closed at 2.45 p.m, 
 F. C. C. Zegakea, 
 
 First- Vice President. 
 Akthue Lafokestrie, 
 
 Hayti. 
 Horatio Guzmait, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Chuz, 
 
 Gnaiemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine liepublic. 
 Manuel Auag6.v, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Josi: S. Decoud, 
 
 Para.guai]. 
 Salvador db MBNDONgA, 
 J. G. do Am ARAL Valente, 
 
 Brazil. 
 jer6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Runduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velard , 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebakkr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trhscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 JoslS Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 JosJs Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castrllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jost Maria PlIcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 No habiendo ningiiu otro asunto ante 
 la Conferencia, el Sefior Trescot propnso 
 se levantase la sesidu hasta el Idnas 
 prdximo 13 del corriente, y asf se orden6, 
 levantiindose la sesi6n & las 3 y 45 mi- 
 nutes p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vicepreaideute. 
 Arturo Lafokestrie, 
 
 Bayli. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Dr. Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 CXrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 EoQUB Saenz PeSta, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bioa. 
 Josi S Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendonqa, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 MATfAS Eomero, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebakeu, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Tricscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 
 Mstados Unidos de Am^ica. 
 .JosrS Andrade, 
 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jost MarIa PLiCciDO CaamaNo. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
SEVENTEENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 17. 
 
 Washington, January Vi, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 2.20 p. m. by the 
 First "Vice-President, F. C. C. Zegakra, a 
 Delegate from Peru, with the following 
 Delegates present: 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Arthur Laforestrle. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Gruatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Koque Saenz PeSa. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragfin. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. JosiS S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Medonja. 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jeronimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Tresoot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carneg.ie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Diivis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 102 
 
 Sesi&n del 13 de Enero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 primer vicepresillente, estand" presentes: 
 
 Hay tl : 
 
 El Sr. Arturo Laforestrie. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Di-. Horacio Guzmdiu. 
 Perti: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay: 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz Pena ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag<5n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 M6xico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Uuidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Treacot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 El Sr. Morri's M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson; 
 
 El Sr. Henry 6. Davis; 
 
 El Sr. Charles E. Flint. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMU'EICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 103 
 
 Venezuela: 
 
 Mr. Joe6 Audrade. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellaiioa. 
 Eoua,dor : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria PlSioido Caamano. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 An invitation from the President of the 
 United States to the Delegates, for three 
 ofiScial receptions, was read. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 offered the following resolution : 
 
 "For the present and until otherwise 
 ordered the regular meetings of this Con- 
 ference, fixed in Article I of the Rules, 
 wilj open at 3 o'clock p. m., and last 
 until 6 o'clock." 
 
 This resolution having been read, Mr. 
 ROMEKO requested it to be immediately 
 considered; and by a unanimous vote of 
 the Conference this was agreed to. 
 
 There then followed much discussion 
 and long explan ation of the interpretation 
 of the rules regarding the course to be 
 taken in reference to subjects presented 
 to the Conference. 
 
 On the motion of Mr. Saenz PeSa, a 
 Delegate from the Argentine Republic, it 
 was agreed by a vote of twelve to five 
 that Mr. Romero's motion amending Arti- 
 cle I of the Rules be referred to the Com- 
 mittee on Rules. 
 
 Those voting in the affirmative were: 
 Hayti, Nicaragua, Peru, Gruatemala, Co- 
 lombia, Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, 
 Brazil, Honduras, Bolivia, and the United 
 States. 
 
 Those voting negatively were : Mexico, 
 Uruguay, Venezuela, Chili, Salvador, and 
 Ecuador. 
 
 On the motion of Mr. Saenz PeSa, a 
 Delegate from the Argentine Republic, 
 the Conference adjourned for a Committee 
 of the Whole, for the interchange of views 
 and opinions. 
 
 The session was resumed at 4 p. m. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 and Chairman of the Committee on Rules, 
 presented the following report : 
 
 "The Committee on Rules is of the 
 opinion that the proposition made by the 
 
 Venezuela: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Joa6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 El Sr. Jos^M. PlJioidoCaamaQo. 
 
 Se abri6 la sesidu ^ las 2 y 20 minutos. 
 
 Se leyd, aprobd y firmd el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 Se ley6 invitaoidn del Sefior Presidente 
 de los Estados Unidos ^ los Seuores Dele- 
 gados para las recepoiones oficiales. 
 
 El Sefior Romero, Delegado por Mexico, 
 presents la siguiente proposioi6n : 
 
 ' ' Por ahora y hasta que la Conferencia 
 acuerde otra cosa, las sesiones ordinarias 
 se abrir^n ^ las tres y se cerrar^n £i las seis 
 de la tarde de los dias fijados en el Artlculo 
 primero del Reglamento." 
 
 Leida la proposicidn, el Sefior Romero 
 pidid que se tomase inmediatamente en 
 consideracidn y asl se acordd por el voto 
 un^nime de la Conferencia. 
 
 DespuSs de alguna discusidn y de largas 
 explicaciones respecto ^la iuterpretaci6n 
 de las disposiciones reglaraentarias en lo 
 relativo S, la tramitacidn de los asuntos 
 presentados & la Conferencia, ^ proposi- 
 cl6n del Sefior Saenz Pefia, delegado por 
 la Argentina, se acord6, por uu voto de 12 
 contra 5, que laproposiciSndel Sefior Ro- 
 mero, modificando el Articulo 10 del Re- 
 glamento, se pasase ^ la Comisidu de Re- 
 glamento. 
 
 Votaron por la afirmativa: Haiti, Ni- 
 caragua, Peril, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, 
 Honduras, Bolivia, Estados Unidos. 
 
 Votaron por la negativa: Uruguay, 
 Mexico, Venezuela, Chile, Salvador, Ecua- 
 dor. 
 
 A moci6n del SeBor Saenz Pena, Dele- 
 gado por la Argentina, la Conferencia se 
 constituy6 en Comisidn General para oam- 
 biar ideas, y al oontinuarse la sesi6u ^ 
 las 4 y 30 minutos, el Sefior Alfonso, dele- 
 gado por Chile, Presidente de la Comisidu 
 de Reglamento, presents el siguiente in- 
 forme : — 
 
 "La ComisiSn de Reglamento opina 
 que debe aceptarse la proposicidn hecba 
 
104 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 honorable Delegate from Mexico, that the 
 sessions begin at 3 o'clock in the after- 
 noon and close at 6, on the same days, 
 fixed by the rules, ought to be accepted. 
 " Washington, January 13, 1890. 
 "(Signed:) 
 
 "J. Alkonso, 
 
 " Manuel Quintana, 
 
 " J. G. do Amaral Valbntb." 
 
 " Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 "J. M.P. Caamano, 
 
 "M. Romero, 
 
 "Wm. Henry Tkescot, 
 It was ordered that the above be print- 
 ed and distributed at the next session, in 
 accordance with the rnles. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, handed the Chair a com- 
 munication, inclosed to him in a note 
 from the Secretary of State, proi)osing a 
 scheme for an International Scientific Ex- 
 ploration Expedition, as submitted by 
 Mr. H. C. Manning. 
 
 After considerable discussion and ex- 
 planation concerning the form in which 
 such communications ought to be pre- 
 sented, Mr. Henderson withdrew this let- 
 ter, without any action having been 
 taken upon it. 
 
 A motion to adjourn having been made 
 by Mr. Bliss, a Delegate from the United 
 States, it was adopted, and the session 
 was closed at 5.15 p.m. 
 
 P. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 First Vice-President, 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaiagua. 
 Fernando Ckuz, 
 
 Guateniala. 
 Alberto Nin. 
 
 Uruguay. 
 j0si5 m. hurtado, 
 Climaco Caldbr6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUB Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine BepuMio. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Rica 
 Josl5 S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 
 Brazil. 
 
 por el Hon. SeBor Delegado por Mexico, 
 para que las sesioues comiencen & las 3 de 
 la tarde y terminen ^ las 6, en los mismos 
 dias senalados en el Reglamento. 
 " Washington, 13 de Euero de 1890. 
 "(Firmado:) 
 
 "J. Alfonso, 
 
 " Manuel Quintana, 
 
 "J. G. DO Amakal Valkntb, 
 
 "Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 "J. M. p. Caamano, 
 
 " M. l^MERO, 
 
 "Wm. Henry Trbsoot." 
 Se dispuso que el informe se imprimlese 
 y distribuyese segun lo previeneel Regla 
 men to. 
 
 El Sefior Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, presents una comunica- 
 ci6n, dirigldale por el SeSor Secretario 
 de Estado, incluyendo un proyecto del 
 Senor H. C. Manning para la organiza- 
 oi6n de una expedicidn exploradora oien- 
 tlfica internacional. 
 
 Despn^s de alguna discusidn respecto i, 
 la forma bajo la cual deberia ser presen- 
 tada & la Confereucia la citada comunica- 
 ci6n, fu6 6sta retirada por el Senor Hen- 
 derson, sin que se toiuase acuerdo acerca 
 de ella. 
 
 No habiendo otro asunto ante la Con- 
 ferencia, el Sellor Bliss, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, propuso queselevantase 
 la sesidn, y asl se hizo & las 5 y 10 minu- 
 tes p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer VicepreHdente. 
 HORACIO GuzmjCn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Josti M. Hurtado, 
 ClImaco Caldbr6n, 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeiJa, 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 Argent. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Josli S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valkxte. 
 
 SaI-VADOR de MENDONgA. 
 
 Brasil. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 106 
 
 Jer6nimo ZelAya, 
 
 Bondaraa. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Vklarde, 
 
 BoUvm. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Sti'debakkh, 
 T. "Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 .Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Joais Maria PlIcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 MSxico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, . 
 
 Bolivia. 
 JOH>f B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Eatadoa Vnidos de America. 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 CUle. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josf. MARf A PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecnador. 
 
EIGHTEENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 18. 
 
 Washington, January 15, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to orderat2.25p. m. by theFirst 
 Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra, a 
 Delegate from Peru, with the following 
 Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Ouzraan. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pena. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Qnintana. 
 Costa Kica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jog(5 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 
 Mr. J. Gr. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Komero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jeflferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles E. Flint. 
 103 
 
 Sesidn del 15 Enero de lh90. 
 Presidencia d«l Sr. F. C. C, Zegarra 
 primer Vicepresidente. 
 Estando preseutes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaoio Guzman. 
 Perri: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 EI Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 EI Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. J086M. Hurtado. 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 EI Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pena. 
 
 EI Sr. Dr. Manuel Qnintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras: 
 
 EI Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Eomero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 EI Sr. r. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 EI Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis; 
 
 El Sr. Charles E. Flint. 
 
INTERNATIONAL, AMEKICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 107 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Maria PMcidoCaainallo. 
 
 The minntes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The following proposition was read and 
 was referred to the Committee on General 
 Welfare, with instructions to the secre- 
 taries that it be .printed : 
 
 "Considering that the international 
 policy of the American Conference should 
 be characterized by reciprocal principles 
 and declarations of mutual security and 
 respect among all the States of the con- 
 tinent ; 
 
 "That this feeling of security should 
 be inspired from the very moment in 
 which the representatives of the three 
 Americas meet for the first time, so as to 
 show that their acts and resolutions are 
 in accordance with sentiments of mutual 
 respect and cordiality ; 
 
 " The Conference being, also, desirous 
 of giving assent to the principles which 
 to the honor of the strong states have 
 been established by public law for the 
 support of the weak, and which are con- 
 firmed by the ethics of nations, and pro- 
 claimed by humanity, it is hereby de- 
 clared : 
 
 "First. That international arbitration 
 is a principle of American public law to 
 which the nations in this Conference bind 
 themselves, for decision, not only in their 
 questions on territorial limits, but also on 
 all those in which arbitration be com- 
 patible with sovereignty. 
 
 "Second. The armed occupation of the 
 disputed territory without having first 
 resorted to arbitration shall be consid- 
 ered contrary to the present declarations 
 and to the engagements entered into 
 thereby, but resistance offered to such act 
 of occupation shall not have the same 
 character. 
 
 " Third. The arbitration may take place 
 in an unipersonal form whenever the 
 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 M. Pl^cido Caa- 
 [maHo. 
 
 Se abrid la sesidn ^ las 2 y 25 minutos 
 p. m. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firmd el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 Se ley<5 la siguiente proposicidn y se 
 dispuso seimprimiese y pasase & la Comi- 
 Bi6n de Bienestar General. 
 
 "Considerando : 
 
 Que la Conferencia Americana debe 
 caracterizar su polStica internaoional por 
 principios y declaraciones de seguridad 
 y respeto reclproco entre todos los Esta- 
 dos del Continente ; 
 
 "Que esta seguridad debe insplrarse 
 desde el momeuto en que por primera vez 
 se hallan reunidos los representantes de 
 las tres Americas, & fin de que sus actos y 
 resoluciones respondau ^ sentimeutos de 
 coufianza mutua y franca cordialidad. 
 
 "Deseosa, adem&, la Conferencia de 
 prestar asentimiento^ los principios que 
 en-apoyo de los Estados d6biles y en honor 
 de los fuertes vienen sostenidos por el 
 Derecho Piiblico, confirmados por la 
 moral de las naciones, y aclamados por 
 la humanidad, se declara : 
 
 " Primero. Que el arbitraje interna- 
 oional es una regla de derecho piiblico 
 americano & la que se sujetan las naciones 
 representadas en la Conferencia, para de- 
 cidir no s61o sus cuestiones sobre limites 
 territoriales, sine todas aquellas en que 
 el arbitraje se haga compatible con la 
 soberanfa. 
 
 " Segundo. La ocupaoi6n armada de los 
 territories disputados sin haber intentado 
 el arbitraje se reputar^ contraria & las 
 presentes declaraciones y & los compro- 
 mises aoeptados por ellas; pero no tendr^ 
 el mismo carScter la resistenoia opuesta 
 & aquellos actos. 
 
 " Tercero. El arbitraje puede consti- 
 tuirse en forma unipersonal cuando los 
 
108 
 
 INtEENATIONAIi AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 states agree to the election of only one 
 arbitrator ; but if it takes place in a col- 
 lective form there shall be appointed an 
 equal number of judges by each party, 
 with power to elect an umpire in case of 
 disagreement, said election to be made at 
 the first meeting of the tribunal. 
 
 "Fourth. The election of arbitrators 
 shall not be subject to any limitations 
 nor exclusions ; it may devolve either on 
 the Governments represented in this Con- 
 ference or on any other Government de- 
 serving the confidence of the parties, and 
 also on scientific corporations or on high 
 functionaries, either of the interested 
 states themselves or of other neutral 
 states. 
 
 "Fifth. The present are applicable not 
 only to differences which in the future 
 may arise in the relations of the states, 
 but also to those which in a direct term 
 are now in actual discussion between 
 the Governments; but the rules to be 
 made shall have no bearing upon arbitra- 
 tions already constituted. 
 
 "Sixth. In cases of war a victory of 
 arms shall not convey any rights to the 
 territory of the conquered. 
 
 "Seventh. The treaties of peace which 
 put an end to the hostilities may fix the 
 pecuniary indemnifications which the bel- 
 ligerents may owe to each other, but if 
 they contain cessions or abandonment of 
 territory they will not be concluded, as 
 far as this particular point is concerned, 
 without the previous evacuation of the 
 territory of the conquered power by the 
 troops of the other belligerent. 
 
 "Eighth. Acts of conquest, whetherthe 
 object or the consequence of the war, 
 shall be considered to be in violation of 
 the pnblic law of America. 
 
 " Washington, January 15, 1890. 
 "Manl. Quintana, 
 " RoQUE Sabnz PeSa, 
 " J. G. DO Amaual Valente, 
 " Salvador de MBNUONgA." 
 
 Mr. NiN, a Delegate from Uruguay, pre- 
 sented the following motions, which, after 
 having been read and being subjected to 
 some discussion as to whether both should 
 be referred to the Committee on Rules, it 
 was decided that both shonld be referred 
 to said committee: 
 
 "Resolved, That notwithstanding that 
 
 Estados estuvieren de acuerdo en la 
 eleccidn do un solo Srbitro ; si fuere co- 
 lectivo, deber^ uombrarse igual niimero 
 de jueces por cada parte con facultad de 
 designar un tercero para el caso de dis- 
 cordia; dicha designacidn deberd^ hacerse 
 en la primera sesi<5n en quo se constituya 
 el tribunal. 
 
 " Cuario. La eleccidn delos ^rbitrosno 
 est^ sujeta S, limites ni exclusiones ; puede 
 recaer en cada caso sobre los Gobiernos 
 represeutados en esta Coiiferencia, 6 sobre 
 cualesquiera otros que hayan merecidola 
 confianza de las partes; pueden tanibi6n 
 serdesignadaslas corporaciones cientfficas 
 & los altos funcionarios de los proplos 
 Estados 6 de otros neutrales. 
 
 " Qvinto. Las presentes deolaraciones 
 comprenden, no solo las disideucias que 
 pnedan nacer en las relaclones futuras de 
 los Estados, sine tambien d^ aque.llas que 
 en forma directa se dlscutan actualmente 
 entre los Gobiernos; pero las disposicio- 
 nes reglamentarias no ser^n aplicables £i 
 los arbitrajes, ya constituidos. 
 
 " Sexto. En los cases de guerra, eltrian- 
 fo de las armas no contiere derechos sobre 
 los territories del vencido. 
 
 " Sijptimo. Los tratados de paz, que 
 pongan tSrmiuo & las hostilidades podr^u 
 determinar las Indemnizaciones pecunia- 
 rias que se deban los beligerantes ; pero 
 si ellos contuvieren cesiones 6 despreudi- 
 mientos de teritorio, no deberiCn celebrar- 
 se en lo que & dichas cesiones se refiera 
 sin la evacnaci6n previa del territorio 
 del vencido por las tropas del otro belige- 
 rante. 
 
 " Octavo. Los actos de conquista se 
 reputan contrariss al Derecho Publico 
 Americano sea como objetivo 6 como oon- 
 secuencia de la guerra. 
 
 " Washington, Enero 15, de 1890. 
 "Manuel Quintana. 
 "RoQUB Saenz PeSa. 
 "J. G. DO Amaral Valente. 
 " Salvador de MENDONgA." 
 
 El SeBor NiN, delegado por el Uruguay, 
 preseut6 las siguientes proposiciones, las 
 cuales despuds de leidas y habida alguna 
 discusidn respecto de si ambas deljerian 
 pasarse & la Comisi<5n de Reglamento, asi 
 se acordd : 
 
 "Besuelve: Que no obstante deterrai- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 109 
 
 ill the Rules of the Conference the days 
 and hours of the sessions are iixed, the 
 secretaries, hy means of a circular printed 
 ad hoc, notify the Delegates the day before 
 tlie session is to take place, staling on 
 the margin the order of the day. 
 
 " Beaolved, That the Conference he 
 closed on the 1st of March proximo." 
 
 Areport from the Committee on Weights 
 and Measures was read, the printing and 
 distributing of which \vaa ordered, ac- 
 cording to the provisions of the Rules. 
 
 There being no further business before 
 the Conference, Mr. Henderson, a Dele- 
 gate from the United States, made a mo- 
 tion to adjourn, and the session was closed 
 at 3.55 p. m. 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Second Vice-President. 
 Horatio Uuzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Caldkr6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Eica. 
 ■Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguai/. 
 Salvador de MEND0N9A, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebakek, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Tkescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 
 narse en el reglamento interuo do la Con- 
 ferencia I03 dias y horas de las sesioues, 
 la Secretaria, por medio de una f6rmula 
 iinpresa con los blancos neoesarios, para 
 ser llenados, ad hoc, pase aviso ^ los 
 seDores delegados el dia anterior al que 
 deba tener lugar la sesi<5n; expresando, 
 al mfirgeu, el 6r(len del dia y asuntos en- 
 trad os. 
 
 " Eesuelve : Quo la Conferenoia se clau- 
 Burarii el 1° de Marzo, proximo. 
 
 "Alberto Nin, 
 ' ' Delegado por Urixguay. " 
 
 Se ley6 informe y dictdmen de la Comi- 
 si6u de Pesos y Medidas, y se dispuso su 
 impresi^n y distribucifin segfinlo previene 
 el Reglamento. 
 
 No habiendo ningfin otro asunto que 
 ocupase la atenci6n de la Honorable Con- 
 ferenoia, previa moci(5n del Senor Hen- 
 derson, delegado por los Estados Uuidos, 
 se levantd la sesi6n & las 3 y 55 minutos 
 p. m. 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Segundo Vicepresidente. 
 HORACIO GuzmjCn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Caldbr6n, 
 
 ColomHa. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Mica. 
 Jos^. S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 John B. Henderson. 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Cli'ment Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trkscot_, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos de America. 
 
110 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Emilio C. Varas, Emilio C. Varas, 
 
 Jos^ Alfonso, Jos:6 Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. Chile. 
 
 Jacinto Castellanos, Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. Salvador. 
 
 Jos:6 Maria PlIcido CaamaSo, Jos£ MARfA PlIcido CAAMAi?o, 
 
 Eeaador. Ecuador. 
 
NINETEENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 19. 
 
 Washington, January 17, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 2.20 p. m. by the 
 Second Vice-President, Mr. Matias Ro- 
 MEEO, a Delegate from Mexico, with the 
 following delegates present: 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 Mr Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Mr. Climaoo Calder<5n. 
 Costa Kica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. 3os6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Maria Pl^cido Caamano. 
 
 Sesidn del 17 de Enero de 1890. 
 Presidenoia del Sr. M. Eomero, segun- 
 do Vicepresidente, estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzmiin. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 El Sr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay: 
 
 El Sr. J086 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matfas Romero ; 
 El Sr, Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Estados Uuidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Chile: 
 
 ElSr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Pldicido Caamano. 
 ,Se abri6 la sesifin S, las 2 y 20 minutes 
 p. m. 
 
 Ill 
 
112 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE 
 
 The Chair stated tbat a uotc liatl been 
 received from Mr. Zegarra, First Vice- 
 President, saying that on account of ill- 
 ness in his family he was unable to attend 
 the session. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Romero then stated that as he had 
 a moliou to make, and Mr. Velarde, of 
 Bolivia, whose turn it was to preside, be- 
 ing absent, he requested Mr. Henderson 
 to take the Chair. 
 
 This having been done, Mr. Romero 
 introduced the following resolution : 
 
 "Whereas: the International American 
 Conference having heard of the death of 
 Mr. Walker Blaine, thinks it proper to 
 convey to its President, the Hon. James 
 G. Blaine, and to Mrs. Blaine, parents of 
 the deceased, its sincere condolence for 
 the great bereavement which has fallen 
 upon them, and to express its heart-felt 
 regret for the untimely end of such a, 
 young and promising life, and to show 
 its respect for the deceased by attending 
 the funeral. 
 
 " Besolved, That the International 
 American Conference sympathizes most 
 deeply with its President, the Hon. James 
 G. Blaine, and with Mrs. Blaine, in the 
 great bereavement which has fallen upon 
 them, and regrets very profoundly' that 
 the young and promising life of their son 
 should have had such an untimely end. 
 
 "Besolved, That this Conference attend 
 in a body the funeral of the late Mr. 
 Walker Blaine as a mark of respect for 
 the memory of the deceased. 
 
 "Besolved, That a copy of these reso- 
 lutions he transmitted to the Hon. James 
 G. Blaine, President of this Conference." 
 
 The above resolntions were unani- 
 mously adopted, and the Secretaries ia- 
 
 El Seiior Prksidente manifests haber 
 recibido una comunicaci<5u del Seiior Ze- 
 garra, primer Vicepresideute, iuformfo- 
 dole que, por enfermedad en su familia, 
 no Ic era posible estar presentc. 
 
 Se leyd, aprobd y firmd el acta de la 
 sesi6u anterior. 
 
 El Senor Presidente manifestd que, 
 teniendo que presentar una proposicidn 
 ^ la honorable Conferencia y hallSindose 
 ausente el Senoj Delegado por BoHa in, & 
 quien correspondia el turao, supliuaba al 
 Senor Henderson, Presidente de la Dele- 
 gaci<5n de los Estados Unidos, se sirviese 
 pasar & ocupar la presidcnoia. 
 
 Ocupada la presidencia por el Senor 
 Henderson, el Senor Romero, delegado 
 por Mexico, sonieti6 & la Honorable Con- 
 ferencia el siguiente proyecto de resoln- 
 ciones, el cual ix\6 aprobado por unanimi- 
 dad, disponi^ndose &, la vez que los Secre- 
 taries transmitiesen copia de ellas al 
 HonoKable Senor Blaine: 
 
 "Por cuanto & que la Confcrcncia Inter- 
 nacioual Americana ha sabido la muerte 
 de Mr. Walker Blaine y considera debido 
 trasmitir & su Presidente, el Hon. Mr. 
 James G. Blaine, y di la SeBora Blaine, 
 padres del flnado, la expiesi6u de sa con- 
 doloncia sincera por la grau desgracia quo 
 han sufrido, y de su profunda pena por la 
 temprana muerte de un j6ven de tanto 
 porvenir, lo mismo que mauifestar sii res- 
 peto por la memoria del flnado, concur- 
 riendo S, su funeral. 
 
 " Se resuelve : 
 
 "Que la Conferencia Internacional 
 Americana simpatiza de la manera mSa 
 profunda con su Pres d( nte, el Hon. James 
 G. Blaine, y con la Sefiora Blaine, en la 
 terrible desgracia que leshasobrevenido, 
 y siente prolundamente el t6rmino pre- 
 mature de una vida tan llena de jnventud 
 y de porvenir. 
 
 " Se resuelve : 
 
 "Que esta Conferencia asistaen cuerpo 
 al funeral del flnado Mr. Walker Blaine, 
 como una muestra de respeto & su me- 
 moria. 
 
 " Se resuelve: 
 
 "Que se trasmita copia de estas propo- 
 siciones al Hon. James G. Blaine, Presi- 
 dente de esta Conferencia." 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 lis 
 
 structed to see that they be properly 
 trausmitted to Mr. Blaine. 
 
 Mr. Hendersok then proceeded to 
 make the following remarks concerning 
 the death of Mr. Walker Blaine: 
 
 Gentlemen: The aifliction which is 
 brought to the President of this Confer- 
 ence and to his family by the death of a 
 loved and loving son, touches us all with 
 the profoundest feelings of sorrow. 
 
 Since the assembling of this Conference, 
 Walker Blaine has been to us a familiar 
 figure. He was ever attentive to our 
 wants, responsive to every inquiry, and 
 prompt to minister to our comforts. En- 
 dowed by nature with that quiet dignity 
 and gentleness of manner, without which 
 the most brilliant talents fail to charm, 
 he enjoyed the great advantages of lib- 
 eral education and professional training. 
 
 In the State Department he had be- 
 come invaluable to his father, the Secre- 
 tary. To great familiarity with the 
 duties before him, he brought that inva- 
 riable courtesy and kindness by wliich 
 international intercourse is now lifted 
 above the cold and cheerless domains of 
 craft and cunning. 
 
 We stand helpless before these visita- 
 tions. 
 
 If we could restore the deceased to the 
 afflicted father, how grateful to us would 
 be the task. 
 
 If we could assuage the grief of an affec- 
 tionate and heart-broken mother, our joy 
 would only be less in degree than hers. 
 
 If we could give him back in all his 
 gentleness and kindness to his brothers 
 and sisters, now bowed down by grief, we 
 should gladly restore him to their loving 
 embrace. 
 
 He has but paid the debt which is due 
 by us all. He has received the summons 
 which in appointed time will reach all 
 who now live. 
 
 Let us hope that "He who tempers the 
 wind to the shorn lamb" may kindly 
 8lO 
 
 El SeOor Henderson, presidents pro 
 tempore, refiri^ndose al fallecimiento del 
 Senor Walker Blaine, se expre86 como 
 sigue: 
 
 "Sellores: 
 
 " La desgracia que aflige al SeBor Presi- 
 dente de esta Conferencia y it sn familia 
 por la muerte de un hijo tan amoroso como 
 aniado, no puede meuos de lleuamos & 
 todos del m^s profundo dolor. 
 
 "La persona de Walker Blaine se hizo 
 para nosotros familiar desde el dia en que 
 por primera vez se reuni6 esta Conferen- 
 cia, y desde entonces siempre lo enoon- 
 tramos atento S, nuestros deseos, pronto ^ 
 satisfaoer nuestras preguntas y dispuesto 
 i, proveer S, uuestra oomodidad. 
 
 " Dotado por la naturaleza de esa digni- 
 dad apacible y de esa gentileza de mane- 
 ras sin las cuales los m^s brillautes ta- 
 lentos carecen de atractivo y de encanto, 
 goz6 adem^s de las grandes ventajas que 
 brindan una educacidn liberal unida S, 
 una s61ida iustruocidn profesional. 
 
 " En el Departamento de Estado sus sor- 
 vicioa Uegaron S, ser de imponderable 
 valor para sii padre, el Senor Secretario. 
 
 " Con pleno oonocimiento de suadeberes. 
 Walker Blaine llevd siempre al cumpli- 
 iniento de ellos esa cortesia y bondad que 
 tanto han coutribuido £ elevar las rela- 
 ciones internacionales m^s allii de la fria 
 y triste esfera de la astucia y del artificio. 
 
 "Pero jcu^n impotentes somos ante los 
 decretos de la Providencia ! 
 
 " Si pudiiSramos devolver el hijo al afli- 
 gido padre jcn^n grata nos seria esa tarea I 
 
 "Si pudiiSramos calmar el dolor de la 
 amorosa y acougojada madre jcuiXnta uo 
 serIa uuestra satisf aooi6n ! 
 
 "Si pudidramos devolver el hermano on 
 toda su gentileza y bondad £i sus herma- 
 nas y hermauos, hoy agobiados por el 
 dolor, jcu^n gozosamente lo restituirla- 
 mos S, los frateruales brazos ! 
 
 "Pero no es posible. Cumpli6se el plazo 
 fatal, y fu6 llamado S, satisfaoer la deuda 
 que todos debeinos, y que todos los que 
 vivimos serdmos llamados & satisfaoer! 
 
 "EsperdnioH, piies, q:ie la misericordia 
 de "Aquel que atemiJera los rigores doj 
 
Missing Page 
 
Missing Page 
 
116 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanou. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pldloido Caamano. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair announced that Mr. Guzman 
 was unavoidably absent, having been 
 called to New York. 
 
 Mr. BOLET Peraza, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela, presented the following reso- 
 lution : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence, guided by the provisions of the 
 eighth section of the convening act of 
 the Government of the United States, 
 which is as follows : 
 
 " ' Eighth. And to consider such sub- 
 jects relating to the welfare of the several 
 states as may be presented by any of said 
 states.' 
 
 " Eesolvte, To adhere, as it does, to the 
 sentiments and good wishes expressed by 
 the President of the United States in his 
 message of December 3, of last year, 
 with respect to the boundary dispute be- 
 tween the reMpective Guianas, now sus- 
 tained between the Republic of Venezu- 
 ela and Great Britian; and hopes that 
 the earnest desires expressed by the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States that the 
 said question may reach an amicable 
 solution, in accordance with the histori- 
 cal titles of the respective parties, will 
 inspire it with the most effective offices 
 of its powerful influence to the end of fa- 
 vorably disposing Great Britain to accept 
 the recourse to arbitration which has 
 been proposed by Venezuela, thus pre- 
 venting an appeal to violence, the results 
 of which are apprehended with alarm by 
 the Conference,' whose prime object is to 
 preserve the peace, the rights, and the 
 other interests of America. 
 
 (Signed): "N. Bolet Peraza. 
 
 " January 20, 1890." 
 
 Mr. Bolet Peraza stated at length 
 his motives for presenting the above res- 
 olntiou to the Conference ; and after some 
 discussion it was ordered that said res- 
 olution be referred to the Committee on 
 General Welfare. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 iJcuador : 
 
 EI Sr. Jos^ M. PWcido Caamafio. 
 
 Se abri6 la sesidn ^ las 2 y 15 minutos. 
 
 Se ley6, aprobd, y firm6 el acta de la 
 sesi6n anterior. 
 
 El Se&or Pkesidknte anuncid que el 
 Sefior Guzman, delegado por Nicaragua, 
 se hallaba ausente por haber salido para 
 Nueva York. 
 
 Se presentd jMey^ el siguiente proyecto 
 de resolucidn del SeQor Bolet Peraza, 
 delegado por Venezuela, ^ saber : 
 
 "La Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana, ajnstiindose Sj lo previsto en el 
 niimero 8° de los puntos comprendidos en 
 la convocatoria hecha por el Gobierno de 
 los Estados Unidos, y que dice asf : 
 
 " ' 8°. Y considerar todos los asuctos 
 conexionados con el bienestar de todas 
 las uaciones representadas en la Confe- 
 rencia, y que se presenten por cualquiera 
 de ellas.' 
 
 " Resuelve: 
 
 "Adherirse, como se adhiere, ^ los senti- 
 mientos y buenas disposiciones expresadas 
 por el Presidonte de los Estados Unidos 
 en su meusaje de Diciembre 3 del ano 
 proximo pasado, respecto S, la disputa de 
 llmites del territorio de las respectivas 
 Guayanas sostenida actualmeute entre la 
 Repliblica de Venezuela y la Gran Bre- 
 tana ; y espera que los vivos deseos mani- 
 festados por el Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos de que la susodicha cuestidn tenga 
 una solucidn amistosa, de acuerdo con los 
 titulos histdricos de las partes, le inspiran 
 los m& eficaces oficios de su poderosa in- 
 flaencia para ver de iuclinar S, la Gran 
 Bretana &, que acepte el recurso de arbi- 
 tramento que le tiene propnesto Vene- 
 zuela, evitando asi soluoiones violentas 
 cuyos resultados prev6 con alarma la Con- 
 ferencia, ouyo primordial objeto es res- 
 guardar la paz, los tlerechos y los demfe 
 intereses de la America. 
 
 (Firmado): "N. Bolet Peraza." 
 
 Enero 20 de 1890. 
 
 El Senor Bolet Peraza explic6 exteu- 
 samente los motives que le movian &, pre- 
 sentar dicha resolucidn ^ la Honorable 
 Conferencia, y despu^s de alguna dis- 
 cusi6n se dispuso pasase aqu^lla i, la 
 ComisiOa de Bienestar General. 
 
INTERKATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 117 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 proposed the following : 
 
 "That the proceedings of this Confer- 
 ence during its last session, that of the 
 17th instant, shall not be considered 
 secret. "M.Romero. 
 
 "January 20, 1890." 
 
 The above was unanimously approved. 
 
 The Committee on Rules' motion on the 
 change of hours for the sessions of the 
 Conference was then opened for discus- 
 sion, and was unanimously approved. 
 
 The order of the day being exhausted, 
 Mr. CooLlDGE, a Delegate from the 
 United States, made amotion to adjourn, 
 and the session was closed at 3.45 p. m. 
 
 V. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 JoslS M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colonibia. 
 Manuel Quintan a, 
 
 Argentine Eepwblic. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 3os± S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguaij. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Bonduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry 6. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jo8£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 El Senor Romero, delegado por Me- 
 xico, presentd la siguiente proposici6n : 
 
 "No se considerar^n secretes los proce- 
 dimientos de esta Confereucia en sn til- 
 tima sesidn, celebrada el 17 del corriente." 
 
 La cual f n6 uniinimemente aprobada. 
 Se puso en consideraci<5n el informe do 
 la Comisidn de Reglamento acerca del 
 cambio de hora para las sesiones de la Con- 
 ferencia, y fu6 aprobado por unanimidad. 
 No habiendo ningun otro asunto que 
 ocupase la atenci6n de la Confereucia, el 
 SeDor Coolidge, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Uniclos, pidi6 que so suspendiese la 
 sesi6n y asl se hizo & las 3 y 45 p. m. 
 P. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vieepresidente. 
 HORACIO GuzmjCn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Jos£ M. Hurtado, 
 CjC RLOS Martinez Silva, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 BepiiMica Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos:fi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. 6. DO Amaral Valente, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry 6. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Mstados Unidos de Norte America. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josfi Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
TWENTY-FIRST DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 21. 
 
 Washington, January 22, 1890. 
 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.15 p. m. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Zb- 
 6AERA, a Delegate from Peru, with the 
 following Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Urugnay: 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic: 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Job6 S. Deooud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6uimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles E. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 118 
 
 Seeidn del 22 Enero de 1890. 
 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, pri- 
 mer Vioepresidente, estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peril : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin.. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. 3ob6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Cdlrlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 119 
 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. CooLiDGE, a delegate from the 
 United States, presented the following 
 resolution : 
 
 "That, as it is impossible to keep the 
 proceedings of the Conference private, 
 and as the proceedings are often printed 
 in many of the newspapers of the coun- 
 try, and that wrong impressions are thus 
 given as to what has talien place in the 
 Conference," 
 
 " Besolved, That the sittings of the Con- 
 ference, unless especially ordered other- 
 wise, shall be open to such reporters of 
 the press as the Executive Committee 
 shall designate. 
 
 "T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 "Jakuakt22, 1890." 
 By unanimous consent the above was 
 referred to the Committee on Rules. 
 
 There being no further business before 
 the Conference, Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate 
 from Chili, moved that the Conference 
 adjourn, and it was so ordered at 3.45 
 p. m. 
 
 P. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguai/. 
 josa m. hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 EOQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa liica. 
 Jos± S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amakal Valentb, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 Brazil. 
 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 El Sr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Se abri6 la sesidn ^ las 3 y 15 minutos 
 p. m. 
 
 Se ley 6, aprobd y firm6 el actade la se- 
 si<5n anterior. 
 
 El Sefior Coolidge, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, presentd el siguiente pro- 
 yecto de resoluoi6n, el cual se dispuso 
 pasase & la Comisidn de Reglamento: 
 
 "No siendo posible mantener entera- 
 mente secretes los procedimientos de esta 
 Conforencia, y public^ndose con frecuen- 
 cia en los periddicos especies inexactas 
 respecto de aqu^Uos, 
 
 " Que ^ las sesiones de esta Conferencia, 
 excepto en los cases especiales en que se 
 disponga otra coaa, seritn admitidos aque- 
 llos representantes de la preusa periodica 
 que determine la Comisidn Ejecutiva." 
 
 No habiendo otro asunto ante la Con- 
 ferencia, y previa mocidn del Senor Al- 
 fonso, delegado por Chile, se suspendifS 
 la sesiiSu & las 3 y 45 minutos p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidente. 
 HoRACio GuzmjCn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 JosiS M. Hurtado, 
 CARLOS Martinez Silva 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos]5 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mbndon9a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 
120 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enmque A. Mbxia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studebakbr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trkscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Vniled States. 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 JosiS Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josi: Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:^ Maria PlXcido CaahaSo,' 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos de Norte America. 
 NiCANOR Bolet Peraza, 
 
 JOSlJ AlirDRA*E, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:fi Mar! A PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
TWENTY-SECOND DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 22. 
 
 Washington, Januai-y 24, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.10 p. m., by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. 0. Ze- 
 6ARKA, a Delegate from Peru, with the 
 following Delegates present: 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 TJruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hnrtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Roc[ne Saens PeQa. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Arag<5n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos<S S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrado. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 
 Seaidn del 24 de Enero de 1890. 
 Pre.siflencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 primervice presidente, estando presentes: 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaoio Guzman. 
 Perti: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. JosiS M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El. Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Argentina: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz PeHa ; 
 
 El S Dr. Manuel Qniutana. 
 Costa Rica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn, 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. 6. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 MiSxico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia. 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unldos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 
 121 
 
122 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto CasteUanos. 
 
 , Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 MariaFl^cidoCaamafio. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Andkade, a Delegate from Vene- 
 zuela, stated that his name did not ap- 
 pear in the list of those present at the 
 session of January 17, but that he had 
 been present. 
 
 The Chaik stated the omission would 
 be corrected. 
 
 The Chair stated that the absence of 
 Mr. Laforestrie, Delegate from Hayti, 
 and of Mr. Zelaya, Delegate from Hon- 
 duras, was due to illness. 
 
 The Committee on Credentials pre- 
 sented the following report : 
 
 "The committee appointed to examine 
 the credentials of the Delegates to the 
 International American Conference and 
 report on the same, has examined the one 
 presented by Mr. Charles E. Flint, accred- 
 iting him as a Delegate from the United 
 States of America, and submits to the 
 approval of said Conference the following 
 resolution : 
 
 "Resolved, That the credential accredit- 
 ing Mr. Charles R. Flint as Delegate from 
 the United States of America to the Inter- 
 national American Conference is in good 
 and due form. 
 
 " Washington, January 24, 1890. 
 "M. Romero, 
 " Manl. Quintana, 
 "T. Jefferson Coolidge." 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 chairman of the Committee on Rules, 
 presented the two following reports : 
 
 " The Committee on Rules have given 
 attentive consideration to the two resolu- 
 tions introduced by the honorable Dele- 
 gate from Uruguay, one of them to the 
 effect that the Secretaries should give 
 notice, on the day previous to meetings, 
 to all the Delegates, that such a meeting 
 will tate place, giving also the order of 
 the day, and the pending business ; and 
 the other fixing the 1st day of March as 
 the date on which the Conference will 
 close its sessions. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Job6 M. Pl^cido CaamaQo. 
 Se abri6 la sesidn £i las 3 y 10 minutos. 
 Se ley6, aprobd y firmd el acta de la 
 sesi6n anterior. 
 
 El Sefior Andradk, delegado por "Vene- 
 zuela, manifesto que su nombre no apare- 
 cia entre los presentes en la sesidn del 17 
 del corriente, y pidid se llenase la omisidn. 
 
 La mesa manifestd que por el mal estado 
 de su salud, se hallaban ausentes el Seiior 
 Laforestrie, delegado por Haiti, y el 
 Sefior Zelaya, delegado por Honduras. 
 
 La Comisidn de Credenciales presentd 
 el siguiente dict^men : 
 
 "La Comisidn nombrada para examinar 
 las credenciales de los delegados S, la Con- 
 ferencia Internacional Americana y dicta- 
 minar respecto de ellas, ha examiuado la 
 del Senor Charles R. Flint, delegado por 
 los Estados Unidos de America, y somete 
 S, la aprobaci6n de la Conferencia la si- 
 guiente proposici6u: 
 
 "Est^ extendida en buena y debida 
 forma la oredencial que acredita como 
 delegado delosEstadosUoidosde America 
 ante la Conferencia Interuiicional Ameri- 
 cana al Senor Charles R. Flint. 
 
 "Washington, Enero 24 de 1890. 
 "M. Romero, 
 "Manuel Quintana, 
 "T. Jefferson Coolidge." 
 
 El SeSior Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 y presidente de la Comisidn de Regla- 
 mento, presents los dos diot^meues que 
 siguen, y se dispuso que se imprimiesen y 
 distribuyesen. 
 
 "La Comisi6n de Reglamento ha pres- 
 tado atenta consideracidu & las dos pro- 
 posiciones formuladas por el Hon. dele- 
 gado del Uruguay, relativas, la una ^ que 
 se establezca que la Secretaria d6 aviso de 
 cada sesKin ^ los delegados el dia anterior 
 S, aquel en que la sesi<5n deba tener lugar, 
 expresando adem^ la orden del dia y los 
 asuntos entrados ; y la otra, S, que la Con- 
 ferencia clausure sns sesiones el 1° de 
 marzo proximo, 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 123 
 
 "In regard to the resolution first men- 
 tioned, the committee have to say, that 
 the purposes and aims thereof have been 
 already reached by other means than 
 those suggested by the honorable Dele- 
 gate. Rule No. 1 of this Conference pro- 
 vides for the holding of meetings at cer- 
 tain days and hours, and Rule No. 18 
 reads that tlie presiding officer shall an- 
 nounce at the end of each meeting which 
 are the subjects left pending for the next. 
 Therefore, the necessities which said res- 
 olution tends to meet have been already 
 met, at least in so far as is essential, by 
 the provisions of the rules. 
 
 " On the other hand the resolution, if 
 adopted, would produce additional diffi- 
 culties, because no subjects sent in dur- 
 ing the twenty-four hours intervening 
 between the issue of the notice and the 
 meeting of the Conference could be pos- 
 sibly mentioned in the notice, and doubts 
 might arise as to whether it could be 
 properly brought to the attention of the 
 Conference at the next meeting, or had 
 to be postponed; and questions of this 
 nature are, in the opinion of the com- 
 mittee, to be avoided, because of their 
 being apt to produce confusion and delay. 
 " The committee think in regard to the 
 second resolution, the fixing on the 1st 
 day of March next as the closing day of 
 the Conference, that no one knows or can 
 foresee at the present time when the Con- 
 ference will be able to end its labors; 
 and that, therefore, it is impossible for 
 them to decide at this moment when the 
 Conference shall close its sessions. The 
 closing day may, perhaps, be the one 
 suggested in the resolution, and it may 
 be also some other day previous or subse- 
 quent to it. What is really most impor- 
 tant for the Conference is not to know the 
 day on which it shall cease to exist, but 
 to accomplish the purposes for which it 
 was convened. The day on which this 
 shall have been accomplished is of course 
 still uncertain. 
 "Washington, January 24, 1890. 
 "J. Alfonso, 
 " Manuel Quintana, 
 ' ' WuxLAM Henry Tkescot, 
 
 "M. ROMBHO, 
 
 " J. M. P. CAAMAffO, 
 
 "Jacinto Ca8teli.anos, 
 
 "J. G. DO Amarai Valbntb. " 
 
 " En orden & la primera de estas propo- 
 siciones, desde que el Reglamento ha de- 
 terminado por su artloulo 1° que haya 
 dias fijos de sesiones y prescrito por su ar- 
 ticnlo 18 que el Presidente anuncie al 
 terminar cada una de ellas cuales son los 
 asuntos que quedan pendientes para la 
 sesi6n inmediata, cree la Comisi6nquelos 
 arbitrios propuestos i)or el Hon. delegado 
 se dirijen S, satisfacer una necesidad S, que 
 ya han provisto en su parte principal las 
 disposiciones reglamentarias citadas. Re- 
 sultaria ademfis, si se aoeptase la recor- 
 dada proposioidn, que los asuntos entrados 
 S, la Secretaria durante las veinte y cuatro 
 horas que habrfa de trajisourrir entre el 
 aviso y la sesidn, no serian comprendidos 
 en el primero, naciendo por lo menos la 
 duda de si se podria 6 no dar cuenta de 
 ellos en la sesidn inmediata, lo que no 
 conviene que suceda, porque seria oca- 
 sionada S, producir cuestiones y retardos. 
 
 " Opina la Comisi6n, en cuanto S, la 
 clausura de las sesiones de la Confereucia 
 el 1° de marzo prdximo, que, no sabi6n- 
 dose de antemano ni pudiendo preveerse 
 cuando pondri t6rmino la Conferencia &, 
 sus trabajos, no es posible deoidir que 
 deje de funcionar en un dia dado, que 
 puede ser el que se indica en el proyecto, 
 li otro anterior 6 posterior & 61. Lo que 
 interesa y conviene, no es saber el dia en 
 que se cierren las sesiones, sino que la 
 Conferencia llene el cometido que le ha 
 si do encomendado, j' el dia en que esto 
 suceda es por ahora necesariamente in- 
 cierto. 
 
 ' Washington, 24 de Enero de 1890. 
 " J. Alfonso. 
 "Manuel Qdintana. 
 " Wm. Henry Tekscot. 
 "M. Romero. 
 •'J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 " Jacinto Castellanos. 
 "J. G. do Amaral Valentk." 
 
124 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 " In consequence of the fact that rev- 
 elations, sometimes incorrect, sometimes 
 malicions, and always contrary to the 
 rules, have been made of the proceedings 
 of the Conference, the Hon. T. Jefferson 
 Coolidge, Delegate from the United States, 
 introduced a resolution to the effect that 
 the Conference should be open to such 
 representatives of the press as the Execu- 
 tive Committee should select, except in 
 special cases, when it might be otherwise 
 ordered. 
 
 "This resolution would tend to alter 
 the scope of Article 20 of the Rules, which 
 states that the discussions and sessions of 
 the Conference shall be secret. 
 
 " The special nature of the Conference, 
 and of the subjects which were to come 
 under its deliberations, were the reason 
 for this provision. 
 
 "These reasons have not altered ; they 
 are to-day the same as when the rules 
 were discussed and approved. 
 
 "On this account the committee is of 
 opinion that the rules should not be 
 amended, although the facts on account 
 of which the resolution was made are, 
 unfortunately, true. 
 
 "If the injunction of secrecy were to be 
 removed, should the committee have to 
 decide between a restricted publicity 
 which to a certain extent would give an 
 official character to the reports published, 
 by reason of the selection of the reporters 
 by the Conference or the free admission 
 of all who desired to assist atthe sessions, 
 it would prefer the latter, because, in its 
 own opinion, it is the least subject to 
 objection. 
 
 "The revelation of documents and pro- 
 ceedings which ought to be kept secret is 
 to be regretted, and the committee hopes 
 it may not occur again. 
 
 "It is butjust to acknowledge that the 
 Executive Committee has given its atten- 
 tion to these irregularities, and has en- 
 deavored to discover the manner in which 
 certain documents were made public ; 
 however, it has been unable to accom- 
 plish its object. 
 
 "It js believed, however, that the in- 
 troduction of this resolution, and the dis- 
 
 "A cousecucucia de revelaciones, unas 
 veces inexactas, otras veces maliciosas, y 
 siempre indebidas, el Hon. delegado de 
 los Estados Unidos de N. A., T. Jefferson 
 Coolidge, ha propuesto que se admitan & 
 las sesiones de la Conferencia S, los repre- 
 sentantes de la prensa perl6dica que de- 
 termine laComisidriEjecutiva,exceptlian- 
 dose los casos especiales en que se resuelve 
 otra cosa. 
 
 " Este proyecto tiende & modificar lo 
 dispnesto en el artlculo 20 del Reglamen- 
 to, que establecid que las discusiones y las 
 sesiones de la Conferencia debian ser se- 
 cretas. 
 
 "Tfivose presente, al sancionar este 
 precepto, la naturalezaespecial de la Con- 
 ferencia y la de los asuntos que debian ser 
 materia de sus deliberaciones. 
 
 "Esta condici<iu no ha cambiado; es 
 hoy dia la misma que cuando se discutid 
 y aprob6 el Reglamento. 
 
 "For este motive piensa la Comisi6n in- 
 formante que la regla que respecto de ella 
 se dict6 no debe experimentar tampoco 
 modificaci6n alguna, sin que tean parte & 
 aconsejarla los heohos, desgraciadamente 
 efectivos, en que se apoya el proyecto. 
 
 "Sihubierade suspenderse el secrete, 
 entre una publicaci6n restringida, y en 
 cierto modo, oficial, puesto que seria au- 
 torlzada por la misma Conferencia, en la 
 elecci6u de ciertas personas y una publi- 
 cacidn amplia, permiti^ndose asistir & 
 quien quisiera & sus sesiones, laComisi6n 
 se pronunciaria preferentemente por este 
 segundo t^rmino, el cual tendria S, su jucio 
 menos iuconvenientes que ios que pro- 
 viriieran del arbitrio aoonsejado en el pro- 
 yecto. 
 
 "Debe deplorarse la revelaci 6n de docu- 
 mentoa y actos que han debido perma- 
 necer en reserva; y la Comisi6n espera 
 que este hecho no se repita. 
 
 "Es justo reconocer que la Comisi6n 
 Ejecntiva se ha preocupado con estas 
 irregularidades y procurado indagar de 
 que modo han podido verificarse ciertas 
 pnblicaciones, sin alcanzar un resultado 
 satisfactorio en el case especial en que 
 han recaido sus investigaciones. 
 
 " Pero debe creerse que la presentaci6n 
 de este proyecto y la discnsifin & que d6 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 125 
 
 oussion consequent thereon, will tend to 
 lessen, if not to entirely remove, the evil 
 for which a remedy is sought ; for the 
 evil is one of those which, hy its nature, 
 is corrected by the fact of attention being 
 called to it. 
 
 "Washingtou, January 24, 1890. 
 
 "J. Alfonso. 
 
 "Manuel Quintana. 
 
 "J. G. DO Am ARAL Valentb. 
 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 
 " W. H. TUESCOT. 
 
 " M. Romero. 
 "Jacinto C^stellanos." 
 
 It was ordered that these be ptinted 
 and distributed. 
 
 The interval fixed by the rules having 
 expired, the Cuair submitted for discus- 
 sion the report of the Committee on 
 Weights and M3asures. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 and Mr. HurtaDO, a Delegate from Co- 
 lombia, objected to the wording of -the 
 conclusions of '.he said report as being 
 liable to false construction. Mr. Romero 
 presented the fo'lowing modification of 
 the wording : 
 
 "The luternati jnal American Confer- 
 ence recommends ihe adoption of the me- 
 trical decimal system to the nations here 
 represented which have not already ac- 
 cepted it. 
 
 "M. Romero. 
 
 "Washington, January 24, lb90." 
 
 The above amendment was accepted by 
 the Committee on Weights and Meas- 
 ures in place of the former recommenda- 
 tion. 
 
 Having been voted upon, it was unani- 
 mously adopted in this form. 
 
 Those voting in the affirmative were: 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Uruguay, 
 Colombia, the Argentine Republic, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, 
 the United States, Venezuela, Chili, Sal- 
 vador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Haytl and Honduras were absent. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, requested that it be recorded 
 that the vote which had just been taken 
 on the report of the Committee on Weights 
 and Measures was not intended to cover 
 the report, but merely the recommenda- 
 tion included therein. 
 
 lugar contribuir^n S, atenuar sino £i haoer 
 desapareoer, el mal & que se intenta poner 
 remedio, porque es de la naturaleza de 
 aquellos que encuentran a veces su correc- 
 tivo en el solo hecho de Uamar la atenci6u 
 sobre 61. 
 
 " Washington, 24 de Enero do 1800. 
 
 "J. Alfonso. 
 
 "Manuel Quintana. 
 
 "J. G. DO Amaral Valente. 
 
 "J. M. P. CAAMAIfO. 
 
 " Wm. Henry Trescot. 
 "M. Romero. 
 "Jacinto Castellanos." 
 
 Habiendo transcurrido el tienipo fijado 
 po el Reglamento, el Sefior Presidente 
 puBO Si discusidn el informe de la Comi- 
 8i6n de Pesos y Medidas. 
 
 El Souor Romero, delegadopor Mexico, 
 y el Senor Hurtado, delegado por Colom- 
 bia, objetaron ^ la manera como estaba 
 redactada la conclusifin del citado in- 
 forme, porque podia ocasionar malas in- 
 teligenoias, y el SeHor Romero presents la 
 signieute modiflcaoi<5u : 
 
 "La Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana recomieuda la adopci6u del sistema 
 m6trico decimal Si las naciones represen- 
 tadas en ella que no lo habieren aoeptado 
 ya. 
 
 ■' M. Romero.'' 
 
 La modificacidn fu6 aceptada por la 
 Comi8i6n de Pesos y Medidas en sustitu- 
 ci<5n del dictiimen por ella presentado. 
 En esta forma fu6 aqu61 pnesto & votaci6n 
 y aprobado por unanimidad. 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente: Nicaragua, 
 Peru, Guatemala, Uruguay, Colombia, 
 Argentina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Vene- 
 zuela, Chile, Salvador, Ecuador. 
 
 Ausoutes : Haiti y Honduras. 
 
 El Senor Martinez Silva, delegado 
 por Colombia, pidi6 que se hiciera cons- 
 tar que el veto que aeababa de darse 
 habia recaido, no sobre el informe de la 
 Comisi6n de Pesos y Medidas, sino sola- 
 mente sobre la couolusi6n 6 recomenda- 
 oi6n oouteuida en dicho informe. 
 
126 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. HuETADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, made the following motion : 
 
 ' ' The conclusions of the reports of the 
 committees in the form approved by the 
 Conference shall be submitted to a com- 
 mittee of revision, named by the Chair, 
 whose duty it shall be to make the modi- 
 fications in the text, in order that the 
 greatest possible precision in the language 
 may be attained, and for the concordance 
 between the English, the Spanish, and 
 Portuguese texts. 
 
 " Jos£ M. HURTADO. 
 
 "Washington, January 24, 1890." 
 
 Mr. Mexia, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 suggested that a committee of three be 
 appointed to visit and express the sym- 
 pathy of the Conference with the sick 
 Delegates, Messrs. Laforestrie and Zelaya. 
 
 Mr. Mexia's suggestion having been 
 adopted, the Chair named Messrs. Mexia, 
 Valente, and Studebaker for this duty. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Estbe, a Delegate 
 from the United States, the Conference 
 adjourned, at 4.50 p. m. 
 F. C. C. Zegarba, 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay, 
 jos:6 m. hurtado, 
 Caklos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Eepublio. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Mica. 
 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 
 Salvador de Mendon5a, 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduraa. 
 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan P. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 
 El Seuor Hurtado, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, presentd la siguiente resoluci6n : 
 
 " Las conoluslones de los informes de 
 las Comisiones, en la forma en que se 
 aprueban por la Conferencia, se pasar^n 
 & una Comisifin de redaccidn, nombrada 
 por la mesa, cuyo deber serd. hacer las 
 modificacionea en su texto que la mayor 
 precision del lenguaje requiera, y cnidar 
 de la concordancia entre los textos es- 
 pa&ol, inglfis y portugu^s." 
 
 Se dispuso su impresidn y distribucifin. 
 
 El Senor MexIa, delegado por Mexico, 
 propuso que se nombrase una comisitfn de 
 tres delegados para que visitase & los 
 Senores Laforestrie y Zelaya actnalmente 
 enfermos. 
 
 Habiendo sido aprobada la proposici6u 
 del Senor Mexia, la mesa nombr<5 & los 
 Senores Mexfa, Valente y Studebaker 
 como miembros de dicha Comisidn. 
 
 Previa proposici6n del Senor Estee, se 
 levantfi la sesidn 5 las 4 y 50 minutes p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidente. 
 HoRACio GuzmIn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Jos6 M. Hurtado, 
 CXblos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Dr. Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Manuel Arag6n. 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 3osk S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 3. G. do Amaral Valbntb, 
 Salvador de Mendon^a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 M&cico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 127 
 
 John B. Henderson, 
 COKNEuus N. Bliss, 
 
 ClEMBNT STUDEBAKBR, 
 T. jEFFERSOlf COOLIDGE, 
 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hansqn, 
 Menry 6. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PbRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 CMH. 
 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 'Clement Studbbaker, 
 T. Jefeerson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Estados Unidos de Norte America. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, ' 
 
 Josii Alfonso, 
 Chile. 
 
TWENTY-THIRD DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 23. 
 
 Washington, January 27, 1890. 
 Tlie luternational American Conference 
 waa called to order at 3.25 p. m., by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Zbgak- 
 KA, a Delegate from Peru, with the fol- 
 lowing Delegates present : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Ilurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Koque Saenz Pefia. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 
 M. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Stndebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jeiferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. WiUiam Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 128 
 
 Seaidn del 27 de Mnero de 1890. 
 Presidenciadel Sr. F.C.C. Zegakra, pri- 
 mer Vice-Presidente, estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzmiln. 
 Perfi: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. CSrlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roq;ue Saenz Pefia ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil: 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero. 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 EstadosUnidos: 
 
 El Sr. JohnB. Henderson : 
 
 El Sr. CorneUus N. Bliss; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis ; 
 
 ElSr. Charles R. Flint. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 129 
 
 Venezuela ; 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present, subject to the rectifi- 
 cations as given below. 
 
 Mr. Mabtinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, stated that the objection raised 
 by him in the previous session, regarding 
 the vote on the report of the Committee 
 on Weights and Measures, was not in- 
 tended to qualify the vote given by the 
 Colombian Delegation, but with the 
 view of having it clearly understood that 
 when a report was voted on the vote 
 should only be considered as covering 
 the final conclusions and not the report 
 itself. He desired at the same time that 
 his proposal should not be understood as 
 a protest against the report above men- 
 tioned, as his only object was as already 
 stated. 
 
 Mr. Saenz PeSa, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, requested that it be 
 recorded in the minutes, that in the pre- 
 vious session, in discussing the report of 
 the Committee on Weights and Measures, 
 he had stated in reference to the conclu.-- 
 sions of the committee, which limited it- 
 self to recommending the adoption of the 
 metrical decimal system for international 
 relations, that although it is certain that 
 there ought not to be two systems of 
 weights and measures, one for national 
 the other for international use> still he 
 thought that that which concerned the 
 home affairs of a country was a matter 
 for its own decision, and was outside the 
 powers of this Conference. The latter 
 merely had power to determine the forms 
 for international relations, but it is to 
 the interest of each State to conform 
 in its internal regulations with those 
 adopted for international transactions. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 requested that what he had said in refer- 
 ence to the statement of the Argentine 
 Delegation be also recorded, to wit : 
 
 That the honorable Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic was correct in saying 
 that the Conference could only occupy 
 9lO 
 
 Venezuela ; 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Se abrid la sesidn S, laa'S y 25 minutos 
 p. m. 
 
 Se ley (5, aprobd y flrmd el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior, con las reotificaciones que 
 & continuacidn se expresan : 
 
 El Seuor Martinez Silva, delegado 
 por Colombia, manifestd que la proposi- 
 cidn por dl hecha en la sesidn anterior 
 respecto del voto tornado sobre el in forme 
 y dict^men de la Comisidn de Pesos y 
 Medidas, no habia tenido por objeto cali- 
 flcar el voto dado por la Delegacidn de 
 Colombia, sine fijar el puuto de que, al 
 votarseun informe, el votorecaesolamente 
 sobre la proposicidn final y nd sobre el 
 informe raismo. Desea al mismo tiempo, 
 que su proposicidn no se entienda como 
 protesta contra el citado informe, pues 
 su linico objeto fud el ya expresado. 
 
 El SeQor Saenz Pbna, delegado por la 
 Argentina, pidid que oonstase en el acta, 
 que en la anterior sesidn, al estarse consi- 
 derando el informe y dict^imen de la Comi- 
 sidn de Pesos y Medidas, habia manifes- 
 tado, referidudose al dict^men de dicha 
 Comisidn, en el cual se recomendaba la 
 adopcidn del sistema nidtrico decimal so- 
 laraente en las relaciones internacionales, 
 que, si bien es indndable que no debe ha- 
 ber en una nacidn dos sistemas de pesos y 
 medidas, uno para el drden naoional y 
 otro para el intemaoional, tambidn creia 
 que lo que se refiere al drden interne de 
 un pais, es materia de su legislacidn pro- 
 pia y esoapa & las facultades de esta Con- 
 ferencia. £sta sdlo las tiene para deter- 
 minar la forma en que se han de sostener 
 las relaciones internacionales; y en el in- 
 tords de cada Esta 'o est^ el uniformar el 
 orden interne con el de las relaciones in- 
 ternacionales. 
 
 El Sefior Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 pidid que tambidn se hiciese oonstar lo 
 que dl habia observado con respecto ^ lo 
 dioho por el Sefior delegado por la Argen- 
 tina, ^ saber : que siendo exaoto lo que ha 
 expresado el honorable delegado por la 
 Repfiblica Argentina, en orden & que la 
 
130 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 itself with international subjects, and not 
 with the home atfairs of each country ; 
 but that it is not less true that the agree- 
 ment reached with reference to this first 
 object exerts a direct influence on the 
 second. The recommendation of the adop- 
 tion of the metrical decimal system was 
 a case in point. If this system be adopted 
 it would seem certain that it must be in- 
 troduced into all national transactions, 
 as it would not be possible, in inter- 
 national transactions, to know before- 
 hand which formalities should bo em- 
 ployed, and that to obviate such difficul- 
 ties the general adoption of the system 
 was advisable. Otherwise it might be 
 that the recommendation which had been 
 accepted would not be carried out. 
 
 Mr. ZBLAYA,a Delegate from Honduras, 
 stated that as he had not been present in 
 the previous session he had not been 
 able to give his approval, in the name of 
 his Government, to the recommendation 
 of the Committee on Weights and Meas- 
 ures, but that he did so now. 
 
 The Chair made known the following 
 communication from Mi-. Nin, a Delegate 
 from Uruguay, and Chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on Customs Regulations : 
 
 " Mr. President : On account of the 
 difficulty which is experienced in arrang- 
 ing the meetings of the committee ap- 
 pointed to report on Customs Regulations, 
 and in view of the peculiar position in 
 which the undersigned is placed by the 
 motion presented by him regarding the 
 day to be fixed for the close of the Con- 
 ference, and which motion is now pend- 
 ing, the undersigned hereby tenders his 
 irrevocable resignation as chairman of 
 said committee. 
 
 "With expressions of respect, etc., 
 
 "Alberto Nin, 
 " Delegate from Uruguay." 
 
 Conferencia s61o puede oeuparae de las 
 relaciones internacionales y nd de los 
 asuntos internes de cada pals, no lo es 
 menos que un acuerdo celebrado con el 
 primer objeto, puede ejercer una influen- 
 cia direota sobre el segundo. La rocomen 
 dacidn del sistema m6trico decimal se en- 
 ciientra precisamente en este caso. Si se 
 adopta ese sistema, pareoe indudable que 
 deberia establecerse en todos los asuntos 
 de orden interne &, que pueda aplicarse, 
 porque no ser^ posible en las relaciones 
 internacionales saber de antemano cuales 
 son los antecedentes 6 documentos que 
 han de figurar en ellas; lo que obliga & la 
 adepcidn general del sistema. De otro 
 mode seria ficil que no se cumpliera la 
 recomendacidn que se liabia aoeptado. 
 
 El Seuor Zelaya, delegado por Hon- 
 duras, manifest6' que, no hall^ndose 
 presente en la anterior sesidn, no le liabia 
 side posible prestar su asentimiente en 
 nombre de su Gobierue al dictSmen de la 
 Comisidn de Pesos y Medidas, lo cual 
 hacia ahora. 
 
 La Mesa did ouenta de la siguiente 
 comunicacidn del Senor Nin, delegado 
 por Uruguay y presidente de la Comisidn 
 de Reglamentos de Ad u an as, & saber : 
 
 "Senok Presidente: En atencidu^S 
 las dificultades que se presentan para 
 reunir S, la Comisidn encargada de dicta- 
 minar sobre Reglamentacidu Aduanera, 
 y dada la especial situacidn en que coloca 
 al infrasci ito la mocidn que ha tenide el 
 honor de presentar ^ 1 a Conferencia para 
 que se senale dfa de clausura, la cual estii 
 pendiente de su conocimiento y resolu- 
 cidn, vengo & ijresentar renuncia indecli- 
 nable del cargo de Presidente de la preci- 
 tada Comisidn con que f ul hourado por la 
 Mesa. 
 
 "Con este motive me es grate saludar 
 al Senor Presidente, y por su intermedie 
 & la Hen. Conferencia, con mi mfc distin- 
 guida oonsideracidn y alta estiraa. 
 
 "Alberto Nin. 
 
 "Washington, Enero 27 de 1890." 
 
 After considerable discussion, Mr. Nin 
 having again explained that his decision 
 was irrevocable, on the motion of Mr. 
 Flint, a Delegate from the United States, 
 it was agreed to accept Mr. Nin's resigna- 
 tion by a vote of ten against four. 
 
 Despuds de largas explicaciones y de 
 manifestar el Seflor Nin que su determi- 
 nacidn era irrevocable, Si proposicidn del 
 Senor Flint, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, se acordd aceptar la renuncia del 
 Sefior Nin por un veto de 10 contra 4. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 131 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentine Republic, Costa Rica, Paraguay, 
 Honduras, United States, and Chili. 
 
 Those who voted negatively were : 
 Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, and Venezuela. 
 
 Mr. Zelaya, a Delegate from Hon- 
 duras, thanked the Conference for the 
 interest shown during his recent illness. 
 
 The journal of the first day was read, 
 approved, and signed by the Delegates 
 present. 
 
 Mr. HuRTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, presented the following, which was 
 leferred to the Coiuniittee on Rules : 
 
 "Notwithstanding the votes given by 
 the different delegations on tbe reports of 
 committees which may be submitted for 
 the consideration of 1 he Conference, each 
 and all thedelegatious shall havetheright 
 to subsequently qualify or modify the 
 opinion I hey may have expressed, and 
 such supplementary opinions shall be con- 
 sidered as having been made at the time 
 the original vote was taken, and shall be 
 so set forth in protocols. 
 
 " JOSEi M. HURTADO, 
 
 " Delegate from Colombia. 
 " Washington, Januaru 27, 1890." 
 Mr. EsTBE, a Delegate from the United 
 States, moved the Conference adjourn, 
 and it was so ordered at p. m. 
 F. C. C. Zbgaera, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemiala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 JoSJ! M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia: 
 RoQUE Saenz Pbna, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos:^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
 Votaron aflrmativauionte: Nicaragua, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Honduras, Estados Uni- 
 dos, Chile, y Peru. 
 
 Votaron negativamento: Brasil, Me- 
 xico, Bolivia, y Venezuela, 
 
 El Sefior Zelaya, delegado por Hon- 
 duras, expres6 su agradecimionto por el 
 interns mauifestado por la Honorable Con- 
 ferencia durante su reoiente enfermdad. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y (irm6 el acta de la 
 primera sesifin de la Honorable Confe- 
 reucia. 
 
 El Senor Hurtado, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, present6 la siguiento proposicidn : 
 
 "No obstante los votes que se expresen 
 por las distintas delegaciones sobre los 
 informes de comisiones 6 sus conclusiones 
 que se sometan ^la consideraci6n de la 
 Conferenoia, quedan las delegaciones, 
 todas y cada una de ellas, con el derecbo 
 de califioar y oomplementar, posterior- 
 mente, el voto que hubiereu emitido y 
 tales exposiciones complementarias se ten- 
 drian por bechas al tiempo de la respectiva 
 votaci6n y en conformidad se protocoli- 
 zar^n. 
 
 "J. M. Hurtado. 
 
 "ENERpaTdelS'JO." 
 Habiendo el Senor Estee, delegado por 
 los Estados Uuidos, podido que su levan- 
 tase la sesibn, asi se hizo £i las 5 p. m. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vieepresidente. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 JosiS M. Hurtado, 
 CjCrlos Martinez Silv* 
 Cljcmaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUE Sakk/. PeSa 
 Manukl Quintan a, 
 
 Argeniina, 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jofi6 S. Decoud. 
 
 Paragiiay. 
 jER6NirdO Zklaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
132 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFKKENCE. 
 
 Matias Komebo, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studbbakbr, 
 T. Jepfreson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Tkbscot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLBT FeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 J08]6 Maria FlIcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 MATfAs Romero, 
 ENRiQf'E A. MbxIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. IfANSON, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos de Norte 
 America. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeKAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos:^ Alfon 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3os± MARfA PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador 
 
TWENTY-FOURTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA TSo. 24. 
 
 Washington, January 29, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.30 p. in. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr.F.C.C. Zegarra, 
 a Delegate from Peru, with the following 
 Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. CUmaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic: 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz Pena. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Joa6 S. Decoud. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. .Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Coruelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Stndebaker. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Sesidn del 29 de Enero de 1890. 
 PresidenciadelSr. F.C.C. Zegarra, pri- 
 mer Vicepresidente, estando presentes: 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perfi: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz Pena ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quiutaua. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ S. Decoud. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Hendersou ; 
 
 ElSr. Cornelius N. Bliss; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 133 
 
134 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nioanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecnador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pliicido CaamaJio. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The minutes of the second session were 
 then read, and after the following cor- 
 rection had been noted were approved 
 and signed by the Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, stated that what he 
 had said in the second session regarding 
 the invitation given by Mr. H. T. Hughes 
 was, that such invitations should in fu- 
 ture be addressed to the Delegates indi- 
 vidually, and not to the Conference as a 
 body. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, presented a communica- 
 tion from the Postmaster General oou- 
 cerning postal conventions for the circu- 
 lation of parcels and postal money-orders, 
 with the request that it be referred to the 
 Committee on General Welfare. 
 
 It was agreed that this be done and that 
 the document be printed and distributed 
 to the Delegates. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, asked the Chair whether docu- 
 ments presented to the Conference or to 
 the committees could be made public with- 
 out the authorization of the Confurence. 
 
 The Chair stated tliat, in accordance 
 with the rules, they could not. 
 
 There being no further business before 
 the Conference, Mr. Calderon, a Dele- 
 gate from Colombia, made a motion to 
 adjourn, and it was so ordered at 4:30 
 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zbgarka, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Placido Caamailo. 
 Se abri6 la sesidn d las 3 y 20 minntos 
 p. m. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firm6 el acta de la 
 sesi6n anterior. 
 Se ley6 el acta de la sesi^n segunda. 
 
 El Sr. Quint ANA manifest6 que lo dicho 
 por 61 en la referida sesi6n, con respecto 
 S, la invitaci6n del Sr. William H. T. 
 Hughes fu6 que aqu^lla y las que en lo 
 future se dirigieren, deberiau hacerse a 
 los senores Delegados en particular y n6 
 S, la Conferencia. Con esta rectificaci6n 
 el acta i'u6 aprobada y firmada. 
 
 El Seuor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, present6 una comunica- 
 ci6n del Seuor Ministro de Correos, refe- 
 rente A, convenciones postales para la cir- 
 culacion de encomiendas y el pago de 6r- 
 denes 6 giros postales, y pidic5 que pasase 
 £i la Comisi6n de Bienestar General. Se 
 aoord6 que asf se hiciese, y adem^s que se 
 iraprimiese y repartiese. 
 
 El Senor Martinez Silva, delegado por 
 Colombia, pregunt6 £ la Mesa si los docu- 
 mentos presentados S. la Conferencia 6 las 
 Comisiones podian pnblicarse sin la auto- 
 rizaci6n de la Conferencia. 
 
 La Mesa manifest6 que, segun el regla- 
 mento, la publicacion no podia hacerse 
 sin que lo autorizara la Conferencia. 
 
 No habiendo otro asunto que tratar, el 
 Senor Caldkr(3n, delegado por Colombia, 
 propuso que se levantase la sesidn, y asl 
 se hizo & las 4 y 30 minutos p. m. 
 
 F. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Ficepresideiite. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Vernando Cruz, 
 
 (fuatemala. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 135 
 
 Jos£ M. FlURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUK Saenz PkSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 .1. G. DO Am ARAL Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon^a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexxa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 CouNELius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 United States. 
 Jos£ Andradb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josii: Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador, 
 .lost Maria PlAcido Caamano, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 JOSli M. HURTADO, 
 
 CiRLOS Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colomhia. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Josft S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de MENDON9A, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jeh6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 
 CoRNtLlUS N. Kiiss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 Estados Vvidos de Norte America. 
 Josii; Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jo8(!; Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosiS MarJa Placido Caamano, 
 Ecuador. 
 
TWENTY-FIFTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 25. 
 
 Washington, Januay 31, 1890. 
 The ' International American Confer- 
 ence was calleil to order at 3.40 p. m. by 
 the First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. 
 Zegabra., a, delegate from Peru, with 
 the following delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Gnzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz Peila. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga ; 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebakor. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. #ohn F. Hanson. 
 136 
 
 Sesion del 31 de Enero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 primer Vicepresidente, estando preseu- 
 tes: 
 
 Nicaragua: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio GuzmSiTt. 
 Peru: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. JosiS M. Hurtado; 
 
 El Sr. Ciirlos Martinez Silva; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco CaMewSn. 
 Argentina: 
 
 El Sr. Dr Roque Saenz P^a; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendoufa. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Eurique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelins N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson. 
 
INTERNATlONAli AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 137 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Andrade. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Joa6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. JoB^ Mari.a Pl£icido Caamafio. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 delegates present. 
 
 The Chair announced that Mr. Bolet 
 Peraza, a delegate from Venezuela, and 
 Mr. Aragon, a delegate from Costa Rica, 
 having been obliged to leave the city, 
 begged to be excused at the session. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a delegate from 
 Colombia, presented the following propo- 
 sition, which it was decided should be 
 referred to the Committee on General 
 Welfare : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence recommends that all the govern- 
 ments represented in the Conference pro- 
 vide that the 12th of OctobiT, the anni- 
 versary of the discovery of America, 
 shall be a national holiday. This would 
 serve not only to honor the memory of the 
 great Grenoe.se, but also to forge another 
 link of sympathy and a bond of union be 
 tween all the peoples of the American 
 continent. The International American 
 Conference permits itself to extend this 
 recommendation to the government of the 
 dominion of Canada, and to all the Euro- 
 pean governments who have possessions 
 in America. 
 
 "Presented to the International Amer- 
 ican Conference by the undersigned dele- 
 gate from Colombia. 
 
 "Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 " Washington, January 31, 1890." 
 
 Mr. CaamaSo, a delegate from Ecua- 
 dor, on his own account and on behalf of 
 the others who signed, presented the fol- 
 lowing plan of a resolution which it was 
 agreed to refer the Committee on Inter- 
 national Law : 
 
 " Whereas, after the Congress of Vien- 
 na had signed the supplementary act rel- 
 ative to the navigation of rivers passing 
 through several states, it has been held 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. .Tacinto Castellanob. 
 Ecu9,dor: 
 
 El Sr. J(JS(5 M. Pldicido Caamauo. 
 
 Se abrid la sesi6n ^ las 3 y 4.5 minutos 
 I), m. 
 
 Se leyd, aprobd y flrmd el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 La Mbsa an unci 6 que el Senor Bolet 
 Peraza, delegado por Venezuela, y el 
 Senor Arag6n, delegado por Costa Rica, 
 suplicaban se oxcusase su auseucia, debida 
 ^ haber tenido que salir de la cindad. 
 
 El SeHor Martinez Silva, delegado 
 por Colombia, preseutd la siguiente pro- 
 po8ici6n, la cual se dispuso pasase S, la 
 Comisidn de Bienestar General : 
 
 " La Conferencia Intemacional Ameri- 
 cana recomienda ^ todos los Gobiernos en 
 ella representados que declareu dia de 
 fiesta nacional el 12 de Octubre, aniver- 
 sario del descubrimiento de America, lo 
 cual servir^ no s61o para honrar la memori a 
 del ilustre Genov^s, sino para establecer 
 nn vinculo mSs de simpatia y de unidn 
 entre todos los pueblos del continente 
 americano. 
 
 La Conferencia Intemacional se permite 
 extender esta recomendaci6n al Gobierno 
 del Dominio del Canada y & todos los 
 Gobiernos europeos que tienen posesiones 
 en America. 
 
 " Presentado i, la Conferencia Intema- 
 cional Americana por el infrasorito, Dele- 
 gado de Colombia. 
 
 " CiRLOS Martinez Silva." 
 
 El Seflor CaamaSo, delegado por el 
 Ecuador, por e£ y ^ uombre de los dem£is 
 que lo firman, presents el siguiente pro- 
 yecto de resolucidn. Se dispuso pasase S, 
 la Comisi6fi de Derecho Intemacional : 
 
 "Por cuanto, es principio admitido en 
 el Derecho Intemacional de Enropa, des- 
 pu6s de celebrado el Congreso de Viena 
 y flrmada el acta adicional del mismo, 
 
138 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 as a princii)le of the international law of 
 Europe that it is not lawful to deny ac- 
 ooss to the sea to those nations of the in- 
 terior which border upon the npper por- 
 tions of navigable rivers; but that, on 
 the contrary, they shall enjoy the free use 
 of those waters for all purposes of navi- 
 gatiou and coiumerce, or any others in- 
 dispensable to the existence or develop- 
 ment of the nation in question ; and 
 
 " Whereas this sound principle of equity 
 and justice has been especially es ab- 
 lished on this continent, after no little 
 discussiou and dispute, thanks to the 
 firmness and slcill of the GoverDment of 
 the United States, in the first place, with 
 the Spanish Governm nt in the case of 
 the Mississippi, when Spain was in pos- 
 session of both banks of the lower part of 
 that river, and afterwards with Great 
 Britain, with respect to the River St. Law- 
 rence ; and 
 
 " Whereas it is of especial importance 
 in America, where there are so many and 
 such large navigable rivers which serve 
 as national boundaries and which often 
 confine a state merely by their upper 
 waters, that what is to-day a legal doc- 
 trine be converted into a direct provision 
 of written law : 
 
 " On this account, 
 
 "Resolved, That the International 
 American Conference recommend to the 
 several nations therein represented that 
 they make a solemn declaration, in the 
 form which shall seem most suitable, to 
 the effect that sovereign states of the 
 upper parts of navigable rivers, or those 
 which are bounded by their banks or 
 channels in 8ai<l upper sections, shall 
 have right of access to the sea by means 
 of said rivers, and of free navigation in 
 tlie waters of the same. 
 
 "And be It furthermore 
 
 " Resolned, That this doctrine be hence- 
 forth considered as a fixed doctrine of the 
 international law of Amejica. 
 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo, Ecuador. 
 
 "Carlos Martinez Silva, 'Colombia. 
 
 "Climaco Caldkr6n, Colombia. 
 
 " Jos]iS S. Decoud, Paraguay." 
 
 relativa it la iiavegaciou de los rios que 
 pasau por di versos Estados, que no es 
 If cito privar de salida almar d las naciones 
 interiores que confinan con la parte alta 
 de rios navegables, y que por el contrario 
 ha de series permitido el libre uso de 
 aqnellas aguas para todo efecto de nave- 
 gacidn y comercio, 6 cualquiera otro in- 
 dispensable & la existencia, 6 desarrollo 
 de la nacidu de que se trata: 
 
 " Y por cuanto, este principio salndable 
 de eqnidad y de recta raz6n, ha side es- 
 pecialmente con^grado en este Confi- 
 nente, despu^s de no poca discusidn y dis- 
 puta, graeias al tesdn yhabilidad del Go- 
 bierno de los Estados Unidos de America; 
 primero con el Gobierno de Espaua, por 
 raz6u del Misisipl, cuando Espalia era 
 poseedora de ambas iniirgenes de la parte 
 baja de aquel rio, y despu^s, con la Gran 
 BretaQa, con respecto al rio San Lorenzo : 
 
 "Y por cuanto, es de importa.ncia en 
 America donde se encuentrau tantos y tan 
 caudalosos rios navegables que marcan 
 llmites nacionales, y que muchas veces 
 dejan eonfinado un Estado a 861o la parte 
 alta de los mismos rios, que lo que es hoy 
 doctrina juridica se convierta en deelara- 
 ci6n positiva de Derecho escrito : — 
 
 "Por tanto, 
 
 "Se resuelve, que la Conferencia Inter, 
 iiacional Americana recomienda ^ los Go- 
 liiernos de las diferentes naciones repre- 
 sentadas en ella, la decl;iraci6n solemne, 
 en la forma que lo pareoiere m^s propia, 
 de que los Estados soberanos de partes 
 snprriores de rios navegables, o limitados 
 por sus mSrgenes 6 sus corrieutes, en las 
 referidas altas secciones, tienen derecho 
 A, la salida al mar por el intermedio de 
 dichos lies, y de navegar libremente las 
 aguas de los mismos : 
 
 "T ademds se resuelre, que esta doctrina 
 se considera eu adelante como doctrina 
 fija del Derecho Internacional de Ame- 
 rica." 
 
 J. M. P. Caamano, Ecuad r. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, Colombia. 
 CLfMACO Calder6n, Colombia 
 Jos:6 S. Decoud, Paraguay. 
 
 Mr. Andradb, a delegate from Vene- 
 zuela, presented the following deolara- 
 
 El Seuor Andrade, delegado por Vene- 
 zuela, present6 el signlent* pioyecto de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 139 
 
 tions; which it was agreed should be re- 
 ferred to the Committee on International 
 Law ; 
 
 " DECLARATIONS. 
 
 " 1. The claims of foreigners arising 
 from causes which come nnder the juris 
 diction of the judicial power of the nation 
 against which they are presented shall 
 not be submitted through the diplomatic 
 channel. 
 
 "2. When the claims arise from a de- 
 nial of justice, or of notorious injustice, 
 the only diplomatic manner in which they 
 can be settled is by reference to a mixed 
 commission. 
 
 "3. There shall be considered to have 
 been no denial of justice, or notorious in- 
 justice, when the interested parties shall 
 have exhausted all the legal remedies, 
 and the court has decided according to 
 the rules of proceedings established by 
 the sovereign jurisdiction. 
 
 "4. No claim shall be referred to a 
 mixed commission, no matter what the 
 cause may be from which it arises, if the 
 Government of the wronged party hasnot 
 had a perfect knowledge thereof. 
 " Jo8]£ Andkadb, 
 " Delegate from Venezuela. 
 
 "Washington, January 31, 1890." 
 
 Mr. EsTEE, a delegate from the United 
 States, presented the following resolu- 
 tion; which it was agreed should be re- 
 ferred to the Committee on Rules : 
 
 "Beaolved, That on and after the pre- 
 sentation of any report or reports of any 
 one or more of the committees of this 
 Conference, duly printed, and which shall 
 be duly and regularly reached on our 
 daily calendar, according to the rules of 
 this Conference, there shall be daily meet- 
 ings of the Conference (Sundays excepted) 
 for the consideration thereof, and these 
 daily meetings shall continue until said 
 reports shall be disposed of. 
 
 "MOKEISM. ESTEB, 
 
 "Delegate from United States. 
 "Washington, January 31, 1890." 
 The minutes of the third day were read, 
 approved, and signed by the delegates 
 present. 
 
 Mr. NiN, a delegate from Uruguay, 
 stated that he thought it advisable that 
 the Chair should kindly provide for the 
 order in which the work of the Confer- 
 
 " Declaracioues " el cual sedispusopadase 
 ^la Comisi6n de Derecho Internacional : 
 
 " DECLARACIONES. 
 "1. No deben admitirse por la via di- 
 plom^tica las reclamaciones de extrange- 
 ros originadas de causa quo sea Je la com- 
 petencia del poder judicial de la nacidn 
 contra la cual se intenten. 
 
 "2. Tratindose de reclamaciones por 
 causa de denegacicin de justicia 6 de in- 
 j usticia notoria, el rinico recurso diplomi- 
 tico admisible para decidir acerca de 
 ellas,es el de las Comisioues Mixtas. 
 
 ''3. No hay denegacl6n de justicia nl 
 injusticia notoria cuando las partes han 
 agotado on el juicio todos sus recursos 
 legales y el juez ha juzgado conforme £i 
 las uoimas de procedimieoto establecidas 
 por la jurisdiccidn soberana. 
 
 "4. No debe someterse ^ Comi8i6u 
 Mixta ninguna reclamacidn oualquiera 
 que sea su causa, de la cual el Gohierno 
 de la parte que se crea ofendida no haya 
 tenido perfecto conocimieuto. 
 
 " JoslS Andrade. 
 
 " Washington, 31 de Enero de 1890." 
 
 El Senor Esteb, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, presentd la siguiente propo- 
 sici6n. Se dispnso pasase 6, la Comisi6n 
 de Reglamento : 
 
 "<Se reauelve, que desde el momento 
 en que alguno de los informes de las Co- 
 misioues de esta Conferencia est6 en dis- 
 posici6n de disoutirse, por baber sido 
 impreso y distribuido, y haber llenado los 
 requisites del Reglamento, se celebrarsin 
 sesiones diarias de la Conferencia, con 
 excepci6n de los domingos, hasta que se 
 determine definitivameute sobre el asunto 
 a que dicho informe se refiere. 
 
 "Morris M. Estee.'' 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firiu<i el acta de la 
 sesi(ju tercera. 
 
 El SeHor NiN, delegado por uiuguay, 
 manifest6 que creia conveniente que la 
 Mesa se sirviese disponer el ordeu que 
 debe observarse en la impresidn de los 
 
140 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ence alioiilU be piiiited; and he added 
 that, in his opinion, this order should be 
 the following: 
 
 First, the documents coming direct 
 I'rom the conference ; 
 
 Second, those presented by the various 
 committees ; and 
 
 Third, the private reports of the mem- 
 bers of said committees. 
 
 He explained that he made these sug- 
 gestions because it appeared that there 
 were not great facilities for the printing 
 of the various documents. 
 
 He also requested the Chair to provide 
 for the printing of the journals of the 
 sessions. 
 
 There beiug no further business before 
 Uic conference, on the motion of Mr. 
 EsTEK, a delegate from the United States, 
 tlio session was adjourned at 4.55 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. ZlSGARRA, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 
 •JOSil M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Caldbr6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Jos£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valbnte, 
 Salvador de MBNDON5A, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mbxia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Boliria. 
 Clement Studkbaker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estbe, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 Josi Andradb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ Maria PlIcido CaamaNo. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 trabajos dela Conferencia; y afiadid, que 
 ese orden, en su concepto, deberia ser el 
 siguiente: primero, los que emanan di- 
 rectamente de la Conferencia ; segundo, 
 los que proceden de las diversas comi- 
 siones; y tercero, losinformesparticnlares 
 de los miembros de ellas. Explic<5 que 
 hacfa esas indicaciones porque, seglin 
 aparecfa, no habia grandes facilidades 
 para la impresidn delos documentos. 
 
 Tambi6n suplic6 & la Mesa, se sirviese 
 disponer lo conveniente para que se pro- 
 cediese S, la im(^esii5u del diario de las 
 sesiones. 
 
 No habiendo otro asunto ante la Con- 
 ferencia, y previa proposicidn del SeHor 
 Estee, delegado por los Estados Unidos, 
 se 8nspendi6 la sesidn & las 4 y 5.5 minutes. 
 
 F. C. C. Z^GARRA, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidente. 
 Horacio GuzmXn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Jos]6 M. Hurtado, 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 C'Lf maco Calder6n, 
 
 Colomliia. 
 Jos6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 3. G. DO Amaral Valbnte, 
 Salvador db MEND0N9A, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MATf AS Romero, 
 
 ENRIQUK a. MEXfA, 
 
 M&eico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estbe, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Eslados Unidos de Norte America. 
 Josfi Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos£ MakIa PlXcido CaamaSJo. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
TWENTY SIXTir DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 26. 
 
 Washington, Febmarij 3, 1890. 
 The International American Confer- 
 ence was called lo order at 3.5 p. m. by 
 ths First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. 
 Zkgakka, a Delegate from Peru, with the 
 following Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. ClimacoCalder6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Aniaral Valeute. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nirao Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Tresoot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 
 Seaidn del 'A de Feirero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Z6garra, 
 primer Vicepresidente, estando preaeu- 
 tes: 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perd: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Uiuguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado; 
 
 El Sr. C4rlo8 Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Clfmaco Calder6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. J086 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valeute ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jeri5nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matfas Eomero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde, 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Job6 Alfonso. 
 
 141 
 
142 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Maria PldcidoCaamano. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair announced that Mr. Cruz, a 
 Delegate from Guatemala, was prevented 
 by ill health from attending. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 addressed the Conference as follows : 
 
 Gkntlbmbn: The President of this Con- 
 ference and his household are again af- 
 flicted by great bereavenient. Death has 
 once more called at their door, and has 
 carried away a dear and loving daughter. 
 
 It is scarcely two weeks since we met 
 in this hall and had announced to us the 
 great misfortune which had befallen our 
 President in the death of Ms eldest son, 
 in the prime of life, and with the bright- 
 est future before him ; and unanimously 
 expressed our heartfelt sympathy with 
 the afjflicted parents. The deep wound 
 had not yet begun to heal before another 
 equally crushing misfortune visited the 
 afflicted family. This time a beloved 
 daughter, a wife and a mother, has been 
 taken, leaving a vacancy that can never 
 be retilled. 
 
 Nature has made us all mortal, and the 
 only consolation is that He who gave this 
 dear life, has taken it again to Himself. 
 
 It is not natural that children should 
 go before their parents, especially when 
 they have attained man or woman-hood, 
 and as that order has been reversed in 
 the present sad case, it comes more se- 
 verely upon the surviving parents. 
 
 We, as members of this Conference, 
 and as personal friends of Mr. Blaine, 
 have a painful duty to fulfill, to wit, to 
 express our heartfelt sympathy with our 
 President and Mrs. Blaine, and our sin- 
 cere hope that they and the family of the 
 deceased may have fortitude to bear this 
 terrible trial ; and as a mark of our re- 
 spect for the deceased, I propose that we 
 adjourn to-day after the adoption of the 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Pl^cido Caamano. 
 
 Se abri<5 la sesi6n ^ las 3 y 5 minutos 
 p. m. 
 
 Se ley6, aprobd y firm(5 el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior, y habi^ndo la Mesa anun- 
 ciado que el Sefior Crnz, delogado por 
 Guatemala, no se hallaba presente por 
 estar mal de salud, el SeEor Romero, de- 
 legado por Mfeico, se dirigid S, la Con- 
 ferencia en la ffirma siguiente : 
 
 Senores: El Presidente de esta Con- 
 ferencia y su familia han sido otra vez 
 victimas de una gran desgracia. La 
 mnerte ha llamado una vez m£is £t su 
 puerta y se ha Uevado una hija amante y 
 amada. 
 
 Apenas hace dossemanas, nos reunimos 
 en este sal6n con el ohjeto de annnciarla 
 desgracia que habiasobrevenido di nuestro 
 Presidente, con la muerte de su hijo pri- 
 mog^nito, arrebat^dole cuando estaba en 
 la primavera de la vida, y teniendo de- 
 lante de si el m&i hrillante porvenir; hoy 
 tenemos otra vez que expresar nuestra 
 profundasimpatia por losafligldos padres. 
 Aun no ha habido tiempo para que co- 
 menzara S, cioatrizarse la profunda herida, 
 cuando sucede otro golpe igualmente 
 terrible; la muerte se ha Uevado 5 una 
 hija, esposa y madre, dejando un vacio 
 quenuncapodrdlllenarse. La naturaleza 
 que nos ha hecho mortales, ea la unica 
 responsablc de esta desgracia, y el unico 
 consuelo que puede caber es que quien 
 alumbrd esa vida le ha puesto t^rmino. 
 
 No est^ en el curso ordinario de las co- 
 sas naturales que los hijos, y menos 
 cuando han Uegado ya S, la adolescencia, 
 mueran antes que los padres. Ese 6rden 
 natural ha sido trastornado en el presente 
 case, y esta circunstancia hace mfe terri- 
 ble la desgracia sufrida. 
 
 Nosotros, como miembros de esta Con- 
 ferencia, y como amigos persouales de 
 Mr. Blaine, tenemos un penoso deber que 
 cumplir: el de expresarle nuestra pro- 
 funda y sincera simpatia por los deudos 
 del finado, y nuestra esperanza de que 
 pueda tener la fortaleza bastante para 
 resistir las terribles penas que le estdin 
 sobreviniendo ; y como muestra de res- 
 peto tanto S, Mr. Blaine como A la familia. 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 143 
 
 following resolution, witbout transacting 
 any business; 
 
 " Whereas, the International American 
 Conference having heard with deep con- 
 cern of the death of Mrs. Alice Blaine 
 Coppinger, daughter of the Hon. James 
 G. Blaine, President of this Confer- 
 ence, thinks it proper to convey their 
 sincere condolence to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Blaine, parents of the deceased, for the 
 great misfortune they have suffered, and 
 to express their hope that the afflicted 
 parents uiaj have fortitude to bear the 
 crushing blows which have come upon 
 them with such a frightful rapidity ; and 
 to attend the funeral, in order to show 
 their respect for the deceased : 
 
 "Resolved, That the International Amer- 
 ican Conference, sympathizing most deep- 
 ly with its President, the Hon. James 
 G. Blaine, with Mrs. Blaine, and with the 
 husband and children of the deceased, in 
 their great bereavement, most earnestly 
 hope that the afflicted parents, husband, 
 and children may gather .strength to bear 
 this crushing blow, which, for the par- 
 ents, has been preceded by so recent and 
 terrible a shock. 
 
 ' 'Resolved, That a copy of these resolu 
 tions be transmitted to the Hon. James G. 
 Blaine, President of this Conference. 
 
 " Washington, February 3, 1890. 
 
 "M. Romero." 
 
 The above having been unanimously 
 approved, Mr. Rombho presented the 
 following, which was also unanimously 
 approved : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence has heard, with the most profound 
 grief, that the Hon. Benjamin F. Tracy, 
 Secretary of the Navy, and a member of 
 the Government which called together the 
 representatives of the nations here as- 
 sembled, has been overwhelmed by a 
 most terrible calamity, affecting both 
 himself and members of his family very 
 dear to him ; and the Conference hereby 
 expresses its sympathy with the Secretary 
 of the Navy, and requests its President to 
 
 propongo que suspendamos la sesi6n sin 
 oouparnos de ningtin otro asunto, previa 
 aprobaoidn de la siguiente resolucidn : 
 
 "Por cuanto, la Conferencia Intcrna- 
 oional Americana, ha sabidQCon gran pcsar 
 la muerte de la Sefiora Alice Blaine Cop- 
 pinger, hija del Honorable James G. 
 Blaine, Presidente de esta Conferencia, y 
 considera debido trasmitir al Sefior y Ji la 
 SeHora Blaine, padres de la flnada, la ex- 
 presidu de su condolencia sinsera por la 
 gran desgraoia que ban sufrido, y la ma- 
 nifestacidn de su esperanza de que los afli- 
 gidos padres puedan resistir las terribles 
 desgraoias que les han sobrevenido con 
 tan oercanaproxitnidad, al mismo tierapo 
 que mostrar su respeto por la memoria 
 de la finada, concurriendo a su funeral ; 
 
 "Se reauelve: Que la Conferencia In- 
 ternaoionaJ Americana simpatizando de 
 la manera m^s xirofunda con su Presi- 
 dente el Hon. James G. Blaine, con la 
 Senora Blaine y con el esposo y los hijos 
 de la finada Senora Alice Blaine Coppin- 
 ger, en la terrible desgracia que les ha 
 sobrevenido, espera que los afligidos pa- 
 dres, esposo 6 hijos puedan soportar gol- 
 pes tan terribles comolos que han sufrido 
 y que para los padres han sobrevenido 
 con tan cercana proximidad. 
 
 "Se resuelve: Que esta Conferencia 
 asistird en cuerpo al funeral de la Seiiora 
 Alice Blaine Coppinger como una mues- 
 tra (le respeto ^ su memoria. 
 
 "Se resuelve: Que se trasraita copia 
 de estas resoluciones al Hon. James G. 
 Blaine, Presidente de esta Conferencia. 
 
 "Washington, Febrero 3 de 1890. 
 
 "M. ROMBEO." 
 
 Aprobada un^nimemente la resoluoidn 
 que antecede, el mismo Senor Romero 
 presentd esta otra, que tambi^n iu€ 
 nn^nimemente aprobada, &> saber : 
 
 "La Conferencia Internaciooal Ameri- 
 cana ha sabido con profunda pena quo el 
 Hon. Benjamin F. Tracy, Secretario do 
 Marina y miembro del Gobierno que 
 invit6 & esta Conferencia & las naciones 
 aqul representadas, ha sufrido en la 
 mafiana de hoy terribles desgracias en su 
 persona y miembros muy allegados de su 
 familia ; y la Conferencia desea expresar 
 su m&» profunda simpatia por aquel dis- 
 tinguido funcionario y suplioa & su 
 Presi dente le haga comunicar este acuerdo 
 
144 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 acquaint him of the present resolution 
 in due time and in the most appropriate 
 manner. 
 
 "M. EOMEKO, 
 
 ' ' Delegate from Mexico. 
 "FebkuaetS, 1890." 
 On Mr. EoMBKo'8 motion, the Confer- 
 ence adjourned at 3.45 p. m. 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Second Vice-President. 
 Horatio Gdzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegaeea, 
 
 Peru 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 josb m. huktado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 
 ColomUa. 
 EoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Majstuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Eepublic. 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentb, 
 Salvador db MBND0N9A, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jmr6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Enrique A. Mbxia, 
 
 M&cico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Hbnrt Trbsoot, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 Jos^ Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josife Alfonso, 
 
 GMli. 
 Jaointo Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:iS Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 ou 811 oportunidad y de la manera que 
 estime m^s conveniente." 
 
 En segnida, previa mocidn del Senor 
 Romero se suspendid la sesi6n & las 3 y 
 45 minutos. 
 
 MatIas Romero, 
 
 Segundo Vicepreeidente. 
 HoRACio GuzmAn, 
 
 Nicaragua, 
 P. C. C. Zegarra, 
 Perd. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Jos^ M. HUllTADO, 
 
 CXrlos Martinez Silva, 
 CLfMACo Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUB Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Jos:6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador db Mbndon5a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Enrique A. MExfA, 
 
 M^ico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Morris M. Estbb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos deNorte America. 
 Jose Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jo8]£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador, 
 losi, MARfA PlAcido Caamano, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
TWENTY SEVENTH DAY. 
 
 Washingtok, February 5, 1890. 
 The Internatioual American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.15 p. m. by the 
 Second Vice-President, Mr. M. Romkko, 
 a Delegate from Mexico (the First Vice- 
 President, Mr. Zegarra, following later), 
 with the following Delegates present: 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Eepublio : 
 
 Mr. Koquo Saenz Pena. 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Deooud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valeute. 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Bomero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Audrade. 
 
 10 10 
 
 ACTA No. 27. 
 
 Seaidn del 5 de Febrero, 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. MatJas Romeko, 
 Scgundo Vice presideute, y del Sor. F. C. 
 C. Zegarra, priaier Vioepresidente, es- 
 tando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perti: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva; 
 
 El Sr. Cllmaoo Calder<5a. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pefia ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Deooud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 M6xico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hansou ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. JoH^ Andrade. 
 
 145 
 
146 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos(S Maria Pl^cidoCaamaiio. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair announced that Messrs. 
 Arag6n, of Costa Eica, and Bolet Peraza, 
 of Venezuela, were unable to attend the 
 session. 
 
 The minutes of the fourth day were 
 then read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. CaamaSo, a Delegate from Ecua- 
 dor, introduced the following resolution, 
 which it was agreed should be referred to 
 the Committee on International Law : 
 
 "Besolved, That the International Amer- 
 ican Conference recommend to the Gov- 
 ernments therein represented the follow- 
 ing declarations : 
 
 "1. That in future, if on account of 
 proximity of territory or any especial cir- 
 cumstances, or for a compensation agreed 
 upon, special rights or privileges be grant- 
 ed in a treaty, it shall be understood that 
 the same shall not apply to any other na- 
 tion or nations which are not governed 
 by like conditions. 
 
 ' ' 2. That the favors or privileges grant- 
 ed in general terms in treaties entered 
 into by any American nations shall be 
 understood to be extended equally to all 
 other nations of America. 
 
 "3. That excepting in the case of pre- 
 vious or express stipulations to the con- 
 trary, the preceding declarations shall be 
 henceforth considered an integral part of 
 American International law. 
 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 "Juan Franc Velarde." 
 
 Mr. ESTBE, a Delegate from the United 
 States, presented the following, which it 
 was agreed be referred to the Executive 
 Committee : 
 
 "Beaolved, That the Executive Com- 
 mittee is respectfully requested to take 
 into early consideration the question of 
 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Pl^cido Caamafio. 
 Se abrid la sesidn a las 3 y 15 minutos 
 p. m. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob(5 y firm6 el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 La Mesa anuncid que los Senores Bolet 
 Peraza, delegado por Venezuela, y Ma- 
 nuel Arag6n, 4)or Costa Eica, se hablan 
 excusado por no estar presentes. 
 
 Se leyd, aprob6 y firmfi el acta de la Se- 
 si(5n Cuarta. 
 
 El Seilor CaamaSo, delegado por el 
 Ecuador, present6 el signiente proyecto 
 de acuerdo, el cual se dispuso pasase £ 
 la Comisi(5n de Derecho Internacional, ii 
 saber : 
 
 "La Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana 
 
 " Acuerda : Eecomendar S, los Gobier- 
 nos representados en ella,ila adopcidn de 
 las siguientes declaraciones : 
 
 " 1". Que en lo sucesivo, cuando se con- 
 cedan en un tratado por raz6n de vecin- 
 dad, de circunstancias especiales 6 por 
 alguna compensaci6u determinada, dere- 
 chos 6 privilegios especiales, se cntiende 
 que estos no son extendidos S, otra ti otras 
 naciones que no se hallen en las mismas 
 condiciones. 
 
 "2". Que los favores 6 privilegios que se 
 conceden en general en los tratados cele- 
 brados entre naciones americanas se en- 
 tiecden concedidos igu almente & las otras 
 naciones de America. 
 
 " 3*. Que salvo en caso de previas 6 
 expresas estipulaciones en contrario, las 
 declaraciones que preceden se conside- 
 rarfo en adelante como parte integrante 
 del Derecho Internacional Americano. 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 "Juan Francisco Velarde." 
 
 El Sefior Estee, delegado por los Es- 
 tados Unidos, presentd la siguiente propo- 
 sici6n y se dispuso pasase & la Comisi(5n 
 Ejecutiva: 
 
 " Seresuelve : Que se suplique &\a, Comi- 
 si6n Ejecutiva se sirva tomar en oonsl- 
 deracidn,^ la mayor brevedad posible, la 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 147 
 
 the employment of additional persons to 
 translate from English into Spanish and 
 from Spanish into English, so that the 
 business of this Conference may he facili- 
 tated." 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, and 
 chairman of Committee on Rules, pre- 
 sented the following reports, which were 
 ordered to be printed and distributed : 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 The honorable Delegate from Colombia, 
 Mr. Hurtado, has submitted to the con- 
 sideration of the Conference a resolution, 
 to the effect that even after the conclusion 
 of the reports have been agreed upon, it 
 shall be lawful for each delegation to qual- 
 ify and supplement its vote, and that the 
 statements made by them at that time 
 shall be considered as made at the time at 
 which the vote was taken, and given the 
 same value as if embodied in the protocol. 
 
 The Committee on Rules has studied the 
 subject, but is of the opinion that if the 
 resolution is adopted, the delegations will 
 have the power to modify and even change 
 completely the vote given by them. In- 
 deed, under the expression "qualify and 
 supplement its vote," used by the hon- 
 orable Delegate from Colombia, without 
 any limitation or reserve, it is evident that 
 its complete variation is possible, aud that 
 the change depends only upon the judg- 
 ment or criterion of the Delegates. 
 
 The resolution being understood in this 
 way (and the committee thinks that this 
 is the correct construction to be placed 
 upon it) is so ample and broad as to be- 
 come unacceptable. The committee thinks 
 that after the reports are given the votes 
 of the Delegation can not be modified, ex- 
 cept upon the express decision of the Con- 
 ference. 
 
 The vote taken upon the conclusions of 
 a report puts an end to the deliberation on 
 the subject ; and under the rules of pro- 
 ceedings adopted by the Conference the 
 matter is then ended. The resolution 
 tends, however, to keep it in suspense for 
 an indefinite period of time, which may 
 be as long as that of the sessions of the 
 Conference ; and as it is impossible to say 
 what will be the day in which the latter 
 
 necesidad de emplear mayor personal 
 para la tradncci6n del ingles al caste- 
 llano y vice versa, & fin de facilitar loa 
 trabajos de csta Conferencia." 
 
 El Sellor Alfonso, delegado por Chile 
 y Presidente de la Comisidn de Regla- 
 mento, presentd los dos informes que 
 siguen, los cuales se dispuso se impri- 
 miesen y repartiesen : 
 
 "El Honorable Delegado de Colombia, 
 Sefior Hurtado, ha sometido &, la con- 
 sideracidn de la Conferencia, unaproposi- 
 cidn para que se declare que, aun des- 
 pu6s de haberse pronuuciado sobre las 
 conclusiones de los informes, sea Hcito & 
 cada Delegacidn calificar y complementar 
 su veto, y que las exposioiones que con 
 este motivo formulen se tengan por he- 
 chas al tiempo de la votaci(5n respectiva, 
 y qne con este valor se protocolioen. 
 
 " Estudlando esta proposicidn, la Comi- 
 si6n de Reglamento ha entendido que, 
 aprobada, ella tendrla el alcance de que 
 las Delegaciones podrlan modifioar y aun 
 cambiar el voto que huhiereu emitido. 
 En efecto, dentro de la califioaoidn y com- 
 plementacl6n del voto que pretende el 
 Honorable Delegado, sin limitacidn ni 
 reservas, es evidente que oabe su completa 
 variaoi6n, dependiendo este camhio s61o 
 del criterio con que se aprecie cada caso 
 por los Delegados y del alcance que pre- 
 tendan atribuir & la calificacidn ulterior 
 de su voto. 
 
 "Comprendido de esta manera el pro- 
 yecto, inteligencia que la Comisidn cree 
 correota, tiene una latitud que & su juicio 
 lo hace inaceptable. Piensa la Comisidn 
 que, una vez votados los informes, los 
 votes de las Delegaoiones no pueden ser 
 modificados & m^nos de que preceda un 
 aouerdo expresode la misma Conferencia. 
 
 " El voto que recae sobre las conclusio- 
 nes de un informe pone t^rmino iila deli- 
 beraci6n de la materia acerca de la cual 
 las respectivas Comisiones hayan dado su 
 dictamen. Segiiu los procedimientos 
 adoptados por la Conferencia, el asunto 
 estii entfinces concluido. Eutre tanto el 
 proyecto tieude Sdejarlo en suspense por 
 un tiempo indefinido, que puede ser el de 
 todas las sesiones de la Conferencia, no 
 
148 
 
 INTEENA.TIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 shall close its labors, it will be impossible, 
 also, to say until then which are the votes 
 ill favor or against the conclusions of the 
 reports. 
 
 It is easy to perceive that the change of 
 one or more votes may have a great in- 
 fluence in the result reached by the Con- 
 ference, so that a recommendation made 
 in one sense may afterwards appear to 
 have been made in another. 
 
 This is a danger which the committee 
 thinks must be avoided. 
 
 The committee fears that a subsequent 
 modification of the votes may deijrive the 
 acts of the Conference of a part of the 
 seriousness with which they must be 
 clothed. After the study which the com- 
 mittees have made of the subjects sub- 
 mitted CO them, their reports are pre- 
 sented to the Conference in printed form 
 and distributed among the Delegates, 
 there being no possibility to discuss them 
 until after several days have elapsed ; 
 therefore, there is no danger that the del- 
 egations should be taken by surprise in 
 the deliberations on any matter, nor that 
 they should lack the necessary time to 
 arrive at a decision with due calm. In 
 the case of an unforeseen event demand- 
 ing a change of the vote, the Conference 
 is open to a petition to that effect, and 
 then the proper leave may be granted to 
 make the change. 
 Washington, February 3, 18^)0. 
 
 J. ALroxso. 
 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentk. 
 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 
 J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 
 Jacinto Castellanos.' 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 William Henry Teescot, 
 
 EEPOET. 
 
 In the opinion of the honorable Dele- 
 gate from Colombia, Mr. Hurtado, the 
 Chair should be authorized to appoint a 
 committee whose duty it shall be to re- 
 vise the reports approved by the Confer- 
 ence and modify the language thereof, 
 BO as to secure the greatest precision of 
 language. The same committee shall be 
 careful that the Spanish, English, and 
 Portuguese texts of the reports agree 
 wi th each oth er. The honorable Delegate 
 has submitted a resolution to that effect. 
 
 siendo posible saber, hasta el dia en que 
 termine, cuales son los votes que ban 
 aceptado 6 rochazado las couclusiones de 
 los iuformes. 
 
 "Concibesedelmismo modo que la modi- 
 ficaci6n deunod varies votes puedeejercer 
 una gran influencia en el resultado de los 
 acuerdos que haya oelebrado la Coufe- 
 rencia, de tal modo que la recomendacidn 
 que ha creido hacer en un sentido apa- 
 rezca despuds hecha en un sentido con- 
 trario. 
 
 "Este es un^peligro que la Comisi6n 
 piensa que debe evitarse. 
 
 " Teme I ambi^n la Comisidn que la modi- 
 ficaci6n ulterior de los votes puedequitar 
 & los actos de la Conferencia una parte de 
 la seriedad con que deben estar revesti- 
 dos. 
 
 " Como despufis del estudio que ban ne- 
 cesitado hacer las Comisiones, sus iu- 
 formes sou preseutaflos i, la Conferencia 
 impresos, y repartidos S, los delegados, no 
 pudiendo discntirse sine varies dias des- 
 pu6s, no hay peligro de que las Delega- 
 ciones puedan ser sorprendidas en la 
 deliberacidn deninguno de ellos ni deque 
 carezcan del tiemponecesario paraformar 
 tranquilameute su oonciencia. En el 
 case de un evento imprevisto que im- 
 ponga un cambio de opinidn, qneda el re- 
 curso Si la Conferencia, que decidir^ en 
 vista de los antecedentes que se presentan 
 
 "Washington, 3 de Febrero de 1890. 
 "J. Alfonso, 
 
 " J. 6. DO Amaral Valentb, 
 " Manobl Quintana, 
 
 " J. M. P. CAAMAi?0, 
 
 " Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 " M. EOMBRO, 
 
 " Wm. Henry Trescot." 
 
 " A juicio del Honorable Delegado de 
 Colombia, Senor Hurtado, debe autori- 
 zarse & la Mesa para que nombre una co- 
 misifin encargada de revisar los informes 
 que aprnebe la Conferencia, y de niodifi- 
 car la redacci6n de su texto con el objeto 
 de obtener la mayor precisidn del len- 
 guaje. Tambifin se confiarla S, eatacomi- 
 si6n la ooncordancia de los textos espa- 
 fiol, ingl6s y portugu^s. El Honorable 
 Delegado ha preaentado un proyecto en 
 este sentido. 
 
INTEENATIONAIi AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 14& 
 
 The Committee on Rules is of the 
 opinion that all modifications in the 
 language of a report involve a risk, be- 
 cause it is not always certain that they 
 can be made without changing the mean- 
 ing. The reviser may look upon the 
 subject of the report from a stand-point 
 not exactly in accordance with that of the 
 author, and may possibly make the latter 
 appear as saying what he did not intend 
 to say. 
 
 This is not an imaginary risk, because 
 it may be corroborated by practical facts 
 which have taken place on several occa- 
 sions. 
 
 On the other hand, the very nature of 
 the conclusions of the reports causes their 
 language to be concise and easy to be ex- 
 amined, and the revision can be made 
 with minuteness and care after the day 
 on which the documents are distributed 
 in printed form among the Delegates. It 
 is therefore very difBcult for any error 
 of language to pass unnoticed, and every 
 necessary correction can be made during 
 the discussion. 
 
 As to the agreemeut between the Span- 
 ish, English, and Portuguese texts, the 
 commiltceis ofthe opinion that the secre- 
 taries and interpreters must see that it is 
 perfect, and that the appointment of a 
 special committee for that purpose is un- 
 necessary. 
 Washington, Februasy 3, 1890. 
 
 J. Alfonso. 
 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentk. 
 
 Manuel Qdintana. 
 
 Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
 M. Romero. 
 
 Wm. Henry Tresoot. 
 
 J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 
 The Chair stated that the order ofthe 
 day demanded the consideration by the 
 Conference of the report of the Commit- 
 tee on Rules, on the proposal of Mr. Cool- 
 idge, a Delegate from the United States, 
 regarding the admission of representa- 
 tives of the press to the sessions of the 
 Conference, but that as the said Delegate 
 was not present he proposed that the dis- 
 cussion thereon be postponed. 
 
 "La Comisidn informanteopina que la 
 modificaci6n de las redaooiones ofrece al- 
 gunos peligros, porque no es siempre se- 
 guro que se verifiqne sin producir algu- 
 na alteracidn en el sentido. El revisador 
 pnede apreciar el asnnto en que ha recai- 
 do el informe bajo nn punto de vista que 
 no sea exactamente igual al juicio del 
 que lo redact6 y ent(5nces es posible qne 
 haga decir al informante algo qne fete 
 no qniso expresar. 
 
 " Este temor no es ilusorio ; puede con- 
 firmarse con hechos acaeoidos en varias 
 
 The following two proposals of Dr. 
 
 " Por otra parte, la propia naturaleza 
 de las conclusiones de los informes har^ 
 que su redacci<5n sea corta y de f&cU exdr 
 men, pudiendo ser revisados con proligi- 
 dad y esmero desde el dia en qne se 
 reparten impresos S, los delegados. Es 
 por consiguiente muy dificil que pueda 
 pasarinadvertida cualquiera inoorr6Cci6n 
 del lenguaje, qne se harS sin duda pre- 
 sente en la discusii5n para que se proceda 
 & efectuar la necesaria eumienda. 
 
 " En cnanto & la concordanoia de los 
 textos espaTiol, inglfe y portugufe, opiua 
 la Comisi6a informante que ella consti- 
 tuye una incumbencia de los Secretaries 
 6 int^rpretes, y por lo tanto que no es 
 necesario que se nombre una Comisifin 
 especial para este objeto. 
 
 " Washington, Febrero 3 de 1890. 
 
 " J. Alfonso. 
 
 "J. C. DO Amaral Valente. 
 
 "Manuel Quintana. 
 ■ " Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
 " M. Romero. 
 
 " Wm. Henry Trbsscot. 
 
 " J. M. P. CaamaSo. " 
 
 La Mesa manifests que habiendo trans- 
 currido el tiempo que previene el Regla- 
 mento, correspondlaponer iila considera- 
 ci6n de la Conferencia el dictJiimen de la 
 Comisi6ii de Reglamento acerca de lapro- 
 posioida del SeDor Coolidge, Delegado por 
 los Estados tJnidos, referente & la admi- 
 S'6n de representantes de la prensa perio- 
 dica i, las «esiones de la Conferencia ; pero 
 no estando preseute dicho seuor Delegado 
 se pospondrla la consideraci6u del citado 
 dictamen para cuando lo estuviese. 
 
 Se puso i, discusi<5n el informe de la 
 
150 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 NiN, a Delegate from Uruguay, were then 
 submitted for discussion : 
 
 "Resolved, That notwithstanding that 
 in the rules of the Conference the days 
 and hours of the sessions are fixed, the 
 bccretaries, by means of a circular printed 
 ad hoc, notify the Delegates the day be- 
 fore the session is to take place, stating 
 on the margin the order of the day. 
 
 "Jiesolved, That theConferencebe closed 
 on the 1st day of March proximo. 
 "Albbrto Nin, 
 "Delegate from Uruguay." 
 
 Mr. NiN spoke at length in support of 
 his first proposition, and after some dis- 
 cussion the adverse report of the com- 
 mittee, being put to the vote, was sus- 
 tained by nine to six votes. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Nica- 
 ragua, Argentine, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, 
 United States, Chili, Salvador, and Ecua- 
 dor. 
 
 Those voting in the negative were : 
 Peru, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, 
 Honduras, and Venezuela. 
 
 The consideration of the second sugges- 
 tion made by Mr. Nin, a Delegate from 
 Uruguay, regarding the fixing of a day 
 for the closing of the Conference, was 
 then proceeded with. 
 
 In support of his view, Mr. Nin read 
 the following speech : 
 
 I regret exceedingly, Mr. President, 
 that I must Irouble the Conference by in- 
 sisting upon my motion to bring it to a 
 close, on which the Committee on Rules 
 unanimously reported unfavorably. 
 
 When I presented this motion I did not 
 adduce any grounds for it, but reserved 
 them for this occasion, and 1 will now 
 occupy as little as possible the attention 
 of the Conference, which, considering the 
 simplicity of the question, has already 
 probably formed a deliberate opinion 
 which my scanty persuasive powers can 
 contribute but little to influence. 
 
 The honorable Committee ou Rules has 
 been quite sparing in giving reasons, since 
 those contained in its report are limited 
 
 Comisidn de Reglamento acerca de las 
 dos proposiciones del Seiior Nin, delegado 
 por Uruguay, & saber: 
 
 " Besuelve : Que no obstante determi- 
 narse en elReglamento interpo dela Con- 
 ferencia los dias y horas de las sesiones, 
 la Secretarla, por medio de una formula 
 impresa con los blancos necesarios, para 
 ser llenadoB, ad hoc, pase aviso dllos Sefiores 
 Delegados, el dia anterior al en que deba 
 tener lugar la eesidn ; expresando, al 
 margen, la orden del dla y asuntos en- 
 trados. 
 
 " Besuelve : Que la Conferencia se clau- 
 BurarSi el 1° de Marzo prdximo." 
 
 El Senor Nin habl6 largamente en 
 apoyo de su primera proposicidn y despu^s 
 de alguna discusidu, puesto S, votaci6n 
 el dict^men adverso de la Comisi6n, fu6 
 fete aprobado por un voto de nueve con- 
 tra seis. 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente : Nicaragua, 
 Argentina, Brasil, Mexico, Bolivia, Esta- 
 dos Unidos, Chile, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron negativamente : Peni, Uru- 
 guay, Colombia, Paraguay, Honduras, 
 Venezuela. 
 
 En seguida se pas6 & la consideracifin 
 de la segunda proposici6n del Senor Nin, 
 delegado por Uruguay, referente Sj dla de 
 clausura de la Conferencia. En apoyo de 
 ella, leyd el proponente el signieute dis- 
 curso : 
 
 Lameuto sobremanera, Seiior Presi- 
 dente, tener que molestar & la Confe- 
 rencia, insistiendo sobre mi moci6n de 
 clausura y contra la cual, tambi^n, se ha 
 pronunciado un^nime y categ(5ricamente 
 la honorable Comisi(3n de Reglamento. 
 
 Al presentar dicha mocidn no aduje 
 fundamento alguno, reserv^ndome ha- 
 cerlo en esta ocasi6u ; y ocupar^ ahora lo 
 menos posible la atencidn de la Conferen- 
 cia, quien, dada la simplicidad d'el punto, 
 habr^ ya formado una meditada opini6n 
 que poco podr^ contribuir ^ ilustrar mis 
 escasos dotes persuasives. 
 
 La Honorable Comisi6n de Reglamento 
 ha sido bastante parca en aducir consi- 
 deraciones, reduci^ndose d^ dos las de su 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 151 
 
 to two, which, to my mind, if I may make 
 "use of the terms of logic, come under the 
 head of evident petltionea principiorum. 
 
 In fact, Mr. President, it was for the 
 very reason that we do not know when 
 the Conference can terminate its labors 
 that I proposed to fix a date previous to 
 which they should he ended — a date 
 which might either he the one stated in 
 my motion or any other which the hon- 
 orable Committee on Eules, acting with 
 the usual good judgment which I take 
 pleasure in according them, might have 
 seen fit to name. 
 
 Tlie second consideration of their report 
 is no less inconsistent, since the honor- 
 able Committee on Eules does not stop to 
 give the facts or reasons which render 
 impossible the appointment of a day for 
 closing the Conference, but simply takes 
 for granted the very thing which is in 
 question, namely, that it is impossible to 
 fix a day, near or remote, but withal cer- 
 tain, on which the Conference shall con- 
 sider the business before it completed. 
 
 My objections to the report of the hon- 
 orable Committee on Eules are included 
 in what I have just stated; but, relying 
 upon the indulgence of the Conference, 
 
 will take the liberty of saying a few 
 more words on the subject. 
 
 It is to be regretted that the Conference 
 (on account of the provisions of rules for 
 its internal government, which should 
 have no weight in presence of the unani- 
 mous wishes of all, and which interfere 
 with our sovereiijn liberty as well as the 
 progress of the work) has not agreed to 
 submit this matter to a special committee 
 composed of all the delegations, because, 
 besides the fact that in it each and every 
 one could have given free expression to 
 the numerous and varied observations, 
 pro and contra, which the matter sug- 
 gests, the' chairmen of all the committees 
 to which the subjects on the programme of 
 the Conference have been referred would 
 have been present, and could Iiave 
 materially aided the Committee on Eules. 
 
 Whatever attention the honorable 
 Committee on Eules gave to the matter, 
 if it did not summon and hear the chair- 
 
 dict^men, que, en realidad, y vali^adome 
 de los t^rminos de la Irigica de escuela, 
 caen, ^ mi juicio, en la clasificacidu de 
 las evidentes peticiones de principios. 
 
 En efecto, Sr. Presidente, precisamente 
 porque no sabemos ouando la Confereu- 
 cia pondrSi t^rmino £i sus trabajos, es que 
 he propuesto que se fije una fecha den- 
 tro de la cual se terminen — fecha, que 
 bien pueda ser la indicada en mi moci6n 
 6 cualquiera otra, que hubiera tenido ^ 
 bien indicar la Honorable Comisidn de 
 Eeglamento, procediendo con el notorio 
 buen criterio que me complazco en re- 
 conocerle. 
 
 No mfinos inconsistente, es la segunda 
 consideracidn del dictSmen en discusidn, 
 desde que la Honorable Comisi6n de 
 Eeglamento no se detiene H exponer ni 
 enunciar siquiera los hechos 6 razones 
 que harlau imposible la fijacKin de una 
 fecha de clausura, dando simplemente 
 por sentado lo que estsl en cuestidn, esto 
 es, que sea imposible fijar el dia pr6ximo 
 6 remoto, pero cierto, en que esta Confe- 
 rencia dar^ por terminado sus tareas. 
 
 Mi ref utaoidn al dict^men de la Hono- 
 rable ComisiCin de Eeglamento, est^ con- 
 oluida con lo expuesto, y contando con la 
 benevolencia de la Conferencia, voy & 
 permitirme adelantar algo mSs sobre el 
 punto. 
 
 Es de sentirse que la Conferencia, por 
 respeto & disposiciones reglamentarias de 
 6rden interne, que nada debieran ser ante 
 la volnntad un^nime, y conscientemente 
 manifestada de sus miembros, y que asi 
 coarta, tanto su soberano albedrio, coino 
 el progreso de sus trabajos, no hay a 
 aseutido & que este asuuto se hubiere 
 pasado a una comisi6n especial compuesta 
 de todas las Delegaciones, porque aparte 
 de que en el seno de (Ssta, se habrian 
 podido aducir libremente por todos y cada 
 uno, las mliltiples y variadas observa- 
 oiones, que en un seutido 6 en otro, 
 sugiere el asunto, alii habrian estado pre- 
 suntes los Presidentes de las Comisiones 
 especiales S, quien se ha cometido el 
 estudio de los temas del programa de la 
 Conferencia, y estos habrian podido 
 ayudar eficazmente & la de Eeglamento. 
 
 Por mucha que fuere la atenoi(5n que 
 la Honorable Comisi6n de Eeglamento 
 prcstara al asunto, si no llamaba y oia d 
 
152 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 men of the special committees, its report 
 must be merely the expression of abso- 
 lute negations without any foundation 
 therefor. 
 
 Setting aside completely all variable 
 and. personal interests, as it behooves in 
 addressing the Conference in full session, 
 ■where only the nations appear which the 
 individuals represent, the delegation of 
 Urngnay insists upon maintaining, and 
 will continue insisting until convinced 
 by arguments to the contrary, that it is 
 not only possible but easy to fix a day, 
 near or remote but certain, on which the 
 Conference shall bring its sessions to a 
 close, either because it has finished its 
 work, or because it considers that the 
 time has come for taking a recess which 
 shall cease when so decided by the Con- 
 ference itself, or by the inviting antl in- 
 vited Governments. 
 
 Notwithstanding the peculiar character 
 of the deliberations of congresses of plen- 
 ipotentiaries, who are necessarily called 
 to consider actual and unavoidable mat- 
 ters, or which are so considered under the 
 circumstances, or to formulate compacts 
 already distinctly outlined, although onlj' 
 in general teiras, a fixed period has al- 
 wasy been assigned for their meetings and 
 deliberations. 
 
 Thus, without seeking any further for 
 an example, the Maritime CJonference, 
 which has just ended its labors in this 
 capital with such practical and justly 
 celebrated results, having organized al- 
 most a month later than this one, had a 
 period assigned by the inviting Govern- 
 ment, and upon this basis the attendance 
 of the other nations was requested, in- 
 cluding Uruguay, which responded to the 
 invitations to both Conferences, sending 
 as its representative him who has the 
 honor of addressing you. 
 
 Postal, telegraph, penal, prison reform, 
 abolition, monetary, and orientalist con- 
 ferences, etc., also have their places of 
 meeting and the duration of their sessions 
 prevously designated. 
 
 If, BOW, from conferences which are 
 speculative, purely theoretical, delibera- 
 tive, or ad referendum as this one is, we 
 pass to legislative assemblies, we will see 
 
 los Presidentes de las Comisiones espe- 
 ciales, su diotdimen tenia que carecer de 
 base y reducirse & la expresidn de nega- 
 tivas absolutas. 
 
 Prescindiendo por complete de los m6- 
 viles 6 intereses person ales, como cuadra 
 hacerlo cuando se habla ante el cuerpo 
 mismo de la Conferencia en plena sesirtn, 
 y donde s61o aparecen las naciones que 
 los individuos representan, la Delegaoirtn 
 del Uruguay insists en sostener, y se- 
 guir^ insistiendo basta que se le demues- 
 tre lo contrarJo por el razonamiento, 
 que es tan posible como f^cil, fijar el dia 
 prdximo 6 remote, pero cierto, en que 
 esta Conferencia deba clausurar sus 
 sesiones, ya porqne hnbiere concluido 
 en ella su cometido, 6 ya porqne consi- 
 ders que es llegado el momsnto ds nn re- 
 ceso, que cesarS. cuando lo acuerde ella 
 raisma 6 los Gobiernos invitante 6 invi- 
 tados. 
 
 Dado el distinto cariicter que tienen las 
 Conferencias de los Coagrssos dsplenipo- 
 tenciarios, llamados, necesariamente, & 
 acordar sobrs asuntos concjetos 6 inelu- 
 dibles, 6 que se coDNideran tales en cir- 
 cunstancias, dadas, 6 S, formular pactos 
 netamsnte defiuidos, aunque enunciados 
 en general 6 en principio, sienipre se ha 
 asignado & aqnellas perlodos ciertos para 
 sus reuniones y deliberaciones. 
 
 Asl sin ir mfe lejos, la Conferencia Ma- 
 rltima, que acaba de terminar sus traba- 
 jos en esta capital, habi^ndose constituido 
 casi un mes despues de €sta, con tan 
 prSctica labor, como justamente cele- 
 brado ^xito, tuvo perfodo prefijado por el 
 Gobierno invitante, y sobre esa base so- 
 licit6 la concurrencia de las demSs nacio- 
 nes, inclnso el Uruguay, que ocnrri6 al 
 Uamamiento de arabas, haci^ndose repre- 
 sentar por el que tiene el honor de diri- 
 giros la palabra. 
 
 Las Conferencias, Postal, Telegr^fica, 
 Penal, de Penitenciaria, Sobre Abolici6ii 
 de Esclavitud, Moneda.Orientalistaa, etc., 
 tienen tambi6n senalados de antemano el 
 lugar de su reunion, asl como el tiempo 
 de duracifin de sus sesiones. 
 
 Ahora, si de las Conferencias, especu- 
 lativas, puramente tedricas, consultivas 
 6 ad referendum, como es ^sta, pasamos & 
 las asamhleas legislativas ver^mos tarn- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 153 
 
 that these collective bodies, entrnsted 
 with the enactment of laws for the 
 peoples whose supreme power they wield, 
 have fixed times for holding their ses- 
 sions, and what can not be done within 
 that time for the public good Iras to be 
 done in the following session or sessions. 
 
 This Conference has to and ought to 
 set a time more or less remote, but deter- 
 minate, at which it will consider its task 
 ended, with the result attained, which [ 
 hope will be ample, or will declare a re- 
 cess if it has not completed the whole 
 programme within the stated period, and 
 comeback again to consider it at another 
 time, which can easily be arranged be- 
 tween the inviting and invited Govern- 
 ments. 
 
 If it be considered that this Conference 
 is of transcendental importance, called, 
 as it were, to study the happiness of the 
 three Americas, comprised in a continent 
 many times larger than Europe, it would 
 not be right to take it out of the rule, 
 wise in many respects, of a recess, after a 
 long period of five or six months of work, 
 in which the mind and the body must, 
 perforce, be wearied because of the ten- 
 sion produced by continued mental exer- 
 tion, or absorption iu the same routine. 
 
 I, for my part, believe that the Pan- 
 American Conference engaging itself, as 
 becomes its gravity and dignity, in at- 
 tempting to solve, or solving, the prob- 
 lems set forth in the vast programme 
 which in good season brought about its 
 convocation and called together those 
 here present, thereby uniting our respect- 
 ive countries in the fraternal purpose to 
 eventually know each other better, and 
 to form more and closer relations, which 
 will be certainly salutary and of grand re- 
 sults in the future, could not cover one- 
 third of so extended a journey in the rest 
 of the year recently begun, and even, 
 perhaps — and without perhaps — in the 
 rest of the decade which will usher out 
 this enlightened century. 
 
 And it is because I entertain this per- 
 sonial conviction, and because I earnestly 
 desire the success which will surely not 
 be attained by treating questions of such 
 magnitude in the precipitation of a few 
 days, that I judge the Conference to be i n 
 
 bi^n que esos cuerpos colegiados, encar- 
 gados de dictar leyes & los pueblos cuya 
 soberanla ejercen, tienen periodos tijos 
 para la celebraci6n de sus sesiones, y lo 
 que no puede hacerse en ese perlodo, por 
 la felicidad dc los pueblos, se har^ en el 
 siguiente 6 eiguientes. 
 
 Esta Conferencia tiene que fijar y debe 
 fijar la 6poca m^s 6 m(5uos remota, pero 
 cierta, en que daril por terminadas sus 
 tareas con el 6xito que alcance, y que cele- 
 brar^ sea mucho, 6 declararse en receso, 
 si no hubiere concluido todo el programa 
 dentro del perlodo que se sellale para vol- 
 ver & considerarlo en otra oportunidad 
 que f^cilmente podrii acordarse entre el 
 Gobierno invitante y los invitados, como 
 ya lo he dicho. 
 
 Si se oousiderara que esta Conferencia 
 OS de transcendental importancia, como 
 llamada & oouparse de la felicidad de 
 las tres Americas, comprendidas en nn 
 continente veces y voces mayor que la 
 Europa, no habria razdu para sustraerla 
 Si la regla, s^bia por rauchos conceptos, 
 del receso, despues de un largo perlodo 
 do ciuco 6 seis meses en que el espirltu y 
 el cuerpo se tienen que resentir de fatiga 
 por la tension que produce la permanente 
 prpocupacidn mental d inmersidn en el 
 mismo medio ambiente. 
 
 Yo por mi parte, creo, que de ocuparse 
 la Conferencia Pan-Americana, como ^ 
 su seriedad y dignidad corresponde, do 
 intentar 6 dar soluoidn S, los problemas 
 que enoierra el vasto programa que en 
 buen hora motivfi su convocatoria, y nos 
 reuni6 S, lospresentes, y uniendo d! nuestros 
 respectivos palses en fraternal prop6sito 
 de acabar de conocerse rcclprocamente y 
 estrechar mils y mejores relaciones, que 
 se conflan serSii saludables en el presente 
 y de grandes rcsultados en el porvenir, no 
 pod rlallegaraltercioVle tan larga Jornada, 
 en el resto del aiio que recien comienza 
 y aun, quizes, y siu quizils, en el resto de 
 la d&ada, que ser^ la liltima de este 
 ' Siglo de las Luces.' 
 
 Y es porque tengo esa convicci6n per- 
 sonal y porque anhelo el ^xito que no se 
 conseguirla seguramente, tratando cues- 
 tiones tan magnas en la precipitaci6n de 
 unos dlas, que juzgo que inevitablemente 
 la Conferencia estii encerrada en el dilema 
 
154 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 the inevitable dilemma of a near closiDg, 
 in order to afford itself time to meditate 
 npon the ideas already exchanged, and 
 which may be carried into effect in an- 
 other Congress that the nations of America 
 may agree to convene, or a recess, to meet 
 again at some future day, near or far, 
 that the Conference itself could fix upon 
 with good effect. 
 
 Comparing what the Conference has 
 done up to the present with what it still 
 has to do, the result would be assuredly 
 favorable to my claim, because that pre- 
 cedent would lead logically and without 
 irregularity to the deduction that each 
 subject on the programme— barring that 
 relating to weights and measures — would 
 require as much time as was utilized in 
 giving us the internal organization, and 
 this is equivalant to the Conference being 
 considered as somewhat permanent in 
 character, whereas it might be periodic. 
 
 The honorable Committee on Eules, in- 
 fluenced too strongly, no doubt, by the 
 manner in which time has been occupied 
 up to the present, has thought that the 
 intent of the motion under discussion 
 was precipitation ; but the delegation of 
 Uruguay is far from entertaining such a 
 purpose, and, on the contrary, avoiding, 
 or seeking to avoid, extremes (where it 
 is said truth, which for the purpose we 
 shall call practicability, is not always 
 fonnd), chose a fair means, judiciously 
 foreseeing (pardon the want of modesty 
 in view of the evidence) that in a month 
 and a half better employed, if the busi- 
 ness is not concluded (which I do not be- 
 lieve), I repeat, it would be demonstrated 
 by the exchange of ideas that a recess, 
 at least, would be in every way advis- 
 able. 
 
 It is more than probable that if the fear 
 of finding itself in want of time, which 
 the Conference may entertain — a fear 
 which should really act as a salutary stim- 
 ulant to the greatest diligence — results in 
 months and months passing without hav- 
 ing enough, we can not know whether 
 the grave and interesting duty we wish to 
 discharge can properly be done. 
 
 This last is what the delegation from 
 Uruguay has desired to prevent by call- 
 ing the attention of the Conference to the 
 point, and I am sure that if not unani- 
 
 de la pronta clausura para que se i6 
 tiempo S, meditar sobre las ideas cambia- 
 das ya, y que se convertir^n en hecho en 
 otro Congreso que las naciones de Ame- 
 rica acnerden convocar, 6 el receso para 
 volvernos di reunir en nn dia mdis 6 menos 
 lejano, que la misma Conferencia podria 
 fijar con perfecto acierto. 
 
 Procediendo S, comparar lo qne la Con- 
 ferencia ha hecho hasta ahora, con lo que 
 tendrla que hacer, el resultado seria com- 
 pletamente favorable . ^ mi pretensi6n, 
 pnesto que aquel antecedentellevarlaldgi- 
 camente y sin violencia algnna ^ inducir 
 que cada tema del programa, descartado 
 el relativo & Pesos y Medidas, necesitaria 
 tanto por lo mSnos como se empled en dar- 
 nos el Eeglamento Interne, y esto equi- 
 valdrfa S, que esta Conferencia fuera con- 
 sidorada algo asi como permanente, cuau- 
 do podia ser periodica. 
 
 La Honorable Comisidn de Eeglamento, 
 preooupada, sin duda, de una manera de- 
 masiado fuerte de como se ha empleado 
 el tiempo hasta ahora, ha creido ver que 
 la moci6n en discusidn tenia por efecto 
 conducir ^ la precipitaci6n ; pero la Dele- 
 gaci6n del Uruguay ha estado muy lejos 
 de semejante propdsito, y por el contrario 
 huyendo, 6 tratando de huir, de los extre- 
 mes, donde dicen no se enouentra siempre 
 la verdad, qne para el caso llamaremos, 
 lo priictico, y colocSndose en un jnsto 
 medio, previendo jnioiosamente (esclisese 
 la inmodestia en fuerza de la evidencia), 
 que en nn mes y medio mSa bien emplea- 
 do, si no se hubiere concluido el cometi- 
 do, cosa que no creo, repito, se habria 
 constatado por el cambio de ideas, qne por 
 lo menos, seria de todo punto conveniente 
 el receso. 
 
 Es m^s que probable que, si por temor 
 de hallarse la Conferencia falta de tiem- 
 po, temor que al fin serviria de aguij6n 6 
 estimulante saludable ^ la mejor de las 
 diligencias, resulte que pasau los meses, 
 y los meses sin que se tenga bastante, ni 
 se pueda saber si el grave 6 interesante 
 cometido que queremos llenar, podr£ ser 
 llenado convenientemente. 
 
 Esto liltimo es lo que ha deseado pre- 
 venir la Delegacion del Uruguay provo- 
 cando la atencidn de la Conferencia sobre 
 el punto, y seguro estoy de que si no 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 155 
 
 inously, a large majority of those who 
 deign to listen to me fully foreseewhat will 
 happen. 
 
 If I have been too venturesome in as- 
 suming that my convictions were those of 
 other minds, I am sure, at least, that I do 
 not transgress if I flatter myself with the 
 idea, to which all will agree, that surmises 
 are well justified and explainable. 
 
 And the fixing of a date for closiag, or 
 a recess, is all the more easy, as all the 
 committees have their work somewhat 
 under way, or at least appreciate the 
 difficulties which present themselves, 
 and which they would have to overcome 
 to hasten matters. 
 
 The honorable Committee on Rules has 
 preferred to stop at what appears to be 
 resolving the question a prion and as 
 cutting a gordian knot tied by itself, 
 whereas the matter is essentially prac- 
 ticable and arithmetical, and could only 
 be settled a posteriori upon the basis of a 
 pei'feot knowledge of the state of the 
 work of committees not consulted. 
 
 Of right this matter should return to 
 the honorable Committee on Rules, that 
 it might be good enough to ratify or 
 rectify its report after having collected 
 the necessary data which should precede 
 every judgment ; but as I do not wish to 
 create for a second time those situations 
 which reveal the impossibility of reason- 
 able agreements, even in insignificant 
 cases, as they do not relate to honor, 
 right, conviction, or even to the inflexibil- 
 ity of judgment, I shall abstain from 
 asking it, intrusting all to the reasons I 
 am giving respecting the origin of my 
 motion. 
 
 On the other hand, there would be no 
 object in framing a resolution, as the hon- 
 orable Committee on Rules might con- 
 sider, as in another case less important 
 than this, that there was an intention to 
 oppose its reports. 
 
 It would suggest itself to no one to 
 doubt, considering the nature of this as- 
 sembly and the character of its members, 
 that each and all hold in themselves vir- 
 tually and actually the means to com- 
 pletely protect themselves from the effects 
 of unfounded dogmas which tend to im- 
 pair their rights and prerogatives. 
 
 The delegation respects and would still 
 
 undlnimemente, una gran mayorla de los 
 que se dignau esoucharme presienten 
 firmeciente que ha de suceder. For lo 
 m6nos, si mis seguridades son mucho 
 aventurerasenpensamicntosagenoscontio 
 no excederme si me halago con la ideade 
 que todos encontrar^n qne mis suposi- 
 ciones son bien justifioadas y explicables. 
 
 Y la fijaoidn de una fecha de clausura 
 6 receso es tanto m£is fScil de hacerso, 
 cuanto que yatodaslas Comisionestienen 
 uu tanto adelantados sus trabajos 6 por 
 lo m^nos oonocen las dificultades que se 
 ofrecen y tendriau que veneer para ex- 
 pedirse. 
 
 La Honorable Comisidn de Reglamento 
 ha preferido estar ^lo qne parece resolver 
 la cuestidn a priori y como cortando un 
 nudo gordiano por ella misma formado 
 siendo asl que el aauuto es esencialmente 
 pr^otico y aritmfitico y s61o podria resol- 
 vorse a posteriori sobre la base del conoci- 
 mien-to perfecto del estado delos trabajos 
 en las Comisiones no consultailas. 
 
 En buena cuenta este asunto deberia 
 volver S, la Honorable Comis:6n de Re- 
 glamento para qne se sirviera ratificar 6 
 roctificar su informe una vez recogidos 
 los datos necesarios que tienen que pre- 
 oeder iCtodo juicio ; pero como no qiiiero 
 crear una segunda vez esas situaciones 
 qne revelan la imposibilidad de aveni- 
 mientos razonables, aun en cases nimios, 
 como que no dicen relaci6n al honor, al 
 derecho, la conviccidn, ui siquiera, & la 
 inflexibilidad de criterio me abstendr^ de 
 pedirlo asl, dejando todo librado S, la 
 demostracidn que vengo haciendo de la 
 procedencia de mi moci6n. 
 
 Por otra parte no tendria objeto dictar 
 unaresolucidn que la honorable Comisi(3n 
 de Reglamento podria considerar, como 
 en otro caso, meuos grave que este, que 
 hay el ijropfisito de hacer violencia & sus 
 dictamenes. 
 
 A nadie se le ocurrirla dudar de que 
 dada la naturaleza de esta asaniblea, y el 
 car^cter de sus miembros, todos y cada 
 uno tienen en si virtual y realmente el 
 medio de ponerse porcompleto & cubierto 
 de losefectos de absolutas infundadas que 
 entraflen en menosoabo de sus derechos y 
 prerogativas. 
 
 La Delegaoi6n del Uruguay respeta y 
 
156 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 respect the right which the honorable 
 Committee on Rules would wish to claim, 
 not to change it's decisions in the face 
 of the facts or in opposition to reason ; 
 moreover, that it can not be asked to re- 
 tnra to the consideration of the subject 
 by the light of those facts which it has 
 not taken into consideration, or reasons 
 which it has not entertained; but the 
 committee should also recognize that the 
 nations here represented have a, perfect 
 and undeniable right to know the day 
 upon which this Conference is to tormi- 
 nate by a final adjournment or a recess. 
 
 Certainly, as the honorable committee 
 asserts, it is better that the Conference 
 should discharge its duties, because it has 
 assembled for that purpose, and was 
 obliged to assemble, the invitation of the 
 United States having been once accepted 
 by the Governments of the American na- 
 tions ; but what I can not understand is 
 how it may be inferred from this that the 
 desired date can not be fixed, and also, as 
 implied, that the nations here assembled 
 have no interest in knowing, and no 
 right to know when the Confrrence will 
 close, and why they should not be given 
 a more satisfactory reply to this question 
 than that given us by the honorable Com- 
 mittee on Rules. 
 
 If each delegation represents, as has 
 been so often said, and as it certainly 
 does, a sovereign nation, with all its pre- 
 rogative powers, with what that attri- 
 bute signifies in common language and 
 in that of public law, it must be con- 
 ceded that its consent to take part in this 
 Conference can not be regarded as in any 
 manner unconditional. 
 
 The honorable Delegates themselves, 
 individually and as men, in accepting an 
 honorable and patriotic mission, have not 
 given up their liberty absolutely and un- 
 conditionally, either in favor of their 
 respective and respected Governments, or 
 of this distinguished and illustrious assem- 
 bly. 
 
 The failure to fix a date of closing, or a 
 recess, when it is expressly desired by 
 one or more delegations in order to pre- 
 serve its representation in the Conference, 
 or find itself in a position to conven- 
 iently attend it, is equivalent to exclud- 
 ing it indirectly and irremediably, but 
 
 respetarla aun el derecho que qnisiera 
 atrihuirse la Honorable Comisidn de Re- 
 glamentopara no modificarsusdict^menes 
 en presencia de los hechos, 6 en fuerza 
 del razonamiento ; m^ aun, que no pueda 
 pedirsele que vnelva d^oonsiderar el asunto 
 S, la luz de esos bechos que no tuvo en 
 cuenta 6 razonamientos que no se le adu- 
 jeron ; pero aqn611a tambi^n deber^ reco- 
 nocerque lasnaciones aqui representadas 
 tienen innegable y perfecto derecho de 
 saber el dia en que esta Conferencia ha 
 de terminar, por una olausura defiuitiva, 
 6 un reoeso. 
 
 Cicrtamente que como la Honorable 
 Comisitfn afirma, lo que interese y con- 
 viene es que la Conferencia llene su come- 
 tldo, puesto que para eso se ha reunido y 
 tenia que renuirse una vez aceptada por 
 los Gobiernos de las uaeiones de America 
 la idea 6 invitaci(5n del de los Estados 
 Unidos, pero lo qne no acierto ^ com- 
 prender es como concluir de ahl que no 
 puede fijarse esafecha, y tambi^n de una 
 manera impllcita que las naciones concur- 
 rentes no tengan interns en saber y derecho 
 
 5 saber cuando concluir^ esta Confe- 
 rencia, y ^ que se les d6 al respecto una 
 contestacidn m^ satisfactoria, que la qne 
 nos iSi la Honorable ComisiOn de Regla- 
 mento. 
 
 Si cada Delegaci6n repr-^senta como se 
 ha dicho tantas vecf s y es lo cierto, una 
 nacidn soberana con todaslasprerogati vas, 
 facultades y respeto que aquel atributo 
 signifioa en lenguaje comua yen el del 
 Derecho Pliblico, habria que convenir qne 
 su aceptacidn para tomar parte en esta 
 Conferencia, no puede considerarse sobre 
 punto alguno, incondicional. 
 
 Los mismos Sefiores Delegados indivi- 
 dualmente y como hombres tampoco ban 
 enageuado, al aceptar un honroso y pa- 
 tri6tico mandate, su libertad absoluta 6 
 incondicionalmente, ni en favor de sus 
 respeotivos y respetados Gobiernos, ni en 
 el de esta distinguida 6 ilustrada asam- 
 blea. 
 
 La no fijacida de una fecha declausura ■ 
 
 6 receso cuando expresamente la requiere 
 una 6 varias Delegaciones en drden ^con- 
 servar su representacidn en la Conferen- 
 cia 6 hallarse en sitnaci<5n de proveer 
 convenientemente & ella, importaria ex- 
 cluirla indirectamente y sin remedio, pero 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 157 
 
 certainly with manifest disregard of the 
 obligations of even courtesy. 
 
 I have to express, then, my non-con- 
 currence in all that either directly or 
 otherwise imposes, or tends to impose an 
 impairment of those rights and correlative 
 duties, and the opposition to declaring 
 itself speoiflcally on the point under dis- 
 cussion would cause, from every point of 
 view, that effect. 
 
 I have treated this question in every 
 light, taking the liberty to very especially 
 call the attention of the Conference to 
 the last considerations adduced, and in 
 closing, I shall say two words of the jios- 
 itive advantages which would result from 
 the fixing of a day for final adjournment, 
 or a recess. 
 
 The first is that the possible dnratiou 
 of this Conference, once ascertained and 
 announced, all the delegations, and espe- 
 cially those having an uni-personal rep- 
 resentation, would know what to abide 
 by and would await its conclusion, or, if 
 this were not possible", they would Lave 
 more than time, or reasonable grounds, 
 to ask their respective Governments to be 
 substituted in order that the nation 
 might not be absolutely deprived of any 
 representation in the delibora ions of this 
 distinguished assembly. 
 
 The second would be, that if the cir- 
 cumstance should arise that the 1st of 
 March, or any other day certain, for clos- 
 ing, should arrive without the programme 
 of convocation having been exhausted,- 
 far from being harmful, it would be ad- 
 vantageous, precisely because of the Con- 
 ference's great and transcendental sub- 
 jects, and because by that date, many 
 ideas having been exchanged thereon 
 and the general opinion8,known, it would 
 be wise to let them rest and return to our 
 homes, there to meditate on them once 
 more, to consult on them with our re- 
 spective governments, and even communi- 
 cate them to our respective fellow-citi- 
 zens, who wish us and have the right to 
 exact the most complete success and pre- 
 cision. 
 
 I have spoken. 
 
 It being impossible to have it trans- 
 lated immediately into English, Mr. 
 Trescot, a Delegate from the United 
 States, proposed thatthe discussion there- 
 
 con manifiesto olvido de los deberes hasta 
 de cortesfa. 
 
 Tengo que manifestar, pues, mi desa- 
 cuerdo con todo lo que ya do hecho 6 de 
 oualquier otro mode ilnponga 6 tienda & 
 imponer un menoscabo & aquellos dere- 
 chos y deberes co-relativos y la resisteucia 
 S, pronunciarse expresamente sobre el 
 punto en discusion, causaria ^todasluces 
 ese ofecto. 
 
 He encarado este incidente bajo todas 
 sus faces permiti^ndome llamar muy es- 
 pecialmcnto la atenci6u de la Conferencia 
 & las tiltimas considiiracioues aducidas, 
 y para concluir voy S, decir dos pala- 
 bras sobre las positivas veutajas que re- 
 sultarlan de la fijacidu de un dia de 
 clausura 6 receso. 
 
 Es la primera, que averiguado y decla- 
 railo lo que auu piiede durar esta Coufo- 
 renci.T, las delegaciones todas, y.especial- 
 mente aquellas que tienen una represeu- 
 taci6ii unipersonal, sabrian ^ que atenerso 
 y esperarlan S, su conclusion, 6, si no lea 
 fuere posible, tendrian ya tiempo sobrado 
 6 fuudamentos razonables para solicitar 
 de sus respectivos Gobiernos, ser susti- 
 tuidos Si fin de que la nacion no quedara 
 privada en absolute de represeutaoidu 
 alguna en las deliberaciones de esta dis- 
 tinguida asamblea. 
 
 Seria la seguuda, que si ocurriera lacir- 
 cunstanoia de llegar el primero de Marzo 
 li otro dia cualquieia pero cierto, do clau- 
 sura, sin que se hubiera agotado el pro- 
 grama de convocatoria, lejos de ser un 
 mal seria un bi6n, preoisamente por lo 
 transcendental y magno de sus temas, y 
 porque H aquella fecha ya se habrian cam- 
 biado muchas ideas S, su respeoto y couo- 
 cidas las opiniones generales, fuera sabio 
 dejarlaa reposar y hasta volver S, uuestros 
 lares £i meditar sobre ellas una vez miis, ^ 
 consultarlas con nuestros respectivos Go- 
 biernos y hasta comuiiicarlas con nuestros 
 respectivos couoiudadanos, que esperau y 
 tienen derecho £i esigirnos el m^s com- 
 plete 6xito y acierto. 
 
 He dioho. 
 
 No pudiendo ser vertido al ingles acto 
 continue el discurso del Dr. Nin, el Senor 
 Trescot delegado por losEstados Unidos, 
 propuso, y asl se acord6, suspender la 
 
158 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 on be postponed until the next session, in 
 order that a translation might be made ; 
 and this was agreed to. 
 
 There being no further business before 
 the Conference, on the motion of Mr, 
 Trescot, a Delegate from the United 
 States, the session was adjourned at 5.20 
 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegakea, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 TTruguay. 
 Jo8:fi M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 fioQUE Saenz PbiJa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Sepublie. 
 JosiS S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A Mexia, 
 Mexico. 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studbbaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United Slates. 
 Jos^ Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josifi Alfonso, 
 
 Chili, 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 Jos:fi Maria PLiciDO CaamaSo. 
 
 JSquador. 
 
 discusi6n hastala prdxima sesi6n & fin de 
 qne se hiciese la correspondiente tradao- 
 ci6n al ingles. 
 
 No habi^ndo otro asunto que tratar y 
 previa proposicidn del Seilor Trescot, 
 delegado por los Estados Unidos, se sns- 
 pendi6 la sesi6n it las 5 y 30 minutos p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Z^^gakra, 
 
 Primer Vieepresidente. 
 
 HORACIO GUZMiN, 
 
 Nicaragua, 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 TJrugnay. 
 Jos& M. Hurtado, 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colonibia. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa. 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 
 Argentina. 
 Jose S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay, 
 Jer6nimo Zislaya, 
 
 Honduras, 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. Maxf a, 
 
 M&dco. 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studbbaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estbe, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados JJnidos de Norte AmSriea, 
 3os± And BADE, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 3os& Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3os& MaeIa PlXcido OaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 28. 
 
 Washington, February 7, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.15 p. m. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Zegar- 
 RA, a Delegate from Peru (afterwards fol- 
 lowed by Mr. Romero, the Second Vice- 
 President), with the following Delegates 
 present : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz Peila. 
 Manuel Quintaua. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 Mr. T. Jeiferson Coolidge. 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Andrade. 
 
 Sesidn del 7 de Febrero de 1890. 
 Presideucia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 primer Vicepresidente y del Sr. Mat! as 
 Romero, seguudp Vicepresidente. Es- 
 tando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaoio Guzmiin. 
 Peru: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Cdrlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz Pena ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintaua. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 M6xico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juau F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 
 159 
 
160 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador^ 
 
 Mr. Josd Maria Pl^cido Caamano. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The minutes of the fifth day were then 
 read, approved, and signed by the Dele- 
 gates present. 
 
 By a vote of nine to four, it was de- 
 cided that the minutes of the session pre- 
 vious to the adoption of the rules, which 
 had not been prepared at the time, should 
 be signed by the Delegate presiding at 
 the session on the day they were read and 
 approved. 
 
 Those voting in the affirmative were 
 the following : Colombia, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, United States, Venezu- 
 ela, Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Those voting negatively were : Nica- 
 ragua, Uruguay, Argentine, and Para- 
 guay. 
 
 The discussion on the report of the 
 Committee on Boles concerning the mo- 
 tion made by Mr. NiN, a Delegate from 
 Uruguay, that the Conference close its 
 sessions on the 1st of March proximo, was 
 continued. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 and chairman of the Commi tteo on Rules, 
 read the following in support of the re- 
 port of the committee : 
 
 Mr. President, I did not expect that 
 such an effort would have been wasted to 
 defend the proposition whose object is to 
 close the sessions of this Conference on 
 the 1st of next March. Without pro- 
 posing to show that an inconsistent effort 
 is often a certain indication, not of 
 strength and reason, on the part of the 
 person who makes it, but rather the re- 
 verse, I beg to be allowed to state the 
 fact. In effect, the honorable Delegate 
 from Uruguay was seen at the last ses- 
 sion, after engaging in a slight skirmish 
 on the first part of his proposition, to de- 
 ploy the mass of his forces with a view 
 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varus ; 
 EI Sr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos^ M. P. Caamano. 
 Se abri6 la sesidn ^ las 3 y 15 minutes 
 p.m. 
 
 Se leyd, aprobd y firm6 el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 Se leyi5, aprobfi y firm(S ol acta do la 
 sesidn 5°. • 
 
 A oonsulta de la Mesa y por voto de 9 
 contra 4 se decidi6 que las actas de las 
 sesiones anteriores S, la adopci6n del 
 Reglamento y no redactadas ^ debido 
 tiempo se firmariin por el que presida la 
 sesldn el dia en que aquellas sean Jeidas 
 y aprobadas. 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente : Colombia, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, Estados Uni- 
 dos, Venezuela, Chile, Salvador y Ecua- 
 dor. 
 
 Votaron negativamente : Nicaragua, 
 Uruguay, Argentina y Paraguay. 
 
 Continu6 la discusidn sohre el dict^nien 
 (le la Comisifin de Reglamento acerca de 
 la proposici6n del Senor Nin para que la 
 Conferencia suspenda bus sesiones el 1° 
 de Marzo prdximo. 
 
 El Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile 
 y Presidente de la Comisldn de Regla- 
 mento, ley6 el signiente discnrso en apoyo 
 del dictdimeu de la Comision de Regla- 
 mento : 
 
 No esperaba, Senor Presidente, que se 
 hubiera gastado tanto esfuerzo para de- 
 fender la proposioidn que tienepor ohjeto 
 la clausara de las sesiones de esta Con- 
 ferencia el primero de Marzo prdximo. 
 Sin proponerme demostrar que un esfuerzo 
 desproporcionado suele ser con frecuencia 
 un iudicio cierto, no de fuerza de ni razon 
 de parte del que lo hace sine mdis bien de 
 todo lo contrario, s^ame permitido dejar 
 constaucia del hecho. Se ha visto efec- 
 tivamente en la sesidn anterior al hono- 
 rable delegado del Uruguay, despnds de 
 empeiiar una ligera escaramnza en la 
 primera parte de su proposicidn, desple- 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 161 
 
 to upset the report of the commU.tee on 
 the matter of the closing of the Confer- 
 ence. We shall see if he has succeeded. 
 
 I am going to glance rapidly at the 
 main arguments of the honorable Dele- 
 gate, only so far as the necessities of the 
 defense require it, it being worthy of 
 notice right here, that these incidental 
 discussions of considerable extent are en- 
 gendered at the same time that it is pro- 
 posed the Conference should close its ses- 
 sions on the Ist of March. It is evident 
 that the means do not accomplish the 
 end, and that they necessarily clash. 
 
 In order to fully appreciate the asser- 
 tion made by the honorable Delegate 
 that upon reporting on his proposition a 
 petitio prindpii has been perpetrated, it 
 is well to remember what the report is. 
 It is as follows: 
 
 " The committee thinls, in regard to 
 the second resolution, the fixiug on the 
 1st day of March next as the closing day 
 of the Conference, that no one knows or 
 can foresee at the present time when the 
 Conference will be able to close its labors ; 
 and that, therefore, it is impossible for 
 them to decide at this moment when the 
 Conference shall close its sessions. The 
 closing day may, perhaps, be the one 
 suggested in the resolution, and it may 
 be also some other day previous or subse- 
 quent to it. What is really most impor- 
 tant for the Conference, is not to know 
 the day on which it shall cease to exist, 
 but to accomplish the purposes for which 
 it was convened. The day on which this 
 shall have been accomplished is of course 
 still uncertain.'' 
 
 As is seen, the committee stated that 
 the Conference had been charged with a 
 duty, and if it did not add that it was an 
 important one, it was because this cir- 
 cumstance was plainly linowu to all the 
 Delegates. It treals of deliberation on 
 matters which interest the whole conti- 
 nent. It stated that what was advisable 
 was that this delicate functiou should be 
 performed, and not that the Conference 
 could be closed on a certain day. With 
 the proposition before it, the committee 
 asked itself the following question: "Can 
 we tell on what day the Conference can 
 
 11 10 
 
 gar el grueso de sus fuerzaspara ver modo 
 de arrollar el informe de la Comis!6n en 
 el incidente de la clausura. Va Si verse 
 si lo ha consiguido. 
 
 Voy S, examinar r^pidamente los prin- 
 cipales argumentos del honorable dele- 
 gado, s<51o en cuanto las necesidades de la 
 defensalo exijan, siendo dignode notarse 
 desde luego que se promuevan estos de- 
 bates incidentales de cierta extensidn al 
 mismo tiempo que se preteude que la Con- 
 fereucia ponga t^rmino S, sus sesiones el 
 primero de Marzo. Es evideute que el 
 medio no se aviene con el fin, y que nece- 
 sariamente se chocan. 
 
 Para que piioda apreciarse con acierto 
 la aflrmacidn intentada por el honorable 
 delegado de que al dictaminar sobre su 
 proyecto se ha incurrido en una petici6n 
 de prinoipios, es titil que se tenga presente 
 lo que expresa el informe, el cual dice S, la 
 letra : 
 
 "Opina la Comsi6n, eu cuanto & la 
 clausura de las sesiones de la Conferencia 
 el primero de Marzo pr6ximo, que, no sa- 
 bi(5ndose de antemano ni pudi6ndo pre- 
 veerse ouaudo pondr^ t^rmino la Confe- 
 rencia iisustrabajos, no esposible decidir 
 que deje de funcinuar en un dia dado, 
 que pueda eer el que iudica el proyecto, 
 li otro auterior 6 posterior S, 6i. Lo que 
 interesa y conviene no es saber el dia en 
 que se cierren las sesiones, sino que la 
 Conferencia llene el cometido que le ha 
 sido enconiendado, y el dia en que esto 
 sueeda es por ahora necesariamente in- 
 cierto." 
 
 Como se v^, la Comisidn establecid que 
 ^ la Conferencia se habia encomendado 
 un cometido, y si no agreg<5 que era muy 
 importante, fn6 porque esta circunstancia 
 est^ en la conciencia de todos los delega- 
 dos. Se trata de la deliberacidn sobre 
 asuntos de inter<Ss para todo este conti- 
 nente. Expresd que lo que convenia era 
 que esta delicada funoi6n fuese llenada, 
 y n6 que la Conferencia cerrase sus sesio- 
 nes en un dia dado. 
 
 En presencia del proyecto, la Comisi6n 
 se hizo natnralmente esta pregunta : 
 iPuedo saber cu^l ser^ el dia en que la 
 
162 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 close its labors?" The committee an- 
 swered it in the negative in view of the 
 data which it had on hand, and which it 
 will soon he seen was suflioient. It could 
 not morally tell how much time the sev- 
 eral committees needed for the prepara- 
 tion of their respective reports, nor was 
 it possible that such a thing could be ra- 
 tionally foreseen. It did not know, either, 
 how long a time would be consumed in 
 the discussion of subjects, some of which 
 are of a complex and grave nature, and of 
 difficult solution, nor the magnitude or 
 importance of others which might be 
 brought up. For this reason it stated 
 literally that "no one knows or can fore- 
 see at the present time when the Confer- 
 ence shall be able to end its labors ; and 
 that, therefore, it is impossible for them 
 to decide at this moment when the Con- 
 ference shall close its sessions." 
 
 Where and in what manner has the 
 committee established the same thing it 
 essayed to prove ? It has already been 
 seen that, in the reasoning set forth in its 
 report, it is stated: 
 
 "That the Conference has a mission, 
 and a very Important one. 
 
 "That it is advisable, save in the case 
 of impossibility or greater advisability, 
 that this body should finish its labors. 
 
 "That it is morally impossible to de- 
 termine at this time that the Ist of March 
 would see it realized. 
 
 "Therefore, said date should not be 
 fixed upon as the imperative end of its 
 mission." 
 
 It appears very clearly, that instead of 
 containing apetitio principii, this reason- 
 ing is nothing more than the synthesis of 
 a perfect syllogism. 
 
 The contrary argument can only be con- 
 ceived upon the supposition that the com- 
 mittee has referred to a material impos- 
 sibility upon holding that the date of 
 closing its labors could not be fixed, and 
 it is plain, in view of the foregoing, that 
 such a supposition could not be enter- 
 tained, since the report was careful to 
 make express mention of the fulfillment of 
 the Conference's mission. 
 
 Another circumstance which appears in 
 the report and which it is well to re- 
 member has passed unnoticed by the 
 
 Conferencia d6 punto S, sus trabajos? 
 Por los datos de que podia disponer, y 
 que Inego se veriu que eran suficientes, la 
 Comisidn se di(5 una respuesta negativa. 
 Moralmente no sabla cual era el tiempo 
 que necesitaban las diversas comisiones 
 para despachar sus iuformes, ni le era 
 posible preveerlo de un modo racional. 
 Ignoraba tambi^n lo que demorase la dis- 
 cnsidn de asuntos, alguuos de los cuales 
 son de naturaleza compleja y grave, y de 
 dificil soluci(5n, la magnitud 6importancia 
 de otros nuevo*s que se promovieran. Por 
 esto fu6 que express litoralmente que, "no 
 sabi6ndose de antemano ni puuiendo pre- 
 veerse cuaudo pondrii t^rmino la Confe- 
 rencia Sj sus trabajos, no era posible deci- 
 dirque deje defuncionaren un diadado." 
 
 tEnd(5ude y dequ^raaneralaComisidn 
 ha dado por establecido lo mismo que se 
 trata de probar ? Ya se ha visto que, en 
 el raoiooinio que consta do su informe, se 
 ha sentado : 
 
 " Que la Conferencia tiene una misi6n 
 que es muy importante; 
 
 " Que conviene, salvo el case de imposi- 
 bilidad 6 mayor oonveniencia, que este 
 cuerpo realize sn labor ; 
 
 " Que es moralmente imposible deter- 
 minar desde ahora que el 1° de Marzo la 
 haya realizado ; 
 
 " Luego no debe fijarse esa fecha como 
 tiSrmino necasario de su misidn." 
 
 Aparece con toda claridad que, lejos de 
 conteuer una peticidn de principios, este 
 razonamiento no es mSa que la sfntesis de 
 un perfecto silogismo. 
 
 Solo se conoibe la argumentacidn con- 
 traria suponiendo que la Comisidn se ha 
 referido S una imposibilidad material al 
 soslener que no se podfa deterrainar la 
 fecha de la conclusion de los trabajos, yes 
 claro que, en vista de lo expuesto, seme- 
 jante suposici6n no tiene cabida, puesto 
 que el informe tuvo cuidado de hacer 
 mencifin expresa del desempefio del oome- 
 tido de la Conferencia. 
 
 No ha parade mientras el Hon. Delegado 
 en otra circunstancia que aparece del in- 
 forme y que conviene reoordar. En el in- 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 163 
 
 honorable Delegate. The report says that 
 it is impossible to fix a certain day for the 
 closing of the sessions, which might be 
 the one proposed in the resolution or 
 another previous or subsequent to it. 
 Consequently, if the committee has not 
 accepted the 1st of March, it was not be- 
 cause it considered it as too near or too 
 far from the day when the Conference be- 
 gan its labors, but because it did not 
 know that said day could be the exact 
 date of its conclusion. The report then 
 has been considered in every light, even 
 in that in which the honorable Delegate 
 places it, without approving the latter 
 for the reasons so often given. It might 
 be true that after a long period of five or 
 six months, when the mind and the body 
 commence to feel the fatigue and tension 
 producSd by mental preoccupation or by 
 breathing the same air, it might be prop- 
 er to apply to the Conference the rule of 
 recess, but it is also proper to state that 
 scarcely three months have elapsed since 
 it began, on the 18th of November, its 
 real wort. 
 
 The honorable Delegate finds the report 
 too short. It is to be doubted that a 
 longer one would have convinced him. 
 The committee considered the reasons 
 adduced were sufScient because it con- 
 sidered them decisive. The strength of 
 an argument does not consist in its length, 
 but in its clearness, and in its leading up 
 to the point for which it was intended. 
 
 I am going to occupy myself with the 
 rather serious charge made against the 
 committee by the honorable Delegate. 
 The committee before reporting ought, in 
 his opinion, to have obtained more data 
 than that which influenced its decision. 
 It was necessary that it should have met 
 and consulted with the chairmen of the 
 committees. This charge presupposes, at 
 least, that it has acted hastily and with- 
 out having given the matter the attention 
 and study it required. 
 
 This charge, although grave in its 
 scope, is very weak in its grounds. It 
 seems to be believed that the Delegates 
 composing the Committee on Rules are 
 unacquainted with the business of the 
 Conference, that they do not know what 
 takes place therein or in its various com- 
 mittees. The mere statement of the be- 
 
 forme se dice que no es posible fijar para 
 la olausura de las sesiones un dia dado, 
 " que puede ser el que se indica en el pro- 
 yecto, u otro anterior 6 posterior ^ el." 
 For consiguiente, si la comisi6n no ha 
 aceptado el 1° de Marzo, no fu6 porque lo 
 considerara pr6xlmo 6 lejano al dia en que 
 la Confereucia did principio ^ sns tareas, 
 sino porque no sabla que 6ae pudieia ser 
 el dia precise de su conclusidn. Se ha 
 puesto pues el informe en todos los casos, 
 aun en el mismo en que se coloca el Hon. 
 Delegado, sin aceptarlo por el motive 
 tantas veces dicho. Podrdl ser muy cierto 
 que, despu^s de uu largo periodo de cinco 
 6 seis meses, en que el espiritu y el cuerpo 
 se tienen que resentir de fatigaporlaten- 
 sidn que produce la permanente preocu- 
 pacidn mental 6 la inmersidn en el mismo 
 medio ambiente, seaoportuno que se apli- 
 que ^ la Confercncia la regla del receso ; 
 pero tambi^n lo es que desde que di6 real- 
 mente principio & sus tareas el 18 de 
 Noviembre no ha alin transcurrido el 
 periodo de tres meses. 
 
 El Hon. Delegado encuentra demasiado 
 corto el informe. Es permitido dudar que 
 con m^s lato desarroUo hubiera llevado 
 el convencimiento ^ su espiritu. La Co- 
 misidu crey6 que las razones que aducia 
 eran suficientes, jjorque las consideraba 
 decisivas. Evidentemente la bondad de 
 un argumento no consiste en su extension 
 sino en su claridad, en su conducencia ^ 
 la materia en que se hace valer. 
 
 Voy ^ ocuparme del cargo verdadera- 
 mente grave que el Hon. Delegado for- 
 mula contra la Comisidn. A su juicio, la 
 Comisidu debi6 para informar, adquirir 
 mayores dates que los que formarou su 
 conciencia. Era necesario que hubiera 
 reunido y consultado & los presidentes de 
 Comisidn. Este cargo presupone, S, lo 
 menos, que se ha procedido con ligereza, 
 sin haberse prestado al asunto la atencidn 
 y el estudio que requerla. 
 
 Asl oomo es de grave en su alcance, 
 esta incnlpacidn es niraia en sus funda- 
 mentos. Parece creerse que los delegados 
 que componen la Comisidn de Reglamen- 
 to fueran extranos ^ los trabajos de la 
 Confereucia, que no supierau lo que pasa 
 en ella ni en sus diversas comisiones. 
 Basta presentar la suposioidn para com- 
 
164 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 lief suffices to demonstrate its inaccuracy. 
 My six honorable colleagues and myself 
 belong, with the exception of the Com- 
 mittee on Rules, to eleven of the seven- 
 teen committees into which this Confer- 
 ence has been subdivided. Delegates be- 
 longing to the same delegation, as they 
 do, belong to three more committees. 
 Therefore in some cases, and in the ma- 
 jority thereof, the members of the Com- 
 mittee on Rules are acquainted with the 
 work of the other committees either by 
 direct participation therein, or in other 
 cases through their delegation col- 
 leagues. Only two committees, that on 
 Communication on the Gulf of Mexico 
 and the Caribbean Sea and that on 
 Patents and Trade-marks, are they un- 
 connected with. 
 
 Unquestionably the reporting commit- 
 tee examined all the necessary data, and 
 that it prepared its report with full 
 knowledge of the subject. It did not 
 need to consult the chairmen of the com- 
 mittee, since it is known that the other 
 members thereof are aa well acquainted 
 with what takes place therein as the 
 chairman. All this must have been 
 known to the honorable Delegate, which 
 makes it difficult to understand his gra- 
 tuitous fling. 
 
 The honorable Delegate has thought it 
 opportune also, in support of his argu- 
 nrent, to avail himself of precedents, cit- 
 ing several bodies to this end whose de- 
 liberations were limited by a date fixed 
 upoB beforehand. This is one of the 
 weakest points of his argument, as the 
 Conference will see. And m order to 
 demoastrate this fact I will not bury my- 
 self in archives nor libraries in search of 
 data for the purpose of bringing prece- 
 dents against precedents. It is enough, 
 in my opinion, to refer to one of the very 
 instances cited by the honorable Delegate. 
 I refer to the case of the International 
 Marine Conference which met in this very 
 city a short time ago. This Conference 
 had to act for a limited time, mentioned 
 in the call issued therefor. 
 
 The call for the International American 
 Conference did not fix any limit of time. 
 What is the meaning of these two acts, 
 executed by the same authority, at the 
 same time, and on analogous matters? 
 
 prender que es inexacta. Mis honorables 
 seis colegas y yo intervinimos, exceptua- 
 da la del Reglamento, en oncede las diez 
 y siete comisiones en que est^ subdivi- 
 dida la Conferencia. De tres m^ for- 
 man parte delegados que perteneoen S, la 
 misma delegacidn que ellos. De suerte 
 que en unos cases, que conslituyeu el 
 mayor nlimero, los miembros de la Corai- 
 si6n de Reglamento son conooedores de 
 lo que pasa en las otras comisiones por 
 su intervencidu directa en ellas, y en 
 otros cases lo saben por sus compafieros 
 de delegacidn. S61o dos Comisiones, la 
 de Comunicaciones en el Golfo de Mexico 
 y el Mar Caribe y la de Patentes y Mar- 
 cas de F^brioa se encuentran fuera de su 
 accidn. 
 
 Es incuestionable que la Comisidn 
 informante ha tenido todos los dates que 
 eran menester, y que ha podido emitir su 
 dict^men con pleno conocimientode causa. 
 No necesitaba oonsulfar S, los presidentes 
 de las Comisiones, porque es sabido que 
 los demfc miembros se hallan tan bien 
 impuestos de lo que pasa en ellas como 
 los mismos presidentes. Todo esto debe 
 ser perfectamente conooido por el Hon. 
 Delegado, lo que hace dificil comprender 
 la causa de su gratuita incnlpaci6n. 
 
 Ha creido tambien oportuno, en apoyo 
 de su tesis, el Hon. Delegado hacer caudal 
 de precedentes, citando al efecto diversas 
 corporaciones que han funcionado s(5Io 
 hasta uu dia prefijado de antemano. Esta 
 es una de las partes m^s d^biles de su 
 argumentaci<5n, como la Conferencia lo 
 v^ i ver. Y para mi demostraoidn no 
 ir6 & engolfarme en archives ni bibliotecas 
 en busca de datos para contraponer ante- 
 cedentesd; antecedentes. Basta ^ mi pro- 
 p6sito uno de los propios ejemplos traido 
 ^ cuentas por el Hon. Delegado. Me 
 refiero al caso de la Conferencia Maritima 
 Universal, reunida hasta hace poco en 
 esta misma ciudad. Esta Conferencia 
 debi6 funcionar durante un tiempo limi- 
 tado que se fijd en su misma conyocacidn. 
 
 Pnes bien, la convocacifiu ^ la Confe- 
 rencia Internacional Americana no fij6 
 plazo. jQu^significaesta diferenciaentra 
 dos actos ejecutados por la misma autori- 
 dad, en la misma ^poca y sobre materias 
 an^ogas? jEntenderia acaso el Go- 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 165 
 
 Could the inviting GoTernment, per- 
 chance, think that the term fixed for one 
 could be implied aa including the other ? 
 But this is not a tenable supposition, since 
 it wonld have cost little trouble to have 
 expressed the limit of the two invitations. 
 It can not be said that in matters of such 
 import and gravity they have proceeded 
 with haste and with an absolute want of 
 logic. It is, therefore, necessary to admit 
 that either because of the special nature 
 of each Conference or the character of the 
 subjects to be considered it was thought 
 advisable to designate a fixed limit to one 
 of them, and that the other should con- 
 tinue for the time necessary to the fulfill- 
 ment of its mission. This fact is a signal 
 one, because the history of this Confer- 
 ence exemplifies it. 
 
 It would be necessary still to ascertain 
 whether the bodies cited by the honor- 
 able Delegate do not find themselves in 
 circumstances identical with the Inter- 
 national Marine Conference. 
 
 The memory of the honorable Delegate 
 is weak in the matter of examples, since 
 he ought to remember what has j ust taken 
 place in his own home. The Private In- 
 ternational Law Congress, which met 
 yesterday, it raay be said, at Montevideo, 
 did not have any specified time for the 
 limit of its sessions. And that congress 
 isvery similar to this Conference ; so much 
 so, that we are here discussing in part the 
 very matters the formei- discussed. 
 
 The mention made by way of examples 
 of national congresses either means noth- 
 ing or the reverse of what was intended. 
 To make an argument out of comparisons 
 it is necessary that they should rest on 
 the base of similarity, or at least on an- 
 alogy ; without this they can have no real 
 value. A national congress resembles this 
 Conference only in so far as both are pai- 
 liamentary and deliberative bodies; in 
 everything else the differences between 
 them are as substantial as they are nu- 
 merous. National congresses have no 
 time limit; they act, although periodi- 
 cally, all the time. The matters which 
 they are unable to dispose o)f in one ses- 
 sion are acted npon in another. The fixing 
 of the term of each session is therefore of 
 little moment, the intent being, upon lim- 
 iting parliamentary and legislative action 
 
 bierno invitante que el plazo qu» seHal6 
 para la una iba implicitamente compren- 
 dido en la otra ? Pero esta suposioidn es 
 inconoebible puesto qne nada oostaba 
 haber expresado el plazo en las dos con- 
 vocaciones. No podrdi deoirsa que en ac- 
 tos de esta seriedad 6 importancia se ha 
 procedido con ligereza y con una falta ab- 
 soluta de 16gica. Luego es forzoso acep- 
 tar que, ya sea por la naturaleza especial 
 de cada Conferencia, ya sea por la clase 
 de trabajos de que deblan oouparse, se 
 considerd que era conveniente fijar un 
 tdrmino d;una deellasy que la otra fun- 
 cionaria durante el tierapo que fuese 
 necesario al desempeno de su misi6n. 
 Este antecedente es capital, porque lo 
 suministra la historia de la misma Con- 
 ferencia. 
 
 Habria que a veriguar todavia silascor- 
 poraciones que cita el Hon. Delegado no 
 se encuentran en un caso id(5utico al de la 
 Conferencia Universal Marltima. 
 
 En materia de ejemplos la memoria del 
 honorable delegado se muestra d^bil para 
 recordar lo que acaba de aoaecer en su 
 propia oasa. El Congreso de Derecho 
 Internacional Privado que estuvo, se 
 puede decir, ayer rennido en Montevideo, 
 no tenia plazo senalado para bus sesiones. 
 Y ese Congreso es muy parecido & esta 
 Conferencia, de tal modo que estamos en 
 parte tratando aqui de las mismas mate- 
 rias que aqu€l diecutid. 
 
 La menoi6n que se hace, ^ propdsito de 
 ejemplos, de loa congresos nacionales in- 
 ternos, 6 nada significa, 6 es contrapro- 
 ducente. Para que las comparaciones 
 coustituyan un argumento, es preoiso 
 que deseansen en la base de la similitud, 
 6 por lo m^nos, de la analogia ; sin ella, 
 no tienen valor alguno. Un Congreso 
 nacional se asemeja & esta Conferencia en 
 cuanto ambos son cuerpos colegiados y 
 deliberantes ; en todo lo deiufe las dife- 
 rencias entreellos ; on tan numerosas como 
 sustanciales. Los Congresos de orden in- 
 terne tienen el tiempo inconmesurable 
 delante de s£ ; funcionan, aunque periddi- 
 camente, sienipre. El asunto que no han 
 aloanzado ^ despachar en una sesidn, lo 
 despachan en otra. Asl poco importa 
 que se fije el perlodo de cada sesddn, bus- 
 c^ndose al restringir la acoidn parla- 
 
166 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEBIC AN CONFERENCE. 
 
 within a set time, to insure good govern- 
 ment. A conference whicli has been 
 called, as has this, to treat of determi- 
 nate sul)ject8,if itlosestbeopportunity to 
 discuss and terminate them, with diffi- 
 culty can meet again in a long time. The 
 honorable Delegate believes that the re- 
 verse will be very easy, but I must insist 
 that he is in error. 
 
 It is not feasible nor an everyday pos- 
 sibility to gather the representatives of 
 eighteen nations to treat on matters of 
 the character presented to this Confer- 
 ence. It is an illusion, dispelled by facts, 
 to imagine the contrary. The very lack 
 of success of one meeting must be an ob- 
 stacle to others in the future. 
 
 It is not best to follow the honorable 
 Delegate on the question of discourtesy 
 which be has incidentally raised ; these 
 matters, from the very fact that they brush 
 against persons, are always extremely 
 delicate. The honorable Delegate holds 
 that if a certain date for closing is not 
 established, when it is requested by one 
 or more delegations, in order to maintain 
 their representation before the Confer- 
 ence or to put themselves in a situation 
 to attend it conveniently, would be equiv- 
 alent to excluding it completely and with- 
 out remedy, but with manifest disregard 
 of the obligations of even courtesy. 
 
 This is what the honorable Delegate has 
 said, thereby asserting that the Commit- 
 tee on Rules, by opposing itself to ad- 
 journment on a day certain, as requested 
 by him, has become, undoubtedly, a de- 
 fendant to the charge of a neglect to 
 those duties. Let the Conference see 
 what the reasons are upon which this 
 charge is based. The adjournment hav- 
 ing been asked for March 1, the commit- 
 tee was of the opinion that the request 
 should not be granted. Could it be 
 claimed that by the offering of the reso- 
 lution its author officially notified the 
 Conference that he could not attend its 
 sessions after that date? To discover 
 this, it would be necessary to inquire into 
 intentions, since the idea of adjournment 
 might have originated in several causes, 
 and its author has not advanced one. 
 
 On the other hand, if a Delegate thinks 
 
 mentaria y legislativa dentro de un plazo, 
 una garautla de buen gobierno. Una 
 Conferencia que, como €sta, ha sido con- 
 vocada para ocuparse de asuntos deter- 
 minados, si pierde la ocasi6n de dis- 
 cutirlos y llevarlos & tdrmino dificilmente 
 volver^ & reunirse en mucho tiempo 
 despufis. Cree muy fiilcil lo contrario el 
 honorable delegado ; mas yo debo sos- 
 tener que estfi en un error. No es hace- 
 dero ni de todos los dias reunir S, los re- 
 presentantes de diez y ocho naciones para 
 ocuparse de neg^ios de la naturaleza de 
 los que ha sido llamada Sj discutir esta 
 Conferencia. Es una ilusidn, desvane- 
 cida por los hechos, imaginarse lo con- 
 trario. La misma falta de 6xito de una 
 reuni6n ha de ser un obst^culo para otras 
 en lo sucesivo. 
 
 No es c6modo seguir al Hon. Delegado 
 en la cuestidn de descortesia que inci- 
 dentalmeute ha promovido. Esta clase 
 de ouestiones, por lo mismo que se rozan 
 con las personas, son siempre en extremo 
 delioadas. El Hon. Delegado sostiene 
 que si no se fija una fecha de clausura 6 
 receso cnando lo piden una 6 varias dele- 
 gaciones en 6rden S, conservar su repre- 
 sentaci6n en la Conferencia, 6 hallarse en 
 situaci6n de proveer convenientemente 
 S, ella, importaria excluirla individual- 
 monte y sin remedio, pero con manifiesto 
 olvido de los deberes hasta de cortesla. 
 
 Esto ha dicho el Hon. Delegado, afir- 
 mando en conseouencia que la Comisi6n de 
 Eeglamento, por el hecho de oponerse 4, 
 la clausura por 61 pedida en dia fijo, se ha 
 hecho sin duda reo de esta falta de de- 
 beres. Vea ahora la Conferencia cuales 
 son los antecedentes que motivan este 
 cargo. Reclamada la clausura para el 
 primero de Marzo, la Comisidn opin<5 que 
 ^ sn juicio no debe acoederse S, ella. Po- 
 drla pretenderse que con la presentcai6n 
 del proyecto su autor notifioaba oficial- 
 mente & la Conferencia que no podia cou- 
 tinuar concurrieudo S, ella despu^s de esa 
 fecha? Para ello serla precise proceder 
 inquiriendo Intenciones, ya que el pro- 
 yecto de clausura puede tener por orlgen 
 diversas causas, y su autor no habia ex- 
 presado una s61a. 
 
 Por otra parte, si un delegado juzga que 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 167 
 
 that the duties required by courtesy are 
 not shown to him, because other Dele- 
 gates oppose his wishes regarding the 
 close o£ the Conference on a certain day, 
 how can they qualify the situation he 
 wishes to place them iu, rendering it per- 
 haps impossible for them to perform the 
 duties they were called upon to discharge 
 by the Government which invited them? 
 It is well to remember that this Confer- 
 ence has been called for an especial and 
 determinate purpose, and it is logical that 
 having once as'iembled, and being in the 
 exercise of its functions, its members 
 should essay to respond to the objects of 
 the invitation. Well, in the opinion of 
 the honorable Delegate, those who are 
 acting within the sphere of their mission 
 are discourteous, and, consequently, the 
 contrary may be said to be merited by 
 him who places himself outside of it. 
 
 If the delegations are, as they should 
 be, in constant correspondence with their 
 Governments, the fear that the lack of a 
 fixed date for closing would be an obsta- 
 cle to the substitution of those Delegates, 
 whom it may for any reason be necessary 
 to substitute is chimerical. The Govern- 
 ments must be informed of the situation 
 of the Conference, and they will determine 
 what they may deem most advisable with 
 regard to that measure of internal organ- 
 ization. The close can not cut any figure in 
 this case, as it is evident that it will put an 
 end to the Conference, in which case there 
 will be no object in thinking of substi- 
 tutes. 
 
 On closing this reply, which I have been 
 compelled to make in order to dispel 
 groundless charges, it behooves me, Mr. 
 President, to maintain that the committee 
 has not seen, nor could it see, in the reso- 
 lution to close, a personal question, bnt 
 only one of interest to the Conference ; 
 that it has given its opinion thereon with 
 a perfect and full knowledge of the state 
 of its labors, and that it could not bring 
 itself to the belief that the time had ar- 
 rived to fix the day of adjournment, when 
 the Conference was entering, or had just 
 entered, upon a period when its work 
 might be efficient and productive of good 
 resnlts ; that the fixing of a day for clos- 
 ing does not afford to the Governments 
 here represented any advantage, and with 
 
 no se cuniplen £isu respecto los deboies de 
 cortesfa jI consecuencia de que otros dele- 
 gados se oponen £i su pretension para que 
 la Conferencia se clausure & dia fijo, 
 icomopodr^n calificar ^stos la situaci6n 
 que aqu61 prooura crearles poni6ndolo8 
 quiz& en la imposibilidad de ejercer la 
 funcidn que han side llamados ^ desem- 
 penarpor el Gobierno invitante ? Porqae 
 conviene no olvidar que esta Conferencia 
 ha sido convocada con un fin especial y 
 determinado, y que esl(5gico que, una vez 
 reunida y en ejercicio, procureu sus 
 miembros corresponder al objeto de la 
 oonvocatoria. Pnes bien, ^ juicio del 
 honorable delegado son descorteses los 
 queest^n dentro de la esfera desu misi6n 
 y por consecuencia habrfi de merecer sin 
 duda el oalificativo coutrario el que es 
 posible que se ponga en pugna con ella. 
 
 Si las delegaciones, como debe suceder, 
 ostein en oomunicacidn constante con sus 
 Gobiernos, es quim^rico el temor de que 
 la falta de feoha precisa de clausura sea 
 un obst^culo para que aquellos provean 
 oportunamente el reemplazo de los dele- 
 gados que por cualquiera causa sea nece- 
 sario sustituir. Loa Gobiernos tienen que 
 estar al cabo de la situaoidu de la Confe- 
 rencia y determinarSn lo que estimen mas 
 conveniente respecto de esa medida de 
 orden interno. La clausura no puede ser 
 de utilidad alguna en este case, porqne es 
 evidente que pondrfi t^rmino 6, la Confe- 
 reifcia, y en tal evento carece de objeto 
 pensar eu reemplazantes. 
 
 Al terminar, Senor Presidente, esta con- 
 testacidn & que me he visto arrastrado 
 para desvanecer inculpaciones sin funda- 
 mento, inctimbeme sostener que la Comi- 
 si6n no ha visto ni podido ver en el 
 proyecto de clausura una cuesti6n per- 
 sonal, sino de interfe para la Conferencia, 
 que ha opinado acerca de 6\ con conoci- 
 miento perfecto y cabal del estado de los 
 trabajos y que no podia creer que habla 
 Uegado el memento de fijar el dia de 
 clausura precisamente cuando la Confe- 
 rencia entraba 6 aoababa de entrar en el 
 perlodo eu que su labor podia ser eficaz y 
 fructlfera; que la fijacidn de un dia de 
 clausura uo ofrece dl los Gobiernos aqui 
 representados ventaja alguna; y queen 
 cnanto 6, la ilustracidu que los delegados 
 
168 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERISAN CONFEEENCB. 
 
 respect to the communicatiou the Dele- 
 gates may wish to have with their fellow- 
 citizens on their return to their respective 
 countries, that will be the resnlt of the 
 return itself, and not of the designation 
 of a day for final adjonrnment. 
 
 Mr. EOMERO, Second Vice-President, 
 then took the chair. 
 
 Mr. NiN continued to support his mo- 
 tion with various arguments, and after 
 some observations by other Delegates, 
 Mr. CaamaSo, a Delegate from Ecuador, 
 read the following: speech in support of 
 the report of the committee : 
 
 Mr. President, I believe that the sub- 
 ject has been sufficiently elucidated, and 
 little is left to be said after the argument 
 made by the honorable Delegate from 
 Chili, Dr. Alfonso, in support of the report 
 of the Committee on Rules. But as I am 
 also a member of that committee, it 
 seems to me that I can add a drop more 
 to the flood of arguments adduced by the 
 said gentleman. 
 
 In my opinion the report of the com- 
 mittee is not without foundation, based 
 as it is upon the fact that it is not possi- 
 ble to fix a, limit of time for subjects of 
 such grave importance, when they might 
 miscarry if hurried. I do not Itnow 
 whether history records an assemblage 
 of nations to which has been submitted 
 problems of such significance and com- 
 plexity. We can not, therefore, accept 
 as a rule the limitations applied to other 
 conferences of which we have record, 
 because of the exceptional circumstances 
 and the objects of this Conference to 
 which we have the honor to belong. 
 
 That congresses have a fixed time for 
 adjonrnment can be understood, as they 
 assemble periodically at a given time, for 
 the laws of every country establish that 
 a record of pending subjects be kept, and 
 above all, the appropriations for expenses 
 limits the time for such congresses, but, 
 as regards this Conference, what rule has 
 been made to this effect ? 
 
 Now, then, should a day be named for 
 the closing of our sessions, is this date 
 prorogable or not ? If it is, then the des- 
 ignation of the day is unnecessary; if it 
 is not, then we find ourselves in the di- 
 lemma of either closing the Conference 
 or definitely declaring a recess. Let us 
 
 pueden llevar & sus oonciudadanos con el 
 regreso S, sus pafses respectivos, ser^ la 
 conseouencia del regreso mismo y no de la 
 fijaoidu de una fecha de clausura. 
 
 El SeHor Romero, segundo Vicepresi- 
 dente, pasd S, oonpar la presidencia. 
 
 El SeBor Nin sigui<5 sosteniendo an pro- 
 posici6n, y despues de algunas observa- 
 ciones por parte de otros Sefiores Delega- 
 dos, el Sr. CaamaSo, delegado por el 
 Ecuador, ley6 «1 siguiente disourso en 
 apoyo del dictiJraeu de la Comisi6n : 
 
 Senor Presidente: Creo el punto sufi- 
 cientemente dilucidado y poco queda por 
 deoir despues de las razones que, soste- 
 niendo el dict^meu de la Comisi6n de Re- 
 glamento, haemitidoelHon. Delegadopor 
 Chile, Senor Dr. Alfonso. Pero eomo 
 pertenezco tambi6n d esa Comisi6n, pare- 
 ceme que puedo agregar una gota m^ al 
 manantial de argumontos aducidos por 
 dicho seBor. 
 
 No carece, ^ mi juioio, de base el in- 
 forme de la Comisidn, puesto que 61 se 
 funda en que no es posible ejercer presi(5u 
 de tiempo sobre asuntos de gravisima 
 trascendencia, que podrian abortar si se 
 festinan. No s6 si registre la historia una 
 colectividad de naciones ^ la que se haya 
 sometido problema* tan complejos y de 
 tanta srgnifioaci6n. No podemos, pues, 
 tomar como norma las limitaciones ^ que 
 otras Conferencias se hayan sujetado, por 
 la excepcionalidad de las circunstancias 
 y las miras de la ii que tenemos el honor 
 de pertenecer. Que los Congresos tengau 
 t^rniino prefijadose oomprende, desde que 
 se reunen con periodicidad couocida, desde 
 que las leyes de cada pais estatuyen la 
 secuela de los asuntos que quedan pen- 
 dientes, y desde que, y sobre todo, lospre- 
 supuestos de gastos limitan las subven- 
 ciones & esos mismos Congresos. Pero 
 sobre esta Conferencia, qu6 hay pre- 
 ceptuado en tal sentido ? 
 
 Ahora bien: al fijarse un dia para la 
 clausura de nuestras sesiones, ^es esa 
 fecha prorogable 6 n6 ? Si lo es, Uega ^ 
 hacerse innecesaria la designacidn del 
 dia; si n<5 lo es, eutramos en el dilema 
 de cerrar la Conferencia de una manera 
 definitiva, 6 declararla en recesu : examl- 
 nemos estos dos t^rminos. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 169 
 
 examine these two phases of the ques- 
 tion : 
 
 To declare a recess of the Conference 
 would signify a future reunion ; but when 
 and where would this take place ? Would 
 the Unitt'd States Government extend 
 anotlier invitation? Can we count upon 
 its acquiescence and the facilities now at 
 our disposal? Would our various Gov- 
 ernments lend themselves to the project 
 with the same alacrity as they have 
 already exhibited? Besides, I believe, 
 without fear of being mistaken, that 
 the recess in question would thwart the 
 intention of the administration of this 
 country, whichn aturally is ambitions to 
 leave to posterity the record of an act of 
 such great value which was consummated 
 during its term. 
 
 To close on a fixed date, without a 
 clause for prorogation, is to oblige the 
 Conference to leave its work unfinished, 
 and to risk the fuUfilment of its object, or 
 to leave pending certain particulars, 
 which from the very fact of not having 
 been resolved, must be understood as 
 being the most important. Can we take 
 such a step? In assemblages of the na- 
 ture of this Conference, the terms of the 
 invitation, the desires of the one who ex- 
 tends the invitation, the form of accept- 
 ance by the invited, and the authority 
 with which these invest their Delegates, 
 must be important factors. Has the 
 Government of this country fixed a date? 
 Have our Governments accepted under 
 any conditions of date or time? Were 
 we accredited for any special time, or 
 were we appointed to bring the affairs of 
 the Conference to a conclusion ? Would we 
 befulfillingthedutiesof our mission if we 
 announced to our Governments that we 
 had fixed a day for adjournment whether 
 or not the subjects submitted to our care 
 had been treated of ornot? Is this a point 
 included in our instructions, or, rather, is 
 it within our discretion? Can we say to 
 our Governments that we have declared 
 a recess for the Conference, and that, as 
 it was impossible forustodetermiueupon 
 a fixed time for a reunion, they must 
 again accredit us, or other Delegates, be- 
 cause we suppose that the United States 
 Government would consent to this, per- 
 
 Deolarar en receso la Conferencia sig- 
 nificaria su reinstalacifin posterior f pero 
 6sta, c6mo, cu^ndo y d6nde debe tener 
 lugar? Bajo que auspicios se reunir^? 
 Volver^ el Gobierno de los Estados tJnidos 
 S, hacer uueva invitacidn ? Contamos y^ 
 con su aquiescencia y con las facilidades 
 de que hoy disponemos? Y volverlan 
 todos nuestros Gobiernos S, prestarse S, 
 concurrir con la misma buena voluntad y 
 presteza con que en esta vez lo han 
 hecho ? Adem&, yo creo sin temor de 
 errar, que el receso en cuestidn annularia 
 el prop6sito de la Administracidn de este 
 pals, que jnstamente ambioiona legar S, 
 la posterldad el recuerdo de un hecho de 
 alta valla, consumado en el lapso de su 
 periodo. 
 
 Terminar en una fecha senalada y sin 
 lugar ^ prdroga es poner & la Conferencia 
 en la necesidad de no raadurar sus deli- 
 beraciones y arriesgar su acierto, 6 de 
 dejar pendientes ciertos ^articulares, que 
 por el hecho mismo de no alcanzar S, re- 
 solverlos, se comprende que serSin los ra!ls 
 importantes. Podenios dar este paso? 
 En renniones del car^cter de esta (Jon- 
 ferencia tienen que ser factores los tdrmi- 
 nos de la invitaci6n, la voluntad del que 
 la hace, la forma de la aceptacidn de los 
 invitarlos y la autorizaci6n de 6stos S, sus 
 comiteutes. Ha fljadot^rmino el Gobierno 
 de esta Nacirtn ? Los nuestros han acep- 
 tado con condiciones de fecha 6 de tiempo ? 
 Hemes sido acreditados hasta dia fijo, 6 lo 
 hemos sido para dar cima S, los puntos — 
 sujeta materia — de la convocatoria ? Lle- 
 namos la misibn que se nos ha tonfiado si 
 annnciamos & nuestros Poderdantes que 
 hemos prefijado un dia para terminarla, 
 trat^ndose 6 no los asuntos que se han con- 
 fiado & nuestra solicitud ? Est^ este par- 
 ticular en nuestras instruociones, 6 mejor 
 dicho, entre nuestras facultades? 
 
 podremos decir & nuestros mismos 
 Gobiernos que hemos declarado d la Con- 
 ferencia en receso, y que no sifindonos 
 posible determinar un plazo cierto para 
 nueva reuni6n, ellos deberiin acreditarnos 
 otra vez, 6 acreditar otros Delegados, 
 porqtie suponemos qno el Gobierno de los 
 Estados Unidos convcndrii en esta mora- 
 toria, quizd indefinida, y que, desde luego, 
 
170 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 haps indefinite, recess, although contrary 
 to its political ends. In a word, there are 
 two parties in this emergency : the Gov- 
 ernment of this country, and those of ours. 
 If the first has fixed no period of limita- 
 tion for onr sessions, and the second have 
 accepted the invitation unconditionally 
 and unconditionally sent us here, have 
 we Delegates the authority to do that for 
 which we are not clearly and expressly 
 authorized? I would like to hear a solid 
 reply to the contrary. 
 
 The delay in the labors of this Confer- 
 ence depends purely upon material causes. 
 We could never secure a nucleus of more 
 excellent, industrious, and able employes 
 than are Messrs. Whitehouse, Pierra, and 
 Rodriguez ; but the secondary personnel 
 is insufficient, and the delay of the re- 
 ports of the committees, which also suffer 
 seriously, occurs in the Printing Oliiice, 
 which has an overabundance of work, 
 all of acknowledged importance. The 
 Committee on Communication on the Pa- 
 cific Ocean, for example, of which I am 
 chairman, had had its opinion formed for 
 two weeks past, but it is waiting for an 
 important document by Mr. Estee, the 
 honorable United States Delegate, which 
 will have to be incorporated in its report. 
 This gentleman furnished it in good time, 
 but the translation and printing in Span- 
 ish has occupied days and days. Every- 
 thing will proceed more rapidly as soon 
 as these obstacles are overcome by the 
 person or persons whose duty it is to ob- 
 viate them. 
 
 In conclusion, I would say that I find 
 myself in very exceptional circumstances ; 
 I fill, unworthily, an important post in 
 regard to Ecuador, audit is shown that I 
 came with permission and for a limited 
 time. I must undergo the disagreeable 
 task of withdrawing, perhaps shortly 
 thus depriving myself of the incalcula- 
 ble honor that I enjoy of mingling, 
 with persons of so elevated character, 
 and in such eminent positions. To none 
 morn than myself, therefore, would an 
 early adjournment of this Conference, 
 the closing of which I can not witness, 
 be more acceptable. But I sustain, as a 
 matter ofprinciple,the opinion of the com- 
 mittee ; not only because it evoked from 
 the distinguished Delegate from Uruguay 
 
 es contraria S, sus fines pollticos ? En una 
 palabra ; hay dos partes en esta emergen- 
 cia : el Gobierno de este pals y los de los 
 nuestros: si el primero no ha apuntado 
 t6rminoparafiniquitarnuestrassesiones,y 
 los segundos han aceptado su llamamiento 
 incondicional 6 incondicionalmente nos 
 han mandado, jnosotros, mandataries, 
 teuemos autorizacidn para hacer lo que 
 no estamos clara y expresamente autori- 
 zados? Yo querrla oir una respuesta 
 s61ida en sentido contrario. 
 
 El retardo en las labores de la Conferen- 
 cia depende puramente de eausas materia- 
 lea. No podremos tenerjam^s nn nlicleo 
 de empleados superiores, que scan msis 
 aouciosos y m^ hSbiles que los Sres. Pie- 
 rra, Whitehouse, y Rodriguez ; pero el 
 personal secundario es insuficiente ; y la 
 demora en el despacho de los informes de 
 las comisiones sufre tambi^n grave retardo 
 en la imprenta, que tiene multiples traba- 
 jos, y todos de conocida importancia. La 
 comisi6n de comunicaciones por el Oc^ano 
 Pacifico, por ejemplo, que yo presido, 
 tiene su concepto formado hace dos semar 
 nas; pero debe incorporarse S, su dictdi- 
 men un importante opliscnlo del Sr. Estee, 
 digno Delegado de los Estados Uuidos ; y 
 este Sr. lo ha dado oportunamente ; pero 
 su traducci6n y su impresi6n en castellano 
 demoran dias y dias. Todo marcharS 
 mSs pronto, salvados estos inconvenien- 
 tes, por quiiSn 6 qui^nes deban remediar- 
 los. 
 
 Al dejar la palabra, debo decir que soy 
 yo qui6n precisamente se encuentra en 
 oondiciones excepcionales ; ocupo, in- 
 nierecidamente, un puesto de importancia 
 relativa en el Ecuador, y consta que vine 
 con licencia y por tiempo limitado : yo 
 debo pasar por el desagradable trance de 
 separarme, tal vez muy en breve, pri- 
 v^ndome de la inapreciable honra que me 
 discieme el roce con personajes de tan 
 elevado cariicter y tan eminente posicidn. 
 A ninguno, pues, convendtia m&a que ti 
 ml la pronta terminaoidn de esta Con- 
 ferencia, cuya clausura no pDdr(5 presen- 
 oiar; pero sostengo, como cuesti6n de 
 principio, la opinidn de la Comisirtn ; no 
 solo porque se ha invooado, por el may 
 distinguido Sefior Delegado del Uruguay 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 171 
 
 a point oif national lienor, but I hold that 
 no obstacles should be placed in the way 
 of the Conference (because trammels and 
 threats are contrary to the honor of our 
 nations and also to the dignity of their 
 representatives), but principally because, 
 as I have proved, we are not autliorized 
 to establish limitations which have not 
 entered into the basis of the convocation, 
 nor are contained in the instructions 
 which we have to obey. 
 
 The report of the committee having 
 beenput to the vote, it was sustained by 
 ten to four votes. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Nica- 
 ragua, Colombia, Argentine, Honduras, 
 Mexico, United States, Venezuela, Chili, 
 Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Those voting negatively were : Peru, 
 Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia. 
 
 In view of the advanced hour and the 
 motion made by Mr. Studkbakbe, a Del- 
 egate from the United States, to adjourn, 
 the session was closed at 5.50 p. m. 
 
 P. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 
 HoK,vTio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 Alberto Nin, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 
 Jos:6 M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 EoQUB Saenz PeS a, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 3oe& S. Deooud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valentb, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Eomero, 
 
 EnKIQUB a. MEXfA, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 
 el pnnto de honra nacional, que yo la 
 fundo en que no se ponga trabas & la 
 Conferencia (porque cohlbicidn y t6r- 
 minos conminatorios son coutrarios & esa 
 misma honra de nuestras naciones, y atan 
 & la (lignidad de sua Eepresentantes) sino, 
 y principalmente, porque, como creo haber 
 probado, no estamos antorizados para 
 establecer limitaciones que no ban en- 
 trado ni en las bases de la convocatoria 
 ni en las iustrucciones que tenemos que 
 obedecer. 
 
 Puesto & votaci6n el dictd^men de la 
 Comisifin fu6 aprobado por un voto de 
 diez contra cuatro. 
 
 Votaron afiruiativamente : Nicaragua, 
 Colombia, Argentina, Honduras, Mexico, 
 Estados Unidos, Venezuela, Chile, Salva- 
 dor, y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron negativamente : Perri, Uru- 
 guay, Paraguay, y Bolivia. 
 
 En vista de Jo avanzado de la hora y 
 previa proposici6n del Sefior Studebaker, 
 delegado por los Estados Unidos, se 
 8uspendi6 la sesi6n ^ las 5 y 50 minutos 
 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zj^garra, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidente. 
 HORACIO GuzmjCn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernaxdo Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Alberto Nln, 
 
 Uruguay. 
 Jos]5) M. Hurtado, 
 Ci-RLOS Martinez Silva, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 EoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Josii: S. Dkcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. 6. DO Amaj{al Valentb, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 
 MATfAS EOMERO, 
 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 
172 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 
 Urdted Stales. 
 JoslS Andrade, 
 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ Maria PlXcido CaamaSo. 
 
 Jieuador. 
 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estek, 
 John P. Hanson, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Mstados Vhidoa. 
 Jos:fi Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto ^astellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josii Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
TWENTY-NINTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 29. 
 
 Washington, February 10, 1890. 
 Tha International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.10 p. ni. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Zb- 
 GARRA, a Delegate from Peru, with the fol- 
 lowing Delegates present: 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 Mr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Job6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Roqne Saenz Fefia. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Job6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valeute. 
 Honduras : . 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studcbaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Tresoot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles K. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 
 Sesi6n del 10 de Febrero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, pri- 
 mer Vicepresidonte, estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perd.: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Uruguay : 
 
 El Sr. Alberto Nin. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Roque Saenz Pena ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay": 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ S. Decoud. 
 Brazil: 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El S. Clement Studebalser; 
 
 El Sr, T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hauson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela: 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 
 173 
 
174 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jos(5 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto CaBtellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria PlSoido CaamaQo. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The following report of the Committee 
 on Customs Regulations, on the motion 
 made by Mr. Romero, in reference to the 
 adoption of a common schedule between 
 the American nations for the classification 
 of all merchandise, was read and ordered 
 printed and distributed. 
 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. PUoido Caaraafio. 
 
 Se abri(5 la sesidii (i las 3 y 10 minutes 
 p. m. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firm6 el acta de la 
 sesion anterior. 
 
 Se presentd el sigiiiente dictamen de la 
 Comisi6n de Reglamento aceroa de la 
 proposici6n del Sefior Romero referente & 
 la adopcidn por las naciones de America 
 de una nomenolatnra comtin para la cla- 
 sificacidn de las mercanclas. Se dispuso 
 que se imprimiese y repartiese. 
 
 ' ' ReBolved, That the proper committee 
 of this Conference be requested to exam- 
 ine and report about the convenience and 
 practicability of adopting a common 
 schedule of foreign goods to be used by 
 the several nations represented in this 
 Conference for the purpose of collecting 
 import duties, making invoices, bills of 
 lading, etc., each country having the ex- 
 cliisive right to fix the amount of duties to 
 be lovied on each article, but the schedule 
 of the articles to be common to all. 
 
 "M. ROMEEO. 
 
 " Washington, January 2, 1890." 
 
 pkoposici6n. 
 
 ' 'Se resuelve, Que se suplica A la comisifiu 
 6, que corresponda de esta Conferencia, 
 que examine y presente dictamen sobre la 
 conveniencia y praoticabilidad de adoptar 
 una lista comfin de mercanclas extrange- 
 ras, que se use en las diferentes naciones 
 representadas en esta Conferencia, para 
 el efeoto de cobrar los derechos de im- 
 portaciou y forraar manifiestos, facturas 
 consulares, etc. , etc., tenlendo cada naci6n 
 el derecho de fijar el monto de los dere- 
 chos que cobre sobre cada art£culo y de- 
 biendo ser la lista comun ^ todas. 
 " M. Romero, 
 ' 'Delegado por Mexico. 
 
 " Washington, Enero 2 de 1890." 
 
 " REPORT. 
 
 ''The Committee on Customs Regula- 
 tions has considered the resolution pre- 
 sented by Mr. Romero, Delegate from 
 Mexico, with a view to tho adoption by 
 the nations represented at this Confer- 
 ence, of a common nomenclature which 
 shall designate in equivalent terms in 
 English, Spanish, and Portuguese, the 
 commedities on which import duties are 
 levied, and also to serve as a basis for 
 forms of shipping manifest, consular in- 
 voices, entries, clearance petitions, and 
 other customs documents, without re- 
 stricting thereby the right of each nation 
 to maintain the duties levied at present 
 or to amend them in any way which may 
 be most convenient to their respective in- 
 terests. 
 
 " La Comisidn d J Reglamentos de Ada a- 
 nas ha examiuado la proposicidn presen- 
 tada por el Senor Romero, delegado de 
 Mexico, con objeto de que las naciones 
 represetandas en esta Conferencia adopten 
 uua uomenclatura comun para el cobro de 
 los derechos de importaci6n sobre mer- 
 anclas extrangeras que sirva de base & la 
 vez para la formaci<5n de manifiestos de 
 buques, facturas consulares, pedimentos 
 de despaoho etc. , etc., sin que esto restrinja 
 el derecho de cada una para conservarlas 
 ouotas que actualmente cobran y para 
 cambiarlas en los t^rminos que oonvenga i 
 BUS respeotivos in tereses. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 175 
 
 " The committee favors this resolution 
 in the belief that one of the objects which 
 the calling of this Conference has in view 
 is the equalization of the customs laws 
 and regulations of the American nations, 
 in order that simplification may facilitate 
 the mercantile operations between them 
 and promote the development of their re- 
 ciprocal trade. The committee will form- 
 ulate the nomenclature contemplated in 
 said resolution, if the occupations of the 
 members thereof allow it and if they are 
 able to obtain the necessary data and ex- 
 pert help tlierefor, and if unable to do 
 this, will recommend to the Conference 
 the manner in which, in its opinion, this 
 labor can best be performed. 
 
 " The committee is considering all the 
 Important and complex matters which 
 the Conference has intrusted to it, and as 
 soon as its labors are finished it will sub- 
 mit them to the enlightened decision of 
 the Conference. 
 
 " While such results will be presented 
 later, the committee now submits to the 
 Conference the following resolution : 
 
 "J?esor»e(?, That the International Amer- 
 ican Conference recommends to the Gov- 
 ernments represented therein the adop- 
 tion of a common nomenclature which 
 shall designate in equivalent terms in 
 English, Portuguese, and Spanish, the 
 commodities on which import duties are 
 levied, to be used respectively by all the 
 American nations for the purpose of levy- 
 ing customs imposts which are or may 
 hereafter be established, and also to be 
 used in shipping manifests, consular in- 
 voices, entries, clearance petitions, and 
 other customs documents; but not to 
 affect in any manner the right of each na- 
 tion to levy the import duties now in 
 force, or which may hereafter be estab- 
 lished. 
 
 "Washington, February 10, 1890. 
 
 "J. Alfonso. 
 "M. Romero. 
 "Salvadoudk Mbndonca. 
 "Climaco Caldek6n. 
 " H. G. Davis, 
 " Chas. R. Flint." 
 
 "La Comisi6n encuentra aoeptable esta 
 proposioi6n pues oree que uuo de los ob- 
 jetos principales que se ban tenido ^ la 
 mira al convocar S. edta Conferencia, ha 
 side el de uniformar las leyes y reglamen- 
 tos aduanales de las-naciones americanas 
 S, fin de que su simplificaoi6n facilite las 
 operaciones mercantiles entre cllas y pro- 
 mueva, por lo mismo, el desarroUo de su 
 oomercio reclproco. Si las ocupaciones 
 de los miembros de la Comisi6n lo per- 
 mitieren, y pudiere disponer de los datos 
 y brazos auxiliares necesarios, procurar^ 
 formar la nomenclatura que se contempla 
 en aquella proposicidn; y si no pudiere 
 hacerlo, recomendard) & la Conferencia la 
 manera en que, & juicio de la Comisi6n, 
 deber^ desempeuarse ese trabajo. 
 
 "No es este el linioo asunto de que se ha 
 ocupado la Comisi6n. Estudia con em- 
 peSo todos los demiis que la Conferencia 
 le ha confiado, que son importantes y de 
 oariJcter complexo, y tan luego como logre 
 terminar sus trabajos los someter^ & la 
 ilustrada deoisidn de la Conferencia. 
 
 "Areserva, pues, de preeentar m^sade- 
 lante ese trabajo, si este fuere posible, la 
 Comisidn somete S, la Conferencia la 
 siguiente proposicion ; 
 
 " ' La Conferencia Intern acional Ameri- 
 cana recomienda ^ los Gobiernos represeu- 
 tados en <Slla que adopten una noraeucla- 
 turacomlin de mercanciasextrangerasque 
 86 importen en ellas, la oual debeiii usarse 
 por todas las uaciones americanas, para 
 el efecto de cobrar derechos de importa- 
 ci6n que cada una haya establecido 6 
 estableciere miis adelante y para hacer 
 los manifiestos de buques, facturas con- 
 sulares, pedimentos de despacho, etc., 
 debiendo imprimirse en espanol, portu- 
 gu^s 6 inglfe. Esta nomenclatura no 
 afectar^ennadaeldereoho de cadanacifin 
 para cobrar las cuotas de importaci6n 
 que ahora cobre 6 tenga S, bien fijar mits 
 adelante, ni para alterarlas siempre que 
 lo orea conveniente S, sus intereses.' 
 "Washington, Febrero 10 de 1890. 
 
 " J. Alfonso, 
 
 "M. Romero, 
 
 "Salvador de MsNOONgA, 
 
 " ClImaco Calder6n, 
 
 "H. G. Davis, 
 
 "Chas. R. Flint." 
 
176 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The following report of the Committee 
 on Rules, on Mr. Estee's motion, was 
 read and ordered printed and distributed: 
 
 "MOTION. 
 
 "Retolved, That on and after the pres- 
 entation of any report or reports of any 
 one or more of the committees of this 
 Conference, duly printed, and which 
 shall he duly and regularly reached in 
 our daily calendar according to the rules 
 of this Conference, there shall be daily 
 meetings of the Conference (Sundays ex- 
 cepted) for the consideration thereof, and 
 these daily meetings shall continue until 
 said report or reports shall have been 
 disposed of. 
 
 " Morris M. Estee. 
 
 " Washington, January 31, 1890. 
 
 Se present6 y ley<5 el siguiente dicta- 
 men de la Comisidn de Reglamento acerca 
 de la proposicidu del SeBor Estee, y se 
 dispuso se imprimiese y repartiese: 
 
 " propo.sici6n. 
 
 " Se resuelvBj Que desde el memento en 
 que alguuo de los informes de las Comi- 
 siones de esta Conferenciaest^endisposi- 
 ci6n de discutirse, por haber side impreso 
 y distribuido, y haberse lleuado los re- 
 quisitos del Reglamento, se celebrar^n 
 eesiones diarias de la Conferencia, con ex- 
 cepci<5n de los Domingos, hasta que se 
 determine deflnitivamente sobre el asunto 
 Sj que dicbo informe se refiere. 
 
 "Morris M. Estee. 
 "Washington, JSnero 31 de 1890." 
 
 "The Committee on Rules has exam- 
 ined the resolution presented by Mr. Mor- 
 ris M. Estee, a Delegate from the United 
 States, to the effect that as soon as 
 several of the reports of the committees 
 are ready for discussion, the Couference 
 shall hold daily sessions (Sunday ex- 
 cepted) until the subjects of which the 
 reports treat be finally disposed of; aud 
 believing that the adoption of this sug- 
 gestion would facilitate aud expedite 
 the work of the Couference, the present 
 report approves the suggefftiou. 
 "Washington, February 10, 1890. 
 
 "J. Alfonso. 
 
 "M. Romero. 
 
 "Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
 " J. G. DO Amaral Valentb. 
 
 " William Henry Trescot." 
 
 Mr. NiN read the following speech, bid- 
 ding farewell to his colleagues : 
 
 Mr. Chairman, I had the honor of 
 stating in the session of the 7th instant 
 that I would have to leave for Loudon 
 on the 19th, unless the Conference en- 
 abled me to change my mind, by making 
 a declaration concerning a date for the 
 closure or recess of this body, aa solicited 
 by the Delegate from Uruguay. 
 
 "La Comisifin de Reglamento ha exa- 
 mlnado la proposicidn presentada por el 
 Hon. delegado de los flstados Uuidos de 
 Norte America, Senor Morris M. Estee, 
 para que desde el momento en qne alguno 
 de los informes de las Comisi6nes est^ 
 en disposicifiu de discutirse, se celebren 
 sesiones diarias de la Conferencia, con 
 excepcidn de los domingos, hasta que se 
 determine deflnitivamente sobre el asunto 
 & qne los informes se refieran, y creyendo 
 que la adopcidn de este proyecto ha de 
 facilitar y hacer m&s expedites los traba- 
 jos de la Conferencia es de dictamen que 
 se preste su aprobacidn. 
 
 "Washington, 10 de Febrero de 1890. 
 
 "J. Aleonso. 
 
 "M. Romero. 
 
 "Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
 "J. G. DO Amaral Valbnte. 
 
 "Wm. Henry Trescot." 
 
 El Sefior NiN, delegado por Uruguay, le- 
 y(5 el siguiente discurso, despidi6ndose de 
 BUS honorables colegas: 
 
 "Senor Presidente: Como lo anuncifi en 
 la sesidn del 7 del corriente, tenia quean- 
 seularme para Ldndres el dia 19 y lo 
 harlaasisilaConferenciaaomehabilitaba 
 S, cambiar de resoluoi6n por medio de un 
 pronuncianiiento respecto del dia de clau- 
 sura 6 receso y cuya fijacidn pidi6 el dele- 
 gado del Uruguay. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 177 
 
 Ere leaving, probably never to return, 
 either because the programme of the Con- 
 ference be completed, or because a recess 
 is decided upon before my return is pos- 
 sible, or again because my Government 
 considers the presence of its Delegate un- 
 necessary ; ere leaving, I repeat, I beg 
 leave on this occasion to bid my honora- 
 ble colleagues farewell, and to place my 
 services at their disposal, either in my of- 
 ficial capacity in Great Britain or in Uru- 
 guay, and I may be permitted to add I 
 shall carry with me the most pleasant 
 recollections of their kindness and cour- 
 tesy. 
 
 And, I also request, that in the act cor- 
 responding to this session, there appear 
 that the nation I have the honor to rep- 
 resent always looked with the deepest 
 sympathy on everything tending to bind 
 more closely the political, social, and 
 conventional ties that, I am happy to 
 say, unite the countries of the continent 
 of Columbus, and would always make it 
 a duty to contribute to the furtherance 
 of such exalted aims. 
 
 Still warm, and I hope imperishable, is 
 the memory of the embrace extendadby 
 Uruguay to its sister countries of the 
 South when, at its bidding, they met in 
 a Congress at Montevideo, from which 
 resulted, as I have already had occasion 
 to state (when speaking in hospitable 
 and great Chicago) a complete code of 
 international law which, were it in force 
 all over America, would be productive of 
 peace, concord, and progress. 
 
 This isolated antecedent would, in it- 
 self, be sufSciently eloc[uent to show with 
 how much interest Uruguay accepted the 
 invitation of the illustrious Government 
 of the United States. It sent a Delegate 
 to this Conference ; but, as unfortunately, 
 from the present state of its labors, it 
 is, as yet, not possible to see what may 
 be achieved towards the realization of 
 the high purposes with which all the 
 American nations have assembled hero; 
 Uruguay deems it advisable to establish, 
 if only in general terms, and with but 
 poor eloquence, the views its Delegate 
 takes of the different points of the pro- 
 gramme. 
 
 12 10 
 
 "Antes de partir, probablemente para 
 no volver mds, ya porque la Conferencia 
 hayaooucluido sus tareas 6 entre en receso 
 ^ntes de que sea posible mi regreso, 6 
 porque mi Gobierno entienda que se ha 
 tornado innecesaria la presenoia de su 
 delegado, s(Sarae perniitido despedirme en 
 esta sesidn de mis honorables colegas y 
 ofrec^rmeles personalmente, en mi destino 
 en la Gran Bretana 6 en el Uruguay, 
 Uovando como Uevo, grato y vivo el re- 
 cuerdo de sus bondades y atenciones. 
 
 "Tambi(5n permltaseme que solicite 
 quede constancia en el acta de esta sesidn 
 que la nacidn que me cabe la honr.i de 
 representar, mii6 siempre con profundas 
 simpatlas todo hecho que tendiera S, es- 
 treohar mils los vinculos poll^icos, sooia- 
 les y coraerciales que felizmente existen 
 entre los pueblos del continente de Coldn, 
 y que se haria siempre un honor y un de- 
 hor en prestar solicito y sincere concurso 
 & todo lo que condujere S, tan altos fines. 
 
 "Atin estd latente, y hago votes porque 
 sea imperecedero, el fraternal abrazo que 
 el Uruguay di6 S, sus hermauos del Sud 
 cuando los reuni6 en un Congreso en 
 Montevideo, de cuya labor como ya tuve 
 ocasidn de expresarlo en la hospitalaria y 
 grande Chicago, resultd un cddigo com- 
 plete de Derecho Internacional que, ri- 
 giendo sobre toda America, estaria 11a- 
 mado & producir grandes frutos de paz, 
 Concordia y progreso. 
 
 " Este antecedente porsi a6\o seria bas- 
 tante elocuente para demostrar con cuanto 
 interns el Uruguay aceptd la invitacidn 
 del ilustrado Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos y ocnrrid S, hacerse representar en 
 esta Conferencia ; pero ya que su dele- 
 gado, repito, desgraoiadamente tiene que 
 ausentarse sin que le sea dado preveer 
 nada sobre su regreso y el estado de los 
 trabajos no ha dejado ver hasta abora, 
 de una manera expKcita, lo que pudiera 
 hacerse en obsequio S, la satisfaccidn de 
 los grandes propdsitos que tienen aqul 
 congregadas ^ todas las naciones de 
 America, considera oportuno dejar con- 
 signado, siquiera sea & grandes rasgos y 
 con mezquina elocuencia, cual es el cri- 
 terio con que el delegado del Uruguay 
 
178 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Without following the items in their 
 order, for brerity's sake, I shall limit 
 myself to say that it is a recognized 
 axiom that the first conditions to enable 
 countries to cultivate relations, are easy 
 means of communication and transporta- 
 tion; thus Uruguay, which owes a great 
 deal of its prosperity to the almost per- 
 fect communication which unites it with 
 the countries of the estuary of "the 
 Plate, " Republic of Brazil, and the prin- 
 cipal European centers, assigns great im- 
 portance to the establishment of inter- 
 American means of communication. Its 
 Delegate has stated before the respective 
 committees that he was convinced that 
 the greatest facilities would be given to 
 any company formed with such intent, 
 and probably provision would be made to 
 grant subsidies and privileges not at 
 present conceded by the laws ot his coun- 
 try, and on a basis of reciprocity and 
 proportion. 
 
 As regards uniformity in sanitary leg- 
 islation, the Delegate from Uruguay, as 
 a member of the honorable committee r,o 
 which the study of so important a sub- 
 ject was submitted, has agreed with the 
 views of his learned colleagues ; and the 
 project which is to be presented to the 
 Conference, is, at the present moment, in 
 the translators' and printers' hands. In 
 this report the honorable Conference is 
 desired to advise the Governments of the 
 countries therein represented to adhere 
 to the sanitary convention of Rio Janeiro 
 of 1887, or to adopt the project of the 
 Congress held in Lima in 1889, which 
 project is a thoughtful and conscientious 
 revision and ratification of the previous 
 one. Either of the protocols may be 
 considered as the most perfect, and of 
 the most universal practicability com- 
 piled up to the present. 
 
 A zollverein necessarily requires as 
 basis intimate relations and commercial 
 ties between all the countries which de- 
 sire to be therein included, and we must 
 admit that this is not the case, even among 
 the n ations represented in this Conference- 
 
 While the commerce of America is in- 
 
 aprecia los temas del programade convo- 
 catoria. 
 
 " Sin preocuparme del drden de exposi- 
 ci(5u, en el interns de ser breve, mani- 
 festar6 que siendo axiom^tico que la pri- 
 mera condici6n para que los pueblos cul- 
 tiven relaciones, es la de que puedau dis- 
 poner medios fsiciles de comunicacidn y 
 transporte, debiendo el Uruguay mucha 
 parte de su prosperidad S, los casi perfectos 
 que la ligan con los pueblos del Estuario 
 del Plata, Repiiblica del Brasil y prin- 
 cipales centres de Europa, asigna su 
 Gobierno alta ^portancia al estableci- 
 mientodeviasdecomunicaoi6ninter-ame- 
 ricana, y su delegado ha hecho presente en 
 el seno de las honorables comisiones res- 
 pectivas, que abrigaba la fntima convic- 
 ci6n de que proporcionarfan las mayores 
 facilidades & toda empresa que se formara 
 con aquel inteuto, Uegaudo hasta prever el 
 caso de que fuere necesario acordar favores 
 especiales no concedidos por las actuales 
 leyes de su pais, y sobre la base de la m^ 
 perfeota reciprocidad y proporcionalidad. 
 
 " Por lo que respecta i, la uniformidad de 
 Xicgislacida Sanitaria, el delegado del 
 Uruguay, como miembro de la honorable 
 Comisi6n especial & quien se cometi6 el 
 estudio de tan importante tema, ha lo- 
 grado el mils completo acuerdo entre sus 
 colegas, y en via de traducoi6n 6 impre- 
 sidu est^ ya el informe y el proyecto por 
 el cual se dictamina que la honorable 
 Conferencia aconseje i, los Gobiernos que 
 ella represeuta, su adhesifin & la conveu- 
 ci6n de Rio Janeiro del afio 1887, 6 que 
 se A6 tal cariicter al proyecto del Congreso 
 de Lima del '89, que puede decirse, que es 
 una meditada y concienzuda revision y 
 ratificacidn del primero; pudiendo cual 
 quiera de esos onerpos de disposiciones 
 ser considerado como el cddigo va&a aca- 
 bado y de mjis universal aplicacidu que se 
 haya redact'ado ha.sta ahora sobre Policia 
 Sanitaria. 
 
 "Un Zollverein requiere necesaria- 
 raente, por base la existenoia real de estre- 
 chas relaciones 'y vinculos comeroiales 
 entre todos los pueblos que en 6\ se desea 
 comprender, y precise es reconocer y confe- 
 sar que ese hecho no se ha producido afin 
 entre las naciones tan dignamente repre- 
 sentadas en esta Conferencia. 
 
 "Mientras que el comercio de America 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 179 
 
 timately bound with Europe, that exist- 
 ing among the American nations in gen- 
 eral is limited to certain regions, being, 
 80 to say, local and partial. 
 
 To form part of an American zollverein, 
 Uruguay would necessarily have to trans- 
 fer her commerce completely and cancel 
 her commercial treaties with the European 
 powers. The difficulty such an undertak- 
 ing would present would be unsurmount- 
 able, and is therefore beyond the reach of 
 the best of wishes and best of laws. 
 
 Such extreme and premature measures 
 are fortunately not indispensable for the 
 furtherance of interchange among the 
 European nations ; and if it be not pos- 
 sible for my country to enter into a general 
 customs union, it is disposed, and will al- 
 ways be so, to sign any special treaties 
 that may embrace the mutual interests 
 and conveniences of the friendly nations. 
 
 If not the same difficulties that the said 
 Zollverein presents for its adoption by 
 Uruguay, some others, though transitory, 
 would arise and prevent its immediate 
 concurrence to a monetary union, other 
 than one based on mono-metallism, with 
 gold as standard and silver as auxiliary, 
 for small changes, etc. 
 
 Uruguay also considers such a, mone- 
 tary union of great importance for the 
 commercial relations of the American na- 
 tions, which relations will, no doubt, in- 
 crease as a result and effect of the deliber- 
 ations of this Conference, for the conclu- 
 sions of which Uruguay would have to 
 wait before exerting its authority and 
 binding herself to them. 
 
 The Delegate from Uruguay also must 
 express the same views in reference to 
 banking facilities and customs, consular 
 and port regulations, relating to maritime 
 commerce; for as yet the results of the 
 deliberations of the committees are not 
 known. I may say that the corresponding 
 regulations and laws in force in Uruguay 
 have been furnished to those committees. 
 
 estii Intimamente ligado d la Enropa, el 
 que las naciones Americanas mantienen 
 entre si es embrionario 6 regionario, por 
 decirlo asl, y por agrupaciones parciales. 
 " El Uruguay para formar parte de un 
 Zollverein americano, tendrJa necesaria- 
 mente, que traslocar por completo sn 
 comercio; denuuciar sustratados comer- 
 ciales con todas las naciones de Enropa, 
 y las dificnltades que semejante empresa 
 ofreceria, serfan, hoy por hoy, insupera- 
 bles, y estSu por consiguiente fuera del 
 alcanco del mejor deseo asl como de la 
 mejor de las leyes, cuyo objeto es inter- 
 pretar las naturales, liuicas que tienen la 
 virtud creadora. 
 
 "Felizmente para el fomeuto del inter' 
 cambio entre los pueblos de America, que 
 tambi^n anhela el Uruguay, no son indis- 
 pensables medidas tan extremas como 
 prematuras, y si no es posible que entre 
 en unauni6n aduanera general, dispuesto 
 estS, y estard; siempre, & laoelebracidn de 
 tratados especialcs que consulten mda 
 prdicticamente los bi6n entendidos inte- 
 reses y mrituas conveniencias de las na- 
 ciones amigas. 
 
 "Si no iguales dificnltades d las que 
 ofrece al Uruguay, el eunnciado Zollver- 
 ein, ofreceria algunas, aunque de car^cter 
 transitorio la aceptaoi6n inmediata de un 
 acuerdo sobre unificaoi6n mouetaria que 
 no tuviera por base el mono-metalismo 
 uon el oro, como medida de valor, y la 
 |)lata como auxiliar para los pequenos 
 Slides y carabios. 
 
 "El Uruguay considera tambi(5n esa 
 unidn raonetaria de grande importanoia 
 para las relaciones comerciales de las na- 
 ciones de America que, S, no dudarlo, 
 acrecer^n, aun mismo por efecto y como 
 resultado de las deliberaciones de esta 
 ilustrada Conferencia, y tendria que es- 
 perar & conocer las couclusioues S, que se 
 arribe para ejercitar el derecho de mani- 
 festar su adhesidu. 
 
 " Otro tanto debe decir la Delegacidn 
 del Uruguay respecto de las facilidades 
 Bancariaa, Reglamentos de Aduana, Con 
 sulares y de Puertos, en lo que se refiere 
 al comercio marltimo; porque todavia 
 no se conocen los resultados de los traba- 
 jos de las Comisiones. Puedo, si, dejar 
 consignado que £i eaas Comisiones se ban 
 proporcionado los reglamentos y leyes 
 
180 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 and venture to add that the tendency of 
 its fiscal and banking systems being to 
 facilitate commerce and develop credit 
 will, ■without clashing, compare with the 
 conclusions that would be arrived at, and 
 that have for an object the realization of 
 these elevated aims within a larger circle. 
 
 Concerning the items submitted to this 
 honorable Conference, and relating to 
 copyright, patents for invention, extra- 
 dition, and measures to prevent conflicts 
 in legislation or in general, as regards 
 private international law, this delegation 
 would always have to refer, and refers, to 
 the conclusions of the congress which was 
 initiated by the learned Urnguayan law- 
 yer, Dr. Gonzalo Ramirez (who prepared 
 all the items of the program me), and which 
 met at Montevideo in 1888-'89 under the 
 auspices of the Governments of the Ar- 
 gentine and Uruguaj'an Republics. This 
 body was composed of eminent and dis- 
 tinguished jurists and magistrates of 
 South America, two of whom are in our 
 midst. 
 
 The treaties signed in that congress, and 
 which, at the present day, are in force 
 over a large number of South American 
 nations, wonld, as much for their merit 
 as by their nature, constitute one of the 
 most efficacious and strongest ties of 
 union, fraternity, and progress that could 
 bind all the American nations, if those 
 countries which did not participate in the 
 congress would accept the same. To this 
 end I have been specially instructed by 
 my Government to invite the sister nations 
 with the most effusive cordiality. 
 
 Uruguay, without considering either 
 the weak or the strong in order that right 
 may prevail, and only in the interest of 
 justice, has accepted and accepts the 
 principles of arbitration as a means of 
 solving international conflicts in those 
 cases where diplomatic intervention may 
 have proved fruitless. Though it is true 
 that the praiseworthy efforts so far made 
 have not been considered satisfactory 
 by the nations who have made appeal 
 for peaceful solutions, yet a great deal 
 towards attaining this end has been ac- 
 
 relativas, en vigencia actualmente en el 
 Uruguay, y aventurar, adem^s, quesiendo 
 la tendencia de sub sistemas fiscal y ban- 
 cario, dar facilidades al comercio y al 
 desarrollo del cr^dito, segnro estoy que se 
 eucoutrariin sin chocarse con las con- 
 clusiones que se acuerden y que tienen 
 por objeto la realizaci6n de aquellos fines 
 dentro de un ciroulo de mayores propor- 
 oiones. 
 
 " En cuanto S, los temas relatives S, la 
 propiedad literaria, artistica i industrial, 
 extradiddn y reglaa para evitar los conflictos 
 de leijisladdn, 6 sea en general, en lo relati- 
 vo & los puntos de Derecho Internacional 
 privado sobre que est^ llamada & oou- 
 parse la hononorable Conferencia, esta 
 delegacidn tendrfa que referirse siempre 
 y se refiere, & los resultados del Congreso, 
 que, iniciado por el sabio juriscousulto 
 Uruguayo, Dr. Gonzalo Ramirez, quien 
 prepard todos los proyectos del programa, 
 se reunid en Montevideo en 1888-1889, 
 bajo los auspicios de los Gobiernos de la 
 Reptiblica Argentina y Uruguay, y en el 
 que colaboriron distinguidos legistas y 
 magistrados de la America del Sud, de los 
 caales esta Conferencia tiene el placer 
 de contar & dos en su seno. 
 
 " Ivos tratados acordadosen ese Congre- 
 so rigen hoy sobre una gran parte de las 
 naciones del Sud, y tanto por su miSrito 
 cuanto por su naturaleza, serian uno de 
 los m^ eficaces y fuertes lazos de nnidn 
 y base de frateruidad y de progreso entre 
 todas las naciones de America, si las que 
 no tomaron parte en suformaci<5n, quisie- 
 rau* tener i, bi^n aceptarlos, para lo oual 
 he recibido especial encargo de mi Go- 
 bierno de invitarlos con la ta&a efusiva 
 cordialidad. 
 
 "El Uruguay sin tener en cuenta la de- 
 bilidad ni la fuerza para hacer prevale- 
 cer el derecho, y por el solo interns de la 
 justicia, ha aceptado y acepta el principio 
 del arbitraje oorao medio de resolver los 
 conflictos internacionales en los pasos en 
 que la intervenoidn diplom^tica hubiera 
 resultado infructuosa. 
 
 " Si es cierto que los elevados esfuerzos 
 hechos hasta ahora no han llegado & en- 
 contrar una formula aceptable para todas 
 \aa naciones, que satisfaga esa apelacidn 
 & la concordiay & las soluciones paclflcas, 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 181 
 
 oomplished when Ihero is general cou- 
 currence as regards the few instances in 
 which this jnst means conld not prevail, 
 and which cases are reduced to those 
 where the independence, sovereignty, or 
 existence of a nation is menaced. 
 
 I have the most sanguine hopes that 
 the effort this Conference will make to 
 solve this point, if not crowned with the 
 absolnte success which the desideratum 
 demands, will at least have the merit of 
 having been made with the sincere de- 
 sire and protestation that those Ameri- 
 can nations which do not aspire to con- 
 quest or interference in the affairs of 
 sister countries, sovereign and indepen- 
 dent, will not resort to war witliout hav- 
 ing first exhausted all the conciliatory 
 means to insure international peace. 
 
 Before closing, Mr. Chairman, and 
 while thanking the honorable Conference 
 for its kindness iu listening tome, and 
 apologizing for the inconsiderate abuse 
 of its time, allow me to express once 
 more my most sincere wishes for the 
 prosperity of the nations here repre- 
 sented and for their worthy Delegates. 
 
 Mr. Saenz PbSa, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, made the following 
 statement : 
 
 That the speech in which the honor- 
 able Delegate, Mr. Nin, had taken leave 
 of the Conference placed him under the 
 necessity of making two corrections in it. 
 
 First, in relation to the initiative of the 
 South American Congress which the hon- 
 orable Delegate had attributed to his own 
 country, Mr. Saenz PeHa assured the Con- 
 ference that it had originated in both Gov- 
 ernments of the Plata, and that if it was 
 held in Montevideo it was by an act of 
 courtesy of the Argentine Government ; 
 he referred to official documents, such as 
 the protocols and the invitation addressed 
 to the United States by both Legislatures, 
 and he added that the honorable Dele- 
 gates could judge of them for themselves, 
 because they had them in their posses- 
 sion, printed and distributed by the Ar- 
 gentine Government, as the originator of 
 the project and the inviting Government. 
 
 mucho se ha adelantado cuando ya se 
 pronnncia el acuerdo general sobre los 
 pocos cases que no serian susceptibles 
 de solucionarse por aqueljusto medio, y 
 que se reducen .& los que afectan la indo- 
 pendencia soberana 6 existencia de una 
 nacr6n. 
 
 "Abrigo la Intima persuacidn de que el 
 esfuerzo que para hallar esa formula tooa 
 hacer S, esta honorable Conferencia serii, 
 si no coronado por el 6xito que llega S, al- 
 canzar un desideratum, tendr^ la virtud 
 de ser en el heoho, sellado con la mani- 
 festaci6n sincera y que ser^ fielmente 
 cumplida de que las naciones de Amdrica 
 que no aapiran S, la conqviista ni ii inter- 
 venir en los asuutos de pueblos hermanos 
 soberanos 6 independieutes, no llegariln 
 tampoco ii la gnerra, sin antes agotar 
 todos los raedios conciliatorios y que ase- 
 guren la paz internacional. 
 
 "Antes de concluir, Sefior Presidente, y 
 al agradecer & la honorable Conferencia 
 su benevolencia en dispensarme su aten- 
 ci6n, de la qne mucho temo haber abusado 
 inconsideradamente, permltaseme que 
 exprese una vez m^s mis votes mSa 
 sineeros por la felicidad del las naciones 
 aqul representadas, y sus dignos dele- 
 gados. 
 
 " He dicho." 
 
 El Senor Saenz PeSa, Delegado por la 
 Reptiblica Argentina, dijo: Que el dis- 
 curso con que el delegado Senor Nin, se 
 despedia de la Conferencia, lo colocaba 
 en el peuoso deberde hacerle dos rectifica- 
 ciones. 
 
 La primera se referia A la iniciativa del 
 Congreso' Sud-Americano, qne el hono- 
 rable Delegado Uruguayo habia atribuido 
 & su pais ; el Sefior Saenz Pena asegur(5 & la 
 Conferencia, que la iniciativa habia par- 
 tido de ambos Gobiernos del Plata, y 
 qne si el Congreso se celebrd en Monte- 
 video, fu6 por un acto de deferencia del 
 Gobierno Argentine; se apoy6 en docu- 
 mentos oficiales, como eran los protocolos, 
 y la invitaci6n misma dirigida £i los Esta- 
 dos por ambas Cancillerlas ; agregd que 
 los Seriores Delegados podian imponerse 
 de ellos, porque los tenian en su poder, 
 impresos y repartidos por el Gobierno 
 Argeutino, como iniciador 6 iuvitante. 
 
182 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 That as for the treaties which the hon- 
 orable Delegate also attributed to the 
 representative of Uruguay, Mr. Saenz 
 Pena said that that congress, in the same 
 manner as this Conference, had appointed 
 committees ad hoe, and that these had 
 transacted their business under their own 
 impulses and judgment. 
 
 Finally, Mr. Saenz PeSa begged to 
 have his protest against the assertions of 
 the previous speaker inserted in the 
 minutes for the satisfaction of the Argen- 
 tine Government and of the States which 
 had answered its invitation. 
 
 Mr. Hendeeson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, stated, in the name of his 
 delegation, that Mr. Nin's departure was 
 lamented by his colleagues, and con- 
 cluded by requesting that the honorable 
 Delegate's speech be inserted in the 
 minutes of the session. 
 
 Mr. HCETADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, in seconding Mr. Henderson's propo- 
 sition, in the name of his delegation, 
 joined in the sentiments expressed by the 
 honorable Delegate. 
 
 By unanimous agreement it was de- 
 cided that Mr. Nin's speech be included 
 in the minutes of the session, 
 
 Mr. Velaede, a Delegate from Bolivia, 
 and Chairman of the Committee on Rail- 
 way Communication, requested that Mr. 
 Guzman, a, Delegate from Nicaragua, be 
 named a member of said committee, in 
 order that all the nations taking part in 
 the Conference be represented therein. 
 
 This was unanimously approved. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Rules 
 concerning the motion made by Mr. Coo- 
 lidge, referring to the admis^on of jour- 
 nalists to the sessions, was opened for dis- 
 cussion. 
 
 Mr. COOLIDGB stated that as the com- 
 mittee had unanimously reported against 
 his proposal, which they had undoubtedly 
 carefully considered, he proposed that 
 their report be approved. 
 
 This was unanimously agreed to with 
 the exception of the delegation of Colom- 
 bia, which voted negatively, and stated 
 that it was their opinion that the sessions 
 should be public. 
 
 En cuanto ^ los Tratados que el hono- 
 rable delegado atribula tambi^nal repre- 
 sentante Uruguayo, dijo el Sefior Saenz 
 Pena: Que aquel Congreso como esta 
 Conferenoia, habfa uombrado comisiones 
 ad hoe, y que ^stas se habfan expedido, 
 bajo Bu propia inspiraoidn y oriterio. 
 
 Poster! ormente pidi6 el Sr. Dr. Saenz 
 Pena, que sn protesta contra los asertos 
 del preopinante, fuera consignada en el 
 acta, para satisfaccidn del Gobierno 
 Argentino, y de ^s Estados que concur- 
 rieron & su oita. 
 
 El Senor Hendebson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, manifesto & nonibre de 
 la delegaci6n que preside, que 6stalamen- 
 taba que el Sefior Nin tuviese que ausen- 
 tarse, y concluy6 pidiendo que el discurso 
 del honorable delegado por el Uruguay, 
 fuese incorporado integro en el acta de 
 la sesidn de hoy. 
 
 El Senor Huetado, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, al apoyar lo proposici6n del Senor 
 Henderson, se adhirid en nombre de su 
 delegacidn & lo manifestado por aquel 
 honorable delegado. 
 
 Por acuerdo un^nime se dispuso que 
 reinsertase Integro en el acta de hoy el dis- 
 curso del Sefior Nin. 
 
 El Sefior Velaede, delegado por Bo- 
 livia, y presidente de la Comisidn de 
 Ferrocarril, pidi6 que el Sefior Guzmd^n, 
 delegado por Nicaragua, fuese nombrado 
 miembro de dioha comisidn 4, fin de que 
 en ella estdn representadas todas las na- 
 ciones que formen parte de la Conferen- 
 cia. La proposici6n fad un^nimemente 
 aprobada. 
 
 Se puso S, discusidn el dictfimen de la 
 Comisi6n de Reglamento acerca de la 
 proposici<5u del Sefior Coolidge, referente 
 S, la admisidn de periodistas S, la sala de 
 sesiones de la Conferencla. 
 
 El Sefior Coolidge, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, manifestfi que toda vez 
 que la Comisi6n habla un^nimemente 
 dictamiuado en contra de su proposicibn, 
 la cualsin duda habia considerado con 
 toda madnrez, proponla fuese aprobado el 
 dictamen de la Comisi6n y asi se acordd, 
 yotando aiirmativamente todas las dele- 
 gacioues menos la de Colombia que vot6 
 negativamente, explicando que en su 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 183 
 
 There being uo further business before 
 the Conference, on the motion of Mr. 
 HuRTADO, a Delegate from Colombia, the 
 sessioa was closed at 4,15 p. m. 
 F. C. C. Zegarka, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Ckuz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOSlS M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Maktinkz Silva, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 RoQUB Saenz Pbna, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 JosiS S. Ukcoud, 
 
 Paragtiat/. 
 J. 6. DO Amaral Valknte, 
 Salvador dk Mendon9a 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zklaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matiab Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 .Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 3os^ Andrabe, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos:^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3os± Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 opinl6n los procedimientos de la Confe- 
 rencia deberian ser ptiblicos. 
 
 No habi^ndo otro aanuto que tratar, 
 previa propo8ici6u del Sefior Hubtaso, 
 delegado por Colombia, se snspendid la 
 sesidn & las 4 y 15 miuutos p. m. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidente. 
 
 HORACIO GcVZMAs, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 JosIJ M. Hurtado, 
 CXrlos Martin'ez Silva, 
 
 Colomhia. 
 RoQUE Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Jobi; S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valknte, 
 Salvador de MENooNgA, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enkique a. MexI a, 
 
 M&cico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Eslados Unidos. 
 JoslS Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ Maria PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
THIRTIETH DAY. 
 
 Washington, Felmarti 12, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.25 \}. m. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Ze- 
 GARRA, a Delegate from Peru, with the 
 following Delegates iiresent : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. CO. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pena. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonfa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A.MexIa. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan P. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jo8(5 Andrade. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. 3os6 Alfonso. 
 
 184 
 
 ACTA Wo. 30. 
 
 Sesiin del dia 12 de Febrero de 1890. 
 Presideucia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 Ijrimer vicepresideute, estandopresentes: 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Ur. Horacio Guzmiin. 
 Perfl : 
 
 El Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pelia ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Meudon^a. 
 Honduras : 
 
 ElSr. Jer6uimo Zelaya. 
 M(5xioo : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Komero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 185 
 
 Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Eonador : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Maria Pl^oido CaamaBo. 
 
 Tlie minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by tlie 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The secretaries read a, note from the 
 Secretary of the Navy thanking the Del- 
 egates for their resolution expressing 
 sympathy with him in his recent bereave- 
 ments. 
 
 The following project of declarations 
 presented by Mr. Andradb, a, Delegate 
 from Venezuela, was read and referred to 
 the Committee on International Law : 
 
 "1. No Government is responsible for 
 contraventions of the constitution or of 
 the laws committed by the agents of 
 public authority in the exercise of their 
 duties. Such agents or functionaries are 
 responsible before the law. 
 
 "2. No Government shall be liable to 
 claims for damages done any kind of 
 roperty, real or personal, taken, employ- 
 ed, destroyed, or inj ured, on land or over 
 sea, by its military forces in battle, or in 
 military operations during war, or with 
 the view of preventing such property fall- 
 ing into the hands of the enemy. 
 
 "3. Concerning the necessity of tak- 
 ing, occupying, or destroying property 
 subject to the laws of war, the only judge 
 is the chief of the military force who 
 orders its capture, occupation, or destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 "4. No Government is responsible for 
 the injuries or prejudices caused by rebels, 
 or for debts or obligations contracted 
 with the view of aiding the rebellion. 
 "Josi; Andrade. 
 
 " Washington, February 12, 1890." 
 
 The report of the Committee on Ruleson 
 the motion made by Mr. Hurtado con- 
 cerning the right of Delegates to modify 
 their opinions at any time before the clos- 
 ure of the Conference was submitted for 
 discussion. 
 
 Mr. HUKTADO requested that the dis- 
 cussion of this motion be postponed, and 
 this was unanimously agreed to. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecua'lor: 
 ElSr. Dr.Jo8(5M. PlJicidoCaamano. 
 Seabri(51asesi6n^las3y25minuto8p. m. 
 Se ley6, aprobd y firm6 el acta de la 
 sesi6n anterior. 
 
 Se ley6 nota del Sefior Secretario de 
 Marina acusando recibo de las resoln- 
 ciones de la Conferencia expresando su 
 sentimiento por las desgracias sobreveni- 
 das al Sefior Secretario. 
 
 Se ley6 el siguiente proyecto de deelara- 
 ciones presentado porel Senor Andkade, 
 delegado por Venezuela, y se uispuso 
 pasase 6, la Comisi6n de Derecho Inter- 
 nacional: 
 
 "1. Ningfin Gobierno es responsable de 
 las infracciones de la constitnci6n 6 de 
 las leyes cometidas por los agentes de la 
 autoridad ptiblica en el ejercicio de sus 
 funciones. Tales agentes 6 funcionarios 
 son responsables ante la ley. 
 
 "2. Ningrin Gobierno estSi obligado & 
 indemuizar por ninguna blase de propie- 
 dad, real 6 personal, tomada, empleada, 
 destruida 6 deteriorada en tierra 6 en el 
 mar por sus fnerzas inilitares en batalla, 
 6 en operaciones militares eu flagrante 
 guerra, 6 con el fin de impedir que la 
 propiodan caiga en manos del enemigo. 
 
 " 3. De la uecesidad de tomar, pcupar 
 6 destruir la propiedad sometida ^ las 
 leyes de la guerra, 861o es juez el gefe de 
 la faerza militar que ordena su captura, 
 ooupacidn 6 destrucoidn. 
 
 " 4. Ningtin Gobierno es responsable de 
 
 los dafios 6 perjuioios causados por re- 
 
 beldes, ni por deudas fi obligaciones con- 
 
 traidas con el fin de auxiliar la rebelion. 
 
 " 3o&& Andradb. 
 
 "Febrbro 12 de, 1890." 
 
 Se puso & discusitfn el diotamen de la 
 Comisidn aoerca de la proposicifin del 
 Senor Hurtado referente & que se reco- 
 nozca & las delegaciones el derecho de mo- 
 difioar sus conclusiones en cualquier tiem- 
 po antes de que la Conferencia suspenda 
 sus sesiones. 
 
 El Sefior Hurtado pidid, y asl se acor- 
 d<5 por unanimidad, que se pospusiese la 
 consideracidn del citado dict^men para 
 m^ adelante. 
 
186 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Rules 
 on the proposition of Mr. Huetado con- 
 cerning the formation of a Committee of 
 Revision was opened to discussion. 
 
 After a long discussion, in which Messrs. 
 Hurtado, Velarde, and Guzman took part, 
 arguing against the report of the com- 
 mittee, which Messrs. Alfonso, Castel- 
 lanos, Romero, and Tresoot supported, 
 the session was suspended at 5.45 p. m., 
 as there was hot a quorum, no decision 
 having been reached. 
 
 During the iiiscussion, Mr. MENDON9A, 
 a, Delegate from Brazil, stated that ho 
 found himself compelled to support Mr. 
 Hurtado's motion, because, as there were 
 neither Portuguese secretaries nor inter- 
 preters, it was necessary that one of the 
 members of his delegation should attend 
 to the translation of the documents iuto 
 Portuguese, and that on this account he 
 considered the naming of the committee 
 proposed by Mr. Hurtado, as advisable. 
 
 F. C. C. ZEGA.RRA, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Carlos Martinez Sii-va, 
 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Repuilic. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador db Mbndon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 T. Jeffkrson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLBT PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto CaStellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 Se pnso ^ discusidn el informe de la 
 Comisi(5n de Eeglamento acerca de la 
 proposicidn del Senor Hurtado respeoto 
 S, que se uombre una Comisi6n revisadora. 
 Despues de una larga discusi6n, en la 
 cual tomaron parte los Sefiores Hurtado, 
 Velarde y Guzman en contra del dictamen 
 adverse de la Comisi<5n ; y los SeBores 
 Alfonso, Castellanos, Romero y Trescot ^ 
 favor de 6], sin que se Uegara ^ un acuerdo 
 se suspendid la sesi6n S. las 5 y 45 minn- 
 tos p. m., por fa^a de quorum. 
 
 En el curso de la discusidn el Sefior 
 MENDON5A, delegado por el Brasil, mani- 
 festd que se vela en el caso de apoyar la 
 proposicifin del Senor Hurtado toda vez 
 que, no habiendo secretario ni Int^rpretes 
 Portugueses, era necesario que uno de los 
 miembros de su Delegacidn interviniese 
 siempre en la redaccidu de los documentos 
 en portugn6s. De ahl que creyese con- 
 veniente el nombramiento de la Comisidn 
 propuesta por el SeSlor Hurtado. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Ficepresidt'nte. 
 HORACIO GozmjCn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 EoQUE Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Braail. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MATf AS Romero, 
 Enrique A. MEXf a, 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 Estadoa Vnidos. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PbRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
THIRTY-FIRST DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 31. 
 
 Washington, February 14, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.15 p. ni. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Zk- 
 GARRA, a Delegate from Peru, with the 
 following Delegates present: 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pena. 
 Mr. Manuel Qiiiutana. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Yalente. 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juau F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 Mr. William Henry Tresoot, 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nioanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr, Jacinto Castellanos, 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Sesidn del 14 de Febrero de 1890. 
 Presidenoia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 primer vicepiesidente, estaudo presentes : 
 
 Nicar.agna : 
 
 EI. Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perti: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zi^sjarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cro?. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr Cfirlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz PnHa; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. T. Jeiferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Tresoot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Job6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Se abrid la sesidn ^ las 3 y 15 minutes 
 p. m. 
 
 Se ley(5, aprobd y firmd el acta de la se- 
 sidn anterior. 
 
 187 
 
188 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The discussion of the leport of the com- 
 mittee on Mr. Hurtado's motion for a 
 Committee of Revision was continued. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, made a r^sumfi of the argu- 
 ments which had been used pro and con- 
 tra the said report during the last session. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 continued to support the report of the 
 committee. 
 
 Mr. MENDON5A, a Delegate from Brazil, 
 presented the following amendment to 
 Mr. Hurtado's motion, which was re- 
 ferred to the Committee on Rules : 
 
 " In accordance with section fifth of the 
 act of Congress of May 24, 1888, the Com- 
 mittee of Revision shall be charged with 
 the preparation, in English, Spanish, and 
 Portuguese, of that part of the proceed- 
 ings of the Conference which itshall deter- 
 mine to publish. 
 
 " S. DB MENDON9A. 
 
 " Washington, Ftlrvary 14, 1890." 
 
 Mr. Velakde, a Delegate from Bolivia, 
 presented the following proposition, 
 ■which was also referred to the Committee 
 on Rules : 
 
 " That a, Committee of Revision be 
 named, composed or three members, to 
 revise and couch in correct language the 
 propositions which shall have been ap- 
 proved by the Conference, and to provide 
 for the concordance between the Spanish, 
 English, and Portuguese texts. 
 
 " J. F. Velakde. 
 
 "Washington, February 14, 1890." 
 
 There being no further business before 
 the Conference, Mr. QuintanAj a Dele- 
 gate from the Argentine Republic, moved 
 to adjourn, and it was so ordered, at 4.05 
 p. m. 
 
 James 6. Blaink, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua, 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Ckuz, 
 
 Guatemala, 
 
 Se oontinud la discnsidn dictamen de la 
 Comisitin de Reglamento acerca de la 
 proposicidn del Senor Hurtado referente S, 
 la Comisidu Revisadora. 
 
 El Sefior Martinez Silva, delegado 
 por Colombia, hizo un breve rcsumen de 
 I08 argiimentos que en pro y en contra 
 del citado dictamen se habian presentado 
 en la sesidn anterior. 
 
 El SeHor Alfonso, ilelegado por Chile, 
 siguid sosteniendo el dictamen de la 
 Comisidn. 
 
 El Senor MEKDONgA, delegado por el 
 Brasil, presents la siguiente enmienda & 
 la proposici6n del Sefior Hurtado, y se 
 dispuso pasase S, la Comisidu de Regla- 
 mento : 
 
 "De conformidad con la Seocidn 5° de 
 la ley del Congreso de Mayo 24 de 1888, 
 la Comisidn Revisadora tendrdi ^ su cargo 
 la preparaci6n en ingles, espanol y portn 
 gn6s de la parte de los procedimientos de 
 la Conferencia que 6sta disponga se hagan 
 piiblicos. 
 
 " Salvador db Mbndon5a. 
 
 "FEBREKOl4del890." 
 
 El Senor Velarde, delegado por Boli- 
 via, present6 la siguiente proposicidn, la 
 ciial se dispuso pasase d. la Comisi6n de 
 Reglamento : 
 
 " Se nombra una Comisidn de Redac- 
 ci6n compuesta de tres miembros para re- 
 visar y poner en correcto lenguaje las 
 proposiciones que fueren aprobadas por 
 la Conferencia y cuidar de la concordan- 
 cia entre lostextos espaHol, ingles y por- 
 tugci^s. 
 
 "J. F. Velarde. 
 
 "FBBRBR0I4 del890." 
 
 No habiendo otro asunto ante la Con- 
 feiencia, previa proposici6n del Senor 
 QuiNTANA, se levantd la sesi6n S, las 4 y 
 5 minutes p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 189 
 
 JOSlS M. HURTADO, 
 
 Olimaco Caldbr6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Jos^ S. Decocd, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. Q. DO Amaral Valentk, 
 Salvador de MENDOxgA, 
 
 Srazil. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan E. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOU BOLBT PbKAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 JosA Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josifi Maria PlIcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Jos^ M. HURTADO, 
 
 ClImaco Caldee6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Josii S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguai). 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de MEND0N9A. 
 
 Braail. 
 Mat! AS Romero, 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Eatadoa Unidos. 
 
 NlCANOR BOLBT PbRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josi: Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:6 MarIa PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
THIRTY-SECOND DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 32. 
 
 Washington, February 17, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3 p. m. by the Presi- 
 dent, Mr. Jambs G. Blaine, with the fol- 
 lowing Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz Pefia. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valeute. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F- Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Treseot. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nioanor Bolet Feraza. • 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Maria Pl^icido Caama&o. 
 190 
 
 Sesi6n del 17 de Febrero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del»Sr. James 6. Blaine. 
 Estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perri: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Crnz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos(5 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. CHmaco Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Roque Saenz Pena ; 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Job6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Mfeico: 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Treseot ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile. 
 
 El Sr. Josg AlfuASo. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Job6 M. Pl^cido Caamafio. 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 191 
 
 The minutes of the previous sesBion were 
 read, approved, and signed by the Dele- 
 gates present. 
 
 Mr. Zelaya, a Delegate from Honduras, 
 begged to be excused from attendance on 
 account of sickness. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Sani- 
 tary Regulations was read and distri- 
 buted in printeil form. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, a Delegate from Nicara- 
 gua, stated that only five signatures were 
 affixed to the report of the committee, 
 which consisted of seven members, as 
 Mr. Laforestrie was ill and Mr. Nin had 
 left. 
 
 Mr. Hurtado, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, presented the following, which was 
 referred to the Committee on Rules: 
 
 "The reports of committees on ques- 
 tions which the Conference has been con- 
 vened to take into consideration shall be 
 dealt with as provided by the rules, and 
 so submitted for discussion to the Con- 
 ference. 
 
 " The discussion will consist in the inter- 
 change of ideas between Delegates, hav- 
 ing in view the study and examination of 
 the advantages or disadvantages which 
 would follow the adoption of the meas- 
 ures advocated by the report from the 
 standpoint of the political, economic, and 
 social institutions of each nation repre- 
 sented in the Conference, and, further- 
 more, in pointing out such other provis- 
 ions touching the subject reported 
 upon as may be deemed of material ben- 
 efit to the peoples and Governments of 
 this continent. 
 
 "The discussion shall be continued as 
 long as there may be Delegates desiring 
 to be heard on the subject; after which 
 it shall be suspended. As soon thereafter 
 as convenient, each delegation shall pre- 
 sent, in writing, both in the English and 
 Spanish languages, its vote or opinion on 
 the conclusions of th^ report, wherein it 
 should appear whether the delegation ad- 
 heres to the report, in toto, or only in 
 
 Se abri6 la sesifin & las 3 de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6 el acta de la sesi6n anterior, y 
 fu6 aprobaba y flrmada por los seQores 
 presentes. 
 
 Se did cuonta & la Conferencia de que 
 el Sefior Zelaya, Delegado por Hondu- 
 ras, no "podia asistir & la sesi6n dehoy por 
 hallarae enfermo. 
 
 Se ley<5 el infornie de la Comisi6n de 
 reglamentos sanitarios, y se le distribny(5 
 impreso, entre los Sefiores Delegados. 
 
 Conclnida la lectura manifests el Senor 
 Dr. GuzmjIn, que aunque la Comisifin 
 iuformante consta de siete SeSores Dele- 
 gados, no firmaron el informe mfc que 
 cinco, porque los otros dos Sefiores, & 
 saber el Senor Nin, Delegado por Uruguay, 
 y el Senor Laforestrie, Delegado por Haiti, 
 se encuentran ausente el primero, y el se- 
 gundo enfermo 6 imposlbilitado de asistir 
 & las deliberaciones. 
 
 Acto seguido el Senor Jos]£ M. Hurtado 
 Delegado por Colombia, envid & la mesa 
 la siguiente proposicidn, que despues de 
 leida se pasd ^ informe de la Comisidn de 
 Reglamento : 
 
 " Los inforraes de Comisi6n sobre asun- 
 tos ^ara cuya consideracidn ha side con- 
 vocadala Conferencia, seguirfe la trami- 
 taci6n que dispone el Reglamento hasta 
 ser sometidos & discusidn. Esta consistird) 
 en el cambio de ideas entre los Delegados 
 con el tin de estudiar y examinar las ven- 
 tfijas, 6 losinconvenientes, quelaadopcidn 
 de las medidas que se propogan en el 
 informe pudieran presentar, atento los 
 intereses jioliticos, econdmicos y sociales 
 de cada iiacidn representada en la Con- 
 ferencia, y, adem^s, en senalar cuales- 
 quiera otras disposiciones referentes & la 
 sujeta materia del informe que se esti- 
 maren de oomtin utilidad para los pueblos 
 de este Continente. 
 
 "La discusidn continuar^ mientras 
 haya Delegados que hagan uso de la 
 palabra : despufe de la oual se suspender^. 
 En seguida, & la brevedad conveniente, 
 cada Delegaoidu presentar^, por escrito, 
 en castellano y en ingles, su voto 6 dict^- 
 men sobre las conclusiones del informe ; 
 donde deber^ expresarse si la Delegacidn 
 adhiere al informe de la Comisidn en su 
 totalidad, 6 solo parcialmente con modi- 
 
192 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 part, with or without modifications; or 
 whether it rejects the report and suhsti- 
 tutes other recommendations in lieu 
 thereof. 
 
 " These written votes or opinions shall 
 be handed over to the committee together 
 •with the antecedents in order that these 
 proceedings may be put into the shape of 
 a protocol including such extracts, or 
 data, from the minutes of the proceed- 
 ings of the Conference as the committee 
 shall deem proper to introduce. The pro- 
 tocol being formulated, it shall be read 
 in Conference, for its final approval, 
 which when obtained, the protocol shall 
 be signed by all the delegations. 
 
 "J. M. Hurt ADO, 
 " Delegate of Colombia. 
 "Washington, February 17, 1890." 
 
 The order of the day being exhausted, 
 ou the motion of Mr. Romero, a, Dele- 
 gate from Mexico, the Conference ad- 
 ourned at 3.20 p.m. 
 
 Jambs G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegakka, 
 
 Peru. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 
 Argentine Bepublio. 
 Josii S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador db Mbndon^a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Clement Studebakbr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 JoBfi Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josi!; Makia PljIcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 ficaciones, 6 sin ellas; 6 si rechaza las 
 concluaiones del informe y presenta otras 
 en an lugar. 
 
 "Dichos votos fi opiniones escritaa, se 
 pasar^n, con sus antecedentes, & la 
 Comisidn informante, S, fin de que estos 
 procediraientos se protocolicen, agregSn- 
 dose los extractos y dates tomados de las 
 actas que la Comisidn juzgue oportuno 
 incluir en el protocolo. Formalizado el 
 protocolo, se leevS, en Conferencia para su 
 final apiobaci<5n, obteuida la cual se fir- 
 mar^ por todas las Delegaoiones. 
 
 "J. M. Hurtado, 
 "Delegado por Colombia." 
 
 Agotada la orden del dia, el Selior 
 Romero, Delegado por M6xico, hizo 
 moci6n para que se levantase la sesifin ; 
 y asl se acordd. 
 
 Se levant6 la sesl6n & las 3 y 20 minutos 
 de la tarde. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Pent. 
 CXrlos Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Cai.der6n, 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUB Saenz Pena, 
 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Salvador de Mbndon§a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 MATfAS Romero, 
 Enriquj; a. MExfA. 
 
 Mexico. 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estadoa Unidos. 
 3os& Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3os& Maria Pl^cido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
THIRTY-THIRD DAY- 
 
 ACTA No. 33. 
 
 Washington, February 19, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.05 p.m., by tlie 
 president, Mr. James G. Blaine, -with the 
 following delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pena. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 S.Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 Mr. Henry G. Davie. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 Mr 3ob6 Maria Pl^cido Caamafio. 
 The minutes of the previous sessian 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 13 I 
 
 SeaiAn del 19 die Febrero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. Jambs G. Blaine, 
 estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaoio Gnzmdln. 
 Perfi: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz Pefia. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Joa6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mlxico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. John P. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Pldicido Caamafio. 
 Se abri6 la sesidn £i las tres y cinco 
 minutos de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6, aprobd, y firm6 el acta da la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 193 
 
194 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The Chair stated that the following 
 letter containing Mr. Piorra's resignation 
 of his office as Spanish Secretary of the 
 Conference had been received with great 
 regret : 
 
 Washington, February 14, 1890. 
 To the Honorable President of 
 
 The International American Confer- 
 ence : 
 Sir : For reasons which it is unnecessary 
 to state, as they are not unknown to the 
 honorable Delegates, I beg hereby to re- 
 sign my position as Secretary to tlie hon- 
 orable Conference. 
 
 With very profound acknowledgments 
 for the honor done me, 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 F. G. PlEERA. 
 
 Mr. Saenz PeIja, a delegate from the 
 Argentine, said that before passing to the 
 order of the day he wished to express 
 sincere regret at Mr. Pierra's resignation. 
 Mr. Pierra had rendered important serv- 
 ices to the Conference, and he considered 
 it right that they should be acknowl- 
 edged. He hoped that Mr. Pierra might 
 see fit to reconsider his resolution. 
 
 Mr. Zegakea, a delegate from Pern, 
 stated that the executive committee had 
 endeavored to alter Mr. Pierra's deter- 
 mination, but ineffectually, and re- 
 quested that as there was no possibility 
 of the resignation being withdrawn a 
 substitute be nominated without delay. 
 
 The Chair stated that as Dr. Rodriguez 
 had consented to act as Secretary, the 
 matter would be left in suspense for a day 
 or two, in order to give Mr. Pierra an op- 
 portunity to withdraw his resignation. 
 
 The following report of the Committee 
 ou Customs Regulations on Mr. Romero's 
 motion for a common nomenclature, was 
 read: 
 
 "The Committee on Customs Regula- 
 
 Manifestd el SeSor Presidentb que con 
 grande sentimiento debia anunciar que 
 habia recibido la siguieute carta del Senor 
 D. Fidel G. Pierra, uno de los Secretarios 
 de la Conferencia, haciendo dimisidn de 
 sn destino : 
 
 Washington, Febrero 14 de 1890. 
 Al Senor Presidente de la Conferencia Inter- 
 nacional Americana. 
 
 SeSor: Por motives que no es precise 
 viianifestar por no ser desconocidos & los 
 Honorables Delegados, tengo la pena de 
 hacer renunoia, como por la presente la 
 hago, del cargo de Secretario de la Hono- 
 rable Conferencia. 
 
 Con profundo agradecimiento por el 
 honor dispens^dome, me suscribo con toda 
 consideraoi(5n y respeto, 
 
 F. G. Pierra. 
 
 El Seflor Saenz PeSJa, Delegado por la 
 Repfiblica Argentina, dijo que antes de 
 pasar Si la orden del dia deseaba expresar 
 el sincere sentimiento que le cansaba la 
 dimisidu del Sefior Pierra. Los servicios 
 que este SeBor ha prestado S, la Confe- 
 rencia son importantes, y no es m^s que 
 . justicia reconocerlos. Es de esperarse, 
 dijo el Sr. Saenz Pefia, que el Senor Pierra 
 encuentre el medio deretirarsu dimisidn. 
 
 El Senor Zegarra, Delegado por el 
 Perri, manifest6quelaComisi6nEjecutiva 
 habia heoho esfuerzos para persuadir al 
 Senor Pierra ^ cambiar su determinacidn ; 
 y que como estos habian resultado inu- 
 tiles, y no habia posibilidad de que se 
 retirara la renuncia, era de parecer que 
 debia procederse sin demora Sj nombrar 
 su sucesor. 
 
 El Senor Pkesidbnte manifesto que el 
 Dr. Rodriguez habia consentido, & ruego 
 suyo, en funcionar como Secretario, y que 
 por lo tanto podia dejarse en suspenso 
 este asunto, por uno 6 dos dias, sin pre- 
 juicio para los trabajos de la Confersncia, 
 y suministrando asi una oportnnidad al 
 Sefior Pierra para volver ^ su destino, si 
 asi lo deseaba. 
 
 Se did cuenta en seguida con el dict^ 
 men de la Comisidn de Reglamentos de 
 Aduanas respecto & la proposioidn del 
 Sefior Romero, para el establecimiento de 
 una nomenclatura comtin de meroancias, 
 cuyo tenor es el siguiente : 
 
 "La Comisidu de Reglamentos de Adua- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 195 
 
 tions has considered the resolution pre- 
 sented by Mr. Romero, Delegate from 
 Mexico, with a view to the adoption by 
 the nations represented at this Conference 
 of a common nomenclature, which shall 
 designate in equivalent terms, in English, 
 Spanish, and Portuguese, the commodities 
 on which import duties are levied, and 
 also to serve as a basis for forms of ship- 
 ping manifest, consular invoices, entries, 
 clearance petitions, and other customs 
 documents, without restricting thereby 
 the right of each nation to maintain the 
 duties levied at present or to amend thera 
 in any way which may be most conven- 
 ient to their respective interests. 
 
 "The committee favors this resolution 
 in the belief that-one of the objects which 
 the calling of this Conference has in view 
 is the equalization of the customs laws 
 and regulations of the American nations, 
 in order that simplification may facilitate 
 the mercantile operations between them 
 and promote the development of their 
 reciprocal trade. The committee will 
 formulate the nomenclature contemplated 
 in said resolution, if the occupations of 
 the members thereof allow it, and if they 
 are able to obtain the necessary data and 
 expert help therefor, and if unable to do 
 this, will recommend to the Conference 
 the manner in which, in its opinion, this 
 labor can best be performed. 
 
 "The committee is considering all the 
 important and complex matters which 
 the Conference has intrusted to it, and 
 as soon as its labors are finished it will 
 snbmit them to the enlightened decision 
 of the Conference. 
 
 "While such results will be presented 
 later, the committee now submits to the 
 Conference the following resolution: 
 
 " Eesolved, That the International 
 American Conference recommends to the 
 governments represented therein the 
 adoption of a common nomenclature 
 which shall designate in equivalent 
 terms, in English, Portuguese, and 
 Spanish, the commodities on which im- 
 port duties are levied, to be used respect- 
 ively by all the American nations for the 
 
 nas ha examinado la proposicidn preseu- 
 tada por el SeBor Romero, Delegado por 
 Mexico, con objeto de que las naoiones 
 representadas en esta Conferencia adop- 
 ten una nomenciatura comiin para el cobro 
 de los dereohos de importacidn sobre mer- 
 caucias extrangeras que sirva de base & 
 la vez para la formacidn do biiques, fao- 
 turas consulares, pedimentos de despacho, 
 etc., sin que esto restrinja el derecho de 
 cada una para conaervar las cuotas que 
 actualmente cobran y jiara cambiarlas 
 en los tdrminos que convenga S bus rcs- 
 peotivos intereses. 
 
 " La Comisidn encuentra aceptable esta 
 proposicidn, pues cree que uno de los ob- 
 jetos prinoipales que se ban tenido ^ la 
 mira al oonvocar & esta Conferencia, ha 
 sido el de uniformar las leyes y regla- 
 mentos aduanales de las naciones ameri- 
 canas, & fin de que su simplificacidu fa- 
 cilite las operaciones mercantiles entre 
 ellas, y promueva, por lo mismo, el de- 
 sarrollo de su comercio reclprooo. Si las 
 ocupacioues de los miembros de la Comi- 
 sifiu lo permitieren y pudiere disponer 
 de los datos y hrazos auxiliares necesa- 
 rios, proourar^ formar la nomenclatura 
 que se contempla en aquella proposicidn, 
 y si no pudiere hacerlo, recomendarfC & 
 la Conferencia lamanera en que & juicio 
 de la Comisi6n deber^ deaempefiarse ese 
 trabajo. 
 
 "No es este elliniooasunto de queseha 
 ocupado la Comisidn. Estudia con empe- 
 Jlo todos los dem^ que la Conferencia le 
 ha confiado, que son importantes y de 
 car^cter complexo y tan luego como logre 
 terminar sus trabajos los someterii & la 
 ilustrada decisidn de la Conferencia. 
 
 "A reserva, pues de presentar mfis ade- 
 lante ese trabajo, si esto fuere posible, la 
 Comisidn somete ^ la Conferencia la si- 
 guiente proposicidn: 
 
 " ' La Conferencia Internaoional Ameri- 
 cana recoraienda & los Gobiernos repre- 
 sentados en ella que adopten una nomen- 
 clatura comtin de mercanclas extrangeras 
 que se importen en ellas, la cual deber^ 
 nsarse pot todas las naciones americanas, 
 para el efecto de cobrar dereohos de im- 
 portacidn que cada una haya establecido 
 6 estableciere m^s adelante, y para hacer 
 
196 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 purpose of levying customs imposts which 
 are or may hereafter be established, and 
 also to ho used in shipping manifests, 
 consular invoices, entries, clearance peti- 
 tions, and other customs documents; but 
 not to affect in any manner the right of 
 each nation to levy the import duties now 
 in force, or which may hereafter he estab- 
 lished. 
 
 " Washington, February 10, 1890. 
 
 "J. Alfonso. 
 
 "Charlks R. Flint. 
 
 "M. Romero. 
 
 "H. G. Davis. 
 
 " Salvador de MENDONgA. 
 
 "Climaco Caldbron." 
 
 Mr. Zegarra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 suggested the insertion of the words "in 
 alphabetical order" between the words 
 "designate" and "in equivalent terms" 
 in the text of the report of the commit- 
 tee, BO as to make it read as follows : 
 
 "That the International American 
 Conference recommends to the Govern- 
 ments represented therein the adoption 
 of a common nomenclature which shall 
 designiite in alphabetical order in equiva- 
 lent terms, in English, Portuguese, and 
 Spanish, the commodities," etc., etc. 
 
 Mr. Romero accepted Mr. Zegarra's 
 amendment, and requested a vote by del- 
 egation on the report. 
 
 Twelve votes were cast, resulting in 
 the unanimous adoption of the report in 
 the amended form. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were: Nic- 
 aragua, Peru, Colombia, Argentine, Para- 
 guay, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, United 
 States, Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 The following report of the Committee 
 on Rules on Mr. Estee's motion for daily 
 sessions was read : 
 
 "The Committee on Rules has exam- 
 ined the resolution presented by Mr. Mor- 
 ris M. Estee, a Delegate from the United 
 States, to the eflFeot that as soon as several 
 of the reports of the committees are ready 
 
 los manifiestos de bnques, fa<itura8 con- 
 Bulares, pedimentos de despacho, etc., de- 
 bi^ndo imprimirse en espaBol, portugu€s 
 6 ingI4s. Esta nomenclatura no afectar^ 
 en nada el derecho de cada naci(5n para 
 cobrar las cuotas de importacidn que ahora 
 cobre 6 tenga ^ bien fijar mds adelante, 
 ni para alterarlas siempre que lo crea con- 
 veniente A bus intereses.' 
 
 "Washington, Pebrero 10 de 1890. 
 
 "J. Alfonso, 
 
 "Chas. R. Flint, 
 
 "Mf Romero, 
 
 "Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 "CLfMACO Caldbr6n, 
 
 "H. G. Davis." 
 
 El SeTior Zega rka, Delegado por el Perfi, 
 hizo presente que en concepto suyo debia 
 modificarse este dictamen, Intercalando, 
 en el texto de la proposicidn que por 61se 
 reoomienda & la favorable consideracidn 
 de la Conferencia, las palabras necesarias 
 para que la frase entera se entienda como 
 sigue : "La Conferencia In ternaoional 
 Americana recomienda ^ los Gobiernos 
 representados en ella, que adopten una 
 nomenclatura comun, por la cual se 
 describan en orden alfabiStico, y en 
 t(5rminos equivalentes, en castellano, 
 portngues, 6 inglfis las mercauclas ex- 
 trangeras," etc., etc. 
 
 El Senor Romero, expuso queaceptaba 
 la modificaci<5n propuesta por el SeSor 
 Zegarra, y pidi6 que se procediese Sj votar 
 por Delegaciones, si se aoeptaba 6 no el 
 dictamen, tal como queda despu^s de modi- 
 ficado en el ordcu expnesto. 
 
 Asi se hizo ; y por el voto undnime de 
 las dooe Delegaciones presentes, S, saber : 
 Nicaragua, Perfi, Colombia, la Eepiiblic.a 
 Argentina, el Paraguay, Brasil, Hon- 
 duras, Mexico, Jos Estados Unidos, Chile, 
 Salvador, y Ecuador, qued6 aprobado el 
 dictamen con la enmienda antedicha. 
 
 Acto continuo procedid & leerse el dic- 
 tamen de la Comisidn de Reglamento so- 
 bre la proposici6n del Sefior Estee rela- 
 tiva & que se celebre sesi6n diaria, cuyo 
 dictamen estdi concebido en estos tdrminos : 
 
 ' ' La Comisidn de Reglamento ha exami- 
 nado la proposicidn presentada por el 
 Hon. Delegado de los Estados Unidos de 
 Norte America, Sr. Morris M. Estee, para 
 que dfesde el memento en que alguno de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 197 
 
 for discussion the Conference shall hold 
 daUy sessions (Sundays excepted), believ- 
 ing that the adoption of this suggestion 
 would facilitate and expedite the work 
 of the Conference, the present report ap- 
 proves the suggestion. 
 
 ".Washington, February 10, 1890. 
 
 "J. Alfonso. 
 
 "J. G. DO Amaral Valente. 
 
 "M. Romero. 
 
 "Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
 "William Henky Tkescot. 
 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo." 
 
 Mr. Saenz PbNa, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, opposed the adoption of the 
 report on the grouud that it would em- 
 barrass the meetings of the committees. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 and chairman of the Committee on Rules, 
 requested that the report be adopted, as 
 most of the work of the committees was 
 finished. 
 
 On the suggestion of the Chair it was 
 unanimously decided that the subject 
 should lie over until Monday next. 
 
 Mr. Decoud, a Delegate from Para- 
 guay, handed the Chair the report of the 
 Committee on Patents and Trade-marks, 
 which was ordered printed and distrib- 
 uted. 
 
 The order of the day being exhausted, 
 on the motion of Mr. Davis, a Delegate 
 from the United States, the session was 
 adjourned at 3.50 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 los informes de las comisiones est€ en dis- 
 posicidn de discutirse, se celebren sesiones 
 diarias de la Conferencia, con excepoidn 
 de los Domingos, hasta que se determine 
 definitivameute sobre el asunto ^ que los 
 informes se refieran: y creyendo que la 
 adopci6n de este proyecto ha de faciUtar 
 y hacer miis expeditos los trabajos de la 
 Conferencia, es de dictamen que se preste 
 su aprobacifiu. 
 " Washington, 10 de Febrero de 1890. 
 "J. Alfonso, 
 
 "J. S. DO Amaral Valente, 
 "M. Romero, 
 "Jacinto Castellanos, 
 "W. Henry Trkscot, 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo." 
 
 El Sefior Saenz PeSa, Delegado por la 
 Repiiblioa Argentina, se opuso S, que por 
 el memento se adopte el dictamen que 
 acaba de leerse, apoy^ndose en substan- 
 cia en que las sesiones diarias podrian 
 embarazar, m£is bien que facilitar, los 
 trabajos dela Conferencia, impidieudo la 
 reuuidn de las comisiones. 
 
 A esto contestd el Senor Alfonso, Dele- 
 gado por Chile, y Presidente de la Comi- 
 8i(5n luformante, manifestando que la ma- 
 yor parte del trabajo de las comisiones 
 estaba ya hecho, y por ello y por otras 
 razones, solicit6 de la Conferencia que 
 adoptase el dictamen tal como habia side 
 presentado. 
 
 El Senor Presidents sugiri6 que este 
 asunto podia quedar en suspense hasta el 
 Mnes proximo, 6 sea el dia 24 del cor- 
 riente mes ; y asl se acord6 por unanimi- 
 dad. 
 
 El Senor Decoud, Delegado por el Pa- 
 raguay, envi<5 S la Presidencia el dicta- 
 men de la Comisidn de Patentes y Marcas 
 de f^brica ; y se orden6 imprimirlo y dis- 
 tribuirlo. 
 
 Habi6nd08e agotado la orden del dia, el 
 Seiior Davis, Delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, hizo moci6n para que se levantase 
 la sesidn, lo que fu(5 acordado un^nime- 
 mente. 
 
 Se levantd la sesidn £i las 3 y 50 minu- 
 tes de la tarde. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 
 HORACIO GUZMiN, 
 
 Nicaragna. 
 
198 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 F. C. C. Zrgakra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Ckuz, 
 
 Cruatemala, 
 jos^ m. hurtado, 
 Climaco Caldbr6n, 
 
 Colomhia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine R^uhlio. 
 Josifi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentk, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MBxfA, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 Jos:]fi Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josifi Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosA Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Mcuador. 
 
 F. C. C. ZiSgarra, 
 Peril. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 JoslS M. Hurtado, 
 CifMACO Caldbh6n, 
 Colombia. 
 Roque Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Jos£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amoral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon^a. 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MATfAS Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 M^ico. 
 JUAN F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis 
 
 Estados Unidog. 
 Jos:^ Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jo8£ Alfonso, 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josifi Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 Ecuador. 
 
THIRTY FOURTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA Wo. 34. 
 
 Washington, February 21, 1890. 
 The International American Congress 
 was called to order at 3.05 p. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James G. Blaine, with 
 the following Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Joa6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Cllmaco CaMer6n. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz PeSa. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Qniutaua. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. doAmaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan P. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jeiferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos(5 Andrade. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. JosS Alfouso. 
 
 Seaidn del 21 de Feirero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine, 
 estando presentes : 
 
 Nivjaragna : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio GuzmSin. 
 Perti: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Z6garra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Clluiacft Calderdn. 
 Argentina: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pena ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quiutana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Aniaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonfa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jertfnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados XJnidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. Williao-, Henry Tiescot; 
 
 El .Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Joa6 Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Jo8(5 Alfonso. 
 
 199 
 
200 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Salvaitor : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cidoCaamaEo. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Velarde, a Delegate from Bolivia, 
 requested that it be recorded in the 
 minutes that the members of the Com- 
 mittee on General Welfare had not at- 
 tended the last session, as a meeting was 
 in progress. 
 
 Mr. Velarde handed the Chair the fol- 
 lowing note, inclosing the report of the 
 Committee on Railroad Communication, 
 which was ordered distributed : 
 
 Committee on Rallkoabs, 
 
 Washington, February 21, 1890. 
 To the President of the International Ameri- 
 can Conference ; 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to submit for the 
 consideration of the Conference, as the 
 result of the labors of the Committee on 
 Railroads, the inclosed plan for concerted 
 action. 
 
 The report of each Delegation as to the 
 railroads of its own country is presented 
 separately. 
 
 With the utmost respect and considera- 
 tion, I am, Mr. President, 
 
 Your most attentive servant, 
 
 Juan Franco. Velarde. 
 
 The order of the day called for the dis- 
 cussion of the report submitted by the 
 Committee on Sanitary Regulations ; but 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, re- 
 quested that the discussion be delayed 
 until the appendices which should ac- 
 company said report had been printed 
 and distributed. 
 
 It was so ordered by the Chair. 
 
 The following report of the Executive 
 Committee on the Publication of Proceed- 
 ings was read and ordered distributed : 
 
 " The Executive Committee having had 
 under consideration a proposition of the 
 honorable Delegate from Uruguay, sub- 
 mitted on the 31st of January ultimo, 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr .Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador 
 
 El Sr. Jos<S M. Pl^cido CaamaBo. 
 
 Abierta la 8esi6n S, las tres y cinco 
 minutos de la tarde, se leyd, aprob6 y 
 firm6 el acta de la anterior. 
 
 El Senor Velarde, Delegado por Bo- 
 livia, manifestd el deseo de que sehiciere 
 constar en el acta que los miembros de la 
 Comisi6n de Bieuestar General no habian 
 podido asistir & Ys. anterior sesida de la 
 Conferencia, por motivo de hallarse al 
 mismo tiempo reunidos y ocupados en el 
 despacho de los asuntos que les estdln con- 
 filados. 
 
 El mismo Sefior Velarde hizo llevar i, 
 la mesa un dictameu de la Comlsi6n de 
 Coraunicaciones por Ferrocarril, y la 
 siguiente carta : 
 
 Comisi6n de Comunicacionbs por Fer- 
 rocarril, 
 Washington, D. C, Febrero 21 de 180O. 
 Al Senor Presidente de la Conferencia In- 
 
 ternaeional Americana. 
 
 Senor: Tengo el honor de presentar S, 
 la consideraci6n de la Conferencia como 
 resultado de los trabajos de la Comisi6n 
 de Commiicaciones por Ferrocarril el 
 ad junto proyeoto de acuerdo. 
 
 En pliego especial se acompanardln los 
 informes que cada Delegaci(5n ha pre- 
 sentado sobre los ferro-cariles de su 
 respective pais. 
 
 Con todo respeoto y consideracidn, soy 
 del Senor Presidente, 
 
 Muy atento seguro servidor, 
 Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 
 Expuso el Senor Presidente que con- 
 forme & la orden del dia debia procederse 
 & la discusidn del Dictamen de la Co- 
 misi6n de Reglamentos Sauitarios ; pero 
 el Seiior Romero, Delegado por Mdxico, 
 solicitd que se pospusiese la consideraeidn 
 de"este asunto, hasta que estuviesen im- 
 presos y distribuidos los ap^udices que 
 deben aoompafiarlo. 
 
 Asi se ordend. 
 
 Se did cuenta en seguida con un dicta- 
 men de la Comisidn Ejecutiva concebido 
 en estos tfirminos : 
 
 " La Comisi6u Ejecutiva, ha examinado 
 la proposicidn del honorable Delegado del 
 Uruguay, presentada el dia 31 de Enero 
 ultimo, acerca de la publicacidn de las 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 201 
 
 concerning the publication of the pro- 
 ceedings of this Conference, beg leave to 
 submit the following as their report, and 
 ask its adoption : 
 
 "Besolved, That twenty-five copies of 
 the daily minutes as approved by the 
 Conference be printed and bound for the 
 use of each delegation, 
 
 "Besolved, That the proceedings of the 
 Conference to be published shall be the 
 reports of the several committees and the 
 discussions and votes thereon ; the trans- 
 lations and perfect concordance of the 
 same to be supervised by the Executive 
 Committee, and printed in English, Span- 
 ish, and Portuguese as speedily as possible 
 under its direction. 
 
 "Washington, February 17, 1890. 
 "F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 " Matias Romero. 
 "Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 " jos^ m. hurtado. 
 " Salvador de Mendon(;a." 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 and chairman of the Committee on Inter- 
 national Law, presented two reports of 
 that committee, the one on the general 
 results of the work of the committee, and 
 the other on the various propositions 
 which have been referred to it, which 
 were ordered printed and distributed. 
 
 Mr. Calderon, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, presented the following : 
 
 " Besolved, That the Conference, being 
 satisfied with the intelligent manner in 
 which Mr. Pierra has discharged hisduties 
 as Secretary, would regret to be deprived 
 of his services, and consequently respect- 
 fully requests the Executive Committee 
 to use its endeavors to remove the difficul- 
 ties which have given rise to the resigna- 
 tion of Mr. Pierra. 
 
 " Washington, February 21, 1890. 
 
 " C. CALDER6N." 
 
 After some discussion,' it was agreed 
 that Mr. Calderon's resolution, together 
 with Mr. Pierra's Ivtter of resignation, 
 should remain in suspense on the table 
 until Monday next. 
 
 Actas de esta Conferencia, y pide permiso 
 para someter el dictamen que signe y 
 recomendar su adopci6n : 
 
 "Se imprimiriin y encuadernar£in para 
 el uso de cada delegaoi6n veinte y oinco 
 ejemplares de las actas de cada dia, apro- 
 badas por la Conferenoia. 
 
 " Los procedimientos de la Conferencia 
 que deber^n publicarse, son los dictamenes 
 de las distintas comisiones, junto con las 
 discusiones y votos que sobre ellos ro- 
 cayeron ; y la Comisidn Ejecutiva deberd 
 examinar las traduociones y ver que so 
 encuentren en perfecto acuerdo con sus 
 originales, y se impriman en ingles, 
 oastellano y portugu6s, S, la brevedad 
 posible. 
 
 "Washington, Febrero 17 de 1890. 
 "F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 "MatIas Eomero. 
 "Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 "Josi; M. Hurt ado. 
 "Salvador de Mendon9a." 
 
 Se acord6 su impresi6n y distribucitin. 
 
 El Seiior Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, y presidente de la Comisidn de De- 
 recho Internaoional, presents dos dicta- 
 menes dando ouenta en el uno delresultado 
 general de los trabajos de la Comisi6n, y 
 en el otro de lo acordado por ^sta sobre 
 varias proposiciones que se le habian 
 pasado para su estudio. Se orden6 que 
 los dos dictamenes se imprimieran y dis- 
 tribnyeran. 
 
 El Senor Calder6n, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, envi6 £ la mesa la siguiente pro- 
 posici(5n : 
 
 " He Besuelve : La Conferencia est^ sa- 
 tisfeoha de la inteligencia con que cl 
 Sefior Pierra ha desempenado el cargo de 
 Seoretario ; sentiria verse privada de sus 
 servicios ; y en couseonencia se permite 
 excitar & la Comision Ejecutiva S, quo 
 allane las dificultades que ban podido dar 
 orlgen & la renuncia del Seiior Pierra. 
 
 Washington, 21 de Febrero de 1890. 
 "C. Calder6n." 
 
 Despu^s de alguna discusidn seconvino 
 en suspender la consideracidu del asuuto 
 haste el lunes proximo, en que se deter- 
 minar^ lo conveniente asi sobre la propo- 
 sici6n del Seiior CalderCiu, como sobre la 
 renuncia del Seiior Pierra. 
 
202 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 On the motion of Mr. Guzman, a Dele- 
 gate from Nicaragua, the session was ad- 
 jonmed at 3.40 p. m. 
 
 P. C. C. Zegakra, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOS:fi M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinkz Silva, 
 ■Ci-fMACo Cai,der6n, 
 
 Colomlia. 
 EoQtiE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepuhlic. 
 Jos:fi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. 6. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de MENDONgA, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan P. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefeerson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry 6. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 Jos£ Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 J08:fi Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Agotada la orden del dia, y & moci6n 
 del Seflor Dr. GuzmIn, Delegado por Ni- 
 caragua, 88 levantd la sesidn & las tres y 
 caurenta minutes de la tarde. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidente. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Giuitemala. 
 Jos:)fi M. Hurtado, 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Caldek6n, 
 
 Colom,l)ia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Josifi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente. 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 . Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MExf a, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry 6. Davis, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 Joslb Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josi Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos£ Maria PljCcido CaamaSo. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
THIRTY-FIFTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 35. 
 
 Washington, February 24, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.20 p. m. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Ze- 
 GARRA, a Delegate from Peru, followed by 
 Mr. Romero, Second Vice-President, with 
 the following delegates present : 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz, 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz Pena. 
 
 Mr, Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga, 
 
 Mr. J. Q. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. WiUiam Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. John P. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 
 Seaidn del 24 de Fehrero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegakka, 
 delegado por el Perti, primer Vicepresi- 
 dente, y luego del Sr. MATf as Eomero, 
 delegado por Mexico, segundo Vicepresi- 
 dente, estando presentes : 
 
 Peril: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 M. Hurtado, 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 El Sr. Cllraaco Calderdn. 
 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz PeSa, 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos<S S. Decoud. 
 
 Brazil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 
 M6xico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero, 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 Estados Unidos: 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson, 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker, 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot, 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson, 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis, 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. 3oa6 Andrade. 
 
 203 
 
204 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellauos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos<5 Maria Pl^cldo CaamaiSo. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, a Delegate from Nicar- 
 agua, was prevented by sickness from 
 attending the session. 
 
 A letter from Mr. Pierra was read, 
 withdrawing his resignation and inclos- 
 ing a copy of a personal letter, signed by 
 several of his friends among the Spanish 
 American Delegates, inviting him to re- 
 turn to his duties in the Conference. 
 
 Mr. Zegaera, the First Vice-President, 
 requested Mr. Romero to take the chair, 
 which he proceeded to do. 
 
 Mr. Zelaya, a Delegate from Hon- 
 duras, stated that, in his opinion, Mr. 
 Pierra's withdrawal of his resignation 
 should be accepted by the Conference. 
 
 After some interchange of opinions, the 
 motion of Mr. Zbgarra, a Delegate from 
 Peru, that Mr. Pierra's letter with all 
 documents referring thereto be referred 
 to the Executive Committee, was put to 
 the vote, resulting in its adoption by a 
 vote of 10 to 4. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Peru, 
 Guatemala, Argentine, Brazil, Mexico, 
 United States, Venezuela, Chili, Salva- 
 dor, and Ecuador. 
 
 Those voting negatively were : Colom- 
 bia, Paraguay, Honduras, and Bolivia. 
 
 The Chair announced that the print- 
 ing of the appendices of the report on 
 Sanitary Regulations was not yet finished 
 owing to the closing on Saturday of the 
 Government Printing Office. 
 
 The discussion on the report of the 
 Committee on Rules on Mr. Estee's motion 
 to hold daily sessions was continued. 
 
 Mr. Calderon, a Delegate from Colom- 
 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Job6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ M. Pl&ido Caama&o. 
 
 Se abrid la sesidn ^ laa tres y veinte 
 minutos de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley<5, aprobd y firmd el acta de la 
 sesidu anterior. 
 
 Se di6 cuenta ^ la Conferenoia de que 
 el Senor GuzMi^, Delegado por Nica- 
 ragua, manifestaba no poder asistir por 
 hallarse enfermo. 
 
 Se leyd una comunicacidn del Senor 
 Pierra por la que retira su renuncia, y 
 acompana copia de una carta personal, 
 firmada por varios de sus amigos entre los 
 Seuores Delegados hispano-Americanos, 
 que le fu6 dirigida, invit^ndolo S, volver 
 ii hacerse cargo de su puesto. 
 
 El Sefior Zegarra, Primer Vicepresi- 
 dente y Delegado por el Peril, llam6 S, 
 la Presidencia al SeSior Romero, Segundo 
 Vicepresidente y Delegado por Mexico. 
 
 El Senor Zelaya, Delegado por Hondu- 
 ras, manifestd que en su opini6n la Con- 
 ferenoia debia dar por retirada la renun- 
 cia del Senor Pierra ; pero S, mocidn del 
 Senor Zegarra, Delegado por el Peril, y 
 despu^s de alguna disousidn, determine 
 la Conferencia, por un voto de diez con- 
 tra uno, que la carta del Seiior Pierra con 
 los dem^s antecedentes del asunto se pa- 
 sasen ^ la Comisidn Ejecutiva. 
 
 Las Delegaciones que votaron por la 
 adopcidn de la proposicidn del Senor Ze- 
 garra fneron : Peru, Guatemala, Argen- 
 tina, Brasil, Mexico, los Estados Unidoa, 
 Venezuela, Chile, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Las que votaron negativamente fneron : 
 Colombia, Paraguay, Honduras y Bolivia. 
 
 Anuncid el Senor Presidente que la im- 
 presi6n de los " Ap^ndices " al dictamen 
 de la Comisidn de Reglamentos Sanita- 
 rios no estaba auu terminada, porque la 
 imprenta del Gobierno estuvo cerrada el 
 siibado illtimo. 
 
 Continudse la discusi<5n del dictamen 
 de la Comisidn de Reglamento sobre la 
 proposici6n del SeSior Estee, delegado por 
 los Estados Unidos, respecto S, que se cele- 
 bren sesiones diarias. 
 
 El SeQor Caldek6n, delegado por Co- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 205 
 
 bia, moved that the motion be amended 
 so as to read as follows : 
 
 "Resolved, That on and after March the 
 3d next there shall he daily meetings of 
 the Conference (Sundays excepted) forthe 
 consideration of reports, and these daily 
 meetingsshall coutiuue until said reports 
 shall have been disposed of." 
 
 Mr. AuONSO, a Delegate from Chili, 
 chairman of the Committee on Rules, 
 accepted the ameudment, provided that 
 there be reports ready for discussion on 
 said date. 
 
 Mr. Caldbron moved that the rules be 
 suspended, in order that it might be 
 adopted without the necessity of its being 
 referred to the committee or otherwise 
 delayed. 
 
 This was unanimously agreed to by the 
 Conference, and the above amendment 
 was unanimously approved. 
 
 There being no further business before 
 the Conference, the session was adjourned 
 at 4.10 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 V. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos6 M. Hdrtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUB Saenz Pen a, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublio. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Jos:^. S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentb, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. Maxf a, 
 
 Mexico. 
 
 lombia, hizo mooidn para q^ue se modifi- 
 case el texto del aonerdo rocomendado 
 por la Comisidn dej indole expresado en 
 estos t^rminos : 
 
 " Se resuelve: Que desdo el 3 de Marzo 
 pr6ximo, se celebrarJln sesiones diarias de 
 la Couferenoia, con excepcidn de los Do- 
 raingos, para discutir los informes de las 
 Comisiones, y estas sesiones diarias con- 
 tinnar^n hasta que se determine definiti- 
 vameute sobre los presentados." 
 
 EI Senor Alfonso, Delegado por Chile, 
 y Presidente de la Comisifin de Regla- 
 mento, manifesto que aceptaba la modifi- 
 oacidn con tal que en el dia indicado 
 hubiese efectivamente algrin dictamen 
 que discutir. 
 
 Propuso entdnoes el Senor Caldbr6n, 
 que se suspendiese el Reglamento, S. flu 
 de poder votar acto continue, y sin 
 necesidad de pasar el asunto S, Comisi(5n 
 alguna, ni sujetarlo ^ otra demora, sobre 
 la modificacidn que habia propuesto. 
 Decidido por uuanimidad que asl debia 
 haoerse, se vot6 la proposici6n, y results 
 aprobaday adoptada nn^nimemente. 
 
 Habi^ndose agotado la 6rden del dia, 
 se lovantd la sesi(5n ^ las 4 y 10 minutes 
 de la tarde. 
 
 Jambs G. Blaine, 
 
 HoRACio GuzmXn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 jos:^ m. hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Roque Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Josi; S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentb, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 BraHl. 
 ,Jbr6nimo Zklaya, 
 
 ITonduras. 
 Mat! AS Romero, 
 Enrique A. MExfA, 
 
 M^ico. 
 
206 
 
 INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 £oUvia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 CoRNKHus N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studbraker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John P. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis. 
 
 United States. 
 Jos:fi Andradb, 
 
 Venesuela. 
 Jos:6 Albonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador, 
 Josfi Maria PLi.ciDO CaamaKo. 
 
 Hquador. 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Eatados Unidos. 
 Jos£ Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos:^ Alfonso, 
 
 Giiile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:fi Maria PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
THIRTY-SIXTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 36. 
 
 Washington, February 26, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3. 10 p. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James 6. Blaine, with 
 the following Delegates present: 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr, Horatio Gazmaa. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. P. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. 3os6 M. Hurtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz Peua. 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 
 Mr. Job6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. 6. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mezia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan P. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. John P. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 
 Seai&n del 26 de Fehrero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaink. 
 Estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. P. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Pernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. 3os6 M. Hurtado; 
 
 El Sr. Cd;rlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz PeSa ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragfin. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. 3os6 Andrade. 
 
 207 
 
2-08 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 • Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jos€ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanoa. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos(5 Maria Plilcido CaamaSo. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair announced the distrihution 
 to the Delegates of the report of the Com- 
 mittee ou Patents and Trade-Marks and 
 that on International Law, on motions 
 made by Messrs. CaamaBo and Andrade, 
 the discussion of which would be in order 
 on Monday, the 3d of March. 
 
 The following report of the Executive 
 Committee was read : 
 
 "The Executive Committee having had 
 under consideration a proposition of the 
 honorable Delegate from Uruguay, sub- 
 mitted on the 31st of January ultimo, 
 concerning the publication of the pro- 
 ceedings of this Conference, beg leave to 
 submit the following as their report, and 
 ask its adoption : 
 
 "Resolved, That twenty-fi ve copies of the 
 daily minutes as approved by the Con- 
 ference be printed and bound for the use 
 of each delegation. 
 
 " Resolved, That the proceedings of the 
 Conference to be publisTied shall be the 
 reports of the several committees and the 
 discussions and votes thereon, the trans- 
 lations and perfect concordance of the 
 same to be supervised by the Executive 
 Committee, and printed in English, 
 Spanish, and Portuguese, as speedily as 
 possible under its direction." 
 
 " Washington, February 17, 1890. 
 
 " F. C. C. Zegakka. 
 
 "Matias Romero. 
 
 "Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 " jos^ m. hurtado. 
 
 " Salvador de-Mendonca." 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 pointed out that the part of the project 
 referring to discussions is not clear as to 
 whether the discussions are to be pub- 
 lished in full, or only so much of them as 
 appears in the journals ; and the Delegate 
 from Peru having stated that the project 
 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Jos(5 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Josd M. Pl^oido Caamafio. 
 
 Se abri6 la sesidn & las tres y diez mi- 
 nutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley(5, aprob6 y firmb el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 El Senor Presidents manifestd que 
 se habian distribuido entre los Senores 
 Delegados, el dict^men de la Comisidn de 
 Patentes y M^cas de F^brica, y el de la 
 de Derecho Intemaclonal sobre varias 
 mocioues particulares de los Senores 
 CaamaSo y Andrade que estaran ^ dis- 
 cusidn el lunes, tres del entrante marzo. 
 
 Se ley6 en seguida un dict^men de la 
 Comisidn Ejecutiva que dice asl : 
 
 "LaComisidnEjecutiva ha examinado 
 la proposicidu del Honorable Delegado 
 del Uruguay, presentada el dia 31 de 
 euero liltiiuo, acerca de la impresidu de 
 las Actas de esta Conferencia, y pide per- 
 miso para someter el dict^men que signe 
 y recomendar su adopoi6n. 
 
 " Se imprimird^n y encuadernar^tn para 
 el uso de cada delegacidn veinte y cinco 
 ejemplares de las Actas de cada dia apro- 
 badas por la Conferencia. 
 
 " Los procedimientos de la Conferencia 
 qne deberSn publicarse sen los dicta- 
 menes de las distintas Comisiones, junto 
 con las discusiones y votes que sobre ellos 
 recayeron ; y la Comisidu Ejecutiva de- 
 berS examinar las traducciones y ver que 
 se encuentren en perfecto acuerdo con sus 
 oiiginales, y se impriman en inglfis, cas- 
 tellano y portugu^s, & la breveded posible. 
 " Washington, febrero 17 de 1890 
 
 "F. C. C. Zkgarra. 
 
 "MatIas Romero. 
 
 "Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 "Josifi M. Hurtado. 
 
 "Salvador de Mendon^a." 
 El SeQor Alfonso, Delegado por Chile, 
 expuso que en la parte en que el proyecto 
 se retiere d las discusiones no estd) claro si 
 se han de publicar las discusiones com- 
 pletas, 6 s61o lo que consta de las actas. 
 Y habiendo expresado el Senor Zegarra, 
 Delegado por el Peril, que el proyecto se 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMKRICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 209 
 
 referred to the former, he added that he 
 had no comment to make. 
 
 After some discussion, Mr. Romero, a 
 Delegate from Mexico, moved that the 
 words " in extenso" be inserted after the 
 words " and votes thereon, " which, hav- 
 ing heen voted upon, was adopted. 
 
 Mr. QuiKTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, suggested that the resolution 
 be further amended so as to read as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 "Resolved, That the proceedings of the 
 Conference to be printed shall be the reso- 
 lutions presented by the several Delegates 
 and the reports of the several committees 
 and the discussions and votes thereon in 
 extenso ; the translations and perfect ac- 
 cordance of the same to be supervised by 
 the Executive Committee, and printed in 
 English, Spanish, and Portuguese, as 
 speedily as possible under its direction." 
 
 Mr. HURTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, presented a further amendment to be 
 inserted after the words " in extenso :" 
 
 " Provided, That each and every Dele- 
 gate shall be at liberty to withhold any 
 remark or remarks he may have made in 
 the course of debate or discussion." 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, desired that the discussion be 
 postponed until next session, in order that 
 he might confer with his colleagues on 
 the n^atter, and it was so ordered. 
 
 The following report of the Executive 
 Committee ou Mr. Pierra's resignation 
 was then read, the discussion of which, 
 under the Rules, will take place Monday, 
 March 3 : 
 
 " The Executive Committee, to which 
 was referred the letter of Mr. F. G. Pierra, 
 asking permission to withdraw his resig- 
 nation as Spanish Secretary of the Con- 
 
 U I 
 
 referia a lo primero, agreg6, que no tenia 
 observaciones que hacer. 
 
 Despues de alguna discusidn, el Senor 
 Romero, Delegado por Mdxico, hizo mo- 
 ci6n para quo en la seguuda oliiusula dis- 
 positiva, ae agreguen las palabras "eu 
 extenso" despues do las que dicen "las 
 discusiones." Sometida S, votaci6n esta 
 enmienda qued6 adoptada. 
 
 El Senor Quintana, Delegado por la 
 Eepiiblica Argentina, sugirid una nueva 
 modificaci6n por la cual se propone que 
 la cMusula quede redaclada en estos t^r- 
 minos: 
 
 "Los prooedimientos de la C^nferencia 
 que deber^n imprimirse son las propoai- 
 ciones presentadas por los Senores Dele- 
 gados, los dictamenes de laa distintas 
 Comisiones, junto con las discusiones en 
 extenso, y votos que sobre ellos recay eron ; 
 }' la Comiaidn Ejecutiva deber^ examiuar 
 las traducoiones, y cuidar de que se en- 
 cuentrau en perfecto acuerdo con sus 
 originales y se impriman con la prontitud 
 posible, y bajo sn direcci6n, en castellano, 
 ingles y portngu€s." 
 
 El Senor Hdrtado, Delegado por Co- 
 lombia, sugiri6 una nueva modlficacidn, 
 que conaiste en agregar en la seguuda 
 clausula dispositiva, despues de las pala- 
 bras, "recayeron," y antes de las palabras 
 "y la Comi8i<5n Ejecutiva deber^," el 
 siguiente ooncepto : 
 
 " Con tal que cada Delegado quede en 
 libertad de rctirarcnalquieraobservaoi6n 
 que hubiese hecho en el curso del debate, 
 6 de la disousi6n." 
 
 El Senor Qdintana, Delegado por la 
 Republica Argentina, sugiri6 los incon- 
 venientes que la modificaci6n del Senor 
 Hurtado podria presentar, y aolicit6 que 
 la disousidn de eate asunto se suspendiese 
 hasta la «esi6n I3r6xima, S fin de poder 
 darle mayor meditaci6u, y conferenciar 
 sobre &\ con los demas Senores Delegados. 
 
 Se accedi6 & la proposicidn del Senor 
 Quintana y qued6 el asunto pospueato. 
 
 Pro. ediose entdnces & dar leetura al die- 
 t^men de la Comiai6n Ejecutiva, en el 
 asunto do la renuuoia del Senor Pierra, 
 que dice asl : 
 
 "La ComisiiSn Ejecutiva, S. la que pa86 
 la carta de Don F. G. Pierra, pidiendo se 
 le permitiera retirar la renuncia que habia 
 hecho como Secretario Hiapano-Ameri- 
 
210 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMKRICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ference, begs leave to report the same 
 back with the recomniendatiou that it be 
 not granted, because, iu the opinion of 
 the committee, it would be derogatory to 
 the dignity of the Conference to accept 
 the services of any of its oflScers without 
 due compensation as assigned them by 
 the President of the Conference. 
 
 Washington, February 26, 1890. 
 " F. C. C. Zbgarra. 
 
 "M. KOMERO. 
 
 " Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 " J. M. HURTADO. 
 
 ' ' Salvador de MBNDON9A." 
 
 The Chair announced that the discus 
 sion of the. report of the Committee on 
 Sanitary Regulations was in order, but 
 at the request of Mr. Alfonso, a Dele- 
 gate from Chili, who stated that the ap- 
 pendix to said report having only just 
 been presented him, he had not had time 
 to carefully examine it, the discussion 
 was postponed until Monday, March 3. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Rail- 
 roads was read and discussed. Articles 
 1, a, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 vyere unanimously 
 approved. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 objected to the words " and advisability" 
 in Article 8, and desired that they be 
 stricken out. After some discussion the 
 wording of said article was voted upon, 
 the result being 15 to 1 in favor of the 
 article as it stands in the report. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Gualemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, IMited States, 
 Venezuela, Salvador, aud Ecuador. 
 
 Chili voted against the wording of Ar- 
 ticle 8. 
 
 Articles 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, aud 16 
 were read and approved separately and 
 unanimously. 
 
 Mr. Davis, a Delegate from the Unites', 
 States, requested that the Conference 
 
 oano de la Conferonoia, tiene el honor de 
 dictaminar que en su opinion no debe 
 acordarse el permiso solicit ado, porquo 
 en concepto de la Comisidn, seria incom- 
 patible con la dignidacl,dela Conferencia, 
 aceptar los servicios de cualquiera de sus 
 empleados sin justa compensacl6n, conio 
 la que les tiene asignada el ijresidente de 
 la Conferencia. 
 
 " Washington, febrero 26 de 1890. 
 
 "F. C. C. ZegaRra. 
 
 " M. Romero. 
 
 "CoHnelius N. Bliss. 
 
 " j. m. hurtado. 
 
 •'Salvador de MEND0N9A." 
 
 El Seflor Presidbnte exiiresfi que la 
 discusi<3n de este dictiimen tendria lugar 
 el Itiues, tres del entrante marzo. 
 
 Anunci6 tambien el mismo Sefior que el 
 asunto seualado en la drden del dia era 
 la discusidn del dict^men de la Comisitiu 
 de Reglamentos Sanitarios ; pero habion- 
 do manifestado el Sefior Alfonso, Dele- 
 gadopor Chile, que hasta aquel momento 
 no habia recibido el ejemplar impreso de 
 los ap^ndices al referido diotdlmen, y no 
 habia por lo tanto tenido tiempo de estu- 
 diarlos, se determiu6 posponer el asunto 
 hasta el dia tres do marzo. 
 
 Se Aid cuenta- en seguida con el dictfi- 
 men de la Comisidn de Ferro-carriles, y se 
 aprobaron por un^nimidad los articulos 
 1", 2", 3», 4", 5°, 6°, and 7°. Cuando se 
 llegd al articulo 8°, el Senor Alfonso, 
 Delegado por Chile, hizo mocidn para que 
 se borrasen las palabras "y convenieu- 
 cia." Despues de discutido el punto, se 
 puso S, vota'jidn, y results desechada la 
 eiimieuda del Senor Alfonso por un voto 
 de quince contra uno. 
 
 Votaron contra la enmienda : Nicara- 
 gua, Peril, Guatemala, Colombia, Argen- 
 tina, Costa-Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, Hon- 
 duras, Mexico, Bolivia, los Estados 
 Unidos, Venezuela, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 El voto de Chile fue en favor de la 
 enmienda. 
 
 Qued6 aprobado el artfculo H", tal como 
 est^ en el dict^men ; y se coutinu6 la dis- 
 cusidn respecto del 9», 10°, U", la", 13°, 
 14°, 15°, y 16° (que es el (iltimo), y fueron 
 todos aprobados un^nimementc. 
 
 El Sefior Davis, Delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, pidi6 ^ la Conferencia que se 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMlCIflCAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 211 
 
 allow the report on railroads to be given 
 to the press. 
 
 No objection having been raised, it vias 
 so agreed. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 asked that all the reports of the commit- 
 toos which bad been approved by the 
 Conference up to date be given to the 
 press. 
 This was also agreed to. 
 On the motion of Mr. Zegarrv, a Dele- 
 gate from Peru, the session was adjourned 
 at 4.30 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegakua, 
 
 First Vice- President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 KoQUE Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 Manuel Ahagon, 
 
 Costa liica. 
 Josii S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amakal Vai.entk, 
 Salvador de Mendo^a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 M ATI AS Romero, 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studeuaker, 
 'I'. Jefferson Cooudgb, 
 William Henry Prkscot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 United States. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Josl5 Alfonso, 
 
 CMi. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 Salvador, 
 
 periiiiticse la publlciicidn de este dictjj- 
 men, y asi se acordd por un^nimidad. 
 
 El Senor Alfonso, Delegado por Chile, 
 solicitdque se die^en tambieu it la prensa 
 pfiblica los dictamenes do las Comisiones, 
 que ya ban recibido la sancidn do la Con- 
 ferencia; y se acord6 do conformidad. 
 
 A moci6n del Senor Zegarra, Delegado 
 por el Peril, so snspeudi6 la sesifin S, las 
 cuatro y treinta minutes de la tarde. 
 F. C C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primero Vicepresidente. 
 Horacio GuzmAn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 RoQUB Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Josit S. Dbcoui), 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valknte, 
 Salvador de Mbndon^a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 M&ico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clemknt Studebakbr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
THIRTY-SEVENTH DAY. 
 
 Washington, February 28, 1890. 
 The Inteiuational American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.10 p. in. by the 
 President, Hon. Jambs 6. Blaine, fol- 
 lowed successively by Mr. Zeoarra and 
 Mr. EoMERO, with the following Del- 
 egates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pena, 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Mauuel Arag<in. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Josi5 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendoufa. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero, 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson, 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker, 
 
 Mr. T. JeJSferson Coolidge, 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot, 
 
 Mr. John P. Hanson, 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 313 
 
 ACTA No. 
 
 37. 
 
 SeMn del 28 de Fehrero de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine, 
 seguido por el Sr. F. C. C. Zdgarra, Pri- 
 mer Vicepresidente y Delegado por el 
 Perri, y luego por el Sr. Matfas Eomero, 
 segundo Vicepresidente y Delegado por 
 Mexico. Estaudo presentes : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacia Guzman. 
 Pert] : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. C^irlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoqne Saenz Pena ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos(5 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Si'. Matias Eomero-; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Eatados TJnidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : " 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
 El Sr. Josd Andrade. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ■213 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Eniilio C. Varas, 
 Mr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellauos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Maria PliteidoCaamano. 
 The minvites of the previons session 
 wore read, but certain incorreotious and 
 omissions having appeared therein they 
 were ordered revised and to be pre.sented 
 anew to the Delegates for approval and 
 signature. 
 
 The President stated that he would 
 suggest that all amendments be sent to 
 the Chair in writing, in order to avoid 
 mistakes. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, h Delegate from Guatemala, 
 and chairman of committee on interna- 
 tional law, stated that the report of his 
 committee, distributed on February 26, 
 was a report on certain resolutions in ref- 
 erence to navigation of rivers, claims, etc., 
 while the report of the same committee, 
 distributed on the following day, is the 
 one in which the result in general of the 
 studies of the committee is submitted to 
 the Conference. Mr. Cruz desired this to 
 be set forth in the minutes, and it was so 
 ordered. 
 
 Mr. Valentb, a Delegate from Brazil, 
 and chairman of the Committee on Cus- 
 toms Union, sent to the Chair the report 
 which the majority of the committee sub- 
 mits on said subject. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pbna, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, and Mr. Alfonso, a 
 Delegate from Chili, and member of the 
 said committee, sent also to the Chair, 
 with a letter to the President, the report 
 of the minority. Both papers were ordered 
 printed and distributed, to be taken up 
 at the proper day under the Rules. 
 
 The Chair stated that the iiending 
 business was the continuation of the dis- 
 cussion of the report of the Executive 
 Committeeon the printing of the proceed- 
 ings; but Mr. Zcgarra, a Delegate from 
 Peru, suggested that as Mr. Hnrtado, a 
 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Erailio 0. Varas ; 
 El Sr. Josd Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 M. Pl^cido Caamafio. 
 
 Se abri6 la sesi6v & las tres y diez 
 minutos de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6 el acta do la sesi6n anterior; 
 pero habi^ndose notado en ella varias 
 omisiones y errores, qued6 en suspense 
 su aprobacidn, ordeuSindose quo despues 
 de subsanados los defectos so sometiese 
 de nuevo. 
 
 El Seiior Presidentb manifest6 que si 
 le era permitido hacer una indicaoidu, se 
 tomaria la libertad de recomeudar quo las 
 proposiciones de todo g^nero se envien S, 
 le Mesa, formuladas definitivamente por 
 escrito, S, fin de evitar eqTiivocaciones. 
 
 El Senor Cruz, Delegado por Guate- 
 mala, expresd el deseo de que se hiciese 
 constar en el acta que el dict^men de la 
 Comisidn do Dereoho internacional distri 
 buido impreso el dia 26 de febrero, 6 sea 
 el de la sesion anterior, fn^ el recaido & 
 las proposiciones de varins Senores Dele- 
 gados, respecto d iiavegaciiin de los rios. 
 reclamaciones, etc., mientras que el otro 
 distribuido el dia siguieute, 6 sea el 27, 
 es el que versa sobre 3I asunto general, 
 encomendado al estudio de la Comisi6n. 
 Se determino de couformidad. 
 
 El Sefior Valentb, Delegado por el Bra- 
 sil y Presidente de la Comisi<5n de Union 
 Aduanera, envi6 Si la Mesa, el dictSmen 
 que sobre ese asunto somete & la Honora- 
 bleConferencia la mayoria de la Comi8i6n. 
 
 El Senor Don RoQUK Saenz Pena, Dele- 
 gado por la Republica Argeutin.i, y el 
 SeDor Alfonso, Delegado por Chile, miem- 
 bros de la misma Comisi6n, remitieron 
 tambien, con atenta comunicaci6n, el dic- 
 t^men de la minoria. 
 
 Se orden6 la impresito y distribucifin 
 de ambos documentos, que se someterSn 
 Si discu8i6n en la oportunidad que corre- 
 sponda conforme al Reglamento. 
 
 Habieudo manifestado el Senor Presi- 
 dente que segun la <5rdeu del dia, debia 
 prooederse & disoutir el dict^men de la 
 Comisi6n Ejecutiva sobi-e inipresidii de 
 los prooedimientos, dijo el Senor Zegarra, 
 Delegado por el Perfi, que no hallandose 
 
214 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Delegate from Colombia, and the author 
 of one of the amendments to be discussed, 
 was not present, it might be better to let 
 the matter go over to the next session, 
 which would also allow the printing of 
 all the amendments to be completed, and 
 so it was decided unanimously. 
 
 The order of the day being exhausted, 
 Mr. EOMERO, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 asked unanimous consent to take up the 
 report of the Committee on Sanitary Reg- 
 ulations, and discuss it at once. The 
 consent was given, and the discussion of 
 the report was declared to be in order. 
 
 At the request of the President, Mr. 
 Zegarra, a Delegate from Peru, and the 
 First Vice-President, took the chair. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 opened the debate by inquiring, for the 
 purpose of qualifying his vote, what had 
 been the reasons of the committee in rec- 
 ommending to the respective Gov0l-n- 
 ments represented in the Conference to 
 adhere to the Convention of Rio of 1887, 
 or to the project of Convention of Lima, 
 of 1888, instead of recommending the 
 adoption of one of the two. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, chairman of the commit- 
 tee, replied in substance that, as is stated 
 in the report, the Cnnven ion of Eio and 
 the Project of Lima are substantially 
 identical, differing only in detail; that 
 the committee hoped that the Govern- 
 ments which were not already otherwise 
 bound by treaty might be at liberty to 
 select one of the two. Mr. Guzman stated 
 that as the Conference is not a soientiiic 
 body and cannot pass judgment on the 
 respective merits of both works — both 
 equally good, and drawn up by most com- 
 petent persons — the committee had con- 
 sidered it more prudent to leave the Gov- 
 ernments at liberty to decide either by 
 means of a Sanitary Congress, especially 
 convened for that purpose, or by any 
 other means, which of the two should bo 
 adopted. 
 
 Mr. Andkadb, a Delegate from Vene- 
 
 presente el Seiior Hurtado, autor de una 
 de esas propostciones, seria m6s conve- 
 niente posponer la consideraci<3n do este 
 asunto hasta la pr6xima sesidu, con lo 
 que se daria tambien lugar S, que esteu 
 impresos todos los documentos del caso. 
 Asl se acordd un^nimemeute. 
 
 El Seuor Presidente declar6 que la dr- 
 den del dia estaha agotada ; y con ese 
 motive, el Senor Romero, Delegado )>or 
 Mexico, hizo moci(5n para que se proce. 
 diese & discutir el diot^men de- la Comi- 
 sidn de Reglameutos Sanitarios, obteni^n- 
 dose consentimiento undnime para que 
 asi se hiciera. Este fne concedido. 
 
 El Senor Presidente Ilamo, ent(5nces, al 
 Seiior Zagarra, Primer Vice-presidente y 
 Delegado por el Peru, & ocupar la Presi- 
 doncia, y se retir6 de la sala. 
 
 Abri6 eldpbateel Senor Cruz, Delegado 
 por Guatemala, preguntando con s61o el 
 objeto de illustrar su voto, que fin se ha- 
 bia propuesto la C(.misi6ualreoomendar, 
 disyuntivamente, que los Gobiernos re- 
 presentados en esta Conferencia se adhie- 
 ran bien S, la Convenci6n sanitaria inter- 
 nacional de Rio Janeiro de 1887, 6 bien al 
 proyectodeConvenoi6n sanitaria dcLima, 
 de 1888, en vez de decidirse desde Inego, 
 por la nua 6 por elotro. 
 
 A esto replied en snbstancia el Seiior 
 Guzman, Presidente de la Comisidn y De- 
 legado por Nicaragua, que, como se dice 
 en el dict^men, la Convencidn de Eio 
 Janeiro y el proyeoto de Lima, contienen 
 provisiones sustancialmente iddnticas, 
 aunquo destintas en algunos decalles: 
 que la Comisidn habia deseado que los 
 Gobiernos que no estuviesen comprome- 
 tidos por tratado 6 de otro modo, ^ adop- 
 tar una de las dos cosas, pndiesen libre- 
 mente escoger una li otra. 
 
 Dijo tambien el Senor Gazmiin que 
 como la Conferencia no es un cuerpo fa- 
 cultative y no tiene competencia miSdica 
 para poder juzgar cientiflcamente de los 
 mdritos respectivos de los dos trabajos, 
 hechos uno y otro por personas competen- 
 tlsimas, y reconooidos ambos como igual- 
 mente bnenos, la Comisi6n habia creido 
 ra&s prudente dejar S, los Gobiernos en ab- 
 soluta libertad de decidir, bien directa- 
 mente, 6 bien sometiendo el asunto i£ \iu 
 Cougreso sanitario, convocado al efecto. 
 
 El Senor Andradb, Delegado por Vene- 
 
INTKKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFKRENCE. 
 
 215 
 
 zuela, aud a member of the committee, 
 supportetl the report., expressing the same 
 views as to the advisability of the dis- 
 junctive recommendation. 
 
 Mr. QuiN'TANA, ,1 Delej;ate from the 
 Argentine, stated that the vote of his 
 delegation wonld be in favor of the re- 
 port of the committee, but that if it be- 
 came necessary to decide between the 
 Convention of Rio and the Project of 
 Lima, it wonld vote the former, because 
 his Government had been a party thereto. 
 
 After a lengthy discussion, in which 
 Messrs. Komero, Cruz, Trescot, Gnzman, 
 Mendoufa, and Hanson took part, Mr. 
 Zegarra requested Mr. Romero, the Sec- 
 ond Vice President, to take the chair. 
 
 Mr, Zegarra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 supported the report of the committee, 
 and explained that the Project of Lima 
 was uot a mere copy of the Convention 
 of Rio, hut a progressive step, just aa 
 the latter had been an advance over 
 that of Rome, and that again over former 
 conventions. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 said that, in his opinion it w.as necessary 
 for the committee to recommend one of 
 the two conventions, either to advocate 
 rbc Project of Lima or the Convention of 
 Rio, and uot to confiue itself to advise a 
 disjunctive adoption. He thought that 
 was the duty of the committee, and that 
 if it had complied with it, there would 
 have been more probability of securing 
 the desired uniformity of opinion. Al- 
 though the two conventions are similar, 
 they are not identical, and that that of 
 Lima had been made on the basis of th.at 
 of Rio. The Congress of Lima desired to 
 introduce, and did so introduce, amend- 
 ments to that of Rio, otherwise it would 
 simply have adopted it; hence the dele- 
 gation of Chili finds itself peculiarly sit- 
 uated in this matter, as the Project of 
 Lima was signed by a Chilian Delegate 
 and approved by 'the Chilian Government. 
 Between the two the Chilian delegation 
 does uot hesitate, and asks that that of 
 Lima be adopted. The negative vote of 
 
 zuela, miembro de la Comisicin infor- 
 maute, habl6 tambi6n en defensa del dic- 
 tiiimen ii abogaudo por la recomendaciijn 
 disyunliva que en 61 se propone; que la 
 Comisi6n en sn deseo de hacer algo real- 
 mente practice, habia creido mils pru- 
 dente dejar en libertad £i ios Gobiernos 
 para escoger la couvenci6n 6 el proyecto. 
 
 El Senor Quintana, Delegado por la 
 Republica Argentina, expuso que el voto 
 de la delegacidn desu pais seria en favor 
 del dictd.nien de la Comisifiu ; pero que si 
 se decidia que era preciso escoger entre la 
 Convenoi6u de Rio Janeiro y el proyecto 
 de Lima, tendria que votar por la pri- 
 mera en que su Gobierno hahia side una 
 de las partes contratautes. Despues de 
 larga disousifin en qiie toiuaron parte Ios 
 Senores Romero, Cruz, Trescot, Guzman, 
 Mendonga, y Hanson, el Senor Zegarra, 
 delegado por el Perti, dej6 la presldencia, 
 que ocup6 el Senor Romero, segundo Vice- 
 presidente. 
 
 El Senor ZegaEra hizo uso de la pala- 
 braen defensa del dict^men, yexplic6que 
 el proyecto de Lima no era una copia ser vil 
 de la Couvenci6n de Rio Janeiro sine un 
 paso en la via del progreso como la Con- 
 vcnoi6n de Rio Janeiro lo habia sido ^ su 
 vez respecto de la dc Roma, y esta de otras 
 anteriores que hubieso habido. 
 
 Tomd ent6nces la palabra el Senor Al- 
 fonso, Delegado por Chile, y dijo quo S, 
 sujuicio la Coiuisi6n ha necesitado pro- 
 poner una de las dos couvcnciones sani- 
 tarias & que se refiere su informe, pronuu- 
 ciaree sobre la de Lima, 6 la de Rio Ja- 
 neiro, y no limitarse S, aconsejar que se 
 recomiende su adopcidn alternativa. Cree 
 que esta era su misiOn, y que do haberla 
 cumplido de esta suerte babria habido 
 m^s probabilidad de llegar Sj la uniformi- 
 dad apetecida. 
 
 Aunque parooidas esas dos couvcnciones 
 no son iguales, siendo evidente que la do 
 Lima ha sido acordada sirviendo de base 
 la de Rio Janeiro. Puede en conseouen- 
 cia dejarse estal)lccido, agreg6 el Senor 
 Alfonso, que el Congreso sanitario de 
 Lima qniso introducir 6 introdujo modi- 
 ficaciones en la obra del de Rio Janeiro, 
 pues de otro mo<lo so habria concretado 
 llanamente Sj acejitarla : y de aqni resulta 
 la situaci6n especial en que se encuentra 
 la delegaci6n de Chile en este negocio. 
 La Convencidn de Lima fue suscrita por 
 
216 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMKEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 the delegation to the conclusion of the 
 report of the committee, recommending 
 disjunctive adoption, i»to be understood 
 in this sense. 
 
 A vote having been taken, the report 
 of the committee was approved by a 
 majority of thirteen to two, in the follow- 
 ing manner : 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Bolivia, United States, Venezuela, Salva- 
 dor, and Ecuador. 
 
 Those votinguegatively, for the reasons 
 above explained, were : Mexico and Chili. 
 
 There being no further business, the 
 Conference adjourned at 5.30. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragiia. 
 Fernando Crdz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeiJa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublio. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Josi: S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valkntb, 
 Salvador de ME^fDONgA, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MBxf a, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 .John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 United States. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 JosjS Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Casteli.anos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 nn delegado chileno, y aprobada por su 
 Gobierno. Entre olla y la de Rio Janeiro, 
 la delegaci6n no vacila, y pide que sea 
 recomendada la primera. Su voto nega- 
 tive ^ la oonclusi6n del iuforme de la 
 C'omi8i6n, que pide que la Conferencia 
 recomiende una u otra de dichas conven- 
 ciones, tiene este significado. 
 
 Pnesto S, votacidn el dictSimen resulto 
 aprobado por una mayoria de treoe contra 
 dos, en el drden signiente : 
 
 Votaron por la adopcidn del dictdlmen : 
 Nicaragua, Perti, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, 
 Bolivia, Estados ijnidos, Venezuela, Sal- 
 vador y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron en contra de su adopcidn, en el 
 sentido explicado : Mexico y Chile. 
 
 No habi^ndo otro aauuto de que tratar, 
 se levant6 la sesifin ^ las 5 y 30 minutos 
 de la tarde. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidenie. 
 Horacio Guzman. 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Gvatemala. 
 RoQUE Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paragnay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mi:ndon5a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Monduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexi'a, 
 
 Mixico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos:6 Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castelianos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
THIRTY EIGHTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 38. 
 
 Washington, March ;i, 1890. 
 Tho Interuational American Confer- 
 ence was called to order at 3..5 p. m. by 
 the First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Z£- 
 GARRA, a Delegate from Peru, followed 
 by Mr. ROMERO, Second Vice-President, 
 witii the following Delegates present: 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Z6garra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz PeBa. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Mannel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos(5 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. .J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonf.a. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jer6uimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos(5 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
 Sesidn del 3 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidoncia del Sr. F. C. C. Z^garka, 
 delegado por el Peru, Primer Vicepresi- 
 dente, seguido por el Sr. MatJ as Romero, 
 Segundo Vicepresidente, y delegado por 
 Mexico. Estando preseutes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perti: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. ZiSgarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoqne Saenz Pena; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decood. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendon^a. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerduimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Chile : 
 
 ElSr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 217 
 
218 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 The minutes of the thirty-sixth day 
 were read, approved, aud sigued by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and sigued, subject 
 to the modifications requested by Messrs. 
 Qnintana, Eomero, and Mendonja. 
 
 The first-named gentleman stated that 
 in the discussiou on the report of the Ex- 
 ecutive Committee on the printing of 
 proceedings there was a clironological 
 error in the order of his remarks, as these 
 hail been made after the resolution of 
 Mr. Eomero aud iu answer thereto. And 
 as the resolution docs not appear iu the 
 minutes, and the name of Mr. Eomero is 
 mentioned afterwards, his words, conse- 
 quently, would seem to have been unnec- 
 essary. 
 
 Mr. EoMEito stated that his objection 
 had been the iisjuuctive recommendation 
 of both c.nventions and that his resolu- 
 tion (which he later wiihdrew) had been 
 to reoommeud that of Lima, because it 
 was the latest signed ; but that he wonld 
 be in favor of either which obtained the 
 vote of the majority, as he desired una- 
 nimity. 
 
 Mr. MBNDON9A observed that the 
 words in Spanish "copia servil" were not 
 used by him in reference to the conven- 
 tion of Lima. 
 
 The Chair announced that before pro- 
 ceeding with the order of the day the fol- 
 lowing letter from Mr. Pierra would be 
 read : 
 
 "February 27, 1889. 
 " To the Chabinan of the Executive Commit- 
 tee of the International American Con- 
 ference : 
 
 ''Mr. Chairman: It having been 
 brought to my knowledge that the hon- 
 orable Executive Committee has consid- 
 eied as an act of disrespect to the hon- 
 orable Conference, the declination made 
 iu my communication of the 34th of the 
 present mouth, of the emoluments as- 
 signed to me ; and the fact being that in 
 making that declination I was inspired 
 only by a feeling of delicacy, and that it 
 
 Se abrid la sesidu & las tres y cinco 
 miuutos de la tarde. 
 
 Sejey6 el acta niimero 36, del 26 de 
 Fehrero, y qued6 aprobada,'firmd.ndose en 
 seguida por los Sefiorcs Delegados pre- 
 sentes. 
 
 Ley6se en seguida la de la sesidn del 
 dia 'is del mismo mes, No. 37, y qued6 
 aprobada con las explicaciones hechas 
 por los Senores Quintana, Eomero, y 
 Mendonja. El primero dijo que sus pala- 
 bras en la disciisidn del dict^men de la 
 Comisifin Ejecntiva sobre laimpresi<5n de 
 losprocedimientos iiohabian sidopnestas 
 en el 6rden cronol6gico adecuado, pues 
 fueron pronunciados despues de una pro- 
 posici6n hecha por el Senor Eomero y en 
 respuesta ^ ella : y que corao en el acta no 
 consta la proposici6n del Sefior Eomero, 
 y si que este Senor habl6 despues, el re 
 sultado aparente es qne su leuguage no 
 tiene razon de ser. 
 
 El Senor Eomero manifesto qne su 
 objecidn habia sido contra la recomen- 
 daci6n disyunti va de lasdos convenciones, 
 y que su proposicidn (que mas tarde re- 
 tird) tuv6 por objeto recomendarla adop- 
 ci6n del proyecto de Lima, por ser la ul- 
 tima firmada ;■ pero que estaria en favor 
 de la que obtuviera el voto de la ma- 
 yoria, pues su objeto era que se reco- 
 mendara una sola k fin de acercarse d la 
 uniformidad. 
 
 El Senor MENDON9A dijo que las pala- 
 bras "copia servil" no se usaron por 61 
 con referenda S, la couvenci6n de Lima. 
 
 El Senor Prksidente anuncirt que antes 
 de proceder con los asuntos de la 6rden 
 del dia debia leerse la siguiente carta del 
 Senor Pierra : 
 
 " Washington, -27 de Fehrero de 1890. 
 "Al Senor Presidents de la Coniisidn Ejecu- 
 iivadela Conferfneia Internacional Ame- 
 ricana : 
 
 " Senor PitESiDKNTK : Habiendo lle- 
 gado S: mi conocimienio que la Honorable 
 Comisi6n Ejecntiva ha creido ver un acto 
 ofensivo d la Honorable Conferencia, en 
 la renuucia que en mi comunicaci6n del 
 24 del presenle mes hago en los oniolu- 
 nientos (jue me ban sido asiguados, y si- 
 endo asi que al hacer esa renuncia mr ha 
 guiado tan s61o un sentimieuto de delica- 
 deza, y que no ha estado ni podia estar 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 219 
 
 has not been iiud could not be my inten- 
 tion to act with disrespect toward so high 
 a, body, for which I feel the greatest re- 
 spect and consideration, I beg leave to 
 request the honorable Executive Commit- 
 tee to bo pleased to consider as unwrit- 
 ten the portion in question of my com- 
 munication, as I hereby withdraw it. 
 
 " I remain, Mr. Chairman, with all con- 
 sideration and respect, 
 
 "P. G. PlERRA." 
 
 The CiiATR stated that in view of the 
 above the Executive Committee, of which 
 he was chairman, would, with the per- 
 mission of the Conference, withdraw their 
 former report and would report anew on 
 the matter. 
 
 Mr. Vblakde, a Delegate from Bolivia, 
 presented the following resolution, and 
 asked that as it was a personal matter, if 
 it could not be acted upon at once as he 
 desired, but was to be referred to the Ex- 
 ecutive Committee, it might be acted upon 
 as soon as possible : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence, recognizing the services of Mr. F. G. 
 Pierra, would with satisfaction see him 
 withdraw his resignation, and requests 
 that he continue to give his services for 
 the compensation assigned by the Presi- 
 dent of the Conference, it not being pos- 
 sible to accept gratuitous services. 
 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 
 " luAN Franco Velaudb. 
 
 "Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 
 "Jacinto Castkllanos. 
 
 "Josi5 M. Deooud." 
 
 Mr. Trbscot, a Delegate from the 
 United States, objected to the withdrawal 
 of the report of the Executive Commit- 
 tee without a motion to that effect having 
 been made and submitted to Ihe vote of 
 the Conference. Some discussion fol- 
 lowed, and Mr. Zegarra calledMr. Romero 
 to the chair, and from his seat made a 
 motion for permission to withdraw the 
 said report. 
 
 A vote having been taken resulted in 
 thirteen to one in favor of the permission 
 being granted. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 
 en mi iinimo prooeder de una manera in- 
 oonveniente hiicia tan alta Corporacidn, 
 por la cual siento el mayor respeto y con- 
 sideracioQ, me permito suplicar & la Ho- 
 norable Comisifin Ejecutiva se sirva dar 
 por no esorita la parte observada de mi 
 citada eomunicaci6n, puespor lopresente 
 la retire. 
 
 " Quedo del SeSor Presidente, con toda 
 oonsideraoidu y respeto. 
 
 " F. G. Pierra." 
 
 El SeBior Prbsidbnte manifestd que en 
 vista deesta carta la Comisidn Ejecutiva 
 que 61 preside, retira con el permiso de 
 la Conferencia el dict^imen que sobre el 
 asunto de la renuncia del Senor Pierra 
 habia sometido, y someteria otro nuevo 
 segiin corresponda. 
 
 Fl Senor Velarde, delegado por Bo- 
 livia, envid S, la Mesa la siguieute pro- 
 po8ioi6n y piditi que si el asunto no podia 
 despacharse en el acto, como 61 deseaba, 
 por ser asunto personal, y seenviaba & la 
 Comisi6n Ejecutiva, se sirviese esta dic- 
 tamiaarlo md;s pronto posible: 
 
 "La Conferencia luteroacioual Ameri- 
 cana, reconociendo los servicios del Seuor 
 Don F. G. Pierra, v6 con 8atlsfacci6u 
 que retira su renuncia y le excita £i que 
 siga prestsJndolos con la remuneraci6u 
 asignada por el Seuor Presidente de la 
 Conferencia, no siendo posible acexJtar 
 servicios gratuitos. 
 
 "J. M. P. Caamano. 
 " Jacinto Castellanos. 
 "Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 " Jek6nimo Zelaya." 
 
 T como el Senor Trbscot, delegado por 
 los Estados Unidos, manifestd que la 
 Comision Ejecutiva no tenia derecho para 
 retirar un dictiiraen, sin moci6u previa al 
 efecto, sometida al veto de la Conferencia, 
 y se suscit6 alguna discusion sobre el 
 punto, el Seuor Zegarra, delegado por el 
 Peru, llam6 S, la presidencia al Senor 
 Romero ; y desde su puesto hizo la moci6n 
 indicada, sobre la que recayd el siguieute 
 vote: En favor del permiso para retirar 
 el diotiiirien trece voLos : Nicaragua, Peru, 
 Guatemala, Coloinl)ia, Argentina, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, Me- 
 xico, Bolivia, Chile, y Salvador. 
 
220 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONJb'EKENCE. 
 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, Chili, and 
 Salvador. 
 The United States voted against it. 
 
 During the above-mentioned discussion 
 Mr. Velarde withdrew, on his own ac- 
 count and for the other signataries there- 
 to, the resolution above referred to, re- 
 questing that action be taken in the mat- 
 ter as soon as possible, and that if Mr. 
 Pierra's resignation was accepted, the 
 Conference should offer him a vote of 
 thanks for his services. 
 
 The order of the day called for the dis- 
 cussion of Mr. Quintaua's addition to the 
 report of the Executive Committee on the 
 printing of proceedings; but Mr. Cruz, 
 u, Delegate from Guatemala, suggested 
 that as Mr. Hurtado, a Delegate from Co- 
 lombia, and author of a further amend- 
 ment, was absent, it might be well 
 to postpone the consideration of the whole 
 subject until his return ; and this was 
 unanimously agreed to. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Patents 
 and Trade-marks was submitted for dis- 
 cussion. 
 
 To the honorable the International Amer- 
 ican Conference: 
 
 According to the invitation of (he Uni- 
 ted States Government to those of the 
 other countries of America, and accord- 
 ing to the act of Congress in virtue of 
 which this invitation was extended, one 
 of the objects for which this Conference 
 was assembled is to consider the means 
 which tend to protect the rights of liter- 
 ary and artistic property, patents on in- 
 ventions and trade-marks of the citizens 
 of any one country within the territories 
 of all the others which are represented in 
 this Conference. 
 
 The property of man in the fruits of his 
 intellect, whether they consist in literary 
 or scientific works or in works of art, is 
 recognized by all civilized nations, re- 
 ceives the protection of the law, and by 
 some is the object of special attention in 
 their constitutions or fundamental laws. 
 All American nations guaranty the rights 
 of literary and artistic property. All 
 have placed intheircodes legal provisions 
 by virtue of which the author's or artist's 
 rights of property in his works is acknowl- 
 
 Los Estados Unidos votaron contra la 
 conoesidu del permiso. 
 
 En el curso de la disousi^n anterior, el 
 Sefior Velarde, por si y los demijs tres 
 firmantes de la proposioi(5n ^ntes inserta, 
 la retird, snplicando que la cuestidn se 
 decidiese lo raiis pronto posible, y que si 
 el Senor Pierra dejaba al fin el puesto, 
 propondria que se le acordase un voto de 
 gracias por sus servicios. 
 
 El asunto signiente en la drden del dia 
 era el de la adici6u propuesta por cl Senor 
 Qnintana al dict^men de la Comisidu 
 Ejecutiva sobre impresl6n de los pro- 
 cedimientos; pero el Seuor Cruz, dele- 
 gado por Guatemala, sugirid que como 
 estaba ausente el Seflor Hurtado, dele- 
 gado por Colombia, autor de otra de las 
 modificaoioues propuestas, seria bueno 
 posponer el asunto para considerarlo por 
 completo, cuando regresaseel mencionado 
 Sefior. Y asf se decidi6 por unanimidad. 
 
 Se di6 cuenta en seguida con el dict^- 
 men de la Comisidn de Patentes y Marcas 
 de Fd^brica; 
 
 A la Honorable Conferencia Internacional : 
 
 Uno de los objetos con que esta Con- 
 ferencia se ha reiinido, couforme & la 
 invitaci6n del Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidoa & los de los otros palses de Ame- 
 rica, y d; la ley del Cougreao en virtud de 
 la cual esa invitacidn se hizo, ha sido acor- 
 dar los medios que tiendau S, proteger la 
 propiedad literaria y artistica, las pa- 
 tentes de inveuci6n y las marcas de 
 comercio y de fSbrica de los ciudadanos 
 de cada pals en el territorio de todos los 
 dem^s representados en esta Conferencia. 
 
 La propiedad del hombre sobre los pro- 
 ductos de su inteligencia, ya oonsistan en 
 obras literarias 6 cientilicas, 6 en obras 
 de arte, estS reconocida en todos los palses 
 civiljzados, goza en ellos de la proteccidn 
 de las leyes, y en algunos es objeto de 
 reconocimiento especial en sus Constitu- 
 ciones 6 leyes fundamen tales. Todas las 
 naciones de America, garantlzan la pro- 
 piedad literaria y artistica. Todas ban 
 consiguado en sus C6digos disposiciones 
 en virtnd de las ouales el de- 
 
INTEKNATIONAL, AMERICAN CONFEKENCK. 
 
 221 
 
 edged aud assured to the citizens of each 
 of them and to foreigners who live under 
 the protection of their laws ; and the vio- 
 lation of these rights incurs the penalty 
 of the law, and is punished in such man- 
 ner as the legislation of each State deter- 
 mines. 
 
 The right of property in industrial pro- 
 ducts receives the same protection and 
 the same guaranties. The person who 
 discovers new industrial products, or in- 
 vents new processes for their jireparation 
 or manufacture, or improves upon the 
 processes already Isnown, contributes by 
 his discovery or invention to the develop- 
 ment of industry ami to the increase of 
 public wealth ; and has a right thereto 
 as clear and incontrovertible under the 
 laws of all civilized nations as that which 
 the manufacturer has to the products of 
 his factory or the laborer to his daily 
 wages. 
 
 In consequence of the industrial devel- 
 opment of the present age, and the daily 
 increase of international commercial re- 
 lations, very great importance has lately 
 attached to the emblems and devices em- 
 ployed by the manufacturers to distin- 
 guish the products of their factories and 
 by traders to distinguish the wares which 
 they select and place upon the market, 
 and which are commonly called manu- 
 facturers' or dealers' trade-marks. The 
 tradesman or merchant who obtains a 
 reputation for the superiority of articles 
 which he distinguishes by a certain trade- 
 mark acquires aright to this mark which 
 the law should foster and protect ; and it 
 should punish those who violate this 
 right, either by making unlawful use of, 
 or by counterfeiting or forging, a mark 
 belonging to another. 
 
 In this manner not only would the 
 maker or seller be protected, but also the 
 buyer, who has confidence in an article 
 which he generally distinguishes only by 
 the trade-mark which has made it known 
 in the market. When an accredited trade- 
 mark is unlawfully used or forged with 
 the intent of giving to the market and 
 the consumer an adulterated article of 
 food, the deception generally assumes 
 double gravity; for at the same time that 
 the proprietor's tight of ownership of the 
 
 recho de propiedad del autor 6 del ar- 
 tista eu sns obras, se reconoce y asegura S, 
 los oindadanos de cada una de ellas, y 3, 
 los extranjeros que viven bajo el amparo 
 de SUB leyes ; y la violacifin de este derecho 
 cae bajo la sanci6n de la ley, y apareja la 
 responsabilidad que la legislacidn de cada 
 Estado deternilna. 
 
 La propiedad industrial es objeto de la 
 misma proteocidn y las mismas garautfas. 
 El individuo que descubre nuevos pro- 
 duotos industriales, que inventa nuevos 
 procedimientos jjara la producci6n 6 fa- 
 bricaci6u 6 mejora los ya conocidos, con- 
 tribuye con su descubrimiento 6 inven- 
 ci6n al desarroUo de la industria y" al 
 aumento de la riqueza, y tiene sobre 61 un 
 derecho tan claro 6 inconvertible, con- 
 forme d las leyes de todos los paJses civi- 
 lizados, como el que tiene el f abricante en 
 los productos de sus f^bricas, 6 el obrero 
 en sus salaries. 
 
 Consecuencia del desarroUo industrial 
 de la presente 6pooa, y del ensanche, 
 cada dla mayor, de las relaciones comer- 
 ciales de los pueblos entre si, ha side la 
 importancia que tiltimamente ban ad- 
 quirido los emblemas y senalcs que los 
 fabricantes emplean para distiuguir sus 
 productos y los comerciantes las mer- 
 caderfas que escogen y pouen en el mer- 
 cado, llamadas comunmente " marcas de 
 f^brica y marcas comerciales." El comer- 
 ciante 6 mercader que acredita una marca 
 por la bondad del articulo que con ella 
 distingue, adquiere un derecho sobre esa 
 marca que la ley debe proteger y am- 
 parar, castigaudo & los que violen ese 
 derecho, ya por medio del use indebido, 
 ya por medio de la falsificacion 6 adulte- 
 raci6n de la marca que ^ otro pertenezca. 
 Al mismo tiempo que el fabricaute 6 ven- 
 dedor, de este modo queda tambi^n pro- 
 tegido el consumidor, que tiene confianza 
 en un articulo que generalmente no dis- 
 tingue sino i)or la marca que lo ha becho 
 conocido en el mercado. Cuando al uso 
 indebido 6 ^la falsificaoi6n de una marca 
 industrial ya acreditada se ocurre con el 
 fin de dar £ la venta y al cousumo sus- 
 tancias alimentioias adulteradas, la culpa 
 asume generalmente doble gravedad ; 
 porque, al mismo tiempo que por este 
 medio se viola el derecho de propiedad 
 
222 
 
 JNTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 unlawfully appropriated or oouDtcrfelted 
 mark is violated, and that the buyer, 
 who is a victim of the Imposition, is de- 
 fraudeil, the health of the consumer is 
 frequently injured and at times his death 
 occasioned. 
 
 As a general rule, the laws relating to 
 literary, artistic, and industrial property 
 protect in each country only the propri- 
 etor who is a citizen or resident of the 
 same, and tacitly permit the violation of 
 similar rights of property guarantied by 
 the laws of other nations within their 
 6wn territories. Even in countries where 
 the movable property of a foreigner is 
 protected from the moment he enters the 
 national territory, and where the prop- 
 erty of an absent foreigner is respected 
 like that of a citizen or subject, no pro- 
 tection whatever is granted to the author, 
 inventor, or artist for the proprietorship 
 which belongs to him, and which, on 
 account of its immaterial and intangible 
 character, can be more easily violated. 
 Henry Clay, sjieakingin the Un ited States 
 Senate in 1837 of literary property, said: 
 
 "A British merchant brings or trans- 
 mits to the United States a bale of mer- 
 chandise, and the moment it comes within 
 the jurisdiction of our laws they throw 
 around it effectual security. But if the 
 work of a British author is brought to the 
 United States, it may be appropriated by 
 any resident here and republished with- 
 out any compensation whatever being 
 made to the author. We should aU be 
 shocked if the law tolerated the least 
 invasion of the rights of property in the 
 case of the merchandise, while those 
 which justly belong to the works of au- 
 thors are exposed to daily violation with- 
 out the possibility of their invoking the 
 aid of the laws." 
 
 This protection — which may be termed 
 international — of literary and artistic 
 copyright outside of the country of its 
 origin has only been accorded by the na- 
 tions of Europe and America in recipro- 
 city of equal protection given to their citi- 
 zens as a simple international courtesy, or 
 by virtue of compacts and conventions, 
 but it has never been demanded as an in 
 hereut right. 
 
 del dueno de la marca que se falsifica 6 
 de que indebidamente se haoe ueo, y se 
 defrauda al comprador, que es vlctima 
 de estafa, con frecuencia se causa daRo i, 
 la ealud del consumidor, y ^ veces se le 
 ocasiona la muerte. 
 
 Generalmente, las leyes referentes & la 
 propiedad literaria, artfstica 6 industrial 
 no protegen en oada pals sine al propie- 
 tario que es ciudadano del mismo 6 en 61 
 reside, y permiten impllcitamente la vio- 
 lacidn de los derechos de propiedad de la 
 misma especie que las leyes de los otros 
 paises garantizan dentro de su territorio. 
 AllI mismo donde la propiedad mueble del 
 extranjero qneda asegnrada desde el me- 
 mento en que (5ste pisa el territorio na- 
 cional, y donde la propiedad del extran- 
 jero auseute es tan respetada como la del 
 ciudadano 6 subdito, no se concede pro- 
 tecci(3n alguna al autor, al inventor y al 
 artista en la propiedad que lis perteneco, 
 y que, porsucar^cterinniaterial(S intangi- 
 ble, puede ser m&a f^cilmeute violada. 
 Hablando sobre la propiedad literal ia, 
 Henry Clay decia en 1837 en el Senado de 
 los Estados Uuidos : 
 
 " Si un comerciante ingl(Ss trae 6 envfa 
 & los Estados Uuidos una caja de merca- 
 derias, deede el memento en que cae den- 
 tro de la jurisdicci6n de nuestras leyes 
 6stas le conceden la m&a eflcaz protecoidn. 
 Pero si & los Estados Unidos se trae la 
 obra de algun autor ingles, oualquier resi- 
 dente de este pals puede apropiSrsela y 
 reproducirla sin dar al autor compeusa- 
 ci6n de niuguna especie. Nos alarmarfa- 
 mos {odos de que la ley consintieselamas 
 ligera agresi6n al derecho de propiedad 
 en el case de las mercaderlas, y al mismo 
 tiempo los derechos que en justioia los 
 autores tienen sobre sus obras est^n ex- 
 puestos & diarias violaciones, sin que les 
 sea permitido invocar la protecoidn delas 
 leyes.'' 
 
 Esta proteccidn, que podemos Uaraar 
 internacional, & la propiedad literaria y 
 artlstica funra del pals de orlgen, no ha 
 sido acordada por las naciones de Europa 
 y America sine en reciprocidad de igual 
 protecoidn dada a sus ciudadanos 6 sub- 
 ditos, como simple cortesia internacional, 
 6 en virtud de pactos y convenciones; 
 pero janiiis se ha pretendido exigirla como 
 de derecho estricto. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 223 
 
 It was not until t815, in the Congress 
 of Vienna, that Enropo first recognized 
 (and then only in a limited sense) the 
 principle of international protection of 
 literary and artistic property, by estab- 
 lishing, as they did, that the authors and 
 artists of any State comprehended within 
 the Germanic Confedi-ration should enjoy 
 in each of the others the same protection 
 granted by law to authors and artists who 
 were citizens thereof. Afterwards Den- 
 mark, Great Britain, Switzerland, and 
 Austria, each separately, agreed to recog- 
 nize the iutellectual property of those 
 nations who should grant them reciprocal 
 rights. To France belongs the honor of 
 being the first to soleiimly proclaim, as it 
 did in I85'.i, the principle of unlimited and 
 ab,soliite international protection of intel- 
 lectual property and of making the un- 
 authorized reproduction of works pub- 
 lished in fdruign countries a punishable 
 offense. This liberal principle was also 
 adopted unanimously in 1858 by the Lit- 
 erary Congress of Brussels, which, with 
 the object of generalizing it, made some 
 very important declarations, which re- 
 ceived, the adhesion (although without 
 immediate practical results) of the Lit- 
 erary Congress of Antwerp in 1861, of 
 Vienna in 1873, of the Hague in 1875, and 
 of Bremen in 1 ^76. It was not, however, 
 nutil 1881), in the Literary and Artistic 
 Conference of Berne, in which Germany, 
 Belgium, France, Spain, Great Biitain, 
 Hayti, Italy, Liberia, and the Regency of 
 Tunis took part, that a positive and offi- 
 cial result could be reached. In fact, the 
 nations represented constituted them- 
 selves an International Union for the Pro- 
 tection of Literary and Artiaiio Works. 
 They signed a convention, in which " lit- 
 erary and artistic works" were defined 
 and enumerated, the rights of authors 
 clearly specified, and means adopted for 
 rendering them effective ; and the Union 
 established an international ofBce, under 
 the supervision and supreme authority of 
 the Swiss Confederation, the functions of 
 which were fixed with the common con- 
 sent of the contracting parties. 
 
 As a general rule, the nations of En- 
 rope have not granted the protection of 
 
 No fu(S sino on 1815, en el Congreso de 
 Viena, cuando en Euiopa se consagr6 por 
 primera vez, bien que limitadaraente, el 
 principio de la protecci6n internacional & 
 la propiedad literaria y artlstica, al es- 
 tablecer, como en efecto se establecid alH, 
 que los autores y artistas de los estados 
 comprendidos en la Confederacidn Ger- 
 m^nica tendrlan dentro de ella la misma 
 protecci6n otorgada por la ley & los au- 
 tores y artistas en oada uno de los estados 
 que la componfan. Dinamarca, Ingla- 
 terra, Sueoia y Austria, cada una separa- 
 daniente, declararon con posterioridad 
 que reconocerian la propiedad intelec- 
 tual de los paises que reconociesen la de 
 sus nacionales. A Franoia cortesponde 
 la gloria de haber proolamado solemne- 
 meute, la primera, en 1852, el principio 
 ilimitado y absolute del respeto interna- 
 cional S, la propiedad intelectual, y haber 
 erigido en delito la reproducci6n no au- 
 torizada de obras publicadas en paises 
 extranjeros. Este liberal principio fu6 
 consagrado tanibi(Sn undlnimemente en 
 1858 por el Congreso Literario de Bruse- 
 las, que, con el objeto de generalizarlo, 
 hizo muy importantesdeolaraoiones, S, las 
 cnales adhirieron, bien que sin resultado 
 priictico inmediato, los Congresos Litera- 
 rios de Amberes en 1861, de Viena en 
 1873, dela Itaya en 1875, y de Bremen en 
 1876. 
 
 No fa6, empero, sino hasta 1886, en la 
 Confercncia Internacional Literaria y Ar- 
 tlstica de Berna, en la oual toiiiaion 
 parte Alemania, Bdlgica, Francia, Espa- 
 na. Gran Bretana, Haiti, Italia, Liberia, 
 Suiza, y la Regencia de Tunes, ciiando 
 pudo llegarse S, un resultado oftcial y 
 positive. Las naciones representadas se 
 constituyeron, en efecto, en Unidn Inter- 
 nacional para la proteccidn de las Obras 
 LiterarlasyArtlstioas ; firmaron una con- 
 veuci6n en la cual se dofinen y enumeran 
 las "obras literarias y artisticas," se de- 
 terniinan claramente los derechos de los 
 autores, y se fljan los medios de hacerlos 
 efectivos; y la Unidn establecid una ofi- 
 oina internacional bajo la vigilancia y 
 supreina autoridad de la Confederacidu 
 Helvetica, cuyas atribuciones senalaron 
 de comuii aouerdo las partes contratantes. 
 
 Por regla general, las naciones de Eu- 
 ropa no han acordado la protecci6n de sus 
 
224 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 their laws to the industrial property of 
 foreiguers, except as acts of reciprocal 
 courtesy or in virtue of express stipula- 
 tions contaiued in international compacts. 
 So, just in the case of literary . nd artistic 
 copyright, to France belongs the honor 
 of first proclaiming the ample and aliso- 
 Inte principle of international protection 
 to industrial property. The "Interna- 
 tional Congress of Industrial Property " 
 heJd in Paris in l^'TS under the auspices 
 of the French Government, included in 
 its labors every subject relative to "in- 
 dustrial property ; " but, confining itself 
 within the limits of its mission, it merely 
 recommended the Governments to open 
 negotiations with a view to equalizing 
 the legislation of the several nations on 
 so important a subject. The Conference 
 of 1880, which also assembled in Paris, 
 endeaTored to give a practical and defi- 
 nite form to the declarations made in 1878; 
 and, with this intent, prepared a draught 
 of an international convention, in which 
 it was provided that all the nations giv- 
 ing their adhesion to it should constitute 
 aUniou, within which industrial property 
 should enjoy uniform protection before 
 all the courts of justice. 
 
 Nevertheless, this convention did not 
 ol)tain the ratification of the Govern- 
 ments, and it was not until 1883 that 
 the establishment of a union for the inter- 
 national protection of industrial property 
 was definitely realized. According to the 
 terms of the convention, signed in Paris 
 on the 20th of March of that year by the 
 representatives of Prance, Belgium, Bra- 
 zil, Spain, Guatemala, Italy, Holland, 
 Portugal, Salvador, Servia, and Switzer- 
 land, these nations constituted them- 
 selves a. union for the protection of 
 industrial property. It was, moreover, 
 provided that this property, in the broad- 
 est acceptation of the term, should enjoy 
 in each of the countries composing the 
 union all the advantages granted by 
 their respective laws to citizens or sub- 
 jects. Special provisions were formu- 
 lated with the object of protecting the 
 names of business firms and facilitating 
 the punishment of counterfeiters of trade- 
 marks. And, finally, it was agreed to 
 organize an "international office of in- 
 dustrial property," to be maintained by 
 
 leyes i la propiedad industrial extranjera 
 sino d tltulo de reciprocidad 6 en virtud 
 de estipulaciones expresas consignadas eh 
 pactos internacionales. Asl como en lo 
 tocante & la propiedad literaria y artis- 
 tica, respecto S, la propiedad industrial 
 tambi^n corresponded Pranoia el honor de 
 haber proclaraado el principio arapilo y 
 absolute de la proteocidn internacional. 
 El Congreso Internacional de la Propie- 
 dad Industrial de 1878, celebrado en Paris 
 bajo los auspicii s del Gobierno francos, 
 abarc6 en sus trafcajos todas las materiag 
 relativas S, la propiedad industrial ; pero, 
 encerr^udose dentro de los limites de su 
 misi^n, tan s61o recomendd Si los gobiernos 
 que entablasen negociaciones ii fin de uni- 
 formar la legislacidn de las diversas na- 
 ciones sobre tan importante asunto. En 
 la Cont'erencia de 1880, reunida tambi^n 
 en Paris, tratd de darse forma pr^ctioa y 
 definitiva & las declaraciones heohas en 
 1878, y, con tal objeto, se redacts un pro- 
 yecto de convenci6n internacional en 
 que se establecia que todas las naciones 
 que adhiriesen S, ella formarfau una 
 Uni6n dentro de la cual la propiedad in- 
 dustrial gozarla de uniforme proteccion 
 ante los tribunales. 
 
 Esta convenci6n no recibd, sin embflrffo, 
 la ratificaci6n de los gobieruos; y no ia6 
 sino en ]883cuando el establecimiento de 
 unaUni(5n para la proteccion internacional 
 de la propiedad industrial qued<5 defini- 
 tivamente realizado. Conforme S, la con- 
 venci6u firmada en Paris, en 20 de Marzo 
 de ese ano, por los representantes de 
 Francia, B61gica, Brasil, Espana, Guate- 
 mala, Italia, Holanda, Portugal, Salva- 
 dor, Servia y Suiza, estas naciones se con- 
 stituyeron en estado de Uni6n para la 
 protecoi(5n de la propiedad industrial. 
 Qued6 adem& estipulado que esta pro- 
 piedad, en el sentido mSa lato de la ex- 
 presi6n, gozarla en cada uno de los paises 
 que hacen parte de la Unidn de todas las 
 ventajas que las leyes respectivas otorgan 
 a;iosciudadano8 6 stibditos; acorddronse 
 disposiciones especiales con el objeto de 
 proteger los nombres comerciales y facili- 
 tar el castigo inherente & la falsificaciSn 
 de las marcas de comercio y de filbrica; y, 
 por ultimo, se convino en organizar una 
 oficina internacional de la propiedad in- 
 dustrial, sostenida con fondos suministra- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 225 
 
 funds appropriated by the contracting 
 States, and placed under the high au- 
 ihority and supervision of the superior 
 administration of the Swiss Confodera- 
 lion. The ratifications of the Govern- 
 ments were quiclily exchanged, and in 
 conformity with the provision the inter- 
 national office was organized in Berne, 
 under the authority of the Swiss Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 To the recent Congress of Private In- 
 ternational Law, of Montevideo, assem- 
 bled in response to an invitation issued 
 by the Governments of the Argentine Re- 
 public and the Republic of Uruguay to 
 othernatiousof South America, is due the 
 high honor of having been the first to ac- 
 knowledge on this continent and sol- 
 emnly establish the most wholesome 
 principles of law for the solution of dis- 
 putes arising from the differences of the 
 legislation of one country from that of 
 another, and of establishing among these 
 principles that of international protection 
 of literary,, artistic, and industrial prop- 
 erty. In the three treaties on literary 
 and artistic copyright, on trade-marks, 
 and on patents, subscribed to by the rep- 
 resentatives of the Argentine Republic, 
 Bolivia, Brazil, Chili, Paraguay, Peru, 
 and the Republic of Uruguay, who at- 
 tended said Congress, your Committee on 
 Patents and Trade-marks flads the prin- 
 ciples set forth which, iu its opinion, 
 should be adopted throughout this conti- 
 nent, in order to assure and give effective 
 protection to the rights of literary, ar- 
 tistic, and industrial property acquired 
 in any of the nations represented iu this 
 Conference. 
 
 In the treaties referred to literary and 
 artistic works, trade-marks, and patents 
 of invention are clearl.y and precisely de- 
 fined ; in the same manner are prescribed 
 the rights of authors and artists, propri- 
 etors of trade-marks and inventors, which 
 the contracting powers guaranty and pro- 
 tect; the formalities to be observed in 
 obtaining this protection and guaranty; 
 the limits of said rights, and the manner 
 in which they may be exercised. All the 
 conflicts on those subjects which may 
 arise from diversity of legislation between 
 the cantracting States are settled by clear 
 and precise provisions, which are formu- 
 
 15 I 
 
 dos por las nacioues contratautes, y i olo- 
 cada bajo la alta autoridad y vigilanoia 
 de la administracifin superior de la Con- 
 fed6raci6u Helv(5tica. Las ratificaciones 
 de los gobiernos ^ osta couvenci6o fueron 
 oportunamente oanjeados, y, seglin lo es- 
 tipulado, la Oflciua Internacional se or- 
 ganiz6 on Berna bajo la autoridad del 
 gobierno suizo. 
 
 Al reoiente Congreso de Derecho Inter- 
 nacional Privado de Montevideo, reunido 
 & virtud de invitaci6n do los Gobiernos 
 de las Repliblicas Argentina y Oriental 
 del Uruguay a las otras nacioneS de la 
 AmiSrica del Sur, corresponde en este con- 
 tinente la alta honrade haber reconocido 
 y solemnemenfe consagradolos m^s sanos 
 principios de derecho para la soluci6n de 
 los conflictos & que la diferencia do legis- 
 laci6n de un pais ^ otro pnede dar orlgen, 
 y haber consagrado entro esos principios 
 el de la p. otecci6n internacional & la pro- 
 piedad literaria, artlstioa 6 industrial. 
 En los tres tratados sobre propiedad li- 
 teraria y artistica, eobre marcas de co- 
 mercio y de f^brica, y sobre patentes de 
 invencidn suscritos por los represent antes 
 de la Repdblica Argentina, Bolivia, Bra- 
 sil, Chile, Paraguay, Pltu y Reptiblica 
 Oriental dei Uruguay quo concurrieron & 
 aquel Congreso, la Comisidn de Patentes 
 y Marcas comerciales encuentra estable- 
 cidos los jjrinoipios quo, on su couccpto, 
 debieran adoptarse en este continente 
 para asegurar en 6\ y dm- eticaz prote- 
 cci6n ^los derechos de propiedad literaria, 
 artistica 6 industrial adqniridos I'U cada 
 una de las nacioues representadas en esta 
 Conferencia. 
 
 En los referidos tratados se definen con 
 toda claridad y precisi6u las obras artis- 
 ticas y literarias, las marcas de comercio 
 y de f^brica y las patentes de invencidn, 
 y del mismomodo sedeterminan los dere- 
 chos de losautoresy artistaa,delosduenos 
 de marcas y de los inventores, que las 
 poteucias siguatarias garantizan y pro- 
 tegen, las formalidades que deben obser- 
 varse para obteuer esta procecci6n y 
 garantia, los limites que esos derechos 
 tienen, y el modo como pueden ser ejerci- 
 dos. Todos los conflictos que puedan 
 surgir de las diferencias de legislacidn 
 entre los paises contratantea sobre todos 
 
226 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 lated with all due respect to the sover- 
 elgaty and laws of each State. Thus, 
 for instance, in respect to literary and 
 artistic copyrights, it is' provided that 
 adithors and artists shall enjoy the rights 
 accorded them by the law of the State in 
 which the original publication or produc- 
 tion of their works took place, but that 
 no State is obliged to recognize such rights 
 for a longer timethau that allowed to au- 
 thors who obtain the same right in that 
 State. 
 
 Rights to trade-marks granted in one 
 country are recognized in the others, but 
 with due regard to their own laws ; and 
 to enjoy the right to an invention for 
 which a patent has been obtained in any 
 one of them, it is uecessary to have the 
 patent registered in any other in which 
 its recognition is asked for in the form 
 prescribed by its laws. With regard to 
 the duration of patents, the same princi- 
 ple is established which was previously 
 mentioned in relation to literary and ar- 
 tistic copyrights, and it is moreover pro- 
 vided that the duration of the patent may 
 be limited in each State to the period pre- 
 scribed by the laws of the State iu which 
 the patent was first granted, if such pe- 
 riod be the shorter. It is also provided 
 that questions arising 'on the priority of 
 invention shall be settled according to 
 the date of the application for the re- 
 spective patents in the countries where 
 they were granted. Finally, in all these 
 treaties the principle is established that 
 those who violate the rights of property 
 Iheicin recognized and guarantied can 
 only be legally arraigned before the courts 
 of the country in which the oifeuse may 
 have been committed. 
 
 The Committee on Patents and Trade- 
 marks begs leave to append to this re- 
 port copies of the treaties of the Congress 
 of Montevideo above referred to. Being 
 persuaded that, by the formal adoption 
 on the part of the nations here repre- 
 sented of the just principles embodied in 
 those treaties, and by their enactment into 
 positive law, the necessary protection of 
 the rights of literary, artistic, and in- 
 dustrial property will be secured, your 
 committee respectfully submits the ap- 
 
 aquellos asuntos, se resuelvon jjordisposi- 
 ciones Claras y precisas alli consignadas, 
 en las cnales est^ consagrado el respeto ^ 
 la soberania do cada pais y ^ sus leyes. 
 Aei, por ejemplo, respecto S, la propiedad 
 literaria y artistica, se <'eclara que los 
 autores y artistas gozar^n do los derechos 
 que les acuerde la ley del estado en donde 
 tenga lugarlaprimerapublioaci6n 6 pro- 
 duccidndesusobras; y queningrin Estado 
 quedaohligado d reconocer tales derechos 
 por m^s tiempo que el sefialado ^ los au- 
 tores que en 61 los obtengan. 
 
 Los dere hos sobre las marcas de f^- 
 brica y de oomercio adquiridos en un pais 
 se ejercen en los deraSs con sujeci6n ^sus 
 propias leyes ; y para distrutar de los de 
 alguna invenci6u para la cual se haya 
 obtenido patente on alguno de ellos, es 
 precise (jne se haga el registro de la pa- 
 tente en oualquiera otro donde se pre- 
 tenda ejercerlos, en la forma quesus leyes 
 prescriban. Respecto S, la duraoidn de 
 las patentes de invenci6, se estableoe el 
 mismo principio, ya mencionado, que 
 rige con relaoidn S^ la propiedad literaria 
 y artistica; y se declara, adem^s, que 
 puede limitarse en cada Estado al seBa- 
 lado por las leyes de aqnel en que primi- 
 tivamente se acord6 la patente, si fuese 
 menor. Estii estipulado tarabi^n que las 
 cuestiones que se susciten sobre prioridad 
 de la invencidn se resuelvan teniendo en 
 cuenta la fecha do la solicitud de las 
 patentes respectivas en los palses donde 
 fuerou concedidas. Finalmente, en todos 
 estos tratados se ha establecido el prin- 
 cipio de que la responsabilidad civil 6 
 criminal proviniente de la violacidn de 
 los derechos de propiedad que en ellos se 
 reconocen y garantizan, no pueda hacerse 
 efectiva jndicialmente sino ante los tri- 
 bunales del pais donde la violaci6n se haya 
 cometido. 
 
 La Comisidn de Patentes y Marcas Co- 
 nieroiales se permite acompaSar ^este in- 
 forme los tratados del Congreso de Monte- 
 video S, que se ha referido. Persuadida 
 de que con la adopci6n formal, por parte 
 de las naciones aqui representadas, delos 
 principios de dereoho consignados en esos 
 tratados y su incorporacidn en el dorecho 
 positive se obtendrii la necesaria prote- 
 ci6n & los derechos de propiedad literaria, 
 artistica 6 industrial, la Comisi6n eomete 
 respetuosamente & la consideraoidn de la 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 227 
 
 pended resolution to tlie consideration of 
 the Conference. If the above-mentioned 
 treaties are ratified by tbo subscribing 
 nations, and are furthermore adhered to 
 by the Republics of Colombia, Ecuador, 
 and Venezuela, who, although tlioy ai)- 
 proved the proposition to assemble said 
 Congress, could n'^t take part therein 
 owing to the pressure of time, then those 
 principles shall be the law in force on the 
 subject in the whole of South America. 
 In Central and Nortb America they may 
 likewise have equal authority if, in ac- 
 cordance with the stipulations of Article 
 6 of the Additional Protocol of the South 
 American Congress, (he subscribing na- 
 tions agree, as is to be expected, to the 
 adhesion to the treaties by those nations 
 who were not invited to it, in the same 
 form as those who, while approving the 
 proposition of its reunion, took no part in 
 its deliberations. 
 
 3os± S. Decoud, 
 Delegate from Paraguay. 
 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Delegate from United States. 
 
 CLfMACO Calder6n, 
 Delegate from ColomMa. 
 Washington, February 19, 1890. 
 
 Proposed Resolution. 
 Whpreas the International American 
 Conference is of the opinion that the 
 treaties on literary and artistic property, 
 on patents and on trade-marks, celebrated 
 by the South-American Congress of Mon- 
 tevideo, fully guaranty and protect the 
 rights of property which are the subject 
 of the provisions therein contained : 
 
 Besolved, That the Conference recom- 
 mend, both to those Governments of 
 America which accepted the proposition 
 of holding the congress, but could not 
 participate in its deliberations, and to 
 those not invited thereto, but who are 
 represented in this Conference, that they 
 give their adhesion to the said treaties. 
 (Signed) Josifi S. Decoud, 
 
 Delegate from Paraguay. 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Delegate from United States. 
 CLfMACO Caldbr6n, 
 Delegate frovi Colombia. 
 
 Conferencia la adjunta propo8ici6u. Si 
 los mencionados tratados reciben la rati- 
 ficacidn de lasnacionessignatarias, y ade- 
 mhiS adhiriereu & ellos las Repiiblicas de 
 Colombia, Ecuador y Venezuela, que, aun 
 ouando aceptaron el pensaraiento de reun- 
 i6n de aquel Congreso, no pudieron concur- 
 iiv£6l por la premura del tiempo, esosprin- 
 cipios tendriJu fuerza de ley en la AmiSrica 
 Meridional. En las Americas Central y 
 del Norte pueden tambi^n llegar fiicil- 
 mente & tener igual fuerza, si, de oonformi- 
 dad con lo estipulado en ol Artioulo Sexto 
 del Protocolo Adicional del Congreso Sud- 
 Americauo, las naciones signatarias consi- 
 enten, como es de esperarse, en la adhesion 
 a los tratados de los paises que no fueron 
 invitados S,6l, en la misma forma estable- 
 cida respeoto de aquellos que, habiendo 
 aprobado la idea de su reunion, no to- 
 marou parte en sns deliberaoiones. 
 Washington, Febrero 19 de 1890. 
 
 JosiS S. Decoud, 
 
 Delegado del Paraguay. 
 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Delegado de los Estadoa Unidos. 
 
 CLfMACO Calder6n, 
 
 Delegado de Colombia. 
 
 Proybcto db Resoluci6n. 
 Se resuelve : 
 
 La Conferencia luternacional Ameri- 
 cana es de opini6u que los tratados sobre 
 Propiedad Literaria y Artistica, sobre 
 Patentes de Invenci6n y sobre Marcas de 
 Comercio y de F^ibrica celebrados por el 
 Congreso Snd-Amerioano de Moatevidio, 
 garantizan y protegen plenamente los 
 derechos de propiedad que son materia 
 de las estipulaciones en ellos coutenidas. 
 En consecuencia, la Conferencia reco- 
 mienda la adhesi6u S, dichos tratados 
 tanto Siloa Gobiernos de las Naciones de 
 America que, habiendo aceptado la idea 
 (le la reunidn del Congreso, no pudieron 
 concurrir ^ sus deliberaciones, como ^ 
 Jos de aquellas no invitadas que ae eucuen- 
 tran representados en esta Conferencia. 
 Josifi G. Decoud, 
 
 Delegado del Paraguay. 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Delegado de los Estados Unidos, 
 ClImaco Caluer6n, 
 Delegado de Colombia. 
 
228 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 Treaty on Literary and Artistic 
 copyrght. 
 
 His ExceUency the President of the Re- 
 public of , etc., etc., having agreed 
 
 to formulate a treaty on literary and ar- 
 tistic copyright through their plenipoten- 
 tiaries in congress assembled, in the city 
 of Montevideo, by invitation of the Gov- 
 ernments of the Argentine Republic and 
 of the eastern Republic of Uruguay. 
 
 His Excellency the President of the 
 
 Republic of being represented by 
 
 Mr. , etc. 
 
 Who, after exhibiting their full pow- 
 ers, which were found iu due form, and 
 after the conferences and discussions nec- 
 essary to the case, have agreed upon the 
 following stipulations : 
 
 Article I. 
 
 The contracting States promise to rec- 
 ognize and protect the rights of literary 
 and artistic property, according to the 
 provisions of the present treaty. 
 
 Article II. 
 The author of any literary or artistic 
 work, and his successor.s, shall enjoy in 
 the contracting States the rights ac- 
 corded him by the law of the State in 
 which its original publication or produc- 
 tion took place. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 The author's right of ownership in a 
 literary or artistic work shall comprise 
 the right to dispose of it, to publish it, 
 to convey it to another, to translate it or 
 to authorize its translation, and to repro- 
 duce it in any form whatsoever. 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 No State shall be obliged to recognize 
 the right to literary or artistic property 
 for a longer period than that allowed to 
 authors who obtain the same right in 
 that State. This period may be limited 
 to that prescribed in the country where 
 it originates, if such period be the shorter. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 By the expression literary or artistic 
 works is understood all books, pamphlets, 
 or other writings, dramatical, or dramat- 
 jco-musical works, choregraphies, mu- 
 
 Tratado de Propiedad Litkraria y 
 ArtIstica. 
 
 S. E. el Presidente de la Republica, etc., 
 6tc.,hanconvenidoen celebrarun tratado 
 sobre propiedad literaria y artistioa por 
 medio de sus plenipotenciarios, reunidos 
 en Congreso, enlaciudad de Montevideo, 
 por iuiciatlva de los Gobiernos de las Re- 
 ptiblicas Argentina y Oriental del Uru- 
 guay, estando representados : 
 
 S. E. el Presidente de la Repfiblica 
 por el &^. Dr. Don . 
 
 Quienes, previa exhibicidn de sus plenos 
 poderes, que hallaron en debida forma, y 
 despu^s de las conferencias y discusioues 
 del caso, ban acordado las estipulaciones 
 siguientes: 
 
 ArtIculo 1. 
 
 Los Estados signatarios se comprome- 
 ten Sj reoonocer y proteger los derechos de 
 la propiedad literaria y artistica, en oon- 
 formidad con las estipulaciones del pre- 
 sente tratado. 
 
 ARTfCULO 2. 
 El autor de toda obra literaria 6 artis- 
 tica y sus suoesores, gozar^n en los Esta- 
 dos signatarios de los derechos que les 
 acuerde la ley del Estado en que tuvo 
 Ingar su primera publicaci6n 6 produ- 
 cci6n. 
 
 ARTfCULO 3. 
 
 El dereoho de propiedad de una obra 
 literaria 6 artistica comprende para su 
 iiutor la facultad de disponer de ella, de 
 publicarla, de enajenarla, de traducirla 
 6 de autorizar su traduccidn, y de repro- 
 ducirla en cualqniera forma. 
 
 ARTfCULO 4. 
 
 Ningfln Estado estar^ obligado & re- 
 conocer el derecho dfe propiedad literaria 
 6 artistica por maj'or tierpo del que rija 
 para los autores que en 61 obtengen ese 
 derecho. Este tiempo podr^ limitarse al 
 seualado en el pais de orlgen, si fuere 
 menor. 
 
 ARTfCULO 5. 
 
 En la expresidn "obras literarias y ar- 
 tlsticas,'' se comprenden los libros, folletos 
 y cualesquiera otros escritos; las obras 
 dramSiticas 6 dramditico-musicales, las 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 229 
 
 sical compositions witli or without words, 
 drawings, paintings, acnlptures, engrav- 
 ings, photographs, lithographs, geograph- 
 ical maps, plans, sketches, and plastic 
 works rolatiug to geography, topogra- 
 phy, architecture, or to the sciences in 
 general ; and finally, o\^ery production 
 ntider the domain of literature or art 
 which may be published in any way by 
 printing or reproduction. 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 The translators of works of which a 
 copyright either does not exist or has ex- 
 pired, shall enjoy with respect to their 
 translations the rights declared in Arti- 
 cle III, but they shall not prevent the 
 publication of other translations of the 
 same work. 
 
 Article VII. 
 
 Newspaper articles may be reproduced 
 upon quoting the publication from which 
 they are taken. From this are excepted 
 articles relating to the sciences or arts, 
 and whose reproduction shall have been 
 prohibited by the authors. 
 
 Article VIII. 
 
 Speeches pronounced or read in delib- 
 erative assemblies, before tribunals of 
 justice, or in public meetings, may be 
 published in the public press without 
 any authorization whatsoever. 
 
 Article IX. 
 
 Under the head of illicit reproductions 
 shall be classed all indirect, unauthorized 
 appropriations of a literary or artistic 
 work, which may be designated by dif- 
 ferent names as adaptations, arrange- 
 ments, etc., etc., and which are nothing 
 more than a reproduction without pre- 
 senting the character of an original 
 work. 
 
 Article X. 
 
 The rights of authorship shall be con- 
 ceded, in the absence of proof to the con- 
 trary, in favor of the person whose 
 names or pseudonyms shall be borne 
 upon the literary or artistic works in 
 question. 
 
 coreogr^ficas, las composiciones mnsicales 
 con (5 sin palabras ; los dibujos, las pintu- 
 ras, las esculturas, los grabados ; las 
 obras fotogr^ficas, las litografias, las 
 cartas geogr^fieas, los pianos, oroqnis, y 
 trabajos plilsticos relatives S. geografia, S, 
 topografia, & arquitectura 6 & ciencias en 
 general ; y en fin se comprende toda pro- 
 ducci6u del dominio literario 6 artislico 
 que pueda publicarse por eualqnier modo 
 de impresidn 6 re,producci6n. 
 
 AETfCULO 6. 
 
 Los traductores de obras acerca de las 
 cuales no exista 6 se haya extinguido el 
 derecho de propiedad garantido, gozar^n 
 respeoto de sus traducci6nes de los de- 
 rechos declarados en el Articulo 3, mas 
 no podrdn impedir la publicaoi6u de otras 
 traducciones do la misma obra. 
 
 ARxfcuLO 7. 
 
 Los artfculos de periddicos podr^n 
 reproducirse, cit^ndose la publicacidn de 
 donde se toman. Se exceptfian los arti- 
 cnlos que versen sobre ciencias y artes, y 
 cnya reproduccidn se hubiera prohibido 
 expresamente por sus autores. 
 
 ARTfcuLO 8. 
 
 Pueden publicarse en la prensa peri- 
 6dica, sin necesidad de antorizacidu al- 
 guna, los discursos pronunciados 6 leidos 
 en las asambleas deliberantes, ante los 
 tribunales de justicia, 6 en las reuniones 
 ptiblicaa. 
 
 ArtIculo 9. 
 
 Se consideran reproduooiones ilicitas 
 las apropiaciones indirectas no autoriza- 
 das de una obra literaria 6 artlstica y que 
 se designan con nombres diversos, como 
 adaptaciones, arreglos, etc., etc., y que no 
 son mSs que reproduccifin de aqu^lla, sin 
 presentar el carScter de obra original. 
 
 ArtIcolo 10. 
 
 Los derechos de antor se reconocer^n, 
 salvo prueba en contrario, i£ favor de las 
 persouas cuyos nombres u seuddnimos 
 estdn indicados en la obra literaria 6 
 artlstica. 
 
230 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 If the authors wish to withhold their 
 names, they should inform the editors 
 that the rights of authorship belong to 
 them. 
 
 Article XI. 
 
 Those who usurp the right of literary 
 or artistic property shall ho hrought he- 
 fore the courts and tried according to the 
 laws of the country in which the fraud 
 may have been committed. 
 
 Article XII. 
 
 The recognition of the right of owner- 
 ship of literary and artistic work shall 
 not prevent the contracting States ffom 
 preventing by suitable legislation the re- 
 production, publication, circulation, rep- 
 resentation, or exhibition of all works 
 which may be considered contrary to good 
 morals. 
 
 Article XUI. 
 
 The simultaneons ratification of all the 
 contracting nations shall not be necessary 
 to the effectiveness of this treaty. Those 
 who adopt it will communicate the fact 
 to the Governments of the Argentine Re- 
 public and the Eastern Republic of Uru- 
 guay, who will inform the other contract- 
 ing nations. This procedure will take the 
 place of an exchange. 
 
 Article XIV. 
 
 The exchange having been made in the 
 manner prescribed in the foregoing arti- 
 cle, this treaty .ihall remain in force for 
 an indefinite period after that act. 
 
 Artic)-e XV. 
 
 If any of the contracting nations should 
 deem it advisable to be released from this 
 treaty, or to introduce modifications in 
 it, said nation shall so inform the rest; 
 but it shall not be released until two 
 years after the date of notification, dur- 
 ing which time measures will be taken to 
 effect a new arrangement. 
 
 Article XVI. 
 
 The provisions of Article XIII are ex- 
 tended to all nations who, although not 
 represented in this Congress, may desire 
 to give their adhesion to the present 
 treaty. 
 
 Si los autores qnisieren reservar sns 
 nomhres, deher^n expresar los editores 
 que & ellos corresponden los derechos de 
 autor. 
 
 ArtIculo 11. 
 
 Las responsabilidades en que incurrau 
 los que usurpen el derecho de propiedad 
 literaria 6 artfstica se ventilar^n ante los 
 tribunales y se regir^n por laa leyes del 
 pais en que el frande se haya coraetido. 
 
 AKXfCULO 12. 
 
 El reconocimiento de propiedad de las 
 obras literarias 6 artlsticas, no priva & los 
 Estados signatarios de la facnltad de pro- 
 hibir, con arreglo S, sus leyes, que se re- 
 produzcan, publiqnen, circulen, repre- 
 senten 6 expongan aquellas obras qne se 
 consideren contrarias ^ la moral 6 & las 
 bnenas costumbres. 
 
 ArtIculo 13. 
 
 No es indispensable para la vigencia de 
 este Tratado su ratificaci6n simnltSnea 
 gor todas las naciones signatarias. La 
 que lo apruebe lo comunicar^ & los gobier- 
 nos de las Repiiblieas Argentina y Oriental 
 del Uruguay, para que io hagau saber & 
 las dem^s naciones contratantes. Este 
 procedimiento harii las veces de canje. 
 
 ArtIculo 14. 
 
 Hecho el canje en la forma del articulo 
 anterior, este Tratado quedardi en vigor 
 desde ese acto portiempo indefinido. 
 
 ArtIcolo 15. 
 
 Si alguna de las naciones signatarias 
 oreyese couveniente desligarse del Tra- 
 tado 6 inti'oducir modificacioues en 61 lo 
 avisar^ ^ las dem^s ; pero no quedarSi 
 desligada sino dos afios despucs de la 
 deuuncia, t^rmino en qne se procurar^ 
 llegar ^ un nuevo acuerdo. 
 
 ARxfcULO 16. 
 
 El articulo 13 es extensive 6, las, 
 naciones que, no habiendo concurrido & 
 este congreso, qnisieren adherirse al pre- 
 sente Tratado. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 231 
 
 Wherefore, the plenipotentiaries of the 
 nations innumerated sign and afQx tlielr 
 seals to the foregoing, to the number of 
 exemplars, In the city of Monte- 
 video, on the — — days of the month of 
 January, in year 1889. 
 
 [L. s.] 
 
 (Signatures.) 
 
 Treaty on Trade-Marks. 
 
 His Excellency the President of the Re- 
 public of , etc., etc., having agreed 
 
 to formulate a treaty on trade-marks, 
 through their plenipotentiaries in con- 
 gress assembled, in the city of Monte- 
 video, by invitation of the Governments 
 of the Argentine Republic and of the 
 Eastern Republic of Uruguay. 
 
 His Excellency the President of the Re- 
 public of , being represented by 
 
 Mr. , etc. 
 
 Who, after exhibiting their full powers, 
 which were found in due form, and after 
 the conferences and discussions necessary 
 to the case, have agreed upon the follow- 
 ing stipulations : 
 
 Article I. 
 
 Any person to whom shall be granted 
 in one of the contracting States the ex- 
 clusive right to a trade-mark shall enjoy 
 the same privilege in the other States, 
 but with due respect to the formalities 
 and conditions established by their laws. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 The ownership of a trade-mark shall 
 include the right to use or to sell or 
 otherwise convey it. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 By trade-mark shall be understood the 
 sign, emblem, or exterior motto which 
 the merchant or manufacturer adopts and 
 applies to his wares andproducts, in order 
 to distinguish them from those of other 
 dealers or manufacturers trading in arti- 
 cles of the same character. 
 
 To this class of marks shall belong those 
 called trade devices, or designs, which by 
 means of weaving or stamping are affixed 
 to the product exposed for sale. 
 
 En {6 de lo cual, los plenipotenciarios 
 de las naciones mencionadas lo firman y 
 
 sellan en el niimero de ejemplares, 
 
 en Montevideo, S, los dias del mes de 
 
 Enero del aSo de 1889. 
 
 [l. s.] (Siguen las firmas de los 
 
 Senores Plenipotenciarios.) 
 
 Tratado Sobbe Makcas db Comercio 
 
 Y DE FXbRICA. 
 
 S. E. el Presidente de la Repfiblica, etc., 
 etc., han convenido en celebrar un Tratado 
 sobre Marcas de Comercio y de Fiibrica, 
 por medio de bus Plenipotenciarios, re- 
 unidos en Gongreso, en la ciudad de 
 Montevideo, por iniciativa de los Gobier- 
 nos de las Repfiblicas Argentina y Orien- 
 tal del Uruguay, estando represeutados : 
 
 S. E. el Presidente de la Repliblica' 
 por el Sr. Dr. Don . 
 
 Quienes, previa exhibicidn de sns plenos 
 poderes, que hallarou en debida forma, 
 y despu^s de las conferenoias y discnsioues 
 del caso, han acordado las estipulacionea 
 siguientes : 
 
 ArtIculo 1. 
 
 Toda persona ^ quien se ronceda en uno 
 de los Estados signatarios el derecho de 
 usar exclusivamente una marca de co- 
 mercio 6 de fSbrioa, gozar^ del mismo 
 privelegio en los demfc Estados, cousuje- 
 ci6n S, las formalidades y condiciones es- 
 tablecidas por sns leyes. 
 
 AKTfOULO 3. 
 
 La propiedad de una marca de comerBio 
 6 de f^brica comprende la facultad de 
 usarla, trasmitirla 6 enajenarla. 
 
 ArtIculo 3. 
 
 Se reputa marca de comercio 6 de f^- 
 brica el siguo, emblema, 6 nombre externo 
 que el comerciante 6 fabricaute adopta y 
 aplica & 8U8 mercaderi as y productos, para 
 distingnirlos de los de otros industriales 
 <5 comerciantes que negocian en articulos 
 de la misma espeoie. 
 
 Pertepecen tambien ^ esta clase de mar- 
 cas las Uamadas dibujos de iSibvioa, 6 
 labores que, por medio del tejido 6 dela 
 impresidn, se estampan en el producto 
 mismo que se pone en venta. 
 
232 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 AllTlCLB IV. 
 
 Counterfeits or alterations of trade- 
 marks shall be prosecuted before the 
 courts according to the laws of the State 
 in whose territory the fraud was com- 
 mitted. 
 
 AKTfCULO 4. 
 
 Las falsiticaclones y adulteraciones de 
 las maroas de comorcio y de f^brica, se 
 perseguir^n antelostribanales con arreglo 
 S, las leyes del Estado en cuyo territorio 
 se cometa el fraude. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 The simultaneous ratification of all the 
 contracting nations shall not be neces- 
 sary to the efiectivbuess of this treaty. 
 Those who adopt it will communicate the 
 fact to the Governments of the Argentine 
 Eepublio and the Eastern Republic of 
 Uruguay, who will inform the other con- 
 tracting nations. This procedure will 
 take the place of an exchange. 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 The exchange having been made in the 
 manner prescribed in the foregoing arti- 
 cle, this treaty shall -remain in force for 
 an indefinite period after that act. 
 
 ARTfCHLO 5. 
 
 No es indispensable para la vijencia de 
 este Tratado su ratificacidn simulf^nea 
 por todas las Naciones signatarias. La 
 que lo apruebe lo comunioar^ & los Go- 
 biernos de las Eepliblicas Argentina y 
 Oriental del Uruguay, para que lo hagan 
 saber & las dem^s Naciones contratantes. 
 Este procedimiento harS las veces de 
 canje. 
 
 ArtIoulo 6. 
 
 Hecho el canje en la forma del articulo 
 anterior, este Tratado quedar^ en vigor 
 desde ese acto por tiempo indefinido. 
 
 Article VII. 
 
 If any of the contracting nations should 
 deem it advisable to be released from this 
 treaty, or to introduce modifications into 
 it, said nation shall inform the rest ^ but 
 it shall not be released until two years 
 afterthedateof notification, during which 
 time measures will be taken to effect a. 
 new arrangement. 
 
 ARTfcULO 7. 
 
 Si alguna de las Nacioues signatarias 
 crejese oonvenicnte dcsligarse del Tra- 
 tado, 6 introducir modificaciones en ^I, 
 lo avisar^ & las deuiiis ; pero no quedarfi 
 desligada bino dos alios despu^s de la de- 
 nuncia, t^rmino en que se proourar^ lie- 
 gar & uu uuevo acuerdo. 
 
 Article VIII. 
 
 The provisions of Article V are extended 
 to all the nations who, although not rep- 
 resented in this Congress, may desire to 
 give their adhesion to the pre ent treaty. 
 
 Wherefore the plenipotentiaries of the 
 nations enumerated sign and affix their 
 seals to the foregoing to the number of 
 
 exemplars, in the city of Montevideo, 
 
 on the days of the month of January 
 
 in the year 1889. 
 
 [L. s.] (Signatjires.) 
 
 ArtIculo 8. 
 
 El articulo 5 es extensivo ^ las Naciones 
 que, no habiendo concurrido S. este Con- 
 greso, quisieren adherirse al presente 
 Tratado. 
 
 En f6 de lo cual, los Plenipotenciarios 
 de las Nacioues mencionadas, lo firman y 
 
 sellan en el ntimero de ejemplares, 
 
 en Montevideo, & los dias del mes de 
 
 Enero del alio de 1889. 
 
 [L. s.] (Siguen las firmas de los 
 
 Sefiores Plenipotenciarios.) 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONli'ERENCE 
 
 233 
 
 Treaty on Patents op Invention. 
 
 His Excellency the President of the 
 
 Republic of , etc., etc., having 
 
 agreed to formulate a treaty on patents 
 of invention through their plenipotentia- 
 ries in congress assembled in tlio city of 
 Montevideo, by invitation of the Govern- 
 ments of the Argentine Republic and of 
 the Eastern Republic of Uruguay. 
 
 His Excellency the President of the 
 
 Republic of , being represented by 
 
 Mr. , etc. 
 
 Who after exhibiting their full powers, 
 which were found in due form, and after 
 the conferences and discussions necessary 
 to the case, have agreed upon the follow- 
 ing stipulations : 
 
 Article I. 
 
 Any person who shall obtain a patent 
 or privilege of inventiou in any of the 
 contracting States shall enjoy in all the 
 others the rights of inventor, if within a 
 year at the utmost he shall cause his 
 patent to be registered in the form pre- 
 scribed by the laws of the country in 
 which he shall ask for its recognition. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 The duration of the privilege shall be 
 that fixed by the laws of the country in 
 which it is to take effect. This period 
 may be limited to that prescribed by the 
 laws of the State in which the patent was 
 first granted, if such period be the shorter. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 Questions arising on the priority of in- 
 vention shall be settled according to the 
 date of the request for the respective pat- 
 ents in the country where they were 
 granted. 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 By invention or discovery shall be un- 
 derstood any new method, mechanical or 
 manual apparatus, for the manufacture of 
 industrial products; the discovery of any 
 new industrial product, and the applica- 
 tion of perfected methods for obtaining 
 results superior to any previously known. 
 
 TKATADO 80BRB PATENTBS DB INVEN- 
 
 ci6n. 
 
 S. E. el Presidente de la Reptiblioa, etc., 
 
 etc., han convenido en celebrar un 
 
 Tratadosobre Patentes de Invenci6n, por 
 medio de sus Plenipotenciarios, reunidos 
 en Congreso, en la ciudad de Montevideo, 
 por iuiciativa de los Gobiernos de las Re- 
 ptiblicas Argentina y Oriental del Uru- 
 guay, estando representados : 
 
 S. E. el Presidente de la Repuhlica 
 
 por el Sr. Dr. Don . 
 
 Quienes, previa exhibici6nde sus plenos 
 poderes, que hallaron en debida forma, y 
 despnfe de las conferencias y discusiones 
 del case, hau acordado las estipnlacioues 
 siguientes : 
 
 ArtIculo 1. 
 
 Toda persona que obtenga patente 6 
 privilegio de invenci6n en alguno de los 
 Estados signatarios, disfrutar^ en los 
 dem^, de los derechos de inventor, si en 
 el t6rmino m^ximo de nn alio, hiciere 
 registrar su patente en la forma determi- 
 nada por las leyes del pals en que pidiese 
 su reconocimiento. 
 
 ArtIculo 2. 
 
 El nximero de aiios del privilegio ser^ 
 el que fijen las leyes del pais en que so 
 pretenda hacerlo efectivo. Ese plazo 
 podr^ ser limitado al senalado por las 
 leyes del Estado en que priniitivamente se 
 acord6 la patente si f uese menor. 
 
 ArtIculo 3. 
 
 Las cuestionea que se susoiteu sobre la 
 prioridad de la invenci6n, se resolver^n 
 teniendo en cuenta la fecha de la solici- 
 tud de las patentes respectivas, en. los 
 palses en que se otorgaron. 
 
 ARTfCDLO 4. 
 
 Se considera invenciou 6 descubrimieuto 
 un nuevo raodo, aparato niecdinico 6 
 manual, que sirva para faliricar produc- 
 tos industriales ; el desciibriniiento de un 
 nuevo i)roducto iudustrialy la aplicaci6n 
 de medios perfeccionados con el objeto de 
 conseguir resultados siiperiores & los ya 
 conocidos. 
 
234 
 
 INTERNATIOKAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 No patents shall be granted — 
 
 (1) To inventions or discoveries already 
 made public in any of the contracting 
 States, or in others not bound by this 
 treaty. 
 
 (2) To those contrary to good morals 
 or to the laws of the country in which 
 the patents are to be issued or recognized. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 The rights of the inventor shall include 
 that of enjoying the nse of his invention 
 and of transferring it to others. 
 
 Abticlb VI. 
 
 Those persons interfering in any way 
 with the rights of the inventor shall be 
 prosecuted and punished according to the 
 laws of the country in which the offense 
 may occur. 
 
 Article VII. 
 
 The simultaneous ratification of all the 
 contracting nations shall not be neces- 
 sary to the effectiveness of this treaty. 
 Those who adopt it will communicate the 
 fact to the Governments of the Argentine 
 Republic and the Eastern Republic of 
 Uruguay, who will inform the other con- 
 tracting nations. This procedure will 
 take the place of an exchange. 
 
 Article VIII. 
 
 The exchange having been made in 
 the manner prescribed in the foregoing 
 article, this treaty shall remain in force 
 for an indefinite period after that act. 
 
 Article IX. 
 
 If any of the contracting nations should 
 deem it advisable to be released from this 
 treaty, or to introduce modifications in 
 it, said nation shall so inform the rest ; 
 but it shall not be released until two 
 years after the date of notification, during 
 which time measures will be taken to 
 effect a new arrangement. 
 
 Article X. 
 
 The provisions of Article VII are ex- 
 tended to all nations who, although not 
 represented in this congress, may desire 
 to give their adhesion to the present 
 treaty. 
 
 No podriin obtener patente : 
 
 {I) Las invenciones y descubrimientos 
 que hubieran tenido publicidad en algnno 
 de log Estados signatarios, 6 en otros que 
 no est6n ligados por este Tratado ; 
 
 (2) Las que fueren contrarias & la moral 
 y £ las leyes del pals en donde las paten- 
 tes de invencidn hayan de expedirse 6 de 
 reconocerse. 
 
 ARTf CULO 5. 
 
 El derecho de inventor comprende la 
 faoultad de disfrutar de su invencidn y 
 de trasferlrla S, oti?os. 
 
 AETfCULO 6. 
 
 Las responsabilidades civiles y crimi- 
 nales en que incurran los que dafien el 
 derecho del inventor, se perseguirdin y 
 penar^n con arreglo S, las leyes del pais 
 en que se haya ocasionado el perjuicio. 
 
 AjKTfCULO 7. 
 
 No es indispensable para la vigencia de 
 este Tratado su ratificacidn simult^nea 
 por tod.as las Naciones signatarias. La 
 que lo apruebe lo comunicar^ Sj los 
 Gobiernos de las Repliblicas Argentina 
 y Oriental del Uruguay, para que lo 
 hagan saber S, las demfe Naciones contra 
 tantes. Este procedimieuto har^ las 
 veces de canje. 
 
 ARTfcuLO 8. 
 
 Heoho el canje en la forma del artloulo 
 anterior, este Tratado quedardi en vigor 
 desde ese aoto por tiempo indefinido. 
 
 ArtIculo 9. 
 
 Si alguna de las Naciones signatarias 
 creyese oonveniente desligarse del Tra- 
 tado 6 introducir modificaciones en 61, lo 
 avisar^ S, las dem^s ; pero no quedar^ des- 
 ligada sino dos aBos despu^s de la denun- 
 cia, t^rmino en que se procurar^ .flegar & 
 un nnevo acuerdo. 
 
 ArtIculo 10. 
 
 El artloulo 7 es extensive ^ las Naciones 
 que, no habiendo concurrido ^ este Con- 
 greso, quisieren adherirse al presente Tra- 
 tado. 
 
INTRENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 235 
 
 Wherefore the plenipotentiaries of the 
 nations enumerated sign and affix their 
 seals to the foregoing to the number of 
 
 exemplars, in the city of Montevideo, 
 
 on the days of the month of January, 
 
 in the year 1889. 
 
 [L. s.] (Signatures). 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 stated that his vote would be given with 
 the proviso that it should not affect the 
 previous arrangements which this Gov- 
 ernment might have entered into. 
 
 Mr. CasTbllanos, a Delegate irom 
 Salvador, expressed himself in the same 
 sense. 
 
 The vote having been taken, the con- 
 clusions of the report of the Committee 
 were unanimously approvid. 
 
 The special report of the Committee on 
 International Law, on the resolutions of 
 Mr. Caamafio and Mr. Andrade, on the 
 navigation of rivers and on claims, was 
 then called up for discussion. 
 
 The above report recommended the ap- 
 pointment of a special committee for the 
 consideration of these and other similar 
 questions. 
 
 The resolution of the report having been 
 voted upon, was unanimously approved. 
 Those voting were the Delegations of 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentine, Costa Rica, Brazil, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, United States, Chili, and 
 Salvador. 
 
 The CUAiK suggested that the special 
 committee to be appointed should consist 
 of the same members as that on Interna- 
 tional Law. 
 
 Messrs. Castellanos and Zkgarra 
 expressed the same opinion, but Mr. Al- 
 fonso, a member of said committee, ob- 
 jected, because he already belonged to 
 five committees, all very laborious, and 
 because he did not think that public in- 
 ternational law, under which the ques- 
 tions to be considereil came, ought to be 
 discussed by the Conference. He stated 
 that this was at least his present opinion, 
 but that he might modify it after giving 
 the question further thought. 
 
 Mr. Trescot, a Delegate from the 
 United States, stated that he did not ob- 
 ject to the appointment of the committee 
 
 En U de lo cual, los plenipotenciarios 
 de las Naciones raencionadas lo firman y 
 
 sellan en el ufimero de ejemplares, 
 
 en Montevideo, 6, los dias del mes de 
 
 Enero del ano de 1889. 
 
 [L. s.] (Siguen las firmas de los 
 
 SeQores Plenipotenciarios.) 
 
 Abi.rta discusidn, manifesto el SeBor 
 Cruz, delegado por Guatemala, que su 
 veto se entenderia con la salvedad de 
 que no afectaba en modo alguno los 
 compromises previos que su Goblerno 
 hubiese coutraido sohre el particular. 
 
 El Senor Castellanos, delegado por 
 Salvador, expres6 el mismo pensamiento. 
 
 Puesto & votacidn el dictamen, resul- 
 taron sus conclusiones aprobadas por 
 unanimidad. 
 
 Se puso ent6nces & discnsi6n el dictS- 
 men presentado por la Comisidn de De- 
 recho internacional respecto & las mo- 
 ciones del Se&or Caamano y el Senor An- 
 drade sobre navegaoidn de rios, y sobro 
 reclamaciones, recomendando el nom- 
 bramiento de una Comisidn especial que 
 se ooupe de ese y otros asuntos an^logos, 
 y habiendo procedido & votar sobre las 
 conclusiones del mismo dictamen que- 
 daron estas aprobadas por unanimidad. 
 Los votes dadosfueron : Nicaragua, Perfi, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, Brasil, 
 Estados Unidos, Chile, y Salvador. 
 
 Sugiri6 en seguida el Senor Presidente 
 la conveniencia deque la Comisi6n es- 
 pecial consista de los mismos Seuores que 
 forman la de Derecho internacional. 
 Apoyaron esta indioaci6n los Seiiores Zk- 
 garra y Castellanos; pero el Seilor Al- 
 fonso, miembrodelaComisidn de Derecho 
 internacional, se ox)uso & ello, pprque era 
 miembro de cinco comisiones, todas de 
 mucho trabajo, y porque 61 no conside- 
 raba que corresiiondia S, esta Conferencia 
 ocuparse de Derecho pliblico interna- 
 cional, & que corresponden los asuntos 
 de que se trata. Esta era al m^nos su 
 impresidu por ahora, que tal vez modifi- 
 cariadespues de mayor meditaci6n. 
 
 El Senor Trescot, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, expuso que 61 no se 
 oponia & que la Comisi6u se constituyese 
 
236 
 
 INTEENATIONAT. AMERICAIf CONFERENCE. 
 
 as suggested ; that he himself would al- 
 ways vote that the Conference did not 
 possess the power to report or recommend 
 principles of public international law ; 
 that the subjects in question really be- 
 longed to the Conunitteo on General Wel- 
 fare, and that he desired to call the at- 
 tention of the Conference to the fact that 
 the latter committee had been organized 
 subject to certain modifications suggested 
 by Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, and 
 that these had never been ;formulated, as 
 would appear by consulting the minutes 
 of the twelfth day. 
 
 Mr. Quint ANA, a Delegate " from the 
 Argentine, stated the question was not at 
 present whether the Committee on Gen- 
 eral Welfare was or not clearly author- 
 ized, but that it had been decided to ap- 
 point a special committee to consider the 
 matter referred to in the report ; that the 
 only question to determine was as to the 
 members of the committee, and that in 
 his opinion the very fact that Mr. Trescot 
 held the views he did, in addition to his 
 well-known fitness, rendered it advisable 
 that he should be a member of the special 
 committee. 
 
 A vote having been talsen on the sub- 
 ject, it was decided by amajority of thir- 
 teen to one that the special committee 
 should consist of the same members who 
 at i)rescnt form the Committee on Inter- 
 national Law. 
 
 Chili voted negatively. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Nic 
 aragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentine, Costa Rica, Parnguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, United States, 
 and Salvador. 
 
 Mr. Zblata, a Delegate from Honduras, 
 stated that he had not been able to attend 
 the previous session when the report of 
 the Committee on Sanitary Regulations 
 had been adopted, but that he wished it 
 put on record that he indorsed said report. 
 
 The Chair announced that the order of 
 the day for the next session would be the 
 discussion of the general report of the 
 Committee on International Law. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, suggested that it would be ad- 
 visable t" have the whole text of the 
 
 como se habia indicado ; que 61 en su par- 
 ticular votaria siempre que la Conferen- 
 cia no tiene competencia para dictar, d 
 reoomendar principios de Derecho inter- 
 nacional publico; que los asuntos en 
 ouestidn correspondian realmente & la 
 Comisidn de Bieiiestar General ; y que 
 con est e motivoqueria llaraar la atencidn 
 dela Conferencia al hecho de que esta 
 liltima Comisidn habia side organizada, 
 sujeta & ciertas modificaciones que cl 
 Senor Varas, delegado por Chile, habia 
 de proponer, y que nunca fueren formu- 
 ladas, todo lo cual aparece del acto No. 13. 
 
 El Senor Quintan.'., delegado por la 
 Repiiblioa Argentina, dijo que el punto 
 en discusidn no era si la Comisidn de 
 Bienestar general estaba <! no debidameute 
 autorizada ; que era punto resuelto que 
 se nombrase una Comisidn especial para 
 estudiarlas proposicioues de que habia el 
 dictiimen ; que s61o debia decidirse ahora 
 J quieues deben ser los miembros de esa 
 Comisidn ? y que en su ooncepto las opi- 
 niones expresadas por cl Senor Trescot, 
 aderaas de su competencia reoonocida, 
 exigian quedl fuera uno de los miembros 
 de la Comisidn especial. 
 
 Puesto ^ votaoidn el asunto, se decidid 
 por una mayoria de 13 contra uno que la 
 Comisidn especial consista de los mismos 
 cinco Senores que forman hoy la de De- 
 recho internacional. 
 
 El vote negative fue el do Chile. Los 
 aflrmativos fueron de Nicaragua, Peru, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, Md- 
 xico, Bolivia, EstadosUnidos, y Salvador. 
 
 El SeSior Zklaya, delegado por Hondu- 
 ras, manifestd que no habia podido asistir 
 & la sesidn anterior cuando se discutid el 
 dictSmen de la Comisidn de Reglamentos 
 Sanitarios pero que deseaba hacer constar 
 en el acta que su veto era favorable & la 
 adopcidn de las conclusiones de dicho 
 dictiimen. 
 
 El Selior Presidente anuncid que en 
 la prdxima sesidn discutiria el dict^men 
 general de la Comisidn de Derecho inter- 
 nacional. 
 
 Y e] SeSor Martinez Silva, delegado 
 por Colombia, sugirld con este motivo, 
 que seria conveniente imprimir como 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 237 
 
 treaties, the adoption of which was rec- 
 ommemled, printed a3 appendices to the 
 above report. 
 
 It was so agreed, provided that it should 
 not prevent the report being acted upon 
 at once. 
 
 The order of the day being exhausted, 
 the Conference adjourned at 5.25 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 A'icaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegaeua, 
 
 Peru. 
 Feunando Cuuz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 EoQUB Saenz PeSa, 
 Manu' l Qcintana, 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 Manuel Ai!ag6n, 
 
 Costa liica. 
 Jos£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de MEND0N9A, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enkique a. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Vevarde, 
 
 Bolivia.. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 T. Jefi'eeson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 United States. 
 Jos6 Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 J08]6 Maria PLiciDO CaamaSo, 
 
 Mcuador. 
 
 apdndice JC dicho dictiimeu el toxto inte- 
 gro de los tratados cuya adopcifinse re- 
 comienda. 
 
 Asl so acord6, iioondici6n sin embargo, 
 de que esto no embarazaae la di8CU8i6n 
 inmediata del diotfimcn. 
 
 No habiendo mas asunto de que tratar, 
 se levanf6 la sesidu ii las cinco y velnte 
 y cinco minutes de la tiirde. 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 HonACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 F. C. C. Z^QARRA, 
 
 P(rd. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colomlria. 
 RoQiJE Saenz Pbna, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manukl Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Josiii S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mkndon9a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 JerOnimo Zulaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MaiIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 
 M&rico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 Esiados Vnidos. 
 Josii; Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. ■ 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ Mar! A PlAcido CaamaSo, 
 IScuador. 
 
THIRTY-NINTH DAY. 
 
 AcA 
 
 No. 39. 
 
 Washington, March 4, 1890. 
 The International American Con foreuoe 
 was called to order at 3 p. m. by the Presi- 
 dent, Hon. James 6. Blaine, with the fol- 
 lowing Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Carlos Maiiinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic: 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz FeFia. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. .los^ S. Decoud. 
 Brazil: 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonfa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6uimo Zolaya. 
 Mexico: 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Tresoot. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido CaamaBo. 
 
 238 
 
 Seaidn del 4 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blalne. 
 Estando presenter : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzmd^n. 
 Perti: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Ciilrlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz PeSa; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag<5n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valeute; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jcr<5nimo Zelaya. 
 MiSxico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juiin P. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 EI Sr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson. 
 Chili : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Job6 Maria Pliloido 
 CaamaQo, 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 239 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present, with the following cor- 
 rections : 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA stated that it did not 
 appear iu the minutes that his amend- 
 ment to the report of the Executive Com- 
 mittee on Printing of Proceedings had 
 been unanimously approved by the Con- 
 ference. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso said that his statement of 
 opinion on the power of the Conference 
 to discuss questions of Public Interna- 
 tional Law was not an absolute one, b>it 
 merely the expression of a doubt, and was 
 to he understood as only a suggestion for 
 the study of a doubtful point. 
 
 Mr. Dkcodd, a Delegate from Para- 
 guay, aslted that the entire text of the 
 report of the Committee on Patents and 
 Trade-marks be included in the minutes 
 which had just been read; and, there be- 
 ing no objection thereto, it was so ordered 
 by the Chair. 
 
 Mr. Decoud then asked, in addition, 
 that in future this be done with all the 
 reports the conclusions of which were 
 approved. There being no objection 
 raised, it was so ordered. 
 
 Mr. EoMBKO, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 rose to explain why the Mexican delega- 
 tion had not voted on the report of the 
 Committee on Patents and Trade-marks, 
 and spoke as follows: 
 
 The Argentine Government has pro- 
 posed to the Mexican Government the 
 approval of the treaties signed in Monte- 
 video by the South American Congress, 
 and according to information furnished 
 by the Government of Mexico to its del- 
 egation in Washington the former is now 
 diligently engaged in making a. careful 
 study of those treaties, animated by the 
 best desire to approve them the end, 
 among others, of contributing on its part 
 to the harmonizing of private interna- 
 tional law between all the American na- 
 tions. 
 
 The Delegates from Mexico in this Con- 
 ference have not yet received notice from 
 their Government that it has completed 
 
 Se abri(5 la sesidn S, las tres de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firm6 el acta de la 
 anterior sesidn, con las modiiicaoiones 
 aiguientes : 
 
 Primera. Que la adicion del Senor 
 QuiNTANA al dict^men de la Comisidn 
 Ejecutiva sobre impresidn de los procedi- 
 mientos fn6 aprobada por la Conferencia, 
 por voto un^nime. 
 
 Seguuda. Que el concepto expresado 
 por el SeHor Alfonso respecto de la com- 
 petencia de la Conferencia para tratar 
 asuntos de Derecho internaoional pliblioo, 
 no ta6 absolute, ni debe eutenderse de 
 otra manera que indicativ6 de la necesi- 
 dad de estudiar el punto quees tan grave 
 como diidoso. 
 
 El Senor Decotjd, delegado por Para- 
 guay, manifesto que el texto Integro del 
 dict^men de la Comisidn de Patentes y 
 Marcas de F^brica, debia inclniise en el 
 acta que acaba de leerse ; y no habiendo 
 objecoi6n alguna, el Sefior Presidente dis- 
 puso que asi se hiciera. 
 
 El mismo Senor Decoud manifestd en 
 seguida, que en su concepto lo mismo de- 
 bia hacerse en lo futuro con todos los 
 dictamenes cuyas conclusiones resulta- 
 sen aprobadas. 
 
 No hubo objeccidu contra esto, y as 
 quedd deterrainado. 
 
 El Senor Romero, delegado for Mexico, 
 tom6 lo palabra, y en explicaci6n del 
 motive porque la Delegacion de Mexico 
 no habia votado cuando se 8ometi6 el dic- 
 t^men de la Coraisi6n de Patentes y Mar- 
 cas de F^brica, dijo la siguiente : 
 
 El Gobierno argentine ha propuesto al 
 Gobierno mexicano la aceptaci6u de los 
 tratados firmados en Montevideo por el 
 Congreso sud-americano, y segfin iu- 
 formes del Gobierno de Mexico S, su Lega- 
 cidn en Washington, so ocupa con empeno 
 de hacer uh estudio detenido de aquellos 
 tratados, animado del mejor deseo de 
 aceptarlos, entre otros fines con 61 de 
 contribuir por su parte, ^ uniformar 
 el Derecho internacional privado, entre 
 todas las naciones americanas. 
 
 Los 'delegados de Mexico en esta Con- 
 ferencia no han recibido todavia noticia 
 de su Gobierno de que haya terminado 
 
240 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 that study, nor muoli less of what its re- 
 sult has been, and under those circum- 
 stances and without instructions in the 
 premises they believe it is their duty to 
 abstain from voting in this case and in oth- 
 ers where the acceptance of said treaties 
 by the nations represented in the Confer- 
 ence is proposed,' because they do not be- 
 lieve they should anticipate the resolu- 
 tion of a question which is now engaging 
 the attention of the Government. 
 
 For this reason the Delegates from Mex- 
 ico beg leave of the Conference to reserve 
 their vote, to be given when they shall re- 
 ceive the instructions from their Govern- 
 ment ; and that if there be any objection 
 to this, that their vote may not be counted 
 because they abstain fi'om giving it at the 
 time of the discussion and vote upon the 
 reiport of the Committee on Trade-marks, 
 Patents, and Literary Property, which 
 recommends to the nations represented 
 therein the acceptance of the treaties 
 upon these subjects, signed in Montevideo. 
 
 The order of the day called for the dis- 
 cussion of the following general report of 
 the Committee on International Law, the 
 resolutions of which were read by the Sec- 
 retaries: 
 
 "liEPOllT OF TnK COMMITTKB ON INTER- 
 NATIONAL LAW. 
 
 "The Committee on International Law, 
 whose duty it is to propose uniform rules 
 of private international law concerning 
 civil and commercial matters and the 
 legalization of documents, has now the 
 honor to submit to the enlightened con- 
 sideration of the honorable Delegates the 
 result of its studies and deliberations. 
 
 " Though uniformity of rules in mat- 
 ters of private international law was not 
 a subject specitically and expressly named 
 in the act of Congress which created this 
 Conference, there is no doubt that it falls 
 legitimately within the scope and nature 
 of its purposes, since it is one of the 
 means which most directly would tend to 
 promote prosperity and stability in the 
 mutual relations of the various States of 
 America. If the difBcnlties of communi- 
 cation, the differences to be fonnd in the 
 organization and the rules of the respect-* 
 ive custom-houses, and even the diversity 
 
 ese estudio, ni m^nos de cual haya sido su 
 resnltado ; y en estas oirounstancias, y 
 sin instruccioues referentes ^ este asunto, 
 se oreen en el deber de abstenerse de 
 votar en este case y en los dem^s en quei 
 se proponga la aceptacidn de dichos tra- 
 tados ^ las naciones representadas en 
 esta Conferenoia, porqne no creen deber 
 auticipar la resolucifiu de un asunto de 
 que se ocupa actualmente su Gobierno. 
 
 Eu esta virtud los delegados de Mexico 
 suplican Si la Coiiferencia que les permita 
 reservar su voto para darlo cuaudo reci- 
 bau las instrucciones de su Gobierno; y 
 que si para esto hubiere alguna dificultad, 
 que su voto no se tome en ouenta por ha- 
 berse absteuido de emitirlo al discntirse 
 y votarse el dictilmen de la Comisidn de 
 marcas de f^brica, pateutes y propiedad 
 literaria, que recomienda d las naciones 
 representadas en ella, la aceptacidn de 
 los Tratados flrmados en Montevideo 
 sobre estos asuntos. 
 
 Se di6 euenta segun estaba establecida 
 en la drden del dia con el siguiente dicta- 
 men de la Comision de Derecho inter- 
 nacional cuyaa conclusiones fuerou leidas 
 por los Secretaries. 
 
 " INFORME DE LA COMIStdN DB DeRECIIO 
 
 Intbrnacional. 
 
 "LaComisi6n de Derecho Internacional, 
 S, la que corresponde proponer reglas uni- 
 formes de Derecho internacional privado 
 respect6 de materias civiles y comercia- 
 les, asl como tambien respecto de legali- 
 zaoidu de documentos, tiene la honra de 
 someter hoy S, la ilustrada consideraci6u 
 de los Houorables Delegados el resnltado 
 de su estudio y deliberaciones. 
 
 " Aunque la uniformidad en asuntos de 
 Derecho internacional privado no haya 
 sido mencionada especilica y nominal- 
 mente en el Acta de couvocatoria de este 
 Congreso, como uno de los temas que en 
 61 habian de tratarse, es indubable que se 
 halla dentro del limite y natnraleza de 
 esos objetos, ya que es uno de los medios 
 que m^s directamente tender^n S, promo- 
 ver prdsjieras y constantes relaciones en- 
 tre los diferentes pueblos de la America. 
 Si para llegar al resnltado apetecido de 
 que ^stas se acerquen y confundan hasta 
 donde sea posible, sou una barrera las di- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 241 
 
 of weights and measures, are properly to 
 be considered as obstacles to the attain- 
 ment of the desired end, that is, the 
 greatest practicable unification and har- 
 monization of the people of these States, 
 a no less important obstacle is that which 
 arises out of conflicts of law upon matters 
 of daily occurrence and constant appli- 
 cation. The current of the movement 
 which tends to unite those communities 
 can be greatly facilitated if an effort is 
 made to remove that obstacle. 
 
 "Private international law is that branch 
 of the general law which has the most 
 direct, immediate, and intimate bearing 
 upon the person, the family, and the prop- 
 erty ; or, in other words, upon the three 
 precious elements characterizing man in 
 his social aspect. Vainly would we offer 
 to any individual all the inducements of 
 rapid, convenient, and cheap communi- 
 cation, or of similarly favorable condi- 
 tions in matters of port dues, custom- 
 houses, and coins, if other subjects which 
 are to him of the greatest moment, con- 
 cerning either his personal rights, his au- 
 thority and position in his family, or his 
 powers and privileges in regard to his 
 property, remain in doubt. Uniformity 
 of rules in private international law 
 would tend to remove this uncertainty, 
 the consequences of which are the more 
 to be feared as the union brought about 
 by a more active and fruitful commer- 
 cial intercourse grows closer and more in- 
 timate between the nations. 
 
 "The ideal, no doubt, is an absolute 
 and complete uniformity of legislation, 
 at least upon these points on which con- 
 flicts may arise. But as this can not, for 
 the moment at least, be expected to be 
 realized, the effort must be limited to se- 
 cure, if possible, the recognition of some 
 rules, discussed beforehand and admitted 
 to be safe and well established, by which 
 those conflicts, when presenting them- 
 selves, should be decided. Inasmuch as 
 every nation, whether great or small, is 
 entirely free to adopt for itself such insti- 
 tutions and laws as it may deem best cal- 
 culated to supply its needs, or to meet 
 the circumstances which surround it, it of 
 course happens that the difterenoes of leg- 
 islation exhibited by them are sometimes 
 striking. 
 
 16 I C 
 
 ficultades de comunicaci6n, las diversas 
 organizaciones y reglamentos ed Aduanas, 
 y hasta la diferenoia en pesas y medidas ; 
 barreras no m6nos poderosas sou las que 
 levantan los conflictos delegislaciones di- 
 versas en aquellos asuntos que son de uso 
 diario y constante aplioaci6n. Para faoi- 
 litar la corriente de movimiento de los 
 unos S, los otros pueblos, es no 8(51o con- 
 veniente sino indispensable, trabajar para 
 que desaparezcan tales obst^culos. 
 
 "ElDcrechointernacionalprivado esel 
 que tiene miifl directa, inmediata 6 Intima 
 relacitfn con la persona, con la familia y 
 con la prosperidad, es decir, con los tres 
 preoiosos elementos que constituyen y ca- 
 racterizan al liombre social. En vano se 
 halagaria S, un individuo cualquiera con 
 los alicientes de r^pidas, cdmodas y bara- 
 tas conranicaciones, y de disposiciones 
 an^ogas en materias de adnanas, depuer- 
 tos y de monedas, si quedan inciertoa los 
 puntos que para 61 han de ser de mdfl ca- 
 pital interns, losde sus derechos como perso- 
 ualidad, los de su autoridady posici6nen 
 la familia, y los de sus facultades y prerro- 
 gativas respecto de sus bieues. La uni- 
 formidad en las reglas de Derecho inter- 
 nacional privado tiene por objeoto quitar 
 esa incertidumbre, cnyas consecuencias 
 han de ser m£is temidas cuanto mda fre- 
 cuente y estrecha sea la uni6n que re- 
 sulte de nn movimiento comercial m^ 
 active y fecundo. 
 
 "El ideal es, indudablemente, la com- 
 pleta snif ormidad de las legislaciones, por 
 lo m^nos en todos aquellos puntos en que 
 alguna vez pueda presentarse conflicto ; 
 pero ya que S, 6sto no pueda aspirarse por 
 ahora, es necesario, pro lo miSnos, tener 
 adoptada, previa y fijamente, una norma 
 segura que los resuelva cuando Ueguen d 
 ocurrir. Como cada naci6n, grande 6 pe- 
 quefia, es completamente libre para darse 
 las instituoiones y leyes que mejor le pa- 
 rezcan, que satisfagan mejor sus uecesi- 
 dades y mejor respondan^ sus circunstan- 
 cias, claro estd) que habrS entre las legis- 
 laciones de los diversos pueblos diferen- 
 cias de mncha significacidn. 
 
242 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 " By virtue of their own undoubted sov- 
 ereignty each State has the undisputed 
 right, which it will always exercise, of 
 enforcing its laws within the limits of its 
 territory and against its own citizens. 
 But when the case is that of foreigners 
 within its territory, or of the citizens of 
 the State in foreign territory, then the 
 conflict may arise between the law of the 
 nation where the foreigner is and the law 
 of the nation to which he belongs. And 
 if it arises, as is often the case, because of 
 the diversity of laws, conditions, and cir- 
 cumstances of each sovereign State, the 
 necessity will be felt, urgently and im- 
 peratively, of some established principle 
 by which the matter should be set at rest. 
 If the nations were to live in entire isola- 
 tion, if they were neither to admit for- 
 eigners into their territory nor to allow 
 their citizens to enter foreign territory, 
 if there were to be no commerce, naviga- 
 tion, or communication, or if the laws re- 
 lating to civil and commercial life were 
 everywhere the same, no difficulty what- 
 ever would be found. But, as already 
 stated, the fact is that the laws are, and 
 for a long time will continue to be, di- 
 verse ; and the fact is, furthermore, that 
 nations do not live, nor ought nor wish 
 to live, in isolation, and that, much to 
 the contrary, the independent States of 
 America have gathered together here to 
 discuss, through their lawful representa- 
 tives, those measures which, in their 
 opinion, may be the safest and most effi- 
 cacious for promoting the closest and 
 most intimate union which their inde- 
 pendence and their true interests may 
 possibly allow. 
 
 " If, for instance, the law of North Ame- 
 rica fixes the age of twenty-one years as 
 the full legal age, and in any of the Span- 
 ish-American republics it is the rule that 
 full legal age is not reached until the age 
 of twenty-five, it is necessary to have some 
 standard for deciding whether a Spanish- 
 American citizen is of full age here at 
 twenty-one, or if a North- American there 
 must wait to be twenty-five in order to be 
 considered as of full age. If marriage is 
 entered into here with certain solemnities, 
 and there the form and the solemnities are* 
 different, it is necessary to decide whether 
 parties entering into the contract of mar- 
 
 "En virtud de la soberania do esos 
 pueblos, cada cual tiene el derecho de 
 mantener, sus propias leyes, sin disputa, 
 dentro de los limites de su territorio y 
 respecto de los que sean nacionales suyos. 
 Mas cuando se trate de extranjeros en su 
 territorio, 6 de nacionales eu territorio 
 extranjero, existe adem^s de su ley, la ley 
 de la nacionalidad del extranjero, 6 la ley 
 territorial del lugar en que el nacional se 
 encuentra. Suponiendo diversidad en 
 esas leyes, como puede haberla por efecto 
 de la soberania* que respectivamente las 
 dicta, y como debe haberla para que se 
 origine un conflicto, es imprescindible y 
 urgente tener un principio que lo resuelva. 
 Si las naoiones hubieran de vivir entera- 
 mente aisladas; si ni admitieran extran- 
 jeros en su territorio ni permitieran S, 
 sus nacionales salir Si territorio extrano ; 
 si' no hubiera comercio, navegacidn ni 
 comunicaoiones ; 6 si las leyes relativas ^ 
 la vida civil y comercial fueran en todas 
 partes las mismas, niuguna dificultad se 
 presentarf a. Pero como se ha indicado ya, 
 el hecho es que las legislaciones son, y 
 por nmcho tiempo continuar^n siendo 
 diversas ; y el hecho es tamblen, que los 
 pueblos no viven, nideben, ni quieren, ni 
 pueden vivir aislados ; y que lejos de eso, 
 los pueblos indepeudientes de America se 
 han reunido aqui por medio de sus Re- 
 presentantes, para concertar las medidas 
 mSiS eficaces y seguras ^ fin de unirse y 
 acercarse hasta donde sea compatible con 
 su independenoia y sus verdaderos intere- 
 ses. 
 
 " Si la ley norte-amerioana sefiala, por 
 ejemplo, la edad de 31 afios como la edad 
 de la mayoria, y eu cualquiera de las Re- 
 pfiblicas HispanoAmericanas se i ncuen- 
 tra establecido que la mayoria de edad no 
 se alcance hasta los 25 anos, es necesario 
 tener algiin criterio para resolver si el his- 
 pano-amerioano es aqui mayor de edad S, 
 los 21 anos, y si el norte-americano allfi 
 tiene que aguardar S, los 25 para ser con- 
 siderado mayor de edad. Si aqui se oon- 
 trae el matrimonio con ciertas solemnida- 
 des, y all^ la forma y solemnidades son 
 diferentes, es necesario decidir si los na- 
 cionales que contraen matrimonio en su 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 243 
 
 riage in their territory according to the 
 laws of their own nationality are or are 
 not entitled to have such marriage treated 
 as valid everywhere ; and it is necessary 
 also to decide whether a foreigner here, or 
 a North- American out of the United States, 
 must in his marriage observe the formali- 
 ties of the law of his own country or the 
 formalities of the place in which it is cele- 
 brated. K a marriage entered into in one 
 republic may by the laws of the latter be 
 dissolved and the parties of such marriage 
 go to live in another republic whose laws 
 declare the contract Indissoluble, or vice 
 versa, it is necessary to know how to de- 
 cide whetherthe marriage in question may 
 or may not be dissolved. If, according to 
 the law of the place in which the marriage 
 is celebrated, the wife has power to man- 
 age her property and freely administer it, 
 and according to the law of the place to 
 which the parties move and in which they 
 live the wife has not this power but the 
 husband is the legal administrator, it is 
 urgent to determine what rule will govern 
 in case of controversy. If the order of suc- 
 cession is different; if in one place inher- 
 itance is a matter of right and in another 
 the property may be freely disposed of by 
 will ; if the effects of contracts are differ- 
 ent ; if the methods of entering into part- 
 nerships or other commercial business are 
 not the same, or if the consequences thereof 
 are different ; if the form and effects of a 
 bill of exchange or any other commercial 
 paper are different, it is imperative that 
 some rule should exist for settling the 
 question. 
 
 "These ordinary instances, which 
 might be indefinitely multiplied in every 
 branch of civil and commercial law and 
 further complicated by questions as to 
 what law applies to property found in 
 one territory, when the owner is a 
 foreigner, plainly demonstrate the neces- 
 sity of certain rules for the determination 
 of such controversies. These differences 
 are due, as before said, to the sovereignty 
 of the different States manifesting itself 
 ill diversities of legislation ; but they 
 ought, nevertheless, to be made to disap- 
 pear by the harmonious action of the 
 sovereignties themselves, in pursuance of 
 their laudable desire to avoid all occasion 
 of troubles or disputes among them. 
 
 territorio conforme S, la ley de su naciona- 
 lidad tienen 6 no deracho iJ que ese matri- 
 monio se respete como vfflido en todas 
 partes ; y es necesario dccidir tambi(5n si 
 el extranjero aqui, 6 el norte-americano 
 fuera de los Estados Unidos, tlene para su 
 matrimouio que sujetarse ^ las formal!- 
 dades de la ley de su patria, 6 & las forma- 
 lidades del lugar en que se celebra. Si el 
 matrimonio contraido en una Repfiblica 
 es disoluble conforme & sns leyes, y los 
 esposos van & vivir ^ otra cuy^s leyes lo 
 declaran indisoluble, <5 vice- versa, es pre- 
 ciso saber & qn^ atenerse para decidir si 
 aquel matrimonio puede disolverse 6 no. 
 " Si conforme & la ley del lugar en que 
 el matrimonio se celebra, la mujer tiene 
 oapaoidad para manejar sua bienes y li- 
 bremente los administra, y segun la ley del 
 lugar &, dondo los esposos se trasladan y 
 donde viven, la mujer no tiene esa capa- 
 cidad, y el marido es el administrador 
 legal, es urgente determinar & que es & lo 
 que debe estarse en case de controversia. 
 Si el 6rden de suoesidn es difereute ; si en 
 un lugar la horencia es forzosa y en o\xs 
 la testamentifacoidn es libre ; si los efectos 
 de los contratos son diferentes ; si la ma- 
 nera de constitnirse las companias y demas 
 contratos comerciales no son las mismas, 
 ni sus conseonencias son iguales; si la 
 forma y respousabilidades de una letra de 
 cambio 6 de cualquier otro documento 
 mercantil varian, forzosamente hay que 
 tener una regla segun la cual la diferen- 
 oia se resuelva. Estas ejemplos triviales 
 que podrlan multiplicarse hasta lo infiuito 
 respeoto de todas y cada una de las dife- 
 rentes partes del Derecho civil y comer- 
 cial, y complicarse con la determinaci6n 
 de la ley aplioable & los bienes situados 
 en un territorio cuando el poseedor es ex- 
 tranjero, demuestran evideutemeute la 
 uecesidad de principios seguros que sirvan 
 para decidir y terminar esas controver- 
 sias. Asl como ^stas sou efecto de la 
 soberanla que produce diversidad de le- 
 gislaciones, deben desaparecer por medio 
 del aouerdu do esas soberanias, en virtud 
 de su laudable propdsito de que se aleje 
 todo motive de dificultad 6 diferencia 
 entre ellas. 
 
244 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 "Down to the present time all these 
 conflicts have been decided according to 
 doctrines held by writers on private in- 
 ternational law, baaed on a philosophic 
 study of the nature and bearing of the 
 laws affecting the mutual relations of na- 
 tions. But, although the progress al- 
 ready achieved in this branch is indubi- 
 tably great, and although the writings of 
 Foelix, Fiore, Calvo, Riquelms, Wheaton, 
 Story, Wharton in his work on the Con- 
 flict of Laws, Dudley Field in the draft 
 of a Code of International Law, and very 
 many others, whose mention would in- 
 volve too great prolixity, have thrown 
 considerable light upon all these subjects. 
 Their opinions, however, do not always 
 agree with each other upon important 
 points, nor do they possess the binding 
 force or the solemn authority which only 
 can be imparted by the voluntary, ox- 
 press, and concerted recognition which a 
 treaty gives. To secure this recognition 
 would certainly be a very great step to- 
 wards obtaining union ; and the commit- 
 tee feels that it is its duty Do set forth 
 what are the reasons why, in spite of this 
 persuasion, it has been restrained from 
 attempting, definitively and at once, any- 
 thing in that direction, as it would very 
 strongly have desired to do. 
 
 "As all matters of private international 
 law are intimately and necessarily con- 
 nected with points of municipal law and 
 • technical jurisprudence, and as the pres- 
 ent Conference was not intended to be a 
 congress of jurists, ihe committee has 
 feared that some of the honorable mem- 
 bers of the Conference would not feel au- 
 thorized or disposed to enter upon dis- 
 cussions of law and undertake the study 
 of the numerous provisions which would 
 necessarily form part of any complete code 
 of private international law, on civil and 
 commercial matters. Nor could the com- 
 mittee content itself, especially since 
 elsewhere, as in Lima and Montevideo, 
 such elaborate and accurate conclusions 
 have been reached, with submitting for 
 the approval of the Conference some five 
 or six general and more or less indefinite 
 principles, such as ordinarily form the 
 basis and foundation of the doctrines and 
 conclusions of the writers of treatises, 
 because this would have had no practical 
 
 " Hasta hace pooo tiempo todos esos 
 conflictos se ban resnelto porlasdoctrinas 
 que prevalooen en ios escritores de Dere- 
 cho internacional privado, basadas en el 
 estudio filos6fico de la naturaleza y ex- 
 tensidn do las leyes en sus relaciones de 
 naci6n H nacidn. Mas por mucho que se 
 haya adelantado en esta parte de la cicn- 
 cia, por mucho que en Ios filtimos tiempos 
 hayan escrito y hecho progresar respecto 
 de 61 Foelix, Fiore, Calvo, Rlquelme, 
 Wheaton, Story, Wharton en su obra de 
 Conflicto de las leyes, Dudley Field en el 
 Bosquejo de un C6digo de Derecho Inter- 
 nacional, y muchlairaos otros que soria 
 prolijo enumerar, sus opiniones no estiin 
 siempre de acuerdo en materias impor- 
 tantes, ni tieuen la fuerza obligatoria iii 
 la solemne autoridad que s6Io puede dar 
 el Voluntario, expllcito y miituo recoro- 
 cimiento hecho en un tratado. Llegar &, 
 Me, seria incontrovertiblemente ungrau- 
 dlsimo paso de adelanto y de uni6n ; y la 
 Comisidn tiene que explicar las consi- 
 deraciones que la han detenido para no 
 llegar desde luego ydefinitivamente hasta 
 ese punto, como habrla sido su anhelo. 
 
 " Teniendo todos Ios capltulos de Dere- 
 cho internacional privado Intima y nece- 
 saria conexifin con materias jurldicas, y 
 no habiendo sido el ohjeto de la convoca- 
 toria de este Congreso la reunirtn de un 
 cuerpo de jurisconsultos, ha teraido la 
 Comisi6n que alguuos de Ios honorables 
 miembros de la Conferencia no se consi- 
 deraran autorizados 6 dispuestos para en- 
 trar en la discusi<5n de una larga y com- 
 pleja serie de artlculos como Ios que de- 
 beria compreuder, para ser complete, una 
 especie de Codigo de Derecho interna- 
 cional privado en materias civiles y de 
 comercio. Tampoco se podia limitar, 
 sobre todos despufis que en otras partes, 
 como en Lima y en Montevideo, se han 
 hecho trabajos tan amplios y eacrupulo- 
 sos, Si presentar & la recomendacidn de la 
 Conferencia, unos cinco 6 seis principios 
 generales 6 indeterminados, como Ios que 
 de ordinario sirven de basey fundamento & 
 las conclnsiones y dootrinas de Ios trata- 
 distas, porque ^sto no habrla tenido nin- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 245 
 
 effect or consequence, and would have 
 left the subject in the same condition of 
 vagueness and uncertainty as it was be- 
 fore. For these reasons the committee 
 has had recourse to a plan which, in its 
 judgment, not only avoids difficulties, but 
 affords the best guaranties of certainty 
 and the greatest probability of our secur- ' 
 ing safe and useful practical results. 
 
 "The formulation of a code of private 
 international law on civil and commer- 
 cial matters would certainly require more 
 time and attention than can now be given 
 to it, inasmuch as this is not the only 
 subject with which the Conference has to 
 deal, but there being, on the contrary, 
 many others of importance. Its discus- 
 sion, furthermore, would be the work of 
 many months, and this, too, without 
 there being any certainty that the end 
 aimed at would be brought about, be- 
 cause, owing to the complexity of the 
 subject, and to the number and closeuess 
 of its relations to the internal legislation 
 of each country, it would not be easy to 
 reach off-hand an accurate conception of 
 what the common interests demand. 
 Fortunately, the committee has fouud 
 ready to its hand as distinguished and 
 complete a presentation of the subject as 
 could be desired. That presentation is em- 
 bodied in the Treaties of Civil and Com- 
 mercial Law sanctioned by the South 
 American Congress of Private Interna- 
 tional Law at Montevideo, which opened 
 on the 25th of August, 1888, and closed on 
 the 18th of February, 1889. The ampli- 
 tude of the discussions had in that Con- 
 gress, the minute and careful study of 
 ever point and detail involved, the intel- 
 ligent consultation and laborious study 
 which the reports and discussions show 
 to have been bestowed upon the works of 
 the most distinguished European and 
 American writers, the just appreciation 
 with which It has met, and, above all, 
 the circumstance — so clearly entitled to 
 great weight — that it has already secured 
 the adhesion of seven of the American na- 
 tions, have powerfully influenced the 
 judgment of the committee in favor of 
 embodying the work in question as the 
 substance of what is to be recommended. 
 
 " Had it not been for the reasons above 
 Indicated, in view of the wide scope of 
 
 guna consecuencia ni aplicaclon pr^ctica, 
 sino que habria dejado el asunto en la 
 misma incertidiambre y vaguedad que 
 iintes tenia. For este motive ha adop- 
 tado un recurso que, & su juicio, al mlsmo 
 tiempo que salva todas las dificultades, 
 tiene en su apoyo las mejores garantfas 
 de aoierto y las probabilidades de llegar 
 Sj practices resultados, litiles y seguros. 
 
 "Laformacidndeun C<5digo de Dereoho 
 internacional privado en lo civil y en 
 lo comercial pediria seguramente mucho 
 ni£is tiempo y atenci6n que los que actual- 
 men te pueden d^rsele, cuando no es ese el 
 asunto linico en que la Conferencia hade 
 ocuparse sino que hay muohos otros im- 
 portantes. Su discasi6n serf a adem^ 
 trabajo para muchos meses, y sin certeza 
 de quo diera el fruto apetecido, porque 
 siendo tan complicada la materia, y te- 
 niendo tantas y tan estrechas relaciones 
 con la legislacidn interior de cada paJs, 
 no seria fdloil formar de memento una 
 apreciaci6n exacta de lo que los intereses 
 generales demandaban. For fortuna la 
 Comisi6n ha encontrado preparado ya un 
 trabajo tan ilustrado y tan complete como 
 se pudiera desear. Ese trabajo lo consti- 
 tuyen los tratados de Derecho civil y 
 comercial sancionados por el Congreso 
 Sud-Americano de Derecho Internacional 
 Privado de Montevideo, abierto en 25 de 
 Agosto de 1888 y cerrado el 18 do Febrero 
 de 1889. La amplitud de las discusiones 
 habidas en ese Congreso, el estudio minu- 
 cioso y circunstanciado de cada uno de 
 BUS puntos y detalles, la inteligente con- 
 sulta y laborioso estudio que eu sus in- 
 formes y discusiones revela haberse hecho 
 de las obraa de los m& reputados escri- 
 tores europeoH y americanoa, las justas 
 apreciaciones que do 61 se han hecho ; y 
 mSs que tiodo, la circunstaucia muy digna 
 de tomarse eu consideracidu de que cuenta 
 ya con la adhesidn do siete de las naciones 
 de America, han influido poderosamen te 
 en el ^nimo de la Comisidn para propo- 
 uerlo S, la Conferencia como materia de la 
 resoluoidn que le presenta. 
 
 "A no ser por las razones arriba indi- 
 cadas, por la considerable extensltfn de 
 
246 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 the said treaties, whicli the honorable 
 memhers of the Conference already 
 know — comprising, as they do, all mat- 
 ters of civil and commercial law — and 
 had it not been, furthermore, for certain 
 special obstacles which would prevent 
 the delegation of the United States of 
 America from adopting the suggestion, 
 the committee would have simply sug- 
 gested a recommendation to be made to 
 the Governments represented in this Con- 
 ference, to adopt the treaties in question. 
 But (the committee repeats) in view of 
 them, and in view especially of the prob- 
 ability that some of the honorable Dele- 
 gates might feel bound, before indorsing 
 such a recommendation, to go through a 
 detailed personal study of the said treaties 
 and, perhaps, an examination and discus- 
 sion of every one of the articles thereof, 
 which would occupy the attention of the 
 Conference for many months, it has de- 
 cided not to go so far in the resolution to 
 be submitted. That resolution accord- 
 ingly embodies only the suggestion that 
 the Conference recommend to the various 
 Governments represented therein, which 
 have not already adopted the Treaties of 
 Civil and Commercial Law formulated 
 by the Congress of Private International 
 Law at Montevideo, that they examine 
 the said treaties, in such manner as they 
 may deem most convenient, and, within 
 one year from the closing of this Confer- 
 ence, announce whether they adopt the 
 same ; and, if they do, whether such 
 adoption is absolute or with restrictions 
 or modifications. 
 
 "The committee believe that by this 
 plan undue haste is avoided in taking 
 final action upon matters so delicate and 
 important; and that while in this way a 
 sufficient time is afforded to each Govern- 
 meat for making, in such fashion as it 
 shall deem best, an examination of the 
 said treaties, and for deciding as to the 
 expediency of adopting them, or as to 
 the necessity for modifications thereof, 
 there is, at any rate, presented a safe and 
 definite foundation in a work already ac- 
 complished, and which, to the other sanc- 
 tions which it presents, joins that of its 
 being already the law of a considerable 
 number of American nations. 
 "It is possible — uay, probable and al- 
 
 esos tratadas ya conocidos de los Hono- 
 rables miembros de la Conferencia, que 
 comprenden todaslasmaterias de derecho 
 civil y de derecho mercantil, y ^ no ser 
 tambien por inconvenientes especiales con 
 que tropezaria la Delegaoidn de los Es- 
 tados Unidos de America, para una reso- 
 luoidn en otra forma, la Comisidn habria 
 propuestos implemente que se recomen- 
 dara d los Gobiemos representados en la 
 Conferencialaadopcidndedichostratados. 
 Mas lo repite, atendiendo & ellas, y aten- 
 diendo especialmente S, que talvez algunas 
 otras Delegaciones, para votar esa reco- 
 mendaoi<5n creerJan indispensable un es- 
 tudio personal minucioso de dichos tra- 
 tados, y aoaso el ex^men y disousidn de 
 cada uno desus art{culos,lo cual ocuparia 
 por mnchos meses la atencidn de la Con- 
 ferencia, se ha decidido S. no ir tan lejos 
 en la resoluoidn que propone. Limita 
 ^sta por tanto, & aconsejar & la Confe- 
 rencia que recomiende ^ los diversos Go- 
 biemos representados en ella, que no hu- 
 bieren adoptado todavfa los tratados de 
 Derecho civil y comercial del Congreso de 
 Derecho Intemacional Privado de Monte- 
 video, que los examinen, en la forma que 
 crean vaSs conveniente y que dentro del 
 t^rmino de un afio, contado desde lafecha 
 de la clausura de esta Conferencia, ex- 
 presen si se adhieren ^ ellos ; y en caso 
 dehacerlo, si es de manera absoluta, 6 con 
 restriccioues 6 modificaciones. 
 
 "Deesta suerte cree la Comisi6n que 
 no se festinan resoluciones en materia tan 
 importante y delicada ; y que al mismo 
 tiempo que se deja & cada Gobiemo t6r- 
 mino competente para que se haga, en la 
 forma que estime mSa oportuna, el an^lisis 
 de esos tratados, y para que pueda re- 
 solver acerca de la conveniencia de acep- 
 tarlos, 6 de las modificaciones que sea 
 necesario introducir, se presenta ya la 
 base determinada y segura de un trabajo 
 previo, que & las otras garantias que lleva 
 consigo une la de que ya constitnye ley 
 para uu numero respetable de naciones 
 americanas. 
 
 "Posible es y hasta probable y casi 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 247 
 
 most certain— that on a separate exami- 
 nation of some of the provisions of those 
 treaties there may be found a formula 
 which, in respect of expression or even 
 of substance, would constitute an improve- 
 ment upon those provisions; but the 
 work ought to be considered as a, whole, 
 without losing sight of the fact that in 
 these matters what is to be hoped for is 
 not perfection in all the details, but the 
 best result upon which the majority can 
 unite without serious inconvenience to 
 any. In this is found another reason for 
 leaving to the Governments the exami- 
 nation of these treaties taken together, 
 inasmuob as they would feel more at lib- 
 erty to exercise their full authority in 
 passing upon this or that point which 
 here might give occasion now and then 
 to the most serious scruples. They alone, 
 furthermore, could, after thorough and 
 adequate study, accurately estimate the 
 importance, scope, and consequences of 
 the changes which would have to be made 
 in internal legislation, and the greater or 
 less practicability of those changes. 
 
 " The committee believes thus that the 
 resolution which it submits, while it may 
 prove produotiveof very beneficial results, 
 can not be said unduly to compromise the 
 responsibility of the honorableT)elegates. 
 It has this, furthermore, in its favor, that 
 even in the improbable contingency that 
 one or more of the Governments repre- 
 sented shall fail to adopt the treaties in 
 question, this would not prevent their 
 adoption by the others ; as that though 
 it would not then constitute the private 
 international law of all America, it might 
 at least constitute that of a great many of 
 the American nations. And it has this 
 further advantage, besides, that it does 
 not leave the subject to await the assem- 
 bling of another Conference, but leaves it 
 to each Government to announce, in the 
 way specified, and independently of the 
 others, its own adoption of the said trea- 
 ties. The committee thinks, too, that it 
 does not transcend its proper functions in 
 suggesting that the recommendation be 
 made to embrace the treaty concerning 
 judicial procedure, it being a necessary 
 complement of the others and the solemn 
 expression of the form in which are to be 
 made available those lawful actions open 
 
 seguro, que si van S, examinar aislada- 
 mente algunas de las disposiciones de esos 
 tratados, se encuentre una f6rmula que, 
 no s61o en la expresifin sino eu cuanto al 
 fondo, las sustituya ventajosamente ; pero 
 el trabajo debe considerarse en conjunto, 
 sin perdor de vista que en- esas materias 
 no hay que aspirar dl lo m^s perfecto en 
 todos los detalles, sino iJ aquello en que, 
 sin gravlsimo inconveniente para alguno, 
 puede ponerse de acuerdo la mayor parte. 
 Es esta otra consideracidn que influye 
 para deferir & los Gobiemos el ex^men de 
 esos tratados en conjunto, como que ellos 
 se considerar^n en mayor libertad para 
 usar de su plena autorizacidn en pasar 
 sobre uno li otro punto que aqui pudiera 
 dar lugar de memento d fundados escrfi- 
 pulos. Ellos solos tambi^n, despu^s de 
 maduro y competente estudio, so los que 
 pueden colificar la importancia, extensi6u 
 y consecuencias de los cambios que haya 
 que introducir en la legislacidn interior y 
 la mayor 6 menor faoilidad de llevarlo ^ 
 cabo. La Comisi6n cree pues, que la 
 resolucidn que propone, al mismo tiempo 
 que puede ser de consecueucias muy beu(5- 
 ficas, no compromete en nada inconside- 
 ramente la responsabilidad de los Senores 
 Delegados. 
 
 " Y tiene la ventaja adem^s de que, alin 
 en el inesperado caso de que alguno 6 
 algunos de los Gobiemos representados 
 no adhirier anSe sos tratados, eso no obstd^ 
 culo £ la adhesifin de los otros que crean 
 conveniente aceptarlos, de suerte que si 
 no constituyeren el Dereoho internacional 
 privado de toda la America, podrdln con- 
 stituir por lo menos, el de una gran parte 
 de las naciones que la componen. Y es 
 de notar adem^s, que no se deja el asunto 
 pendiente de la reunidn de una nueva 
 Conferencia, sino que cada Gobierno, en 
 la forma admitida, podr^ hacer saber in- 
 dependientemente de los dem^s, su adhe- 
 si6n Si los referidos tratados. 
 
 "La Comisifin piensa que no excede los 
 limites de sus facultades proponiendo que 
 se incluya eu la recomendaoi6n el tratado 
 respecto de procedimientos judiciales, 
 puesto que este es un complemento obli- 
 gado de aquellos, y la expresi6n solemne 
 de la forma en que han de hacerse valer 
 laslegltimas acciones quo competen ^cada 
 individuo en lo civil y en lo comercial. 
 
248 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 to each individual in civil and commercial 
 matters. 
 
 " With respect to the legalization of 
 documents, the committee believes that 
 the simplest and most philosophical prin- 
 ciple is that adopted by the same Congress 
 — to leave the formalities to thelaw of the 
 country in which the document originates, 
 and require only authentication by the 
 diplomatic or consular agent accredited to 
 the country or place of execution by the 
 Government within whose territory the 
 paper is to have effect. 
 
 ' ' In view of all of which the commit- 
 tee submits to the Conference the follow- 
 ing resolutions : 
 
 " Besolved, That the Governments rep- 
 resented in this Conference, which as yet 
 have not adhered to the treaties of private 
 international law, civil law, commercial 
 law, and law of proceedings adopted at 
 the Congress which met at Montevideo 
 on the 25th of August, 1888, be and tbey 
 are hereby, recommended to cause said 
 treaties to be studied, so as to render 
 themselves able, within the year, to be 
 counted from the date of the termination 
 of the labors of this Conference, to declare 
 whether they do or do not adhere to the 
 said treaties, and whether their adhesion 
 to the same is absolute or qualified by 
 some amendments or restrictions. 
 
 " Seaolved further, That the Govern- 
 ments represented in this Conference be, 
 as they are, recommended to adopt in the 
 matter of legalization of documents the 
 principle that a document is to be con- 
 sidered duly legalized when legalized in 
 accordance with the laws of the country 
 wherein it was made or executed ; and 
 authenticated by the diplomatic or con- 
 sular agent, accredited in the nation or 
 locality where the document is executed, 
 by the Government of the nation in which 
 the document is to be used. 
 
 ' ' Washington, D. C ., February 20, 1890. 
 " Fbrnaudo Ckuz. 
 " Manuml Quintana. 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 "Wm. Henry Tkbscot. 
 
 " Except as to the treaty of civil law. 
 
 " J. Alfonso." 
 
 " Respecto delegalizaoi(5n de documen- 
 tos, cree que el principio mSa filosdfico y 
 sencillo es el adoptado en el propio Con- 
 greso : dejar las formalidades & la ley del 
 palsdelaprocedenciadeldocumentoy exi- 
 gir linicamentela autenticacidn hechapor 
 el agente diplom^tico 6 consular que en el 
 pals 6 localidad en que so redacta, tenga 
 acreditado el Gobiorno en cuyo territorio 
 ha de surtir sus efeetos. En este concepto, 
 la Comisi<5n somete £C la Conferencia las 
 resoluciones sigHientes: 
 
 " Se reauelve : Que se recomiende & los 
 Gobieruos representados en esta Confe- 
 rencia, que no hayan aceptado todavfa 
 los tratados de Derechointernacional pri- 
 vado, civil, comercial y procesal del Con- 
 greso do Montevideo reunido el 25 de 
 Agosto do 1888, hagan examinar y estu- 
 diar diohos tratados C fin de que, dentro 
 del tfirmino de un aiio, contado desde la 
 fecha de clausura de esta Conferencia, 
 expresensiadhiereniiellos, manifestando, 
 en case do no ser absoluta su adhesiCin, las 
 restricciones 6 modificaciones con que los 
 acepten. 
 
 "Se resuelve igualmente: Que se reco- 
 miende la adopcidn del principio de que 
 la legalizacidn de los documentos se oonsi- 
 dere hecha en debida forma, cuando se 
 practique con arreglo ^ las leyes del pais 
 de la procedencia, y estdn autenticados 
 jjor el ageute diplomiitico 6 consular que 
 en dicho pals, 6 en la localidad, tenga 
 acreditado el Gobierno de] Estado en 
 cuyo territorio ha de surtir sns efeetos. 
 
 " Washington, D. C, FebreroSO de 1890. 
 "Fernando Ckuz, 
 "Manuel Quintana, 
 " J. M. P. CaamaSo, 
 "Wm. Henry Tkescot. 
 " Con excepci6n del tratado de Derecho 
 civil, 
 
 "J. Alfonso." 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 249 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 made the following statement : 
 
 As may he seen at the end of the report 
 of the Committee on Private International 
 Law, the Delegate from Chili has sub- 
 scribed his name, excepting to the draught 
 of treaty upon civil law. 
 
 This exception calls for an explanation 
 which should be spread upon the min- 
 utes of the session in which the report is 
 discussed. 
 
 The Government of Chili, which was 
 one of those represented in the Congress 
 of Montevideo, did not accept the draught 
 of a treaty upon civil law for reasons 
 which it is not necessary to specify at 
 this time. Suffice it to state that some 
 of the provisions of that draught were in 
 opposition to the principles of her civil 
 legislation, which she did not deem it 
 advisable to change. 
 
 Under these circumstances the Chilian 
 Delegation should conform to the will of 
 its Government manifested in an explicit 
 manner, and not advise the recommend- 
 ing of a draught which is not acceptable 
 to it. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, said the Delegation of Colombia 
 must, before giving its vote in this mat- 
 ter, explain the reasons why the vote 
 sbould be qualified, that is to say, partly 
 affirmative and partly negative. It will 
 be affirmative as far as the major part of 
 the treaties is concerned, and negative in 
 regard to the project of treaty for a civil 
 code, because that project contains princi- 
 ples absolutely unacceptable to us; as, 
 for instance, the legal ability to contract 
 marriage to be governed by the laws of 
 the nationality of the contracting parties, 
 and not by the laws of the country where 
 the contract is made. We consider that 
 marriage is the basis and foundation of 
 the family, ajid that family, in its turn, 
 is the basis and foundation of the state, 
 and that if there is anything which di- 
 rectly affects the organization of a state, 
 it is what concerns marriage ; and, there- 
 fore, the Government of Colombia can not 
 recommend oven the study of a project 
 which involves such a principle. 
 
 El Sellor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 hizo la siguiente manifestaci<5n : Como 
 se v6 en la conclusitin del informe de la 
 Comisidn de Derecho Internacional Pri- 
 vado, el delegado de Chile ha suscrito 
 dicho informe, exceptuando el proyecto de 
 tratado sobre Derecho CivU. 
 
 Esta salvedad requiere una explieaci6n, 
 de que debe quedar testimonio en el acta 
 de la sesi6n en que se discuta el informe. 
 
 El Gobierno de Chile, que fu6 uuo de los 
 representados en el Congreso de Monte- 
 video, no acept(5 el proyecto de tratado 
 sobre Derecho Civil, por consideraciones 
 que no OS oportuno especificar en este 
 memento. Baste observar que algunas de 
 las disposiciones contenidas en ese pro- 
 yecto eran contrarias i preceptos de su 
 lgeislaoi6n civil, que no consideraba con- 
 veniente alterar. 
 
 En esta situacidn la delegacidn chilena 
 debia conformarse ^ la voluntad de su 
 Gobierno manifestada de una manera ex- 
 plicita, y no aconsejar la recomendaci(5n 
 de un proyecto que no aceptaba para si. 
 
 El Senor Martinez Silva (Colombia). 
 La Delegaci6n de Colombia debe, iiutes de 
 do dar su voto eu este asunto, manifestar 
 las razones que tiene para que ese voto sea 
 cualiflcado, es decir, en parte afirmativo 
 y en parte negative. 
 
 Seid afirmativo en lo que se refiere 3, la 
 mayor parte de los tratados y ser^ nega- 
 tive en lo que se refiere al proyecto de 
 tratado de c6digo civil, porque ese tratado 
 contieneprincipios que son absolutamente 
 inaceptables para nosotros, tales como el 
 de que la capacidad de los contrayentes 
 en el matrimonio se rija, no por la ley de 
 su nacionalidad, sino por la ley del con- 
 trato. 
 
 Nosotros consideramos que el matri- 
 monio es la base y fnndamonto de la fa- 
 milia y que la familia lo es d su vez del 
 Estado y que si alguna cosa hay que 
 debe afectar de un mode directo la or- 
 ganizaoi6n de un Estado, es lo relativo 
 al matrimonio, y en tal virtud, en el 
 presente case, no puedo recomendar al 
 Gobierno de Colombia ni siquiera el 
 estudio de un proyecto que entraSa este 
 principio. 
 
250 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The civil code also esl ablishes the doc- 
 trine that the dissolution of marriage 
 must be governed by the law of domicile, 
 and not by the law of nationality ; a pro- 
 vision which places marriage in a preca- 
 rious position, because if there is any- 
 thing which, can be easily changed it is 
 domicile. Therefore, as marriage is in- 
 dissoluble in Colombia, it would become 
 dissoluble by the change of domicile, and 
 we should have cases of legal bigamy. 
 For these reasons, which affect a funda- 
 mental principle, the vote of the Delega- 
 tion of Colombia will be against the 
 treaty on civil legislation, and favorable 
 to the other treaties. I make these re- 
 marks, not for the purpose of raising dis- 
 cussion on the subject, but simply, as I 
 have said before, to explain the vote of 
 the Delegation of Colombia. I desire that 
 my words be recorded in the minutes. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine, said the Argentine delegation is 
 not by any means opposed to the record- 
 ing in the minutes of the words pro- 
 nounced by the Delegate from Colombia, 
 still less does it pretend to influence the 
 vote of theDelegate from Colombia; but 
 it deems it to be its duty to answer 
 the last retnarks of the said gentleman. 
 With regard to marriage, the dissolution 
 thereof is not exclusively governed by 
 the law of domicile, as the Delegate from 
 Colombia seems to have understood. The 
 treaty of Montevideo does not lend itself 
 in any way to legal bigamy ; it demands 
 explicitly that the reason alleged should 
 be admissible, not only under the law of 
 the domicile, but also under the law of 
 the place where the marriage was per- 
 formed. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva asked, also under 
 the law of the place where the marriage 
 was performed ? 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA. Yes, sir; also under that 
 law, and if any practical conclusion is to 
 be derived from this answer which I now 
 have the honor to make to the hon- 
 
 Tambi^n se cousigna alli la dootrina de 
 que la divoluciiSn del matrimonio se rija 
 por la ley del domicilio y no por la de la 
 uacionalidad, lo que pone al matrimonio 
 en una condici<5n precaria, porque si hay 
 algo que pueda variarse con facilidad es el 
 domicilio. De consiguiente, resulta que, 
 siendo indisoluble el matrimonio, como lo 
 es en Colombia, oambi^ndose el domicilio, 
 seria soluble aquel vinculo y vendriamos 
 ^ tener casos de una bigamia legal. 
 
 Por estas razones que affectan un prin- 
 cipio fundamental, el veto de la Delega- 
 ci6n de Colombia serd contrario al Tra- 
 dado sobre legislacidn civil y favorable & 
 los demdis tradatos. 
 
 Hago estas observaciones no con el ob- 
 jeto de promovor' una discusidn sobre el 
 particular, sine simplemente como lo he 
 dicho ^ntes, para explicar los fundamen- 
 tos del voto de la Delegaci6n de Colombia. 
 Quisiera que estas palabras se hicieran 
 constar en el acta. 
 
 El Senor Qdintana, delegado por la 
 Repriblica Argentina, dij6: De ninguna 
 manera y& S, oponerse la Delegacifin Ar- 
 gentina S que consten en el acta las pala- 
 bras pronunciadas por el Delegado de 
 Colsmbla; mucho m6nos pretende la Dele- 
 gacidn Argentina modificar el voto anan- 
 ciado por el Delegado de Colombia ; pero 
 si reputa de su deber hacer una rectiflca- 
 ci6n & lo ultimamente obserVado por el 
 Delegado de Colombia, en apoyo de su 
 voto. 
 
 Trat^ndose del matrimonio, su disolu- 
 cidn no estfi exclnsivamente regida, como 
 parece haberlo entendido el delegado por 
 Colombia, por la ley del domicilio. El 
 Tratado celebrado en Montevidio no se 
 presta de ninguna manera & esta bigamia 
 legal ; para el divorcio exige categdrica- 
 mente que la causa 6 motive alegado sea 
 admitida, no solamente por la ley del 
 lugar del domicilio, donde se sigue el 
 juicio, sino tambl^n por la ley del lugar 
 que presidld & la celebracidn del matri- 
 monio. 
 
 El Sefior Martinez Silva. jTambi^n 
 por la ley del lugar en que se celebra el 
 matrimonio ? 
 
 El Sefior Qolntana. Si, Seuor, tam- 
 bi^n ; y si alguna enseuanza pudiera des- 
 prenderso de esta rectificaci6u que he 
 tcnido el deber de hacer al Senor dele 
 
INl'EKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 251 
 
 orable gentleman from Colombia, it cer- 
 tainly is that it is advisable to carefully 
 study these treaties, which in substance 
 are the reooramendationa made by the re- 
 port of the committee. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva said: I am much 
 obliged for the explanation which my 
 honorable colleague, the Delegate from 
 Argentine, has been pleased to make, al- 
 though it in no way affects the reasons 
 for my vote, because although it is true, 
 as he says, that the treaty provides that 
 the law of the place where the marriage 
 was performed must also be considered, 
 there is always for us the same difficulty, 
 because the treaty does not admit as law of 
 marriage, the law of the domicile of origin 
 or nationality, but that of the place where 
 the marriage was performed, as I will 
 show by an example : 
 
 Suppose that a citizen of Colombia, 
 where marriage is indissoluble, accident- 
 ally resides in Prussia, where divorce can 
 be obtained on several grounds. He mar- 
 ries there not according to Colombian 
 law, but to Prussian law; and later he 
 comes and lives in the United States. So 
 that this marriage, performed in Prussia, 
 may be divorced here as the grounds for 
 divorce in Prussia exist also here. 
 This Colombian citizen may afterwards 
 again marry and return with a new 
 family to the territory of Colombia. This 
 would show that my difficulty has not 
 been removed, and although the case may 
 not properly be one on legal bigamy, it is 
 nevertheless the fact that such a delicate 
 matter as marriage is, is left out of the 
 law of the country of the individual, and 
 this is the principle which we can not 
 admit. 
 
 Mr.TRBSCOT,aDelegatefrom the United 
 States, said : Mr. President, 1 have only 
 to say that, from the remarks made, I 
 think there is some misunderstanding 
 about the purpose and scope of this re- 
 port. As I understand it, and as I think 
 a majority of the committee understand 
 it, there was a recommendation and ex- 
 pression of opinion that if there was a 
 common law prevailing on the two conti- 
 nents by reason of legislation, with re- 
 gard to matrimony and succession it 
 
 gado por Colombia, seria la conveuiencia 
 de estudiar atentamente aquellos tra- 
 tados, reoomendaci<5n & que se reduce el 
 dictSmen de la Comisi6n. He dicho. 
 
 El Sciior Martinez Silva. Agradezco 
 muchola explicaoi<5n que mi Hon. Cologa, 
 el Senor Delegado por la Argentina, se ha 
 servido hacer; pero en manera algnna 
 ella infirma las razones de mi vote, por- 
 que aun cuando es verdad, como 61 dice, 
 que en aquel Tratado se consigna el prin- 
 cipio de que se debe teuer en cuenta la 
 ley del lugar en que se celebrd el matri- 
 monio, siempre subsiste para nosotros la 
 misma difficultad, porque no admite, como 
 ley del matrimonio, la del domicilio de 
 orlgen 6 de nacionalidad, sine la del lugar 
 del contrato y pondr6 un caso para que se 
 vean las razones que tengo. 
 
 Sup6ngase que un oiudadano de Colom- 
 bia doude el matrimonio es indisoluble, 
 estS accidentalmente establecido en Pru- 
 sia, doude es soluble por muchas causas ; 
 celebra allf su matrimonio, no conforme & 
 la ley colombiana, sino conforme d la ley 
 prusiana y m£[s tarde, fija su domicilio en 
 uno de los Estados de la Uuidn americana. 
 De mauera que este matrimonio, celebrado 
 en Prusia, podrfi; ser disuelto aquf, porque 
 las causales de Prusia pneden subsistir y 
 ese ciudadano colombiano podr^ despu^s 
 casarse, y volver con su matrimonio, ya 
 disuelto, casado de nuevo, £i fundar una 
 nueva f amilia en el territorio de Colombia. 
 
 De modo que subsiste pues la dificultad 
 y aun cuando no fuera el caso propia- 
 mente de una bigamia legal, siempre es 
 el hecho que, trat^ndose de una materia 
 tan delicada como el matrimonio, queda 
 fuera de la legislacidn del pais del indi- 
 viduo ; y este es el principio que nosotros 
 no podemos aceptar. 
 
 El Senor Tkescot. Tengo sdlo que decir 
 que por las observaciones hechas me 
 parece que hay una mala inteligeucia 
 acerca del sentido del diot^men. Segitn 
 lo entiendo yo, y me parece que ese es el 
 parecer de los dem£is Senores de la Co- 
 misi()u, el dict^men expresa la opinion 
 de que si hubiere una legislaoidn comiin 
 ^ los dos coutinentes americanos, con re- 
 specto ^ matrimonio, sucesi6n, etc., seria 
 cosa muy ventajosa, lo cual uadie dispute. 
 La Comisidn estudi6 si semejante resul- 
 
252 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 ■would be a great advantage, which no- 
 body will dispute. And, then, they pro- 
 posed that the committee discuss whether 
 it was possible by any legislation that 
 such an effect could be reached. Upon 
 consultation they found that it was al- 
 most impossible to make a proper report 
 upon such a subject on account of the 
 various interests, condition, and different 
 habits of the people. They then submit- 
 ted to us the Montevidean treaty, by 
 which it had been attempted to do some- 
 thing by a meeting of the inhabitants of 
 Spanish America. 
 
 Those countries had come to a certain 
 conclusion which was adopted by five or 
 six of the States, and they recommended 
 that as a specimen of what could be 
 done. After a good deal of discussion, 
 they came to a conclusion that it would 
 not be possible to agree upon anything, 
 but they considered that it would be well 
 to submit the question of the Montevideo 
 report to all the nations which had not 
 signed it for their consideration, to dis- 
 cuss whether that was the practicable way 
 of doing it, or whether it could be done 
 at all. It was simply intended as a rec- 
 ommendation upon a subject of general 
 interest, and should be committed to the 
 various States for their consideration ; 
 and after proper examination they could, 
 a year hence, report upon the matter 
 and determine to continue such a negotia- 
 tion or abandon it. That, it seems to me, 
 is the substance of the report, and that is 
 the understanding certainly on which I 
 voted for it. 
 
 Mr. Ckuz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 said: I believe it is my duty to explain 
 the reasons why the committee made the 
 recommendation it did to the different 
 Governments represented in this Confer- 
 ence. We were aware in the committee 
 that difficulties would present themselves 
 such as those now indicated, because if 
 we enter on the discussion of the various 
 articles of the treaties of the Congress of 
 Montevideo, or if we recommend the ac- 
 ceptance of one of them, it might be that 
 one of the Governments, by reason of its 
 own laws, or for any other reason, would 
 not deem it advisable to accept any part 
 or article of said treaties. The delega- 
 tion of the United States had already 
 
 tado podia obtenerse pr£icticamente : y 
 encontrd que era casi imposible formular 
 un dict^men que abrazase todos esos 
 puntos, Si causa de los varies intereses y 
 de los diferentes hSbitos y condiciones de 
 los pueblos. Entdnces se no presentaron 
 los tratados de Montevideo, por los que 
 se trat6 de llegar & un resultado an£ilogo 
 en una reunion de representantes de la 
 America del Sud. AlU se habia llegado 3, 
 determinar ciertos puntos, y fijar ciertas 
 conulusiones que se adoptaron por cinco 
 6 seis de los Estados ; y se nos recomendd 
 que esas tratados podian servirnos de 
 modelo. Despu^s de mucha discusidn, la 
 Comisidn encontro que era imposible 
 llegar S, resultados practices, y crey6 en 
 consecuencia que era lo mejor someter 
 esos tratados al estudio de todos los 
 Gobiernos, que no hubiesen concurrido & 
 ellos, i, fin de que ellos por si mismos 
 determinen si los aceptan 6 no, y de que 
 manera. 
 
 Esto no es m£is que una recomendacidn 
 fundada en el interns general, y los re- 
 spectivos Gobiernos podrSn dentro de un 
 ano, despn 6s del correspondiente ex^men 
 del asnnto, determinar lo que lesparezca. 
 Esta es en substancia eldict^men ; y esto 
 es ciertamente lo que yo vot6. 
 
 El Sefior Ckuz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, dijo : Creo de mi deber explicar los 
 motives que tuvo la Comisidn para ex- 
 presar la reoomendacidn que se hace ^ los 
 diferentes Gobiernos de las naoiones re- 
 presentadas eu la Couferencia en los tdr- 
 minos en que lo est^. 
 
 Tuvimos presente en la Comisidn que 
 podian ofrecerse dificultades comolasqne 
 se han iusinuado aqui, porque si entrii- 
 bamos & discutir los diferentes artlcnlos 
 del Tratado del Congreso de Montevideo, 
 6 si expresabamos que la reoomendacidn 
 se hacia S, los Gobiernos para la aceptacidn 
 de ellos, podia haber algunos Gobiernos 
 que, por motivo de las disposiciones es- 
 tablecidas en su legislacidn, d por cual- 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 253 
 
 stated the difficulties -which it found on 
 account of the peculiarity of its institu- 
 tions, as explained by the United States 
 Delegate who was a member of the com- 
 mittee. For this reason, and as the com- 
 mittee desired to secure unanimity, we 
 all agreed to confine the recommendation 
 merely to the study of the treaties, as 
 wo supposed that there would be no diffi- 
 culty on the part of any Government to 
 do so, even ou the part of those who had 
 already expressed their refusal of the 
 treaties, because it was said that they 
 would express their opinion within a cer- 
 tain time, and In case the opinion were 
 favorable, what modification, if any, 
 could be made. 
 
 Whatever the opinions of the Govern- 
 ments might have been on these subjects, 
 whether they were parties to the treaties 
 or not, the simple study thereof did not 
 bind them to anything beyond making 
 such study and stating within a year if 
 they can adhere or not, and if they do ad- 
 here, whether they do so conditionally or 
 not, or if they desire to make modifica- 
 tions. If Colombia, for instance, finds 
 some difficulty in regard to marriage, she 
 will say that she will adhere provided 
 that everything relative to marriage, as 
 stated in the treaties, should be altered, 
 and the other Governments might do the 
 same. In the opinion of the committee 
 even the Delegate from Chili might have 
 signed his name to the report without re- 
 strictions ; but we respected the reasons 
 that gentleman presented, and under- 
 stood that no delegation can be compelled 
 to think or vote contrary to its ideas. 
 Nevertheless, the majority of the commit- 
 tee believes that there is no ground for 
 his restriction, and understands that there 
 is no reason why the report of the com- 
 mittee is not adopted as submitted, be- 
 cause it confines itself to recommending 
 the study and not the adoption of the 
 Montevideo Treaty. 
 
 quiera otra circunstancia, no creyeran 
 conveniente aceptar alguna parte 6 artl- 
 culo de esos tra;tados: y desde luego, la 
 Delegacidn de los Estados Unidos habia 
 manifestado alguna dificuldad en esta- 
 blecer una resolucidn en esos t(5rminos, 
 por motive de la peculiaridad de sns in- 
 stituciones, segfin nos expres6 el Dele- 
 gado por este pals, que formaba parte de 
 la Coraisi(5n, 
 
 Con este motivo y deseosos de presentar 
 algo que expresara unanimidad de pen- 
 samientos, convinimos en que se rednjera 
 la reoomendaci<5n al estudio de los trata- 
 dos, suponiendo que en esto no podia 
 haber difioultad por parte de~'nlnguno, ni 
 ann do aquellos que ya hubiesen mani- 
 festado que no les convenia aceptarlos, 
 pues que se deoia que dentro de cierto 
 tiempo expresaran si los aceptaban 6 no, 
 y en caso de aceptarlos, cuales serian las 
 modificaciones quecreian conveniente in- 
 troducir. Cualesquiera que hubiese side 
 la posicidn de los Gobiernos en este asunto, 
 de los que habian tomado parte, 6 de los 
 que no habian side invitados para figurar 
 en ese Congreso, el simple estudio de los, 
 Tratados ^ nada los comprometia, y en- 
 tiende la Comisi6u que ^ nada los com- 
 promete, sino & hacer el referido estudio 
 y expresar dentro de determinado tiempo, 
 si pueden adherirse & ellos y si, en caso de 
 que les convenga, lo hacen sin restricci<5n, 
 6 si quieran introducir algunas modifica- 
 ciones. De suerte que, si Colombia, por 
 ejemplo, tiene alguna dificaltad respecto 
 del matrimouio, todo estaria simplificado 
 con decir que se adheria, 6 estaba por 
 estos Tratados con tal que las disposi- 
 cioues respecto del matrimonio se modifi- 
 caran, y lo mismo sucede respecto de los 
 otros Gobiernos. 
 
 Asi pues, en concepto de la Comisi6n, el 
 Delegado por Chile habria podido sus- 
 cribir el informe ; pero nosotros respe- 
 tamos las razones de aquel miembro y 
 comprendimos desde luego que ninguna 
 Delegaoi6n puede ser compelida & pensar 
 en sentido contrario S, bus ideas, ni est^ 
 obligada & votar de tal 6 cual manera. 
 Sin embargo, la mayoria de la Comisidn 
 cree que no hay fundamento para esa ex- 
 clusidn, como entiende que no la habrS 
 tampoco para que se adopte el informe, 
 tal como se ha propuesto, porque se ha 
 
254 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, said: After the explanation 
 given I believe that I can give my af- 
 firmative vote to all the conclusions of 
 the report of the committee ; but I desire 
 that my views, as expressed, be recorded 
 in the minutes, because I desire that my 
 Government, when it begins to study this 
 matter, should know what I have said 
 and how I have voted on this matter. 
 For this reason I have provoked this short 
 discussion, and I beg the pardon of the 
 Conference for the time I have occupied. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 said: What the honorable gentleman 
 from Guatemala has said compels me to 
 make an explanation to the Conference. 
 He has stated that, in liis opinion, the 
 delegation from Chili might have con- 
 sented to the whole of the report, as the 
 recommendation was merely to study the 
 treaties. I agree with him as to the 
 latter part; the report has no other 
 purpose ; but the Delegate from Guate- 
 mala must consider the position in which 
 the delegation from Chili is placed. 
 
 The Government of my country took 
 part in the Congress of Montevideo and 
 studied the subject, and for this reason it 
 formed its opinion on it, and said it did 
 not accept the treaty. Could the Chilian 
 Delegate here ask it to again study the 
 subject? No, his Government would an- 
 swer him ; why should it be again offered 
 for study when it has already been con- 
 sidered and finally rejected ? It is evident 
 that the delegation of Chili would place 
 itself iu a false position if it proposed to 
 its Government a matter it can not accept. 
 The consent to the whole of the report 
 would have been equivalent to recom- 
 mending to my Government to do what 
 the latter has refused to do. I think that 
 no other delegation is in the same posi- 
 tion, not even that of Colombia, which 
 can study the treaties ; but Chili has 
 already passed opinion on them. There- 
 fore, it was impossible for me to assent to 
 the whole of the report because otherwise 
 I would have placed myself in a very false 
 position with my Government, which I 
 have not been willing to do. I have 
 spoken. 
 
 limitado ii recomendar el estudio de los 
 Tratados y no su adopoidn. 
 
 El Senor Martinez Silva (delegado 
 por Colombia). Previa esa explicacifin, 
 creo que puedo dar mi voto afirmativo ^ 
 la totalidad de las conclusiones del in- 
 forme de la Comisidn ; pero si deseara que 
 mis opiniones particulares en este asunto, 
 quedaran consiguadas en el acta, porque 
 necesito que, cuando este negocio sea 
 estudiadi) por mi Gobiemo, sepa 61 como 
 opin6 y como votd en la ouesti6n. 
 
 Por eso be proftiovido este corto inci- 
 dente y pido perddn & la Couferencia por 
 el tiempo que le he hecho perder. 
 
 El Sefior Alfonso (delegado por Chili) 
 dijo : Lo que ha expresado el Senor De- 
 legado por Guatemala, me obliga & dar 
 una explioacidn S, la Couferencia. 
 
 El ha dicho que it juicio, la Delegacidn 
 de Chile podria no haber tenido inconve- 
 niente en subsoribir todo el informe, 
 puesto que, se trataba en 61 solamente de 
 proponerel estudio de este negocio. Es- 
 toy de acuerdo en este pnnto : el informe 
 no tiene otro alcance ; pero es precise 
 ponerse en el caso en que se encuentra 
 la Delegacidn de Chile. 
 
 El Gobiemo de mi pals concurrid al 
 Congreso de Montevideo y estudid el ne- 
 gocio ; por lo mismo, el Gobiemo de Chile 
 ha formaUo ya su opini6u definitiva, y en 
 consecuencia ha dicho, "No acepto ese 
 Tratado.'' j Podria su Delegado aqui de- 
 cirle : estudia de nuevo este negocio ? 
 I, No le contestaria su Gobiemo ; para que 
 me ofreoes ese estudio cuando ya lo he 
 hecho y en vista de 61, he manifestado y 
 Uds. lo saben, qno yo no acepto ese pro- 
 yecto f 
 
 Evidentemente la posicidn de la dele- 
 gaci6n de Chile seria inconveniente si 
 propusiese & su Gobiemo algo que 61 no 
 pnedo aceptar; y suscribir todo el in- 
 forme, equivalii ^ recomendar & su Go- 
 biemo lo que 61 ha dicho ya que no 
 adopta. 
 
 Yo creo que ninguna otra delegaoidn 
 se encuentra en este caso, ni alin la de 
 Colombia, que ha podido estudiar este 
 negocio; pero Chile ya loha fallado. Asi 
 pues, yo no pude suscribir todo el informe, 
 porque me habria colocado en una situa- 
 ci6n enteramente falsa respecto de mi 
 Gobierno y no he querido hacerlo. He 
 dicho. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 255 
 
 Mr. Eomero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 said that he wished to state that while 
 the delegation from Mexico has been un- 
 able to vote on all the reports recom- 
 mending the adoption of the treaties of 
 MonteYideo, that iu the present case it 
 could do so, as the recommendation 
 made was only to study some of these 
 treaties, and the Government of Mexico 
 is already engaged in so doing. Under 
 these circumstances the Mexican dele- 
 gation has no objection to give its vote 
 in favor of the report of the committee. 
 As it might appear inconsistent for the 
 Mexican delegation to refrain from vot- 
 ing in regard to one treaty and to vote in 
 the present case, he would make this ex- 
 planation in order to show that now the 
 question is only to recommend the study 
 of treaties which are now under consid- 
 eration by the Mexican Government. 
 Under these circumstances, as the Mexi- 
 can Government had commenced to study 
 these matters before the recommendation 
 of the committee, the Mexican Delegates 
 have no objection to assent to the first 
 resolution of the report. As to the second 
 resolution, the delegation from Mexico 
 thinks that it is a very proper one, and 
 will vote in favor of it. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, said : Mr. President, as- 
 suming from the expressions of opinion 
 which I have beard that it is likely that 
 the report will be adopted, I suggest an 
 amendment, which I think will improve 
 the report; and that is to strike out on 
 page 7, on the second line, the words 
 "or drawn up." 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 said: I think there is no difficulty in 
 striking out these words in English, as 
 they do not appear iu the text in Span- 
 ish. Of course the Spanish version is 
 identical in meaning with the English, 
 but the motion has reference only to the 
 English text. 
 
 There being no objection, Mr. Hender- 
 son's amendment was adopted. 
 
 Mr. Henderson then said : Mr. Presi- 
 dent, on the fifth lino from the top of 
 page 7, I move to strike out the words 
 "drawn up or." 
 
 El SeBor Romero, delegado por M<5xico 
 dijo : Al paso que la Delegaoidn de 
 Mdxico no ha podido emitir su vote en el 
 dictSimen en que se propone la adopci6n 
 de algtin otro tratado de Montevideo, en 
 el presente dictiJmen, en que 8<;io se 
 recoraienda haoer el estudio de los Tra- 
 tados, estudio que ya ha emprendido el 
 Gobierno de Mexico, su Delegacidn aqul 
 no tiene inconveniente ninguno en emitir 
 un veto favorable al informe de la Co- 
 misi6n. 
 
 Como podrla aparecer contradictorio 
 que tratSndose deun Tratado, se abstenia 
 de votar, y en otro case la Delegacidn de 
 de Mexico votaba, debo manifestar que 
 en el presente precede asi, porque no se 
 trata de proponer la adopci6n de Trata- 
 dos que estau en estudio por parte del Go- 
 bierno mexioano, sino simplemente de 
 recomeudar ese estudio. 
 
 Como quiera que ya lo est£i haciendo el 
 Gobierno de Mexico, aun iiutes de la reco- 
 mendacidn, sus Delegados aqui no tienen 
 inconveniente en aceptarlo ; y por lo que 
 haoe al articulo segundo, la Delegaci6n 
 de Mexico lo estima bueno y le darii tam- 
 bien su voto afirmativo. 
 
 El Selior Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, dijo : Seuor Presidente, 
 como quiera que colijo por las expre- ■ 
 siones vertidas, que es probable que el 
 dictSmen sea aprobado, deseo sugerir una 
 enmienda que me parece raejoraria en 
 leuguage. Propongo que se borren en la 
 pSgina7, llnea segonda, las palabras "or 
 drawn up." 
 
 El Senor Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala : No me parece que haya dificultad 
 en que asl se haga. Esas palabras no 
 estiJn en el texto castellano. El seutido 
 en las dos lenguas es por supuesto id(5n- 
 tioo ; pero la enmienda S(51o se necesita 
 en el texto ingles. 
 
 No habiendo habido objeocidn & que as! 
 se hioiera, qued6 aprobada la enmienda 
 del Sefior Henderson. 
 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, continu6 : Seflor Presi- 
 dente : En la llnea quinta de la p^gina7, 
 ocurren otra vez las palabras "or draw 
 up". Propongo que tambi6n se borren. 
 
256 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 There being no objection, it was bo de- 
 cided. 
 
 Mr. Zegarka, a Delegate from Peru, 
 said : In orderto explain my vote, I shonld 
 like to make an inquiry as to the mean- 
 ing of the minority report presented by 
 Mr. Alfonso. I understand that this hon- 
 orable Delegate objects to the other na- 
 tions of America studying that part of the 
 treaties of Montevideo -which refers to 
 the civil code. If this is the meaning of 
 his objection, it is the same as if there 
 were two reports, one recommending the 
 study of all the projects of tlie Congress 
 of Montevideo, and another opposing the 
 study of the treaty on the civil code. It 
 seems, therefore, that the vote should be 
 divided and taken separately on each re- 
 port. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso said : I do not see any ne- 
 cessity for dividing the vote, as suggested 
 by the honorable Delegate from Peru. In 
 reality he makes a mistake. I have not 
 submitted a minority report. What I 
 read to-day was simply the explanation 
 of my vote, because I desire that the 
 minntes should contain the reasons why I 
 qualify my assent to the report. What I 
 ask is that Chili should not be recom- 
 mended to study the civil code, and this 
 'l desire only for the leason that the Chil- 
 ian Government has rejected it. I repeat, 
 I have not made a minority report. I 
 have only explained my vote. 
 
 The President asked if the Conference 
 was ready for the vote, and whether the 
 vote should include both resolutions of 
 the report, or if they should be divided 
 and voted on separately. 
 
 Mr. Ckdz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 said : I think, Mr. President, that it would 
 be more convenient to divide them. 
 
 There being no objection, the President 
 instructed the Secretaries to read the first 
 resolution of the report, and this was 
 done. 
 
 Mr. Henderson then said : Mr. Pres- 
 ident, I do not arise for the purpose of 
 discussing the questions presented in the 
 resolution, but simply to state that I 
 
 No habiendo objeccidn S, ello, asl se de- 
 termine. 
 
 El Senor Zegakra, delegado por el 
 Perti, dijo : Para ilustrar mi voto, desearia 
 hacer una observaoifin respecto al alcance 
 del informe de la minoria, presentado por 
 el Senor Alfonso. 
 
 Entiendo queeste Hon. Seuor Delegado 
 resiste que las dem^Es Naoiones America- 
 nas estndien el proyecto del Congreso de 
 Montevideo en la parte que se refiere al 
 Derecho civil. Si este es el signifioado, 
 es lo misnio qne si hubieren dos informes ; 
 uno, recomeudando el estndio del pro- 
 yecto del Congreso de Montevideo en su 
 totalidad, y otro, resistiendo que este es- 
 tudio abrace el del tratado de Derecho 
 civil. 
 
 Parece pues que seria conveniente di- 
 vidir la votaci6n de manera que sobrp 
 cada parte recaycse por separado. 
 
 El Senor Alfonse, delegado por Chile. 
 Yo no veo la necesided & que se ha refe- 
 rido el Hon . Senor Delegado del Peru de 
 que se divida la votaci6n. En realidad 
 ese Hon. Seuor Delegado parte de un 
 concepto falso. 
 
 Yo no he presentado informe de mino- 
 ria; simplemente ]o qne he leido, es el 
 fundamento de mi voto, qne qniero que 
 se asiente en el acta, &, fin de que conste 
 la salvedad que he hecho en el informe. 
 Yo lo que pido es qne rospeoto de Chile, 
 no se le recomiende el estudio de la parte 
 del Derecho civil, por caunto & qne su 
 Gobierno no la acepta. Lo repito, yo no 
 he informado como minoria, sino que 
 simplemente he fnndado mi voto. 
 
 El Seiior Presidentepreguntdsl la Con- 
 ferencia estaba dispuesta S. votar, y si la 
 votaci6n debia rccayer sobre los dos pro- 
 posiciones del dictiimen en conjnnto, 6 
 separadamente y por su drden sobre cada 
 una de ellas. 
 
 El Seiior Cruz, delegado por Gnatemala, 
 fu6 de opinifin que sedebian votar separa- 
 damente las dos proposiciones : y como 
 no hnbo objeccidn, el Seuor Presidente 
 ordend & los Secretaries dar lectura & la 
 primera proposicicSn del dictiimen, y asi 
 se hizo. 
 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, expres6 inmediatamente 
 lo qne sigue : 
 Sefior Presidente: No me levanto con el 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 257 
 
 shall vote for the resolution with the 
 meaning attached to it by my colleague, 
 Mr. Trescot. This resolution, if I under- 
 stand it, covers a very broad field of in- 
 ternational law, and one which in all 
 probability should be very critically and 
 carefully studied by the American states- 
 men, or by the statesmen of the United 
 States. Our Government here is a dual 
 one. The Government of the United 
 States has only the powers conferred upon 
 it by the Constitution of the United 
 States .All other powers are expressly re- 
 served to the States respectively or to the 
 people. Therefore, unless a power is ex- 
 pressly or impliedly— clearly impliedly — 
 granted to the Government of the United 
 States it cannot be exercised. 
 
 Now, the forty-two States of the Amer- 
 ican Union have all of those questions 
 discussed here by various gentlemen en- 
 tirely under their own control. For in- 
 stance, the question of marriage and di- 
 vorce. The entire range of subjects which 
 fall within the police regulations, the 
 punishment of crimes, all the relations of 
 social life, fall entirely within the juris- 
 diction of the States themselves. The 
 Federal Government, to be sure, can pun- 
 ish crime or can regulate certain matters, 
 but only the matters that are clearly and 
 expressly delegated to it. And I desire 
 to statethat, inmyjudgment, from glanc- 
 ing at the Constitution of the United 
 States, this subject would be almost for- 
 bidden by the Coustitutiou for our con- 
 sideration. Article 4, section 1, of the 
 Constitution of the United States says 
 that: 
 
 " Full faith and credit shall be given in 
 each State to the public acts, records, and 
 judicial proceeding of every other State, 
 and Congress may, by general laws, pre- 
 scribe the manner in which such records 
 
 objeto de discutir las cuestiones que su- 
 glore la proposicidn quo yS, Si votarsc, sino 
 simplemente con el do oxponer quo dard 
 mi vote en favor de ella, en el conoopto y 
 con el sentido, con que lo ha hecho mi 
 colega el Sonor Trescot. Esta proposi- 
 ci6n, si la entieudo bieu, es muy amplia, 
 y se refiere Sj muchos jiuntos do Dere- 
 cho interuacioual, y es probable que 
 serii estudiada con sumo esmero por los 
 hombres do Estado asl sud-americanos, 
 CO mo de los Estados Unidos. Nuostro 
 Gobierno presenta en su forma, como se 
 sabe, un dualismo claro. El de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, 6 sea el federal, no tiene m£is 
 poder que el que le ha otorgado la Con- 
 stituoidn federal. Todos los dem& pode- 
 res hau quedado expresamente reserva- 
 dos, 6 & los respectivos Estados, 6 S, sus 
 pueblos. Por lo tanto, el Gobierno de los 
 Estados Unidos no puede ejercer ninglin 
 poder que no le est6 concedido expresa- 
 mente, 6 que por una deduccidn muy clara 
 resulte habdrsele concedido por la Con- 
 stitucifin federal. Ahora bien, los cua- 
 renta y dos Estados de la Union Americana 
 tienen exclusive dominio, jurisdicoifin y 
 autoridad sobre las diversas cuestiones 
 de que hau hablado aqui varies Senores 
 Delegados. 
 
 Sobre matrimonio, por ejemplo, cada 
 uno de esos Estados legisla lo que estima 
 j usto. Lo mismo sucede en la vasta esfera 
 de la legislaoi6u penal, y en la que regula 
 las relaciones sooiales, etc., etc. Todo 
 eso oae bajo la jurisdiccidn de los Estados. 
 El Gobierno federal puede, no hay duda, 
 castigar oiertos delitos, y reglameutar 
 ciertas cosas ; pero eso es s61o en los cases 
 y circnnstancias en que el poder de hacer 
 eso le ha sido delegado de una manera 
 clara y expresa. Y yo deseo hacer con- 
 star, que i, mi juicio, eohando una mirada 
 sobre la Constitacidn de los Estados 
 Unidos, sc encuentra ante nosotros un 
 asunto de que casi nos est^ prohibido 
 ocupamos. 
 
 El articulo 4" de la secoi6n 1" de la 
 Constitncidn de los Estados Unidos dice : 
 "Se dar^ f(5 y crddito en todos los 
 Estados & los actos piiblioas, y documen- 
 tos, y actas procesales de cada oual de los 
 otros; y el Congreso puede prescribir, 
 por medio de leyes al efecto, en que 
 
 17 I 
 
258 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 and piocoedings sball be proved, and tho 
 effect thereof." 
 
 Now tliiB is a provision wliich, so far as 
 tlie States tliemselves are concerned, the 
 authentication of documents and the man- 
 ner and mode thereof, is given to the Con- 
 gress of the United States. Therefore, I 
 do not see how the Congress of the United 
 States could undertake to regulate sub- 
 jects of that sort between the States of 
 the Union and foreign powers. Upon the 
 familiar principle known in the maxims 
 ofthelaWj'that the expression of one thing 
 is the exclusion of all others, Congress is 
 given the power here to go into'this sub- 
 ject of the authentication and verification 
 of records so far as the States of the Union 
 are concerned; I mean the forty-two 
 States. Now, it is exceedingly problem- 
 atical in my mind as to whether the Con- 
 gress of the United States, or power of 
 tho Government of the United States, can 
 regulate or control this question, so far as 
 the States are concerned, for the States 
 themselves, the forty-two States of this 
 Union. In other words, if a subject is 
 exclusively within the jurisdiction of a 
 State control and the State government, 
 I fail to see how Congress, either through 
 law or by treaty, can undertake to regu- 
 late that subject for the States themselves. 
 
 For instance. Congress might make u 
 treaty with one of the Republics here, de- 
 claring that the certification of a judg- 
 ment rendered in Bolivia or in the Argen- 
 tine Republic should be in certain form ; 
 but suppose that the State courts s' ould 
 refuse to receive it as evidence of the 
 facts therein slated. Suppose that it is the 
 certificate of a judgment rendered be- 
 tween two citizens in the Argentine and 
 those two citizens afterwards appear in 
 the United States of America and the 
 plaintiff desires to obtain a new judg- 
 ment and enforce it against the defend- 
 ant in the United States. I Sail to see 
 tow Congress, either through treaty or 
 law, could compel the States in the State 
 courts to receive a document of that sort. 
 I allude to this question simply for the 
 purpose of explaining my vote and to ex- 
 clude what might be a conclusion ; that 
 is, that by voting for this proposition it 
 might seem that I believed in the power 
 of the United States to do this thing. 
 
 manera deber^u legalizarse y probarse 
 esos documentos por el efecto indicado." 
 
 Ahora bi<Sn. Esto es cosa que no con- 
 cierne m& que ^ los Estados mismos; 
 pero ellos ban permitido al Congreso de 
 los Estados Unidos que determine el modo 
 y forma de hacerlo. No veo por lo tanto 
 como puede el mismo Congreso asumir el 
 derecho de haoer otro tanto tntre los Es- 
 tados de la Unidn y las naciones extrau- 
 geras. Es bien conocido el principio legal 
 de que la afirmacidu de una cosa implica 
 la exclusidn de todas las demSs : y con- 
 forme & 61 este asunto de legalizaci6u de 
 los documentos no puede ir mSs alUH de 
 los If mites de la autorizaci6n concedida al 
 Congreso. Este no puede legislar respeoto 
 de este asunto, sino en cuauto se refiera ^ 
 documentos emanados de uno de los cua- 
 renta y dos Estados de la Uni<5n. Es muy 
 problem^tico, en mi opinidn, que el Con- 
 greso, 6 en general el Gobierno de los Es- 
 tados Unidos, pneda ejercitar un poder 
 como este que correspoude di cada cual de 
 los Estados. En otros t^rminos, me es 
 imposible descnbrir como puede el Con- 
 greso, 6 el Gobierno de la Uni6n, mez- 
 clarse ya sea por lay, ya por tratado, en 
 algo que corresponde exclusivamente S, 
 los Estados. 
 
 Supdngase, por ejemplo, que se hace un 
 tratado pdr el cual se delara que la legis- 
 lacidn de un fallo dado en Bolivia, 6 en 
 la Repulica Argentina, debe haoerse de 
 cierta manera; y que los tribunales de 
 un Estado rehusan recibir en prueba el 
 dioho dooumento Supdngase que es en 
 fallo recaido en un case entre dos ciuda- 
 danos argentinos, y que ellos vienen 
 luego S, los Estados Unidos, y uno de ellos 
 acude Sj los tribunales de este pais, con el 
 fin de obtener la ejecucidn de dicho fallo. 
 Si el Estado no acepta el documento, yo 
 no veo como el Congreso, ya sea por ley, 
 6 por tratado, puede obligar S, los tribu- 
 nales de un Estado S, que lo reciba en 
 prueba. Aludo ^, esto solamente, para 
 que se perciba claramente el alcance de 
 mi vote, y que no se vea en 61 nada que 
 indique una conclusion deflnitiva. Quiero 
 que conste que al votar por el dictSmen, 
 no quiero decir que los Estados Unidos 
 tengan poder para hacer una cosa, que yo 
 dudo muchisimo que eat6 un sus facul- 
 tades. 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 259 
 
 I doubt exceedingly whether it can he 
 done. 
 
 I desire to state, before I conclude, that 
 there is auother provision of our Consti- 
 tution which bears upon this subject 
 and bears in a very important mauner ; 
 and that is the second provision of article 
 6, which says : 
 
 ''This Constitution and the laws of the 
 United States which shall be made in 
 pursuance thereof, and all treaties made 
 or which shall be made under the au- 
 thority of the United States, shall be the 
 supreme law of the land, and the judges 
 in every State shall be bound thereby, 
 anything in the constitution or laws of 
 any State to the contrary notwithstand- 
 ing." 
 
 Now, I am aware that it might be 
 claimed, and is claimed in certain direc- 
 tions, that a treaty of the United States 
 made in accordance with the Constitu- 
 tion will override State law. That is, of 
 course, the claim made on the part of a 
 great many persons, but it is not the 
 usual construction of our Constitution 
 nor the usual construction of treaties 
 made thereunder; because if that were 
 the proper construction of the Constitu- 
 tion of the United States all the powers 
 of the States might be frittered away by 
 the President and two-thirds of the Sen- 
 ate. It is not the construction of the Con- 
 stitution, and I say that, lest I may be 
 committed to a construction of this char- 
 acter, I make this explanation. 
 
 Now, I take it, Mr. President, that the 
 main purpose of this resolution is to get a 
 uniformity of law upon the municipal 
 customs and habits of the States as far as 
 is possible, in order that that uniformity 
 may bring about a better state of feeling 
 . between the Republics themselves. I take 
 rather the explanation made by my col- 
 league, Mr. Trescot. If that be the i uten- 
 tion and design, of course I can recom- 
 mend it. I could recommend it to the 
 States, but as to recommending it to the 
 United States Government as being obli- 
 gatory upon the States themselves, so far 
 as the States are sovereign and independ- 
 ent of the Federal. Go vernmeut, relating 
 to police regulations and the Government 
 of their own domestic affairs, I can not do 
 it. With that explanation I see no spe- 
 
 Antes de ooncluir, dobo agregar que 
 hay otro articulo de nuestra Constitu- 
 ci6n quo viene bi6u al case, y es el 6°, 
 que en su seguudo incise dice : 
 
 " Esta Constitucidn y las leyes de los 
 EstadoB Unidos que en virtud de ella la 
 !> omulguen, y todos los tratados heohos 
 y que se hagan bajo la autoridad de los 
 Estados Unidos ser^n la ley uniforme del 
 pais, y los jueces en todos los Estados 
 tendi^u que obedecerla; aunque en los 
 mismos Estados haya algo dispiresto en 
 contrario por sus propias leyes 6 oonstitu- 
 ciones." 
 
 No se me ooulta, en vista de esto, que 
 pueda pretenderse que un cratado hecho 
 por los Estados Unidos, confornie S, la 
 Constitucidn federal, prevalece sobre la 
 legislacidn de los Estados. Este es, por 
 supuesto, el pnnto de vista de muchos; 
 pero no es la interpretaoidn usual de 
 nuestra Constituoidn y unestroa tratados. 
 Si ese punto de vista prevaleciera, y esa 
 fuera la verdadera inteligencia de la Con- 
 stituoi6n de los Estados Unidos, los 
 poderesde un Estado quedariau auulados 
 por la voluntad del Presidente y de dos 
 terciosdel Senado. Estano es una inter- 
 pretaci6u recta ; y yoquiero ser explicito 
 en este ijunto, porque deseo que no se 
 entienda que yo conoienta en aqnel modo 
 de pensar. 
 
 Yo veo, Sellor Presidente, que el princi- 
 pal objeto de esta proposici6n es obtener 
 una iegislacidn uniforme 6 lo mSa cerca S, 
 lo uniformidad que sea posible, con el 
 objeto de que con ella venga un mejor 
 estado de sentimientos entre los diferentes 
 palsesi Asl lo deduzco de lo que me ex- 
 plica mi colega el Senor Trescot. Si este 
 es el prop<5sito, no hay duda que puedo 
 recomendarlo. Es decir, puedo recomen- 
 darlo £i los Estados Unidos ; pero no 
 puedo recomendarlo, en el sentido do que 
 estos han de haoerlo obligatorio para 
 los diferentes Estados, pues que estos son 
 soberanos 6 indepeudientes del Poder 
 Federal en todo lo que se refiere S, sus 
 asuntes propios. Con esta explicaci<5n, 
 no veo motive especial que me obligne & 
 votar contra el dictcimen, pues que este 
 
260 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 oial oljjoctioii to voting for it, if it bo uoth- 
 iug but a study of those propositions. 
 
 One otlier question, Mr. President. I 
 entirely agree with tbe honorable Dele- 
 gate from Colombia (Mr. Silva) that it 
 would have been much better if we could 
 have seen, in as narrow a space as possi- 
 ble, the recommendations of the Monte- 
 videan conference. I have a work, I 
 believe, which contains all the proceed- 
 ings of that conference, but it is in Span- 
 ish, and I do not think I could work out a 
 complete and perfect translation to con- 
 vey to my mind the entire meaning of 
 the various provisions of that congress. 
 Therefore, in order that I could properly 
 understand it, it would be necessary for 
 an experienced and skillful translator to 
 prepare it in English. I would have 
 much preferred that this could have been 
 done, but I understand from some of the 
 Delegates that it would have been an ex- 
 pensive work, and that adopting a mere 
 recommendation that the proceedings of 
 the conforencebestudied would be better. 
 With that view, I have no objection what- 
 ever to voting for the resolution, but I de- 
 sire that the explanation which I make 
 should in some way be attached, either 
 made a part of the proceedings of the day 
 or otherwise, so that I may not appear to 
 vote for that which may be construed 
 against the views which I entertain. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 said : It is only to say two words in re- 
 gard to the remarks made by the Dele- 
 gate of the United States. The study of 
 the treaty is recommended, but not the 
 study of any principles of legalization. 
 And the recommendation is not made be- 
 cause it is a principle accepted every- 
 where, aud the Conference can not make 
 recommendations to the different States. 
 The Government of the United States has 
 convened this Conference, and to that 
 Government the Conlerence mnst address 
 its recommendations, in order that the 
 Government may do what it deems fit in re- 
 gard to the various legislations of the 
 States of the Union. The Delegate from 
 the United States, who was a member of 
 the committee, told us that there would 
 be no difficulty in doing so, and precisely 
 with the object of agreeing with him and 
 avoiding difficulties the recommendation 
 
 no contieno sino simplemenfce una reco- 
 meudaci6n de que se haga cierto estudio. 
 Otro punto, Senor Presidente. Estoy 
 cnteramente de aouerdo con el Honorable 
 Delegado de Colombia, Senor Martinez 
 Silva, respecto S, que hubiera sido mucho 
 mejor que hubi6semos tenido, en forma 
 tan concisa como se hubieren podido, las 
 recomendaciones de los tratados de Monte- 
 video. Se me ha dado el libro de las 
 Actas de aquel Congreso ; pero esta en 
 castellano ; y yo no puodo traducirlo 
 Buficieutemente^bi^n para estar seguro de 
 que entieudo todo lo qne alii se dice. 
 Hubiera sido necesario hacer una tra- 
 duccidn esmerada de esos tratados : y yo, 
 por mi parte, lo hubiera deseado mucho. 
 Pero me explican algunos Senores Dele- 
 gados, que ese trabajo seria largo y cos- 
 toso ; y que todo se evita recomendando & 
 los Gobiernos que estudien eilos mismos 
 lo que aquel Congreso propuso. En esta 
 inteligeucia, no tengo , incouveniente en 
 votar en favor del dict^men ; pero deseo 
 qne estas explicacioncs queden constantes 
 de algiin modo, bien insert^ndolos en el 
 acta, bien de cualquiera otra manera, S, 
 fin de que yo no aparezoa votando en 
 favor de una interpretaoidn que yo no 
 puedo aceptar. 
 
 El Senor Cruz, delegado por Guatemala, 
 dijo : Es b61o para decir dos palabras re- 
 specto de lo que ha expuesto el Honorable 
 Delegado de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Se recomieuda el estudio de los tratados, 
 pero no se recomienda el estudio respecto 
 del ijrincipio de legalizaeidn, y no se 
 recomienda que se adopte este prinoipio, 
 porque es admitido en todas partes, y la 
 CoufeTeucia no puede hacer recomenda- 
 ciones 6, los diferentes Estados ; es el 
 Gobierno de los Estados Unidos el que ha 
 invitada ^ esta Conferencia y es al mismo 
 Gobierno ^ quien la Conforepcia debe diri- 
 gir su recomendacidn, para que, S, su vez, 
 el Gobierno vea lo que hace respecto de 
 las diferentes legislaciones de los di versos 
 Estados de la Unidn Americana. 
 
 El delegado de los Estados Unidos que 
 formaba parte de la Comisidn nos mani- 
 festd que en este sentido,' no babia difi- 
 cultad y precisamente por ir de acuerda 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 261 
 
 was made in that sense. There can bo 
 no difficulty in admitting the principle 
 that the legalization of documents must 
 be made, as suggested by the committee, 
 because this is the principle established 
 in all parts, and the different States may 
 arrange their laws so as to suit this prin- 
 ciple. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA said : It is not the pur- 
 pose of this Conference to harmonize nor, 
 consequently, to modify the internal leg- 
 islation of any of the countries here met 
 together ; that is the province of the civil 
 law of each country. If such were the 
 purpose the remarks uttered by the hon- 
 orable Delegate of the United States 
 would bo perfectly correct. The only 
 thing to bo considered here is to deter- 
 mine what should be the law to govern 
 the person, his property, and his acts, 
 when there are two foreign and independ- 
 ent sovereignties disputing the jurisdic- 
 tion of the case. 
 
 These are questions which are fully 
 within the domain of international law, 
 and when we say international law, even 
 if it be private, we mean that those ques- 
 tions are outside the domain of the inter- 
 nal legislation of such country. 
 
 The sovereignty of each country being 
 limited to. the extent of its territory, it 
 has the right to demand that its laws 
 shall be respected within its territory ; 
 but, for the same reason, it can not pre- 
 sume to extend that sovereignty to gov- 
 ern persons, acts, or property located or 
 executed elsewhere. This would bo the 
 supremacy of one sovereignty over all the 
 others; it would be the subjugation of 
 all the sovereignties under the dominion 
 of one, whichever it might be. 
 
 The question considered under this high 
 aspect, and placed in its proper light, the 
 remarks made by the Delegate from the 
 United States fall to the ground. 
 
 The Argentine Republic is also a coun- 
 try organized under the federal system, 
 as are the United States, and if it be true 
 that the element of centralization has 
 entered into the greater part of the 
 wording of the Argentine Constitution, 
 
 con sus ideas y por evitar toda dificultad, 
 se foTmul6 la recomendacidn en este sen- 
 tido: 
 
 Que se establezca el principio de admi- 
 tir la legislacifin de los documentos del 
 modopropuestoporlaComisitfn, no puede 
 ofrecer diiicultad alguna, porque es el 
 principio de las dootriuas establecidas en 
 todas partes y los diferentes Estados po- 
 dr^n arreglar su legislacifin conformo ^ 
 este principio. 
 
 El Setior Quintana,' delegado por la 
 Argentina, dijo : En esta Conferenoia no 
 so trata de uuiformar y por consiguiente, 
 ni de modificar las legislaciones internas 
 de ninguno de los paises quo concurren S 
 su seno : osa es la tarea del derecho civil 
 de cada nacKin. Si de eso se tratara, las 
 observaciones hechas por el Honorable 
 Delegado de los Estados Unidos serian 
 perfectamente oportunas. De lo tiuico 
 quo aqui so trata, es de determinar cual 
 deba ser la ley que rija ^ la persona, sus 
 bienes 6 sus actos, ciiando hay a dos 
 soberanias oxtrangeras 6 independientes, 
 compitiendo la jurisdiccirtn sobre el case. 
 Estas son cnestiones que entran comple- 
 tamente de lleno en cl dorainio del Dere- 
 cho intornacional, y cuando se dice Dere- 
 cho internacional, aunquo sea privado, se 
 dice que esas cnestiones escaban al domi- 
 nio del derecho interne de cada pals. 
 
 Limitada la soberania it la extensi6n 
 del territorio propio do cada pais, tiene 
 el derecho de exigir que sns leyes scan 
 respetadas dentro do su tr rritorio ; pero 
 por la misma razon no pnede pretender 
 que se extienda esa soberania & regir per- 
 sonas, actos 6 bienes situados 6 ejecutados 
 en otra parte ; este seria el predominio de 
 una soberania sobre todas las dem^s, 
 seria la snpresi6n de todas las soberanias 
 bajo el imperio de una s61a, cualesquiera 
 que fuese. 
 
 Considerada la cnestidn bajo este alto 
 punto de vista y colooada en su propio 
 terrene, las observaciones hechas por el 
 Seiior Delegado de los Estados Unidos, 
 vienen completazienta al snelo. 
 
 La Republica Argentina es tambi6n un 
 pais organizado bajo el sistema federal, 
 como lo son los Estados Unidos y si bien 
 es cierto qne el elemento centralizadorha 
 entrado por una mayor parte en la reda- 
 cci<Su de la Constituci6n Argetina, obede- 
 
262 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 in obedience to the historical antece- 
 dents of the country, to the necessities 
 of the present and the exigencies of the 
 future, it is no less certain that the true 
 character of that constitution is also fed- 
 eral. 
 
 For this reason it is, Mr. President, that 
 when we speak of the civil code, of the 
 commercial code, of the mining and of 
 the penal, it is not the states of the Ar- 
 gentine Republic which legislate npon 
 these matters, but, the National Congress 
 which makes the general codes for all the 
 Republic. 
 
 The constitution not having vested in 
 the Congress of the Republic more than 
 the power to make the codes, this raised 
 the question of investigating wherein 
 rested the power to amend them, in the 
 nation or in the states In the nation ? 
 But the constitution has not expressly 
 stated that it possesses that faculty. In 
 the states? But that would be putting 
 an end to legislative unity, which that 
 constitution has essayed to preserve as 
 one of the symbols of the unity of the 
 country ; and then, a lofty interpreta- 
 tion, an interpretation which, after long 
 discussion, has received the approval of 
 all the legal authorities, decided that as 
 the law can not be unmade except by the 
 one that made it, who has the authority 
 to make it, and as this was the Congress, 
 the Congress alone and not the states 
 should touch these codes. 
 
 But there was, Mr. President, a code 
 which was beyond the reach of the legis- 
 lative faculties of Congress, and that 
 code was precisely that of procedure, to 
 which the second of the propositions pre- 
 sented by the committee refers. 
 
 In the Argentine Republic, as in the 
 United States, the power to formulate 
 codes of procedure is vested in the States, 
 absolutely free and independent of the 
 the federal power, and it is vested in the 
 States for the very reason that it is one 
 of those matters, the consideration of 
 which renders it necessary to weigh, and 
 and weigh carefully, the elements which 
 are at hand to secure a prompt, conven- 
 ient, good, easy, and cheap administra- 
 tion of justice. 
 
 Very well, Mr. President, the men of 
 
 ciendo ^ los anteoedentes histfiricos del 
 pais, S. las necesidades del presente y & 
 las exigencias del porvenir, no por eso es 
 miSnos cierto que el verdadero car^ctcr de 
 esta Constitucidn es tambi^n federal. 
 
 Por eso es, SeSor Presidente, que cuan- 
 do se trata del C6digo civil, del C<5digo 
 del comercio, del de minerla y del penal, 
 no son los Estados en la Repliblica Argen- 
 tina^ los quelegislan sobre estas materias, 
 sino el Congreso nacional es quien hace 
 los C6digos generales para toda la Re- 
 pfiblica. 
 
 Suscltose, con este motivo la cuestiiin 
 de averiguar, no habiendo dado la Con- ' 
 stituci6n al Congreso de la Repiiblica 
 mSa que la facultad de dictar los cddigos, 
 donde residiria el poder de reformarlos; 
 J en la naci6n, 6 en los Estados ? 
 
 J En la nacidn ? Pero la Constitucidn no 
 habia dicho expresaraente que tuviera la 
 facultad de reformarla. j En los Estados ? 
 Pero habria side concluir con la unidad 
 legislativaque aquella Constitucidn habia 
 querido consagrar corao uno de los sim- 
 bolos de la unidad del pais; y ent6nces, 
 una interpretaci(5n elevada, una interpre- 
 taoi6n que ha merecido despufis de largas 
 discusiones el asentimiento de todos los 
 publicistas del Pais, vino S, resolver que, 
 no pudi^ndose deshacer la ley sino por 
 aquel que la form6, que tiene la facultad 
 de hacerla, puesto que este era el Con- 
 greso; 61 unicamente debia tocar estos 
 CiSdigos y no los Estados. 
 
 Pero habia, Senor Presidense, nn cddigo 
 que escapaba S, las facultades legislativas 
 del Congreso y ese c6digo era precisamente 
 el de prooedimientos S, que ee refiere la se- 
 guuda de las proposioiones presentadas 
 por la Comisidn. 
 
 En la Repliblica Argentina, come en los 
 Estados Unidoa, el poder de dictar cddigos 
 de prooedimientos, reside en los Estados, 
 con absolnta libertad 6 independencia 
 del Poder federal, y reside en los Estados, 
 porque es precisamente una de aquellas 
 materias en la cual es neoesario pesar y 
 pesar maduradamente los elementos con 
 que se puede contar para tener una pronta, 
 c6moda, buena, f£icil y barata admiuistra- 
 ci6n de justicia. 
 
 Pues bien, Sefior Presidente, los hom- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 263^ 
 
 that coviutry who study with admiration 
 the Constitution of the United States, 
 who are not ignorant of its great com- 
 mentators, and who are well versed in the 
 fundamental xjrinciples of universal law, 
 have not had the slightest ohjectiou to 
 acknowledging that notwithstanding the 
 fact that the Constitution governs this 
 matter, the Argentine Repuhlic, enjoying 
 the full constitutional capacity enjoyed 
 by all sovereign and independent coun- 
 tries, could make treaties which would 
 regulate the procedure in those cases in 
 which there should be several sovereign- 
 ties disputing -or assuming the jurisdic- 
 tion in the matter, and that they might 
 determine for themselves and before 
 themselves which are the fundamental 
 principles involved in the legalization of 
 documents, execution of judgments, etc. 
 If it were otherwise, Mr. President, and 
 I seriously ask the attention of the Dele- 
 gate of the United States, because these 
 are seeds which are cast upon the field of 
 discussion, and which may bear fruit 
 later, if it were otherwise, I repeat, the 
 United States would be a country capitis 
 dimhmtio with a, constitutional capacity 
 to treat inferior to all the others of the 
 world, something I can not, I ought not, 
 and I wish not to admit. 
 
 Mr. President, humanity is divided into 
 several independent nations, all of which 
 are firmly bound together by the bonds 
 of civilization and commerce; all these 
 relations must link themselves and har- 
 monize to reach a common end. There is 
 no country which can say to the others : 
 " I will not acknowledge the general rules 
 which all humanity acknowledges, to de- 
 termine which are the documents that are 
 to have validity before the courts and the 
 rules which are to govern the execution 
 of judgment;" such a doctrine would 
 entail the dismemberment of the Chris- 
 tian people. 
 
 And well, Mr. President, in the United 
 States in what power would there be 
 vested the authority to determine the 
 conditions under which documents exe- 
 cuted in foreign countries should be valid 
 in its territory ? In what power is vested 
 the right to determine the conditions 
 
 bres de aquel pais que estudiau con ad- 
 miracidn la Constituci6n de los Estados 
 Unidos, que no sou extraQos di sus grandes 
 comentadores y queestanbien empapados 
 en los prinoipios fundamentales del Dere- 
 cho general, no han tenido el m6uor in- 
 convoniente para admitir que, no obstante 
 quo la Constituci6u regula esta materia, 
 la Eepublica Argentina, gozando de la 
 plena capaeidad constitucional de quo 
 todo pals soborano 6 independiente goza, 
 podia celebrar tratados que afeutasen los 
 procedimientos en los cases en que hubi- 
 ese diversas soberanias que se disfrntaran 
 avocardln el dominio de la materia y que, 
 podrian determinar por si y ante si, cua- 
 les son los principios fundamentales en 
 materia de legal izacion de documentos, 
 ejecuci6n de sentenoias etc., etc. 
 
 De lo contrario, SeHor Presidente, yo 
 llamo seriamento la atenci6n del Senor 
 Delegadode los Estados Unidos, porque 
 estas sou semillas que se arrojan en el 
 campo dela discusifin y que pueden frno- 
 tificar m!ls tarde; do lo contrario, repito, 
 los Estados Unidos seriau un pals de 
 capitis diminutio, con nna capaeidad con- 
 stitucional de tratar, inferior d la de 
 todos los demSs paises de la tierra, cosa 
 que yo no puedo, que yo no debo, que yo 
 no quiero admitir. 
 
 Senor Presidente: La humanidad estd 
 dividida en diversas naciones indepen- 
 dientes, todas ellas estan estrechamente 
 ligadas por los vlnculos de la civiliza- 
 ci6n y el comercio, todas estas relacioues 
 tienen que eslabonarse y armonizarse 
 para caminar h^cia un fin coniun. No 
 hay nn pais que pueda decir ^ los dcmils : 
 yo no admito las reglas generales quo la 
 hnmanidad entera admite para determi- 
 nar cuales sou los documentos que hau de 
 haoer f^ ante los tribunales, y las reglas 
 ^ que doba de sujetarsc la ejecuci6n de 
 las sentenoias: semejante doetrina im- 
 portaria ladesrnembracidn de los pueblos 
 cristianos. 
 
 Y bi6n, Senor Presidente, en los Esta- 
 dos Unidos J en que poder residiria la fa- 
 cultad de determinar las oondicionesbajo 
 las cuales los documentos otorgados en 
 el cxtrangero debieran hacer f^ en sn 
 tierra? j en que poder residiria la faoul- 
 tad de determinar las condiciones ^ laa 
 
264 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 which should govom the execution of 
 judgments within the limits of its own 
 territory ? • 
 
 It is claimed that it is not vested in the 
 Congress of the United States. Would it 
 be then in the States? Evidently not, 
 because the States have no sevoreignty 
 recognizable by foreign countries, nor 
 personality before foreign nations, and, 
 therefore, I said : "If the States can not 
 make these treaties and if the Federal 
 power can not, then the United States 
 would be inferior in Constitutional capac- 
 ity with respect to treaties, to all the 
 countries of the world." Is this admissi- 
 ble ? For my own part, I shall always be 
 happy to deny it. No, the right to govern 
 relations with foreign powers can not, nor 
 should be vested in any other than the 
 national federal power, wherein rests the 
 sovereignty of the country, and, conse- 
 quently, it is the Congress of the United 
 States whose province it is to determine 
 those rules, and it is for this reason that 
 wo have been able to and ought to advise 
 the recommending to the Government of 
 the United States the admission of docu- 
 ments under the basis to which they 
 should conform in all countries. 
 
 I repeat again, there is no iutentiou to 
 verge upon the domestic legislation of a 
 country ; the purpose is simply to deter- 
 mine what law, what rules should govern 
 conflicts which may arise between powers 
 equally sovereign and equally independ- 
 ent. 
 
 Mr. Henderson then said : Mr. Presi- 
 dent, I am sorry that I was misled by the 
 report itself which was signed by the 
 Delegates from the Argentine. By look- 
 ing at page 2 of the report, it would seem 
 that the very questions are discussed 
 which I brought in view in the few re- 
 marks which I made, and to which I made 
 the objection, supposing the committees 
 meant what they said in their reasoning 
 for the resolution. On page 2, near the 
 bottom, it begins : 
 
 " If for instance, the law of North 
 America fixes the age of twenty-one years 
 as the full legal age, and in any of the 
 Spanish-American Republics it is the rule 
 that full legal age is not reached until 
 the age of twenty-five, it is nece.ssary to 
 
 cuales debierau sujotarse la ejecuci6n de 
 las sentencias dentro de los limites de su 
 territorio. 
 
 Se dice que no est^ en el Congreso de los 
 Estados Unidos. ? Estaria, acaso, en los 
 Estados ? Evidentemente que no, porque 
 los Estados no tienen soberania exterior 
 ni persoualidad ante las naciones extran- 
 geras y^por eso decia : si los Estados no 
 pueden hacer estos tratados, si tampoco 
 los pueden hacer los poderes federales, 
 resultaria que los Estados Unidos serian 
 inferiores en capacidad constitutional en 
 materia de tratados & todos los paises de 
 la tierra. 
 
 ?Esto es admisible? Por mi parte me 
 felicitar(S siempre de rechazarlo. No, el 
 poder de regular las relaciones con las 
 potenoias extrangeras, no puede ui debe 
 rosidir en otro poder que en los poderes 
 federales nacionales que sou en los que 
 reside la soberania del pals ; y por consi- 
 guiente es al Congreso de los Estados 
 Unidos & quien toca determinar esas re- 
 glas ; y es por eso que nosotros heraos 
 podido y debido aconsejar que se roco- 
 miende al Gobierno de los Estados Unidos 
 la admisi6n de los documentos, bajo las 
 bases & que se deben ajustar en todos 
 los paises. 
 
 Vuelvo ilrepetirlo : no se trata de tocar 
 la legislaci(3n interna de un pals, se trata 
 de determinar simplemente & que ley, & 
 que reglas deben sujetarse los confiictos 
 que se susciten entre potenoias igaal- 
 meute soberanas iS igualmente indopen- 
 dientes. 
 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, replied : Siento mucho, 
 Senor Presidente, que el texto mismo del 
 dict^men me haya oxtraviado. Ese dict^ 
 men est^ firmado por el Selior Delegado 
 de la Repfiblica Argentina. Si se echan 
 los ojos sobre la p^gina 2° de ese docu- 
 monto, se encuentra, & lo que aparece, 
 que ^ los autores de dicho dictiimen se 
 les prcsentaron exactamonte las mismas 
 cuestiones & que yo he hecho ' referenda, 
 y de que me he ocupado porque me fig)ir6 
 que la Comisidn pensaba realmente lo quo 
 decia, al fundar sns conclusiones. 
 
 En la p^gina 2' h^cia el pie do la pfi- 
 giua, se lee lo que sigue : 
 
 " Si la ley norte-americana seuala, por 
 cjemplo, la edad de la mayoria, y en 
 
INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 265 
 
 have some standard for deciding whether 
 a Spanish-American citizen is of full ago 
 here at twenty-one, or if a North Araeri- 
 cau there must wait to be twonty-five in 
 order to be considered as of full age." 
 
 The question of the majority of a young 
 man is a question not settled by the Con- 
 gress of the United States of America. 
 It has always been settled in the State for 
 itself. In many of the States the age 
 of twenty-one has been adopted. In 
 many of the States the age of eighteen 
 has been adopted, and contracts cau 
 be made by the male citizens of those 
 States. Now, females can make contracts 
 in a majority of the States, I believe, to- 
 day at the age of eighteen. I simply 
 arose for the purpose of indicating to my 
 friend from the Argentine tbat if ho had 
 confined himself to the question that lie 
 has confined himself to in his speech I 
 should not have found it necessary to say 
 anything at all, but I will continue from 
 page 2 of the report : 
 
 "If marriages entered into here with 
 certain solemnities, and there the form and 
 the solemnities are different, it is neces- 
 sary to decide whether parties entering 
 into the contract of marriage in their ter- 
 ritory according to the laws of their own 
 nationality are or are not entitled to 
 have such marriage treated as valid 
 everywhere." 
 
 Now, it is my duty to inform my friend, 
 who seems to construe with great ability 
 the Constitution of the United States, and 
 who is so kind as to intimate to me that 
 I know very little about it, that I desire 
 to state to him that no law has ever been 
 passed by the American Congress upon 
 the subject of marriage, and if a bill were 
 introduced into the American Congress 
 on that subject to-day it would startle 
 people of this country from one end of it 
 to the other. He is treating in his report 
 on the subject of majority and on the sub- 
 ject of marriage. Those are the questions 
 to which I directed my attention, suppos- 
 ing that the committee who wrote the re- 
 port and presented it here intended ex- 
 actly what they said in the report. I am 
 very glad to find from the argument of 
 
 cualquiera do las Eeptiblicas Hispano- 
 Amerioanas se encuentra estableoido que 
 la mayoria do odad no so alcance hasta 
 los 25 alios, es necesario toner algrin cri- 
 terio pararesolver si el hispauo-americano 
 all^ tieno que aguardar 6, los 25 para sor 
 eonsiderado mayor de edad." 
 
 Ahora bien : este asunto de la mayoria 
 de edad de un ciudadano, es cosa en que 
 no se mezola el Congreso de los Estados 
 Unidos de America. Es eosa que siempre 
 ha side detorminada por eada Estado indi- 
 vidualmente. En muchos do los Estados 
 esl^ fijada la edad do 21 auos. En otros 
 la de 18. Si es un hombre cl quo S, estas 
 edades ha hecho algun contrato, serd; este 
 v^lido 6 invSlido segtin el Estado. Si es 
 una muger me parece, si no cs que estoy 
 equivoeado, que en la mayoria de los 
 Estados basta conqueseadodiezy ochos 
 alios. Yo me he levantado solamente 
 para indicar ^ mi amigo el Sefior Delegado 
 Argentine, quo si en el dictdlmen se hubi- 
 era limitado & decir lo quo he dicho en su 
 discurso, yo no habiia sentido la nccesi- 
 dad do hablar nada. Pero sigamos con 
 el dictamen: "Si aqui se contrae cl 
 matrimonio con ciertas solomnidades, y 
 allii la forma y soleranidades son difc- 
 rentes, es necesario deoidir si los naciona- 
 les quo contraen matrimonio en eu terri- 
 torio conforme & laleydesuuacionalidad 
 tioneu 6 no dorecho S, que eso matrimonio 
 se respete como v^lido en todas partes." 
 Tengo el deber deinformar S, mi amigo, 
 que interpreta con gran habilidad la Con- 
 stitucidn de los Estados Unidos, y que 
 lleva 8u bondad hasta el extreme de inti- 
 mar que yo s6 muy poca cosa acerca de 
 ella, que jamais en la vida el Congreso 
 de la Uni6n amoricana se ha ocupado de 
 legislar sobre el matrimonio : y que si ^ 
 alguien le ocurriere preaeutar en dicho 
 Congreso un proyecto do ley relative d 
 oae punto, el puoblo de este pais de un 
 oxtremo al otro se sontiria asombrado. 
 La Comi8i6n habla en el dictamen del 
 asunto de mayoria do edad, y del asunto 
 del matrimonio. Mi atenci6n recayd 
 sobre esos pun tos porque alH estdn men- 
 cionadbs: y porque crol deber partir, 
 como parti, del supuesto, do que alii se 
 decia exactamcnte lo que se pensaba. 
 Me alegro de descubrir por los argumen- 
 
266 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 my friend that they did not intend the 
 things that I here assert. 
 
 Pursuing this report a little further, on 
 page 3 the report says : 
 
 ' ' If the order of succession is different ; 
 if in one place inheritance is a matter of 
 right and in another the property may be 
 freely disposed of by will ; if the effects 
 ' of contracts are different ; if the methods 
 of entering into partnership or other com- 
 mercial business are not the same, or if 
 the consequences thereof are different ; if 
 the form and effects of a bill of exchange 
 or any other commercial paper are differ- 
 ent, it is imperative that some rule should 
 exist for settling the question." 
 
 Mr. President, did I Mate any mistake 
 in the views I presented to this Confer- 
 ence? I merely presented them, as I 
 stated before and now state, for the pur- 
 pose of preventing an erroneous conclu- 
 sion. I did not wish to be limited to the 
 purview of the report. If I am recom- 
 mended to state these matters for the 
 purpose of arranging between the South 
 American States and the States of this 
 Union a uniformity of law, I am perfectly 
 willing so to do. As a member of the 
 bar association of this country, I can 
 state to the Conference that it has been 
 onr purpose for many years, that we 
 have endeavored to get uniformity of 
 laws between the States of the American 
 Union on this subject ; we are struggling 
 for that now ; but when the proposition 
 is made in an international congress or 
 conference that we undertake to do it by 
 the treaty-making power, I must rise and 
 enter my protest. If the treaty-making 
 power is so large as that, then the Presi- 
 dent of the United States and two-thirds 
 of the Senate may make a treaty abolish- 
 ing any one of the States of the Union, 
 or they may go to the extent, in defiance 
 of the language of the Constitution, that 
 the American Government shall guaran- 
 tee to each State a Republican form of 
 government ; they can by the treaty- 
 making power go to the extent of taking 
 every particle of authority from any one 
 of the States of the Union. 
 
 Such is not the construction of our 
 Constitution. If my friend from the 
 Argentine has so construed it, I must 
 enter my protest "against such construc- 
 
 tos de mi amigo que la intenci6n de la 
 Comisidn no fn6 la de ocuparse de las cosas 
 S, que yo me refiero. 
 
 Paso nn poco m^a adelante en el dictS- 
 men, y veo que dice en la pSgina 3: "Si 
 el 6rden de succesi6n es diferente ; si en 
 nn lugar la herencia es forzosa y en otro 
 la testament-faccidn es libre ; si los efectos 
 de los contratos son diforentes; si la ma- 
 nera de constituirse las compailias y dem^ 
 contratos comerciales no son las raismas, 
 ni sns consecuencias son iguales; si la 
 forma y responsaljilidades de unaletrade 
 cambio 6 de oualquier otro documento 
 mercantil varian, forzosaraente hay que 
 tener una regla seglin la cual la diferen- 
 cia se resuelva." 
 
 En vista de esto pregunto, Seuor Presi- 
 dente, j he padecido por ventura algnna 
 equivocaci(5n en decir lo que dije S, la 
 Conferencia ? Mis manifestaciones tuvi- 
 erou entonc«s como tienen ahora, por ob- 
 jeto impedir erroneas interpretaciones. 
 Yo no he qnerido sentirme limitado por el 
 texto del dictdimeu. Si dl me se me pide 
 que diga lo que el documento expresa, S, 
 fin de ver si se puede arreglar un plan 
 de legislacidn uuiforme para lo« Estados 
 de America del Sud y los Estados de esta 
 Uni6n, no tengo inconveniente en haoerlo. 
 Como miembro de la A80ciaci<5nde aboga- 
 dos de este pals he trabajado con mis co- 
 legas, por machos aiios, puedo asl asegu- 
 rarlo S, la Conferencia, para establecer 
 una misma uniformidad entre los Estados 
 de la Uui6n americana. En consegnir ese 
 objeto estamos todavia empenados. Pero 
 ante la proposicidn de que esto se haga 6 
 pnede hacerse, en un Congreso 6 Confe- 
 rencia internacional, y por medio del po- 
 der & que estS cncoraendada la negocia- 
 ci6n de tratados, tengo que levautarme y 
 protestar. 
 
 Si ese poder tuviese facnltades para 
 hacer eso, resnltaria que el Presidente de 
 los Estados Unidos y los dos tercios del 
 Seuado puedeu abolir por tratado, cual- 
 quiera Estado de la Uni6n, 6 arraucar de 
 cualquiera de estos en abierta infraccidn 
 de la Constituci6n que impone al Go- 
 bierno amerioano el deber de preservar en 
 todos esos Estados nna forma de Gobierno 
 repnblioana, hasta la ultima partfculo de 
 autoridad. Nada de eso puede hacerse 
 conforme & nuestra Constitucidn. Si mi 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 267 
 
 tion, and I commend to him a more care- 
 ful and prudent study of its provisions. 
 Do I understand this report ? He says in 
 regard to the law of succession that he 
 ■wants uniformity. Am I to recommend 
 to the Government of the United States 
 a uniform law on the subject of succes- 
 sion ? Mr. President, has any law ever 
 heen passed by the American Congress 
 regulating the law of succession ? Can 
 the United States Congress pass such a 
 law ? Such a proposition would be re- 
 ceived with startling effect all through 
 the Union. Why, sir, it has never been 
 undertaken m the hundred years of our 
 existence. Each State is left to deter- 
 mine for itself the laws of succession. 
 Has any law ever been passed regulating 
 the terms of contracts of private indi- 
 viduals by the Federal Congress ? I ap- 
 peal to every American to know wherein 
 such u. bill has ever been offered by an 
 American Congressman. Certainly not. 
 These subjects belong to the States, and 
 because they appear in this report prcvi- 
 ious to the recommendations and resolu- 
 tion I desire simply to exclude the con- 
 clusion that I was committing myself to 
 the doctrine of the report. 
 
 If my friend of the Argentine feels that 
 the language of the report, which is the 
 reasoning which came up to the resolu- 
 tion, is incorrect ; if that language and 
 that reasoning are incorect, then, of 
 course, I must insist that I was misled by 
 the report itself, and whenever the re- 
 port and the arguments of the report are 
 withdrawn, then I can very well say that 
 I recommend the resolutions themselves. 
 I am aware, as my friend says, that I can 
 recommend a great deal to the Congress 
 of the United States. To be sure, in the 
 Federal court an argument may be made 
 to compel the reception of documents. 
 If I appear in the circuit court of the 
 
 amigo, el SeSor delegado de la Eepiiblioa 
 argentina, la interprete de otro modo, yo 
 tengo que hacer constar mi protesta con- 
 tra somejante interprotaoi6n, y recomou- 
 darle que haga un estudio vaSs cuidadoso 
 y prndonte do lo quo proveo por aquel in- 
 strumento. 
 
 jEntiendo bi^n ese diotiimen ? El qui- 
 ere que ITaya uniformidad con respecto al 
 derocho de sucesidn. jHe de recomendar 
 yo al Gobiorno delos Estados Unidos, que 
 promulguen una ley sobre este asunto que 
 ho hccho jamils Senor Presidente por el 
 Congreso americano alguna ley que re- 
 glamonte 6 determine el derecho de su- 
 siiSn ? Cualquiera movimiento en este sen- 
 tido produciria en los Estados Unidos el 
 cfeoto mSa extraordinario. Y jcomo no, 
 Senor? Es cosa que jam^s se he inten- 
 tado en los cien auos que llevaraos de 
 existencia. A cada Estado se le ha dejado 
 en absoluta libertad de hacer por si mismo 
 sus propias leyes respecto & 8ucesi6n. jSo 
 ha promulgado jamais alguna ley federal 
 respecto ^ los contratos celebrados por 
 los ciudadanos de eate pals, y los t^rminos 
 en qus deben hacerse ? Quiero encontrar 
 un americano que me diga cuando se ha 
 presentado con ese objeto algun proyecto 
 de ley en nuestro Congreso. Jamiis ha 
 sucedido eso. Estos asuntos pertenecen 
 Si los Estados ; y como de ellos se trata en 
 la parte explicativa del dict^men, como 
 antecedentes en que descansan las con- 
 clusiones y recomendaciones que en 61 se 
 hacen, yo he deseado explicarme como lo 
 he heoho, simplemente con el deseo de 
 evitar que nadie se figure que yo acepto 
 las doctrinas del dict^men. 
 
 Si mi amigo, el Senor Delegado por la 
 Reptiblica Argentina, considera que la 
 parte explicativa del dictSmen, que con- 
 tiene las razones en que descansan las 
 recomendaciones hechas, es incorrccto, 6 
 que las recomendaciones lo son tambien, 
 yo teudrS entonoes que insistir en que las 
 frases del dict^men y los argumentos que 
 (51 se hacen extraviaron mi juicio. Y si 
 el dict^men y los argumentos del dictil- 
 men resultan retirados, yo podr^ ent6nces 
 ver bien si pnedo aceptar las recomenda- 
 ciones. No se me oculta, como dice mi 
 amigo, que estii en mis facultades reco- 
 mendar muchas cosas al Gobierno de loa 
 Estados Unidos. Y nadie duda que cu- 
 
268 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 United States with a document, certified 
 according to a treaty between a foreign 
 power and the United States, that is con- 
 claaive. The Federal judge will receive 
 it, but, in my argument before, I submit- 
 ted tlio faet that a State judge would 
 not be bound to receive it, and I did not 
 desire in my vote here, although willing 
 to indorse the propositions in their broad 
 terms, willing to indorse the resolutions, 
 but not the reasoning upon which the 
 resolutions were predicated. If I can go 
 so far, the members of the committee 
 ought certainly to be satisfied ; but I do 
 not wish the broad construction, which 
 the reasoning of the report would justify. 
 
 I am aware that in all Federal courts, 
 in all the Departments of our Government, 
 papers, documents, judgments, projeed- 
 ings of foreign states might be compelled 
 to be used by the treaties with any foreign 
 power, but not so in any State court of the 
 American Union. The States have reserved 
 rights, and they, upon that subject, can 
 do as they choose. I dislike very much to 
 take up the time of this Conference. I 
 simply rose for the purpose of negating, 
 as far as I possibly can, the conclusion 
 that may be left by my vote by the argu- 
 ments themselves in the report and by the 
 speech of my friend from the Argentine. 
 
 The President then said : Is the Con- 
 ference ready for the question? Before 
 the question is stated, the Chair will di- 
 rect that, as several gentlemen who have 
 spoken desire their remarks to be included 
 in the minutes, the debate on this ques- 
 tion shall be put in the minutes verbatim. 
 
 Mr. Tkbscot said : If that is the case I 
 would like to make one suggestion, and 
 that is, to call the attention of my friend 
 on my i-ight (Mr. Henderson) to the fact 
 that in replying to the argument of the 
 honorable Delegate from the Argentine 
 Republic, he is replying to that gentle- 
 man and not to the report. 
 
 The President then said : The Chair 
 
 ando se trate de nn tribunal federal, se 
 puede defender que ese tribunal est^ obli- 
 gado £G reoibir un documento legalizado 
 como aqui se recomienda. Si so presenta 
 alguno ante un tribunal federal con un 
 documento, legalizado como provee un 
 tratado, entre los Estados Unidos y una 
 nacidn extrangera, no hay dnda de que 
 tendr^ que admitersele. Pero mi dificul- 
 tad no estriba en eso. Yo me refiero £C la 
 presentaci6n de ese documento ante un 
 tribunal de un Estado. Este no eetS, obli- 
 gado & recibirlo ;,y yo no qniero que mi 
 veto vaya nunca S, interpretarse como 
 significative de lo contrafio. Y si la 
 Comisidn desea que se aceptan las con- 
 clusiones del dictiimen, y no los razona- 
 mientos en que <S1 se funda, yo no tendr^ 
 inconveniente en hacerlo; pero debo ha- 
 cerlo con la explicaci<5n oportuna. 
 
 Yo s^ que en todos los tribunales fede- 
 rates, y en todas las oficinas del Gobierno 
 federal, es forzosa la admisidn de docu- 
 mentos procedentes del extrangero, si 
 estan legalizadoa segtiu disponen los tra- 
 tados ; pero s6 tambien que eso no sucedo 
 en ningtin Estado de esta Uni6n. Los 
 Estados se han reservado bus derechos en 
 este y otros puntos, y pueden hacer 
 exactamento lo que les plazca. Me es 
 doloroso qnitarle el tiempo S, la Conferen- 
 cia. Pero tengo que impedir en cuanto 
 me sea posible, que quede la falsa impro- 
 8i<5n que podria desprenderse de mi voto, 
 sobre todo despues de oir los argumentos 
 en que descansa el dictdimen, y el dis- 
 curso de mi amigo, el Senor Delegado por 
 la Repfiblica Argentina. 
 
 El Senor Presidente, despues de haber 
 preguntado S, la Conferencia si estaba 
 dispuesla & proceder £i la votaci6n, agre- 
 g6 que puesto que varios de los Senores 
 Delegados habian expresado el deseo de 
 que constasen sus palabras, ordenaria & 
 los Secretaries, que transcribiesen en el 
 acta el debate Integro. 
 
 El Senor Trescot, delegado por los Es- 
 tados Unidos, dijo : Si asi ha de hacerse, 
 yo quisiora llamarla atencidn de mi amigo 
 el Senor Henderson, hacia el hecho de que 
 al replicar al SeQor Delegado por la Re- 
 piiblloa Argentina ha estado argnyendo 
 contra lo que 61 dijo, y no contra lo que 
 dice el dictSmen. 
 
 El Senor Presidente dijo : La Mesa he 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 269 
 
 has made that tlireotion in regard to 
 printing because three or four gentlemen 
 asked the privilege, and the debate, if 
 continuous, will make each one have its 
 proper significance, and, therefore, it will 
 be continuously printed. 
 
 Mr. Cruz said : I want to say two words 
 because the honorable Delegate from the 
 United States has stated that there is 
 contradiction between the report and the 
 resolutions recommended ; and in support 
 of his assertion, he has referred to certain 
 portions of the report. As there are dif- 
 ferences in the laws of the United States 
 and those of the South American States 
 in regard to succession, marriage con- 
 tracts, and the effects produced by the 
 latter, it is indispensable to seek a gen- 
 eral rule to determine what force shall 
 bo given to these acts in the United 
 States if they have been performed in 
 any other country of America, or what 
 force shall bo given to the same in the 
 nations of South America if performed in 
 the United States. This has led the hon- 
 orable Delegate from the United States to 
 the belief that the committee has sug- 
 gested that the United States and all the 
 Spanish- American nations shall have the 
 same laws, and it has been explained be- 
 fore that this is not tlie purpose of the 
 report. 
 
 All the Spanish-American nations and 
 the United States have different la ws, and 
 for this very reason a general j)rincip]e is 
 sought, because if the laws were alike 
 there would be no necessity for private 
 international law. But the very fact that 
 it is admitted that the United States and 
 the States of the Union and the Spanish- 
 American States have different laws, re- 
 quires that a general principle should 
 be established. Neither the United States 
 can pretend that the Spanish-American 
 nations should modify their laws so as to 
 agree with their own, nor can the Span- 
 ish-American republics pretend that the 
 contrary should take place. So there is 
 no contradiction between the statements 
 of the report and the conclusions. 
 
 ordonado que se haga la insercidn Integra, 
 y que todo se imprima, porque tres 6 
 cuatro Seuores ban deseado que sus pala- 
 bras cousten. Como ol debate ha sido 
 continue, y lo quo cada cual ha dicho 
 estil en rolacion con lo que antooede y lo 
 que bigue, la iusorci6n y la impresidn so 
 hariin integras. 
 
 El Senor CRUZ,delegado por Guatemala, 
 dijo : Voy & docir dos palabras porque el 
 Honorable Senor delegado de los Estados 
 Uuidos-haexpuestoque hay contradicoi<5n 
 entre el informe y las resoluciones que se 
 proponen, y para justificarlo ha leido 
 varies ejemplos que se ponen en el dict^- 
 men. 
 
 Habiendo diferencias notables entre la 
 legislacidn de los Estados Unidos y la de 
 los paises Hispano-Americanos respecto 
 de sacesiones, matrimonios, celebraci6n 
 de contratos y efectos que estos deban 
 producir, es indispensable buscar una 
 regla general para saber cuales hayan de 
 ser los efectos que tengan estos actos en 
 los Estados Unidos si olios han sido celo- 
 brados en otro iials de la AmiSrica, 6 los 
 que tendriiu en aquellos naciones si ellos 
 han sido celebradoj en los Estados Uni- 
 dos. 
 
 Eso ha inducido ^ decir al Honorable 
 Delegado por los Estados Unidos, que la 
 Comisi<5n ha propuest6 que asi los Estados 
 Unidos, como las dem& naciones Hispano- 
 americauas tengan una misma legislaci6n, 
 y ya se ha indicado antes, que no es este 
 el objeto del informe. Todos los paises 
 Hispano-americanos y los Estados Unidos 
 pueden entre si tener legislaciones diver- 
 sas, y precisamente porque se supone que 
 existen esas legislaciones diversas, es por 
 lo que se busca un pricipio general ; por- 
 que si lo que se intentara fuera que hubi- 
 ese una misma legislacidn en todas esas 
 naciones, ya no habria necesidad de tal 
 Derecho internacional privado, todas se- 
 rianiguales; pero precisamente por quo 
 se admite que la legislaci(3n do los Estados 
 Unidos, la de los difereutes Estados, y 
 las de las naciones Hispano-americanas 
 pueden contener disposiciones contrarias, 
 es por lo que se trata de establecer un 
 principio general ; pero no se ha dicho de 
 niuguna manera, ni se quiere que todas 
 las naciones tengan una legislaci(5n igual. 
 
 Ni los Estados Unidos pueden preten- 
 
270 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The Pbesident said : If the Conference 
 is ready for the qnestiou, the roll will be 
 called. 
 
 By direction of the President, the vote 
 was taken on each of the two resolutions 
 separately, and resulted in the unani- 
 mous adoption of both resolutions of the 
 rexDort, as amended by Mr. Henderson. 
 
 Those voting were : The delegations of 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentine, Costa Eica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, United States, 
 Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 The President stated that the order of 
 the day was exhausted. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, aDelegate fromNioaragua, 
 moved that the Conference do now ad- 
 journ until Friday next at 3 o'clock. 
 
 The motion of Mr. Guzman was unani- 
 mously agreed to, and the Conference ad- 
 journed at 5 p.m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegaeka, 
 
 Firat Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 Jos£ M. HUKTADO, 
 
 ColoniMa. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Mepuilic. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Coata Biea. 
 Jos:6 S. Decoud, 
 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valbnte, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mexia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 
 der que los paises Hispano-Americanos 
 modifiqnen su legislacidn poni^ndola 
 igual & la gueestos tienen, ni tampoco las 
 naciones Hispano-Americanas pretenden 
 que los Estados Unidos modifiquen su le- 
 gislacidn poni^ndola conforme S, las que 
 ellas tienen. De suerte que no hay nin- 
 guna contradicci6a entre la parte expo- 
 sitiva del informe y sus resoluciones. 
 
 El Senor Presidente volvio & pregnn- 
 tar si la Conferencia estaba dispuesta S, 
 prooeder ^ la votacidu y no habieudo oido 
 voz alguna en contrario, ordeno H los 
 Secretarios que leyesen las dos proposi- 
 ciones 6 reoomendaciones del dict^men 
 una tras otra; y habiendose tornado el 
 votb por delegaciones respeoto £ cada 
 una de ellas por su drden resultaron 
 ambas aprobadas por unaniraidad, 
 
 Los votos emitidos fueron los de Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, 
 Honduras, M6xico, Bolivia, Estados Uni- 
 dos, Chile, Salvador, y Ecuador. 
 
 Publicado el resultado de la votacidu, 
 manifesto el Sr. Presidente que la drden 
 del dia estaba agotada, y entonccs el Sr. 
 Guzman, delegado por Nicaragua, hizo 
 m6cion por aque se levantase la sesidn y 
 que la Conferencia se reuniese de nuevo 
 el Viernes 7 del corriente & las tres de la 
 tarde. 
 
 Asi se acordo por unanimidad. 
 
 Se levanto la sesidn ^ las cinco de la 
 tarde. 
 
 F. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primero Vieepresidente. 
 
 HORACIO GUZMiN, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Chuatemala, 
 Josi^ M. Hurtado, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica, 
 Jos:fi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valbnte, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Mat! AS Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 M&dco. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 271 
 
 Juan F. Vklabde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 T. Jbffebson Coolidge, 
 William Henky Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estkk, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 United States. 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosiS Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador, 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estek, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 
 Estados Vhidos. 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 CMle. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosiS Mar£a PlIcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FORTIETH DAY. 
 
 Washington, March 7, 1890. 
 
 The luternational American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.10 p. m. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Ze- 
 GARRA, a Delegate from Peru, with the 
 following Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Kopublic : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. .J. G. do Aniaral Valente. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Komero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jo8<5 Maria Pliicido Caamana. 
 
 272 
 
 ACTA No. 40. 
 
 Seaidn del 7 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarka, 
 delegado por el Peru. Estando presentes. 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peril : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos(5 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr.' Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. WiUiam Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto CasteUanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Placido 
 Caamano. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 273 
 
 The raiuutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, stated that in respect to the 
 minutes he could only praise the oaref nl 
 manner in which they had been prepared ; 
 but that he desired to malie two remarks 
 in regard to Mr. Henderson's words. He 
 had not been able to do so before, as the 
 honorable gentleman's words bad not 
 been translated. In the first place, he 
 had never withdrawn or contradicted the 
 foundations of the report, nor had he, as 
 a member of the committee which had 
 signed it, the power to do so, and that he 
 was proud to have signed it. In the 
 second place, he said, Mr. Henderson's 
 remarks had placed him iu a false posi 
 tion, as he had never questioned the 
 honorable gentleman's knowledge of the 
 Constitution of the United States. Ue 
 added that he was a great admirer of the 
 Constitution of the United States, and 
 that he had given it and would continue 
 to give it serious study. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that iu his observations in answer 
 to Mr. Zegarra he wished the words 
 "falso concepci<5n" in the Spanish text 
 taken out and "conoepto equivocado" 
 inserted. 
 
 The Chair ordered the above altera- 
 tion to be made. 
 
 The following report of the Executive 
 Committee on Mr. Pierra's resignation 
 was read by the Secretaries : 
 
 " For about two months this committee 
 has been almost exclusively engaged in 
 considering the matter of the resignation 
 of Mr. Fidel G. Pierra, the Spanish-Ameri- 
 can Secretary of the International Ameri- 
 can Conference. This resignation had 
 been tendered to the committee long be- 
 fore it was presented to the Conference. 
 The committee desired not to be deprived 
 of the services of a good and intelligent 
 employ^, and feared that his absence 
 might obstruct, in some way, the labors 
 of the Conference, which has not been 
 the case. Under this impression, how- 
 ever, the committee made earnest efforts 
 to induce Mr. Pierra to withdraw his res- 
 ignation, and it was for this reason that 
 18 I C 
 
 Se abrid la sesi6u S, las tres y diez mi- 
 nutos de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firm6 el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 El SeHor Quintana, delegado por la 
 Repiiblica Argentina, dijo que con re- 
 specto al acta s61o podia celebrar el es- 
 mero, prontitud y prolijidad con quo se 
 habia hecho ; pero que deseaba hacer dos 
 pequenas rectificaciones & lo que ol 
 Sefior Henderson habia dicho en su liltimo 
 discurso el dia anterior, las que no pndo 
 hacer entonces porque el discurso no le 
 fu4 traducido. En primer lugar, 61 nunca 
 habia retirado, ui contradicho los funda- 
 mentos del dictiimeu, ni tenia facultad de 
 hacerlo, por ser miembro de la Comisidn, 
 y se hacia un honor de haberlo firmado. 
 En segundo lugar, debia decir, que las ob- 
 servaciones del Sr. Henderson lo dejaban 
 colocado en una posici6n falsa, que debia 
 no aceptar, puesto que nunca habia insi- 
 nuado, ni podido insinuar, que el Seiior 
 Henderson supiese mncho 6 poco de la 
 Constitucidn de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 El Sefior Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 solid t6 que se borraeen de sus observa- 
 ciones en repuesta al Sefior Zegarra, las 
 palabras "concepto falso" y se sustitu- 
 yesen por "concepto equivocado." Aslse 
 ordend. 
 
 Se ley(5 el siguiente dictSmen de la 
 Comisidn Ejecutiva sobre la renuncia del 
 Sefior Pierra : 
 
 " Por cerca de dos meses se ha ocupado 
 esta Comisidn casi exclusivamente, de la 
 renuncia del Sefior Don Fidel G. Pierra, 
 Secretario Hispano-Americauo de la Con- 
 ferencialnternacional Americana. Mucho 
 antes de que esa renuncia llegara 6, cono- 
 cimientodelaCouferencia, ia6 presentada 
 & la Comisi6n. Deseando esta seguir 
 utilizando los servioios de un empleado 
 iStil 6 inteligente, y temiendo que su se{)a- 
 raci6n ocasionara algunas dificultades 
 en los trabajos de la Conferencia, lo cual 
 no ha side as£, tom(5 grande empeno en 
 hacer desistir al Senor Pierra de su re- 
 nuncia, y con ese objeto se inform6 de los 
 motives que lo determinaban S, presen- 
 tarla. 
 
274 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONPERENCE, 
 
 it inquired from him the motives which 
 had prompted him to tender it. 
 
 "These motives were of two descrip- 
 tions. The first was the fear that he was 
 not treated in the same way as all the 
 other employes of the Conference, and 
 that he was not given sufficient help to 
 fulfil his duties. The second was that his 
 compensation, as fixed Ly the President 
 of the Conference, was not sufficient. 
 
 "The committee took plans to care- 
 fully examine the. reasons first named; 
 but found that there was no ground for 
 Mr. Pierra considering himself to he in a 
 worse position than the other employes, 
 and so it told him. With this and with 
 certain measures which were taken in the 
 matter of auxiliary employes, the com- 
 mittee succeeded, for the time being, at 
 least, in causing Mr. Pierra to desist from 
 hia purpose. 
 
 " As to the second reason, the committee 
 thought that as the Government of the 
 United States pays the salaries of the em- 
 ploy 6s of the Conference, audit, infixing 
 the respective amounts, took into consid- 
 eration the importance of the work so as 
 to render the remuneration equitable, it 
 was not proper for the committee to ask 
 the said Government to make an excep- 
 tion in favor of one employ^, and to in- 
 crease a salary which had been fixed be- 
 forehand, and which the Conference was 
 not to pay. On the other hand, the com- 
 mittee finds that if due consideration is 
 taken of the salaries paid in this country, 
 the one fixed for the Secretaries of this 
 Conference is very equitable. It is larger 
 than the one paid to the Assistant Score • 
 retaries of the Executive Departments of 
 this Government. 
 
 " The withdrawal of the resignation of 
 Mr. Pierra never was lasting. As soon as 
 it was withdrawn it was again tendered 
 and its acceptance insisted upon, and the 
 committee had again to make efforts to 
 dissuade Mr. Pierra. At last it was im- 
 possible for the committee to prevent the 
 resignation from being laid before the 
 Conference. 
 
 "The committee is of the opinion that 
 the resignation ought to have been ac- 
 cepted at once, on the day on which 
 it was tendered, as Mr. Pierra's deter- 
 mination seemed then to be final. But 
 
 "Estos eran de dos clases : los primeros 
 se referian ^ temores de que no se le tra- 
 taba como ^ los demda empleados de la 
 Couferencia, y de que no se le daban los 
 brazos necesarios para el desempeBo de 
 sus deberes ; y los segundos, ^ considerar 
 insuficiente la retribucidn que le habia 
 asignado el Presidente de la misma. 
 
 "La Comisi6n se tom6 el trabajo de 
 examinar detenidameute las causas que 
 formaban el primer motive, y habiendo 
 encontrado que nohabia fundamento para 
 que el Senor Pierra creyese que era oon- 
 siderado de peor condioi6n que los otros 
 empleados, se lo manifestd asl, y logr<5 
 disuadirlo, ^ lo meuos por alglin tiempo, 
 de que insistiera eu sn renuncia, habiendo 
 tambien acordado lo que oreyd debido res- 
 pecto de los empleados auxiliares. 
 
 "Eespeeto del segundo motive, la Co- 
 misidu crey6 que como el Gobierno de los 
 Estados Unidos paga los sueldos de los 
 empleados dela Couferencia, y alfijarlos, 
 ha tomado en consideraoidn la importan- 
 cia de los trabajos para remunerarlos 
 equitativamente, no podia ella solicitar 
 de este Gobierno que hiciera una excop- 
 cidn en favor de nn empleado, aument^n- 
 dole el sueldo que le habia asignado, por 
 no ser la Couferencia quien debia pagarlo. 
 Adem^, teniendo en cuenta los sueldos 
 que se pagan en este pais, la Comisidn 
 encon traba muy equitati vo el asignado ^ 
 los Secretaries de esta Conferencia, que es 
 superior al que reciben los Sub-Secretarios 
 de los Departamentos delPoderEjecutivo 
 de este Gobierno. 
 
 "El desistimiento de la renuncia del 
 Senor Pierra no era duradero, pues poco 
 despues insistia en ella, y la Comisi6u se 
 tomaba el trabajo de disuadirlo de nuevo, 
 hasta que al fin no pudo evitar que su 
 renuncia Uegara & conocimiento de la 
 Conferencia. 
 
 Eu concepto-de la Comisidn, debia ha- 
 berse admitido desde el dia en que se 
 presentd, porque la determinaoidn del 
 Senor Pierra parecia final ; pero se aplaz6 
 su consideracidn: yentretanto, el Sefior 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFEEENCK. 
 
 275 
 
 the coDsideiatiou of the subject was 
 postponed, and in the meantime Mr, 
 Pierra expressed his desire to resume his 
 position of Secretary, on condition, how- 
 ever, that he would be allowed to serve 
 without salary. 
 
 As this condition was incompatible with 
 the dignity of the Conference, the com- 
 mittee could not accept it, and reported 
 that the permission to withdraw the res- 
 ignation on such conditions should not 
 be given. 
 
 " Then Mr. Pierra sent another commu- 
 nication to the Conference withdrawing 
 the portion of his previous communica- 
 tion that had been objected to, and this 
 is the condition of the case at the present 
 moment. 
 
 ''Altough the committee acknowl- 
 edges that Mr. Pierra has been a compe- 
 tent employ^, it does not believe, judg- 
 ing from what has . happened, that he 
 would remain long in his position. And 
 under the circumstances, and in order 
 to prevent the attention of the Confer- 
 ence from being again engaged with this 
 subject, which of itself is of very little 
 importance, the committee would not 
 hesitate to recommend that Mr. Pierra's 
 resignation should be accepted. But it 
 appears from resolutions introduced in 
 this Conference, and other documents, 
 that some of the Delegates earnestly de- 
 sire, because they think the business of 
 the Conference would be facilitated 
 thereby, that Mr. Pierra should return to 
 his duties as Secretary, believing also 
 that his return would be permanent. 
 The committee, therefore, not wishing 
 to oppose the desires of the said Dele- 
 gates, refers the matter to the decision 
 of the Conference without recommenda- 
 tion. 
 
 " F. C. C. Zegaera. 
 
 "M. EOMEBO. 
 
 " Cornelius N. Buss. 
 " jos]!: m. hurtado. 
 "■Washington, March 7, 1890." 
 After some discussion of Mr. Guzman, a 
 Delegate from Nicaragua, moved that the 
 Executive Committee be authorized by 
 the Conference to take whatever action 
 it might deem proper on the matter, 
 passing to the effect a vote of confidence. 
 
 Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, and 
 Mr. Estee, a Delegate from the United 
 
 Pierra maaii'cst6 su deseo de volver ii 
 la Secretarla, d condicidn deque seleper- 
 mitiera servir sin sueldo. 
 
 " Como esta condici6n era incompatible 
 con la dignidad de la Conferenoia, la 
 Comisidn no pudo aceptarla, y consults 
 que no se permitiera el retire de larenun- 
 cia on esos t^rminos. Despues, mand6 el 
 SeBor Pierra otra comunicacidn ^ la Con- 
 ferenoia, retirando la parte objetada de su 
 comunicacidn anterior ; y este es el estado 
 que actualmente guarda este asunto. 
 
 "Aunqne la Comisidn reconoce que el 
 Sefior Pierra ha sido un empleado com- 
 petente, no cree, teniendo en cuenia lo 
 que ha pasado en este asunto, que perma- 
 nezca mucho tiempo en la SecretarJa ; y 
 en este concepto, y para evitar que la 
 atencifin de la Conferencia se consajire rei- 
 teradamente S, un incidente en si de poca 
 importancia, consultarla sin vacilar que 
 se aceptara la renuncia del SeSor Pierra. 
 Pero como de proposioioues presentadas 
 & la Conferencia, y otros documentos, 
 aparece que varies SeJiores Delegados 
 creen conveniente al mejor servicio de la 
 Conferenoia que el Senor Pierra vuelva ^ 
 desempcRar las funciones de Secretario y 
 creen que su regreso ser^ permanente, la 
 Comisidn no quiere contrariar los deseos 
 de estos Sefiores Delegados, y en conse- 
 cuenoia se abstieue de hacer ningana 
 recomendacidu y deja este asunto ^ la 
 resolncidn de la Conferencia. 
 
 "T. C. C. Zbgarra. 
 
 "M. BOMERO. 
 
 "Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 "j. m. huetado. 
 "IVashington, 7 deMarzo de 1890." 
 Despues de alguna discusi6u, el 8r. 
 GuzmXn, delegado por Nicaragua, hizo 
 mocidn para que la Conferencia autorizase 
 61 la Comisidn Ejecutiva para decidir el 
 asunto de la manera que le pareciese mas 
 propia, concedi^ndole al efecto un voto 
 de confianza. 
 
 El Sr. Varas, delegado por Chile, y 
 el Sr. Estee, delegado por los Bstados 
 
276 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 States, supported the motion of Mr. Guz- 
 man; and the vote having been taken, 
 resulted in its adoption by the majority. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were Nica- 
 ragua, Guatemala, Argentine, CostaRica, 
 Brazil, Bolivia, United States, Chili, Sal- 
 vador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Peru, Colombia, and Paraguay ab- 
 stained from voting, and Mexico voted 
 negatively. 
 
 Mr. CooLlDGB, a, Delegate from the 
 United States, introduced the following 
 resolution which was read aud referred to 
 the Committee on Rules : 
 
 " Resolved, That in order to economize 
 the time of the Conference, the Executive 
 Committee be authorized to exercise a 
 general supervision over the staff and em- 
 ployes of the Conference, and all com- 
 munications referring thereto shall be ad- 
 dressed to said committee vfith power to 
 act." 
 
 The Chair announced the discussion of 
 Mr. H uitado's amendment to the report of 
 the Executive Committee on the printing 
 of proceedings. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, suggested that the words 
 " with the consent of the Conference" be 
 included in the amendment. 
 
 This having been agreed to and the 
 vote having been taken, it was unani- 
 mously adopted in the following form • 
 
 "The Executive Committee having had 
 under consideration a proposition of the 
 Honorable Delegate from Uruguay, sub- 
 mitted on the 31st of January ultimo, con- 
 cerning the printing of the proceedings of 
 this Conference, beg leave to submit the 
 following as their report, and ask its 
 adoption : 
 
 "Sesolved, That twenty-five copies of 
 the daily minu tes as approved by the Con- 
 ference be printed and bound for the use 
 of each Delegation. 
 
 "Sesolved, That the proceedings of the 
 Conference to be printed shall be the reso- 
 lutions presented by the several Delegates 
 and the reports of the several committees 
 and the discussions and votes thereouj in 
 
 Unidos apoyaron la niocl6n del Sr. Guz- 
 mSu, la que puesta ^ votacidn resultd 
 adoptada por la niayoria. 
 
 Votaron en favor de la mocidn del Sr. 
 Guzmdin, Nicarigna, Guatemala, Argen- 
 tina, Costa Ricii, Brasil, Bolivia, Estados 
 Unidos, Chile, Salvador, y Ecuador. 
 
 Peril, Colombia y Paraguay se abstu- 
 vieron de votar; y Mexico votd negati- 
 vamente. 
 
 El SenorCooLiDGB,delegado por los Es- 
 tados Unidos, eiivid S, la Mesa la signien- 
 te proposiciifti, que fu6 leida, y pasada A 
 informe dela Cumisidn de Reglamento. 
 
 '' Se resuelve : Que S, fin de no hacer 
 perder tiempo ^ la Conferenoia, se au- 
 toriza & la Cumisidn Ejecntiva para ejer- 
 cer vigilancia y supervisidn general sobre 
 todo lo relativo & los empleados de la 
 Conferencia; y toda comunicacidn que se 
 roBera ^ asuntos de esta clase, ha de ser 
 dirigida £ dicha Comisidn, & la que se 
 concede autoridad para determinar lo que 
 convenga." 
 
 El Sefior Prusidente anuncid que de- 
 bia procederse en seguida & la disousidn 
 de la eumienda propuesta por el Senor 
 Hurtado al diot^men de la Comisidu Eje- 
 cutiva sobre impresidn de las actas. Y 
 habiendo sngerido el Senor Qci.vtana, 
 delegado por la Repfiblica Argentina, que 
 se agregasen las palabras '' con aseuti- 
 miento de la Conferencia," ^ lo que acce- 
 did el Senor Hurtado, se puso el asnnto S, 
 votacidn, y se adoptd por unanimidad la 
 enmienda propuesta. 
 
 El dictiimen quedd, pues, definitiva- 
 mente adoptado en la forma que sigue: 
 
 " La Comisidu Ejecutiva ha examinado 
 la proposicidn del honorable Delegado del 
 Uruguay, presentada el dia 31 de Enero 
 ultimo, aceroa de la impresidn de las 
 actas de esta Conferencia, y pide permiso 
 para someter el dicti£meu que sigue, y re- 
 oomeiidar su adopcidn : 
 
 " Se imprimir^n y encnadernariin para 
 el uso de oada delegacidn veinte y oinco 
 ejeiiiplares de las actas de cada dia, apro- 
 badas por la Conferencia. 
 
 " Lob procedimientos de la Conferencia 
 que deberSn imprimirse son las proposi- 
 ciones presentadas por los Sefiores Dele- 
 gados, y los dict^menes de las distintas 
 Comisiones, junto con las discusiones en 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 277 
 
 extenso : Provided, That each and every 
 Delegate shall be at liberty to withhold, 
 with the consent of the Conference, any 
 remark or remarks he may have made in 
 the course of debate or discussion ; the 
 translations and perfect concordance of 
 the same to be supervised by the Execu- 
 tive Committee, and printed in English, 
 Spanish, and Portuguese, as speedily as 
 possible under its direction." 
 
 The order of the day called for the dis- 
 cussion of the reports of the Combaittee 
 on Customs Union. 
 
 By reason of the absence of Messrs. 
 Henderson and Saenz Pefia, and at the 
 request of Mr. Romero, a Delegate from 
 Mexico, the discussion on the above re- 
 port was suspended by unanimous con- 
 sent until these gentlemen should be 
 present. 
 
 The Chair stated that Mr. Zelaya, a 
 Delegate from Honduras, was prevented 
 by sickness from attending the session. 
 
 The order of the day being exhausted, 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 moved that the Conference adjourn until 
 Wednesday next, but afterwards com- 
 plied with Mr. Romero's request that a 
 session be held on Monday as usual ; 
 whereupon the Conference adjourned at 
 5.30 p. m. 
 
 P. C. C. Zegakra, 
 
 First- Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Climaco Cai.der6n, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Cosia Bica, 
 Josi; S. Dbcocd, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaeal Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Hovduraa. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MExf a, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 
 extenso, y votes que sobre ellos recayeron, 
 con ial que cada Delegado quede en liber- 
 "tad de retirar, con asentimiento de la Con- 
 ferencia, oualquiera observaoidn que hn- 
 biere hecho en el curso del debate, 6 de la 
 discusifin ; y la Comisi6n Ejecutiva de- 
 berS examinar las traducciones y ver que 
 se encuentren en perfecto aouerdo con 
 sus originales, y se impriman en ingl(5s, 
 castellano y portugu6s, Si la brevedad 
 posible." 
 
 El asanto inmediato en la orden del dia 
 fu^ el dictSmen de la Comision de Unidn 
 aduanera; pero S, moci6n del Sefior Ro- 
 mero, delegado por M6xioo, fundada en 
 que los SeBores Henderson y Saenz PeSa 
 estaban ausentes, quedd suspendida por 
 unanimidad la discusi6u de dicho die- 
 tamen hasta que dichos SeBores estu- 
 viesen presentes. 
 
 Annnci(5 el Senor Presidente que el 
 Seiior Zelaya, delegado por Honduras, no 
 habia podido asistir por hallarse en- 
 fermo. 
 
 Y habi^ndose agotado la orden del dia, 
 el Senor Cruz, delegado por Guateraaln, 
 propuso que se levantara la sesi6n, para 
 contiuuarla el Mi^rcoles prdximo ; pero 
 accediendo S la iudicacion del Senor 
 Romero, la Confereuoia determine por 
 unanimidad que la sesidn inmediata se 
 celebre el Liines diez del corriente. 
 
 Se levant6 la sesidn S, las cinco y treiuta 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Ficepresidente. 
 HoKAOio GuzmXn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 ClJiMACO CalderOn, 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 C</ata Bica. 
 
 JOSli S. DlCf OUD, 
 
 Paraguav. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador db MendoN9a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia, 
 
278 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 T. Jefpekson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NlCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ Maria PljCcido CAAMA?fo. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 JSstadoa Unidos. 
 Nicanor Bolet Pbraza, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosiS Ma:^a Pl^cido CaamaRo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FOETY-FIRST DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 41, 
 
 Washington, March 10, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.05 p. iii. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F.C.C.Zegarra, 
 a Delegate from Peru, CoUowLed by Mr. M. 
 Romero, Second Vice-President, with the 
 following Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. (larlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragoii. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. Gr. do Au aral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Bomero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juau F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefl'erson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria PlJicido CaamaSo. 
 
 Sesidn del 10 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 delegado por el Perfl, Primer Vioepresi- 
 dente ; seguido por el Sr. M. Eomero, 
 delegado por Mexico, Segundo Vioepresi- 
 dente. Estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzmiin. 
 Perfi: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos(S S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Eomero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan P. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles E. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Josd Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 M. P. Caamano. 
 279 
 
280 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Velarde, a Delegate from Bolivia, 
 said that the rainuf.es did not state that 
 Mr. Pierra, after resigning his position as 
 Spanish Secretary of the Conference, had 
 received a note signed by several of the 
 Delegates asking him to withdraw his 
 resignation, and that he had done so on 
 this account. 
 
 The Chair ordered that Mr. Velarde's 
 remarks be recorded in the minutes as 
 desired. 
 
 The Chair announced that Mr. Cruz, a 
 Delegate from Guatemala, was unable to 
 attend the session. 
 
 The following letter from Mr. Lafor- 
 KSTRIE, Delegate from Hayti, was read : 
 " Washington, March 5, 1890. 
 
 "Mr. President: I have the honor to 
 inform you that my health, which is se- 
 riously affected, compels me with the 
 greatest regret to abandon the work of 
 the Conference. 
 
 "My physician, Dr. Magmder, being 
 of the opinion that I should return as 
 soon as possible to my country, I shall 
 leave this city to-morrow, Thursday, 
 March G, for New York, whence I shall 
 embark on the 8th for Port au Prince. 
 
 "I beg you, Mr. President, to kindly 
 be the means of conveying to my honora- 
 ble colleagues of the Conference the sen- 
 timents of real and deep regret I feel at 
 finding myself upder the necessity of 
 leaving them before the termination of 
 our labors. 
 
 "I would be obliged if you would 
 kindly have sent to me, for the informa- 
 tion of my Government, all the works of 
 the Conference, when they shall have 
 been printed. 
 
 " I am happy to be able to give you 
 the assurance of the agreeable and grate- 
 ful impressions I carry away of the great 
 attention and generous welcome which I 
 experienced during my sojourn in this 
 country, both on. the part of the Ameri- 
 
 Se abri(5 la sesidn & las tres y cinco mi- 
 nutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley(5, aprob6 y firm6 el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 El Senor Velarde, delegado por Boli- 
 via, dijo que de las actas no aparecia que 
 el Senor Pierra, despues de haber pre- 
 sentado su renuncia del puesto de Secre- 
 tario hispano-americano de la Conferen- 
 cia, habia recibido una carta, firmada por 
 variosSeSoresDelegados, en quelepedian 
 que retirase dicha renuncia ; y que el 
 Senor Pierra agJ lo habia heoho obsequi- 
 ando la iusinuaci6n exprcsada. 
 
 El SeHor Presideste orden6 que se 
 consignase en el acta esta manifestacidn 
 del Sefior Velarde, como este Sefior soli- 
 cit6 que se hiciese. 
 
 Anunci6 el Senor Presidknte que el 
 Senor Dr. Grnz, delegado por Guatemala, 
 se hallaba imposibilitado de asistir 3, la 
 sesi6n. 
 
 Se ley6 la signiente carta del Senor 
 Laforestrie, delegado por Haiti : 
 
 "Washington, Marso 5 de 1890. 
 
 " Senor Presidente : Tengo el honor 
 de poner en conocimiento de V. qne el es- 
 tado de mi salud, gravemente afectada, 
 me obliga con profundo sentimiento ^ 
 abandonar los trabajosde la Conferencia. 
 
 "Mi medico, el Doctor Magruder, me 
 aconseja volver cuanto antes & mi pals ; 
 y manana tendr6 que salir de esta cindad 
 para New-York, en donde el dia 8 me em- 
 barcar^ para Port-au-Prince. 
 
 "Ruego & V. Sefior Presidente, que 
 tenga S, bien manifestar en mi nombre, & 
 mis Honorables Colegas el vivo y pro- 
 fundo pesar que me causa la necesidad de 
 separarme de ellos antes de la conclusidn 
 de nuestros trabajos. 
 
 ' ' Agradeceria tambi^n muchlsimo que 
 se me remitiesen, con el objeto de tras- 
 mitirlos & mi Gobierno, y segtin vayan 
 imprim^ndose, todos los docnmentos re- 
 latives ^ la Conferencia y sus trabajos. 
 
 " Es para ml de gran s'atisfaocidn poder 
 asegurar qne la impresidn que llevo de 
 la alta benevolencia y de la generosa 
 acogida de que he side objeto, durante mi 
 residenoia en este pals, asl por parte de 
 los americanos, como por la de mis colegas 
 de la Conferencia, es sumamente agra- 
 dable, y Uena de agradecimiento. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 281 
 
 cans and of my colleagues in the Confer- 
 ence. 
 
 " I beg, Mr. Secretary of State, that 
 you will accept the renew ed assurances of 
 my very high consideration. 
 
 "A. Laforestrib." 
 
 Mr. Buss, a Delegate from the United 
 States, seconded by Mr. Alfonso, a Dele- 
 gate from Chili, moved that the above let- 
 ter be inserted in the minutes, with an ex- 
 pression of the sincere regret of the Con- 
 ference that the honorable Delegate from 
 Haytl had been obliged on account of ill 
 health to discontinue his labors and re- 
 turn to his country, and that his requests 
 be carried out. 
 
 The above was unanimously agreed to. 
 
 The following letter from Mr. NlN, Dele- 
 gate from Uruguay, was read: 
 
 "Washington, February 13, 1890. 
 
 "Sir: Having to sail for England on the 
 19th instant, and not having as yet fixed 
 a date for my return, I have requested 
 the Secretaries of the International Amer- 
 ican Conference to have the kindness to 
 furnish me with all the documents, etc., 
 thereto pertaining. 
 
 ' ' In case you might desire to communi- 
 cate directly with me, I beg to say my 
 address in London is : Legation of Uru- 
 guay, 7 Devonshire Place, London. 
 
 " Accept, sir, the assurances of my high- 
 est consideration and esteem. 
 
 "Alberto Nin." 
 
 On the motion of Mr. Guzman, a Dele- 
 gate from Nicaragua, Mr. Nin's request 
 was unanimously granted. 
 
 The Chair announced that the report 
 of the Committee on Customs Regulations 
 had been received, and ordered that it be 
 printed and distributed. 
 
 "Ruego ^ v., SeSor Presidente, Secre- 
 tario de Estado, que se sirva aceptar esta 
 nueva exjfresidn de mi muy alta conside- 
 racidn. 
 
 "A. Laforestkib. 
 "Al Honorable Senor Jambs G. Blainb, 
 Seoretario de Eatado y Presidente de la 
 Conferetwia Internacional Americana." 
 
 Y i, moci6n del Senor Buss, delegado 
 por los Estados Unidos, secundada per el 
 SeQor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, se 
 acordd por nnanimidad que se hiciese cons- 
 tar en el acta la expresidn del sentimien- 
 to sincere con que la Conferencia veia al 
 Honorable Senor Delegado por Haiti sepa- 
 rarse de su seno per causa de su quebran- 
 tada salnd, dejar de tomar parte en sns 
 trabajos y regresar £E su pals : orden^ndose 
 adem^s que se leenviasenlosdooumentos 
 seglin solicitaba. 
 
 Se leyd la siguiente carta del Sefior Nin, 
 delegado por Uruguay : 
 
 "Dblegaci6n del Uruguay, 
 "ffashington, Febrero 13 de 1890. 
 " SbSor : Teni^ndo que embarcarme 
 para Inglaterra el 19 del corriente y no 
 habiendo todavia fijado la fecha de mi re- 
 greso, he suplicado S, los Senores Secreta- 
 ries de la Conferencia internacional ame- 
 ricana se sirvan enviarme todos los do- 
 cumentos, etc., que ^ ella couciernan. 
 
 "Si V. deseare dirigirme alguna co- 
 municacidn, tengo el honor de informarle 
 que mi direcii6n en Londres es : Legacidn 
 del Uruguay, 7 Devonshire Place, London 
 W. 
 
 " Sirvase V. aceptar, Sefior Secretario, 
 las protestas de mi mayor consideracidn 
 y aprecio. 
 
 "Alberto Nin. 
 " Al Honorable Sefior James G. Blaine, 
 Secretario de Estado y Presidente de la 
 Conferencia Internacional Americana." 
 
 A mocidn del Sefior GuzmIn, delegado 
 por Nicaragua, se acordd unanimamente 
 que se hiciese como solicitaba el Sefior 
 Nin. 
 
 El Sefior Presidente anunci6 que aca- 
 baba de recibir el dictamen de la Comi- 
 si6n de Eeglamentos de Aduana, y ordend 
 que se imprimiese y distribuye. 
 
282 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The following resolution was read : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence having learned that the Executive 
 Committee has seen fit to accept Mr. 
 Pierra's resignation, offers a vote of 
 thanks to said gentleman for the im- 
 portant and disinterested services which 
 he has rendered as Secretary. 
 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 "N. BolbtPeraza. 
 " Washington, March 10, 1890." 
 Mr. CaamaSo, a Delegate from Ecua- 
 dor, moved that the rules be suspended 
 in order that the above might he at once 
 discussed ; and, no objection being raised, 
 it was so granted. 
 
 Mr. Zkgabea then called Mr. Eouiero, 
 Second Vice-President, to the chair, and 
 from his seat addressed the Conference 
 on the reasons he had for opposing the 
 vote of thanlis. 
 
 After along discussion, in which Messrs. 
 Caamano, Trescot, Bolet Peraza, Zegarra, 
 Velarde, and Bliss took part, the motion 
 o£ the latter gentleman that the resolu- 
 tion be laid upon the table was voted 
 upon and accepted by a majority of nine 
 to two. 
 
 Those voting iu support of the motion 
 were: Nicaragua, Peru, Colombia, Costa 
 Rica, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, United 
 States, and Salvador. 
 
 Those voting negatively were : Vene- 
 zuela and Ecuador. 
 
 Paraguay, Chili, and Bolivia abstained 
 from voting. 
 
 Mr. EsTBB, a Delegate from the United 
 States, presented the following resolu- 
 tion, and asked the suspension of the 
 rules for its immediate consideration; 
 which was unanimously agreed to : 
 
 ' 'Resolved, That on and after this date all 
 reports of committees shall be in order for 
 consideration the following day after the 
 same shall have been translated, printed, 
 and distributed." 
 
 Procedi6se en seguida i, dar lectura & 
 la siguiente proposicidn: 
 
 "La Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana, teniendo conocimiento de que la 
 Comisidn Ejecutiva ha tenido & bien ad- 
 mitir la renunoia del Sefior Don F. 6. 
 Pierra, acuerda nn voto de gratitmd & 
 dicho Senor por los importantesydesinte- 
 resados servicios que como Secretario ha 
 prestado. 
 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 "N. BoLBT Peraza." 
 « 
 
 Y habiendo propuesto el Sefior Caama- 
 Ho, delegado por Ecuador, que se dispen- 
 sasenlos tr^mites de Reglamento y sedis- 
 cutiese el asunto en seguida, no habo ob- 
 jecoidn d; que asi se hiciese, y qued(5 acor- 
 dado. 
 
 El Senor Zegarra llam6 & la presiden- 
 cia al Sefior Romero, Segundo Vicepresi- 
 dente, y desde su puesto, areng6 & la 
 Conferencia expresando las razones que 
 tenia para oponerse S, la proposici6n de 
 gracias ; y despnes de una larga discusi(5n 
 en que tomaron parte los Sefiores Caa- 
 mafio, Trescot, Bolet Peraza, Zegarra, Ve- 
 larde y Bliss, hizo mocidn este liltimo 
 Senor para que la proposioidn quedase 
 sobre la mesa. Y puesta & votaci6n la 
 proposicidn del Senor Bliss, quedd adop- 
 tada por una uiayoria de nueve contra 
 dos, en el drden siguiente : 
 
 Votaron por la afirmativa : Nicaragua, 
 Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, Brasil, Hon- 
 duras, Mexico, Estados Unidos, y Salva- 
 dor. 
 
 Votaron por la negativa : Venezuela y 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Se abstuvieron de votar: Paraguay, 
 Bolivia, y Chile. 
 
 El Sefior Estbe, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, envid S, la Mesa la siguiente 
 proposici6n, pidiendo dispensa de tr^mi- 
 tes, que fn6 concedida por nnanimidad, 
 para su consideraci<5n inmediata: 
 
 " Se resuelve: Que S, partir de esta 
 fecha todos los dictamenes de las Comi- 
 siones estarSin en 6rden para ser disou- 
 tidos inmediatamente despnes de que 
 hayan sido traducidos, impresos y distri- 
 buidos. 
 
 "M. M. Estee. 
 
 " Marzo 9 de 1890." 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 283 
 
 Mr. Auagon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Kica, opposed the resolution oa the grouad 
 that the provision of the rules which 
 called for four days intervening between 
 the distribution and discussion of are- 
 port was a very prudent measure which 
 ought not to be altered. He added that 
 ho did not think that any time would be 
 saved by the adoption of Mr. Estee's res- 
 olution, especially as daily sessions when 
 necessary had been provided for. 
 
 Mr. Zegahea, a Delegate from Peru, 
 suggested that the best manner in which 
 to reach the end dosirad by Mr. Estee was 
 to submit to the Conference an amend- 
 ment to Rule 15, substituting the words 
 "one day" for "four days'' and making 
 it read as follows : 
 
 "The reports of the committees and 
 the resolutioDs submitted by them shall 
 be printed in Spanish and English and 
 distributed to the Delegates for their con- 
 sideration at the following session, and 
 they shall not be submitted for discussion 
 until one day thereafter, counting from 
 the date on which the printed copies were 
 distributed." 
 
 Mr. EsTEE having accepted Mr. Ze- 
 garra's suggestion, it was voted upon and 
 was unanimously approved bj' the Con- 
 ference. 
 
 On the motion of Mr. Akagon, a Dele- 
 gate from Costa Rica, the Conference ad- 
 journed at 5.15 to meet on Wednesday 
 next, the 12th instant. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Preaidenl. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 ¥. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos^ M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Colombia. 
 
 J. G. DO Am ARAL Valknte, 
 
 Salvador de Mbndonja, 
 Brazil. 
 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Monduraa. 
 
 El SeHor Aeag6n, delegado por Costa 
 Rica, se opnso &, la moci6n, bajo el funda- 
 mento de que la disposicidn reglamentaria 
 que exige los cuatro dias de intermedlo 
 ontre la distribuci6u de los documentos 
 y la discusi6n era una medida mny pru- 
 dente, que no debia alterarse ; y creia por 
 otra parte que con adoptarla no se ganaba 
 tiempo, sobre todo despues de aceptada 
 la resolnci<5n de celebrar sesiones diarias. 
 
 El Sefior Zbgarra, delegado por el 
 Perti, sugiri6 que el mejor modo de llegar 
 al resnltado quo el Sefior Estee deseaba, 
 era el de someter S, la Conferencia una 
 enmienda al ArtlculoXV delReglamento, 
 que consiste en borrar las palabras " cua- 
 tro dias," y sustituirlas por " un dia,'' de 
 modo que el articulo diga como sigue : 
 
 "Articulo XV. 
 
 " Los dictamencs de las Comisiones y 
 los proyeetos y antecedentes S, que se 
 reiieran, se imprimir^n en castellano y en 
 ingl6s y se repartir^n S, los Delegados, 
 para su estndio, en la sesidnsiguiente; y 
 no podr^n somelerse ii discusi(5n sino des- 
 pues de que haya transcnrrido un dia cou- 
 tado desde la fecha en que se repartieron 
 impresos." 
 
 El Sefior Estee acept61a iudicaci6n del 
 Sefior Zegarra, y pnesta & votacidn re- 
 sults aprobada por unanimidad. 
 
 El Sefior Arag6n, delegado por Costa 
 Rica, propuso que la Conferencia levau- 
 tara la sesidu para reunirso de noevo el 
 mi^rcoles, doce del corriente. Y as£ se 
 acord6 unanimamente. 
 
 Se levant6 la sesi6n ft las cinco y quince 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 Horacio GuzmIn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegaura, 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 JosiS M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Maiitinez Silva, 
 
 Colom,hia. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon^a, 
 
 Braail. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
284 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Cornelius N. Buss, 
 WiLUAM Henry Trescot. 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 NiCANOR BoLSr Peraza, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jose Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jo8:6 Maria PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 MATfAs Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados XTnidoa, 
 Nicanoh Bolet Peraza, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jo8£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto ^stbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ MarIa PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FORTY-SECOND DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 42. 
 
 Washington, March 12, 1890. 
 Tlio International Anicricau Conference 
 was called to order at 3 p. m. by tbe Presi- 
 dent, Hon. James G. Blainb, with the 
 following Delegates present: 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia. : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. .J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonfa. 
 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela: 
 
 Mr. Nioanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecnador : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Maria Pl£icido Caama&o. 
 
 Sesidti del 12 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine. 
 Estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio GazmSin. 
 Perii: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C, C. Zegarra. 
 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Crnz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matfas Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile. 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador. 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecnador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos« Marfa Pl^oido 
 Caama&o. 
 
 285 
 
286 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMKEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The order of the day called for the dis- 
 cussion of the report of the Committee on 
 Customs Union ; but, owing to the absence 
 of Messrs. Henderson and Saenz Pena, it 
 was postponed until those gentlemen 
 should be present. 
 
 Mr. Mkxia, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 and chairman of the Committee on Mone- 
 tary Convention, presented the report of 
 that committee, accompanied by individ- 
 ual reports of certain members thereof, 
 which the Chair ordered printed and dis- 
 tributed. 
 
 There being no further business before 
 the Conference, Mr. Guzman, a Delegate 
 fromNicaragua, moved to adjourn to meet 
 on Thursday, 13th instant, and there be- 
 ing no objection the Conference adjourned 
 at 3. 15 p. m. 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Second Vice-President. 
 HoKATio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fbrnando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaoo Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublic. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Mica. 
 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mbndon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Enrique A. MExfA, 
 
 Mexico. 
 
 Se abri<5 la sesion & las tres de la tarde. 
 
 Se leyd, aprobfi y firm6 el acta de la 
 anterior sesi6n. 
 
 Anunoid el Senor Presidente que el 
 liuico asunto senalado en la orden del 
 dia era la discusidn del diotamen de la 
 Comisida do Unicin Aduanera, en caso de 
 i|ue se hallasen presentes los SeHores 
 Henderson y Saenz Peila. Y como nin- 
 guno de los dos Senoreshabiaconcurrido, 
 propuso el SeBor Presidente y se acordd 
 que el dicho asunto continuase en sus- 
 penso. • 
 
 El Seiior MEXf A, delegado por Mexico 
 y Presidente de la Comisidn de Conven- 
 cidn mouetaria, envid S, la Mesa el dicta- 
 men de aquella Comisidn, y los informes 
 particulares que lo acompaiian, emitidos 
 por varies de sus micmbros. Se aoord6 la 
 impresifin y distribucidn de todos estos 
 dooumentos. 
 
 El Senor Dr. Guzman, delegado por 
 Nicaragua, hizo mocidn para que la Con- 
 ferencia levantase su sesidnparareunirse 
 de nuevo el jueves 13 del corriente S, las 
 tres de la larde : asi se acordd por una- 
 nimidad. 
 
 Se Ievaut6 la sesidn Si las tres y quince 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Segundo Vicepresidente. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 CXrlos Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Roque Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentk, 
 Salvador de Mendon5a. 
 
 Brasil. 
 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 M^icico. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 287 
 
 William Henky Tkescot, 
 hokris m. estbe, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos6 Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:fi Maria PlIcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador, 
 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
 NlCANOR BOLBT PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Caltellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:fi MaeIa PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador, 
 
FORTY-THIRD DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 43. 
 
 Washington, March 13, 1890. 
 Thelnternational American Confereuce 
 was called to oriler at 3.25 p. m. by the 
 Second Vice-President, Mr. M. BoMSRO, 
 a Delegate from Mexico, with the follow- 
 ing Delegates present ; 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos<S M. Hurtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Roquo Saenz Pena. 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Kica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Aniaral Valente. 
 Mr. Salvador de Meudonpa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaja. , 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 Mr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Oastellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Job(5 Maria PlSicido Caamauo, 
 
 288 
 
 jSesftJjt del 13 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. MATfAS Romeko, 
 dolegado por Mexico, Segundo Vicepre- 
 sidenfce. Estando presentes: 
 
 Nicaragua: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peril: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. 3os6 Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Cllraaco Calder6n. 
 Argetina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pena ; 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonca. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 EI Sr. Matfas Romero; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanoa. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Pldicido 
 CaamaB.0. 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 289 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that he had left before the end of 
 the session of the 10th instant, and that 
 he had only learned from the reading of 
 the minutes that Rule XV had been 
 amended in that session so as to allow 
 reports being opened for discussion one 
 day, instead of four days, after they had 
 been distributed. Ho stated his reasons 
 for objecting to this change being made, 
 and handed the Chair the following mo- 
 tion: 
 
 " Beaolved, That the provisions of Rule 
 XV, according to which the reports are 
 to be discussed four days after they have 
 been printed and distributed, be again 
 enforced. 
 
 " Josi: Alfonso." 
 
 Mr. Alfonso asked that the Rules be 
 suspended in order to allo-n of the imme- 
 diate consideration of his motion, and the 
 vote having been taken, it was unani- 
 mously agreed to. 
 
 The Delegates voting were : Nicaragua, 
 Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentine, 
 Costa Rica, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, 
 Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 The Delegation of the United States 
 abstained from voting. 
 
 The discussion of Mr. Alfonso's motion 
 having been opened, a, long debate re- 
 sulted, in which Mr. Quintana supported 
 the re-adoption of the old Rule and 
 Messrs. Caamano and Aragon stated tha^, 
 supposing Mr. Estee's motion to express 
 the desire of the Government of the 
 United States, they had voted in favor 
 thereof as an act of courtesy. 
 
 Mr. Zegarka, a Delegate from Pern, 
 spoke in explanation of the vote in the 
 negative whicli he was about to give. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, a Delegate from Nicara- . 
 gua, requested that the resolution made 
 by Mr. Estee iu the last session, together 
 with Rule XV as amended and adopted 
 
 Se abri(5 la sesidn 6. las tres y veinto y 
 oinco minutes do la tardo. 
 
 Se leyd, aprobd- y firm6 el acta de l.i 
 8esi6n anterior. 
 
 El Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 manifesto que aunque estuvo presenteou 
 la primera parte de la sesidn del dia 10 del 
 corriente, habia tenido que retirarso de 
 ella antes de que concluyese : y que es 
 ahora cuando ha sabido por la lectura del 
 acta, que el Artlculo XV del Reglameuto 
 se modifia^, de manera que en vez de los 
 cuatro dias de intermodio que aquel senala 
 despues de la distribuoidn de los dictii- 
 menes solo transcurra uno. Expuso las 
 razones que le asistiau para oponerse & 
 esta reforma ; y en v)6 ii la Mesa la propo- 
 sici6n siguiente : 
 
 " iSe resuelve: Que rija nuevamente la 
 regla establecida por el Articulo XV del 
 Reglamento, segdn la cual los informes 
 ser^n discutidos cuatro dias despues de 
 haber side impresos y repartidos. 
 
 Jos^ Alfonso." 
 
 Solicits en seguida el mismo Senor 
 Alfonso la dispensa de tr^mites nece- 
 saria para la inmediata consideracidn del 
 aeunto, y fu6 otorgada por unanimidad. 
 Dieron su veto las delegaciones de Nica- 
 ragua, Peril, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentina, Costa Rica, Brasil, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Chile, Salvador, y Ecuador. 
 
 La de los Estados Uuidos se abstuvo de 
 votar. 
 
 Puesta S, discusion la proposicidn del 
 SeHor Alfonso tuvo Ingar un largo debate 
 eu que hflblaron en favor del restable- 
 cimiento de la antigua regla los Senores 
 Alfonso y Quintana, y los Senores Caa- 
 mano y Arag6n expiicaron que habian 
 votado pOr el cambio en razon de haber 
 entendido que la moci6n del Senor Estee 
 expresaba uu deseo del Gobierno de los 
 Estados Unidos S, que creyeron deber acce- 
 der por cortesia. 
 
 El Seflor Zbgaera, delegado por el 
 Peru, hizo presentes las razones en que 
 descansaba el voto negative que iba £i 
 dar. 
 
 El Senor GuzmIn, delegado por Nica- 
 ragua, 8olicit6 que se leycsen por los 
 Secretaries la proposioidu de reforma 
 hecha por el Seflor Estee en la sesi^n 
 
 19 I 
 
290 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 in that session, be read by the Secreta- 
 ries. 
 
 The vote having been taken on the 
 matter, Mr. Alfonso's motion was thrown 
 out by a majority of seven to three. 
 
 Those voting against the motion were : 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Brazil, Honduras, and the United States. 
 
 Those voting in favor of it were: Ar- 
 gentine, Chili, and Ecuador. 
 
 Costa Rica, Mexico, and Salvador ab- 
 stained from voting. 
 
 Mr. HuRTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, explained that he had voted against 
 Mr. Alfonso's motion because he hoped 
 that a previous motion of his own, which 
 had not yet been reported upon by the 
 Committee on Rules, would obviate the 
 difficulty. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, chairman of the Commit- 
 tee on Rules, stated that his committee 
 had d uly considered Mr. Hurtado's motion, 
 and would shortly report thereon. 
 
 The business of the day being ex- 
 hausted, on the motion of Mr. Saenz 
 PbSa, a Delegate from the Argentine, 
 the Conference adjourned, at 4.45 p. m., 
 to meet on Saturday, the luth instant. 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Second Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 P. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Pbknando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PbSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 Josf; S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valbntb, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Braxil. 
 Jer6nimo Zblata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
 antedicha, y el Artloulo XV del Regla- 
 mento, tal com6 qued6 enmendado y 
 adoptado. 
 
 Puesto & votaoldn el asunto resultd de- 
 sechada la proposicidn del SeBor Alfonso 
 por una mayoria de siete contra tres. 
 
 Votaron contra la proposicifin : Nicara- 
 gua, Perti, Guatemala, Colombia, Brasil, 
 Honduras y los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Votaron en favor de ella, la Repiiblica 
 Argentina, Chile y Ecuador. 
 
 Costa Rica, M<5xioo y Salvador se abstu- 
 vieron de vo(j^r. 
 
 El Seiior Hurtado, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, dijo en seguida que habia votado 
 contra la proposicidn del Senor Alfonso, 
 en la esperanza de que se adopte la mo- 
 ci6n que hace tiempo tiene presentada, y 
 se halla en la Comisidn de Reglameuto, 
 con la que en concepto suyo se obvian to- 
 das las dificultades. 
 
 El SeQor Alfonso, Presidente de la 
 Comisi6u de Reglamento, dijo con este 
 motive que la mocidn del SeHor Hurtado 
 habia sido debidamente considerada, y 
 que en breve se someteria el dictamen de 
 la Comisi6n. 
 
 Agotada la <5rden del dia, y & mocidn del 
 Senor Saenz PeSa, delegado por la Re- 
 pfiblica Argentina, se aoordd levantar la 
 sesidn, para abrirla de nuevo el S^bado 
 1.5 del corriente, S, la hora ordinaria. 
 
 Se levantd la sesidn S, las cuatro y cua- 
 renta y cinco minutos de la tarde. 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Segundo Vicepresidente. 
 
 HORACIO GUZMiN, 
 
 IHcaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peril. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 CLfMAOO Caldei{6n, 
 
 Colom,bia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PbSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 JosiS S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amakal Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon^a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Je£6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Bonduras. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 291 
 
 Enrique A. MBXfA, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebakkr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLBT FERAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 
 .lACINTO CASTBLLANOS, 
 
 Salvador. 
 J0816 Maria PuCcido CaamaSo, 
 lEouador. 
 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 
 M&cico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studbbaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estadoa Unidoa. 
 
 NlCANOR BOLET FERAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas. 
 Jos:fi Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:^ MARfA FlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FORTY-FOUETH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 44. 
 
 Washington, March 15, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.15 p. m. by tlie 
 Second Vice-President, Mr. M. Komeko, 
 a Delegate from Mexico, followed by Mr. 
 Vbiakde, of Bolivia, and later by Mr. 
 /egarra, First Vice-President. 
 
 Niearasiia : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Carlos .Vlartinez Silva; 
 Mr. Cliraaco Calderdn. 
 Arjrentine Republic: 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pefla ; 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. ,T. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Houdnras: 
 
 Mr. Jorfiniuio Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eoraero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 Mr. Clement Stndebaker. 
 Mr. William Henry Tresoot. 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 S9? 
 
 Sesidn del 15 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presideneia del Sr. M. Romero, dele- 
 gado por Mexico, segundo Vicepresidente, 
 seguido por el Sr. Juan F. Velarde, dele- 
 gado por Bolivia, y despues por el Sr. F. 
 C. C. Zegarra, delegado por el Perii, 
 Primer Vicepresidente. Estando pro- 
 sen tes: 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perti: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz Peua ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 ElSr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 M&ico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Troscot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 
INTERNATfONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 293 
 
 7eDezuela: 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Andrade. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfouso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido Caamauo. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 A letter from Mr. Aragon, a, Delegate 
 from Costa Rica, was read, begging to be 
 excused from attendance on account of 
 ill health. 
 
 The Chair announced the receipt of 
 the report of the Committee on Port 
 Dues, and ordered it printed and distrib- 
 uted. 
 
 The order of the day called for the dis- 
 cussion of the majority and minority 
 reports of the Committee on Castoms 
 Union, the conclusions of which were 
 read ; and Mr. Romero, desiring to talio 
 part in the debate on the above reporf, 
 requested Mr. Velarde, a Delegate from 
 Bolivia, whose turn it was under the old 
 rules to preside, to take the chair. 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. J. M. PlJicido CaamaSo. 
 
 Se abri6 la sesidn S, las tres y quince 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley(5, aprob6 y firm6 el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 Se di6 cuenta coh una comunicaci6n 
 del Senor Aragdn, delegado por Costa 
 Rica, expresando que no podia concurrir 
 por hallarse enfermo. 
 
 El SeQor Presidente anunci6 haber 
 recibido el dictamen de la Comisidn de 
 Derechos do Puerto, y ordenado su im- 
 presidn y distribucidn. 
 
 Estando sefialado en la orden del dia que 
 debia procederse & la discusi6u de los 
 dict^menes de la mayorta y miuorla de la 
 Comisidn de Uui6n Aduanera, se leyeron 
 las conclusiones de ambos documentos ; y 
 como el Sefior Romero, Presidente, ex- 
 press que fendria probablemente que 
 tomar parte en el debate, llam6 ^ ocupar 
 la Presidenciaal Seflor Velarde, delegado 
 por Bolivia, ^ quien conforme al turno 
 anteriormente adoptado correspondia 
 hacerlo ahora. 
 
 Report of the Majority of the Com- 
 mittee osr Customs Union. 
 
 The Committee on Customs Union has 
 made a careful study of the questions 
 submitted to its consideration by the 
 International American Conference, in 
 reference to forming a customs union 
 among the several nations of this conti- 
 nent. 
 
 It is generally understood by customs 
 union the establishing among several 
 nations of a single customs territory, to 
 wit : that the nations forming the union 
 shall collect import duties on foreign 
 goods under substantially the same tariif 
 laws, divide the proceeds thereof in a 
 given proportion, and mutually receive, 
 free of duty, their respective natural or 
 manufactured products. 
 
 Comisi6n de Uni6n Aduanera.- 
 
 T^EN DE LA MATORfA. 
 
 -DlC- 
 
 La Comisidn de Uni6n Aduanera ha es- 
 tudiado cuidadosameute el asunto que le 
 encomend6 la Conferencia Internacional 
 Americana referente S, la formacifin de una 
 Uni6n Aduanera entre las varias na- 
 ciones de este Continente. 
 
 Enti^ndese generalmente por Unidn 
 Aduanera, el establecimiento de un mismo 
 territorio aduanero entre varias naclones, 
 es decir, que los Estados que forraau la 
 Uni6n cobreu derechos de importacidn, 
 sobre mercancias extranjeras, conforme S, 
 una misma tarifa, y se dividan su pro- 
 ducto en una propoi ci6u dada, recibiendo 
 entre si, reclprocamente, como efectos 
 nacionales, y porlo mismo libres de dere- 
 chos, los productos naturales 6 manufao- 
 
294 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONl'KRENCE. 
 
 The acceptance of this plan would de- 
 mand, as a previous requirement, a 
 change In the fundamental laws of the 
 countries accepting the union. Even 
 after they were ready to make such 
 changes, a great many other difficulties, 
 almost insurmountable, would have to be 
 overcome ; as, for instance, fixing the rep- 
 resentation of each nation at the interna- 
 tional assembly empowered to frame a com - 
 mon tariff and amend it in the future. The 
 territorial extent, the population, and 
 the national wealth differ so much among 
 the American Republics, that if these 
 conditions should be taken as the basis 
 of representation at said assembly, the 
 small States would not have sufficient 
 protection for their interests ; and if all 
 the nations were admitted as sovereign 
 on an equal footing, the large ones would 
 be insufficiently protected. It might be 
 necessary, to obviate this difficulty, to 
 create two bodies, one representing the 
 population, and the other the States, 
 in the manner in which a like problem 
 was solved in the Constitution of the 
 United States of America. But this step 
 would, in the opinion of the committee, 
 require a partial sacrifice of the national 
 sovereignty of the American nations, and 
 more radical changes in their respective 
 constitutions than in the judgment of the 
 committee, they are willing to accept. 
 
 If by Customs Union is meant the free 
 trade between the American nations of 
 all their natural or manufactured prod- 
 ucts, which is, properly speaking, unre- 
 stricted reciprocity, the committee be- 
 lieves it is iu principle acceptable, 
 because all measures looking to tlie free- 
 dom of commerce must necessarily in- 
 crease the trade and the development of 
 the material resources of the countries 
 acceptiug that system, and it would in 
 all probability bring about as favorable 
 results as those obtained by free trade 
 among the different States of this Union. 
 
 But tbe committee believes that such 
 a union is at present impracticable as 
 a continental system, among other rea- 
 sons, because the import duties levied 
 
 turados de las naoiones que constituyon 
 la Unidn. 
 
 La adopcidn de este plan exigtria, como 
 oondicidn previa, la alteracifin de lasleyes 
 fundamentales de las naoiones q ue lo acep- 
 taran. Atin en case de que estuvieran 
 dispuestas & hacer esas alteraoiones, toda- 
 via habrfa que veneer dificultades casi 
 insuperables, como la de fijar la base do 
 la representaci(5n decada Reptiblicaen la 
 Asamblea Internacional, autoiizada para 
 foruiar la tarifa comlin y para modificarla 
 en lo future. *La extensi6n territorial, 
 la poblaci6n, y la riqueza nacional, difie- 
 ren de tal manera entre las Republicas 
 americanas, que si estos elemontos se 
 tomasen como base para la rcpresenta- 
 ciou de cada una en aquella Asamblea, 
 los Estados pequenos quedarian sin las 
 garautlas suficientes para proteger sus 
 interoses ; y si las naoiones f uesen re- 
 presentadas como soberanas, esto es, bajo 
 el pi^ de absoluta igualdad, no estariau 
 suticientemente garantizados los inte- 
 reses de los mSa grandes. Podria ser nece- 
 sario crear dos cuerpos; uno que re- 
 presentara la poblacidn y su riqueza, y 
 otro los Estados, como se resolvid este 
 problema en la Constitucidn de los Es- 
 tados Unidos de America. Pero en con- 
 cepto de la Comisidn, ademas de exigir 
 este arbitrio un sacrificio parcial de la 
 soberania de cada Estado americano, 
 requeriria cambios mas radicales en su 
 Constitucifin, de los que, en su ooncepto, 
 estd^n ellos dispueatos S, aceptar. 
 
 Si se entiende por Uni6n Aduanera, el 
 libre cambio entre las naoiones ameri- 
 canas de todos sus prodactos uaturales 6 
 manufacturados, lo cual es propiamente 
 una reciprocidad absoluta, la Comisidn 
 crde que es aoeptable en principle, por- 
 que toda medida que favorezca la li- 
 bertad del comeroio no puede menos que 
 producir el incremento y desarrollo de 
 los elementos de riqueza de las nacioncs 
 que la adopten, y que ese tistema pro- 
 ducirla probablemente los mismos favo- 
 rables resultadoa que el libre cambio ha 
 dado entre los varies Estados de la Unidn 
 Norte Americana. 
 
 Pero la Comisi6n considera que no es 
 practicable, por ahora, 1 1 establecimiento 
 de esa Unidn coDiO sistema conti- 
 nental, entre otros motives, porque todas 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERKSfCE 
 
 295 
 
 on foreign trade constitute the main 
 source of revenue of all the American 
 nations, and such of them as are not 
 manufacturing countries would thus lose 
 more or less such revenue, on which they 
 depend in a great measure to defray their 
 national expenses ; while the manufact- 
 uring countries, such as the United 
 States of America, would have to aban- 
 don, at least partially, the protective 
 policy which they have adopted to more 
 or less extent, and they do not seem yet 
 prepared to change that system. Be- 
 sides a reciprocity treaty mutually ad- 
 vantageous between two contiguous 
 countries might prove onerous if ex- 
 tended to all as a continental compact, 
 especially as the products of many of the 
 American republics are similar. There- 
 fore, while these obstacles are in the 
 way, it seems premature to propose free 
 trade among the nations of this hemis- 
 phere. 
 
 But although it is not easy, in the opin- 
 ion of the committee, to reach at once un- 
 restricted reciprocity, that end might be 
 obtained gradually and partially. The 
 first and most efficient step in that direc- 
 tion is the negotiation of partial reci- 
 procity treaties among the American 
 nations, whereby each may agree to re- 
 move or diminish their respective import 
 duties on some of the natural or manu- 
 factured products of one or more of the 
 other nations, in exchange for similar and 
 equivalent advantages, as, if the mutual 
 concessions were not equivalent, the 
 treaties would soon become odious, and 
 could not last but for a limited time, and 
 would discredit the system. If after this 
 has been tried for some reasonable time 
 a good result should follow, as it is to be 
 expected, the number of articlesonthefree 
 list might be enlarged in each case, from 
 time to time, until they attain, through 
 the development of the natural elements 
 of wealth, other sources of revenue or an 
 increase of the existing ones, which would 
 allow the contracting nations to reach 
 unrestricted reciprocity or a free trade 
 among some or all the American na- 
 tions. 
 
 las uaciouos americanasderivan sus prin- 
 cipales rentas do los dcrechos que ro- 
 caudam sobre el comorcio exterior; y las 
 que no son manufactureras, snfririan una 
 reduccifin mas 6 monos considerable en 
 esas rentas, de las que dependen, en gran 
 parte, para cubrir sus gastos piiblicos. 
 Las manufactureras, como los Estados 
 Unidos do Anj^rica, tendriau que pres- 
 cindir, ^ lo menos parcialmente, del sis- 
 tema proteccionista que han adoptado, en 
 mayor 6 menor escala ; y no parecen estar 
 todavia preparadas para dar eso paso. 
 Adem£ls, un tratado de reciprocidad, mti- 
 tuamente ventajoso entre dos naciones 
 coutiguas, podria ser gravoso si se hacia 
 extensive ^ todas, dsindole el carioter de 
 continental, prinoipalmente si se tiene 
 en cuenta que las produocionos demnchos 
 de los Estados araericanos son similaros. 
 Mientras subsistan estos obstiiculos pa- 
 rece, pues, prematuro proponer el Ubre 
 oambio entre las naciones de este hemis- 
 ferio. 
 
 Pero si no es facil, & jnicio de la Co- 
 misi6n, Uegar de un solo paso ^ la recipro- 
 cidad absoluta, si cr^e deberia procurarse 
 buscar ese resultado de una manera gra- 
 dual. La primera y la m^s eficaz de las 
 medidas quo facilitarian ese objeto es la 
 celebraci6n de tratados de reciprocidad 
 parcial entre las naciones americanas, en 
 virtud de los cuales, cada una oonvenga 
 en remover, 6 reducir, sus derechos de 
 importaci6n sobre algunos de los pro- 
 ductos naturales 6 manufacturados de 
 uno 6 m^s de los otros palses, ^ cambio 
 de que 6stos le hagan concesiones seme- 
 jantes y equivalentes, pues si las con- 
 cesiones uo fuesen verdaderamente recl- 
 procas, los tratados se harian odiosos, no 
 podrian subsistir sino per un tiempo li- 
 mitado, y desacreditarfan por complete el 
 sistema. Si despues de practicado esto 
 por algun tiempo, diere, como es de espe- 
 rarse, buen resultado, podria ensaucharse 
 en cado caso el numero de los articulos 
 libres de derechos, hasta llegar con el 
 trascurso de algunos afios, y previo el 
 desarrollo de los elementos de riqueza 
 de cada pals, que le permita crear 6 
 aumentar tus rentas interiores, & la re- 
 ciprocidad absoluta, 6 al libre cambio 
 entre algnnas 6 todas ellas. 
 
296 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEfiENCE. 
 
 Therefore the committee proposes : 
 To recommend to such of the Govern- 
 ments reprcBented in the Conference as 
 may be interested in. the concluding of 
 partial Teciprocity commercial treaties, 
 to negotiate such treaties with one or more 
 of the American countries, as it may he 
 in their interest to make them, under 
 such a basis as may be acceptable in each 
 case, taking into consideration the special 
 situation, conditions, and interests of each 
 country, and with a view to promote their 
 common welfare. 
 Washington, D. C, February 28, 1890, 
 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 
 M. Romero. 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 H. Guzman. 
 
 N. Boi>ET Peraza. 
 
 J. B. Henderson. 
 
 (Subject to the right of presenting on 
 final consideration some amendments of- 
 fered by him in committee.) 
 
 Por lo mismo la Comisi6n propone : 
 Reeemi^ndeso & los Gobiernos represen- 
 tados en esta Couf erenci a, S, cuyos intereses 
 convenga celebrar tratados parciales de 
 reoiprooidad comercial, la negociacifin de 
 estos tratados con una 6 va&a do las ua- 
 ciones americanas, con quienes les con- 
 viniere ooncluirlos, bajo las bases que 
 fueren aceptables en cada caso, teniendo 
 en cuenta la situaci6n, condiciones 6 in- 
 tereses especiales de cada nacidn con ob- 
 jeto de promover su bienestar comtln. 
 
 Washington, Febrero 28 de 1890. 
 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente. 
 
 M. Romero. 
 
 CIelos Martinez Silva. 
 
 H. GuzmIn. 
 
 N. BoLET Peraza. 
 
 J. B. Henderson. 
 
 (Dejando ^salvo el dcrecho dejiroponer, 
 cuando esto se considere definitivamente, 
 algunas modificaciones indicadas por ^1 en 
 la Comisidn.) 
 
 Committee on Customs Union (Minor- 
 ity Report). 
 
 Washington, February 26, 1890. 
 
 To the President of the International Ameri- 
 can Conference: 
 Sir : The committee whose duty it was 
 to inquire into the subject of a Customs 
 Union between the nations of America 
 has been unanimous in advising the hon- 
 orable Conference to reject the i-lea ; but 
 diflercnces of opinion, both in regard to 
 (he form of the report and to the recom- 
 mendation which the majority has felt it 
 to be their duty to make as a substitute, 
 comi^el the undersigned to express their 
 views separately. For this reason, they 
 have the honor to submit, together with 
 this communication, the draft of the reso 
 lution which they recommend the honor- 
 able Conference to pass, and at the proper 
 time they will have the honor to express 
 themselves orally in support thereof. 
 
 With feelings of the most distinguished 
 consideration, the undersigned snbscribe 
 tliemselves 
 
 Very n^spcctfnlly, 
 
 Josii; Alfonso. 
 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa. 
 
 ComisiAn de ITni6n Aduanbra. — Dicta- 
 men DE LA Minor! A. 
 
 Washington, Febrero 26 de 1890. 
 
 Senor Presidente de la Conferenda Inter- 
 nacional Americana : 
 SeSor Presidente : La Comisidn en- 
 cargada de estndiar el pensamiento de 
 una Liga Aduanera entre las Naoiones de 
 America ha estado un^nime en aconsejar 
 su rechazo & la Honorable Confereucia ; 
 pero disideuoias de forma en el dict&nen, 
 y de fondo eu las ideas snstitutivas que la 
 mayoria cr(Se deber aconsejar, obligan & 
 los infrascritos & espedirse por separado, 
 como lo hacen por el adjunto proyecto de 
 resolucidn, sobre el cual tendr^n el honor 
 de informar & la Honorable Confereucia. 
 
 Saludan al Senor Presidente con su 
 consideracidn m&s distinguida. 
 
 Josli: Alfonso. 
 Roque Saenz PeSa. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCK. 
 
 297 
 
 The International Ammcau Conference 
 resolves : 
 
 To'reject the project of a Customs Union 
 between the nations of America. 
 Washington, February 26, 1890. 
 Alfonso. 
 Saenz PbNa. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pena, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, opened the debate, expressing 
 himself as follows : 
 
 Mr. President and honorable Delegates. 
 As a member of the committee whose duty 
 it was to study the idea of a Customs 
 Union between the nations of America, 
 I must explain to the honorable Confer- 
 ence the reasons why I am compelled to 
 vote against the league which we are in- 
 vited to consider. 
 
 We, the Argentine Delegates, have at- 
 tended the discussion of this matter, free 
 from prejudice and exempt from reserva- 
 tion. Commerce is not in need of either, 
 and, on the contrary, rejects the two, for 
 in the lawful play of business, frankness 
 represents a good part of probity. 
 
 Nor have we been animated by any im- 
 moderate desire of self defense, although 
 I must not disguise the disagreement in 
 which I am with some prevailing errors in 
 regard to our countries, which I have 
 noticed with pain , but understood without 
 effort. The truth is that our knowledge of 
 each othcrislimited. The Republics of the 
 North of this continent have lived without 
 holding commimication with those of the 
 South, or of the Center. Absorbed, as they 
 have been, like ours in the organic labor of 
 tlieir institutions, they have failed to cul- 
 tivate with us closer and more intimate re- 
 lations. In this fragmentary and auto- 
 nomic development of the three sections 
 of America, the United States have forced 
 npon Ihemselvesthe attention of the world 
 by the notoriety of their greatness and the 
 wisdom of theirexample; but othernatious 
 have not reached such a prominent stand- 
 ing and still remain subject to such lam- 
 entable, although perhaps involuntary, 
 misrepresentations as that which caused 
 a Senator of this country to say " that the 
 Spanish American States would commence 
 by surrendering the key of their com- 
 merce, and would end by forgetting that 
 of their politics.'' 
 
 I begin by declaring that I do not know 
 which is the key of the Argentine markets. 
 
 La Ccnforencia IiUerimcioual Americana 
 reauelvc : 
 
 Eechazar el proyecto de una Liga 
 Aduanera ontre las naoiones de AmiSrica. 
 Washington, 2G de Febrero de 1890. 
 Alfonso. 
 Saenz Pena. 
 
 El Senor Saenz PbSa, delegado por la 
 Repliblica Argentina, abrid la discusidu 
 expresSndose en los siguientes t6rminos : 
 
 Seuor Presidente, Senores Delegados: 
 Como miembro dela Comisidn encargada 
 de estudiar el pensaraiento de una Uni(3n 
 Aduanera entre las naciones de America, 
 debo cxponer d^ la Honorable Conferencia, 
 las razones determinantes de mi voto, on 
 contra de la Liga que hemes sido invita- 
 dos S considerar. 
 
 Los delegados argentinos asistimos & la 
 discusifin de esta materia, libres de pre- 
 ocupaciones y exertos de reservas; el 
 comercio no las necesita, antes al coutra- 
 rio las rechaza, porque en el juego lioito 
 de los negocios, la franqueza represent.a 
 nna buena parte de la probidad. 
 
 Tarapoco nos anima el sentimieuto de 
 nna defensa innioderada, si bien no debo 
 disimular mi desacuerdo, con algnnos 
 errores dominantes sobre nuestros paisea, 
 orrores de que me he apercibido con pesar, 
 aunque me los explico sin esfuerzo ; la 
 verdad es que nos conoceraos poco ; las 
 Eeptiblicas del norte han vivido incorau- 
 nicadas con el sud del continente, y las 
 naciones de la America Central, absorvi- 
 das como las nuestras en la labor orgiinica 
 de sus instituciones, no han cultivado 
 vinculos mils Intimos y estrechos ; en esto 
 desenvolvimiento fragmentario y aut6- 
 nomo de las tres zonas de America, los 
 Estados Unidos se han impuesto Ji la, 
 observacidn del mundo, por la notoriedad 
 de su grandeza y por la sabidurfa de sus 
 ejeraplos ; los pueblos que no han alcan- 
 zado espeotabilidad tan prominente, estiin 
 sujetos & confusiones lamentables, £i erro- 
 res tal vez involuntarioB, como los que 
 han hecho decir S uu Souador de esta na- 
 ci(3n, "que los Estados Hispano-Ameri- 
 canos, comenzarlan por entregar la Have 
 do su comercio, y concluirlan olvidando 
 la do su polltioa." 
 
 Empiezo por declarar, que no conozco 
 la Have do los mercados argentinos, tal 
 
298 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 It is perhaps for the reason that they 
 have none, that they do not possess any 
 instrument of closure, or any machinery 
 whatsoever of prohihition or monopoly. 
 We have lived with our custom-houses 
 open to the commerce of the world, with 
 our rivers firee to all flags, with liberty 
 for all industries inviting by their profit- 
 able character the labor of man, and with 
 liberty above all for man himself, who in 
 coming among us becomes embodied in 
 our national life, and secures defense not 
 only for his person under the habeas corpus 
 guaranty, but respect for his conscience 
 under the most ample religious toleration, 
 and protection for his rights under the 
 principle of civil equality for citizens and 
 foreigners. But neither the declarations 
 made by us yesterday, when scarcely de- 
 tached from the Crown of Spain, although 
 advanced enough as to have proclaimed 
 in 1813 that no slaves were to be found 
 ou the Argentine soil, nor the liberties 
 which we maintain to-day with full con- 
 sciousness of our national individuality, 
 create in any manner a source of danger 
 for the security of the other States. So 
 it is witnessed by the history of our au- 
 tonomies ; and so it will bo corroborated 
 hereafter, when the nations now assem- 
 bled to discuss their material interests, 
 because no doubt their destinies of po- 
 litical character have been already drawn 
 with firm lines by the sword of three great 
 men, now sharing the dominions of im- 
 mortality, wOl salute and congratulate 
 each other for having obtained the full- 
 ness of their rights. 
 
 The mutual interchange of productions, 
 and the current of profitable immigration, 
 never restricted but on the contrary al- 
 ways promoted by our governments, can 
 never be considered as factors capable to 
 cause uneasiness to well-established sov- 
 ereignties. Production seeks consump- 
 tion, and pays no attention to hegemonies 
 or supremacies, as independently and 
 surely as emigrants seek welfare and 
 fortune, without aspiring to share in the 
 directive action of the political adminis- 
 tration of government. Hence it is that 
 we receive the emigrant with hospitality 
 and without distrust, and in addition to 
 the instruments of labor which wo give 
 him, we offer him also the ownership of 
 
 vez porquo no tienen ninguna, porque 
 carecen de todo instrumento de clausura, 
 de todo engranaje monopolizador 6 pro- 
 hibitivo; hemes vivido con las aduanas 
 abiertas al comeroio del muudo, francos 
 nuestros rios para todas las banderas, 
 libres las industrias que inviian con sus 
 provechos al trabajo del hombre, y libre 
 ante todo el hombre mismo, que se incor- 
 pora S, nuestra vida nacional, defendido 
 en Bu persona bajo la garantia del habeas 
 corpus, respetado en su concienoia por la 
 mdfl amplia t(fleranoia reUgiosa, y ampa- 
 rado en sus derechos por el principio de la 
 igualdad civil para nacionales y extran- 
 geros ; pero ni las declaraciones que avan- 
 z^bamos ayer, cuando reoien nos despren- 
 diamos de la corona de Espafia y ya anun- 
 ciabamos en 1813, que no habia esclavos 
 en el suelo argentino, ni las libertades 
 que proclamamos hoy, con la conciencia 
 de nuestra individualidad nacional, cons- 
 tituyen un peligro para la segnridad de 
 los Estados ; atestfgualo la historia de 
 nuestras autonomlas y lo comprobarin 
 los tiempos venideros, saludando en la 
 plenitud de sus derechos, S, las mismas 
 naciones que han venido S, discutir sus 
 iutereses materiales, sin duda porque sus 
 destines poHticos, se encontraban bien 
 trazados por la espada de tres prdceres, 
 que hoy comparten el dominio de la in- 
 mortalidad. 
 
 El cambio mtituo de productos inertes 
 y las corrieutes humanas constituidas por 
 inmigraciones provechosas, que no han 
 sido restringidas sino alentadas por nues- 
 tros gobiernos, mal pueden considerarse 
 como factores inqnietantes para las sobe- 
 ranlas flrmemente consolidadas.; el pro- 
 dncto busca el consumo sin ocuparse de he- 
 gemonias 6 de supremaclas, como el inmi- 
 grante procura el bienestar y la fortuna, 
 sin aspirar S, la acci6n dirigente del go- 
 bierno politico; asi se explica que lo reoi- 
 bamos con hospitalidad, sin desoonfian- 
 zas, brind^ndole no solo los instrnmentos 
 de trabajo, sino tambien la propiedad de 
 la tierra que ha de formar su patrimonio 
 y que le permite confundirse con nuestros 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 299 
 
 the land which has to form his patri- 
 mony, and cause him in this way to inter- 
 vene together with our own citizens in the 
 administration of the local government 
 of the place in which he is a representa- 
 tive of interests brought into existence 
 by the wealth of our soil. 
 
 The emigrant being thus our friend and 
 his children our fellow-citizens, the inter- 
 national commerce becomes our ally for 
 the promotion of our wealth. Friendship, 
 commerce, wealth, citizenship are terms 
 wholly exclusive of any chimerical dan- 
 gers apt to obstruct in an unfortunate 
 manner the progress of the American na- 
 tions. If any examples should be needed 
 to dispel uneasiness and show the wisdom 
 of these methods, we might find them once 
 more in the nation which benevolently 
 gives us hospitality at the present mo- 
 ment. Immigration was for her an ele- 
 ment of greatness, and naturalization an 
 efficient process for useful avulsions. We 
 proceed with more slowness. We call the 
 emigrant, but leave him his own nation- 
 ality, and never incite him to change it 
 by causing him to suffer any restriction of 
 his juridical condition. We wait for a 
 citizenship elaborated under the natural 
 laws of generation . The mass assimilated 
 iu this way is not so dense, but the ties 
 which bind that mass to the soil are not 
 less vigorous, nor is the sentiment of na- 
 tionality less strong. By this method we 
 preserve the cohesion of our people with- 
 out creating local feelings apt to cause 
 dissolution, exciting selfish rivalries, or 
 provoking more emulation than that 
 which arises oat of devotion to indepeud- 
 euce and sovereignty. Such generous 
 ideals forcibly confute what the language 
 of incredulity has stated, and protest 
 against its little meditated predictions, 
 resembling more an anathema than a 
 prophecy. 
 
 The delegation in whose name I have 
 the honor to speak has devoted itself to 
 the study of the economical questions 
 which it was invited to discuss ; but not 
 without first submitting, in union with its 
 friends from Brazil, meditated declara- 
 tions which shall lead to the preservation 
 of peace in our continent, lift right over 
 might, and insure mutual safety, through 
 methods far different from that armed 
 distrust now exhausting the treasuries of 
 
 uacionales en el gobierno de los munici- 
 pios donde representa iutereses labrados 
 por la riquoza do uueatro propio suelo. 
 
 Como el inmigrante es nuestro amigo, 
 como 6U8 hijos son nuestros conciudadanos, 
 el comercio internacional es nuestro aliado 
 en la movimentacidn de la riqueza ; amis- 
 tad, comercio, riqueza, ciudadania, son 
 t6rmino8 excluyentes de esos peligroa 
 quim^ricos que hubieran detenido in- 
 taustameute el desarrollo de los pueblos 
 de America ; y si necesit^ramos ejemplos 
 tranquilizadores para nuestras pr^cticas, 
 los encontrarlamos, una vez rads, en la 
 nacidn que ben6volamente nos hospeda ; 
 la inmigraoidn fu(5 para ella un elemento 
 de grandeza, y la naturalizacidn un juego 
 fuerte de avulsiones proficuas ; nosotros 
 procedemos con ciertas lentitndes, llama- 
 mos al inmigrante con su propia naciona- 
 lidad, y sin incitarlo al camblo por actos 
 restriotivos de su condicidu juridica, es- 
 peramos una ciudadania elaborada por 
 las leyes naturales de la geueraci6n ; el 
 conjunto asimilado es menos dense, pero 
 los vinculos del suelo no son menos vigo- 
 rosos, ni se percibe m& d6bil el senti- 
 miento de la nacionalidad ; es asi como 
 conservamos la cohesidn de nuestros pue- 
 blos, sin localismos disolventes, siu rivali- 
 dades egoistas y sin m^s emulaciones quo 
 las que naceu del culto de su independen- 
 cia y de su soberania, ideales generosos, 
 que rechazan el lengnaje de la incredu- 
 lidad y protestan de augurios inconside 
 rados, mSs parecidos al anatema que si la 
 profecla. 
 
 La Delegaci6n en cnyo nombre tengo 
 el honor de hablar, se ha ocupado de las 
 ouestiones econdmicas que fu<5 invitada 
 & discutir, no sin haber antes presentado 
 con SU8 amigos del Brasil, soluciones me- 
 ditadas que tieudeu & preservar la tran- 
 quilidad del continente, levantando el 
 derecho sobre la fuerza, y la seguridad 
 mutua contra la desconfianza armada que 
 hoy debilita los tesoros de la Europa, 
 manteniendo rivalidades azarosas, que no 
 
300 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Europe unci creating dangerous rivalries 
 Ijetween the nations of that continent 
 wliich we should regret to see in the fam- 
 ily of the American nations. The honor- 
 able Conference -will do justice, at least, 
 to t he faithfulness of the purpose and the 
 sincerity of the desire, with which wo 
 aspire to provisions which may wisely 
 cover future emergencies and are based 
 upon grounds of fraternity and peace. 
 
 Would to God we were able to solve 
 under the same aspiration the questions 
 which affect the economical movement 
 of our Republics. 
 
 Unfortunately, honorable Delegates, 
 our sentiments are in this case a source of 
 disturbance for our decisions. Commerce 
 is inspired by interest and maintained by 
 profit. It ends when disinterestedness 
 begins; it lives in an ungenial atmos- 
 phere when controlled by affection. 
 We may salute each other as friends, and 
 keep in close relations as brothers; but 
 this condition of things is not sufficient 
 to deviate the current of commerce from 
 its course, which we have no power to 
 control or cause to run into new channels. 
 We may conclude, I do not doubt it, 
 cordial and friendly conventions, bearing 
 upon their face the seal of sincerity, but 
 its provisions will fail in a future not far 
 distant, under the action of the very s.imo 
 forces which we have attempted to en- 
 chain. No human convention will ever bo 
 able to control either the strength or the 
 directioti of currents bom out of produc- 
 tion and interchange, fed by unconquer- 
 able selfishness, by persevering energies, 
 by autonomical and domestic efforts. Pro- 
 duction obeys the decrees of nature, 
 while interchange is the result of necessity 
 or of utility and profit. Wherever a Gov- 
 ernment has attempted to interfere with 
 the resultant of these forces, its action 
 has generally been felt as a symptom of 
 disturbance ; and when it coalesced with 
 other Governments to conjure the evil, no 
 better success, either in the methods or in 
 the results, has ever been achieved. The 
 laws of supply and demand, as ancient as 
 the initial forms of commerce, as prime- 
 val as the original exchange, will con- 
 tinue forever to regulate among the na- 
 tions of the earth the interchange of their 
 surpluses; and if reforms and evolutions 
 are to take place in that interchange, they 
 
 quisieramos ver eu la familia de los pue- 
 blos de America ; la Honorable Confo- 
 rencia har^ justicia, cuando menos, H In 
 lealtad del prop6sito y ^ la sinceridad 
 con que buscamos declaraciones previso- 
 ras, hajo los auspicios de la fraterhidad y 
 de la paz. 
 
 Ojald; nos fuera dado resolver bajo la 
 misma inspiraci6n, las cuestiones que 
 afectan el movtmiento econdmico de nues- 
 tras Repliblicas. 
 
 Desgraciadamente, Seuores Delegados, 
 lossentimieutos serfan en este caso, per- 
 turbadores de nuestras decisiones; el 
 comercio lo inspira el interns y lo man- 
 tienen los provechos; acaba donde co- 
 niienza el desprendimiento, y vi ve descon- 
 certado bajo la accidn de los afootos ; no 
 basta, pues, que nosotros nos saludemos 
 como amigos, y nos estrechemos como 
 hermanos, para desviar 6 comunicar cor- 
 rientes que no est^ en nuestra mano diri- 
 gir ; habriamos firmado acuerdos cordia- 
 les y amistosos, refrendados, no lo dudo, 
 jior la sinceridad, pero desautorizados en 
 Tin porvenir no remote, por la accifin 
 misma de las fuerzas que trat^raraos de 
 encadenar ^ nuestros actos; no llegar^ 
 nunoa la convenci6n humana ^ dominar 
 la intensidad, 6 la direccidn, de estas cor- 
 rientes formadas por la prodnecion y el 
 intercambio, alimentadas como estd^n por 
 cgoismos invencibles, por actividades per- 
 severantes, por energias anton6micas y 
 propias; la producci6n obedece S, los 
 decretos de la naturaleza, como el inter- 
 cambio es obra de la necesidad, de lacon- 
 veniencia y del provecho ; cuando la ac- 
 cidn del Estado ha querido violentar la 
 resultante de estas fuerzas, se ha hecho 
 sertir generalmeute como sintoniadeper- 
 turbacidn, y los gobiernos coaligados para 
 conjurarla, no ban sido mds acertados en 
 susmedios yen susdxitos; viejascomo las 
 formas inicialesdel comercio yprimitivas 
 como el antiguo truequo, las leyes de la 
 demanda y de la oferta seguirSn dirigien- 
 do entro los pueblos el cambio de sua 
 excedentes, y si reformas y evoluciones 
 han de producirse, nacer^n de la selec- 
 ci6n de los consumes irrpnesta por la 
 civilizacidn y la cnltnra, quo vnelve exi- 
 gentes (J las sociedades, afanoaos if los 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 301 
 
 will be due to the better selection of the 
 commodities consumed, owing to the 
 advance of civilization and culture, 
 which causes people to be more particu- 
 lar, forces the producer to be more care- 
 ful, and doubles the fertility and fruitful- 
 ness of the soil. 
 
 Customs problems are nowadays a sub- 
 ject of pre-oCcupatiou for Europe and 
 America, and the nations of this conti- 
 nent would do well if they should be- 
 stow their observation and study upon 
 questions now agitated on the other 
 side of the Atlantic ; not only because 
 those questions are also ours, but because 
 Eilropo can give us good lessons, both 
 empirically and scientifically. Germany 
 seems to be ready to give up her treaties 
 of commerce, and the idea is attributed 
 to her of forming a Zollverein in Central 
 Europe, out of which economical com- 
 plications of uncertain solution woulil 
 probably arise. France hesitates be- 
 tween continuing or discontinuing her 
 owu treaties, which will terminate in 
 1892 ; and the transcendental gravity of 
 this problem is such that independently 
 of the importance which the said treaties 
 have in relation with that of Frankfort, 
 the French Cabinet is now trying to se- 
 cure a plebiscite from the commerce and 
 industry by consulting with them what 
 course muse be pursued. Is it advisable to 
 terminate the treaties ? If so, by wliat 
 must they be substituted ? Shall the sys- 
 tem which preceded the reform of 18G0 bo 
 again resorted to ? If autonomic tariffs 
 are accepted, how could the interests 
 both of the producer and the manufact- 
 urer be reconciled ? 
 
 These and other analogous interrogato- 
 ries have been recently propounded to 
 the centers which represent commerce, 
 and while the ministry is engaged in in- 
 quiring into the prevailing sentiment, 
 the Chamber of Deputies has appointed a 
 committee on customs, consisting of fifty 
 members, whose duty it shall be to report 
 on this subject of so much gravity. It 
 may be said beforehand that the testi- 
 mony to be obtained in this ministerial in- 
 vestigation will be conflicting, if not val- 
 ueless, fur in all cases whenever the voice 
 of the producer of raw material is heard 
 and his vote taken, autonomic tariffs and 
 heavy duties on. imports will he recom- 
 
 productores, dos veoes fdrtil y fecunda H 
 la tierra. 
 
 Las cuestiones aduaneras preocupau en 
 nuestros dias & !a Europa y £ la America, 
 y las nacioues de este coutinente harlan 
 bien en considerar con observacion y con 
 estudio los problemas que se agitan del 
 otro lado del AtlSntlco ; no 8<51o porquc se 
 discuten nuestras mismas cuestiones slno 
 porque la Europa uos ofrece una euse- 
 lianza e.upliica £ la vez que cientlfica ; la 
 Alemauia parece dispaesta S, renunciar S, 
 sus tratados de comercio, y se le atrlbuyo 
 el pensamiento de un "Zollverein" for- 
 mado de la Europa central, que daria ori- 
 gcn ^ complicaoiones econ6micas de in- 
 cierta soluci6n ; la Francia vaclla entro la 
 continuacidn 6 la donuncia de los suyos 
 que vencen el '92, 6 independientemente 
 de la importancia que ellos tieueu con 
 relacifiu al Tratado de Frankfort, el gabi- 
 nete considera este problema de gravedad 
 tan trasceiidente, que prooura en estos 
 mementos un plebiscite del comercio y de 
 la iudustria, sometiendo S, su consulta la 
 ruta que debe seguirse. jConvieno de- 
 uuuciar los tratados ? j, Cnal es on este 
 caso el r^gimeu que ha de sucederles ? 
 J Se volverdi al sistema que precedid ^ la 
 reforma do I860? Si se aoeptarau las 
 tarifas aut6nomas ^ como podrian con- 
 ciliarse los intereses del productor y los 
 de la industria fabril ? 
 
 Estas y otras consultas han side 
 recientemente dirigidas S. los centres que 
 representan el comercio ; y ^ la vez que 
 el ministerio se preocupa de inquirir el 
 sentimieuto dominante, la C^uiara de 
 Diputados ha nombrado una comisidu 
 aduanera compuesta de50 miembros, que 
 debe pronuDciarse sobre tan grave 
 asunto ; puede anticiparse, sin embargo, 
 que la requisici6u ministerial seriJ con- 
 tradiotoria cuaudo menos ; doude la voz 
 y cl veto del productor de la materia 
 prima pueda hacerse seutir, se ha do 
 estar por las tarifas autdnomas y por los 
 fuertes derechos i la importacion ; donde 
 se haga esouohar el gremio mauufac- 
 
302 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 mended, while reciprocally, whenever the 
 voice of the manufacturer is listened to, 
 and his vote taken, the tendency will be 
 towards free trade, or at least towards 
 such reduction of the tariff as to allow 
 lahor to he performed with free and cheap 
 raw material, and thus enable it to stand 
 competition both in and out the national 
 market. The interest of the producer 
 moves him in the direction of restrictive 
 measures, while the interest of the manu- 
 facturer leads him to free trade. It is, 
 therefore, difiScult to protect the one with- 
 out doing injury to the other. Should 
 the decision be to protect both, the knot 
 should be cut asunder but not untied. 
 The consumer will have to carry upon 
 his shoulders the burden of this double 
 protection, and while he possibly may be 
 kept quiet and even resigned, as long as 
 the limits of the national markets are not 
 overstepped, he. will, however, come out 
 and defend himself and even revolt, when 
 the protection takes effect upon a foreign 
 soil of free competition. It is not my 
 purpose to give now my opinion about 
 the results of this struggle between the 
 two schools which history has always wit- 
 nessed ; but it seems to me that free trade 
 will finally secure the victory and that 
 the producers of raw material will need 
 strenuous efforts to succeed in their attack 
 against the manufacturing industries of 
 France. 
 
 The nation s of America must give to this 
 problem all the importance that Europe 
 gives to it. We march, as it might seem, 
 in this road with extreme swiftness. We 
 have been instrncted to discuss a ZoUver- 
 ein, and it is scarcely comprehensible how 
 three meetings have been enough for the 
 committee to recommend a measure which 
 amounts to a new system half way be- 
 tween protection and free trade, when 
 this problem engages now to such extent 
 the attention of Europe and causes her to 
 consider it with so much meditation and 
 stutly. I do not aay this as a charge 
 against my friends and colleagues, but I 
 say it in justification of the laconism 
 with which the minority has expressed 
 its opinion in answer to the question 
 which was propounded. We can not 
 give advice on subjects which, in my 
 opinion, are beyond the scope of our 
 mission. 
 
 turero, la solnci(5n ha de inclinarsc & la 
 libertad del comeroio 6 ^ la moderaci6n 
 de las tarifas, que le permitan trabajar 
 con materias libres y baratas, que habili- 
 ten el artlculo para la concurrencia, 
 dentro y fuera del mercado nacional ; el 
 interns del prodnctor lo Ueva ^ los sis- 
 temas restrictivos, el del manufacturero 
 & la libertad de los cambios; es pues 
 dificil proteger al uno sin perjndicar al 
 otro, y cuando se opta por proteger ^ 
 los dos, el nudo se corta pero no se 
 desata ; es el consnmidor el que soporta 
 la doble protecci<5n, y si es f^il someterlo 
 y hasta resignarlo en el mercado nacional, 
 se ha de defender y rebelar en el suelo 
 extrangero de concurrencia libre. Yo no 
 he f ormado la resolucidn de pronnnciarme 
 sobre esta lucha histdrica de las dos 
 escuelas : par€ceme, sin embargo, que la 
 victoria la disputa con 6xito el libre- 
 cambio, y que los produotores de la 
 materia prima necesitariiln esfnerzos 
 poderosos para jnstifioar el ataque que 
 se llevarla sobre la industria mannfac- 
 turera de la Francia. 
 
 Las naciones de America debieran 
 reconocer £ este problema, la importancia 
 que le acuerda la Europa ; parece, sin 
 embargo, que caminamos con mdis ve- 
 locidad ; hemos traido instrucciones paxa 
 discutir un " ZoUverein," y aventurado 
 me parece que en tres sesiones de la 
 Comisi6n, se puedan aconsejar tempera- 
 mentos que importan un tercer sistema 
 entre la protecci<5n y el libre-oamhio, 
 sistema que levanta en estos momentos & 
 la Europa para reconsiderarlo con medi- 
 taoi6n y con esludio ; no es 6ste nn cargo 
 & mis amigos y colegas, sino una jnstifi- 
 cacidn al laconismo y t£ la sobriedad 
 conqne me he expedido en minoria, con- 
 testando el punto sometido H nuestro 
 estudio, sin avanzar consejos que & mi 
 juicio, escapaban & nuestra misidn. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 303 
 
 It is no mystery that tho nations of 
 America keep and develop their commerce 
 through their relations with Europe. 
 This economical phenomenon can be 
 explained naturally and without effort. 
 Our wealth consists of the products of 
 our soil, and if there he in this continent 
 a market, being at the same time a man- 
 ufacturing center, it would deserve from 
 us special consideration, which I should 
 have the greatest satisfaction to pay. 
 But it is logical, indispensable, unavoid- 
 able for the countries which produce raw 
 material to seek manufacturing markets, 
 and especially those in which their natu- 
 ral productions are admitted free. 
 
 Between the American Nations inter- 
 change is the exception, and non-com- 
 munion the rule. I except, of course, 
 from this rule that interchange which 
 arises out of a particular geographical 
 situation, as for instance, between bor- 
 dering nations, or that which forces it- 
 self upon the people owing to the limited 
 extent of production, or to peculiar idio- 
 syncrasies of the soil, or to conditions of 
 climate, as it happens with the cup of 
 coffee which represents for the United 
 States $74,000,000, and the spoonful of 
 sugar which reaches the amount of $88,- 
 O00,000peryear. But exceptional articles 
 and exchanges can not be the basis of 
 commercial generalizations, or serve to 
 apply to the continent as a whole what 
 only passes in a minority of its States. 
 Our reciprocal commerce will develop it- 
 self poorly, unless the producing and the 
 manufacturing markets come into con- 
 tact ; and this contact is precisely the 
 cause of the well-defined and ancient in- 
 terchange which exists between the Old 
 and the New World. It originated with 
 and is maintained by the wealth of 
 the producing countries, supplemented 
 and completed by the wealth of the mar- 
 kets which are manufacturers ; and noth- 
 ing tending to approach or to connect 
 similarly producing markets will ever 
 fail to prove either fruitless or pernicious. 
 These considerations of political econo- 
 my, whose rudimentary character might 
 have rendered It almost useless for me to 
 enter into an explanation of them, show 
 beyond a doubt that a continental com- 
 pact is at least unnecessary, for the major- 
 ity of the Spanish-American countries. 
 
 No cs un misterio para nadio, que las 
 naciones de America sostienen y desen- 
 vuelven su comeroio de sus relaciones con 
 la Europa ; el fendmeno econ6mico se ex- 
 plica naturalraente y sin esfuerzo ; nues- 
 tras riquezas las forman los productos del 
 suelo, y si hay en el contiuente nn mer- 
 cado, que es raanufacturero & la vez, <51 
 dobe merecornos consideraciones espe- 
 ciales que tendr6 la satisfaccl6n de dedi- 
 carle ; pero es Idgico, forzoso, inevitable, 
 que los pafses productores de frutos na- 
 turales, 6 de materia prima, busquen y 
 procuren los mercados fabriles, y espe- 
 cialmente aquellos que los reciben libro- 
 mente. 
 
 Entre nuestros pueblos el oambio es 
 la excepoi6u, la incomunicacidn la regla; 
 excluyo naturalmente el que nace de 
 la posicidn geogr^fica de naciones fron- 
 terlzas, y el que se nutre de artlculos 
 que se Imponeu por las Idiosincracias 
 del suelo, 6 los favores del clima; flgura 
 entre estos, la taza de caf6 que representa 
 &, los Estados Unidos 74 millones de dol- 
 lars, y la cucharada de azrlcar que lloga & 
 88 millones anualmente ; artlculos y cam- 
 bios de excepcidn no deben servir para 
 generallzar relacionesmercantiles, ni para 
 extender & todo el continente lo que 
 ocurre en el menor nilmero de sus Esta- 
 dos; el comercio reclproco de nuestros 
 pueblos se deseuvolverS pesadamente, 
 sin el contacto del mercado productor 
 con el manufaoturero ; ese es precisa- 
 mente el intercambio con sus formas pro- 
 pias y acentuadas entre el viejo y el 
 nuevo mundo; nace y vive del. comple- 
 mento do la riqueza productora con la 
 fuerza fabril ; y todo lo que tienda & ligar 
 mercados similares en la producci<5n sord^ 
 est^rll, cuando no pernicioso ; estas con- 
 sideraciones quo son tan rudimentarias 
 en la economla politica, que casi podria 
 haberme eximldo de enuuclarlas, por su 
 misma vulgarldad, nos demuestran con 
 evldencla, que un pacto continental serfa 
 innecesario, cuando menos, & la mayo- 
 ria de los pafses Hispano- America nos; 
 aaegurar el libre-cambio entre mercados 
 que no se cambian nada, serfa lujo de 
 Utopia y ejemplo de esterilidad ; yo estoy 
 muy lejos de combatir el libre cambio, 
 resisto solo las declaracionos suntuosas 
 que serlan tan desfavorables como impro- 
 flcnas al comeroio de America. 
 
304 
 
 IMTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 To secure free trade from markets which 
 exchange nothing between themselves 
 would be a luxurious display of utopy 
 and au illustration of sterility. I am 
 far from opposing free trade ; but pomp- 
 ous declarations, both unfavorable and 
 profitless for the commerce of America, 
 will not have my approval. 
 
 Commercial statistics show that the 
 whole of the inter-continental exchange 
 is based upon one factor, namely, " the 
 manufacturing market of the North." 
 But has that, commerce reached the de- 
 gree of development to which it is en- 
 titled ? Does it satisfy the aspirations of 
 the continent, as far as the elaboration 
 aud transformation of its own wealth 
 within its own frontiers are concerned ? 
 Figures give a negative answer to all 
 these questions. 
 
 The Latin American nations represented 
 in this Conference consume to the amount 
 of 1560,000,000; but the United States 
 only share that importation to the amount 
 of 152,000,000, or less than 10 per cent, of 
 what we purchase from Europe. The re- 
 lation shown by these figures between our 
 commerce and the commerce of the United 
 States leveals with great clearness the 
 poverty of the oxcliauges. Out of a total 
 of $740,000,000, which represents the ex- 
 ports of the United States, Latin America 
 buys no more than $52,000,000 that is, 7 
 per cent. 
 
 Let us now see what they j)urohase from 
 us. Our exports amount to $600,000,000, 
 out of which the United States take 
 $1-^0,000,000, including what they take 
 from Hayti, but excluding what they take 
 from the rest of the West Indies. From 
 purchasing to the amount of $120,000,000 
 and selling only to the amount of $52,000,- 
 000, a difference of $68,000,000 results; 
 and if the balance of commerce, which 
 deems all imports to be losses and all ex- 
 ports profits, is to be taken as a gu ide, 
 the United States might have good ground 
 to feel some serious apprehension. I 
 must say, however, that In regard to 
 the Argentiue Republic the terms of the 
 problem are exactly reversed. We pur- 
 chase from the United States tho double 
 of what they purchase from us. As our 
 reciprocal tommerce is limited, and its 
 balance always results in favor of Latin 
 America, and this balance has to be paid 
 
 La estadistica comercial uos prueba 
 que todo el oambio intercontinental se 
 produce de acuerdo con cste factor, el 
 mercado manufacturero del Norte ; ^ pero 
 habr^ llegado»ese oomercio al grado do 
 desarrollo que tieue derecho & esperar ? 
 j Satisfacelasaspiracionesdel continent e, 
 en cuanto se quiere ver olaborada y iras- 
 formada la riquezadentro de las propias 
 fronteras ? Los utimeros contestan ne- 
 gativamente. 
 
 Las naoiones de la Amdrica Latina 
 representadas en esta Conferenoia, con- 
 sumeu por valor de $560,000,000, pero los 
 Estados Unidos no alimcntan esas impor- 
 taciones sino en $52,000,000, no alcanza & 
 un diez (10) por ciento de lo que compra- 
 mos & la Europa ; la relaci6u que guar- 
 dan estas cifras con el comercio de los 
 Estados Unidos revela la indigencia de 
 los oambios con mayor claridad ; so- 
 bre BUS exportaciones que alcanzan & 
 $740,000,000, la America Latina les com- 
 pra solo $52,000,000 es decir, un 7 por 
 ciento de todo lo que exportan. 
 
 Veamos ahora lo que uos compran los 
 Estados Unidos ; sobre nuestras exporta- 
 ciones que suman 600 millones, los Estados 
 Unidos uos toman 120 millones compren- 
 dido lo que recibe de Haiti, pero exclu- 
 yendo el resto de las Antillas ; oomprando 
 120 millones y no vendieudo sino 52, re- 
 sulta una diferencia de 68 millones que & 
 estar S. la balanza rouiercial que mira 
 toda importacifin como una p^rdida y 
 toda exportacion como ganancia, los 
 Estados Unidos tondrlan raz6n para mirar 
 estos guarismos como desfavorables ; debo 
 sin embargo, estableccr que con la Ee- 
 ptiblica Argentina los tiSrminos del pro- 
 blemaresultan invertidos; nosotros com- 
 pramos & los Estados Unidos el doblo de 
 lo que nos reciben ; pero siendo limitado 
 nuestro comercio, el saldo rosulta siem- 
 pre favorable & la AmiS-ica Latina, saldo, 
 que los Estados Unidos tienen que pagar 
 en numerario y que es natural, justo y 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 305 
 
 iu money by tlio Uuiteci States, it is 
 natural aud just aud most legitiuiato for 
 them to try to pay with products. The 
 Uuited States manufacture the same goods 
 which we purchase from Europe. B^roni 
 household furniture to all articles of 
 clothiug; from the mechanical implement 
 which tills our laud to the wire which 
 incloses it, or to the rails which iu a not far 
 distant day will connect the three great 
 sections of America, all is found and 
 produced iu this prodigious center of 
 human industry; all exists and can be 
 brought for use into our soil. 
 
 Why is it, then, that the raw material 
 does notgo that way, but marches toward 
 Europe ? Why is it that the currents of 
 our commerce with the United States run 
 so slowly, when Spanish America pro- 
 duces what the United States need for 
 carrying on their manufacturing indus- 
 tries, and controlling with their wealth 
 the commerce of the world ? Such are 
 the questions and such is the problem 
 which attracts the attention of thinkers 
 aud economists, and gives them abundant 
 opportunities for "serious study. Three 
 systems appear to be indicated to solve 
 the difficulty, but they are rejected as 
 soon as presented, and the truth is that 
 the difficulty is never met, either because 
 the remedy is too energetic, or because 
 it is an easier thing to correct oSher peo- 
 ple's institntions than our own. 
 
 Three plans have been suggested iu the 
 committee : 
 
 The Zollverein, 
 
 Inter-continental free trade. 
 
 Reciprocity treaties. 
 
 The first-named of these three custom 
 systems was preconized some time ago by 
 the ex-Senator from Illinois, the Hou. 
 Stephen A. Douglas, who left, in 1860, the 
 written plan of a confederation which ex- 
 tended from the Arctic Ocean to the Isth- 
 mus of Panama, and branched off iu the 
 direction of the West Indies. This scheme, 
 under the action of time, has secured an 
 experimental field of greater vastness ; and 
 I might think that it now includes all the 
 nations of America, because I, a Delegate 
 from the southern extreme of this conti- 
 nent, have been called to consider it. 
 
 The Zollverein is now viewed as an 
 unacceptable institution. It had its 
 scientific explanation, when homogeneous 
 20 I c 
 
 logitimo que aspiren ll satisfaccrlo con 
 productos; los Estados Unidos elaboran 
 los articulos que conipramos ^ la Euroi)a ; 
 desde el mobilario hasta el vestido, desde 
 la maquiuaria que puede labrar nuestros 
 campos hasta el alambre que los cerca y 
 hasta los rieles que en dla no lejano 
 aproximaran las tres Amdricas, todo se 
 encueutra y se produce en este centro 
 prodigioso de la industria humana, todo 
 oxiste y puede complementarse en nnestro 
 suelo. 
 
 ^Porqud eutonces las materiaa primas 
 han de desviar su ruta hacia la Europa ? 
 J Qu6 raz6n hay para que vivan apagadas 
 las corrientes de uuestro comercio, cuaudo 
 el resto de la America produce lo mismo 
 que los Estados Unidos necesitan para 
 trabajar y domiuar con sus riquezas el 
 oomercio del mundo ? Estas son las pre- 
 guutas y este es el problema que viene 
 preocupando & los pensadores y S. los 
 economistas; tres sistemas parecen iu- 
 dicarse y rechazarse al mismo tiempo; 
 la verdad es que no se acicrta con la difi- 
 cultad, tal vez porque el corrective seria 
 dcmasiado enfirgico, 6 porque so juzga 
 mils facil corregir las instituciones ageuas 
 que las propias. 
 
 SeJia hablado en la Comisifin de tres 
 temperamentos : 
 
 El "Zollverein," 
 
 El Libre Cambio Intercontiuental, 
 
 Los Tratados de Reciprocidad. 
 
 El primero de estos sistemas aduaneroa, 
 ha sido preconizado antes do ahora, por 
 cl ex-Seuador del Estado de Illinois, el 
 Hon. Stephen A. Douglass, quien dej6 
 escrito en 1860, un plan de Confederacidn 
 que nacia en el Artico y terminaba en el 
 Istmo, dilat^ndose por las Autillas ; el 
 pensamiento ha tomado formas amplias 
 con laaccionde los tiempos, y debopensar 
 que hoy comprende dl todas las naciones 
 de la America., desde que ha sido encar- 
 gado de estudiarlo, un delegado que pro- 
 cede del conflu meridional del continente. 
 
 El " Zollverein" se mira hoy como una 
 instituci6n inaceptable ; 61 tiene su ex- 
 piicacifin cientlfica en la agrupaci6n de 
 
.306 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 States united their custom-houBes iu 1819, 
 and later on their politics, to constitute 
 the German Empire. The said league 
 was initiated within limited territorial 
 frontiers. The experiment was tried at 
 first with only three States, adhesions to 
 the Union having come subsequently iu 
 a natural and gradual manner, as soou 
 as the success obtained and the econom- 
 ical advantages secured were kuown by 
 the other nations. But would it be pos- 
 sible for a sectional and originally timid 
 experiment to serve as au example for 
 the purpose of converting the continent 
 into one single customs territory, and 
 consolidating pighteen diiferent national- 
 ities into only one for the perception and 
 distribution of their revenue ? Could it 
 ever be possible for compacts entered into 
 when that Zollverein was flourishing, 
 and covered an area of 200,000 miles, and 
 embraced a population of 23,000,000, to 
 be applicable with any hope of success 
 to a continent which covers au area of 
 12,000,000 of miles and is inhabited by 
 115,000,000 of people ? 
 
 I find that this idea presents all the 
 characteristics of a hazardous adventure, 
 the results of which escape human fore- 
 sight. If considered from the economical 
 stand-point, this Zollverein would cause 
 the nations of America which entered 
 into it to feel always uncertain about 
 their revenue, and live with apprehen- 
 sion as to their preservation. The dis- 
 tribution of the amounts charged as cus- 
 toms duties would be made, as it was in 
 the Prussian Zollverein, upon the basis 
 of the population of the States. But this 
 is tantamount to ignore the consumption 
 of each confederate State, which must 
 be and is the equitable basis for 
 the perception. The importation in 
 our nations is as different as are different 
 our respective habits, our lives, and 
 our more or less advanced progress. I 
 do not propose to make odious compari- 
 sons, nor is it indispensable for me to sin- 
 gularize my remarks ; but upon unsigned 
 statistics which are in my possession, I 
 can state that the consumption from 
 abroad in our countries reaches, in some 
 of them, as high a rate as $45.99 per cap- 
 ita, while in others it falls as low as |1.63. 
 
 Estados homogeneos couio los que con- 
 federarou sua aduanas en 1819, y mas 
 tarde su politica para consUtuir cl 
 imperio de Alemania; la extension do 
 aquella Liga se inici6 con f onteras razo- 
 iiables, el ensayo se comenz6 por tres 
 Estados y las adhesiones vinierou natural 
 y gradualmente sobre el 6xito aloanzaJo 
 y sobre las vcntajas econ<imicas quehabia 
 demostrado la experiencia; pero aqucl 
 experimento regional y timido on su origcn 
 jpuede servirnos de ejemplo para coii- 
 vertir el oontinente en un solo territorio 
 aduanero, y confundir diez y ocho nacio- 
 nalidades en la percepci6n y distribuci6u 
 de sus rentas ? Los pactos que recayeron 
 en el auge de aquel "Zollverein," en 
 1841, comprendiendo uu territorio de 200,- 
 000 millas y una colectividad de 23,000,- 
 000 de hombres, 4 pueden aplicarse con 
 las seguridades del 6xlto dl un continente, 
 cuya extensidn se mide en 12,000,000 do 
 millas, pobladas por 115,000,000 de habi- 
 tautes ? 
 
 Yo encuentro que este pensamiento 
 tiene todos los contornos de una aventura 
 peligrosa, cuyos resultados escapan d la 
 previsiduhumana; miradas las cosaseco- 
 n6micameute, las naciones de la Liga 
 entrarian bajo la incertidumbre de sus 
 rentas y vivirian bajo la zozobra de su 
 subsistencia ; la distribucidn de los dero- 
 chos aduaueros reposaria,comoeu el "Zol - 
 vereiu" que provoc6 la Prusia, sobre la 
 poblaci6n de los Estados ; pero esto seria 
 prescindir de los consumes de cadaagrupa^ 
 oidn, que debeu ser ]a base equitativa de 
 la peroepci^n ; la importacidn de nuestros 
 pueblos diflere esencialmeute, respon- 
 diendo ^ sus costumbres, S, su vida, y Si 
 susprogresos mas 6 menos avanzadus; no 
 quiero entrar en comparaciones disgus- 
 ta.ntes, ni me es indispensable indivi- 
 dualizar mi observaci6n ; pero tomando 
 una estadistioa an6nima, puedo afirmar, 
 que el consume exterior de nuestros palses 
 llega en unos S, $45.99 por habitante y 
 baja en otros hasta $1.63 ; se comprende 
 que con esta base de consumes y con estas 
 desigualdades de renta, no nos sea dado 
 pensar en uu nivel igualitario para dis- 
 tribuirla en proporciones id^nticas i to- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 307 
 
 It is easy to uuderstaud that with such a 
 varied basis of consumption and with our 
 inequalities of revenue, there is no possi- 
 bility to find out an equalizing method 
 and distribute the revenue iu identical 
 proportions among the inhabitants of our 
 country. 
 
 Even in that ZoUverein which is re- 
 membered as a success for the German 
 Confederation,the benefits for some States 
 were problematical. Prussia, for instance, 
 which contributed three-fourths to the 
 formation of the revenue, did not receive 
 from it but five-elevenths, while Bavaria, 
 which did not contribute even one franc 
 per capita in 1834, obtained under the 
 ZoUverein 2 francs and 53 centimes, that 
 is, an increase of 160 per cent. No advan- 
 tage for a State is secured under the ZoU- 
 verein, except at the expense of the rev- 
 enues of the other States ; and such a 
 method can not be deemed acceptable by 
 a Conference which is now discussing 
 economical interests, without either prod- 
 igalities or exactions. Certainly it 
 would be difficult to convince either the 
 citizen of the North or the citizen of the 
 South that the revenue which his Gov- 
 ernment disburses and the taxes which 
 he himself pays must not be for the use of 
 the Government, or for the nation which 
 protects him with his sovereignty, but 
 for the use of another government and for 
 another State unknown to him, whose 
 inhabitants, consuming only as one, de- 
 sire, however, to equalize their revenue 
 with the revenue of those States which 
 consume as forty. Revenue in this case 
 would be taken from one nation to an- 
 other ; taxation would cease to be founded 
 on the necessity that services rendered to 
 the State should be remunerated ; and the 
 confusion of sovereignties would be such 
 as to create a practical socialism. I laust 
 declare that if I have presented this argu- 
 ment in such a positive and decided form, 
 it is because the nation which I have the 
 honor to represent would not be the one 
 to suffer the most, if consenting to lie 
 down on the Procustean bed of this ZoU- 
 verein ; otherwise I would have omitted it. 
 The belief has been entertained by some 
 that the United States would be the great- 
 est sufferer if this league should become 
 an accomplished fact ; but this is a further 
 
 doK y d cada uuo de los habitantes de 
 iiueatro coutincute. 
 
 Eii eee mismo "ZoUverein" que se rc- 
 cuerdacouio un ^xito feliz para la Coufe- 
 deraci6n Germ£inioa, los beneficios fuerou 
 problemiitioos para algunos Estados; la 
 Prusia, per ejemplo, que concurria con 
 tres cuartas partes S, la formaoi<in de las 
 rentas, no recibia de ellas sine cinco un- 
 dgcimos, al paso que la Baviera cuyas 
 rentas no alcanzaban S, uu franco por 
 habitante en 1834, Uegd bajo el " ZoU- 
 verein " S. dos francos cincuenta y 
 tree, 6 sea un aumento de ciento sesenta 
 por ciento ; las ventajas de un Estado no 
 se conquistan bajo el "ZoUverein" sino 
 £ costa de la renta de los dem^s Estados, 
 y esta conclnsi6n no puede aer aceptable 
 para una Conferencia, que en estos me- 
 mentos discnte intereses econdmicos, sin 
 prodigalidades ni exacoioues ; serla real- 
 raente dlflcil couveucer al ciudadano del 
 uorte 6 al del sud, de quo la renta que 
 paga ^ su gobierno y el impuesto que ha 
 gravado sus necesidades, no era para tal 
 gobierno ni para aquella nacifin que lo 
 protege con su soberania, sino para otro 
 Estado que le es desconocido y cuyos ha- 
 bitantes consumiendo uno, deben nivelar 
 sus rentas tomilndola de aquellos que cou- 
 sumen cuarenta : las rentas serlan tras- 
 puestas, los impuestos no pagarian servi- 
 cios del Estado y las soberanias se senti- 
 rian confundidas en un verdadero socia- 
 lisma ; debo declarar que si he presentado 
 este argumento con formas tan decididas 
 y netas, es por que lanaci6n que me cabe 
 la honra de representar, no seria la mas 
 perjudicada al aolocarse en ese lecho de 
 Procusto ; de otra manera lo habria econo- 
 mizado ; se ha creido tambien que los Es- 
 tados Unidos reportarian el mayor grava- 
 men, pero esto es otro error que debo reo- 
 tificar; el consume exterior represonta 
 en esta nacifin $11.64 por habitante y esto 
 se explica por ser uu pals productor y 
 fabril, que se provee S, si mismo en el 
 mayor nfimero de sus necesidades. 
 
308 
 
 INTEENATIOXAL AMEKICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 error wLicli I have to correct. Cousump- 
 tiou of foreign commodities in tlie United 
 States amounts to no more than $11. 64 
 per capita, which can be easily explained 
 hecause the United States is a country 
 both producer and manufacturer, and 
 can provide itself with all that is required 
 to satisfy the greater part of its necessi- 
 ties. . 
 
 The general prosperity of the States 
 which formed the Zollvereiu depended 
 upon the system of low tariff which it 
 adopted, and was calculaled to promote 
 commerce and industry. Duties on im- 
 ports helped, of course, to meet the ex- 
 jioiises incurred to keep alive the league 
 of the States ; but the collection thereof 
 did not imply any tendency whatever 
 towards restrictive methods. The maxi- 
 mum duty was declared to be 10 per cent., 
 and all raw material was admitted free, 
 while every article which in some way 
 was deemed to be conducive, if imported 
 in the States, to promote the development 
 of their industries was allowed to enter 
 with considerable reduction of duties. 
 
 Would we base our Union upon a tariff 
 of this kind? 
 
 If so, radical and fundamental re- 
 forms would he needed in the laws of 
 the nations which defend protection. 
 How could we follow two doctrines 
 and two tendenries so antagonistic in 
 their conclusions? How make them 
 come to an agreement? Would our own 
 custom-houses, which only burden the 
 imports with a moderate duty, no heavier 
 than is necessary to meet the demands of 
 national life, indorse a system of protec- 
 tion as a basis for the league which would 
 rule in our whole continent? Or is it 
 perhaps that protection is ready to yield 
 its supremacy in favor of commerce lib- 
 eral tariff legislation ? 
 
 The life of our nations depends upon the 
 exportation of their natural resources. 
 They have not solved as yet the problen; 
 of converting themselves into manufact- 
 uring States (a matter which admits of 
 much discussion) and have no disposi- 
 tion whatever to become protectionists, 
 or accept any tariff which exceeds the 
 necessities of revenue, and in reality i)ro- 
 tects no one, and does harm to all. 
 
 La prosperidad general de los Estados 
 del "Zollverein " fu6 resultado do la mo- 
 deracidu de las tarifas que alentarou el 
 comercio y permitieron desarrollar bus 
 iudustrias ; los derechos aduaneros sufia- 
 gaban en parte las necesidades do lavida 
 interior de los Estados, pero no entrana- 
 ban un sistema restrictivo ; clmilximum 
 do los derechos se habla fijado en 10 por 
 ciento, las materias primas eran admiti- 
 das libres y todo lo que aleutaba el desar- 
 rollo de la industria recibia considerables 
 rcduccioues. 
 
 j Serla sobre estas tarifas que nosotros 
 acordariamos nuestra Uni6u ? 
 
 Pero ellas impondiiau rcformas fuuua- 
 meutales en las naciones que sostieneu el 
 proteccionismo. j C6mo Uegariamos &, un 
 acucrdo entre las dos escuelas y las dos 
 teudencias que se^acentuan en conclu- 
 siones oxtremas ? Nuestras aduanas que 
 gravan la importacifin eu una forma mode- 
 rada y en cuauto lo imponen las exigeu- 
 eias de la vida nacional, j querriau some- 
 terse d. los regimenes proteccionistas que 
 habrlan de extenderse sobre todo nuestro 
 continento? jOes el proteccionismo el 
 que ha de coder el paso & las lacilidades 
 del comercio y i£ la liberalidad de las 
 tarifas ? 
 
 Nuestros pueblos que viveu de la ex- 
 portaci6n de sus riquezas naturales, quo 
 no han resuelto el problema de transfor- 
 niarse eu fabriles, por que tiene mucho 
 que discutir esa materia, estariau menos 
 dispuestos^convertirseal proteccionismo, 
 aceptando tarifas que pudieran exceder 
 las necesidades de la renta, sin proteger i, 
 uadie y perjudicando S, todos. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 309 
 
 Would the United States modify their 
 own tariff? 
 
 It might perhaps bo believed that 
 this is their intention, as they have 
 invited us to discnss the matter ; but 
 if they feel disposed to agree to the 
 abolition of the custom-honses for the 
 States of the ZoUverein, and to make re- 
 forms in their tariff for the nations not 
 included in the ZoUverein; the latter of 
 these two conclusions would furnish by 
 itself the answer which we desire. 
 When protection to the producer of 
 raw material may have beeu removed, 
 and the manufacturer may have been 
 allowed to work with material identical 
 in value to that used iu the rest of the 
 world ; when the customs laws may 
 have cheapened all auxiliary consump- 
 tions, then the manufacturing industry 
 will come out well armed and equipped, 
 and well prepared for the battles of cora- 
 petition. The victor in this struggle 
 shall have the continent, and will force 
 Europe to yield to him her place. No 
 wars of differential duties, nor disturb- 
 ing aggressions, nor aleatory compacts 
 or confederations, will be needed. Com- 
 merce must be courted not by fighting 
 against the articles of cheap produc- 
 tion, but by causing the dear ones to 
 become cheaper, and more within the 
 reach of the larger number, providing 
 in this way for the interest of the col- 
 lectivity, and enlarging the field of con- 
 sumption. 
 
 My distinguished friend. General Hen- 
 derson, stated before us in one of his ani- 
 mated speeches, that the United States 
 build two rails for each one which Eng- 
 land builds; that the railroads of the 
 United States represent fifty per cent, of 
 the railroads of the whole world ; that 
 their electric wires can encircle the ter- 
 restrial globe thirty times ; and that 
 above all the triumphs which the United 
 States have achieved in the manifestations 
 of human progress, the spectacle promi- 
 nently towers of their national treasury 
 overwhelmed by the weight of a large 
 surplus. As a son of this continent, I 
 have to share the pride which enlivened 
 the words of the eloquent Delegate, but 
 in the economy of nations the excess of 
 prosperity involves grave questions which 
 need to be settled before any complica- 
 
 ^Modificarfan las suyas los Estados 
 Unidos ? 
 
 Pudiera pensarse que si, por cuanto nos 
 ban propuesto la discnsii5u de esta ma- 
 teria ; pero si hubieran estado dispuestos 
 S, aceptar la supresi(5n do las aduanas 
 ontrelosEstados del" ZoUverein, "ydi una 
 rcforma arancelaria con \a,% naciones no 
 incluidas on la Liga, la tiltima de estas 
 conclusiones nos habria dado por si sola 
 el (Sxito que persegiiimos ; cuando se haya 
 levantado la protecci(5n al productor de la 
 materia prima, de mode que el fabricante 
 trabaje con valores id^nticos A los que 
 circulan on el rcsto del mundo, cuando la 
 ley aduanera abarate los consumos acce- 
 sorios de las manufacturas, 6stas saldr^n 
 armadas para la concurrencia, habrd^n 
 dominado el Contiueute, y la Europa les 
 habrd) cedido el puesto, sin gnerra de 
 dcrechos diferenciales, sin agresioneseno- 
 josas, sin confederaciones ni paotos alea- 
 torios ; el comercio no debemos buscarlo 
 comhatiendo los artfculos de producoifin 
 barata, sine abaratando los de producci6n 
 cara, para que ellos aumenten el consumo, 
 poniiSndoso al alcance del mayor ni'imero 
 y couHultando el interns de la colectividad. 
 
 Mi distinguido amigo, el Hon. Oral. 
 Henderson, nos recordaba en uno de sus 
 discnrsos animados, que los Eetadoa 
 Unidos oonstruyen dos rieles por cada 
 uuo que produce Inglaterra, que sua 
 ferrocarriles representan nn 50 por ciento 
 de los que recorren el mundo, que los 
 hilos el^otricos envuelven 30 voces el 
 globo terrestre, y sobro las conquistas al- 
 canzadas en todas las mauifestaciones 
 del progreso humano, nos presentaba la 
 Tesoreria Nacional agoviada con el peso 
 de excedentes suntuosos. Como hijo de 
 cste Continente, yo participo del orguUo 
 que animaba la palabra del elocuente 
 Delegado; pero en la economfa de las 
 naciones, los mismos excedentes de pros- 
 peridad, entraHan problemas que es me- 
 nestersolucionar, anticipiitidope al tiempo 
 de las complicaciones ; seril una paradoja. 
 
310 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 tion arrives. When I say that the United 
 States are iu need of defending them- 
 selves against their own wealth, I may 
 perhaps be judged paradoxical, or con- 
 sidered extravagant. 
 
 I do not think that a greater praise than 
 this can ever be made of the producing 
 power of a qation, nor do I believe that 
 any nation deserves it better or in a larger 
 degree than the United States. With a 
 territory of 3,500,000 square miles, crossed 
 in all directions by 160,000 miles of rail- 
 road and 780,000 miles of telegraph wires ; 
 gifted with resources which nature lav- 
 ished upon i fc with a prodigal hand ; with 
 industries which have doubled their 
 profits under protective legislation ; with 
 the audacity and creative power which 
 agitates the minds of their eons, who re- 
 spond with an invention to any new dif- 
 ficulty or necessity, and who by the 
 accumulation of these creatures of their 
 ingenuity have increased still more the 
 national wealth — with all those elements, 
 innumerable as well as powerful^the 
 United States march, however, towards a 
 whirlpool of production, which I earnestly 
 wish that they will safely escape, either 
 by an increase of their exports or tlirough 
 an enlargement of the consuming popula- 
 tion, both of which remedies obey to dem- 
 ographical laws which are more quiet in 
 their action. But tlje industries will go 
 faster than the necessities ; and more for- 
 eign markets will become indispensable 
 for the economical equilibrium, perhaps 
 before the time in which the electric wires 
 will make a further turn around the planet. 
 Immigration thus far has accompanied all 
 these rapid developments ; but it has con- 
 tributed also to make them more rapid. 
 Now it is noticeable that the current of 
 immigration does not increase, and iu all 
 cases it is always an easier thing to take 
 away the article than to bring the con- 
 sumer ; and this is the problem which we 
 wish to solve, iu a really American spirit. 
 
 I really feel dazzled by the multitudi- 
 nous wealth of the United States ; but 
 what has seduced me the least among al 1 
 their wonders is the one represented by 
 the surplus of revenue. That large capi- 
 tal has been segregated from the indus- 
 trial movement, has been paid by the 
 products, and represents a loss in the 
 
 so tomarsi tal vez li extr.avagancia cuando 
 opine : 
 
 Que los Estados Unidos necesitan 
 defenderse ds su propia riqueza. 
 
 . No creo que pueda hacerse mas acabado 
 elogio del poder productor de unauacidn, 
 ni creo tampoco que otra alguna lo merezca 
 en mayor grado que los Estados Unidos ; 
 uu territorio de 3, 500, 000 mill as cuadradas, 
 cruzado por 100,000 de ferrocarriles, con 
 780,000 millas de^hilos telegriJficos, dotado 
 de riquezas que la naturaleza ha derra- 
 mado con prodigalidad, con industrias 
 que ban duplicado sus provechos bajo la 
 ley proteccionista, con la audacia y la 
 lacultad crea dora que agita la mente de 
 sus hijos, sabiendo responder di cada difi- 
 cultad con un invento y acumulando in- 
 ventos que representan otros tantos ahor- 
 ros sobre la riqueza, con estos elemeiitos 
 innlimeros y podero sos, los Estados Unidos 
 se encaminau ^ un vertigo de produccii5n, 
 que ojalS, logre contaminar la exportaci6n 
 6 la poblaci<5n consnmidora, que obedece 
 & leyes demogr^flcas mSs reposadas ; pero 
 las industrias marchar^u mas ligero que 
 las necesidades, y nuevos mercados exte- 
 ilores han de ser indispensables para el 
 equilibrio eeon(3mico, antes quiz^ de que 
 los hilos el6ctrico8 envuelvan el planeta 
 una vez mas ; la inmigracidn ha acompa- 
 fiado hasta ahora estos r^pidos desenvol- 
 vimientos, pero ha contribuido tambien 
 S, darles mayor impulse y hoy se observa 
 que la corrie nte inmigratoria no auraenta ; 
 en todos los cases, es mas ffeil Uevar el 
 artlculo que traer el consumidor, y este 
 es el problema que deseamos resolvercon 
 interiSs realmente americano. 
 
 Yo me siento impresionado por las mul- 
 tiples riquezas de los Estados Unidos, 
 pero la que raenos me ha seducido entre 
 ellas, es la que estii repreaentada por los 
 excedeutes de la rcnta; esc capital se ha 
 segregado del movimieiito industrial, lo 
 han pagado los productos, perdiendo asi 
 sus facultadesde oambio y su poder circn- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 311 
 
 comraercial powers of circulation and ex- 
 change. It would not be impossible for 
 ns to see those snrplnses forced to go back 
 to their industrial sources through the 
 old channel of the drawbacks. 
 
 I am glad to see that the United States 
 do not believe that the Zollverein fur- 
 nishes the satisfactory answer to which 
 we all aspire ; and I must think that this 
 is really the case because the honorable 
 delegate from the United States, General 
 Henderson, has signed the report of the 
 majority, which rejects the idea. So I 
 find myself with unrestrained freedom, 
 and can oppose it resolutely, without 
 those regards which, had it been indorsed 
 by our northern friend, I would have paid 
 to it. 
 
 The Zollverein would be powerless to 
 increase our exchanges. Up to this mo- 
 ment the farming industry has the lead 
 in the national struggle for wealth in the 
 United States. Manufacturing interests, 
 according to the census of 1880, when 
 compared with the farming industry, only 
 represent 23 per cent. It is clear that the 
 products of agriculture will never Qnd 
 their way towards South America, because 
 our countries raise them in abundance, and 
 export them also. Manufactured com- 
 modities can only be the basis of our ex- 
 changes; and the fact is worthy to bo 
 considered carefully, how the power to 
 bring these commodities into existence 
 hesitates and refrains from action, for 
 fear of overstepping the national neces- 
 sities, apprehending no doubt that when 
 met in a market of free competition they 
 may be defeated. The Zollverein might 
 cause our raw material to be admitted 
 free ; but this is not the only problem 
 which industry has to consider. I beg to 
 be allowed to refer rapidly to what would 
 happen with those commodities more iu 
 circulation in our exchanges ; and I shall 
 not mention any manufactured article of 
 iron or steel, because, although slowly, 
 they have already secured admission in 
 our ports. I must necessarily refer to 
 those articles which do not reach us as 
 yet, and are those which we desire to 
 have. 
 
 Nothing can enjoy more freedom of ad- 
 mission than cotton, which springs up in 
 this country as if it were an efflorescence 
 of the soil. It is raised in wondrous 
 
 latorio en el comercio del mundo ; no seria 
 imposible que la amplia recaudaoidn tu- 
 viera que retrovertir £ila fuente industrial 
 por el viejo condncto de los drawbacks. 
 
 Yo me complazco de que los Estados 
 Unidos no bnsquen en el "Zollverein" la 
 solucidn S, que aspiramos, y debo creer que 
 no sustentan esta idea, toda vez que el 
 Hon. Gral. Henderson ha firmado el dic- 
 tamea do la mayoria reohazaudo el pen- 
 samiento de la Liga; esto me acuerda 
 entera libertad de acci^n para poderla 
 combatir resueltamente, sin las contem- 
 placiones que debiera guardarle, si viniera 
 sosteuida por nnestra amiga del norte. 
 
 El " Zollverein " no tendrfa el poder de 
 acrecentar nuestros cambios ; hasta este 
 memento las industrias agrlcolas dominan 
 el campo de la riqueza nacional de los 
 Estados Unidos, al paso las manufactu- 
 reras representaban en el censo de 1880, 
 un capital de 23 por ciento con relaci6n & 
 las primeras ; ahora bien, las exporta- 
 oiones agrlcolas no se dirigiriin nunca & 
 Sud AmiSrica por que nuestros pafses las 
 produoeu y las exportan & su vez ; son las 
 manufacturas las que entranan el por- 
 venir de nuestros cambios, y es digno de 
 observar como ellas se recogen y se re- 
 traeu, tratando de no salvar la valla de 
 las necesldades naoionales, sin duda por 
 que temen por sns 6xitos en los mercados 
 de libre concurrenoia; el "Zollverein" 
 traeria libres nuestras materias primas, 
 pero no es este el linico problema -i, resolver 
 por las industrias ; voy S. permitirme 
 recordar ligeramente lo que pasa con 
 aquellas que tendrfan mas ciroulaci6n en 
 nuestros cambios ; no tomar6 las fabrica- 
 oiones del fierro y del acero, por que ya 
 logran entrar en nuestras plazas aunque 
 con paso mesnrado ; debo tomar precisa- 
 mente las que no nos Uegan ; son 4stas 
 las que deben preocnparnospara hacerlas 
 llegar. 
 
 El algod6u no puede ser maa libre desde 
 que nace como eflorescencia de este suelo 
 y se produce on una proporcifiu maravi- 
 llosa; sobrclO,000,OOOdebalas quose co- 
 
312 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 qnantities. Ont of 10,000,000 bales raised 
 in the wbolo world, 7,000,000 bales, or 
 3,080,000,000 pounds, are raised in the 
 United States. People might be entitled 
 to think under these circumstances that 
 the United States, being as they are a man- 
 ufacturing country, would flood America 
 and the world with various kinds of that 
 production in manufactured form. And 
 whit do we find to be the case? The 
 fact is that only 1,000,000,000 pounds of 
 cotton are manufactured in this coun- 
 try, while 2,384,000,000 are exported, and 
 taken as raw material to feed tbe manu- 
 facturers of the Old World. And so it 
 is, that while Great Britain sends to 
 Brazil |14, 115,000 worth of cotton goods, 
 the United States sends no more than 
 $665,000, loss still than France, which 
 sends $730,000. The American exports 
 of this article to Venezuela amount in 
 the aggregate to $498,000, while the ex- 
 ports from the United Kingdom amount 
 to $2,636,000 ; and in the Argentine Re- 
 public, against am American importation 
 of the same goods, amounting in the 
 aggregate to half n million of dollars, 
 there is an importation from France 
 amounting to $2,500,000, and another 
 from England representing $8,000,000. 
 In Mexico, where the interchange of this 
 article enjoys the advantage of being 
 made between bordering countries, the 
 imports of cotton goods from the United 
 States only amount to $1,000,000, while 
 those of Great Britain represent $2,500,- 
 000. And to render this phenomenon 
 still less explicable, the Secretary of the 
 Treasury informs us that the New York 
 custom-house has received, in 1889, 
 $27,000,000 worth of cotton goods manu- 
 factured in Europe. 
 
 It might be said, perhaps, that this is 
 an argnpuent against the freedom of ad- 
 mission of the raw material, which I have 
 advocated. But let us turn our eyes 
 elsewhere and rapidly examine what hap- 
 pens with another industry whose raw 
 material is burdened. I refer to woolen 
 goods. 
 
 The exportation of these goods is 
 scarcely worthy to be considered. In 1889 
 it reached $350,000, while in 1880 it had 
 reached $334,009, and, according to the 
 information which I have been able to 
 gather from the books of the Treasury, 
 
 sechan en el mundo, los Estados Unidos 
 producen 7,000,000, 6 sean 3,080,000,000 
 do libras ; habria derecho & esperar quo 
 el pals fabril inunSara & la America y al 
 resto del orbe con el prodncto mannfac- 
 turado. 4 Qu6 sucede entretanto ? Que el 
 mercado nacionol elabora 86I0 1,000,000,- 
 000 do libras, y exporta en bruto 2,384,- 
 000,000 que van & alimentar las fiibricas 
 del viejo mundo; vemos asi que mientras 
 la Gran Bretaua lleva al Brasil $14,115,- 
 000, los Estados Unidos solo iutroducen 
 $665,000, menos«todavIa que la Francia 
 que vende 730,000; en Venezuela sobre la 
 importaci(5n americana de $498,000, hay 
 2,636,000 del Reiuo Unido; en la Repil- 
 blica Argentina sobre medio mill6n ame- 
 ricano, fignran2,500, 000 dollars.deFran ci a, 
 y 8,000,000 do Inglaterra ; en M6jico 
 donde el prodncto tiene la ventaja de 
 cambiarse entre paises fronterizos, los 
 Estados Unidos no llevan sine 1,000,000, 
 por 2,500,000 dollars que introduce la 
 Gran Bretaria, y para que cste fen6meno 
 sea menos explicable aun, el Ministerio 
 del Tesoro nos informa que la aduana do 
 Nueva-York ha recibido en el 89, 27,- 
 000,000 de dollars en tejidos de algod6ri~ 
 raanulacturados en Europa. 
 
 Podria ponsarse que esto argumento es 
 contrario & la libertad de la materia 
 prima, cuyas vontajas lie insinuado, pero 
 voy & analizar ligeraraente lo que ocurre 
 con otra industria que trabaja con mate- 
 rias gravadas ; las manufacturas do lana. 
 
 La exportaci6n de estos tejidos no es 
 de tomarse en cuenta; en 1889 lleg6 & 
 $350,000 sobre $334,000 ix quo lleg6 en 1880 ; 
 y segun datos quo he podido recoger de 
 loslibros del Tesoro, on 1880 la produc- 
 ci6n alcanz<) & $267,252,000; no sabemos 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 313 
 
 tho production in 1888 amnnutcd to 
 $267,252,000. We do not know what 
 figures tho now census will give ns; but 
 it is doubtless that the industry will 
 prove to have increased. Nevertheless, 
 the woolen goods manufactured in tho 
 United States do not go out of tho 
 country, and the European goods of tho 
 same kind come to compote with them in 
 tho territory of the United States. Eu- 
 rope introduced in 1882 $37,000,000 worth 
 of theso goods, and in 1889 the New York 
 cuetom-house received $52,564,000 worth 
 of woolev goods inanufactured iu Europe. 
 While the exportation from the United 
 States of woolen goods has increased iu 
 eight years no more than $16,000, the im- 
 portation of the same from Europe into tho 
 United States has increased $15,000,000. 
 Tliis is shown by statistics which I have 
 before me. It is, therefore, clear that if 
 free raw materia] gives poor results, as 
 shown by the exportation of cotton goods, 
 burdened raw material gives results still 
 worse, since it gives occasion to most 
 discouraging figures, showing the ad- 
 vantages secured by the exportation 
 from Europe. If these invasions of Euro- 
 pean manufactures should respond to defi- 
 ciencies in thenational prod notion of those 
 commodities, no aspiration to export them 
 could be entertained ; because exportation 
 does not grow out of deficits, but out of 
 surpluses. If the phenomenon depends, 
 as it is my opinion and my conviction that 
 it does, upon differences in the cost of pro- 
 duction, tho British, French, German, and 
 Belgian manufactured goods will con- 
 tinue to come to our markets, and to com- 
 pete with those of the United States in 
 tho United States markets, courageously 
 jumping over the protectionist tariff. 
 The preference which we must, and would 
 willingly give, must be founded upon 
 equality of price and quality; as prefer- 
 ence of what costs more is not preference, 
 but sacrifice. Sacrifices are not of usual 
 practice in commerce, even when the 
 purchaser and the purchased article are 
 American. 
 
 The wool grower is protected with a 
 burden of 45 per cent, placed upon the 
 Argentinoproduction, and that 45 per sent, 
 amounts, as I have proved, to 60 per cent. 
 The manufacturer sufl'ors it without re- 
 sistance because ho causes the consumer 
 
 el resultado (xne nos dardi el nnevo censo, 
 pero es indudable que la industria halirii 
 seguido una progresidn creciente ; el pro- 
 dncto, sin embargo, no sale 6, la compc- 
 tencia exterior y la Europa lo combiito 
 dentro do sus propias frontcras; olla in- 
 trodujo en 1882, $37,000,000, y en 1889, 
 la ad nana do Nueva-York ha rocibido 
 $52,504,000 de tejidos de lana maunfactn- 
 rados en Europa ; al paso pnes que la 
 oxportaci(5n de los Estados Unidos ha 
 aumontado en ocho auos solo $10,000, 
 sobre los tejidos de lana, la importaci6u 
 europea S, los Estados Unidos ha aumon- 
 tado en $15,000,000 segun estadlsticas quo 
 he tenido ^ la vista ; se ve por lo tanto 
 que .si la materia libro da un resultado 
 deficiente en la exportaci6n do manufac- 
 turas de algod6n, la materia gravada 
 muestra cifras desconsoladoras, como las 
 que se tradncen en ventajas para las cx- 
 portacionos do la Europa ; si las in vasiones 
 fabriles del viejo mundo representaran 
 deflciencias en la produccidn nacional, no 
 podrfa aspirarse il exportar, por quo la ox- 
 tiortaci6n no nace del deficit, sino del ex- 
 codeute; si el fen6meno respondiera & 
 diferencias do costo de producci6n, como 
 es mi opini6u y mi convencimiento, las 
 fabricaciones inglesas, francesas, alema- 
 nas, y belgas seguir^n visitando nues- 
 trasplazas, como con tinuar^ucompitiendo 
 en los raismos mercados de los Estados 
 Unidos, salvando con desenvoltura el 
 arancel proteccionista ; la preferencia quo 
 debemos y deseamos acordar, puede pro- 
 ducirse sobre igualdad do costo y calidad, 
 pero Uevada sobre lo mas caro, deja de ser 
 preforonoia iiara convertirse en sacrificio, 
 y csta no es pr^ctica do quo abusa el co- 
 mercio, por mas que cl articulo sea ame- 
 ricano y el comprador t.ambien. 
 
 El productordo lana ostii i>rotegido con 
 un 45 por ciento qne llega hasta el 60 con- 
 tra los productoros argentinos ; el fabri- 
 canto paga sin resistencia, porque lo 
 cobra del consumidor y ft su turno goza 
 de una protecci<)n do un 25 por ciento so- 
 
314 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 to pay for it, and because he enjoys also a 
 protection to his industry of 25 per cent. 
 As long as the exchanges are made within 
 the limits of the home market the values 
 are kept in proper relative proportions, 
 and the consumer pays for all. But when 
 the article crosses the frontier and meets 
 its similar sent from Europe, the manu- 
 facturer finds that he has paid 45 per cent, 
 to the producer and feels that the 25 per 
 cent, which protected his industry' does 
 not accompany it. Under these circum- 
 stances competition becomes impossible, 
 and nostalgy for the national tarififs as 
 well as firm resistance by fbreign consum- 
 ers are felt at once. 
 
 We have to find the cause of the ob- 
 struction which affects our commercial 
 interchange in that double protection 
 which increases the expense of reduc- 
 tion by raising the wages, and in the 
 heavy duties which have been levied 
 upon both the raw material and the in- 
 dustries auxiliary to the manufactures. 
 The atmosphere in which the manufact- 
 urer lives, with wages representing an 
 increase of 50 per cent, on the wages paid 
 in Europe, without increasing however 
 the purchasing power of the wages paid, 
 is a prolific source of burden, the impor- 
 tance of which is eloquently shown by 
 the perfection of the mechanisms which 
 are displacing by degrees the hand labor, 
 already reduced by 10 per cent, by the 
 machines. 
 
 Suppose now that through the action 
 of the Zollvereiu the manufacturers of 
 the United States should work our own 
 material imported free from duty, but 
 that the tariff against Europe is left in 
 force. Would the United States succeed 
 in banishing her from our markets, even if 
 we insist upon charging a maximum of 
 10 or 20 or 25 per cent, against her goods ? 
 
 The United States would always have 
 the worst in this struggle, owing to the 
 protection duties which are preserved as 
 against Europe. The scale of prices 
 would be lower, and in entering into our 
 market the article would enjoy as against 
 Europe a difference of 15 or 20 per centum, 
 which she would have to pay us. But 
 what objection would France and Eng- 
 land have to paying this charge, when they 
 now pay for coming here 45 and even 60 
 per cent., and when the American man- 
 
 bre sus manufacturas ; en tanto que lo 
 cambios se producen en el mercado do- 
 m6stico, los valores guardan una relati- 
 vidad proporcional y el consumidor lo 
 paga todo ; pero cuando el artioulo salva 
 las fronteras y tropieza con los similares 
 que ha llevado la Europa, el fabricante 
 se encuentra con el 45 por ciento que ha 
 pagado al productor y siente que no lo 
 acompana el 25 por ciento que protegfa 
 su fd^brica; la compotencia entonces se 
 vuelve imposible, bajo la nostalgia de las 
 tarifas nacionaSes y la firme resistencia de 
 los cousumidores extrangeros. 
 
 La obstrnccidn de nuestros cambios 
 tenemos que encontrarla en esa doble pro- 
 tecci6n que ha encarecido los produotos, 
 elevando los salaries, y en los fuertes 
 derechos ^las materiasprimas, oomo & las 
 accessorias & la fabricacion ; el medio 
 ambiente en que vive el fabricante, con 
 jornales que representan un aumento do 
 un 50 por ciento sobre los europeos, sin 
 aumentar la facultad de comprar en be- 
 neficio del jornal, es una fuente fecunda de 
 recargos y debemos reputarla considera- 
 ble, cuando se hace sentir en forma tan 
 elocuente, al trav6s de Iss perfecciona- 
 mientos mecd^nicos que vienen desalojan- 
 do la herramienta humana, hasta reducir 
 & un 10 por ciento el trabajo del hombre 
 con relacidn al de las mSquinas. 
 
 Sup6ngase ahora que por efecto del 
 " ZoUvereiin " los fabricantes de los 
 Estados Unidos trabajaran con nuestras 
 materias libres, pero dejando subsistentes 
 sus tarifas contra la Europa. j La desa- 
 lojarlan de nuestros mercados, persistien- 
 do nosotros en un maximum de un 10 por 
 ciento, Uev^ndolo 6. un 15, & un 20, S, un 
 25, si se quiere, contra la Europa ? 
 
 Los Estados Unidos estarian siempre 
 perjudicados en la concurrencia por los 
 derechos proteccionistas sostenidos con- 
 tra el otro continente ; la escala de los 
 valores habria descendido un tanto en el 
 preoio del artfculo y al entrar libre & 
 nuestras plazas aventajaria & la Europa 
 en el 15 6 20 por ciento que 6sta tendrla 
 que pagarnos, pero ^ como no lo pagarlan 
 la Francia y la Inglaterra, cuando pene- 
 tran aqui mismo soportando uu 45 y un 
 60 por ciento, y ouando el fabricante 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 316 
 
 nfacturer sell in his stores without 
 freight or insurance. 
 
 In reaching this jioint, I must make 
 some explanations. 
 
 Thehonorahle Delegate from the United 
 States, my particular friend Mr. Flint, 
 has affirmed in a speech with certain of- 
 ficial character, that the 80 per cent, on 
 the articles introduced in (his country 
 through its cnstom-houses is admitted 
 free from duty. I do not discuss the 
 statement ; hut so far, I have failed to 
 discover what he intended to prove by 
 it. Is it, perhaps, that the tariff is 
 1 iberal ? Then the argument would have 
 no weight, as it is evident that the arti 
 cles less burdened, or those which have 
 no burden at all, are the ones introduced. 
 In judging the tariff I look to the aggro- 
 gate of values ; and confining my remarks 
 to the commerce of the American na- 
 tions here represented, I furnish him 
 another fact, set forth in the report of the 
 Treasury, and that is, that on a total of 
 118,000,000 worth of dutiable merchan- 
 dise introduced by the American nations 
 the duties are $10,647,000, which makes 
 the 56 per cent. And looking at South 
 America alone, the result Is still more 
 unfavorable, as on a total of $11,800,000 
 worth of dutiable merchandise intro- 
 duced by her in this country she has 
 to pay $9,355,000, which is about the 
 80 jier cent, on the value. It can be seen, 
 therefore, that the 80 per cent spoken of 
 by Mr. Flint relative to articles on the 
 free list becomes an actual burden of 
 80 per cent, on dutiable merchandise im- 
 ported from South America. 
 
 Snoh are indeed the commercial rela- 
 tions between the Americas of the North 
 and of the South, under which, as it is 
 easy to prove, the latter is made to bear 
 a burden twice as heavy as that which is 
 imposed upon the European commerce, or 
 the commerce in general. On a total of 
 $741,000,000 worth of merchandise in- 
 troduced in the United States $256,000,- 
 000 are free from duty, while $484,866,- 
 1 00 are subject to it. The free list 
 covers 35 per cent., but the balance of 
 65 per cent, is burdened by duties. The 
 revenue accrued amounts in this way to 
 $220,576,000; and thus a burden of 45 
 per cent, results imposed upon dutiable 
 merchandise. This burden, which has 
 
 americano vende en sus tiendas sin fletes 
 ni seguros ? 
 
 Llegado & este pnuto, conviene hacer 
 algnnas aclaraciones. 
 
 El Hon. Delegado de los EstadosUni- 
 dos, mi particular amigo el Sr. Flint, ha 
 aflrmado en un discurso con cierto ca- 
 rScter oficial, que un 80 por ciento de 
 los artlculos que entrau en estas adna- 
 nas se admiten libres de derechos; yo 
 no rectifico el dato, pero ignore hasta esto 
 momento lo que 61 ha querido demostrar. 
 J Es acaso la liberalidad de las tarifas ? 
 El argumento careceria de eficacia porquo 
 es olaro que lo (fie se introduce es lo quo 
 estSl menos gravado, 6 lo que no lo est^ en 
 ningnna forma; yo juzgo las tarifas con 
 relacidn S, los valores, y limitSndonos al 
 comerciode la America aqulrepresentada, 
 lo suministro este otro dato que nos lo 
 ofrece cl Report del Tesoro ; sobre $18,- 
 000,000 que introduce la America sujetos 
 li gravamenes, paga $10,647,000, 6 sea el 
 56 por ciento ; eon relacidn & Sud America, 
 el resultado le es mas deafavorable to- 
 davia, porque sobre $11,800,000 sujetos d 
 irapuestos paga $9,355,000 6 sea casi un 80 
 l)Or ciento del valor ; se ve pues que el 80 
 por ciento de que nos habla el Sr. Flint 
 con relacidn ^ los ai-ticulos libres, se 
 traduce en 80 por ciento de gravamenes 
 sobre los efeotos que entran de Sud Ame- 
 rica sujetos & imposicidn. 
 
 Tales sonlasrelaoiones comerciales dela 
 Amdrica del Sud con la del Norte, perjudi- 
 oadas en el doble de las que pagan las del 
 comercio general d europeo, como es fiioil- 
 probarlo ; 8Obre|741,000,000, entran libres 
 de dereoho 256,000,000 y se gravan 484,866, - 
 000 dollars ; resulta pues que entralibreun 
 35 por ciento, gravSindose un 65 ; la renta 
 llega & 220,576,000 dollars, y entonces 
 hay un impuesto de 45 por ciento sobro 
 los efectos imponibles; este gravamen 
 que no ha side suficiente para detener la 
 Importaoidn europea, niautendrla sobre 
 el costo de produooidn los mismoa incon- 
 venientes que hoy sentimos. El producto 
 seria nn compuesto andrdgino, saldria 
 mitad gravado y mitad libre, pero siempre 
 
316 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 not been sufficient to detain the importa- 
 tion from Europe, would operate as 
 Loavily as it now does on the cost of pro- 
 duction, and would give birth to an an- 
 drogynous creature, half burdened, half 
 free, but always powerless to compete 
 with full liberty. 
 
 I find the unchangeable character of the 
 tariff to be an iusnperable obstacle for our 
 commerce ; and even-if the league ajjonld 
 be willing to make such exceptions as 
 might be consistent with the preserva- 
 tion of the autonomy of the United States 
 custom-houses in regard to Europe, and 
 form a Zollverein with aTgiant's head, the 
 incrense of the interchange would never 
 be obtained. Commercial intercourse 
 never will be strong and robust until pro- 
 tective tariffs yield their place to the ■ 
 maxim of Gauray: laissez fairs, laissez 
 passer. 
 
 In considering the Zollverein under its 
 political aspect, it will be difficult not to 
 see that it involves sacrifices of sover- 
 ereignty not compensated in the least by 
 positive advantages. An international 
 Diet would take the place of thelegislative 
 bodiesof each State, and would fix orregu- 
 lato the customs revenue within each na- 
 tional territory. With us, as in the United 
 States, this power is vested exclusively in 
 the Federal Congress, the genuine repre- 
 rcntative of the delegated sovereignty of 
 the people, and such a constitutional en- 
 actment could never be amended except 
 by a convention of coustitiient character 
 which would take away from the law- 
 makers of the nation such an exalted 
 prerogative. Most of the constitutions 
 of America provide for the exercise of 
 that power through their own Congresses, 
 and we would be confronted by such gen- 
 eral political commotions as might be 
 necessary to call into existence eighteen 
 constituent assemblies, intrusted with the 
 task of amending one and all the funda- 
 mental charters of our countries. Such 
 u, disturbing movement would never find 
 sufficient justification in utopical dreams. 
 
 In the international aspect of the case, 
 the complications would not be less grave. 
 Leagues, when limited, cause their ef- 
 fects to be felt in the general movement 
 of commerce with no more than medi- 
 ocrity; but it is known, however, that 
 differential duties bring forth pernicious 
 
 impoteute para Inchar eon la libertad 
 plenaria. 
 
 Yo encnentro que la inalterabilidad de 
 las tarifas esun obstiiculo insalvable para 
 nuestro comercio, y aun cuando la Liga 
 quisiera hacer excepciones que consul- 
 taran la autqnomfa de las aduanas del 
 Norte con relaoi6n & la Europa, formando 
 un "Zollverein" con cabeza de gigante, 
 no llegarfamos & aumentar el intercam- 
 bio : (Sste nacerS fuerte y robusto, cuando 
 la protecci(5n haya cambiado sua tarifas 
 por el lema de Gaurey : laisaez faire, 
 laissez paaser. 
 
 Considerado el " Zollverein " bajo sn 
 faz polltica ser^ dificil desconocer qne ^1 
 entrana desprendimientos cuantiosos de 
 soberania, que no estarfan coinpensados 
 con ventajas visibles; una Dieta interna- 
 cional se sustituirfa fi los cuerpos legis- 
 latives del Estado, para fijar 6 imponer 
 las rentas adnaneras dentro del territorio 
 nacional; entre nosotros, como en los 
 Estados Unidos, esta facultad reside 
 privativamente en el Congreso Federal, 
 representante genuiuo do la soberanfa 
 delegada por el pueblo; ^ste es un pr.'- 
 copto que estii escrito en la Constitucitfn, 
 y no podria derogarse sin una Asamblea 
 Constitnyento que exonerase de tan alta 
 facnitad al legislador nacional ; la mayor 
 parte de las Constituciones de America 
 derivan este poder de sus misraos cuerpos 
 legislatives, y nos encontrariamos en- 
 tonces con generales conmociones pollti- 
 cas, necesarias para formar diez y ocho 
 constituyentes, ^ efecto de reformar todas 
 y cada nnas de las Cartas fundamenfales 
 qne rigen nuestros pueblos; semejante 
 conmocidn no estaria jnstificada por 
 ensueiios utdpicos. 
 
 En el orden internacional, las complica- 
 ciones no serian menos graves ; las Ligns 
 limitadashacen sentir mediocremeute sns 
 efectos en el movimiento general del co- 
 mercio ; vemos sin embargo, que losdere- 
 chosdiffereucialeshantraidoantagonismos 
 perniciosos denacidu & naci6n ; lo prueban 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMKKICAN CONFKRENCE. 
 
 317 
 
 antagouisms between the natious, as il- 
 lustrated iu our own days by the tariff 
 war between Austria and Koumania, and 
 by the one now happily terminated be- 
 tween Italy and France, which caused 
 the former to approach more closely 
 the sovereign of Alsace and Lorraine. 
 We constitute a factor of the greatest 
 importance in the relations of transat- 
 lantic commerce, reprtsouting iu the ag- 
 gregate $2,700,000,000 and it would bo 
 easy for us to foresee what reprisals 
 Europe would resort to, when she would 
 feel the consequences of a continental 
 blockade, enforced it is true not by ves- 
 sels of war, but by belligerent tariffs. In- 
 stead of nations counected with each 
 other by political bonds, entering into 
 compacts under the inspiration of a na- 
 tional sentiment, war would bo raised be- 
 tween one contineut and another. Eight- 
 een sovereignties would bo seen coales- 
 cing with each other to exclude from the 
 life of commerce that very same Europe 
 who supplies our labor with hands aud 
 assures our economical existence, after 
 having sent to us her civilization, her 
 culture, her sciences, her arts, her indus- 
 tries, aud habits, and all that has com- 
 pleted our sociological evolutions. A di- 
 viding line, which tho action of time 
 w\.uld render indestructible, w^uld have 
 been drawn, if our fragmentary civiliza- 
 tious, so much in need of seeking their 
 complement in the free contact of man- 
 kind, should be shut up. 
 
 Now, I shall pass to discuss the inter- 
 national free trade. I do not understand 
 that this topic has been suggested by the 
 act of iuvitation; audi have hold this 
 view in the committee. Free trade is an 
 economical principle which has nothiu"- 
 to do with a customs union, unless 
 by doing violence to language. Which 
 of the custom-houses will bo united? 
 Those of tho continent ? They disappear 
 with tho free trade. Those which would 
 burden the rest of the commerce? They 
 could not join the league and retain their 
 autonomy, or leave their receipts undis- 
 tributed. No customs union can exist 
 under continental free trade. Custom- 
 houses and free trade are irreconcilable 
 antagonisms. Under the juridical aspect 
 of the question, the difference is not less 
 
 eu uuestros dias la guerrado tarifascutre 
 el Austria y la Eouriiania, y ha concluido 
 felizuiunte la de Italia con Francia, no sin 
 que la primera buscara aproximacioues 
 con el soberano de Alsacia y de Lorcua; 
 pero nosotros constituimos un factor im- 
 portantisimo eu las rclaciones delcomercio 
 trasatlautico, quo ost^n represeutadas por 
 2,700,000,000 de dollars, y es facil antici- 
 parse d las retorcionos de la Europa, cuau- 
 do sintiera los efectos de uu bloqueo 
 continental, sostenido os cicrto, no por 
 buques de guerra, pero si por tarifas 
 beligerantes ; no serian pueblos ligados 
 por vinculos politioos los que iiactarian 
 acuerdos inspirados en un sentimiento 
 nacioual, serfa la guerra deun continente 
 contra otro, diez y ocho sobcranias coali- 
 gadas para excluir de la vida del comercio, 
 £C esa misma Europa que nos tiende la 
 uiauo, nos manda sus brazos y nos com- 
 plemeuta nuestra vida ecoudmica, despues 
 de habernos enviado su civilizaci6n y su 
 cultura, suscienciasy susartes, industrias 
 y costumbres, que ban completado uues- 
 tras evolucioncs socioWgicas ; habriamos 
 interpuesto nu diafragma incomunicante 
 que el tiempo lo harfa indestructible, 
 ouando hubiiSramos encerrado nuestras 
 civilizacione8fragmeutarias,quenecesitan 
 buscar su complemenco en el contacto 
 libro de la humanidad. 
 
 Me ocupar^ ahora del Libre Cambio 
 Intercontinental ; yo no he eutendido que 
 este temperamonto haya side indicado en 
 la convocatoria y he sostenido esta idea 
 en el seno de la Comisi6n ; el libre cambio 
 OS un principio econ6mico, pero sin vio- 
 lentar el leuguaje no puede confundirse 
 con la Liga aduanera. j Cuales serian 
 las Aduauas ligadas? jLas del Conti- 
 nente? Ellas desapareoen con el libre 
 cambio. j Las que gravasen el resto del 
 comercio ? Ellas no formarian Liga desde 
 que conservarau sus autonomlas y no so 
 distribuyerau sus ontradas ; no hay tal 
 Liga aduanera bajo el libre-oambio con- 
 tinental ; aduana y libi-e-cambio son auta- 
 gonismos irreconciliables ; bajo la faz ju- 
 rldica la diferencia no es menos aoentuada ; 
 el libre-oambio puede surgir por la sola 
 
318 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 marked. Free trade can be brought into 
 existence by only the declaration of a 
 Goveruinent, it being therefore an unilat- 
 eral transaction ; bnt the customs union 
 has necessarily to be the result of a con- 
 vention, and is therefore a synallagmatical 
 act. But the committee thought it projjer 
 to discuss this subject and to refute the 
 idea ; and I am forced to state also why 
 I cannot agree with the arguments it had 
 used to reject it. 
 
 It is said that the States could not sub- 
 sist without burdening the inter-conti- 
 nental commerce, and I must correct the 
 statement, as far as it relates to the Argen- 
 tine Republic. I think, however, that 
 many other nations of America are also in 
 her case. Our commerce with the coun- 
 tries of America is extremely limited, and 
 the most important duty which we collect 
 is the one levied on the imports from the 
 United States, which mostly consist of 
 lumber and agricultural impleinents. But 
 lumber only pays a duty of ten per cent., 
 and agricultural implements five per 
 cent. ; and so it can be seen that, under 
 such schedule of duties, neither the rev- 
 nue derived by the Treasury from the 
 importation of those articles, consider- 
 ing the whole importation to amount to 
 110,000,000, exceeds the limits of medi- 
 ocrity, nor could its clisappearance bring 
 with it any disturbance in our econom- 
 ical life, or give occasion to any insuper- 
 able embarassment. The need of those 
 receipts is not therefore, an obstruction 
 for the desired free trade. Nor would it 
 be injurious for the United States, whose 
 surplus of revenue is notorious. I con- 
 fine myself to make this correction with- 
 out passing any opinion upon the idea ; 
 because, as I have said, and repeat it 
 now, inter-continental free trade does 
 not come under the scope of the customs 
 union which we have been recommended 
 to study, and which was mentioned to our 
 Governments, when the act of invitation 
 was transmitted to them. 
 
 It is an error to believe that the 
 field of action of this honorable Confer- 
 ence has no limits, or that it can embrace 
 all the ideas which may suggest them- 
 selves in the course of its debates. The 
 invited Governments responded to the 
 
 declaracidn de un gobierno, coustituyendo 
 uu acto unilateral ; la Liga aduanera 
 seria siempre el resultado de una conven- 
 ci6n y constituirla en todos los casos un 
 acto sinalagm^tico; pero la mayoria do 
 la Comisi6n ha creido conveniente dis- 
 cutirla y hasta refutarla, y me veo obli- 
 gado S, separarme del argnmento que sirve 
 & su rechazo. 
 
 Se ha dicho que los Estados no pedrian 
 subsistir sin los impuestos que gravan al 
 comercio intercontinental; yo dcbo roo- 
 tificar esta aserclon, en lo que se refiere S, 
 la Eepfiblica Argentina, y pienso que 
 muchas otras naoiones de la America es- 
 tarfan habilitadas para acompafiamos; 
 nuestro comercio con los palses de la 
 America es limitadisimo ; el impuesto 
 m&s considerable de que nos privariamos 
 serIa el que recae sobre las importaciones 
 do los Estados Unidos : sua m^ fuertes 
 las constituyen el pino y las m^ilquinas de 
 agrioultura; pero el primero sufre un 
 derecho de 10 por ciento y las segundas 
 solo soportan cinco ; se comprende que 
 con esta escala de gravamenes, resulte 
 bien mediocre la renta que producirfa una 
 importacidn de $10,000,000, ni traeria un 
 desequilibrio en nuestra vida econdmica, 
 ni puede constituir un embarazo insupera- 
 ble ; la necesidad de estas entradas no es 
 pues, una causa de obstrucoidn para el 
 libre-cambio que se busca, como tampoco 
 lo serfa para los Estados Unidos cuyos ex- 
 ceJentes de renta son notoiios ; me limito 
 (J hacer esta rectificaci6u sin pronun- 
 ci arme sobre el fondo de este pensamiento, 
 porque rcpito una vez mas, 61 no forma 
 la Liga cuyo estndio se nos ha encomen- 
 dado y cuyo pensamiento se trasmitid S. 
 nuestros gobiernos con la ley misma de la 
 convocatoria. 
 
 Es un error pensar que el campo de 
 accidn de esta Honorable Conferencia, 
 carece de fronteras, 6 que ellas pueden 
 encerrar todas las ideas que surjan del 
 proceso de sua mismoa debatea; los go- 
 biernos invitados han reapondido S, las 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 319 
 
 notes of the Wasliiugtou foreign office by • 
 sending Delegates, with instructions more 
 or less ample, but always limited to the 
 terms of the invitation and to the sub- 
 jects enumerated in the act of Congress. 
 If any difScultles present tbemsclves 
 growing out of the subjects talien into 
 considerations, new ideas can not be 
 called upon to take the place of the re- 
 jected ones, nor can projects bo multi- 
 plied ad libitum. The Argentine Dele- 
 gates keep themselves within the terms 
 of the invitation. 
 
 I might say the same thing in regard 
 to the reciprocity treaties, if the con- 
 sideration of this subject did not compel 
 me to enter into more ample details. 
 
 The committee has thought that it must 
 advise the negotiation of such treaties, 
 and even has insinuated, as a duty of cour- 
 tesy, that it is necessary for us to recom- 
 mend something. 1 do not understand 
 courtesy, if it overreaches the powers 
 given to us ; and I do not see how I may 
 find myself on a stronger ground in re- 
 placing the Zollverein by reciprocity 
 treaties. 
 
 The committee confines its advice to 
 only those nations which may deem those 
 treaties to be advantageous ; but such a re- 
 striction is useless, as the fact must be 
 taken for granted that no State will 
 enter into any treaty of that kind if it is 
 injurious. On the other hand, even this 
 language of the Committee exceeds, in my 
 opinion, the scope of the Conference. The 
 law which created it had in contempla- 
 tion certain problems and questions 
 afiecting collective interests of the in- 
 vited nations, the Zollverein being one 
 of the subjects to be discussed on con- 
 dition that it should be continental. Can 
 treaties concluded between bordering 
 countries, for the purpose of mutually 
 exchanging their productions, be of any 
 interest to the collection of nalions, 
 or to the Conference? What right can 
 have the nations which wore not parties 
 to such treaties to pass opinion upon 
 their advantages or their disadvantages? 
 Must not the negotiation of said conven- 
 tion be left to the action of the respect- 
 ive Departments of State of each gov- 
 ernment, which are, and not America, the 
 parties interested in their celebration? 
 
 notas do la Caucilleria do Washington, 
 enviando delegados con instruccionesmiiH 
 6 menos cxtensas, pero limitadas siempre 
 d los tdrminos de la invitaoi6n y & los 
 asuntos enumerados en la ley ; pero no es 
 posible sustituir pensamientos y inultii)li- 
 car proycctos & modida que nacen diti- 
 cultadea sobro los quo se tuvieron en 
 vista, y los delegados argeutinos so suje- 
 tan 6i\os tdrminos de. la invitaci6n. 
 
 Otro tanto podria decir'de losTratados 
 de Reciprocidad, si este asunto no me 
 obligara & mayores ampliaciones. 
 
 La Comisi^n ha ponsado que debe 
 aconsejarlos y hasta se ha insinuado 
 como deber de cortcsia, la necesidad de 
 aconsejar alguna cosa ; yo no entiendo 
 una cortesfa que extralimita poderes y 
 no me sentiria colocado dentro de ellos, 
 oontestando al "Zollverein" con los 
 Tratados de reciprocidad. 
 
 La Comisi6n limita su consejo & las ua- 
 ciones & quienes el temperamento les con- 
 venga, liraitacifin innecesaria porque es 
 entendidoqueEstadoalgunoloscelebraria 
 en su perj uicio ; pero es que esa fdrmula de 
 la Comisicin, escapa, en mi concepto, S, la 
 accifin misma de la Conferencia; )a ley 
 que le di6 vida tuvo en vista problemas 
 y cuestiones que interesaban a la colec- 
 tividad de las nacioues, el "Zollverein" 
 fu6 una de ellas S. condici6n de ser con- 
 tinental ; pero los Tratados que celebren 
 pafses limltrofes para cambiarse sus 
 productos, J interesan acaso & la colecti- 
 vidad, y i la Conferencia misma? jA 
 qu6 titulo las nacioues que no son parte 
 en los Tratados, vendrfan & pronunciarso 
 sobre sus ventajas 6 sus inconvenientes ? 
 4 No deb en librarse esas convenciones & 
 laacoi6n propia de las Cancillerias, desde 
 que son ellas y no la America las intere- 
 sadas en su celebraci6n ? Yo eomprendo 
 loe votes generosos del continente, cuaudo 
 se trata de prevenir una contienda eutre 
 nacioues hermau as, me oxplico los sen- 
 timientos nacidos de la filantropfa y del 
 deber humauitario, pero estas declara- 
 ciones ofioiosas, aconsejando regimenes 
 
320 
 
 IHTEENATIONAIi AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 I understand that the geuei'ous voice of 
 the continent can bo heard for prevent- 
 ing a stragglo between sister nations. 
 I can explain a sentiment growing out 
 of philanthropy and humanitarian duty; 
 but olHcious decliirations and advice to 
 our Governments, recommending them to 
 do what exclusively belongs to their own 
 individual sphere of action, lowers in my 
 opiulon, the lofty purposes of this honor- 
 able Conference. 
 
 I do not mean to say by this that the 
 Argentine Republic rejects these treaties. 
 It is not improper, however, in dealiug 
 with this subject, to refer to antecedents 
 which are on record in the Department of 
 State of this Government. 
 
 Twenty years ago the Argentine Gov- 
 ernment addressed the Government of 
 Washington and proposed the negotia- 
 tion of a treaty exactly of the same kind 
 as those now recommended to America by 
 the Committee, and I will allow myself to 
 read the answer which Mr. Hamilton 
 Fish, the Secretary of State in 1870, gave 
 to the proposition : 
 
 "These treaties are not in conformity 
 with the usual policy of the United States. 
 To fix the duties to be paid on foreign 
 merchandise may be advisable at the time 
 in which the treaty is made ; but exactly 
 the contrary may happen at the expira- 
 tion of the lime stipulated in the com- 
 pact. The United States have treaties 
 with many other Governments, aud these 
 Governments would have the right to 
 • claim for their merchandise the same 
 tariff as suggested in the draft of the 
 treaty proposed by the Argentine Repub- 
 lic. The constitutionality of the act is 
 furthermore very questionable, because 
 the di'tcrmination of these duties belongs 
 not to the treaty-making power but to the 
 Federal Congress.'' 
 
 I have no reason to believe that the 
 Government of the United States has 
 changed its mind upon the subject or 
 modiCed its financial policy ; because, if 
 it is true that a treaty aO, referendum was 
 concluded with Mexico, it h.as not yet re- 
 ceived the approval of the Federal Con- 
 gress ; aud if another treaty was con- 
 cluded with San Domingo it was rejected 
 by the same power. It is easy to jjer- 
 ceive that such precedents as those 
 
 comerciales qno son privativos de la 
 acoKiu de los Gobicruos, abate los altos 
 fines do esta Honorable Conferoucia. 
 
 No quiero decir con esto que la Repti- 
 blica Argentina rechaza los Tratados, pero 
 conviene con 8ste motive recordar aute- 
 cedentes cnya oonstancia debe estar ar- 
 chivada en este Ministerio de Estado. 
 
 Hace veinte aiios que el Gobierno Ar- 
 gentine se dirigiii al Gabinete de Wash- 
 ington proponiiSndole la celebraci6n de 
 estos Tratados que la Corai8i6n reco- 
 mienda hoy 6. la America, y voy & permi- 
 tirme leer la oontestaci6n del Sr. Hamil- 
 ton Fish, Secretario de Estado en 1870. 
 
 " Los Tratados no estSiu en conformidad 
 con la politica usual do los Estados 
 Unidos," decia : " fijar los dereehos sobro 
 raercaderias extrangeras, puede ser cou- 
 veniente al tiempo de celebrar el arreglo, 
 pero puede tambien resultar todo lo con- 
 trario, antes de la expiraci6n del t<Srmino 
 fijado en el oonvenio ; los Estados Unidos 
 tienen tratados con muchos otros Gobier- 
 nos, y estos tendrlan el derecho de recla- 
 mar para sus importaciones, tarifas 
 iguales & las del tratado propuesto por el 
 Gobierno Argentino ; la eonstituciouali- 
 dad misma de este precedente seria muy 
 cuestionable, por cnanto es el Congreso 
 Federal y no el tratado quien debe de- 
 terminar estos impnestos." 
 
 No tengo motives para creer que el 
 Gobierno do los Estados Unidos haya 
 oambiado su politica eco!i6mica ; si bien 
 es cierto que M(Sjioo tieno oolebrado un 
 tratado "ad referendum", <51 no ha roci- 
 bido hasta este memento la aprobaci<5n 
 del Congreso Federal, y el que se celebr'5 
 con Santo Domingo fu6 rechazado por el 
 mismo Podor ; se explicarit pues que con 
 anteoedentes como los que reeuerdo, per- 
 ciba pocas esperanzas en los medios quo 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 321 
 
 wliioli I have just remembered are 
 not calculated to allow me to enter- 
 tain any great hopes as to the suc- 
 cess of the measure which the Com- 
 mittee recommends. But I shall repeat 
 it once more, the Argentine Republic will 
 pass her opinion on the subject, either 
 when called upon to do so by a friendly 
 nation, or when she, by her own move- 
 ment, decides to initiate the negotiation. 
 It is a matter which solely belongs to her 
 foreign office. 
 
 The truth is that our exchanges with 
 the United States admit of some remarks 
 which can be made in a spirit both 
 equitable and friendly. Our wools, the 
 most considerable article of the Argen- 
 tine production, find themselves in this 
 country at a great disadvantage, when 
 compared with that they hold in the rest 
 of the producing markets. The duty 
 which they pay has been fixed by the 
 United States both upon the weight, and 
 ad valorem, and at the rate of 10 cents 
 per pound and 11 per cent, on the total 
 value when the cost of the article in the 
 port of embarkation does not exceeds 32 
 cents, lint our wools are heavy ; 100 
 pounds of uncleaped wool from the Ar- 
 gentine Republic yield 30 per cent, to 
 the mannfactnrer, while the yielding of 
 the Australian wools reaches 50 per cent. 
 As both have paid the same duty the tariff 
 becomes not only differential, but prohibi- 
 tive for the Argentine wool. It causes 30 
 pounds of our cleaned wool to be burdened 
 with duties which were assessed for 100. 
 If the Australian wools pay a duty of 45 
 per cent, and ours pay 60 per cent, it is 
 clear that owing to this burden which 
 weighs upon the manufacturer of the 
 United States, woolen goods can not 
 reach our shores. And this alone ex- 
 plains the reason why our commerce 
 with this country finds itself in 
 such a depressed condition. Our prod- 
 ucts have to dash against a custom 
 house whose doors are closed to us 
 although open to Great Britain. It 
 is hardly presumable, although not 
 impossible, for these facts to have 
 been passed over unnoticed by the 
 Department of the Treasury. But the 
 Argentine Republic occupies the first 
 rank, together with Australia, in the 
 production of the world, and she has ob- 
 21 I C 
 
 la ComisiCin propone, pero repito una vez 
 mas, la Repflblica Argentina se x)ronun- 
 ciaril sobre este punto, cuando fuero re- 
 querida por las nacioues amigas, ella 
 resuelva iniciar la invitaci6n ; es asunto 
 de sii Caucilleria. 
 
 La vordad es que nnestros cambios con 
 los Estados Unidos sugieren observaciones 
 que pudieran presentarse con un esplritu 
 equitativo y amistoso; nuestras lanas 
 que formau el artlculo mds considerable 
 de la producci<5n argentina se encuentran 
 en una situacidn dcsventajosa en relacidn 
 & las del resto de los mercadoa produc- 
 tores ; el impuesto lo han tijado los Es- 
 tados Unidos al peso y aA valorem, y en 
 raz6n de diez centavos por libra, y once 
 por ciento sobre el valor total cuyo oosto 
 no exceda, en el puerto de embarqne, do 
 32 centavos por libra ; pero.uuestras lanas 
 son pesadas, 100 libras de lana sucia de 
 la Repdblica Argentina dan al fabricante 
 nu rendimiento de 30 por ciento, al paso 
 que las australianas le dan 50, y sin em- 
 bargo han pagado igual derecho ; la tarifa 
 es pues diferencial y se vuelve prohibitiva 
 contra la Republica Argentina porque 
 resulta que 30 libras de uuestro lana 
 limpia han soportado derechos relatives 
 & 100 ; si pues las lanas de Australia 
 pagan uu derecho de 45 por ciento, las 
 nuestras pagan un 60 por ciento ; se com- 
 prende que con este gravamen impuesto 
 al fabricante de los Estados Unidos, las 
 manufaoturas de lana no lleguen & nues- 
 tras plazas, y se explica que nuestro 
 comercio con este pals se encuentre 
 tan deprimido, desde que nnestros pro- 
 ductos se estrellan en una aduana clausn- 
 rada, que estii abierta sin enjbargo para la 
 Gran Bretafia ; es posible que estos heohos 
 pason desapercibidos al Ministerio del 
 Tcsoro ; cu^stame creerlo, sin embargo, 
 toda vez que la Reptiblica Argentina 
 ocupa el primer range con la Australia 
 en la produccifin del mundo, y en la Ex- 
 posici6n Universal de Paris ha conquis- 
 tado 112 premios sobre 188 que se acorda- 
 ron en coucurso ; contando en sus pra- 
 deras con 96,000,000 de oabezas lanares 
 
322 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 tained in the Universal Exhibition at 
 Paris one hundred and twelve prizes out 
 of the one hundred and eighty-eight which 
 were awarded there. She feeds on her 
 prairies 96,000,000 sheep, whUe Australia 
 has only 88,000,000, and the United States 
 44,000,000. 
 
 I am not making the defense of an ar- 
 ticle which now all the manufacturing 
 markets vie with each other to secure. I 
 only remark that_its rejection is not justi- 
 fied by the profi.t obtained under the sys- 
 tem of protection by the national wool- 
 growers. It has been of little profit in- 
 deed for the wool-growers of Ohio and of 
 the West, who in 1885 appear to have 
 raised 50,000,000 sheep, while in 1887 this 
 number was reduced to 44,000,000, which 
 represents a decrease of 6,000,000 in two 
 years. It has not happened the same to 
 the wool-growers of Australia and the 
 Cape of Good Hope, who have taken ad- 
 vantage of the protection afforded them 
 by the American tariff against the Argen- 
 tine wools. 
 
 It is curious to observe how the report 
 of the committee, such as formulated, ad- 
 vising reciprocity, might be construed in 
 a way entirely antagonistic to the com- 
 mercial relations which it was called upon 
 to promote. The committee recommends 
 the principle of reciprocity to be carried 
 out by means of treaties ; but reciprocity 
 can be obtained also by reforms in the 
 tariff, and in this case the recommenda- 
 tion would prove to be contra produeentem. 
 If the Argentine Government should 
 burden the American timber, machinery, 
 and petroleum with the same 60 per cent, 
 with which the Argentine articles are 
 burdened in the United States, would this 
 not be reciprocity as recommended by the 
 committee ? If the McKinley bill could 
 ever acquire naturalization under our 
 laws, would not its adoption be, under 
 the practices of international commerce, 
 an act of reciprocity t 
 
 My honorable colleagues may answer 
 that the reciprocity recommended by 
 them is by means of treaties ; but treaties 
 are only a modua faoiendi, which neither 
 changes nor transforms the principle 
 which imposes itself through a free tariff 
 enacted by the nations. 
 
 There is something more to say. If my 
 information is not incorrect, the Commit- 
 
 sobre 88,000,000 que se le dan S, la Aus- 
 tralia, y 44,000,000 que tienen losEstados 
 Unidos. 
 
 Yo no hago la defensa de un prodncto 
 que hoy se lo disputau todoslos mercados 
 fabriles, observo si, que su rechazo no 
 est^ justificado por las conveniencias que 
 ban alcanzado bajo la proteccidn los cria- 
 dores de lan^ poco lo han aprovechado 
 en efecto los criadores de Ohio y del Oeste; 
 en 1885 figuraban en los Estados Unidos 
 50,000,000 de cabezas lanares, que en el 
 '87 se reducen i, 44,000,000, 6 sea una 
 diminucifin de 6,000,000 en dos afios ; no 
 ha pasado lo mismo ^ los criadores de 
 Australia y Cabo de Buena Esperanza 
 que han utilizado las ventajas que les 
 dan las tarifas americanas contra las 
 lanas argentinas. 
 
 Es ourioso observar como el dictamen 
 que la Comisidn formula aconsejando el 
 principio de la reciprocidad, podrfa ser 
 perfectamente contrario & las relaciones 
 comerciales que fn6 encargada de estu- 
 diar; ella aconseja la adopci(5n de este 
 principo por medio de tratados; pero 61 
 puede nacer de los tratados como tambien 
 de las tarifas antdnomas, y en ese caso se 
 vol verla contraproducente ; si el Gobierno 
 Argentino gravara el pino americano, las 
 raaquinarias y el petroleo con el 60 por 
 ciento con que se gravan sus productos 
 en los Estados Unidos; i no serf a este el 
 principio de reciprocidad que la Comisidn 
 nos recomienda T Si el Bill McKinley 
 pndiera tomar carta de cindadania bajo 
 nuestras leyes, ^ no seria reciprocidad 
 tambien, en las pr^ticas del comercio 
 internacionalt 
 
 Mis honorables colegas contestariin 
 que la reciprocidad la recomiendan por 
 medio de tratados; pero los tratados son 
 el modus faoiendi, ellos no atacan ni 
 transforman el principio cuando €1 se 
 impone por las tarifas libres qne se da 
 cada nacidn. 
 
 Hay algo mas ; si mis informes no son 
 equivocados, la Comisidn de Medios y 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 323 
 
 tee of Ways and Means of the House of 
 Representatives of the United States is 
 now studyiog, at the request of the wool- 
 growers, some plan of imposing further 
 and heavier duties on our products. Will 
 the Committee insist upon the recom- 
 mendation of its report? If the duties 
 already imposed are differential and pro- 
 hibitive, as I have shown, what would he 
 the result of strict reciprocity? The 
 Committee recommends a principle which 
 may easily lead to retortion ; and I should 
 not like to listen to it or apply it in the 
 practices of our commerce. 
 
 I regret to have dwelt at such an extent 
 upon a matter which becomes rather deli- 
 cate; but the report of the majority of 
 the committee brought us to this ground, 
 and we could not avoid it. 
 
 The answer of the United States has 
 been conclusive for the Government of 
 the Argentine Republic. They will con- 
 tinue to favor the products of Oceanica 
 and Southern Africa in spite of the liber- 
 ality of our laws, which have caused their 
 commerce, in relation to ours, to be 
 doubled. It is, therefore, explicable that 
 the delegation, in whose name I have the 
 honor to speak, entertains little hope that 
 the doors, which have been closed so 
 firmly against its country, will ever be 
 open to it. Nothing is left to it but to 
 declare that the Argentine custom-houses 
 shall continue such as they are at present, 
 frank and open for this continent as for 
 the rest of the world, and to state, in com- 
 pliance with its instructions, that it does 
 not reject the idea of making treaties, but 
 abstains from recommending the negoti- 
 ation thereof, on the ground that mere 
 advices are not needed by commerce. 
 
 I have terminated my official duties. 
 
 Permit me now to make a most personal 
 declaration. Let no one see in what I have 
 said anything different from considera- 
 tions of fraternal affection towards all the 
 nations and governments of this continent. 
 If the impression is left on any one that the 
 feelings of my heart have been debilitated, 
 let him be convinced of his error. I do 
 not lack affection or love for America; 
 but I lack ingratitude or distrust towards 
 Europe. I do not forget that Spain, our 
 mother, is there, and that she witnesses 
 with earnest rejoicing the development of 
 
 Abitrios est^ discutiendo nnevos y mas 
 fuertes derechos sobre nuestros produc- 
 tos & solicitud de los criadores j Insistir^ 
 la Comisi6n en aconsejarnos su dicta- 
 men ? Si los primeros derechos eran 
 diferenciales, y los repute prohibitivos 
 para la Repiiblica Argentina j cual seria 
 el resultado de una estricta reciprocidad ? 
 La Comisifin nos recomienda un princi- 
 pio que puede fatalmente encaminarnos 
 &, la retoroi6n, que no quisi^ramos esou- 
 char ni sentir en las prdcticas de nuestro 
 comercio. 
 
 Yo deplore haberme estendido sobre 
 materia que se vuelve espinosa, pero el 
 dictamen de la mayoria, nos trae & este 
 terrene y no podemos elndirlo. 
 
 La respuesta de los Estados Unidos ha 
 side terminante para el Gobierno Argen- 
 tine ; ellos segnirSn favoreoiendo las im- 
 portaciones de Oceania y del Sud del Afri- 
 ca, no obstante la liberalidad de nuestras 
 leyes que les han permitido duplicar su 
 comercio con relaci6n al nuestro; se ex-- 
 plica pues que la Delegacidn en cuyo 
 nombre tengo el honor de hablar, no 
 cueute con abrir puertas que le han sido 
 firmemente cerradas ; ella se limita & de- 
 clarar, que sus aduanas continnar^n inal- 
 terables y francas para este continente, 
 como para el resto del mundo, agregando 
 en curaplimiento de sus instrucciones, 
 que no rechaza la, posibilidad de hacer 
 tratados, si bien se abstiene de recomen- 
 darlos, porque no son consejos los que el 
 comercio necesita. 
 
 He terminado mis deberes oficiales. 
 
 Permitaseme ahora una declaracidn 
 personallsima ; no se mire en lo que he 
 expuesto sine consideraciones de fraternal 
 afecto para todos los pueblos y gobiernos 
 de este continente ; si alguien ha creido 
 ver debilitados en mi espiritu aqnellos 
 sentimientoSjdebeconvencersedesu error: 
 no me faltan afeociones ni amor para la 
 America, me faltan desoonfianzas 6 in- 
 gratitud para la Europa; yo no olvido 
 que alll se encuentra EspaQa nuestra 
 madre,contemplando con francos regooijos 
 el desenvolvimiento de sus viejos dominios 
 
324 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 her ancient dominions through the a'-tion 
 of the manly and generous people who in- 
 herited her blood. I do not forget that 
 Italj', our friend, and France, our sister, 
 who by the effigy of a goddess illuminates 
 the waters of the harbor of New Yoik and 
 links the coutinent called free, by way of 
 euiineuce, with the free section of demo- 
 cratic Europe, which congregates the 
 world in the camp of Mars and paves the 
 way, by her example of liberty, for the 
 future republics of the Old World, are also 
 there. 
 
 I think that sociological laws lead the 
 nations to representative forms of govern- 
 ment, as economical laws lead to free 
 trade. The nineteenth century has put 
 us in possession of our political rights, 
 and affirmed those which our eldest sister 
 brought with her, and succeeded in main- 
 taining through a struggle worthy of her 
 sovereignty. Ijet the twentieth century, 
 already called by many the century of 
 America, contemplate free exchange be- 
 tween us and all the nations of the earth, 
 and be a witness to the noble duel to be 
 fought by free labor, in which it has been 
 said with reason that God measures the 
 ground, equalizes the weapons, and evenly 
 divides the light. 
 
 Let America be for humanity ! " 
 
 Mr. Zegarba, a Delegate from Peru and 
 First Vice-President, having arrived be- 
 fore Mr. Saenz Pefia had finished speak- 
 ing, Mr. Velarde requested him to take 
 the chair. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 then requested the floor and spoke as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 The Committee on "Customs Union" 
 thinks unanimously that this union is 
 not practicable; but it is divided with 
 regard to what should be the subject for 
 recommendation by the Conference, the 
 majority being of the opinion that the 
 negotiation of reciprocity treaties would 
 be advisable, while the minority, which 
 includes the Delegate from Chili, believes 
 that the committee shonld report only 
 that the customs union is not practica- 
 ble, lu this sense he lias signed, together 
 with the honorable Delegate from the 
 Argentine Republic, the report of the mi- 
 nority. 
 
 bajo la accidn de pueblos generosos y 
 viriles que heredaron su sangre ; que 
 allf est^ la Italia, nuestra amiga, y la 
 Francia, nuestrj. hermanaj que ilumina 
 con cfijie de Diosa las aguas de Nueva- 
 York, rielando el continente libre por ex- 
 celencia con el pedazo libre de la Europa 
 dem6cratica, que acaba de congregar el 
 orbe en el Campo de Marte, jjara con- 
 taminar con el ejemplo de la libertad, las 
 f uturas reptiblicas del viejo mando. 
 
 Yo pienso que la ley sociol<5gica enca- 
 mina los pueblos al gobiemo representa- 
 tive, como la economia contemporanea 
 dirige las sociedades S, la libertad de los 
 cambios ; el siglo XIX nos ha dado pose- 
 sidn de nuestros derechos pollticos, con- 
 lirmando los que trajo nnestra hermana 
 mayor despues de luohas dignaa de su 
 soberania ; que el siglo de la America, 
 como ha dado en llamarse al siglo XX 
 contemple nuestros cambios francos con 
 todos los pueblos de la tierra, atestiguando 
 el duelo noble del trabajo libre en que so 
 ha dicho con raz6u, que Dies mide el ter- 
 rene, iguala las armas y reparte la luz. 
 
 i Sea la America para la humanidad ! " 
 
 Antes de terminarse elanterior discurso, 
 habi^ndose presentado en la sala el Se&or 
 Zegarra, delegado por el Porli, y primer 
 Vicepresidente, el Sefior Velarde le sn- 
 plic6 que ocupase la presidencia. 
 
 El SeEor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 sucedi6 al Senor Saenz Pefia en el nso de 
 la palabra, y pronuncid el siguiente 
 discurso : 
 
 " La Comisi6n Adnanera ha estado nn^- 
 nime al considerar que esta Uni(5n no es 
 practicable. Se ha dividido al proponer 
 lo que debe ser materia de recomenda- 
 ci(3n por parte de la Conferencia, opinan- 
 do la mayorla que debe aconsejarse la 
 ci'ljbracidn de tratados de reciprocidad, 
 y creyendo la minorla, en la que figura el 
 delegado de Chile, que la Comisidn debia 
 limitarse S, decir que la Unidn Aduanera 
 no es practicable. En este sentido ha 
 suscrito, en compa&ia con el honorable 
 delegado de la Repiiblica Argentina ol 
 informe de minorla. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 325 
 
 Their reasons for this action are of two 
 kinds, and will be now briefly stated. 
 
 First, the Committee has been charged 
 to stady the convenience and possibility 
 of establishing an American customs 
 union, and not of negotiating reciprocity 
 treaties between nations. These treaties 
 may certainly bear some relation to the 
 customs union ; but there are some other 
 subjects that may bear exactly the same 
 relation to it, and this fact would not lead 
 the Delegate from Chili to consider them 
 as a subject for the report of the commit- 
 tee. Besides, although some reciprocity 
 treaties may prepare the way for the 
 union, others may become an insurmount- 
 able obstacle to its establishment. At 
 all events it is evident that the commit- 
 tee has been charged with the study of 
 the customs union, and since it acknowl- 
 edges that it is not practicable, it can not 
 recommend any otter subjects more or 
 less connected with the union. In the 
 judgment of the Delegate from Chili, this 
 is a, delicate and important point, on 
 which, in his belief, the committee should 
 strictly confine itself to its charge. 
 
 Secondly. And this is a weightier reason 
 than the preceding one, the Conference has 
 been convened to discuss subjects of com- 
 mon interest to the nations here repre- 
 sented. The reciprocity treaties that can 
 be negotiated betweenthese nations do not 
 fall within the programme of the Confer- 
 ence. They are private national matters, 
 which each State, in the exercise of its 
 exclusive sovereignty, will attend to, 
 and which consequently are foreign to 
 the International Conference. And in 
 order to show that this remark is well 
 founded, it must be stated that, not- 
 withstanding the vote of the Delegate 
 from Chili in opposition to the recom- 
 mendation of reciprocity treaties, his 
 Government will or will not negotiate 
 them, guided by circumstances, and be- 
 ing governed by the interests of the 
 country. This means, that whether such 
 recommendation is or is not made, the sit- 
 uation will in both cases remain the same 
 for the nations represented in this Con- 
 ference, whose purpose is not to advise 
 upon the expediency of such acts as are 
 ecusideredasappertainftigtotbcexclnsire 
 
 Los motives determinantes de eata con- 
 duota son de dos esp'-cies y van & ser 
 sucintamente expresados. 
 
 En primer Ingar, la Comisifin ba side 
 encargada de estudiar la conveniencia y 
 posibilidad del estableoimiento do una 
 Uni6n Aduanera Americana, y no de tra- 
 tados de reciprocidad entre naoidn y na- 
 ci6n. Estos tratados, es cierto, pneden 
 tener relacionos y puntos de contato con la 
 Uni6n Aduanera, pero hay otras materias 
 que pnedeu encontrarse en id^ntico caso, 
 y esta cirounstancia no autorizaria, S, jui- 
 cio del Delegado de Chile, para hacerlas 
 objeto de informe de la Coniisi6n. 
 Ademas, asi como es posible-que unos tra- 
 tados de reciprocidad preparen la ITni6n, 
 otros puedeu constitnir nn obst^culo in- 
 superable para su estableoimiento. En 
 todo caso, lo que es evidente es que la 
 Comisidu ha recibido el encargo de estu- 
 diar la Uni(5n Aduanera, y no puede pro- 
 poner, desde que reconoce que no es prac- 
 ticable, la recomendaci<!n de otras mate- 
 rias mas 6 menos conoxionadas con ella. 
 A juicio del Delegado de Chile, este punto 
 es iraportanto y delicado, creyendo que la 
 Comisifiu debe circunscribirse ostricta- 
 mente al objeto de su mandate. 
 
 En segundo lugar, y esfa consideraci6n 
 tiene ann mas peso que la precedente : la 
 Confereuoia ha sido convocada para ocn- 
 parse de un aaunto de interns comlin para 
 los Estados que la oomponen. Los trata- 
 dos de reciprocidad que uno de ellos 
 puede celebrar con otros no se euouentran 
 en esta condici6n, constituyen negocios de 
 su interns peculiar, que cada uno de ellos 
 vera, em el ejercicio de sii soberania pri- 
 vativa, si le conviene ajustar 6 no, lo cual 
 es evidentemente extrauo H la Couferen- 
 cia Internacional. Y para que se vea 
 cuan fundada es esta observaci<5n, debe 
 advertirse quo, no obstante el veto (Jel 
 Delegado de Chile, contrario di la reco- 
 mendacidii de los tratados de reciprocidad, 
 su Gobierno los celebrarSi 6 no, segnn las 
 circunstancias, segun lo crea 6 no conve- 
 niente, S, los intereses de la naci6u. Esto 
 manifiesta que, ya se haga 6 no la reco- 
 mendacidn, la situacidn es en ambos casos 
 una misma para las naciones representa- 
 das en la Conferencia, la cual no ha teni- 
 do por misidn aoonsejar la conveniencia 
 de actos de soberania privativos de un 
 p.als en sns relaciones con otro. 
 
326 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 sovereignly of one country in its relations 
 with another. 
 
 The Delegate from Chili would cer- 
 tainly not have raised any objection, if 
 the committee would have confined itself 
 to speak of this subject, when stating 
 the reasons on which the report is based. 
 The preface of the report could allow of 
 a general exposition of this, or any other 
 similar subject, provided that the con- 
 clusion had expressed simply the conclu- 
 sion reached as to the establishment of 
 the customs union, the sole point about 
 which the committee should report.'' 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, moved that the discussion be 
 suspended in order that the above 
 speeches might be translated in extenso 
 for the full information of the United 
 States Delegation. 
 
 After some discussion on the matter, in 
 ■which Messrs. Guzman, Alfonso, Velarde, 
 Valente, Henderson, and Quintana took 
 part, the understanding was reached that 
 it would be better to wait until all the 
 Spanish American Delegates who desired 
 to speak should have expressed them- 
 selves, and then to have the whole debate 
 translated for the use of the United 
 States Delegation. 
 
 Mr. ROMBBO, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 and a signatary of the majority report 
 of the committee, spoke in support of 
 that report as follows : 
 
 With the object of saving time, and 
 though unprepared, not knowing what 
 might be said in the debate, I take the floor 
 in the name of the majority of the Com- 
 mittee, to offer some explanation which, 
 as to form, will be in every way inferior 
 to the elegant discourse of the honorable 
 Delegate from the Argentine Republic, 
 and to the phrases read by the honorable 
 Delegate from Chili; there being a fur- 
 ther difficulty in the fact that I am at 
 this moment troubled by a severe cold 
 and something of a fever, which much 
 impede me iu making the explanations 
 which I wish to offer on behalf of the 
 majority of the Committee on customs 
 union. 
 
 Let me begin by stating that the act 
 under which the Conference has been con- 
 voked, provides, in its second section, for 
 the consideration of " measures toward the 
 
 Que en los considerandoa del iuforme 
 se hubieran hecho alusiones & los trata- 
 dos de reciprocidad, seguramente no ha- 
 bria levantado objecifin de parte del Dele- 
 gado de Chile. El pre^mbulo del infor- 
 me podia permitir la apreclacidn general 
 de esta materia 6 de otras parecidas, siem- 
 pre que la conclusion se hubiera con- 
 cretado ^ expresar el juicio que sugeria el 
 establecimieoto de la Uni6n Aduanera, 
 finioo aoerca del' cual la Comisidn debia 
 pronunciarse." 
 
 El Seuor Martinez Silva, delegado por 
 Colombia, hizo mocidn para que se sus- 
 pendiese la discusidu hasta que los ante- 
 riores disoursos se tradujeseu on su tota- 
 lidad, para que la Delegacidn de los 
 Estados Unidos pudiese couocerlos en to- 
 dos sus detalles : y despues de detenida 
 discusidn sobre el pnnto, en que tomaron 
 parte los Senores Guzman, Alfonso, Ve- 
 larde, Valente, Henderson y Quintana, so 
 Uegd i la inteligencia de que era mejor 
 esperar S, que hubieseu hecho uso de la 
 palabra los dem^ Senores delegados his- 
 pano-americanos que lo desearan, y oomu- 
 nicar entonces integra S, la delegaci6u 
 americana la traduccidn de todo lo dicho. 
 
 El Senor Romero, delegado por Me- 
 xico, y uno de los firmantes del dict^men 
 de la mayoria de la Comisi6n, tom6 la 
 palabra en defensa de dicho dictimen, 
 expres^ndose en los siguientes t€rminos : 
 
 Con objeto de abreviartiempo y sinestar 
 preparado, porque no tenia noticia de lo 
 que se acaba de manifestar en el debate, 
 tomo la palabra & nombre de la mayoria 
 de la Comisidn para dar alganas expli- 
 caciones que en caanto S, su forma ser^n, 
 bajos todos conceptos, muy inferiores al 
 elegante discurso del honorable Sr. Dele- 
 gado por la Repriblica Argentina y ^ las 
 frases que ha leido el Sr. Delegado de 
 Chile. Agr(Sgase tambien la circunstancia 
 de que en estos momcntos sufro de un 
 catarro fuerte y algo de fiebre, lo cual me 
 hace muoho mas diffcil dar las esplicacio- 
 ues que me propongo, en nombre de la 
 mayoria de la Comisidn de Union Adua- 
 nera. 
 
 Comenzard manifestando que la ley en 
 virtud de la cual esta Conferencia se 
 h£i reunido, euumera en su artlctilo se- 
 gundo ladiscusidnde "medidas encamina- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 327 
 
 formation of an American customs union, 
 under which the trade of the American 
 nations with each other shall, so far as 
 possible and profitable, be promoted." 
 
 The question arose in the Committee 
 as to what is meant by a customs union. 
 In the opinion of some of the members — 
 among others, the Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine Republic, who signs the minority 
 report — a customs union means a Zollve- 
 rein, while in the opinion of the Delegate 
 from the United States, himself a mem- 
 ber of the Committee, the United States 
 had not contemplated a Zollverein in 
 speaking of a customs union. 
 
 Under these circumstances the majority 
 of the Committee deemed it expedient to 
 begin their report by defining the expres- 
 sion " Customs union," and, believing 
 that the term might cover a Zollverein as 
 well as free trade among the American 
 nations, it adopted both definitions, and 
 pointed out the difficulties involved in the 
 establishment of a customs union of either 
 kind. 
 
 If the Conference will permit me, I will 
 read the passages of the report which 
 deal with these two points. The first 
 refers to the definition of customs union, 
 meaning a Zollverein, and reads as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 "It is generally understood by customs 
 union the establishing among several 
 nations, of a single customs territory, to 
 wit : that the nations forming the union 
 shall collect import duties on foreign 
 goods under substantially the same tariff 
 laws, divide the proceeds thereof in a 
 given proportion, and mutually receive, 
 free of duty, their respective natural or 
 manufactured products." 
 
 It follows a statement of the difficulties 
 which would be involved in the adoption 
 of a customs union, meaning a Zollverein. 
 
 Further on the report defines the second 
 meaning of customs union, as follows : 
 
 " If by customs union is meant the free 
 trade between the American nations of 
 all their natural or manufactured prod- 
 ucts, which is, properly speaking, un- 
 restricted reciprocity, the Committee 
 believes, etc." 
 
 To make my explanation clearer, I 
 
 das S, la formaci6n de una Uuidn Aduanera 
 Americana, bajo la cnal se promneva, en 
 cuanto sea posible y proveohoso, el co- 
 mercio reciproco entre las Naciones Ame- 
 rioanas hasta donde sea esto posible." 
 
 Suscitdse en el seno de la Comisi<)n el 
 debate sobre lo que debia entenderse por 
 Uni(5n Americana. En ooncepto de al- 
 gunos de sus miembros, entre otros el 
 honorable Delegado por la Argentina que 
 firma el diotamen de la minoria, por Uuidn 
 Aduanera se entendia el Zollverein, mi- 
 ontras que, S, juioio del honorable Dele- 
 gado de los Estados Unidos, igualmente 
 miembro de esta Comisidn, este pais no 
 habia pensado en el Zollverein al hablar 
 de Uni6n Aduanera. 
 
 La mayorla de la Comisidn, pues, con- 
 siderd conveniente empezar por definir la 
 frase " Unidn Aduanera," y creyendo que 
 comprendia tauto el Zollvei-ein como el 
 libre cambio entre las naciones Amerioa- 
 nas, adopts ambas definiciones 6 indicd 
 las difioultades que tendria la adopcidn de 
 la Uni6u Aduanera en el uuo 6 en el otro 
 sentido que se d6 & esa frase. 
 
 Si la Conferenoia me lo permite, leer6 
 la parte referente del dictamen que abarca 
 estos dos puntos. La parte concerniente 
 Si la primera definicitSn dice asf : "En- 
 tigndese generalmente por Unidn Adua- 
 nera, el estableoimiento de un mismo ter- 
 ritorio aduanero entre varias naciones, 
 es decir, que los Estados que forman la 
 Uni6n, cobren derechos de importacidn, 
 sobre mercancias extrangeras, conforme 
 & una misma tarifa, y se dividan su pro- 
 dncto en una proporci6n dada, reoibiendo 
 entre si reciprooamente, como efectos na- 
 oionales, ypor lo mismo libresde derechos, 
 los produotos naturales 6 manufacturados 
 de las naciones que constituyen la Unidn." 
 
 En seguida se enumerau los inconve- 
 nientes que traeria la adopcidu de una 
 Unidn Aduanera en el sentido de un 
 Zollverein. 
 
 El diotamen dice mas adelante al definir 
 laUnidnAdnaneraensusegundaacepcidn: 
 
 "Si se entiende por Uni<5n Aduanera, 
 el libre cambio entre las naciones ameri- 
 oauas de todos sus productos naturales 6 
 manufacturados, lo cual es propiamente 
 una reciprooidad absoluta, la Comisi6u 
 cree, etc." 
 
 Para haoer mas clara esta esplicacidn 
 
328 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 should state that the Committee had 
 adopted in its original report a statement 
 mentioning the German ZoUvereiu as a 
 model of customs union ; but at the request 
 of the Delegate from the United States, a 
 member of the Committee, who repeatedly 
 stated that the United States had not 
 contemplated the establishment of an 
 American Zollvereln, the statement was 
 omitted. The majority of the Commit- 
 tee has been much pleased to learn that 
 the honorable Delegate from the Argen- 
 tine Republic so thoroughly agrees with 
 them in regard to the objections of a cus- 
 toms union in the sense of a Zollverein. 
 If the Conference reads the report, it will 
 see that all the reasons set up by the 
 honorable Delegate as he has just read 
 them to us are included in the report, the 
 only difference being that the honorable 
 Delegate from the Argentine Republic has 
 set them all at length, illustrating them 
 with statistical data which tend to prove 
 conclusively the correctness of the com- 
 mittee's reasoning. But as the majority 
 and the minority are thus entirely agreed 
 upon this point, it is clearly unnecessary 
 to deal any further with this subject. 
 
 As respects free trade between the 
 American nations, which might likewise 
 be the meaning of a customs union, and 
 which was the sense given to it by the 
 United States, or at least by the Delegate 
 from that country who is a member of the 
 Committee, it was our opinion that by 
 customs union might be understood the 
 receiving free of duty the products or 
 manufactures of the other countries, but 
 custom-houses and duties being retained 
 as against the products of countries not 
 a party to the union. The majority of 
 the committee could not recommend the 
 adoption of customs union under this 
 meaning, and upon this point the major- 
 ity fully agrees with the opinion of the 
 honorable Delegate from the Argentine 
 Republic as he has expressed it in his 
 speech ; it saw in it serious difficulties, 
 and positively declined to recommend, 
 under existing circumstances, the estab- 
 lishment of a customs union in the sense 
 of free trade. So in regard to this point, 
 we also substantially agree. 
 
 debo manifestar que, la> Comisidn babia 
 citado en su dictiimen tal como lo formuld 
 al principio, precisameute el ejemplo 
 del Zollverein aleman; pero ^ instancias 
 del Sr. Delegado de los Estados Unidos, 
 miorabro de aqnella, que manifest*} reito 
 radas veces que los Estados Unidos no se 
 habian propuesto promover la organiza- 
 ci6u de un ZoUvereiu americano, se su 
 primid la frase que S, esto hacia referencia. 
 La mayoria de la Comisi6n ha tenido la 
 satisfaccidn de que el Sr. Delegado de la 
 Repflblica Argentina haya estado entera- 
 mente de acuerdo con ella, por lo que hace 
 ^ las objeciones contra la unidn adua- 
 nera considerada como Zollverein, pnes si 
 la Conferencia tiene H bien leer el dicta- 
 men, encontrar^ que todas las razones 
 alegadas por aquel SeHor Delegado en el 
 disourso que acaba de leer estan compren- 
 didas en el dictamen con la llnica diferen- 
 cia de que el Representante de la Argen- 
 tina les ha dado una extensi6n muy con- 
 veniente, ilustr^ndolas con datos estadls- 
 ticos, que vienen £ demostrar de un modo 
 coucluyente lo fnndado de las razones en 
 que se apoy<5 la Comisidn. Pero supuesto 
 que en este punto estan euteramente de 
 acuerdo la mayoria y minoria de la Comi- 
 sidn, parece euteramente excusado ocu- 
 parme mas de 61. 
 
 Respecto del libre cambio entro las na- 
 ciones americanas, que puede ser tambien 
 otra acepcidn de la Uni6n Aduanera, y que 
 era la inteligencia que le dabau los Es- 
 tados Unidos, al menos el Delegado por 
 este pals que forma parte de laComisi6n, 
 esta crey6 que podia entenderse por Uni6n 
 Aduanera recibir libre de derechos los 
 productos <5 manufacturas de las otras 
 naciooes, conservaudo sus Aduanas y 
 derechos para los productos de otros paises 
 que no entraran en la uni6n. Pero tam- 
 poco acept6 la Comisidn la Union Adua- 
 nera en este sentido, y en este punto la ma- 
 yoria estS tambien de acuerdo con la opi- 
 nion del Senor Delegado por la Argentina, 
 tal como la ha manifestado en su discnrso : 
 le vi6 inconvenientes graves, y no reco- 
 mienda, en el estado actual de cosas, la for- 
 raacidn de una Uni6n Aduanera, entendi- 
 ^ndose por esta el libre cambio. En este 
 punto tambien aparece que estamos todos 
 de acuerdo, & lo meno^ eu la parte sus- 
 tanoial del asunto. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 329 
 
 The honorable Delegate from tho Ar- 
 gentine Republic set up in his discourse 
 a point which he had made in the Com- 
 mittee, with a view to impugn one of 
 the fundamental ideas of the report. 
 
 If by customs union is meant free trade 
 between all the American nations, there- 
 port says, inasmuch as import duties con- 
 stitute in many of those nations the chief 
 source of revenue, these might find t-^eir 
 rrvenues considerably reduced. If I did 
 not misapprehend his meaning, the hon- 
 orable Delegate from the Argentine Re- 
 public seems to have understood the report 
 to say that if free trade is adopted the bulk 
 of the revenues of tho American nations 
 would wholly disappear. I will read such 
 portion of the report as bears upon this 
 point, 80 that the Conference may j udge 
 as to what the report means. 
 
 "If by customs union is meaut the free 
 trade between the American nations of 
 all their natural or manufactured prod- 
 ucts, which is, properly speaking, unre- 
 stricted reciprocity, the Committee be- 
 lievesit is in principle acceptable, because 
 all measures looking to the freedom of 
 commerce must necessarily increase the 
 trade and the development of the material 
 resources of the countries accepting that 
 system, and it would in all probability 
 bring about as favorable results as those 
 obtained by free trade among the differ- 
 eat States of the Union. But, at tliesame 
 time, the Committee believes that such 
 a union is at present impracticable as a 
 continental system, among other reasons 
 because the import duties levied on foreign 
 trade constitute the main source of revenue 
 of all the American nations." 
 
 As I am not familiar with the statis- 
 tics of the Argentine Republic, I can 
 say nothing positively as to this; but I 
 have not heard in the speech of the honor- 
 able Delegate any denial of the proposi- 
 tion that import duties constitute the 
 main source of the revenue even of the 
 Argentine Republic, which is what the 
 report declared. This continues as fol- 
 lows : * * » " Because the import du- 
 ties levied on foreign trade constitute the 
 main source of revenue ol all the Ameri- 
 can nations, and such of them as ara not 
 manufacturing countries would thus lose 
 more or less of such revenue; on which 
 
 KI Sr. Delegado du la Argentina maui- 
 fest6 en su discursouna considcraci6n que 
 habia hecho presente en el seno de la Co- 
 misidn con objeto do impugnar uno de los 
 fundamentos del dictamen. 
 
 Si por Uni6n Aduanera se entiende' el 
 libre oambio entre todos los Estados ame- 
 ricanos, se dice en el dictamen, como los 
 derechos de importaci6n forman eh casi 
 todos ellos la base de sus rentas, tendrian 
 que sufrir unareduccidn mas 6 menos con- 
 siderable en estas, y el Sr. Delegado do la 
 Argentina, parece que entendid, si no oi 
 mal su discurso, que el dictamen aseguraba 
 que cesaria por completo la parte principal 
 de esas rentas de los Estados americanos 
 si accptaran el libre cambio con los Esta- 
 dos Unidos. Leer6 la parte del dictamen 
 conducente S, este punto, para que la Con- 
 ferencia juzgne de lo que en 61 se dice : 
 
 "Sise entiende por Uui<5n Aduanera, 
 el libre cambio entre las Naciones ameri- 
 cauas, de todos sus productos naturales 
 6 manufacturados, lo cual es propiamente 
 una reciprocidad absoluta, la Comisi<m 
 cree que esacepi able en principio, por que 
 toda medida que favorezca la libertad 
 del oomercio, no puede menos quo pro- 
 ducir el inoremento y deaarroUo de los 
 elenientos de riquoza de las uaciones que 
 lo adopten, y quo oso sistema produciria 
 probablemente los mismos favorables re- 
 sultados que el libre cambio ha dado en- 
 tre los varies Estados de la Uni6n Norte 
 Americana. Pero la Coraisidu considera 
 que no es practicable por ahora el establc- 
 cimiento de esa Uni6n, como sistema con- 
 tinental, entre otros motives, por quetodas 
 las naciones am,cricanas deriran sus princi- 
 pales rentas de los derechos que rccaudan 
 sohre el conie)'cio exterior * * *." 
 
 Como no estoy familiarizado con la esta- 
 dlstica de la Republica Argentina, no po- 
 dr6 asegurar uada S. esto respecto ; pero no 
 he oido en cl discurso del Seuor Delegado 
 por aquel pais la afiimacidn do que los 
 derechos de importaci6n no seau la 
 renta principal que se recaude aun en la 
 Repiiblica Argentina, que es la aflnuaci6n 
 que se hace en el dictamen. Este cou- 
 tinuaasl: "* * • por que todas las 
 naciones americanas derivan sus priuci- 
 pales rentas de los derechos que rccan- 
 dan sobre el comercio exterior, y las 
 que no son manufactureras, sufririan una 
 reduGcidn mas 6 menos consi derable en esas 
 
330 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 they depend, in a great measure, to defray 
 their public expenses." ' * * 
 
 For instance, Mexico, which piodnces raw 
 materials, like sugar, coffee, etc., would 
 probably be affected by receiving manu- 
 factures of the United States free of duty, 
 and would have its revenues reduced 
 more or less considerably ; but would not 
 be wholly deprived of customs revenues, 
 as seems to be implied by the language of 
 the honorable Delegate from the Argen- 
 tine Republic. 
 
 But this is a secondary question, and I 
 allude to the point only in justification of 
 the majority of the Committee, which 
 tried to formulate its report with due re- 
 gard to the changes, exigencies, and con- 
 ditions of all the countries concerned, 
 and tried also to make it as reasonable as 
 possible. 
 
 The principal argument against the re- 
 port of the majority of the Committee is 
 based upon the fact that it reccommends 
 the making of reciprocity treaties; and 
 this objection the two honorable Dele- 
 gates who sign the minority report, agree 
 in urging. 
 
 The majority of the Committee much 
 regretted this dissent, and did all within 
 its power to bring about common agree- 
 ment upon a single report; but this 
 proved impracticable, wholly without 
 blame to the honorable Delegates who 
 constitute the minority. All the members 
 of the Committee having agreed to the 
 essential parts of the report, the division 
 between majority and minority seemed to ' 
 be unreasonable. But it could not be 
 avoided ; and this is the reason why there 
 have been presented the two reports 
 which have been laid upon the desk of the 
 Delegates. 
 
 In the opinion of the majority, a cus- 
 toms anion, in the sense of a Zollverein, 
 was out of the question. In this view the 
 minority agreed. The minority further- 
 more agreed with the majority that a 
 customs union, should it mean free trade 
 between the American nations, was not 
 practicable ; but to the majority it seemed 
 to be in principle proper to recommend a 
 liberal policy towards commerce, because, 
 as the honorable Delegate from the Argen- 
 
 rentas de las que d^enden, en gran parte, 
 para oubrir sus gastos piiblicos. * * "." 
 
 For ejemplo, Mexico que produce mate- 
 rias primas, como aziicar, caf6, etc., y sua 
 rentas se resentirian grandemente si re- 
 cibiere libre de derechos las mannfactnras 
 de los Estados Unidos. Mexico sufriria 
 una reduccldn mas 6 menos considerable ; 
 pero no quedaria enteramente privada de 
 esta renta, como me parece que se enti- 
 ende del pensamiento consignado en el 
 discurso del Senor Delegado de la Argen- 
 tina. * 
 
 Pero esta es una cuestidn secundaria y 
 simplemente bago m^rito de este punto, 
 en defensa de la mayorfa de la Comisidn 
 que ha procurado adaptar sa dictamen & 
 los cambios, exigencias y situaciones de 
 todos los paises interesados, y que ha tra- 
 tado tambien de ponerse en los jastos 
 t^rminos de la razon. 
 
 Ahora bien; el argumento principal 
 que se dirige contra el dictamen de la 
 mayoria de la Comisidn se refiere S, que se 
 recomienda la celebraci<5n de tratados de 
 reciprocidad, y en ese argumento estiin de 
 aouerdo los dos Sres. Delegados que firman 
 el dictamen de la minorfa. 
 
 La mayoria de la Comisidn ha tenido la 
 pena de ver ese disentimiento 6 hizo en su 
 seno cuanto estnvo & su alcance porque se 
 presentara uu solo dictamen; pero tal 
 cosa nofu6 posible, sin quehayasidofalta 
 de ninguno de los Sres. Delegados que 
 forman la minorfa, pues creyd que estando 
 de acnerdo todos sus miembros en el fondo 
 de la cuestidn, no habia razon para que se 
 dividieran ; pero no fu6 posible la unani- 
 midad, y por eso es que se ban presentado 
 los doB dictamenes informes que la Con- 
 ferencia conoce. 
 
 En concepto de la mayorfa, la TJuidn 
 Aduanera, entendi^ndose por esta el Zoll- 
 verein, era inaostenible y la minorfa estaba 
 de acnerdo con esto. La minorfa estaba 
 de acnerdo tambien con la mayorf a en que 
 la Unidn Aduanera tampoco serfa acep- 
 table, si porella se entendiael libre cambio 
 entre las Naciones americanas; pero & 
 esta le parecia que en principio serfa con- 
 veniente recomendar medidas liberales 
 para el comeroio, porqne, como lo reconoce 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 331 
 
 tine Republic admits in his speech, such a 
 policy can not but promote the develop- 
 ment and growth of commerce. 
 
 In order to accomplish this, and ap- 
 proximate to something like free trade, not 
 in an absolute degree, and with no idea of 
 adopting such a policy in the shape of an 
 economic war upon nations which are not 
 American, but European or Asiatic, the 
 first step which the Committee thought 
 ought to be taken, was the negotiation of 
 treaties of reciprocity. 
 
 The objection was at once raised by 
 some members of the Committee, that it 
 would be very difficult to formulate uni- 
 form treaties suitable for all the Ameri- 
 can nations, not only in the relations of 
 each of them to its neighbors, but in those 
 of each to all the other nations of the 
 continent. To avoid this difSoulty, while 
 still taking a step forward toward the 
 freedom of trade and the encouragement 
 of production, it was thought best to 
 recommend a liberal policy in the shape of 
 partial reciprocity treaties concluded in 
 each case in accordance with the neces- 
 sities of the countries concerned. 
 
 The Committee is informed that such 
 treaties have already been entered into 
 by several of the American nations, and it 
 understands that the five Central Ameri- 
 can States have agreed to treat as na- 
 tional each other's products. The Gov- 
 ernment of Mexico has entered into such 
 a treaty with the Government of Guate- 
 mala, its neighbor on the south. The 
 Committee further understands that simi- 
 lar treaties have been entered into by 
 some of the South American nations ; the 
 one which especially comes to my mind is 
 the one between Chili and Bolivia. So 
 that it is no unheard-of or inexpedient 
 thing what the majority of the Committee 
 recommends, but, on the contrary, a step 
 toward commercial freedom, promotive of 
 the welfare of the American nations, 
 though, obviously, this advance upon the 
 road to commercial nnion was not one ac- 
 cepting either " absolute reciprocity " or 
 a "Zollverein." 
 
 The majojrity of the Committee, then, 
 believed that it was not violating any 
 duty of propriety; that it was not offering 
 
 el SeQor Delegado de la Republioa Argen- 
 tina en sa discurso, estaa no pueden me 
 nos que promover el desarroUo 6 incre- 
 mento del comercio. 
 
 Para conseguir esto, y poderse aproxi- 
 mar S, algo semejante al libre cambio, no 
 de una manera absolnta, ni menos aoep- 
 tando estas medidas en forma de una 
 guerra econdmica contra otras naoiones 
 que no sean americanas, sin6 europeas 
 6 asi^ticas, el primer paso que crey<5 la 
 Comisidn debia darse, era la oelebraci6n 
 de tratados de reciprocidad. 
 
 Se hizo desde luego la objeoi6n por al- 
 gunos de los miembros de la Comisi6n, de 
 quo seria muy dilicil negociar tratados 
 uniformes, 6 convenir en una formula que 
 fuese adaptable S, todas las Naoiones ame- 
 ricanas, no ya de cada una respecto de sus 
 vecinas, sin6 en general de todas las Na- 
 oiones de este Continente entre si y para 
 subsanar esta dificultad se crey6 que 
 seria siempre dar un paso en el camino 
 de la libertad comercial 6 inoremento de 
 la produccidu, recomendar medidas libe- 
 rales en forma de tratados parciales de 
 reciprocidad que, en cada case, se ajus- 
 taseu S, las necesidades de los palses res- 
 pectivos. 
 
 La Comi8i6n tiene noticia de que actual- 
 mente existeu en varias naciones ameri- 
 canas esos tratados, y entiende que las 
 cinco naciones Ceutro-americanas los han 
 celebrado, para recibir como prodnctos 
 nacionales, todas las manufacturas de 
 cada uno de ellos. El Gobierno de Mexico 
 ha celebrado nn tradado semejante con el 
 Gobierno de Guatemala. En alguuas na- 
 ciones de America del Sur existen iguales 
 tratados; eutiendo que hay entre Bo- 
 livia y Chile. De manera que no es una 
 oosa inusitada 6 incouveniente lo que 
 propone lamayorla de la Comisidu, sin6 
 que es un paso para Uegar S, la libertad 
 comercial, proourando el bienestar de las 
 naciones americanas; pero por supuesto 
 este paso que se daba en el camino de 
 la Uni6n comercial, no es la unidn adua- 
 nera ni en el sentido del libre cambio ab- 
 solute, ui m^nos en el del Zollverein. 
 
 La mayorla de la Comisicin crey6 pues, 
 que no faltaba Si ningun deber de conveni- 
 encia que no daba consejos sin que se loa 
 
332 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 advice which had not been asked, in rec- 
 ommending to the American nations which 
 should deem it expedient, to enter into re- 
 ciprocity treaties under certain conditions . 
 This is the meaning of the recommenda- 
 tion in the report. 
 
 Before taking my seat I desire to cor- 
 rect what seems to be a misapprehension 
 on the part of the honorable Delegate for 
 the Argentine Republic. He stated in his 
 speech that the reciprocity treaty between 
 the United States and Mexico had been 
 signed "ad referendum," and that it had 
 been rejected by the Congress of the 
 United States. 
 
 It was not signed " od referendum," but 
 under special powers by a special com- 
 mission appointed by the President of 
 the United States ; and the Senate of this 
 country, which alone passes upon such 
 matters, approved it; the ratifications 
 were exchanged, and the treaty appears 
 among the treaties in force In the United 
 States. But as, under the Constitutiou 
 of this country, all laws affecting the rev- 
 enue have to be originated in the House of 
 Representatives, many publicists of this 
 country have been of opinion that reci- 
 Iirocity treaties can not be entered into, 
 precisely because they do not emanate 
 from the House. That is very likely 
 what Secretary Fish had in mind in his 
 comments upon the proposed treaty be- 
 tween the Argentine Republic and the 
 United States to which the honorable 
 Delegate has alluded. I repeat it, many 
 statesmen in this country believe that 
 such treaties are not constitutional, be- 
 cause they do not emanate from the House 
 of Representatives, as the Constitution 
 requires ; and that the best method which 
 has been found for avoiding this difificnlty 
 as in the case, for instance, of the treaty 
 with Englandin regard to Cana<la, which 
 was the first of this class negotiated by 
 this country, was to provide that it should 
 not be in force before it was approved by 
 a bill passed by the House of Representa- 
 tives. The same course was adopted as 
 to the treaty with the Hawaiian Islands. 
 
 The Mexican treaty has never been ap- 
 proved by the House of Representatives, 
 but it was ratified by the Senate and it 
 appears among the perfected treaties of 
 the United States. 
 
 pidieran, recomendando S. las naciones 
 americanas que lo oreyesen conveniente, 
 la celebraci6n de tratados de reciprocidad 
 bajo ciertas bases. Este es el sentido de 
 la recomendacidn del dictamen. 
 
 Antes de tomar mi asiento, rectificariS 
 uno de los conceptos del Sr. Delegado de 
 la Reptiblica Argentina. Dijo en su dis- 
 curso que el trafcado de reciprocidad con 
 los Estados Unidos y M(Sxico habia sido 
 firmado ad rrferendum y que habia sido 
 desechado per el Congreso de los Estados 
 Unidos. 
 
 No fu6 firmado ad referendum, sino por 
 poderes especiales, y en virtud de una 
 Comisiflu especial nombrada por el Go- 
 biernodelos Estados Unidos ; y el Senado 
 de este pais, que es el linico que intervie- 
 ne en estos asuntos, lo aprob6 : sns ratifi- 
 caciones se cangearon y el tratado figura 
 entre aquellos que ban llegado d) tener 
 fnerza de tratado en los Estados Unidos. 
 Pero como conforme £i la Constitnci6n 
 de este pals, toda ley que afeota las rentas 
 publioas no puede emanar sin6de la CS,- 
 maradeDiputados, muchos estadistas de 
 este pais han oreido que no es posible cele- 
 brar tratados de reciprocidad precisa- 
 mente por que no se da ingerencia en ellos 
 6: esa C^mara. Esa es probablemente una 
 de las consideraciones & qne se alude 
 en la nota del Secretario de Estado Mr. 
 Fish, al coutestar iJlapropuesta de un tra- 
 tado entre la Reptiblica Argentina y los 
 Estados Unidos que nos ha leido el Sr. 
 Delegado de aquella Repiiblica. Lo re- 
 plto, de parte de muchos honibres de Es- 
 tado de este pals, existe la opini6n de que 
 esos tratados no son constitncionales, 
 porqne no eraanan de la CSmara de Dipu- 
 tados ; y la mejor manera que se encontr6 
 de salvar esta dificultad con el celebrado 
 con Inglaterra respecto del Canadii, fu6 
 convenir en qne no tuviera fnerza de trata 
 do sin(5 despues de que lo aprobara La Cd- 
 mara de Diputados, annque no liubiese 
 sido iniciado alii : lo mismo pasd con el 
 tratado celebrado con las Islas Hawaya- 
 nas. 
 
 El tratado con M6xico no lleg6 H ser 
 aprobado por la C^mara de Diputados, 
 annque lo fu6 por el Senado y figura entre 
 los tratados definitivamente perfectos do 
 los Estados Unidos. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 333 
 
 The treaty with San Domingo was not 
 rejected by the Congress of the Unitefl 
 States ; that country negotiated it under 
 one administration, and then the succeed- 
 ing administration, being of different 
 opinion, did not tbinli it expedient to 
 accept it,and recalled it from the Senate, 
 which had not yet passed upon it, either 
 to approve or reject it. The same thing 
 occurred with the reciprocity treaty with 
 Spain, as to trade in Cuban products. 
 
 It is not strange that such changes 
 should take place, as to matters of such 
 importance, of such moment, among suc- 
 cessive admiuistrations, especially in this 
 country, in view of the fact that fre- 
 quently they belong to different parties 
 and have different economic views. One 
 administration had negotiated a treaty 
 with Mexico ; the same negotiated trea- 
 ties with the Republic of Santo Domingo 
 and with Spain ; but a new administration 
 coming in, it upheld the treaty with 
 Mexico, and withdrew the other two. 
 
 I will not undertake to speak of the 
 treaty between the Argentine Republic 
 and the United States, because I do not 
 wish to intervene in a matter which does 
 not concern me ; but, I think, something 
 similar took place because it happened 
 when the administration of General 
 Grant, whose Secretary of State was 
 Mr. Fish, came into power. 
 
 Probably Mr. Fish's personal opinion 
 was opposed to reciprocity treaties, and 
 when the suggestion was made to him by 
 the Argentine Government, he set forth the 
 reasons which in his judgment justified a 
 refusal to enter into such treaties. I do not 
 think he can have had any other motive. 
 Even in this country opinion is much di- 
 vided as to the expediency of reciprocity 
 treaties. It thus appears that public opiu 
 ion, for a longtime hostile to these treaties, 
 hasdnring the last few years commenced to 
 change, and there has existed a desire to 
 negotiate them, at least ou the part of the 
 President and the Senate. That body has 
 never actually rejected any of these trea- 
 ties, and even the Mexican treaty, never 
 came to be discussed and voted on in the 
 House of Representatives. In that treaty, 
 I ought to say, a period was fixed during 
 which it was to be put in operation ; that 
 
 Por lo que haoe al tratado de recipro- 
 cidad con Santo Domingo, tampoco fu<S 
 desechado por el Congreso de los Estados 
 Unidos; aquel pais lo celebrd con una 
 Admiuistraci<5n, y la quo lo sucedi6, siendo 
 de distinto pareoer, no lo crey6 conveni- 
 ente y lo rotir6 del Senado, donde no se 
 habia tornado en cuenta, iii para apro- 
 barse, ni para desai)robar8e. Lo mismo 
 pas6 con el tratado de reciprocidad cele- 
 brado con Espafia para el cambio de los 
 productos de Cuba. 
 
 No es extrafio que ocurran estas dife- 
 rencias de opini6n en cuestiones tan 
 graves, y trasoendeu tales, en las Adminis- 
 traciones que se suceden aqui, especlal- 
 mente si se tiene en cuenta que con fre- 
 cuencia son de diferentes partidos y pro- 
 fesan distintos principios econdmicos. 
 Una Administracidn habia celebrado un 
 tratado con Mexico, con la Repliblica de 
 Santo Domingo ycon Espana; pero viuo 
 en seguida otra Admiuistraci6n que, so- 
 stuvo el tratado con M6xico y retir6 los 
 otros dos. 
 
 Aunque no pretendohablardeun tratado 
 entre laReptiblica Argentina y los Estados 
 Uuidos, porque no quiero ingerirme en una 
 cuesti6n que no me atafie, dird que creo 
 que pasd una cosa semejante con la pro- 
 puesta de que nos ha hablado el Senor 
 Delegado de la Argentina hecha fi la 
 Administracidn del Sr. General Grant, de 
 la cual fn6 Secretario de Estado Mr. 
 Fish. 
 
 Probablemente sus ideas personales 
 eran contrarias & los tratados de recipro- 
 . cldad, y cuaudo se le hizo la iudicacidn 
 por el Gobiemo Argentino, alego las ra- 
 zones que S, su juicio eran bastantes para 
 no aceptar el tratado. No creo yo que 
 haya tenido otros mdviles para proceder 
 aaf. Aqul mismo estS muy dividida la 
 opini6u sobre la conveniencia de los tra- 
 tados de reciprocidad : por mucho tiempo, 
 ha sido hostil S, estos tratados, y de pocos 
 alios ^ esta parte ha empezado S, cambiar 
 y ha iabido deseos de celebrarlos, Sj lo 
 menos de parte del Presidente y del Se- 
 nado; esta C^mara no ha Uegado & de- 
 sechar ninguno de ellos, aunque en la 
 Cimara de Diputados no hayan llegado 
 S, discutirse ni S votarse, como sucedi6 
 en el celebrado con Mexico. En eate 
 tratado, debo advertir, se fij(5 f\n plazo 
 durante el cual debia aprobarse por la 
 
334 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 period expired before the House of Rep- 
 resentatives took action on it, so that 
 without being actually rejected, in fact it 
 was not approved by the House of Rep- 
 resentatives during the time fixed there- 
 for." 
 
 Mr. Romero having finished his re- 
 marks, Mr. Guzman, a Delegate from Ni- 
 caragua, expressed his views in support 
 of the majority report of the committee, 
 of which he was a member, objecting to 
 the extremely concise wording of the 
 report of the minority, as being liable to 
 misinterpretation outside the Confer- 
 ence. 
 
 After an explanation on the part of 
 Mr. Saenz Pena, in which Mr. Alfonso, a 
 Delegate from Chili, fully concurred, 
 concerning the use in the report of the 
 minority of the word "rechazar," which 
 be said was used in a parliamentary sense, 
 and expressed his willingness to substitute 
 any other better word not altering the 
 sense, Mr. Flint's motion to adjourn being 
 pending, and the hour fixed for the dura- 
 tion of the session having arrived, the 
 debate was suspended, to be continued 
 on Monday, the 17th instant, and the 
 Conference adjourned at 6 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarka, 
 
 Firat Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos^ M. Huktado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silta, 
 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublic. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Coata Bica. 
 Jo8:fi S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. bo Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador dk Mbndon9a, 
 
 SraHl. 
 Jer6nlmo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
 C^mara de Dipntados y ponerse en eje- 
 cuci6n : este plazo e8pir6 sin qnela C^mara 
 de Diputados se decidiera nada sobre 61; 
 de manera que, sin haber sido realmente 
 rechazado, no fu€ aprobado por la C^mara 
 de Diputados en el plazo que se fijd y asl 
 caducd el tratado.'' 
 
 Concluidas las observaciones del Senor 
 Romero, el Sefior Guzman, delegado por 
 Nicaragua, expresfi sns miras en apoyo 
 del dictamen de la maj'oria de la Comi- 
 si6n de que forma parte, y en contra de 
 la extremada concisidn del parecer de la 
 minorla, que podia prestarse & interpreta- 
 ciones equivocadas fuera de la Conferen- 
 cia. 
 
 Despues de una explicaoidu del Sefior 
 Saenz Pefia, delegado por la Reptiblica 
 Argentina, & que se adhirid en todas sus 
 partes el Sefior Alfonso, delegado por 
 Chile, respecto S, haber nsado en el dicta- 
 men de la minorfa, la palabra "rechazar" 
 solo en el sentido parlamentario, y de es- 
 tar dispuesto S, sustituirla por otra que se 
 crea mejor, y sea expresiva del mismo 
 pensamiento, y pendieute una mocidn del 
 Sefior Flint, delegado por los Estados 
 UnidoB, para que se levantase la sesidn, 
 anunci6 el Sefior Presideute que habia 
 llegado la hora reglamentaria, y que debia 
 suspenderse el debate para continuarlo el 
 lunes 17 del corriente. 
 
 Se levant6 la sesidn £ las seis de la 
 tarde. 
 
 F. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidente. 
 
 HOEACIO GUZMiN, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos:^ M. Hurtado, 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia, 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica 
 Jos:6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valbntk, 
 Salvador de MBNDONgA, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 335 
 
 Matias EombrOj 
 Enrique A. MEXfA, 
 
 Mmco. 
 Juan F. Velakdk, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studbbaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Hbnry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 
 United States. 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 Jos£ Andrade, 
 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos:^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos£ Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 MatIas Bomero, 
 Enrique A. MExf a, 
 
 M&cico. 
 Jqan F. Velarde, 
 
 Solivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studbbaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 
 Esiadoa Unidos. 
 Nicanor Bolet Pbraza, 
 Jos:fi Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emujo C. Varas, 
 3os& Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3os± MarIa PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecfimdor' 
 
FORTY-FIFTH DAY. 
 
 Washington, March 17, 1890. 
 The International American Coufercncc 
 was called to order at 3.15 p.m., by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Zk- 
 GAERA, a Delegate from Peru, with the 
 following Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hnrtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz Pena. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendoufa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico: 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 JBolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 
 336 
 
 ACTA No. 45. 
 
 Si sldit del 17 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidei)ci»del Sr. F. C. C. Zegauka, 
 delegado por el Peru. Estando preaentes : 
 
 NiiBaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman 
 Peru : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. t'ernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hnrtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calder(5u. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz Pena ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Mauuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Meudouca. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jeronimo Zelaya. 
 M6xico: 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados UnidoB : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jeftersou Coolidge ; 
 
 ElSr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 EI Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 337 
 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Job6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 Mr Jos6 Maria Plilcido Caamaiio. 
 
 Tbe minutes of the previous day were 
 read, but Mr. Saenz PeQa, a Delegate from 
 the Argentine, haviug called attention to 
 the omission of Mr. Romero's remarks In 
 answer to his speech, requested that the 
 approval of the minutes be suspended 
 until they had been inserted. 
 
 The Chair explained that the Secre- 
 taries not haviug been able to obtain the 
 stenographers' notes of Mr. Romero's re- 
 marks in time for the session, the raiu- 
 utes were incomplete in this respect. 
 
 After a debate concerning tbe advisa- 
 bility or necessity of inserting in the min- 
 utes the remarks in extenso, in which 
 took part Messrs. Guzman, Saenz Pena, 
 Alfonso, Romero, Bolet Peraza, Hurtado, 
 Varas, Estee, Trescot, and Cruz, it was 
 decided that the remarks of Mr. Romero 
 should be inserted in the minutes, and 
 that they should be again submitted to 
 the approval of the Conference. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that he had united with Mr. Saenz 
 Pena, his colleague, in the minority report 
 of the Committee on Customs Union, in 
 his expression of willingness to substitute 
 in place of the 'word " rechazar " in the 
 above report, any other which might be 
 deemed adequate, and desired that this 
 be recorded in the minutes. 
 
 The Chair ordered the Secretaries to 
 read the following letter accompanying 
 the report of the Committee on Communi- 
 cation on the Atlantic, and ordered the 
 same printed and distributed : 
 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Euiilio C. Varas ; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Pl^oido 
 CaaraaBo. 
 Se abri6 la sesi6n S, las tres y quince 
 minntos de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley<5 el acta de la sesidn anterior; 
 pero habiendo notado en ella el Seiior 
 Saenz Pena, delegado por la Repliblioa 
 Argentina, la omisidn de las palabras pro- 
 nunciadas por cl Seiior Romero, en res- 
 puesta i su discurso, solicit6 que se sus- 
 pendiese la aprobacidn del acta hasta que 
 aquellas se insertasen. 
 
 La Mesa explicrt que los Secretaries no 
 habian podido obtener ile los taquigrafos 
 la transcripci6u de las observaciones del 
 Senor Romero, por lo cual el acta se en- 
 contraba deticiente en este respecto. 
 
 Y despues de un debate relativo ^ la 
 necesidad 6 ntilidad de insertar en las 
 actas discursos Integros, en el que toma- 
 ron parte los Senores GuzmSn, Saenz Pe- 
 na, Alfonso, Romero, Bolet Peraza, Hur- 
 tado, Varas, Estee, Trescot, y Cruz, 
 quedd determinado que se insertasen en 
 el acta las observaciones del Senor Ro- 
 mero, y se sometiese aqnella de nuevo ^ 
 la aprobaci6n de la Conferencia. 
 
 El Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 observd tambien que 61 se habia unido it 
 la manifestacidn hecha por su colega de 
 la minoria de la Comisidn, el Seiior Saenz 
 Pena, de estar dispuesto ^ sustituir la pa- 
 labra " rechazar" con otra cualquiera que 
 se estimase m^ adecuada : y deseaba que 
 asf constase. 
 
 El Sefior Pubsidf.nte orden6 S. los Se- 
 cretaries dar leotnra S, la carta con qne los 
 raiembros de la Comisidn de (omnnica- 
 cioues por el Atldntico presentaron su 
 dictamen, que semand6 imprimir y dis- 
 tribuir. 
 
 "To the Presidentof the 
 
 International American Conference : 
 
 ^'Mr. President: The Committee on 
 
 Communication on the Atlantic has the 
 
 honor to address itself to the President 
 
 in order that he may be pleased to make 
 
 2i!lC 
 
 Al Senor Preaidente de la Conferencia In- 
 temaeional Americana. 
 Senor Prbsidknte : La Comisidn de 
 Comunicaciones por el AtWntioo tiene el 
 honor de dirigirse al SeBor Presidente 
 para que se sirva poner en couociraiento 
 
338 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 known to the honorable Conference the 
 agreement arrived at by the respective 
 delegations concerning the encourage- 
 ment of navigation on the Atlantic. 
 
 '• The committee hopes that the honor- 
 able Conference will view with pleasure 
 the success of these labors, and moves 
 the adoption of the following resolution : 
 " 'The International American Confer- 
 ence, etc., would see with satisfaction the 
 Governments Interested in communica- 
 tions on the Atlantic give their assent to 
 the plan subscribed to by their represent- 
 atives.' 
 
 " It salutes the President with its most 
 distinguished consideration. 
 
 " RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 "ForT. JkffersonCoolidgk. 
 
 "RoQUK Saenz Pe^a, 
 " For Salvador de MENDONgA. 
 "RoQUE Saenz PeBta. 
 "Jos]fi S. Decoud. 
 "Washington, March, 1890." 
 
 Mr. CaamaSo, a Delegate from Ecua- 
 dor, and chairman of the Committee on 
 Communication on the Pacific, sent to the 
 Chair the report of said committee, which 
 ■was ordered printed and distributed. 
 
 The Chair announced that the order of 
 the day called for the continuation of 
 the debate on the majority and minority 
 reports of the Committee on Customs 
 Union. 
 
 Mr. Flint, a Delegate from the United 
 States, having requested the floor, spoke 
 as follows : 
 
 Mr. President, honorable Delegates: 
 At the last session of the Conference the 
 honorable Delegate from the Argentine 
 Republic, Dr. Saenz Pena, did me the 
 honor to refer to a statement which I have 
 made on several occasions since my ap- 
 pointment as one of the United States 
 Delegates to this Conference ; but as he 
 states that " he failed to discover what 
 was intended to by proved by it," I rise 
 to make the point clear and to give the 
 figures in detail which have a direct 
 bearing on questions under the consider- 
 ation of this Conference. 
 
 I will quote what I said, literally : 
 " We have been met by statements in 
 the press that the members of the Inter- 
 
 de la Honorable Conferencia, el aonerdo 
 d que han llegado las Delegaciones res- 
 pectivas en materia de fomento & la na- 
 vegaci6n por el AtMntico. 
 
 Espera la Comisi(5n que la Honorable 
 Conferencia mirar^ con agrado el^xito de 
 estos trabajos, y propone la siguiente 
 resolucifin : 
 
 " La Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana, etc., veria con satisfaccidn que los 
 Gobiernos interosados en comunicaciones 
 del Atlfintico, prestaran su asentimieuto 
 al proyecto que han susorito sus repre- 
 sentantes." 
 
 Saludan al Senor Presidente con su mSa 
 distinguida consideracidn. 
 
 RoQUE Saenz PbSa, 
 
 p. a,. T. JePPBRSON COOLIDGE. 
 
 RoQUE Saenz Pena, 
 p. a. Salvador de Mendon^a. 
 RoQUB Saenz Pena. 
 Jos:fi S. Decoud. 
 Washington, Marzo de 1890. 
 
 El Senor CaamaSo, delegado por Ecua- 
 dor y Presidente de la Comisi6n de Comi- 
 siones por el Paclfico, envid & la Mesa el 
 dictamen (ie dicha Comisidn, que el Senor 
 Presidente ordenfi tambien se imprimiese 
 y distribuyese, 
 
 Continudse entonces la discusidn sobre 
 los dictamenes de la mayorfa y minoria de 
 la Comisi6n de Unidn Aduanera, que era 
 el asunto sefialado en la drden del dia; y 
 habiendo tomado la palabra el Senor 
 Flint, delegado por losEstados Uuidos, se 
 express como sigue : 
 
 " Senor Presidente y Sefiores : En la 
 ultima sesidn de la Conferencia, el Hono- 
 rable Delegado de la Repliblica Argen- 
 tina, Dr. Saenz Pefia, me hizo el honor de 
 referirse ^ una afirmacidn que yo he hecho 
 en varias ocasiones, desde mi nombra- 
 miento como uno de los delegados de los 
 Estados Unidos & esta Conferencia ; vaSa 
 como asegura que " no ha podido averiguar 
 lo que yo me propuse deirostrar" cou la 
 afirmacidn indicada, me levanto par 
 aclarar el punto y pormenorizar los gna- 
 rismos que se refieren directamente & 
 asuntos & los cuales dedica an atencl6n 
 esta Conferencia. 
 Citard textualmente mis palabras : 
 " Se ha afirmado por los pericSdicos que 
 los miembros de esta Conferencia estan 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 339 
 
 national Conference are wasting tbeir 
 time in endeavoring to extend trade witli 
 the United States nntil this country ad- 
 mits Scnth American products iree of 
 dnty. In reply I have to call your atten- 
 tion to the fact that the United States 
 has already reduced its tarifif so that over 
 80 per cent, of the produce coming from 
 the countries represented in this Confer- 
 ence is admitted free of dnty, which 
 leaves less than 20 per cent, with which 
 to trade for reciprocity.'' 
 
 At the time I made this statement the 
 figures had not been compiled for the last 
 fiscal year, and it was therefore based 
 upon previous statistics and my general 
 knowledgeof the Spaniab- American trade. 
 I am pleased to state that the estimate 
 was within bounds ; and I now present 
 for yonr information the official figures, 
 by which it appears that of the total 
 amount of produce purchased by the 
 merchants of the United States from the 
 countries of the South here represented 
 87J per cent, was admitted free of duty, 
 leaving only 12^ per cent, with which to 
 negotiate for reciprocity. 
 
 The details of these figures are as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 perdiendo inutilmonte el tiempo al esfor- 
 zarse en extender el comeroio con los 
 Estados Unidos en tanto que esta pals no 
 admita libres de derechos los productos de • 
 la America del Sud. En contestacifin & 
 este aserto olimpleme llamar vuestra 
 atenoi(5n al heoho de que los Estados 
 Unidos ban robajado su aranoel ii tal ex- 
 tremo que hoy se importa libre de dere- 
 chos mdis del 80 por ciento de los produc- 
 tos que aqul llegan procedentes de los 
 palses representados en esta Couferencia, 
 lo oual deja m6nos de un 20 por ciento en 
 que basar las negooiaoiones de reciprocl- 
 dad." 
 
 Cuando hice estas afirmaciones atin no 
 se habian reoogido las cifras correspon- 
 pientes al tiltimo afio eoondmico ; poi tan- 
 to, bas^banae aquellas en las estad£sticas 
 anteriores y en un conocimiento general 
 del comercio con la AmiSrica espauola. Y 
 tengo el gusto de manifestar ahora que 
 mis csilculoa eran fundados y de presentar 
 para vuestro conocimiento las cifras 
 oficiales, do las que resulta que ha entra- 
 do en este pafs libre de derechos el 87| por 
 ciento de los productos comprados por 
 comerciantes de los Estados Unidos delos 
 paises del Sur, lo cual deja tan solo un 
 12J por ciento en que basar las uegocia- 
 ciones de reciprocidad. 
 
 He aqul las cifras en detalle: 
 
 1889. 
 
 Total im- 
 ports. 
 
 Free. 
 
 Dutiable. 
 
 Hayti 
 
 $3,757,443 
 1,747,246 
 314, 032 
 2, 346, 685 
 2, 986, 964 
 4,263,519 
 6, 464, 618 
 1,442,365 
 
 60 403, 804 
 1, 215, 561 
 
 21,253,601 
 2,126 
 
 10,392,569 
 
 2,622,625 
 
 1,602,162 
 
 695, 005 
 
 $3,751,669 
 
 1, 746, 996 
 307,761 
 
 2, 297, 159 
 2, 160, 870 
 4, 2.'6, 919 
 4, 134, 400 
 1,441,846 
 
 65, 408, 476 
 
 1, 210, 607 
 13, 825, 242 
 
 2,103 
 10, 385, 769 
 
 2, 543, 761 
 1,635,466 
 
 694, 088 
 
 $5,774 
 
 250 
 
 6,271 
 
 49, 626 
 
 836, 094 
 
 37, 600 
 
 1,320,212 
 
 619 
 
 4,935,328 
 
 4,954 
 
 7,428,3.59 
 
 23 
 
 6,800 
 
 78,864 
 
 26, 696 
 
 917 
 
 Nicaragna ... 
 
 Gnatemala .. 
 
 Urnguay 
 
 Colombia 
 
 Argentrao Kep 
 
 Costa Eica 
 
 Brazil 
 
 Honduras 
 
 Mexico 
 
 Bolivia 
 
 Venezuela 
 
 Chili 
 
 Salvador 
 
 Ecuador 
 
 Total... 
 
 120,560,325 
 
 105, 822, 138 
 
 14, 738, 187 
 
 The honorable Delegate from the Argen. 
 tine calls attention to the fact that " of 
 1741,000,000 of merchandise Imported into 
 the United States |484,000,000 are subject 
 to duty ; " in other words, he states that 
 " 65 per cent, of the importations by the 
 
 1889. 
 
 Importa- 
 (!i6n total. 
 
 Libres. 
 
 Grava- 
 das. 
 
 Haiti 
 
 Nicaragua 
 
 Peril 
 
 3, 757, 443 
 
 1, 747, 246 
 314, 032 
 
 -2,346,685 
 
 2, 986, 964 
 4, 263, 519 
 5, 464, 618 
 1,442,365 
 
 60, 403, 804 
 
 1,215,561 
 
 21, 253, 601 
 
 2, 126 
 
 10, 392, 569 
 
 2, 622, 025 
 
 1, 663, 102 
 
 696, 006 
 
 3,751,669 
 
 1, 746, 996 
 307, 761 
 
 2, 297, 159 
 2,150,870 
 4, 225, 919 
 4, 134, 406 
 1,441,846 
 
 5.'>,468,476 
 
 1, 210, 607 
 13, 825, 242 
 
 2,103 
 10, 385, 769 
 
 2, 543. 761 
 1, 636, 466 
 
 694,088 
 
 5,774 
 
 260 
 
 0,271 
 
 49, 526 
 
 836, 094 
 
 37, 600 
 
 1, 320, 212 
 
 519 
 
 4,935,328 
 
 4,954 
 
 7,428,359 
 
 23 
 
 6,800 
 
 78, 864 
 
 26, 696 
 
 917 
 
 Guatemala .. 
 
 TJraguay 
 
 Colombia 
 
 Kep. Argentina 
 
 Costa Eica 
 
 Brasil 
 
 Honduras — 
 
 M6xico 
 
 Bolivia 
 
 Venezuela 
 
 Chile 
 
 Salvador 
 
 Ecuador 
 
 Total .... 
 
 120, 560, 325 
 
 105, 822, 138 
 
 14,738,187 
 
 El honorable delegado de la Eepliblica 
 Argentina llama la atoncidn sobre el 
 hecho de que , " de $741,000,000 de merca- 
 derias importadas en los Estados Unidos, 
 1484,000,000 pagarou derechos ; " en otras 
 palabras afirma que el "65 por ciento de 
 
340 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Uuited States are burdened by duty," and 
 that "the revenue on such importations 
 amounts to $220,576,000." The honorable 
 Delegate by givlug these figures has 
 brought iuto prominence the favorable 
 conditions enjoyed by the producers of 
 South and Central America in the distri- 
 bution of their products in the United 
 States. While the United States levies a 
 duty, according to the figures which he 
 presents, on 75 per cent, of the importa- 
 tions from all other countries, only 12^ 
 per cent, of the products imported into 
 the United States from the countries to 
 the South represented in this Conference 
 are subject to duty, 87J per cent, having 
 been admitted free. 
 
 It is gratifying to note that the dis- 
 position which has been shown in thn 
 United States to place the sister repub- 
 lics of America on a more favorable foot- 
 ing than all other countries has been 
 manifested within our time ; for by the 
 statistics of 1870, the details of which 
 I will place on file but will not now 
 occupy your valuable time in reading, it 
 appears that of the total importations 
 iuto the United States from the inde- 
 pendent countries of the South, in the 
 year ending June 30, 1890, amounting to 
 145,000,000, less than $4,500,000 were ad- 
 mitted duty free, and over $40,000,000 
 were subject to duty. It would there- 
 fore appear that within the past twenty 
 years the tariff of the United States has 
 been so changed that while the articles 
 subject to duty from the independent 
 countries to the South in 1870 represented 
 over 90 per cent, of the total importations, 
 it has since been reduced to only 13J per 
 cent. 
 
 In partial exchange for these imports, 
 amounting in all to $120,560,327, of which 
 all but $14,736,187 were admitted into the 
 United States free of duty, therepresented 
 countries buy from the United States 
 $50,62?,941, of which the countries to the 
 South levy duties on over 90 per cent., 
 admitting less than five millions free of 
 duty. Surely my friend, the honorable 
 Delegate from the Argentine, will admit 
 that the Government of the United States 
 has already placed her trade relations 
 with the Southern States of America on 
 the most liberal basis; and we hope, in 
 
 las importaciones de los Estados Unidos, 
 ostii gravado con derechos, y que lo re- 
 caudado por concepto de esas importa- 
 ciones asciende S, $220,576,000." Al aducir 
 estos guarismos el honorable delegado 
 hace resaltar las favorables condicioues 
 de que disfrutan los productores de Centro 
 y Sud America en el envio de bus efectos 
 S, los Estados Unidos ; toda vez que seglin 
 los nlimeros que 61 mismo aduce, del 75 
 por ciento de los productoe de otros 
 I)alses que pagan derechos ^ su entrada 
 en los Estadoa,Unidos, sdlo forma parte 
 el 12^ por ciento de los productos de los 
 palses del Sur representados en esta Con- 
 fercneia, entrandopor cousiguiente libres 
 de derechos el 87| por ciento de los pro- 
 ductos de esos pafses. 
 
 Grato es observar que la disposicidn 
 que ban manifestado los Estados Unidos 
 de colocar ^ las Eeptiblioas hermanas de 
 America sobre nn pii5 mas favorable que 
 todos los dem^s paises es hija de estos 
 ultimos tiempos ; pues segun la estadis- 
 tica de 1870 cuyos detalles acompanar^, 
 pero cuya lectura consumiria mucho de 
 vnestro precioso tiempo, de la importa- 
 ci6n total de los Estados Unidos de los 
 paises independientes del Sud, que asceu- 
 di6 S, $45,000,000, entraron libres de de- 
 rechos m6no8 de $4,500,000, y pagaron 
 derechos mSa de $40,000,000. Resulta 
 puos que durante los veinte anos liltimos 
 el arancel de los Estados Unidos ha su- 
 frido un cambio tal que mientras eu 1870 
 los artioulos de los paises independientes 
 del Sur que entraron en este pals pagando 
 derechos formaron el 90 por ciento de la 
 importacidu total de esas naciones, dcsde 
 entonces la jiroporcidn ha quedado re- 
 ducida al 12^ por ciento. 
 
 En cambio parcial de estds importa- 
 ciones, ascendentes en totalidad d) $120,- 
 560,325, todo lo cual exeepto $14,738,187 
 entrd aqul libre de derechos, hab6is im- 
 portado de los Estados Unidos $50,623,941 
 sobre los cuales habeis impuesto derechos 
 al 90 por ciento 6 mas, admitiendo libres 
 m^nos de oiuco millones de pesos. Mi 
 distinguido amigo, el honorable delegado 
 de la Argentina, admitir^ segiiramente 
 que el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos ha 
 puesto y.i BUS relaciones comerciales con 
 los Estados de Sud-Am6rioa sobre la base 
 mas liberal; y esperamos ademfc abolir 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 341 
 
 addition, as the result of this Couference, 
 to wipe out the duty on the South Ameri- 
 can products now subject to duty by fair 
 and honorable treaties of reciprocity. 
 
 It has often been charged that tlie Uni- 
 ted States is illiberal in her trade relations 
 in the South American countries when 
 compared with European countries. I ask 
 my honorable friend if he can name any 
 European country or countries that pur- 
 chase $1.20,000,000 of the produce of the 
 South and Central American Republics 
 and levy duties on such a small percent- 
 age of the importations. He has referred 
 to the South American trade with France 
 and Germany. I have not been able, 
 within the short time at my command, to 
 procure exact statistics, but I feel war- 
 ranted in stating that if all of the products 
 now exported by the independent nations 
 to the South were shipped to France or to 
 Germany the duties on such products 
 would aggregate more than doable the 
 amount of duty on the same products if 
 brought i nto the Un ited States of America. 
 
 But I can say to the honorable Delegate 
 that if he differs from the representatives 
 of the United States on commercial and 
 industrial details, I am sure he differs as 
 a friend. In another and important, I 
 might say the most important, iield of the 
 Conference, that of substituting arbitra- 
 tion for war as a means of adjusting in- 
 ternational disputes, the honorable Dele- 
 gates from the Argentine Republic and 
 from the United States of Brazil, power- 
 ful and progressive nations, representing 
 an advanced civilization, have not only 
 taken the best course to insure the poli- 
 tical independence of the Republics of 
 of America, but they have done more to 
 establish confidence, which is the basis of 
 all commerce, than could be accomplished 
 by any otber measure which could be 
 proposed in this Conference. We wel- 
 come them as coworkers in that great 
 cause which aims to banish war from all 
 America, and by America's great example 
 to discourage it throughout the world. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pena, a Delegate from the 
 
 . Argentine asked that Mr. Flint's remarks 
 
 be translated as soon as possible, and Mr. 
 
 los derechos sobre los productos Sud- 
 Americanos que hoy estdn gravados con 
 el arancel, por medio de tratados de re- 
 ciprocidad coraercial honrosos y e<iuita- 
 tivos. 
 
 H^ae acusado frecuenteraente ^ los Es- 
 tados Unidos de ser iliberal en sus rela- 
 ciones comerciales con las naciones de la 
 America del Sud, en comparacidn de la 
 conducta que observau los palses de 
 Europa. Yo le pregunto S. mi distinguido 
 amigo si puede citarme uno 6 varios palsea 
 europeos, que comprando productos de la 
 America Central y del Sud, por valor de 
 $120,000,000 graven con derechos una 
 proporcidn tan pequena de las importa- 
 ciones. Mi ilastrado colega se ha referido 
 al comercio do la America del Snd con 
 Francia y Alemania. En el escaso tiempo 
 que he tenido disponible no he podido 
 procurarme estadlsticas exactas ; pero 
 alin sin esos dates me creo justificado 
 para declarar que si todos los productos 
 que exportan las naciones independientes 
 del Sud fueran enviados & Francia 6 
 Alemania pagarian dobles derechos que 
 si los mismos prodnctos fuesen importa- 
 dos en los Estados Unidos de America. 
 
 Puedo, con todo, manifestar al honora- 
 ble delegado quo si sus opiniones difierea 
 de las delosreprcsentantes de los Estados 
 Unidos, en detalles 6 pormenores comer- 
 ciales 6 industriales, seguro estoy de que 
 dificren amistosamente. En otro terreno 
 importante de la Conferencia, el m^s im- 
 portante puedo decir, la sustitucidn de la 
 guerra con el arbitraje como medio de 
 zanjar las oontroversias internacionales, 
 los honorables delegados de la Eepublica 
 Argentina y los Estados Unidos del Brasil, 
 que representan naciones poderosas y pro- 
 gresivas en un estado muy adelantado de 
 civilizacidn, no s61o ban seguido el mejor 
 sendero para asegurar la indepondencia 
 pdblioa de las Repliblicas de America, 
 sine que han hecho va&s para establecer 
 la conflanza, base del comercio, que lo que 
 pudiera hacer cualquiera otra medida en 
 esta Conferencia. Les damos pues la 
 bienvenida como cooperadores en la gran 
 causa que tiende & destcrrar la guerra de 
 America, y con el ejempio de America, & 
 desterrarla del mundo entero. 
 
 El Senor Sabnz Pbna, delegado por la 
 Repiiblica Argentina, pidi6 que se le 
 tradujese el discurso del Senor Flint, tan 
 
342 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Guzmau, a Delegate from Nicarajjaa, sug- 
 gested that the discussion be suspended 
 until all matters pertaining thereto had 
 been translated, and that the Conference 
 take up the next subject on the order of 
 the day. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 opposed the suggestion, but Mr. Hender- 
 son, a Delegate from the United States, 
 stated that he desired to become ac- 
 quainted with the speeches which had 
 not yet been translated, as he might wish 
 to make some remarks upon them. He 
 added that in his opinion, although he 
 did not wish in any sense to criticise the 
 form of the minority I'ef ort, yet it might 
 be betteT if the language were more re- 
 sponsive to the act of Congress which had 
 suggested the consideration of the sub- 
 ject, which is not limited to a, customs 
 union, but to encourage such reciprocal 
 commercial relations as will be found 
 beneficial to all and secure more extensive 
 markets for the products of each of said 
 countries. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pena, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, stated that he did not wish 
 to delay the Business of the Conference, 
 and if it was desired to terminate the 
 matter and proceed to vote upon it at 
 once he would not object to this being 
 done ; and he added in answer to Mr. 
 Henderson that what that honorable gen- 
 tleman had- read was in the preamble of 
 the convening act, but that Article II of 
 the same determined the objects of the 
 Conference, and fixed the nature of the 
 subjects to be considered in the same man- 
 ner as he had done in his speech. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 sent to the Chair the following amend- 
 ment, signed by himself and his col- 
 league, Mr. Saenz Pena, to the conclusion 
 of the minority report : 
 
 " Eesolved, That the American customs 
 union is considered impracticable. 
 "Jos]5 Alfonso. 
 " EoQUE Sabnz PeSa." 
 
 Mr. ESTBE, a Delegate from the United 
 States, moved that the discussion be sus- 
 
 prouto oomo fuese posible; y con este 
 motive, el Sefior Guzman, delegado por 
 Nicaragua, sugiri6 quo se suspendiese la 
 discuti6u del asunto hasta que todos los 
 documentos relatives al mismo se hubie- 
 sen traducido, y quo la Conferencia podia 
 eutretanto ocuparsedel asunto inmediato 
 eu la 6rden del dia. 
 
 El Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 se opuso a esta indicacidn ; pero el Senor 
 Henderson, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, manifesto quo desearia enterarse 
 de los disoursos,*que no estaban todavia 
 traduoidos, pues que tal vez tendria que 
 hacer algunas obsorvaoiones. 
 
 Agreg6 el Senor Henderson, que Sj sn 
 parecer, y sin que por ello se entendlese 
 que intentaha en ningun niodo critioar la 
 forma de expresi6n del dictamen de la 
 miuoria, tal vez seria mSiS couveniente 
 poner en armonia dicho dictamen con la 
 recomendaci6n que se contiene en el Acta 
 del Congi-eso que coavoc6 la Conferencia, 
 que no estS limitada & la Uoi6n Aduanera, 
 sino al estudio de raedidas que se estiraeu 
 calculadas d, fomontar aquellas relacionea 
 conierciales reclprocas que scan prove- 
 chosas para todos, y asegurar mercados 
 mas oxtensos para los produotos de cada 
 nno de los parses representados. 
 
 El Senor Saenz PeSa, delegado por la 
 Republica Argentina, manifest6 que no 
 tenia el deseode detencr & la Conferencin, 
 y que si esta deseaba poner t6rmino iil 
 asunto, y proceder A tomar el voto desde 
 luego, no opoudria ninguna objeci6n S, 
 que asi se hiciese. Agreg6 en respuesta 
 al Sefior Henderson quelo que este Senor 
 habia leido estaba en el preSmbulo del 
 Acta de convocaci6n, pero que el artlculo 
 2" de la misma habia precisado los ohjetos 
 de la Conferencia, y fijado las ideas y las 
 proposiciones, en el sentido & que se habia 
 referido en su discnrso. 
 
 El Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 envi6, entonces ^ la Mesa, firmada por 61 
 y sn colega el Senor Saenz Pefia, la si- 
 guiente modificaci6n it la conclusito del 
 dictamen de la rainorla : 
 
 " Besuelve: Considerar impracticable la 
 Uni6n aduanera americana. 
 "Alfonso. 
 "RoQDE Saenz Pena." 
 
 El SeSor Estbb, delegado por los Esta. 
 dos Unidos, hizo Tnoci6n para que se sus- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEfiENCE. 
 
 343 
 
 pended, and that the Conference take up 
 the report of the Committee on Communi- 
 cation on the Gulf of Mexico and Carib- 
 bean Sea, which is in order, but Mr. Ro- 
 mero suggested that it would be well to 
 wait until the other reports on the Atlan- 
 tic and Pacific had been seen, as the sub- 
 jects were analogous ; which was agreed 
 to. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pena requested that, as It 
 would probably take a day to translate 
 Mr. Flint's speech, the further discussion 
 of the report of the Committee on Cus- 
 toms Union be postponed until Wed- 
 nesday, the 19th instant, and it was so 
 agreed. 
 
 On the motion of Mr. Henderson, a 
 Delegate from the United States, the 
 Conference adjourned at 5.20 p. m. to 
 meet to-morrow, the 18th instant, at the 
 usual hour. 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Second Vice-President. 
 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 F. C. C. ZEGAEiiA, 
 
 Ptrn, 
 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 jos^ m. hurtado, 
 Carlo.1 Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Caldeb6n, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublic. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Josifi S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valbnte, 
 Salvador de Mendon^a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 
 Jfi!<.'>nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 
 Enrique A. MexJa, 
 Mexico. 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 
 pendieso la discusidn de este asunto, y 
 qne empezaso la del diotamen de la Comi- 
 si6n de Comunioaciones por el Golfo de 
 Mexico y el mar Caribe. Pero el Sefior 
 Romero 8ugiri6 que seria bueno esperar 
 & que se conociesen los dictamenes de las 
 otras Comisi6ne8 de Comunioaciones por 
 el Atliintico, y por el Pacffico, por ser 
 asuntos an^logos, y iiello se aocedid. 
 
 El SeSor Saenz PbSa, delegado por la 
 Reptiblica Argentina, ilijo que comopro- 
 bablemente la traduccirin del discurso del 
 Senor Flint tomaria cuando m^nos un dia, 
 le parecia conveniente suspender la dis- 
 cu8i6n del asunto deUni6n adnanerahasta 
 el mi^rcoles 19 del corriente. Y asl se dis- 
 puso. 
 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados UnldoB, propuso que se levantase 
 la sesi6n, para continuarla el dia si- 
 guiente ^ la hora de costumbre, y se 
 acordd de conformidad. 
 
 Se levant(5 la sesidn S, las cinco y veinte 
 minutos de la tarde. 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Segundo Viceprcaidente.. 
 Horacio GczmjIn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOS:6 M. HURTADO, 
 
 CiRLos Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Caldbr6n, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 JosiS S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 3. G. DO Amaral Valbntk, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brasili 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 
344 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 John B. Hknderson, 
 Clement Studebakek, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry 6. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLBT PBUAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Josi?; Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 Josli Maria PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker. 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 MuKRis M. Estkb, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Ustadoa Unidos. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PKBAZA, 
 
 Vevezuela. 
 
 Emilio C. Vauas, 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 C/iite. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josj5 MarIa PlXcido Caamano, 
 
 JScuador. 
 
FORTY-SIXTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 46 
 
 Washington, March 18, 1890. 
 The International American Confer- 
 ence was called to order at 3.15 p. m by 
 the First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Zb- 
 GARRA, a Delegate from Peru, followed 
 by Mr. M. Romero, Second Vice-Presi- 
 dent, with the following Delegates pres- 
 ent : 
 
 Niearagna: 
 
 Mr. Horatio Gnznjan. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Gnatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Crnz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hnrtado, 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Eepablic : 
 
 Mr. Koque Saenz Pena, 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Mannel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud, 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. .J. G. do Amaral Valente 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendoufii, 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomoro, 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Uni ted States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson, 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker, 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot, 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 SesitSn del IH <?e Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zbgabra, 
 delegado por el Peril, seguido par el Senor 
 M. Romero, Segundo Vicepresidente, es- 
 tando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perfi: 
 
 El Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Crnz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hnrtado : 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roquo Saenz Pena; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Mannel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 S. Decond. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonfa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 EI Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde ; 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr, T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 345 
 
346 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Erailio C. Varas, 
 
 Mr. Joa6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 Mr. JosS Maria Pl^cido Caamafio. 
 
 The Chair announced that Mr. Flint, 
 a Delrgate from the United States, who 
 had read a speech at the la.st session, had 
 sent a note to the Secretaries that he had 
 taken his speech to New York, but would 
 return it shortly. It had, cousequently, 
 been impossible for the Secretaries to in- 
 sert the same in the minutes, as Mr. Flint 
 had requested should be done. The Chair 
 asked if it be the wish of the Conference 
 that the minutes be read in this incom- 
 plete form. 
 
 A long debate followed, during which 
 Messrs. Saenz Pena, Varas, Quiutana, 
 Bolet Peraza, Guzman, Henderson, Ro- 
 mero, and Estee spoke, and it was decided 
 that the reading of.the minutes of the 
 last session shonld be suspended until Mr. 
 Flint's speech had been inserted. 
 
 The minutes of the forty-fourth day 
 were then read, approved, and signed by 
 the Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a, Delegate from Mexico, 
 stated that he noticed several incorrec- 
 tions in his remarks as reported in the 
 minutes, which the Chair ordered to be 
 corrected. 
 
 Mr. EsTBB, a Delegate from the United 
 States, presented the following motion, 
 requesting that the rules be suspended in 
 order that it might be immediately con- 
 sidered : 
 
 "Resolved, That in reading the minutes 
 of the Conference the Secretary shall only 
 read the actual proceeding of the Confer- 
 ence, and omit reading the speeches of 
 Delegates, which may be attached there- 
 to." 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 El Sr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 El Sr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria PWcido Caam- 
 auo. 
 Se abrid la sesidn S, las tres y quince 
 minutes de la'tarde. 
 
 El Senor Presidente anunci6 que el 
 Senor Flint, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, que en la sesi6n anterior habia 
 leido un discurse j pedido su insercifin 
 en el acta, se lo habia llevado ^ Ne w York 
 y escrito S, los Secretaries que lo devol- 
 veria desde aquella ciudad : y qne por 
 consiguiente los Secretaries habian teuido 
 que dejar el acta incouipleta en ese par- 
 ticular. Pregunt6 por lo tanto ^ la Con- 
 ferencia, si era de procederse 6 no S la 
 lectura del acta en la forma incompleta 
 en que se eucontraba. 
 
 Suscit6se con este motive nn largo 
 debate en que tomaron parte los Senores 
 Saenz Pefla, Varas, Quintana, Bolet 
 Peraza, Henderson, Romero y Estee ; y se 
 lleg6 S, la decisidn de que se suspendiese 
 la lectura del acta hasta que pudiese 
 ponerse en ella el discurso del Senor Flint. 
 
 Se ley6 en seguida el acta No. 44, y fu^ 
 aprobada y firmada por los Senores Dele- 
 gados presentes, habieudo antes expnesto 
 el Senor Romero, delegado por Mexico, las 
 incorrecciones principales qne encoutrfi 
 en sn discurso tal como se habian trans* 
 crito, las en alesorden6 el Sefior Presidente 
 que se enmendesen en el orden debido. 
 
 El Sefior Esteb, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, envid S, la Mesa el signiente 
 proyecto de resolucidn : 
 
 " Se resaelve ; Que al dar cuenta con el 
 acta, los Secretaries leerSn s61o lo relative 
 S, lo oourrido enlaConferenciay omitir^n 
 los discursos de los Delegados que sse hay an 
 agregado ^ dicha acta." 
 
IKTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 347 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argeutine, having objected to the suspen- 
 sion of the rules for the immediate con- 
 sideration of the above, the Chair ordered 
 it referred to the Committee on Rules. 
 
 The CnAin stated that the order of the 
 day called for the discussion of the report 
 of the Committee on Port Dues, which 
 was as follows: 
 
 Pidi(3 el Senor EsTEB el unsinime con- 
 sentimiento de la Couferencia para dis 
 pensar el tr^mite de Comisi6n, y que su 
 proposici6n se discutiese en el acto; pero 
 habi^ndose opueslo a ello el Sefior Quin- 
 tana, delegado per la Reptiblica Argen- 
 tina, se determine que la proposici6u del 
 Seiior Estee pasase &, informe de la Co- 
 misi6n de Reglamento. 
 
 El Scuor Presidbntk anunci6ensegni- 
 da, que con arreglo & la 6rdeu del dia, 
 debia procerterse & la discusirtu del dic- 
 tamen de la Comisidu de Derechos de 
 Puerto, cuyo tenor es el siguiento : 
 
 Report ot" Committee on Port Dues. 
 
 POET CHARGES. 
 
 According to the data and information 
 obtained by the committee the dues or 
 charges at present imposed as port charged 
 by the nations represented in the Confer- 
 ence are the following: 
 
 Mooring, anchorage, pilotage, bill of 
 health, lighterage, port, receipt and man- 
 ifest, captain of the port, scaling, taking 
 and discharging cargo, telegraphing, en- 
 try, tonnage, light-house, sanitary in- 
 spection, toll for passing forts, fine for 
 lack of papers, hospital, fine for the ab- 
 sence from the ship of any officer of the 
 national marine, crew list, and wharfage. 
 
 The table annexed to this report sets 
 forth specifically which and how many of 
 the charges included in the foregoing list 
 are demanded by the nations respect- 
 ively, and the amount of each of them. 
 
 It is obvious that there is no uniform- 
 ity either as respects the kind of charges 
 impose d upon ships or as to the amount 
 which has to be paid. 
 
 Thus, for example, while in the ports 
 of one country vessels must pay wharf- 
 age, pilotage, tonnage, anchorage, light- 
 house dues, admissiim fee, crew list fee, 
 bill of health charges, port charges, and 
 the fees of the captain of the port ; in 
 another country only the entry fee and 
 tonnage are exacted. 
 
 The inequalities in respect to the 
 amount of charges of the same kind are 
 likewise considerable. Thus, for exam- 
 ple, the tonnage charges in the several 
 
 Informe de la Comisi6n de Derecuos 
 DB Puerto. 
 
 DERECHOS DE PUERTO. 
 
 Segnn los datos 6 informes obtenidog 
 por la Comisidn, las cargas 6 gravimene& 
 que actualmente existen como derechos de 
 puerto en las naoiones representadas en 
 la Conferenoia, son las siguientes: 
 
 Amarraje, anolaje, boleta de sanidad, 
 cabarraje, capitan de puerto, carga y des- 
 carga, entrada, faro, fuerte (pase de), hos- 
 pital, licenciaderecibo, listadelatripula- 
 ci6n, muellaje, pilotage, puerto, recibo y 
 manifiesto, sello, tel^grafo, tonelaje, visita 
 de sanidad, derecho por falta de doou- 
 mentos, derecho por falta de un oflcial de 
 la marina nacional abordo. 
 
 En el cuadro adjunto & esttf informe se 
 especifica cuales y ouantos de los grav^- 
 menes comprendidos en la nomenclatura 
 precedente tiene establecidos cada nacion 
 y el monto de cada nno de ellos. Es 
 facil constatar que no hay uniformidad ni 
 en la natnraleza del gravamen que se 
 impone & las naves ni en la cantidad que 
 debe pagarse. 
 
 Asi, por ejemplo, mientras en los pner- 
 tos de un pais las naves deben pagar 
 derecho de muelle, pilotaje, tonelaje, a'n- 
 claje, faro, lioencia de recibo, lista de 
 tripulaoi6n, boleta de sanidad, derechos 
 de puerto y pago del capitan del puerto; 
 en otros solo se exije el de recibo de la 
 nave y tonelaje. 
 
 Las desigual (lades en el monto del 
 gravamen por derechos de la misraa 
 naturaleza son tambien considerables; 
 asi, por ejemplo, el derecho de tonelaje 
 
348 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 American nations varies from one dollar 
 10 three cents per ton. 
 
 The committee helieves that port 
 charges could be made uniform, without 
 injury to the services to which they re- 
 late, by reducing them all to a single kind, 
 tonnage. 
 
 Almost all the charges iraposrfd being 
 based upon the capacity or burden of the 
 ship, and the compensation for the vari- 
 ous services rendered to the latter being 
 proportioned to its registered t )nnage^ 
 the varied and inconvenient nomencla- 
 ture now in use not only makes it neces- 
 sary to ascertain (not always without dif- 
 ficulty) which and how many of the 
 charges are exacted in a given country, 
 but likewise makes it difficult for mer- 
 chants to estimate the expenses of a ship 
 in the execution of a charter -party. 
 
 The committee is furthermore of opin- 
 ion that it would greatly stimulate navi- 
 gation and promote the interests of com- 
 merce, without seriously affecting the 
 public revenues of our respective coun- 
 tries, to fix the charge which we have 
 specified at ten cents per ton ; such charge 
 to be paid only once during the year. 
 
 The payment of these dues would of 
 course not cover expert or other services 
 rendered to a ship by private persons, 
 such services being provided for by pri- 
 vate contracts or by schedules arranged 
 with reference to the laws or ordinances 
 of the country particularly in question ; 
 nor would such tonnage cover such serv- 
 ices as those of wharfage or dockage or 
 docks not open to general use without 
 compensation ; for the charge in question 
 includes only the payments exacted from 
 vessels by the authorities by way of dues. 
 
 The committee would have asked the 
 Conference to recommend the complete 
 abolition of all port dues or charges in 
 the interest of navigation and commerce, 
 believing that the exactions so dispensed 
 with would be more than made up in the 
 cheapness of transportation and the re- 
 duction of theprice of merchandise ; but 
 it (the committee) having been commis- 
 sioned only to indicate a method for 
 making port charges uniform, it has not 
 felt authorized to formulate such arecom- 
 inendation. 
 
 que se exije en los puertos de todas las 
 naciones americanas varia desde un peso 
 hasta tres centavos por tonelada. 
 
 La Comisidn creo que se obtendria el 
 resultado de uniforniar los distintos dere- 
 chos de puerto, sin perjudicar los servicios 
 & que ellos se refieren, reduci^udolos ^ uno 
 solo : al derecho de tonelaje. 
 
 Basados casi la totalidad de los gravd- 
 menes en la capaoidad de la nave y rela- 
 cion^ndose la retribucidn do los diversos 
 servicios ptiblicos que se le presten, con el 
 niimero do toiteladas de rejistro, la varia- 
 da y engorrosa nomenclatura actual no 
 solo impone la tarea, no siempre f^cil, de 
 conocer cuales y cuantos de ellos oxisfceu 
 en cada pais, sino que difioulta al comer- 
 cio el poder apreciar los gastos de una 
 nave para los efectos de los contratos de 
 fletamento. 
 
 La Coinisidn cree, tambien, que se 
 daria un impulso eticaz S, la navegacidn, 
 y que se favorecerian los intereses del 
 comeroio, sin iraponer un gravamen sensi- 
 ble al erario nacional de nuestros palses, 
 fljando el derecho que hemes indicado en 
 diez centavos por tonelada, cuyo derecho 
 se pagaria una sola vez en el afio. 
 
 El page de este derecho no comprende, 
 como es natural, los servicios de practice, 
 1i otros prestados & una nave por la in- 
 dustria privada, los cuales se rijen por 
 convenciones particulares, 6 por tarifas 
 fijadas con arreglo S, las leyes, 6 Regla- 
 mentos de cada pals, ni comprende tam- 
 poco servicios como el de mnelles 6 diir- 
 senasnodestinadossin retribucidn al uso 
 comnn; pues tal derecho se refiere S, las 
 cargas impuestas ^ las naves por la au- 
 toridad can el car^oter de contribuoiones. 
 
 La Comisidnhabria propuesto SJlaCou- 
 ferencia se recomendase la completa su- 
 presi<5n de todo gravamen 6 derecho de 
 puerto en favor de la navegaci6n y del 
 comercio, en la convicoi6n de que tales 
 excepciones serian compensadas por la 
 baratura del trasporte y la ieducci6n del 
 precio de las mercaderfas ; pero limitada 
 por su cometido ^ indicar la manera de 
 uniformar aquellos derechos, no se ha 
 considerado autorizada para formularla. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 349 
 
 The cominitfeo, accordingly, has the 
 honor to propose that it bo recommended 
 to the Governments of the several nations 
 represented in this Conference — 
 
 First. That all the charges imposed 
 upon vessels as port dues shall bo reduced 
 to a single one, to be known as tonnage 
 dues. 
 
 Second. That the amount to be so 
 charged shall not exceed 10 cents per 
 registered ton, pivyable once a year. For 
 the purposes of such payment tbe year to 
 be deemed as beginning on the Ist day of 
 Jaunary and ending on the 31st day of 
 December. 
 
 Third. That a ship which shall have 
 paid tonnage dues in one port, shall be 
 exempt from such dues in every other 
 port of the same nation, on presenting a 
 certificate of payment issued by the au- 
 thority concerned. 
 
 Fourth. That the following shall be 
 exempt from tonnage dues : 
 
 1. Ships of war and traiispbrts. 
 
 2. Ships of less than 25 tons burden. 
 
 3. Ships which have been obliged to 
 enter port, owing to damages received 
 at sea. 
 
 Washington, March .5, 1890. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLBT PeKAZA. 
 
 Emilio C. Varas. 
 Clement Studebakkr. 
 
 En cousecucncia, tiene el honor depro- 
 poner se recomieude ^ los Gobiernos de 
 las naciones representadas en la Confe- 
 rencia — 
 
 Primero. Que todas las cargas queafec- 
 ten Sj las naves por derechos de puerto, 
 se comprendan en un solo gravamen quo 
 se llamarii; dereoho de tonelaje. 
 
 Segutido. Que el monto del gravamen 
 no exceda de diez centavos porcada tone- 
 lada de registro, el oualsepagard; una vez 
 al alio. Para los efectos delpago el alio 
 se entendorii empezado el dia 1 de Enero 
 y terniinado el 31 de Diciembre. 
 
 Tercero. Quelanave quehubierepagado 
 la contribuci6n en un puerto queda exi- 
 mida de efectuarlo en otros do la niisma 
 naci6u, presentando certificado de pago 
 otorgado por la autoridad correspon- 
 diente. 
 
 Cuarto. Que quedan exentos del pago 
 de esa contribucidn : 
 
 (1) Los buques de guerra y trasportes. 
 
 (2) Los que midan menos de veinte y 
 cinco toneladas. 
 
 (3) Los que por haber sufrido averias 
 se vean obligados S, arribar d, los puertos. 
 
 Washington, Marzo 5 de 1890. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Emilo C. Vahas, 
 Clemunt Studkbakk.b. 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE HEPORT OF THE COM- 
 MITTEE OV PORT DUES. 
 
 POBT OHABQES OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 MEXICO, CENTRAL AND SOVTB AUEK- 
 lOA. 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 
 Wharfage of the Riaohuelo, from 4 to 5 
 cents per ton. 
 
 Port dues of entry, 10 cents to 60 cents 
 per t on only for entrance. Steamers pay 
 one-half. 
 
 Pilotage (compulsory), $40 to |130 and 
 $50 to $150, according to distance. 
 
 Light-house, 8 cents per ton. 
 
 Captain of port, $20. 
 
 Health visit, $25. 
 
 Bill of health, $25. 
 
 Port dues, national or nationalized, $3; 
 foreign, $4. 
 
 Note.— The ArgftDLino Cougress made many 
 importaDt clianges in 1888, 
 
 apiJndice al dictamen de la comisi6n 
 
 SOIiRE derechos de PUERTO. 
 
 derechos de pverto de los esta- 
 dos tjnidos, mj^xioo, america del 
 sud t central. 
 
 RepiJblica Argentina. 
 
 Muellaje del Riachuelo de cuatro ii cinco 
 centavos por tonelada ; derechos de en- 
 trada de puerto, do 10 S. 60 centavos por 
 tonelada, por entrada solamento. Los 
 vapores pagan la mitad. Pilotajo de $40 
 & $130 y de $50 d $150, segun la distan- 
 cia : es obligatorio. Faro, 8 centavos por 
 tonelada; capitan de puerto, $20 ; visita 
 de sanidad, $25 ; bold a de sauidad, $25 ; 
 derechos de puerto, $3 para baroos nacio- 
 nales 6 nacionalizados; $4 para los ex- 
 trangeros. 
 
 NOTA.— El Con^reeo Argentine hebecho muchos 
 cambios iiupr rtantes en 1888 
 
350 
 
 INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Bhazil. 
 
 Port and custoni-lioiise legnlatioiis are 
 very explicit and rigorously enforced, not 
 only to prevent disorder and preserve 
 health, but to check smuggling. 
 
 Consular legalization for vessel of 200 
 tons and under, $6.75. 
 The maximum charge is |15.75. 
 
 Authenticating crew list and bill of 
 health, $2.25. 
 
 Consular passport, $2.25. 
 
 No vessel is allowed to remain in port 
 more than fifteen working days unless 
 for some good reason, when she is granted 
 an extension of ten days, after which she 
 must pay a fine of 200 milreis per ton. 
 
 Anchorage, 25 cents per Brazilian ton, 
 which is an increase of 33 per cent, over 
 an American ton. Vessels in free pratique 
 only pay 20 reis per metrical ton. 
 
 The general charges in the principal 
 ports of the Republic are as follows : 
 
 Rio pb Janeiro. 
 
 Light and anchorage dues are collect- 
 ible only six times in any one year. 
 
 Port dues : three-masted vessels, 12,800 
 reis; two-masted vessels, 9,600 reis. 
 
 Seal dues, 40 reis for each mast. 
 
 Hospital dues : vessels of three masts, 
 600 reis; vessels of two masts, 400 reis. 
 Each man on board, 400 reis. Visit of 
 doctor, 8,200 reis. If vessel is sent into 
 quarantine when it enters into free pra- 
 tique, 8,200 reis. 
 
 The official charges on a foreign vessel 
 of 320 tons is about 210 milreis. 
 
 Pbrnambuco. 
 
 Pilotage compulsory : Varies, according 
 to capacity of the vessel, from 11,000 to 
 34,000 reis, and 1,C00 reis more for each 
 additional 50 tons. 
 
 Light-house dues, from 20,000 to 50,000 
 reis, according to tonnage of vessel. 
 
 Fort pass, 6,000 reis. 
 
 Brasil. 
 
 Los reglamentos de puertos y de aduana 
 sou muy explicitos, y su cumplimiento se 
 exigecon rigor, nosoloparaimpedirdesdr- 
 denes y conservar la salud pdblica, sine 
 para impedir el contrabando. 
 
 Legalizaci6n consular. — Por bnqnes de 
 200 toneladas, 6 menos, $6.75 ; de mas de 
 200 toneladas, £3 38. ($15.75). El derecho 
 mas alto es $15.75. 
 
 Autenticaci6n de la lista de la tripula- 
 ci<5n y boleta de sanidad, cada una $2.25, 
 
 Pasaporte ccmsiilar, $2.25. 
 
 A los buqnes solo se les permite perma- 
 necer eu puerto durante quince dias de 
 trabajo, con una pr6roga de diez dias mas ; 
 despues de la cual pagan diariamente un 
 derecho de 200 mil reis por cada tonela. 
 
 Anclaje. — 25 centavos por cada tonelada 
 brasilera, que es como un 30 por ciento 
 mayor que la americaua. Los bnques 
 en franquicia solo pagan 20 reis por tone- 
 lada m^trica. 
 
 Los derechos generales en los princi- 
 pales puertos de la Repllblica son como 
 sigae : 
 
 Rio Janeiro. 
 
 Los derechos de anclaje y faro solo se 
 cobran seis voces en el aBo. 
 
 Derechos de puerto. — Buqnes de tres 
 palos, 12,800 reis ; idem de dos palos, 9,600 
 reis. 
 
 Derechos de sello. — Reis 40 por cada 
 palo. 
 
 Derechos de hospital. — Barcos de tres 
 palos, 600 reis ; idem de dos palos, 400 
 reis; cada hombre S, bordo, 400 reis; 
 visita del medico, 8,230 reis. Si el buque 
 fn(5 puesto en cuarentena, pagar^ cnando 
 entre & libre pliitica, 8,200 reis. 
 
 La totalidad de los derechos oficiales 
 que se hacen pagar & un buque extran- 
 gero de 320 toneladas mas 6 menos asoi- 
 ende & 210 milreis. 
 
 Pbrnambuco. 
 
 Pilotaje. Es compulsorio y variable Be- 
 gun el calado del buque, de 11,000 S, 
 34,000 reis, y 1,000 reis mas por cada 50 
 toneladas adicionales. 
 
 Faro.— De 20,000 S, 50,000 reis, segun 
 las toneladas del buque. 
 
 Pase de fnerte, 6,000 reis. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 351 
 
 Hospital charges: Vessel of three 
 masts, 6,000 reis; vessel of two masts, 
 4,000 reis ; each person of crew, 640 reis. 
 
 Stamp dues: Oq outward freight to 
 Brazilian ports, on each 1,000 milreis 2 
 milreis; from ports of Brazil, 4 milreis. 
 
 Translation of manifest : First three 
 pages, 5 milreis; each additional page, 3 
 milreis. 
 
 Notarial signature, 5 milreis. 
 
 Bill of health, 2 uiilrels. 
 
 Wharfage : For each meter of vessel's 
 length, 400 reis per diem while vessel is 
 loading ; when idle, 200 reis per diem. 
 
 Mooring compulsory : Mooring boats, 
 8 milreis; pay of crew, 4 milreis. 
 
 Eio Grande do Sul. 
 
 The official charges on vessels of 245 
 tons, including pUotage, would be about 
 255,380 reis. 
 
 Chili. 
 
 Crew list, $2. 
 
 Hospital, 10 cents per registered ton, 
 payable but one time yearly; but if port 
 is entered after December, 10 cents addi- 
 tional per ton. 
 
 Colombia. 
 
 Tonnage, $1 ; pilotage, ^.'i to $10 : har- 
 bor dues, $(>; light-house, 5 cents per ton 
 register for first 100 tons, and 2^ cents per 
 ton additional. 
 
 Vessels that come from other ports of 
 the Republic only pay one-half. Mail 
 steamers do not pay port dues. In Pan- 
 ama wharfage rRnges from 75 cents to 
 $3.75 per ton, according to tonnage of 
 vessels. 
 
 Costa Kioa. 
 
 Foreign steamers are free of tonnage, 
 and only pay $25 for entering and clear- 
 ing. Sail-vessels pay 25 cents per ton reg- 
 ister and $10 for entry and clearance. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Wh arfage, from $8 to $18 per ton. Pi 1 ot- 
 age, from $2 to $2.50 per Spanish foot. 
 
 Cargas de hospital. — Buqnes de dos 
 palos, 4,000 reis ; de tres palos, 6,000 reis ; 
 cada iiidividuo de la tripulaoi6n, 640 reis. 
 
 Derechos de sello. — Sobre cargaextran- 
 gera traida & puortos del Brasil : por cada 
 1,000 milreis, 2 milreis ; llevada de puer- 
 tos del Brasil (i puerlos extrangeros, 4 
 milreis. 
 
 Tiaducci6u del manifiesto. — Las tres 
 primeras pdiginas, 5 milreis, y cada p^gina 
 adicional 3 milreis. 
 
 Firma del notario, 5 milreis. 
 
 Boleta de saoidad, 2 milreis. 
 
 Muell.aje.^Por cada metro de lougitud 
 que mida el buque, 400 reis diaries, miou- 
 tras el buque est-6 cargando, y 200 reis 
 cuando estiS sin hacer nada. 
 
 Amarra. Es compulorio: bote de am- 
 arra, 8 milreis; tripulaoifiu, 4 milreis. 
 
 Eio Grande del Sud. 
 
 Las cargas ofi^ciales que se imponen £C 
 un barco de 240 toneladas, incluso el pilo- 
 taje, ser^n, mas 6 menos, 255,380 rois. 
 
 Chiie. 
 
 Derechos de rol, $'i por cada buque ; 
 hospital, 10 centavos por tonelada de 
 registro, lo cual cubre el uso de otros 
 puertosenel mismo afio ; perosi el puerto 
 se usa despues de Dioiembre, 10 centavos 
 mas adlcionales por tonelada. 
 
 Colombia. 
 
 Tonelaje, $1 ; pilotaje de $5 d $10 ; de- 
 rechos de puerto, $6 ; faro, 5 centavos por 
 tonelada por las primeras 100 toneladas de 
 registro, y por las que exoedan 2^ oe u 1 avos. 
 
 Los buques que vienen de otros puer- 
 tos de la Reptiblica solo pagan la mitad. 
 Los vapores correos no pagun derechos 
 de puerto. En Panamfi hay derecho de 
 muelle & razon de 75 centavos d $3.75 
 segun las toneladas del barco. 
 
 Costa Eica. 
 
 Los vapores extrangeros no pagan tone- 
 laje y solo se les cobra $25 por derecho de 
 entrada y salida. Buques de vela pagan 
 25 centavos por tonelada de registro y |lu 
 por entrada y salida. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Mnella.|e c'e $S dl $18 por tonelada ; pilo- 
 taje, de $2 ^ $2.50 por pie espafiol ; tone- 
 
352 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ToJinage, 5u cents por ton. Aucborage, laje, 50 centavos por tonelada; auclaje, 
 $10. Light-bouse, 37^ cents per tou. |10; faro, 37^ centavos por tonelada. 
 Tbere is, in addition, captain of port, $4 ; Hay adomas : 
 
 permit of entry, |6 ; crew list, |1 ; bill of Pago al capitan del puerto |4.00 
 
 health, |8; harbor dues. $4. Licencia de recibo 6.00 
 
 Lista de tripalaci6n 1. 00 
 
 Boleta de sanidad 8. 00 
 
 Derechos de puerto 4. 00 
 
 ton, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Anchorage, $2 ; tonnage, 25 cents per 
 
 Hayti. 
 
 Tonnage, $1 per ton, if tbere is a recip- 
 rocal treaty; if not, $1.50. Wharfage, 1 
 per cent, on total dues payable by vessel. 
 Telegraph, $2 to support the line. Pilot- 
 age varies. Health visit, |5; bill of 
 health, |1. Entry, 6 cents per ton. Load- 
 ing vessel, 50 cents per ton. Anchorage, 
 $25 if leairing port within twenty-four 
 hours, and from |200 to |300 for privilege 
 of going to a second ijort. Hire of coach, 
 |2 per day. Interpreter, |4. 
 
 Honduras. 
 
 Manifest, |2. Tonnage, 25 cents per 
 ton. 
 
 Mexico. 
 
 Sail-vessels, $1 per ton; steamers, no 
 charge; vessels loaded with coal, no 
 charge. Light-house : Sail-vessels, |25 ; 
 steamers, $100 each entrance and $100 
 each clearance ; vessels loaded with coal, 
 $25. 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 Tonnage, 10 cents per ton. 
 age, $1 per ton. Pilotage, $£ 
 draught. 
 
 Lighter- 
 per foot 
 
 Paraguay. 
 
 Asuncion is the only port of Paraguay 
 open to foreign commerce. The treaty 
 of 1860 between the United States and 
 Paraguay grants free navigation to the 
 Paraguay Kiver to the flag of the United 
 States. Privileges of the most favored 
 nation are reciprocally guarantied, and 
 duties and port charges equalized with 
 same by national ships. 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 Anclaje, $2; tocelaje, 25 centavos por 
 tonelada. 
 
 • HAixf. 
 
 Tonelaje, $1 por tonelada, si hay tra- 
 tado reclproco; si no $1.50; muellaje, uno 
 por ciento sobre el total de derechos que 
 pague el barco ; tel6grafo, $2 para la con- 
 servacidn de la Ifnea : pilotage, variable ; 
 visitadu sanidad, $5; holetadesanidad, $1; 
 eptrada, 6 centavos por tonelada; carga, 
 50 centavos por tonelada ; anclage, $25 si 
 sale del puerto deutro de 24 boras, y de 
 $200 S, $300 por el privilejio de ir S, un 
 segundo puerto; alquilerde ooche, $2por 
 dia; int^rprete, $4. 
 
 Honduras. 
 
 Manifiesto, $2 ; tonelaje, 25 centavos por - 
 tonelada. 
 
 M:6xico. 
 
 Tenelaje, buques de vela, $1 por tone- 
 lada; vapores, iiada; buques cargados de 
 carbon, nada ; faro, buques de vela, $25 ; 
 vapores, $100 por cada entrada, y otros 
 tantos por cada salida ; buques cargados 
 de carbon, $25. 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 Tonelaje, 10 centavos por tonelada; 
 cabarraje, $1 por tonelada; pilotaje, $3 
 por cada pie de calado. 
 
 Paraguay. 
 
 La Asunci6n es el (iuico puerto del Pa- 
 raguay abierto al comercio exirangero. 
 El tratado de 1860 celebrado entro los 
 Estados Unidos y el Paraguay concede el 
 derecho de libre navegaci6n en el Rio 
 Paraguay S, la bandera de los Estados 
 Unidos. Garantlzanse en 61 los derechos 
 recfprooos de la naci6n mas favoreoida, y 
 se hacen iguales los derechos y cootribu- 
 ciones de puertos S, los que pagau los 
 buques nacionales. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 353 
 
 Peru. 
 
 Wharfage, 12 cents per tou entry, and 
 70 cents per tou on all cargo disoharged 
 or embarked. 
 
 Tonnage, 25 cents per ton every six 
 months. Light-house, IJ cents per ton 
 each time vessel enters. Hospital, 4 cents 
 per ton register every six months. 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 PBRtJ. 
 
 Muellaje, 18 cenfcavos jior tonelada al 
 entrar y 7,5 ccntavos por touelada sobre 
 toda la carga tomada ^ bordo 6 dcscar- 
 gadii ; tonelaje, 25 oentavos por tonelada, 
 pagado cada seis meses; faro, uno y un 
 cnarto de ceutavo por tonelada cada vei 
 que el buque entra al puorto; ho'iiital, 4 
 centavos por tonelada de rogistro cada 
 seis meses. 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 Entry, .$5 to $15. Tonnage, 15 cents Derecho de en trada, de $5 & $15; ton- 
 pcr ton. elaje, 15 centavos por tonelada. 
 
 United States of America. 
 
 Tonnage, 3 to (i cents, not to exceed 15 
 cents in any one year. Entry fee: Ves- 
 sels of 100 tons and upwards, |2.50 ; ves- 
 sels under 100 tons, $1.50. Clearauce: 
 Vessels of 100 tons and upwards, $2.50 ; 
 vessels under 108 tons, $1.50. Bill of 
 health, 20 cents. 
 
 Uruguay. 
 
 Tonnage, 10 cents per ton ; vessels com- 
 ing regularly, 4 cents i)er ton. Pilotage, 
 conventional but compulsory, varies from 
 $50 to $100 ; vessels from Buenos Ayres, 
 must carry pilot to Port Indio ; the price 
 varies according to draught, from $6 to $9. 
 Tonnage from beyond seas foreign vessels, 
 30 cents ; national vessels, 20 cents. Pra- 
 tique : Foreign vessels, $8 ; national ves- 
 sels, $2. Light-house, 4 cents per ton on 
 every vessel from or to places outside the 
 capes. Hospital, $2 for vessel, 40 cents for 
 captain, 20 cents for each seaman, and $1 
 for each passenger. 
 
 Paysandu. 
 
 Pilotage from Montevideo, $60 to $100. 
 Light dues, 15^ cents per ton. Custom- 
 house charges varies from $24 to $60 ; no- 
 tarial, $4.80 ; hill of health, $4 ; stamps, 
 $4 to $5. 
 
 A foreign vessel will probably pay $70 
 to $80. 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 Tonnage, 50 cents per ton, payable on 
 entry and on clearance. Pilotage, $4 per 
 23 I C 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
 Tonelaje, 3 £i centavos, sin que exceda 
 del5 centavos en el mismo auo. Eutrada, 
 buquesde 100 toneladas para arriba, $2.50; 
 buque de menos de 100 toneladas, $1.,50. 
 Salida, buques de 100 toneladas para ar- 
 riba, $2.50 ; buques de menos de 100 tone- 
 ladas, $1.50; boleta de sanidad, 20 cen- 
 tavos. 
 
 Uruguay. 
 
 Tonelaje, 10 centavos por tonelada ; 
 buques que arriban regularmeute, 4 cen- 
 tavos por tonelada ; pilotaje, conven- 
 cional en el precio pero obligatorio, varia 
 de $50 S, $100. Los buques que van de 
 Buenos Aires tieneu que llevar un piloto 
 & Puerto Indio, el precio varia, seguu el 
 calado del buque, de |6 & $9. Tonelage 
 de mar lejauo. Buques extrangeros 3 
 reales, buques nacionales, 2 reales ; prac- 
 tice, buque extrangero, $8; idem nacional, 
 $2 ; faro, 4 centavos por tonelada para los 
 buques que van 6 entran fuera de los 
 cabos; hospital, $2 por el barco, 4 reales 
 por el oapitau, 2 reales por cada mariuern, 
 $1 por cada pasagero. 
 
 Paisandu. 
 
 Pilotage de Montevideo, $60 i $100. 
 Faro, 15^ centavos por tonelada ; pages 
 deaduana variables de $24 <'i$60; uotarios 
 $4.80; boleta de sanidad, $4; sellos de $4 
 ^$5. 
 
 Un barco extrangero pagarii probable- 
 mente de $70 ^ $80. 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 Tonelaje, 50 centavos por tonelada 
 pagaderos^ la entraday ^ la salida; pilo- 
 
354 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMiiKICAN CONFKKENCE. 
 
 draught foot entry aud ou clearance. 
 Light-house, 6 cents per ton. Wharfage, 
 $4 to $40. These charges vary according 
 to port. There are other charges, such as 
 measuring, interpreter, doctor's visit, bill 
 of health, sea-pass, etc. 
 
 The Secretaries having read the conclu- 
 sion of the above report, the discussion 
 on the whole report was opened. 
 
 Mr. HUKTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, thought in the second recommenda- 
 tion of the conclusions of the report the 
 words ' ' by same vessel " should be added 
 after " payable once a year ; " but after the 
 explanation given by Mr. Varas, a Dele- 
 gate from Chill, and a member of the 
 Reporting Committee, the honorable Dele- 
 gate from Colombia expressed himself 
 satisfied. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 asked what tonnage had been selected by 
 the committee, whether gross or net, and 
 stated that three systems of net measure- 
 ment existed — the English, German, and 
 that adopted by certain countries repre 
 sented in the conference at Constanti 
 nople. 
 
 Mr. Vakas stated that the committee 
 had intended that the vessel's capacity 
 should be measured according to the 
 "registered tonnage' of the country 
 whose flag the ship carried, as set forth 
 in her papers. 
 
 Mr. Ar\gon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, approved of the committee's term 
 of "registered tonnage" as well chosen, 
 and stated that the Inteii„ui(iua1 Mari- 
 time Conference, which Jiad discussed. Ino 
 practicability if a uuitorm tonnage 
 measurement, had arrived ar, no conclu- 
 sion. He considered that in the fourth 
 recommendation, paragraph No. I, "ships 
 of war and transports," was liable to mis- 
 interpretation, as the word " transports" 
 had a wider signification in Spanish. 
 
 Mr. Vakas agreed, in the name of the 
 committee, to amend the paragraph as 
 follows: "Ships and transports of war." 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine, snggested that the report as a 
 
 taje, $4 por piedecaladoalentrary s.alir; 
 faro, 6 centavos por tonelada; muellaje, 
 $4 ^$40. Estos derechossnfren alguuas 
 variacionesseguu los pnertosde la Reptib- 
 lica en quese cobran. Hay, ademas, otros 
 dereclios denominados, de medici6n, pago 
 de int6rprete, visita del doctor, boleto de 
 sanidad, pasage al mar, etc. 
 
 Leidas que fueron por los Secretaries, 
 las conclusiones del anterior dictamen, se 
 le puso £i discusidn en globo. 
 
 El Senor Hurtado, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, sugirid*que en su concepto que- 
 darfa uids claralarecomendacidn segunda 
 del dictamen auadiendo las palabras "una 
 vez al anopor cadabuque ; " pero despnes 
 de las explicaciones hechas por el SeBor 
 Varas, delegado por Chile, y miembro do 
 la Comisidn informante desistio de su 
 indicacidn. 
 
 El Senor Rombro, delegado por Mexico, 
 preguntcS ^la Comisidn & qu6 clase de to- 
 nelada de registro se referia, puesto que 
 este expresada la tonelada en bruto y 
 tambien la ueta, aSadiendo que para 
 medirlatiltimahabia tres sistemas, deno- 
 minados la regla inglesa, la aleniana y la 
 adoptada en la Conferenciade Constauti- 
 nopla. 
 
 El Senor Varas contestd en nombre de 
 la Comisidn que esta se habia limitado S, 
 aceptar el principio de que la oapacidad 
 de los buques debia deterrainarse por la 
 medida ofioial constante en su registro. 
 
 El SeBor Arag6n, delegado por Costa 
 Rica, manifestd que en su opinidn los tdr- 
 minos en que estaba escrito el artlculo, y 
 la explicaoidn del Senor Varas, eran satis- 
 fiictorios; y agregd que en la Conferen- 
 cia marititna internaoional que habia cs- 
 tado en sesidn en esta ciudad se habiadis- 
 cutido el punto de la medida, y no se 
 habia podido llegar S, ningun resultado. 
 Le pareciai ademsis, que en la recomenda- 
 cidn cuarta, inoiso primero, la palabra 
 "transportes," era amblgua, pues podia 
 aplicarse tanto & buques ptiblicos como 
 privados. 
 
 El SeBor Varas en nombre de la (!onii- 
 sidn expusosuconformirlad ^que el inoiso 
 quedase redactado como sigue: 
 
 "Las naves y transportes de guerra." 
 
 El SeBor Quintata, delegado pm la 
 Eepliblioa Argentina, pidid que se i>ro- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 355 
 
 whole be now voted upon, and the various 
 rerouimendatious be then taken up sepa- 
 rately. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 agreed to the foregoing ; but he stated 
 that before voting it would be desirable, 
 for the salie of clearness and for the bene- 
 fit of conanierce, to adopt gross tonnage 
 as a basis, and 5 cents per ton gross. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra, desiring to join in the 
 debate, called Mr. Romero to the chair. 
 
 Mr. Zkgarra, a Delegate from Peru, re- 
 quested the committee to oliu]inate from 
 the appendix of the report the note hav- 
 ing reference to Peru, unless they had 
 weighty reasons for leaving it, in which 
 case he would like to be informed of them. 
 
 Mr. Varas, after explaining why the 
 note had been added, agreed to eliminate 
 it. 
 
 At the request of Mr. CaamaBo, a Dele- 
 gate from Ecuador, the same was done 
 with the note having reference to that 
 country in the said appendix. 
 
 Mr. Vakas explained that the appendix 
 had only been added in order to make the 
 subject more clear, and had been founded 
 on the only data available to the commit- 
 tee. He added that he himself would 
 propose that the statements on Paraguay 
 be modified in accordance with the official 
 data supplied by Mr. Decoud. 
 
 Mr. Decoud, a Delegate from Para- 
 guay, thanked Mr. Varas, and corrobo- 
 rated the correction. He desired it to be re- 
 corded that in addition to Asuncion there 
 were in his country other ports open to 
 foreign trade, and that the navigation of 
 the rivers was free. 
 
 The note relative to port dues in Para- 
 guay, road by Mr. Varas, is as follows: 
 
 PARAGUAY. 
 
 Manifest of discharge of vessels coming 
 from foreign ports : 
 Not exceeding 50 tons $5 
 
 cediese H votar y aprobar el dictamen en 
 globo, dejando para la discnsidn por 
 artlculos las observaciones que corres- 
 pondiesen. 
 
 C on esto, dijo el SeHor Romero, que es 
 taba en perfecto aonerdo; pero que le 
 parecia que antes de proceder & la vota- 
 ci6n convenia en obsequio de la claridad, 
 y en beneflcio i el comercio, establecer 
 que se adoptase como tipo de medida la 
 tonelada de registro en brnto, y como 
 tipo de derecho imponible ciuco ceutavos 
 por tonelada. 
 
 El Sefior Zegarra llam6 al Senor 
 Romero ^ ocupar la presidencia, y d& su 
 asiento comodelegado por el Peru, snplicrt 
 ^ la Comisi6u que eliminase del ap^ndico 
 ^ su dictamen la nota puesta al pie de lo 
 que se dice sobre el Peru : S, uieiios que no 
 hnbiese alguna razon pod^rosa para no 
 hacerlo, en cuyo caso desearia que se le 
 comunicase. 
 
 El Senor Vahas, en nombre de la Conii- 
 sidn, despues de explicar porqne se habia 
 puesto la expresada nota convino en que 
 quodase eliminada. 
 
 Lo mismo se hizo, d^invitacifin del Senor 
 Caamaho, delegado por Ecuador, en la 
 nota correspondiente S, aquella Kepti- 
 blica, que aparece en dicho Ap^ndice. 
 
 El Senor Varas explic6 que esta se 
 habia puesto solo con el objeto de dar mas 
 luz sobre el asunto, y que estaba fundado 
 en los unicos dates que pudieron obtenerse 
 por la Coniisidn. Y agreg6 que (51 mismo 
 iba ^ j)roponer que se modiiicase lo dicho 
 sobre el Paraguay, poni^ndolo en la forma 
 contenidaen la manifestacidn oficial que 
 le habia suministrado el Sciior Decoud, y 
 que ley6. 
 
 El Senor' Decoud, delegado por Para- 
 guay, pidi61apalabrapara dar las graoias 
 al Senor Varas, confirmarla exactitud de 
 lo manifestado par 41, y expresar el deseo 
 de que conste que ademas de la Asuncidn 
 hay en su pais otros puertos abiertos 
 al comercio extrangero, y que la ncvega- 
 oi6n de bus rios es libre. 
 
 La nota relativa ^ derechos de pnerto 
 en Paraguay, leida por el Sefior Varas, 
 dice como sigue ; 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Los datos referentes S, esta nacidn, 
 anexos al Ap6ndice, deben recti ficarse en 
 la forma que se expresa en esta nota, 
 
356 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 From 51 to 100 tons $10 
 
 From 101 to 200 tons 20 
 
 Entry and clearance for vessels 
 of200tons 25 
 
 And for eacli additional 50 tons . . 5 
 Vessels navigating between ports of the 
 Republic iiay one-half of the preceding 
 charges. 
 
 Bill of health |2 
 
 Legalization of documents 1 
 
 There are no port, pilot, anchorage and 
 light-house charges. 
 
 The hours fixed for the dviratiou of the 
 session having passed, the Chair declared 
 the Conference adjourned at 6.5 p, m. 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Second Vice-President. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 P. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOSlS M. IlURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Ci.fMAOO Caldeb6n, 
 Coloviiia. 
 EOQUK Saenz PkSJa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Manuel Abagov, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 
 JosiS S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguaii. 
 
 .1. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 
 Salvador de Mendonja, 
 Brazil. 
 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 .John B. Henderson, 
 Clkment Studebakek, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Tuesoot, 
 A.vDREW Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Esceb, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidox, 
 
 tanto en lo refereute al nriniero de pucrtOH 
 abiertos al comercio exterior como on lo 
 relative & derechos de puerto y libre 
 nevegacidn del rio. 
 
 Carta de sanidad, $2. 
 
 Permiso para abrir y cerrar regiwtro 
 para buques de 200 toneladas, $25. 
 
 Y suoesivamente uu aumonto de $5 poi 
 cada 50 toneladas de exceso. 
 
 Las embarcaciones que haceu la uave- 
 gaciUn entre los puertos de la Repiiblica, 
 pagan la mitad del impuesto anterior. 
 
 Habiendo Uegado la horii de reglameuto 
 el Sr. Presidente declard levantada la 
 sesi<5n. 
 
 Eran las seis y cinco minutos <le la 
 tarde. 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Segundo Vicepresideiite. 
 
 HORACIO GuZmIn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peril. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOSii M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Mautinez Silva, 
 CLfMACO Calder6n, 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jost S. Dkcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de MKND0N9A, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Ronduras. 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 M^ieo. 
 Juan F. Vklarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson CooLiDGh, 
 William Henky Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Dtiido', 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMKRICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 357 
 
 NlCANOli BOLET PKHAZA. 
 
 Venezuda. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Josli Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosiS Mauia PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 NiCANOJi BOLET PlCliAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Vbuas, 
 JosA Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Joslt MARfA PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FORTY-SEVENTH DAY. 
 
 "Washington, March 19, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.15 p. ni. by the 
 Second Vice-President, Mr. M. Romero, a 
 Delegate from Mexico, followed by Mr. F. 
 C. C.Zegarra, First Vice- President, with 
 the following Delegates present: 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ M. Hnrtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pena. 
 Mr. Manuel Qnintana 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Mr. Salvador de MendoDQa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. .Tuan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 Mr. Clement Stndebaker. 
 Mr. T. Jeiferson Coolidge. 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 "358 
 
 ACTA No. 47 
 
 Sesidn, del 19 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. M. Romero, delega- 
 do por el Peru, segundo Vicepresidente, 
 seguido por el Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, dole- 
 gado por el Peru, primer Vicepresidente. 
 Estando preseotes: 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio GuzmSin. 
 Peril: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. 3os6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentina : 
 
 ElSr. Dr. Eoqne Saenz Pen:i ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador do Mendonpa. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enriqiie A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Stndebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 V.\ Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 359 
 
 Venezutila : 
 
 Mr. NicaDor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Maria Placido Caamailo. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The minutes of the forty-fifth day were 
 also read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Committee on Credentialspresented 
 the following report, which was ap- 
 proved : 
 
 "The committee appointed to examine 
 the credentials of the Delegates to the 
 International American Conference and 
 report on the same, has examined the one 
 presented by Mr. John B. Henderson ac- 
 crediting him as a, Delegate from the 
 United States of America, and submits to 
 the approval of said Conference the fol- 
 owing resolution: 
 
 "Resolved, That the credential accred- 
 iting Mr. John B. Henderson as Delegate 
 from the United States of America to the 
 International American Conference is in 
 good and due form. 
 
 " Washington, March 18, 1890. 
 "M. Romero. 
 "Man'l Quintana. 
 " T. Jefferson Coolidge." 
 
 The Chair announced that the contin- 
 uation of the debate on the report of the 
 Committee on Cnstoms Union was in 
 order. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, requested that the discus- 
 sion be postponed until Monday, the 24th 
 instant, as he had not yet had sufficient 
 time to carefully examine the statements 
 of the minority of the committee. 
 
 Mr. Saenz PeSa, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, seconded Mr. Henderson's 
 motion, and it was agreed to postpone 
 the discussion. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra having arrived, Mr. 
 Romero requested him to take the chair. 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile: 
 
 ElSr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 El Sr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 M. P. CaamaBo. 
 So abrid la sesi6n i£ las tres y quince 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6, aprobd y firm6 el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 Se ley6 tambien y se aprobd y firm6 la 
 de la sesi6n del dia 17 del corriente, No. 
 45. 
 
 El Senor Presidente ordend que se 
 diese lectura al siguiente diotamen de la 
 Comisidn de Credenclales que qued6 
 aprobado. 
 
 "La Comisi6n nombrada para examinar 
 las credencialea de los Delegados S, la 
 Conferencia Internacional Americana y 
 dictaminar respecto de ellas, ha exa- 
 minado la del Senor John B. Henderson, 
 delegado por los Estados Unidos de 
 Am6rica, y samete H la aprobaci6n de la 
 Conferencia la siguiente proposicidn : 
 
 "Est^ extendida en buena y debida 
 forma la credenoial que acredita como 
 delegado de los Estados Unidos de America 
 ante la Conferencia Internacional Ame- 
 ricana al Senor John B. Henderson. 
 
 Washington, Marso 18 de 1890. 
 "M. Romero, 
 "Manuel Quintana, 
 "T. Jefferson Coolidge." 
 
 El Senor Presidente anunci6 que con- 
 tinuaba la discusifin del dictamen de la 
 Comisi6n de Uni6n Aduanera; pero el 
 Senor Henderson, delegado de los Estados 
 Unidos, solicitd que se pospusiese hasta 
 el lunes 24 del corriente la eonsideracidn 
 del asunto, por cuauto todavia no habia 
 podido examinar eon el cuidado necesario 
 las manifestaciones de la minoria de la 
 Comisi6n. 
 
 El Senor Saenz PeSa, delegado por la 
 Reptiblica Argentina, apoy6 la mocl6n 
 del Seilor Henderson ; y se acordo do con- 
 formidad. 
 
 En ese momento se presents en la sala 
 el Senor Zegarra, primer Vicepresidcute, 
 y el Seilor Romero le cedi6 la presidencia. 
 
360 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The debate on the report of the Com- 
 mittee on Port Dues was continued. 
 
 Mr. MBNDON5A, a Delegate from Brazil, 
 proposed the following amendment to 
 the conclusions of the report, and spoke 
 at length in support thereof: 
 
 Continudse entonces la discusi6n del 
 dictaraen de la Comisidu de derechos de 
 puerto; y el Seuor Mendonga, delegado 
 por el Brasi), propuso unaenmienda ii las 
 conclusiones del dicho dictamen, que en- 
 vi6 & la Mesa, y que apoyd cou uu dis- 
 ourso. 
 
 " Amendment to the Conclusions of the Re- 
 port on Port Dues. 
 
 "First. That all the charges imposed 
 i.pon vessels as port dues (consular fees 
 excepted) shall be reduced to a single 
 oue, to be known aa tonnage dues. 
 
 " Second. That the amount to be so 
 charged shall not exceed ten cents per 
 gross ton, each time a vessel enters a 
 port. 
 
 " Third. That the following vessels 
 shall be exempt from tonnage dues: 
 
 " (1) Ships and transports of war. 
 
 " (2) Vessels of less than twenty-five 
 tons burden and yachts or pleasure boats 
 of any tonnage, not engaged in trade. 
 
 "(3) Vessels which have been obliged 
 to alter their courses and enter port owing 
 to damages received at sea. 
 
 " Washington, March 19, 1890. 
 
 " Salvador db Mbndonca." 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 moved that the vote be taken on the 
 adoption or rejection of the report as a 
 whole, and that the various conclusions 
 bo Ihen discussed and voted upon sepa- 
 rately. 
 
 Before action was taken on this sugges- 
 tion, Mr. Calderon, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, asked permission to present 
 some corrections, referring to his country, 
 to the appendix of the report ; but the 
 Chair having stated that all corrections of 
 this kind should be handed to the chair- 
 man of the committee, who had expressed 
 his willingness to accept them, Mr. 
 Calderon agreed and sent the document 
 to Mr. Bolet Peraza. 
 
 The Chair asked if there was any ob- 
 jection to the approval of the report as a 
 whole, and as there was none, it was so 
 approved. 1 
 
 " Susiituto d las conclusiones del dictamen 
 sobre denchos de puerto. 
 
 ' ' Primero. Que todos los i m puestos que 
 se cobren S, las naVes, como derechos de 
 puerto (excepto cargas consulares) se re- 
 duzcau S, uuo solo que se llamar^ dereoho 
 de tonelage. 
 
 "Segundo. Que el importe de e.ste de- 
 recho de tonelage nunca excederdlde diez 
 centavos por tonelada en bruto, cada vez 
 que la nave entre en el x'uerto. 
 
 " Tercero. Que quedan exentos de de- 
 recho de tonelage : 
 
 " (1) Lasnavesy trausportesdegnerra. 
 
 " (i) Las naves de menos de veinte y 
 cinoo toneladas, y los yates 6 embarca- 
 ciones de recreo, sea cual fuere su tone- 
 lage, que no se empleeu en el comercio. 
 
 " (3) Las naves arribadas por cansa de 
 averia snfrida en alta mar. 
 
 " Washington, 19 de Marzo de 1890. 
 
 "SaLVADOU db MBNDON9A." 
 
 El Sefior Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, hizo moci6n para que se procediese 
 ^ votar sobre la adopci<5n, 6 rechazamiento 
 del dictamen en globo, dejando los de- 
 talles para ser discutidos cuando se le 
 examinase por artlculos. 
 
 Antes de que se tomase accidn sobre 
 esta proposici6n pidi6 permiso el Sefior 
 Calderon, delegado por Colombia, para 
 presentar un documento, que debia susti- 
 tuir & lo que dice el Ap6ndice del dicta- 
 men relativamentedl supals; perb habien 
 do manifestado el Sefior Presideute, qne 
 todas las modiiicacioues de ese g^nero 
 debia n entregarse al Seuor Presideute de 
 la Comision informaute, que habia ex- 
 presado su disposioidn de aceptarlas, el 
 SeDor Calderdn seconformd cou esta idea, 
 y envi6 su escrito al Sefior Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Pregunt6 el Sefior Presidbntb si habia 
 objeci6u 6, que se aprobase en globo el 
 dictamen de la Comisidn ; y como nin- 
 guna fui5 oida, qued(3 asl aprobado. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 361 
 
 The Secretaries tlieu read the first 
 recommendation of the conclusions of the 
 report, which is as follows : 
 
 "First. That all the charges imposed 
 upon vessels as port dues shall be reduced 
 to a single one, to be known as tonnage 
 dues." 
 
 Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, 
 on behalf of the reporting commitiee, 
 opposed the amendment proposed by Mr. 
 Mendonja, as he considered the except ion 
 of consular dues as useless as they came 
 under the consideration of another com- 
 mittee, and there was no intention to in- 
 clude them in port dues. He further 
 explained that the committee had not 
 burdened commerce, aud that it was not 
 just that tonnage dues should be collected 
 on more than one trip in the year. 
 
 After some discussion Mr. MENDON9A 
 withdrew his amendment. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, remarked that in his country 
 and in some others the lighthouses had 
 been built by private parties under con- 
 tracts concluded with the Government, 
 which granted them the right to collect 
 dues from vessels, and that on this accoun t 
 these dues could not be consolidated with 
 those of tonnage without subjecting the 
 Government to claimsfor indemnity, and 
 that he, therefore, suggested that the fol- 
 lowing be added to Article I of the con- 
 clusions : 
 
 "Except in case of light-house dues and 
 other charges, collected by private enter- 
 prises under pending contracts made with 
 tde Government." 
 
 Mr. HuKTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, supported Mr. Quintana's motion, 
 explaining that his country was in the 
 same position, as the docks had been built 
 by private parties under contract, and 
 added that in Cnlombia no port dues were 
 charged on vessels, but only on merchan- 
 dise landed from them. For the sake of 
 greater clearness in the wording of the 
 article, he proposed that it be amended as 
 follows : 
 
 "That the charges which, under the 
 head of port dues, are levied on vessels 
 shall be reduced to a single one, to be 
 known as tonnage dues." 
 
 Proceditise eu seguida por los Secreta- 
 ries & dar leotura H la primera reco.i.en- 
 daci6u del dictamen, que dice como sigue : 
 
 "Primera. Que todas las cargas que 
 afecten S las naves por derechos de puerto 
 se comprendan en un solo gravamen que 
 se Uamar^ derecho ie tonelage." 
 
 El Seuor Varas, delegado por Chile, en 
 nombre de la Comisi6n informante, se 
 opuso il la enmienda propuesta por el Sr. 
 Mendonya, por considerar iniitil la excep- 
 ci6u referente ^ derechos consulares, por 
 cuanto ellos son el asunto de otra Comisidn, 
 y no ha habido intenci6n de incluirlos 
 entro los derechos de puerto. Hizoadem^s 
 algunas observaciones genera] es explican- 
 doque la Comisi6n uo habia gravado nife. 
 el comercio, y que no era jusfo quo se 
 cobrasen derechos de tonelage por mSs 
 de un viage en el ano. 
 
 Despues de alguna discnsi6n, el SeSor 
 Mendoufa retir6 la frase iutercalada. 
 
 El Senor Quintana, delegado por la 
 Repiiblica Argentina, observd que en su 
 pais y alguuos ostros los faros habian sido 
 constrnidos por empresas particulares, 
 bajo coutrato scelebrados cou el Gobierno, 
 en que se les reconoce el derecho de cobrar 
 un impuesto ^lasembarcaciones : y que en 
 esa virtud no podiaii r;fundirse esos de- 
 rechos en el de tonelage, sin exponer al 
 Gobierno ^ reclauiaciones de iudemniza- 
 ci6u. Y que 61 por tauto sugeria que se 
 agregasen S, la recomendaci6n primera del 
 dictameu las siguientes palabras : "siu 
 perjuicio de los de faro, y demSis que em- 
 presas particulares cobren en virtud de 
 contratos pendientes cou el Estado." 
 
 El Senor Hurtado, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, apoy6 la proposici6n del Senor 
 Quintana, explicando que su pais se en- 
 contraba en el mismo caso, pnes que 
 algunos ninelles se habian construido 
 por empresas particulares, y auadiendo 
 que on Colombia no se pagaban derechos 
 sobre el buqne, sino sobre las mercanoias 
 quo eatos llevaban al pais. Para mayor 
 claridad de la redaecidn, propuso el Senor 
 Hurtado que el articulo quedase formula- 
 do en estos t(5rmiuos : 
 
 " Que los gravSmeues que bajo la de- 
 nominaci6n de derechos de puerto gravan 
 las naves se refnndan en uno solo que se 
 UamarJi derecho de tonelage. " 
 
362 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. Studkbakbh, a Delegate from the 
 Uuited States, and a member of the Re- 
 porting Committee, stated that, as the 
 amount recommended to be collected was 
 so small a one and was only to be collected 
 once a year, the Governments which had 
 contracts for light-houses or other similar 
 works, might assume the responsibilities 
 to which Messrs. Quintana and Hnrtado 
 had alluded, as the purpose of the Gov- 
 ernments ought to be to simplify and 
 mate uniform the system for the collection 
 of port dues. 
 
 Mr. Varas supported Mr. Studebaker's 
 idea, and added that all difficulty would 
 cease when the existing contracts had 
 expired. 
 
 Mr. EOMBRO, it. Delegate from Mexico, 
 stated tliat he would probably offer later 
 an amendment to the conclusionsof the re- 
 port by which any nation whose dues are 
 now lower would not object to the adop- 
 tion of the report. 
 
 Mr. BOLHT Peraza, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela, spoke in support of the com- 
 mittee's report, but as the hour for ad- 
 journment had been reached, he agreed 
 to postpone the conclusion of his remarks 
 until the next session ; and the Confer- 
 ence adjourned at 6.10 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nioarafiua. 
 F. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 FicRNANDo Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Josife M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Caldbr6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUE Saenz Pena, 
 Manukl Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Pica. 
 JosiJ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valkntk, 
 Salvador de Mendoncja, 
 
 Brazil. 
 
 El Senor Studebakbr, delegado por 
 los Estados Unidos, y miembro do la Co- 
 misi6n informante, dijo que conio t-l dere- 
 cho recomendado era tan m6dico, y solo 
 debia cobrarse una vez al ano, bien po- 
 drian los Gobiernos quehubiesen contra- 
 tado faros u otras obras au^logas, asumiv 
 las responsabilidades Si que habian alu- 
 dido los Senores Quintana y Hurtado, 
 pues que debia aspirarse en lo posible & 
 la nnificaci6n y simplificacion del siste- 
 ma de derechos de puerto. 
 
 El Senor Varas apoy6 el pensamiento 
 del Senor Studebaker y agregd que toda 
 difioultad cesaria cuando terminasen los 
 contratos ahora existentes. 
 
 El Senor Romero, delegado por M&i- 
 co, digo que probablemente ofreceria una 
 nueva modificacidn al dictamen, con el 
 objeto de impedir que las naciones qne 
 tengan ahora derechos mas bajos no 
 objeten S, la adopci(5n del dictamen. 
 
 El Sefior Bolet Pbraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, tom6 la palabra en defeusa 
 del dictamen de la Comisi6n ; pero como 
 habia llegado la horadereglamento para 
 levantar la sesidn, couvino en suspender 
 sus observaciones para continuarlas al 
 siguiente dia. 
 
 Se levant 6 la sesi6u 6, las seis y diez 
 minutos de la tarde. 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidentc. 
 HORACIO GuzmjCn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zkgarra, 
 
 Pent. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Josii M. Hurtado, 
 CXrlos Martinez Silva. 
 ClImaco Caldbr6n, 
 Colombia. 
 Roque Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Jos]£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentk. 
 Salvador de Mendon^a, 
 Braail. 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 363 
 
 Jkr6nimo Zklaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexJa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 .Juan K. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studbbakek, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgk, 
 WiLUAM Henry Tre8Cot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 JFenry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United Slates 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 JoslS Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos6 Maria Pl/Ccido CaamaSo, 
 
 Eouador. 
 
 Jbr6n'imo Zklaya, 
 
 Uoniiuras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 M&cico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studebakeu, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgk, 
 William Henry Trkscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
 NiCANOR IJOLET PkRAZA, 
 
 JosiS Andrade, 
 
 Veneziiela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Josi!: Alfonso, 
 
 Clnl, . 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosA MarIa PlAcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FORTY-EIGHTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 48. 
 
 Washington, March 20, 1890. 
 Tbc International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.15 p. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James G. Blaine, fol- 
 lowed by Mr. F. C. C. Zegakra, First 
 Vice-President, with the following Dele- 
 gates present: 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Gnzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic: 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pena. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Kica: 
 
 Mr. Mauuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. 6. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendouja. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jer6uimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. Clement Sfudebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 364 
 
 Sesidn del 20 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine, 
 seguido por el Sr. K. C. C. Zegakra, dele- 
 gado por td Peril, Primer Vicepresidente. 
 Estando preseutes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perti: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 M. Hurtado. 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pena ; 
 
 Kl Sr. Dr. Manuel Qnintana. 
 Costa Rica. 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. 6. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendon^a. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos: 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Esteo ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles E. Flint. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFKKENCE. 
 
 365 
 
 Vtuozuula: 
 
 Mr. Nicaiior Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. . 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emjlio C.-Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 .Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinio Casteltanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jo86MariaPl£icidoCaamiillo. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed hy the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 iit. QuiNTANA, ,1, Delegate from the 
 Argcniinp, stated that it would appear 
 (mm the minutes that Mr. Viiras had ab- 
 solutely accepted Mr. Studebaker's sug- 
 gestion (if the assumption of responsibil- 
 ity by the governments where coritracts 
 existed ; but that this was not the case, 
 and Mr. Varas agreed with him. 
 
 Mr. MBND05r9A, a Delegate from Brazil, 
 stated th.at he had only withdrawn bis 
 amendment to the conclusions of the re- 
 port in as far as the first conclusion was 
 concerned. 
 
 Mr. HuKTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, stated that his country was also 
 bound by private coutract for the light- 
 house service as well as clocks, which did 
 not appear in the minutes. 
 
 The Chair ordered the above correc- 
 tions made 
 
 The Chair announced that Mr. Cruz, a, 
 Delegate from Guatemala, had sent word 
 that he was obliged to leave the city for 
 a few days. 
 
 The Committee on Port Dues handed 
 the Chair their report on consular fees, 
 which was ordered printed and distrib- 
 uted. 
 
 The debate nn the report of the Com- 
 mittee on Port Dues was continued, Mr. 
 Bolet Peraza, a Delegate from Venezuela, 
 and chairman of the reporting committee, 
 taking the floor. 
 
 The honorable Delegate said that he 
 wished particularly that one point, which 
 in his opinion had been obscured in regard 
 to the scopeof the report of the committee, 
 shiinld be made clear, as, according to 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Holet Peraza. 
 El Sr. Josd Andrade. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos<5 M. P. Caamano. 
 Se abri6 la sesi6n ii las tres y quince 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6, aprobci y lirm6 el acta del dia 
 anterior, con lasobservacionessiguientes : 
 Ei Senor Quintana manifestd que la 
 aoeptacidn por el Sefior Varas de la indi- 
 cacidn hecha poiel .Seiior Studebaker, de 
 que los Gobiernus podian asumir las res- 
 pons;ibilidades contraidas bajo coutratos, 
 no habia sido absoluta como apareoia. 
 El Senor Vabas convino en ello. 
 
 El Sefior Mendmn^a, delegado por el 
 Brasil, manife.st6 que solo habia retirado 
 el artfculo 1° de la emienda, 6 sustituto, 
 enviado por 61 S, la Mesa. 
 
 El Sefior Uurtado, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, dijo que habia manifestado que 
 en su pals existian los mismos contratos 
 respecto i£ faros, adem^s de los celebrados 
 para muelles y dSrsenas, lo cual no apa- 
 recia del acta. 
 
 El Senor Presidente dispuso que se 
 hiciesen las correcciones indicadas. 
 
 Anuncid el Senor Prbsidkntb que el 
 Sefior Cruz, delegado por Guatemala, 
 daba aviso de haber tenido que aiisen- 
 tarse de la ciudad por uno <5 dos dias : 
 y que se habia enviado Si la Mesa el 
 diotamen de la Comisidn do derechos de 
 Puerto, respecto & derechos consulares, 
 y que habia ordenado su impresi6n y dis- 
 tribuci(5n. 
 
 Continuose la discusidn pendiente res- 
 pecto del dictamen de la Couiisi6n de 
 Derechos de puerto, en quo tenia la pala- 
 bra desde el dia anterior, el Sefior Bolet 
 Peraza, delegado por Venezuela y Presi- 
 dente de la Comisi6n. 
 
 Explic6 este Sefior que tenia particular 
 empefio en quequedaseaclarado uupuiito 
 que en su coucepto habia sido obscurecido 
 respecto ^ las tendeucias del dictamen de 
 la Comision, que para el Sefior Hurtado 
 
366 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 Mr. Hurtado, the report was lees liberal 
 than the laws of Colombia, while Mr. 
 Meudonga found the rates too low. He 
 said that the purpose of the committee 
 had been to facilitate navigation, to re- 
 duce the charges, and to contribute in 
 this manner to the fraternal ends which 
 the Conference had in view; that the 
 chargeoflOcentsonceayear for each ves- 
 sel was not less liberal than other charges 
 levied on vessels each time they came 
 into port, and he stated further that 
 although it is true that the Governments 
 "may find it necessary to charge port dues 
 in order to keep them in good condition, 
 and that it was just to assist them with 
 the dues recommended by the committee, 
 it should be remembered that it was the 
 duty of a Government to l<eep the en- 
 trance to their territory clear, as it is a 
 duty for a citizen to have the doors of 
 his house accessible ; and that the neces- 
 sary expense should be defrayed by the 
 national treasury. 
 
 After Mr. Hurtado, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, had made some remarks in re- 
 ply to Mr. Bolet Peraza, citing several 
 cases in which vessels iu his country are 
 absolutely exempt from tonnage dues, 
 and only pay insignificant port dues, Mr. 
 Coolidge, a Delegate from the United 
 States, asked the floor, and read the 
 speech hereto appended, which at bis 
 request the Chair ordered the Spanish 
 Secretary to read in Spanish. 
 
 The President then called Mr. Zegarra 
 to the chair. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine, stated that it was impossible for 
 him to accede to Mr. Coolidge's desires; 
 firstly, because there was an error in be- 
 lieving that the committee was instructed 
 to recommend a reduction of dues, as its 
 object was to render uniform and not to 
 reduce, and secondly, because the nations 
 can not burden their treasuries by as- 
 suming responsibilities and increasing the 
 charges on the consumer, who in the end 
 pays for ever.y thing. That it was as easy 
 to advise the Argentine Republic to pay 
 such indemnity as to advise the United 
 States to reduce the duties on wool from 
 the Argentine, which reduction, although 
 
 era m^nos liberiil que las leyes de Colom- 
 bia, niientras que para id Senor Mendon- 
 fa senalaba tipps de dereoho demasiado 
 bajos. Dijo que el propdsito deliberado 
 del dictamen habia sido facilitar la nave- 
 gacidn, aliviar las cargas, y contribnir en 
 ese concepto & la obra de fraternidad 
 que la Conferencia tiene ^ la niira: que 
 la carga de diez centavos por tonelada 
 una vez al ano, para cada bnque, no era 
 ni podia ser m6no8 liberal que otras car- 
 gas impuestas Si los buques cada vez que 
 entran en el pu«to : y anadi6 que si bien 
 es cierto que 1 )S Gobiernos pueden tener 
 uecesidad de cobrar derechos de pue^o 
 para atender & la conservaoi6n de estos, 
 y no podia ncgarse lajusticiadeanxiliar- 
 les con el derecho recomendado por la 
 Comisidn, debiatambien tenerse presente 
 que era deber do los Gobiernos tener lim- 
 pia la entrada & su territorio, como lo era 
 de los ciudadanos tener limpia la puerta 
 de su casa, atendi6ndose ^ este servicio 
 oon los recurros generales del Tesoro. 
 
 Despues que el Senor Hurtado, delegado 
 por Colombia, en replica al Seiior Bolet 
 Peraza, hizo diversas con sideraci ones y 
 cito varies casos en que en an pais estSn 
 exentos los buques de todo derecho de 
 tonelage, pagaudo solamente insignili- 
 cantes derechos de puerto, pidio la 
 palabra el Senor Coolidge, delegado p.T 
 los Estados Unidos, y leyd en ingles el 
 discurso que se acompana, y que sipeti- 
 c\6a suya y por orden del Seiior Presi- 
 dente ley6 en castellano el Secretario in- 
 terino hispano-americano. 
 
 El Senor Presidente dejd su puesto, 
 despnes de haber llamado 3 ocuparlo al 
 Senor Vicepresidente, Senor Zegarra; 
 y habiendo pediilo la palabra el Seiior 
 QuiNTANA, delegado por la Repiiblica 
 Argentina, manifestd que no le era posi- 
 ble darse el gnsto de acceder jj los deseos 
 del Senor Coolidge, priraero porque en su 
 concepto habia nnaequivocaci(5n en creer 
 quo la Comisidn estaba encargada de re- 
 coraendar rebajas de los derechos, pnes su 
 objeto era uniformar y no reducir: y 
 seguudo, porque las naciones no podian 
 gravar sus tesoros, asumjendo responsa- 
 bilidades, y aumentando los cargas del 
 consnmidor, que es al fin el que paga todo. 
 Qne tan fiicil es decir & la Repiiblica Ar- 
 gentina que debe asumir esas responsabi- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 367 
 
 immensely beneficial to the United States 
 coniniei'ce,isnot likely to be accouiplislied, 
 but ratber to the contrary, which would 
 show that there are certain things which 
 circumstances render iinpoasiblo for gov- 
 ernments to accomplish even if desirable. 
 
 Before proceeding to take the vote on 
 the first recommendation of the commit- 
 tee, Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, 
 asked that the text of the original recom- 
 meudation and of the various amend- 
 ments be read, togither with a further 
 amendnicntsuggested by Mr. Castellanos, 
 a Delegate from Salvador, and accepted 
 by the committee as being expressive of 
 an idea contained in the body of the re- 
 port. 
 
 The text ol the original recommenda- 
 tion is as follows : 
 
 " First. That all the charges imposed 
 upon vessels as port dues shall be reduced 
 to a single one, to be known as tonnage 
 dues.'' 
 
 Mr. Quintana's amendment, accepted 
 by the commitlee, reads: 
 
 "Exceptin case of light-house dnes and 
 other charges collected by private enter- 
 prises under pending contracts made with 
 the Governments." 
 
 The one proposed by Mr. Castellanos 
 and accepted by the committee, reads : 
 
 "Except also pilotage and other dues 
 for services rendered by private enter- 
 prise, and for wh;irfage and dock dues, 
 if not destined for public use without 
 compensation." 
 
 Mr. Hurtado's amendment reads : 
 
 "That the charges which under the 
 head of port dues are levied on vessels 
 shall be reduced to a single one, to be 
 known as tonnage dues." 
 
 After some discussion as to the order in 
 which the above should be voted upon, 
 arising from the fact that Mr. Hurtado's 
 amendment did not aflfect the substance 
 bnt was merely a, grammatical improve- 
 
 lidades, como decir ii log Estados Unidos 
 que deben rebajar los dereclios de im- 
 portaci(5n sobre las lanas argentinas, lo 
 que aunque anmeutariainniensaraente el 
 comercio de los Estados Unidos, no se y6 
 por disgracia que est6 en oamino de 
 hacerse, siuo m^s bien todo lo contrario : 
 y que la conclusion que debia sacarse de 
 todo esto era que hay cosas que no pueden 
 hacerse por virtud de las circunstancias, 
 aunqne tal vez se deseen mucho. 
 
 Antes de proceder ^ la votaci6n de la 
 recomendacidn primera, pidid el Sefior 
 Varas, delegado por Chile, que se leyera el 
 texto do la recommeudacidn de la Comi- 
 8i<5n, y el de las diversas enmiendas que se 
 habian propuesto, agregandoque 61 mismo 
 enviaba S, la Mesa, como aceptada por la 
 ComisiOn.yexpresivadeloqueconteniael 
 texto del dictamen, una nueva modifica- 
 ci6n sngerida por el Sonor Castellanos, 
 delegado por Salvador. Y asi se man(I6 
 hacer. 
 
 El texto de la recomendaci6n dice : 
 
 "Primero: Que todas las cargas que 
 afecten & las naves por dereclios de puer- 
 to, se comprendan en un solo gravamen 
 qne se llamarS derecho de tonelage." 
 
 La enmienda propuesta por el Senor 
 QuiNTANA, delegado por la Repflblica Ar- 
 gentina, aceptada por la Comisifin dice: 
 
 " Sin perjaioio de los de faro y dem^s que 
 empresas particnlares cobren en virtud de 
 contratos pendientes con el Estado.'' 
 
 El texto de la adicidu propuesta i)or el 
 SeHor Castellanos, delegado por Salva- 
 dor, y que acepta la Comisidn, dice : 
 
 " Se exceptuan tambien el servicio de 
 pr^cticos y otros prestados por empresas 
 particulares, y los derechos de muelles y 
 d^rsenas, si no estan destinadas sin retri- 
 buci6n para el servicio publico." 
 
 El texto de la recomendacidu como la 
 propone el Senor Hurtado, delegado por 
 Columbia, dice: 
 
 "Que los gravdimenes que bajo la de- 
 nominacidn de derechos depuertogravau 
 las naves se refundau en uno solo que se 
 Uamar^i derecho de tonelage." 
 
 Despues de alguna discusifin sobre el 
 orden en que debia procederse & votar, 
 nacida del hecho de que la enmienda del 
 SeHor Hurtado no se referia & la substan- 
 cia, sino £i la forma gramatical 6 de redao- 
 
368 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ment, the Chair decided that the vote 
 should be takeu on Mr. Quintana's amend- 
 ment. 
 
 The vote having been taken by delega- 
 tion, resulted in the amendment being 
 adopted by a majority of fourteen to one. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were ; Nic- 
 aragua, Peru, Colombia, Argentine, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, Honduras, Mex- 
 ico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Chili, Salvador, 
 and Ecuador. 
 
 The United States voted negatively. 
 
 In casting the vote, the delegation from 
 Pern added that it "accepted the amend- 
 ment extending the exception to all dues 
 destined to compensate special service." 
 
 The vote was then ordered to be taken 
 on the additional suggestion by Mr. Cas- 
 tellanos, and accepted by the committee; 
 but Mr. Mendouga suggested that in view 
 of the result of the former ballot, it would 
 be better that the subject be referred 
 again ( o the reporting committee, in order 
 that it might take into consideration all 
 the objections raised, and report anew. 
 
 After some discussion, Mr. Quintaua 
 having stated that he would never vote 
 for this being done unless the committee 
 agreed to it, Mr. Bolet Perazai, chairman 
 of the committee, after explaining that 
 Messrs. Laforestrie and Nin, members of 
 the committee, had departed, leaving it 
 with only three membfirs, sent to the 
 Chair the following motion : 
 
 "That the Committee on Port Dncs be 
 oomploied by the addition of four Dele- 
 gates, selected by the Chair, and that hav- 
 ing been thus completed, the report 
 should be returned to it for reconsidera- 
 tion, together with the proposed amend- 
 ments." 
 
 Mr. Castellanos, a Delegate from Sal- 
 vador, stated that as it was nearly 6 
 o'clocif, the hour, under the rules, for the 
 session to adjourn, he requested that it 
 do not adjourn until the matter had been 
 disposed of, and it was so agreed. 
 
 Mr. Bolet Peraza's motion was then 
 voted upon and uuanimonsly adopted. 
 
 The Chaiu announced that Messi J. Men- 
 
 ci6n del artioulo, se dccidid pnr el Senor 
 Presjdente que debia votarse la proposi- 
 ci6n del Senor Quintaua ; y tornado el 
 voto por delegaciones, result6 adoptada 
 por una mayorla de 14 contra 1. Votando 
 en la afirmativa Nicaragua, Perri, Colom- 
 bia, la Eepiiblica Argentina, Costa Rica, 
 Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, Mexico, Bo- 
 livia, Venezuela, Chile, Salvador, y Ecua- 
 dor. 
 
 Los Estados Unidos votaron en la nega- 
 tiva. • 
 
 Alemitirsu voto ladelegaci6u del Peril 
 agreg6 que aceptaba la enmienda, " am- 
 pliando la excepcidn & los derechos 
 destinados S, retribnir servicios deter- 
 minados.'' 
 
 Se puso & votaci6n la adicidn propuesta 
 por el Senor Castellanos, delegado por Sal- 
 vador, y aoeptada porlaComisi6n; peroel 
 Senor Mendonfa sugirid que en vista del 
 resnltado de la votaci6n anterior seria mas 
 conveniente que el asunto volviese & la 
 Comisi6n informante, S, fin de que exa- 
 miuase todas las observaciones hechas, y 
 emitiese un nuevo parecer. Y despues de 
 alguna discusiiSn sobro el punto, y mani- 
 festsi^dose en ella por el SeHor Quintaua, 
 delegado por la Eeptiblica Argentina, 
 que no votaria nnnca por enviar de nuevo 
 uu asunto ^ ninguna Comisi6n, S, m^nos 
 que la Comisidn misma consintiese en ello, 
 el Sr. Bolet Ptraza, Presidente de la 
 informante, despues de explicar que los 
 Senores Nin y Laforestrie, miembros de 
 la misma, se habian ausentado, de- 
 j^ndola con un personal de solo tres de- 
 Icgados, envid ^ la Mesa la siguiente 
 pToposioi6u : 
 
 "Que se complete la Comisidn de 
 Derechos de puerlo, incorporando en ella 
 cuatro delegados nombrados por el Presi- 
 dente, y que asi completa vuelva S, ella 
 el dictamen para considerarlo con las 
 enmiendas propuestas.'' 
 
 El SeHor Castellanos dijo que siendo 
 cerca de las seis de la tarde, hora regla- 
 mentaria, proponia que la sesicSn no se 
 levantase hasta dejar termiuado este 
 asunto ; y asf se acordd. 
 
 Piiesta & votaci6n la propuesta del 
 Sefior Bolet Perazii, resultd adoptada por 
 unanimidad ; y acto continue, el Seiior 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 369 
 
 donga, Quintana, Aragdn, and Gnzman 
 had been selected to increase the commit- 
 tee, as agreed. 
 
 Mr. Castellanos made a motion that 
 in future the sessions should begin at 1 
 o'clock, but objection having been raised 
 to the immediate consideration of the 
 proposal, the Chair decided that it must 
 be referred to the Committee on Rules, 
 
 The session was adjourned at 6.15 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 HoKATio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. 0. C. Zeoarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 
 JOS:fi M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco CalderOn, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Repuilio. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Cosia Rica. 
 Job6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexJa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studebakbr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henrt Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 Jos:6 Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 3osf. Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 24X0 
 
 Presidente annnci(5 que nombraba & los 
 SeSiores Mendonga, Quintana, Aragdn y 
 Guzman, para completar y aumentar la 
 Comisidn como se habia acordado. 
 
 El Seiior Castellanos hizo mocidu 
 para que en lo sucesivo empezasen S. la 
 una de la tarde las sesiones de la Confo- 
 reucia; pero habiendo habido objeci6n S, 
 la consideraci6n inmediata de esta pro- 
 posicidn, determind el Seiior Presidente 
 que 86 refiriese el asunto & la Comisi6u de 
 Eeglamento. 
 
 Se levant(5 la sesi6n &, las seis y quince 
 minntos de la tarde. 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peril. 
 Jos£ M. Hurtado, 
 CjCklos Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Calder6n, 
 ColomMa. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 J()s6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduraa. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MExfA, 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 Clement Studbbaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Estados Unidos, 
 Nicanor Bolet Fekaza, 
 Jos£ Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 Salvador, 
 
570 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 APPENDIX TO MINUTES OF FORIY- 
 EIQHTa DAY. 
 
 Me. T. Jeffeeson Coolidge's Speech. 
 
 (1) The object of tlie report od port 
 dues is to take oflf some of the burdens 
 which are iujurous to commerce in the 
 way of taxes levied ou vessels which en- 
 ter the various ports of the Americas. 
 
 (2) This can only be done by the dif- 
 ferent Governments assuming as a loss, 
 and charging to their own revenues, the 
 port dues that are taken off of the com- 
 merce seeking their ports. 
 
 (3) The main principle of the report is 
 that all commerce shall be taxed alike in 
 all the Americas, and that all the Govern- 
 ments shall be willing to bear their share 
 of the loss of port dues, expecting to gain 
 in the long run by the increase of com- 
 merce. 
 
 (4) Some of the Governments, have let 
 out the light-house system to contractors 
 who have a right to collect certain light- 
 house dues to remunerate themselves for 
 the expense of keeping the lights in re- 
 pair, and taking charge of them. 
 
 Some of the Governments, instead of 
 letting out the maintenance of the ligbt- 
 houses to contractors, do the work them- 
 selves, maintain the light-houses, and 
 collect the dues from the commerce of the 
 port. 
 
 There is no difference to commerce 
 whether the Government does the work 
 itselt or hires somebody to do it. If they 
 reduce their port dues they both get the 
 same money for the services, and both 
 make a present loss for the prospect of 
 increasing their commerce. 
 
 (5) The Governments can not break the 
 contract. We do not ask them to do so. 
 
 (6) They propose that as long as these 
 contracts last they, the Governments, 
 should continue to impose the light-house 
 dues named in the contract on the com- 
 merce of the ports. 
 
 (7) But that would not accomplish the 
 purpose sought by this report of the com- 
 mittee, because commerce would have to 
 pay higher port dues in the harbors of 
 
 APMNDWE AL acta no. 48. 
 DiscUKSo DEL Sn. T. Jefferson Cool- 
 
 IDGE. 
 
 (1) El objeto del dictamen sobre dere- 
 chos de puerto es supriinir algunos de los 
 gravaraenes que perjudioan al coraeroio, 
 haciendo pagar inipuestos & los barcos, al 
 entrar en los puertos de America. 
 
 (2) Esto solo puede hacerse cuando los 
 diferentes Gobiernos se resuelvan S, esti- 
 mar corao una p^rdida, y & oargar & sus 
 propias reutas, el importe de esos dere- 
 chos, favoreciendo asl al comercio que se 
 dirije i, sus playas. 
 
 (3) El principio fundamental del in- 
 forme es que todo el comercio est6 sujeto 
 & los mismos impuestos en todas las Ameri- 
 cas, y que todos los Gobiernos est6u anuen- 
 tes & sufrir la piSrdida resultante de la 
 supresidn del cobro de derechos de puerto, 
 esperando obtener mayores ventajas con 
 el desarroUo del comercio. 
 
 (4) Algunos de los Gobiernos han con- 
 tratado el sistema de faros, y los coutra- 
 tistas tienen el derecho de cobrar oiertos 
 impuestos, con los ouales pagan sus gastos 
 y atienden it su cuidado y conservacion. 
 
 Algunos de los Gobiernos en vez do 
 poner los faros en manos de contratistas, 
 los mautienen y reparan ellos mismos y 
 cobrau del comercio del puerto los corre- 
 spondientes derechos. 
 
 Lo mismo es para el comercio que el 
 Gobiemo haga la obra, 6 que la d6 Si 
 contratistas. Si se rednoen los derechos 
 do puerto los Gobiernos que adopten uno 
 u otro sistema reoibiriiu la niisma canti- 
 dad, sufriendo iguales p^rdidas en cambio 
 de la perspectiva de un aumento en su co- 
 mercio. 
 
 (5) Los Gobiernos no pueden faltar i, 
 sas oontratos. No se les pide que lo ha- 
 gan. 
 
 (6) Se propone que mientras duren los 
 coutratos, los Gobiernos coutinuen co- 
 brando los derechos de faro segun se es- 
 tipule en dichos contratos. 
 
 (7) Pero eso no daria los resultados 
 ^que aspira el dictamen de la Comisifin, 
 puesto que el comercio tendria que pagar 
 derechos de puerto mas altos en las bahiaa 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 371 
 
 Argentine and Colomliia than in the other 
 countries, viz, the tonnage dues locom- 
 mended by the committe and the hght- 
 house dues payable under the contract. 
 Commerce in those States would suffer, 
 and the Argentine Republics and Colom- 
 bia would be better oif than the other 
 nations of the Americas, because they 
 would not have to pay anything for main- 
 taining their light houses, as the con- 
 tractors would bear the expense. 
 
 (8) Now, I know that the Argentine and 
 Colombia wish to bear all their burdens, 
 and do not desire in any way to be favored 
 more than their neighbors. They are 
 here in the spirit of perfect fairness, de- 
 siring to treat all other nations with the 
 same justice and liberality with which 
 they desire to be treated themselves. 
 
 (9) To place all nations on an equal 
 footing they should of course keep their 
 contracts, but they should remove the 
 burden from public commerce by assum- 
 ing the light-house dues which the con- 
 tractors have a right to collect. 
 
 (10) This must be the cost to the Argen- 
 tine and Colombia of the maintenance of 
 the system of light-houses which the 
 other nations pay directly. To make 
 myself clear: 
 
 I suppose that two towns own two 
 bridges, and they have been in the habit 
 of charging tolls for the public to pass 
 over those bridges. 
 
 Later on they agree that the public shall 
 pass free or at a much reduced rate. 
 
 One town takes off its toll, and keeps 
 and repairs its bridge at its own expense. 
 
 The other town says I can not take off 
 my toll because I have contracts with a 
 man to beep my bridge in repair and I 
 allow him to collect tolls for so doing, and 
 I must be excused until the contract is 
 out, because I can not break my contract. 
 
 Would not the other town have a right 
 to say we do not ask you to break your 
 contract, but only to let the public pass 
 free. Pay ycmrself the tolls which the 
 
 de la Argentina y Colombia que en las de 
 los otro palses, es decir: los derechos de 
 tonelage reoomendados por la Comisidn y 
 los derechos de faro ijagaderos segun con- 
 trato. El comeroio con aquellos palses su- 
 friria, y la Replblica Argentina y Colom- 
 bia resultarian en mejores condiciones que 
 las demas uaciones de las Americas, por 
 que no tendrian que pagar por el manteni- 
 mieuto de sus faros, puesto que los contra- 
 tistas hacen los gastos. 
 
 (8) Ahora bien, yo s^ que la Argentina 
 y Colombia desean participar de los mis- 
 mos grav^menes que las otras naciones, 
 y que no quieren de ningun modo ser 
 mas favorecidas que las otras Repliblicas. 
 Ambas se encuentran aqui reunidas en uu 
 esplritu de perfecta equidad, deseando 
 tratar ^ las demas naciones con la misma 
 justioia y liberalidad con queellas mismas 
 desean ser tratadas. 
 
 (9) Para oolocar d todas las uaciones 
 en igualdad de circumstancias, aunque 
 por supuesto sin faltase d) los oontratos, 
 deberian desaparecer los gravamenes que 
 pesan sobre el ptiblico, asumiendo ellas el 
 deber de pagar lo que tenga que abonarse 
 S, los contratistas de los faros. 
 
 (10) Corresponde y debe correspouder 
 & la Repiiblica Argentina y Colombia sa- 
 fragar el costo de sus faros, que las otras 
 naciones pagan directamente. En otras 
 palabras, y para explicarme mejor : 
 
 Supdngase que dos ciudades tienen dos 
 puentes, y que han tenido la costumbre 
 de cobrar al plblico una cantidad deter- 
 minada para permitirle que pase por ellos. 
 
 Mas tarde se decide por las mismas 
 ciudades que el ptiblico pase libre 6 pa- 
 gando una suma mas reducida. 
 
 Una de las dos quita enteramente el 
 pontazgo y mantiene y repara el pueute 
 por su propia cuenta. 
 
 La otra dice, yo no puedo suprimir el 
 pontazgo por que tengo oontratos con un 
 individuo que mantiene y repara mi pnen- 
 te, y como compensacidn le permito que 
 cobre y guarde para si aquel impuesto, y 
 como no puedo faltar & mi contrato pido 
 que se me excuse hasta que expire mi com- 
 promise con dicho individuo. 
 
 Es evidente que la otra ciudad tendrla 
 perfeoto derecho para decir "nosotros no 
 pedimos que se falte & un contrato, pero 
 solameute deseamos que se permita al 
 
372 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 contractor has a right to collect, and you 
 will be in the same position as I am. 
 
 The public will pass free, and we shall 
 have to bear the maintenance of the 
 bridge, you by paying the tolls to the 
 contractor, I by actually doing the repairs 
 and maintaining the bridge. 
 
 If you continue to allow your agent to 
 collect tolls whilst I collect none, you will 
 be saved the expense of maintaining the 
 bridge, and the public will pay for it, 
 which Is just what we desire to prevent. 
 
 I therefore hope that the Delegates of 
 the Argentine Republic and Colombia will 
 withdraw their objections to accepting 
 the first clause of tthe report without ad 
 dition. 
 
 ptiblico pasar libramente sin pagar nada. 
 Paguen Uds. mismos el pontazgo que el 
 contratista tiene derecho de cobrar, y asl 
 estar^mos Uds. y nosotros en el mismo 
 caso. 
 
 El pllblico pasar^ gratis, y nosotios 
 sufragar^mos los gastos consiguientes al 
 mantenimiento del puente. Uds. pagan- 
 do el pontazgo al coutratista, y nosotros 
 hacieudo directameute los gastos que de- 
 manda la conservaci6n del puente. 
 
 Si Uds. continnan permitiendo & su 
 agente cobrar pontazgo mieutras que no- 
 sotros no cobramos ninguno, Uds. habr^ 
 economizado los gastos del manteni- 
 miento del puente, y el pliblico habr^ 
 tenido que haoerdo pagando ese impuesto, 
 que es justamente lo que tratamos de 
 evitar. 
 
 Espero por tanto que lo3 Delegados de 
 la Argentina y de Colombia retirariin sus 
 objeciones, aceptando la priraera clausula 
 del informe sin ninguna adicifin. 
 
FORTY-NINTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 49. 
 
 Washington, March 21, 1890. 
 The Internationa] American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.05 p. ra. by the 
 President, Hon. Jamks G. Blaine, -with 
 the following Delegates present : 
 Jlicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Pern : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. CHmaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Eepublio : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Qulutana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Josfi S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Charles E. Flint. 
 Venezuela-: 
 
 Mr. Nioanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 
 Seaidn del 21 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine. 
 Estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peril: 
 
 11.1 Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. CHmaco Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mdxico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Eomero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles E. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
 El Sr. Josd Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Josd Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr Jacinto Castellanos. 
 373 
 
374 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approyed, and signed l>y the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine, asked that it be more clearly 
 specified in reference to his words, that 
 the burden of an increase of expenditure 
 in the national treasury fell upon the con- 
 sumer as well as upon the producer of 
 the country which imports. 
 
 The Chair announced that the order 
 of the day called for the discussion of the 
 report of the Committee on Communica- 
 tion on the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean 
 Sea, which is as follows: 
 
 Report of thb Committee on Com- 
 mdnicaton on the Gulf op Mexico 
 AND the Caribbean Stca. 
 
 The President of the International American 
 
 Conference : 
 
 Thecommittee appointed toconsider and 
 report upon the best means of extending 
 and improving the facilities for commer- 
 cial, postal, and telegraphic communica- 
 tion between the several countries rep- 
 resented in this Conference, which border 
 upon the Gulf of Mexico and the Carib- 
 bean Sea, has the honor to submit to the 
 Conference the following report : 
 
 TBLBGKAPHIO COMMUNICATION. 
 
 Telegraphic communication is carried 
 on between the different countries by 
 means of lines which connect the princi- 
 pal cities of the several countries. It 
 seems that the service meets all rec[uire- 
 ments, and is to be considered satisfac- 
 tory. 
 
 Cable communication is carried on by 
 means of two lines between the United 
 States and the republics of the South. 
 One of them connects Galveston, Tex., 
 with Mexico, Guatemala, Salvador, Nica- 
 ragua, Costa Eica, and the countries on 
 the west coast of South America. The 
 other goes from Tampa, Fla., to Havann, 
 round the south coast of Cuba to Kings- 
 ton, Jamaica, and from there to Ponce de 
 Leon, Porto Eico; thence by way of the 
 Windward Islands to Trinidad, and across 
 to the coast of Venezuela. The high rates 
 
 Se abri(5 la sesi6n & las tres y cinco mi- 
 nutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob<5 y firmd el acta de la 
 anterior sesi6n. 
 
 El Sefior Quintana, delegado por la 
 Repliblica Argentina, manifest6 que de- 
 bia especificarse en el acta con mayor 
 claridad al referirse S, sus palabras sobre 
 el aumento de oargas al Tesoro nacional 
 que aquel gravaba no solo al consumidor 
 sino tambien al productor del pais que 
 hace la importaci6n. 
 
 El Sefior Presidente anuncid que la 
 6rden del dia senalaba para discutirse en 
 seguida el dictamen de la Comieidn de 
 Comunicacioucs por el Golfo de Mexico y 
 el mar Caribe, que dice oomo sigue : 
 
 Dictamen db la Comisi6n de Comuni- 
 
 CACIOKE8 por el GOLFO DE MlllXICO 
 
 Y BL Mar Caribe. 
 
 Al Senor Presidente de la Conferencia In- 
 ttrnacional Americana : 
 La Comi8i6n nombrada para estudiar y 
 diotaminar acerca de los medios md^s 
 adecuados para ampliar y mejorar las 
 facilidades de comunioaci6n comercial, 
 postal y telegr^fica entre los diversos 
 patses representados en esta Conferencia 
 que continan con el Golfo de Mexico y el 
 Mar Caribe, tiene el honor de presentar S, 
 la Conferencia el siguiente dictamen : 
 
 C0MUNICACi6n TBLBGRiFICA. 
 
 Hay establecidas comuuicaciones tele- 
 gr^ficas entre los diversos pafses por 
 medio de lineas que unen sus prinoipales 
 ciudades. Parece que el servicio llena 
 todas las necesidades, y debe considerarse 
 como satisfactorio. 
 
 Existen dos lineas de cables entre los 
 E,stados Unidos y las Repriblicas del Sur. 
 
 La una enlaza ^ Galveston (Texas) con 
 Mexico, Guatemala, Salvador, Nicaragua, 
 Costa Eica y los palses de la costa occi- 
 dental de Sud America. La otra enlaza S. 
 Tampa (Florida) con la Habana, y pasa por 
 la costa del sud de Cuba S, Kingston (Ja- 
 maica) y de allf S, Ponce de Le6n (Puerto 
 Rico) ; de donde pasa por las Islas t!e Bar- 
 lovento S, Trinidad y £i la costa de Vene- 
 zuela. Los altos precios que oobran 
 ambas compafilas imposibilitan el fre- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 375 
 
 charged by both of these companies make 
 it impractioaWe to do much business over 
 their lines, and all but the most impera- 
 tive messages are reserved for the mails. 
 We recommend that steps be taken to 
 secure a moderate scale of charges over 
 the present cable lines, and in the event 
 that this can not be accomplished, would 
 suggest the necessity of granting char- 
 ters to one or more independent cable 
 companies under the auspices of the sev- 
 eral Governments representing the coun- 
 tries interested ; the said companies to 
 be incorporated on condition that ca- 
 ble tolls shall in no case exceed reasona- 
 ble maximum rates to be fixed in their 
 charters. We further recommend that 
 larger systems may be used as far as pos- 
 sible. Short single sections between two 
 isolated points can never pay. It is 
 nearly as expensive to maintain a short 
 as a long circuit, and with a system of 
 several cables the only additional ex- 
 pense consists of the salaries of the em- 
 ployes at the several stations. 
 
 cuentensode suslineaspara los negocios, 
 y todas las comunicaciones, exceptuando 
 las muy urgeutes, se efectuan por el cor- 
 reo. 
 
 Reoomendamos que se d6n pasos it fin de 
 obtener una tarifa de precios moderadoa 
 en las lineas aotuales, y, en oaso de no 
 conseguirse esto, sugerirlamos el otorga- 
 miento de concesiones & una 6 mas 
 companias telegr.'iflcas independientes, 
 bajo los auspicios de los Gobiernos 
 de los palses interesados. Al autorizarse 
 la constituci6a de dichas companias, debe 
 estipnlarse que los precios no exceder^n 
 de un maximum razonable que se fijar^ 
 en la escritnra de concesidn. Adem^s re- 
 comendamos que las lineas scan lo m^s 
 extensas que se pueda. Seociones cortas 
 entre dos puntos aislados nuuca pueden 
 ser luorativas. Es casi tan costoso explo- 
 tar llueas cortas como explotar un gran 
 circuito; y con un sistema de varies cables, 
 el tiuico gasto adicional que se impone es 
 el de los sueldos de los empleados de las 
 diversas estaciones. 
 
 POSTAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
 
 COMUNICACIONES POSTALES. 
 
 Postal communication between the 
 United States and the countries bordering 
 on the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean 
 Sea is governed by the provisions of the 
 Universal Postal Union and is carried on 
 by several lines of steam-ships, which sail 
 more or less frequently, and carry the 
 mails uuderthe direction of the post-office 
 authorities of the respective Govern- 
 ments. 
 
 A statement from the Post-OtHce De- 
 partment, hereto attached, will show the 
 number and character of these lines, the 
 amount of mail transported, and the com- 
 pensation paid by the United States Gov- 
 ernment during the fiscal year ending 
 June 30, 1889. 
 
 El servicio de comnnicaci6n postal entre 
 los Estados Uuidos y los paises colindantes 
 con el Golfo de Mexico y el Mar Caribe se 
 hace con arreglo & lo prescrito por las dis- 
 posiciones de laUni6n Postal Universal, 
 por medio de varias Ifneas de vapores que 
 navegan con ra^s 6 mends freouencia, y 
 llevan la correspondencia con sujecidu S 
 lo que nianden las autoridades de correos 
 de los respeotivos Gobiernos. 
 
 El informe que se acompaila del Minis- 
 terio del ramo de oste pais, explica el 
 ntimero y clase de estas lineas, el total de 
 correspondencia trasportada, y la suma 
 que el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos ha 
 pagado por este servicio, en el ailo fiscal 
 terminado el 30 de Junio de 1889. 
 
 COMMUNICATION WITH HAYTI. 
 
 The facilities for commercial and postal 
 communications between the United 
 States and Hayti are fair, being furnished 
 by the Clyde Steam-ship Company, whose 
 steamers sail under the United States flag. 
 
 COMUNICACIONES CON HAITI. 
 
 Las comunicaciones comerciales y pos- 
 tales entre los Estados Unidos y Haiti sou 
 bastante buenas, y las proporciona la oom- 
 panla denominada " Clyde Steam-ship 
 Company,'' ouyos vapores navegan con 
 pabell6n de los Estados Unidos. 
 
376 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 VENEZUELA. 
 
 The facilities for communication with 
 Venezuela are good, owing to the enter- 
 prise of the managers of the "Red D" 
 line of steamers, running between New 
 York and the ports of that country. 
 During the last few months this company 
 has added to its fleet three fine new 
 steamers, equipped with modern improve- 
 ments, namely, the Venezuela, of 2,800 
 tons ; the Caracas, of 2,600 tons, and the 
 Maraeaiho, of 1,260 tons. This line was 
 established by Messrs. Boulton, Bliss & 
 Dallet, of New Yorlc, with the sole object 
 of transporting the merchandise of their 
 firn). During many years they employed 
 only sailing vessels, but in 1879 it was de- 
 eided to substitute steam for sail, and 
 three German steamers were chartered 
 until vessels could be built especially for 
 the trade. All of the steamers are pro- 
 vided with accommodatious for passengers 
 and the modern improvements promotive 
 of safety, convenience, and comfort. The 
 main line runs from New York to the 
 Island of Curagna, from there to Puerto 
 Cabello, and thence to La Guayra, in 
 Venezuela, with a branch line to Mara- 
 caibo. Steamers now leave New York 
 every ten days, but it is hoped that the 
 ser^ce will soon be iucreased to four trips 
 per month. 
 
 The effect of the establishment of this 
 line of steamers upon the trade of the 
 United States and Venezuela has been 
 very great. But a, few years ago the 
 commerce with that Republic was only 
 $3,300,000 ; no,w it amounts to about $14,- 
 000,000, and comprises nearly one-half 
 the total foreign trade of that country. 
 The importance of the trade that has been 
 built up by this line of steamers is shown 
 by the fact that 10,000 bales of cotton 
 goods were shipped from the United States 
 to that country in 1888, while in 1880 but 
 1,200 bales were shipped. 
 
 There is also a lino of steamers sailing 
 once a mouth from New York to Ciudad 
 Bolivar, on the Orinoco River. 
 
 VENEZUELA. 
 
 Las comunicaciones con Venezuela son 
 buonas, debido al exoelente raanejo de 
 los empresarios de la compafila denomi- 
 nada "Red D Line,"cuyos vapores nave- 
 gan eutre Nueva-York y los puertos de 
 aquelpals. Durante losiiltimos mesesesta 
 companfaha aumentado el numero de sns 
 buques, adquiriendo tres magnlfioos va- 
 pores nuevos, provistos de todas las 
 mejoras modernas, d saber: el "Vene- 
 zuela,'' de 2,800 toneladas; el "Caracas," 
 de 2,600; y el» " Maracaibo," de 1,260. 
 Esta llnea fu6 eslablecida por los Senores 
 Boulton, Bliss y liallett de Nueva-York, 
 con el tiuico objeto de trasportar las mer- 
 caderlas de su casa de comercio. 
 
 Durante muchos anos solaraente em- 
 plearon buques de vela ; pero, en 1879, 
 deoidieron sustitiiirlos por vapores, y 
 fletaron tres de nacionalidad alemana, 
 mientras se construlan otros adecuados 
 para el trSifico. Todos los vapores ofrecen 
 cuantes comodidades son apetecibles para 
 los viageros, y para su construccidn se han 
 tenido presentes todos los adelantos he- 
 chos en materia de seguridad, coraodidad 
 y buen servicio. La llnea principal es de 
 Nueva York £i la isla deCurazao, dedonde 
 se va ^ Puerto Cabello y & La Guaira. 
 Una linea secundaria liga este puerto con 
 el de Maracaibo. Un vapor sale de Nueva- 
 York cada diez dias, y se espera que en 
 breve serdl m^s frecuente el servicio, con el 
 establecimiento de cuatro viajes al mes. 
 
 El efeoto que el establecimiento de esta 
 llnea de vapores ha producido en el 
 trSfico entre los Estados Unidos y Vene- 
 zuela ha sido muy notable. No hace 
 muchos anos que el comercio delos Estados 
 Unidos con aqnella Republica llegaba sdlo 
 S. $3,300,000. Ahora sube poco mils 6 
 menos & $14,000,000, y representa pr<5xi- 
 maraente la mitad del total del comercio 
 extranjero de aquel pals. La importanoia 
 del tr^fico creado por esta llnea de 
 vapores se domuestra por el hecho de que 
 en 1888 se embarcaron para alii diez mil 
 bultos de gfineros de algoddn de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, mientras que en 1880 sdlo se 
 embarcaron mil doscientos. 
 
 Hay tambi6u una llnea de vapores que 
 saleujina vez al mes de Nueva-York para 
 Ciudad Bolivar, eu las mitrgenes del 
 Orinoco. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 377 
 
 COLOMBIA. 
 
 The commercial and postal communl- 
 cations between the United States and 
 the Republic of Colombia are furnished 
 by the Pacific Mail Steam-ship Company, 
 which despatches its steamers three times 
 a month from New York to Colon (Aspin- 
 wall), the average length of the voyage 
 being from eight to nine days. The Pacific 
 Mail steamers carry mail not only for Co- 
 lombia, but for the west coast of Central 
 and South America, making connection 
 at Panama with the various lines of 
 steamers on that coast. The Pacific Mail 
 steamers sail under the United States 
 flag. The mail for Savanilla and Car- 
 tagena is carried by the Atlas Line of 
 steamers, sailing under the British flag, 
 twice a month, the average length of the 
 voyage being thirteen days. Both of 
 these lines would give a more satisfactory 
 service if the trips were increased to one 
 per week. 
 
 There is also another line, under the 
 Spanish flag, which sails between New 
 York, Cuba, Venezuela, and the United 
 States of Colombia, and is said to receive 
 irom the Spanish Government a subsidy 
 of $243,687.60. 
 
 These three lines furnish six trips a 
 month between New York and the ports 
 of Colombia. 
 
 COLOMBIA. 
 
 La comunioaci(5n comercial y postal en- 
 tre los Estados Unidos y la Repiiblica de 
 Colombia se efectfia por el intermedio de 
 la compafila denominada "Pacific Mail 
 Steam-ship Company," que hace salir sus 
 vapores, tres veces al mes, de Nueva-York 
 para Col6n. La duraci6n del viaje es de 
 echo & nueve dias, por t6rmino medio. 
 Esta llnea no solaraente lleva la corres- 
 pondencia de Colombia, sine tambi^n la 
 que va d la costa occidental de Centro 
 y Snd-Am6rica, y hace conexi6n en Pa- 
 nama con varias lineas de vapores que 
 an vegan & lo largo de aquella costa. Los 
 vapores de la "Pacific Mail "navegan con 
 pabelldn de los Estados Unidos. La cor- 
 respondencia para Sabanilla y Cartagena 
 se lleva dos veces al mes por los vapores 
 de la linea denominada "Atlas," que 
 navegan con pabell6n ingles, y emplean, 
 por t€rmino medio, trece dIas en cada 
 viaje. El servicio de ambas lineas seria 
 mfe satisfactario si el niimero de sus via- 
 jes se aumentara, de suerte que hubiera 
 uno por semana. 
 
 Hay tambien otra Itnea, cuyos buques 
 navegaan con pabell6n espanol, entre 
 Nueva-York, Cuba, Venezuela y la Re- 
 piiblica de Colombia, y se dice que reciben 
 del Gobierno espanol una subvencidn de 
 $243,687.60. 
 
 Con estas tres lineas se tienen seis va- 
 pores al mes entre Nueva-York y los puer- 
 tos de Colombia. 
 
 CENTBAL AMERICA. 
 
 The mails to Central America are car- 
 ried either by the Pacific Mail or the 
 Atlas steamers. There are also steamers 
 of less importance sailing from New Or- 
 leans. While the service is as good as is 
 practicable under the circumstances, it is 
 very desirable that the facilities shall be 
 increased and improved. 
 
 CENTRO-AM^RICA. 
 
 La correspondencia para Centro- Ameri- 
 ca es conducida, ya por los vapores de la 
 liuea denominada "Pacific Mail," ya por 
 los de la llamada "Atlas." Hay tambi6n 
 otros vapores de menor importancia que 
 salen de Nueva Orleans. Aunque en la 
 actnalldad el servicio es tan bueuo como 
 lo permiten las circumstancias, es de 
 desearse que se mejore, y se aumenten las 
 facilidades de comunicaci6n. 
 
 Steam-ship communication between the. 
 Gulf ports of the United States and Mex- 
 ico is limited to the Morgan Line between 
 New Orleans and Vera Cruz — average 
 
 uixico. 
 
 El tinioo servicio de vapor existente 
 entre los puertos americanos del Golfo de 
 Mdxico y loa de la Repiiblica Mexicana es 
 el que hace la llnea denominada de "Mor- 
 
378 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 time three and one-half days, two trips 
 a month. This being railway communi- 
 cation between the two countries they 
 are not dependent upon steamships for 
 mail, passenger, or freight service. Their 
 rapidly increasing commerce, as the re- 
 sult of railroad connection, shows clearly 
 what benefits will accrue to other coun- 
 tries from the establishment of proper 
 means of communication. 
 
 It will be seen by the annexed report 
 of the United States Post-Office Depart- 
 ment that the earnings of all these lines 
 of steamers are derived almost exclu- 
 sively from the intercourse and trade that 
 these countries maintain with the United 
 States. Very little could be derived from 
 the commerce between the several na- 
 tions on the Gulf of Mexico and the Ca- 
 ribbean Sea outside of the United States. 
 This is due to agreat extent, if not wholly 
 to the fact that none of these countries 
 are engaged in manufacturing. They all 
 produce the same raw materials and their 
 importations consist of the same com- 
 modities. Manufactured cotton goods, 
 machinery, and provisions constitute the 
 bulk of the imports of these countries 
 from the United States, and their exports 
 to the same markets consist of the raw 
 materials already mentioned and tropical 
 fruits. Consequently there is no occasion 
 for an active trade between the Central 
 American States, and no direct lines be- 
 tween them could be successfully main- 
 tained unless they were extended to the 
 United States. They are now in com- 
 munication by coasting steamers, which 
 call periodically at their ports. We con- 
 sider, therefore, in view of actual condi- 
 tions, that we shall have to accept the 
 existing service as the only one that is 
 practicable at present. 
 
 While the existing lines of steamers be- 
 tween the ports of the United States and 
 those of the countries bordering on the 
 Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea 
 furnish a tolerable service, an objection 
 is found in the length of time consumed 
 in making the voyages ; and since much 
 could be gained by the establishment of 
 
 gan" entre Nueva Orleans y Vera Cruz. 
 Hay dos salidas al mes, y la duraci6n del 
 viaje es, por t^rmino medio, 3^ dias. Corao 
 existen coraunicaciones por ferro-carril 
 entre los dos paises, (5stos no tienen que 
 depender de los vapores para el trasporte 
 de correspondencia, pasajeros y carga. 
 El riipido aumento de su comercio, resul- 
 tado de las coraunicaciones por ferro- 
 carril, demuestra hasta la evidencia los 
 benefioios que los dem^s paises obtendr^a 
 cuando se establezcan las facilidades 
 adecuadas de Qpmunicacidn. 
 
 Se observarii, estudiando el informe 
 adjunto del Departamento de Correos de 
 los Estados Unidos, que las ganancias ob- 
 tenidas por dichas Itneas de vapores pro- 
 vienen casi exclusivamente de la comu- 
 nicacidn y triJfico entre estos paises y los 
 Estados Unidos. Poco provecho ren- 
 diria el comercio entre las varias na- 
 ciones quo est£in situadas en las orillas 
 del Golfo de Mexico y el Mar Caribe si se 
 prescindiera de los Estados Unidos. Esto 
 se debe en gran parte, si no on todo, al 
 hecho de que ninguno de dichos paises es 
 manufacturero. Todos producen las mis- 
 mas materias primas y sus importaciones 
 se componen de id^nticas mercaderias. 
 La mayor parte de lo que dichos paises 
 importan de los Estados Unidos consiste 
 en g^neros de algod6u, maquinaria y co- 
 mestibles, y lo que exportan para los mis- 
 mos mercados se reduce & las materias 
 primas antedichas y productos tropicales. 
 De consiguiente, no hay raz6n para que 
 haya nn tr^flco activo entre los Estados 
 Centro-Americanos, y no podrlan man- 
 tenerse con provecho llneas directas entre 
 los mismos, 4 menos que se prolongasen 
 hasta los Estados Unidos. Dichos paises 
 se comunioan por medio de vapores cos- 
 teros, que tocan peri6dicamente en sus 
 puertos. Pensamos, de consiguiente, en 
 vista de las cirounstancias actuales, que 
 debemos aceptar el servicio existente como 
 el linioo que por ahora es practicable. 
 
 Annque los vapores que hay en el dia 
 entre los puertos de los Estados Unidos y 
 de los paises colindantes con el Golfo de 
 Mexico y el Mar Caribe prestan un servicio 
 bastante bueno, se encuentra una obje- 
 cidn contra el los en el tiempo que gastan 
 en hacer los viajes; y porcuanto podria 
 ganarse mucho estableciendo llneas de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 379 
 
 faster lines of steamers or the snbstitntion 
 of faster steamers for the slow ones now 
 on the existing lines, we recommend that 
 the number of trips be increased and that 
 the rate of speed be heightened so that 
 the round trips, or at least the return 
 trips to the ports of the Ignited States be 
 made in the shortest possible time, in or- 
 der that perishable freights may arrive in 
 good condition. 
 
 At present a letter mailed on the 1st of 
 the month in St. Louis will not arrive at 
 Colon before the 15th. It requires two 
 days to reach New York and then, if the 
 steamer sails immediately, the time is re- 
 duced to twelve days; hut, as the trips are 
 only three a month, it is oftener twenty 
 days in making the passage, and freight 
 requires a much longer time, in some cases 
 thirty or thirty-five days. By the estab- 
 lishment of fester and more direct lines of 
 steamers time could be shortened at least 
 one-third and the expense of freight trans- 
 portation reduced in a corresponding de- 
 gree. 
 
 But trade is no longer carried on to any 
 extent by correspondence. The buyer and 
 seller must meet each other. Acquaint- 
 ance fosters confidence, and confidence is 
 the foundation of all trade. Wherever 
 foreign merchants have obtained mastery 
 in the markets of Latin America it has 
 been by sending agents to study the 
 tastes and the wants of the buyers and 
 to lay before them samples of the mer- 
 chandise they have to sell and by furnish- 
 ing prompt and cheap transportation 
 facilities. Commercial travelorsfrom the 
 United States are seldom, if ever, seen in 
 the mercantile cities of the Southern 
 countries, and the buyers for those 
 markets seldom visit the warehouses of 
 the merchants of the United States. This 
 is in a large part attributable to the lack 
 of proper means of communication. The 
 merchant of any of these countries can 
 take a, state-room upon a swift steamer 
 and after a, comfortable and restCnl 
 voyage spend a month in examining the 
 manufactures and show-rooms of Euro- 
 pean counuies. He can make the ac- 
 quaintance of those who are seeking his 
 custom and establish his credit and buy 
 whatever he tinds suitable for his cui3- 
 tomers. 
 
 vapores mas riipidos, 6 sustituyendo los 
 actuales con otros de mayor velocidad, 
 recomendamos que se aumente el ntlraero 
 delosviages, asl coraotambi^n su rapidez 
 Ji fin de que los viajes redondos, 6 por lo 
 menosel viajede vuelta ^lospuertosdelos 
 Estados Unidos, se efeotue en el tiempo 
 ni^s breve que sea posible, y lleguen en 
 buen estado las mercaderias perecederas. 
 
 En la actnalidad una carta enviada de 
 San Luis el dia priraero del mes no Ilega 
 & Col<5n antes del quince. Necesita dos 
 dias para llegar & Nneva-Tork, y si el va- 
 por zarpa inmediatamente, se reduce el 
 tiempo Si doce dias; pero como no hay mils 
 que tres salidas al mes, generalmente tarda 
 veinte dias en hacer el viaje. Las mer- 
 caderias tardan mucho m& tiempo : en 
 algunos cases treinta 6 treinta y cinco dias. 
 Estableciendo llneas de vapores mas riipi- 
 das y directas, podria reducirse el tiempo 
 a un tercio del empleado actualmente, y 
 los precios de los fletes se disminuirian en 
 proporci6n. 
 
 Pero los negocios, generalmente, no se 
 veriflcan ya por correspondencia. El 
 comprador y el veudedor necesitau verse. 
 El conooimiento personal aumenta la cou- 
 fianza, y la confianza es el fundaniento 
 de todo comercio. Ningun comerci.ante 
 extranjero ha obtenido predominio en los 
 raercados de la America Latiua, sine des- 
 pnes de haber enviado agentes S, estudiar 
 los gustos y las necesidades de los com- 
 pradores, y ensenado muestras de las mer- 
 caderias que tienen de venta, anadidu- 
 dose a eato el establecimiento de medios 
 de transporte r^pidos y baratos. Nunca, 
 6 rara vez, se ve en las oiudades niercan- 
 tilesde los palses del Sur un agente via- 
 jero comercial de los Estados Unidos ; y 
 los que oompran para aquellos mercados 
 pooas veces visitan los almacenes de los 
 oomerciantes amerioanos. Esto es debido, 
 en gran parte, & la carencia de trasi)ortes 
 adecuados. El coraerciante de cualquiera 
 de aquellos paises puede toniar un oama- 
 rote en nn vapor r^pido, y, despuiSa de 
 hacer un viaje c<5modo y descansado, puede 
 emplear un mes en oxaminar las manufac- 
 turas y tiendas de los pafses europeos. 
 Puede relacionarse personalmente con los 
 que soli ci tan entrar con 61 en negocios 
 establecer su crddito y comprar lo que 
 encuentre conyeniente para bus parro- 
 quiauos. 
 
380 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 It will doubtless be several years be- 
 fore quick lines of commuuication would 
 become self-supporting ; and in order to 
 induce capitalists to invest their means 
 in such enteiprises efficient aid must be 
 guaraateed to them for a number of years. 
 
 It is impossible to estimate the increase 
 of trade that such facilities for communi- 
 cation and transportation would at once 
 bring to the American republics. The 
 purchasing power of the countries of 
 Central America and the Spanish Main 
 is not alone to be considered. It must 
 be remembered that the west coast of 
 South America has a commerce of more 
 than 1100,000,000 a year. The distance 
 from the ports of Chili to those of Europe 
 through the Straits of Magellan is nearly 
 9,000 miles, and the voyage requires more 
 than thirty days, while from Peru and 
 Ecuador the distance is much greater. 
 A line of fast steamers from the United 
 States to Colon, in connection with a 
 similar one down the west coast of South 
 America, would bring Valparaiso within 
 eighteen or twenty days of Chicago and 
 St. Louis. London could be reached from 
 Valparaiso by way of New Orleans or New 
 York in much less time than by the direct 
 voyage through the straits, and the jour- 
 ney would be so much more agreeable 
 that the passenger as well as the freight 
 traffic would be to a great extent diverted 
 to that route. 
 
 From official data before the committee 
 it is plain that the countries bordering 
 on the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean 
 Sea appreciate the necessity of providing 
 direct and quick communication with for- 
 eign ports in the interest of producers no 
 less than of consumers, and they mani fest 
 by their policy and generally by their 
 conventions upon tlie subject, that their 
 Governments are disposed to co-operate, 
 whether by contracts or otherwise, for 
 the carrying of the mails. Mexico pays 
 the Pacific Mail Steam-ship Company for 
 the western coast service |30,000 yearly; 
 Guatemala, 124,000; Salvador, |24,Cob; 
 Nicaragua, $6,000; Honduras, $5,000, and 
 Costa Rica $12,000, in the form of com- 
 pensation for postal service. 
 
 Pasar^n, sin dnda, algnnos afios antes 
 de que puedau sostenerse por s£ solas las 
 lineas rsipidas de comunicaci6u ; y ^ fin de 
 inducir S, los capitalistas & que acometan 
 la empresa, es precise que se les asegure 
 un auxilio efectivo por cierto ulimero de 
 anos. 
 
 Es imposible calcular el incremento de 
 negocios que tales facilidades de comnni- 
 cacii5n y trasporte producirlan inme- 
 diatamente en todas las Repliblicas ame- 
 ricanas. No hay quepensar solamente en 
 lo que pueden comprar los palses do 
 Centre-America y la Costa Firme. Hay 
 que considerar tambiiSn que la costa oc- 
 cidental de Sud-America hace un comercio 
 de mi,6 de cien millones de pesos al ano. 
 La distancia de los puertos de Chile S, los 
 de Europa, pasando por el Estrecho de 
 Magallanes, es cerca de nueve mil millas, 
 y se emplean en el viaje mSa de treinta 
 dias. Ladistancia es, por supuesto, mncho 
 mayor desde el Peru 6 el Ecuador. Una 
 liuea de vapores riipidos entre los Esta- 
 dos Unidos y Col(5n, en conexidn con otra 
 igual en la costa occidental de Sud- 
 Am6rica, pondria & Valparaiso Sj diez y 
 ocho 6 veinte dias de distancia de Chi- 
 cago y San Luis. Se podria ir de Valpa- 
 raiso a LoUdres, via de Nueva-Orleans 6 
 deNueva-York, en menos tiempo del que 
 se necesita hoy yendo directamenteporel 
 Estrecho, y el viaje seria mucho mSa 
 agradable. Tanto los fletes como el 
 trSfioo se harlan por esta via. 
 
 Se ve por los dates oficiales presentados 
 A la Comisi6n, que los paises colindautes 
 con el Golfo de Mexico y el Mar Caribe 
 comprenden la necesidad del estableci- 
 miento de comunicaciones directasy riipi- 
 das con los puertos extrangeros, tanto en 
 el interns de los productores como en el 
 do los consumidores. Dichos paises indi- 
 can por medio de su politica general y 
 de las medidas adoptadas que sus Gobier- 
 nos est^n dispuestos & prestar su coopera- 
 ci6n, ya sea en la forma de contratos para 
 el trasporte de correspondencia, ya de 
 otra manera. Mexico paga S, la compafila 
 denominada "Pacific Mail Steam-ship 
 Company," por el servicio en la costa oc- 
 cidental, $30,000 al ano; Guatemala, 
 $24,000; Savador, $24,000; Nicaragua, 
 $6,000; Honduras, $5,000, y Costa Eica, 
 $12,000 ; todo esto en la forma de com- 
 pensacidn postal. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 381 
 
 Planshave been discussed by capitalists 
 in this country for the establishment of a 
 direct and rapid steam-ship service be- 
 tween Tampa, Fla., and Mobile, Ala., aud 
 the ports of Colon, Port Limon (Costa 
 Rica), and> Greytown, Nicaragua. The 
 town of Tampa is situated on the west 
 coast of Florida, 666 miles from Havana 
 and l,yOO miles from Colon, by the meas- 
 urement of the United States Navy De- 
 partment. It has a safe and commodious 
 harbor, sufficient to float the largest 
 ships, and without bar or other obstruc- 
 tion at its entrance. The natural advan- 
 tages of this port have been supple- 
 mented by the construction of wharves, 
 docks, hotels, and driveways, aud freight 
 can be transported from the railroad cars 
 to the ships at the minimum of time and 
 expense. 
 
 The Government of the United States 
 has already established a fast railway 
 mail service between New England, New 
 York, and Pennsylvania, and Tampa, 
 where connection may be made with the 
 Havana steamers. The journey from 
 New York City to Tampa takes thirty-six 
 hours. The train in question passes 
 through the principal cities of the Atlantic 
 coast, where it daily takes up the mails 
 from the west. The distance from Chi- 
 cago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and other 
 great cities of the West to Tampa is about 
 the same as that fromNew York to Tampa 
 aud from those cities to New York, and 
 the railway connections are such that a 
 letter from Chicago via Tampa to ports 
 of the Caribbean Sea would be carried as 
 quickly as a letter from New York, and 
 freight from the Western cities for such 
 port would be carried by rail to Tampa as 
 quickly and as cheaply as to New York. 
 
 The distance from Tampa to Colon, tak- 
 ing that port as an illustration, is much less 
 than from New York, the time being five 
 and a half days, while the steamers at pres- 
 ent in use between New York and Colon 
 make the journey in eight to nine days. 
 It could not be expected that the export- 
 ers of New York would avail themselves 
 
 Algunoscapitalistasdeestepalshandia- 
 cutido diveraos proyectos para el establ6- 
 cimiento de un servieio rSpido y directo, 
 por vapor, entre Tampa ( Florida) , Mobila 
 (Alabama) y los puertos de Col6n, Puerto 
 Limfin (Costa Eica), y Greytown (Nica- 
 ragua). La ciudad de Tampa estd. situa- 
 da en la costa occidental de Florida, H 
 660 millas de la Habana, y S, 1,200 millas 
 de Col6Q,segunlas medidas del Departa- 
 meuto de Marina de los Estados Unidos. 
 Tiene un pnerto seguro y cdmodo, con 
 aguas suficieutemeute prof uudas para que 
 en <S1 se abriguen los buques de mayor 
 calado, y sin barras ni obstSculos de nin- 
 guna clase d. su entrada. Sus ventajas 
 natu rales como puerto se han aumentado 
 por la construcci6n de muelles, diques, 
 hoteles, y ferro-oarriles, y en estostiltimos 
 las cosas se han arreglado de una manera 
 tan c6moda, que las mercaderlas puedon 
 trasportarse de los carros & los vapores con 
 todalarapidez posible y un costo minimo. 
 
 El Gobierno de los Estados Unidos ha 
 establecido ya un servieio rdipido de cor- 
 reos por ferro-carril entre Nueva Ingla- 
 terra, Nueva- York, Pennsylvania y Tam- 
 pa, en donde pueden tomarse los vapores 
 para la Habana. Treiuta y seis horas se 
 consumen en el viaje desde Nueva- York 
 hasta Tampa. El tren antedicho pasa 
 por las ciudades principales de la costa 
 del Atld^ntico, donde diariamente re- 
 ooge la correspondencia del Oeste. La 
 distancia entre Chicago, San Luis, Cincin- 
 nati y otras grandes ciudades del Oeste y 
 Tampa es casi la misma que hay entre 
 Nueva- York y Tampa, y entre las dichas 
 ciudades y Nueva-York ; y las conexiones 
 se han hecho de tal modo que una carta 
 de Chicago, via Tampa, para los puertos 
 del Mar Caribe, llegaria con la misma rapi- 
 dez que una carta env iada de Nueva-York. 
 Las mercaderfas del Oeste enviadas S, los 
 referidos puertos podrian llegar por ferro- 
 carril ^ Tampa tan pronto y con tan poco 
 costo como Si Nueva-York. 
 
 La distancia entre Tampa y Col(5n, to- 
 mando este rlltimo puerto como ejemplo, 
 es mucho menor, que la que hay entre 
 Nueva-York y Col6n. El viaje desde Tam- 
 pa requiere solamente cinco dias y medio, 
 mientras que el efectuado desde Nueva- 
 York, por los vapores aotualmente exis- 
 tentes, necesitaocho 6 nueve dias. No 
 
382 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 of this advantage of time iu the ship- 
 ment of heavy merchaudise, for the cost 
 would be luiich greater if sont pai't way 
 by rail, but for mail and passengers it 
 would be found very convenient; while 
 the merchants and the manufacturers of 
 Clevoland,:Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, 
 and other cities of the West, who pro- 
 dace most of the articles shipped to South 
 America, wonld not only be able to place 
 their merchandise upon the docks of 
 Tampa in the same time and at the same 
 cost that is required to deliver it in New 
 York, but with much greater convenience 
 and less cost, so far as wharfage and 
 handling at the terminal points are con- 
 cerned. 
 
 The same holds true of merchandise 
 imported into the United States from the 
 southern republics for consumption in 
 the Southern and Western States. The 
 merchants of Chicago, some months ago, 
 sent to the President of this Conference a 
 memorial for the establishment of steam- 
 ship facilities at Tampa, a proposal which 
 finds support in the foregoing facts. The 
 merchants and manufacturers of the 
 southern portion of the United States 
 would derive great benefit from the estab- 
 lishment of the proposed line, and the 
 rapidly developing industries of that sec- 
 tion seem to be entitled to special con- 
 sideration. At the same time, in addition 
 to the advantages already pointed out, 
 all those engaged in trade between the 
 United States and the countries border- 
 ing on the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean 
 Sea, and the Pacific Ocean would profit 
 greatly by competition between the car- 
 riers. 
 
 With properly constructed steamers 
 the proposed line would be of incalcu- 
 lable service to those engaged in the ship- 
 ment of fruit and other perishable arti- 
 cles, which suffer severely from long voy- 
 ages and bad weather at sea. A very 
 large portion of the fruit coming to the 
 United States from Central and South 
 America is consumed in the Southern and 
 Western cities of the United States, and 
 the same is true of coffee, hides, and other 
 
 podrla esperarse que los oxportadores de 
 Nueva-York se aprovechasen de las ven- 
 tajas que ofreoe esta proutitud para em- 
 harcar mercaderias de mucho peso, por- 
 que si las mandaran parte del camiuo por 
 ferro-carril, los fletes serlan mSa caros; 
 pero este inconveniente no se presenta 
 tratdlndose de correspondeueia y pasaje- 
 ros. Los comerciantes y fabricantes de 
 Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, San Luis, 
 y otras ciudados del Oeste, que son las 
 que producen la mayor parte de los artl- 
 culos quese embarcan para Sud- America, 
 no solamente podrlan poner sus merca- 
 derias en los muelles de Tampa al misrao 
 costo y en el mismo tiempo que se necesi- 
 tan para ponerlas en Nueva-York, sino que 
 podrian hacerlo con mayor comodidad y 
 menos gastos en lo que respeota al muellaje 
 y carretaje en los extremes de la llnea. 
 
 Lo mismo puede decirae de las meroade 
 rias procedentes de los Estados de la 
 America del Sur, importadas en los Estados 
 Unidos para el oonsumo de los Estados 
 del Sur y del Oeste. No hace muchos 
 meses que los comerciantes de Chicago 
 enviaron un memorial al Presidente de 
 esta Conferencia solicitando que se esta- 
 bleciesen en Tampa f^cilescomunicaoiones 
 por vapor ; lo que est^ de acuerdo con los 
 hechos expuestos. Los comerciantes y 
 fabricantes de la parte meridional de los 
 Estados Unidos ganarian mucho con el 
 estableoimiento dela llnea propuesta, pues 
 el ripido progreso de la industria en 
 aquella seooi6u del pats es acreedor ^ que 
 se le preste especial atencidn. Al mismo 
 tiempo, ademfe de las ventajas ya enu- 
 meradas, todos los que hacen negocios 
 entre los Estados Unidos y los palses 
 colindantes con el Golfo de Mexico y el 
 Oc^ano Pacifico gozarlan del gran pro- 
 vecho de la competencia. 
 
 Con vapores convenientemente cons- 
 truidos, la llnea propuesta prestarla 
 incalculables servicios il los que se ocupan 
 en el comercio de frutas y otros artlculos 
 perecederos, que sufren mucho con largos 
 viajes y mal tiempo en el mar. Gran 
 parte de las frutas importadas en los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, procedentes de Centro y Sud- 
 Am^rica, se consume en las ciudades del 
 Sur y del Oeste de los Estados Unidos, y 
 lo mismo puede decirse del caf6, oueros y 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 383 
 
 merchandise, while the principal articles 
 of export from the United States come 
 mainly from the same cities ; the flour 
 from Richmond and Minneapolis, provis- 
 ions from Chicago, refined petroleum 
 from Cleveland, and furniture from Grand 
 Rapids, while Georgia audthe Carolinas, 
 as well as other Southern States, are 
 largely interested iu the shipment of cot- 
 ton goods. 
 
 But the greatest advantage to he de- 
 rived from such a line would be the im- 
 provement in mail and passenger trans- 
 portation between the United States and 
 the ports east, west, and south of Colon, 
 the time from New York to the latter port 
 being shortened to five and a half days 
 or six days, if, as suggested, the proposed 
 steamers make a deviation from a direct 
 line from Tauipa to Port Limon and Grey- 
 town. The voyage from Tampa to Colon, 
 1,200 miles, would be made by fast steam- 
 ers iu less than five days, and if fast 
 trains were taken, either New York or Chi- 
 cago could be reached from the latter 
 port in six and a half days. Such an im- 
 provement upon present facilities for 
 travel is worthy of the careful considera- 
 tion of the Delegates to this Couference 
 aud of the Governments they represent. 
 
 The plan above suggested for a line of 
 steamers from Tampa to Colon proposes 
 that the steamers, if established, shall 
 visit the city of Mobile regularly to de- 
 liver and receive freight after having 
 landed their mail, passengers, and freight 
 at Tampa. 
 
 There are also many considerations in fa- 
 vor of New Orleans as a port of exit. The 
 geographical position of New Orleans at 
 the mouth of the Mississippi makes it the 
 natural outlet for trade not only with Cen- 
 tral and South America, but with other 
 parts of the world, for the products of the 
 great valley this river drains, which con- 
 stitute the bulk of the exportable commo- 
 dities of the United States. The bread- 
 stuffs, the provisions, the agricultural ma- 
 chinery and implements, the furniture, aud 
 petroleum, and the centers of their pro- 
 duction are all within convenient distance 
 of water transportation. In many in- 
 
 otras meroadorfas ; en tanto que los prin- 
 cipales artfculos de exportaoi6n de los 
 Estados Unidos son suministrados princi- 
 palmente por las mismas ciudades : la 
 hariua va de Richmond y Minneapolis, 
 las provisiones de Chicago, el p6tr61eo 
 refinado de Cleveland, y los muebles de 
 Grand Rapids. El Estado de Georgia, las 
 dos Carolinas y muchos otros Estados del 
 Sur, haceu especial comercio embarcan- 
 do sus g^ueros de algod6n. Pero la mayor 
 ventaja que dicha lluea proporcionaria 
 seria la de mejorar el trasporte de la cor- 
 respoudencia y pasajeros entre los Esta- 
 dos Unidos y los puertos al Este, Oeste y 
 Sud de Col6u, reduciendo el tiempo que 
 hoy se necesita para ir de Nueva-York Si 
 este ultimo puerto, hasta hacerlo cinco 
 dias y medio, 6 tal vez seis, si, como se ha 
 sugerido, los vapores se desvlan de la linea 
 directa de Tampa y van S, Puerto Lim6n 
 y Greytown. El viaje de Tampa ^ Colon, 
 1,200 millas, puede hacerse en vapores 
 rapidos en menos de cinco dias, y si hay 
 treues rapidos, se podr^ llegar de iste 
 tiltimo puerto & Nueva-York 6 Chicago 
 en seis dias y medio. Tal niejora de las 
 actuates facilidades de viaje es, en el 
 sentir de la Comisi6n, digna de que los 
 Delegados & esta Conferencia y los Go- 
 biernosquerepresentan, laestudien cuida- 
 dosamente. 
 
 El plan antes indicado de establecer 
 una linea de vapores entre Tampa y Col6u 
 supone que dichos vapores toqueu regu- 
 larmeute en Mobila, para entregar y re- 
 cibir oarga despuiSs de haber desembar- 
 cado en Tampa la correspond encia, pasa- 
 jeros y mercaderlas. 
 
 Hay tambifo muchas circunstancias 
 que favorecen & Nueva-Orleans como 
 puerto de salida. La posicidn geogrSfioa 
 de Nueva-Orleans en la boca del Missis- 
 sippi, hace que sea el conducto natural 
 por donde salgan los productos del gran 
 valle de dicho rio, no sAlo para las AnuSri- 
 cas del Centro y del Sud, sino tambiiSu 
 para el resto del mundo. Los productos 
 de ese valle forman la base principal de 
 las exportaciones de los Estados Unidos. 
 Harina, trigo, provisiones, maquiuaria 
 agrlcola, muebles y petrdleo, todo se pro- 
 duc'e en la regidn bafiada por el Missis- 
 sippi; y los centres productores est^u 
 
384 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 stances the construction of rival railway 
 lines has diverted commerce from natural 
 to artificial channels, but the difference 
 in distance from Chicago and St. Louis to 
 the ports of the Gulf and the Caribbean 
 Sea via New Orleans Is so great as to 
 offer advantages over New York as a port 
 of exit which conld not be overlooked if 
 proper steam-ship facilities to the said 
 Gulf and Caribbean ports were furnished. 
 
 There are already several lines of steam- 
 ships of a comparatively insignificant 
 tonnage between New Orleans and the 
 Central American ports. They represent 
 a growing sentiment and a growing 
 sympathy which should he encouraged 
 and fostered by the several Governments 
 interested. These steam-ships have al- 
 ready done much to increase the exports 
 as well as the imports of New Orleans, 
 but they have been established and sus- 
 tained by private enterprise, the assist- 
 ance given them by the United States 
 Governmeut having been so small as to 
 be unworthy of consideration compared 
 with the aid extended them by some of 
 the Spanish American Governments. 
 
 It has been maintained before the com- 
 mittee that the portion of the United 
 States most interested in the develop- 
 ment of direct traffic between New Or- 
 leans and the ports of the Gulf and the 
 Caribbean Sea is that which suffers most 
 from overproduction, hut has until now 
 shown the least interest in the expan- 
 sion of foreign trade. 
 
 New Orleans is the terminus of six 
 trunk lines of railway and of 20,000 miles 
 of river navigation. It is the largest port 
 of entry in the South. Its imports dur- 
 ing the last fiscal year amounted to 
 $15,400,000. Out of that sum |10,400,000 
 were collected on five articles, all of which 
 came from Central and South America, 
 namely, coffee, sugar, fruit, hemp, and 
 India rubber. 
 
 As before stated, the Central American 
 
 todos, por otra parte, situados d tan co- 
 moda distancia del rio, que el trasporte 
 de las mercaderlas puede hacerse f^cil- 
 meute por agua. En mnchos casos la 
 construccidn de lineas rivales de ferrb- 
 carril ha lanzado el comercio por vias 
 artifioiales de comnnicaoidn, abandonan- 
 do las natnrales; pero la diferencia en 
 distancia entre Chicago y San Luis y los 
 puertos del Golfo y del Mar Caribe, pa- 
 sando por Nueva- Orleans, es t^nta, que 
 siempre resultarS preferiWe escoger esta 
 ultima ciudad como puuto de salida en 
 vez de Nueva- York, con tal que existan 
 facilidades de comunicaci6n por vapor. 
 
 En la actnalidad hay varias Ifneas de 
 vapores, aunque de touelaje relativa- 
 mente insignificante, entre Nueva-Or- 
 leaus y los puertos de Centro-Am^rica. 
 Esto no hace m& que expresar un sen- 
 timiento, que crece sin cesar, y una ne- 
 cesidad cada vez m^ imperiosa, que 
 deben estimularse y satisfacerse por los 
 varios Gobiernos interesados. Estos va- 
 pores han cor.tribuido muoho ^ aumentar 
 el movimiento de exportacidn 6 importa- 
 ci6n de Nueva-Orleans; pero han sido 
 establecidos y sostenidos por empresas 
 particulares. El auxilio que han recibido 
 de los Estados Unidos ha sido tan pequello, 
 que no vale la pena de menciouarse, si se 
 compara con el que les han prestado los 
 Gobiernos hispauo-americanos. 
 
 Se ha sostenido ante la Comisi6n que la 
 regidn de los Estados Unidos que estdi m^s 
 interesada en el desarrollo de uu comercio 
 direoto entre Nueva- Orleans y los puertos 
 del Golfo de Mexico y el Mar Caribe, es 
 la que m^s sufre en el dia por el exceso de 
 produccifin, y la que hasta ahora ha sido 
 mfe indiferente al ensanche de las rela- 
 ciones meroantiles con el extranjero. 
 
 Nueva-Orleans es el punto terminal de 
 seis lineas de ferro-carril, y de 20,000 
 millas de navegaci6n fluvial. Es el puer- 
 to habilitado m^s graude que hay en el 
 Sur. Sus importaciones en el ultimo a5o 
 fiscal llegaron hasta |15,400,000. De esa 
 suma, $10,400,000 representan cinco ar- 
 tlculos, procedentes todos ellos de Cen- 
 tro y Sud-America, a saber: el caf6, la 
 azticar, las frutas, el heniqnfin y la goma 
 eMstica, 
 
 Como ya se ha dicho, los galses Centro- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 385 
 
 countries already pay a good deal to 
 maintain the existing transportation 
 facilities on the western coast of the con- 
 tinent. 
 
 Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicara- 
 gua, Costa Rica, the Republics of Colom- 
 bia and of Venezuela bordering upon the 
 Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea can 
 be reached by moderately fast steamers 
 from Tampa, Pensacola, Mobile, New 
 Orleans, or Galveston in from three to five 
 days. These countries contain a popula- 
 tion of 20,000,000 people, while the popu- 
 lation of the United States approximates 
 65,000,000. It would be difiSoult to over- 
 estimate the benefits that would accrue 
 to all of these States from prompt, regular, 
 and economical means of mail, passenger, 
 and freight transportation. 
 
 In view of these facts and of the prox- 
 imity of the said countries and of the small 
 amount required to furnish ample facili- 
 ties, it seems incredible that the Govern- 
 ments interested have so long delayed the 
 establishment of such facilities. It is 
 doubtful if anywhere else upon the globe 
 there exists an equal opportunity for ac- 
 complishing commercial results as bene- 
 ficial to 85,000,000 people as could be se- 
 cured at the small cost involved in estab 
 lishing first-class communication between 
 the ports of these States, and it is confi- 
 dently expected that the Governments of 
 the several countries named, when atten- 
 tion is properly directed to this subject 
 and when the small cost of adequate serv- 
 ice is pointed out, will adopt the necessary 
 measures to secure it. Experience demon- 
 strates with reference to transportation 
 facilities: 
 
 First. That they should be frequent, 
 rapid, regular, and economical. 
 
 Second. That they should be under the 
 control of or friendly to the interests 
 which they are supposed to serve. 
 
 And, as before stated, the policy of 
 many of theGovernments interested shows 
 that Government assistance for the now 
 lines contemplated is regarded as essential 
 in view of the fact that it requires several 
 years before speedy lines of communica- 
 tion become self-sustaining. 
 
 25 I 
 
 americanos pagan en la actualidad una 
 cantidad considerable para atender al 
 sostenimiento de los medios de transporte 
 con que hoy cuentan en la costa occidental 
 del oontinente. 
 
 De Tampa, Pansacola, Mobila, Nueva- 
 Orleans 6 Galveston se puede ir en tres 6 
 cinco dlas i Mfeico, Guatemala, Hondu- 
 ras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia y 
 Venezuela. Aquellos palses tienen una 
 poblaci6n de 20,000,000 de habitantes, 
 mientras que la de los Estados Unidos 
 alcanza prdximamente ^ 65,000,000. Se- 
 ria dificil oalcular debidamente los gran- 
 des heneficios que resultarian para todos 
 de la rapidez, regularidad y economia en 
 el servicio de correos, y en el trasporte de 
 carga y pasajeros. , 
 
 En vista de estos hechos, de la proxi- 
 midad S, que se encnentran entre si estos 
 paises y de lo mddicos que serian los gas- 
 tos que habrlan de hacerse para obtener 
 mayores facilidades de comunioaci6n, 
 parece increible que los Gobiernos inte- 
 resados hayan demorado tSinto tiempo su 
 realizaoidn. Es dudoso que en punto 
 alguno del globo se presente una oportu- 
 nidad mas favorable para beneficiar S, 
 85,000,000 de s^res humanos ii tan poca 
 oosto como requiere el establecimiento de 
 comunicaclones de primera clase entre los 
 puertos de estos Estados. Abrigase la es- 
 peranza de que los Gobiernos de los palses 
 mencionados, tan pronto como el asunto 
 se les someta debidamente, y se les de- 
 muestre lo poco que se neoesita para que 
 haya un servicio c6modo y adecuado, 
 adoptar^n las medidas necesarias para 
 establecerlo. La experiencia demuestra 
 con respecto d, transportes : 
 
 Primero : Que deben ser frecnentes, 
 rSipidos, regulares y eoondmicos. 
 
 Segundo : Que deben estar bajo la di- 
 recci6n do quienes tengan interiSs en fo- 
 mentar las relaciones de que se trata. 
 
 Y, como se ha dicho antes, la conducta 
 observada por varies de los Gobiernos in- 
 teresados demuestra que 6stos deben 
 ayudar las nuevas lineas que se proyeotan, 
 pues se necesitan muchos anos antes de 
 que las lineas r^pidas de comanicacidn 
 puedan sostenerse por si mismas. 
 
386 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 In vie w of the proximity of all the ports 
 of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean 
 Sea, the advantages that would accrue 
 from increased social, commercial, and 
 international intercourse, their depend- 
 ence upon proper communication, the 
 improbability that this will be established 
 by unaided private enterprise, the duty of 
 Governments to promote public welfare, 
 the small public expenditures required to 
 secure adequate mail, passenger, and 
 freight facilities, and the necessity for 
 their control by the countries whose inter- 
 ests they should subserve, the Interna- 
 tional American Conference recommends 
 to all the nations bordering upon these 
 waters, the granting of Government aid 
 in the establishment of first-class steam- 
 ship service between their several ports 
 upon such terms as they may mutually 
 agree upon with reference (o) to the serv- 
 ice required, (6) the aid it is necessary 
 to extend, (c) the facilities it will afford 
 them respectively, (d) the basis upon 
 which they are to contribiite, (e) the 
 amount that each is to pay, (/) the forms of 
 agreement between the several Govern- 
 ments and the nature of contracts with 
 steamship companies necessary to the 
 successful execution of a general plan 
 for such service. 
 
 Washington, March 6, 1890. 
 
 Manuel Arag6n. 
 
 ClIMACO CALDBR6lf. 
 
 H. Guzman. 
 J. F. Hanson. 
 
 En atencidn & la proximidad en que se 
 enouentran unos de otros todos los puertos 
 del Golfo de Mexico y el Mar Caribe ; & 
 las ventajas que se obtienen con el 
 aumento de las relaciones Rociales, comer- 
 ciales 6 interuacionales ; Sj la influencia 
 que en la consecucidn de este objeto 
 tienen las vias de oomunicacidn ; S, la im- 
 probabilidad de que 6stas se desarrollen 
 debidamente por la accifin de empresas 
 particulares sin el auxilio de los Gobier- 
 nos ; & que es deber de 6stos fomentar ol 
 bienestar genenal ; & que los gastos nece- 
 sarios para asegurar el establecimiento 
 de medios c6modo8 y ffioiles para el 
 trasporte de oorrespondencia, pasajeros y 
 carga, no son crecidos ; y S, que es nece- 
 sario que todo esto se haga bajo la direc- 
 cidn de los diversos paises cuyos intereses 
 se trata de favorecer; la Conferencia 
 Internacional Americana recomienda S, los 
 Gobieruos de todas las nacioues colindan- 
 tes con el Golfo de Mexico y el Mar Caribe 
 que ayuden al establecimiento de un 
 servicio de primera clase por buques 
 de vapor entre los diversos puertos, en los 
 t(Srminos y condiciones en que mlitua- 
 mente convengan, teniendo en cuenta: 
 (o) el servicio que desea establecerse, (6) 
 el auxilio que deba ooncederse, (c) las ven- 
 tajas que cada pais habr^ de derivar, (d) 
 la base que deba adoptarse para la con- 
 tribuci6n, (e) la suma que cada pais deba 
 pagar, (/) y la forma y uaturaleza de los 
 contratos que deban hacerse entre los 
 diversos Gobiernos y las compa&fas de 
 vapores, & fin de asegurar el buen 6x.ito 
 del plan general adoptado para este^ ser- 
 vicio. 
 Washington, Marzo 6 de 1890. 
 
 Manuei, Arao6n. 
 
 CLfMACO Cai,dkr6n. 
 
 H. GuzMijf. 
 
 J. F. Hanson. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 387 
 
 Appendix No. 1. 
 
 letter of the postmaster general 
 of the united states. 
 
 Office of the PosTMASTER-G-BNEKAi, 
 Washington, D. C, January 21, 1890. 
 Dear Sir : I have the honor to ac- 
 knowledge receipt of your communica- 
 tion of the 18th instant, and in reply beg 
 to say that this Department would re- 
 gard It as expedient to have an exchange 
 of money-orders with those countries in 
 South America in which a domestic 
 money-order system is in operation, in 
 the absence of which it would not be 
 practicable to arrange the payment of 
 orders originating in the United States. 
 Snoh mutual exchange of orders would 
 doubtless prove to be advantageous and 
 convenient to the citizens of both coun- 
 tries by affording a method of making 
 remittances of small sums in payment 
 for samples of merchandise manufactured 
 in the United States. 
 
 The following is a statement of the 
 action heretofore taken by this Depart- 
 ment with a view to the exchange of 
 money-orders with the countries re- 
 ferred to : 
 
 Mexico. — A draft of a proposed con- 
 vention with Mexico was submitted by 
 this Department on November 5, 1887, to 
 the Mexican minister for transmission to 
 his Government. March 12, 1888, he re- 
 plied that the money-order system not 
 having as yet been established in the in- 
 land post-ofiBces of Mexico, notwithstand- 
 ing the provisions contained in section. 8 
 of the postal code in force, it is impossi- 
 ble at present to establish the interna- 
 tional system. The executrOn of the 
 proposed convention is therefore post* 
 poned. 
 
 Costa Bica. — In answer to a letttt- ad- 
 dressed by this office to the minister of 
 Costa Eica on the 12th of April, 1889, he 
 stated on the 18th of that month that h» 
 had not as yet received instructions from 
 his Government lOlating to the conven- 
 tion with this country for the ffltchange 
 of money orders, but he would urge its 
 
 Ap^ndice No. 1. 
 
 carta del sr. ministro de oorreos 
 de los estados vnidos. 
 
 ministerio de correos, 
 Washington, D. C, Enero 21 de 1890. 
 
 MUY SeStor MIo : Tengo el honor de 
 acusar el recibo de la comunioaoi6n deV. 
 del 18 del corriente, y de manifestar en 
 respuesta, que este Ministerio estimalitil 
 el establecimiento de nn cange de giros 
 postales entre esta naci6n y aquellas de 
 la America del Sud en que funciona el 
 mismo servicio con el card^cter de nacional 
 6 domfetico, haciiSndose de ese modo 
 practicable algtin arreglo para la satis- 
 faccidn de libramientos que se hagan en 
 los Estados Unidos. Ese cange inter- 
 nacional de giros producirla sin duda 
 grandes veutajas y comodidad para los 
 ciudadanos de los respectivos paises, y les 
 suministraria un medio f^cil y senoillo de 
 remitir pequenas cantidades de dinero, 
 en pago de las muestras de mercanclas 
 producidas 6 fabricadas en los Estados 
 Unidos que les scan remitidas. 
 
 A continuaci6n se expresa lo que este 
 Ministerio ha podido llevar & cabo hasta 
 abara, en relaci(5n al cange de giros pos- 
 tales, con los pafses de que se trata : 
 
 M&cico. — En 5 de Noviembre de 1887 
 someti6 este Ministerio al Sefior Ministro 
 de Mexico, para que lo remitiese & su 6o- 
 bierno, un proyaef o de convenoifin & este 
 efeoto. Ea Marzo 12 de 1888 contesti5 el 
 SeBor Ministro de Mexico, que en su pa£» 
 no 8€f habia establecid© todavia el servfoio 
 de giros postales, aunque el a>rtfcuIo 8° 
 del C6digop€»8fal en observaaeia disponia 
 su establecimiento ; y qne en consecuen- 
 cia era imposible p<tf ahora ocuparse d e 
 plantear un sistema internacioual. 
 
 Qued6 posisrgada por lo tanto la cele- 
 bracifin del tratado. 
 
 CosiaBica. — En contestaci6n ^ una carta 
 que este Ministerio dirigi6 en 12 de Abril 
 rfe 1889 al Seiior Ministro de Costa Rica, 
 manifestfi este Sefior que hasta el 18 del 
 citado mes no habia reoibido todavia ins- 
 trucciones de su Gobierno, con respeoto 
 al establecimiento de uh cange de giros 
 postales entre su pais y estos Estados ; pero 
 
388 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 prompt consideration. No further com- 
 munication has been received. 
 
 Nicaragua. — A draft of a convention 
 for the exchange of money-orders with 
 Nicaragua was transmitted to the minis- 
 ter of that country on the 9th of May, 
 1888. No action appears to have been 
 taken by the postal administration of 
 Nicaragua with regard to the said con- 
 vention. 
 
 CAiK.— Negotiations are now pending, 
 through the Chilian minister, for the ex- 
 ecution of a convention for the exchange 
 of money-orders with that country. A 
 draft of a proposed convention has been 
 submitted to the postal administration of 
 Chili. 
 
 Of the remaining South American 
 countries the Argentine Republic, Brazil, 
 and Uruguay alone have a domestic 
 money-order system. No intimation from 
 the postal administration of these three 
 countries has been received that they are 
 desirous of a change of money-orders 
 with the United States, and no negotia- 
 tions to that end have been begun . 
 
 All the South and Central American 
 countries have been invited to enter into 
 negotiations for the establishment of the 
 parcels post. 
 
 ■ Parcels post conventions have been 
 concluded between this country and 
 Jamaica, Barbadoes, the Bahamas, Brit- 
 ish Honduras, Mexico, the Leeward Is- 
 lands, Colombia, and Salvador. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Jno. Wajjamakek, 
 
 Postmaster- Gen era I. 
 Hon. J. B. Henderson, 
 
 International American Conference. 
 
 que apremiarlaporuna pronta resoluoidn. 
 Nada se ha sabido despuds de esto. 
 
 Nicaragua. — En 9 de Mayo de 1888 se 
 someti6 por este Ministerio al Sefior Minis- 
 tro de Nicaragua un proyecto de tratado 
 13ara el cange de giros postales. No hay 
 constancia de que la administracidn pos- 
 tal de Nicaragua haya resuelto nada 
 acerca de este asunto. 
 
 Chile. — Se est^ actualmente en negocia- 
 ciones, por conducto del Ministro de Chile, 
 para la conchisidn de un tratado de cange 
 de giros postales entre los Estados Unidos 
 y aquella Repriblica. Un proyecto de 
 convencidn ^ ese efecto est^ actualmente 
 en estudio en la administraoi<5n postal de 
 dicho pals. 
 
 En cnanto £i los demas Estados Sud- 
 Americanos, tan solo la Repriblica Argen- 
 tina, el Brasil, y el Uruguay, tienen es- 
 tablicido el servicio de giros postales; 
 pero no se ha recibido todavia de parte de 
 ellos ninguna indicaci6u de que deseen 
 extender ese servicio & los Estados Uni- 
 dos, y haoerlo internacional ; y nada se 
 ha negociado ^ ese respecto. 
 
 A todos los paises de la America del 
 Centro y del Sud se les han enviado in- 
 vitaciones con el objeto de negooiar con- 
 venios para la remesa de encomiendas por 
 el correo ; y tiene ya oelebrados este Go- 
 bierno los respectivos tratados & ese 
 efecto, con Jamaica, las Barbadas, las 
 islas Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, las Islas 
 de Barlovento, Colombia y Salvador. 
 Soy de V. respetnosamente, 
 
 Juan Wanamakek, 
 Ministro de Correos. 
 Hon. Sr. J. B. Hendbbson, 
 Conferenda Internacional Americana. 
 
INTEKNATIONAL, AMEKICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 389 
 
 Appendix No. 2 to Report of Commit- 
 tee ON Gulf oe Mexico and Carib- 
 bean Sea. 
 
 Statement showing the means of eommunioa- 
 Hon between the ports of the United States 
 and those of the east eoast of Mexico, 
 Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, 
 Sayti, and Brazil, the time required by 
 each line of steamers, the freqiienmj of 
 trips, the sums of money paid annually 
 to each line for transportation, and the 
 amount of mail transported during tlie fis- 
 cal years ended June 30, 1888, and June 
 30, 1889. 
 
 ApiiNDiCE No. 2 AL Informe de la Comi- 
 si6n de Comunicaciobs por el Golfo 
 DE Mexico y el Mar Caribb. 
 
 Informe explicativo de los medios de comuni- 
 oaciin que existen enire los puertos de los 
 Eatados Unidosylos de la costa oriental de 
 Mexico, Centro-Am4rica, Colombia, Vene- 
 zuela, Haiti y Brasil; el tiempo que em- 
 plea en los viages cada Unea de vapores; 
 la frecuencia de las salidas; las sumas 
 de dinero pagadas anudlmente d cada 
 Unea por el transporte de la oorresponden- 
 eia y la vantidad de la misr.ia enviada 
 durante los afios econdmioos que terminaron 
 en Junio 30 de 1888 y Junio 30 de 1889. 
 
 [Foreign lines are marked with an asterisk (*).] l^'^ lineas extranjeras estta maroadas con nn 
 
 - asterisco (*) .] 
 
 1. To Mexico. 
 
 (a) New ¥ork and Cuba Mail. New York to 
 Vera Cruz (via Havana, Progreso, 
 and soraetimes Frontera and Cam- 
 peche^. — Average time, ten days; 
 four times a month : 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ending 
 
 June 30, 18S9, $1,138.97. 
 Amount of mail transported, 1889, 4,652 
 
 pounds; 1888, 2,938 pounds; increase, 1,714 
 
 pounds. 
 
 (6) Morgan Line,New OrleanstoVera Gmz.~ 
 Average time, three and one-half 
 days ; twice a month : 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 June 30, 1889, $77.05. 
 
 Amount of mail transported 1889, 94 
 pounds; 1888, 58 pounds; increase, 36 
 pounds. 
 
 1. A Miixico. 
 
 (a) La MaladeNueva-York y Cuba, Nueva- 
 Tork d Vera Cruz (via Habana, Pro- 
 greso, y algunas voces Frontera 6 Cam- 
 peche) : 
 
 Tiempo medio, 10 dias; 4 voces al 
 
 mes. 
 Cantidad pagada e|a el 
 afio fiscal que conoluyd 
 en 30 de Junio de 1889. $1, 138. 97 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 
 dencia transpoitada: 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1889 4,652 
 
 1888 2,938 
 
 Aumento 1,714 
 
 (6) Za Imea de Morgan, Nueva-Orleans d 
 Vera Cruz : 
 
 Tiempo medio, 3^ dias ; dos 
 
 veces al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada en el afio 
 fiscal que concluy6 en 30 
 
 de Junio de 1889 |77. 05 
 
 Cantidad de corresponden- 
 cia transportada : 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1889 94 
 
 1888 58 
 
 Aumento 36 
 
390 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCZ:. 
 
 (c) Thebaiid Line,* New York to Progreso. 
 
 Average time not kuown ; trips ir- 
 regular -y about once a month : 
 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 June 30, 1889, $15.35. 
 
 Amount of mail transported 1888, 216 
 pounds; 1889, 160 pounds; decrease, 56 
 pounds. 
 
 . c) La lAnea de Thebauu, Yueva-Tork d 
 
 Progreso : 
 
 Tiempo medio, no conocido; 
 
 salidas irregulares ; como 
 
 unavez al mes. 
 
 Cantidad pagada en el ano 
 
 fiscal que concliiy<5 en 30 
 
 de Junio de 1889 |15. 35 
 
 Cantidad de corresponden- 
 
 cia transportada : 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1888 216 
 
 1889. ...» 160 
 
 Diminucidn 56 
 
 (d) New York avd Yucatan Line," New 
 
 York to Progreso. — Average time not 
 
 known; trips irregular ; about once 
 
 a month : 
 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 
 June .30, 1889, |2.73. 
 
 Amount of mail transported, 1888, 55 
 pounds ; 1889, 44 pounds ; decrease, 11 
 pounds. 
 
 (e) Spanish Transatlantic,* New York to 
 Vera Cruz (via Progreso). — Average 
 , time, ten days ; twice a month : 
 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 June 30, 1889, $28.96. 
 
 This line was not used in 1888 ; amount 
 of mail conveyed in 1889, 466 pounds. 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 To Mexico, five lines; about ten trips 
 a month. 
 
 Total amount paid during fiscal year 
 ended June 30, 1889, $1,263.06. 
 
 Total amount of mail carried in 1889, 
 5,416 pounds. Increase over 1888, 2,149 
 pounds. 
 
 (d) La linea de Nveva-York d Yucatan," 
 Nueva-York d Progreso : 
 
 Tiempo medio, no conocido; 
 
 salidas irregulares ; como 
 
 una vez al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada en el aQo 
 
 fiscal que concluy6 en 30 
 
 de Junio de 1888 |2. 73 
 
 Cantidad de corresponden- 
 
 cia transportada : 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1888..... 55 
 
 1889 44 
 
 Diminuci(5n 11 
 
 (e) La Trans- Atldntica Espanola,* Nueva- 
 York d Vera Cruz (via Progreso) : 
 
 Tiempo medio, 10 dias; 
 
 dos voces al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada en el 
 
 afio fiscal que concluyd 
 
 en 30 de Junio de 1889 |28. 96 
 
 Libras. 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 
 dencia transportada 
 
 on 1889 460 
 
 Esta linea no estaba en 
 uso en 1888. 
 
 recapitulaci6n. 
 
 A Mexico : 
 
 5 llneas ; cerca de 10 salidas 
 
 al mes. 
 
 Cantidad total pagada en 
 
 el afio fiscal que ooncluy6 
 
 en 30 de Junio de 1889. . $1, 263. 06 
 
 Libras 
 Cantidad total de corre- 
 
 spondencia transportada 
 
 enlB89 5,416 
 
 Aumento sobre 1888 2,149 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEUICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 391 
 
 1. To Central America. 
 
 (a) Royal Mail, Kew Orleans to Puerto Cor- 
 
 ten (via Belize and Livingstone). — 
 
 Average time, six days ; five times 
 
 a month. 
 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 
 June 30, 1889, $3,9^6.91. 
 
 Amount of mail transported in 18S9, 
 19,030 pounds ; 1888, 18,596 pounds ; in- 
 crease, 434 pounds. 
 
 2. A Centro-Am:£rica. 
 
 (a) La Mala Seal, Nueva-Orleans d Puerto 
 Cortes (via Belize y Livingston) : 
 TIempo medio, 6 dias ; 5 
 
 veces al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada en el 
 aSo fiscal que concluyd 
 en 30 de Junio de 1889. |3, 926. 91 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 dencia transportada : 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1889 19,030 
 
 1888 18,596 
 
 Anmento 434 
 
 (b) Morgan Line, New Orleans to Bocas del 
 Toro. — Average time not known; 
 twice a month. 
 
 NetD Orleans toBluefields. — Average time 
 six days ; twice a month. 
 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 June 30, 1889, $725.16. 
 
 Amount of mail transported, 1889, 2,925 
 pounds; 1888, 1,891 pounds; increase, 1,061 
 pounds. 
 
 (e) Oteri's Pioneer Line, New Orleans to 
 
 Truxillo (alsotoCeiba, Ruatan, and 
 
 UtiUa). — Average time four days; 
 
 four times a mouth : 
 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 
 June 30, 1889, $628.71. 
 
 Amount of mail transported, 1889, 3,544 
 pounds; 1888, 2,078 pounds; increase, 
 1,465 pounds. 
 
 (d) Sonduras and Central American, line,* 
 New Tork td Greytown (via Kings- 
 ton, Jamaica). — Average time seven 
 days; twice a month : 
 Amount paid daring fiscal year ended 
 June 30, 1889, |390.12. 
 
 This line was notused in 1888. Amount 
 of mail conveyed in 1889, 5,713 pounds. 
 
 (i) La Unea de Morgan, Nueva-Orleans' 
 d Bocas del Toro : 
 
 Tiempo medio no conocido ; dos ve- 
 ces al mes. 
 Nueva- Orleans d Blaefields : 
 
 Tiempo medio, 6 dlas; dos 
 
 veces al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada en el 
 aBo fiscal que concluyd 
 en 30 de Junio de 1889. $725. 16 
 Canti'lad de correspon- 
 
 dencia transportada : 
 
 Libraa. 
 
 1889 2,925 
 
 1888 1,891 
 
 Anmento 1,061 
 
 (e) Linea exploradora de Oteri, Nueva- 
 Yorh d Trwjillo (tambifin S, Ceiba, Rua- 
 tan, y Utila) : 
 
 Tiempo medio, 4 dias ; 4 ve- 
 ces al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada en el afio 
 fiscal que conoluyd en 30 
 
 deJuniodelSrfy , $628,71 
 
 Cantidad de corresponden- 
 cia transportada : 
 
 Libraa. 
 
 1889 3,544 
 
 1888 2,078 
 
 Aumento 1,466 
 
 (d) Linea de Honduras y Centro-Amirica," 
 Nueva-Yorky Greytown (via Kingston, 
 Jamaica) : 
 
 Tiempo medio, 7 dias; dos 
 veces al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada en el 
 afio fiscal que conoluy<5 
 en 30 de Junio de 1889 . $390, 12 
 
^92 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCB. 
 
 Esta llnea no estaba en 
 uso en 1888. 
 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 dencia trasportada en 
 
 1889. 
 
 Iiibias. 
 
 5,713 
 
 (e) Atlas Line,' New TorTc to Port Limon 
 (via Kingston and Colon ). — Average 
 time not known ; three times a 
 month (see also under 3, Colombia). 
 
 (f) Costa Itiea and Honduras Line* New 
 
 Orleans to Port Limon. — Average 
 
 time, seven days; three times a 
 
 month : 
 
 Amount paid daring fiscal year ended- 
 
 June 30, 1889, |602.62. 
 
 Amount of mail transported, 1889, 8,160 
 pounds; 1888, 4,790 pounds; increase, 
 3,370 pounds. 
 
 {g) New Orleans and Central American 
 
 Line," New Orleans to Truxillo. — 
 
 Average time, four days; twice a 
 
 month : 
 
 Amount paid daring fiscal year ended 
 
 June 30, 1889, $50.15. 
 
 Amount of mail transported, 1889, 637 
 pounds ; 1888, 221 pounds ; increase, 416 
 pounds. 
 
 (e) Linea de Atlas,* NuevchTorlc d 
 Puerto Limdn (via Kingston y 
 Col(5n) : 
 
 Tiempo medio, no cono- 
 cido; tres veces al mes 
 (v^ase tambien Ko. 3 Co ■ 
 lombia).* 
 
 (/) Linea de Costa Bica y Son- 
 duras," Nueva-Orleans y Puerto 
 Limdn: 
 
 Tiempo medio, 7 dias ; tres 
 
 veces al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada en el afio 
 que.oonclnyd en 30 de 
 Junio de 1889 (ano fis- 
 cal) $602.62 
 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 dencia transportada : 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1889 8,160 
 
 1888 4.790 
 
 Aumento .■... 3,370 
 
 (j) Llnea de Nueva-Orleans y Cen- 
 tro-AmSrica,* Nueva-Orleans d 
 Trujillo : 
 
 Tiempo medio, 4 dias ; dos 
 
 veces al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada en el aBo 
 fiscal que concluy6 en 30 
 
 de Junio de 1889 $50. 15 
 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 dencia transportada : 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1889 637 
 
 1888 321 
 
 Aumento 416 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 To Central America, seven lines ; about 
 twenty-three trips a month. 
 
 Total amount paid during fiscal year 
 ended June 30, 1889, $6,322.67. 
 
 Total amount of mail carried in 1889, 
 40,009 pounds; increse over 1888, 12,460 
 pounds. 
 
 KBCAPITCLAC16N'. 
 
 A Centro-Am6rica : 
 
 7 llneas ; cerca de 23 
 salidas al mes. 
 Cantidad total pagada 
 en el aSo fiscal que 
 conclnyd en 30 de 
 Junio de 1889 
 
 6,323.67 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 393 
 
 3. To Colombia. 
 
 (o) PcuAjic Mail Steam-ship Company, New 
 York to Colon. — Average time, eight 
 days; three times a month : 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 June 30, 1889, |24, 160.84. 
 
 Amount of mail transported, 1889, 
 148,630 pounds; 1888, 116,408 pounds; 
 increase, 32,222 pounds. 
 
 (6) Atlas lAne, New Yorh to Savanilla 
 (via Colon and Cartagena). — Aver- 
 age time, thirteen days; three 
 times a month : 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 June 30, 1889, |2,140.79. 
 
 Amount of mail ' transported in 1888, 
 27,336 pounds ; in 1889, 26,932 ; decrease, 
 404 pounds. 
 
 (o) Spanish Transatlantic, New Tork to 
 
 Savanilla (via Santiago, Cuba). — 
 
 Average time, thirteen days ; once 
 
 a month : 
 
 Not used during fiscal year ended June 
 
 30, 1889. 
 
 EBCAPITULATION. 
 
 To Colombia, three lines ; about seven 
 trips a month. 
 
 Total amount paid during fiscal year 
 ended June 30, 1889, $26,301.63. 
 
 Total amount of mail transported in 
 1689, 175,562 pounds ; increase over 1888, 
 31,818 pounds. 
 
 Libras. 
 Cantidad total de oorre- 
 
 spondencia transportada 
 
 enl889 40,009 
 
 Aumento sobre 1888 12,460 
 
 A Colombia. 
 
 (a) La Compania de la Mala del Padfico, 
 
 Nueva-York d Col6n : 
 
 Tiempo medio, 8 dias; 
 
 tres veces al mes. 
 
 Cantidad pagada en el 
 
 afio fiscal que coneluyd 
 
 en 30 de Junio de 1889.$24,160. 84 
 
 Libras. 
 Cantidad de oorrespon- 
 
 dencia transportada : 
 
 1889 148,630 
 
 1888 116,408 
 
 Anmeuto 32,222 
 
 (6) L{nea Atlas,* Nueva-York d SaianUla 
 (via Coldn y Cartagena) : 
 Tiempo medio, 13 dias; 
 
 tres veces al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada en el afio 
 fiscal que conoluy<5 en 30 
 
 de Junio de 1889 |2, 140. 79 
 
 Cantidad de corresponden- 
 cia transportada: 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1888 27,336 
 
 1889 26,932 
 
 Diminucidn 404 
 
 (c) Lfnea Trans- Atldntiea, EspaMola," 
 Nueva-York d Sabanilla (via Santiago, 
 Cuba) : 
 Tiempo medio, 13 dias ; una vez al 
 
 mes. 
 Esta linea no estaba en uso en el ano 
 fiscal que concluyd el 30 de Junio de 
 1889. 
 
 KEC APIT CLACi6n. 
 
 A Colombia : 
 
 3 Hneas ; como 7 salidas al mes. 
 Cantidad total pagada 
 
 durante el afio que con- 
 
 oluy6 el 30 de Junio de 
 
 1889 $26,301.63 
 
 Cantidad total de correspon- Libras. 
 
 dencia transportada en 
 
 1889 175,562 
 
 Aumento sobro 1888 ... 31, 818 
 
394 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 4. To Venezuela. 
 
 (a) Med " I)" Line, New York to Laguatjra 
 
 (via Curapao) ; branch line to 
 
 Maraoaibo. — Average time ten daysj 
 
 three times a month : 
 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 
 June 30, 1889, |5,733.81. 
 
 Amount of mail transported, 1889, 
 27,775 pounds ; 1888, 26,773 pounds ; in- 
 crease, 1,002 pounds. 
 
 4. A Venezuela. 
 
 (a) La Unea llamada "Bed D 
 Line," Nueca-Yorh d La 
 Guaira (via Curazao) ; 
 con nn ramal S, Maracaibo : 
 Tiempo medio, 10 dias; 
 
 tres voces al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada du- 
 rante el aHo fiscal que 
 oonoluy(5 30 de Junio 
 
 del889 $5,733.81 
 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 dencia transportada : Libras 
 
 1889 27,775 
 
 1888 26,773 
 
 Aumento 1,003 
 
 (6) Thebaud Line,' New YorTc to Ciudad 
 Bolivar. — Average time eleven days; 
 once a month : 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 June 30, 1889, $40.47. 
 
 Amount of mail transported 1889, 806 
 pounds; 1888, 554 pounds; increase, 252 
 pounds. 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 To Venezuela, two lines ; four trips a 
 month. 
 
 Total amount paid during fiscal yexj 
 ended June 30, 1889, $5,774.55. 
 
 Total amount of mail transported in 
 1889, 28,581 pounds ; increase over 1868, 
 1,254 pounds. 
 
 5. To Hayti. 
 
 (o) Clyde line. New York to Cape Hayti. — 
 Average time, seven days; once a 
 month : 
 Total amount paid during fiscal year 
 ended June 30, 1889, $1,614.70. 
 
 Amount of mail transported in 1888, 
 5,955 pounds; in 1889, 1,388 pounds; de- 
 crease, 4,567 pounds. 
 
 (6) Linea Thebaud,* Nueva-Tor/c d Ciudad 
 Bolivar : 
 
 Tiempo medio, 11 dIas ; una vez 
 al mes. 
 
 Cantidad pagada duran- 
 te el alio fiscal que con- 
 cluyd el 30 de Junio de 
 1889 $40.47 
 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 dencia transportada : Libras. 
 
 1889 806 
 
 1888 554 
 
 Aumento 252 
 
 kecapitulaci6n. 
 
 A Venezuela : 
 
 2 Ifneas ; 4 salidas el mes. 
 Cantida total pagada 
 durante el ano fiscal 
 que conoluy6 el 30 de 
 
 Junio de 1889 $5, 774. 55 
 
 Libraa. 
 Cantidad total de corre- 
 
 spondencia trasportada 
 
 enl889 28,581 
 
 Anmento sobre 1888 1, 254 
 
 5. A HAiTf. 
 
 (o) Linea Clyde, Nueva-Yorkal Cabo Haiti: 
 Tiempo medio, 7 dlas ; una vez al 
 
 mes. 
 Cantidad total pagada 
 
 durante el ano fiscal 
 
 que conoluy6 el 30 de 
 
 Junio de 1889 $1,614.70 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 395 
 
 CantiJad de correspon- 
 
 dencia transportada : Libras. 
 
 18H8 5,955 
 
 1889 1,388 
 
 Diminuci6n 4,567 
 
 (6) Ailaa Line, New York to Port au 
 Prince. — Average time, seven days ; 
 three times a month : 
 
 New York to Jacmel and Aux Cays (via 
 Kingston, Jamaica). — Average time not 
 known ; twice a month. 
 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 June 30, 1889, $2,140.79. 
 
 Amount of mail transported, 1889, 
 8,800 pounds; 1888, 4,639 pounds; in- 
 crease, 3, 1 61 pounds. 
 
 During the fiscal year ended June 30, 
 1889, there were irregular trips from New 
 York to Hayti by various other steamers, 
 to which waspaid the total sumof |148.64, 
 and which conveyed 799 pounds of mail. 
 
 RECAP1TULA.T0N. 
 
 To Hayti, two lines ; six trips a mouth. 
 
 Total amount paid during fiscal year 
 ended June 30, 1889, $3,904. 13. 
 
 Total amount of mail transported in 
 1889, 28,329 pounds. 
 
 (6) Linea Atlas,' Nueea-York d Puerto 
 Principe : 
 
 Tiempo medio, 7 dfas ; tres veces 
 al mes. 
 Nneva-York d Jacmel y Aux Cayes 
 (via Kingston, Jamaica) : 
 Tiempo medio desconocido ; doa 
 
 veces al mes. 
 Cantidad total pagada 
 durante el afio fiscal 
 que concluyd el 30 
 de Junio de 1889 .... $2, 140. 79 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 dencia trasportada : 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1889 8,800 
 
 1888 4,639 
 
 Aumento 3,161 
 
 Durante el aSio fiscal terminado 
 en Junio 30 de 1889, hubo 
 salidas irregularea de Nueva- 
 York ^ Haiti por varios otros 
 vapores, & los que se les pag6 
 la suma total de $148.64 ; y 
 Uevaron 799 libras de corre- 
 spondeucia : 
 
 rbcapitui,aci6n. 
 
 A Saiti: 
 
 2 Ifneas; 6 salidas al mes. 
 Cantidad total pagada du- 
 rante el ano fiscal termi- 
 nado en Junio 30 de 1889. $3, 904. 13 
 
 Libras. 
 Cantidad total de corre- 
 
 spondencla transportada 
 
 en 1889 28,329 
 
 6. To Brazil. 
 
 6. Al Brasil. 
 
 (a) United States and Brazil 
 
 Company, Newport News to Rio Janeiro 
 and Santos. — Average time to Rio 
 Janeiro, twenty- four days; once a 
 month ; 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 
 June 30, 1889, |13, 722.90. 
 
 (o) Compamla de Vapores de los 
 Sstados Unidos y Brasil : 
 
 Tiempo medio S. Rio Ja- 
 neiro, 24 dlas ; una vez 
 al mes. 
 Cantidad pagada durante 
 el afio fiscal terminado 
 en Junio 30 de 1889 $13, 722. 90 
 
396 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Amount of mail transported — 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 1889 69,648 
 
 1888 68,240 
 
 Increase 1,40H 
 
 (6) Bed Cross Line : ' New York to Para, 
 
 Ceara and Pernamiuco. — Average 
 
 time not known ; about once a month. 
 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 
 June 30, 1889, $110.47. 
 
 Amount of mail transported — 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 1888 2,190 
 
 1889 1,216 
 
 Decrease 974 
 
 (c) Booth Line, New York to Para, Ma- 
 
 ranham, Ceara, Manaoa. — Average 
 
 time not known; about once a 
 
 month : 
 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 
 June 30, 1889, $165.70. 
 
 Amount of mail transported in 1889, 
 1,511 pounds; 1888, 1,004 pounds; in- 
 crease, 507 pounds. 
 
 (d) Sloman'a Line, Baltimore to Rio de 
 Janeiro. — Average time not known; 
 about once a month : 
 Amount paid during fiscal year ended 
 June 30, 1889, |643.45. 
 
 Not used in 1888; amount of mail con- 
 veyed in 1889, 10,257 pounds. 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 To Brazil, four lines ; about four trips 
 a month. 
 
 Cautidad de corre.pon- 
 dencia transportada : 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1889 69,648 
 
 1888 68,240 
 
 Aumento .. 1,408 
 
 (6) Linea llamada Bed Cross,^ 
 Nueva-York d Pard, Ceara y 
 Pernambuco : 
 
 Tiempo medio descono- 
 
 cido ; como una vez al 
 
 mes. 
 
 Cantidadpagadadurante 
 
 el ano fiscal terminado 
 
 en Junio 30 de 1889 $110. 47 
 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 
 dencia transportada : 
 
 Libias. 
 
 1888 2,190 
 
 1889 1,216 
 
 Diminucidn 974 
 
 (c) LImea Booth,* Nueva-York d 
 Pard, Maranham, Ceara, Ma- 
 naos : 
 
 Tiempo medio descono- 
 
 cido ; como una vez al 
 
 mes. 
 Cantidad pagada durante 
 
 el ano fiscal terminado 
 
 en Junio 30 de 1889. .. 165. 70 
 Cantidad de correspon- 
 
 dencia transportada : 
 
 Libras. 
 
 1889 1,511 
 
 1888 1,004 
 
 Aumeuto 507 
 
 (d) Linea de Sloman,* Baltimore d Bio Ja- 
 neiro : 
 
 Tiempo medio desconocido ; 
 como una vez al mes. 
 
 Cantidad pagada durante 
 el a&o fiscal terminado 
 en Junio 30 de 1889 $643.45 
 
 No se emple6 en 1888. 
 
 Libras. 
 
 Cantidad de corresponden- 
 
 cia transportada en 1889 10, 257 
 kecapitulaci6n. 
 
 Al Brasil : 
 
 4 Ifneas ; como 4 salidas al 
 mes. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 397 
 
 Total amount paid during fiscal year 
 ended June 30, 1889, $14, 642.53. 
 
 Total amount of mail transported in 
 1889, 82,632 pounds. 
 
 N. B. — Mails for Uruguay, the Argen- 
 tine Republic, and Paraguay are con- 
 veyed by the above lines to Bio de Janeiro 
 and thence to Montevideo and Buenos 
 Ayres by steamers of foreign lines. 
 
 There are occasional trips from New 
 Yorl£ for Montevideo and Buenos Ayres 
 direct, but they are so rare and occur at 
 such irregular intervals as to be practic- 
 ally of no value to the mail service. 
 
 Nothing is Isnown at this office regard- 
 ing the number and character of the 
 steamers employed on any of the above 
 lines, nor as to their accommodations for 
 passengers. 
 
 Appendix No. 3 to Report of Commit- 
 tee ON Gulp of Mbxico and Carib- 
 bean Sea. 
 
 special bepobl- on colombia sub 
 muted to the committee by tee 
 
 DELEGATE, MB. CLIMACO OALDEBON. 
 
 Hon. Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Chairman of the Committee on 
 Communication on the Gulf of 
 Mexico and the Caribbean Sea : 
 
 Sir: I have the honor to present to the 
 committee of the International American 
 Conference, of which you are chairman, 
 the following information relative to 
 Colombia, requested by you in your note 
 dated the 23d of last December. At the 
 same time I beg to submit to the consid- 
 eration of the committee some observa- 
 tions which I deem necessary for the 
 proper understanding and appreciation of 
 said information. 
 
 The maritime communication between 
 Colombia and the United States is at 
 present carried on by the following steam- 
 ship lines: Atlas, Pacific Mail, Spanish 
 Transatlantic, and Red D Line. 
 
 The first is an English line, established 
 some time ago, whose steamers call regu- 
 larly at the ports of Cartagena and 
 Savanilla, which are the principal ports 
 
 Cantidad total pagada 
 durante el a&o fiscal 
 terminado en Juuio 30 
 
 del889 $14,642.52 
 
 Libras. 
 Cantidad total do correspon- 
 denciatransportadaen 1889 82,632 
 N. B. — La correspondencia para Uru- 
 guay, Eeprxblica Argentina y Paraguay 
 se Ueva por las anteriores lineas S, Rio 
 Janeiro, y de alll & Monteviileo y Buenos 
 Aires por vapores de lineas extranjeras. 
 
 Hay de vez en cuaudo algunas salidas 
 de Nueva-York para Montevideo y Bue- 
 nos Aires directaraente; pero son tan ra- 
 ras y tienen lugar S, intervales tan irre- 
 gulares, que pr^cticamente no son de nin- 
 guna utilidad para el servicio de la cor- 
 respondencia. 
 
 Nada puede decirse respecto al nlimero 
 y clase de los vapores etopleados por las 
 lineas anteriores, ni respecto & sus como- 
 didades para pasajeros. 
 
 APifiNDICE No. 3 AL INFORMB DE LA CO- 
 
 misi6n de Comunioacionbs por el 
 GoLFo DB Mexico y el Mar Caribb. 
 
 infobme especial. belatito a co- 
 lombia, pbesentado a la comisidn 
 pob el deleoado cllmaco calde- 
 bOn. 
 
 Sefior Don Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Presidente de la Comiaidn de, Comu- 
 nicadones por el Golfo de Mexico 
 y el Mar Caribe: 
 
 Sefior : Tengo el honor de presentar & 
 la Comisi(3n de la Conferencia Interna- 
 cional Americana qne V. preside, los dates 
 referentes & Colombia que V. se sirvi6 
 pedirme por medio de su nota de fecha 23 
 de Diciembre dltimo. Me perrnito, al mis- 
 mo tiempo, someter & la consideracidn de 
 la Comi8i6n algunas observaciones que 
 creo necesarias & fin de que estos dates 
 scan debidamente entendidos y aprecia- 
 dos. 
 
 La comunicacidn marltima entre Co- 
 lombia y los Estados Unidos se hace ac- 
 tualmente por las siguientes lineas de va- 
 pores : Atlas, Pacific Mail, TransatlSntica 
 Espafiola y Red D Line. 
 
 La primera es una llnea inglesa, esta- 
 blecida de tiempo atr^s, cuyos vapores 
 tocan regularmente en los puertos de 
 Cartagena y Sabanilla, que son los prinoi- 
 
398 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 of Colombia on the Atlautio. This line 
 dispatches two vessels regularly every 
 month from New York, and in them is 
 carried the greater part of the goods ex- 
 ported from this country to Colombia 
 destined for the Atlantic coast and the 
 markets of the departments of Antioquia, 
 Tolima, Cnndinamaroa, Boyac^, and part 
 of Santander, in the interior. On the 
 return voyage they bring the greater 
 part of the articles imported from Colom- 
 bia into the United States, which they 
 take on board at the ports of Savanilla 
 and Cartagena. 
 
 The American line, called Pacific Mail, 
 dispatches a steamer regularly on the 1st, 
 10th, and 20th of each month to the port 
 of Colon. The only articles of American 
 production carried by this line to Colom- 
 bia are those consumed in the department 
 of Panama, which includes the entire 
 Isthmus, and the department of the Cauca 
 on the Pacific. The importations of this 
 latter department are entered at the ports 
 of Buenaventura ^nd Tumaco, to which 
 all the merchandise transshipped at 
 Panama is carried by the vessels of the 
 Pacific Steam Navigation Company and 
 of the recently established South Ameri- 
 can Steam-ship Company. 
 
 The Spanish Transatlantic Company 
 only sends one vessel a month to Colombia. 
 The steamers of this line touch iit Havana 
 and other ports of the island of Cuba, and 
 carry merchandise to the Colombian ports 
 of Cartagena, Savanilla, and Santa 
 Marta. 
 
 The steamers of the American line, 
 known by the name of Red D Line, sail- 
 ing regularly between New York and the 
 Venezuelan ports of La Guayra and Puerto 
 Cabello, do not put in at any Colombian 
 port, but they carry the American prod- 
 ucts which are imported into the north- 
 ern part of the department of Santander 
 in Colombia, and carry to New York the 
 articles which that region exports to the 
 United States. These steamers touch at 
 Curafoa, and from thence the merchan- 
 dise destined to a considerable part of 
 Venezuela and the department of San- 
 tander are transported to the port of Mar- 
 acaibo in steamers of the same line. At 
 
 pales pnertos de Colombia en el AtMntico. 
 Esta linea despacha regnlarmente de 
 Nueva-York dos vapores por mes, y en 
 ellos se transporta la mayor pai*te de las 
 meroaderlas que de este pals se exporfcan 
 para Colombia con destiuo al literal del 
 Atl^ntico, y S, los mercados de los departa- 
 mentos de Antioquia, Tolima, Cnndina- 
 maroa, BoyacSy parte de Santander, en el 
 interior. De regreso, traen la mayor 
 parte de los articnlos que de Colombia se 
 importan S, los Estados Unidos, los cuales 
 reciben en los pnertos de Sabanilla y Car- 
 tagena. 
 
 La linea americana Uamada Pacific 
 Mail despacha regnlarmente un vapor en 
 los dias 1°, 10 y 20 de cada mes, para el 
 puerto de Colfin. Con destine £i Colom- 
 bia, los vapores de esta linea no conducen 
 m^s artlcnlos de producci6n americana 
 que los que se consumen en el departa- 
 mento de Panama, que comprende todo el 
 Istmo, y en el del Cauca, que estdi sobre 
 el Oc<?ano Paoifico. Las importaciones & 
 este liltimo departamento se hacen por 
 los pnertos de Buenaventura y Tumaco, 
 & los cuales conducen las mercaderlas, 
 tomadas de transbordo en el puerto de 
 Panam^, los vapores de la Companfa de 
 Navegacidn por vapor en el Paclfico (Pa- 
 cific Steam Navigation Company) y los 
 de la Companla Sud-Americana de va- 
 pores, recientemente establecida. 
 
 La CompaBia TransatMnta EspaHola 
 no euvla & Colombia siuo un vapor cada 
 mes. Estos vapores hacen eseala en la 
 Habana y otros pnertos de la Isla de Cuba, 
 y Uevan mercaderias ^ los pnertos colom- 
 bianos de Cartagena, Sabanilla y Santa 
 Marta. 
 
 Los vapores de la linea americana co- 
 nocida con el norabre de Red D Line, que 
 hacen la travesia regular entre Nueva- 
 York y los puertos venezolanos de La 
 Guaira y Puerto Cabello, no tocan en 
 puerto colombiano alguno ; pero si con- 
 ducen los prodnctos americanos que se 
 importan S, la parte norte del departa- 
 mento de Santander, en Colombia, y 
 traen ^ Nueva-York los artfcnloa que 
 aquella regidn exporta & los Estados 
 Unidos. Estos vapores hacen eseala en 
 Curazao ; y de aUi, en vapores de la 
 misma linea, se transportan al puerto d« 
 Maracaibo las mercaderias destinadas & 
 parte considerable de Venezuela y al de- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 399 
 
 Maracaibo the same vessels take on board 
 the products exported from this part of 
 Colombia to the United States, and those 
 sailing between New York and La Guayra 
 and Puerto Cabello take them on board 
 at Curapoa, together with those which, 
 in a more limited quantity, are sent to 
 the same market from the province of 
 Fadilla in the Colombian department of 
 the Magdalena. 
 
 The postal service between Colombia 
 and the United States is carried on by 
 these same lines of steamers, although the 
 Spanish Transatlantic line does but little 
 of it on account of the length of its route 
 and the slowness with which they neces- 
 sarily carry the mail. Colombia also has 
 a postal system well established and or- 
 ganized, but subject to the obstacles 
 naturally offered by the undeveloped con- 
 dition of its interior means of communi- 
 cation. 
 
 With regard to telegraphic communi- 
 cation, Colombia has all that is at present 
 needed considering its present commeircial 
 and industrial condition. The length of 
 the telegraphic lines now in operation 
 measures more than 4,600 kilometers, 
 and it may be said that all the towns of 
 any importance, no matter how small 
 they are, can communicate with each 
 other and with all the countries of Europe 
 and America by means of the cable which 
 touches at the ports of Colon, Panama, 
 and Buenaventura. The telegraphic sys- 
 tem of Colombia connects at the north 
 with that of Venezuela, and at the south 
 with that of Ecviador ; so that Colombia 
 is at present in possession of easy, fre- 
 quent, and rapid communication with 
 those two Republics. 
 
 The latest statistics published by the 
 Government of Colombia on the exterior 
 import and export trade of the country 
 refer to the year 1887. We find therein 
 that the exports, not including those of 
 the department of Panama, which enjoys 
 freedom from import duty, reached in 
 that year the sum of $14,000,00(). The 
 export of natural products from the Isth- 
 mus may be estimated at $1,200,000 ; and 
 it may therefore be said that the exports 
 of Colombia reached in the year 1887 the 
 
 partamento do Santander. En Maracaibo 
 toman estos mismos vapores los productos 
 de exportaoidn que esa regi6n de Colom- 
 bia envla S, los Estados Unidos; y los 
 que hacen la travesla entre Nueva-York 
 y La Guaira y Puerto Cabello los reoiben 
 en Curagao, asl como tambi^n los que, 
 en cantidad mdis limitada, salen para este 
 mismo mercado de laprovincia dePadilla 
 en el departamento colombiano del Mag- 
 dalena. 
 
 El servicio de la eomunicaci6n postal 
 entre Colombia y los Estados Unidos lo 
 prestan estas mismas Ifneas de vapores, 
 bien que de laTrausatl^inticaEspaliolase 
 hace generalmente uso muy limitado S, 
 consecuencia de lo largo del derrotero de 
 sns vapores y la lentitud con que nece- 
 sariamente conducen la correspondencia. 
 Colombia tiene un servicio de correos bien 
 establecido y organizado, pero sujeto S, 
 los obstticulos que naturalmeute ofrece el 
 atraso de sus vlas internas de comnnicar- 
 ci6n. 
 
 Respecto ^ comunicaci6n telegr^fica, 
 pos^e Colombia cuauto puede necesitar 
 actualmente, dada la condioi6n comeroial 
 6 industrial en que se encnentra. Las 
 llneas telegrSficas que hay en servicio 
 miden una extensi(3u de m& de 4,600 kil6- 
 metros; y puede deoirse que todas las 
 poblaciones de alguna importancia, por 
 pequefia que sea, estiin en cOmunicacidn 
 entre si, y pueden comunioarse con todos 
 los paises de Europa y America por medio 
 del cable, que toca en los puertos de Co- 
 Idn, PanamS y Buenaventura. El siste- 
 ma de tel6grafos de Colombia se enlaza al 
 Norte con los (le Venezuela, y al Sur con 
 los del Ecuador ; y, de este modo, Colom- 
 bia est^ actualmente con estas dos Kepfi- 
 blicas en fiioil, frecuente y r^pida comuni- 
 cacidn. 
 
 Los datos estadisticos mds recientes pu- 
 blicados por el Gobierno de Colombia acer- 
 ca del comercio exterior de importaci6n 
 y exportacidn del pais, se refieren al afio de 
 1887. De ellos resulta que las exportacio- 
 nes, no incluyendo en ellas las del deiiarta- 
 raento de Panama que goza de franquicia 
 de aduauas, alcanzaron en el ano expresa- 
 do S. 114,000,000. La exportaci<5n de pro- 
 ductos naturales del Istmo puede estimarse 
 en $1,200,000; y puede, en consecuencia, 
 deoirse que las exportaciones de Colombia 
 
400 
 
 INTERNA riONAIi AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 snm of $15,200,000. AccordiDg to official 
 documents published by tlie United States 
 Government,* the exports of Colombia 
 to that country in the fiscal year ending 
 June 30, 1889, amounted to $4,263,519, 
 without including in this sum the gold 
 and silver, coined or in bullion, imported 
 from Colombia in the same year, which 
 appear in the said documents and amount 
 to $1 ,642,795. It also appears therein that 
 the exports of the United States to Co- 
 lombia in that fiscal year amounted only 
 to $3,703,705, or $1,194,298 less than those 
 of the year ending June 30, 1888, in 
 which they amounted to $4,923,259. 
 With respect to the imports brought 
 from Colombia, precious metals not in- 
 cluded, it may be observed also that in 
 1889 they were less than the previous 
 year. It appears, in fact, that in 1888 
 they amounted to $4,393,258, or $129,739 
 more than in the year following. 
 
 Unlilce what has been said of Colombia, 
 Mexico, the Central American Republics, 
 and Venezuela figure in the statistics as 
 having exported more to the United States 
 in 1889 than in 18B8. With regard to 
 Mexico it would perhaps not be exagger- 
 ating to say that, taking into considera- 
 tion the total amount of its export trade, 
 the increase is something remarkable, 
 for it appears that in 1889 Mexico sent to 
 this country products to the value of 
 $21,253,601, or $3,923,712 more than in the 
 year 1888, in which it only exported to 
 the United States $17,329,889. The Ceu- 
 tral American Republics, which, in 1888, 
 exported to the United States $7,623,378 
 worth, are put down in 1889 for$8,414,019 ; 
 that is, with an increase of $790,641. The 
 increase of the exports of Venezuela is 
 less noticeable, because in 1888 they were 
 $10,051,250 and $10,392,569 in 1889, mak- 
 ing a diff'erence of $341,319 in favor of 
 the latter year. The difference between 
 the exports of Colombia in 1888 and those 
 of 1889 is, however, of slight amount 
 ($129,739), and may be easily and satisfac- 
 torily explained by the decrease of value 
 
 *AnBnal report of the Cliief of the Bureau of 
 Statistics ou llie foreign coinnierco of the United 
 States for tlie year ending June 30, 1889. 
 
 alcanzaron en el afio de 1887 ^ la snma de 
 $15,200,000. Seglin documentos oficiales 
 publioados por el Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos,* las exportaciones de Colombia & 
 este pals, en el ano eoou6mico que prin- 
 oipid el 1° de Julio de 1888 y conoluy6 el 
 30 de Jnnio de 1889, asoendieron & $4,263- 
 519, sin inclulr en esta suma el oro y la 
 plata, amonedados <5 en barras, importa- 
 dos de Colombia en el mismo afio, que en 
 los misraos documentos figuran y se hacen 
 subir S. $1,642,795. AUi mismo aparece 
 que las expc^taciones hechas de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos para Colombia, en aquel afio 
 econdmico, no fueron sino por valor de 
 $3,703,705, 6 sea $l,194,2y8 menos que en 
 ■ el ani) que concluy<5 el 30 de Junio de 
 1888, en el cual asoendieron ^ $4,923,2.59. 
 En cuauto & importaciones hechas de Co- 
 lombia, no computando en ellas los me- 
 tales preoiosos, se observa igualmente 
 que en 1889 fueron iuferiores ^ las del afio 
 anterior. Resulta, en efecto, que en If'SS 
 ascendierou S. $4,393,258, 6 sea $129,739 
 m^ que en el aQo subsiguiente. 
 
 A diferenoia de lo que & Colombia acon- 
 tece, Mexico, las Repliblicas de Centro- 
 Am6rica y Venezuela figuran en las esta- 
 dlsticas con exportaciones S, los Estados 
 Unidos de mayor valor en 1889 que en 
 1888. Respecto & Mexico, acaso no haya 
 exageracidn en decir, teniendo en consi- 
 deracidn el total de su comercio de ex- 
 portaci6n, que el aumento es notable, 
 pues resulta que en I889envi<5 ^ este pais 
 produotos por valor de $21,253,601, 6 sea 
 $3,923,712 mda que en el afio de 1888, en 
 el cual solamente exportd con el mismo 
 destine $17,3ii9,889. Las Repfiblicas de 
 Centro-AmiSrica, que en 1888 hicieron ex- 
 portaciones ^ los Estados Unidos por 
 $7,623,378, figuran en 1889 con $8,414,019, 
 6 sea con un aumento de $790,641. El au- 
 mento en las exportaciones de Venezuala 
 es menos notable, porque en 1888 asoen- 
 dieron & $10,051,250, y Si $10,392,569 en 
 1889 ; lo que da una diferenoia de $341,319 
 en favor de este tiltimo afio. La diferen- 
 oia ontre las exportaciones de Colombia 
 eu 1888 y las de 1889 es, empero, de poca 
 cousideraoidn ($129,739), y puede expli- 
 carse, y se explica satisfactoriamente, por 
 
 ♦Annual report of the Cliief of the Bureau of 
 Statistics ou the foreign commerce of the United 
 States for the year ending June 30, 1889. 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 401 
 
 in this market of some of the principal 
 articles which Colombia exports. The 
 (lifi'oronce is certainly of value and not of 
 bulk. 
 
 According to the recent report of the 
 United States Treasury Department, the 
 exports of Mexico, the Central American 
 Republics, Colombia, and Venezuela to 
 this country during the last ten years 
 are as follows : 
 
 el menor valor que en este meroado han 
 tenido illtimamente algunosdo los princi- 
 pales art£culo3 que las constituyen. Esta 
 diferencia es ciertameute do valor, no de 
 voluraen. 
 
 Segdn los dates reoienteraente publica- 
 dos por el Departamento del Tesoro de los 
 Estados Unidos, las exportaciones de 
 Mexico, las Reptiblicas de Centro-Am^- 
 rioa, Colombia y Venezuela ^ este pals, 
 durante los tiltiraos diez aBos, son las que 
 en seguida se expresan : 
 
 Tear. 
 
 Mexico. 
 
 Central 
 America. 
 
 Colombia. 
 
 Vene- 
 znela. 
 
 1880.. 
 
 $7,210,000 
 
 $3,310,000 
 
 $8, 440, 000 
 
 $6,040,00 
 
 1881. 
 
 8,320,000 
 
 3, 160, 000 
 
 5, 990, 000 
 
 6,600,00 
 
 1882- 
 
 8, 460, 000 
 
 4, 740, 000 
 
 4, 960, 000 
 
 6, 750, 00 
 
 1883.. 
 
 8, 180, OCO 
 
 0, 120, 000 
 
 5, 170, 000 
 
 5, 900, 00 
 
 1884.. 
 
 9, 020, 000 
 
 6, 100, 000 
 
 3, 890, 000 
 
 6,670,00 
 
 1885.. 
 
 9, 270, 000 
 
 6,410,000 
 
 2, 340, 000 
 
 6, 310, 00 
 
 1886.- 
 
 10, 690, 000 
 
 5, 910, 000 
 
 3, 010, 000 
 
 5,790,00 
 
 1887.. 
 
 14, 720, 000 
 
 7, 640, 000 
 
 3, 950, 000 
 
 8, 260, 00 
 
 1888.. 
 
 17,330,000 
 
 7, 620, 000 
 
 4, 390, 000 
 
 10, 050, 00 
 
 1889.. 
 
 21, 253, 601 
 
 8,414,019 
 
 4, 263, 789 
 
 10, 392, 56 
 
 Upon examination of the above table 
 it is evident that the exports of Mexico, 
 Central America, and Venezuela to the 
 United States have increased notably in 
 the last few years, while those of Colom- 
 bia have decreased. With regard to 
 Mexico, it is seen that the exports in 1889 
 exceeded those of 1880 by |14,040,000, 
 which means an increase of two-thirds. 
 The exports of the Central American Re- 
 publics, which in 1880 were only $3,310,- 
 000, amount in 1889 to $8,414,000, making 
 an increase of $5,104,000 in the course of 
 ten years. Venezuela, which in 1880 
 exported $6,040,000, increased its exports 
 $4,352,000 in 1889, since in that year they 
 amounted to $10,392,000. On the other 
 hand, Colombia, which in 1880 exported 
 to the United States products to the 
 amount of $8,440,000, saw its exports 
 reduced in 1889 to $4,263,000, which 
 marks a falling off of $4,177,000, equiva- 
 lent to one-half. 
 
 With regard to the importation of 
 American merchandise, comparing that 
 of 1880 with that of 1889, it is also ob- 
 served that while those of Mexico, the Cen- 
 tral American Republics and Venezuela 
 havesteadilyiucreased, those of Colombia 
 have decreased in a marked manner. 
 26 I o 
 
 Afio. 
 
 Mexico. 
 
 Centre- 
 America. 
 
 Colombia. 
 
 "Veno- 
 zaela. 
 
 1880.. 
 
 $7,210,000 
 
 $3,310,000 $8,440,000 
 
 $6, 040, 000 
 
 1881.. 
 
 8. 320, 000 
 
 3, 160, 000 
 
 5,990,000 
 
 6, COO, 000 
 
 1882.. 
 
 8, 460, 000 
 
 4, 740, 000 
 
 4,960,000 
 
 5,750,000 
 
 1883.. 
 
 8, 180, 000 
 
 5, 120, 000 
 
 5, 170, 000 
 
 5,900,000 
 
 1884.. 
 
 9, 020, 000 
 
 6, 160, 000 
 
 3,890,000 
 
 6, 670, 000 
 
 1885.. 
 
 », 270, 000 
 
 6, 410, 000 
 
 2, 340, 000 
 
 6,310,000 
 
 1886.. 
 
 10, 690, 000 
 
 5, 910, 000 
 
 3,010,000 
 
 5, 790, 000 
 
 1887. 
 
 14, 720, OOO 
 
 7, 640, 000 
 
 3, 950, 000 
 
 8, 260, 000 
 
 1888.. 
 
 17,330,000 
 
 7, 620, 000 
 
 4, 390, 000 
 
 10, 050, 000 
 
 1889.. 
 
 21, 253, 601 
 
 8,414,019 
 
 4,263,789 
 
 10, 392, 569 
 
 Del exSmen de este cuadro aparece evi- 
 dente el hecho de que las exportaciones de 
 Mexico, Centro-Am6rica y Venezuela ^ 
 los Estados Unidos han creoido notable- 
 menle en los tiltimos alios, en tanto que 
 las de Colombia han venido en decaden- 
 cia. Con r6laci<5n S, M6xico, se observa 
 que las exportaciones en 1889 excedieron 
 S, las de 1880 en $14,040,000, lo que indica 
 un aumento equivalente ^ las dos terceras 
 partes. Las exportaciones de las Repu- 
 blicas de Centro-Am^rica, que en 1880 no 
 valian sino$3,310,000, ascendieron en 1889 
 £i $8,414,000, lo que da uu aumento de 
 $5,104,000 en el transcurso de diez anos. 
 Venezuela, que en 1880 export6 por valor 
 de $6,040,000, hizo subirsus exportaciones 
 en $4,353,000 en 1889, pues que en este Ul- 
 timo afio ascendieron i $10,392,000. En 
 cambio, Colombia, que en 1880 exportaba 
 & los Estados Unidos productos por valor 
 de $8,440,000, vi6 reducidas sus exporta- 
 ciones en 1889 & $4,263,000, lo que indica 
 una disminucidu de $4,177,000, que es 
 equivalente S, la mitad. 
 
 Respecto ^ importaciones de mereade- 
 rfas americanas, comparando las de 1880 
 con las de 1889, se observa igualmente 
 que, S, tiempo que Mexico, las Repliblioas 
 de Centro-Am6rioa y Venezuela han 
 aumeutado las suyas, las de Colombia 
 han deoaido de un modo manifesto, M6- 
 
402 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mexico, whicli in 1880 only imported 
 $6,070,000 worth, importea $10,890,000 
 worth in 1889; and there was one year 
 (1883) in which its imports amounted 
 to 114,370,000. Those of the Central 
 American Republics, which in 1880 
 only amounted to $1,730,000, reached 
 $4,150,000 in 1889. Those of Venezuela, 
 which were only $2,270,000 in 1880, 
 passed $3,000,000 in 1888, and in 1889 
 amounted to $3,700,000. Those of Co- 
 lomhia were $5,230,000 in 1880, $5,180,000 
 in 1881, $6,230,000 in 1883, $6,720,000 in 
 1883, $6,170,000 in 1884, $5,400,000 in 
 
 1885, $5,290,000 in 1886, $5,970,000 in 
 1887, $4,920,000 in 1888, and $3,730,000 
 in 1889. There was, therefore, a de- 
 crease of $1,500,000 in the importations 
 of the last-named year as compared with 
 those of 1880. 
 
 The decrease of exportation from 
 Colombia to the United States be- 
 gan to be felt in a marked man- 
 ner in 1881. In fact, from $8,440,000, 
 the sum reached in 1880, they fell to 
 $5,990,000 in that year, showing a de- 
 crease of $2,450,000. They were still leas 
 in 1882, since they only reached $4,960,000 ; 
 and although a slight rise of $290,000 is 
 noted in 1883 over the previous year, the 
 decrease is still more notable in 1884, 
 in which they only reached $3,890,000, or 
 less than half of the amount reached five 
 years before. The marked diminution of 
 the exports of 1885, in which year they 
 only amounted to $2,340,000, and those of 
 
 1886, which scarcely reached $3,010,000, 
 is explained by the civil war in which 
 the country found itself at that time ; 
 for, after order was re- established, it is 
 seen that they not only recovered their 
 previous level, but underwent an in- 
 crease, although but a slight one, over the 
 exports of 1884, the year immediately 
 praceding the civil war. 
 
 Upon comparing the importation of_ 
 American merchandise entered at Colom- 
 bia during the years 1882-87 with the 
 exports made from Colombia to the 
 United States in the same period, a con- 
 siderable inequilibrium is observed. It 
 is moreover to be noted that the excess of 
 imports over exports reached the sum 
 of $1,270,000 in 1882, $1,550,000 in 1883, 
 $2,280,000 in 1884, $3,060,000 in 1885, 
 
 xico, que en 1880 no importaba sine 
 $6,070,000, importd $10,890,000 en 1889, y 
 hnbo ano (1883) en que sus importaciones 
 ascendieron & $14,370,000. Las de las Ee- 
 pliblicas de Centro-Am6rioa, que en 1880 
 no valian sino $1,730,000, alcanzaron en 
 1889 S. $4,150,000. Las de Venezuela, 
 que solamente eran de $2,270,000 en 1880, 
 no Uegaron ^ pasar de 3 millones sino en 
 1888, y en 1889 ascendieron S, $3,700,000. 
 Las de Colombia fueron de $5,230,000 en 
 1880; de $5,180,000 en 1881; de $6,230,000 
 en 1882; 4? $6,720,000 en 1883; de 
 $6,170,000 en 1884; de $5,400,000 en 1885; 
 de $5,290,000 eu 1886; de $5,970,000 en 
 1887; de $4,920,000 en 1888; y de $3,730,- 
 000 en 1889. Hnbo, pues, una disminu- 
 ci6n equivaleute S, $1,500,000 eu las im- 
 portaciones de este tiltimo ano compara- 
 das con las de 1880. 
 
 La decadencia en las exportaciones de 
 Colombia & los Estados Unidos empezd S, 
 hacerse sentir de uu modo iuequivoco en 
 1881. En efecto, de $8,440,000, & que ha- 
 blan alcanzado en 1880, dascendieron en 
 aquel ano ^ $5,990,000, lo que da una dis- 
 miuucidn de $2,450,000. Menores fueron 
 todavia en 1882, pnes no Uegaron sino & 
 $4,960,000 ; y aunque en 1883 se observa 
 un ligero aumento de $290,000 sobre el ano 
 precedente, la decadencia se hizo mSa 
 sensible ariu en 1884, en que solamente 
 alcanzaron S. $3,890,000, suma inferior ^ 
 la mitad del valor de las de cinco anos 
 antes. La notable rednocidn en las de 
 1885, en quetansdlo subieron^ $2,340,000, 
 y las de 1886, en que apenas alcanzaron S, 
 $3,010,000, se explica por la gnerra civil 
 en que el pals se vi6 envuelto en aquella 
 6poca ; porqne, restablecido el orden, no 
 solamente se ve que recobraron su an- 
 tiguo nivel, sino que tu vieron un aumento, 
 bien que ligero, sobre las del aEo de 1884, 
 que fu6 el que precedid inmediatamente 
 ^ la gnerra civil. 
 
 Comparadas las importaciones de mer- 
 caderias americanas hechas S, Colombia 
 durante los anos de 1882 S, 1887 con 
 las exportaciones hechas de Colombia 
 it los Estados Unidos en el mismo 
 perlodo, se observa que existe un dese- 
 quilibrio considerable en contra de las 
 ultimas. Obs^rvase, en efecto, que el 
 exceso de las importaciones sobre las 
 exportaciones aloanzd £i $1,270,000 en 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 403 
 
 $2,280,000 in 1886, $2,020,000 in 1887, 
 and $530,000 in 1888; making a total 
 of $12,990,000 in seven years. The year 
 1889 already exhibits a diflferenoe of 
 $530,000 in favor of exports; and every- 
 thing leads one to believe that in the 
 current iiscal year they will exceed the 
 imports. The inequilibrium observed is, 
 however, easily explained. At the same 
 time that the decrease of exportation 
 commenced in Colombia, the work of ex- 
 cavating the canal was begun at Pan- 
 ma, and the Isthmus increased consid- 
 erably its importation and consumption, 
 paying for them not with its own pro- 
 ducts, but with the money belonging 
 to that enterprise. The difference between 
 the importation and exportation above 
 noted was not liquidated with specie 
 sent out by Colombia, nor by the sale of 
 Colombian articles in European markets; 
 it was paid from the funds of the French 
 stockholders. 
 
 This explains why, while the exports of 
 the years 1885-86 fell to so low a figure 
 on account of the disturbances in the 
 peace of the country, the imports did not 
 decrease in those years in the same pro- 
 portion. The consumption of the Isthmus 
 increased while that of the rest of Co- 
 lombia diminished. But the diminution 
 of the work on the canal in 1888, and its 
 final suspension in 1889, brought with it 
 a reduction in the amount of consumption. 
 This explains the notable decrease of im- 
 portation during those years. The excep- 
 tional circumstances in which the Isthmus 
 of Panama found itself from 1881 to 1888 
 increased the consumption of foreign 
 goods in an extraordinary manner; but 
 they in no wise con tributed to augment 
 either the exports of the rest of the coun- 
 try or of that region itself. Since the im- 
 ports of the country are at present re- 
 duced to what can be paid by exports, 
 the figures of both in the year 1889 show 
 us what is the amount of commerce be- 
 tween Colombia and the United States in 
 normal conditions. 
 
 Among the iuter-tropioal countries of 
 America, Colombia has perhaps been the 
 most deeply afifected by the decline of 
 commerce and industry which, with vari- 
 
 1883, £ $1,550,000 en 1883, & $2,280,000 
 en 1881, g. $3,060,000 en 1885, ^ $2,280,000 
 en 1886, S, $2,020,000 en 1887, y ^ $530,000 
 en 1888 ; lo que arroja un total de $12,990,- 
 000 en siete afios. El aSo de 1889 exhibe 
 ya una diferenciade $530,000 en favor de 
 las exportaciones; y todo hace oreer que, 
 en el aOo econ6mico en curso, fistas ser^n 
 superiores d las importaciones. El dese- 
 quilibrio observado se explica, sin em- 
 bargo, fiicilmente. Al mismo tiempo que 
 empez6 eu Colombia la decadencia en 
 la exportaci6n, se iniciaron en Panama 
 los trabajos de exoavaci6n del eanal, y el 
 Istmo aument6 considerablemeute sus 
 importaciones y consumos, pag^ndolos, 
 no con productos propios, sino con el di- 
 nero de aquellaerapresa. Las diferenoias 
 entre la importacidn y exportaoi<5n que 
 atrfc quedan apuntadas no se aaldarou 
 con especies met^licas enviadas de Co- 
 lombia, ni con el produoto de venta en 
 mercados europeos de artlculos colombia- 
 nos; se pagaron con los fondos de los 
 aocionistas franceses. 
 
 Asl se explica porqu6, reduoidas S, tan 
 pequenas cifras las exportaciones de los 
 aHos de 1885 y 1886, S^ consecuencia de 
 perturbaoiones de la paz pfiblica, las im- 
 portaciones no decrecieron en esos anos en 
 la misma proporcidn. En el Istmo au- 
 mentaban los consumos Si tiempo que en el 
 resto de Colombia disminulan. Pero la 
 dismiuucidn de los trabajos del Canal en 
 1888, y la final suspensidn de ellos en 1889, 
 trajeron consigo la reducoidn en el consu- 
 me; y esto explica la notable calda de las 
 importaciones en aquellos anos. Las ex- 
 cepcionales circnnstancias eu que el Istmo 
 de Panamii se eucontrd desde 1881 hasta 
 1888, desarroUaron el oonsumo de merca- 
 derlas extranjeras de un modo extraordi- 
 nario; pero en nada contribuyeron & au- 
 mentar la exportaci6n del resto del pais 
 ni la de esa misma region. Redacida ac- 
 tualm^nte la importacidn del pais S, lo 
 que con la exportaci<Sn puede pagarse, 
 son las cifras de una y otra en el ano de 
 1889 las que dan & oonocer con exactitud, 
 cn^ es, en condiciones normales, la cuan- 
 tla del oomercio entre Colombia y los Es- 
 tados Unidos. 
 
 Entre los paJses intertropicales de 
 America, es Colombia quizdi el que mSa 
 profundamente ha sido afectado por la 
 decadencia en el comercio y la industria 
 
404 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 able intensity, has made itself felt all 
 over the world during the last fifteen 
 years. None of thtm have seen, as Co- 
 lomhia has, their exports so greatly di- 
 minished, nor found themselves, as she 
 has done, on account of her peculiar topo- 
 graphical condition, surrounded by so 
 great obstacles to utilizing the foices 
 vrhich the decay of her ancient industries 
 has left idle. With regard to tobacco, 
 which was previously cultivated in 
 abundance and exported to the value of 
 several millions of dollars, it may be 
 said that at present only a sufficient quan- 
 tity is produced for home consumption, 
 since exorbitant customs duties, which 
 might be called prohibitive, have driven 
 it away from the former markets. 
 
 The exportation of cinchona-bark has 
 entirely ceased. In order to appreciate 
 properly the importance, which this prod- 
 uct had in the external trade of Colom- 
 bia, it must be borne in mind that on 
 account of the immense guau titles of it 
 exported from that country, her exports to 
 the United States amounted to |12,284,063 
 in 187.5, or $8,021,000 more than in 1889; 
 and in order to estimate the influence 
 which the production of Colombia had in 
 tho market of that product, it is sufficient 
 to recollect that quinine, which Is ex- 
 tracted from it, that in 1876 was only 
 sold at the rate of 68 9d per ounce, in 1877, 
 on account of an interruption in the ex- 
 portation of cinchona from Colombia oc- 
 casioned by civil war and obstructions to 
 the navigation of the Magdalena River, 
 went up to the unheard-of price of 16s 9d 
 ($4.70) per ounce. The price of this chem- 
 ical product began to fall in 1879, and 
 from 1883 onwards it declined with such 
 rapidity that the current price in Europe 
 in 1887 was only Is 6d (|0.30) per ounce, 
 or even still less. The last quotations of 
 the London market give this same price 
 in the present month to English quinine, 
 and Is 3d to that of German production. 
 
 The decline in price of an article of such 
 general and constant consumption as this 
 is not difficult to explain. It is a well 
 known fact that ten or twelve years ago 
 the production of cinchona was a kind of 
 monopoly with some countries of the 
 northern part of South America, where the 
 
 que, con fluctuaciones de Intensidad, ha 
 predorainado en el mundo durante los 
 Tiltimos quince afios. Ninguno de ellos 
 ha visto, como ha vlsto Colombia, sua ex- 
 portaclones tan considerablemente dis- 
 minufdas, ni como ella se ha encontrado, 
 S, causa de sus pecullares condiciones 
 topogrS^fioas, rodeada de tan Inmensos 
 obst£i)culos para poner en actividad las 
 fuerzas que la muerte de sus antigUas 
 industrlas ha dejado ociosas. El tabaco 
 que antes cultlvaba en abundancia y ex- 
 portaba por valor de varies millones de 
 pesos, puede decirse que aotualmente sdlo 
 se produce en la cantidad necesarla para 
 proveer al consume local, porque de los 
 antiguos mercados lo ban alejado eleva- 
 dlsimos derechos de aduana, que pueden 
 llamarse prohibitivos. 
 
 La exportacidn de quina concluyd en 
 absolute. Para apreciar debidamente la 
 importancia que este producto tenia en 
 el oomercio exterior de Colombia, es pre- 
 cise recordar que. Si consecuencia de las 
 inmensas cantidades que de 61 se exporta- 
 ban de aquel pals, sus exportaciones S, los 
 Estados Unidos ascendierou S, $12,284,063 
 en 1875, 6 sea $8,021,000 mSs que en 1889; 
 y para estimar la Influencla que en el 
 mercado de aquel producto tenia la pro- 
 duccidn de Colombia, basta recordar que 
 la quiniua, que de 61 se extrae, que i-n 
 1876 no valla sino S. razdn de 68. 9d. la 
 onza, subid, en IS77, S, consecuencia de 
 interrupcidn en la exportacidn de quina 
 de Colombia, ocasionada por la guerra 
 civil y dificultades en la navegacidn del 
 rio Magdalena. al precio nnnoa visto 
 anterlormente de 16s. 6d. ($4.70) la onza. 
 El precio de este producto qulmico em- 
 pez6 & caer en 1879, y de 1883 en adelante 
 decllnd con t^nta rapidez, que el precio 
 oorrlente en Europa en 1887 no era sino 
 de Is. 6d. (30 centavos) la onza, y aun 
 menos todavia. Las ultimas cotizaoiones 
 del mercado deLondres senalanestemismo 
 precio en el presente mes S, la quinina 
 inglesa, y el de Is. M. & la de producoidn 
 alemana. 
 
 La calda en el precio de un arfclculo 
 como 6ste, de tan general y constante 
 consume, no es, por otra parte, diffcil de 
 explicar. Heoho bastante conocido es 
 que, hasta ahora diez 6 doce aHos, la pro- 
 duccidn de quina era uua espeoie de mo- 
 nopolio de algunospalses de la parte sep- 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 405 
 
 tree producing the bark grows wild in sur- 
 prising profusion. But the carelessness, 
 lack of method and system in the collect 
 tion of the bark gave rise to the feiar that 
 the production of so necessary an article 
 would greatly decline, and perhaps even 
 become exhausted, and actuated by this 
 fear the Governments of Holland and 
 Great Britain decidud to attempt the cul- 
 tivation of the cinchona-tree in their 
 colonies of Java and the East Indies. 
 The first seeds and plants were carried 
 thither from South America in 1861, and 
 the first exportation of bark from that 
 region to Europe, consisting of only 28 
 ounces, was made in 1869. The produc- 
 tion of it in the Island of Ceylon was 
 growing so enormously from year to year, 
 that in the year of 1882-83 6,925,000 pounds 
 of it were exported from that place ; from 
 1883 to 1884, 11,500,000 pounds; and from 
 1885 to 1886, 15,364,912 pounds." The 
 exportations of Java have been smaller 
 in c^nantity, but not less important, since 
 in 1887 they exceeded 2,200,000 pounds. 
 The necessary result of such an im- 
 mense production was the rapid decline 
 in the price of this raw material and of 
 the article extracted from it. To this 
 depreciation farther contributed two 
 other causes, the influence of which it is 
 impossible to ignore. In the first place, the 
 South American bark generally yielded 
 but 2 per cent, of sulphate, while that of ' 
 Ceylon and Java, due to the cultivation 
 of the tree, produced from 8 to 12 per 
 cent. In the second place, because of the 
 discovery and employment of new and 
 more economic processes, there can actu- 
 ally be obtained, with less expense and in 
 th(^ course of three or five days, a greater 
 quantity of quinine than was before 
 extracted in twenty days by means of the 
 processes which were then employed. 
 
 The exportation of ciuchona-bark from 
 Colombia having entirely ceased, a 
 greater impulse was given to the cultiva- 
 tion of coffee, until this product became 
 the principal article of export. But 
 ooifee, like hides and all the natural 
 products which Colombia exports, has 
 
 * According to the last statistics the produc- 
 tion of Ceylon has bebn diminishing since 1886. 
 It appears that from 1886 to 1887 it vrm 14,389,184 
 pounds i from 1887 to 1888, 11,704,932 poands ; 
 and Irom 1888 to 1889, 10,798,487 pounds. 
 
 tentrional de la America del Sur, donde el 
 ^rbol que da esta corteza se produce y 
 crece silvestre en sorprendente profusidn. 
 El descuido, falta de m^todo y sistema 
 con que la corteza era extralda, hicieron, 
 sin embargo, temer que la producci6n de 
 tan necesario artlculo disminuyera con- 
 siderablemeute, y auu llegara & agotarse ; 
 y, movidos por oste temor, los gobiernos 
 de Holanday la Gran BretaBa resolvierou 
 ensayar el cultivo de la quina en sus oo- 
 lonias de Java y de la India. Las primeras 
 semillas y plantas fueron llevadas alll de 
 Sud-Am6rica en 1861, y la primera expor- 
 taci(5n de quina de aquella region & 
 Europa, consistente en 28 ouzas solamente, 
 se hizo en 1869. La produccidn en la isla 
 de Ceil^u fu6, de ano en aBo, creciendo en 
 tan enormes proporciones, que en el ano 
 de 1882 S, 1883 se exportaron de alii 6,925,- 
 000 libras; de 1883 & 1884, 11,500,000 li- 
 bras ; y de 1885 ^ 1886, 15,364,912 libras." 
 Las exportaciones de Java han sido 
 menores, pero no menos importantes, 
 puesto que en 1887 excedieron de 2,200,000 
 libras. Resultado necesario de tan in- 
 mensa prodacci6n fu6 la r^pida cafda en 
 el precio de esta materia prima y del 
 artlculo que de ella se extra<e. A la de- 
 preciacidn contribuyeroii adem^s otras 
 dos circuustancias cuya influencia es im- 
 posible desconocer. En primer lugar, la 
 quina sud-americana no daba general- 
 mente siuo dos por ciento de gulfato, en 
 tanto que la de Ceil An y Java, merced al 
 cultivo del iirbol, produce del ocho aldoce 
 por ciento. En segundo lugar, debido al 
 descubrimiento y empleo de nuevos y 
 mS» eoon6micos procedimieutos, puede 
 actualmente obtenerse, con meuor gasto y 
 en un t^rmino de tres S, cinco dias, mayor 
 cantidad de quinina que antes en veinte 
 dIas por medio de los procedimieutos que 
 entouces se empleaban. 
 
 Couclulda completamente en Colombia 
 la exportacidn de quina, didse mayor im- 
 pulse al cultivo del caf6, hasta llegar {i 
 hacer de este produoto el principal ar- 
 tlculo de exportacidn. Pero el caf6, asl 
 como los cneros y todos los produotos 
 naturales que Colombia exporta, han 
 
 *Sogun los liltimos datos, la producci6n de 
 Cellto ha venido disminnyendo desde 1886. 
 Aparece, en efocto, que de 1886 i 1887 fu6 de 
 14,389,184 libras; de 1887 & 1888, de 11,704,932 
 libras ; y de 1888 A 1889, de 10,798,487 libraa. 
 
406 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 suffered an enormous decline in the 
 market because of competition with other 
 countries which produce them with 
 greater advantages; and thus is ex- 
 plained why an increase in the volume 
 of exports does not signify for Colombia 
 a proportional increase in the value of 
 the same. 
 
 Colombia, like other Spanish American 
 countries, contends with the difdculties 
 which nature has opposed to convenient, 
 rapid, and economical communication in 
 its own territory, and which make the 
 transportation of its products to the sea- 
 coast extremely difficult and expensive. 
 It is this lack of ways of communication 
 and of transportation wliich constitutes 
 the most powerful obstacle to the econom- 
 ical and industrial development of those 
 countries. Because of the imperfect and 
 backward state of the means of transpor- 
 tation employed the exports are limited to 
 articles which, of small volume and little 
 weight, are intrinsically valuable; and 
 with respect to said articles they are com- 
 pelled to challenge the competition of pro- 
 ducers who, disposing of abundant capital 
 and provided with improved implements 
 of labor and easy, economical, and rapid 
 means of transportation, offer these same 
 articles in the market at prices which are 
 occasionally ruinous for the producers 
 who do not possess identical advantages 
 for their production and transportation. 
 " Railways and steam-ships," said the 
 French economist, Leroy Beaulieu, "are 
 the levelers of prices ; there is no influ 
 ence so potent as theirs." 
 
 The general depreciation of articles of 
 universal consumption confirms this opin- 
 ion, should such statement need demon- 
 stration. Wheat, wool, cotton, silk, petro- 
 leum, linseed-oil, coffee, and tea, copper, 
 lead, iron, quicksilver, silver, tin, coal, 
 quinine, paper, nitrate of soda, beef, 
 sugar, hides, cheese, and fish are articles 
 of universal consumption, and their act- 
 ual price is much less than fifteen years 
 ago, due to a greater and more economical 
 production, stimulated by the increase of 
 consumption, caused by the facilities and 
 low ratesofwater and land transportation. 
 The decline in the price of some of these 
 articles is really surprising. Thus, for 
 exampl ■, refined petroleum which in 1873 
 
 sufrido enorme depreciaci6n en el mercado 
 por la competencia de otros palses que los 
 producen con mayores ventajas; y asl se 
 explica porqu6 el aumento en el voWmen 
 de las exportaciones no significa para 
 Colombia un aumento proporoional en el 
 valor de 6sta8. 
 
 Colombia, asl como otros palses his- 
 pano-americanos, lucha con las dificul- 
 tades que la naturaleza opone & la co- 
 municaci6n cdmoda, r^pida y econ6mica 
 dentro de s*niismo territorio, y hacen la 
 salida de sus protectos ^ la orilla del mar 
 en extreme dificil y costosa. Es en esta 
 falta de vlas de comunicacidn y trans- 
 l>orte donde esos palses encuentran el vaSa 
 poderoso obstScalo S, su desanollo eco- 
 n6mioo 6 industrial. Por la imperfeccidn 
 y atraso en los medios de transporte de 
 que se sirven, su exportacidn tiene que 
 limitarse ^ objetos que, enpequeno volli- 
 men y pooo peso, contengan un valor con- 
 siderable, y, aun con relacifin & 6stos, 
 tienen qne desafiarla competencia de pro- 
 ductores que, disponiendo de capital 
 abundante, provistos de perfeocionados 
 instrumentos de trabajo y con medios de 
 transporte fSciles, econfiraicos y rd)pidos S. 
 su servicio, ofrecen en el mercado esos 
 misraos artioulos ^ precios que en 
 ocasiones son ruinosos para los productores 
 que no dispouen de id6nticas ventajas 
 para la producci6u y transporte de los 
 suyos. "Los ferro-carriles y los bnques 
 tie vapor," ha dicho el ecouomista francos 
 Leroy- Beaulieu, "son los niveladores de 
 los precios : no hay accidn tan poderosa 
 como la suya." 
 
 La depreciaci6n general de los ar- 
 tioulos de mSs universal consumo com- 
 prueba esta opini6n, si es que la 
 verdad que encierra necesita demostra- 
 ci6n. El trigo, la lana, el algoddn, la 
 seda, el petrdleo, el aceite de linaza, el 
 oafs y el t6, el cobre, el plomo, el hierro, el 
 azogue, la plata, el estapo, el carb6n, 
 la quinina, el papel, el nitrato de 
 soda, la carne, el aziicar, los cueros, 
 el queso y el pescado, son artlculos de 
 universal consumo, y su precio actual 
 es mucho menor que ahora quince 
 anos, debido ^ una producci6n mayor 
 y m^s econ6mica, estimulada por el 
 ensanche en el consumo, proveniente 
 de la facilidad y bajo precio de los trans- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 407 
 
 was worth 23.59 cents a gallou, fell in 
 1887 to 6f cents. Refined sugar, in bond 
 for export, which in 1880 was only worth 
 5.08 cents a pound in New York, declined 
 still more, and there was a lime (July, 
 1887) when it only brought 2.37^ cents a 
 pound. Salt beef for export, which av- 
 eraged in the United States in 1884 only 
 8.2 cents a pound, dropped to 6 cents in 
 1886. Salt pork declined during the same 
 period from 8.2 to 5.9 cents ; bacon and 
 hams from 9.6 to 7.5 cents, and lard from 
 9.4 to 6.9 cents. 
 
 The immediate and necessary effect of 
 the present system of transportation by 
 railway and steam-ship has been uniform- 
 ity in the prices of the necessary com- 
 modities and the final disappearance, in 
 all civilized countries, of local markets 
 with enormous differences in the prices of 
 such articles. It does not happen to-day, 
 as formerly, that the loss of the crops in 
 a province, or even in an entire country, 
 will expose the inhabitants to the horrors 
 of famine. An eminent American econo- 
 mist has well said that the railway and 
 steam-ship have already decided that in 
 the future there will be but one market 
 for cereals — the world; and he adds that 
 abnormal prices in one country or market, 
 or excessive reserves in one center or an- 
 other, will be surely and rapidly neutral- 
 ized and controlled by the influence of 
 all countries and markets. 
 
 But the improvement and progress in 
 the means of communication which pro- 
 duce these results, and by bringing to- 
 gether the remotest regions make the 
 world a single market, and level and 
 equalize prices, far from diminishing, 
 widen and deepen the line which sepa- 
 rates civilized countries from those which 
 have not reached an equal degree of pros- 
 perity and development. Doubtless these 
 leas favored countries participate also, 
 although in a very limited way, in the 
 benefits which such transformation has 
 produced. Considered in their relation 
 
 portes marltimos y terrestres. La caida 
 en el precio de algunos de estos artl- 
 culos es verdaderameute sorprendento. 
 As£, por ejemplo, el petr61eo refluado, que 
 en 1873 valla 23.59 centavos el gal6n, baj6 
 en 1887 £i Cf centavos. El azucar reli- 
 nado, en depdsito para la exportaci6n (ire 
 bond), que en 1880 no valia en Nueva- 
 York sine 5.08 centavos la libra, se depre- 
 ci6 m^s todavia, y hubo ^poca (Julio de 
 1887) en que no se pagaba sino ^ 2.37^ la 
 libra. La came de rea, salada para la 
 exportaci6n, que por t(5rmino medio ne 
 valia en los Estados Unidos en 1884 sino 
 8.2 centavos la libra, baj6 & 6 centavos 
 en 1886; la oarne do puerco salada baj<5 
 en el mismo periodo de 8.2 Sj 5.9 centavos ; 
 el tocino y los jamoues, de 9.6 & 7.5 cen- 
 tavos ; y la manteca, de 9.4 (i 6.9 centa- 
 vos. 
 
 Efeoto iumediato y necesario del actual 
 sistema de transportes por ferro-carril y 
 buques de vapor ha sido la uniformidad 
 en los precioa de los articulos necesarios 
 para la vida, y la desaparici6n definitiva, 
 en todos los paises civilizadoa, de los 
 mercados locales con enorme diferencia 
 de precios para esos articulos. No aeon - 
 tece hoy, como antes, que la p^rdida de 
 las oosechas en una proviucia 6 auu on 
 todo un pais exponga & los habitantes £t 
 los horrores del hambre. Con raz6u ha 
 dicl.o un eminente oconomista americano 
 que el ferro-carril y el buque de vapor ban 
 decidido ya que en lo sucesivo no habrii 
 para los oereales sino un mercado, el 
 mundo ; y agrega que los precios anpr- 
 males en un pais 6 mercado, 6 reeervas 
 excesivas en un centre 6 en otro, con 
 seguridad seriiu r^pidamente neutraliza- 
 dos y dominados por la influencia de todos 
 los paises y todos los mercados. 
 
 Tero la mejora y adelanto en los medios 
 de comuuicacidn queestoa resultados pro- 
 duce ; que, con la aproximacifin de laa 
 m£is remotaa regiones entre si, hace del 
 mundo un solo mercado, y nivela y equi- 
 libra los precios, lejos de dismiunir, en- 
 sancha y profundiza la llnea que separa 
 & los pueblos civilizados de aquellos que 
 no ban alcauzado igual grado de pros- 
 peridad y desarrollo. Sin duda, estas 
 nacioues menos favorecidas participan 
 tarabi6n, aunque muy Hmitadamente, de 
 los beneficios que semejante trausfor- 
 macidn ha producido. Consideradoa en 
 
408 
 
 International ameRicAn cbNirERfiNCE. 
 
 to the rest of the world, it is thserved 
 that those countries which lack railways 
 actually obtain, at a lower price than 
 formerly, foreign articles of necessary 
 consumption. The reduction in the cost 
 of production and in maritime fares ex- 
 plains the reductiou in prices. But, as 
 producers and exporters, the only in- 
 fluence which might help to lower the 
 cost of transportation of their com- 
 modities to foreign markets and allow 
 them to contend with the competition of 
 those who produce them under better and 
 more favorable conditions, is not always 
 felt, because their limited trade offers no 
 field to competition and generally falls 
 into the hands of steamship lines which 
 monopolize it and impose upon it exces- 
 sive burdens, thus reducing to the least 
 figure the earnings of the exporter. 
 
 Undoubtedly, the countries which are 
 found in such condition possess great ad- 
 vantage in the fact that the maritime com- 
 munications at their service may be more 
 rapid and convenient and, especially, 
 cheaper. But, more than new lines of 
 steamships and greater facilities for mari- 
 time communication, these countries need 
 railways, which shall develop their do- 
 mestic trade, and shall enable them to im- 
 port the heavy and bulky apparatus which 
 their industry lacks, and transport to the 
 sea coast their agricultural products and 
 the fruits peculiar to their soil; the dye, 
 cabinet, and timber woods, which abound 
 in their forests, and the ores of their in- 
 exhaustible veins. The export trade of 
 these countries is not limited by the lack 
 of maritime trausportatiou, but by the 
 production which finds in the absence of 
 railways the principal obstacle to its de- 
 velopment. 
 
 The day in which it shall increase there 
 will be no lack of steamships to contend in 
 the ports for the freight which will arrive 
 there for foreign markets, and that will 
 bring from the latter the products which 
 shall be sent in return. New lines of 
 steamships which may be established now 
 will divide the existing traffic, but will 
 not increase it. Colombi?, desires to pos- 
 sess better and more convenient means of 
 communication with the United States 
 than she actually has; but her foreign 
 
 sus relaciones con el resto del mundo, 
 se observa que los paises que carecen de 
 ferro-carriles obtioueu actualmente S, 
 mS,s bajo preoio que antes articnlos ex- 
 tranjeros de necesario consume : la re- 
 ducci6n en los gastos de produccidn y en 
 el flete marltimo explica esta rednccidn 
 on los precios. Pero, oomo productores y 
 exportadores, la linica influeneia que 
 pudiera contribuir & reducir el gasto do 
 transporte de sus productos d los mer- 
 cados extranjeros y permitirles sostener 
 la competenoia de los que prodncen en 
 mejores y m^s favorables condiciones, no 
 siempre se hace sentir ; porque su limitado 
 comercio no brinda campo ^ la compe- 
 tenoia, y generalmeute cae en poder de 
 lineas de vapores quo hacen de 61 un 
 mouopolio y le imponen excesivos grav^- 
 menes, reduciendo asl & minimas pro- 
 porciones las ganancias del exportador. 
 
 Sin duda alguna, los paises que en tales 
 condiciones se eucuentran ganan mucho 
 conqne las comunicaciones maritimas de 
 que pneden servirse scan m&s r^pidas y 
 c6modas, y, particularmente, m& baratas. 
 Pero mfe que nnevas lineas de vapores y 
 mayores facilidades de comunicaci6n ma- 
 ritima, necesitan estos paises vias f^rreas 
 que desarroUen su comercio interior, que 
 les permitan importar los pesados y vo- 
 luminosos aparatos de que su indnstria 
 caroce, quo les sirvan para transportar & 
 las orillas del mar los productos de su 
 agricultura y los frutos peculiares de su 
 suelo, las maderas de tinte, ebauisterla y 
 coustruccidn de quo est^n llenos sus bos- 
 qnes, y los minerales de sus inagotables 
 veneres. El comercio de exportacidn de 
 estos paises no est^ limitado por falta de 
 transportes raarltimos, sino por la pro- 
 ducci6n, que encuentra en la carencia de 
 ferrocarrilts el principal obstiiculo para 
 desarroUarse. 
 
 El dia en que ella anmente, no faltariin 
 buques de vapor que vayan ii sus puertos 
 S, disputarse la carga que alll llegue con 
 destiuo d los mercados extranjeros, y cou- 
 duzcan de ^stos los productos que se 
 envlen de retomo. Nuevas lineas de 
 vapores que ahora se establezcan se divi- 
 dirSn el trSfico existente, pero no lo au- 
 mentarin. Colombia deseatener mejores 
 y ni^s cdmodos medios de comunic^cidn 
 con los Estados Unidos que los que ao- 
 tualmeuto tiene; pero su comercio exte- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 409 
 
 trade cannot support more steamships 
 than those employed now. She desires 
 chfeaper and better means of transporta- 
 tion, but not in greater nnmber. If her 
 production .and export trade increase, her 
 maritime communications will surely im- 
 prove, just as Venezuela has seen hers im- 
 prove with the growth which her exports 
 have lately experienced. 
 
 CLfMACO Caldbr6n, 
 Delegate from, Colombia. 
 Washington, January 27, 1890. 
 
 The Secretaries read the recommen- 
 dations of the above. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 stated that the committee had only men- 
 tioned one line of steamers as receiving a 
 subsidy from his Government, while in 
 fact two others are also subsidized, and 
 that while it is true that the latter did not 
 navigate exclusively the Gulf of Mexico 
 and Caribbean Sea, but also the Atlantic, 
 they were not mentioned in the report 
 of the Committee on Communication on 
 the Atlantic. He further stated that he 
 had noted that divergencies existed in 
 the three reports on communications now 
 distributed, but that be would drasv 
 attention to this later. 
 
 Mr. Aragon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, and chairman of the reporting 
 Committee, stated that when the commit- 
 tee had begun i s labors it had requested 
 data from the representatives of the 
 various countries interested. Mr. Romero 
 had answered that he had not the neces- 
 sary data at hand and would ask it from 
 his Government, but that it had not been 
 furnished the committee. As the commit- 
 tee was anxious to have its report fin- 
 ished as soon as possible, it was decided 
 not to wait, but that the intention had 
 been not to omit any data respecting 
 Mexico. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that the special report presented 
 by Mr. Calderon, a Delegate Irom Co- 
 lombia, as an appendixto the committee's 
 report, ought also to be considered; but 
 
 rior no puede pagar m«fs buques de vapor 
 que los que al presente emplea. Desea 
 tener medios de transporte mSa baratos y 
 mejores, pero no en mayor nlimero. Si 
 su producci6n y comercio de exportaoi6n 
 aumentan, sus comunicacioues maritimas 
 mejorard^n sin duda, asf como Venezuela 
 ha visto mejorar las snyas con el incre- 
 mento que liltimamente han tenido sus 
 exportaciones. 
 
 Cl£maco Calder6n, 
 Delegado de Colombia. 
 Washington, JEnero 27 de 1890. 
 
 Leidas que fueron por los Secretaries las 
 recomendaciones del anterior diotamen, 
 tom6 la palabra el Senor Romero, delega- 
 do por Mexico, para expresar que la Co- 
 misidn solo habia hablado de nnallueade 
 vapores, como subvencionada por su Go- 
 bierno cuando el hecho es que este subven- 
 ciona otras dos, no mencionadas, las que si 
 bien es cierto no estan circunscritas al 
 Golfo de Mexico y Mar Caribe, pnes na- 
 vegan tambien en elAtl^ntico, no estan 
 nombradas en el diotamen de la Comisidn 
 de Comanicaciones por este Oce^no. ADa- 
 di6 que como estaban ya distribuidos los 
 dictamenes de las tres Comisiones de co- 
 municacidn, habia podido observar que 
 existen entre ellos varias divergencias, 
 pero que llamaria la atenci<5n acerca de 
 ellas cuando Uegue el case de discutirlos. 
 
 El Senor Arag6u, delegado por Costa 
 Rica, y Presidente de la Comisi6n infor- 
 maute, manifesto qneesta, alempezarsus 
 trabajos, habia suplicado S, los represen- 
 tantea de todos los Gobiernos interesados 
 que le proporcionasen los dates necesarios, 
 y que el Senor Romero, le habia contesta- 
 do que no los tenia y los pedirla de su 
 Gobierno, sin que los hubiera luego sumi- 
 nistrado; por lo cualla Comisi6n en vista 
 del deseo de despachar pronto el asunto 
 determine prescindir de ellos y presentar 
 su dictamen. Pero que debia declarar que 
 no habia eido ni remotamente la inten- 
 oi6n de la Comisidn omitir uinguna cosa 
 respecto S, Mexico. 
 
 El Seaor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 dijo que debia tomarse en cuenta tambien 
 el Informe especial del Senor Calder6n, 
 delegado por Colombia, que corre anexo 
 como ap^ndiee al dictamen de la Comi- 
 
410 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. Aragon drew attention to the fact 
 that this report antedated that of the 
 committee, and besidPS contained no 
 recommendations, as Mr. Calderon had 
 signed and accepted the general report. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso stated that he was in 
 favor of the general report, the merits of 
 which he recognized. He also spoke of 
 the service on the Pacific as being better 
 than that on the Atlantic, and of The 
 want of regular connection at the Isth- 
 mus. 
 
 The report of the committee having 
 been put to the vote, resulted in its unani- 
 mous adoption. The delegations voting 
 were : Nicaragua, Peru, Colombia, Argen- 
 tine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, United States, Venezuela, 
 Chili, and Salvador. 
 
 The Chair stated that the next sub- 
 ject on the order of the day was the dis- 
 cussion of the report of the Committee 
 on Communication on the Atlantic ; but 
 Mr. Decoud, a Delegate from Paraguay, 
 having asked that owing to the absence 
 of the chairman of that committee, Mr. 
 Saenz PeHa, and Mr. Mendonga, a member 
 of the same, the discussion thereon be 
 postponed, it was unanimously agreed to 
 do so until the next session. 
 
 The Chair announced that the order of 
 the day was exhausted. 
 
 Mr. Trbscot, a Delegate from the 
 United States, asked that, as much work 
 had accumulated in the Secretary's office, 
 the Conference adjourn nntil Monday 
 next, the 24th instant, in order to allow 
 of its being completed. 
 
 Messrs. Estke and Vakas having ob- 
 jected, making a motion to the eifect that 
 a session be held on Saturday, the 22d in- 
 stant, the Chair ordered a vote, by dele- 
 gations, on the subject. 
 
 Those voting in favor of Mr. Estee's 
 motion were: Mexico, Bolivia, United 
 States, Chili, and Salvador. 
 
 Those voting against it were : Nicara- 
 gua, Peru, Colombia, Argentine, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, Honduras, and 
 Venezuela. 
 
 A majority of nine against five having 
 resulted, the Chair announced that the 
 next session of the Conference would be 
 
 sidn ; pero el Sefior Aragon llam6 la aten- 
 ci6n de la Conferencia al hecho de que 
 este Inf rme es anterior en fecha al de la 
 Comisidn, y que adem^ no contienere- 
 comendaci^n alguua, pues el Seilor Cal- 
 derdu firmdel dictamen general yloaceptd 
 en todas sus partes. 
 
 El SeBor Alfonso expresd que 61 estaba 
 en favor del dictamen general, cuyo m6- 
 rito reoococia; y habl<5 con este motive 
 del mejor servicio del lado del Paclfico 
 que del lado del AtlSntico, y de la faltd 
 de conoxidn regular en el istmo. 
 
 Puesto & votaci6n el dictamen resnlt6 
 aprobado por unanimidad, votando Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Honduras, Mexico, Boli- . 
 via, Estados Unidos, Venezuela, Chile y 
 Salvador. 
 
 Anunoid el Sefior Presidente que pro- 
 cedia continnar S, discutir el dictamen de 
 la Comisidu de Comunicaciones por el 
 AtlSutico. Pero el Sefior Decoud, delegado 
 por Paraguay, expuso que corao el SeSor 
 Saenz Pena, presidente de la Comisidn, y 
 el Sefior Mendonga, miembrodela misma, 
 no estaban presentes, creia que debia pos- 
 ponerse la consideracidn de este asunto 
 hasta la prdxima sesidn. Asf se acordd 
 unSinimente. 
 
 Anuncid el Sefior Presidente que la dr- 
 den del dia estaba agotada ; y el Sefior 
 Trescot, delegado por los Estados Unidos, 
 mauifestd que habidudose acumulado 
 mucho trabajo en la Secretaria, seria con- 
 veniente que la Conferencia no taviese 
 sesidn hasta el lunes 24 del corriente, A 
 fin de permitir que se diese cima & aquel 
 trabajo. Pero como los Sefiores Estee y 
 Varas se opusieron &, ello, haciendo el 
 primera mocidn formal para que hubiese 
 sesidn el s^bado 22 del corriente, dispuso 
 el Sefior Presidente que se tomase el voto 
 por delegaciones. 
 
 Votaron en favor de la proposicidn del 
 Sefior Estee: Mdxico, Bolivia, Estados 
 Unidos, Chile, y Salvador. 
 
 Votaron en contra: Nicaragua, Pcrti, 
 Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Para- 
 guay, Brasil, Honduras, y Venezuela. 
 
 Resultando una mayorla de 9 contra 5, 
 anuncid el Sefior Presidente que la prd- 
 xima sesidn de la Conferencia seria el 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCK. 
 
 411 
 
 held on Monday, the 24th instant, and 
 that immediately after the special order 
 which called for the discnssion of the re 
 port on customs union, that of the oom- 
 mnnication on the Atlantic would be con- 
 sidered. 
 
 On motiou of Mr. Guzman, a Delegate 
 from Nicaragua, the Conference adjourned 
 at 4 p. m. 
 
 Jamks G. Blaine, . 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Gdzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, . 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos£ M. Hurt ADO, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine MepuMic. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amakal Valkntb, 
 Salvador db Mendo^a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 
 CLB.1IENT StUDBBAICBK, 
 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 3os& Alfonso, 
 
 CUli. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3os& Maria PlIcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Iilnes 24 del corriente, y que en ella inme- 
 diatamente despues del diotamen de la 
 Comisidn de Unidn Aduanera se conside- 
 raria el do la de Comunicaciones por el 
 Atld)ntico. 
 
 El Senor GuzmjCn propuso que se le- 
 vantase la sesidn, y asf se acordd por 
 uoanimidad. 
 
 So levantd la sesi6n ^ las cnatro de la 
 taxde. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Preside:nte. 
 Horacio GuzmXn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 P. C. C. Zegarka, 
 
 rerd. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos^ M. Hurtado, 
 CXrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 RoQUE Saenz PbSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina,. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Jos£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentr, 
 Salvador de Mendon5a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mdxico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebakbr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 
 Estados Dnidos. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLBT PbRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Kmilio C. Varas, 
 Jos:6 Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castkllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:^ MARfA PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador, 
 
FIFTIETH DAY, 
 
 ACTA No. 5a 
 
 Washington, March 24, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.05 p. m. by thePres- 
 ident, Hon. James G. Blaine, followed by 
 Mr. ZisGAKRA, and later by Mr. Romero, 
 with tlie following Delegates present : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Kepublio : 
 
 Mr. Boqne Saenz PeBa. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana.. 
 Costa Bica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraaa. 
 412 
 
 Sesidn del 24 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine, 
 scguido por el Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, Pri- 
 mer Vicepresideute y Delegado por el 
 Peru, y despues por el Sr. Matias Romero, 
 segundo Vicepresidento y Delegado por 
 Mexico. Estando presentes : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaeia^uzm^n. 
 Pens : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Jos(S M. Hurtado ; 
 El Sr. Cdlrlos Martinez Silva ; 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz PeHa ; 
 El Sr. Dr Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6iL 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonca. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 M6xico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Eomero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan P. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson : 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 413 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pldloido Caamafio. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and siffned by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair announced the order of the 
 day called for the consideration of the 
 debate on the reports of the Committee 
 on Customs Union. > 
 
 Mr. Henderson,* a Delegate from the 
 United Stites, asked the floor and read 
 the speech hereto appended, in which he 
 answered the remarks of Mr. Saenz Pena, 
 a Delegate from the Argentine, made in 
 the session of the 15th instant, and set 
 forth the position of the United States in 
 the matter. 
 
 Mr. Saenz PisSa, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, asked that Mr. Henderson's 
 remarks be translated, and added that 
 as this would take some time, the further 
 discussion be postponed until Monday 
 next, the Slst instant. 
 
 Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, sup- 
 ported the motion of Mr. Saenz PeHa, and 
 asked that he might also be provided 
 with a translation of the same, as well as 
 that of Mr. Flint on the same subject. 
 
 It was decided that the discussion be 
 postponed as requested, and the Chair 
 ordered that the speeches be translated 
 and that printed copies be distributed to 
 the Delegates. 
 
 Mr. Decoud, a Delegate from Paraguay, 
 asked that Mr. Saenz Pefia's speech be 
 also printed, and the Chair so ordered. 
 
 The order of the day called for the dis- 
 cussion of the report of the Committee 
 on Communication on the Atlantic, which 
 is as follows : 
 
 To the President of the International Ameri- 
 can Conference. 
 
 Mr. President : The Committee on 
 Communication on the Atlantic has the 
 honor to address itself to the President 
 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Plfioido 
 CaamaBo. 
 
 Se abri6 la 8esi6n 6, las tres y cinco 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley*}, aprobd y firmd el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 Anunoi6 el Sellor Presidente que pro- 
 cedia conforme H la (5rden del dia con- 
 tin uar la discu8i6u de los dictamenea de 
 la Comisiiin de Uni6u Aduanera, y habieu- 
 do pedido la palabra el SeDor Hender- 
 son, ley6 el disoursd que se acompana 
 como Apfiudice & esta acta, y en qne con- 
 testa al pronunciado por el Sefior Saenz 
 Pefia, delegado por la Republica Argen- 
 tina, en la sesidn del dia 15 del corriente, 
 y manifiesta la posici6n que en el asunto 
 han tornado los Estados Unidus. 
 
 El Sefior Saenz PeSa, delegado por la 
 Repfiblica Argentina, manifesto que de 
 seaba se le proporcionase una traducci6n 
 del dlscurso del Sefior Henderson, ana- 
 diendo que como esto tomarla algun 
 tiempo, pedia se pospusiese la discusi6n 
 hasta el Itlnes proximo, 6 sea el 31 del 
 corriente. 
 
 El Sefior Varas, delegado por Chile, 
 apoy6 la mocidn del Sefior Saenz Pena, y 
 pidi6 que tambien se le oomunicase una 
 traduccidn del mismo discurso, y del pro- 
 nunciado por el Sefior Flint sobre el 
 mismo asunto. Se orden6, en consecuen- 
 cia, que la discusiOn quedase aplazada, 
 como se habia pedido : y el Sefior Presi- 
 dente dispnso que se hiciese la traducci6n, 
 y que se imprimiese y repartiese entre los 
 Sres. Delegados. 
 
 El Sefior Decodd, delegado por Para- 
 guay, pidid que se imprimiese igualmente 
 el discurso del Senor Saenz Pefia ; y asi 
 se ordend. 
 
 El asunto inmediato en la 6rdcn del dia 
 fu6 la discpsidn del dictamen de la Comi- 
 si6n de Comunicaciones por el Atldintioo, 
 que dice como sigue : 
 Al Senor Presidente de la Conferencia In- 
 ternaoional Americana. 
 
 Sefior Presidente : La Comisidn de 
 Comunicaciones por el Atl^ntico tiene el 
 honor de dirigirse al SeHor Presidente 
 
 ' See Appendix. 
 
414 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 in order tbat lie may be pleased to maki; 
 kuown to the houoi'able Conference the 
 agreement arrived at by the respective 
 Delegations concerning the encourage- 
 ment of navigation on the Atlantic. 
 
 The committee hopes that the honor- 
 able Conference will be pleased with the 
 result of these labors, and moves the 
 adoption of the following resolution : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence, etc., wonldsee with satisfaction the 
 Governments interested in commnuioa- 
 tions on the Atlantic give their assent to 
 the plan subscribed to by their represent- 
 atives." 
 
 It salutes the President with its most 
 distinguished consideration. 
 
 RoQUB Saenz PeSa, 
 For T. Jefferson Coohdgk. 
 
 RoQUB Saenz Pena, 
 For Salvador db MEND0N9A. 
 RoQUB Saenz PeSa. 
 Josf^ S. Decoud. 
 Washington, March, 1890. 
 
 para que se slrva poner en conocimiento 
 de la Honorable Conferencia, el acuerdo 
 & que ban llegado las Delegaciones res- 
 peotivas en materia de fomento S. la na- 
 vegaoidn por el Atliintico. 
 
 Espera la Comisi6n que la Honorable 
 Conferencia mirarSi con agrado el (Sxito 
 de estos trabajos, y propone la siguiente 
 resolucidn : 
 
 " La Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana, etc., verla con satifaocidn que los 
 Gobiernos interesados en comnnicacioneg 
 del Atl^ntioo, prestaran su asentimiento 
 al proyecto' que han suscrito sus repre- 
 sentantes. " 
 
 Salndan al Senor Presidente con sum^s 
 distinguida consideracidn. 
 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 p. a. T. Jefferson Coolidgb. 
 
 RoQUB Saenz Pena, 
 p. a. Salvador de Mendon5a. 
 Roqoe Saenz Pena. 
 Josiii S. Decoud. 
 Washington, Marzo de 1890. 
 
 report of the committee on commu- 
 nication ON THE ATLANTIC. 
 
 First. The Committee on Communica- 
 tion on the Atlantic resolves to recom- 
 mend to the Governments concerned the 
 subsidizing of one or more lines of steam 
 navigation between ports of the United 
 States and those of Brazil and Rio de la 
 Plata. 
 
 Seeoiid. The companies subsidized shall 
 be bound to establish a fast bi-monthly 
 service of steam navigation between the 
 ports of the United States, Rio Janeiro, 
 Montevideo, and Buenos Ayres, and the 
 vessels shall have the accommodations 
 and capacity necessary for the transpor- 
 tation of freight and passengers, and shall 
 carry the mails. 
 
 Third. These fast steamers shall touch 
 only at one port of the intermediate coun- 
 trieson the trips to and from BuenosAyres; 
 but during a quarantine season they shall 
 only discharge mails and passengers and 
 shall not embark anything subject to in- 
 fection. In the countries of clearance and 
 ultimate destination they may touch at 
 two ports. 
 
 Fourth. The speed of the fast steam- 
 ships shall be at least IC knots per hour 
 and they shall be of not less than 5,000 
 
 DiCTAMEN DB DA C0MISI6N DE COMUNI- 
 CACIONBS POR EL AtlAnTICO. 
 
 Primero. — La Comisidn de Comunica- 
 ciones por el AtMntico resuelve recomen- 
 dar dlos Gobiernos respectivos la subven- 
 cidn d una 6 mas lineas de navegaoidn 
 & vapor entre los puertos de los Estados 
 Unidos y los del Br asil y Rio de la Plata. 
 
 Segundo. — Las CompaHIas subvenciona- 
 das deber^n establecer un servijio r^pido 
 bi-mensual de navegacidn ^ vapor entre 
 los puertos de los Estados Unidos, Rio Ja- 
 neiro, Montevideo y Buenos Aires, y los 
 buques deber^n cousultar las comodida- 
 des y capacidad necesarias para el tras- 
 porte de carga y pasageros, conduciendo 
 asl mismo la mala postal. 
 
 Tercero. — Los buques r^pidos tocarfin 
 tinicamente en uu s61o puerto de los paises 
 intermediarios en sus viajesde iday vuel- 
 ta ^ Buenos Aires; pero en ^pocas de 
 cuarentena, solamente desembarcarSn la 
 correspondencia y pasageros, y no embar- 
 oar^n nada sujeto ^ infeccidn ; en los 
 paises de salida y ultimo deatino podrSn 
 tocar en dos puertos. 
 
 Cuario. — La velocidad de los vapores 
 r^pidos debe ser por lo menos de diez y 
 seis nudos por hora, y su capacidad no 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 415 
 
 tons. A time schedule of arrivals at and 
 departure from the various ports shall be 
 established with reference to the speed 
 secured. 
 
 Mfth. Your committee further recom- 
 mends the establishment of an auxiliary 
 line of freight steamships which shall sail 
 twice a month making not less than 12 
 knots an hoar, and touching at ports of 
 the United States and Brazil. The con- 
 tract of the existing line with the latter 
 Governmen t shall be respected. The sub- 
 sidy to this line sliall be paid by the 
 United States and Brazil, in equal parts. 
 
 Sixth. The awarding of the contract 
 with the steam-ship companies shall take 
 place in the city of New York ; bids be- 
 ing solicited of the companies by adver- 
 tisement in at least five daily newspapers 
 having the largest circulation in each con- 
 tracting country. The advertisement 
 shall designate a time within which pro- 
 posals may be presented, which time shall 
 not be less than ninety days. The bids 
 are to be opened in the presence of the 
 representatives appointed by the Govern- 
 ments interested. 
 
 Seventh. Bidders must state the ton- 
 nage of the vessels, in accordance with 
 article four, and also the amount of the 
 subsidy which must be expressed at a 
 certain amount per ton for every 1,000 
 miles, and also the amount of the pay- 
 ment for the round trip. 
 
 Eighth. The Governments reserve the 
 right to reject all bids if, in their judg- 
 ment, they should be excessive. 
 
 IS^inth. The subsidizing Statesshall have 
 the right to impose their flag and register 
 upon the vessels to a number proportion- 
 ate to the percentage they pay. The 
 quoto paid by each nation shall be deemed 
 to pay in full the subsidy to the vessel or 
 vessels carrying its flag. In case of war, 
 each State may use as transports and arm 
 as cruisers, upon payment therefor, the 
 vessels carrying its flag. 
 
 Tenth. The subsidized vessels, whatever 
 the flag they carry may be, shall enjoy 
 in the ports of the contracting Govern- 
 ments all the rights and privileges ac- 
 corded to national vessels for the purposes 
 only of foreign commerce, but not to 
 coastwise trade. 
 
 menor de cinco mil toneladas ; de acuerdo 
 con la velocidad se establecer^ una 
 tabla de ontradas y salidas de los puertos. 
 
 Qitinio.— Recomiendaaslmismounalinea 
 aiixiliar de vapores para carga que sal- 
 dr^n dos voces al mes haciendo no menos 
 de doce nudos por hora, y tocando en 
 puertos de los Estados Unidos y el Brasil, 
 respetando el contrato de la liuea exis- 
 tente con este Ultimo Gobierno ; esta sub- 
 vencidn ser^ costeada por los Gobiernos 
 de los Estados Unidos y el Brasil en pro- 
 porciones iguales. 
 
 Sexto. — ]ja celebracidn del contrato con 
 las empresas de vapores tendrSi lugar en 
 la ciudad de New-Yorkllara^ndose S. licl- 
 taoi(5n & las Companlas por lo menos en 
 ^inco diariosde los que representen mayor 
 circnlaci6n en cada pals contratante, y 
 fijSndose un t^rmino para presentar las 
 propuestas que no podr^u bajar de no- 
 venta dias ; estas ser^n abiertas con asis- 
 tencia de los representantes que constitu- 
 van los Gobiernos interesados. 
 
 Siptimo. — Los proponentes deber^n con- 
 signar el tonelage de los buques, con 
 arreglo al articulo cuarto, y el precio 
 de la subvencidn, fij^ndose esta con rela- 
 cidn & la tonelada por cada mil millas, 
 calcul^ndose tambi4n el costo de la sub- 
 vencidn por viaje redondo. 
 
 Octavo. — Los Gobiernes se reservan el 
 derecho de no aceptar ninguna de las 
 propuestas, si & su juicio fuesen exoesivas. 
 
 Noveno. — Los Estados subvencionantes 
 tienen el derecho de imponer su bandera 
 y su matricula S, un nlimero de buques 
 proporcional S, la sub veuci6n que costean. 
 
 Se reputa que la ouota de cada nacidn 
 costea la snbvencifin del bnque 6 buques 
 que lleven su bandera. 
 
 Eu caso de guerra cada Estado podr^ 
 usar como trasportes, y armar como cru- 
 ceros, previa compensacidn, los buques 
 eubvencionados que lleven su bandera. 
 
 D4(Amo. — Los buques subvenoionados, 
 sea cuSl fuere !a bandera que llevaren, 
 gozar^n en los puertos de los Gobiernos 
 signatarios de las franquicias y preroga- 
 tivas acordadas S, los buques nacionales, 
 al s61o efecto del comercio internaoional, 
 y no del cabotaje. 
 
416 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Eleventh. The coutraoting Governments 
 shall contribute to the subsidy for the 
 fast line in the following proportion : 
 
 Per cent 
 
 The United States 60 
 
 The Argentine Republic 17^ 
 
 Brazil 17* 
 
 Republic of Uruguay 5 
 
 Twelfth. lu consideration of the greater 
 contribution to be paid by the United 
 States, the subsidizing nations shall 
 accept only vessels constructed in the 
 United States. 
 
 Thirteenth. The subsidy shall be paid 
 during a period of ten years. 
 
 Fourteenth. The committee recommends 
 to the Governments interested the en- 
 couragement of direct cable lines to con- 
 nect the countries represented in said 
 committee with regular service and equi- 
 table rates. 
 
 Mfteenth. The Republic of Bolivia and 
 of Paraguay hereby agree to the plan of 
 the committee, and will contribute to the 
 payment on condition that the companies 
 agree to establish subsidiary lines of river 
 navigation that shall reach their ports. 
 
 EOQUE Saenz PkSa, 
 for T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 RoQUE Saenz PbSa, 
 for Salvador dk MEND0N9A. 
 
 RoQUE Saenz Pena. 
 
 Jos:fi S. Decoud. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pena, chairman of the re- 
 porting committee, said that Mr. La- 
 forestrie, a Delegate from Hayti, and a 
 Hiember of the committee, had not signed 
 tne report although he had shared in its 
 preparation, because on account of ill 
 health he had been obliged to return to 
 his country, and he added that he believed 
 he interpreted the feelings of the Confer- 
 ence in paying this tribute to the absent 
 friend and colleague. He further stated 
 that although Mr. Nin, a, Delegate from 
 Uruguay, had not signed the report aud 
 had not taken part in the final labors of 
 the committee, as he had been obliged to 
 leave, the proportion of 5 per cent, for 
 that Republic had been decided upon be- 
 cause Mr. Nin had declared that this pro- 
 portion would be agreed to. He said also 
 that the proportion in which Bolivia and 
 Paraguay would contribute would be set- 
 
 Undicimo. — Los Gobiernos contratantes 
 contribuir^n i, subv^incionar la llnea T&- 
 pida en la proporci<5n siguieute ; 
 
 Per ciento- 
 
 Estados Unidos 60 
 
 Repflblica Argentina 17|^ 
 
 Brasil 17i 
 
 Eeptiblioa del Uruguay 5 
 
 Duodecimo. — Las naciones subvencio- 
 nantes aceptar^n solamente buques cons- 
 truidos en los Estados Unidos, en raz6n 
 dela mayor 8ubvenci6n costeada por este 
 Gobierno. 
 
 D^olmo-tereero. — El t^rmino de la sub- 
 vencidn ser£i de diez anos. 
 
 D6omo-ouarto. — La Comisidu recomien- 
 da & los Gobiernos respectivos el fomento 
 de lineas cablegrdifloas, quo liguen direc- 
 tamente &, los paises representados eu ella 
 c n servioios regulares y tarifas equita- 
 tivas. 
 
 Di(Amo-qmnto. — Las Repiiblicas de Bo- 
 livia y del Paraguay liacen acto de adhe- 
 si<5n al proyeoto de la Comisidn y contri- 
 buir^n al subsidio si las empresas se 
 convienen en establecer Hneas subsidia- 
 rias de navegacidn fluvial que lleguen & 
 sus puertos. 
 
 RoQUE Saenz PbSa. 
 p. a. T. Jefferson Cooudge, 
 
 RoQUB Saenz Pena. 
 p. a. Salvador de MENDONgA. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSta. 
 3os± S. Decoud. 
 
 Habieudo pedido la palabra el SeSor 
 Saenz Pena, delegado por la Republica 
 Argentina y Presidente de la Comisifin, 
 dijo que como tal Presideute debia hacer 
 constar que el SenorLaforestrie, queformd 
 parte de la Comisi6n y torad parte activa 
 eu sus trabajos, no apareoe firmando el 
 dictamen, por ser notorio qne ha tenido 
 que ausentarse por causa de enfermedad, 
 y que 61 considerabEi interpretar el senti- 
 miento de la Couferencia tributando este 
 recuerdo al colega y al amigo auseute. 
 
 Agregd que aunque el Senor Nin, dele- 
 gado por Uruguay,uo firmaba el dictamen, 
 y no habia tenido iutervencidu en los til- 
 timostrabajosdelaComisidn, por haberse 
 ausentado, como es notorio, se habia fijado 
 la cuota de 5 por ciento para aquella Re- 
 pliblica, porque el SeHor Nin habia decla- 
 rado la disposioibn en que estaba aqudla 
 para cortribuir en esa proporci<5n. 
 
IJSITEBNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFEKENCE 
 
 417 
 
 tied later. He added that tlie final para- 
 graph of Article IX of the report might 
 be construed erroneously, and that con- 
 sequently the committee wished to with- 
 draw the original and to substitute the 
 following : 
 
 "In cases of war the vessels which 
 carry the flag of one of the belligerents 
 shall register in some one of the other sub- 
 sidizing States which shall continue neu- 
 tral." 
 
 In his character as a member of the Ar- 
 gentine Delegation he said : 
 
 "That the commerce of the Argentine 
 with the Uiiited States was extremely 
 limited, five millions against nine, but 
 that in spite of this the Argentine would 
 consent to the recommendations of there- 
 port, but that the situation of his Gov- 
 ernment was a difficult one, as it appeared 
 there was a movement in the United States 
 Congress to impose a duty on hides (here- 
 tofore free) and to increase the duties on 
 wool, and that consequently the approval 
 of the Argentine would be conditional, 
 that is, only in case these proposed meas- 
 ures did not become laws." 
 
 Before the conclusion of Mr. Saenz 
 Pena's remarks, the President called Mr. 
 Zegarra to the Chair. 
 
 A long discussion arose as to the man- 
 ner in which the subject should be voted 
 upon, as according to Mr. Saenz PeSa's 
 opinion, the Conference could only vote 
 as set forth in the letter accon;panying the 
 articles agreed to in the committee, ex- 
 pressing satisfaction that such an agree- 
 ment had been reached, as the articles 
 themselves only concerned the Atlantic 
 States which had subscribed to them. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pena's opinion was supported 
 by Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 and also by Mr. Estee, a Delegate from the 
 United States, but opposed by Mr. Varas, 
 a Delegate from Chili, who desired that 
 the articles be voted upon separately, ac- 
 cording to the rules, to which his col- 
 league, Mr. Alfonso, also agreed. 
 
 2710 
 
 Dijo tambieu que el inciso final del ar- 
 ticulo 9" del dictair.en podria tal vez dar 
 lugar ^ interpretaoioues erroneas, y que 
 para evitarlas la Comi8i6n retiraba lo 
 escrito en ese inciso y lo sustitula por lo 
 siguiente : 
 
 " En los casos de guerra, los buques que 
 Uevaren la bandera do uno de los beli- 
 gerantes tomar^n matrlcula en alguuo de 
 los otros Estados subvencionautes que se 
 mautuviese neutral." 
 
 Con el car^cter de miembro de la dele- 
 gaoi<5n argenriua dijo tambien: Que el 
 comercio de la Eepliblica Argentina con 
 los Estados Unidos es limitadfsimo, 
 pues- solo representa cinco mi Hones de 
 salida para nueve milloues de entrada; 
 pero que ^ pesar de eso, y de no existir 
 real iuteres para hacer el gasto que re- 
 presenta la subvencidn, la Eeprtblica Ar- 
 gentina habia consentido y consentiria 
 en las recomendaciones del dictamen. 
 Pero dobia agregar que la sitnacidn de su 
 Gobierno era diffcil, pues que seguu apa- 
 rece se trata hoy en el Cougreso de los 
 Estados Unidos de gravar con dereohos 
 los cueros que eranlibres, y de aumentar 
 los derechos sobre las lanas ; y que por 
 consiguiente la Repiiblica Argentina acep- 
 tar^ la recomendacidn condicionalmente, 
 es decir, solo en el caso de que esas medi- 
 das en pioyecto no se adopten y se vuelvan 
 ley. 
 
 Antes de que concluyesen las observa^ 
 clones del Seuor Saenz Peiia, el Senor 
 Presideute dej6 su puesto, y llam6 ^ ocu-' 
 parlo al benor Zegarra. 
 
 Suscit6se una larga discusidn acerca 
 del modo con que debia votarse el assun- 
 to, puesto quo segtin el Senor Saenz 
 Peiia, la Conferencia solo podia votar 
 eomo se dice en la carta que acompaua & 
 los artlculos convenidos en la Comisi6n, 
 expresando la satisfacci6n de que as£ se 
 hubiese hecho, pues que los artlculos en 
 si mismos solo concernian S, los Estados 
 sobre el Atlilntico que los habian firmado. 
 
 El parecer del Senior Saenz Peua fue 
 apoyado por el Senor Crnz, delegado por 
 Guatemala, y tambieu por el SeQor Estee, 
 delegado por los Estados Unidos ; y com- 
 batido por el Senor Varas, delegado por 
 Chile, que queria se votase tambien so- 
 bre los artlculos, como lo dispone el Ke- 
 glamento, en lo que fu6 apoyado por sn 
 colega el Senor Alfonso. 
 
418 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 It was decided, in view of tbe foregoing, 
 to first take the vote on the recommenda- 
 tion set forth in the letter of the com- 
 mittee to the President of the Conference, 
 which is as follows: 
 
 Decididse en vista de esto poner pri- 
 mero ^ votacldn lo que se recomienda en 
 la carta diriglda por la Comisidn al Senor 
 Presidente de la Conferenoia^ que dice 
 como slgue: 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence, etc., would see with satisfaction the 
 governments interested in communica- 
 tions on the Atlantic give their assent to 
 the plan subscribed to by their represent- 
 atives." 
 
 The above recommendation was unani- 
 mously adopted, the following Delega- 
 tions having cast their vote : Nicaragua, 
 Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentine, 
 Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, United 
 States, Venezuela, Chili, Salvador, and 
 Ecuador. 
 
 It was then decided to take the vote as 
 to whether the preceding ballot was 
 suifioient to cover the subject, or whether 
 it was necessary to vote on each article 
 separately, andtheCoaferencedecided,by 
 a majority of 11 to 1, that the first unani- 
 mous ballot was sufScient. 
 
 'iTiose voting affirmatively were : Peru, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentine, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, Honduras, Mex- 
 ico, Bolivia, United Slates, Venezuela, 
 Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Chili oast the negative vote. 
 
 The Chair announced that the follow- 
 ing subject in the order of the day, was 
 the discussion of the report of the Com- 
 mittee on Communication on the Pacific, 
 which is as follows : 
 
 "La Conferencia Interuacioual Ameri- 
 cana, etc., verla con satisfaccidu que los 
 Gobiernos iuteresados en comunioaciones 
 del Atlfintico, prestaran su asentimiento 
 al proyecto que han suscrito sub repre- 
 seutautes." 
 
 Qaed6 aprobada por unauimidad esta 
 recomendacidn, votando en favor suyo las 
 delegaciones siguientes : Nicaragua, Peru, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, Houduras, Mexi- 
 co, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Venezuela, 
 Chile, Salvador, y Ecuador. 
 
 Se puso en sfcguida ^ votacidn si con el 
 anterior resultado era bastante para con- 
 siderar despachado el asun to, 6 si se iiecesi- 
 taba tomar voto sobre los artfculos indi- 
 vidual y separadamente. Y la Conferen- 
 cia decidi6 por una mayoria de 14 contra 
 1, que el voto un^nime antes tomado 
 bastaba para considerar terminado el 
 negooio. 
 
 Los votos afirmativos fueron Peril, Gua- 
 temala, Colombia, Argentiua, Costa Rica, 
 Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, Mexico, Bo- 
 livia, Estados Unidos, Venezuela, Salva- 
 dor, y Ecuador. 
 
 El voto negative fu6 de Chile. 
 
 El Senor Pkesidentb anuucid que cor- 
 respondia seguir, como marcaba la orden 
 del dia, con la discusi6n del dictameu de 
 la Comisidn de Comunicaciones por el 
 Paclfico que dice como sigue : 
 
 Report of the Commiitee on Com- 
 munication ON THE Pacific Ocean. 
 
 TBANSPOBTAIION COMPANIES. 
 
 The Committee on Communication on 
 the Pacific has the honor to propose that 
 it be recommended to the Governments 
 represented in the Conference and whose 
 territories border on the Pacific Ocean, 
 with reference tp transportation com- 
 panies : 
 
 First. That the nations lying along the 
 western coast of the American continent, 
 and represented in this Conference, agree 
 to subsidize one or more lines of steam- 
 
 DlCTAMEN DE LA C0MISi6n DE COMUNI- 
 CACIONES POR EL PACfFICO. 
 
 OOUPAMtAS DE TBASPOBTE. 
 
 La Comisidn de Comunicaciones por el 
 Paclfico tiene el honor de proponer se 
 recomieude ii los Gobiernos representados 
 en la Conferencia y cuyos paises confinan 
 con el Oc^ano Paclfico, en 6rden S, em- 
 presas de trasporte : 
 
 Primero. Laa naciones situadas en la 
 costa occidental del continente americano 
 y represen tadas en esta Conferencia, 
 convienen en subvenoionar una 6 m^s 
 
INTKENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 419 
 
 ships of the first class, which shall mako 
 regular voyages between the port of San 
 Francisco, in tlie State of California, 
 United States of America, and that of 
 Valparaiso, in the Republic of Chili, aud 
 the intermediate ports. Said vessels 
 shall malie bi-monthly round trips, at 
 least, to each port; shall he of not less 
 than 4,000 tons capacity, with triple 
 expansion engines of not less than 3,500 
 indicated horse-power, and a minimum 
 speed of 15 knots per hour. The vessels 
 80 employed sliall he suitably constructed 
 for the transportation of passengers as 
 well as freight, and first class in every 
 respect, with all modern improvements. 
 
 Second. That the companies or individ- 
 uals owning said vessels shall transport 
 both passengers and freight thereon be- 
 tween all the ports of said coast which 
 can be safely visited; and thai they shall 
 not enter directly or indirectly into any 
 arrangement or combination witli any 
 other company or individual to increase 
 the rate of passage or freight by sea or 
 land, and no preference shall be accorded 
 to any one. 
 
 Third. That the nations named shall, as 
 a compensation for the service to be per- 
 formed, pay, directly to the company, com- 
 panies, or individal owners of said lines, 
 on the terms and under the conditions 
 prescribed, a subsidy, the total amount of 
 which shall not exceed thirty cents per 
 gross registered ton of said vessels, for 
 each 1,000 miles sailed, outward and 
 homeward. 
 
 Fourth. That the subsidy provided for 
 in the preceding article shall be distrib- 
 uted among the subscribing nations in 
 proportion to their population, as deter- 
 mined by the last census, or in the absence 
 of a census, by the most reliable official 
 data. As an approximate proportion the 
 following figures are indicated : 
 
 United States 65,000,000 
 
 Mexico 12,000,000 
 
 Guatemala 1,300,000 
 
 Salvador 750,000 
 
 Honduras 500,000 
 
 empresas de vapores de primera claso, los 
 cuales hariln viages regulares entre el 
 puerto de San Francisco, en el Estado de 
 California, Estados Unidos de America, y 
 el de Valparaiso, en la Eepublica de 
 Chile, y puertos intermedios. Dichos 
 vapores har^n viajes quincenales, por lo 
 menos, de ida y regreso, en oada puerto; 
 la base de su tamano serd^ 4,000 toneladas, 
 con mdquinas de expansion de triple 
 efecto y de no miSnos de 3,500 caballos 
 nominalea de vapor, debiendo tener una 
 velocidad minima do 15 nndos por hora. 
 Los vapores que se nsen para este ser- 
 vicio han de ser de construcoi6n propia 
 para el trasporte, tanto de pasageros 
 como de carga, y bajo todos aspectos do 
 la mejor clase, con todos los perfecciona- 
 mientos modernos. 
 
 Segundo. Las compafilas 6 los indivi- 
 duos dueuos de dichos vapores, traspor- 
 tarilu en ellos los pasageros y la carga 
 entre todos los puertos de dicha costa, en 
 que se pueda tooar sin peligro ; no entra- 
 r£in direota ni indirectamente en arreglos 
 6 combinaciones con alguna empresa de 
 trasporte por mar 6 por tierra, para real- 
 zar el flete 6 el importe de pasages, y S, 
 ninguno se dar^a privilegios especiales. 
 
 Tercero. Que las uaciones indicadas, 
 como compensaoidn del servicio que reci- 
 ban, en los tiSrrainos y bajo las con- 
 dicionen establecidas, pagariin directa- 
 mente £ la Compania, Compafilas, 6 indi- 
 viduos, que tengan S, su cargo la empresa, 
 una prima anual, cuyo total monto no 
 exceda de la suma que corresponderia al 
 tonelage de peso de los vapores, oalcu- 
 lando & 30 oentavos la tonelada de regis ■ 
 tro, por cada mil millas de trayecto, de 
 ida y regreso. 
 
 Cuarto. La subvencidn fijada'en el 
 artloulo anterior se distribuir^ en propor- 
 cidn a la poblaci6n de las naciones con- 
 tribuyentcs, tomando por base los lilti- 
 mos censos, y ^ falta de estos, los dates 
 oficiales m£is aut^ntioos. Como propor- 
 ci6n aproximada se indican las siguientes 
 cifras : 
 
 Estados Unidos 65, 000, 000 
 
 Mexico 12,000,000 
 
 Guatemala 1,300,000 
 
 Salvador 750,000 
 
 Honduras 500,000 
 
420 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Costa Rica 250,000 
 
 Nicaragua 500,000 
 
 Colombia ■-. 4,000,000 
 
 Ecuador 1,000,000 
 
 Peru 3,000,000 
 
 Bolivia 2,500,000 
 
 Chili 3,000,000 
 
 93,800,000 
 
 Fiftb. Tliat the bids shall be presented 
 in Washiugton, before the Federal Govern- 
 ment of the United States ; and the re- 
 quests therefor shall be published in not 
 less than three daily newspapers among 
 those having the largest circulation, and 
 also in each of the countries contributing 
 to said subsidy. The advertisement shall 
 describe the service required ; the fre- 
 quency of the proposed voyages ; the di- 
 mensions, speed, and quality of the vessel, 
 and such other details as the subscribing 
 nations may deem proper. The period of 
 one hundred and twenty days shall be 
 allowed for the presentation of bids, and 
 such bids shall be opened in the presence 
 of the representatives of said nations, au- 
 thorized for the purpose ; t he bidders shall 
 conform to the terms prescribed by said 
 representatives, who shall have the right 
 to accept or reject the bids which may be 
 offered. 
 
 Sixth. That the vessels of the subsi- 
 dized line or lines shall register in the 
 merchant marine of the countries referred 
 to in these recommendations, whenever 
 the Government interested shall require 
 it, in proportion to the quota of subsidy 
 ^aid by each. 
 
 Seventh. That in the event of war be- 
 tween one or more of the countries sub- 
 scribing to the subsidy and any of the 
 nations represented in the Conference, 
 the vessels of said line registered in such 
 merchant marine shall register under the 
 remaining countries, in the proportion 
 indicated, until peace shall have been es- 
 tablished. 
 
 Eighth. That whatever be the flag of 
 the subsidized vessels they shall enjoy in 
 the ports of the contracting Governments, 
 the rights and privileges of national ves- 
 sels in all that pertains to international 
 commerce, and as to the coasting trade 
 also in those countries in which it is or 
 may hereafter be declared free. 
 
 Costa Rica 250,000 
 
 Nicaragua 500,000 
 
 Colombia 4,000,000 
 
 Ecuador 1,000,000 
 
 Pert! 3,000,000 
 
 Bolivia 2,500,000 
 
 Chile 3,000,000 
 
 93. 800, 000 
 Quinto. Las propuestas se presentariin 
 en Washington, ante el Gobierno Federal 
 de los Estados Unidos; se publicar^n, 
 por lo miSnos, en tres periodicos diaries, 
 de los que mascirculacidn tengan, y tam- 
 bien en cada una de las naciones que cou- 
 tribuya &, la subvencidn. Los auuncios 
 fijar^n el servicio que se requiere, la perio- 
 dicidad de 6ste, las dimensiones, velocidad 
 y condiciones de los vapores, asi como los 
 dem^s promenores que crean convenien- 
 te indicar las naciones interesadas, Un 
 plazo de ciento veinte dias se oonoeder^ 
 para la preseutacidu de las -propuestas, y 
 estas se abrirSn en presenoia de los Repre- 
 sentantes de dichas naciones, antorizados 
 alefecto; debiendo conformarse los pro- 
 ponentes con las bases que establezcan 
 ^stos representantes. los que tendr^n el 
 derecho de admitir 6 rechazar las pro- 
 puestas que se presenten. 
 
 Sexto. Las naves de la empresa 6 em- 
 presas subveucionadas se matriculariinen 
 la marina mercante nacional de los parses 
 ^ que se reiieran estas recomeudaciones, 
 ouando el Gobierno interesado lo exigiere, 
 en proporci6u & la cuota de subvenoi6n 
 que pague cada uno de ellos. 
 
 S6ptimo. En el case de comprometerse 
 en una guerra uno 6 mi.s de los palses que 
 acuerdan la subvenci6n con alguna de las 
 naciones represeutadas on la Conferenoia, 
 las naves de la empresa, matriculadas en 
 su laaiina mercante, se matricular^n en 
 las de los otros pafses, en la proporci6n 
 indicada, hasta que se restablezoa el es- 
 tado de paz. 
 
 Octavo. Cualquieraque seala bandera 
 que Ueven los buques subvencionados, 
 gozar^n 6stos, en los puertos de los Go- 
 biernos contratantes, en lo que toque al 
 comeroio internacional, de los derechos y 
 privilegios de los buques nacionales ; in- 
 oluyendo el comercio de cabotaje, en los 
 palses en que estd 6 se declare libre en 
 adelante. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 421 
 
 Ninth. That this convention shall last 
 ten years, at the expiration of which it 
 shall be considered extended ten years, 
 provided that twelve months before the 
 expiration of said period formal notifica- 
 tion of its dissolution shall not have been 
 given. Such dissolution may be partial ; 
 and in such event the nation or nations 
 withdrawing shall be exempt from the 
 payment of said subsidy. 
 
 Washington, D. C, March 24, 1890. 
 
 J. M. P. CaamaSO. 
 
 E. C. Vaeas. 
 
 Morris M. Esteb. 
 
 Jacinto Castbixanos. 
 
 E. A. MBxfA. 
 
 TELEQBAFUIO COMMUNICATION. 
 
 The Committee on Communication on 
 the Pacific has the honor to propose that 
 it be recommended to the Governments 
 represented in the Conference and whose 
 countries border on the Pacific Ocean, 
 with respect to telegraphic communica- 
 tion : 
 
 First. That Government aid be given 
 to the company which shall connect the 
 principal ports of the nations bordering 
 on the Pacific by means of a submarine 
 telegraphic cable, whose termini shall 
 be, for the present, the port of San Fran- 
 cisco, in the United States of America, 
 and that of Valparaiso, in Chili ; taking 
 as a basis, for the purpose of determining 
 the total amount of aid, that the cost of 
 transmission for each word shall be less 
 than the minimum amount now charged 
 by the existing companies, at whatever 
 distance the city or locality to which the 
 cablegram is addressed may be situated. 
 Second. That the total amount of aid 
 agreed upon shall be paid by the Govern- 
 ments interested, in the propoition es- 
 tablished for the payment of the aid to 
 the steam-ship transportation companies ; 
 the proceedings, with respect to the pre- 
 sentation and acceptance of bids, to be 
 those'prescribed in the fifth article of its 
 report on Communication on the Pacific. 
 Washington, D. C, March 24, 1890. 
 J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 E. 0. Varas. 
 Morris M. Estee. 
 Jacinto Castellanos. 
 E. S. MexIa. 
 
 Noveno. Este convonio durarSJ diez 
 anos, vencidos los cuales se considerar^ 
 subsistente por otros diez, siempre que 
 dooe meses antes de la expiracidu del 
 plazo no ee haga notificacidn formal de su 
 desaucio. Este puede ser parcial ; y en 
 tal caso, la nacidn 6 naoiones que se se- 
 paren quedarSn libres del pago de la sub- 
 vencifin. 
 
 Washington, Marzo 14 de 1890. 
 
 J. M. P. CaamaNo. 
 E. C. Varas. 
 Morris M. Estbb. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos. 
 
 E. a. MBXfA. 
 C0MVNICACI6N TELEGBlFICA. 
 
 La Comisi6n de Comunicacidnes por el 
 Paciflco tiene el honor de proponer se re- 
 comiende & los Gobieruos representados 
 en la Conferenoia y ouyos palses confinan 
 con el Oc^ano Paclfico, en drden & comu- 
 nicaciones telegrd^flcas : 
 
 Primero. Que se subvencione & la em- 
 presa que una & los puertos principales 
 de las naciones que confinan con el Pa- 
 clfico por medio de un cable telegriilfioo 
 submarine, cuyos puntos extremes serian, 
 por ahora, el puerto de San Francisco, en 
 los Estados Unidos de America, y el de 
 Valparaiso en Chile ; tomando como base, 
 para el efecto de aoordar el monto de la 
 subvencidn, que el valor de transmisi6n 
 por cada palabra sea inferior al minimum 
 fijado por las empresas actuales, cual- 
 quiera que sea la distancia del pueblo 6 
 del lugar adonde se dirija el cablegrama. 
 Segundo. Que el monto de lasubvencidu 
 que se acuerde se pague por los Gobiernos 
 interesados, en la proporcidn establecida 
 para el pago de la subvencidn & las em- 
 presas de trasporte maritime ; prooedi6n- 
 dose, en cuanto S, la presentacidn y ad- 
 misidu de las propuestas, en la forma 
 indicada en el artlculo quinto de nuestro 
 informe relativo S. las comunicaciones por 
 el Oc^ano Paclfico. 
 Washington, D. C, Marzo 24 de 1890. 
 J. M. p. CaamaSO. 
 E. C. Vakas. 
 Morris M. Estee. 
 Jacinto Castellanos. 
 E. A. MBxfA. 
 
422 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 «» 
 
 POSTAL COMMUNICATION. 
 
 The Committee on Communication on 
 the Pacific has the honor to propose that it 
 he rccomroended to the Governments rep- 
 resented in the Conference, and whose 
 countries border on the Pacific Ocean, 
 with respect to postal communication : 
 
 That the Governments with which this 
 committee is concerned, and all of which 
 have accepted the convention entered 
 Into in Paris on the 1st of January, 1878, 
 for a " Universal Postal Union," adopt 
 the conventions as to postal drafts and 
 as to the exchange of postal monej'-ordors, 
 respectively entered into, at the said 
 city of Paris, on the 4th of June, 1878, 
 and 3d of November, 1880 ; or, that they 
 enter into special conventions, having 
 the same ends in view. 
 Washington, D. C, March 14, 1890. 
 
 J. M. P. Caamano. 
 
 E. C. Vauas. 
 
 Morris M. Estbe. 
 
 Jaci.n'to Castellanos. 
 
 E. a. MExf a. 
 
 Mr. CaamaSo, a Delegate from Ecua- 
 dor, and Chairman of the Renorting Com 
 mittee, read and sent to the Chair the 
 following letter, asking that the same be 
 done with this report as had been done 
 with that on Communication on the At- 
 lantic : 
 
 comunioaoiOn postal. 
 
 La Comisidn de Comunicacifines por el 
 Pacffico tiene el honor de proponer so re- 
 comiende &, los Gobiernos representados 
 en la Conferencia y cuyos pafses confinan 
 con el Oc^ano Paclfioo, en 6rden ii comu- 
 nicacioces postales: 
 
 Que los Gobiernos & que se refiere esta 
 Comisi6n, todos los cuales han aceptado 
 la Convencidn celebrada on Paris el 1° de 
 Euero de 1878 sobre " Uni6n Universal de 
 Correos," se adhieran ^ las Convencioues 
 sobre giros postales y sobre cambio de 
 encomiendas postales, acordadas respec- 
 tivamente, en la misma cindad de Paris 
 en 4 de Junio de 1878 y 3 de Noviembre de 
 1880, 6 celebreu Convencioues especiales, 
 destinadas & esos fines. 
 
 Washington, D. C, Marzo 24 de 1890. 
 J. W. P. CaamaSo 
 E. C. Varas. 
 Morris M. Estee. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos. 
 E. A. MbxLa. 
 
 El Senor CaamaSo, delegado por Ecua- 
 dor y Presidente de la Comisidn infor- 
 mante, ley6 y envi6 &• la Mesa la siguiente 
 carta, pidiendo qne se hicieae con este 
 dictamen lo mismo que se habia hecho con 
 el de comunicaciones por el Atlilntico. 
 
 " To the President of the International Amer- 
 ican Conference : 
 
 " The Committee on Communication on 
 the Pacific Ocean nreseuts to the Confer- 
 ence the result of its labors relative to 
 this important subject, and proposes the 
 following : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence, etc., would see with satisfaction the 
 Governments Interested in communica- 
 tion on the Pacific give their assent to 
 the plan subscribed to by their represen- 
 tatives." 
 
 J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra called Mr. Eomoio to the 
 Chair, and from his seat asked Mr. Caa- 
 maSo if all the members of the Committee 
 agreed to the letter and his motion, as in 
 
 "Al Senor Presidente de la Conftrenoia In- 
 ternacional Americana : 
 
 " Senor PiiESiDBKTB : La Coniisi6n de 
 Comunicaciones por el OciSano Paclfico 
 presenta £i la Honorable Conferencia el 
 frnto de sus trabajos relatives &. este im- 
 portaute asnnto y propone la siguiente 
 resoluci6u : 
 
 "La Conferencia Internacioual Ameri- 
 cana, mirarii con satisfacoi6n que los 
 Gobieruos interesados en las comuni- 
 caciones por el Oc6auo Pactfico presten 
 su asentimiento al pro.yecto que han 
 suscrito los miembros de la Comisidn 
 encargada de este asunto. 
 
 "J. M. P. CaamaSo." 
 
 El Senor Zegarra llam6 al Seilor 
 Romero d ocupar la Presidencia, y desde 
 su puosto pr6gunt6 al SeEor Caamano si 
 todos los Senores de la Comisi6n estaban 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 423 
 
 his opinion the i)Osition was not the same, 
 for which reason he prese nted the follow- 
 ing proposition : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence resolves : To recommend to the Gov- 
 ernments of the countries hordering on the 
 Pacific Ocean that they promote among 
 themselves maritime, telegraphic, and 
 postal communications, taking into con- 
 sideration, so far as compatible with their 
 own interests, the propositions formulated 
 in the report of the Committee on Com- 
 munication on the Pacific. 
 
 "F. C. C. ZEGA.RRA. 
 
 " H. Gdzman. 
 
 "Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 
 " Jeronimo Zklava. 
 
 "Fernando Ckuz. 
 
 " Manuel Aragox." 
 
 After some discussion, Mr. CaamaSo, 
 chairman of the committee, answered that 
 in the name of the members of the com- 
 mittee he accepted Mr. Zegarra's proposi- 
 tion. 
 
 In the course of the discussion Mr. Mar- 
 tinez Silva, a Delegate from Colombia, 
 stated that he wished to pnt it on record, 
 for future reference, in regard to the sub- 
 sidy to be paid by his Governmeut, that 
 the commerce of Colombia on the Pacific 
 is almost insignificant and amounts only 
 to one-sixth of the total commerce of the 
 Republic. 
 
 Mr. Velarde, a Delegate from Bidivia, 
 stated that he had signed Mr. Zegarra's 
 proposal, because Bolivia is a couutry 
 bordering on the Pacific, for althongb her 
 ports on that ocean are at present con- 
 trolled by a neighboring state, according 
 to the provisions of a truce convention, 
 yet this is merely a temporary arrange- 
 ment and does not prejudice sovereign 
 rights. 
 
 Mr. ALFON.SO, a Delegate from Chili, 
 and Mr. Mexia, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 stated that the present steamship service 
 on the Pacific coastsof their countries was 
 as perfect as could be desired under exist- 
 ing circumstances, and that they had 
 signed the recommendations in order to 
 prove their friendly feelings for their sis- 
 ter Republics. 
 
 Mr. Aragon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, expressed analogous reasons, stat- 
 
 de acuerdo con su carta, y con su mociou; 
 pues que en su coucepto la situaci6n no 
 era la misma, por ouya razon presentaba 
 un nuevo proyecto que dice como sigue : 
 
 "La Couferenoia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana acuerda: 
 
 "Recomendar & los Gobiernos cnyos 
 pafses colindan con el OccSano Pacifico, 
 que fomenten eutre si las comunicaciones 
 maritimas, telegr^ficas y postales, to- 
 mando en consideraoi6n dentro de sus 
 particulares intereses, las proposiciones 
 forniuladas en el dictamen de la Comisidn 
 de Comunicaciones por el Pacifico. 
 "F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 "Juan Francisco Velarde, 
 "Fernando Cruz, 
 "H. Guzman, 
 "Manuel Arag6n, 
 "Jer6nimo Zelaya.'' 
 
 Despues de alguna discusidn el Seflor 
 CaamaSo, Presidente de la Comisi6n, 
 manifests en nombre de esta, que accp- 
 taba la proposicidn del Sefior Zegarra. 
 
 En el curso de esta discusidu manifestd 
 el SeHor Martinez Silva delegado por Co- 
 lombia, que queria quedase constante por 
 lo que con venga, en cuauto iila sub venci<5u 
 que su Gobierno debia pagar, q lie el coraer- 
 cio de Colombia por el Pacifico es casi in- 
 significante, 6 importa solo uu sexto del 
 comercio total de la Republica. 
 
 Y el Selior Velarde, delegado por Bo- 
 livia, manifests que habia firmado el 
 proyecto presentado por el Senor Zegarra, 
 delegado por el Peru, porque Bolivia es 
 una naci6n colindante con el Pacifico, 
 pues que aunque sus pnertos en aquel 
 oc<Sano estan hoy, por virtud de un tra- 
 tada de tregua, administrados por la ua- 
 ci6n vecina, esto es meramente temporal, 
 y no perjudica el derecho de soberauia. 
 
 Los Senores Alfonso, delegado por 
 Chile, y Mexia, delegado por Mexico, ex- 
 pusierou que el servicio de vapores en sus 
 respectivos palses del lado d 1 Pacifico, 
 era tan perfecto como puede apetecerse 
 bajo las circuustancias actiiales; y que 
 habian susorito y accedido & contribuir & 
 la mejora general, en prueba de fraterni- 
 dad hScia las otraa Repiiblicas. 
 
 El Senor Aragon se explic6 en aud^logos 
 tSrminos, anadieudo que Costa Rica con- 
 
424 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ing tliat Costa Rica now paid in propor- 
 tion a larger amount in subsidies than 
 the United States. 
 
 Mr. BoLET Pbr\za, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela, asked that the session he pro- 
 longed uijtil the subject under considera- 
 tion had been disposed of, and this was 
 unanimously agreed to. 
 
 The proposal made by Mr. Zegarra was 
 then voted upon, with the understanding; 
 that its acceptance should include that of 
 the report of the committee ; the result 
 being its unanimous adoption. 
 
 The Delegations voting were: Peru, 
 Colombia, Argentine, Costa Rica, Para- 
 guay, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, 
 United States, Veuezuela, Chili, Salva- 
 dor, and Ecuador. 
 
 The Conference adjourned at 6.30 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 jos£ m. hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 EoQUE Saenz Pbna, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublio. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Josls S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendonja, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enriqui! a. MEXfA, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 
 tribuia ahora &, ese servicio en proporci6n 
 mayor que los Estados Unidob. 
 
 El SeSior Bolet Pebaza, delegado per 
 Venezuela, pidifi que la Conferenoia con- 
 t iuuase en sesi6n hasta que quedase despa- 
 chado este asuuto, S. lo que se accedicS por 
 unauimidad. 
 
 Se puso ^ votaci6n elproyecto del Sefior 
 Zegarra, on el ooncepto de que si era 
 aceptado se siguiflcaba con ello que el dio- 
 tamen de la Comisidn quedaba aprobado. 
 El resultado fu6 undlnime en favor del 
 proyecto. • 
 
 Las delegaciones que votaron fueron : 
 Peni, Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, 
 Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, MiSxioo, Bo- 
 livia, Estados Unidos, Venezuela, Chile, 
 Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Concluido este asunto, se levantd la 
 sesi6n a las seis y treinta minutos de la 
 tarde. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidenle. 
 Horacio GuzmIn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 Peril. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos^ M. Hurtado, 
 CiRLOS Martikbz Silva, 
 
 ColoniMa. 
 RoQUB Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Josifi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendonja, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Mat! AS Romero, 
 Enrique A. MkxIa, 
 MSxico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 JOHN B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 425 
 
 NlCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jo8l5 Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:6 Maria PuiciDo CaamaSo. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Nicanor Boi.et Peraza. 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosjS Mar! a PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FIFTY-FIRST DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 51. 
 
 Washington, March 25, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.05 p. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James G. Blaine, fol- 
 lowed by Mr. Zegarra, with the follow- 
 ing Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Pern : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hnrtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Rociue Saenz Pefia. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Qnintana. 
 Costa Bica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. JosiS S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 436 
 
 Sesidn del 25 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del St. Jamks G. Blaine, 
 segnido por el Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, dele- 
 gado por el Perrl, primer Vicepresidente. 
 Estando presentea : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzmdin. 
 Peril : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pefia ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quiutana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendoufa. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 ElSr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Heindersou ; 
 
 ElSr. Cornelius N. Bliss; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 427 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 Mr. 3oa6 Maria Pl^cido Caamano. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 ■were read, approved, arid signed with 
 the following modifications : 
 
 Mr. Guzman, a Delegate from Nicara- 
 gua, stated that he had been obliged to 
 leave the session before the vote on the 
 report of the Committee on Coramuuica- 
 tion on the Pacific, with the proposition 
 of Mr. Zegarra, had been taken. He do- 
 sired that it be recorded that he agreed 
 with the same. 
 
 Mr. Ckuz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 expressed himself in the same sense. 
 
 Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, drew 
 attention to the fact that in the minutes 
 what he had said in reference to the sub- 
 ject had been omitted, and desired that 
 the notes -of the stenographers be con- 
 sulted. 
 
 Mr. Zegabra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 said that he wished to put on record the 
 reasons by which he had voted on his 
 proposition, and to that effect he sent to 
 the Chair, to have read by the Secreta- 
 ries, the following document: 
 
 " The undersigned Delegate in voting 
 on the project which he had the honor to 
 submit deems it advisable to set forth 
 that the purposes of the modification 
 therein suggested is not by any means to 
 reject the ideas formulated by the Com- 
 mittee on Communication on the Pacific, 
 or declare thereby that the system of sub- 
 sidies recommended as the only means of 
 promoting maritime, telegraphicj and 
 postal communication is in all cases un- 
 advisable. Withont detainiug himself in 
 examining that system, it seems to him 
 beyond doubt that the measure of grant- 
 ing subsidies is not the only one capable 
 of accomplishing the desired end, nor is 
 it the most necessary or advantageous 
 for his country under the present circum- 
 stances of its foreign commerce. It has 
 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 El Sr. Jos(5 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 EI Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos 6 Maria Pl^cido 
 Caamano. 
 
 Se abrid la sesi6n & las tres y cinco mi- 
 nutes de la tarde. 
 
 So leyd, aprob6 y firmfi el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 El Seuor GuzmXn, delegado por Nicara- 
 gua, expuso que se habia viato obligado 
 (J dejar la sala, el dia anterior, cuando to- 
 davia no se habia votado el proyecto pre- 
 seutado por el Seuor Zegarra, y aceptado 
 por la Comiaidn de Comunicaciones por el 
 Paclfico, y que deseaba hacer oonstar quo 
 su vote era tambien favorable al proyecto. 
 
 El Seflor Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, se expresd eu los mismos t^rminos, 
 y quiso que su veto constase en el mismo 
 scutido. 
 
 El Senor Varas, delegado por Chile, 
 hizo notar que se habia omitido eu el acta 
 lo que 61 habia dicho en referenda al 
 asnnto, y deseaba que se llenase la omi- 
 eidn tomando sus palabras de las notas de 
 los taqulgrafos. 
 
 El Seiior Zegarra, delegado por el 
 Peni, dijo que desea'ja constasen por es- 
 crito los fuudamentos en que descansa su 
 voto sobre el proyecto antedicho, pre- 
 sentado por 6\, y envi6 £ ese efecto & la 
 Mesa el documento, que leyeron los Se- 
 cretaries, y dice como sigue : 
 
 "El Delegado que suscribe, al dar su 
 voto al proyecto que ha tenido el honor 
 de presentar, cree conveniente expresar 
 que el objeto de la modifioacidn no es re- 
 chazar abiertamente las ideas formuladas 
 por la Comisidn de Comunicaciones por 
 el Paclfico, ni por tanto declarar en todo 
 caso inconveniente el slstema de subsi- 
 dies propuesto como liuico medio de fo- 
 mentar las comunicaciones marftimas, 
 telegr^fioag y postales. Sin detenerse en 
 examinar dicho sistema eu si mismo, lo 
 que par6oele fuera de duda al que sus- 
 cribe es que el sistema de subsidies pu- 
 diera no ser ni el linico capaz de Uenar el 
 objeto deseado, ni el ni^s necesario 6 
 ventajoso para su pals, en las actuales 
 condiciones de su comeroio exterior. Se 
 ha dicho por varies Seaores Delegados 
 
428 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Leen stated by several Delegates that the 
 maritime service on the Paoiflc leaves 
 nothing to be desired. As far as the ne- 
 cessities of commerce are concerned, this 
 fact, which is a matter of notoriety, em- 
 braces all the Republics bordering on that 
 Ocean, and for the same reason it seems 
 to be best that the Government of Peru 
 should be in full liberty to decide either 
 to grant the subsidy or to resort to some 
 other means for promoting maritime com- 
 munication between the American Re- 
 publics, with which purpose the said 
 Government heartily desires to co-oper- 
 ate in such manner as may he consistent 
 with its own interests. 
 
 " There Is another remark to be made 
 in support of the project. The ideas 
 formulated by the committee, although 
 many in number and well presented in 
 their form, are not complete. One omis- 
 sion to be introduced among others refers 
 to the service which the subsidized com- 
 panies shall render to the respective Gov- 
 ernments. Another omission is to estab- 
 lish a limit in the rates of freight and 
 passengers. It is evident, therefore, that 
 the most natural plan is to accept a form 
 as that which the undersigned, together 
 with several of his honorable colleagues, 
 has had the honor to present.for the con- 
 sideration of the honorable Conference by 
 which each interested Government re- 
 mains in full and absolute liberty to de- 
 cide whether the system of subsidies is 
 or is not advisable, and in case it is ac- 
 cepted, to amplify or restrict the subsidy 
 suggested by the committee. 
 ''Washington, March 24, 1890." 
 
 "F. C. C. Zbgarija, 
 " Delegate from Peru. 
 
 Mr. Saenz PeSa, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, sent to the Chair the full text 
 of the remarks which he had made when 
 the report of the Committee on Communi- 
 cation on the Atlantic, of which he was 
 chairman, was under discussion ; and ex- 
 pressed the desire that they be inserted 
 in the minutes, and it was so ordered. 
 
 " I should make some explanations to 
 the honorable Conference in the name 
 of the Committee on Communications on 
 the Atlantic, of which I have had the 
 honor to be chairman. 
 
 que el servicio maritimo en el Paolfieo, 
 no deja nada que desear, en cuanto se re- 
 laciona con las necesidades del comercio, 
 y esto que es ptiblico y notorio, com- 
 prende & todas las Reptiblicas colindantes 
 con aquel Oc^ano ; y por lo mismo pareoe 
 lo m^ acertado dejar al Gobierno del 
 Perfi, en libertad plena de pronunciarse 
 libremente ya sea por el subsidlo, ya por 
 cualquiera otro medio de fomentar las 
 comunicaciones marltimas entre las Re- 
 priblicas americanas S, cuyo fin desea muy 
 vivamente cooperar, de la manera va&s 
 compatibleconsuspropiasconveniencias. 
 
 "Ademas hay otra observacidn en 
 apoyo del proyecto. Las ideas formu- 
 ladas por la Comisidn, si bien numerosas 
 y bien coordinadas, no sou oompletas. 
 Entre otras omisiones n6tase las de los 
 servioios que las compaHias subvenoio- 
 nadas deber^n prestar & los respeotivos 
 Gobiemos, y la del llmite en el precio de 
 fletes y pasages. Es evidente pues que 
 lo mfe natural e« aceptar una f6rmula, 
 como la que el que suscribe ha tenido el 
 honor, en uni6n de varies de sus honora- 
 hles colegas, de sometar & la oonsidera- 
 ci6n de la Conferencia, en virtnd de la 
 cual cada uno de los Gobiernos intere- 
 sados queda en la ra^s plena libertad de 
 juzgar si le es conveniente el sistema de 
 subsidios, y en caso de aceptarlo, ampliar 
 6 restringir el plan propuesto por la 
 Comisi6n. 
 
 " Washington, Marzo 24 ie 1890. 
 "F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 " Delegado por el PerH." 
 
 El Senor Saenz PeSJa, delegado por 
 la Repflblica Argentina, envi6 & la Mesa 
 el texto integro de las palabras que 
 habia pronunciado al darse cnenta con el 
 dictamen de la Comisidn de Comunica- 
 ciones por el AtlSntico de que es Presi- 
 deute, expresando el deseo de que tam- 
 bien constasen el acta, y se determind de 
 conformidad : 
 
 " Debo dar algunas explicaciones & la 
 Honorable Conferencia &, nombre de la 
 Comisidn de Comunicaciones por el At- 
 lintico que he tenido el honor de presidir. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONPEKENCE. 
 
 429 
 
 "It will be observed that the signature 
 of Mr. Laforestrie does uot appear on the 
 report. It is well known that our es- 
 teemed colleague was compelled to leave 
 the Conference and return to his country 
 because of ill health ; but he had time to 
 take part in the sessions of our committee, 
 aiding it with his intelligence and his 
 labor, and I believe I express the senti- 
 ment of all my colleagues when I make 
 this declaration of proper acknowledg- 
 ment of his services. 
 
 Upon distributing the quota of the sub- 
 sidy which each State should pay to the 
 lines to be created we have assigned 5 per 
 cent, to the Eastern Kepublic of Uruguay, 
 and as that is the only nation interested 
 whose representative has not signed the 
 ri:port, I should state that Mr. Nin was 
 iuvited to take part in the meetings of 
 the committee, and he manifested that his 
 country would be willing to contribute 
 in that proportion ; and if his signature 
 does not appear in the report it is be- 
 cause the Delegate from Uruguay has re- 
 tired from the Conference. 
 
 "Regarding the last paragraph of the 
 seventh article, I would submit a sub- 
 stitute. The paragraph authorizes the 
 States giving Government aid to use as 
 transports or cruisers, in case of war, the 
 vessels carrying their flags. This provision 
 might be understood to be contrary to the 
 sentimentof fraternity andol peace which 
 animates aU and each one of the ua- 
 tionshere represented, and this point was 
 raised and sustained in the meetings of 
 the committee by my distinguished friend, 
 the Delegate from Paraguay, Dr. Decoud. 
 " The committee agreed entirely with 
 the honorable Delegate ; and if the arti- 
 cle was inserted it was due to the fact 
 that in this Conference all the nations 
 with whom we maintain political rela- 
 tions were not represented, and that it 
 was difficult for us to know whether the 
 others would be disposed to disarm them- 
 selves and put aside the means of defense 
 offered by the vessels which will plough 
 the seas under the national flag ; but th<j 
 Committees of the Pacific and the Carib- 
 bean Sea have resolved the problem as 
 against this belligerent reservation, and 
 that over which I have the honor to pie- 
 Bide accepts those conolusions. 
 
 'So observar^ que falta en este pro- 
 yecto la firma del Sefior Laforestrie ; es 
 notorio que nuestro estimado colega tuvo 
 que abandonar la Conferencia y regresar 
 & su pals por graves quebrantos de salud ; 
 pero tuvo tiompo de asistir iJ las sesiones 
 de nnestra Comisifin, prestiindole el con- 
 curso de su inteligencia y su labor, y 
 entieudo interpretar el sentimiento de 
 todos mis colegas al hacer esta declara- 
 ci<5n de justo reconocimiento ^ sus ser- 
 vicios. 
 
 "Al distribuir la cuota con que cada 
 Estado ha de costear la subvencidn de 
 las lineas 6, crearse, hemes asignado un 
 ciuco por ciento ^ la Eepflblica Oriental 
 del Uruguay, y como es la (inica nacidu 
 interesada, cuyo representante no sus- 
 cribe el proyecto, debo decir que el Senor 
 Nin fu^ invitado £ las sesiones de la Comi- 
 sidn y manifestd que su pals estaria dis- 
 puesto ^ contribuir en esa proporcidn ; si 
 pucs su firma no figura alll, es H causa 
 de haberse retirado de la Conferencia el 
 Senor Delegado por el Uruguay. 
 
 " Eespecto del ultimo inciso del articulo 
 s^ptimo, debo proponer una su8titnoi6n : 
 ^1 autoriza (i los Estados subvencionantes 
 Si usarcomo trasportes 6 cruceros en los 
 cases de guerra, los buques que llevan 
 su bandera ; esta disposicidn pudiera 
 crcerse coutraria al sentimiento defrater- 
 uidad y de paz que anima 6, todas las 
 naciones aqui representadas, y asl lo in- 
 died y lo sostuvo en el seno de la Comi- 
 sidn, mi distiuguido amigo, el Senor dele- 
 gado por el Paraguay, Doctor Decoud. 
 
 "La Comisidn piensa en un todo de 
 acuerdo cou el honorable Delegado, y si 
 mantuvo el articulo fud porque en esta 
 Conferencia no eataban representadas 
 todas las naciones cou quienes mantene- 
 mos relacioues politicas, siiSndonos difioil 
 saber si las demas se sentirian dispuestas 
 S, desarmarse, y i£ renunciar ^ estoe medios 
 do defensa formados por los buques que 
 han de cruzar los mares bajo el pabellto 
 nacional ; pero las Comisiones del Pacifico 
 y del Mar Caribe han rcsuelto el problema 
 contra la reserva b61ica, y la que tengo el 
 honor de presidir acepta aquellas cou- 
 clusiones. 
 
430 
 
 IKffEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 " I ask, then, that the paragraph to 
 which I refer be substituted by the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 "'In case of war the vessels carrying 
 the flag of one of the belligerents shall be 
 registered in another of the contracting 
 States, which shall maintain itself 
 neutral.' 
 
 " To these explanations, made as chair- 
 man of the Committee on the Atlantic, I 
 should add a few more, not in this char- 
 acter, however, but as the representative 
 of my Government. 
 
 "Prom the very beginning of the de- 
 bates in the committee I took occasion to 
 declare that the Argentine Government, 
 while it agreed to the subsidizing of these 
 lines, was not moved to it for commercial 
 interests for reasons which are not un- 
 known to ray honorable colleagues. Our 
 commerce with the United States is most 
 limited ; the Argentine ports send to New 
 York only $5,000,000 for $10,000,000 which 
 New York exports to Buenos Ayres ; this 
 is not commerce for either of the nations, 
 but the figures serve to indicate the rela- 
 tive interest which animates the two 
 Governments in the subsidy. The cause 
 of this situation I have gone into ex- 
 haustively in my remarks on the customs 
 union, and I deem it unnecessary to re- 
 peat it; the Argentine Republic can not 
 bring to these markets more than wool 
 and hidps ; but fine wools such as are ours 
 have a duty of 60 per ceut. and conse- 
 quently only our mixed wool can enter, 
 which has neither weight nor value, and 
 which is about to disappear because of 
 improvements in the breeds. The wool 
 which we introduce into the United States 
 represents $908,000 on a production of 
 $46,000,000, and the hides introduced rep- 
 resent $3,750,000 on an annual exporta- 
 tion of $23,000,000. 
 
 "These figures reveal the depression 
 which marks our commercial relations 
 with the United States, and I do not be- 
 lieve that vessels are the agents to be 
 employed to remove the obstruction ; nor 
 does the Argentine Government believe 
 that maritime communication is going to 
 re-establish custom-house relations; but 
 it seeks and hopes for intimacy and firmer 
 bonds with all the nations of America, 
 and to attain such a generous end it will 
 not economize sacrifices. By binding its 
 
 '■Pido, pues, que el inciso si que me 
 refiero sea sustituido por este otro : 
 
 ' "En los easos de guerra, los Imques que 
 Ueiaren la handera de uno de los beligeren- 
 tes, tomardn matneula en otro de los Esta- 
 dos signatarios que ae manturiese neutral.' 
 
 "Heohas estas explicaciones como 
 Presidente do la Comisifiu del Atltintico, 
 debo agregar algunas m^s, no en este 
 car^oter, sino on represeutaci6u de mi 
 Gobierno. 
 
 " Desde que se iniciaron los debates en 
 el seno de la Comisi6n, tnve ocasl6n de 
 deolarar que el Gobierno Argentine al 
 acordar la subvencidn de estas lineas, no 
 se inspiraba eu iutereses oomerciales, por 
 razones que no escapan ^ mis honorables 
 oolegas ; nuestro comercio con los Estados 
 Unidos es limitadfsimo ; los puertos ar- 
 geni inos embarcan solo 5,000,000 de dollars 
 con destine S. Nueva-York, por 10,000,000 
 que Nueva-York dirige sobre Buenos 
 Aires ; este no es comercio para ninguna 
 de las dos naciones, pero las cifras uos 
 sirven S, determinar la relatividad del 
 interns que anima S, los dos Gobiernos en 
 lii subvenci6u ; la causa de esta situacidn 
 la he estudiado detenidamenteal informar 
 sobre la Liga Aduanera y jnzgo infltil 
 repetirla; la Repliblica Argentina no 
 puede traer & estos mercados sino lanas 
 y cueros ; pero las lanas finas como son 
 las nuestras, cst^n gravadas con un 60 
 por cicnto, y no puede entrar sino la 
 orioUa que ni pesa ni vale, y que tiende S, 
 desaparecer por los refinamientos de la 
 raza ; la lana que iutroducimos & los 
 Estados Unidos estS representada por 
 y08,000 dollars sobre una producci6n de 
 46,000,000, y los cuero^ outran por 3, 750,000 
 dollars sobre una exportacifin anual de 
 23,000,000. 
 
 "Estas cifras son reveladoras de la de- 
 presidn en que viven nuestras relaoiones 
 comerolales con los Estados Unidos, y yo 
 no pienso que sean los buques los llamados 
 ^ remover las obstrucciones ; el Gobierno 
 Argentine no entiende tampooo que las 
 comuuicaciones marltimas van S, restablo- 
 cer las aduaneras ; pero busca y procura 
 intimidades y vinculos con todos los 
 pueblos de la America, y en tan generoso 
 empeno no economizarsi sus sacriQcios ; al 
 ligar sus puertos con los de Rio Janeiio 
 
INTEENATIOXAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 431 
 
 ports to those of Kio Janeiro and New 
 York, it realizes an act of friendly signi- 
 ticance which its Delegation obeys and is 
 ready to sustain ; this is the trne inward- 
 ness of my signature at the end of this 
 report ; we shall not vote it, however, 
 without an explanation which shonld be 
 noted by the Secretaries. 
 
 " The honorable Delegates can not be 
 ignorant of the fact that at this moment 
 there exists at the Capitol a tariff bill 
 which has seen the public light and has 
 been discussed by all the national press, 
 notwithstanding the fact that it is as yet 
 in the Committee on Ways and Means, 
 where it originated ; this bill increases 
 the duty on wool li cents per pound, and 
 also increases IJ cents that on hides which 
 were before free. If that bill becomes a 
 law Argentine importations will be un- 
 known in the custom houses of North 
 America. Hides and wool are the only 
 products which we bring, and they will 
 go to Europe in search of free markets. 
 If the tariff was already prohibitory on 
 fine wools it will be to-morrow on ordi- 
 nary wools, and in that case there will be 
 neither extensive nor restricted com- 
 merce. 
 
 "I look at the question in a different 
 light; the Latin-American governments 
 must study the moral significance of this 
 moa&ure in its relation to the courteous 
 invitation which has called us together; 
 it is not the Argentine Delegates alone 
 who find themselves embarrassed by this 
 act; it affects the interests of all the Gov- 
 ernments represented in this Conference, 
 as I can prove by the documents of the 
 Treasury itself. 
 
 "See how and in what proportion the 
 Spanish- American States are represented 
 in the importation of hides : 
 
 Argentine Republic 3, 749, 170 
 
 Brazil 2,225,000 
 
 Central America 420, 000 
 
 Ecuador 120,000 
 
 Hayti 40,000 
 
 Mexico 1,526,915 
 
 Peru 170.000 
 
 Colombia 927,000 
 
 Venezuela 860,000 
 
 Uruguay 1,907,000 
 
 Chili 25,!567 
 
 11,970,653 
 
 y Nueva-York, realiza un acto de signifi- 
 oaci6n amistosa que su Delegaci6n obedece 
 y est^ dispuesta ^ sostener; ese es el sig- 
 nificado que tiene mi firraa al p\6 de este 
 proyecto ; no vamos & votarlo, sin em- 
 bargo, sin una declaracidn de que debe 
 tomar nota la secretarla. 
 
 "Los Ilonorables Delegados no pueden 
 ignorar que en estos momentos se proyecta 
 en el Capitolio un bill arancelario que ha 
 visto la luz pfiblica y ha sido discutido 
 por toda la prensa uacional, ^ pesar do 
 encontrarse todavia en la Comisidn de 
 Medios y Arbitrios doude ha tenido orf- 
 gen; ese proyecto aumenta el impuesto 
 de las lanas en 1^ ceutavo por libra, y en 
 IJ tambien el de los cueros que antes erau 
 libres ; si ese proyecto se convirtiera en 
 ley, las imijortaciones argentinas queda- 
 rian saprimidas en las aduanas de la 
 America del Norte ; los cueros y las lanas 
 son los finicos productos que traemos y 
 ellos dirigirdin su rumbo ^ Europa en bns- 
 ea de mercados libres ; si las tarifaa eran 
 ya prohibitivas para las lanas finas, ellas 
 lo ser^n manana para las ordinarias, y en 
 ese caso no habr^ comercio ni pequeBo ni 
 grande. 
 
 "Ye encaro la cuesti6n bajo otra faz ; 
 los Gobiernoslatino-americanos necesitau 
 estudiar el siguificado moral de esta me- 
 dida, relaoionSndola con la oortiSs invit-ai- 
 ci6n ii que hemos tenido el honor de con- 
 ciirrir ; no son solo los delegados argen- 
 tinos los que se encuentran embarazados 
 por este acto ; 61 afecl a los intereses de 
 todos los Gobiernos representados eu esta 
 Conferencia, como puedo comprobarlo coii 
 los libros mismos de la Tesoreria. 
 
 "Vease como y en que proporoiones los 
 EstadoB Hispano-americanos est^n repre- 
 sentados en la importacidn de los cueros : 
 
 Eeptiblica Argentma |:5, 749, 170 
 
 Brasil 2.225,000 
 
 America Central 420, 000 
 
 Ecuador 120,000 
 
 Haiti 40,000 
 
 Mexico 1,526,916 
 
 Perri ^ 170,000 
 
 Colombia *. 927,000 
 
 Venezuela 860,000 
 
 Uruguay 1,907,000 
 
 Chile 25,567 
 
 11,970,652 
 
432 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 " There is no necessity to examine the 
 proportion of these imporiations; it is 
 enough for me to know that this measure 
 has the effect on all and each of the Span- 
 ish American Delegations to lead them to 
 the perfectly justifiable belief that the 
 oomineroial purposes of this Congress 
 ha ve been conij-a^roditcenieSjand that their 
 dispositions and their attitudes have not 
 beeu met with reciprocity; we have been 
 called to encourage American commercial 
 relations, and when we shall return to our 
 country to give an account of our labo- 
 rious mission we shall be forced to say to 
 our Government, ' We went to Washing- 
 ton with a product on the free list, and 
 «ve have obtained a law which bur- 
 dens it with a duty ; another product 
 was taxed at six, but when the Confer- 
 ference was over we found it taxed at 
 seven.' 
 
 "Such will be the commercial outcome 
 of the Conference of the three Americas, 
 judged without irony but also without 
 admiration. 
 
 " Would it be logical, sensible, and ex- 
 plicable for us to make pecuniary sacri- 
 fices and to people the seiis with vessels 
 in ballast when such a tariff situation con- 
 fronts us ? 
 
 ' ' Would the union of our ports be justl- 
 Sed at the same time that the disunion of 
 our custom-houses is decreed ? To what 
 end would we create means of transpor- 
 tation when at the same time wesuppress 
 international commercial relations ? 
 
 " Such a situation would be proper for 
 the encouragement of and interchange of 
 ballast but not of products; and if there 
 is to-day in New York a vessel which se- 
 cures$14,000 of freight and does not secure 
 in all the Argentine ports $1,800 for the 
 return voyage, as I was told not long 
 since by the honorable Mr. Flint, we may 
 be assured that the vessels which are to 
 sail under our flag will float with empty 
 holds, sustained only by the generosity of 
 two Governments who have the means 
 but do not seek the end. 
 
 ■'To facilitate* transportation and at 
 the same time to raise the tariff, is to create 
 the means to afford one's self the pleasure 
 of strengthening resistance. Tariffs were 
 resorted to as a consequence of the estab- 
 lishment of communications. They con- 
 stituted the national defense against the 
 
 "No nos interesa examinar la propor- 
 cion de estas importaciones ; me basta 
 saber que se sienten afectadas con esta 
 medida todas y cada una do las Delega- 
 ciones hispano-americanas para estable- 
 cer con entera independencia que el pro- 
 p68ito oomcrcial de este Congreso ha sido 
 contraproducente, y que sus disposiciones 
 y sus actitudes no han sido correspon- 
 didas coii la reciprooidad ; hemos sido 
 llamados para fomentar las relaciones 
 del comerciq americauo, y cuaudo rc- 
 gresemos Si nuestros paises para dar 
 cuenta de tan laboriosa misifin, tendr^mos 
 quo decir ^ nuestros Gobiernos : fuimos £C 
 Washington con un producto libre, y he- 
 mos obtenido una ley que lo reohaza y que 
 lo grava ; otro producto estaba gravado 
 con seis, pero despues del Congreso lo 
 traemos gravado con siete. 
 
 " Tales ser^n los feitos comerciales de 
 la Conferencia de las tres Americas, juz- 
 gados sin ironia pero tambien sin admi- 
 raci6n. 
 
 "j Seria 16gico, sensato y explicable que 
 acept^ramos sacriliciospecuniarios, y po- 
 bl£iramos los mares con embarcaciones 
 eu lastre, cuando semejante situaoKin 
 aduanera nos fuera creada ? 
 
 "j Podriajustificarsela comnnicacidn do 
 nuestros puertos, deoretando al mismo 
 tiempo la incomunicacidu de lasaduanas? 
 4 Para que creariamos los medios de tras- 
 porte cuando & la vez suprimiamos las 
 relaciones internacionailes del comercio ? 
 
 '' Semejante situacidu seria propia para 
 fomentar un iutercambio de lastre, pero 
 no de produotos, y si hoy hay buque que 
 eucueutra en Nueva-York, f 14,000 de flete, 
 y no encuentra en todos los puertos ar- 
 gentinos $1,800 para el viage de retorno, 
 como me lo decia hace pooo el Hon. Mr. 
 Flint, se puede asegurar que los buques 
 ^ orearse bajo nuestra bandera vivir^u 
 con sus bodegas vacias, mantenidas por la 
 suutuosidad de dos Gobiernos que tieneu 
 los medios pero que no buscah el tin. 
 
 " Faoilitar los trasportes y lovantar al 
 mismo tiempo las tarifas, es crear los 
 medios para darse el placer de fortificar 
 la resistencia ; las tarifas naoieron preci- 
 samente por efecto de las comunicaciones ; 
 ellas constituyerou la defensa uacioual 
 contra la invasion de los productos eztran- 
 
INTERNATFONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 433 
 
 invasion of foreign products. Tariffs and 
 commiunioations represent two tendencies 
 and two forces antagonistic to each other, 
 which never were fostered by the same 
 Government. A noted economist, Mr. de 
 Molinari, has just explained to. us in a 
 brilliant article published in the ' Diario 
 de los Economistas,' which he edits, how 
 Europe defended itself by tariffs when the 
 United States perfected their means of 
 transportation and became able to carry 
 on the Atlantic all the products of the 
 West, to cross the seas and Invade the 
 markets of the Old World. The traus- 
 portation represented the attack, and the 
 tariff the defense, as in the everlasting 
 struggle between the projectile and the 
 armor. But my confusion will be ex- 
 plicable if the spectacle is given me of 
 defense and attack being combined under 
 the protection of the same and identical 
 Governments. To lower the duties in 
 favor of exporters and raise them against 
 importations is to comVine two acts in 
 one contradiction. 
 
 "The Argentine Delegation respects, as 
 much as any other, the sovereign acts of a 
 friendly nation, but it has the right to 
 judge them when they affect the interna- 
 tional relations of commerce, which we 
 have been bidden to consider, and especi- 
 ally when they require national sacrifices 
 and assistance. Our Government doesnot 
 subsidize a single line of those which 
 connect us with Europe, and respond, 
 however, to all the demands of trans- 
 atlantic commerce, eighteen to twenty 
 steam-ships entering ourports daily, and 
 a total of 13,500 vessels entering annu 
 ally. This is not the effect of subsidies, 
 it is the result of freight, and there is 
 freight because there are no high tariffs 
 to prevent or impede interchange ; but 
 we desire communication with our friend 
 of the North, and now that the tariff 
 policy does not aid commerce nor sustain 
 freights we accept the sacrifice of sus- 
 taining it artificially, but upon the fol- 
 lowing declaration, of which the Secre- 
 taries will please make note : 
 
 " The Argentine Delegates give their 
 vote in favor of the plan under discussion 
 upon the basis of the present tariff, but 
 they will recommend to their Govern- 
 
 28 I C 
 
 geros ; sou dos tendencias y dos fuerzas 
 antagdnicaS que nunca fueron prohijadas 
 por el uiismo Gobierno ; nn econouiista 
 notable, Mr. de Molinari, acaba de expli- 
 eamos enuu artlculo brillante publicado 
 en el Diario de los Economistas que 61 
 dirige, como la Euro.ia se defendi6 con 
 las tarifas cuando los EstadosUnidosper- 
 feccionaron sus medics de trasportes y 
 piidieron llevar sobre el Atl^ntico todos 
 los productos del Oeste, para oruzar las 
 mares 6 invadir los mercados del viejo 
 mundo; los trasportes represeutaron el 
 ataque, y las tarifas la defensa, como en 
 la luoba eterna del proyectil y la coraza ; 
 pero se explicar^ mi confusi6n cuando 
 observe que defensa y ataque se confun- 
 dau bajo la proteccidn de los niismos 6 
 id^nticos Gobiernos ; abaratar los fletes 
 eu benefioio de los importadores, y gravar 
 en su perjuicio las importaciones, es con- 
 fundir, dos actos en una sola y tinioa 
 coutradiccidn. 
 
 ' ' La Delegacidn argentina respeta, como 
 la que mSs, los actos de soberania de las 
 naciones amigas, pero tiene el derecho 
 de juzgarlos cuando ellos afectan las 
 relacioues intecnacionales del comercio 
 que hemes sido encargados de considerar, 
 y cuando requieren especialmente el sa- 
 crificio y el conourso nacional; uuestro 
 Gobierno no subvenciona una sola de las 
 llneas que nos comunican con la Europa 
 y ellas se llevan sin embargo, todas las 
 exigencias del comercio trasatl^ntico ; 
 entrando Si nuestros puertos 18 y 20 va- 
 pores cada dia, y uu total de erabaroa- 
 cioncrt que se elevan anualmente S, 13,500 
 buques ; este no es ( 1 resultado de los 
 subsidios : es el resultado de los fletes ; 
 y hay fletes porque no hay tarifas altas 
 que detengan 6 rechazen el intercam- 
 bio ; pero nostros queremos la comunioa- 
 ci6n con nuestra amiga del norte, y ya 
 que el regimen arancelario no alienta el 
 comercio ni snstentalos fletes, aceptamos 
 el sacrificio de sostenerlos artifioialmente 
 bajo esta declaracidn de que ha de ser- 
 virse toraar nota la Secretaria : 
 
 "Los Delegados Argentines prestan su 
 Toto al proyecto en discusidn sobro la 
 base de las tarifas actuales, pero reco- 
 mendar^n S, su Gobierno que no le preste 
 
434 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 ment not to approve itif tUo tariff should 
 he altered to the injury of the Argentine 
 products. 
 
 "This vote is the result of a formal 
 agreement I arrived at with my honora- 
 ble colleague, and should be inserted in 
 full in the minutes, with all the explana- 
 tory antecedents.'' 
 
 The Chair announced that the order of 
 the day called for the discussion of the 
 report of the Committee on Port Dues ou 
 Consular Fees, which is as follows : 
 
 Report of Committee on Port Dues 
 
 OH 
 
 CONSULAR FEES. 
 
 The honorable Conference has in- 
 structed this committee to consider and 
 propose the most adequate manner of es- 
 tablishing a uniform system of consular 
 fees. 
 
 The comparative study of the regula- 
 tions which the committee has been able 
 to examine, has led it to the conclusion 
 that within the limits assigned to it, the 
 desired result could only be secured in a 
 partial and incomplete manner. 
 
 Inasmuch as the fees or compensation 
 allowed to consuls depends upon the na- 
 ture of the services they render, it is 
 necessary that the acts of the consular 
 agents of the different nations repre- 
 sented in the Conference be of the same 
 nature, in order that the fees charged by 
 them may be equal and uniform. 
 
 It is this prerequisite which is lacking 
 in the present consular regulations. 
 
 With the exception of acts specially 
 referring to navigation and commerce, 
 respecting which it would be very easy to 
 establish a uniformity of fees, there are 
 many acts which either only exist in the 
 rules of one of the nations here repre- 
 sented, or else differ in detail or manner 
 of classification so as to prevent the fix- 
 ing of the amount of the fee. 
 
 Your committee does not consider it im- 
 possible to establish identical regulations 
 for the consular agents of American 
 nations; but since on the one hand we 
 have not believed ourselves authorized 
 
 asentimiento si ellas fuoren alteradas en 
 menoscabo de los productos argentinos. 
 
 "Este votoes elresultado de uu formal 
 acuerdo celebrado con mi honorable co- 
 lega de Delegacidn, y debe insertarse 
 textualmente en el acta, con todos los an- 
 tecedentes que lo explicau. 
 
 "Hedicho." 
 
 Anuncid el Sefior Presidente que el 
 primer asunto en la orden del dia era la 
 discusidn del dictamen de la Comisidu de 
 derechos de puerto sobre derechos consu- 
 lares que dice como sigue: 
 
 DiCTAMRN DE LA C0MISI6n DE DeRK- 
 
 CHO.s DE Puerto 
 
 EEFEEENTE jt 
 
 DERECSOS CONSULARES. 
 
 La Honorable Conferencia ha enoargado 
 & esta Comisidn examinar y i)roponer la 
 manera mfc propia de nniformar los de- 
 rechos consulares. 
 
 El estudio < omparativo de los regla- 
 mentos que la Comisi<5n ha podido tener 
 S. la vista, la ha conducido al resultado 
 de que, dentro de los llmites que se le ban 
 sefialado, s61o podria obtenerse de una 
 manera parcial 6 incompleta el resultado 
 que se desea. 
 
 Deriviindose los derechos 6 retribuciones 
 acordados ^ log c6usules de los actos en 
 que intervienen, es menester que los que 
 practiqnen los ageutes consulares de las 
 diferentes uaciones representadas en la 
 Cont'erencia, sean de la misma naturaleza 
 para que puedan ser ignales y uniformes 
 los derechos que perciban. 
 
 Es ese autecedente el que falta en los 
 actnales reglamentos consulares. 
 
 Con excepcidn de limitados actos refe- 
 rentes S, la navegacidn y al comercio y 
 respecto de los cuales seria fScil consul tar 
 la uniformidad de derechos, hay muohos 
 otros que, 6 861o existen en el reglamento 
 de una de las uaciones aqui represen- 
 tadas, 6 difieren en detalles y clasifica- 
 ciones que influyen en la fijacidn <5 monto 
 del derecho. 
 
 No considera la Comisi6n nua tarea in- 
 superable la de establecer procedimientos 
 au^logos para los agentes consulares de 
 las uaciones americanas, pero, como, por 
 una parte, no se ha creldo autoriza- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 435 
 
 to undertake it, In view of the scope of 
 our instrnctious, and on tbe other, it is 
 probable that the time remaining which 
 the honorable Delegates can devote to 
 the varuiua subjects submitted to their 
 consideration would not suffice for the 
 careful study required by a matter of 
 that nature, we have thought it prefer- 
 able, with a view to obtaining a precise 
 result, to offer tbe following resolution : 
 
 "Resolved, That the Governments rep- 
 resented in the Conference be recom- 
 mended to prepare a uniform classifica- 
 tion of the acts requiring the interven- 
 tion of consular agents, fixing the maxi- 
 mum fees which should properly attach 
 to each one of such acts, especially those 
 relating to commerce and uavigation." 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Emilio C. Vabas, 
 Clement Studebakbk. 
 
 Washington, March ao, 1890. 
 
 The secretaries having read tbe conclu- 
 sions of tbe above, a vote was taken viva 
 voce, resulting in its unanimous adop- 
 tion. 
 
 The next subject in the order of tbe 
 day was the consideration of the report 
 of the Committee on Monetary Conven- 
 tion, accompanied by the special reports 
 of Messrs. Mexia and Alfonso, and the mi- 
 nority report of Messrs. Coolidge and Es- 
 tee, which are as follows : 
 
 da para emprenderla, dado el alcance 
 de su mandate y, por otra, es de pre- 
 sumir que el tiempo que auu puedan 
 consagrar los Senores Delegados ^ la deli- 
 beraci6n de los diversos negocins some- 
 tidoB Si su exsimen, no permitiria estudiar 
 con el detenimiento que se requiere un 
 proyecto sobre aquella materia, ha oreldo 
 preferible, S, flu do cousultar el acierto, 
 proponerelsiguieute proyecto de acuerdo. 
 Que se recomiende ^ los gobiernos repre- 
 sentados en la Coufereucia la adopcifin 
 de una clasiflcaci(3n uaiforme de los actos 
 en que puedeu intervenir los ageutes 
 cousulares, iiulio^udose el mSximam de 
 los derecbos que seria conveniente fijai 
 respecto de cada uno de tales actos ; es- 
 pecialmente en los que so refieren & la 
 navegacl6u y al comercio. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA. 
 
 Emilio C. Varas. 
 Clement Studbbaker. 
 Washington, 20 de Marzo de 1890. 
 
 Leidas que fueron por los Secretaries 
 las conclusioues de este dictamen se 
 procedi6 &• votar sobre su adopoi6n; y la 
 Conferencia por unanimidad de votes, y 
 do viva voz, determin6 adoptarlo, 
 
 Procedidae en seguida, como maroaba 
 la orden del dia, & la discusi6u del dicta- 
 men presentado por la Comisi6u de Uni6n 
 nionetaria, £t que acompauan losiaformea 
 especiales do los Senores Mexla y Alfonso, 
 los (lictaineues de miuoria de los Sres. 
 Esteey Coolidge, cuyosdocumeutosdicen 
 como sigue : 
 
 Report op the Committee on Mo.ne- 
 tary Convention. 
 
 To the President of the International Ameri- 
 can Conference : 
 
 The Committee on Monetary Conven- 
 tion has duly studied the interesting mat- 
 ters referred to it for consideration, and 
 has invited all who desired so to do to 
 present their views for or against the 
 adoption of a common silver coin to be 
 legal tender in all the American States 
 represented in this Conference. 
 
 A great m.iss of interesting material 
 has been collected which if put together 
 
 Dictambn de la Comisi6n dis Conven- 
 ci6n Monetaria. 
 
 SeTwr Presidtnte de la Conferencia liiter- 
 nacional Americana : 
 
 La Comisi6u de Conveuci6n Mouctaria 
 he estndiado con esmero la interesante 
 materia cometida S, su consideracidu, y 
 ha invitado & todos los que quisieran 
 presentarse para alegar sus razones cu 
 pro 6 en contra de la adopci<5u de una 
 moneda comiin de plata que sirva de 
 medio circulante legal en todos los Es- 
 tados americanos, reuuidos en esta Con- 
 ferencia. 
 
 Se ha acopiado un caudal de intere- 
 santes dates que enelconjunto formariau 
 
436 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERP^NCE. 
 
 v9 ould form a volume, and all possLblo con- 
 sultations have been Leld vpith exparts so 
 as to form a competent opinion. 
 
 The text of Article 6 shows clearly that 
 the committee could not go outside of its 
 expressed limitatioDS, and it therefore 
 presents its report in conformity there- 
 with. 
 
 The committee, or its majority, regrets 
 to state that it has proved impossible to 
 arrive at unanimity, and that a minority 
 report will be presented. 
 
 Mr. Coolidge has-handed in a report re- 
 plete with data and eloquent arguments. 
 Mr. Estee also has presented one which 
 has great merit and does honor to its au- 
 thor ; both of these are appended, as also 
 those of Srs. Job6 Alfonso and E. A . Mexia. 
 
 REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 
 
 The committee presents to the Confer- 
 ence for its consideratioti the following ; 
 
 The International American Conference 
 recommends to the nations represented 
 in it — 
 
 (1) That an "International American 
 Monetary Union " be established. 
 
 (2j That as a basis for this Union, an 
 intern itional silver coin be issued, which 
 shall be legal tender in all the countries 
 represented in this Conference. 
 
 (3) That to give full efifect to this rec- 
 ommendation, a commission consisting of 
 one delegate from each nation be called 
 to convene at Washington, and determine 
 the quantity, value, and proportion of the 
 international coin and its relation to gold. 
 
 (4) That this commission meet in Wash- 
 ibgton in a year's time or less after the 
 final adjournment of this Conference. 
 
 E. A. Mexia. 
 Caklos Martinez Silva 
 J. Alfonso. 
 Juan F. Velarde. 
 .Ibk6nimo Zelaya. 
 Wasuington, March 10, 1890. 
 
 uu vollimen, y se ha consultado con 
 cuantas personas expertashasido posible 
 para formar una opinidn bien fundada. 
 
 El texto del articulo sexto indica olara- 
 mente que la Comisidn no podia deliberar 
 fuera de su sentido expreso, y presenta 
 BUS dict'imen en los t6rniinos que 4A. auto- 
 riza. 
 
 La Comisidn, 6 su mayoria, tiene el 
 sentimiento de informar que no ha sido 
 posible Uegar & uu acuerdo undinime, y 
 que ae preseiitar^ uu dict^men de minorla. 
 
 El Sr. Coolidge ha presentado un in- 
 forme con muchas noticias y razones elo- 
 cueutes. El Sr. Estee presents otro iu- 
 forme, que es en realidad un trabajo que 
 le hace honor. 
 
 Ambos informes se acompafian, y se 
 acompanan tambien los infer jtes de los 
 Srs. Jo86 Alfonso y E. A. Mexia. 
 
 DIOTAMEN DE LA COMISlON. 
 
 La Comisidn propone & la Conferencia 
 para su consideracidu lo siguiente : 
 
 La Conferencia Inteinacional Ameri- 
 cana recomienda S, las uaciones represen- 
 tadas en ella — 
 
 (1) Que se establezca una " Unidn Mo- 
 netaria Internaoional Americana." 
 
 (2) Que como base de esta " Uni6u" se 
 acune una moneda internaoional de plata 
 que sea de ourao legal en todos los paises 
 que tienen representaci<5n en esta Confe- 
 rencia. 
 
 (3) Que para dar el debido oumpli- 
 mieuto & esta recomendaeidn, se reuua 
 en Washington una Comisi6u compnesta 
 de un Delegado por cada naci6n, la que 
 determinardi la cantidad, valor y propor- 
 ci6u de la moneda internaoional, y su re- 
 lacifin al ore. 
 
 (4) Que esta Comisidn se reuna en 
 Washington en el t<5rminode un alio con- 
 tado desde la fecha de clausura de esta 
 Conferencia, 6 antes. 
 
 E. A. MBXfA. 
 CiRLOS Martinez Silva. 
 J. Alfonso. 
 Juan F. Velarde. 
 Je«6nimo Zelaya. 
 Washington, Marzo 10 de 1890. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 437 
 
 MS. MEXIA'S REPORT. 
 
 The sixth section of the act of the 
 Congress of the United States approved 
 May , 1888, reads as follows : 
 
 " Sixth. The adoption of a common sil- 
 ver coin, to he issued \>y each Govern- 
 ment, the same to he legal tender in all 
 commercial transactions between the cit- 
 izens of all the American States." 
 
 Pursuant to this article a committee 
 hasheen named to' report upon the method 
 of cari-ying into effect the idea which it 
 sets forth. 
 
 According to all the data at hand the 
 importations iu(o the United States from 
 the several countries comprising the Span- 
 ish-American Refiuhlics exceed by a con- 
 siderable amount the exportations of the 
 United States to the same countries ; the 
 excess, which is a very large figure, is 
 against the United States, who pay it in 
 gold. 
 
 The object iu giving a common silver 
 coin to the nations which compose this 
 Conference is to facilitate commercial 
 transactions, and to avoid those great fluc- 
 tuations in silver which have been the 
 cause of serious difficulties to the nations 
 using this metal, and at the same time 
 have rendered difficult the commercial 
 intercourse between the United States 
 and the Spanish-American Republics. 
 This committee essays the task of discov- 
 ering a method of counterbalancing these 
 difficulties such as shall uot be preju- 
 dicial either to the Government of the 
 United States or to the Spanish- American 
 States. 
 
 Two methods present themselves : The 
 first, to adopt as a general basis the 
 project suggested by the Secretary of the 
 Treasury of the United States, Mr. Win-, 
 dom, who proposes the issuance of cer- 
 tificates of deposit in exchange for silver 
 bullion deposited, giving to the certifi- 
 cates the value the bullion may have in 
 the market on the day of its receipt, and 
 redeeming said certificates upon the basis 
 of the market value of silver on the day 
 of redemption. 
 
 This method, important as it is, on ac- 
 count of the position and talent of its an- 
 
 DIOTAMEN DEL SB. DON ENRIQUE A. 
 ME XI A. 
 
 En el artioulo d" do la seccidn 2» de la 
 ley de 4 de Mayo de IS88, aprobada por el 
 Congreso de los Estados Uuidos, se dice 
 lo siguienle: Sexto, "La adopcifin de una 
 moneda comtin de plata aouQada por cada 
 oual de los Gobiernos, que sirva de medio 
 ciroulaute legal en las transacciones co- 
 merciales de los oiudadauos de todos los 
 Estados de America) unos con otros." 
 
 En virtud de este artioulo, se ha nom- 
 brado una Comisidn para dictaminar 
 sobre el medio de. poner en prSotica la 
 idea emanada de 61. Segnn todos los 
 datos que se tienen S, la vista, las importa- 
 ciones heohas S, los Estados Uuidos por 
 los diferentes paises que componen las 
 Eepiiblicas Hispano-Americanas exoeden 
 en mucha cantidad li las exportacioues 
 hechas por los Estados Uuidos S, los mis- 
 mos paises; el excedente que asciende Si 
 una oandidad de mucha consideracidn, es 
 en contra de los Estados Unidos, la cual 
 paga en oro. 
 
 El objeto de dar una moueda comlin de 
 plata Si las Nacioues que figuran en esta 
 Conferencia, es el de facilitar las tran- 
 sacciones comerciales 4 impedir aquellas 
 fluctuaciones tan grandes en la plata, que 
 ban sido causa de serias dificultades para 
 las uaciones que tienen esa moneda, y al 
 mismo tiempo han hecho diflciles los asun- 
 tos comerciales entre los Estados Unidos 
 y las Repliblicas Hispano-Americanas. 
 Esta Comisidn trata de buscar el modo de 
 equilibrar estas dificultades, de tal maue- 
 ra, que ni sea perjudicial para el Gobierno 
 de los Estados Unidos, ni para los Edtados 
 Hispano- Americanos. 
 
 Dos medios se presentan £i la vista ; el 
 primero, aceptando como base general el 
 proyecto presentado por el Secretario del 
 Tesoro de los Estados Uuidos, el Sr. Win- 
 dom, quien propone la emisidn de certifi- 
 cados de dep6sito en cambio de plata 
 pasta depositada, dSndole Si los oertifica- 
 dos el valor que la plata pasta tenga 
 en el merCado el dia en que se reciba, y 
 pagando diohos certificados el dia de su 
 redencidu con el valor de la misma on esa 
 fecha en el mercado. Esta medida, im- 
 portante como es por la posioi6n y talento 
 de su autor, est^ tiidavia en eatado de 
 
43« 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 thor, is still in the form oi a bill and sub- 
 ject to alterations when it shall reach dis- 
 cussion in the Congress of the United 
 States ; it lacks, therefore, a definite basis 
 upon which (he committee could formu- 
 late a report. It is clear that it would be 
 mpossible, or at least very difficult, for 
 this committee to present a project based 
 upon that of Mr. Windom, when the lat- 
 ter might be defeated, or not be accept- 
 able to the majority of the House of that 
 Congress, and the whole idea being con- 
 sequently rejected; however, it woulil not 
 he diiBcult for some such scheme to be 
 adopted by the severalcountries here met 
 together, each one receiving the deposit 
 of the bullion and issuing promissory 
 notes, or oerrifioates of deposit, under the 
 same conditions as those of the Govern- 
 ment of the United States. 
 
 I repeat, this is still a hypothetical case 
 which should not now occupy our atten- 
 tion, but rather should we follow the 
 course of tlie debates in the American 
 Congress, so that they may serve us as a 
 guide in the future. 
 
 Another project which appears to be the 
 easiest and most practicable, since it can 
 be understood by all, that is to say, by 
 the masses, is the adoption of a silver 
 coin of one or more denominations and of 
 a design and value hereafter to be ag'reed 
 upon, based upon the dollar which now 
 exists in the United States of North Amer- 
 ica. 
 
 A 50-cent coin would be of great utility, 
 if it were giveu a value equivalent and 
 equal proportionately to that of the afore- 
 said dollar. 
 
 The probable production of the United 
 States is to-day from $59,000,000 to $60,- 
 QOO, 000 of silverperannuQi; that of Mexico 
 from $45,000,000 to $50,000,000, while the 
 other Republics of Central and South 
 America only coin some $25,000,000, more 
 or less. 
 
 The issue of this international coin 
 should be equitably distributed between 
 the several countries in proportion to their 
 population and coinage, leaving always 
 a ujargin for the natural expansion which 
 might iind would result from this mone- 
 tary union. The circulation of the inter- 
 national money should be compulsory 
 in all the nations represented in this 
 Conference, as regards tbe dollar, and 
 
 proyeoto de ley, y sujeta & cambios cuando 
 se llegue S discutir en las C^maras de los 
 Estados Unidos; le falta, por lo niismo, 
 una base segura sobre la cual podef dic- 
 taminar. Es claro que seria iraposible, 6 
 & lo menos muy difloil, jiresentar un pro- 
 yecto basado sobre el del Sr. Windom, 
 cuando este podr^ ser deaecbado comple- 
 tamente, 6 no ser aceptable & la mayorla 
 de las Cd.maras de ese Congreso, y por lo 
 misrao, serlaideaenterameuterechazada; 
 sin embargo, no seria dificil que igual sis- 
 tema pudieseiaceptarse por los diferentes 
 paises que aqui se encuentran reunidos, 
 recibiendocada unoel dep6sito de laplata 
 pasta y emitiendo pagar6s 6 billetes de 
 depdsito, bajo las mismas condicioues que 
 los del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Vuelvo & decir, que este es aun un caso 
 hipot6tico, que no nos debe ocupar por 
 el memento, reserv^ndouos en lo ade- 
 lante, seguir el curso de las discusiones en 
 las C^maras Americanas, para que nos 
 puedan servir de gobierno. 
 
 Otro proyecto, que parece ser el mas 
 f^cil y el md^s adaptable, pues estii al 
 alcance de todos, es decir, de las masas 
 de las poblaciones, es la adopci6n de una 
 moneda de plata, de una <5 mas denorai- 
 naciones, que tendr^ un cufio conven- 
 cional, basado sobre el peso que hoy 
 existe en los Estados Unidos de Norte 
 America. 
 
 Una moneda de cincuentacentavos seria 
 de grande utilidad, con tal que se le diese 
 un valor equivalente 6 igual proporcional- 
 mente al del citado peso. 
 
 La proiluccidn probable de los Estados 
 Unidos hoy ea de 59,000,000 & 60,000,000 
 de pesos de plata al ano. La de Mexico 
 es de 45,000,000 & 50,000,000 de pesos, mi- 
 entras que las demas Reptiblicas de Cen- 
 tre y Sud America solo acuuan poco mas 
 6 menos unos 25,000,000 de pesos. 
 
 La emiaidn de esta moneda iuterua- 
 cional deheria limitarse equitativamente 
 entre los diferentes paises en proporci6n 
 & su poblaci6uy acunacion, dejaudo siem- 
 pre un campo S, la expausi6n natural que 
 puede y debe resultar de esta "Union 
 Monetaria." 
 
 El curso de la moneda internacional 
 deberd. ser forzoso para todas las Naciones 
 que est6n representadas en esta Confe- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 439 
 
 with respect to the 50-ceut piece, only in 
 payments amounting to $50 each. 
 
 A monetary commission might be cre- 
 ated by the governments interested, each 
 naming one or more representatives, who 
 sTiould assemble and occupy themselves 
 exclusively with the details of issuing 
 the aforesaid international coins. The 
 amount coined by the projected monetary 
 
 union to be limited to | perannnm, 
 
 the monetary commission meeting every 
 three or five years to determine in assem- 
 bly the increase or diminution of the 
 amount to be issued. 
 
 The great importance of this Mono 
 tary Union can not be denied, for without 
 prejudicing any one outside of our own 
 limits, it greatly benefits the industries 
 of the Spanish-ATierican nations, of the 
 United States, and of all which compose 
 this Conference; it increases the wealth 
 of the world, for it stimulates the pro- 
 duction of silver, and, giving it a fixed 
 value, prevents those terrible fluctuations 
 so dreaded by merchants and producers. 
 
 By establishing a fixed standard which 
 would serve as a basis for all commercial 
 transactions it would prevent one nation 
 from so influencing exchange that the 
 benefit might always accrue to it, at the 
 expense of the American continent. 
 
 E. A. Mexia. 
 
 rencia, en cuanto al peso, y en cuanto 6. 
 la moneda de cincneuta centavos, sola- 
 mento en cantidad de cincuenta pesos en 
 cada pago. Podrian los Gobiernos inte- 
 resados convenir en una Comisi<in Mone- 
 taria, uombraudo cada cual uno 6 mas 
 representantes, los que reunidos se ocu- 
 paran exclusivamente de los detalles do la 
 emisidn de dichas monedas internacio- 
 nales ; la cantidad acunada por la proyec- 
 tada " Union Monetaria" se limitaria & 
 
 $ por aflo, pudi6ndose reanir la Comi- 
 
 si6u Monetaria cada tres 6 cada cinco anos, 
 para determinar en consejo el aumeuto 6 
 la diminucidn de la cantidad por emitirse. 
 No se puede negar la graudlsima im- 
 portancia de esta " Union Monetaria," 
 pues sinperjudicard. nadie, fueradenues- 
 tros propios Hmites, beneficia muohlsi- 
 mo la industria de las Naciones Hispauo- 
 ^Americanas, la de los Estados Unidos y la 
 de las otras que componen esta Conferen- 
 cia; aumenta la riqueza del mundo, pues 
 estimular^ la produuidn de la plata, y 
 d^ndole un curso fijo, evitard. aquellas 
 fluctuaciones, que sou tan terribles y tan 
 temidas por los comerciantes y produc- 
 tores. Estableciendo un tipo tijo, que 
 servir^ de base para todos los tratos 
 comerciales, impedir^ que una sola Na- 
 cion pueda de tal mauera influir sobre el 
 cauibio, que el beneficio sea siempre suyo, 
 & costa del Continenle Americano. 
 
 E. A. Mbx£a. 
 
 MR. ALFONSO'S BEPORI. 
 
 The law of the 24th of May, 1888, 
 which authorized the calling of the In- 
 ternational American Conference, said in 
 the sixth clause, section 2, that the Con- 
 ference was called to consider " the adop- 
 tion of a common silver coin, to be issued 
 by each government, the same to be legal- 
 tender in all commercial transactions 
 between the citizens of all the American 
 States ; " and by approving the report 
 of the committee named to report upon 
 the committees that should be named, 
 the conference resolved "that a com- 
 mittee of seven individuals ahorild study 
 and present the bases for a monetary 
 convention between the countries repre- 
 sented in this conference.'' The under- 
 signed, a member of said special com- 
 mittee, having studied the point sub- 
 mitted fur consideration, believes that 
 
 DIOTAMEN DEL SB. ALFONSO. 
 
 La ley de24de Mayo de 18-8, que anto- 
 rizo la convooacldn de la Conferencia In- 
 teruacional Americana, dijo en la clausula 
 6° de su secci6n 2" que la Canferencia es- 
 taba llamada d) considerar "la adopcidn 
 de una moneda oomun de plata que pueda 
 ser acunada y emitida jior todos y cada 
 uno de los Gobiernos, y sirva de medio 
 circulante legal para toda clase de tran- 
 sacciones comerciales celebradas mutua- 
 mente entre los ciudadauos de un Estado 
 de America, y los de los demas del mismo 
 hemisferio ; " y al aprobarelinforme de la 
 Comi8i6uuombrada para dictauiinar sobre 
 las comisiones que debian noiubrarse, la 
 Conferencia resolvifi "que una Coniisidn 
 desiete individuos debia estudiar y pre- 
 sentar las bases para una Convtnci6n 
 monetaria entre los pafses represeuta- 
 dos en etta Conferencia." 
 
440 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 the first question to be decided is whether 
 the terms in which the subject is refened 
 absolutely exclude the idea that gold coin 
 should be legal-tender together with sil- 
 ver, or, in other words, whether the plan 
 which should be submitted to the consid- 
 eration of the Conference must fall back 
 on the silver coin alone, excluding the 
 gold. 
 
 Although the language of the sixth 
 clause, section SJ, of the law may lend sup- 
 port to an affirmative answer, it is evident 
 that the resolution adopted by the Confer- 
 ence when naming the committees did not 
 limit the work of this committee to a con- 
 vention on silver coiu, but assigned to it 
 the duty of reporting the bases for a mon- 
 etary convention without stating the Isind - 
 of coin. A closer examination of the clause 
 mentioned shows, moreover, that by it the 
 gold coin has not been either expressly or 
 by implication excluded from the combi- 
 nation which may be proposed. 
 
 But setting aside this question of her- 
 meneutios, in the opinion of the under- 
 signed, the idea and the purpose which 
 have dominated in this matter are not 
 incompatible with the circulation of both 
 coins, and can the better be realized with 
 the adoption of bi metallism. 
 
 The end that is aimed at is that the 
 whole of America shall have a common 
 coin of uniform weight and fineness which 
 may circulate as an international me- 
 dium of exchange in all the countries 
 represented in the Conference, and that 
 some expedient be adopted tending to 
 stop the depreciation of silver with rela- 
 tion to gold. The advantages of a com- 
 mon coin are so well known and evident 
 that the statement of the proposition 
 alone suffices to give to it the force of a 
 demonstrated truth. That firmness and 
 stability be given to the value of silver 
 with relation to gold is a necessity which 
 has been felt for some time in the com- 
 mercial transactions of the entire world. 
 The confusion which is caused by the 
 fluctuation in the value of those two 
 precious metals is as frequent as it is in- 
 jurious, and few measiires would be of 
 more use to commerce than those which 
 would cause its disappearance. It suffices 
 
 El infrascrito, individuo de esta Comi- 
 ci6n especial, estudiando el punto some- 
 tido ^ su consideraoidn, cree que la pri- 
 mera cuesti6u que debe decidirse es si la 
 base propne.sta £i su estudio exoluye en 
 lo absoluto, que la nionuda de oro puede 
 tener curso legal en union con la de plata, 
 6 en otros tiSmiinos si el proyecto, que 
 debe someterse al estudio dit la Con 
 ferejioia habr^ de recaer sobre la mo- 
 neda de plata liuicamente, cou exclusi6n 
 de la de oro. 
 
 Aunque la ipteligencia de la clausula 
 6°, 8ecci6n 2" de la ley se preste & una 
 conte8taci6n afirmativa, es evidente que 
 el acuerdo celebrado por la Conferencia 
 al nombrar las Comisiones no limitd el 
 trabajo de la Comisidn S, una Conveuci<5n 
 sobre moneda de plata, eucarg^ndole 
 presentar las bases para una Convenci6n 
 monetaria, sin expresar la clase de mo- 
 neda. Un ex^men atento de la clausula 
 recordada maniflesta tambien que por ella 
 no se ha excluido expresa ni taxativa- 
 meute la moneda de oro de la combina- 
 oidn que se proponga. 
 
 Peio prescindiendo de esta cuestidn de 
 hermen^utica, S, juicio del infrascrito el 
 pensamiento y el prop6sito que han do- 
 minado en esta materia no hacen incom- 
 patible la circulacion de ambas nioiiedas, 
 y puedeu realizarse mejor con la adop 
 ci6n del bi-metalismo. 
 
 El desideratum que se persigue es que 
 haya en toda la America una moneda 
 comiiu de igual peso 6 ignal ley, que 
 pueda circular como medio de cambio in- 
 ternacional en todos los pafses represen- 
 tados en la Conferencia, y que se adopte 
 algun arbitrio tendente Siponer un atajo S, 
 la depreciacidn de la plata con relacidn al 
 oro. Las ventajas de una moneda comfiu 
 son tan notorias y evidentes, que basta 
 enunciar la proposicidn para que se im- 
 ponga con la fuerza de una verdad de- 
 mostrada. Que se d6 flrmeza y estabili- 
 dad al valor de la plata con relacidn al 
 oro es una neoesidad que se viene sin- 
 tieudo tiempo ha, en todas las transaccio- 
 nes eomerciales del mundo entero. Las 
 perturba'ciones que produce el vaiv^n en 
 el valor de esos dos metales preciosos sou 
 tan frecuentes como perjudiciales, y po- 
 cas medidas seilan mas titiles al comer- 
 cio como las que las hicieran desaparecer. 
 Baste observar que la mayor parte del 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 441 
 
 to say that the greater part of the world 
 usts silver coiu. Above all, the nations 
 which produce silver have a special inter- 
 est in the matter. 
 
 These two advantages may be fully 
 seemed under bimetallism, were it pro- 
 vided, as it should be, that the debtor 
 might al his option pay with coin of either 
 of I he two metals. Silver coin being thus 
 made legal tender, and the system being 
 uniform over the entire continent, it is 
 pretty certain that silver would hold its 
 value with relation to that of gold. 
 
 The difiiculty which might be expected 
 to arise frgm ihe instability of the value 
 of silver in relation to that of gold is not 
 a serious, much less an insuperable obsta- 
 cle to the attainment of this end; since 
 as is known, the basis of bi-metallism 
 adopted by France at the beginning of the 
 century, at the ratio of 151- to 1, has con- 
 tinued nearly three- fourths of a century, 
 although during thai; period some fluctu- 
 "afions have taken place in the relative 
 values of the two metals, and since the 
 great fall in the value of silver -which has 
 recently taken place is not due principally 
 to the normal influence of production, but 
 to the adoption of gold as standard by 
 Germany in 1873, while the similar action 
 on the part of the United States of North 
 America at about the same time, naturally 
 tended to produce, as it did produce, a 
 great increase in the supply of silver on 
 the market, leading to a fall in its value. 
 
 The same thing caused the Latin Union 
 in 1874 to limit the coining of silver, a 
 measure which necessarily contributed to 
 the same result. 
 
 In view of these antecedents it seems 
 that it would not be difficult to conclude 
 a monetary convention on the basis of the 
 bi-metallicsystem, fixing the ratio in the 
 value of the two metals at a standard 
 which would, if desired, increase the pre- 
 viously existing differeuce a little ; a plan, 
 this, which it does not seem the American 
 Governments would find any difficulty in 
 adopting. 
 
 In the opinion of the undersigned, it 
 is impossible to lose sight, of the fact 
 that no advantage is gained by the ex- 
 clusion of gold from metallic circula- 
 
 mnndo usa moneda de plata. Las na- 
 ciones productoras de plata tienen sobre 
 todo en ello especial intei($s. 
 
 Estasi dos ventajas pueden alcanzarse 
 plenami'nte con el bi-metalismo, estable- 
 ci6ndose, como debia establecerse, que 
 quedaba S, opcidn del deudor pagar con 
 m.neda de cualquiera delos dosmetales. 
 Toniendo por este medio la moueda de 
 plata circulaci6u obligatoria, y rijiendo 
 esta regla en todo uu continente, puede 
 tenerse por cierto que mantendria su 
 valor con relacidn al del oro. 
 
 Para alcanzar este resultado no es un 
 inconveniente serio, ni mucho menos in- 
 superable, el que pudieradecirseque pro- 
 viene de hi instabilidad del valor de la 
 plata con relaridn al oro, porque es sabi- 
 do que la base del bi-melalismoadoptada 
 por la Francia & priucipio del siglo en 
 relacidn de 15^ S 1 ha subsistido cerca de 
 tres cuartos de un siglo aunque se hayau 
 operado durante ese periodo algunas fluc- 
 tuaciones en el valor respectivo de los 
 dos metales, y porque la baja considera- 
 ble experimentada en el valor de la plata 
 en 6poca reciente no es debida prin- 
 cipalmente & causas naturales de pro- 
 ducci(5n, sino iJ la adopcidn del oro corao 
 padr6n por la Alemania en 1«73, y por una 
 medida an^logade los Estados Unidos de 
 Norte America, m^s 6 m^nos en la misraa 
 6poca. Debi6 producirse, como se pro- 
 dujo, una gran ofertade plata en el mer- 
 cado, y el cousiguiente abatimiento de su 
 valor. 
 
 De aqul resultd tambien que la Uni6n 
 Latina liiuitase eu 1874 la acuuaci6n de 
 la |jlata, medida que debia contribuir ue- 
 cesariamente S, ocasionar la misma conse- 
 cuencia. 
 
 Eu vista de estos antecedentes parece 
 que no seria I'ificil celebrar una Conven- 
 ci6n Monetaria sobre la base del sistema 
 bi-metSilico, fijando la relaci6u en valor 
 de los dos metales en un tipo que aumen- 
 tase, si se qniere, un poco la diferencia 
 antes existente, para lo cual no se v6 que 
 pudieran ofrecerse dificnltades serias & 
 los Gobiernos americanos. 
 
 A juicio del infrascrito no es posible 
 perderde vistaqueno hay ventajaalgnna 
 en excluir al oro de la circulaci(5n metiiU- 
 ca. Desde que el oro en peso igual repre- 
 
442 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 tion. Since an equal weight of gold rep- 
 resents many times the value of silver, 
 gold coin offers such facilities in trans- 
 actions as can not be ovevlooljed. More- 
 over, some of the nations represented 
 in the Conference recognize the double 
 standard. 
 
 Above all, it is of great importance to 
 consider that to have uniform coinage in 
 America and to prevent the depreciation 
 of silver, coining this metal alone is not 
 the only means. The two ends can be 
 reached completely with the circulation 
 of both kinds of coin, and it is certain that 
 Commerce will bo found more expeditious 
 in its operations, when it can avail itself 
 of both gold and of silver, at the same 
 time. 
 
 Nor should it be overloolsed that the 
 adoption in America of a monetary system 
 upon this basis will be more efficacious, 
 as exercising an influence throughout the 
 entire commercial world. It is known 
 that the great fall in the valne of silver 
 has produced and produces many pertur- 
 bations in the European markets, which 
 would feel influenced by the example of 
 America and seek a r> medy for the evils 
 which affect them, adopting the same or 
 analogous expedients. 
 
 It is well to have in mind that the 
 effort ot European monetary congresses to 
 make universal the use of the two metals, 
 seeking a new ratio between them, has 
 been defeated by the resistance of Great 
 Britain,, who has wished to maintain her 
 single standard of gold, fearing that a ma- 
 terial change in its system by the adoption 
 of bi-metallism might be the cause of 
 greater perturbations than those n Inch it 
 is sought to avoid. 
 
 It is worthy of notice that Great Britain 
 thought seriously over the question of bi- 
 metallism and a short time since, in 1886 
 and 1887, her Goveruineat named a com- 
 mittee for the purpose of studying the 
 situation caused by the commercial per- 
 turbations, the outcome of the variable 
 and inconsistent relation in the respective 
 values of gold and silver. 
 
 If it is true that the International 
 American Conference has been convoked 
 to occupy itself with subjects relating to 
 America, and to make closer the relations 
 between the various countries represented 
 in it, it is a fact that the greater part of 
 
 senta muchas veces el valor de la plata 
 ea una moneda que ofrece en las tran- 
 sacciones faoilidades que no es posible 
 desconocer. Ademas aljjunas de las 
 naciones representad.is en la Conferencia 
 reconooen el doble padr6n. 
 
 Sobre todo es muy importante consi- 
 derar que, para tener unidad de moneda 
 ,en America y para detener la deprecia- 
 ci6n de la plata, no es arbitrio linico 
 acuBar solo moneda de esta metal. Los 
 dos fines puedeu alcanzarse completa- 
 mente con la circulaci6n de las dos clases 
 de moneda, y es seguro que el comercio 
 habria de verse m£is expeditoBU sus ope- 
 raciones, disponiendo S, la vez del oro y 
 de la plata. 
 
 Tampoco debe perderse de vista que la 
 adopci6n de un plan monetario en Ame- 
 rica, sobre esta base, ha de ser mSs eficaz, 
 ejerciendo influencia en todo el niundo 
 comercial. Es sabido que la baja consi- 
 derable en el valor de la plata ha produ- 
 cido y produce muchas perturbaciones en 
 los meroados europeos, loscuales habrian 
 de sentirseimpulsados con el ejeinplo de la 
 America ^ buscar un reniedio ^ los males 
 que los aquejau, adoptaudo an^logos 6 
 iguales arbitrios. 
 
 Couviene tener presente quo la tenta- 
 tiva de Cougresos monetarios europeos 
 para hacer universal el uso de los dos 
 metales, buscaudo una nneva relaci6n 
 de valor entre ellos, ha fracasado ante la 
 resistiencia de la Gran Bretaiia, que ha 
 querido manteuer su padr6n linico deoro, 
 temiendoque una moditicacidn sustancial 
 en susistema con la adopcidu del bi-meta- 
 lismo fuese causa de mayores perturba- 
 ciones que las que se tratan de evitar. 
 
 Es digno de notarse que la Gran 
 Bretafia se ha preocupado seriamente, 
 con la cuestidn del bi-metalismo y hace 
 poco, en 1886 y 1887, su Gobiernouonibr6 
 una Comisidn con el objeto de que estu- 
 diara la situaoidn creada por las perturba- 
 ciones comerciales provinientes de la 
 relaci6n variable 6 incousistente eu el 
 valor respectivo del oro y de la plata. 
 
 Si es cierto que la Conferencia luter- 
 nacional Americana ha sido convocada 
 para ocuparse de asuutos concernientes 
 & la America, y para estreehar las rela- 
 cioues de los diversos palses enella repre- 
 sentadoB, es un hecho que la mayor parte 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEUICAN CONFEUENCE. 
 
 443 
 
 ..Ui) commerce that they engage iu is car- 
 ried on with Europe, and facts come npon 
 ^1!) with the force of a fatal necessity and 
 it is not possible to avoid them. More- 
 over, it would be a great mistake to sup- 
 pose that the union of the American na- 
 tions which is sought for by means of the 
 International Conference should signify 
 something which should be interpreted 
 as an estrangement, or something similan 
 with respect to the Old World. 
 
 For that reason it is desirable that the 
 committee should have before it ^hat is 
 thought and proposed with respect to bi- 
 metallism iu Great Britain, one of the 
 first commefeial nations of the world. 
 
 The above-mentioned committee car- 
 ried out its mission with much zeal and 
 a great accumulation of data, and it di- 
 vided into equal parts on the making of 
 the report. One portion was of the opin- 
 ion that both metals should be coined 
 as legal tender, tlie ratio of their values 
 being fixed and both being available iu 
 payment of all obligations, at the option 
 of the debtor. In their opinion this was 
 the only way in whi ^h an end could be put 
 to the difSculties caused by the variation 
 in the relative value of the two metals. 
 
 The other portion was opposed to the 
 adoption of bi-metallism, which it feared 
 would be liable to cause in the commer- 
 cial world greater perturbations than 
 those which it is sought to avoid, but ad- 
 vises the expedience of opening up nego- 
 tiations with other countries looking to an 
 increase in the coininage of silver, and 
 proposes the issue of bills of small denomi- 
 nation, having this metal for a basis. Ac- 
 knowledging the advantage of uniformity 
 in coins, it fears that a premature action 
 may delay instead of producing the good 
 which the measure is intended to bring 
 about. 
 
 It is reported that Germany would for 
 her part be in favor of the adoption of bi- 
 metallism were it adopted by Great Brit- 
 ain. 
 
 These facts are interesting, and it 
 doubtless is good that this committee 
 shall bear them in mind while solving the 
 problem which has been submitted to 
 its consideration. It is easily under- 
 stood that if the silver coin were com- 
 mon, not only to America but also to the 
 entire commercial world, the benefit 
 
 del comercio que ellos hacen se relaciona 
 con la Eniopa, y los hechos se imponen 
 con la fnerza de unauecesidad fatal, y no 
 es posihlo prescindir de ellos. Ademils 
 seria uii error grave suponer que la unidn 
 de las naoiones ainericanas que se busca 
 por medio de la Conferencia InternaLional 
 hubiera de aignificar algo que se tradu- 
 jesecomo alejamiento 6 cosa parecidares- 
 peoto del viejo muudo. 
 
 Interesa por lo tanto que la Comisi6n 
 tenga presente lo que en materia de 
 bi-metalismo se piensa 6 proyecta on la 
 Gran Bretaua, uua de las primeras na- 
 oiones comerciales del orbe. 
 
 LaComisidn antes indicada desempefl6 
 su misifiu con mucho oelo y gran acopio 
 de datos, y se dividid por iguales partes 
 al emitii sn informe. Una fraccidu fu(5 de 
 dictiiiiien que debian acuiiarse ambos me- 
 tales comq moneda legal, fij^ndose la rela- 
 ci6n del valor entre ellos, y sirviendo 
 para el pago de todas las obligaciones, ^ 
 opci6n del deudor. A su juicio, solo de 
 este modo se pondria t^rmino & las difi- 
 cultades producidas por la variaoi6n del 
 valor relative de los dos metales. 
 
 La otra fraccion se opuso & la adopcidn 
 del bi-metalismo, que tenie sea ocasionado 
 £i producir en el niundo comercial mayo- 
 res perturbacioues que las que se Drata de 
 evitar, pero aconseja la conveuieucia de 
 procurar con otros palses negociacioues 
 tendentes S, ensanchar la acunacidn de la 
 plata, y propone la emisidn de billetes de 
 corte pequi'uo que tengan por base este 
 metal. Reconociendo la ventaja de la 
 uniformidad en las monedas, teme que 
 una solnci6u anticipada aleje, en vez de 
 producir, el bien que ha de ocasionar la 
 medida. 
 
 Asegtirase que la Alemania estaria, por 
 su parte, dispuesta S, la adopci6n del bi- 
 metalismo, si es adoptado por la Gran 
 Bretaiia. 
 
 Estos hechos son interesantes, y con- 
 vienesin dnda que estaCoraisidnlos tenga 
 presentes en la resolucion del probleuia 
 que ha sido sometido isu estudio. Com- 
 pr^ndese facilmente, que si la moneda de 
 plata fuera comun, no solo & la America 
 sine tambien ^ todo el mundo comercial, 
 el beueticio alcanzado seria mucho mayor. 
 
444 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 secured would be much greater. Com- 
 mon silver coin can be adopted for the 
 whole of America. No serious obstacle or 
 objection can be seen in the way of it. 
 The objection of the lack of security or 
 of guaranty for the iaane of the coin ac- 
 cording to weight and quantity agreed 
 upon, discussed by one of our colleagues, 
 Mr. Coolidge, is of such a nature that if 
 it had been well founded the fact should 
 have been deemed to be reason for not 
 including this subject among those which 
 were to occupy the attention of the Con- 
 ference. The same might be said concern- 
 ing the fear of what might happen in case 
 of revolts or revolution, as to which it is 
 useful to observe that mints can not exist 
 everywhere. 
 
 It must be assumed that when the Con- 
 gress of this country enacted the law of 
 the 24th of May, 1888, and the Executive 
 carried it into effect by iu viting the Amer- 
 ican nations to meet in a conference called 
 to consider, among other things, the adop- 
 tion of a common silver coin for America, it 
 was taken for granted that the nations to 
 be dealt with had responsible governments 
 capable of inlfilling the engagements they 
 contracted. Otherwise the convocation of 
 the Conference would he inconceivable. 
 
 As to the internal disorders which may 
 occur, and from which unfortunately no 
 nation is free, they, from the fact that 
 they are accidental, can not well be al- 
 lowed to cause the rejectionof a measure of 
 a general and pormaneut characler. Dis- 
 carding these objections, born of a feel- 
 ing of distrust incompatible with thopnr- 
 poses which have determined the convo- 
 cation of the luteniational Conference, 
 it is easy to see that the plan proposed by 
 the same Delegate, Mr. Coolidge, is one 
 which, on the one hand, is excluded by 
 the terms iu which the subject was re- 
 ferred to the Couference, while on the 
 other hand, even were there not this in- 
 compatibility, it would fall far short of 
 producing the results which should ration- 
 ally be expected from the adoption of a 
 common silver coin in America. 
 
 The idea of the honorable Delegate is 
 that the Treasury of this country should 
 issue certificates of deposit of silver, pay- 
 able in gold at the current market value 
 of the silver. It is held that as these 
 certificates are received in the United 
 
 La adopcidn de una moneda coniTin de 
 plata puede ser establecida para toda la 
 America. No ee divisa objecidn 6 incon- 
 veniente serio que se oponga ^ ello. 
 La razon de falta de salvaguardia 6 ga- 
 rantia para que se eniita la moneda con 
 arregloal peso, ley y cantidad convenidos, 
 a!egada por nno de nuestros colegas, 
 el Sr. Coolidge, es de tal naturaleza que, 
 si fuera fundada, debia ser causa para 
 que esta materia no fuese comprendida 
 cntre las que debian ocupar la atencidn 
 de la Conferencia. Lo propio cabe decir 
 respecto del Feinor de lo que pudiera su- 
 ceder en casoderevueltas 6 revoluclones, 
 en 6rden St lo cual es util advertir que no 
 pueden existir casas de acunaoidu de 
 moneda eu todas partes. 
 
 Debe creerse que cuando el Congresode 
 este pals diot6 la ley de 24 de Mayo de 
 1888, y clEjecutivo le di6 cumpliniiento 
 invitando ^las naciones americanas para 
 que se reuniesen en Conferencia, Uamdln- 
 dolas S, deliberar, entre otras cosas, sobre 
 la adopcidn de una moneda comunde plata 
 para la America, se tuvo presente que se 
 trataba do naciones con Gobiernos serios, 
 capaces de oumplir los compromises que 
 contrajesen. De otro modo la convoca- 
 ci(3n de la Conferencia seria iuconcebible. 
 
 En cuanto ^ las perturbaciones internas 
 que pueden aciiecer, y de que desgra- 
 ciadamente niuguua naci6n est^ libre, 
 ellas, por el heclio de ser accidentales, no 
 pueden ser parte al rechazo de una me- 
 dida de car^cti r general y permanente. 
 Descartadas estas objeciones, nacidas de 
 un sentimiento de desconfianza incom- 
 patible con los mdviles que ban deter- 
 minado la convocaci6n de la Conferencia 
 Internaoional, es f^cil comprender que el 
 arbitrio propnesto por el mismo Delegado 
 Senor Coolidge, no se conforma por una 
 parte con la base senalada sobre esta 
 materia para el estudio de la Conferencia, 
 y por otra parte que, aun cuando se con- 
 formara con ella, estaria muy distaute de 
 producir los resultados que deben raoio- 
 nalmente esperarse de la adopoidn deuna 
 monnda de plata comlin en America. 
 
 La idea del honorable delegado consiste 
 en la emisi6n por la Tesoreria de este pals 
 de certificados de dep6sito de plata, que 
 serian pagados en oro por el valor de la 
 plata segtin su precio corriente en el mer- 
 cado. Se sostiene que asi como estos cer- 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMKRICAN GONFEKENCE. 
 
 445 
 
 States in payment of oWigatipus in favor 
 of the State, iu the same way they should 
 b(i received in Mexico, and in Central 
 and South America ; and that iu this 
 way they would have an iuteruational 
 circulation, based in the iirst place on 
 the value in gold of the silver bullion, 
 aud then on the credit of the United 
 States of North America. That a certifi- 
 cate issued for a deposit of silver bullion 
 is not a silver coin, is a statement the 
 mere making of which is sufficient demon- 
 stration. Although paper may serve the 
 purpose of coin, it is clearly not coin, and 
 much less a coin of a determined metal. 
 Aud as the International American Con- 
 ference has been convoked to deliberate, 
 among other things, on the adoption of a 
 common silver coin, it is evident that 
 the proposition 'made by the honorable 
 Mr. Coolidge is outside of this pro- 
 gramme. This iusuperable defect of form 
 constituted a decisive argument against 
 the proposition. 
 
 As to the intrinsic merit of the idea 
 that it contains, it may be held that the 
 deposit of silver bullion in the Treasury 
 of the United States in exchange for cer- 
 tificates payable in gold, according to the 
 current price of silver in the market, 
 would be far from producing the effects 
 which are expected from the adoption of 
 a common silver coin in America. Is it 
 conceivable that the owners of silver 
 bullion resident in Chili, Bolivia, Peru, 
 should decide to send it to Washington 
 to deposit in the Treasury of this city and 
 leceive in exchange certificates which 
 should represent the value of silver iu 
 the market ? Without donbt they can 
 get this same price in the place in which 
 they live without inctirring the expenses 
 of transportation, commissions, and in- 
 surance, or they will send it to the places 
 w here they have to settle balances re- 
 sulting from international transactions, 
 obtaining the same value. It would be 
 to call up a veritable illusion to imagine 
 that even in commerce any one should 
 wish to incur an expense or a trouble 
 which is absolutely unnecessary ; and it 
 should be patent that, simply by the fact 
 of the celebration of an international 
 agreement in the sense in which the hon- 
 
 tificados son recibidos en los Estadoa Uni- 
 dos, en pago de las obligaciones en favor 
 del Estado, del mismo modo seriau recibi- 
 dos en Mexico y en la America Central y 
 del Sud ; y quodeestasuerte tendrfanuna 
 ciroulacidn iuternacional, basada antes 
 de todo en el valor en oro de la harra do 
 plata, y despues en el cr^dito de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos de Norte America. 
 
 Que un certificado expedido por uu de- 
 p6sito de barras de plata no es una mo- 
 nedadeplata, es una proposicidn queque- 
 da deraostrada por el hecho solo de enun- 
 ciarse; aunqne uu papel pueda haoer las 
 veces de nioueda, con toda evidencia no 
 es una moueda, y mucho ni6no8 una mo- 
 neda de un metal determinado. Y como 
 la Conferencia Internacional Americana 
 ha sido convocada para deliberar, entre 
 otras materias, sobre la adopcidn de una 
 moueda coniuu de plata, es claro que la 
 proposici6n del Honorable Sefior Coolidge 
 cst^ fuera de su i)rograma. Esfe insub- 
 sanable defecto de forma oonstituye un 
 argumento decisive en contra de la pro- 
 posicidn. 
 
 En cuauto al m^rito intrinseco de la idea 
 que coutiene, puede sostenerse que el de- 
 pdsito de barras de plata eu la Tesoreria 
 de los Estados Unidos en cainbio de certi- 
 ficados pagaderos en oro, Begun el preclo 
 corriente de la plata en el mercado, dis- 
 tarla en mucho de producir los efectos 
 que se esperan de la adopcidn de una 
 moueda comiin de plata en America. 
 jEs acaso coucebible que los duetios de 
 barras de plata re-sidentes en Chile, Bo- 
 livia, Peril, ^e decidan £i en viarlas S Wash- 
 ington, para hacer su dep6sito tu la Te- 
 soreria de esta ciudad, y obtener en 
 cambio certificados que representen el 
 valor de la plata eu el mercado? Pero sin 
 diula iilguna podrSn obtener este mismo 
 valor en cl lugar en que residen sin in- 
 currir en los gastos de transporte, comi- 
 siones, seguro, 6 har^n la remisi6u S. los 
 puntoe eu donde tengan que cubrir los 
 saldos resnltantes de las trausaccioues 
 internaoionales, obtenieudo el mismo 
 valor. Seria hacerse una verdadera ilu- 
 si6u imagiuar siquiera, que eu el comen io 
 quiera uadie impouerse un gusto, 6 un 
 trabajo que sea completameute inutil; y 
 debe tenerae por cierlo que por el solo 
 hecho de celehrarse uu acuerdo iuterna- 
 cional eu el sentido que lo propone el 
 
446 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 orable Mr. Coolidge puts it, the silver 
 bullion produced iu the mentioned na- 
 tions and in others of America would 
 not come to the Treasury to be exchanged 
 for certificates, because this exchange 
 would not in the actual state of things 
 bring any advantage, but on the con- 
 trary an injury, an expense, which is in- 
 compatible with the ends of commerce. 
 
 Amongothercousiderations, why should 
 the silver bullion be deposited only in this 
 Treasury, and not likewise in that of all 
 the nations which form part of the Con- 
 ference? Only the reason of distrust, be- 
 fore mentioned, could authorize this dis- 
 tinction, this species of monopoly iu 
 favor of one only of the nations repre- 
 sented in the Conference; and it has 
 already been said that for this reason an 
 invitation to deliberate in international 
 conferences is inconceivable. The uuion 
 which is sought by nieaus of them would 
 actually and beforehand be destroyed. 
 The rule should, therefore, be the same 
 for all the American nations, it being 
 possible thus to efl'eot the deposit of the 
 silv6r bullion iu the treasury of each of 
 them in exchange for certificates. 
 
 Supposing that it should be thus estab- 
 lished, the measure could not have the 
 power which will be necessary to proJuce 
 the adoption of a common silver coin for 
 all the Republics of America. Although 
 the certificates of deposit should be well 
 guarantied, and without doubt they will 
 be, since they represent an effective value, 
 in their capacity of paper they cau not 
 perfectly and completely serve the pur- 
 poses of metallic coin. 
 
 When all the civilized nations have em- 
 ployed the precious metals for money, it 
 certainly has not been by reason of ca- 
 price or being led by an illusion. They 
 have cousidered that those metals were 
 the most appropriate for this purpose, 
 because in addition to the fact that they 
 represent their value in a comparatively 
 small volume that value is effective, that 
 is to say marketable, which does not 
 happen with paper. For this reason it is, 
 that if in abnormal and transitory occa- 
 sions paper can serve the purposes of coin 
 and replace it in part ordinarily for the 
 facility and prompt performance of cer- 
 tain transactions, it has not yet been 
 
 Honorable Senor Coolidge, las barras tie 
 plata producidas en las naciones mencio- 
 nadas y en otras de America no vendrian 
 Si esta Tesorerla & cambiarse por certifi- 
 cados, porque este cambio no habia de 
 producir en el estado actual de las cosas 
 ventaja alguna, sino por el contrario un 
 perjuicio, un gasto, lo que es incompati- 
 ble con los fines del comercio. 
 
 En otro drden de consideraciones, 
 ^ porqu^ las barras de plata habian de pe- 
 positarse solo en esta Tesorerla, y no tarn - 
 bien en la detodas las naciones que for- 
 man parte de la Conferencia? tJnica- 
 mente la razon de desconfianza, antes 
 expresada, podria autorizar esta distiu- 
 cidn, esta especie de inonopolio en favor 
 de una sola de las naciones representadas 
 en la Conferencia; y ya se ha dicho que, 
 mediando esta razon, nojes posible conce- 
 bir que se invite 6, deliberar en Conferen- 
 cias Internaoionales. La nni6n que por 
 medio de ellas se busca quedaria de hecbo 
 y de antemano destruida. La regla debia 
 se ser en consecuencia igual para todas las 
 naciones americanas, pudiendo por lo tan- 
 to efectuarse el dep6sito de las barras de 
 plata eu la Tesorerla de todas ellas en 
 cambio de certiticados. 
 
 Suponiendo que asl se estableoiera, la 
 medida no podria tener el ali;ance que 
 habia de producir la adopci6n de una 
 moncda comun de plata para todas las 
 Reptiblioas de ia America. Aunque los 
 certifioados de dep6sitos est^n bien ga- 
 rantidos, y sin duda lo estarSn desde 
 querepresentan un valor efectivo, en «u 
 calidad de papel no pueden hacer perfecta 
 y completamentelas veces de la moneda 
 met^lica. Cuaudo todas las naciones ci- 
 vilizadas ban empleado ijara moneda los 
 metales precioses, no ha sido ciertamente 
 en virtud de un capricho, ni gui^udose 
 por uua ilusi6n, Han considerado que 
 esos metules eran los mas approp6sito para 
 este fin, porque. Si la condicidn de reprr 
 sentar su valor eu un volumen relativa- 
 mente pequeno unen la de que este valor 
 sea efectivo, es decir, comerciable, lo que 
 no sncede con el papel. Por esto es que 
 si en ocasiones anormales y trausitorias 
 el papel puede hacer las veces de moneda, 
 y reemplazarla ordinariameute eu parte, 
 para la facilidad y expedicidn de ciertas 
 trausacoiones, todavia no se ha pensado 
 que pueda sustituir (i la moueda de un 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 447 
 
 thought that it can be a substitute for 
 coiu in a general and absolute mauuer, 
 and in a system of a permanent nature. 
 Founded, doubtless, on precedents of this 
 nature, the act of Congress which author- 
 ized the convocation of the Conference 
 has set down among the bases of consid- 
 eration the adoption of a metallic coiu 
 and not of a paper currency. 
 
 And as it is undeniable that these 
 premises rest on a solid foundation, and 
 are besides iu conformity with the acts 
 of Congress whiob gave origiu to the 
 Conference, it is necessary to investigate 
 how uL'd in what lorni may be effected 
 the adoution of a coiumou silver coiu, 
 which is iu this respect the ouly matter 
 submitted to the consideration of the 
 Conference, and from wbich this commit- 
 teo may not depart. The common silver 
 coiu must necessarily be of equal weight 
 and of equal flueness of metal for all the 
 nations which may adopt it. There 
 would be no opposition to takiug the sil- 
 ver dollar of the United States of North 
 America as SI au<lard. In this particular 
 no serious difiiculties cau present them- 
 selves. But if it is thought that the 
 ratio of laj to 1 between the silver and 
 the gold, which has been the rule during 
 the greater part of what has passed of 
 this century, is not sufficient, the ratio 
 of 16| to 1 might be taken, or another 
 more or less iu the same proportions, 
 Avithout losing sight of the fact that an 
 American agreement iu this sense would 
 contribute to assure the value of silver 
 which has fallen, among other reasons, 
 for having been demonetized in some 
 places, and for having its coiuage limited 
 in others. It is well to keep these facts 
 tiruily in mind, because tbey are of great 
 importance in the decision of the problem 
 which the committee has to solve. With 
 the increase of the use of silver with the 
 greater emi)loyment of it wbich will take 
 place in case it serve as international 
 coin iu nearly all the natioes of America, 
 it is a natural law that not ouly will it 
 not coutinue to depnciate, but that it 
 will see its value increased. This result 
 comes in the order which governs all com- 
 mercial transactions, and is jirecisely one 
 of those which is aimed at with the adop- 
 tion of a common silver coin. 
 
 modo general y absolute, y en un sistema 
 de cardicter permaueute. Fundiindose, sin 
 duda, en precedeutes de esta uaturaleza, 
 la ley delCongreso que autorizti la con vo- 
 caci6n de la Coiifereucia, ha lijado entre 
 las bases de cstudio, la adopcidn de una 
 moneda met^lica, '• no de una nioneda de 
 papel. 
 
 y como no puede desconocerse que estas 
 premisas desoansan en un fundamento 
 s61ido, y guardan, adenias, conforuiidad 
 con la ley del Cougreso que di6 origeu H 
 la Coufereucia, es forzoso a^erignar coruo 
 y en que forma podrii llevarse S, efeoto la 
 adopci6u de una moneda corauu de plata, 
 que es S, este respeoto la unica materia 
 sometida ^ la consideraci6u de la Confe- 
 rencia, y de la cual no podr^ separarse 
 esta Comisi6n. 
 
 La moneda de plata comun ha de sei 
 ni'Cesariamente de igual i)eso y de igual 
 ley de metal tino para todas las nacionts 
 que la adopteu. Nada se opondrla & que 
 se tomara como tipo el dollar de plata do 
 los Estados Unidos de Norte America. 
 En este particular no puedenpresentarso 
 difficultaues serias ; 6 bieu, si se cree que 
 la relacidn de 15^ & 1 entre la plata y el 
 oro, que rigid dui ante la mayor parte de 
 lo que v^ trascurrido de este siglo no es 
 suficieute, podria tomarse la relacidu de 
 16i ^ 1, 11 otra mas 6 m^nosenlas mismas 
 proporciones, sin perder de vista que un 
 acuerdo aniericano en este sentido halirii; 
 de contribuir & aiianzar el valor de la 
 plata, que ha bajado, entre otras causas, 
 ya por haber sido desmouetizada en algu- 
 nas partes, ya por haberse limitado su 
 acunaci6u en otras. 
 
 Conviene teiier muy presentes estos 
 hechos, porque ellos son de una gran im- 
 portancia en la decisi6n del problema que 
 tiene que resolver la Comisidu. Aumeu- 
 tando el uso de la plata con el mayor 
 empleo que de ella se har^ en el case de 
 SL'rvir para moneda interuacional en casi 
 todas las naciones de la AmiSrica, es ley 
 natural que, no solo no ha de contiuuar 
 depreci^udose, sine que ver£i aumentarsu 
 valor. Esta cousecueucia eutra en el 
 6rdeu que rige todas las trausncciones 
 comerciales y es precisamente una de las 
 que su persigue c^n la adopcidn de una 
 moneda comtin de plata. 
 
448 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CUNFEKENCE. 
 
 It is certain that the commercial bal- 
 ance of the exportations and importations 
 between the United I tates of North Amer- 
 ica and those of the other Republics of 
 this continent leaves a margin of many 
 millions of dollars against the former, and 
 that this fact shows the direction in which 
 the current of the international coin 
 would flow, and, moreover, constitutes no 
 obstacle to its adoption. 
 
 It willatonce interest the United States 
 of North America to increase their <om- 
 mercial relations with Ihe other sections 
 of this continent, and toward that object 
 tend many of the measures proposed for 
 the consideration of the Conference. With 
 its adoption it would be difficult to reckon 
 how the balances of the commercial dif- 
 ference would be formed, iind to what 
 quantities they would bt- reduced. 
 
 Then, again, the United States of North 
 America are producers of silver and the 
 greatest producers, and accordingly the 
 greater em[iloyment of coin of this metal 
 would be to their interest. 
 
 Undoubtedly those interests that con- 
 trol and fix exchanges, would not be as 
 much benefited by the adoption of a com- 
 mon silver coin which would exercise 
 great influence on many transactions 
 which the aforesaid interests evolve. It 
 is to be questioned whether this difliculty 
 is of such a character as to n ullify the ad- 
 vantagesof a common silvercoin. Thean- 
 swer should be no, and a thousand times 
 no. It suffices to have in mind the advan- 
 tages which should accrue from the circula- 
 tion of thesamecoin throughout America, 
 to be convinced that they are much more 
 powerful than the transitory difficulties 
 which might occur in some commercial 
 transactions. The immediate eifect of 
 the adoption of a common silver coin on 
 the exchanges of the general commerce 
 of America can not be other than that of 
 bettering them, and probably little by 
 little and at no remote period that efl'ect 
 will be felt also in the exchanges with 
 Europe, as it is not possible to be un- 
 aware of the fact that the use of a com- 
 mon coin in nearly the whole of America 
 will exei tan influence in thatsenseouthe 
 transactions of the entire world, to which 
 it will be of great service to give consist- 
 ency to the value of a coin which is used in 
 the greater part of the nations which form 
 
 Escierto que la balanza comeroial de las 
 exportaciones 6 importaciones entro los 
 Estados Unidos de Norte America, y las de 
 las demd^s Repiiblicas de este coutinente 
 deja un saldo de mnchos millones de pesos 
 en contra de los primeros, y que este hecho 
 manifiesta la ilirecci6n en que se estable- 
 cerla la corriente de la moneda interna- 
 cional, mas 61 no eonstituye un obst^culo 
 que se oponga Si su adopci6u. 
 
 Desde luego interesa £ los Estados 
 Unidos de Norte America fomentar sus re- 
 laoionescomSrcialescon las otrassecciones 
 de este contiuente, y & olio tienden varias 
 de las medidas propuestas ^ la considera- 
 ci6n de la Conferenoia. Con su adopcidn 
 serla dificil calcular como se formariau los 
 saldos de la balanza comercial y £i que can- 
 tidades quedarian reducidos. 
 
 For otra parte los Estados Unidos de 
 Norte America son profluotores de plata, y 
 de los primeros productores; y el mayor uso 
 dado S, la moneda de este metal habria de 
 beneficiaries. 
 
 Es indudable que otros intereses no se 
 sentirian en una situaoi6u igualmeute 
 c6moda, como son algunos de los que se 
 relaciouau con los cambios, y los diri- 
 jen y fijan, ya que no puede desconocerse 
 que la adopcidn du la moneda comiiu habrfi 
 de ejercer una gran influencia en muchas 
 transacciones que sobre ellos recaen. En 
 este case hay que cousiderar si este iucon- 
 veniente es de tal naturaleza que pueda 
 auular las ventajas de una moneda comiin. 
 Debe contestarse, n6, mil yeces u6. 
 Basta tener presentes las ventajas que ba 
 de producir la circulaci6n de una misma 
 moneda en toda la America para couven- 
 cerse que ellas son, con mucho, m£is podero- 
 sas quo los inconvenientes trausitorios que 
 en algunas transacciones del comercio 
 pueda acarrear. El efecto iumediato de 
 la adopci6n de una moneda comiin ile 
 plata, sobro los cambios del comercio 
 general de la America, no puede ser otro 
 que el de mejorarlos, y seguramente poco 
 S, poco, y no en^poca, remotaese efecto se 
 sentiria tambien en los cambios con la 
 Europa, porque no es posible desconocer 
 que el uso de una moneda comiin, en casi 
 toda la America, habr^ tie ejercer influeu- 
 cia en ese sentido en las transacciones de 
 todo el mundo, para el cual tieue que ser 
 iiu gran beneficio dar consistenoia al valor 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 449 
 
 it, and which suflfer in consequence of 
 the instability of silver with relation to 
 the value of gold. 
 
 _ If the adoption of a common silver coin 
 for America is to cause, as a first result, 
 the stability or rather the security of the 
 value of this metal, it is not possible to 
 aver that the establishment of this meas- 
 ure would be the same as to say to the 
 North American people that it could pay 
 its debts in different prices every day, ac- 
 cording to the value of silver. It is pre- 
 cisely to avoid this difficulty that the 
 common coin tends ; and if this coin were, 
 as is pretended, the same which to-day 
 circulates in this country, the reason is 
 incomprehensible why the same argument 
 exactly can not be made against what is 
 practiced here, when in commerce and in 
 all transactions the silver dollar is re- 
 ceived with a nominal value with respect 
 to that which the metal has in the market, 
 and when the recommendation of the Con- 
 ference will have to be limited to the 
 adoption by the countries in it repre- 
 sented ot a system equal or analogous to 
 that of the United States of North Amer- 
 ica, and in union with them. Such a fear 
 is, indeed, more chimerical than real, and 
 would exist rather to-day since the end to 
 which it aspires is to better the condition 
 of the silver, extending its circulation. 
 
 Moved by these considerations, the un- 
 dersigned permits himself to request that 
 the committee do not accept the proposi- 
 tion of the Hon. Mr. Coolidge, notwith- 
 standing the fact that it contains a cir- 
 cumstance which gives it a special char- 
 acter. Said proposition is nothing more 
 than the literal reproduction of the one 
 on the same subject which the Secretary 
 of the Treasury has presented to the Con- 
 gress of this country, from which results a 
 situation for the committee, and also for 
 the Conference, which merits careful con- 
 sideration. 
 
 As is known, the International Ameri- 
 can Conference has been called to delib- 
 erate, among other matters, on the adop- 
 tion of a compion silver coin for Amer- 
 ica. The subjects submitted to consider- 
 ation were chosen by the inviting Gov- 
 ernment. If it is easy to imagine that 
 the Governments invited might accept 
 29 10 
 
 de una moneda que se emplea en la mayor 
 parte de lasnaoiones que lo forman, y que 
 sufren S, consecuencia de la iustabilidad 
 de la plata con relacidn al valor del oro. 
 
 Si la adopcidn de una moneda comrin de 
 plata para la America ha de traer, como 
 primera consecuencia, la estabilidad 6 mSa 
 bien el aflanzamiento del valor de este me- 
 tal, no es posible sostener que el estable- 
 cimiento de esta medida equivaldria S, de- 
 cir al pueblo Norte-americano, que podrf a 
 pagar sus deudas en diferentes precios 
 cada dia, segtin sea el valor de la plata. 
 Precisamente & evitar este inconveniente 
 tiende la moneda comlin ; y si esta fuese, 
 como se pretende, la misma que hoy dia 
 circula en este pals, no se comprende la 
 razon porque no podria hacerse aotual- 
 mente el mismo argumento contra lo que 
 aqui se praotica, cuando en el comercio y 
 en todas las transacciones se recibe el 
 dollar de plata con un valor nominal res- 
 pecto del que tiene el metal en el merca- 
 do, y cuando la recomendacidndela Con- 
 ferencia se habia de limitar & que los 
 paises en ella representados, adoptaran 
 un sistema igual 6 an^logo al de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos de Norte America, y en uni6a 
 con estos. Semejante temor es pues mSs 
 quim^rico que real, y existiria m^s bien 
 hoy dia, pnesto que el fin ^ que se aspira 
 es mejorar la condicidn de la plata, exten- 
 diendo su circulaci6n. 
 
 Movido por estas consideraciones, el in- 
 frascrito se permite pedir & la Comisidn 
 que no acepte el proyecto del Honorable 
 Senor Coolidge, no obstante concurrir en 
 61 una cirounstancia que le atribuye un 
 car^cter especial. Dicho proyecto no es 
 mfe que la reprodncci6n literal del que 
 Bobre la misma materia ha presentado al 
 Congreso de este pais el Secretario del 
 Tesoro, de lo que resulta para la Comisi6n 
 y tambien para la Conferencia, una situa- 
 ci6n que merece ser atentamente con- 
 siderada. 
 
 Como se sabe, la Conferencia Interna- 
 cional ha side convocada para deliberar, 
 entre otras materias, sobre la adopcidn 
 de una moneda comiin de plata para la 
 America. Los asuntos sujetos S, estudio 
 fueron elegidos por el Gobierno invitante. 
 Si es f^oil concebir que los Gobiernos in- 
 vitados puedan aceptar todos, la mayor 
 
450 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 all, the greater part, or only some of the 
 subjects proposed for the consideration 
 of the Conference, since they could not 
 choose them beforehand, this supposition 
 can not be allowed by the Government 
 which issued the letter of convocation. 
 It seems that a change of opinion must 
 have taken place, which i"; would have 
 been necessary to communicate to the 
 Conference, which, in the face of this 
 fact, should have determined that which 
 it considered opportune and convenient. 
 
 The explanations called forth in the 
 committee to overcome this difificulty 
 have not produced a result which might 
 be considered satisfactory, and have left 
 it as it was. The distinction which is 
 claimed between administration and gov- 
 ernment, so as to deduce from that that 
 the government made the law to which 
 the Conference owes its origin, and that 
 the administration has done nothing but 
 execute it and carry it into effect, this 
 distinction can not establish between 
 these two entities such a line of depart- 
 ure as shall make him that executes 
 conflict with him that orders, it being 
 evident that the truth is just the con- 
 trary, since the execution should conform 
 Itself to the letter and the thought of the 
 command which it has to fulfill. One 
 would have to clash with all the princi- 
 ples of a correct administration to admit 
 a different idea. 
 
 Moreover, that the proposition pre- 
 sented to Congress should have an object 
 to regulate the relations of internal order 
 in this country, and that the Conference 
 should occupy itself only with inter- 
 national matters is not an argument that 
 will set this point any straighter. Many 
 of the matters submitted to the consider- 
 ation of the Conference, in case they 
 should succeed in establishing an inter- 
 national agreement, and notwithstand- 
 ing this character, should exercise a direct 
 and immediate influence in the internal 
 condition of all the nations which may 
 participate in it. Among these is num- 
 bered one relating to tbe adoption of a 
 common silver coin which will circulate, 
 if it should be accepted, in all the coun- 
 tries represented in the Conference. And 
 so true is this that one of the reasons 
 which is put forth to defeat the measure 
 consists exactly in the danger which the 
 
 parte, 6 solamente alguno de los temas 
 propnestos & la consideraoi6u de la Con- 
 ferencia, ya que ellos no han podido ele- 
 jirlos previamente, esta 8uposioi6n no 
 puede tener cabida en el Gobierno que 
 inioi6 la convocatoria. Parece que ha 
 debido operarse un cambio de opini6n, 
 que habria sido necesario comunicar ^ la 
 Conferencia, para que esta, en preseucia 
 de este hecho, determinase lo que hubiera 
 reputado oportuno y conveniente. 
 
 Las explicaciones provocadas en el seno 
 de la Comisidn para allanar esta difioultad, 
 no han producido un resultado que pueda 
 estimarse satisfactorio, y la han dejado 
 subsistente. La distincidu' que se alega 
 entre Administracidn y Gobierno, para 
 deducir do ella que el Gobierno dict6 la 
 ley S, que debe su origen la Conferencia, y 
 que la Administraci6n no ha hecho otra 
 cosa que ejecutarla y cumplirla, no puede 
 establecer entre estas dos eutidades una 
 linea tal de separacidn que sea capaz 
 de poner en pugna al que ejecuta con el 
 que ordena, siendo evidente que precisa- 
 mente lo contrario es lo cierto, puesto 
 que la ejecucidn se ha de conformar & la 
 letra y al pensamiento del mandate que 
 tiene que cumplir. Seria preciso ponerse 
 en cheque con todos los priucipios de una 
 administraci6n correcta admitir diversa 
 suposicidn. 
 
 Por otra parte, que el proyeoto presen- 
 tado al Cougreso tenga per objeto regla- 
 mentar asuntos de 6rden interne en este 
 pals y que la Conferencia debe ocuparse 
 solo de materias internacionalea, no es un 
 argumento que ponga & esta cuestidn en 
 mejor camino. Muchas de los puntos 
 sometidos ^ la consideraci6u de'la Confe- 
 rencia, si en ellos se llegara S, un acuerdo 
 iuternacional, y no obstante este carScter, 
 habrian de ejercer una influencia directa 6 
 inmediataen el 6rden interne de todas las 
 naciones que lo celebren. En este nlimero 
 se cuenta la adopcidn de una moneda co- 
 mrin de plata, que tendrS que sircular, si 
 Uega ^ -ser aceptada, en todos los paises 
 representados en la Conferencia. Y tan 
 cierto es esto, que una de las razones que se 
 alegan para recbazar la medida consiste 
 cabalraente en el peligro que oorrerianlos 
 ciudadauos de este pals al verse obligadoa 
 & aceptar dicha moneda. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 451 
 
 citizens of this country would encounter 
 being obliged to accept this coin. 
 
 It should still be added that the Con- 
 ference can not maintain relations nor 
 negotiate except with what is called the 
 administration, whose plans and propo- 
 sitions are the only ones it takes cogni- 
 zance of. It must not for this reason await 
 the result which the report of the Sec- 
 retary of the Treasury may attain in Con- 
 gress. What interests, is to know what 
 is the opinion of the administration. At 
 present that opinion, shown by an official 
 act, consists in the issue of certificates for 
 deposits of silver bullion payable in gold 
 for the value of the silver according to 
 its current price in the market, the de- 
 posits being made in this Treasury. It 
 would leave absolutely annulled the law 
 called "Bland," which authorizes the pur- 
 chase and coinage of not less than two 
 millions and no more than four millions 
 of dollars in silver per month. Evidently 
 a measure is discussed which is diamet- 
 rically opposed to that of the adoption of 
 •A common silver coin. 
 
 Leaving these last considerations for a 
 moment, and speaking of the proposition 
 of the Hon. Delegate Mr. Estee, the un- 
 dersigned accepts the general idea which 
 this proposition contains relative to the 
 establishment of an American Monetary 
 Union. He thinks illogical the limita- 
 tion to the effect that the international 
 coiuissued may be used only up to a given 
 quantity in each payment, since it is pro- 
 posed to circumscribe within certain lim- 
 its the quantity which will be allowed 
 to be coined. He reserves his liberty of 
 action for the appreciation of the details 
 of the proposition which perhaps might 
 be improved by the introduction of some 
 modifications more of order than of mean- 
 ing. With regard to the general princi- 
 ples on which be depends, he agrees per- 
 fectly with the Hon. Delegate. 
 
 JoBt Alfonso. 
 
 Debe agregarse todavia que la Confe- 
 rencia no puede mantener relaciones ni 
 entenderse sino con lo que se llama la 
 admiuistracidn, cuyas miras y propdsitos 
 son los linicos que toma en cueuta. No 
 tiene por lo mismo que esperar cual ser^ 
 el resultado que.alcanze en el Congreso 
 el proyecto del isecretario del Tesoro. Lo 
 que le interesa es conocer cual es el pen- 
 samiento de la Administracidn. Por 
 ahora ese pensamiento, manifestado por 
 un acto oficial, consiste en la expedicidn 
 de certificados por depdsitos de plata en 
 barra, pagaderos en oro, por el valor de 
 la plata seglin su precio corriente en el 
 mercado, debiendo efectnarse los dep6si- 
 tos en esta Tesorerla. Quedaria expresa- 
 mente derogada la ley llamada Bland, 
 que autorizd la compra y aouuacidu men- 
 suales de uo m^nos de dos millones y 
 no m& de cuatro millones de pesos de 
 plata. Como se v6, se trata de una 
 medida diametralmente opuesta & la de 
 la adopcidn de una moneda com^n de 
 plata. 
 
 Prescindiendo por un memento de estas 
 tUtimas consideraciones, y pronunciSn- 
 dose sobre el proyecto del Honorable De- 
 legado, SeBor Estee, el infrascrito aoepta 
 la idea general que este proyecto ooutiene 
 relativa al establecimiento de una Uni6n 
 monetaria americana. Juzga que no es 
 ]6,2;ica la limitacidn para que la moneda 
 intemacional que se emita nopuedausar- 
 se sino hasta una cantidad dada en cada 
 pago, desde que se propone circunscribir 
 dentro de ciertos limites la cantidad que 
 serit llcito acufiar. Se reserva su libertad 
 de acci6n para apreciar los detalles del 
 proyecto, que quizas podrian mejorarse 
 introduciendo en ella algunas modifica- 
 cionesmiis de reglamentacidn que defon- 
 do. En cuanto S, los principios generales 
 en que se apoya, esti en perfecto acuerdo 
 con el Honorable Delegado. 
 
 Jos^ Alfokso. 
 
452 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 MR. ESTEB'S report. 
 
 A Common Silver Coin to be Issued 
 
 BY ALL THE AMBI4ICAN NATIONS. 
 
 Gentlemen : The act of Congress pro- 
 viding for the " American International 
 Conference " ijrescribes, among other sub- 
 jects to be submitted for its considera- 
 tion — 
 
 " The adoption of a common silver coin 
 to be issued by each Government, the same 
 to be legal tender in all commercial trans- 
 actions between the citizens of all the 
 American States." 
 
 It must be admitted that "the adop- 
 tion of a common silver coin to be issued 
 -by each of the American Republics" 
 vrould be something new in international 
 American finance. In Europe the Latin 
 Union did substantially the same thing 
 that we are now trying to do in America, 
 and between the years 1865 and 1877 actu- 
 ally coined in silver 1,338,000,000 of francs 
 of uniform weight and fineness. 
 
 The American Congress passed the law 
 submitting this question to us for our con- 
 sideration, and thus gave to the measure 
 the full force of its sanction, and of ne- 
 cessity made it our duty to consider it. 
 
 Two ways may be followed in consider- 
 ing a subject of this character; one is to 
 try to defeat its purpose by presenting in 
 the strongest light all possible objections 
 to it, either imaginary or real ; the other is 
 to weigh both sides of the question, but 
 with an earnest desire to carry out the in- 
 tent of the law-makers who prescribed the 
 question for our consideration. 
 
 I therefore approach the consideration 
 of this question with the hope that it 
 may be found possible to carry out what 
 
 DICTAMEN DEL SR. ESTEE. 
 
 Una Monbda coMto de plata para 
 LAS Naciones Ambuicanas bxpedida 
 POR Todas Ellas. 
 
 Senorbs : El acta del Congreso que 
 cre6 la ' ' Conferencia Intemacional Ame- 
 ricana," prescribi(5 que entre los diversos 
 asuntos que debian someterse ^ la cousi- 
 deracifin de los Senores Delegados, fuese 
 uno el que sigue : 
 
 "La adopcion de una moneda comtin de 
 plata que pueda ser acufiada y emitida 
 por todos y cada uno de los Gobiernos, y 
 sirva de medio circulante legal para toda 
 clase de transaociones comercialea cele- 
 bradas mutuamente entre los ciudadanos 
 de nn Estado de America y los de los 
 demiis del mismo hemisferio." 
 
 Debe admitirse desde luego, que esta 
 adopcidn de una moneda comtin de plata 
 que todas y cada una de las Eepiiblicas 
 americanas puedan poner en circulaci6n 
 seria una novedad en el raundo finauoiero 
 internacioual de America. Pero no as! 
 en Europa, donde la Uniiin latina hizo 
 en sustancia lo mismo que en America 
 estamos tratando de hacer en estos mo- 
 mentos, y donde, de 1865 ^ 1877, se acu- 
 fiaron en plata por la expresada Uni6n, 
 con peso y ley uniformes, 1,338,000,000 de 
 francos. 
 
 El Congreso de los Estados Unidos dis- 
 puso que este asunto se sometiese i, 
 nuestra consideracidu, y did asi autoridad 
 Si la materia, imponi^ndonos el deber de 
 estudiarla. 
 
 Hay sin embargo, dos modos de con- 
 siderar las cosas cuando se trata de un 
 asunto de esta naturaleza. Uno es tratar 
 de hacer que fracase el pensamiento, 
 presentando contra ^1, con la mayor 
 fuerza posible todas las objeciones que 
 ocurren, ya seau fundadas, ya imagina- 
 rias. El otro es examinar la cuestidn 
 bajo todos sus aspectos, pesando con 
 cuidado cada argumento, asl en pro como 
 en contra, pero animados siempre del 
 vivo deseo de que se lleve S. cabo la idea, 
 y se realize la intencidn que los legisla- 
 dores del pals demostraron abrigar al 
 someter el punto ^ nuestro estudio. 
 
 Yo por mi parte declaro, antes de entrar 
 en materia, que voy ^ hacerlo con la 
 esperanza de que se crea posible la adop- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 453 
 
 I 'believe to be the wishes of the American 
 people. 
 
 The adoption of an international Amer- 
 ican silver coin would be the longest step 
 ever taken by the American Republics 
 towards building up and maintaining in- 
 creased trade relations with each other, 
 because a uniform money and close com- 
 mercial relations necessarily go hand in 
 hand. This would give to a specific coin, 
 uniform in weight and fineness, a conti- 
 nental character; and by reason of its 
 having the indorsement of the eighteen 
 American nations and one hundred and 
 twenty million of people, it would have 
 a value in the financial world that other- 
 wise it could not maintain ; and although 
 the coin would be distinctively American, 
 yet the commercial relations of many of 
 these nations with the rest of the world, 
 and the uniformity of the coin used by all 
 the American republics would give it a 
 conspicuous and favorable recognition in 
 most of the great trade and monetary 
 centers even beyond the limits of the 
 continent; like a uniform system of 
 weights and measures, it would be po- 
 tential because uniform. The making of 
 such a coin would change the present 
 system of exchange between the several 
 Western nations, and save to the people 
 large sums of money, now lost by reason 
 of the difl'ereut monetary systems exist- 
 ing among each of them, and it would 
 tend to keep in America much of the 
 money and trade now sent to Europe, but 
 which of right belongs to America. 
 
 At the threshold of this inquiry we are 
 met with the objections, among others, 
 that nations can not afford to become co- 
 partners in coining money; that some 
 nations are strong financially, while oth- 
 ers are weak; that by this financial 
 scheme the weaker nations would be 
 made stronger and the stronger nations 
 would be made correspondingly weaker ; 
 that wealth is created by the slow process 
 of prudent accumulations and not by 
 
 ci6n de la moneda de que se trata, pues 
 que ^se es, S, mi juicio, el deseo general 
 del pueblo de America. 
 
 La adopcidn de una moneda de plata, de 
 car^oterinternacional americanoseria, sin 
 duda, el paso mSa eficaz quepndiera darse 
 por las Repiiblicas americanas para la cre- 
 aci6n y fomeuto de su reciproco comercio ; 
 pues que ^ste y una moneda uuiforme son 
 cosas que necesariamente se dan la mano. 
 Una moneda tal como la que se propone, 
 del misnio peso y ley, tendria un car^cter 
 continental ; y el hecho s61o de estar san- 
 cionada por diez y ocho nacioues ameri- 
 canas, y por los ciento veinte millones de 
 habitantes que las componen, le impri- 
 mirla un valor permanente y reconocido, 
 que de otro modo serla imposible esperar 
 que se le diese en el mundo financiero. Es ' 
 cierto que esta moneda habia de ser, 
 como se quiere, distintivamente ameri- 
 cana ; pero S, pesar de eso, el desarroUo 
 de las relaciones comerciales de muchos 
 de los paises de America con el resto del 
 mundo, y la circunstancia de ser uni- 
 forme la moneda que trata de crearse, 
 obligarian ^ que se la reconociese cons- 
 plcua y favorablemente, en la mayor 
 parte de los centres comerciales y mone- 
 tarios, fuera de los'limites de nuestro 
 continento. Es £i esa uuiformidad, y no ^ 
 otra cosa, & lo que se deben las ventajas 
 del sistema general, ^ que todos aspiran, 
 de pesos y medidas. La acunaci6n de 
 esta moneda transformaria por completo 
 el sistema de cambios que hoy existe 
 entre las varias naciones de este hemis- 
 ferio, y ahorraria & los pueblos de AmiSrica 
 las grandes p^rdidas que sufren por raz6n 
 de sus distintos sistemas monetarios, con- 
 tribuyendo adera^s S, retener en America 
 una gran parte, asl del dinero, como del 
 trSfioo, que hoy se van para Europa, 
 pero que por derecho propio nos perte- 
 necen. 
 
 La primera objecifin que se presenta, en 
 el momento mismo de comenzar la inves- 
 tigaoi6n, consiste en no serposible 6 con- 
 veniente, como se asegura, para las dife- 
 rentes naciones entrar en esta especie de 
 sociedad para aouiiar moneda : que bajo 
 el punto de vista financiero, las naciones 
 no son iguales, pues hay unas que son 
 fuertes, y otras que son diSbiles : que por 
 virtud de la medida de que se trata las 
 naciones d^biles se harlan m^s fuertes y 
 
454 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 means of legislation ; that at best tlie 
 making of an international coin would 
 be an experiment, and that experiments in 
 finances are always dangerous, conspicu- 
 ously so when nations and not individ- 
 uals are dealing with each other, for as 
 between nations if a mistake is made the 
 remedy is slow of application and most 
 difScult to reach. 
 
 It is further argued that Europe is the 
 great monetary center, and all values are 
 measured by European standards; that 
 an organized' effort on the part of the 
 American nations to make from silver an 
 international coin, receivable everywhere 
 in America at par, would be disconnte- 
 nanced by European iinanciers ; that as 
 Europe has hitherto fixed the rate of ex- 
 change with most of the American trade 
 centers, it would view with alarm any 
 financial steps which tend to change the 
 old order of things, and, further than 
 this, would frighten capital away from 
 America, and thus afi'ect unfavorably 
 European investments already made here; 
 that gold is the true measure of values, 
 and that no system intended to increase 
 the money value of silver beyond the 
 present demands can be permanent. 
 
 Most of these objections required no 
 answer. If America can not financially 
 stand alone by this time, when profound 
 peace prevails over the continent, it never 
 will. IfEuropean investments would not 
 be safe, when we shall have an interna- 
 tional silver coin of undoubted weight 
 and fineness, how can they be more so 
 now when every one of these nations has 
 a silver coin of its own coinage, receiva- 
 ble only within its own territory, and 
 whose value is not measured by any uni- 
 form law or custom of trade, and which 
 coin is not known or recognized beyond 
 the limits of the nation issuing it. 
 
 las fuertes se debilitarian proporcionscl- 
 mente : que la riqueza se crea poco ^ po- 
 co con prudencia y economia, y no de uu 
 golpe por medio de legislaci6n: queesta 
 creaoi6n de una moueda internacional 
 americana serla cuando m^nos, un simple 
 experimento, y que los experimentos en 
 materias de hacienda son siempre peli- 
 grosos, mucho m^s cuando se hacen con 
 naciones y no con individuos particulares, 
 pues trat^ndose de naciones, el remedio 
 de cualquier error que se cometa es por 
 necesidad m^s tento y m^s dificil de en- 
 contrar. 
 
 Se arguye tambi^n, que el grau centro 
 monetario est^ en Europa, y que todos los 
 valores se miden por tipos europeos: que 
 todo esfuerzo en America para establecer 
 una moneda internacional de plata, ad- 
 misible ^ la par en todas las naciones del 
 Nuevo Mundo, se mirarla con desagrado 
 por los hacendistas europeos y arrostraria 
 su oposioi6n : que hasta el presente es en 
 Europa donde se ha fijado el tipo del 
 cambio con la mayor parte de los centres 
 comerciales de America, y que por con- 
 siguiente cualquier medida financiera quo 
 tienda ^ cambiar el drden antiguo de las 
 oosas, produciria perturbaci6n y alarma, 
 ahuyeutaria del suelo de America los 
 capi tales que en 61 se encuentran, y 
 afeotaria desfavorablemente las inver- 
 siones hechas en este continente por 
 capitalistas earopeos : que el oro es la 
 medida verdadera de los valores : y qne 
 ningun sistema que se proponga aumen- 
 tar el valor monetario de la plata podril 
 ser perraanente. 
 
 Los m^s de estos argumentos no necesi- 
 tan refutacidn. Si hoy por hoy, cuando 
 reina paz profunda en toda la America, 
 no ha de poder 6sta depender de si misma, 
 financieramente, precise serdl desesperar 
 de que lo pueda en niuguu tiempo. Si la 
 iDversi6n de capitales europeos pierde sn 
 seguridad porque tengamos una moneda 
 internacional de plata, de peso y ley in- 
 dudables, j,c6mo y porqu6 podria rete- 
 nerla, 6 aumentarla, por el hecho, que 
 exista en el dia, de que cada naoi6n tenga 
 una moneda de plata de su propio cuiSo, 
 admisible solamente en su propio terri- 
 torio, de valor no determinado por nin- 
 guna ley 6 costumbre mercantil uniforme, 
 y no conocida ni aceptada fuera de los 
 llmites de la nacidn que la emitid ? 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 455 
 
 The making of an international coin may 
 l)e an experiment ; but it is an experiment 
 in the right direction ; because this would 
 tend to build up and not to depreciate the 
 value of silver. In America it should re- 
 quire no argument to prove that silver is 
 one of the precious money metals, and 
 that in a large part of the world it will 
 always be such ; from the remotest ages 
 it has been so recognized. The Bible in- 
 forms us that "Abraham returned from 
 Egypt rich in cattle, silver, and gold,'' 
 and while it is true that in 1873 Germany 
 demonetized silver, and subsequently the 
 "Latin Union broke the link between sil- 
 ver and gold, which had kept the price of 
 the former, as measured by the latter, 
 constant at about the legal ratio,'' and^ 
 when this was done, the price of gold went 
 up or the price of silver went down, in 
 any event, the relative value of the two 
 metals became wider and wider apart, yet 
 silver still remains, and doubtless always 
 will remain, one of the precious money 
 metals. 
 
 Money is now coined from silver by 
 every American nation but one, and by 
 many of the other nations of the earth. 
 It may be repeated that one of the objects 
 of this measure is to enlarge the use of 
 silver and thus increase its value. This 
 is not alone an American idea ; for, if we 
 are to be guided by the unquestioned trend 
 of public opinion, in both Europe and 
 America we must believe bimetallism will 
 soon be everywhere adopted, and when so 
 adopted silver will assume its old time 
 relative value with gold. 
 
 From a report recently made by United 
 States Consul Mason, at Marseilles, I ven- 
 ture to make the following quotation : 
 
 "One of the clearly defined tendencies 
 of public opinion in Europe, notably so in 
 France, Germany, and England, is seen in 
 the steadily growing sentiment in favor 
 of restoring the bimetallic standard of 
 currency." 
 
 La acuQaoidn de una moneda interna- 
 cioual podr^ ser un experimento ; pero es 
 uu experimento en el buen camino, que 
 tiende ii hacer subir, j uo Si depreciar el 
 valor de la plata. No hay necesidad de 
 demostrar, en America, que este metal 
 precioso es uno de los empleados para la 
 fabricacion de la moneda, y que sierapre 
 se le emple(5 y seguirii emple^ndose para 
 ese objeto, lo mismo en estos tlempos, que 
 desde la m& remota antigiiedad. La 
 Biblia nos dice que "Abraham regres6 de 
 Egipto, rico en ganados y en plata y oro ; " 
 y aunqne es verdad que en 1873 la Ale- 
 mania quit6 S, la plata su oariJcter de 
 metal mouetario, y que en el mismo afio 
 la "Uni6n Latina quebrantd la relacidn 
 que existia entre los dos metales, y 
 habia mantenido poco vaSs 6 m^nos al 
 tipo legal el precio de la plata basada en 
 el del oro,'' ocasionando asl una subida 
 en el precio de este, 6 una baja en el de 
 aquella, y hacifindo cada vez mayor la 
 diforenoia entre el valor relative de los 
 dos metales, hay que confesar sin embargo 
 que & pesar de eso, la plata ha side, 6 
 indudablemente continuar^ siendo siem- 
 pre, metal precioso monetario. 
 
 Hoy dia todas las uaoiones americanas 
 mfinos una, y muchas otras de las del 
 muudo, acunan moneda de plata, y uno 
 de los objetos que la medida en disousi6n 
 se propone es, asl puede decirse de 
 nuevo, ampliar, 6 extender, el uso de 
 este metal precioso, y por consiguiente 
 aumentar su valor. La idea en realidad 
 no es exclusivameute americana, pnes si 
 se va d) juzgar por la tendencia inequi voca 
 de la opini6n piiblica, asi en Europa 
 como en America, el bi-metalismo se adop- 
 tar^ pronto en todas partes, y ent<)nce8 
 recobrar^ la plata el valor relative con 
 que tenia antiguamenterespecto al oro. 
 
 Me permito citar, con este motive, las 
 siguientes frases de un informe de Mr. 
 Mason, C6usul General de los Estadoa 
 Unidos en Marsella, publicado reciente- 
 mente : 
 
 "Unade las tendeucias mas maroadas 
 de la opini6n ptiblica en Europa, y nota- 
 blemente en Francia, Alemania 6 Ingla- 
 terra, puede descubrirseenelsentimiento 
 fijo y constantemente creciente en favor 
 de restablecer la norma bi-metSlica de la 
 moneda corriente.'' 
 
456 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Note also the more recent dlsoussionH 
 in the House of Commons ; observe the 
 lengthy but pointed quotations from re- 
 cent French,Engli8h, and German sources, 
 found on pages 194 and 195 of the report 
 of the Hon. Edward O. Leech, Director of 
 the United States Mint, in his report for 
 1889, and you can not but observe a most 
 marked change of public sentiment favor- 
 ing silver as a money metal. 
 
 These references would not be complete 
 without quoting from the very able re- 
 port just made by Mr. Secretary Windom, 
 the Secretary of the Treasury of the 
 United States, where he says that "It 
 is unquestionably true that in this 
 country public sentiment and commercial 
 and industrial necessity demand the joint 
 use of both metals as money. It is not 
 proposed to abandon the use of either 
 gold or silver money. The utilization of 
 both metals as a circulating medium and 
 as a basis for proper currency is believed 
 to be essential to our national prosperity. 
 We can not discard either, if we would, 
 without invoking the most serious con- 
 sequences." 
 
 Add to this the further thought that 
 at least one-half of all the gold produced 
 is used in the arts, and we must be im- 
 pressed with the fact that there is not 
 gold enough to carry on the world's busi- 
 ness, and there is no probability of an 
 increased production. Indeed, the en- 
 hanced value of gold, peculiar to this dec- 
 ade, should have largely increased the 
 production of that metal were it possi- 
 ble to do so ; but the old sources of sup- 
 ply are either exhausted or less produc- 
 tive. 
 
 If, in the consideration of this subject, 
 we look for precedents as a guide for our 
 future action in relation either to the 
 finances or the commerce of the New 
 
 Obs^rvense tambi^n las discusiones que 
 m^ recientemente han tenido lugar en la 
 C^mara de los Comunes de la Gran Bre- 
 tana, y las extensas y muy oportunas ci- 
 tas, tomadas de textos asl franceses como 
 ingleses y alemanes, que se encuentran en 
 las pSfginas 194 y 195 del Informe de 1889, 
 del Hon. Sefior Edward O. Leech, Director 
 de la Casa de Moneda de los EstadosUni- 
 dos ; y como resultado de todo, se llegar^ 
 al convencimiento de que existe un cam- 
 bio muy marcado en la opini6n ptiblica en 
 favor de la plata como metal monetario. 
 Estas citas, sin embargo, serlan in- 
 completas, si no se agregara S, ellas lo que 
 dice el excelente informe, recientemente 
 preparado sobre este asunto por el Ho- 
 norable Sefior Windom, Secretario del 
 Tesoro de los Estados Unidos. He aqui 
 BUS palabras : 
 
 "Es inouestionablemente cierto que en 
 este pais el sentimiento publico, asl como 
 las neoesidades del comercio y de la in- 
 diistria, demandan imperiosamente que 
 se usen los dos metales para la fabrica- 
 oidn de la moneda. No hay deseo de aban- 
 donar el uso del dinero, ya sea de oro, 6 
 ya de plata ; y se cr^e, por el contrario, 
 que es esencial para nuestra prosperidad 
 naoional la utilizaci6n de ambos metales 
 como medio circulante legal, y como base, 
 adem^, para la moneda de papel corrien- 
 te. No nos serla posible, aunque qui- 
 si^ramos, sin que de ello sobreviuieran las 
 consecuencias m^s serias, descartar nin- 
 guno de los dos metales." 
 
 Agr^guese S, 6sto, que por lo mfinos la 
 mitad de todo el oro producido en el 
 mundo se consume en las artes, y que de 
 este heoho se despreude que no hay bas- 
 tante cantidad de aquel metal para satis- 
 facer las neoesidades de los negocios. No 
 es tampoco probable que se aumente la 
 produccidn de este metal, pues aunque 
 esta debiera haber crecido (si para ello 
 hubiese habido posibilidad fisioa) merced 
 S, la subida del valor que en ^1 se ha no- 
 tado durante los liltimos diez anos, no ha 
 Bucedido asl sin embargo. El resultado 
 es que las antiguas f uentes de produccifin 
 del oro, 6 se han agotado, <5 dan menor 
 rendimiento. 
 
 Si al considerar esta materia, dese&e- 
 mos encontrar precedentes que pudieran 
 servirnos de guia para nuestra conducta 
 futura, ya sea en asnntos de hacienda de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 457 
 
 World, we shall find ourselves groping in 
 the dark; new questions confront us as 
 new necessities have to he met. This is 
 a commercial age, full of new experiences, 
 and experiences peculiar to America. 
 The march of progress has reached every 
 part of the American continent; an im- 
 proved order of things now exists ; gov- 
 ernments have hecome more stable, busi- 
 ness industries more widely diversified; 
 and yet, by reason of the remoteness from 
 each other of the great populous com- 
 munities in the South and of the diffi- 
 culties of frequent and rapid communica- 
 tion, the Central and South American 
 Republics would be more benefited by a 
 uniform and permanent financial system 
 than can now be anticipated. 
 
 The purchasing power of this new 
 money would be everywhere known, and 
 although the people using this money are 
 citizens of difierent nations, yet, except- 
 ing those of the United States and part of 
 Brazil and Hayti, they all speak the same 
 language, and are descended from the 
 same people. It is admitted that the 
 value of money depends on its purchasing 
 power, and it is admitted that, in times 
 past, gold has been at a discount ; now 
 it is at a premium. Who can say what 
 the relative value of gold and silver will 
 be ten years from now ? We do know that 
 it would be to the interests of the Ameri- 
 can Republics to increase the value of 
 silver, and we can do that only by increas- 
 ing its use. 
 
 This is an important fact, iu view of 
 the circumstance that a large part of all 
 the precious metals are produced in Amer- 
 ica. For instance, the amount of the 
 world's production of silver during the 
 year 1888, as we learn from the report of 
 the Director of Mint of the United States, 
 was $142,437,150, of which amount the 
 United States produced |59,195,000 ; Mex- 
 
 car^cter general, ya en los puramente 
 comerciales del Nuevo Mundo, nos halla- 
 rdmos ^ oscuras, y como buscando i, 
 tientas el camino. Son nuevas las 
 cuestiones que examinamos, y nuevas las 
 necesidades que tenemos quo satisfacer. 
 Este es un siglo comeroial, fecundo en 
 experimentos nuevos, especiales de 
 America. La marcha del progreso se ha 
 hecho sentir en todas partes en el conti- 
 nente americano ; en todas ellas existe 
 hoy un 6rden mejor de cosas ; los Go- 
 biernos se ban hecho mas estables; 
 las industrias se han desarrollado mas 
 ampliamente; pero como las distancias 
 que separan unas de otras & las gran- 
 des y populosas comunidades del Sud 
 sou tan grandes, y son tantas y tan 
 graves las dificultades que se oponen & 
 una comunicaoi6u rSpida y frecuente 
 entre ellas, puede decirse con confianza 
 que falta algo que hacer todavia, y que 
 las Repliblicas de Centre y Sud America 
 reportarlan de uu sistema financiero uni- 
 forme y permanente, beneficios incalcu- 
 lables, iumensameute superiores & cuanto 
 podemos imaginarnos en el dia. 
 
 EI valor en cambio de la nueva moneda 
 serfa conocido en todas partes, y los pue- 
 blos que han de usarla la manejarlan y 
 entenderian f^cilmente, porque aunque 
 constituyen naciones distintas, todos, ex- 
 cepto solo los Estados Unidos el Brasil 
 y Haiti, hablan una misma lengua y pro- 
 ceden tambi^n de un misnio orlgen. EstS 
 admitido que el valor de la moneda de- 
 pende de lo que con ello puede oomprarse ; 
 y se sabe ademas que en ^pocas pasadas, 
 el oro que estfi hoy ^ premio, ha estado & 
 descuento. j Qui^n podrS deoir cu^l serSi 
 el valor relative del oro y de la plata de 
 aqul & diez anos? Lo que sabemos es que 
 & las Repriblicas americanas les interesa 
 aumentar el valor de la plata, y que esto 
 no puede hacerse de otro modo que dando 
 ensanche & su empleo. 
 
 La importancia de este hecho se hace 
 mas patente por la circumstancia de que 
 una gran porcidn de los metales preciosos 
 se produce en America. En el ano de 
 1888, segtSn consta del Informe del Direc- 
 tor de la Casa de Moneda de los Estados 
 Unidos, laproduccito total de plata, en 
 el mundo entero, fuiS de |142,437,150; y 
 de ellos los Estados Unidos produjeron, 
 
458 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ico, $41,373,000 ; the Argentine Republic, 
 $125,000 ;. Colombia, |l,200,000; Bolivia, 
 $11,000,0J0; Chili, |8,537,350; Peru, $3,- 
 12-!i,000; Central American States, $350,- 
 000 ; making a total of $125,208,350 of 
 silver produced in the United States and 
 Central and South America, leaving only 
 the sum of $17,228,8U0produced elsewhere 
 in the world. Of this amount only a 
 small portion was produced in Europe ; 
 the balance coming from Africa, Asiatic 
 Turkey, and Australasia. 
 
 During the year 1888 the world's pro- 
 duction of gold was $105,994,150. Of 
 this sum the United States produced 
 $33,175,000, about one-third ; Australasia, 
 $27,327,000, about oue-fourth; Russia, 
 $21,302,000; Africa, $4,500,000; Chili, 
 $1,591,400; Colombia, $1,500,000; leav- 
 ing a small balance produced in various 
 other countries. It will thus be noted 
 that America and Australasia are the 
 great producers of gold, and that .America 
 alone furnishes fully nine-tenths of all 
 the silver. 
 
 The American nations are thus called 
 upon, by every impulse of self-interest, 
 to do whiit can be safely and wisely done 
 to sustain the value of one of its chief 
 products. The Western Continent is the 
 undoubted treasure-field of the world. 
 The inquiry forces itself upon us. Shall 
 distant nations, which must have what 
 America produces, be permitted to fix the 
 price of onr productions, and yet we make 
 no effort to maintain their value at 
 home? Shall we reverse all our past 
 experiences, by saying gold shall be a 
 money metal and silver shall not, and 
 thus increase the price of money by mak- 
 ing it scarce, and decrease the price of 
 products, when we are the largest pro- 
 ducers in the world, and have more 
 products for sale than any other people ? 
 
 $59,195,000; Mexico, $41,373,000; la Re- 
 pliblica Argentina, $425,000; Colombia, 
 $1,200,000; Bolivia, $11,000,000; Chile, 
 $8,537,350; Peril, $3,128,000; los Estados 
 de Centro America, $350,000. Resulta, 
 pues, uu total de $125,208,350 producidos 
 en los Estados Unidos, y en las Americas 
 del Centro y del Sud, mlentras que el de 
 los producidos en el resto del mundo 
 asciende s61o ^$17,228,800. De esta misma 
 cantidad sdlo una pequefia parte tu.6 pro- 
 ducida]en Europa ; el resto vino de Africa, 
 laTnrqula Asi^tioa y Australasia. 
 
 En el ano de 1888, la prodnccidn del oro 
 en el mundo iu6 de $105,994,150; de cuya 
 suma'oorrespondieron ^los Estados Uni- 
 dos $33,175,000, que forman casi la tercera 
 parte del total: S, Australasia $27,327,000, 
 6 sea prdximamente la cuarta parte; ^ 
 Rusia, $21,302,000 ; al Africa, |4,500,'000 ; 
 ^ Chile, $1,591,400 ; & Colombia, $1,500,- 
 000 ; y ^ las dem^s naciones el pequeBo 
 saldo que queda. Se ve, pues, que 
 America y Australasia son las grandes 
 productoras do oro, y que America, por 
 si s61a, suministra ampliamente las nueve 
 d^cima partes del total de plata que se 
 obtiene en el mundo. 
 
 Asi es que las naciones americanas se 
 encuentrau llamadas por todas las razones 
 imaginables de interns propio, S, hacer 
 cu^nto se pueda, con seguridad y pru- 
 dencia, para que aumente, <5 ^ lo menos 
 no se disminuya, el valor de uuo de sus 
 principales productos. En el suelo del 
 continente occidental se encierran los 
 tesorOB del mundo; y la fuerza de las 
 circumstancias exige de nosotros que 
 investigu6mos la cuesti6n siguiente : jSe 
 habr^ de permitir que naciones lejanas 
 que necesitan lo que producimos, y tieuen 
 que consumirlo, seanlasquefijeuelprecio 
 de nuestros productos, y que no hagamos, 
 por nuestra parte, esfuerzo alguno para 
 mantener su valor en nuestros propios 
 territories ? jHabr6mos de contradecir la 
 pasada experiencia, y disponer que el oro 
 sirva para fabricar moneda, y no sirva la 
 plata, aumentando de ese modo el precio 
 del dinero por hacerlo escaso, y redu- 
 ciendo el de los productos, aunque seamos, 
 como somos, los mSa grandes productores 
 del mundo, y teugamos, como tenemos, 
 mucho m^ que vender que las demas 
 naciones ? 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 459 
 
 It must be admitted that money is 
 power, whether that money be a yellow 
 metal, a white metal, or a simple promise 
 to pay ; and its value in the great com- 
 mercial world depends largely on supply 
 and demand. The more money a nation 
 possesses the more power it has. Silver 
 money is a necessity to the American na- 
 tions, because business could not be car- 
 ried on without it. Then, if it is used as 
 money now, and if it will be used as money 
 in the future, the best and most universal 
 use of that money should be adopted ; the 
 largest possible purchasing power should 
 bo given to every silver dollar coined. 
 This can only be done by increasing the 
 demand for it; everybody is willing to 
 talio money for what he has to sell, and 
 silver is money in every country but one 
 ou the Western Continent, and is taken 
 in payment for debts in all of them. 
 
 It is true, little or no hard money is in 
 actual use among the English and Amer- 
 ican financiers, except as a security for 
 their paper ; hard money must always be 
 used for this purpose. In order to main- 
 tain the reputation of paying their debts 
 when due, and of paying in money or its 
 equivalent, there must be a sound govern- 
 mental financial policy behind all private 
 transactions. 
 
 A stable and wise system for the coin- 
 age of money is one of the best evidences 
 of good government, and goes farther 
 to wards maintaining credit than any other 
 one thing. The nation to which the indi- 
 vidual financier belongs must have a 
 healthy financial policy, in order that the 
 individual may have credit; for where 
 national credit is affected, the individual 
 credit of the persons forming that nation 
 is also affected; you can not destroy the 
 one and successfully maintain the other. 
 The fact that a coin is of full weight and 
 of uniform fineness is taken as true when 
 gieat financial nations stand behind it; 
 and thus an American continental silver 
 
 No puede disputarse en uiodo alguno 
 que el dinero es una potencia, ya est6 
 representado por un metal amarillo, 6 
 bianco, 6 por una simple promesa de pago, 
 y que su valor en el gran mundo comer- 
 cial depende eu gran parte de la relacidn 
 que existe entre la oferta y el pedido. 
 Mientras m^s dinero posea una nacidn 
 mayor serisupoder. Lamonedadeplata 
 es una necesidad para las naciones ameri- 
 canas porque los negocios no pueden 
 marchar sin ella ; y si hoy se nsa esa mo- 
 neda y continuard; nsdindose en lo auoesi- 
 vo, pareoeclaro que debemos adoptar una 
 medida que facilite dicho uso, y lo haga 
 m£is universal. A cada peso de plata que 
 se acufie debemos darle el mayor valor 
 en oambio que sea posible; y esto s<31o 
 puede conseguirse aumentando su uso. 
 Todo el mundo est^ dispuesto S^ recibir 
 dinero por lo que tiene en venta y la 
 plata es dinero en todos los paises, m^nos 
 uno, del hemisferio occidental. En todos 
 sin excepoi6n se leoibe en pago de las 
 deudas. 
 
 Verdad es qu« actualmente se hace 
 poco 6 uingliu uso del dinero efectivo entre 
 los hombres de negocios de Inglaterra 6 
 America, y que el principal empleo del 
 met^lico es para garantizar, 6 dar valor 
 al papel circulante; pero aunque sea 
 tan sfilo para este fin el met^ico es siempre 
 indispensable. No puede sostenerse la 
 reputacidn de pagarlas deudasel dia de su 
 venoimiento, y de pagarlas en efeciivo, 
 6 su equivalente, sin que haya de parte 
 del Gobiemo una sana politica financiera 
 que d6 apoyo ^ las transacciones particu- 
 lares. 
 
 Un sistema prudeute y estable de acu- 
 ilaoidn de moneda es prueba de buen Go- 
 biemo, y contribuye mSs que ninguna 
 otra cosa S, mantener el cr^dito. Para 
 que un hombre de negocios tenga cr^dito 
 es indispensable que la naoi6n S, que per- 
 tenece tenga una sana politica en mate- 
 rias de hacienda, porque cuanto afecta el 
 cr^dito nacional afecta tambi^n el indi- 
 vidual: y si el uno se destruye, el otro 
 se destruye tambi^u necesariamente. 
 Cuando una moneda estd^ aceptada 
 por las grandes naciones financieras, 
 su aceptacidn implica que es completa 
 en su peso, y uniforme en su ley ; y 
 por consiguiente no se tiene dificultad en 
 
460 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 coin would stand at tlie head of the silver 
 money of the world, because it would be 
 sustained by the greatest financial power 
 of any other silver coin. 
 
 It thus becomes all important to every 
 business man, to every producer of raw 
 material, and to every manufacturer who 
 has something to sell, or who wishes to 
 buy something, and who lives in any one 
 of the American Republics, that his coun- 
 try shall adopt this coin and thus have a 
 sound financial policy, for this would tend 
 to maintain its credit at home and abroad. 
 No successful monetary system can rest 
 on anything but gold and silver — not upon 
 one alone, but upon both — because in 
 times of financial troubles it will require 
 both metals, and all of both, to sustain 
 the credit of any country. It is evident 
 that in America gold and silver are the 
 coin-making precious metals; that the 
 nation that has the most of these precious 
 metals on hand, and for use if called for, 
 has the most ready capital capable of in- 
 stant market. 
 
 This coin may remain in Government 
 vaults and paper may represent it, but 
 when the coin is wanted and the paper is 
 not, the coin will be there for use. 
 
 And we may here note that silver 
 coin is always needed and always used 
 to a large extent by all peoples ; it is the 
 pocket-money of the world. The value of 
 gold and silver may fluctuate, yet neither 
 peace nor war will destroy it. The world 
 uses both metals for money ; some nations 
 use one, some the other, and some both. 
 But in all countries these metals have a 
 value; difiering, it may be, but still a 
 positive, certain value remains; and in 
 this connection it may be said that it is 
 not true that England has a gold stand- 
 ard in the sense that it pays in gold (save 
 only when compelled to do so). In fact, 
 London is called " the City of Gold," yet 
 
 dar el hecho por probado. En ese con- 
 cepto, una moneda de plata, de car^cter 
 americano, continental, tomar£a la delan- 
 tera S, todas las dem^s monedas de plata 
 que existen en el mundo, porque le pres- 
 teri^ sn apoyo el poder finanoiero de raaa 
 fuerza en ese respecto. 
 
 Asl es que ha veuido ^ hacerse de la 
 mayor importancia para todos los hom- 
 bres de negocios, para todos los produc- 
 tores de materias primas, para todos los 
 fabricautes que tienen algo que vender, 6 
 que deseau comprar alguna cosa, que vi- 
 ven en alguna de las Eeptiblicas america- 
 nas, la adopcidn de esta moneda y el es- 
 tablecimiento de una sana politica fiuab- 
 ciera, que contribuya S, mantener el 
 cr^dito asi en el interior como en el ex- 
 terior. Ninglin sistema monetario puede 
 tener otra base que el oro y la plata ; y 
 no uno solo de estos dos metales, sino los 
 dos juntos ; pues que en ^pooas de difl- 
 cultad, el uno y el otro se necesitan para 
 sostener el cr^dito de la naci6u. Es evi- 
 dente, por un lado, que en America, el oro 
 y la plata estiin ^ mano para la fabrica- 
 ci6u de la moneda ; y por el otro, que la 
 naci6n que posee los dos metales en mayor 
 cantidad, y puede utilizarlos en el me- 
 mento mismo que lo desee, se encueutra 
 en posesi6n del mayor capital posible y 
 del mas titil, porque es el mas disponible 
 en un momento dado. 
 
 Esa plata aounada puede permanecer 
 en dep6sit0 en las areas de las tesorerfas 
 de los Gobiernos, y est^r sin embargo en 
 circulacidn por medio de billetes que la 
 representen : de modo que cuando se 
 necesite el dinero efectivo, y n6 el bi- 
 llete, puede 6ste redimirse en el acto. 
 
 Debe advertirse aquf que la moneda de 
 plata siempre es neoesaria, y siempre se 
 ha usado en grande escala por todos los 
 pueblos, ooustituyendo lo que podria 
 llamarse el dinero para el diario del 
 mundo entero. El valor del oro y de 
 la plata podr^n fluctuar y fluctuan ; 
 pero ni la paz ni la guerra podriin 
 jamais destruirlo. El mundo se sirve de 
 ambos metales para fabricar la moneda ; 
 y Unas veces usa uno, otras otro, y muchas 
 veces los dos. En todos los palses los 
 metales tienen un valor diferente si se 
 quiere, pero siempre cierto y positive; 
 y por esta raz6n puede decirse que no es 
 verdad que Inglaterra tenga un tipo de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 461 
 
 gold is rarely seen there. At home Eng- 
 land uses paper as money; in India, silver. 
 
 Mr. James Patton, an English author, 
 in his recent book on " Money," pages 88 
 and 89, says : " The whole operation of 
 this monetary metropolis (London) would 
 come to a stand-still if the payments and 
 exchange of property had to he carried 
 on in gpld. » * • The gold itself in 
 such quantities could not be procured. 
 * * * Happily," says the author, "the 
 yellow metal is not wanted." 
 
 But, it is admitted, if it was wanted it 
 could not be obtained in sufficient quanti- 
 ties to carry on the business of the coun- 
 try. In times of great financial stress it 
 has always been wanted, even in Eng- 
 land, and when wanted most it could not 
 be obtained. The fact is there is not gold 
 enough in England, nor, indeed, in the 
 world, to carry on its business for a day, 
 and so it is done by paper; but there 
 must be some security for this paper. 
 Gold alone can not furnish this security, 
 hecause there is not enough of it ; silver 
 must help do this. 
 
 We submit, then, that silver is a ne- 
 cessity to the financial world ; that with- 
 out it business can not be safely carried 
 on ; that over a large part of the earth it 
 is the chief, if not the only, coin metal ; 
 that, even if the use of gold should be 
 extended to new countries where it has 
 not hitherto been in circulation, this 
 would only increase the difficulty of doing 
 the world's business with gold as a sin- 
 gle money metal, because the uses for 
 gold would be increased but the supply 
 would not; that there is an infinitely 
 greater danger iu increasing the uses of 
 gold, in view of the limited supply, than 
 iu extending and broadening the use of 
 silver, iu view of the great demand for 
 this coin. 
 
 oro, si por ello se entiende que paga en 
 oro, Sj no ser que se la obligue & haoerlo. 
 Aunqne L6ndres es llamada "laoiudad 
 del oro," este metal se y6 alll muy raras 
 veces. Para sus negocios en el interior 
 del pals Inglaterra se sirve de papel 
 moueda : para sus negocios en la India 
 se vale de la plata. 
 
 El escritor ingl<5s, Mr. James Patlon, 
 dice en la obra que reoientemente ha dado 
 £iluz "sobreeldinero,"piIginas88 y 89, lo 
 que sigue: "El movimiento entero de 
 esta metrdpolis monetaria (L6ndres) se 
 paralizaria si los pages y los traspaaos 
 de la propieded tuviesen que hacirse 
 en oro. # » • jfj atin siquiera podria 
 obtenerse este metal eu cantidad tan 
 grande. » * * Afortunadamente no se 
 necesita el metal amarillo." 
 
 Pero estS admitido que si se neoesltase, 
 no podria obtenerse en cantidad sufioiente 
 pare satisfacer las necesidades de los 
 negocios eu el pals. En tiempo de gran 
 tension financiera, siempre se ha notado 
 su f alta, atin en Inglaterra ; y cuando mas 
 falta ha hecho no ha podido obtenerse. 
 El hecho es que no hay oro bastante en 
 Inglaterra, ni ^ la verdad, en el mundo 
 entero, para el movimiento de sus nego- 
 cios, ni siquiera en un solo dia, y por eso 
 se hace uso de papel moneda ; pero este 
 papel requiere alguna garautla. El oro 
 s61o no puede darla, porque no existe en 
 suficiente cantidad ; y la plata tiene ne- 
 cesariamente que venir en su auxilio. 
 
 Es pu6s mi parecer, que someto res- 
 petuosamente, 1", que la plata es una 
 necesidad para el mundo finauciero ; 2°, 
 que sin ella, los negocios no pueden 
 hacerse sin riesgo ; 3°, que en una grau 
 parte del mundo es ella el principal, si no 
 el linico metal empleado para la fabrica- 
 ci6u de la moneda ; 4°, que arln cuando 
 el uso del oro se extendiese ii nuevos pai- 
 ses, donde no ha estado hasta ahora eu 
 circulaci6n,e3to s61o aumentarialadificul- 
 tad de atender con solo 61, & los negocios 
 del mundo, porque los uses para los cuales 
 Be necesitaria este metal se aumentarian 
 sin que se aumentase su produccidn ; 5°, 
 que hay infinitamento miia peligro eu 
 aumentar el uso del oro en vista de su limi- 
 tada existencia, que en extender y ensau- 
 char el uso de la plata oonsiderando )a 
 gran demauda en que estS esta moneda. 
 
462 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 It may be repeated, that, in most coun- 
 tries, banks are created with, gold and 
 silver in their vaults, not, indeed, for 
 large daily use, but rather as a security 
 for their paper, which, of itself, has no 
 actual value. Gold and silver thus be- 
 comes a most valuable kind of property, 
 because it is capable of immediate and 
 universal use, and because it can be stored 
 away in vaults ; and thus, while, in 
 truth, it is rarely paid over the counters 
 of banks — paper having usurped its 
 functions — yet something has to stand 
 behind bant paper, to give it commercial 
 vitality. An international coin, receiv- 
 able in all commercial transactions be- 
 tween the people of all these nations, 
 would also be of great value for this pur- 
 pose ; and if this coin is made of uniform 
 weight and fineness, and possessed of as 
 great ii etallic value as any other silver 
 coin of like denomination ever made, then 
 we are not giving a theoretical or fiat 
 value to a new money of less metallic 
 worth, but we are making a coin of more 
 actual merit, and infinitely greater com • 
 mercial value, by reason of its more gen- 
 eral use. 
 
 The known character of this coin in the 
 American money markets, the name it 
 would bear, and its unquestioned metallic 
 weight and fineness, would soon force it 
 into general use. We are thus not violat- 
 ing any law of fiuance, or of common hon- 
 esty, forthepowerof the eighteen nations 
 represented in this Conference would not 
 be used to give a face value to what was 
 valueless, but, on the contrary, we would 
 only put into new form a coin made from 
 a metal now everywhere in use on the 
 American continent. 
 
 It is correctly argued that this would 
 be an experiment in American finance. 
 The answer is : The very existence of this 
 Conference is something new in the his- 
 tory of nations, and anything it may do 
 willbenovel in the experiences of thepast. 
 Indeed, if anticipated theories of financial 
 disaster were to prevail in our councils, 
 we need but read the debates in the United 
 States Congress, made upon the consider- 
 ation of the famous "Bland bill," in 1878, 
 
 Puede repetirse que en casi todos loa 
 palses se establecen bancos i, condici<5n de 
 que couserven ore y plata en sus bdvedas, 
 no en verdad para haoer de ambos metales 
 grande nso diario, sino para garantizar sus 
 billetes, que en sf mismos no tienen posi- 
 tivamente valor alguno. De estemodo el 
 oroy la plata llegan S, haoerse sumamente 
 valiosos, pues que su uso es inmediato y 
 universal, aunque se encuentre almace- 
 nado en las bdvedas de los establecimien- 
 tos de banco ; y aunque es verdad quo 
 rara vez se ftacen con olios efectivos los 
 pagos, puesto que los billetes de banco 
 han nsurpado sus funciones, siempye est^n 
 all! como garantia del valor del papel, y 
 para dar & este vitalidad comercial. Una 
 moneda internacional, admisible en las 
 transaooiones comerciales de todas estas 
 naciones seria tambi^n de gran importan- 
 cia para este objeto ; y si le damos peso y 
 ley uniformes y un valor metilico tan 
 grande como el de cualquiera otra mo- 
 neda de plata de la misma clase en el 
 mundo, jam^ podrS decirse que he- 
 mes estado fabricando una nueva moneda 
 de valor puramente tedrioo, 6 arbitrario, 
 pues en realidad habr6mos hecho una mo- 
 neda del mayor m^rito positivo y de uu 
 valor comercial tauto mils grande, cuanto 
 mSa general sea su uso. 
 
 El conocimiento de esta moneda en los 
 mercados amerioanos, el nombre que se 
 le daria, y el caricter incuesfcionable de 
 su peso y de su ley, harian que pronto se 
 la admitiese al uso general. Con ello no 
 se infringirfa ninguna ley econ6mica, ni 
 ningun principio de comun honradez ; 
 pues el poder de las diez y ocho naciones 
 representadas en esta Conferenoia no se 
 pondrla en ejeroicio para dar valor ^ lo 
 que no lo tiene, sino simplemeute para 
 pouer en forma nueva una moneda, fabri- 
 cada con un metal que al presente est^ 
 en uso en todo el Continente de America. 
 
 Se arguye, con razdn, que en todo esto 
 se trata de hacer un experimento. Pero 
 el mismo hecho de la celebracidn de esta 
 Conferenoia es cosa nueva en la historia 
 de las naciones, y cnanto en ella se haga 
 ser^ tambi^n una innovacidn en la ex- 
 periencia del pasado. Y en verdad, si por 
 teorlas prof^fcicas de cualquiera clase, 
 de calamidades financieras, fu^ramos S, 
 juzgar, no tendriamos m^ que echar la 
 vista ^ lo que se dijo en el Congreso de los 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 463 
 
 to learn that the ablest so-called financiers 
 of this country have all been false proph- 
 ets, and that the coining of silver by the 
 mints of the country has not resulted in 
 either driving gold out of the country, or 
 in national bankruptcy, as was prophe- 
 sied. 
 
 These mistakes do not arise from u, 
 want of intelligence, or a want of sincer- 
 ity on the part of the parties who made 
 them, but rather from the fact that the 
 conservatism of banking does not advance 
 with the tide of business progress, or move 
 on as the world moves; indeed, those 
 who loan money are interested in hard 
 times, because all money is then worth 
 more, and has a greater purchasing power. 
 
 Events of striking importance are ap- 
 proaching us now. No man can look the 
 future full in the face, who will not 
 within the next ten years see railroads 
 connecting North and South America, 
 reaching up and down both sides of the 
 American continent. The people of the 
 Western World are learning more about 
 each other. We are just commencing to 
 foster international enterprises. Coining 
 money is one of the most potential of all 
 the means suggested to increase our ac- 
 quaintance and enlarge our business in- 
 dustries. 
 
 Money will be in demand to carry on 
 the great works of the future, and this 
 money ought to be American money. At 
 this time there are as many different kinds 
 of money — and mostly paper — in actual 
 use among the American republics, as 
 there are nations. Of necessity this in- 
 creases the cost of exchange, and is a se- 
 rious drawback to trade. Some of these 
 States are small in territory and limited 
 in influence, and there is no reason why 
 the largest of the American States can not 
 well afford to aid iu giving character to 
 their, and to our, money, by stamping 
 upon it the same value the same coin now 
 bears and which value all the nations 
 
 Estados TJnidos cuando se discutia en 
 1878 el famoso proyecto de ley conocido 
 con el nombre de " Bland bill,'' para 
 aprender que aquellos mismos que se Ila- 
 maban los mSs h^biles haoendistas de este 
 pals resultaron falsos profetas, y que la 
 acuuacidn de la plata en nuostras Casas 
 do Moneda no ha tenido por resultado, ni 
 lanzar al oro fuera del pais, ni producir 
 la bancarrota nacional que se predijo. 
 
 Estas equivocaciones no provienen ni 
 de falta de inteligenoia, ni de poca sin- 
 ceridad, de los que las han padecido, sino 
 del hecho de que el esplritu conservador 
 no permite que en materlas de bancos se 
 marche con la rapidez que demanda el 
 progreso de los negocios del mundo. La 
 verdad es que S, los que prestau dinero les 
 conviene que haya tirantez en los ne- 
 gocios, pues ent(3nces el dinero es mas 
 necesario y tiene mayor valor en cambio. 
 
 Estamos en vlsperas de que se realicen 
 acontecimientos do grau importancia; y 
 nadie que mire cara S, oara el futuro, 
 podrd; dejar de contemplar reunidas por 
 medio de caminos de hierro, y en mi5n08 
 de diez auos £i contar de la fecha, las 
 Americas del Norte y del Sud, y extenderse 
 los mismos caminos del uno al otro lado 
 del continente. LoshabitantesdelNuevo 
 Mundo estSn cada dia aprendiendo ^ co- 
 nocerse mejor. Estamos justamente em- 
 pezando S, fomentar el desarrollo de em- 
 presas internacionales. Y la acufiacion 
 de la moneda, de que se trata ser^ uno de 
 los medios mas poderosos que puedan em- 
 plearse para que nos conozcamos mejor 
 y demos ma, ensanche S, nuestras rela- 
 ciones mercantiles 6 industriales. 
 
 EI dinero estar^ en demanda para Uevar 
 ^ cabo los grandes trabajos del porvenir, 
 y ese dinero deberd, ser americano. En 
 el momento actual hay tantas y tan dis- 
 tintas clases de dinero (la mayor parte 
 de ^1 en papel) en las Repliblicas ameri- 
 canas, como hay naciones ; y esto hace 
 necesariamente subir el cambio produoien- 
 do adem^s serios imped imentos en los 
 negocios. Algunos de estos Estados 
 tienen pequeBos territories y ejeroen limi- 
 tada influencia ; pero no hay raz6n que 
 impida & los m^s grandes, y de mayor 
 influjo prestarles su apoyo y dar pres- 
 tigio S, su moneda, que ser^ tambien la 
 nnestra, estampando sobre ella el mismo 
 
464 
 
 INTEENATIOl^AL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 recognize, and which all of them are in- 
 terested in maintaining. 
 
 It may he further noted that as com- 
 munication hetween these countries be- 
 comes more rapid and certain, trade and 
 travel will largely increase. A uniform 
 monetary system will facilitate this to a 
 very great extent. To show the impor- 
 tance of this question, last year it appears 
 from official sources that more than 
 $70,000,000 in gold was sent to Europe to 
 the credit of the expense account of the 
 citizens of the United States who visited 
 those countries as travelers, and yet no 
 parts of the globe present so many inter- 
 esting features to the intelligent traveler 
 as the American Republics. 
 
 The time is long past for America to 
 look backward. We can not now take 
 European precedents as our guide in 
 American affairs. Our siDuations and 
 necessities are different. Indeed, no one 
 nation can be the arbiter of the world's 
 finances, or by itself make a money the 
 world will receive. In modern times 
 England may have come nearest it, and 
 yet its policy is no broader than the little 
 island where the true Briton lives. Eng- 
 land is in favor of keeping down the 
 price of silver because it is to her interest 
 to do so. England makes money by buy- 
 ing silver at a discount and selling it to 
 her own people at par, and America loses 
 by permitting this to be done. On the 
 question of England's interest in depress- 
 ing the price of silver, I venture to quote 
 from a recent address by Mr. William P. 
 St. John, president of the Mercantile 
 National Bank, New York, at the annual 
 convention of the American Bankers' As- 
 sociation, held at Kansas City, September 
 26, 1889: 
 
 "With the price of silver thus enhanced 
 and thus to be maintained we tend to 
 wrest from England her present all-suffi- 
 cient inducement to oppose bimetallism, 
 and by means of which may yet serve to 
 
 valor que hoy tiene, pero reconocido y 
 admitido por todas las naciones de 
 America. 
 
 Debe notarse, ademfo, que Si medida 
 que se aumenten la facilidad y rapidez de 
 las comunicaciones entre estos paises, se 
 aumentar^n tambi^n el movimiento de los 
 viajeros, y el tr^fioo comercial. Un sis- 
 tema monetario uniforme contribuir^ to- 
 davfa laSs S. faoilitar este resultado: y 
 para demostrar esto, bastaria oonsiderar 
 lo que ha suoedido el ano pasado, en que 
 segtin aparece de dates oflciales, m^s de 
 setenta millones de pesos en oro se en- 
 viaron & Enropa para cubrir los gastos de 
 ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos que 
 viajaron por esa parte del mundo; 
 onando en realidad, no hay pais alguno 
 en el globo que ofrezca tantos atractivos 
 paraelviajerointeligentecomooualquiera 
 de las Reptiblicas americanas. 
 
 Pas6 ya el tiempo para America en que 
 necesitaba volver la vista al otro hemis- 
 ferio. Ya no tenemos que guiarnos por 
 precedentes europeos para los negocios 
 americanos. Nuestra situaci6n es dis- 
 tinta y nuestras necesidades tambi6n lo 
 son. A la verdad no hay Estado alguno 
 que pueda constituirse en ^rbitro y regu- 
 lador de la politica financiera del mundo, 
 ni crear, por si solo, una moneda que corra 
 igdalmente en todos los paises. Ingla- 
 terra, en los tiempos modernos pnede 
 haberse hallado & punto de tiacerlo ; 
 pero su poUtica no es m^ amplia que la 
 pequena isla en que habita el verdadero 
 inglfe. Inglaterra favorece la deprecia- 
 cidn de la plata, porque estdi en su interns 
 hacerlo asl. Ella gana dinero, comprando 
 plata & descueuto, y vendi^ndolo & la par 
 &, su propio pueblo ; y America lo pierde, 
 permitifindole hacer tal cosa. Acerca de 
 este punto y para demostrar el interns de 
 Inglaterra en rebajar el precio de la 
 plata, me permitir^ citar las siguientes 
 frases de una reciente alocncidn de Mr. 
 William P. St. John, Presideute del 
 Banco Nacional Mercantil de Nueva-York, 
 en la reunion anual celebrada en Kansas 
 City el 26 de Setiembre de 1889, por la 
 Asociaci6n Americana de Banqueros : 
 
 " Con el alza en el precio de la plata, y 
 su mantenimiento en esa altura, tendemos 
 & arrancar de Inglaterra el poderoso m6vil 
 que hoy la induce en6rgicamente & opo- 
 nerse al bi-metalismo, y se la obligard^ en 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 465 
 
 bring her, hat in hand, to beseech of us 
 co-operation in behalf of legal-tender sil- 
 ver money. For the opinion that this 
 achievement may be one result of the 
 adoption of our proposition I rely upon the 
 statistics of fifteen years, which are fur- 
 nished by British India's financial secre- 
 tary : That the silver rupee of India will 
 purchase as great quantity of India's home 
 products to-day, when now that rupee is 
 obtainable in London for Is. iid., as when 
 formerly that same rupee could not be 
 had in London at less than 28. id. Thus 
 about 33 per cent, will measure the profit 
 to Englishmen at home upon their full- 
 priced manufactured goods, for which the 
 patient, uncomplaining Hindoo returns 
 in payment India's vast quantities of her 
 cereals and cotton. For, bear in mind, 
 imports of woolen and cotton goods at 
 Calcutta are paid for by the banker in 
 the silver Indian rupee. He obtains his 
 surplus of rupees by imports of silver 
 bullion, which he deposits at India's free 
 mints, and procures the legal- tender coin. 
 His interest is thus always lo depress the 
 price of silver. Exports of wheat and 
 cotton at Calcutta are paid for in this 
 rupee, obtained with gold in London by 
 purchase of India council bills, for which 
 the rate of exchange depends upon the 
 market price of silver, which must be 
 purchased and shipped to India for all 
 the excess of the sums of these bills over 
 the sum of dues in India for taxation. 
 Therefore the lower the price of bullion 
 for minting in India, the lower the price 
 of the conncil bill of exchange, and con- 
 sequently, the greater the quantity of 
 wheat and cotton obtainable in Calcutta 
 for the sum of gold in London. Here 
 again is the Englishman's interest to de- 
 press the price of silver. " 
 
 It will thus be noted that England has 
 the strongest possible business reason for 
 not using silver as a money metal, be- 
 cause so long as she can buy it as a com- 
 30 I 
 
 sii diadi venir ^ iraplorarnos, sombrero eu 
 mano, que cooperemos con 611a eu favor 
 de una moneda corriente y legal de plata. 
 Es mi opinidn que este triunfo se oon- 
 seguirJi por la adopcidn de nuestra pro- 
 puesta; y me fundo para ello en liiS esfca- 
 dlsticas que cubren un perlodo de quiuce 
 afios, reoogidas y publicadas por el Minis- 
 tro de Hacieu.^^ du la India Brit^nica. 
 Con una rupia de plata de aquel pals se 
 puede comprar hoy, cuando vple en L6u- 
 dres un cheliu y cuatro y medio peniqnes, 
 la misma cantidad de productos dom^s- 
 ticos de la India, como cuando aquella 
 no podfa conseguirse por m^nos de dos 
 cbelines y medio penique. Asi es que la 
 gananoia del ingles eu Inglaterra, al 
 vender por su total precio al sufrido y 
 resignado indio los articulos de su pro- 
 duccidn, recibiendo en cambio de ellos 
 vastas cantidades de algodon y cereales, 
 alcanza un 33 por ciento. Porque, tened 
 presente que los ggneros de lana y de 
 algod<5n importados en Calcutta se pagan 
 por los bancos en rupias de plata. El 
 banquero de la India obtiene sus rupias 
 importando plata en pasta, que depositada 
 en las Casas de Moneda de la India, que 
 son libres, le proveen del uumerario efec- 
 tivo. EstS pues en su interns hacer bajar 
 cuanto se pueda el precio de la plata. El 
 trigo y algoddn que se exportan de la 
 India se pagan en Calcutta con estas 
 rupias, que se compran eu Ldndres con 
 oro, obteuido por la venta del papel deno- 
 minado (India council bills), cuyo valor 
 en el mercado depeude del que tenga la 
 plata, porque esta ha de comprarse y 
 remitirse & la India para cubrir el saldo 
 que resulte entre el total del papel men- 
 cionado y lo que debe pagarse en aquel 
 pals por raz6n de contribuciones. Por 
 consiguiente, mientras mas bajo sea el 
 precio de la plata en pasta que se envia 
 S, la India para su acimacidn, mas bajo 
 aer^ el precio de la letra de cambio, 6 papel 
 del Consejo, y mas grande la cantidad de 
 cereales y de algddon que se obteudr^ en 
 Calcutta por una suma determinada, pa- 
 gada en oro en L6ndres. Aqui se y6 otra 
 vez el interns del ingles en hacer bajar el 
 precio de la plata." 
 
 De lo dioho aparece que Inglaterra 
 tiene las may ores ra zones imaginables, 
 bajo el punto de vista de los negocios, 
 para no servirse de la plata como metal 
 
466 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 modity at a disoonnt of, say, 30 per cent, 
 in London, and pass it at par as money on 
 her own subjects in India, Englishmen 
 living in England will become rich, while 
 Hindoo Englishmen living iu India will 
 grow poor. 
 
 For substantially the same reason 
 — though not carried to the same ex- 
 tent — the American bankers in Wall 
 street have a tacit understanding that 
 neither American silver dollars, nor, in- 
 deed, silver certificates, although made 
 receivable for public dues by law, shall 
 pass the clearing-house, but that transac- 
 tions there must be carried on entirely in 
 gold currency. And yet one of the 
 anomalies of the financial unwisdom 
 which prompts this action may be noted 
 in the fact that |9,309,7,'i0 of gold certifi- 
 cates have in the past four years been 
 sent to the national Treasury by the same 
 bankers in exchange for silver certifi- 
 cates, namely : 
 
 For fiscal year ending June 30, 
 
 1886 12,641,000 
 
 For fiscal year ending June 30, 
 1887 4,506,450 
 
 For fiscal year ending June 30, 
 1888 1, -223, 420 
 
 For five months ending Novem- 
 ber 30, 1889 938,880 
 
 9,309,750 
 In addition, we must add the sum of 
 $15,804,805 in gold coin, which has within 
 the same time been exchanged at the 
 United States Treasury for a like amount 
 of silver coin. 
 
 Thus it must be observed that practi- 
 cally American silver coin possesses the 
 same commercial value as gold coin, and 
 that silver coin and silver certificates are 
 largely used by the American people, and 
 thus silver is a public convenience as well 
 as a public necessity, and further that it 
 can not be slandered out of use by any 
 one or all of the clearing-houses in the 
 country, because in every-day life it is 
 used ten times where any other money is 
 
 monetario ; pues mientras le sea posible 
 oomprar este metal en L6ndres, comouna 
 simple mercancia, con un descuento tal 
 vez de 30 por ciento, y hacerlo despu^s 
 circular como moneda ^ la par entre sus 
 propios sribditos en la India, los ingleses 
 que viveu en Inglaterra se har^n mas 
 ricos, y los natnrales del Indostan se 
 harfin mas pobres. 
 
 Por una raz6n del mismo g^nero, 
 aunque no llevada ^ tanto extreme, los 
 banqueros americanos de Wall street se 
 han puesto "t^citamente de acuerdo para 
 que ni los pesos americanos de plata, ni 
 atin siqulera los llamados "silver certifi- 
 cates," 6 certificadis de dep6sito de plata 
 en la Tesorerla Nacional, aunque estos 
 por la ley son admisibles en pago de toda 
 deuda ptiblica, pasen por su casa liquida- 
 dora (Clearing House), verificSndose la 
 operaci6n llnicamente en moneda de oro 
 corriente. Una de las anomalias de esta 
 no meditada y poco juiciosa politica finan- 
 ciera, se encuentra en el hecho de que 
 $9,309,750, en certifioados de oro, han sido 
 remitidos los cuatro ultimos aBos, £i la 
 Tesorerla Nacional por los mismos ban- 
 queros, para ser cambiados por certifi- 
 oados de plata, Si saber : 
 En el afio fiscal que concluyd en 
 
 Junio30de 1886 $2,641,000 
 
 En el ano fiscal que concluyd en 
 
 JunioSOde 1887 4,506,450 
 
 En el ano fiscal que ooncluyd en 
 
 Juuio 30 de 1888 1,223,420 
 
 En los cinco nieses que con- 
 
 cluy 6 en Noviembre 30 de 18^9 938, 880 
 
 9,309,750 
 Debe agregarse S, esta suma la de 
 115,804,805 "en moneda de oro que du- 
 rante el mismo perlodo de tiempo se ha 
 cambiado en la Tesorerla de los Estados 
 Unidos por una suma igual en moneda 
 de plata. 
 
 Debe observarse, por lo tanto, que, 
 en la pr^ctica, la moneda de plata 
 americana tiene el mismo valor oomercial 
 que la de oro, y que tanto la primera, 
 como los certificados que por ella se ex- 
 pideu, se usan generalmente y sin reparo 
 alguno por nuestro pueblo, resultando de 
 ello que la moneda de plata no es sola- 
 mente una cosa litil, productiva de co- 
 modidad, sino una verdadera neoesidad 
 ptiblica, de que no puede prescindirse, por 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 467 
 
 used once. It is the money of small but 
 numberless transactions. 
 
 I do not argue in favor of an unlimitc d 
 coinage of silver, for I do not know what 
 might be the result; nor, indeed, would 
 I favor an iron-bound rule as to the coin- 
 ing of money applicable alike to all times 
 and circumstances ; "but I do submit that 
 a few people engaged in banking, how- 
 ever powerful financially, can no more 
 succeed in slandering American silver out 
 of an Am-irican market as money than 
 could a congress of doctors drive flour or 
 com meal out of use as the great food sub- 
 stances of the age by telling the people 
 that hot bread is indigestible. It thus 
 appears evident that if the American 
 Republics represented in this Confer- 
 ence can adopt a universal silver coin, 
 common to all these countries, and 
 receivable for pnblio dues by the country 
 that issues it, it would be wise to do this. 
 The simple question is, can it be safely 
 done? 
 
 If this coin is made receivable in lim- 
 ited amounts at par in all commercial 
 transactions, as was done by the Latin 
 Union as to some of its silver coin, by all 
 the people of the American nations, no 
 one of them will dispose of it at less than 
 par, and each country will save the dif- 
 ference between the present price of silver 
 as bullion and its par value as money. In- 
 deed, to-day American silver dollars are 
 worth as much in London as New York, 
 less the cost of transportation, and be- 
 cause that money passes at par in Amer- 
 ica. Nearly everything that any one of 
 the people of the American nations want 
 to purchase can now be had at reasonable 
 prices from some citizen of another Amer- 
 ican nation, and thus the money of each 
 country will interchange with all the oth- 
 ers. But should this not prove true, the 
 
 m£i8 que quiera desacreditarla una de las 
 casas liquidadoras del pals. En la pr^c- 
 tica de la vida diaria se usa de la moneda 
 de plata en una proporci<5n de diez & uno, 
 comparada con cualquiera otra. Es el 
 dinero que se empleaen las transaooiones 
 de pequeSa importancia, que son iunu- 
 merables. 
 
 No es esto que yo abogue en favor de 
 la acufiacidn ilimitada de la moneda de 
 plata, xiorque yo no s6 cual ijodria ser el 
 resultado do semejante cosa, ni tanipoco 
 que yo est6 dipuesto & encerrarme como 
 en un circulo de hierro, al recomendar una 
 medida de acuilacidn haci^ndola aplica- 
 ble ^ todos los tiempos y oircumstancias; 
 pero me parece no eqnivooarme al decir 
 que unos cuantos banqueros, por influy- 
 entes que seau financieramente, son tan 
 impotentes para desacreditar la plata 
 americana y desterrarla, como dinero, de 
 los meroados americanos, como podria 
 serlo una reunion de medicos que se 
 propusierau abolir el uso de la harina 
 de trigo, 6 de malz, como materias ali- 
 menticias, manifestando al pueblo que 
 el pan caliente no puede digerirse. 
 Parece, pues, evidente, que si las Re- 
 p^blicas ameriuanas represeutadas en 
 esta Couferencia pudierau adoptar una 
 moneda universal de plata, comiin £i todas 
 ^llas y que sea admisible en pago de todas 
 las deudas pliblicas, en el pals que la 
 emita, seria juicioso hacerlo. La unica 
 cosa que hay que examinar & este respec- 
 to es si eso puede hacerse sin riesgo. 
 
 Si se establece que la moneda sea ad- 
 misible, en cantidad limitada, y ^ la par, 
 en todas las transacciones comerciales, 
 como lo hizo la Union Latina respeoto 
 ^ algunas de sus mouedas de plata usadas 
 por las naciones americanas, uingun 
 pais de America dispondrS de ella ^ 
 precio menor que la par, y cada uno se 
 ahorrar^ la diferenoia que hoy existe 
 entre el precio de la plata en pasta 
 y su valor & la par como moneda. Es 
 un hecho que el peso amerioano de 
 plata vale tanto en el dia, en Ldndies 
 como en Nueva-York, sin que haya m&s 
 diferencia que el costo del transporte. Es 
 tambi6n un hecho que la raz6nde esto es 
 porquo el dicho peso corre Si la par en 
 America. Al presente cualquiera habi- 
 tante de las naciones de America puede 
 adquirir facilmente, & precios razonables. 
 
468 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 fact still remains that every American na- 
 tion produces something that Europe 
 must have. Central and South America 
 raise coffee, India rubber, dye-stuffs, rare 
 woods, hides, wool, tobacco, and sugar, 
 and as the productions of these countries 
 increase, as increase they must, trade will 
 be more and more in their favor, and 
 Europe will pay them more money in- 
 stead of less money. 
 
 It goes without saying that trade and 
 the use of money are necessary incidents 
 to each other. The Republics represented 
 in this Conference are all neighbors, and 
 all large producers. They occupy the 
 same great continent, all have the same 
 form of government, peace is the settled 
 ■policy of all of them ; the productive ca- 
 pacity of these countries is so boundless, 
 and what they produce is so much needed 
 in Europe, that trade ought to be in favor 
 of these Republics. This would seem to 
 be a most propitious moment to agree 
 upon some settled financial policy, co-ex- 
 tensive with the continent and of uniform 
 application. If an American coin, lim- 
 ited in amouut of coinage, but general in 
 its use, can be made, and which will be 
 known all over the continent, and whose 
 circulation will be as universal as are the 
 demands of trade and the commercial 
 necessities of the people, American prog- 
 ress will have received its greatest im- 
 pulse, and American finance its most use- 
 ful lesson. 
 
 Note the experiment made by the Latin 
 Union. It was organized iu 1865 and 
 was composed of France, Italy, Belgium, 
 Switzerland, and Greece. These nations 
 agreed upon the weight, fineness, and 
 names of the coins to be coined by them. 
 The silver coin issued by the Union, as 
 before stated, amounted to 1,388,000,000 
 
 en cualquiera otra de las mismas naciones 
 amcricanas casi todo lo que desee 
 comprar ; y de este modo el dinero de 
 un pais podria cangearse per el de los de- 
 m^. Y alin en el case de que asl no sn- 
 cediese, siempre quedariaen pi6 el hecho 
 prdiotico de que cada una de las naciones 
 amerioanas produce algo de que Euro- 
 pa tiene imprescindible neoesidad. Las 
 Americas del Centre y del Sud producen 
 caf^, goma eldstica, maderas de tinte y de 
 construccidn, y otras preciosas, oueros, 
 lana, tabaoa y azticar, y & medida que 
 esta produccidn aumenta, como aumenta 
 y tiene que aumentar, mayor habr^ de 
 ser proporcionalmeute la balanza del oo- 
 meroio en favor suyo, y Enropa tendrS 
 que pagarles mas dinero, en vez de pa- 
 garles menos. 
 
 Excusado es decir que el comercio y el 
 uso del dinero son cosas futimamente de- 
 peudientes la una de la otra. Todas las 
 Repliblicas representadas en esta Confe- 
 rencia son vecinas, y todas son grandes 
 productoras. Todas estd^n situadas en el 
 inismo gran Continente ; todas tienen la 
 misma forma de Gobierno ; en todas ellas 
 prevalece una polltica de paz ; y la capa- 
 cidad productora de todas ellas es tan 
 ilimitada, y sus productos son tan nece- 
 sarios en Europa, que la balanza del 
 trd^fico debe estar en favor suyo. 
 Parece que esta es la ocasidn mas pro- 
 picia para couvenir en algun plan defini- 
 tive de polltica financiera, que se extienda 
 & todo el continente, y que teuga aplica- 
 cidu uniforme. Si se pudiera establecer 
 una moneda americana, acufiada en cau- 
 tidad determiuada y de uso general, que 
 sea conocida en todo el Continente, y 
 cuya circulacidn sea tan universal como 
 lo sou las exigencias del trSfico, y las 
 necesidades comerciales de los pueblos, 
 el progreso amerioano habrfa recibido el 
 impulse m^B grande posiblo, y se habrfa 
 dado S, los hacendistas de America la 
 lecciOu m£istitil. 
 
 N6tese bien el resulcado de los experi- 
 mentos de la Uni6n Latina. Se organiz6 
 esta en 1865, constituy^ndola Francia, 
 Italia, B^lgica, Suiza y Grecia. Estas 
 naciones convinieron en el peso, ley y 
 nombre que habfan de darse i las monedas 
 que deblan aeuBar. La cantidad de mo- 
 neda de plata que em i 116 la Union ascendid 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 469 
 
 francs. Delegates were appointed by the 
 respective Governments forming this 
 Union with fnll power to act. In 1878, 
 as Germany and other nations were un- 
 loading their silver on the rest of the 
 world and thns absorbing the gold, the 
 Latin Union ceased to coin silver five- 
 franc pieces and have coined none since. 
 
 The Latin Union was successful in two 
 things : First, in making both a gold and 
 silver coin uniform in value, weight, fine- 
 ness, and inscription, and also making 
 it receivable at par by those countries 
 forming the Union, and, second, in regu- 
 lating the amount of coin each country 
 should issue. In these repects the Latin 
 Union was and is a success. Il was the 
 first experiment of the kind made which 
 ripened into a practical reality. America 
 should create the second great financial 
 union, for in this union there would be 
 financial strength. The financial forces 
 of the continent would thus be under our 
 own control. Europe could not master 
 or direct them if we should wisely use 
 the power we have. 
 
 The position of Mr, Secretary Windom 
 on the silver question has strong and most 
 earnest iudorsers among some of both the 
 silver producers and the gold men, and if 
 the single point was to advance the price 
 of silver in the United States, and if I felt 
 that nnder the law I was authorized to 
 consider the question of issuing silver cer- 
 tificates instead of "coining a common 
 silver coin to be issued by each Govern- 
 ment, the same to be a legal tender in all 
 commercial transactions between the cit- 
 izens of all the American States," I would 
 leel myself bound to be guided by the very 
 exhaustive and able report made by the 
 distinguished Secretary of the Treasury. 
 His direct and logical argument in favor 
 of the theory he advances would tend to 
 convince almost any one who did not feel 
 that the line of duty compelled him to fol- 
 low in another course. 
 
 como se ha dicho, A 1,338,000,000 de fran- 
 cos. Se nombraron delegados por los 
 Gobiernos de las diferentes naoiones que 
 formaron la Uni6u, y se les dieron plenas 
 facultades. Pero en el aBo de 1878, cuando 
 la Alemania y otras naoiones empezaron 
 & derramar su plata sobre el resto del 
 mundo, absorbiendo en cambio el oro, la 
 Unidn Latina snspendid la acaBaci6n de 
 moneda de plata de cinco francos. Desde 
 entfinces no ha vuelto ^ aounar ninguna. 
 
 La Uni6n Latina tuvo 6xito en dos 
 cosas : Primero, en hacer, tanto con el oro 
 como con la plata, una moneda de valor, 
 peso, ley y denominacidu uniformes, ad- 
 misible & la par en los paises que forma- 
 banlaUnldn; y segundo, en reslamentar 
 la cantldad de moneda que cada pals 
 debia emitir. En estos respectos, la Uni6n 
 Latina di<5 un buen resultado. Fu6 la 
 primera tentativa de esta especie que lleg6 
 S, madurarse, y convertirae en un hecho 
 pr^otico. La America deberia crear otra 
 grande Uni6u financiera de esta clase, 
 pues que esta uni6n seria tambien la 
 fuerza. Loselementosfinancierosdel Con- 
 tlnente deben estar en nuestras manos y 
 sujetos & nuestra propia direcci(5a y albe- 
 drio. Europa no ejerceria acoifin direc- 
 tiva, ni decisiva ea nuestros negoolos, si 
 snpi^ramos uaar con pradenoia del poder 
 que tenemos. 
 
 La actitud tomada por el Senor Secre- 
 tario Windom en la cuestidn relativa S, 
 la plata ha encoutrado apoyo, asJ entre 
 alganosde losproductoresde plata, como 
 entre los partidarios del oro ; y si se tra- 
 tase solo de hacer subir el precio de la 
 plata en los Estados Unidos, y si yo" me 
 sintiera autorizado, conforme ^ la ley, 
 para examinar el punto de si se deben ex- 
 pedir "certificadoa de plata" en vez de 
 acunar ■' una moneda comrin de plata que 
 pueda ser acuuada y eniitida por todos y 
 cada uno de los Gobiernos, y sirva de 
 medio circulante legal para toda clase 
 de transacciones comerciales colebradas 
 mutuamente entre los oiudadanos de 
 un Estado de America y los de los dem^s 
 del mismo hemisferio," me creerla obli- 
 gado £i seguir el camiuo que ha maroado 
 el mismo distinguido SeQor Secretario del 
 Tesoro, en su excelente Informe. Sus ar- 
 gumentoa Ifigicos y bien presentados en 
 favor de la teoria que propone tenderlan & 
 convencer Sj cualquiera que no se creyese 
 
470 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 In the matter before us for considera- 
 tion, however, we must deal with a silver 
 coin and not with silver certificates, the 
 chief object being to encourage closer 
 trade and financial relations between the 
 American Republics, and while the Secre- 
 tary's plan might worlt with one nation, 
 it could hardly prove practical in dealing 
 with eighteen nations, many of whom 
 produce little or no silver, their money 
 being largely obtained by an exchange 
 of commodities which they have for sale, 
 and for which they are paid in coin. 
 
 And again, silver coin is an object les- 
 son ; paper is not. A continental silver 
 coin would be a perpetual advertise- 
 ment. Paper money issued on account of 
 tie small republics in Central and South 
 America would have little value beyond 
 the territory of the nation issuing it, 
 unless the United States or some equally 
 powerful country would guaranty its 
 redemption ; and this would not be done 
 even under the most favorable cir- 
 cumstances. Silver coin in thirteen of 
 these nations is the unit ot value. The 
 great trouble is that their coins are o 
 many denominations, and are not at all 
 uniform in weight or fineness. 1, there- 
 fore, can not indorse the proposition 
 made by my distinguished colleague, 
 Mr. Coolidge, namely, to follow the rec- 
 ommendation of Mr. Secretary Wiudom 
 in formulating his monetary system for 
 all the American Republics. I can not 
 see how this can be safely or successfully 
 done. 
 
 I venture to make the following recom- 
 mendations. In doing so I can not but 
 appreciate the gravity of the questions 
 involved, nor am I unmindful of the many 
 difficulties which beset the way. Yet, I 
 am persuaded, the scheme herein pre- 
 sented, though but the outline of what 
 must be licked into better shape, is prac- 
 tical, and that its adoption would be of 
 infinite and iiermanent advantage to all 
 the American nations : 
 
 en el deber de raarchar por otra senda 
 distinta. 
 
 Sin embargo, en la cuestidn sometida S, 
 nuestra consideraci6n, tenemos que ocn- 
 parnos de la moneda de plata, y no de los 
 certificados relativos S, aquel metal, pues 
 nuestro primer objeto es fomentarol esta- 
 blecimionto de relaoiones comeroiales y 
 financieras mas estrechas entre las Repli- 
 blicas americanas; y aunque el plan del 
 SeBorSecretariopudiera ser realizable tra- 
 t^ndose de una nacidn 861a, con dificultad 
 podria serlo tratSndose de diez y ocho 
 Estadosdistintos, muchos de los cualesno 
 produoen plata, 6 prodncen muy poca, y 
 cuyo numerario se obtiene en gran parte 
 por el cambio de productos que se les 
 pagan en dinero efoctivo. 
 
 Ademfc, la moneda de plata viene ^ ser 
 una especie de leccidn objetiva, mientras 
 que la de papel no lo es. Una moneda 
 continental de plata seria un anancio per- 
 petuo. El papel moneda expedido por 
 cuenta de las pequenas Repiiblicas de 
 Centre y Sud America tendria poco valor 
 fuera del territorio do la nacidn queloex- 
 pidi6, ii no ser que los Estados Unidos, 6 
 alguu otro pais igualmente poderoso, ga- 
 rantizase su ri'denci6n ; y esto no se haria 
 nunca ni aun en las circunstancias m^ 
 favorables. Lamonedadeplataesla uui- 
 dadde valor en trece de estas naciones; 
 y la linica dificultad que se presenta es 
 quetienemuchasdenominacronesy quesn 
 peso y ley no son absolutamente un iformes. 
 Por lo tanto, yo no puedo apoyar la pro- 
 posici6n de mi distinguido colega Mr. 
 Coolidge, & saber : que al formular un sis- 
 tema monetarlo para todas las Repiiblicas 
 americanas, adoptemos la recomendacidn 
 del Seuor Secretario Windom. No acierto 
 £i ver como pueda hacerse esto satisfac- 
 toriamente y sin peligro. 
 
 Me aventuro por lo tanto & hacer las 
 siguientes recomendaciones, manifes- 
 tando al mismo tiempo, que eomprendo 
 bien la gravedad de las cuestiones que 
 con cste particular se relacionan, y las 
 ■ muchas dificultades que hay que veneer 
 para su estudio. Estoy persuadido sin 
 embargo de que el plan que aqui presento, 
 aunque no es mas quo un bosquejo, sus- 
 ceptible de mucha mejora, es una cosa 
 practica, cuya adopci6n podria traer para 
 todas las naciones americanas ventajas 
 permanentes 6 incalculables. 
 
ll!(TEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 471 
 
 First. I recommend tlie creatiou of an 
 American monetary union composed of all 
 the nations represented in this Confer- 
 ence ; that each nation shall select one 
 delegate as its represental ivo to said 
 monetary union ; that said delegates shall 
 meet in joint session as often as once in 
 each year, their first meeting to be in 
 Washington, on or before the 1st day of 
 January, 1891, or as soon thereafter ai 
 possible; that they shall appoint from 
 among their own number three delegates, 
 one from the United States of America, 
 one from the Republics of Mexico, Cen- 
 tral America, and Hayti, and one from 
 the South American Republics: that said 
 three delegates shall, under the direction 
 of the whole body of delegates, have the 
 exclusive control over the coining of the 
 moneys hereinafter described ; they shall 
 regulate the amount to be coined by each 
 of the nations represented in this Con- 
 ference, according to the terms herein 
 provided, and they shall see to it that 
 every coin so made shall be of full 
 weight, uniform in fineness, and of the 
 proper inscription, and bear the true date 
 of coinage; no more than the amount of 
 coin herein prescribed to be made shall 
 be issued by the American nations or any 
 one of them. From time to time they 
 shall test the weight and fineness, and 
 examine the inscriptiou upon all inter- 
 national coins made pursuant to this 
 union ; they shall order all abraded coin, 
 which shall be found to have lost 1 per 
 cent, of its weight or value, to be recoined 
 by the country issuing it. They shall 
 refuse to permit any of said coin to be 
 made or circulated which is not of full 
 weight and standard fineness, and they 
 shall perform all such other services as 
 may from time to time be imposed upon 
 them by the whole body of delegates 
 representing the American monetary 
 union, and of which they form a part. 
 
 Second. The nations represented in this 
 Conference, or such number of said na- 
 tions as shall agree hereto, shall have the 
 power, and it is hereby made their duty, 
 to coin an international silver coin of 
 uniform weight and fineness; that the 
 name of each nation coining any of said 
 money shall appear upon every coin made 
 by such nation ; that such coin shall con- 
 sist of iX'ii grains of silver, 900 fine, shall 
 
 Primera: Recoiuiendo en yrimer lugar, 
 que se proceda a lacreaci6n de una Uni6n 
 Monetaria Americana, compuesta de to- 
 das las nacioues represeutadas en esta 
 Conferencia ; que cada nacidn escoja uu 
 Delegado que la represeute en dicha 
 Uni6n ; que todos estos Delegados se reu- 
 nan una vez al aSo; que su primera reu- 
 ui6n se verifique en Washington el dia 
 primero do Enero de 1891, 6 antes ; y que 
 de entre sus initmbros elijan ellos mismos 
 tres individuos, uno en representacidn de 
 los Estados Unidos de America, otro de 
 las Reptiblicas de Mexico, Centro-Am&ica 
 y Haiti, y el tercero de las Reptiblicas de 
 la America del Sud, para que bajo la 
 direccidn de todo el cuerpo, entiendan 
 exclusivameute en la acuQacidn de las 
 monedas que se describirdnmfeadelante, 
 y tengan d su cargo el manejo del ramo, 
 determiuando la cantidad qne cada nacidn 
 representada en esla Conferencia deberd) 
 acunar, segun lo que aqui se establece, y 
 cuidando de que toda moneda que asl se 
 acune sea del mismo peso y ley, y lleve la 
 estampa que lo corrcsponda, no fabric^n- 
 dose mayor cantidad que la que aqul se 
 prescribe. De tiempo en tiempo compro- 
 bar^n tambi^n el peso y la ley de toda la 
 moneda internacional acimada conforme 
 S, este plan, y verdn si estii estampada en 
 debida forma; y toda la que se encuentre 
 gastada y haya perdido uno por ciento de 
 su peso 6 de su valor, ser^ f undida y acu- 
 nada de nuevo por el pais que la hubiere 
 emitido. Los referidos Delegados impe- 
 (HtSiU que se acune 6 ponga en circulacidn 
 ninguua moneda que no tenga el peso 
 complete, y no sea de la ley debida; y 
 preslar^u adem^s todos los otros servi- 
 cios que les encomiende el cuerpo entero 
 de los representantes de la Uni6n Mone- 
 taira Americana, ^ que ellos tambien per- 
 tenecen. 
 
 i; Las naciones representadas 
 en esta Conferencia, 6 aquellas que asi lo 
 convinieren, teudr^n el derecho y el deber 
 de acuSar una moneda de plata interna- 
 cional de peso y ley uniformes, y cuidar^n 
 de que en cada una aparezca estampado 
 el nombre de la uaci6n que la acufid, y 
 que cada una contenga 412J granos do 
 plata, de ley de 900, que lleve una inscrip- 
 ci6n uniforme, que se determinarii mas 
 
472 
 
 iHTEKNATlONAL AMERICAN CONPEEENCfi. 
 
 bear a uniform inscription hereafter to be 
 agreed upon, and that tbe United States of 
 America shall coin not less tban $2,000,000 
 of such coins nor more than |4,000,000 of 
 such coins each month, and the Repub- 
 lics of Mexico, Central and South Amer- 
 ica, and Hayti shall coin in tbe aggregate 
 of said international coin not to exceed 
 14,000,000 each month, the amount of 
 such coinage by each of said Republics of 
 Mexico, Central and South America, and 
 Hayti to be apportioned among said last- 
 name republics according to the popula- 
 tion thereof. The said delegates to the 
 said monetary union shall malie such ap- 
 portionment in accordance witli the terms 
 herein prescribed, and no larger amount 
 of said international coin shall be coined 
 by any one of said countries than is here- 
 in provided for. 
 
 Third. The international silver coin, 
 made as hereinbefore prescribed, shall be 
 a legal tender in all commercial transac- 
 tions between, all the citizens of the na- 
 tion issuing it, and be receivable at par 
 for all public dues by said nation, and the 
 said silver coin shall also be legal tender 
 in all commercial transactions between 
 the citizens of all the other American Re- 
 publics belonging to the said American 
 monetary union to the extent of $50 for 
 each single payment in all commercial 
 transactions, and to no greater or largt-r 
 amount, except by the consent of the 
 parties receiving said money. Provided, 
 however, that said coin shall be au un- 
 limited legal tender in all of said countries 
 when the discount on silver compared 
 with the value of gold at 16 to 1 shall 
 not exceed 5 per cent. 
 
 Fourth. The coinage of the continental 
 silver coin herein provided for may be 
 suspended from time to time, or the coin- 
 age thereof limited in amount or in- 
 creased in amount by the afiflrmative 
 action of those nations coining in the 
 aggregate two-thirds of all the silver coin 
 herein permitted to be coined each month 
 by the several nations forming this mone- 
 tary union. 
 
 Fifth. Upon the dissolution of said 
 American monetary union, or of the sus- 
 pension of the coinage of said interna- 
 tional silver coin, the nation coining it 
 shall receive the same at par for all pub- 
 lic dues and in all commercial transac- 
 
 adelante. Los Estados Unidos de Ame- 
 rica acunariin no m^iios de $2,000,000 de 
 esta moneda, y no nife de $4,000,000 al 
 mes; y las Reptiblicas de Mexico, Centro 
 y Sud America y Haiti acuHariia en todo 
 una cantidad de esta moneda interna- 
 cional que no exceda de $4,000,000 almes. 
 La parte proporcional de esta sumaqne 
 corresponda & cada una de estas Replib- 
 icas se determinarii con arreglo S, su pobla- 
 ci6n. Esta determinacidn se har^ porlos 
 Delegados S, dicha Unl6n Monetaria, con 
 arreglo & lo oyie aqui se recomienda ; y 
 ninguno de dichos pafses acufiari mayor 
 cantidad de osta moneda interuacional 
 que la que est^ aqui establecida. 
 
 Tercera : La moneda de plata interua- 
 cional que se fabrique couforme & este 
 plan, tendrS, ourso legal forzoso asl en 
 todas las transacciones comerciales entre 
 los ciudadanos de la naci6n que la emitid, 
 donde se recibirSi S, la par en pago de las 
 deudas publicas, como en todas las que se 
 celebren entre ciudadanos de las demas 
 ReplibllcaB americanas, pertenecientes & 
 la Uni6n monetaria aiuericaua, que no 
 excedan de oincuenta pesos en cada pago, 
 sin que pueda pasarse de este llmite & no 
 ser con el consentimiento de las partes 
 que debeu recibir el dinero; con tal que, 
 siu embargo, la dicha moneda sea medio 
 circulante legal forzoso en cantidad ilimi- 
 tada, en todos los paises, cuando quiera 
 que el descuento de la plata comparada 
 con el oro, al tipo de 16 S, uno, no exceda 
 del cinco por oiento. 
 
 Cuarta: La acufiacidn de la moneda 
 contiuental de plata de que aqui se trata 
 podrSi suspenderse de tiempo en tiempo, 
 y tambi6u anmentarse, 6 disminuirse, 
 Begun lo determinen las naoiones que 
 acunen en conj unto las dos terceras par- 
 tes de toda la moneda de plata que es 
 permitido fabricar meusualmente S^ todas 
 las naciones de la Unidn Monetaria. 
 
 Quinta: Ala disolucidn de dicha Uni6n, 
 6 cuando se suspenda la acu&aci6n de la 
 moneda de plata internacional, la naci6n 
 que la haya emitido la recibirfi & la par, 
 en pago de todas las deudas ptiblicas, y 
 como medio circulante legal en todas las 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 473 
 
 tions, aud the citizens of sncb nation 
 sball coutinue to receive the same at par, 
 and for that purpose it shall be a legal 
 tender, notwithstaudiug such dissolution 
 of said monetary union or of such sus- 
 pension of coinage. 
 
 Sixth. The American monetary union 
 which is herein created shall come into 
 full force and eifeot on the 1st day of Jan- 
 nary, 1892, and it shall remain in full 
 force and operation for the term of five 
 years thereafter; and if one year before the 
 expiration of said five years the nation 
 or nations forniiug said monetary union 
 and which shall actually coin one- half or 
 more of said continental coin shall not 
 have declared said American monetary 
 union terminated by notice given to the 
 other nations forming said union then 
 the same shall continue and be in full 
 force and effect from year to year until 
 such notice shall be given. 
 Tours, etc., 
 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 
 Delegate from the United States to the 
 International American Conference, 
 
 transacoiones comerciales; y los ciuda- 
 danos de diclia naci<5n continuarSn re- 
 cibiSiidola tambi^n ^ la par, pues para 
 ese efecto, y no obstante la disoluciciu de 
 la Uuifiu, 6 la suspensidn de operaciones, 
 es y debe conslderarse de ciirso forzoso. 
 
 Sexta: La Uui<5u monetaria amerioana 
 quepor el preseate plan se propone habrd 
 de estar eu pleno fsjercicio en 1" de Enero 
 de 1892, y coutiiiuarS en existencia por 
 cinco afios, ^ contar de esa fecha: y si 
 un aHo antes de la expiraci6n de ese 
 plazo la nacion 6 uacioues que forman la 
 Uni6n y que acunan la iiiitad, 6 mas, del 
 total de la moneda continental, no ban 
 dado noticia S, las otras de su deseo de 
 terminarla, se entenderfi la misma conti- 
 nuada de ano en a&o hasta que se d6 di- 
 cha noticia. 
 
 Este es mi parecer, salvo el mejor deVds. 
 Morris M. Estbb, 
 Delegado por los Estados Unidoa 
 d la Conferencia Internaciorial 
 Americana. 
 
 Minority Report Presented to the 
 International Conference. 
 
 Bl T. jEFfERSON COOLIDGE, 
 
 A Delegate of the United States and a member of 
 the Committee on the Monetary Convention. 
 
 By an act of the Congress of the United 
 States, May 24, 1888, the President was 
 authorized to arrange a conference be- 
 tween the United States of America and 
 the Republics of Mexico, Central and 
 South America, Hayti, San Domingo, 
 and the Empire of Brazil, and he was re- 
 quested, in forwarding the invitations to 
 the said governments, to set forth that 
 the conference was called to consider 
 certain specific subjects. Among these, 
 the sixth in number, is " the adoption of 
 a common silver coin to be issued by each 
 Government, the same to be legal tender 
 in all commercial transactions between 
 the citizens of all the American States." 
 
 DiCTAMEN DE MiNORf A PRESENTADO X LA 
 
 Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana 
 
 PoK T. Jeffekson Cooliugb, 
 
 Delegado por los Estados Vnidos y Tnienibro de 
 la Comisidn de Oonvencidn Monetaria. 
 
 Por una ley del Congreso de los Estados 
 Unidos, aprobada el 24 de Mayo de 1888, 
 se autoriz6 al Presidente para celebrar 
 una Conferencia entre los Estados Unidos 
 de America y.las Reptiblicas de M6xico, 
 Centre y Sud America, Haiti, Santo Do- 
 mingo, y el Imperio del Brasil, orden^n- 
 dosele que al enviar S, los Gobieruos de 
 aquellos pafses las oorrespondientes invi- 
 taciones, les manifestara que la Conferen- 
 cia tendrla por objeto el estndio de los 
 asuntos que la misma ley expresa, entre 
 los cnales ocupa el sexto lugar "la adop- 
 ci6u de una moneda coniiin de plata, 
 que pueda ser iicnfiada y emitida por todos 
 y cada iino de los Gobieruos, y sirva de 
 medio circiilante lefjal para toda clase de 
 transacciones comerciales celebradas mu- 
 
474 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The issue of a coin which would pass as 
 a legal tender in all the States of South 
 America, Central America, and the United 
 States would be a great assistance in facil- 
 itating commerce between the two coun- 
 tries, and would, to a certain extent, 
 place the exchanges between the different 
 nations in the condition which exists be- 
 tween one State of the United States and 
 another. A merchant would be able to 
 draw on New York from Rio Janeiro or 
 Buenos Ayres with the same facility with 
 which a merchant now draws on New York 
 from San Francisco. The invoices would 
 all be made in the international currency, 
 and as it is proposed that the currency 
 should be a legal tender everywhere, 
 there would be no variation in the ex- 
 change, except to the small extent which 
 the cost of transportation of the coin 
 from one State to another to settle bal- 
 ances might cause. 
 
 Nothing is said in the statement of the 
 sixth, subject of conference about the 
 amount which each nation should coin, 
 but it was probably assumed that auy 
 agreement which might be reached would 
 be determined either by the population of 
 the respective States, or by their com- 
 parative commerce. But as the amounts 
 required for an international currency 
 woald be very large and would require 
 several years to coin, it may for the pres- 
 ent be assumed that the coinage would 
 be practically unlimited the first years. 
 The Latin Union coined from 1866 to 1876 
 about $15.50 per inhabitant, of whicli |10 
 was in gold. If we assume that we should 
 require only $o per head of silver coinage 
 in ten years, it would take $600,000,000. 
 As the yearly product of silver in the 
 A-nericas iu 1887 was $112,000,000, we 
 may consider that for the first years the 
 coinage would be limited only by the 
 power of the mints and the supply of the 
 metal, as it would require $60,000,000 a 
 year to coin as much silver per inhabit- 
 ant as the Latin Union coined, leaving 
 . out their gold coinage. 
 
 tnamente entre los ciudadanos de un 
 Estado de America, y los de los demas del 
 mismo hemisferio." 
 
 La emisidn de una moneda de curso 
 legal, admislble en todos los Estados de 
 la America del Sud y la Central y en los 
 Estados Unidos, seria sin duda un auxiliar 
 poderoso para hacer m^s fSicil el connercio 
 entre estos palses, y los colocarla respec- 
 tivameute, hasta cierto punto, en la misma 
 posioi6n en que se encuentran entre si 
 los di versos Estados de esta Uni6n. Un 
 comerciante podrla girar con la misma 
 facilidad contra Nueva-York desde Rio Ja- 
 neiro 6 Buenos Aires, que un comerciante 
 de San Francisco contra Nueva-York. En 
 las facturas se emplearia la moneda inter- 
 nacional ; y como esta ha de ser declarada 
 medio circulante legal en todas partes, 
 no habrla variaoi6n alguna en el cambio, 
 excepto la pooa diferencia que impondria 
 el costo de trasporte del uuo al otro Es- 
 tado, y serIa muy fSoil liquidar las cuen- 
 tas. 
 
 El sexto tema sometido & la cousidera- 
 ci6u dela Conferencia nada dice respec- 
 to a la 6uma que cada nacidn debe acunar, 
 l)ero es de suponerse que cualqniera 
 arreglo ^ que se llegue sobre ese punto 
 determiuarS lo conveniente, fijando el 
 importe, bien con relacidn Sj la poblacidn, 
 6 bien teniendo en cuenta ol mayor 6 
 nienor comercio de los respeotivos Es- 
 tados. Fero como las sumas que se ne- 
 cesitanpara una circulacifininternacional 
 tendrSin que ser creoidas y se emplearSin 
 muchos aQos para acunarlas, puede darse 
 por establecido que durante los primeros 
 anos serla la acunacidn pr^cticamente 
 ilimitada. La Unidn Latina acu&6, de 
 1866 ^ 1876, en la proporcidn de cercade 
 $15.50 por habitante de los paises que la 
 formaron ; y de esta suma $10 fueron 
 enoro. Sisesupone quenosotrosnonece- 
 sitamos mas que $5 en moneda de plata, 
 per capita, la acunacidn en diez anos 
 asceuderla ^ $600,000,000. Y como el 
 producto anual de plata en las Americas 
 en el ano de 1887 ascendi6 S, $112,000,000, 
 podr6mos calcular sin riesgo que en los 
 primeros alios la acnnaoidn no tendrla 
 mis limites que los que impusieran las 
 mayores 6 menores facilidades de las 
 casas de moneda, y los que resultaran de 
 la mayor 6 menor cautidad de metal de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 475 
 
 It would seem at first that commercial 
 countries should require much more coin 
 per capita for business purposes than ag- 
 ricultural ones, but their need of coin is 
 limited by their greater use of cheoljs, 
 clearing-houses, bills of exchange, and 
 the transference of bank deposits, and 
 like instruraentalitiesfor economizing the 
 use of specie. In countries unprovided 
 with such agencies transactions are made 
 more frequently by exchange of the coin 
 i tself, and sometimes coin is hoarded for 
 investment. An extreme example of this 
 is agricultural India, which absorbed 
 from 1853 to 1885, inclusive, 1,300 millions 
 of silver in addition to the enormous and 
 unknown amount already held there. 
 
 As the language of the act of Congress 
 mentions " a silver coin only," it is not 
 proposed to take into consideration the 
 coinage of gold, but only that of silver. 
 If found practicable, a monetary treaty 
 might be adopted somewhat similar to 
 the Latin Union entered into December 
 23, 1865, between Prance, Belgium, Italy, 
 and Switzerland, leaving out the gold 
 coinage. In the ILird article of that 
 union the contracting nations bound 
 themselves not to coiu, or permit to be 
 coined, silver pieces of 5 francs except 
 of a given weight, standard, tolerance, 
 and diameter. The contracting parties 
 agreed to receive the above pieces at par, 
 unless reduced 1 percent, by wear, or un- 
 less the devices were worn off. In article 
 4 of the same treaty they agreed to the 
 weight and fineness of small pieces of 
 silver of 2 francs and under. These pieces 
 were to be recoined by their respective 
 governments when reduced by wear, and 
 were only to be a legal tender to the sum 
 of .'JO francs between the individuals in 
 the State in which they were issued, but 
 the nation issuing them was to receive 
 them in any amount. They also agreed 
 to coin subsidiary pieces only to the (-x- 
 
 que pudiera disponerse. Para acunar 
 tanta plata por habitants oomo lo hizo la 
 Uni(3n Latina, siu contar la acuilaci6n en 
 oro, se necesitarian sesenta millones de 
 pesos por aFio. 
 
 Pa:ece & primera vista que los paises 
 comerciales necesitan mucha m^s canti- 
 dad de moneda, per capita, para llenar 
 las exigencias de los negocios quo los que 
 son simplemente agrioultores; pero esa ne- 
 cesidad de dinero met^lico se encuentra 
 limitada en los primeros por el uso mayor 
 de cheques, libranzasy letras de cambio, 
 por el establocimiento de casas liquida- 
 doras, por las transferencias de los depd- 
 sitos en los bancos, y por otros raedios 
 semejantes. En los paises que no cuentan 
 con esas facilidades, las transacciones se 
 hacen mfe frecuentemonte con moneda 
 efectiva, y en muchos cases se atesora esta 
 para esperar una inversion favorable. 
 Grande ejemplo de esto presenta la India, 
 pals agricola, que de 1853 ^ 1885, inclu- 
 sive, absorvi6 1,300 millones de plata, 
 ademfe de la enorme suma, no conocida, 
 que ya tenia retenida. 
 
 Las palabras de la ley del Congreso solo 
 se refieren & "una moneda de plata ; " y 
 por tanto no me ooupard de la acuuacidn 
 del oro, sino solamente de la de plata. 
 Si la idea fuese practicable se podria 
 adoptar un tratado inonetario, somejaute 
 al de la Uni6n Latina, de Diciembre 23 
 de 1865, celebrado entre Francia, B61gi'ca, 
 Italia, y Suiza, prescindiendo entera- 
 mente de la acuuaci6n del oro. En el 
 artloulo tercero de aquel tratado las 
 naciones contratantes se comprometieron 
 ^ no acuiiar, ni permitir que se acunasen, 
 monedas de plata de cinco francos, que 
 no tuviesen un peso dado, y uua misma ley 
 y tamano, y ^ recibir 4i la par esas mone- 
 das, excepto en el case de que con el uso 
 hubieseu perdido uno por ciento de su 
 peso, 6 se hubiesen borrado sus inscrip- 
 oiones. 
 
 En el articulo 4° del mismo tratado se 
 estipul6 tambien oual debfa ser el peso y 
 la ley de las monedas de 2 francos, y otras 
 m^s pequenaa. Estas monedas debian 
 serfundidas y acunadas de nuevo por los 
 respectivos Gobiernos, cuaudo con el uso 
 se hubierau gastado: y solamente ser- 
 viriau de medio circulante legal entre los 
 iudividuos del Estado en que se emi- 
 
476 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 tent of 6 francs for each inhabitant. ' The 
 total silver coinage of the Latin Union 
 under that agreement, excluding subsidi- 
 ary coinage, was, from 1865 to 1877 : 
 
 IVancs. 
 
 France 625,000,000 
 
 Italy 355,000,000 
 
 Belgium 350,000,000 
 
 Switzerland (about) 8,000,000 
 
 Total 1,338,000,000 
 
 When the treaty was made, December, 
 1865, the ratio of silver to gold was 15.44, 
 or about 15^, which was the ratio of the 
 coinage; but that ratio fell gradually, 
 until in 1872 it was 15.64; in 1873, 15.93; 
 in 1874, 16.16; in 1875, 16.63; in 1876, 
 17.48. The effect of this was to cause a 
 greatly increased flow of silver to the 
 mints, because the money brokers received 
 for 15i ounces of silver an ounce of gold, 
 and they could buy with that ounce of 
 gold 16 ounces of silver, leaving a profit 
 of one-half an ounce of silver. Before 
 the fall of silver was noticeable, in 1871- 
 '72, only 5,000,000 francs of silver bullion 
 were offered to the mint in France, but in 
 1873 154,000,000 were offered; and in Belgi- 
 um, 111,000,000 against 33,000,000 in 1872. 
 
 This led to a meeting of the delegates at 
 Paris in January, 1874. At this meeting 
 and at others, which were held annually, 
 it was agreed that the silver coinage 
 should be limited to 140,000,000 francs for 
 1874, 150,000,000 for 1875, and 108,000,000 
 for 1876. The total of these three years 
 was limited at 398,000,000. 
 
 Each State coined its share except Swit- 
 zerland. In 1877 and 1878 all the States 
 
 * Xlio United States havo in circulation, etc., 
 of gold, silver and paper about $26 per head. 
 
 tieron hasta la snma de 50 francos; pero 
 la nacidn niisma que las emitid debia 
 recibirlas en cualquier suma. Tambi^a 
 se comprometieron ^ acnnar monedas 
 subsidiarias, aunqueesta acnfiaoi6n debia 
 limitarse S, la suma de 6 francos por 
 habitante.* La acunacidn total de plata 
 hecha por la Unidn Latina, de 1865 S, 
 1877, oouforme S, aquel tratado, exelu- 
 yendo las piezas auxiliares, fa6 como 
 sigue : 
 
 !Francos. 
 
 Francia 625,000,000 
 
 Italia *; 355,000,000 
 
 B^lgica 350,000,000 
 
 Suiza (prdximamente) 8,000,000 
 
 Total 1,338,000,000 
 
 Cuando se celebrfi el Tratado de Di- 
 ciembre de 1865, la proporcidn entre la 
 plata y el oro era de 15.44 6 15J prdxi- 
 mamente, y esa ia4 la proporcidn de la 
 acufiacidn ; pero esa proporci6u dismi- 
 nuyo gradualmente hasta el ano de 1872, 
 en el cual se elev6 Si 15.64. En 1873 fu6 
 de 15.93; en 1874 de 16.16; en 1875 de 
 16.63 ; en 1876 de 17.48. El resultado que 
 esto produjo fu6 hacer afluir S. las Casas 
 de Moneda una oantidad mayor de plata, 
 porque los cambistas reciblan por quince 
 y media onzas de plata una de oro, y eon 
 esta onza de oro podfan comprar 16 de 
 plata,obteniendo asi una utilidad de media 
 onza de plata. Antes de que la baja de 
 este metal se hiciera perceptible, en 
 1871-'72, la plata en barra que se habia 
 llevado las Casas de Moneda de Francia, 
 fue solo por valor de oinco millones de 
 francos ; pero en 1873 esa suma ascendifi 
 d. 154 millones. En B61gica se lievaron 
 en eee afio 111 millones contra 33 que se 
 habian llevado en 1872. 
 
 Esto indujo Slos Delegados £itener una 
 reunidn en Paris en Enero de 1874 ; y en 
 ella y las subsiguientes que anualmente 
 celebraron acordaron limitar la acuiiaci6u 
 de plata en 1874 S solo 140 millones de 
 francos ; y & 150 millones la de 1875, y 108 
 milloues la de 1876. El total que debia 
 acufiaise en los tres afios se ciroumscribl6 
 S, 398 millones. ' 
 
 Cada Estado acufid la cuota que le cor- 
 respondia, excepto Suiza; y en 1877 y 
 
 *Lo3 Estados tTnidos tienen en circnlacidn, 
 etc., en oro, plata, y papel moneda cerca de $26 
 per capita. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 477 
 
 of tbe Latin Union, by agreement, ceased 
 to coin the 5-frano piece, standard silver, 
 as they found that, as the valne of silver 
 in proportiou to gold continued to decline, 
 a further issue of silver at 15i would take 
 from them all their gold. 
 
 I have gone into these details because 
 they may shed much light on the question 
 before us, and may teach us how to avoid 
 the difficulties which proved fatal to the 
 Latin Union. 
 
 The first point to be taken up seems to 
 me to be the question of making the pro- 
 posed silver coin a legal tender through 
 all the countries uniting in the treaty. 
 The coin would circulate without being a 
 legal tender if it were received for Gov- 
 ernment dues, and the mere fact of its 
 being a legal tender would not prevent it 
 from depreciating; for during civil war 
 in the United States, although the green- 
 back was a legal tender, it fell very much 
 in value, and in the French Revolution 
 the assignata, which were based on real 
 estate and were legal tenders, became 
 worthless. 
 
 It is probable that difficulties might 
 arise in the effort to establish a coin which 
 would be struck at the mints of various 
 nations, and which would become, by 
 force of treaty, an obligatory legal tender 
 between individuals in each of these 
 countries in their financial dealings with 
 one another. Questions of constitutional 
 law might arise which would naturally 
 cause delays and uncertainties, and 
 would, therefore, tend 1o discredit a. 
 measure meant to be beneficent in its ap- 
 plication. It is certainly undesirable to 
 court such obstacles, particularly if there 
 does not appear any necessity for so 
 doing. 
 
 The agreement of a government to re- 
 ceive a dollar at a certain valuation in 
 payment of public dues is simple and easy 
 of fulfillment. The legal tender clause 
 
 1878 todos los Estados de la Uni6n Latin a 
 convinieron en suspender la acnBacidn de 
 las monedas de plata de 5 francos, por- 
 que observaron que el valor de la plata 
 con relaci6n al del oro estaba declinando 
 constantemente, y temieron conTazdn que 
 una nneva emisidn de plata & 15^ hiciese 
 desaparecer el oro. 
 
 He entrado en todos estos pormenores 
 porque ellos pueden arrojar niucha luzen 
 el asunto que estamos estndiando, y pue- 
 den ensefiarnos ^ evitar las dificultades 
 que resultaron ser fatales para la Uni(5n 
 Latina. 
 
 El primer punto que debe examinarse 
 es, Sj mi juicio, si debe 6 no hacerse que 
 la moneda de que se trata sea un medio 
 circnlante legal, y admisible forzosa- 
 mente en todos los Estados que firmen 
 el tratado. Esa moneda circularla siem- 
 pre, atin sin declararla medio circnlante 
 legal, si los Gobiernos interesados oon- 
 vinieran en recibirla en pago de lo que se 
 les adende £i ellos mismos ; pero el mero 
 hecho de hacerla medio circnlante legal 
 no impedirla su depreciacidn. Durante 
 la gucrra civil de los Estados Unidos el 
 papel moneda era medio circnlante legal, 
 y baj6 mucho de valor; y durante la 
 revolnci(5n francesa los aaaignais, aunque 
 basados en propiedad ralz y declarados 
 tambien medio circnlante legal, llegaron 
 & quedar sin valor. 
 
 Es probable adem^ que surjan difi- 
 cultades cuando se trate de acafiar en las 
 diferentes naciones, una moneda que por 
 virtud de un tratado haya de servir como 
 medio circnlante legal, de recibo obliga- 
 torio, en todos los negooios y operaciones 
 comerciales que se celebren entre los 
 ciudadanos de esos palses. Graves y 
 complicadas cuestiones de Derecho cons- 
 titucional se pueden presentar, que can- 
 sarin naturalmeute demoras 6 incerti- 
 dnmbre, y tender^n & que caiga en des- 
 cr^dito lo que se concibi6 con el mejor 
 deseo de que prodnjera en la pr^ctica los 
 mSs benefices resultados. Es sin duda 
 poco prudente ir en busca de esos obstS- 
 culos y tratar de suscitarlos, sobre todo 
 cuando no hay necesldad alguna de ha- 
 cerlo asl. 
 
 Que un Gobierno se comprometa & re- 
 cibir un peso de cierto tipo en pago de lo 
 que se deba & su Tesoro, es cosa fiicil de 
 obtener. Pero la exigencia de que ese 
 
478 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 might be thought a very dangerous inno- 
 vation for another reason : The coinage of 
 each State would have to be regulated in 
 amount and would have to be of a certain 
 weight and fineness of metal. Now, with 
 all the safeguards that could he put 
 around the mints, although trustworthy 
 people were employed to supervise the 
 quantity and quality of coins of all the 
 mints wherever situated, still human 
 nature is fallible, and the temptation 
 might be so great as to cause an inferior 
 coin to be issued or a greater quantity to 
 be put forth than was agreed upon. We 
 will suppose, for the sake of illustration, 
 that it was decided to coin a legal-tender 
 dollar similar in weight and fineness to 
 the dollar of the United States, which is 
 now worth ah(<ut 72 to 74 cents. It will 
 at once be seen that there would be a 
 profit to the nation furnishing the silver 
 to the amount of 25 cents on the dollar, 
 or 33 per cent, for every dollar coined. 
 This enormous profit involves great dan- 
 ger of attempts by individuals or States to 
 put upon the market indefinite quantities 
 of coins exactly similar and of equal value 
 which would be indistinguishable from 
 the others, and which, .is soon as issued, 
 would, as obligatory legal tenders, be re- 
 ceivable for a dollar in all the Americas, 
 when they only cost 75 cents. In case of 
 a rebellion or revolution in one of the con- 
 tracting countries, two governments 
 might be set up. Each government would 
 naturally claim for itself the right of coin- 
 age, and vast amounts of coin might be 
 issued by either of them at an immense 
 profit, and it would be impossible to dis- 
 tinguish between the coins and refuse to 
 accept them without throwing discredit 
 upon the whole system of coinage in all 
 the countries. I can not but think that 
 it would be very difficult, if not impossi- 
 ble, to devise adequate guaranties 
 against this peril. 
 
 peso sea medio circulante legal, admisi- 
 ble forzosamente, podria considerarse 
 como una innovacidn muy peligrosa. La 
 raz6n es la siguiente. La acnfiacidn en 
 cada Estado tendria que estar reglamen- 
 tada, tanto con respecto ^ la oantidad 
 como al peso y ley de la moneda que se 
 acune. Ahora bien, & pesar de todas las 
 precauciones que se tomen, y de toda la 
 vigilancia que se ejerza en las Casas de 
 Moupda, atiucuando solo se empleen per- 
 sonas de la mdls reconocida honradez para 
 inspeccionar 1^ cantidad y calidad de las 
 aounacioues, sea cual fuere el lugar en 
 que esto se haga, como la naturaleza hu- 
 mana es falible, y la tontacidn podria ser 
 muy grande, se correr^ siempre el riesgo 
 de que se ponga en ciroulaci(5n una mo- 
 neda de inferior ley, 6 de que se emita la 
 uiisma moneda en mayor cantidad de la 
 convenida. Supdngase, por via de ejem- 
 plo, que se ha decidido acufiar una moneda 
 de curso legal forzoso, del valor de un 
 peso, semejante en todo al "dollar" de 
 los Estados Unidos, que vale hoy 72-74 
 centavos pr6ximamente. Se ver£i desde 
 luego que la naci6n que suministre la 
 plata obtendr^ una ganancia de 25 cen- 
 tavos en cada peso, 6 sea un 33 por oiento 
 en carta "dollar"' acunado. Esta euor- 
 me utilidad envuelve el gran peligro de 
 que pueda intentarse, ya por personas 
 partioulares, ya por algun Estado, poner 
 en circulaci6n oantidades ilimitadas de 
 una moneda exactamente igual, y del 
 mismo valor, que no pueda diferenciarse 
 de las otras, y que tan pronto como se 
 emita, tended que circular y admitirse 
 forzosamente y sin reparo en todas las 
 Americas, como si fuera un " dollar," auu- 
 que no valga en realidad mas que 75 cen- 
 tavos. En case de revolucidn en uno de 
 los paises contratantes, dos gobiemos 
 podrfan formarse, y cada uno natural- 
 mente pretenderia tener derecho de acu- 
 fiar moneda, y de emitirla en grandes 
 cantidades, con ganancia inmensa. No 
 podria entonces distinguirse cual de las 
 dos monedas es la legltima, ni rehusarse 
 su recibo, S, no ser corriendo el riesgo de 
 desacreditar el sistema adoptado de que 
 la acunaci6n se haga en todos las paises. 
 No puedo menos que creer que serii diflcil, 
 si no imposible, dictar medidas que ga- 
 rantizen suficientemente contra la posi- 
 bilidad de este peligro. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 479 
 
 But even if the quality of the compul- 
 sory legal tender were given up, I think 
 the international coin would pass at its 
 face value if the several Governments 
 agreed to receive it. for all taxes and cus- 
 tom-house dues to the Government in 
 their respective territories. And such Is 
 the credit of the United States that I 
 think it probable that the issue of even 
 more than |100,000,000 might be main- 
 tained at their par value, as our present 
 silver dollar ia maintained. That ques- 
 tion I do not propose to argue, because 
 opinions upon it are very conflicting, and 
 nothing but experience can teach us to 
 what extent we may go in the issue of 
 coin to be current at more than its bul- 
 lion value. But, of course, the increase 
 of such silver coinage would add to the 
 load which at the present time presses on 
 the United States, and which, if carried 
 to excess, would, in the behalf of many 
 of our most experienced financiers, neces- 
 sarily result in a, premium on gold and 
 the establishment of silver monometal- 
 lism. It might also be a question whether 
 any of the contracting states would con- 
 sider it wise to allow silver coins to be 
 put out on which there was a profit of 25 
 to 33 per cent, to the nations coining 
 them, whereas the loss inherent on their 
 falling below their face value might all 
 come on one or two of the contracting 
 states. Id their present issue ol silver 
 the United States makes the whole profit 
 and takes the risk of the depreciation of 
 the coin. In the proposed international 
 plan a large part of the coinage would be 
 made by other nations, who would thus 
 make the profit between the face value 
 of the dollar and its bullion value, whereas 
 the United States would bind itself to re- 
 ceive it at its face value for all dues 
 whatever Its market value might be. We 
 must reflect that the international coins 
 would not necessarily remain in the state 
 for which they were issued, but would 
 flow to those countries where they were 
 of most value. In any state where an 
 irredeemable paper existed, or where the 
 legal tender was for some reason or other 
 worth in bullion less than the silver dol- 
 lar which it ia proposed to coin, it would 
 be a profit to export the silver and draw 
 biUs against it, with which the exporter 
 
 Pero auiique se abandonara la idea de 
 convertir esla moueda en medio circu- 
 lante legal y forzoso, siempre resultaria 
 que su valor puede conservarso il la par, 
 con solo que los diferentes Gobiernos se 
 obliguen & reoibirla en pago de coutribu- 
 ciones y derechos de aduana, en sus res- 
 pectivoa territorias. El cr6dito de los 
 Estados Unidos es tau grande que, aunque 
 sohicieseunaemisi6ndem&decien millo- 
 ones de pesos, el valor de ^stos podrla 
 mantenerse ^ la par, como suce le exacta- 
 mente con nuestro actual "dollar" de 
 plata. Esta es cuestidn, sin embargo, que 
 no me propongo discutir, porque las 
 opiniones son muy diversas, y solo la ex- 
 perienoia y nada m^s podr^il ensenarnos 
 hasta donde podr^mos ir emitiendo una 
 moneda que sea oorriente con mas valor 
 que el de la plata en pasta. Pero es claro 
 que el aumento de semejante acuaSacidn 
 de plata haria m£is pesada la carga que 
 abrunia hoy & los Estados Unidos, la que 
 llevada al exceso ha de producir necesa- 
 riamente, segiin la opinidn de muchos de 
 nuestros mSs experimentados financieros, 
 que el oro se ponga ii premio y se establez- 
 ca el nnimetalismo de la plata. Tambi6n 
 podrla dudarse que los Estados contra- 
 tantes creyeaen prudente permitir la emi- 
 si6n de una moneda de plata que rinda 
 una ganancia de uu 25 ^ un 33 pov ciento 
 para las nacionea que la acunen y que, si 
 llegara S, despreciarse y ponerse S, descu- 
 ento, impondria una p^rdida que recaerla 
 toda entera sobre uno 6 dos de los Estados 
 contratantes. En las emisiones que hoy 
 se hacen en este pais, loa Eatados Unidos 
 disfrutan de toda la utilidad, y aceptan la 
 eventualidad de que haya p^rdida por la 
 depreciaci6n de la moneda. En el plan 
 internacional propuesto, una gran parte 
 de la acuflacidn ha de hacerse poi otras 
 nacionea, que por lo tan to gozar^n la dife- 
 rencia entre el valor del " dollar" & la 
 par y el de la plata de que est^ formado, 
 jiientras que los Estados Unidos se com- 
 prometen & recibirlo Si la par en pago de 
 todo derecho 6 impuesto, aea cual fuere 
 el valor que tuviese en el mercado. De- 
 bemoa fijarnos en que estaa monedas in- 
 ternacionales no tendrlan necesariamente 
 que quedarse en el Estado para el cual se 
 emitieron, sino que han de ir S, los palses 
 en que tengan mayor valor. Si en algun 
 
480 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 could l)iiy a greater value of legal tender 
 than the silver would represent. The 
 tendency, therefore, of the new coin 
 would be to leave the countries where 
 the currency was depreciated and make 
 its way gradually to the stronger and 
 richer countries. 
 
 Another question is whether the issue 
 of silver coin worth, say, 75 cents, could 
 be used by the north in the purchase of 
 the various articles of commerce pro- 
 duced in the south to advantage, or by 
 the south in purchasing the manufactures 
 of the north, without regard to the stand- 
 ard of gold existing throughout the whole 
 civili/ed world. We must not forget that 
 the commerce of the world has adjusted 
 itself, rightly or wrongly, to a single 
 standard, and that that standard is at 
 the present time a given weight of gold. 
 Monometallism, bimetallism, and tri- 
 metallism may be the rule in particular 
 countries. Gold coin of different weight 
 and fineness may be a legal tender, or 
 silver coin may be a limited or full legal 
 tender; and even when a full tender 
 may, through a restriction in the coinage, 
 be kept at a par with gold as a token. 
 Even copper may be and is a legal tender 
 in some countries. In other countries in- 
 convertible paper may circulate. The 
 various countries in which these different 
 systems prevail exchange product for 
 product with each other, but in order to 
 settle their exchanges a uniform standard 
 is of necessity established, and that 
 standard has become a given weight of 
 gold, without regard to acts of legal 
 tender, without any treaty stipulations, 
 and without regard to the coinage acts of 
 any one country. The merchant will 
 purchase his goods where he can do it to 
 the best advantage; in other words, 
 where they are cheapest, taking into con- 
 sideration the freight and the credit 
 which he is given on them. Would, then, 
 the merchants of South America come to 
 the United States and be enabled, 
 
 Est ado existiera papel moneda no redimi- 
 ble en met^lico, 6 si la moneda legal del 
 pais tu viera por cualquierrazdn mas valor 
 como pasta, 6 como meroanoia, que el del 
 " dollar" de plata que se tratade acunar, 
 seria de grande utilidad para los espeou- 
 ladores el exportar la plata, y girar Bobre 
 ella, porque asi el exportador podria com- 
 prar mayor cantidad de moneda legal 
 que la representada por el metal de que 
 est^ hecha. Por consiguiente la nueva 
 moneda tenderia & abandouar los paises en 
 que el medio» circulante legal estuviese 
 depreciado, y A aoumularse gradualmente 
 en las naciones mas fuertesy mas ricas. 
 
 Otra cuestifiu que se preseuta es la de 
 si la emisi6n de una moneda que valga 
 75 centavos, por ejemplo, podria servir en 
 el Norte para comprar con ganancia los 
 diversos artioulos de comercio que se pro- 
 duoen en el Sur, 6 usarse en este para la 
 compra de los fabricados en el Norte, sin 
 tener en cuenta el tipo del oro que estd^ 
 vigente en todo el mundo civilizado. No 
 debemos olvidar que el comercio del 
 mundo, con raz6n 6 sin 611a, se ha snje- 
 tado S, UD tipo tinico que consiste en una 
 cantidad de oro de uu peso determinado. 
 El unimetalismo, el bimetalismo, y el 
 trimetalismo, puedeu estar vigentes en 
 algunos Estados particnlares. Una mo- 
 neda de oro de diferente peso y ley pnede 
 haberse declarado medio circulante legal ; 
 y 5 una de plata pnede sucoderle lo mismo, 
 ya sea parcial 6 totalmente, y aun en el 
 tiltimo caso ponerse ^ la par con el oro 
 si se restringe su acnnacidn. El mismo 
 cobre puede ser y es de curso legal en 
 algunos paises. En otros el papel uo 
 amortizable tambien circula. Pero en 
 todos los Estados en que existen estos 
 diferentes sistemas los productos de los 
 nnos se cambian con los productos de Ion 
 otros, y 86 liqnidan las cuenias, confor- 
 me S, un tipo uniforme, establecido necesa- 
 riamente con independeucia do toda leg- 
 islacifin que cree un medio circulaute 
 legal, 6 de toda estipulacidn de tra- 
 tados, 6 de toda ley de acunacidn de cual- 
 quier pals, cuyo tipo consiste en una can- 
 tidad de oro de peso determinado. El 
 comerciante comprard sus niercanclas 
 donde pueda encontrarlas con mayor ven- 
 taja para 61, 6 en otros t^rminos donde 
 las consiga m^s baratas despues de con- 
 siderar el costo del transporte, y el plazo 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 481 
 
 through the issue of this coiD, to purchase 
 merchandise in the United States to 
 better advantage than they could in 
 Europe ? 
 
 Suppose that a bale of drj goods was of 
 the sairio value in New York as in Lon- 
 don. The South American trader would 
 have received the silver dollar not at the 
 value of bullion, but at the face value of 
 the coin. The profit would have -been 
 made by the nation coining it. If he had 
 a certain amount of these dollars in New 
 York, it would be just as easy for him to 
 deposit them in a bank and draw bills of 
 exchange against them for gold in Lon- 
 don as to use them for the purchase of 
 merchandise in the United States. In his 
 transactions, therefore, he would not be 
 gnided by the existence of the interna- 
 tional coin, but entirely by the cost of 
 goods, the freight, and xhe credit he 
 would receive receive from the various 
 bankers. In other words, trade depends 
 upon supply and demand, and would go 
 on in the same way and on the same prin- 
 ciples as if the proposed coinage did not 
 exist. It has been suggested that there 
 would be a profit to the American importer 
 of coffee if he could pay for the coffee 
 which he buys in South America with 
 this 75-cent international dollar ; but the 
 same principle would apply. If the credit 
 of the United States kept the dollar at 
 par with gold, the profit of the coinage 
 would go to the United States and not to 
 the merchant. It would cost him as much 
 as the gold dollar, and when he attempted 
 to make purchases of hides or coffee 
 he would find that the articles cost him 
 as much whether he paid for them in the 
 international coin or in bills of exchange 
 on England. But it may be said that he 
 would save the commission he pays the 
 banker. If he did not require any credit 
 to do his business he might save paying 
 a banker's commission, but if he required 
 that credit he would have to pay for it 
 whether it was done in New York or in 
 England. And as much the largest 
 amount of the trade of the Central and 
 South American States would continue to 
 be done with England, France, Germany, 
 and Italy, the exchanges would continue 
 to be settled in pounds sterling. If, from 
 
 31 I c 
 
 que se le oonoeda para el pago. j Podrf an 
 los comerciantes de SudAm^rioa venir S, los 
 Estados Unidos, & comprar meroaderlas, 
 con ventajas mayores para ellos que las 
 que Europales ofreoe, por solo elhecho de 
 quo se emita esta raoneda ? 
 
 Sup<5ngase que un bulto de mercaderias 
 vale lo mismo en Nueva-York que en L6n- 
 dres. El comerciante Sud Americano que 
 tiene "dollars." do plata,loshabr^recibido 
 no por el valor real que represen ta el metal, 
 sino por el que se ha dado S, la moneda. 
 La ganancia en ese caso habr^ sido para 
 la nacidn que los acnfid. Si ese comer- 
 ciante poseyera cierta cantidad de estos 
 " dollars" en Nueva-York, le seria igual- 
 mente f^cil depositarlos en un banco de 
 aquella ciudad, y comprar letras de cam- 
 bio sobre L6ndres, pagaderas en oro, que 
 usarlos directamente para comprar en los 
 Estados Unidos las meroanolas que nece- 
 site. De oonsiguiente, no se guiardl en sus 
 transacciones por la existencia de una 
 moneda interuacional, sino solo y exclu- 
 si vamente por el costo de las mercaderias, 
 el preoio del flete, y el cr^dito que le con- 
 cedan los diversos banqueros. En otras 
 palabras el comercio se basa en la oferta 
 y el pedido, y sobre esa base se sostendrfi 
 y marcharS sin alteraren nadalos princi- 
 pios S, que obedece, aun cuando no Hague 
 nunca S, existir la moneda que se propone. 
 Se ha indioado que un importador de caf6 
 ganarfa diuero si pudiera pagaraquel ar- 
 ticulo en Sud America con este peso in- 
 teruacional de 75 centavos ; pero el prin- 
 cipio serIa el mismo. Si el cr^dito de los 
 Estados Unidos mantiene el "dollar"^ 
 la par con el oro, la ganancia de la acuna- 
 ci6n es para los Estados Unidos y no para 
 el comerciante. A 6\ le cuesta tanto ese 
 " dollar " como el peso de oro, y cuando 
 quiere hacer compras de cueros 6 de caf6, 
 encuentra sin dificultad que estos articu- 
 los le costar^n lo mismo, ya sea que los 
 pague en la moneda interuacional, 6 ya en 
 letras de cambio contra Inglaterra. Pu- 
 diera decirse sin embargo, que se ha 
 ahorrado la comisidn que paga al ban- 
 quero. Pero esa coniisifin no tuvo que 
 pagarse, si al llevarse & cabo el negocio 
 no se hizo uso del cr6dito : y si se us6 
 de 61, lo mismo hubo que pagar la co- 
 misi6u, en Nueva-York que en Inglaterra. 
 Y como la mayor parte del comercio de los 
 Estados de Centro y Sud<Am6rica con- 
 
482 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 any cause, the international dollar should 
 fall in value below its face, nothing could 
 compel the South American merchant to 
 receiye it at its face value, and if he was 
 obliged to do so by law or custom he 
 would simply charge more for his mer- 
 chandise than if he expected to be paid 
 in gold. 
 
 If, however, it became profitable to the 
 American trader to use the new coin for 
 making purchases in the United States, 
 either because he could save a banker's 
 commission, or buy his goods cheaper, or 
 make a profit in drawing gold bills on 
 England against the deposit of silver coin 
 in New York, the international coin would 
 gradually come to the United States. 
 There it would accumulate in the banks. 
 It could not be exported, because Europe 
 would only receive it at its bullion value. 
 The only use the banks would have for it 
 would be in the payment of public dues. 
 Now, it is well known that by a tacit 
 understanding the banks of New York 
 and some other centers of commerce do 
 not use the silver certificate or the silver 
 dollar in their clearing-houses, but that 
 the transactions are carried on entirely in 
 a gold currency. Whenever they receive, 
 as they are obliged to do, silver certifi- 
 cates on deposit, they send them down to 
 the custom-house and get rid of them to 
 people who desire to pay dues to the Gov- 
 ernment. As yet their accumulation has 
 not been sufficient to make it difaonlt to 
 get rid of them in that way, but every 
 increase of silver coinage worth less than 
 its face in bullion would make the posi- 
 tion of the banks more difficult, and 
 tends to reduce the gold received by the 
 United States Government on imports to 
 the full extent of the -whole coinage. 
 Now, it is on that gold that the Govern- 
 ment relies to pay the interest on its pub- 
 lic debt and to redeem its legal tenders. 
 If, from any circumstances, such as the 
 accumulation of silver coinage, or a heavy 
 adverse balance of trade, the Govern- 
 ment should find itself without the nec- 
 essary gold to meet its gold demands, or 
 even if the public should fancy that there 
 was danger of such a difficulty coming 
 about, we should have a premium on gold 
 
 tinuarlahaciiSndose con Inglaterra, Fran- 
 oia, Alemania 6 Italia, seguirfan aquellos 
 arreglando sus cuentas en libras esterlinas. 
 Y si, por cualquier causa, el peso Inter- 
 nacional llegase S. ponerse S, desouento 
 nada podria inducir al comerciante Sud 
 Americano S, recibirlo S, la par ; y si se le 
 obligase S, ello por alguna ley 6 costum- 
 bre, pediria mayor precio por su merca- 
 derJa haoi^ndola m^s cara que si esperase 
 ser pagado en oro. 
 
 iS\ sin embargo de lo expuesto convi- 
 
 niese al com^ciante americano hacer sus 
 
 compras en los Estados Unidos, con la 
 
 nueva moueda, ya porque asi pudiese 
 
 ahorrarse la oomisidn de un banquero, 6 
 
 ya porque pndiere comprar mas baratas 
 
 las raercaderlas, 6 hacer alguna ganancia 
 
 vendiendo giros pagaderos en oro sobre 
 
 Inglaterra contra el depdsito de moneda 
 
 de plata euNueva-York, en eseoasosuce- 
 
 derla que la moneda internacional vendria 
 
 toda gradualmente ^ los Estados Unidos, 
 
 donde se acumularla en los bancos, sin 
 
 pod6rsela exportar para Europa, porque 
 
 alll no ser£a recibida siuo por su valor 
 
 intrinseco como metal. El tinico uso S, 
 
 que los bancos la destinarian seria al pago 
 
 de derechos 6 contribuoiones fiscales. 
 
 Ahora bien, es conocido que los bancos de 
 
 NuevarYork y de algunos otros centres 
 
 comeroiales, ])or conveuio t^cito celebrado 
 
 entre ellos, no admiten en sus casas 
 
 liquidadoras, ni el Uamado certificado 
 
 de plata, ni el peso de este metal: y que 
 
 todos los negooios se hacen sobre la base 
 
 del oro. Cuando reciben en pago certifi- 
 
 cados de plata, como est^n obligados ^ 
 
 hacerlo, los mandan S, la Aduana y se 
 
 deshacen de ellos entregd^ndolos S, perso- 
 
 nas que tienen que pagar derechos. Hasta 
 
 ahora la cantidad de estos certificados 
 
 no ha sido tan graude que haya sido 
 
 diflcil deshaoerse de ellos de la manera 
 
 indicada ; pero cada nueva acunacidn 
 
 de una moneda de plata, que valga mas 
 
 que el metal que contiene, aumenta las 
 
 dificultades de la posicidn de los banco ■, 
 
 y tiende S, disminnir la cantidad del oro 
 
 reoibido por el Gobierno de los Estados 
 
 Unidos por derechos deimportaoi<5n, tanto 
 
 cuanto importe la totalidad de la plata 
 
 acuSada. Ahora bien, el Gobierno ouenta 
 
 con ese oro para pagar los intereses de su 
 
 deuda piiblica y para redimir sus bonos ; 
 
 y si por alguna clrcunstancia, tal poi 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 483 
 
 at OQoe, together with a monometallism 
 of silver and a disturbance of all trade 
 and all property in the country. 
 
 But the friends of the measure may say 
 that all these difficulties might be avoided 
 by the coinage of au international cur- 
 rency if we should give up the point of 
 the obligatory legal tender and make 
 coins to contain their face value in bull- 
 ion. There would then, it is said, be no 
 danger of depreciation, and the coinage 
 would make a demand for silver, which 
 seems to be much desired. This sugges- 
 tion, however, introducesa new difficulty. 
 Unrortunately, the value of silver is vary- 
 ing every day. If we should attempt to 
 coin the international dollar at its gold 
 value, with silver at iGd. to the ounce in 
 England, it might fall to 42d., when it 
 would no longer represent its face value ; 
 or, should the increased demand for the 
 arts and the gradual and extraordinary 
 growth of this country make the demand 
 for silver larger than the supply, silver 
 would rise from 46d. to48d. or 50d. to the 
 ounce. The conseciuence would be that 
 all these silver international coins would 
 be of more value as bullion than as a 
 commercial token, and would be melted 
 up and disappear from the country, and 
 you would have to issue a new and differ- 
 ent system of coinage. Besides, it would 
 be very undesirable for any nation to have 
 silver dollars in circulation which were 
 of different bullion value and still receiv- 
 able for Government dues. In case, there- 
 fore, the United States coined a 100-cent 
 dollar as an international coin, it would 
 find itself with two totally different dol- 
 lars, which would greatly tend to compli- 
 cation and commercial difficulties, and 
 perhaps to recoinage of one or the other 
 issue. 
 
 ejemplo, como la aoumulacidu de la mo- 
 neda de plata, 6 el exceso de las importa- 
 ciones sobre las exportaciones, se hallase 
 el Gobierno sin el oro uecesario para sa- 
 tisfacer sus necesidades, 6 si se imaginase 
 el publico que habia peligro de que tal 
 dificultad se sintiese, el resultado inme- 
 diatoserlaponer el oro & premio, y tendrla- 
 mos el unimetalismo de la plata y una per- 
 turbacidn en los negooios y en el valor de 
 la propiedad en el pafs. 
 
 Pero los amigos de estamef'idapodrlan 
 decir que todas estasdifioultades se evitan 
 si ^ la moneda internacional aounada se 
 le quita el car£icter de medio circulante 
 legal forzoso y si se le d^ un valor igual 
 al del metal que coutiene. Se dice que 
 entdnces no hay peligro de que baje su 
 valor, y que la acufiaci6n auraeutari 
 la demauda de plata, lo que parece ser 
 cosa muy deseada. Pero esto ofrece sin 
 embargo, una nueva dificultad. Desgra- 
 ciadamente el valor de la plata es vari- 
 able, y Gambia todos los dias ; y si quisi- 
 eramos acuSar cl peso internacional, 
 d^ndole un valor equivalente al del oro, 
 con plata S, raz6n de 46 peniques la onza, 
 en Inglaterra, podria bajai-hasta42 peni- 
 ques ; y ent6nces no representarfa ya su 
 verdadero valor. Si un aumento en Ja 
 demanda de plata por las necesidades de 
 las artes, 6 por el inoesante y extraordi- 
 nario crecimiento de este pals, produjera 
 un desequilibrio, 6 hiciese el pedido mayor 
 que la oferta, la plata subirla de 46 ^ 48 d 
 50 peniques la onza. La consecuencia de 
 todo esto serla que la moneda interna- 
 cional teudria m^s valor como metal que 
 como moneda, y serla fundida y desapa- 
 reoeria del pals, haciendo neoesario re- 
 currir & un sistema nuevo de acufiacidn 
 enteramente distinto. Ademas, de esto, 
 debeu tenerse presentes los graves incon- 
 venientes que resultarlan de que un Go- 
 bierno tuviese en circulacidn pesos de 
 plata de diferente valor intrlnseco, pero 
 que sin embargo tuviesen que ser admiti- 
 dos en page de derechos y contribuciones. 
 Porlo tan to, si los Estados Unidos acu- 
 Sasen un peso internacional de 100 ceu- 
 tavos de valor, se encontrarlan con dos 
 pesos enteramente dif erentes, de donde re- 
 snltarla gran confusion, grandes dificul- 
 tades oomeroiales, y quizes la necesidad 
 de acoHar de nuevo una de las dos mone- 
 das. 
 
484 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Besides, the present silver dollar is in- 
 conveniently large and to increase its 
 bulk would make it intolerable. Bat, to 
 quote the words of Secretary Windom in 
 his report, the paramount objection to this 
 plan is that it would have a decided 
 tendency to prevent a rise in the value of 
 silver. Seizing it at its present low price, 
 the law would in effect decree that it 
 must remain there forever, so far as its 
 uses for coinage are concerned. 
 
 It has been suggested that instead of 
 an international coin the mints of the 
 various countries should be allowed to 
 put the international stamp on a certain 
 weight of silver of a fixed degree of fine- 
 ness, and that such silver should merely 
 be used at its bullion value as merchan- 
 dise, without being received for Govern- 
 ment dues, in transactions between one 
 nation and another. This would really 
 only be settling the exchanges between 
 the various nations in silver bullion, and 
 the stamp would merely save the buyer 
 the trouble of weighing and refining the 
 silver to make sure that it was bullion of 
 the proper degree of weight and fineness. 
 It would vary in value continually, and I 
 can see but very little use for such bullion. 
 It would not greatly increase or facilitate 
 the commerce between the different 
 nations, as it is not likely that the ex- 
 changes would be settled by silver bullion 
 except in very small quantities. In fact, 
 however, the exchanges between the 
 United States and South America are set- 
 tled almost entirely by sales of merchan- 
 dise in Europe. The United States imports 
 $110,000,000 more from the South Ameri- 
 can states than it sella to them, but that 
 is paid by shipping merchandise to Eng- 
 land and not by exporting silver bullion. 
 As the balance of trade between the 
 United States and all the countries of the 
 world has, in recent years, been in its 
 favor, the balance, which has usually 
 been small, has been settled in gold. If 
 we succeed by opening steamer routes 
 and by giving long credits and better 
 banking facilities, and by making such 
 goods as they desire, in increasing our 
 toade with our southern friends, the set- 
 
 Adem& de esto, el peso actual de plata 
 tiene cl inconveniente de ser demasiado 
 grande en tamano, por lo cual todo au- 
 mento en ese sentido lo haria Intolerable. 
 Pero despues de todo y citaudo las pala- 
 bras mismas del SecretarioWiudoni en su 
 informe, antes mencionado, la principal 
 objecifin contra este plan consiste en que 
 con 61 se tiende decididamente S. impedir 
 que se aumente el valor de la plata. 
 Tomando este metal al bajo precio que 
 tieue en el dia, la ley que adoptare tal 
 plan decretairla que este precio quedase 
 siempre el mismo, al menos por lo que 
 respecta ^ sns uses para acunar moneda. 
 
 Se ha sugerido que en vez de hacer una 
 moneda internacional, se permita S, las 
 casas de moneda de los diferentes palses 
 poner una marca, 6 estampa internacional 
 ^ cierta cantidad de plata, de un grade 
 determinado de finura, y que esta plata 
 se emplee riuicamente como niercancla, 
 por su valor intrJnseco, en las transac- 
 ciones de una nacidn con otra, sin tener 
 que recibirla en pago de derechos y con- 
 tribuciones. Esto en realidad no seria 
 mas que liquidar los cambios entre las 
 diversas na'oiones, sobre la base del valor 
 de la plata como metal ; y el sello <5 es- 
 tampa servirfa solamente para ahorrarle 
 al comprador el trabajo de pesar y refinar 
 la plata, y darle la certeza de que tiene el 
 peso y grade de pureza correspondientes. 
 Pero el valor de esta moneda variaria 
 coutinuamente ; y no veo que su uso 
 pudiera ser de mucha utilidad. Ni au- 
 mentarla, ni facilitaria, el comercio entre 
 las diferentes nacioues, pues que no es 
 probable que los cambios se liqniden entre 
 ellas sobre la base de la plata, por su valor 
 intrinseco, excepto en muy pequenas can- 
 tidades. El hecho es que los cambios en- 
 tre los Estados Uuidos y la America del 
 Sud se liquidan cast en totalidad, per las 
 ventas de mercaderfas que se hacen en 
 Europa. Los Estados Unidos Importan 
 de los Estados de Sud America 110,000,000 
 de pesos mas que los que estos les venden ; 
 y la difereucia se paga embarcando mer- 
 caderlas para Inglaterra, y exportando 
 plata en pasca. Como la balanza del co- 
 mercio entre los Estados Unidos y los de- 
 mSs paises del mnndo, ha side en favor de 
 los primeros durante los ultimos alios, la 
 diferencia, que generalmente ha side 
 pequena, se ha pagado con oro. Si lo- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 485 
 
 tlement will still be made mucli iu tUo 
 same way, witli the tlifferenoe only that a 
 part of the merchandise which we now 
 ship to Europe would be shipped to them. 
 
 For the above reasons I am of the 
 opinion that we can not safely issue an 
 international coin of silver, whether a 
 legal tender or not, and whether the coin 
 is greater than or only equal to its bullion 
 value. There is one way which, perhaps, 
 might give a useful and a common cur- 
 rency to all the American nations without 
 the dangers and difficulties which have 
 been pointed out. That is, by taking ad- 
 vantage of the suggestions made in the 
 admirable report of Secretary Wiudom. 
 He suggests the issuing of Treasury notes 
 against deposits of silver bullion at its 
 gold market value. These notes are to 
 be received for all public dues in the 
 United States. If they were received 
 equally for all dues iu Mexico and the 
 states of Central and South America, 
 those states could send us their silver 
 and receive in pay these notes, and they 
 would have an international currency 
 based, first of all, on the gold value of the 
 silver bullion, and secondly, on the credit 
 of the United States of America. 
 
 It is no doubt well knoWn to the com- 
 mittee that the policy of promoting the 
 general restoration of silver to its former 
 legal equality with gold was inaugurated 
 by the United States, through the act of 
 Congress calling the International Mon- 
 etary Conference, held in Paris in 1878; 
 and that measures have been taken since 
 that date in the various countries inter- 
 ested which betoken the world-wide im- 
 portance of the question so raised. It is 
 in connection with this policy that the 
 new suggestions of the Secretary of the 
 Treasury are made, and as a result of 
 
 gramoa cstablecer nuevas linoas de va- 
 pores, y couceder plazos mas largos y mas 
 c6modo8, y mejorar el sistema de bancos, 
 y fabricar los gfineros y articulos que se 
 desean en los palses del Sud, aiimentar^- 
 mos nuestco oomercio con nuestros amigos 
 de aquellas regiones ; pero siempre la 
 liquidac)6n tendr^ que hacerse, poco mils 
 6 menos del mismo modo, con la linica 
 diferencia de que una parte de las mer- 
 caderlas que ahora ombarcamos para 
 Europa las embarcarlamos para puertos 
 americanos. 
 
 For las razones anteriores soy de opi- 
 ni6nqueno podemossin peligro emitir nua 
 moneda de plata internacional, ya sea 
 que se le d6 6 no, el car^cter de medio oir- 
 culaute legal forzoso, 6 que tenga el mis- 
 mo, 6 mayor valor como moneda que como 
 metal en pasta. Pero hay una manera con 
 que tal vez podria proporcionarse H todas 
 las naciones americanas un medio circu- 
 lante dtil, y que no presenta los peligros y 
 diflcultades que se han senalado. Me re- 
 fiero ^ la que indicael admirable informe 
 del Sr. Secretario Wiudom. Lo que 61 
 propone es la emisifin de billetes denonii- 
 nados " certifioados de plata " por el valor 
 de la cantidad de este metal en pasta, que 
 se deposite en la Tesoreria, calculado en 
 oro, al precio del mercado.' Estos billetes 
 deben reoibirse para pagar todo lo que se 
 deba al Estado en los Estados Unidos. Si 
 igualmente, y para el mismo fin, se les 
 recibe en Mexico y en los Estados de Ceu- 
 tro y Sud America, eaos Estados podrlan 
 mandarnoa su plata y recibir en cambio 
 los billetes ; y asi resultaria una moneda 
 corriente internacional, basada en primer 
 lugar, en el valor en oro de la plata en 
 pasta, 6 barras, y despues en el or^dito de 
 los Estados Unidos de America. 
 
 La Comisi(5n sabe muy bien sin duda, 
 que los Estados Unidoa iniciaron la poli- 
 tica de restaurar la plata Sj su anterior 
 igualdad legal con el oro, cuando una ley 
 del Congreso convoc6 la Conferencia In- 
 ternacional Monetaria celebrada en Paris 
 en 1878; y que desde esa fecha se han 
 venido tomando en los di versos palses in- 
 teresados diferentes medidaa quedemues- 
 tran la gran importancia del asunto. 
 Con rolaoi6n S, este asunto, el Senor Secre- 
 tario del Teaoro ha hecho las indicaciones 
 anteriores, y si el Congreso las acepta, es 
 de esperarse que haya una importante 
 
486 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 their adoption by Congress an important 
 rise of the value of silver relatively to 
 gold is expected to ensue. That the other 
 American states will share In the benefits 
 of this rise is plain. 
 
 In case of the adoption of these bull- 
 Ion notes, instead of a varying silver 
 coin we should have a note whose value 
 would not vary ; a note, the issue of which 
 would be surrounded by all possible 
 checks to secure safety. These notes 
 could be issued in any sums required for 
 international currency. Their transpor- 
 tation would cost nothing more than the 
 expense of the mails, and their quantity 
 would be limited by the demand, as they 
 could at any moment be reconverted into 
 silver bullion at the gold value. 
 
 This seems to me to accomplish all the 
 purposes which were desired by the coin- 
 age of an international silver dollar, and 
 I suggest, therefore, that the Conference 
 recommend to their respective govern- 
 ments that when the Congress of the 
 United States shall have authorized the 
 issue of Treasury notes against silver 
 bullion at its gold value, that these cer- 
 tificates be received in all the respective 
 countries of all the Americas for all dues 
 to Government, provided that the Con- 
 gress of the United States be requested, 
 if it have not already done so, to allow 
 the importation of silver from all the 
 countries of the Americas who agree to 
 receive the Treasury notes of the United 
 States for Government dues. 
 
 January 11, 1890. 
 
 Mr. CoOMDGE, a Delegate from the 
 United States, sent to the Chair the fol- 
 lowing substitution for the concluding 
 recommendation of his report : 
 
 "I therefore suggest, that the Delegates 
 to the Conference advise their respective 
 governments that it is inexpedient to 
 adopt a common silver coin to be either a 
 partial or full legal tender in the countries 
 of the Americas, until the efforts of the 
 United States to establish bimetallism 
 have been successful." 
 
 Mr. Aragon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, opened the discussion and was fol- 
 
 alza en el valor de la plata, relativamente 
 con el del oro. Es indudable que los 
 demas Estados americanos participar^n 
 de los beneficios de esta alza. 
 
 En lugar de una monedade plata de valor 
 variable tendrlamos un billete cuyo valor 
 no cambiaria; nn billete cuya emisi6n 
 estarla garantizada tan completamente, 
 como es posible. Estos billetes podr^n emi- 
 tirseen la cautidad que se estime neceaaria 
 paraservir de medio circulante internaoio- 
 nal. Su traspprte no costard mas que el 
 porte del correo ; y su cuantia quedar^ lim- 
 itada por la demanda, puesto que en cu- 
 alquier momento podrfiu ser convertidos 
 en plata, por el valor intrinseco de ^sta, 
 calculado en oro. 
 
 Esto me parece que satisface todas las 
 aspiraciones que se tuvieran al desear la 
 acufiaoidn de un peso de plata interna- 
 cional, y de consiguiente propongo que la 
 Conferenoia recomiende & los respectivos 
 Gobiernos que, cuando el Congreso de los 
 Estados Unidos haya autorizado la emisidn 
 de billetes 6 certificados de plata por el 
 valor en oro de la plata en pasta que se 
 haya deposltado en la Tusorerla, se reoi- 
 ban los expresados certificados en los di- 
 fereutes pafses de todas las Americas en 
 pago de derechos y contribuciones del 
 Estado, siempre que se obtenga del Con- 
 greso de los Estados Unidos, si es que ya 
 no se hubiese obtenido, la importaci6n li- 
 bre de la plata de todos los palses de Ame- 
 rica que convengan en recibir dichos bil- 
 letes en el orden expuesto. 
 
 Enero 11 de 1890. 
 
 El Senor Coolidge, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, envid & la Mesa el texto 
 de la recomendacidu que desea sustituir 
 S, la hecha por 61 en el anterior dictamen, 
 la cual fn6 leida por los Secretaries y dice 
 como sigue: 
 
 "Yo sugiero, porlo tanto, que los Dele- 
 gados & la Conferencia recomienden & bus 
 respectivos Gobiernos que no oonviene 
 adoptar una moneda de plata, que sea de 
 curso forzoso, ya en general, ya con re- 
 specto & solo algnnos pages, en los pafses 
 de America, hasta que no obtengan com- 
 plete 6xito los esfuerzos de los Estados 
 Unidos para establecer elbimetalismo." 
 
 Abri6 la discusidnel Sellor Arag6n, de- 
 legado por Costa Rica, con un extenso 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN OONPERENCE. 
 
 487 
 
 lowed by Mr. Coolidge, a Delegate from 
 the United States, who read che speech 
 hereto appended. 
 
 Mr. Coolidge having finished his 
 remarks, the president called Mr. Zegarra 
 to the chair. 
 
 Mr. EsTEE, a Delegate from the United 
 States, began to read a speech in answer 
 to Mr. Coolidge, but before finishing Mr. 
 Henderson, a Delegate from the United 
 States, moved that the debate be post- 
 poned until the next day, as Mr. Estee 
 was fatigued. 
 
 On the motion of Mr. Henderson, the 
 Conference adjourned at 5.10 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegakea, 
 
 First- Vice President. 
 HoHATio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jose M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colomhia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Qdintana, 
 
 Argentine BepiMic. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valknte, 
 Salvador de Mendon^a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Honduras, 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebakek, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeBAZAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castkllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josi5 Maria PlXoido CaamaRo. 
 
 JHcuador. 
 
 discurso, al que sigui6 el SoHor Coolidge, 
 delegado por ios Estados Unidos, que 
 ley6 el que se acompafia como Ap^ndice 
 S, esta Acta. 
 
 A la conclusion de este discurso el Se- 
 fior Presidente llamfi ^ ocupar su puesto 
 al Selior Zegarra ; y habiendo tornado la 
 palabra el Senor Estee, delegado por Ios 
 Estados Unidos, empez<5 ^ leer un dis- 
 curso en contestacidn al Senor Coolidge. 
 Pero £i mocidn de Mr. Henderson, dele- 
 gado por Ios Estados Unidos, se aplazd 
 para el dia siguiente la conclusion de la 
 lectura de dicho discurso, para evitar 
 fatiga al SeSor Estee. 
 
 Y ^ mocifin del ra ismo Senor Henderson, 
 delegado por Ios Estados Un idos, la Confe- 
 rencia levant6 la sesidn 6, las cinco y diez 
 minutes deja tarde. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vioepresidente. 
 HoRACio GuzmIn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos^ M. Hurtado, 
 CiRLOs Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Roque Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Aeag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador db Mendonja, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 Sonduras. 
 MATfAs Romero, 
 Enrique A. MBxfA, 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Joslf. Alfo.nso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josij: MarIa Placido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
488 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Appendix A. 
 
 MB. COOLIBQE'S SPEECH. 
 
 [Fifty-first day.) 
 
 Mr. Presidlnt: I regret very much 
 that I lave been obliged to make the 
 uiiuority report on the silver question 
 vrhioh now lies before you. During the 
 meetings of the committee I was in hopes 
 that the whole matter of coining a silver 
 dollar could be put off and left to a new 
 Conference to be appointed later. But 
 the honorable Delegates who Were my 
 colleagues refused to do this unless the 
 report of the Conference instructed the 
 Delegates, that were to be chosen a year 
 hence, to pass a bill for the coinage of a 
 dollar which should be legal tender in all 
 the Americas. To this I could not agree. 
 They have therefore submitted to the 
 Conference the majority report signed by 
 five of the committee in which they advo- 
 cate the coinage of a silver dollar to be a 
 full legal tender iu all the countries form- 
 ing the Conference. My esteemed col- 
 league, Mr. Estee, agrees Avith thera iu 
 the report which is now laid before you, 
 except that he desires that the dollar 
 should only be a partial legal tender, and 
 suggests that it should be receivable only 
 up to the sum of fifty dollars. In my 
 judgment there is no serious difference 
 between these two reports. All my col- 
 leagues have favored the coining of a 
 silver dollar which shall be a legal tender. 
 It is this principle which I consider most 
 dangerous, and which I have objected to 
 in the report before ■you. I will not go 
 over the reasons which I have there given, 
 but beg the honorable gentlemen to give 
 my arguments all the weight which they 
 may think due to them. 
 
 The difficulty of the subject is caused 
 principally by misusing or misuader- 
 standiog the terms which arc applied in 
 the discussion. I will endeavor to make 
 my suggestions clear, and hope that any 
 of my colleagues will interrupt me and 
 
 Ap:6ndice a. 
 
 DISauiiSO DEL seSos. ooolidoe. 
 
 fActaNo. 51.] 
 
 Sr. Presidentb: Siento haberme visto 
 obligado & escribir un informe de mino- 
 rla, en la cuestidn monetaria, que ahora 
 se enouentra ante la Conferencia. Mieh- 
 tras la Comisi6u estuvo reunida, siempre 
 abrigu<5 la esperanza de que el asnnto 
 de acuDar uu peso de plata podria 
 quedar aplaza^ para mas tarde, cuan- 
 do otra Conferencia se reuniese para me- 
 jor estudiar el punto. Pero los hono- 
 rables delegados, mis colegas, rehusa- 
 ron consentir en que esto se hiciese 
 asl, & menos que la Conferencia diese ins- 
 trucciones & los delegados, que se nom- 
 brasen uu ano despues, para que decre- 
 tasen la acufiacidn de un peso, que fuese 
 de curso legal en todas las Americas. 
 Con esto no pude estar de acuerdo, y 
 el resultado ha sido un informe de mayo- 
 ria, firmado por oinco de los miembros de 
 la Comisi6n, en que se favorece la idea 
 de la acunaci<5n de un peso de plata, 
 que deba ser' de curso legal en todos los 
 paises aqui representados. Mi estimado 
 colega, el Sr. Estee, estd. de acuerdo con 
 las bases sentadas en ese informe, y difiere 
 solamente, en que segun 61, el peso no debe 
 ser de curso legal, sino hasta la suma de 
 cincuenta j)e80s. A mi juicio no existe 
 uua gran diferencia entrelos dosinformes. 
 Todos mis colegas favorecen el plan de 
 acunar un peso de plata de curso legal. 
 Este principio es justamente el que con- 
 sidero muy peligroso, y el que mas he 
 combatido en mi informe. No me exten- 
 der6 ahora dando de nuevo las razones 
 que para ello tengo, puesto que todas 
 estd.n consignadas en dicho doeumento ; 
 pero suplico^loshouorables delegados se 
 sirvan tomar en cueuta con la debida 
 madurez los argumentos que alii he ex- 
 puesto, y que despues obren segun crean 
 que mejor oonviene. 
 
 La mayor dificultad que se presenta en 
 este asunto, proviene principalmente del 
 mal uso, 6 de la mala inteligenoia de cier- 
 tas palabras en el curso de la discusi6n. 
 Por lo tanto, procnrar6 hacer mas claras 
 mis observaciones, esperando que cual- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 489 
 
 ask any question which may occur to 
 them. 
 
 At the present time the United States 
 of America are on a gold basis. You will 
 say, how can that be when thoy have got 
 over three hundred aud thirty millions of 
 legal-tender silver dollars, three hundred 
 and forty millions of legal-tender notes, 
 and over two hundred millions of na- 
 tional-bank notes that circulate as freely 
 as the notes of the Government, and over 
 seventy millions of fractional silver ? My 
 answer is that by the universal practice 
 of the United States a man holding a 
 legal-tender note, called a greenback, 
 receives gold when he asks for it at the 
 Treasury ; that anybody presenting a na- 
 tional-bank note at a bank receives gold 
 when he asks for it, and that anybody 
 depositing silver dollars in a bank can 
 also receive their value in gold, although 
 they are legal tender. The bonds of the 
 United States Government, although in 
 many cases they only promise to pay in- 
 terest in coiu, have that interest always 
 paid in gold coin. The Government of 
 the United States receives all the silver 
 dollars in lieu of gold dollars in the pay- 
 ment of all duties to the Government. In 
 other words, whatever currency a, man 
 may hold, he knows that he can get gold 
 for it. 
 
 The exchange on England is another 
 conclusive proof that the United States 
 are on a gold standard. Its par is $4.86, 
 and it never varies more than one or two 
 per cent, from that par, because as soon 
 as it gets higher or lower, coin is ex- 
 ported or imported to equalize matters. 
 If the United States were on a silver 
 standard the exchange with England 
 would be nearer seven dollars to the 
 pound sterling, because it would be nec- 
 essary to export silver, which is only 
 worth seventy-two per cent, of its face 
 value. England is on a gold standard, 
 although there is a large circulation of 
 bank-notes, and they are now coining 
 silver double florins as subsidiary sil- 
 
 quiera de mis colegas no vacilarS en in- 
 terrumpirme y preguntar lo que pueda 
 ocurrirsele. 
 
 En la actual idad la moneda de los Es- 
 tados Unidos tiene por base 6 fundamen- 
 to el oro. Se me dirii, sin embargo, que 
 existen mas de trescientos treinta millones 
 de pesos de plata efeotiva con curso legal, 
 y mas de doscientos millones de pesos en 
 billetes de Ban cos nacionales, que oirculan 
 de la misma manera que los del Gobier- 
 no, trescientos cuarenta millones de pesos 
 en billetes del Gobierno, y mas de setenta 
 millones de pesos en moneda fraccionaria. 
 Mi contestaci6u es la siguiente, que la 
 pr^tica general en los Estados Unidos, 
 es que una persona que posee un billete de 
 curso legal, llamado " green-back," puede 
 cambiarlo por oro en la Tesorerfa en el 
 momeuto que qniera: que cualquiera que 
 presente un billete de un Banco Naoional, 
 en alguno de los Bancos, recibe oro si lo 
 pide; y que cualquiera que deposite en los 
 Bancos una cantidad en iiesos de plata, 
 puede girar sobre ella por oro, sin em- 
 bargo de que la plata aunque de curso 
 legal, no tiene el mismo valor intrlnseco. 
 Los bonos del Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos, aunque en muchos cases se esti- 
 pul6 que los intereses se pagasen en plata, 
 siempre se pagan en oro. El Gobierno de 
 los Estados Unidos recibe pesos de plata, 
 en pago de toda clase de dcrechos 6 im- 
 puestos exactamente lo mismo que si fue- 
 sen de oro. En otras palabraa, es bien 
 sabido que cualquiera que sea la moneda 
 que una persona tenga, puede convertirla 
 siempre que guste en oro. 
 
 El cambio sobre luglaterra proporciona 
 otra de las pruebas concluyentes en favor 
 de la idea de que los Estados Unidos 
 tienen como base do su moneda el oro. 
 Su valor S, la par es de 84.86 y nunca varia 
 mas de uno 6 dos por ciento sobre ese 
 tipo, por que tan pronto como sube 6 baja, 
 la moneda se importa 6 exporta para 
 haeerla llegar 6, su nivel. Si los Estados 
 Unidos tuvieran la plata por base, el 
 cambio con Inglaterra haria que la libra 
 esterlina tuviera un valor de casi siete 
 pesos, potque habria uecesidad de ex- 
 portar la plata, y esta solo vale Ti por 
 ciento de lo que norainalmeute reprosenta. 
 Inglaterra ha basado su moneda sobre 
 el oro, aunque tiene en circulaoi6n una 
 
490 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ver. Germany is on a, gold standard, 
 and France is also on a gold standard, 
 because, like the United States, it main- 
 tains its silver money at par with gold 
 by paying gold for it. This it could not 
 do if it continued to coin silver, and that 
 has been abandoned since 1878. 
 
 But, gentlemen, the States of South 
 America are not on a gold basis. Some 
 of them have gold as a legal tender, and 
 some of them have silver, and some have 
 paper, but the proof that they are not on 
 a gold basis is the rate of exchange be- 
 tween them and England. If they were 
 on a gold basis that exchange could never 
 rise beyond the cost of the transportation 
 of the coin. In reality the exchange rep- 
 resents in many of the countries the dif- 
 ference between the value of the pound 
 sterling and the value of their depreciated 
 paper. In other countries like Mexico it 
 represents the difference between the 
 value of the gold pound sterling and the 
 silver. Under these circumstances the 
 endeavor to make a silver coin pass as a 
 legal tender in all the Americas is to en- 
 deavor to make a silver currency which 
 shall be of equal value in a silver mono- 
 metallist country and a gold monometal- 
 list country. This, gentlemen, is in my 
 judgment a practical impossibility. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, in his very able report, en- 
 deavors to show that because the United 
 States imports eighty millions more than 
 it exports from the Southern countries 
 the silver would not flow to the United 
 States, but would be carried the other way 
 to pay for the debts caused by the excess 
 of import jitions. If all the countries were 
 on the same standard that would be true, 
 but as long as the Southern countries are 
 on a paper or silver standard there would 
 be no profit in sending silver dollars to 
 the South, for you would only receive sil- 
 ver in return. Whereas, if the silver dol- 
 lar was sent to the United State's, as long 
 as the United States is on a gold stand- 
 ard, the silver could be exchanged there, 
 if it was a legal tender, for gold at a 
 profit of 33 per cent. Not one dollar 
 would be used to pay the debts of the 
 
 gran cantidad de billetes, y se ocupa hoy 
 de la acufiacidn de monedas subsidiarias 
 de plata de dos florines. Alemania tiene 
 por base el oro, y Francia tiene tambien 
 la misma base, porqae, al igual de los 
 Eatados Unidos, mantiene su moneda de 
 plata & la par con el oro, pagando oro en 
 cambio. Esto no podria suceder asJ, si 
 oontinuara acunando plata, lo que ha de- 
 jado de hacerse desde 1878. 
 
 Pero, Senores, los Estados de Sud Ame- 
 rica no tienen el oro oomo base de sa 
 moneda. Algunos de ellos consideran el 
 oro como de ourso legal, otros la plata, y 
 otros el papel moneda, pero la pruoba de 
 que su moneda no tiene por base el oro, 
 es el subido cambio que existe entre ellos 
 6 Inglaterra. Si tuvieran por base el 
 oro ese cambio no podria uunca ser mas 
 alto que el oosto del trasporte de la 
 moneda. En realidad, el cambio en mu- 
 chos de esos pafses representa la diferen- 
 cia que existe entre el valor de la libra 
 esterlina y el de sus billetes depreciados. 
 En otros palses, como en Mexico, ese cam- 
 bio representa la diferencia entre el valor 
 de una libra esterlina y el de la plata. En 
 circunstancias seraej antes, el esfuerzo que 
 se haga por establecer una moneda de 
 plata de cnrso legal en todas las Americas, 
 no es otra cosa que qnerer imponer una 
 moneda de dicho metal, y pretender que 
 sea de igual valor en un pals monometflioo 
 de oro y en otro monom^talico de plata. 
 Esto es, Senores, S, mi juicio una im- 
 posibilidad material. 
 
 El Sr. Alfonso en su bien meditado in- 
 forme trata de probar que, por caanto 
 los Estados Unidos importan ocbenta 
 millones mas de lo que exportau & los 
 paises del Sur, la plata no se acumularia 
 en los Estados Unidos, y que por el con- 
 trario, saldria del pals para pagar las 
 deudas resnltantes del exceso de las im- 
 portaciones. Si todos los palses tnviesen 
 la misma base para su moneda, ese argu- 
 mento serla exacto ; pero en tanto que 
 los palses del Sur tengan la plata 6 los 
 billetes por base de sa moneda, no po- 
 dria resultar ninguna utilidad enviando 
 pesos de plata al Sur, para recibir en 
 cambio otros pesos tambien plata. Pero 
 si esos pesos de plata se enviasen- S, los 
 Estados Unidos, donde el oro es la base 
 de la moneda, la plata siempre podria 
 cambiarse por oro, mientras fuese de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 491 
 
 United States to the South because they 
 could be paid by sol<l <"' merchandise, and 
 that gold or merchandise could be bought 
 in the United States for two-thirds that it 
 would cost in England or in the other 
 markets of the world. 
 
 My learned colleagues all assume that 
 coining silver dollars and making them 
 a legal tender would raise the value of 
 silver untilit became equal to gold. That 
 is an assumption which is at the best 
 doubtful. The experience of the Latin 
 Union goes to show that such would not 
 be the effect, for the Latin Union found 
 that even with free coinage of silver the 
 price depreciated in comparison with gold 
 every day until they were obliged to stop 
 the coinage. 
 
 But, gentlemen, the United States be- 
 ing the largest producers of silver in the 
 world, and being desirous to increase 
 their currency, are most anxious to see 
 the value of silver raised nntil it can cir- 
 culate with gold. They desire to accom- 
 plish this by establishing bimetallism. 
 Now, what is bimetallism ? Bimetallism 
 is the use of gold and silver jointly as 
 currency, the ratio between them being 
 fixed at a point which would keep the 
 value of silver relative to gold invariable, 
 and so cause the concurrent uses of both 
 metals in all the countries of such a 
 league. In other words, that gold and 
 silver coins should circulate as currency 
 of equal value, and that neither should 
 leave the country. 
 
 An agreement with England to fix a cer- 
 tain ratio for silver and gold would be 
 adopted by the other countries and would 
 establish bimetallism at once. This the 
 United States hope to do. They do not 
 like the gold standard on which they now 
 are. But they do not wish any more 
 monometallism of silver. In other words, 
 they want an expansion of currency and 
 not a contraction. If a man was to pre- 
 
 curso legal forzoso; resultando de dicha 
 operaci6n una utilidad de treinta y tres 
 por ciento. Bajo ese sistema, ni un solo 
 peso so usaria para pagar las deudas de 
 los Estados Unidos ooutraidas con los 
 palses del Sur, puesto que estas podrian 
 cubrirse con oro 6 mercaderias, y ese oro 
 6 mercaderias podrian obtenerse en este 
 pals por dos terceras partes del valor que 
 tuvieran en Inglaterra 1i otro mercado 
 del niundo. 
 
 Mis ilustrados colegas creen que la 
 acuHacifin de pesos de plata, dando ^ 
 estos curso legal, tenderia 4, hacer subir 
 el valor de la plata hasta equipararse con 
 el de el oro. Considero dudoso este re- 
 sultado. La experiencia de la Uni6n 
 Latina prueba evidentemente que eso no 
 sucederia asl, puesto que dicha Unifin 
 llegd Sj convencerse de que aun con la 
 libre acufiaci6n de la plata, su valor, oom- 
 parado con el del oro, bajaba cada dia, 
 y al tin se vi<5 obligada & suspender la 
 acufiacidn. 
 
 Pero, SeHores, los Estados Unidos son 
 el pals que mas plata produceen el mundo, 
 y estando, como estan ansiosos de au- 
 mentar la cantidad de su nioneda de plata, 
 desean que llegne el memento en que suba 
 el valor de dicha moneda y esta circule S, 
 la par con el oro. Se desea llegar ^ al- 
 canzar este resultado estableciendo el bi- 
 metalismo. j Ahora bien, que es lo que se 
 entiende por el bimetalismo f Biraetalismo 
 es el uso que se hace i, la vez del oro y de la 
 plata como medio circulante, y que la re- 
 lacidn que haya entre los dos metales se 
 fije de tal modo, que el valor de la plata 
 comparado con el del oro sea invariable ; 
 facilitando asi el curso corriente de ambos 
 metales en todos los paises en que exista 
 ese arreglo. En otras palabras, que el 
 oro y la plata se acepten como medios 
 oirculantes de igual valor, y que ningnno 
 de ellos se vea obligado & abandonar el 
 pals. 
 
 Un convenio con Inglaterra para fljar 
 la proporci6n entre el oro y la plata serla 
 aceptable para todos los demas palses, y 
 estableoeria desde luego el bimetalismo. 
 Los Estados Unidos esperan poder cele- 
 brar tal convenio ; ellos no quieren con- 
 tinuar con la base de oro que ahora 
 tienen, pero tampoco desean el mono- 
 metalismo de la plata. En otras palabras, 
 desean un aumento del medio oironlante 
 
492 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Bent a greenback at the Treasury and 
 have silver given him instead of gold, if 
 a bank refused to take on deposit silver 
 certificates and pay out an equivalent of 
 gold, if the United States were to refuse 
 to accept silver at their custom-houses 
 the holder would immediately think that^ 
 gold was more valuable than silver be- 
 cause he could not get it in exchange. 
 He would therefore hoard all the gold 
 and use only silver in order to reserve to 
 himself the profits between gold and sil- 
 ver. In other words, gold would go to a 
 premium, and what would be the efi^ect ? 
 The seven hundred millions of gold coin 
 now in this country would be withdrawn 
 from circulation at oncej" and you would 
 have the most terrible contraction of cur- 
 rency equivalent to at least one-half. 
 This would cause the ruin of every man 
 svho was in debt, for his property would 
 only sell for dne-half, whereas the face 
 value of his debt would remain the same. 
 
 The United States might and should go 
 to work to coin sufficient silver and legal 
 tenders to take the place of gold, but it 
 would take a long time to do that. The 
 silver and the legal tenders would be de- 
 preciated, and a state of panic and con- 
 fusion would ensue which would end in 
 our standard becoming that of silver. In 
 their wisdom the United States desiring 
 to increase its currency and not to dimin- 
 ish it can not afford to take any risks of 
 that kind. There are two plans now be- 
 fore Congress, both of which are intended 
 to establish bimetallism and to prevent 
 monometallism either of gold or silver. 
 One of these plans is Secretary Windom's, 
 which is before the House of Eepresenta^ 
 tives; the other one is the Senate sliver 
 bill, which has been introduced by Senator 
 Jones in the Senate. They differ in many 
 particulars, but they agree in one point: 
 the purchase of silver bullion and the 
 entire stoppage of the coinage of seventy- 
 five ceuts silver dollars. If we judge by 
 the action of either the administration 
 or Congress, they do not look favorably 
 on any more silver dollars, and therefore 
 
 y no una restriccidn. Si una persona se 
 presentara en la Tesoreria con un billete 
 " green-back" y se le diera plata en Ingar 
 de oro ; si un Banco rehnsara aceptar en 
 dep6sito certificados de plata para pagac 
 su equivalente en oro ; y si los Estados 
 I tinidos rehusaran aceptar en sus adua- 
 nas moneda de plata, el tenedor del oro 
 desde luego tendrla razon para considerar 
 ese metal de mayor valor que la plata, no 
 pndiendo cambiar esta tiltima por la pri- 
 mera. Los teuedores del oro en ese caso, 
 lo atesorarlan, u^ndo solo la plata, para 
 reservarse el derecho de hacer mayores 
 utilidades con la diferencia existente en- 
 tre el oro y la plata. O mejor dicho, el 
 oro se pondria al premio, y j cual seria el 
 resultado de eso ? Los setecientos millones 
 de moneda de oro que hay hoy en el pais, 
 se retirarfan imediatamente de la cir- 
 cnlaci6a, ysetendria por resultado una in- 
 mensa contraccidn del medio circulante, 
 que equivaldria por lo menos & su reduc- 
 ci6n & la mitad de la existente. Esto cau- 
 saria la ruina de todo el que tuviera 
 deudas pendientes, puesto que sus propie- 
 dades solo representarian la mitad de su 
 valor, mientras que sus deudas perma- 
 neceriau sin disminucidn. 
 
 Los Estados Unidos pudieran y debieran 
 dedioarse & acunar moneda de plata de 
 curso legal en cantidades suflcientes para 
 reemplazar la de oro, pero para conse- 
 guirlo necesitarian mucho tiempo. La 
 plata y otras monedas de curso legal baja- 
 rian de precio, de doade resultaria una 
 especie de p^nico y confusifin que traeria 
 consigo inevitablemente el establecimien- 
 to de la plata como base de la moneda. 
 Los Estados Unidos deseosos de aumentar 
 el medio circulante, y de no permitir de 
 uingnna manera que dismiuuya, se abs- 
 tieuen sabiamente de hacer algo que los 
 pueda colooar en el peligro que tanto tra- 
 tan de evitar. Existen actualmente dos 
 proyectos ante el Congreso, y en am bos se 
 preteude establecer el bimetalismo, y evi- 
 tar el monometalismo del oro 6 la plata. 
 Uno de ellos es el del Sr. Seoretario Win- 
 dom, que estii ante la C^mara de Represen- 
 tantes; el otro es el que est^ en el Senado, 
 donde fu6 presentado por el Senador 
 Jones. Los dos proyectos di vergen en mu- 
 chos puntos, pero est6n de acuerdo en 
 uno, que es el de comprar la plata en pasta, 
 y suspender por complete la acunacidn de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 493 
 
 would uot be likely to agree to coin them- 
 selves, and to allow other nations to coin 
 for them legal-tender silver dollars. 
 
 The majority of the committee propose 
 that the dollar should be a full tender. I 
 have endeavored to show that the United 
 States could not alio w this in safety. The 
 minority report of my esteemed frieud, 
 Mr. Estee, proposes that the dollar should 
 only have a legal-tender force up to |50. 
 Now, if that was sufficient to keep it, by 
 the credit of the United States, at par, it 
 would come here, and gold would, be 
 drawn out of the country just the same as 
 if it were full legal tender. If making it 
 a legal tender up to |50 was not sufficient 
 to keep it at par with gold, then all the 
 contracts in this country would be upset, 
 because the railroads and the miners and 
 the manufacturers who pay off their help 
 ■weekly or semi-weekly, in sums less than 
 $50, would purchase the depreciated 
 silver, and would pay their operatives 
 less than they were fairly entitled to re- 
 ceive. But you may say that if it was a 
 legal tender up to $50 the operative 
 might go to his store and use it in the 
 purchase of food or clothing, or in the 
 payment of rent. Unfortunately, gen- 
 tlemen, you can compel a man to receive 
 a silver dollar for a hundred cents, but 
 you can not compel him to sell his gro- 
 ceries, or his rent, or his clothing at as 
 low a price if he is paid in depreciated 
 silver as if he were paid in gold. He 
 would simply raise the selling price of 
 every article of merchandise. 
 
 I have endeavored to show inmy report 
 that there are grave doubts as to the con- 
 stitutionality of ar act of the Government 
 by which all the contracts of citizens of 
 the United States could be altered by the 
 coinage of silver not in his own country, 
 but in a totally foreign country. That 
 
 pesos de plata de S, setenta y cinco centa^ 
 vos. Si fijamos naestra atencidn en el 
 proceder del Ejeoutivo, 6 del Congreso, 
 notar^mos que ni el uno ni el otro favore- 
 cen la idea de eraitir mayor cantidad de 
 Ijesos de plata, y que por oonsiguiente no 
 es de Buponerse que permitan ni en este 
 pals, ni por otras naciones, la acufiacidn 
 de pesos de plata que aqul tengan cnrso 
 legal forzoso. 
 
 La mayoria de la Comisidn propone 
 que se A6 este car^cter sin restriocidn 
 alguna, & la moneda que recomienda. 
 Ya he procurado probar que los Estados 
 Unidos nopodrdin permitiresto,por no con- 
 siderarlo suficieutemente seguro. El in- 
 forme de mi estimado amigo e! Sr. Estee, 
 propone que solo se le d^ hasta la suma de 
 cincuenta pesos. Ahora bien, ac^ptese por 
 via de argumento este flltimo case, y resul- 
 tar^ que con el cr^dito de los Estados 
 Unidos esta moneda podrfa mantenerse 
 & la par, y vendrii al pais & cambiarse por 
 oro, exaotamente lo mismo que si no hu- 
 biera limitacidn. Si el limitar su curso le- 
 gal & cincuenta pesos pusiera ^ esa moneda 
 ^ la par con el oro, resultaria entonces que 
 todos los contratos de este pais se tras- 
 tornariau, porque los ferro tfarriles y los 
 minerns y los fabricantes, que pagan S, sus 
 trabajadores semanal 6 semisemanal- 
 meute, en cantidadesmenoresde cincuen- 
 ta pesos, oomprarian esa moneda depre- 
 ciada para pagar, y los operarios reoibirian 
 menos de lo que tienen derecho de recibir. 
 Pero se Aii^ que si esa moneda tiene un 
 curso legal hasta por cincuenta pesos, el 
 oporario podria ir & las tiendas y usarla 
 en la compra de comestibles 6 ropas 6 en 
 page del alquiler de su casa. Desgracia- 
 damente, Sefiores, sepuede obligar ^una 
 persona ^ recibir un peso de plata por 
 cieu centavos, pero no se le puede obligar 
 & vender comestibles y vestuario y ^ al- 
 quilar bus casas, por el mismo bajo precio, 
 recibiendo en pago plata depreciada como 
 si fuera igual al oro. Esa medida harfa 
 subir desde luego el precio de todos los 
 articulos. 
 
 Tambien he procurado demostrar en mi 
 informe que existen serias dudas acerca de 
 la constitucionalidad de un acto del Go- 
 bierno, en virtud del cual pudieran per- 
 turbarse todos los contratos celebrados 
 por los ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos, 
 acunando la moneda de plata no en su 
 
494 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 this point would be raised and have to be 
 settled by the Supreme Court of the land 
 I have no doubt. 
 
 Under all these circumstances I proposed 
 in my minority report that the States of 
 Central and South America, instead of 
 coining silver, should take the Treasury 
 notes of the United States, and make them 
 receivable in their countries for public 
 dues, and thus introduce currency through 
 all the Americas. This plan has met wilh 
 no favor, and the reason is evident. To 
 get the Treasury notes of the United 
 States the other countries would have to 
 pay their gold value. The only advan- 
 tage would be that the same currency 
 would circulate everywhere. There seems 
 to be a feeling that if they could coin silver 
 dollars, and those silver dollars were legal 
 tenders, that they could avoid the heavy 
 exchanges which "they now have to pay 
 with Europe. 
 
 I have endeavored to show that that 
 idea is correct; but that it would be 
 done at the expense of the United States, 
 who would have to lose all the exchange 
 that the South American States would 
 gaiu. Senor Alfonso, in his able report, 
 points out other diflSculties in the way of 
 accepting the Treasury notes of the United 
 States. Such as that the law is not yet 
 passed by which they are to be Issued, 
 and that it could be just as easy to buy 
 English pounds sterling as to buy United 
 States notes. These reasons are correct, 
 and as I offered this proposition originally 
 merely as a more courteous way of de- 
 clining to coin the international dollar, 
 and as I find it does not meet the appro- 
 bation of my colleagues, I beg leave to 
 strike the whole of the last sentence out 
 of my minority report, beginning at the 
 words "This seems to me to accomplish 
 all the purposes which were desired by 
 the coinage of an international silver 
 dollar," and to insert instead, "I there- 
 fore suggest that the Conference advise 
 their respective Governments that it is 
 inexpedient to adopt a common silver 
 coin to be either a partial or full legal 
 tender in the countries of the Americas, 
 until the efforts of the United States to 
 establish bimetallism have been success- 
 ful." 
 
 propio pais, sino en un pais extrangero. 
 No hay duda que esta cuestidn habria de 
 surjir, y que tendria que decidirse por 
 el Tribunal Supremo. 
 
 Tomando en cuenta tod as estas razones, 
 propnse en rai informe que los Estados de 
 Centre y Sud America, en vez de acunar 
 plata, tomarau billetes de la Tesorerla de 
 los Estados Unidos, y los hicieran recibir 
 en SUB respectivos paises en pago de deu- 
 das pTiblicas, introduciendo as! esta mo- 
 neda de papel en todas las Americas. Este 
 plan no ha enco:q^trado apoyo, y la razon 
 es evidente. Para oonseguir billetes del 
 Tesoro de los Estados Unidos tendrlan los 
 otros paises que pagar en oro su valor, y 
 en ese caso la linica ventaja serfa la de que 
 corriera en todas partes una misma mo- 
 ueda. Parece que pesos de plata, de curso 
 legal, podr^u evitar el pago de los altos 
 cambios que tienen con Europa. 
 
 Ya me he empefiado en probar que ese 
 pensamiento es exacto ; pero que ese resul- 
 tado se alcanzaria S, espensas de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, quienes tendrian que perder 
 todos los cambios que los Estados de Sud 
 America ganarian. El Sr. Alfonso en su 
 luniinoso informe, sefiala otras dificultades 
 que aparecerian al aceptar los billetes 
 del Tesoro de los Estados Unidos. Una 
 de ellas es que, la ley autorizando esa 
 emisidn de billetes no se ha dado ann, y 
 que aun en ese caso sella igualmente fSoil 
 comprar libras esterliuas 6 billetes del 
 Tesoro de los Estados Unidos. Esas ra- 
 zones son justas, y como que mi proposi- 
 ci(5n fu6 hecha originalmente nada mas 
 que como un medio mas cort6s de opo- 
 sicidn ^ la idea de acunar un peso inter- 
 nacional, y encontrando que mi plan -no 
 merece la aprobaci6n de mis colegas, me 
 voy & permitir suprimir enteramente de 
 mi informe las palabras que dicen : "Es- 
 to me parece que daiia todos los resul- 
 tados, que desean obtener de la acuRaci6n 
 de un peso de plata internacioual," y po- 
 ner en su lugar estas otras : " Yo sug jiero 
 por lo tanto, que la Conferencia reco- 
 miende ^ sus respectivos Gobiemos, que 
 no convieue adoptar una moneda de plata 
 que sea de curso forzoso, ya en general, 
 ya con respeoto solo & algunos pages, en 
 los paises de America, hasta que no ob- 
 tengan complete €xito los esfuerzos del 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 495 
 
 An argument nas beeu used several 
 times that as we were called upon to con- 
 sider the adoption of a common sliver 
 coin we could not consider any other 
 question. I do not think there is any 
 force in that suggestion, because the 
 United States in asking us to consider, 
 must have had in view that we might 
 consider that it was not desirable to adopf 
 a common silver coin, and that we would 
 then be very likely to suggest some other 
 manner of establishing an international 
 coin. But as my recommendation now 
 reads this argument would not apply. I 
 can not close these few remarks without 
 suggesting that even if the Conference 
 adopts the report which I have the honor 
 of presenting to them, that we still have 
 means of carrying on commerce between 
 the various countries without much diffi- 
 culty from the various moneys employed 
 in the different Americas, by favoring the 
 establishment of large banks whose prin- 
 cipal duty it would be to furnish exchange 
 in every principal town of the Americas 
 on the other countries at legitimate rates. 
 The report on banking will soon be in, 
 and will, if adopted, I trust, prevent the 
 failure of a common international legal 
 coin from being so injurious to business 
 as it might at first appear. 
 
 I wish it distinctly understood that 1 
 approve entirely of all the Republics of 
 the Americas adopting a currency of uni- 
 form fineness and weight. My objection 
 is to the legal-tender clause. 
 
 Gobierno de los Estados Uuidos, para es- 
 tablecer el bimetalismo. 
 
 Varias voces so ha diclio y pretendido, 
 creyendo hacer con ello un bueu argu- 
 mento, que nosostros hemos sido Uamados 
 para estudiar la adopoidn de un peso co- 
 rn un de plata, y que no podemos desviar- 
 nos de ese j)unto. Me parece que ese 
 argumento no tieno toda la fuerza que 
 se le preteudo dar, por que el Gobierno 
 de los Estados Unidos al pedir que 
 estudiasemos ese punto, debe haber 
 tenido en ouenta que si la adopciiSn de 
 una moneda comun de plata no nos pare- 
 cia lo mas conveniente, nosotros & nues- 
 tra vez reoomendariamos, quizas, un plan 
 por medio del cual se pudiera uniformar 
 la moneda de todos los palses. Pero en la 
 nueva forma que he dado & la recomenda-- 
 ci63, cste argumento es inaplicable. Antes 
 de concluir estas ligeras observaciones, 
 me voy & permitir manifestar, que aun 
 en el caeo de que la Conferencia llegase 
 & adoptar el informe que he tenido el honor 
 de presentarle, siempre nos quedan me- 
 dics de rontinuar el comercio entre los 
 diversos palses, sin que se originen 
 grandes dificultades por la diversidad de 
 las monedas usadas en los mismos, si se fa- 
 vorece el establecimiento de Banoos, cuyo 
 deber primordial sea el de faoilitar el 
 cambio entre todas las poblaciones mas 
 importantes de las Americas, &, tipos legl- 
 timos y equitati vos. Pronto se presentar^ 
 el informe sobre Bancos ; y si se adopta, 
 espero que harii ver que la no existencia de 
 una moneda comun internacional de cnrso 
 legal forzoso, no es tan perjudicial para el 
 comercio como & primera vista parece. 
 
 Deseo que se eutienda perfectamente 
 que estoy de aouerdo en que todas las 
 Repliblioas de America adopteu una 
 moneda de peso y ley uniforme. Mi opo- 
 sicidn se refiere ^ la clausula en que se 
 habla del curso legal forzoso. 
 
FIFTY SECOND DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 62. 
 
 Washington, March 26, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.10 p. m. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Zegar- 
 RA, a Delegate from Peru, with the tbllow- 
 .ing Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Feruaudo Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pena. 
 Mr. Manuel Quiutana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragou. 
 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. doAmaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 
 496 
 
 SeMn del 26 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presideiicia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 delegado por el Peru y Primer Vicepresi- 
 dente. Estando presentes: 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perfi: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Joa6 M. Hurtado; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pena; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel AragiSn. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Eomero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr, Jos6 Alfonso, 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 497 
 
 Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castollanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. JoB(5 Maria Pl^oido Caamaiio. 
 
 The uiiuutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates i)resent. 
 
 The Secretaries read the following: 
 
 " Department of State, 
 " WaaUngton, March 25, 1890. 
 "H. Remsen Whitehouse, Esq., 
 
 " Secretary of the International Amer- 
 ican Conference. 
 " Sir : The Department has been offi- 
 cially informed that Mr. Hannibal Price, 
 Envoy Extraordinaiy and Minister Plen- 
 ipotentiary of the Republic of Hayti at 
 this caj)ital, has been appointed by that 
 Government a Delegate to represent it in 
 the International American Conference, 
 now sitting in this city, replacing Mr. 
 Arthur Laforestrie, lately a Delegate from 
 the same Government. Mr. Price will 
 present his commission when received . 
 "I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
 " William F. Wharton, 
 " Assistant Secretary. " 
 
 The Chair ordered that the receipt of 
 the above be acknowledged by the Secre- 
 tary. 
 
 The Chair announced that the contin- 
 uation of the discussion of the report of 
 the Committee on Monetary Convention 
 was in order, and that Mr. Estee, a Dele- 
 gate from the United States, who had 
 postponed the conclusion of his remarks 
 in the last session, now had the floor. 
 
 Mr. Estee read the remarks hereto ap- 
 pended. 
 
 After some discussion, in which took 
 part Mr. Mexia, a Delegate from Mexico 
 and chairman of the reporting committee, 
 and Mr. Aragou, a, Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, from whi<jh it appeared that the 
 committee had desired to know the opin- 
 32 I C 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jo8(5 Maria Pl^cido 
 CaamaSo. 
 
 Se abri6 la sesidn & las tres y diez mi- 
 nutes do la tarde. 
 
 Se ley(5, aprob6 y firmd el acta de la 
 8e8i6n anterior. 
 
 Se di6 lectura por los Secretarios & la 
 siguiente comunicacidn : 
 
 " Departamento de Estado, 
 '' Washington, Marzo 25 de 1890. 
 " Senor H. Remsen Whitehouse, 
 " Seoretario dela Conferencia 
 Internacional Americana : 
 " SbSor : El Departamento ha sido in- 
 formado ofioialmente de que el Senor 
 Hannibal Price, Enviado Extraordinario 
 f Ministro Plenipotenciario de la Re- 
 publica de Haiti en esta capital, ha 
 sido nombrado por su Gobierno para que 
 tambien lo represente como delegado ante 
 la Conferencia Internacional Americana, 
 que estS ahora en sesidn en esta ciudad, 
 reemplazando en dicho puesto al Senor 
 Arthur Laforestrie, delegado que ha sido 
 hasta ahora de aquel Gobierno. 
 
 " El Sefior Price presentar^ sus cre- 
 denciales cuando sea recibido. 
 " Soy de V. ato. servidor, 
 
 " William F. Wharton, 
 
 " Sab-Secretario. " 
 
 El Senor Presidente ordend que se aou- 
 sase el recibo de esta comunicacifin. 
 
 En seguida el mismo SeBor Presidente 
 anuncid que debia contiiiuarse ]a disou- 
 Bi<5n del dictamen de la Comisidn mone- 
 taria y que el Senor Estee, delegado por 
 los Estados Unidos, podia continuar su 
 discurso empezado el dia anterior. 
 
 Tom6 entonces la palabra el SeHor 
 Estee, y conoluyd el discurso cuyo texto 
 Integro se acompaSa como Ap^ndice ^ 
 esta acta. 
 
 Despues de alguna disousi6n en que 
 tomaron part e los Senores Mexla, delegado 
 por Mexico, y Presiilente de la Comisidn 
 iuformante, y el Senor Aragdn, delegado 
 por Costa Rica, de la cual results que la 
 expresadaComisiOnhabiadeseadoconocer 
 
498 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 ion of the United States Government on 
 the Bubjeci, but that the Delegation from 
 the United States had not received any 
 fixed instructions ; Mr. Alfonso, a Del- 
 egate from Chili, rose to a point of order, 
 proposing that the speeches of Messrs. 
 Estee and Coolidge be translated into 
 Spanish, and that meauwhile the discus- 
 -^ion on the subject be suspended, and 
 making a formal motion to that end. 
 
 Mr. Abagok, a Delegate from Costa 
 Kica, stated that although he did not dis- 
 sent from Mr. Alfonso's motion, yet he 
 would explain that the speeches made by 
 Messrs. Estee and Coolidge were no more 
 than clear and able arguments iu support 
 of the conclusions reached by them iu 
 their reports which were printed and be- 
 fore the Conference. But Mr. Alfonso in- 
 sisted on the necessity of being acquainted, 
 with all the details of the debate. 
 
 Mr. BoLBT Peraza, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela, stated that to postpone the 
 debate would only delay the solution of 
 the question; that opinions on the sub- 
 ject were divided not only in the United 
 States Delegation and iu the Conference, 
 but also in the whole world ; that in the 
 midst of all these differences there was a 
 common agreement as to the advantages 
 of a universal coin; that Mr. Estee's 
 ideas and plan appealed to him and had 
 all his sympathy, but that he thought in 
 view of the diificulties of detail, the plan 
 adopted by the committee was the most 
 prudent, and should be accepted. 
 
 Mr. QoiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, stated that his Delegation 
 would never oppose the postponement of 
 a subject in oider that other Delegations 
 might study it, and that he would vote 
 for Mr. Alfonso's motion if it should be 
 put to the ballot, but that a serious ques- 
 tion had arisen to which he must draw 
 the attention of the Conference, for ac- 
 cording to the declaration made by Mr. 
 Mexia, chairman of tfie reporting com- 
 mittee, the United States Government 
 had not formulated an opinion on the sub- 
 ject. That this Conference is not an 
 assembly of private individuals, but a 
 diplomatic body in which the Delegations 
 represent their Goveruments, and that, 
 therefore, no action should be taken, or 
 
 la opinidu del Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos en el particular, pero que la dele- 
 gaci6u de los Estados Unidos no habia 
 recibido iustrucciones determinadas, el 
 Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, suscitd 
 una cuestidn de orden, proponieudo que 
 los discursos de los Senores Estee y Cool- 
 idge se tradujesen al castellano, y que 
 entretanbo quedaso suspendida la discu- 
 si6n, haciendo para ello moci6n formal. 
 
 Expuso el Senor Arag6n que aunque 
 no se oponia St la proposioi6u del Seiior 
 Alfonso, debia explicar que los discursos 
 de los Senores Estee y Coolidge no eran 
 mds que argumentos lumiuosos en apoyo 
 de las ideas que habiau recomendado 
 respectivamente, que constan de los doou- 
 mentos impresos, y que son conocidos de 
 la Conferenoia. Pero el Senor Alfonso 
 iusistifi en la neoesidau de conocer todos 
 los detallcs de la discusidn. 
 
 El Senor Bolet Peraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, dijo que aplazar el debate solo 
 seria demorar la soluci6n : que las opi- 
 niones sobre este grave asunto estaban 
 divididas no solo en la delegacidn de los 
 Estados Unidos, slno tambien en la Con- 
 ferenoia y en el mundo entero ; pero que 
 en medio de todas esas divergeucias habia 
 un fondo comuu, que era el recouooi- 
 miento de la veutaja de una moneda in- 
 ternacional. Que las ideas y el plan del 
 Senor Estee le parecian seductoras y 
 teniau toda sn simpatia ; pero que creia 
 que en vista de las dificuitades de detalle 
 que presentaba el asunto, el tempera- 
 mento adoptado por la Comisidn era el 
 m^s sabio y debia aceptarse. 
 
 El Senor Quintana, delegado por la 
 Eepriblica Argentina, dijo que la delega- 
 ci6u de su pals j^mas se opondria & que 
 sepospusiese la considsracidn de un asun- 
 to, con el objeto de que las otras delega- 
 ciones pudiesen estudiarlo mejor; y quo 
 por lo tanto votaria por la mocidii del 
 Senor Alfonso, si Uegaba ^ votarse. Pero 
 que habia surgido una cuesti(5n grave, 
 sobre la cual debia Jlamar la atenci6n de 
 la Conferencia, y es la que resulta del 
 heoho de que segun la declaracidn hecha 
 por el Senor Mexla, Presidente de la Co- 
 mlsidn informante, el Gobierno de los Es- 
 tados Unidos no tiene opinifin formadaen 
 el asunto. Que esta Conferencia noes 
 una reuni(3u de iudividuos partioulares, 
 sluo una Conferencia diplom£itica, en que 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 499 
 
 speeches made, wliicli have not an official 
 character. 
 
 Mr. ESTBE, a Delegate from the United 
 States, in answer to the above, read Arti- 
 cle X of the Kules, which provides that 
 each Delegate has the right to express 
 his individual opinions and to ask that 
 they be recorded in the minutes, and he 
 added that the fact that no instructions 
 had been received did not deprive the 
 Delegates of their official character. And 
 Mr. Coolidge, supporting what had been 
 said by his colleague, added that the 
 United States of America in the exercise 
 of its sovereignty had seen fit to declare 
 that the vote of the Delegation should be 
 the official vote of the United States; that, 
 therefore, if the honorable Delegate from 
 the Argentine wished to know the opin- 
 ion of the United States, he coald do so 
 by calling for a vote. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pena., a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, stated that he would regret 
 very much that Mr. Estee should misun- 
 derstand what Mr. Qnintana had said 
 concerning his speech — it is not the latter 
 which places the Conference in a difficult 
 position, but the fact of not knowing 
 which is the opinion of the United States 
 in the matter, as no instrnctions have 
 been given ; that the other Governments 
 have given instructions to their respect- 
 ive Delegations ; that when the signature 
 of the Argentine Delegation is affixed, the 
 moral obligation of its Government is im- 
 plied, and that he can not consent that 
 other Delegations should be in a different 
 position, because if it were so the solem- 
 nity of its acts would be destroyed. Mr. 
 Saenz Pena concluded his remarks by de- 
 claring that if the United States Delega- 
 tion did not bring the opinion of its Gov- 
 ernment, the Argentine Delegation would 
 not give its vote. 
 
 A discussion arose on this point, in 
 which took part Mr. Quintana in support 
 of his colleague, Mr. Saenz Peiia's words; 
 Mr. Velarde, a Delegate froin Bolivia, in 
 support of the report of the committee, 
 and Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, who suggested that the speeches 
 of Messrs. Estee and Coolidge be trans- 
 lated, but that in the meantime the dis- 
 Qussjon of the important incident raised 
 
 las delegacioues representan & sjs Gobier- 
 nos: y que por lo tauto, no debe darse 
 curso Si discursos que no tieneu car^cter 
 oficial. 
 
 A esto replicci en substaucia el SeQor 
 Estee, leyendoel articulo del Eeglamento 
 quo (l-S el derecho £ caila delegado de ex- 
 presar sus propiasopiniones, y haeer que 
 consten en las actas, anadieudo que el 
 hecho de no haber recibido instrucciones 
 no privaba S, los delegados de su cardicter 
 oficial. Y cl Senor Coolidge, corroboran- 
 do lo dicho por el Seflor Estee, expuso 
 que los Estados Unidos de America, en 
 el ejercicio de su soberanla, habian creido 
 oportune declarar que el voto de la dele- 
 gacidu serfa el voto oficial de los Estados 
 Uuidos; y que por lo tanto, si el honorable 
 delegado por la Eepiiblica Argentina de- 
 saba saber la opini6n de los Estados 
 Unidos, podria obtener la respuesta, pidi- 
 endo que se procediese Si votar. 
 
 El Senor Saenz PbKa, delegado por la 
 Eopliblioa Argentina, tom6 la palabra y 
 expuso que sentiria mucho que el Senor 
 Estee interpretase mal lo que dijo el 
 Senor Quintana respecto de su discurso, 
 porque no es este el que ooloca Si la Con- 
 ferenoia en una situacidn diflcil, sino el 
 hecho de no conocerse oual es la opinidn 
 de los Estados Unidos, porqueuo han dado 
 instrucciones; quelosdem^sGobiernoslas 
 han dado S sus respectivas delegacioues, 
 que donde est^ la firma de la Republica 
 Argentiua esl^ la obligicidn moral de su 
 Gobiemo, y que no se puede aceptar que 
 las otras delegacioues se encuentran eu 
 una condicidn distinta, porque con ello 
 se destruya la seriedad de los actos. Con- 
 cluy6 sus observaciones el Senor Saenz 
 Pena declarando que si la delegaci6n de 
 los Estados Uuidos no trae la opinidn de 
 su Gobierno, la delegacidn argentina no 
 dar^ su voto. 
 
 Suscitdse con este motive una discusidn 
 en que tomaron parte el Senor Quintana, 
 eu apoyo de lo expresado por su colega 
 el Senor Saenz Pena ; el Senor Velarde, 
 delegado por Bolivia que apoyd el dicta- 
 men de la Comisidn, el Senor Martinez 
 Silva, delegado por Colombia, que sugirid 
 se tradujesen los discursos de los Senores 
 Estee y Coolidge, y que entretanto 
 se oontinuase discutiendo el impor- 
 
500 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 by the Argentine Delegation be carried 
 on ; that the motion proposed by Mr. 
 Alfonso be not voted upon until the next 
 day, and that he requested the floor at 
 the next session in order to express his 
 opinion, to which Mr. Alfonso agreed. 
 
 Mr. ESTBE explained that, although 
 the United States delegates might differ 
 individually in their opinions, when the 
 moment arrived to vote the opinion of 
 the Government which they represented 
 would be known. 
 
 The Chair having stated that the in- 
 cident was of so serious a nature that it 
 would be better as it was now late, to 
 postpone further discussion until the next 
 day, suggested the advisability of ad- 
 journing, and 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, having made a motion to 
 this effect, the conference adjourned at 
 6.15 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua, 
 F. C. C. Zegarba, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 Gnatemala. 
 
 JOSlfi M. HUBTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos:fi S. Deooud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 MATf AS Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mex^a. 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebakeb, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Thesoot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis. 
 
 United States. 
 NiCANOR Bolet Peraza, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 tante incidente promovido por la dele- 
 gaci6u Argentina; sin tomarse voto sobre 
 la moci<>n del Sefior Alfonso hasta el dia 
 inmediato : por lo que que desde ahora pc- 
 dia la palabra para expresar su opinifin; 
 el Senor Alfonso para aoceder S, esta 
 iudicacidn ; y el SeQor Estee, para expli- 
 car que auuqne los delegados por los 
 Estados Unidos pueden individualmente 
 diferir de opini6n, cuaudo Uegue el mo- 
 mento do votar se conocer^ la opinidn del 
 Gobierno queellos representan. 
 
 El Senor Presidente despues de explicar 
 que el incidente era serio, y que era ya 
 adelantada la hora, sugirid la convenien- 
 cia de que se levantase la sesi6n para oon- 
 tinuarla al dia siguiente. Y como el Sefior 
 Henderson, delegado por los Estados Uni- 
 dos, hlzo mocidn para que asl se acordase, 
 se adoptd la proimesta por nnanimidad, 
 
 Se levantd la sesidn & las seis y quince 
 minutos de la tarde. 
 Jambs G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 HoRACio GuzmIn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peril. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos± M. Hurtado, 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 Costa Bica. 
 3os& S. Decoud, 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amabal Valente, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MBXfA, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 CoENELius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebakbr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 NiCANOR Bolet Peraza, 
 Venezuela. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 301 
 
 Jo8:fi Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JoslS Makia PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Josiifi Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 JosiS MakIa PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecnador. 
 
 Appendix A. 
 
 Mr. Esteb's Speech. 
 
 [Minutes of fifty-second day.] 
 
 Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the Con- 
 ference : 
 The question presented for our consid- 
 eration is, "The adoption of a common 
 silver coin to be issued by each Govern- 
 ment, the same to be legal tender in all 
 commercial transactions between the cit- 
 izens of all the American States." These 
 are the words of the act of Congress, and 
 at the time of the enactment of this law 
 it voiced the sentiments of the American 
 people, and, as I believe, voices the senti- 
 ments of the people to-day. 
 
 Indeed, I very much doubt if any subject 
 of equal importance will come before this 
 Conference. The effect which the adop- 
 tion of this proposition would have upon 
 the trade, the industries, and finances of 
 the American States can not now be meas- 
 ured by any means within our knowl- 
 edge. True, this may be new to Ameri- 
 cans and to American finance, but it will 
 be far-reaching and of infinite importance 
 to its future prosperity. 
 
 One thing to me seems clear, if we can 
 adopt an international American silver 
 coin, uniform in weight and fineness, 
 which coin shall be made a legal tender 
 in all commercial transactions between 
 the citizens of all the American States, 
 and without inflicting any serious injury 
 on any one of them, it ought to be done, 
 and it was clearly the intention of the 
 American Congress when this law was 
 passed that it should be done. 
 
 I do not care to repeat the arguments 
 presented in my report or elaborate upon 
 what I then said, yet it may not be uu- 
 
 Ap:^ndioe a. 
 
 DiSCURSO DEL SeSOR ESTEE. 
 
 [Acta No. 52. 1 
 
 Sres. Presidente y Delegados de esta Con- 
 ferencia : 
 
 El asnnto que se presenta & nnestra 
 consideracidn es "La adopcidn de una 
 moneda comlin de plata que paeda ser 
 acunada y emitida por todos y cada nno 
 de los Gobiernos y sirva de medio circu- 
 lante legal para toda clase de transacoiones 
 comerciales celebradas mlituamente entre 
 los oiudadanos de un Estado de America 
 y los de los demits del mismo hemisferio;" 
 Asl Be expresa el acta del Congreso, y 
 cuando se sancioud esta ley reflejaba los 
 sentimientos del pueblo americano, como 
 creo que hoy tambien los refleja. 
 
 Dudo que se presente & la Conferencia 
 otro asnnto de igual importanoia. Im- 
 posible es apreciar debidamente en el dia 
 el resnltado que la adopcidn de esta propo- 
 sici6n na de producir en el comercio, las 
 industrias, y en la hacienda de los paises 
 americanos. Verdad es que este es un 
 paso nuevo para los americanos y para 
 los negocios financieros de America; pero 
 serdi tambien de importanoia suma para 
 su futura prosperidad. 
 
 A mi me parece que, si nos es posible 
 adoptar una moneda iuternacional de 
 plata, de peso y ley uuiforme y que sea 
 moneda corriente legal para todas las 
 transacoiones comercitales celebradas mli- 
 tuamenle entre los oiudadanos de las 
 naciones americanas, sinperjudicarseria- 
 mente & niguna de estas, debemos adop- 
 tarla, y esta fu6 claramente la intenci6u 
 del Congreso americano cuando sancion6 
 la ley. 
 
 No deseo repetir ahora los irgumentos 
 que presents en nji informe, pero serdl 
 provechoso revisar los actuales sistemas 
 
502 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 profitable to take a general view of the 
 present financial systems of the Central 
 and South American Republics, and to 
 briefiy state why a stable and uniform 
 currency would be of value to thorn, and 
 ■why an international silver coin would 
 be of value to us. We find that of all the 
 nations represented in this Conference 
 but one is single gold standard, two 
 double standard, and the rest are single 
 silver standard countries, and that silver 
 coin is in everyday use among the Ameri- 
 can people. Indeed, there is no place on 
 the American continent where silver is 
 not a recognized money metal, and it is 
 the unit of value in most parts of Amer- 
 ica. At present more than four-fifths of 
 all Central and South American ex- 
 change is sold on London ; and of neces- 
 sity the trade of a country largely goes 
 ■where the money goes. 
 
 So long as the American nations have 
 no uniform finan cial system of their own, 
 or international coin, of necessity this 
 will be 80 ; and th us prices of both com- 
 modities and exchange will be fixed by 
 European money standards. We must 
 bear in mind that our position in America 
 differs widely from that of Europe. We 
 are builders of neV systems, and to build 
 well we must utilizo the material we 
 have ; they are repairing and maintaining 
 old systems. We have new and peculiar 
 conditions 1o meet and a financial future 
 to create ; they have only a past to follow 
 and imitate. We are too remote from the 
 financial centers of Europe to be longer 
 controlled by them, and we ought to de- 
 clare our financial independence ; bnt to 
 do this we must be prepared to maintain 
 it. 
 
 True, we are filling pages of history 
 with advanced thought and new experi- 
 ences, but we must not forget that if we 
 think wrong we will not act right; and 
 thus, while we live amid the most pro- 
 gressive and enlightened influences of a 
 new age, full of something to do, but 
 without precedent as to how it shall be 
 done, of necessity every step we take is an 
 
 fiuancierosde las Reptiblicas del Centroy 
 Sud de America y mostrar las razones 
 porque una inoneda corriente permanente 
 y nniforme aeria de gran valor para 611ob, 
 y porque una moneda de plata inter- 
 nacional seria tambien de gran valor para 
 nosotros. De todas las naeiones repre- 
 sentadas en esta Conferencia solo hay una 
 que adopta el ore como tipo de su 
 sistema raonomet^lico, dos de ellas usau 
 un sistema Ijjmet ^lico y las demSs usan la 
 plata como tipo monomet^lico, y la 
 moneda do plata estii en coustante uso 
 en el jjueblo amerioano. No hay, cierta- 
 mente, en el continente americano nn In- 
 gar donde no se reconozca la plata como 
 metal monetario y en rauchas partes es la 
 unidad de valor. En la aotualidad mas 
 de los cuatro quintos de los giros de toda 
 la America Central y del Sud se hacen 
 Bobre Londres ; y necesariamente la mayor 
 parte del comercio de un pals sigue el 
 mismo camino que su dinero. 
 
 Asi suceder^ necesariamente hasta que 
 las naeiones americanas establezcan un 
 sistema financiero nniforme entre si, 6 una 
 moneda intern acional ; y de este modo el 
 precio de las mercanclas y los cambios 
 ser^n fijados por los tipos monetarios.de 
 Europa. Debemos tener siempre presente 
 que nuestra posicidn en America difiere 
 muchodela de Europa. Aqiil construimos 
 nuevos sistemas, y para couscruir bien 
 hemes de hacer uso de los materiales que 
 poseemos; all! solo enmiendan y man- 
 tienen sistemas viejos. AquI nos encon- 
 tramos en condiciones nuevas y espe- 
 oiales y hemes de formar alin nuestro 
 porvenir financiero ; alll tienen solo que 
 seguir imitando el pasado. Aqui esta^ 
 mos situados demasiadolejosdelos centros 
 financieros de Europa para se'r goberna- 
 dos por 611os por m£ts largo tiempo y de- 
 bemos declarar nuestra independencia 
 financiera; pero para eonsegnir esto es 
 necesario que estemos preparados & 
 manlenerla. 
 
 Verdad es que estamos llenando las p^ 
 ginas de la historia con pensamientos 
 avanzados y nuevas priioticas, pero no 
 debemos olvidar que si pensamos equi- 
 vocadamente, obrar^mos tambien eqni- 
 vocadamente ; y asl es que aunque vivi- 
 mos bajo las influencias mas progresistas 
 6 ilustradas de una nueva era, ansiosa 
 de hacer algo, nos cncontramos sin em- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 503 
 
 exporiraent. In fact, our conditions are 
 as peculiar as our necessities are varied- 
 More than a century ago the United 
 States was born as a nation, and yet we are 
 just learning what a wonderful continent 
 America is, what boundless resources it 
 possesses, and its stupendous importance 
 to the rest of the world. One by one our 
 sister Republics south of us joined the 
 family of American Republics, until the 
 continent is divided among free and in- 
 dependent nations, each in its own good 
 time and way working out its own 
 destiny ; but each, when standing alone, 
 unable to do all that needs to be done. 
 As the representatives of these Republics 
 we are here to devise ways of advancing 
 our interests and harmonizing our con- 
 flicting opinions. To do this something 
 must be given as well as received, for 
 upon the wise performance of these duties 
 depends future rewards not yet dreamed 
 of and peaceful conquests greater than 
 anything hitherto known in American 
 history. Failure can only come from our 
 mistakes, while our success will be the 
 most splendid triumph of peace. 
 
 The proposition under consideration is 
 to make an international silver coin. To 
 understand what effect this would have 
 in the financial world we must know 
 somethirg of the extent and character of 
 the silver coins now made. 
 
 There was coined thoughout the world 
 in 1888 $149,737,442 of silver. Of this 
 amount over 81 per cent, was issued as 
 afed is a full legal tender. More than 
 nine-tenths of the world's supply of silver 
 comes from America, and much the larger 
 part of this comes from Mexico and the 
 United States. Business could not be 
 done without it. In many of the coun- 
 tries all values are fixed by silver. In- 
 deed, almost all over the continent the 
 difference in value between gold and sil- 
 ver is not fully known or appreciated 
 until you buy exchange on London. It 
 
 bargo sin precedente alguno que irai- 
 tar, y cada paso que daraos tiene que ser 
 necesariamente un nnevo experimento. 
 J^uestras condioiones son tan pecnliares 
 como sen v^rias nuestras neoesidades. 
 Haoe poco mas de un siglo que los Estados 
 Unidos nacieron como nacidn indepen- 
 dionte, y sin embargo hasta ahora no 
 principiamos S, aprender cu^n maravilloso 
 es el continente am^ricano, cuan ilimi- 
 tadas sus riqnezas, y cuan grande la in- 
 flneneia que ejerce con respecto al resto 
 del raundo. Una por una las naciones al 
 Sud de uosotros ban ido formando la 
 familia de las Reptiblicas americanas, y ya 
 hoy el continente estd compuesto de na- 
 ciones libres 6 independientes, labrando 
 cada una su propio destino, aunquo inca- 
 paces cada una, por si sola, de hacer todo 
 lo que se necesita. Como representantes 
 de estas Repliblicas estamos aqui para 
 estudiarel medio de fomentar nuestros in- 
 tereses y de armonizar nuestras opiniones. 
 Para conseguirlo, es preciso que demos 
 alge en cambio de lo que recibimos, y que 
 no olvidenios que del buen cumplimiento 
 de nuestros deberes, dependen recompcn- 
 sas futuras cflya magnitud ni atin se ha 
 sofiado, y conquistas paolficas mSs gran- 
 des alin que los mas altos hechos de la 
 historia de America. Si hay mal 6xito de- 
 penderii de nuestros errores; pero si lo 
 obtenemos bueno, babr^mos conseguido el 
 triunfo mas espl^ndido que la paz puede 
 prometerse. 
 
 La proposicidu que hemos de considerar 
 es la creacifin de una moneda interna- 
 cional de plata. Para poder entender el 
 efecto que esto producirfa en el mundo 
 flnanciero, debemos saber algo de la can- 
 tidad y car^cter de las monedas de plata 
 existentes. 
 
 En 1888 se acunaron en todo el mundo 
 $149,737,442 de plata, de esta suma se 
 emiti6 mas de 81 por ciento como moneda 
 circnlante legal. America produce mas 
 de nueve-d6cimos de la cantidad de plata 
 del muudo, y de ^sta la mayor parte es 
 producida por Mexico y los Estados 
 Unidos. Sin 611a no pueden conducirse 
 los uegocios. En muchos palses los va- 
 lores son fijados por la plata. En casi 
 todo el continente, la diferencia de. valor 
 entre el oro y la plata est^ iguorada, 6 
 considerada sin importancia, hasta que se 
 compran giros sobreLondres. Severilpues 
 
604 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 will then be found that the western na- 
 tions have one kind of money for them- 
 selves and another kind of money for 
 European markets. It goes without say- 
 ing that Enrope thus fixes the value of 
 American money made from American 
 metal, and that the value of our money to 
 a great extent establishes the value of 
 our products. It is therefore submitted 
 that the time is a propitious one to make 
 a change in this respect. Let there be a 
 divided sovereignty ; let America do its 
 part and fill a large space in the financial 
 world, for by a wise and united action wo 
 can accomplish much. A coin of known 
 value, issued and sustained by every 
 American Republic, could not fail to have 
 financial force ; there would uot be an 
 American nation not interested in u.'ain- 
 taining the par value of this new money. 
 It would soon be familiar to American 
 eyes and universal in use with the people 
 of America. It is our interest to agree 
 upon this question, and we therefore 
 ought to agree upon it, and it may here 
 be noted that this proposition does not 
 interfere with the continued coinage by 
 any one of the American countries of any 
 coin now being made by it. It only pro- 
 vides for one American coin continental 
 in its character, to be coined by each 
 nation, uniform in its weight and fine- 
 ness, and which shall be receivable at 
 par by all American nations. 
 
 And further, when a uniform currency 
 is adopted, which shall be known and ac- 
 cepted by all the American nations, trade 
 will follow such uniform monetary system 
 with unerring certainty. An interchange- 
 able money leads to interchangeable com- 
 moditiies, and thus the American States 
 will look to each other for commercial 
 support in time of peace and for moral 
 and financial aid in times of war. What- 
 ever may have been the prevailing senti- 
 ment of the American nations towards 
 each other in the past, in the future we 
 will be friends. As railroad and tele- 
 graphic communication become estab- 
 lished for the whole length of the conti- 
 nent, and we are thus brought nearer each 
 other, we can uot afford to be eceniies. 
 We all live on the same continent; all 
 have a, common form of government, a 
 common interest, and a common destiny; 
 all are aspiring to a more exalted posi- 
 
 que las naciones de este continente naan 
 una clase de dinero entre si y otra con 
 los mercados Europeos. Claro es pues que 
 Europa fija asl el valor de la moneda 
 americana hecha con un metal tambien 
 americano, y que el valor de nuestra 
 moneda determina, en gran manera, el 
 valor de nuestros productos. Creese, por 
 consiguiente, que esta es la ocasidn pro- 
 pioia para efectuar un cambio. Dividanse 
 las soberanlas. Llene America su come- 
 tido: y ocupar^ un gran puesto en el 
 mundo finanoiero si unimos nuestras fuer- 
 zas y procedemos con prudencia. 
 
 Una moneda de valor conocido, emitida 
 y aceptada por cada una de las Repdbli- 
 cas americanas, ha de tener gran fuerza ; 
 no ee encoutrar^ una sola nacidn ameri- 
 cana que no se esfuerce en mantenerla 
 S, la par. Pronto se familiarizaria on 611a 
 el pueblo americano, y su uso seria uni- 
 versal en este continente. Es por nuestro 
 bien 6 interns que debemos convenir en 
 este asunto. Debe aqtil observarse ademas 
 que esta proposici6n es compatible con la 
 acuuaci6n, por cadanno de los paises de 
 America, de sus propias monedas. Pro- 
 p6nese solo la acutiacidu, por cada pais, 
 de una moneda de car^cter continental, de 
 peso y ley nniformes, y que deba reoibirse 
 £i la par por todos los paises amerioanos. 
 
 Ademds, despues que se haya adoptado 
 una moneda corriente uniforme que sea 
 reconocida y aceptada por todos estos 
 paises, el comercio seguir^, seguramente, 
 el sistema monetario uniforme. Una mo- 
 neda que pueda circular en todas partes 
 fomenta el comercio reeiproco, de modo 
 que los Estados americanos buscar^n, en 
 tiemposdepaz, el comercio con susherma- 
 nos, y en tiempos de guerra buscar^n su 
 ayuda moral y financiera. Cualesquiera 
 que hayau sido los sentimientos que las 
 naciones americanas ban abrigado unas 
 por otras en el pasado, la verdad es qne en 
 el porveoir ser^n todas amigos. No pode- 
 mos ser euemigoa cnando los ferrocarriles 
 y teMgrafos extendidos por todo cl conti- 
 nente nos liueu y acercan ni^is y m&a. 
 Todos vivimos juntos en el raismo conti- 
 nente; todos tenemos una forma deGobier- 
 no comiiu, comuues interescs y destines 
 comunes ; todos aspiramos (i unaposicidn 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFKRENCE. 
 
 505 
 
 tion ai.iong tlie nations of the earth; 
 each, it is true, has its antn<:coni8ms and 
 jealousies, but which time and a common 
 interest will heal. To-day the course of 
 empire is southward, not westward; na- 
 tions now little known to-morrow will 
 fill a large space in the world's history. 
 
 The pursuits of peace and the achieve- 
 ments of commercial supremacy are the 
 highest aims, and will be the greatest 
 glory, of the American Republics. How 
 to best accomplish these purposes is the 
 object of this Conference. It is trne, ar- 
 bitration, as an international American 
 policy, will secure justice to the weak na- 
 tions and confidence in the more powerful 
 ones; but an international coin would 
 give new force to American finance, uni- 
 formity in prices, and business confidence 
 to all. With this done, no one is great 
 enough to call a halt to American progress 
 in its march southward, or successfully 
 oppose closer friendly and commercial re- 
 lations among the people of all the Ameri- 
 can States. 
 
 This is manifest destiny. 
 
 In pursuing this point let me ask : 
 Would the United States and others 
 among the more powerful American Re- 
 publics suffer by the adoption of an inter- 
 national American silver coin? 
 
 I answer, this would be impossible 
 under the scheme recommended. 
 
 The coinage value of all the silver pro- 
 duced in the world for the year 1888 was 
 . $14-2,000,000. 
 
 The actual value of the silver so pro- 
 duced was about $103,400,000, while the 
 silver coinage of the world for the year 1888, 
 as elsewhere appears, was $149,737,442, 
 
 And this makes no allowance for silver 
 used in the arts, which may be estimated 
 at from $20,000,000 to $25,000,000 an- 
 nually. No note is taken of recoinages 
 of silver, because it does not apgear there 
 were more recoinages for the year 1888 
 than for the years before that i&tepv for 
 the year since; indeed, since 1875 there 
 has undoubtedly been less recoinages of 
 silver in Europe, due largely to the fact 
 that Germany demonetized silver aud the 
 Latin Union ceased to coin it. 
 
 mas alta entre las naciones del mundo. 
 Cada uaoi6u tiene, es verdad, sus celos y 
 susdifereucias; pero estas el tiempoy los 
 intei eses comunes las sanariiu. El curso 
 del progreso es hoy hacia el sud, no hacia 
 eloesJe; lasp^ginasdela historia estar^n 
 llenas manana con heohos de naciones, 
 que son hoy casi desconooidas. 
 
 Las tareas de la paz y las hazafias 
 de la supremacia oomercial, son las ambi- 
 ciones mas altas y ser^n la mayor gloria 
 de las Republicas americanas. El ob- 
 jeto de esta Confereucia es propender 
 del mejor modo Sj esos propdsitos. 
 Verdad es que, el arbitramento, como 
 politica internacional americana, afian- 
 zaria la justicia del lado de las naciones 
 d^biles y les infundiria conflanza en las 
 fuertes, pero una moneda internacional 
 robusteceria la hacienda americaua, es- 
 tableceria uniformidad en los precios y 
 foraentaria nuevas empresas. Una vez 
 conseguido esto, no habrfC podcr humauo 
 capaz de detener el progreso en su marcha 
 al Sud, u oponerse, con buou ^xito, S, que 
 los pafses araericauos se unan y estrechou 
 m& con lazos de amistad y de comercio. 
 
 Este es su destino manifiesto. 
 
 ConreferenciaSeste punto permitaseme 
 preguntar: jSe perjudicarlan losEstados 
 Unidos, y olras de las Republicas de 
 America mas poderosas, por la adopci6u 
 de una moueda de plata americaua 6 
 internacional ? 
 
 Coutesto que esto serla imposible 
 siguieudo el sistema recomendado. 
 
 El valor como moneda de toda la plata 
 producida en 1888 fu6 do $142,000,000. 
 
 El valor real de la en pasta con que se 
 hizo esa moneda fu6 de unos $103,400,000 
 y la totalidad do la plata acuuada en el 
 mundo en 1888 fu^ como aparece en otro 
 lugar, de $149,737,442. 
 
 Esto no incluye la plata usada en las 
 artes que puede apreciaise en unos 20 S, 
 25 milloues de pesos auuales. Tauipoco 
 se cueuta la reacunacidn de la plata, que 
 no cousta que haya sido mayor en 1888 
 que eu los anos auteriorcs 6 en el siguien- 
 te; por el oontrariodesde 1875 ban dis- 
 miuuido en Europa las reacunacioues 
 de plata, debido Si que Alemauia quit6 
 Si la plata su carScter de metal mone- 
 tario y S que la Uni6u Latina cesfi de 
 acnfiarla. 
 
506 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 To-flay, if we are to be guided Tjy the 
 ofiEicial reports made to the great mone- 
 tary centers, there is no unsold silver 
 bullion iu the markets of the world. The 
 demand has exceeded the supply, and in 
 the near future there must be a stiffening 
 of prices of silver ; and in this connection 
 permit me to say the figures furnished as 
 to the world's supply of silver are some- 
 what misleading for the reason that not 
 less than $20,000,000 of each year's pro- 
 duction is used in the arts, and which of 
 necessity sells upon the marliet at the 
 market rates, and which is thus not given 
 a fiat value, as is the case with coined 
 silver ; this alone would decrease the act- 
 ual coinage value of the silver produc- 
 tion for 1888 to about $138,000,000. In- 
 deed, on the question of the present 
 world's supply of silver, Mr. Secretary 
 Windoni says: 
 
 " There is in fact no known accumula- 
 tion of silver bullion anywhere in the 
 world. Germauy long since disposed of 
 her stock of melted silver coins, partly 
 by sale, partly by re-coinage into her own 
 new subsidiary coins, and partly for use 
 in coining for Egypt. Only recently it 
 became necessary to purchase silver for 
 the Egyptian coinage executed at the 
 mint at Berlin.'' » * » 
 
 Again, note what the distinguished 
 Secretary says relative to the absorbing 
 by the United States of tlie European 
 supply of silver coin : 
 
 " Nor need there be any serious appre- 
 hension that any considerable part of the 
 stock of silver coin of Europe would be 
 shipped to the United States for deposit 
 for Treasury notes." 
 
 Noting the above, the answer may well 
 be made, if this would not be done for the 
 Treasury notes it would not be done for 
 gold, for in the United States both are re- 
 ceivable at par for all pnblicdues, both are 
 the legal money of the country and inter- 
 changeable for all other kinds of Ameri- 
 can money ; but observe Mr. "Windom's 
 reasons why America would not absorb 
 European silver. He says : 
 
 " There is much less reason for shipping 
 coin to this country than bullion, for 
 while the leading nations of Europe have 
 
 Si nos gulamos por los informes oficiales 
 que se han presentado ante los grandes 
 centres monetarios,todalaplataexistente 
 hoy en los meroados de Europa ha sido 
 vendida. La demanda ha exoedido la 
 oferta y pronto tiene que subir el valor de 
 la plata; y permltaseme deoir aqui quelos 
 nlimeros arriba expuestos y que represen- 
 tan la prodnccifin de plata del mundo son 
 algo enganadores, por cuanto nnos $30,- 
 000,000 de la produccidn anual represen- 
 tan el metal usado en las artes, vendidos 
 en el mercado al tipo corriente y sin reci- 
 bir valor arbitrario como sucede con la 
 plata acufiada ; esto solo reduciria el va- 
 lor monetario de la produccidn de plata 
 en 1888 & unos $38,000,000. Sobre esta 
 materia de la producci6n de plata del 
 mundo, el Sr. Windom dice : 
 
 "Igndrase, en efeoto, que haya ninguna 
 acumulacidu de plata en pasta en nin- 
 guna parte del mundo. Alemauia dis- 
 puso tiempo ha de sus foudos de moneda 
 de plata fundida, reacuuando parte de 
 ella en sus nuevas monedas subsidiarias, 
 y acuHando otra parte para usarla en 
 Egipto. Hasta hace muy poco no fu6 ne- 
 cesario oomprar plata para hacer moneda 
 egipcia acufiada en la casa de moneda en 
 Berlin" * » « 
 
 Obs^rvese tambien lo que dice el dis- 
 tinguido Secretario refiri^udose & que loa 
 Estados Unidos absorben la producoidn 
 europea de moneda de plata : 
 
 "Ni debe tampooo temerse que se 
 remita en gran cantidad & los Estados 
 Unidos la moneda de plata europea, para 
 depositarla aqui en cambio de billetes del 
 Tesoro." 
 
 Segun esto, pnede ooutestaree que si 
 no es de temerse este cambio de plata 
 europea por billetes del Tesoro tampoco lo 
 es que se haga por oro ; pues en los Esta- 
 dos Unidos se reciben ambos & la par para 
 el pago delas deudas ptiblicas, ambos son- 
 diiiero legal en el pals y de cambio mtituo 
 con todas las dem^s clases de dinero 
 amerioano; pero obs^rvense las razones 
 que expone el Sr. Windom en apoyo de 
 la i^ea de quo America no podria absorber 
 la plata europea. Dice : 
 
 " Hay mucha menos raz6n para que se 
 remita il este pals la moneda acufiada en 
 Ingar de la plata en jyista, pues mientra? 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 507 
 
 discontinued the coinage of full legal- 
 tender silver pieces, they have provided 
 by law for maintaining their existing 
 stock of silver coins at par." 
 And says the Secretary further : 
 
 "It is safe to say there is no stock of 
 silver coin in Europe which is not needed 
 for business purposes." 
 
 This would seem to settle this proposi- 
 tion. 
 
 It may he st.ited in this connection that 
 while Europe claims to have demonetized 
 silver and thus treats it only as a subsidi- 
 ary coin, yet the stock of gold coin in 
 circiiiation in Europe is only 145,594,659 
 pounds sterling, while there is actually 
 93,094,000 pounds sterling of silver coin 
 In circulation ; in other words, of all the 
 coin in circulation in Europe near two- 
 fifths is silver, and this, says onr Secre- 
 tary of the Treasury, " is all needed for 
 liusiness purposes," while the paper money 
 in actual circulation in Europe is over 
 400,000,000 pounds sterling, or abont 
 12,000,000,000. Then, if it be true, first, 
 that there is no surplus in the world's 
 supply of silver, and, second, that the 
 silver coins of Europe are by law main- 
 tained at par in the countries that issue 
 them, and, third, that all the silver coin 
 now issued in Europe is necessary for the 
 business purposes of those countries, 
 America can not and will not absorb any 
 part of the present European supply of 
 silver, and this must be true because the 
 result of the best experience of the lead- 
 ing financiers of our times sustains that 
 opinion. 
 
 The next inqniry is, What would he 
 the effect in the American monetary 
 market, assuming we adopt a uniform 
 silver coin receivable at par by all of the 
 citizens of the other republics ? Would 
 any one of the American republics ab- 
 sorb all the silver of the other American 
 republics, and which country would do 
 this and how much silver could it so ab- 
 sorb ? 
 
 In considering this proposition I sub- 
 mit that, by making an American coin 
 uniform in weight and fineness, and by 
 also making it a legal tender in all com- 
 mercial transactions among all the people 
 
 lasprincipales naciones europeashan sns- 
 pendido la acufiacidn de moncda de plata 
 de ourso forzoso, tambien han decretado, 
 que se mantenga & la par la existente." 
 
 T mas adelante dice tambien el Sr. 
 Secretario : 
 
 "Puede asegnrarse que no hay en 
 Europa niuguna cautidad de plata 
 acunada que no sea la necesaria para el 
 manejo de los negocios.'' 
 
 Lo expuesto parece dejar bien demos- 
 trada esta proposioifo. 
 
 Con relaci6n ^ lo anterior puede aqui 
 mencionarse que mientras Europa pre- 
 teude haberle quitado d la plata su car^o- 
 ter de metal moiietario,y la considera per 
 consiguiente como moneda snbsidiaria, sin 
 embargo la cautidad de moneda de oro en 
 ciroulaoi6n en Europa es solo de £145,- 
 594,659 ; mientras que hay actualmente 
 en circulaci<5n £93,094,000 de moneda de 
 plata; es decir que dos quintas partes de 
 toda la moneda en circulacidn en Europa 
 es de plata, y 6sta, segun dice nuestro 
 Secretario del Tesoro, " se necesila para el 
 manejo de los negocios," mientras que el 
 papel moneda en circulacidn en Er.ropa es 
 mSs de £400,000,000 6 sean unos |2,000,- 
 000,000. Luego, si es cierto 1", que no hay 
 exceso de producoi6n de plata ea el mundo; 
 2° que las monedas de plata de Europa 
 son mantenidas por la ley S, la par en los 
 palses que las emiteu ; y 3" que toda la 
 moneda de plata que s« emite hoy en 
 Europa es necesaria para el manejo de los 
 negocios en esospafses, America nopodrii 
 absorber nada de la produccidn actual de 
 plata en Europa; y esto debe ser cieito 
 porque el resultado de la experiencia de 
 los prinoipales hacendistas de nuestros 
 tiempos asl lo atestigua. 
 
 La siguiente pregunta es : j Cual serla 
 el efecto en el meroado monetario ame- 
 ricano, de la adopoi6n de una moneda de 
 plata comdn aceptable ^ la par por todos 
 los ciudadanos de las demfe Reptiblicas f 
 jAbsorberia alguna de estas Repriblicas 
 toda la plafia de las otras, y cual serf^ la 
 Repiiblica que tal hiciera, y cuanta plata 
 podrla 611a absorber ? 
 
 Al considerar esta proposici<)n, digo 
 que, al acunar una moueda americana 
 de peso y ley nniforme y emiti^ndola como 
 medio circulante legal para toda clase de 
 transacciones comerciales celebradas mii- 
 
503 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 of the American republics, loe do not 
 thereby increase the world's supply of silver 
 coin, nor do we increase America's supply. 
 
 There will not be, there can not be, any 
 material change in the amount of silver 
 coin ill ciroulatiou on this continent, be- 
 cause all the silver now in existence is 
 coined, and all future coinage must de- 
 pend on the future supply of silver bul- 
 lion, and we note no large increase in the 
 production of silver, so that we may safely 
 assume that the demands for silver by 
 India, China, Japan, Europe, and for the 
 arts will not be less in the future than it 
 has been in the past. And hence the sup- 
 ply of silver in America for coinage pur- 
 poses will not be increased. 
 
 And thus the amount of silver coin will 
 not be greater, but its circulation will be 
 increased, for a greater demand will be 
 created for it. This can not fail to be so, 
 because this coin will be known through- 
 out the entire American world. It will 
 be an honest coin in weight and fineness. 
 It will bear the stamp of all the American 
 Republics. Behind it will stand the great 
 commercial nations of the New Worhi, 
 with all their developed and undeveloped 
 resources — one hundred and twenty mill- 
 ions of people now living in these Re- 
 publics would claim it as theirs. 
 
 And of necessity it would increase the 
 price of silver, because it would increase 
 its use. It would enlarge the trade of the 
 American States with each other, aud 
 thus benefit all of them. With this coin 
 adopted aud in use the ties of a common 
 interest would hind more closely together 
 the American Republics and would every- 
 where add dignity and power to the 
 American name. 
 
 This would be shared alilce by the great 
 and small American nations. 
 
 It is admitted that the United States is 
 the greatest financial power on the West- 
 ern Continent. The territorial extent of 
 this country, its vast aud increasing pop- 
 ulation, its varied industries, its extensive 
 banking capital, and its boundless re- 
 sources in almost every field of industry, 
 give this country a conspicuous position 
 among the great powers of the world. 
 
 tuamente entre los cindadanos de las 
 Repliblicas americanas, no aumenlamos, 
 por eso, la produceidn de moneda de plata del 
 mundo, como tampoco la de Amirica. 
 
 No habr^, ni podr^ haber, ningun cam- 
 hio importante en la cantidad de moneda 
 de plata en circulaci6n en este continente, 
 porqne toda la plata hoy en existencia 
 est^ en la forma de moneda, y las futuras 
 acunaciones dependerdlu de lafutura pro- 
 duccidn de plata en pasta. Como no se 
 nota aumento en la producci(5n de plata, 
 podemos decir ^on seguridad que la de- 
 manda de plata, para usarse en la India, 
 China, Japdn, EuTopa y las necesidades 
 de las artes no diferir^ en el porvenir de 
 la que ha side en el pasado. Y por tanto 
 la produccidn de plata en America para 
 acuuar moneda no habr^ disminuido. 
 
 As£ pues la cantidad de moneda de plata 
 no habr^ aumentado, pero si, su circula- 
 cidn, porqne su demanda ser5 mucho 
 mayor. Esto sucedora necesariamente asf, 
 porque esta moneda serS reoonooida en 
 todo el continente amerioano. SerS una 
 moneda honrada en el peso y en la ley. 
 Ser^ aprobada por todas las Republicas 
 araerianas, y serS apoy ada por las grandes 
 naciones comerciales del Nuevo Mundo, 
 que la garautizar^ con todas susriquezas, 
 asl las ya desarrolladas como las que nolo 
 est^n todavia. Los ciento veinte millones 
 de personas que pueblan estas Repliblicas 
 la estimarSn como cosa suya. 
 
 El valor de^la plata necesariamente 
 aumentaria con su uso. Ensanoharia el 
 comercio entre las naciones americanas 
 Unas con otras, benefici^udolas S, todas. 
 Una vez adoptada y en uso se estrecha- 
 rian los lazos de interns entre las Reptibli- 
 cas americanas y se aumentar^i la digni- 
 dad y fuerza del nombre americano. 
 
 De esto partioiparian todas las naciones 
 de America asl las grandes como las 
 pequefias. 
 
 Est^ reconocido que los Estados Unidos 
 son la naci6n fiuanciera mas grande del 
 hemisferio occidental. Su extensi6a ter- 
 ritorial, su grande y creciente poblaci6n, 
 BUS variadas industrias, y el enorme capi- 
 tal invertido en operaciones de banco, 
 haceu que este pals ocupe una posicidn 
 consplcua entre los grandes poderes del 
 mundo. Hasta ahora los Estados Unidos 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMKJilCAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 509 
 
 Hitherto the United States has found a 
 fair market for its pruductions aud has 
 inspired but slight opposition from Euro- 
 pean sourcesi but the improvement in 
 facilities for transportation, the active 
 competition of India, Russia, and Aus- 
 Ualia, the increased production of our 
 own country, and many new conditions 
 not before considered, now make it neces- 
 sary to shape our course to meet new 
 commercial questions as they arise. To 
 do this we must put our house in order 
 and prepare to face economic probloms 
 not heretofore experienced by the Ameri- 
 can jjeople, and this new condition of 
 things wiJl in time be as seriously felt by 
 the Republics south of us as by the people 
 of the United States. It is a fact that 
 prices of what America exports to Europe 
 are every day shrinking An overproduc- 
 tion may be one of the causes. A note of 
 alarm is already sounded through the 
 great West of our own countiy — the pro- 
 ducers are being heard from. Manufact- 
 uring may feel the effect next, and indeed 
 the world is recasting it balances and 
 oaarking out new trade and commercial 
 courses to follow. In this re-arrangement 
 of productive forces the American natioils 
 will have to play their part and do their 
 full duty, or it will be left to occupy a sec- 
 ondary position among the commercial 
 powersof the world. Ifwe|hope for success, 
 the American nations must first control 
 their own markets and supply each other 
 with what each most needs and what the 
 other nations produce, so that American 
 money will be expended in America, and 
 then both money and trade would act 
 together. The time is long past when 
 any great producing or commercial people 
 can, oyster-like, get into its shell and live 
 upon what comes to it. 
 
 For many years Europe has sought 
 South American trade, while the United 
 States has neglected it. 
 
 That we may fully appreciate the force 
 of the statement that the United States 
 has neglected the trade of America it is 
 only necessary to refer to the facts. 
 
 The trade of the countries south of us 
 on the Western Continent, includingCuba 
 and the other West India islands, for 
 1889 was as follows : Total exports, 
 1564,000,000. Of this sum the United 
 
 han encontrado litiles mercados para 
 sus prodnctos y poca oposici<5n por parte 
 de Europa, pero los adelantos en las fa 
 cilidades de transpdrte, la competencia 
 activa de India, Kusia y Australia, el 
 aumento de producci6n de nuestro propio 
 pais y muchas otras circunstancias que 
 no se habian considerado anteriormente, 
 nos obligan & cambiar nuestra oonducta 
 para hacer frente & las nuevas cuestiones 
 comerciales que puedan suscitarse. Para 
 esto es necesario que nos preparemos 
 & resolver uuevos probleraas econdmicos, 
 nunca propuestos antes al pueblo ameii- 
 cano, y este nuevo modo de ser se hardi 
 sentir tanto en las Repriblicas del Sud 
 como en los Estados Unidos. 
 
 El precio de las exportaciones de los 
 Estados Unidos ^ Europa dismiuuye cada 
 dia. El excesodeproduccidn puede con- 
 siderarse como una de las causas. Los 
 productores en nuestro gran oeste res- 
 ponden ya & la seilal de alarma. Tam- 
 bien los fabricantes principian ^ sentir 
 los efectos, y el mundo todo compara hoy 
 y marca nuevos derroteros al comercio 
 future. En este arrcglo de los agentes 
 productores, las naciones araericanas de- 
 ber^n tomar parte y cumplir con su de- 
 hor, 6 serSn forzadas & ocupar un lugar 
 secundario entre las naciones comerciales 
 del mundo. Si deseamos veneer de- 
 bemos antes que todo ser duenos de 
 nuestros propios mercados y suministrar- 
 nos unos & otros lo que necesitemos y 
 sea producido en otros jjaises, de modo qne 
 el dinero americano sea invertido en 
 America y entonces el dinero y el comercio 
 ir^n juntos. Ha pasado ya el tiempo en 
 que una gran nacidn productora 6 comer- 
 cial podia, & semejanza de las ostras en- 
 cerrarse en su concha y vivir de lo que en 
 €lla cayera. 
 
 Por muchos aSos ha cultivado Europa 
 el comercio de la America del Sud mien- 
 tras que los Estados Unidos lo han descui- 
 dado. 
 
 Para poder apreciar la fuerza de esta 
 declaraciAn, ser^ bastante citar solo al- 
 gunos dates. 
 
 El comercio total de los paf ses al sud de 
 nosotros, en el hemisferio occidental, in- 
 clnyendo todas las Antillas, fu6 en 1889 
 como sigue : Exportaci(3n total $.564,000,- 
 000. De esta suma los Estados Unidos 
 
510 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 States tooi $212,000,000, or 36 per cent. 
 For the same year the imports were 
 $522,000,000, of which the United States 
 only sent them the sum of $80,000,000, or 
 15.6 per cent. It will thus be seen the 
 United States is the largest purchaser 
 from the southern countries, and they 
 are the smallest purchasers from us. 
 
 Their trade is thus against the United 
 States by about $132,000,000 annually, 
 and this condition of things can be and 
 ought to be remedied, and the remedy 
 would he of equal advantage to all the 
 American Republics, for all of them are 
 large producers, and, the greater the de- 
 mand for what they produce, the better 
 the market. 
 
 To recur more directly to the question 
 involved in this discussion. As before 
 stated, trade follows the drift and uses of 
 money, and the more general the uses 
 of money, the greater is its purchasing 
 power. If Brazil has the same kind of 
 money as the United States, when a 
 Brazilian merchant pays a debt in the 
 United States he will pay in a draft 
 either on his own bank ox on a bank in 
 the United States; and so when an 
 American merchant makes purchases in 
 Brazil, because the value and character 
 of the money is known in both countries. 
 This will facilitate business and build up 
 trade, and Americans will hereafter pay 
 American debts in America with Ameri- 
 can money. 
 
 We are told that as the United States is 
 the largest and, financially, the most po- 
 tential among the American States, in 
 time it would absorb all this American 
 silver coin. 
 
 I reget to say our sister American Re- 
 publics are absorbing our surplus money 
 now, and I would deem it a most flatter- 
 ing result to the commercial wisdom of 
 my own country if the United States in 
 the near future might absorb some of the 
 money of the other American Republics, 
 but this can not be until trade changes, 
 and in the very nature of things this will 
 only occur after lapse of time, and so wo 
 will not and can not absorb any consider- 
 able amount of this international Anieri 
 can silver. Yet its very purpose is to be 
 interchangeable, and to circulate all over 
 
 recibierou $212,000,000 6 sea 36 por ciento. 
 En el mismo aBo las importacionessubie- 
 ron & $522,000,000, contribuyendo ^ ello 
 los Estados Unidos solo por valor de 
 $80,000,000 6 sea 15.6 por ciento. Se vei& 
 pues que los Estados Unidos son la nacidn 
 que compra mas de los pafses Americanos, 
 y que estos son los que menos compran de 
 uosotros. 
 
 La diferenoia en su comercio es pues 
 anualmente de $132,000,000 contra los 
 Estados Unidos y este estado de cosas 
 puede y debe remediarse. El remedio 
 ser^ de mlituo beuefioio & todas las re- 
 ptiblicas amerieanas, pues todas 611as sou 
 grandes productoras y el mercado ser^ 
 tanto mejorcuanto mayor sea lademanda 
 de sus produotos. 
 
 VolvamOB pues al pnnto de esta dis- 
 cusidn. Como dejamos dicho mas arriba 
 el comercio sigue la corriente y los uses 
 que se hacen del dinero, y mientras mas 
 general sea el uso del dinero mayor ser^ su 
 valor. Si el Brasil tiene la misma olase 
 de dinero que los Estados Unidos, cuando 
 el comerciante brasilero pague una deuda 
 en.los Estados Unidos lo har^ por medio 
 de un giro contra su banco <5 contra un 
 banco en los Estados Unidos; lo mismo 
 sucederii cuando el comerciante anieri- 
 cano compre en el Brasil, porque el valor 
 y car^cter de la moneda es el mismo en 
 ambos palses. Esto facilitarit los nego- 
 cios y levantarS el comercio; y en lo su- 
 cesivo los ameiicanos pagariin sus dendas 
 contraidas en America con dinero ameri- 
 eano. 
 
 Dfcese que siendo los Estados Unidos 
 la naci6n mas grande y de comercio mas 
 extenso de todos los palses amerioanos, 
 ella absorber^ con el tiempo toda esta 
 moneda americana de plata. 
 
 Siento decirquelasReptlblicasnuestras 
 hermanas est^n hoy absorbiendo todo 
 nuestro dinero y yo consideraria como el 
 resultado mas halagnefio del talento co- 
 mercial de mi pals, que los Estados Unidos 
 pudieran en el porvenir absorber algun 
 dinero de las demfe Repdblicas; pero esto 
 no se verificar^ hasta que el comercio no 
 cambie, lo enal no sucederi, debido ^ la 
 naturaleza misma de las cosas, sino des- 
 pues de un gran periodo de tiempo, ypor 
 consiguiente serSi imposible que podamos 
 absorber cantidad de importancia alguna 
 de esta plata internacional americana. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMKEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 511 
 
 the continent; wo want some of this 
 money to come to us and some of ours to 
 go to them. 
 
 In. a word and to recapitulate, we can 
 not absorb too much of this international 
 coin : 
 
 First, because it will be needed for busi- 
 ness purposes in the countries issuing it, 
 as is the case (according to Mr. Wiudom) 
 with European silver coin ; and, second, 
 it could not possibly come to the United 
 States iu any large quantities, because 
 trade is so much against this country and 
 the United States is all the time paying 
 to our sister Republics in coin the balances 
 which are due for what we buy of them : 
 and, lastly, if it did come here the United 
 States would not be injured, because 
 there would not be silver coin enough to 
 affect in any perceptible degree our finan- 
 cial system or largely increase the amount 
 of silver now on hand. An increase of 
 the circulating medium of this country is 
 now a financial necessity, and if not done 
 by these means it will be done by some 
 other. All the silver in the world, except 
 that used in the arts, is now made into 
 coin, and the financial stomach of the 
 world digests it and asks for more. How, 
 then, can the United States get too much 
 of it ? The real fact is we are absorbing 
 South America's products and they are 
 absorbing our money. 
 
 The unquestioned trend of public opin- 
 ion both in Europe and America is in favor 
 of silver as one of the coin metals of com- 
 merce. It is admitted that as the United 
 States is the chief financial nation of the 
 Western continent, the responsibility of 
 this financial step would rest largely upon 
 this country ; yet the danger of such a 
 course is imaginary and unreal, while the 
 benefits would be certain. 
 
 I confess I do not expect to be sustained 
 iu the views I express on this subject by 
 the so-called financiers of Wall street, nor 
 indeed by those who think that trade and 
 commerce will, witbout effort on our part, 
 l>nt simply by reason of our real or as- 
 
 Ademas el objeto de esta plata cs quo 
 sirva de cambio mutuo y que circule por 
 todo el continente; queremos que parte 
 de este dinero venga S, uosotros y que parte 
 del nuestro vaya ilellos. 
 
 En restlmen, uosotros no podemos ab- 
 sorber lo bastaute de esta moneda inter- 
 nacioual: 
 
 Primero, porque se necesitari para el 
 numtfjo do los negocios on los mismos 
 palses que la emiten, como sucede (segun 
 el Sr. Windom) con la moneda de plata 
 eiiropea; y segundo, no seria posible que 
 viuiera S, los Estados Unidos en grandes 
 cantidades, por quo el comercio es muy en 
 contra uuestra y los Estados Unidos 
 pagau coutinuamente d J as otras Eepiibli- 
 cas en efectivo el saldo que les deben 
 por lo que de 61)as comprau; y final- 
 luente, en caso de que viniera ^ los 
 Estados Uuidos ostos no serlan per- 
 judicados, por cuanto no habria cantidad 
 suficiente do osa moneda de plata para 
 afectar en grado perceptible nuestro sis- 
 tema fiuanciero, 6 para aumentar mucho 
 la cantidad de plata que hoy tenemos. 
 Es hoy una nccesidad financiera en este 
 pals el aumeuto do la moneda circulante, 
 J sino se efectua de este modo se efectuar^ 
 de otro. Toda la plata del maudo, ex- 
 copto la que se nsa en las artes, est^ hoy 
 aculiada, y csa es consumida en el 
 muudo fiuanciero y se sionte la necesidad 
 do m&s. jComo puede ser pues que los 
 Estados Unidos obtengan demasiado f El 
 hecho es que nosotros absorbemos los pro- 
 ductosde Sud America y ella absorbe nues- 
 tro dinero. 
 
 La opini6n publica de Europa y de 
 Am^iioa es docididameute en favor del 
 uso de la plata como uno de los metales 
 monotarios del comercio. Creese general- 
 mente que siendo los Estados Unidos la 
 principal nacidn financiera del hemisferio 
 occidental, sobre <^lla recaeria en gran 
 manera la responsabilidad do este gran 
 paso fiuanciero ; sin embargo el peligro 
 quo de 61 proviniera es imaginario, mien- 
 tras que los beneficlos serlan ciertos y pal- 
 pable. 
 
 ConfioBO que no espero aprobaci6n 
 ni apoyo, sobre este particular, de 
 los llamados finanoieros de Wall 
 Street, ni tampoco de los que creen que, 
 sin esfuerzo alguno de nuestra parte sino 
 como consecuenoia de nuestra grandeza, 
 
512 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 sumed greatness, come to the United 
 States and remain with us, nor do I think 
 we have too muoh'silver coin now in circu- 
 lation; but I do think that the real dan- 
 gers to American finance, if any there be, 
 will be found within our own country, and 
 coming from some of our own people. In- 
 deed I know of nothing any foreign nation 
 has ever done, nor can I imagine anything 
 that any foreign nation can do, so inju- 
 rious to American finance, and hence to 
 American trade and commerce, as what 
 is now being done by some of our own 
 people. 
 
 To illustrate, the United States has four 
 kinds of money — gold, silver, currency 
 or greenbacks, and national-bank notes. 
 This does not include gold and silver cer- 
 tificates. All of these four kinds of money 
 are by law made receivable at par for all 
 public dues and are legal tender in all 
 commercial transactions. And as to the 
 legal tender qualities of the coins of the 
 United States, silver occupies an equal 
 position with gold, and thus one would 
 suppose that silver coin in a country that 
 produces more silver than in any other 
 one nation, and also in a country where 
 that coin is made receivable for all public 
 dues and is a legal tender in an uulimiied 
 amount, and especially in a country 
 where $431,000,000 of silver is in actual 
 circulation among the people, would have 
 BO opponents. 
 
 My distinguished colleague, Mr. Cool- 
 idge, has made a very able report to this 
 Conference, wherein he opposes the adop- 
 tion of an international silver coin. His 
 points are clearly and candidly made, and 
 that I may reply to him I venture to 
 quote from his report, so I may not do 
 him an injustice. He says, among other 
 things : 
 
 "If, however, it became profitable to 
 the American trader to use the new coin 
 for making purchases in the United 
 States, either because he could save a 
 banker's commission, or bny his goods 
 cheaper, or make a profit in drawing gold 
 bills on England against the deposit of 
 silver coin in New York, the interuaticnal 
 coin would gradually come to the United 
 States. There it would accumulate in 
 
 real 6 supuesta, el cambio y el comercio 
 ban de venir & los Estados Un idos y perma- 
 ner aqui ; ni creo tampoco que hay en 
 este pais exceso de moneda de plata en 
 circulaci6n; pero creo firmamente que 
 los peligros que amenazan la hacienda 
 americana se encuentran dentro de nues- 
 tro propio pais; no tengo conocimien- 
 to de que una naci6n extrangera haya 
 hecho nunca ni pueda imaginar nada 
 que sea tan perjudicial para la hacienda 
 americana y por consiguiente para el co- 
 mercio americano, como lo que hoy hacen 
 algunos de luestros mismos concinda- 
 danos. 
 
 Los Estados Unidos tienen cuatro clases 
 de dinero, oro, plata, papel moneda del 
 gobierno (greenbacks), y emisi6nes delos 
 bancos nacionales (national bank notes) ; 
 sin mencionar aqui los certificados de 
 depdsito de oro y plata. Todas estas clases 
 de dinero sirven de moneda legal circa- 
 lante en todas las transacciones comercia- 
 les y est^ disi)uesto por la ley que scan re- 
 cibidas & la par para el pago de todos los 
 derechos6 impuestospliblicos. Encuanto 
 & la oirculacidn legal de las monedas de 
 los Estados Unidos, la plata ocupa la 
 misma posicidn que el oro, y uno supon- 
 dria naturalmente que la moneda de plata 
 no tendria rival en un pais que produce 
 mas plata que cualquier otro, y en donde 
 esta moneda es recibida para el pago de 
 todas las contribuciones y es de curso for- 
 zoso en cantidad ilimitada, y especial- 
 mente en un pais donde existen en cous- 
 tante circulacifin $431,000,000 de plata. 
 
 Mi di.stinguido oolega, Mr. Coolidge, 
 en un notable informe que ha presentado 
 & esta Conferencia se opone ^ la adopcidn 
 una moneda internacional de plata. Ex- 
 pone sus argumentos clara y frauca- 
 mente y me permito copiar aqui algo de su 
 informe para poder contestarle. Entre 
 otras cosas, dice : 
 
 "Si sin embargo de lo expuesto con- 
 viniese al comerciante americano hacer 
 sus compras en los Estados Unidos, con 
 la nueva moneda, ya porque asi pudiera 
 ahorrarse la comisidn de un banquero, 6 
 ya porque pudiera comprar mfe baratas 
 las mcrcaderias, 6 hacer alguna ganancia 
 vendiendo giros pagaderos, en oro sobre 
 Inglaterra contra el dop6sito de moneda 
 de plata en New York, en ese caso suce- 
 
INTEENATIONAt, AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 513 
 
 the banks. It could not l)e exported, be- 
 cause Europe would only receive it at its 
 bullion value. The only use the banks 
 would have for it would be in the pay- 
 ment of public dues. Now, it is well 
 known that by a tacit understanding the 
 banks of New York and of some other 
 centers of commerce do not use the silver 
 certificate or the silver dollar in their 
 clearing-houses, but that the transac- 
 tions are carried on entirely in a gold cur- 
 rency. Whenever they receive, as they 
 are obliged to do, silver certificates on 
 deposit, they send them down to the ons- 
 tom-house and get rid of them to people 
 who desire to pay dues to the Govern- 
 ment. As yet their accumulation has not 
 been sufficient to make it difficult to get 
 rid of them in that way, but every in- 
 crease of silver coinage worth less than 
 its face in bullion would make the posi- 
 tion of the banks more difficult, and tends 
 to reduce the gold received by the United 
 States Government on imports to the full 
 extent of the whole coinage." 
 
 The objections interposed by my col- 
 league were evidently considered by the 
 Congress of the United States when the 
 law was passed submitting this subject 
 to the Conference of American Nations 
 for their adoption ; and I must assume 
 that the expressed wishes of the repre- 
 sentatives of 6.5,000,000 of people is more 
 potential than the interested action of 
 some, but not all, of the bankers in Wall 
 street. However, two points are made 
 by my colleague in his argument show- 
 ing why there should not be an inter- 
 national silver coin — one, that some of 
 the banks of New York are against it, 
 because "by tacit consent the banks 
 of New York City will not pass silver 
 through the clearing-house," and thus 
 will not receive it as money; the other 
 point is that if an international Ameri- 
 can coin were adopted " it would gradu- 
 ally come to the United States, there to 
 accumulate in the banks." 
 
 33 10 
 
 derla que la moneda internacional ven- 
 dria toda gradualmente £i los Estados 
 Unidos, donde se aoumularia en los ban- 
 cos, sin podersela exportar para Europa, 
 porque allf no seria recibida sine por su 
 valor intrlnseco como metal. El llnico 
 nso ^ que los bancos la destinariaa serfa 
 al pago de dereohos 6 contribucioues fis- 
 cales. Ahora bien, es conocido que los 
 bancos de New York y de algunos otros 
 centres comerciales, por convenio t^cito 
 celebrado entre ellos, no admiten en sus 
 casas liquidadoras ni el Uamado certifi- 
 cado de plata, ni el peso de este metal : 
 y que todos los negocios se hacen sobre 
 la base del oro. Cuando reciben en pago 
 certificados de plata, como estSn obliga- 
 dos S, hacerlo, los mandan S, la Adnana 
 y se deshacen de ellos entreg&dolos & 
 personas que tienen que pagar derechos. 
 Hasta ahora la cantidad de estos cer- 
 tificados no ha sido tan grande que haya 
 sido diflcil deshacerse de ellos de la 
 manera indicada; pero cada nueva 
 acunaoi6n de moneda de plata, que valga 
 mSs que el metal que contiene, aumenta 
 las dificultades de la posici6n de los ban- 
 cos, y tiende ^ disminuir la cantidad del 
 oro recibido por el Gobierno de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos por dereohos de importacidn, 
 tanto cuanto importa la totalidad de la 
 plata acuBada." 
 
 Las objeoiones que hace mi colega 
 fueron naturalmente consideradas por el 
 Congreso de los Estados Unidos cuando 
 sancion6 la ley en que se presents este 
 asunto £i la Conforencia de las nacionea 
 americanas; y es de suponerse que el de- 
 seo expreso de los reprosentantes de 
 65,000,000 de habitantes es mucho mas 
 poderoso que el interns de algunos de 
 los banqueros de Wall street. Mi colega 
 presenta, sin embargo, dos razones para 
 demostrar que no debe acuBarse esta 
 moneda internacional de plata; la pri- 
 mera es que algunos de los bancos de 
 New York se oponen ^ ella por cuanto 
 "por convenio tScito celebrado entre 
 ellos, no admiten en sus casas liquida- 
 doras nl el certificado de plata ni el peso 
 de este metal," y por consiguiente no lo 
 aceptan como dinero ; la segnnda es que 
 si se aceptara una moneda internacional 
 americana "toda ella vendria gradual- 
 mente Si los Estados Unidos, donde se 
 accnm.ularia en los bancos." 
 
514 
 
 INTEKNAl'IONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 I confess I can not see how this inter- 
 national money will acoamulate in the 
 banks if the banks will not receive it, 
 and according to my colleague's state- 
 ment they do not receive our own silver 
 coin now, although an unlimited legaf 
 tender for all purposes. This interna- 
 tional American silver coin can not pos- 
 sess any higher legal-tender qualities 
 than our own coin now does. So I am 
 compelled to believe, much against my 
 ■wish, that none of this coin will ever 
 reach the vaults of some of the Wall 
 street banks. I am, however, reminded 
 that even in New York there are banks 
 of well-known stability which will gladly 
 carry on foreign exchanges, even though 
 some of it may be in. internaiioual silver 
 money. We are, therefore, not without 
 hope. Indeed, my colleague will pardon 
 me if I suggest that the reference by him 
 to the fact that some of the New York 
 banks are now engaged in slandering 
 American silver coin out of an American 
 market is an unhappy one, for in consid- 
 ering the grave questions before us we 
 can not but pause to iuquife why the 
 New York banks should make war upon 
 one of the legal coins of this nation, and 
 ask what would be the inevitable result 
 if they succeeded in rendering this money, 
 valueless. Think of the consequences 
 which their success would entail on this 
 nation. According to Mr. Wiudom, as be- 
 fore said, there i8|431,000,000 of American 
 silver coin now in actual circulation in the 
 United States. This is a legal tender by 
 the laws of our country. If the legal- 
 tender qualities of this vast sum of money 
 was destroyed, and that must be the sole 
 purpose of those banks in refusing to re- 
 ceive this money, it would destroy more 
 men, destroy more industries, bring beg- 
 gary and want to more families than any 
 other one thing (war excepted) that has 
 ever hitherto occurred during the life of 
 this Bepublic. 
 
 Think of it ! Who could be benefited 
 if the banks were successful ? Possibly a 
 few men who want dear money and cheap 
 products ; no one else. Who would suf- 
 fer ? Ask the farmer at his home, the me- 
 chanic at his factory, and all the workers 
 ■prjierever they may be and whatever 
 
 He de confesar que no comprendo el 
 porque ha de acumularse esta moneda 
 iuternacional en los bancos, si ellos no la 
 quieren aceptar, y si, segun dice mi colega, 
 ellos no reciben hoy nuestra moneda de 
 plata, & pesar de gozar de una circulaciiin 
 legal ilimitada. Esta moneda iuterna- 
 cional americana de plata no puede ob- 
 tener una circulaci6a legal mas estimada 
 de la que goza hoy la uuestra. De mode 
 que me incliuo ^ creer, muy en contra de 
 mi deseo, que esta moneda no entrari 
 nunca en las citjas de algunos de los bancos 
 de Wall street. Eecuerdo sin embargo 
 algunos bancos de indisputable solidez 
 que se ocupar^n de buen grado de cam- 
 bios con el extrangero, aun cuando sea 
 verificaado parte de ellos con la moneda 
 de plata iuternacional. Nos qaeda ^un 
 pues alguua- esperanza. Suplico ^ mi 
 colega me perdone si me permito decir 
 que no ha estado muy acertado al citar 
 el hecho de que algunos de los bancos 
 de New York se ocupasen de desacre- 
 ditar en el mercado americano la mo- 
 neda de plata americana, pues al con- 
 siderar las graves cuestiones que se 
 nos presentan no podemos menos de 
 deteuernos ^ investigar la razcSu que in- 
 duce £ los bancos de New York S, hacer 
 la guerra S, una de las mooedas legales de 
 este pais, y S, reflexlouar sobre e] resul- 
 tado que inevitablemente se segnirla de 
 privar de valor S, esta moneda. Imagl- 
 neuse las oonsecuencias ^ que este pais 
 se veria sujeto si tal llegara ^ suceder. 
 Segun el Sr. Windom, hay en circulaoi(5n 
 aotiva en los Estados Unidos 431,000,000 
 de pesos de plata americana, que son 
 medio circulante legal segun las leyes de 
 nuestro pais. Si se destruyera este car^c- 
 ter de curso forzos ^ esta enorme suma de 
 dinero, lo cual esel unicoprop6sito de esos 
 bancos al negarse £ reoibirlo como dinero, 
 se destruirian mas hombres y mas indus- 
 trias, se engendraria mas miseria y neoesi- 
 dades para las f amilias, que por oualquie- 
 ra otra cfiusa (excepto la guerra) en la 
 historia de esta Keptiblica. 
 
 Pi6nsese bien en ello ! ^ quienes seriaii 
 los benefioiados si los banqueros tuvierau 
 b u6n 6xito ! quiz&i unos pocos que quiereij 
 el dinero caro y los productos baratos-r; 
 nadie mdls. j Quienes serian los injuriar 
 dos? Pregflntese al labrador en an 
 hogar, al artesauo en a^ taller, y & to4Q9 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 515 
 
 their line of labor— these would be the 
 snfferers. Think of what a price would 
 be paid for such a financial victory 1 But 
 such a "victory is impossible. The Amer- 
 ican nation would not and will not permit 
 it. And why ? Because you can not de- 
 preciate the value of the money of a 
 country without affecting its credit. 
 
 Yon can not affect the credit of a coun- 
 try without injuring the credit of the in- 
 dividuals composing this nation, and that 
 you can not do either without imperiling 
 its business industries, blocking up the 
 courses of trade, destroying its commerce, 
 and creating a want of confidence and un- 
 rest in the business world that years can 
 not remedy. These are the financiers 
 whose advice we are asked to take and 
 whose financial experience imitate. 
 
 On the 1st day of November, 1889, the 
 estimated amount of gold and silver in 
 theUuited States was $1,11.5,379,639; of 
 tliis vast sum $684,194,G-i6 was gold, $343,- 
 638,001 was sUver dollars, $76,628,781 was 
 silver coin, and $10,918,171 silver bullion, 
 or a total of silver of $431,184,953. It 
 will be noted that there is about one-third 
 more gold in the United States than silver, 
 though our country produces about one- 
 third more silver than gold ; it thus 
 appears as au uncontrovertible fact that 
 gold accumulates in the United States 
 more rapidly than silver ; in other words, 
 American silver seeks foreign and even 
 domestic markets more readily than does 
 American gold. It will be noticed also 
 that an accumulation of silver coin in 
 the United States beyond the demands of 
 trade has not resulted from the expe- 
 rience of the past, for nearly all the 
 silver coin now held in the Treasury of 
 the United States is in practical circula- 
 tion by reason of the silver certificates, 
 while there are $189,988,945 gold coin in 
 the Treasury unrepresented by gold cer- 
 tificates. 
 
 And this is the result notwithstanding 
 the efibrts made both in Europe and in 
 New York to depreciate theprice of silver. 
 In England this is excusable, because 
 they must buy silver for the India mar- 
 ket and they produce flone; so it is to 
 
 los trabajadores donde quiera que est6n y 
 cualquiera que sea su oficio ; ellos son los 
 injuri dos. Cuitu caro y desastroso seria 
 el precio de esta victoria financiera! pero 
 eso es imposible. La nacidu americaua 
 no puede permitirlo ; y porqu^ ? Porque 
 no puede hacerse desmerecer el valor de 
 la moneda de un pais sin que su cr^dito se 
 resienta. 
 
 No puede afectarse el cr^dito de un pais 
 sin perjudicar el cr6dito de los individuos 
 que la componen, y 6ste tampooo puede 
 atacarse sin poaer en peligro sus nego- 
 cios — poniendo obstiioulos al curso del 
 comercio hasta destruirlo, 6 infundien- 
 do tal desconfianza 6 iuqnietnd en los 
 nejocios del muado que no pueda 
 remediarse en algnnos aS.os. Tales son 
 los hacendistas que desean sigamos sus 
 consejos 6 imitemos su experiencia finan- 
 ciera. 
 
 Lo existencia de oro y plata en los Es- 
 tados Unidos se calcul6 en 1" de No- 
 viembre de 1889 en $1,115,379,639; esta 
 enorme snma se componia de $684,194,686 
 en oro y $343,638,001 en pesos de plata ; 
 $76,628, 7rtl en mouedas de plata ; y 
 $10,918,171 eu plata en pasta, haciendo 
 un total en plata de $431, 184,953. Obs^r- 
 vese que en los Estados Uuidos existe 
 un tercio mas de oro que de plata, aunque 
 producen un tercio mas de plata que de 
 oro ; parece pues ser un hecho incontro- 
 vertible que el oro se acnmula con mas 
 rapidez que la plata en los Estados Uni- 
 dos; en otras palabras, la plata ameri- 
 cana busca los mercados extrangeros y 
 aliu los dom^sticos con miis facilidad que 
 el oro americano. Notese tambien que 
 nnestra experiencia en el pasado no ha 
 dado nunca por resultado mas acumu- 
 laci6a de moneda de plata en los Estados 
 Unidos que la que el comercio hacia 
 necesaria, pues casi toda la moneda do 
 plata retenida en la Tesoreria de los Es- 
 tados Unidos estdl pricticamente eu circu- 
 lacidn por medio de los certiticados de de- 
 pdsito de plata mientras que hay en la 
 Tesoreria $189,988,945 de moneda de oro 
 sin represent aci6n circulaute. 
 
 Y este es el resultado S, pesar de los es- 
 fuerzos heohos en Europa y en New York 
 para rebajar el precio de la plata. Esto 
 en Inglaterra cs excusable porque ella no 
 produce plata y ha de comprarla para el 
 mercado de la India j de mode que ^ Iijgla- 
 
516 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEKENCE. 
 
 England's interest to make silver cheap. 
 But in the United States there can be no 
 rational reason except the object be to 
 enhance the value of gold, and then re- 
 fuse to receive silver in the banks, so the 
 debtor class will have to pay their debts 
 in a money more valuable than when they 
 borrowed it. 
 
 In any event it is evident the entire 
 supply of silver in the United States is in 
 use, while the entire amount of gold is 
 n t, and our silver mines show no con- 
 spicuous increase in production. Hence, 
 from whence can come an oversupply of 
 silver? I venture to quote again from 
 Mr. Secretary Windom's report, made to 
 the Congress of the United States in De- 
 cember, 1889, where he shows the improb- 
 ability and impossibility of the United 
 States absorbing the silver produced be- 
 yond the limits of this country. The fol- 
 lowing is his oflicial statement, showing 
 (1) the annual product ot silver coinage 
 value to be $142,000,000, and (2) he then 
 shows where this silver goes to, namely: 
 Amount required by India . . . $35, 000, 000 
 
 Austria and Japan 10,000,000 
 
 Subsidiary coinages by Europe 
 
 and South America 16,000, 000 
 
 Amount annually exported to 
 
 China, Asia, and Africa 
 
 (other than India coinages) . 10, 000, 000 
 
 Annual coinages of Mexican 
 
 dollars not melted 5, 000, 000 
 
 Amount used in the arts 15,000,000 
 
 Surplus or balance 51 , 000, 000 
 
 $142,000,000 
 
 The above is Mr. Windom's estimate, 
 and we infer from what he says that we 
 could absorb all this balance of the silver 
 of the world (if represented by legal- 
 tender paper) and not have too mach of it. 
 May I ask what would be the effect if 
 this silver was represented by legal-tender 
 coin as now ; under any state of facts 
 could the latter be more dangerous than 
 the former ; or if it is suggested we need 
 and should have more silver money, 
 either in its physical presence or b.\ a 
 piece of paper known as a silver certifi- 
 cate, as is the practice at this time, would 
 the annual addition of Mexico's surplus 
 8,nd all the silver product of South Anjer- 
 
 terra le conviene que la plata est^ barata. 
 Pero en los Estados Unidos no existe un 
 motivo razonable, & menos que no sea 
 el de aumentar el valor del oro y negarse 
 entonces S, recibir la plata en los bancos, 
 de modo quo los deudores tengan que 
 pagar sus dendas en dinero mncho mas 
 caro que el que tomaron en prdstamo. 
 
 Sobretodo, es evidente que el producto 
 total de la plata en los Estados Unidos estd 
 realmente en uso, mientras que no lo est^ 
 toda la cantidad de oro ; y nuestras minas 
 de plata no m);estran aumento perceptible 
 en su produccidn. j De donde pnes puede 
 venir la pl^tora de plata t Me permito 
 citar otra vez el Inform e presentado por 
 el Sr. Windom al Congreso de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos en Diciembre de 1889, que 
 demuestra la improbabilidad 6 imposibili- 
 dad de que los Estados Unidos absorban la 
 plata producida fuera de este pais. La ex- 
 posioi<5n oficial es como sigue y demuestra : 
 (1) el producto anualde la plata acnfiada 
 que asciende & $142,000,000; y (2) el 
 destine de esta plata, & saber : 
 Suma que necesita la India $35, 000, 000 
 
 Austria y el Japon 10, 000, 000 
 
 Monedas subsidiarias para 
 
 Europa y Snd America . 16, 000, 000 
 Suma exportada anual- 
 
 mente para China y otros 
 
 puntos de Asia, y para el 
 
 AMca (distinta de las 
 
 monedas indias) 10, 000, 000 
 
 Acn&acidn anual de pesos 
 
 mexicanos no f andidos . . 5, 000, 000 
 Cantidad nsada en las artes 15, 000, 000 
 Exceso 51,000,000 
 
 $142, 000, 000 
 
 Este es el cflculo del Sr. Windom y de- 
 ducimosde^lcon confianza, quepodriamos 
 absorber todo este exceso de la plata del 
 mundo (si fuera representado por papel 
 ciroulante legal) y no tendiiamos todavia 
 bastante. Permltaseme preguntar ^ cnal 
 seriaol resultado si esta plata estuvierare- 
 preseutada, como lo estfi en la actualidad, 
 por una moneda ciroulante legal ? Podria 
 esta ultima ser mas perjudicial, bajo cual- 
 quiera circunstancias, que la primeraf 
 6 si se sugiriera que necesitamos y debi6- 
 ramos tener mas dinero de plata, ya sea 
 efectiva, ya en el papel moneda conocido 
 con el nombre de certificado de dep6sito, 
 conjo se acostambra hoy, jnos peija- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 517 
 
 ica (admitting we absorbed it all, a thing 
 impossible to do) — would this harm us, 
 and in fact would it not be a blessing ? 
 But we would not absorb it. These peo- 
 ple are going to keep house in the future 
 as in the past; they will buy and sell and 
 use money as usual ; and as before stated 
 they can not help but get more of our 
 money than we will get of theirs. This 
 may well be regretted, but this condition 
 of things will continue, and why ? The 
 South American Republics produce iu 
 most abundance what we must have and 
 what we can not raise ; we produce what 
 they can get elsewhere, bat what they 
 can better get of us. 
 
 For instance, we must buy their coffee, 
 their India rubber, their dye-stuffs. They 
 need not buy our cotton goods, our ma- 
 chinery, our furniture, our agricultural 
 implements, or our kerosene. It may be 
 better for them to buy of us, but they can 
 get these articles elsewhere. We have no 
 monopoly of their trade, but in one sense 
 they have a monopoly of ours. Necessity 
 makes the world go to China for tea ; the 
 same necessity makes the United States 
 go to South America for coffee. It is true 
 they are as much benefited by our trade 
 as we are by theirs, and In some respects 
 they are more benefited; but whether 
 more or less, of one thing I am sure — the 
 interest is mutual. 
 
 Thus far in the discussion of the sub- 
 ject before us, I have argued in favor of 
 the adoption of an American silver coin, 
 nniform in weight and fineness, and re- 
 ceivable at par in all commercial trans- 
 actions between the citizens of all the 
 American States, and I have endeavored 
 show that this step can be safely taken 
 by aS of these countries, and that it would 
 be financial wisdom for all the American 
 Republics to do so. The report submitted 
 by me to the Conference contains in a 
 more or less elaborate form specific direc- 
 tions for the carrying into full force and 
 effect this view of the subject, and to that 
 end I had ventured to recommend among 
 other things the creation of an American 
 
 dicaria acaso la adioidn anual del exceso 
 de Mexico y toda la produccidn de plata 
 de Sud America (suponiendo que podemos 
 absorberla toda, lo cnal es imposible) 6 
 no serla esto, por Ventura, un beneficio? 
 Pero no la absorberlamos. El pueblo de 
 los otros paises en el porvenir lo mismo 
 que en el pasado ha de mantener su casa, 
 ha de comprar y vender y usar el dinero 
 como de costumbre ; y como se ha men- 
 cionado antes, tomarSl mas dinero nuestro 
 que nosotros suyo. Esto es de sentir, pero 
 este estado de cosas continuardi, y ^porquef 
 Las Repiiblicas Sud Americanas producen 
 en mayor abnndancia lo que nosotros ne- 
 cesitamos y no podemos producir; y noso- 
 tros producimos lo que ellos pueden ob- 
 tener en cualquier otra parte, pero que 
 seria mejor que nos lo compraran. 
 
 Por ejemplo, tenemos que comprarles 
 su caf^, su ciiucho y sus materias tin- 
 t<5reas. Pero ellos no necesitan comprar 
 nuestros articnlos de algoddn, nuestra 
 maquin^ria, nuestros muebles, instru- 
 mentos de agricultura, d nuestro petroleo. 
 Podrdi convenirles mas comprarlos de 
 nostros, pero tambien pueden obtener- 
 los iguales en cualquier otra parte. No 
 monopolizamos su comercio, pero en cier- 
 to modo ellos monopolizan el nuestro. 
 La necesidad que hace que vayamos por 
 t6 & la China ; hace tambien, que los Es- 
 tados Unidos vayan al Sud por cafS. 
 Verdad es que ellos resultan tan benefi- 
 ciados por nuestro comercio como noso- 
 tros por el suyo ; y en cierto modo ellos 
 mas que nosotros; pero sea m^ 6 sea 
 menos, estoy convencido de que el interfe 
 es reofproco. 
 
 Hasta ahora en la discusiijn del asunto 
 de que tratamos, he argiiido en favor de 
 la adopci6n de una moneda americana de 
 plata, de peso y ley uniforme que sea 
 recibida ^ la par en toda clase de 
 transacciones comerciales celebradas en- 
 tre los oiudadanos de todas las naciones 
 americanas, y he tratado de demostrar 
 que cada una de estas naciones puede 
 dar este paso con seguridad, y que el darlo 
 seria una muestra del talento financiero 
 de las reptiblicas americanas. El in- 
 forme que presents & la Confereucia 
 contiene, en forma mas 6 menos pu- 
 lida, indicaciones precisas de lo que 
 debe hacerse para Uevar & cabo el 
 pensamiento, y me aventur^ & recomen- 
 
518 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Monetary Union. These recommendations 
 are before you and have doubtless been 
 considered by you. 
 
 But in view of the fact that the com- 
 mercial value of gold and silver at this 
 time is so widely apart, and desiring to 
 err, if err I must, on the side of conserva- 
 tism, and also bearing in mind that how- 
 ever clear the future of this qnestion may 
 seem to me, yet, that in this as in many 
 other things, the unexpected may hap- 
 pen, and further, that this is an experi- 
 ment in American finance, and having, I 
 trust, but one aim in view, namely, that 
 of serving the three Americas represented 
 in this Conference, I venture to recom- 
 mend the limitation of the interchange- 
 able character of this coin in countries 
 other than the ones issuing it to the sum 
 of $50 for each transaction iintil the rela- 
 tive value of gold and silver shall reach 
 within 5 per cent, of 16 to 1. 
 
 My sole object in limiting the legal- 
 tender character of this coin at this time 
 is to avoid the effect of speculators buy- 
 ing up for gold and at a discount the 
 coin of some of the American Repub- 
 lics and then passing that same coin on 
 another of the Am^ican Republics at 
 par. I confess I do not think It would 
 be or could be done, because we must 
 note that every European country has 
 a large amount of so-called subsidiary 
 coin, which passes at par, and yet the 
 metal of which it is composed is not 
 worth more than 73 cents on a dollar. 
 And still that coin has never yet been 
 concentrated in the hands of speculators 
 and it never can be so long as it passes at 
 par in the country issuing it. The amount 
 of snoh coin is by my recommendation 
 limited. 
 
 But as this is the first step taken in 
 American international finance, I have 
 thought it unwise to make that step too 
 long, and by profiting by what was 
 deemed an abundance of caution have 
 endeavored to make that step a safe one 
 instead of a long one and which, I in- 
 dulge the belief, if followed, wiU benefit 
 all the American Republics and injure 
 none of them. 
 
 I have also recommended the adoption 
 of the American silver dollar of 412J 
 grains of silver, 900 fine. This was done 
 
 dar, entre otras cosas, la creacidn de nna 
 I7ni6n Monetaria Americana. Estas reso- 
 inciones estfin ante la Confere ncia, que sin 
 dada las habr^ estudiado. 
 
 Pero en vista de que el valor comercial 
 del oro y de la plata distan tanto, y desean- 
 do, si es que he de errar, estar del lado mas 
 segaro, y teniendo presente que en esta 
 como en otras cosas puede snceder lo que 
 menos se espera, y que este es nn experi- 
 mento en la hacienda americana, me ha 
 parecido que (pi objeto que es el de servir 
 ^ las ttes Americas representadas en esta 
 Conferencia, se llenar^ satisfactoria- 
 meute, con solo recomendar que se limite 
 el carficter de circulacidn forzosa de esta 
 moneda en paises distintos de aquel en 
 que est^ acu&ada S, la cantidad de cin- 
 cuenta pesos en cada transaccidn, 6 nego- 
 cio ; y que eato se entienda as£, mientras 
 el valor relativo del oro con la plata de 16 
 ^ 1 no llegue & cinco por ciento. 
 
 Mi tiaico objeto al restringir el car£c- 
 ter de circulacidn forzosa de ' esta mo- 
 neda es evitar que los espeouladores 
 compren en oro y con descuento la mone- 
 da de algunas de las repliblicas ameri- 
 canas, y la pasen despnes & la par 
 en otras de ellas. Confieso que no creo 
 que se hiciera 6 pudiera hacerse esto, 
 por cnanto vemos que todos los paises 
 europeos tienen una gran cantidad de 
 moneda llamada subsidiaria, que corre & 
 la par, & pesar de que el metal que la 
 compone no vale mas de 73 centavos por 
 peso, sin embargo de lo cual esa moneda 
 no ha sido nunca concentrada en manos 
 de los especaladores y eso nuuoa suceder^ 
 mientras corra & la par en el pals que la 
 emite. En mi recomendacidn yo limito la 
 cantidad de esta moneda. 
 
 Pero como este es el primer paeo dado 
 en asuntos de hacienda internacional ame- 
 ricana, he considerado pradente no darlo 
 demaslado largo, prefiri endo que se proceda 
 con gran circunspeocidn. He tratado de 
 hacer que ese paso sea bien seguro en vez 
 de que sea largo, y soy de pareoer que, si 
 se me sigue, resultard; beneficio para todas 
 las Repliblicas americanas, sin perjudicar 
 & ninguna. 
 
 Tambien he recomendado la adopcidn 
 del peso americano de plata de 412J 
 grauos de plata, de ley de 900. He hecho 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 519 
 
 becanse there is more of this coin now in 
 use than of any other American silver 
 coin, and becanse in the United States it 
 is a legal tender in all amounts and for 
 all purposes, and is, as I am informed, 
 held at a premium in some of the Central 
 and South American Republics, and for 
 the further reason that the United States, 
 being much the strongest American na- 
 tion financially, I thought it would tend 
 to build up in public favor this interna- 
 tional coin by adopting one that already 
 had its support. 
 
 This proposed monetary union, while 
 dealing with the American silver coin, 
 and appointed for the single purpose of 
 carrying into full effect the recommenda- 
 tions, proposed, in the very nature of 
 things, and by the authority vested in It, 
 will keep a prudent watch over the sil- 
 ver currency of the American Republics, 
 for it is prescribed that, by a vote of the 
 nations coining two-thirds of the silver 
 coin herein provided for, they may cease 
 coining this money, or coin more or less 
 of it, as to them seems wise, and thus no 
 nation can possibly suffer. But, let me 
 repeat again, they can not coin more sil- 
 ver than is produced ; and all the silver 
 is coined, and nearly all of it is a legal 
 tender, and passes at par, and yet no seri- 
 ons effect is observed. In conclusion, I 
 recommend the adoption by this Confer- 
 ence of the following conclusions, which 
 were heretofore submitted by me in my 
 report officially presented to this Confer- 
 
 First. I recommend the creation of an 
 American Monetary Union composed of all 
 the nations represented in this Confer- 
 ence; that each nation shall select one 
 delegate as its representative to said 
 monetary union; that said delegates shall 
 meet in joint session as often as once in 
 each year, their first meeting to be in 
 Washington, on or before the 1st day of 
 January, 1891, or as soon thereafter as 
 possible; that they shall appoint from 
 among their own number three delegates, 
 one from the United States of America, 
 one from the Republics of Mexico, Central 
 America, and Hayti, and one from the 
 
 esto porque hay hoy m&cantidad doesta 
 moneda en uso que de cualquier otra clase 
 de moneda americana, y porque en los Es- 
 tados Unidos es, en cualquier cantidad y 
 para todos los nsos, un medio circulante 
 legal, yestfi ^premio, segunmisinformes, 
 en algunas de las Reptlblicas de la Am<^rica 
 del sur y del centro ; y ademas porque 
 slendo los Estados Unidos la naoidn 
 americana mas fuerte en materias do ha- 
 cienda, creo que el pdblico acogerfa vaSs 
 favorablemente la moneda internacional 
 si se adoptara para serlo una que cuenta 
 ya con su apoyo. 
 
 Esta proyectada Uni6n monetaria, atin 
 cuando trate de la moneda de plata ameri- 
 cana y establecida con el solo objeto de lle- 
 var ^ oabo las recom endacidnes propnes- 
 tas, vijilardi por la naturaleza misma de las 
 cosas y en virtud de la autoridad con que 
 se halla revestida, per que no se aumente 
 indebidaniente la moneda corriente de 
 plata de las Repliblicaa americanas, pues 
 se ha dispuesto que, la acufiacidn de la 
 moneda continental de plata de que aqnf 
 se trata podr5 suspenderse, 6 aumentarse 
 6 disminuirse, segun lo determinen las na- 
 ciones que acunen las dos terceras partes 
 de toda la moneda de plata, segun lo crean 
 prudente, y de este modo no pnede per- 
 judicarse 5, ningun naoi6n. Pero, per- 
 mltaseme decir una vez m^s, no se puede 
 aouHar mas plata de la que se produce ; y 
 toda la plata est^i acuSada y casi toda ell a 
 es de oirculaci6n legal y corre & la par, y 
 sin embargo no se observa ningun resul- 
 tado serio. Finalmente, reoomiendo & 
 la Conferencia adopte las signientes con- 
 olnsiones, las cnales fueron expuestas an- 
 teriormente por mi en el dictSmen que pre- 
 sents oficialmente £ la Conferencia : 
 
 Primera : Recomiendo en primer lugar, 
 que se proceda & la creaoidn de una 
 "Uni<5n Monetaria Americana," compues- 
 ta de todas las naciones representadas 
 en esta Conferencia; que cada naci<5n 
 escoja nn Delegado que la represente en 
 dicha Unidn ; que todos estos Delegados 
 se reunan una vez al afio ; que su primera 
 reunidn se verifique en Washington el dia 
 primero de Enero de 1891, 6 antes; y que 
 de entre sas miembros elijan ellos mismos 
 tres individuos, uno en representaci6n de 
 los Estados Unidos de America, otro de 
 las Reptiblicas de Mexico, Centro America 
 y Haiti, y el tercero de las Reptiblicas de 
 
520 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 South American Republics; that said three 
 delegates shall, under the direction of the 
 whole body of delegates, have the exclu- 
 sive control over the coining of the moneys 
 hereinafter described ; they shall regulate 
 the amount to be coined by each of the 
 nations represented in this Conference, ac- 
 cording to the terms herein provided, and 
 they shall see to it that every coin so made 
 shall be of full weight, uniform in fineness 
 and of the proper inseription, and bear the 
 true date of coinage; no more than the 
 amount of coin herein prescribed to be 
 made shall be issued by the American na- 
 tions or any one of them, From time 
 to time they shall test the weight 
 and fineness, and examine the inscription 
 upon all international coins made pur- 
 suant to this union ; they shall order all 
 abraided coin, which shall be found to 
 have lost 1 per cent, of its weight or value, 
 to be recoined by the country issuing it. 
 They shall refuse to permit any of said 
 coin to be made or circulated which is not 
 of full weight and standard fineness, and 
 they shall perform all such other services 
 as may from time to time be imposed upon 
 them by the whole body of delegates repre- 
 senting the American Monetary Union, 
 and of which they form a part. 
 
 Second. The nations represented in this 
 Conference, or such number of said nations 
 as shall agree hereto, shall have the 
 power, and it is hereby made their duty, 
 to coin an international silver coin of 
 uniform weight and fineness; that the 
 name of each nation coining any of said 
 money shall appear upon every coin made 
 by sPiCh nation ; that such coin shall con- 
 sist of 412i grains of silver, 900 fine ; shall 
 bear a uniform inscription hereafter to be 
 agreed upon, and that the United States 
 of America shall coin not less than 
 $2,000,000 of such coins nor more than 
 $4,000,000 of such coins each month, and 
 the Republics of Mexico, Central and 
 South America, and Hayti shall coin in 
 the aggregate of said international coin 
 not to exceed $4,000,000 each month, the 
 amount of such coinage by each of said 
 Republics of Mexico, Central and South 
 America, and Hayti to be apportioned 
 among said last-named Republics accord- 
 ing to the population thereof. The said 
 delegates to the said monetary union 
 
 la America del Sud, para que bajo la 
 direccidu de todo el cuerpo, entiendan 
 uxclusivamBute en la acunaci^n de las 
 monedas que se describir^n m^ adelaute, 
 y tengan S, su cargo el manejo del ramo, 
 determinando la cantidad que cada ua- 
 cidn representada en esta Conferencia 
 deber^ acufiar, seglin lo que aqui se es- 
 tablece, y ouidando de que toda moneda 
 que asi se acuSe sea del mismo peso y ley 
 y lleve la estampa que le corresponda, no 
 fabricdindose mayor cantidad que la que 
 aquI se prescribe. De tiempo en tiempo 
 comprobar^n tambi6n el peso y la ley de 
 toda la moneda internacional acufiada 
 conforme & este plan, y veriin si estdl es- 
 tampada en debida forma ; y toda la que 
 se eucuentre gastada y haya perdido uno 
 per oiento de su peso 6 de su valor, ser^ 
 fundida y acunada de nuevo por el pais que 
 la hubiere emitido. Los referidos Dele- 
 gados impedir^n que se acune 6 ponga en 
 circulacidn uinguna> moneda que no tenga 
 el peso complete, y do sea de la ley de- 
 bida ; y prestar£in adem^s todos los otros 
 servicios que les encomiende el cuerpo 
 entero de los representantes de la Unidn 
 Monetaria Americana, d^ que 611os tambi^n 
 perteneoen. 
 
 Segunda: Las nacioues representadas 
 en esta Conferencia, 6 aquellas que asl lo 
 convinieren, tendr^n el derecho y el de- 
 ber de acuSar una moneda de plata in- 
 ternacional de peso y ley uniformes, y 
 culdar^n de que en cada una aparezca 
 estampado el nombre de la nacidn que la 
 acufid, y que cada una contenga 413} 
 granos de plata, de ley de 900, que lleve 
 una insoripci6n uniforme, que se determi- 
 nar^ m^s adelante. Los Estados Unidos 
 de America acuEar^n no m^nos de 
 $2,000,000 de esta moneda, y no mSa de 
 $4,000,000, al mes; y las Reptiblicas de 
 Mexico, Centre y Sud America y Haiti 
 acunar^n en todo una cantidad de esta 
 moneda internacional que no exceda de 
 $4,000,000 al mes. La parte proporcional 
 deesta sumaque corresponda ^cada una 
 de estas Reptiblicas se determinariC con 
 arreglo ^ su poblaci6n. Esta determina- 
 ci6u se har^ por los Delegados ^ dicha 
 Uni<5n Monetaria, con arreglo S, lo que 
 aqui se recomienda ; y ninguno de dichos 
 paises acuBarti mayor cantidad de esta 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 521 
 
 shall make such apportionment in accord- 
 ance with the terms herein prescribed, 
 and no larger amount of said international 
 coin shall be coined by any one of said 
 countries than is herein provided for. 
 
 Third. The international silver coin, 
 made as hereinbefore prescribed, shall be 
 a legal tender in all commercial transac- 
 tions between all the citizens of the 
 nation issuing it, and be receivable at 
 par for all public dues by said nation, 
 and the said silver coin shall also be legal 
 tender in all commercial transactions be- 
 tween the citizens of all the other Ameri- 
 can Republics belonging to the said 
 American monetary union, to the extent 
 of |50 for each single payment in all com- 
 mercial transactions, and to no greater 
 or larger amount, except by the consent of 
 the parties receiving said money: Pro- 
 vided, however. That said coin shall be an 
 , unlimited legal tender in all of said coun- 
 tries when the discount on silver com- 
 pared with the value of gold at 16 to 1 
 shall not exceed 5 per cent. 
 
 Fourth. The coinage of the continental 
 silver coin herein provided for may be 
 suspended from time to time, or the coin- 
 age thereof limited in amount or increased 
 in amount by the affirmative action of 
 those nations coining in the aggregate 
 two-thirds of all the silver coin herein 
 permitted to be coined each month by the 
 several nations forming this monetary 
 union. 
 
 Fifth. Upon the dissolution of said 
 American monetary union, or of the sus- 
 pension of the coinage of said interna- 
 tional sUver coin, the nation coining it 
 shall receive the same at par for all public 
 dues and in all commercial transactions, 
 and the citizens of such nation shall cou- 
 tinne to receive the same at par, and for 
 that purpose it shall be a legal tender^ 
 notwithstanding such dissolution of said 
 monetary union or of such suspension of 
 coinage. 
 
 Sixth. The American monetary union 
 which is herein created shall come into full 
 force and effect on the 1st day of January, 
 1892, and it shall remain in full force and 
 operation for the term of five years there- 
 after, and if one year before the expira- 
 tion of said five years the nation or 
 nations forming said monetary anion and 
 
 moneda internacional que la que est^ 
 aqul establecida. 
 
 Tercera : La moneda de plata interna- 
 cional que se fabrique conforme ^ este 
 plan, tendr^ curso legal forzoso asi eu 
 todas las transacciones comerciales entre 
 los ciudadanos de la naoi6n que la emitid, 
 donde se recibirii ^ la par en pago de las 
 deudas piiblicas, como en todas las que 
 se oelebren entre ciudadanos de las dem^s 
 Repriblicas americanas, pertenecientes ^ 
 la Uni6n monetaria americana, que no 
 excedan de $50 en cada pago, sin que 
 pueda pasarse de este limite & no ser con 
 el consentimiento de las partes que deben 
 recibir dicho dinero ; pero, cuando el des- 
 cuento de la plata comparado con el oro 
 eu la proporci6n de 16 ^ 1 no exceda de 
 cinco por ciento, la circulacidn legal de 
 dicha moneda deberSi hacerse ilimitada en 
 todos los palses. 
 
 Cuarta : La aoufiacidn de la moneda 
 continental de plata de que aqui se trata 
 podrii suspenderse de tiempo en tie:iipo, 
 6 aumentarse, 6 disminuirse, segun lo de- 
 terminen las naciones que acunen las dos 
 terceras partes de toda la moneda de 
 plata que pueda fabricarse mensualmente 
 por las diferentes naciones de la Unidn 
 Monetaria. 
 
 Qu inta : A la disolucidn de dioha Unidn 
 6 cuando se suspenda la acuuacidn de la 
 moneda de plata internacional, la nacidn 
 que haya emitido esta liltima la recibiri 
 ^ la par, en pago de todas las deudas pd- 
 blicas, y como medio circulante en todas 
 las transacciones comerciales ; y los ciu- 
 dadanos de dicha nacidn continuar^n re- 
 cibidndola £i la par, pues para ese efecto, 
 y no obstante la disolucifin de la Union, 6 
 la suspensidn de operaciones, es y debe 
 considerarse de curso forzoso. 
 
 Sexta : La Uni6n Monetaria Americana 
 quo por el presente plan se propone habr^ 
 do estar en pleno ejercicio eu 1° de Enero 
 de 1892, y continnar^ en existencia por 
 cinco afios, £i contar de esa fecha; y si 
 nn afio antes de la expiracidn de ese 
 plazo no se ha dado noticla por la mitad, 
 al m^nos, de laa naciones que tormen la 
 
522 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 which shall actually coin one-half or Uni6n de sn deseo de terminarla, se en- 
 more of said continental coin shall not tender^ la misma continnada aBo tiSa 
 have declared said American monetary a&o hasta qne se 6.6 dicha noticia. 
 nnion terminated by notice given to the 
 other nations forming said union, then 
 the same shall continue and he in full 
 force and effect" from year to year until 
 such notice shall he given. 
 
FIFTY THIRD DAY. 
 
 ACTA Wo. 63. 
 
 Washington, March 27, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.05 p. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James G. Blaine, fol- 
 lowed by Mr. Zegarra, with the follow- 
 ing Delegates present : 
 Mioaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. 3os6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jo8(S S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr.. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. 3os6 Alfonso. 
 
 Seai6n del 27 de Mazo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine, 
 seguido por el Sr. F, C. C. Zegarra. Es- 
 tando preseutes : 
 
 Mcaragna: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Gnzmfin. 
 Perd: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 Bl Sr. Dr. Fernando Crnz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Joa6 M. Hurtado; 
 
 El Sr. .Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 £1 Sr. Jo86 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mdxico : 
 
 El Sr. Matf as Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan P. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. WiUiam Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Josd Alfonso. 
 
 623 
 
524 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto CasteUanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Maria FKcido Caama&o. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair announced that the order of 
 the day called for the continuation of the 
 debate on the report of the Committee on 
 Monetary Convention, and Mr. Martinez 
 Silva, a Delegate from Colombia, having 
 requested the floor, stated in substance 
 that in his opinion and in that of his 
 Government this Conference was not, 
 as had been said, a diplomatic congress, 
 but an assembly of Delegates sent here 
 for the mutual interchange of views with 
 the object of making recommendations 
 on certain subjects. As far as the sub- 
 ject-matter of the discussion was con- 
 cerned, he explained the situation of 
 his country in this respect, and said 
 that there was no gold or silver coin, but 
 only paper ; that Colombia had always 
 been on a monometallistic basis of silver 
 and that gold was merely a merchandise 
 subject to the fluctuations of the market. 
 Colombia is a producer of silver, but gold 
 in larger quantities, and that the real in- 
 terest of his country lies in the postpone- 
 ment of this subject until the problem of 
 paper money is solved; although it is 
 true that it desires to see the fluctuations 
 of the value of silver moderated. 
 
 He added that the reco mmendat i on made 
 in the report of the committee was a very 
 prudent one, because it only proposes that 
 a conference of experts study the subject, 
 as nothing practical can be done until 
 the United States settles the gold ques- 
 tion with Europe. He considered that 
 the so-called Windom bill was not a de- 
 parture from the policy of the United 
 States, or contradictory to the views set 
 forth in the convening act of this Con- 
 ference. He concluded by asking the 
 Conference to adopt the report of the 
 committee. 
 
 Mr. Hdktado, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, expressed himself in similar terms; 
 he added the Delegation of Colombia re- 
 served its right to set forth in writing the 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto CasteUanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 ElSr. Dr. 3ob6 Maria Pliicido 
 CaamaBo. 
 Se abri6 la sesidn £i las tres y cinco 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6, aprobd y flrm6 el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior. 
 
 El SeBor Presidente anuncid que 
 segun la drden del dia continuaba la dis- 
 cusidn del diet Amende la Comisidu de Con- 
 veacidn inonetaria, yel Sefior Martinez 
 Silva, delegado por Colombia, tomd la 
 palabra, expresando en substancia, en 
 primer lugar, que en su opinion y la de su 
 Gobierno esta Conferencia no es, como se 
 ha dicho, un Congreso diplom^tico, sino 
 una reunidn de delegados enviados aqul 
 para oonferenoiar y cambiarideas, con el 
 objoto de hacer reconieudaciones sobie 
 ciertos asuntos determinados. En cuanto 
 a1 asnnto principal de la discnsidn, ex- 
 plic6 la situaui6n de su pais en este res- 
 pecto, y dijo que alll la moneda no era 
 ni de oro ni de plata, y que el oro no era 
 m^s que unamercancfa, sujeta £ todas las 
 fluctuacionesdel mercado: que Colombia 
 produce plata; pero tambien produce oro 
 en mayor cantidad : y que su verdadero 
 iuter^s consiste en que se aplaze toda 
 cnesti6n sobre este asunto hasta que el 
 problema de su papel moneda est^ resuelto, 
 si bien es verdad que desea que las oscila- 
 ciones en el valor de la plata no scan 
 brnscas. 
 
 Anadi6 que la reoomendaci6n hecha en 
 el dictimeu, por la que solo se propone 
 que una Comisi6n de peritos estudie el 
 asunto, es la m^s prudente posible, pues 
 que nada priictico puede hacerse hasta que 
 los Estados Unidos arreglen con Europa 
 lacuesti6n del oro ; y que en su concepto 
 el proyeoto de ley de Mr. Windom no 
 era ni una desviacidn de la polltica de 
 los Estados Unidos, ni envolvia contra- 
 dicci(5n con lo que expresa el Acta de con- 
 vocacidn de esta Conferencia. Por todo lo 
 cual concluy6 pidiendo que se aprobase el 
 dictSimen de la Comisidn informante. 
 
 En el mismo sentido se expresd el Sefior 
 Hurtado, delegado por Colombia, afiadi- 
 eudo que la delegacidn de su pais se re- 
 serva el derecho de expresar por escrito, 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 525 
 
 opinion of its government respecting this 
 subject as soon as carefully formulated, 
 in order that it might appear on the 
 records. 
 
 So far as the question of instructions 
 was concerned, he must say that this 
 Conference had not been convened for the 
 negotiation of other subjects than that of 
 a plan of arbitration, and that with refer- 
 ence to the other subjects of the pro- 
 gramme, it only had power to exchange 
 views and study the matters, and that if 
 for this it was necessary to have explicit 
 instructions, the Conference would be 
 without an object. He stated that he 
 agreed with his colleague, Mr. Silva, that 
 the question under discussion was prema- 
 ture, because the first necessity for coun- 
 tries using paper money was to establish 
 their credit and to place their paper on a 
 par with silver — which having been done, 
 they might then think of placing silver 
 on a par with gold. In his opinion, the 
 adoption of a common silver coin which 
 could be made in any country of Latin 
 America for seventy-two cents gold 
 would he disadvantageous for the United 
 States, as it would then become the ob- 
 ject of a lucrative commerce and would 
 drain all the gold from the United States. 
 He concluded by saying that the report 
 of the committee was a good one and 
 ought to be accepted, although he him- 
 self feared that only a few Governments 
 could accept it. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 submitted to the Conference the remarks 
 which are appended hereto in extenso. 
 
 Mr. EsTBB, a Delegate from the United 
 States, asked that Mr. Romero's remarks 
 be translated, and it was so ordered. 
 
 Mr. Aragon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, stated that paper currency was used 
 in his country, but that it was not depre- 
 ciated, and Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from 
 Chili, stated that paper money was used 
 in Chili, and that although Its value was 
 depreciated, the credit of his country was 
 as high as any in the world. The honor- 
 able Delegate requested that this state- 
 ment be spread upon the minutes, and it 
 was so ordered by the Chair. 
 
 Mr. Martinez Silva, a Delegate from 
 Colombia, having called the attention of 
 
 para que conste de las actas, tan pronto 
 como la tenga debidamente formalada la 
 opinidu de su Gobierno respeoto de este 
 asnuto. 
 
 Que en cuanto & la cuestidu de instrnc- 
 ciones, debia decir que esta Conferencia 
 no ha sido convocada para negociar otra 
 cosa que un plan de arbitrage, y que eon 
 respeoto S, los otros asuntos del programa 
 solo tiene facultad para cambiar ideas y 
 estudiar las materias ; y que s para esto 
 fuese precise tener instruccionos determi- 
 nadas la Conferencia careoeria de objeto. 
 En cuanto & lo dem^s, estaba tambien de 
 acuerdo con su colega el Sefior Martinez 
 Silva, y consideraba que era prematuro 
 ocuparse del punto, porque la primera 
 necesidad de los palses que tienen papel 
 moneda es restablecer su cr^dito, y poner 
 sn papel S, la par de la plata, hecho lo 
 cual podria pensarse en poner esta al nivel 
 del oro. En su concepto, la adopcidn de 
 una moneda internacional de plata, que 
 puede hacerse en cnalquier pals de la 
 America latina, con setenta y dos centa- 
 vos de oro, serfa desvantajosa para los 
 Estados Unidos, porque se volveria objeto 
 de un comercio lucrativo, y se llevaria 
 del pals todo el oro existente. Concluyd 
 diciendo que el dictamen de la Comisi6n 
 es bueno y debe aceptarse, aunque 61 en 
 su particular temia que pocos Gobiernos 
 podrian adoptarlo. 
 
 El Sefior Eombro, delegado por Mfeico, 
 tom6 la palabra sometiendo & la Confe- 
 rencia las observaciones que por extenso 
 se acoinpaiian como ap€ndice 4, esta acta. 
 
 El Sefior Estbe, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, pidi6 que se tradnjese al 
 ingles el discurso del Sefior Romero, y 
 asf se determine. 
 
 El Sefior Arag6n, delegado por Costa 
 Rica, manifesto que en su pafs habia 
 papel moneda, pero que no estaba depre- 
 ciado : y el Sefior Alfonso, delegado por 
 Chile, dijo tambien que en su pals habia 
 papel moneda, y que aunque estaba de- 
 preciado, el cr6dlto de Chile era tan grande 
 como el que miis en el mnndo. 
 
 Pidid este honorable Sefior que esta 
 manifestaoidn se hiciese constar en el 
 acta, y asl se orden6. 
 
 El Sefior Martinez Silva, delegado por 
 Colombia, Uamd la atencidn de la Confe> 
 
526 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 the Conference to the fact that the motion 
 was pending which had been made in the 
 last session by Mr. Alfonso, that the 
 speeches of Messrs. Coolidge, Estee, and 
 Romero be translated, and that further 
 discussion on the subject be suspended 
 until this had been done. Which motion 
 he seconded. 
 
 No objection having been raised, the 
 Chair declared that the discussion was 
 suspended and that the order of the day 
 would be proceeded with. 
 
 The President called Mr. Zegarra to 
 the chair. 
 
 The following report of the Committee 
 on Customs Regulations was read : 
 
 Report of the Committee on Customs 
 Regulations. 
 
 The Committee on " Customs Regula- 
 tions," appointed by resolution passed at 
 the sitting of the twelfth day, has the 
 honor to submit the following report. 
 The subjects designated for consideration 
 by this committee, as appears in the 
 printed minutes of the Conference, are the 
 following : 
 
 A. — " Formalities to be observed in the 
 importation and exportation of merchan- 
 dise." 
 
 B. — "The classification, examination, 
 and valuation of merchandise." 
 
 C. — "Methods of imposing fines and 
 penalties for the violation of customs and 
 harbor regulations." 
 
 The committee has already made a pre- 
 liminary report to the Conference, recom- 
 mending the adoption of a plan for the 
 assistance of importers and exporters by 
 means of an official and uniform nomen- 
 clature and classification of merchandise, 
 in alphabetical order, which is intended 
 to furnish equivalents in the English, 
 Spanish, and Portuguese languages. 
 
 In continuation of its labors, the com- 
 mittee now presents the following sug- 
 gestions : 
 
 A. — Importation and exportation of mer- 
 chandise. 
 
 1. The committee has not been author- 
 jged to take ii)to consideration the vary- 
 
 renciaal hecho de qne estaba pendiente 
 de votar la proposicidn del Senor Alfonso, 
 de que qnedase en suspenso la discusidn, 
 hasta que estuviesen tradncidos los dis- 
 cursos de los Sefiores Coolidge, Estee y 
 Romero, coya proposicidn secundaba. 
 
 Come no se opuso objecidn & que asi so 
 hiciese, el Sefior Pkesidente declar6 sus- 
 pendida la discusidn, y ordend quese con 
 tinuase con la orden del dia. 
 
 El Sefior Pkesidente dej 6 entonces su 
 puesto y Ilam6 & ocnparlo al SeSor Ze 
 garra. 
 
 Se did cuenta con el dict^men de la 
 Comisifin de Eeglamentos de aduanas que 
 dice como sigue : 
 
 DiCTiMEN DE LA COMISi6N DE ReGLA- 
 MBNTOS DB ADUANAS. 
 
 La Comisidn de "Reglamentos deAdua- 
 nas," nombrada en virtud de acuerdo 
 celebrado en la daod€cima sesi6n de esta 
 Conferencia, tiene el honor de presentar 
 el siguiente dictamen. Los asnntos que 
 se ban encomendado & su estudio, segrin 
 aparece en la pd^gina 46 de las actas im- 
 presas, son los sigaientes : 
 
 A. — " Formalidades que han de obser- 
 varse en la importacidn y exportaoi6n de 
 mercaderlas." 
 
 B. — " Clasificacidn, examen y avaMode 
 las mercaderfas," 
 
 C. — "M6todos que han de seguirsepara 
 imponerlas multas y penas en qne se in- 
 curra por infraccidn de los Reglamentos 
 de Aduanas y Puertos." 
 
 La Comisidn ha presentado ya & la 
 Conferencia un informe preliminar, en que 
 recomienda la adopci<5n de un plan para 
 mayor comodidad de los importadores y 
 oxportadores, que consiste en el arreglo 
 de una nomenclatura nniforme y clasifi- 
 cacidn oficial, por orden alfab^tico, de las 
 mercaderfas, con sus correspondientes 
 equivalencias en los idiomas ingl6s, cas- 
 tellano y portngnfis. 
 
 Continnando su tarea, la Comisidu se 
 permite hacer las sigaientes observa- 
 ciones : 
 
 A. — Importaddn y essportadAn de merca- 
 deriaa. 
 
 1. Esta Comisidu no ha sido antorizada 
 par^ cousider^r los diferejites derechos 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 527 
 
 Ing rates of dnties imposed upon exports 
 and imports by the countries represented 
 in the Conference, and such recommenda- 
 tions as are made in this report are in- 
 tended to be applicable alike to the pres- 
 ent and the future rates of duty. 
 
 2. The committee has given due w eight 
 to the fact that each of the countries 
 represented depends upon customs duties 
 as the chief source of national revenue, 
 and that the productiveness and security 
 of this revenue must not be threatened 
 nor impaired under the guise of simplifi- 
 cation or improvement of regulations for 
 its collection. 
 
 3. It ia recognized that each country 
 should regulate and administer its own 
 system of customs revenue, and that dif- 
 ferences of race, habit, condition, and en- 
 vironment prevail among the conferring 
 nations. The committee, therefore, pro- 
 poses nothing that does not take cogni- 
 zance of these important considerations. 
 
 4. The committee realizes that an active 
 and desirable international commerce can 
 be established only by the energy and 
 skill of private enterprise, and can not bo 
 created and maintained by the cultivation 
 of mutual sentiments of amity and good 
 will. The true bases of such intercourse 
 can be found only in parallelism of inter- 
 ests and in satisfactory profits derived 
 from the supply of material wants. 
 
 5. Convinced that an increased com- 
 meice amongst the American Republics 
 ■would be mutually beneficial to the citi- 
 zens of those Republics, the committee 
 has considered the customs regulations of 
 the several countries for the purpose of 
 devising means of reducing some of the 
 existing burdens of labor, time, expense, 
 and risk. 
 
 6. The committee is gratified to find 
 that, in a general sense, the revenue laws 
 and regulations of the several Republics 
 are reasonable and moderate in their pro- 
 visions ; that their administration is^ upon 
 the whole, considerate of the rights and 
 interests of the citizen, and that as a rule 
 those who conduct the international navi- 
 gUiioTi and commejrce of the American 
 
 con que gravan las importacionesy expor- 
 taciones los diversos palses representa- 
 dos en esta Conferenoia, ni para proponer 
 modificaciones en ellos. Pero las indica- 
 ciones bechas en este dictamen puedeu 
 aplicarse it los derechos vigentes, 6 & los 
 que se impougau mils tarde. 
 
 2. La Comisi6n ha tomado en cuenta la 
 circunstancia de que en todos los palsos 
 aqui represeutados los derechos de adua- 
 na forman la principal de las rentas 
 nacionales ; y cree que no debe, ni aun 
 con la mira de simpliticarla, hacerse cosa 
 alguna que tienda & disminuirla 6 & ha- 
 cerla incierta. 
 
 3. La Comisi<5n reconoce que, existien- 
 do entre las naciones aqui representadas 
 diferencias de raza, h^bitoa, condiciones 
 y circunstancias, cada una de ellas debe 
 reglameutary administrar lo concerniente 
 ^su sistema de aduanas ; y, por tanto, se 
 abstiene de recomendar nada que pugne 
 con estas importantes consideraciones. 
 
 4. LaComisidnuodudaqueeldesarroUo 
 de un comercio active internacional sola- 
 mente puede establecerse bajo la accidn de 
 la energia 6 inteligencia de las empresas 
 particulares, y que no puede surgir ni 
 conservarse s61o por el hecho de existir 
 sentimientos de amistad y buenos deseos. 
 Las vcrdaderas bases sobre las cuales 
 puede establecerse ese comercio son el pa- 
 ralelismo de intereses y utilidades posi- 
 tivas derivailas del cambio de valores 
 reales. 
 
 5. Convencida la Comisidn de que el 
 aumento del comercio entre las Eepti- 
 blicas de America serf a de utilidad mticua 
 para los cludadanos de las mismas, ha es- 
 tudiado sua respectivos reglaraentos de 
 aduanas con el objeto de disminuir al- 
 gunos de los grav^menes y trabas que 
 ahora existen, como son excesivo trabajo, 
 p^rdida de tiempo, fuertes gastos y 
 riesgos. 
 
 6. La Comisi dn ha encontrado con satis- 
 facoi6n que, en general, las leyes y regla- 
 mentos tiscales de las varias Repliblicas 
 son moderados y razonables ; que su ejeou- 
 cidn, considerada en conjunto, toma en 
 cuenta los derechos 6 intereses de los clu- 
 dadanos; y que, por regla general, las 
 personas que se ocupan en el comercio y 
 n^vegaci6ninterniic;on^l en el coutiuentQ 
 
528 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 continent are candid and honest in their 
 relations with the revenue laws. 
 
 7. Nevertheless, it is apparent that the 
 laws and regulations as well as the ad- 
 ministration thereof are, in some respects, 
 susceptible of important improvements, 
 and it is proposed io part to effect these 
 improvements by establishing certain uni- 
 form rules and practices, without at- 
 tempting to regulate minor local details. 
 
 8. Commerce is now carried on mainly 
 by the instrumentality of the steam-ship, 
 the railway, and the telegraph. These 
 agencies have created necessities and con- 
 ditions which often conflict with admin- 
 istrative arrangements which are pre- 
 served only because they are traditional, 
 and which do not accord with modern 
 methods. 
 
 9. Excessive formality in administra- 
 tion is a serious evil, for the reason that it 
 introduces expense, rist, and uncertainty 
 in commercial transactions in such de- 
 gree as to discourage commercial enter- 
 prise. It leads to the multiplication of 
 agents in the business of importation, ex- 
 portation, and transportation, and there- 
 by reduces the legitimate profits and rea- 
 sonable expectations of merchants and 
 carriers, and increases the expenses of 
 Government. 
 
 10. A ship's manifest is a marine docu- 
 ment universally required of vessels ar- 
 riving from foreign ports, as a basis for 
 determining their cargoes and, in the time 
 of war, to furnish the evidence of non- 
 contraband goods. No vessel should be 
 allowed to clear from any customs port 
 before the master has lodged in the cus- 
 tom-house a manifest of his cargo, but 
 consular certification of such manifests 
 should not be required. Vessels belong- 
 ing to regular lines of steamers which are 
 advertised to sail on schedule time, are 
 usually compelled to take in cargo up to 
 the last moment of their departure, aud 
 it is therefore impracticable before the 
 hour of sailing to complete the manifest 
 for clearance at the custom house. The 
 resident agents of such vessels should 
 therefore be allowed to lodge in the cus- 
 tom-house, within twenty -four hours after 
 the sailing of the vessel, such supplemen- 
 tary manifests as may be required to ac- 
 count for the whole cargo. 
 
 americano cumplen honrada y fielmente 
 con aquellas leyes. 
 
 7. Sin embargo, es evidente que las 
 leyes, los reglamentos y su ejeoucifin son 
 susceptibles en algunos casos de mejoras 
 importantes ; y la Comisidn se propone, 
 para lograr en parte estas mejoras, 
 establecer ciertas reglas y prScticas uni- 
 formes, sin deteuerse en reglamentar por- 
 menores locales de pooa importancia. 
 
 8. El comercio actual se sirve prinoi- 
 palmente del vapor, el ferro-carril y el 
 tel6grafo. ^stos agentes han creado 
 nnevas necesidades y condiciones que 
 estSn con frecuncia ea conflicto con pr^c- 
 ticas administrativas que, conservadas 
 tan sdlo por respeto i, la tradicidn, no 
 est^u en armonia con el sistema moderno. 
 
 9. El exceso de formalidades en la 
 ejeouoidn de las leyes de aduanas es un 
 grave mal, porque causa gastos, peligros 
 6 incertidumbres en las transacciones 
 comerciales, hasta el punto de desanimar 
 el esplritu de empresa meroantil ; multi- 
 plica el ntiraero de empleados en los 
 negocios de importacidn, exportacidn y 
 trasporte, y, por consiguiente, reduce 
 las utilidades legltimas y las esperanzas 
 razonables de los comerciantes y acarrea- 
 dores, y aumenta los gastos de admi- 
 nistracidn. 
 
 10. Elmanifiestodeunbarco esun docu- 
 mento de mar que se exige universalmente 
 S. los buques que llegan de pnertos ex- 
 tranjeros, y sirve para determinar la 
 carga que Ueva, y, en tiempo de guerra, 
 para probar que nohay iibordo artfculos de 
 contrabando. No debe permitirse & nin- 
 gfin buque salir de un puerto habilitado 
 siu que su Capit^n presente en la aduana 
 un manifiesto de la carga, para el cual no 
 debe exigirse la certificacidn consular. Los 
 vapores de las lineas regulares, que tienen 
 hora fija sefialada para su salida, re- 
 ciben muchas veces carga hasta el me- 
 mento de partir ; y, por estarazdn, es im- 
 posible completar el manifiesto de salida 
 para obtener el despaoho de la aduana. 
 Debiera,por tanto,permitir8e Slos agentes 
 de los vapores que residen en el puerto de 
 salida presentar en la aduana, dentro de 
 las veinte y ouatro horas siguientes A la 
 partida del vapor, los manifiestos suple- 
 mentarios que se necesltan para dar raz(5n 
 total de la carga. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 529 
 
 Before entering a foreign port the 
 master of every vessel should prepare, for 
 surrender to the customs au t horities, an 
 inward manifest containing all the facts 
 shown by the outward manifests, together 
 with a list of the passeugers and crew 
 and an account of surplus ship stores 
 remaining on board. This manifest should 
 be lodged at the custom-house together 
 with the register and any other documents 
 required by the local regulations, and 
 should be verified by the master's personal 
 declaration before the proper customs 
 officer. The inward manifest may be used 
 in verifying the cargo, bnt should not be 
 accepted iu lieu of an invoice,. The com- 
 mittee will present for the consideration 
 oftbe Conference a proposed international 
 form of manifest, and supplementary 
 manifest. On the exportation of mer- 
 chandise every shipper should be required, 
 undei penalty for failure, to lodge at the 
 cnstom-honse a special manifest of the 
 goods sent by him out of the country, 
 containing full particulars respecting the 
 character, quality, value, and destination 
 of the goods, so that the Governments 
 may have authentic data for statistical 
 records and reports. 
 
 (See Recommendation 1.) 
 
 11. Invoices for customs purposes should 
 be made out in the language of either the 
 country of importer of export, and should 
 declare the wholesale market value of the 
 goods at the date of exportation in the 
 market whence imported, and all amounts 
 or quantities should be expressed in fig- 
 ures only. The value so declared should 
 be accepted, prima facie, as a basis for 
 estimating ad valorem duties. It is rec- 
 ommended that the fee for consular cer- 
 tification throughout republican Amer- 
 ica be established at the uniform rate of 
 $•2.50 for each invoice ; but that no fee be 
 required for Juplicates of an original in- 
 voice, nor in any case where the value 
 does not exceed $100. (Eeo. 2.) 
 
 12. Entries of imported merchandise 
 should be made out in the language of 
 the country of importation, and should 
 name the vessel and the importer; entries 
 should agree with bills of lading and with 
 invoices in all material particulars, and 
 the bill of lading and invoice should be 
 31 I 
 
 Antes de entrar ^un puerto extranjero, 
 el Capit^n del buque debe preparar, para 
 entregarlo & las autoridades de aduana, 
 el manifiesto de entrada con todoslos dates 
 que consten en el. manifiesto de salida, 
 m^s la lista de pasageros y de la tripula- 
 cidn, y una relacidn del rancho existente A 
 bordo. Bste manifiesto debe presentarse 
 en la aduana junto cou la matricula y 
 demSs documentos que exijan los regla- 
 mentos locales, y su exactitud se com- 
 probardi con la dec!araci<5n personal del 
 Capit^n ante el respeotivo empleado de 
 la aduana. El manifiesto de entrada 
 podrdi usarse para dar uoticia de la 
 carga, pero no har^ las veces de factura. 
 La Comisi(5n preseutardi S, la considera- 
 ci<5u de la Conferencia un raodelo de 
 manifiesto internacional y de manifiestos 
 suplementarios. Debe exigirse £i los em- 
 barcadores que presenten en la aduana, 
 bajo pena de multa, un manifiesto es- 
 pecial de cada despaoho que hagan, y 
 que en 61 den cuenta detallada de la 
 clase, cantidad, valor y destine de las 
 mercaderias, & fin de que el Gobierno 
 pueda obtener dates estadisticos au- 
 t^nticos. (V^ase la Eecomendacidn 1.) 
 
 11. Las facturas destinadas & las adua- 
 nas deben hacerse en el idioma del pals 
 de donde se exporten las mercaderias 6 de 
 aqu61 al oual vayan dirigidas, declarando 
 en ellas, en nlimeros solamente, el preoio 
 al por mayor de las mercaderias d. la fecha 
 de su exportaci6n en el lugar de donde se 
 envien, y los precios asi declarados 
 deben aceptarse, prima facie, como base 
 para el aforo de los derechos ad valorem. 
 Se recomienda que el dereoho consular 
 por certificaci6n de facturas sea uniforme 
 en todas las Repdblicas americanas, & 
 raz6n de dos pesos y medio por factura, 
 y que no se cobre dereoho alguno cuando 
 el valor de la factura no exceda de oien 
 pesos, asi como tampoco por los duplica- 
 dos de facturas originales. (V6ase la 
 Eec.2.) 
 
 12. Las declaraciones para el despacho 
 de mercaderias importadas deben hacerse 
 en el idioma del pais en el cual se importan, 
 y deben expresar el nombre del buque y 
 del importador. Estas declaraciones debe- 
 r£in corresponder con los oonooiiiiientos y 
 con las facturas, en todos los puntos 
 
530 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 lodged with the customs authorities at 
 the time of eutry. In case any of the 
 packages covered by an invoice should 
 fail to arrive by reason of short shipment, 
 entry should be allowed of the missing 
 packages by means of a properly verified 
 extract or copy of the original invoice. 
 Wherever oaths are now required in cus- 
 toms procedure they should be abolished, 
 because they entail needless hardship and 
 loss of time upon the importer in requiring 
 his personal attendance at the onstom- 
 house. The signature of the importer to 
 his declaration for entry should be in- 
 vested with all the penal responsibilities 
 now attached to his affidavit. (Rec. 3.) 
 
 13. Special facilities without the im- 
 position of unnecessary charges should 
 bo accorded to goods in transit by rail- 
 road or water transportation through one 
 country to another, provided they be kept 
 ill bond during such transit and that the 
 transit be made under the supervision of 
 the customs authorities, but without any 
 verification of contents of packages. 
 
 (Rec. 4.) 
 
 14. The hours and regulations for the 
 lading and unlading of vessels should be 
 made as liberal as local circumstances 
 will permit, and special means should be 
 provided for their entrance and clearance 
 before and after the regular hours for 
 business at the custom-house, and on all 
 days when geueral business is suspended. 
 
 (Rec. 6.) 
 
 15. The abolition of all fees and charges 
 in the customs service is desirable and 
 none should be exacted except such as 
 are fixed and published by due authority; 
 whenever they do exist, they should be 
 limited to the actual cost of the service 
 rendered, and never be imposed for the 
 purpose of raising public revenue. 
 
 (Rec. 7.) 
 
 16. In cases where the rate or amount 
 of duty is doubtful or disputed, the im- 
 porter should be permitted to deposit, 
 under protest, the amount claimed by 
 the customs authorities and to take pos- 
 session of his goods ; his duties should be 
 liquidated, as promptly as practicable, 
 in accordance with the final decision on 
 
 esenciales ; y tan to el conocimiento de em- 
 barque como la factura deben presentarse 
 con la solicitnd 6 deolaraci6u de despacho. 
 En case que no llegue parte de losefectos 
 descritos en la factura por raz6u de de- 
 ficiencia en la remesa, los artlculos no 
 recibidos pueden declararse haciendo un 
 extracto 6 copia, debidamente autenti- 
 cada, de la factura original. Seria con- 
 veniente abolir el juramento que, seglin los 
 reglamentos de aduauas, se exige.en algu- 
 nas partes, porque acarrea dificultades In- 
 necesarias y ^6rdida de tiempo al impor- 
 tador, que tiene que concuj-rir personal- 
 mente ^ la aduana ^ prestarlo. La firiiia 
 del importadoren la deolaraci6n deentra- 
 da debe estar sujeta Si la misma respon- 
 sabilidad penal que el juramento actual- 
 mente implica. (Rec. 3.) 
 
 13. Deben acordarse facilidades espe- 
 ciales, sin imponer gastos innecesarios, S. 
 las mercaderlas en triiusito de un pais S, 
 otro, por ferro-carril 6 por vapor, con tal 
 que puedan conservarse bajo fianza du- 
 ranteel trSnsito, y que 6ate se verifique 
 bajo la vigilancia de las autoridades de la 
 aduana, pero sin que est^u sujetas a la 
 formalidad del reconooimiento. (Rec. 4. ) 
 
 14. Las boras y reglamentos que ae 
 sefialen para la carga y descarga de 
 buques deben ser tan liberales como lo 
 permitan las circunstancias locales, y de- 
 ben proveerse medios especiales para la 
 entrada y salida de embarcaciones antes 
 y despu^s de las horas de despacho ordi- 
 nario de la aduana, asl como en los dias 
 en que, segtlii costumbre, se suspendau los 
 negocios. (Rec. 6.) 
 
 15. Es de desearse que se supriman los 
 gastos y honorarios por serviciosde adua- 
 na, y que no se cobren sine los que 
 hay an sido fijados y publicados por las 
 autoridades competentes. Cuando estos 
 existan, deben limitarse ^ la remunera- 
 ci6n efectiva del servicio prestado, peio no 
 deben imponerse como fuente de ingreso 
 para el Tesoro. (Rec. 7.) 
 
 11. En los cases en que el monto 6 cuau- 
 tla del derecho de aduana fuere dudoso 
 6 hnbiere disputa acerca de 61, debe per 
 mitirse al importador que deposite, bajo 
 protesta, la suiiia que pretendun las au- 
 toridades de la aduana, y que tome 
 posesi6u de las inercarteriiis; los derechos 
 deben liquidarse tan pi onto como sea 
 
INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 531 
 
 his protest, and any excess of deposit re- 
 funded without abatement. (Rec. 8. ) 
 
 17. The committo earnestly recom- 
 meudsthe adoption, in the principal ports 
 of the countries here represented, of a 
 system of bonded warehouses similar to 
 that which wherever it has been tried has 
 demonstrated its convenience to import- 
 ers and its advantage to the national 
 revenue. By availing himself of this sys- 
 tem the importer can delay the payment of 
 duties until he has effected the sale of the 
 articles impon'ted, or if he prefers to export 
 them be can do so without payment q£ 
 duty. To secure this privilege he must 
 store the imported merchandise at his 
 own risli and expense in some designated 
 warehouse which is kept under the special 
 supervision of the collector of customs, 
 and must furnish satisfactory bonds for 
 the payment of the duty or the exporta- 
 tion of the merchandise within a pre- 
 scribed period. The importer, under this 
 system, may withdraw his goods in lots 
 of one or more packages, or if the mer- 
 chandise be in bulk, in stated quantities 
 according to the demands of his business 
 upon paying all duties and costs of labor 
 and storage which have accrued upon the 
 portion withdrawn for consumption. 
 
 The Government is thus absolutely pro- 
 tected against loss while the importer is 
 relieved from the necessity of forcing his 
 goods upon an unsatisfactory market. 
 
 (Rec. 9.) 
 
 18. Peculiar hardship issntfered by im- 
 porters in some of the countries from the 
 revision of invoices by the supreme au- 
 thority at the capital. In case of doubt 
 or controversy, where a deposit of the 
 maximum duty is exacted and the amount 
 is paid under protest, this revision by the 
 central authorities is necessary in the in- 
 terest of justice, but in all other cases, 
 except where fraud or culpable negligence 
 appears, the merchant, upon paying the 
 assessed dutj' at the custom-house, should 
 receive his goods exempted from further 
 liability for reclamations which may ab- 
 sorb his apparent profits. (Rec. 15.) 
 
 19. Internal duties upon imported com- 
 modities which have paid duty at the 
 
 posible, de conformidad con la decision 
 final que haya sido pronunciada sobre 
 su reclamacidn, y debe devolv^rsele cual- 
 quier sobrante del depdsito sin descuento 
 alguno. 
 
 17. La Comisi6n recomienda encareci- 
 damente la adopci6u, en los priucipales 
 puertos de los palses aqul representados, 
 del sistema de " almacenaje con fianza" 
 ( ionded warehouses ) que, donde quiera 
 que se ha practicado, ha sido de gran 
 conveniencia para los importadores y 
 ventajoso para las rentas naoionales. For 
 medio de este sistema, el importador puede 
 retardar el pago de los derechos hasta que 
 haya vendido las mercaderfas importadas, 
 6 si prefiere exportarlas, puede hacerlo 
 sin pagar derechos. Para gozar de este 
 privilegio, esnecesario que el comerciante 
 deposite las mercancias importadas, por 
 su ouenta y riesgo, en un almac.6n espe- 
 cial,que est^ bajo la extriota vigilancia del 
 Administrador de la aduana, y tambi^n 
 que d^ una fianza que garantice el pago 
 de los derechos 6 la exportaci6n de la 
 mercancfa dentro de tiempo determinado. 
 El importador puede, por medio de este 
 sistema, sacar parte de sus efeotos en lotes 
 de uno 6 mas bultos, 6 si fueren & granel, 
 en porcioues determinadas, segrin lo 
 exijan sus negocios, previo el pago de los 
 derechos y gastos ocasionados por la parte 
 que se haya sacado para el consumo. 
 De este modo, el Gobierno queda com- 
 pletamente asegurado contra p^rdidas, y 
 el importador puede al mismo tiempo 
 escoger la oportunidad para la veuta 
 provechosa de sus mercaderias. (Rec. 9.) 
 
 18. Los importadores sufren muchos 
 grav^menes y molestias enalgunos paises 
 Si causa de la verificaci6u de facturas por 
 las autoridades superiores en la Capital. 
 En case de duda 6 oontroversia, cuando se 
 exige el depdsito del maximum de los de- 
 rechos, y 6ste se hace bajo protesta, la re- 
 vision por las autoridades centrales es 
 necesaria como medida de justicia ; pero 
 en los dem^ casos, excepto cuando haya 
 fraude 6 negligencia culpable, el comer- 
 ciante, al pagar en la aduana los dere- 
 chos correspondientes, debe recibir sus 
 mercaderias, libre de ulterior responsa- 
 bilidad por reclames que pnedan privarle 
 de su ganancia presunta. (Rec. 15.) 
 
 19. Los impuestos interiores sobre las 
 mercaderias imp»rtadas que hau pagado 
 
532 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 frontier are intolerable burdens upon and 
 obstruotionB to international commerce. 
 As soon as the legally assessed import 
 duties are paid, on arrival, the goods be- 
 come a part of the general stock of com- 
 modities and should thereafter be treated 
 in the same manner as domestic products. 
 An increase of import duties at the fron- 
 tier is preferable to the vexatious system 
 of internal duties. There should he no 
 interior control nor supervision of duty- 
 paid imported goods. A custom-house 
 delivery of goods should entitle them to 
 all the privileges and exemptions ac- 
 corded to domestic merchandise. (Rec. 15. ) 
 
 20. In the general interest of the Amer- 
 ican peoples, it is urged that prompt in- 
 formation be circulated by the govern- 
 ments of the outbreak or prevalence of 
 contagious diseases among cattle or other 
 live stock, in order that such importa- 
 tions may be subjected to a proper quar- 
 antine. 
 
 derechos en la frontera, son cargas iiito- 
 lerables y obsticulos para el comeroio in- 
 ternacional. Tan lu^go como se han pa- 
 gado, S, la llegada de las mercaderias, los 
 dereohos con que legalmente est^n grava- 
 das, ^stas entran & formar parte de la 
 existenoia general de mercaderias nacio- 
 nales, y deben ser consideradas del mis- 
 mo modo que los articulos de la Indus- 
 tria nacional. Es preferible pagar nn 
 fuerte impuesto en la frontera al sistema 
 vejatorio de aduanas interiores. No de- 
 biera ejecerse vigilancia interior ni ins- 
 peccidn sobre las mercaderias impor- 
 tadas que ya han pagado los derechos 
 de aduana. El permiso de la aduana 
 para la entrega de las mercaderias de- 
 biera hacerlasacreedoras ^todos los pri- 
 vilegios y franqufcias de que gozau las 
 mercaderias del pals. (Rec. 15. ) 
 
 20. Es de gran interns para los pueblos 
 americanos que los respectivos paises se 
 den mtituo y pronto aviso de la aparicidn 
 de enfermedades contagiosas en el ga- 
 nado vaouno 6 de cualquiera otra especie, 
 ^ fin de que ^ su importacidn del mismo 
 se le imponga la debida cuarentena. 
 
 B. — The clasaification, examination, and val- 
 uation of merchandise. 
 
 21. With regard to the customs exam- 
 ination of merchandise, it need only be 
 said that it should be conducted with as 
 little delay, expensCj and damage as pos- 
 sible, and should be limited to a reasona^ 
 ble verification of the statements of the 
 entry and invoice. This suggestion ap- 
 plies as well to examinations conducted 
 for the purpose of verifying the dutiable 
 value of ad valorem merchandise as to 
 examinations for ascertaining weights 
 and quantities for the assessment of 
 specific duty. The committee has in- 
 terpreted the phrase " Valuation of mer- 
 chandise" as meaning its invoice valua- 
 tion, and where duties are specific this 
 valuation should be received without 
 question or the necessity of verification, 
 except in ease of suspected fraud. 
 
 (Rec. 10.-) 
 
 22. Merchandise contained in the bag- 
 gage of tourists and immigrants, not ex- 
 ceeding a limited amount, should be ad- 
 mitted to entry and payment of duties 
 
 B. — Clasificacidn, examen y avaMo de las 
 mercaderias. 
 
 21. Respecto al registro de mercaderias 
 en las aduanas, basta decir que debe ha- 
 cerse con la men or demora, gastos y danos 
 posibles y limitarse ^ la veriticacidn razo- 
 nable de los manifiestos de importacidn y 
 de las fact nras. Esta observacidn es tam- 
 bi^n aplicable S, las inspeccioues que se 
 hacen con elobjeto de fijar los derechos ai2 
 valorem que deban pagarse sobre las mer- 
 caderias, lo mismo que al reconocimieu- 
 to que se hace para deterrainar el peso 
 y cantldad de mercaderias gravadas con 
 derechos especlficos. La Coinisidn usa 
 la frase "avaMo de mercaderias" para 
 siguificar el valor declarado en la faotura 
 y donde los derechos scan especlficos, debe 
 aceptarse este valor sin necesidad de ins- 
 peccidu, excepto en el caso de presunci6n 
 de fraude. (Rec. 10.) 
 
 22. Las mercaderias contenidas en los 
 equipajes de viajeros 6 inmigrantes, que 
 no excedan de cierta cantidad, debieran 
 aduiitirse S, la entrada por las aduanas 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 533 
 
 without bill of lading or invoice, and 
 tools of trade or occupation and other 
 articles brought by passengers in reason- 
 able quantities, for their own personal 
 nse and not for sale, should be exempted 
 from duty. (Reo. 11.) 
 
 2'3. Actual samples of merchandise con- 
 signed, in reasonable quantities, solely for 
 inspection, or contained in the baggage of 
 bona fide commercial traveleis and in- 
 tended to be used in the prosecution of 
 their business, should, in the interests of 
 commerce, be admitted duty free, under 
 such restrictions as may be deemed neces- 
 sary. (Rec. 11.) 
 
 24. The system of appraisement for ad 
 valorem duties is so intricate and volu- 
 minous in its details, and is so little likely 
 to be practiced in extenso by many of the 
 countries represented in the Conference, 
 that the committee has decided not to 
 recommend the consideration of that sys- 
 tem. 
 
 25. The assessment of duty upon the 
 gross weight of dutiable products seems 
 onerous, but where the rate has been ad- 
 justed with due regard to the insignifi- 
 cant value of the taxed materials used for 
 packing any particular class of goods, the 
 duty upon the ' ' gross weight " has the 
 great advantage of certainty and sim- 
 plicity, and avoids troublesome questions 
 about tare and weight. Through care- 
 fulness in packing and the use of light, 
 strong coverings, importers can minimize 
 the tax. Whenever " net weight" is re- 
 quired the tares should bo regulated, as 
 far as practicable, by schedules oflScially 
 prepared and published. (Rec. 16. ) 
 
 26. Merchandise which has been recov- 
 ered from a wrecked or stranded vessel 
 should be allowed to be entered without 
 invoice at the custom house by either the 
 salvors or importers for appraisement by 
 the proper authorities, duties to be paid 
 on the appraised value. The importers 
 should also be accorded the privilege of 
 abandoning to the Government merchan- 
 dise included in any invoice, and seri- 
 ously damaged by sea transportation, 
 free of liability for duty, provided such 
 merchandise represents ten per centum of 
 
 y al page de derechos sin necesidad de 
 conocimiento 6 factura, y los instrumen- 
 tos profesionales y dem& efcctos traldos 
 por los pasajeros, en cantidad moderada, 
 para su uso personal y no para la venta, 
 debieran estar libres de derechos. (Rec. 
 11.) 
 
 23. Las muestras de meroaderias, con- 
 signadas en cantidades moderadas con el 
 objeto de darlas & conocer, 6 oontenidas 
 en el equipaje de los comeroiantes via- 
 jeros de buena f6 con el destine que la na- 
 turaleza de su profesidn les se&ala, deben, 
 en beneficio del comercio, admitirse libres 
 de derechos, y sujetas solamente S, las 
 restriociones que se juzguen necesarias. 
 
 (Rec. 11.) 
 
 24. El sistema de avaWo para la recau- 
 daci6n de los derechos ad valorem es tan 
 intrincado y lleno de detalles, y por otra 
 parte, es tan poco proba ble que se practi- 
 que extensamente por muchos de los 
 paises representados en esta Conferencia, 
 que la Comisidn ha determinado abste- 
 nerse de recomendar la consideracidn do 
 tal sistema. 
 
 25. El iiupuesto sobre el peso bruto de 
 las meroaderias parece oneroso; pero 
 cuaudo para establecer los derechos en 
 la tarifa se ha tenido en cuenta el valor 
 insignificante de los materiales que se 
 usan para empacar cualquiera clase de 
 meroaderias, el impueSto sobre el peso 
 bruto tiene la gran ventaja de la certeza 
 y la secillez, y la de evitar cuestiones 
 enojosas sobre la tara y el peso. Teniondo 
 cuidado en el empaque y empleando 
 cubiertas fuertes y ligeras, los importa- 
 dores pueden aminorar el impuesto. En 
 los casos en que se exija el peso neto, en 
 cuanto sea posible deben fijarse las taras 
 legales segfln tarifas preparadas y publi- 
 cadas ofidialmente. (Rec. 16.) 
 
 26. Las meroaderias que hayan sido 
 recobradas de alglin buque nfiufrago 6 
 enoailado, deben admitirse sin factura & la 
 entrada en la aduana, por los salvadores 
 6 los impoitadores, con el objeto de que se 
 avaWeu por las autoridades oompetentes, 
 y se paguea los derechos de aouerdo con 
 el avallio que se practique. Los impor- 
 tadores deben tambi^n gozar del privi- 
 legio de abandonar al Gobierno las mer- 
 cancfas incluldas en una factura que 
 hayan snfrido seria averia por el trans- 
 porte maritime, exentos de responsabili- 
 
534 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 the total value of the invoice, and when- 
 ever goods have been surrendered to the 
 insurance companies the latter should he 
 recognized as rightful owners of the same 
 for all customs purposes. (Eec. 13.) 
 
 C. — Methods of imposing fines and penal- 
 ties. 
 
 27. Against the imposition of fines and 
 excessive duties there should bje granted 
 the right of appeal to some tribunal which 
 would promptly investigate all the facts 
 and take into account the good or bad 
 faith of the importer, as may appear in 
 evidence. The importer should be al- 
 lowed to appear personally or by repre- 
 sentative before such tribunal, and the 
 decision should in such cases be made 
 without delay. Clerical errors, minor iur 
 accuracies, and informalities in the entry 
 or invoice or in any customs proceedings 
 which do not affect the amount of collect- 
 ible duty, should not, in themselves, be 
 deemed sufficient ground for imposing 
 fines and penalties. (Eec. 17.) 
 
 28. The committee is deeply impressed 
 with the belief that equity and regularity 
 of administration are in constant danger 
 of infraction whenever officers of customs 
 are allowed to participate in any share of 
 penalties or forfeitures. A pecuniary in- 
 terest in fines and penalties has a ten- 
 dency to bias the judgment of the officer 
 and incline him toward undue exactions 
 for his own benefit. The committee, 
 therefore, recommends, to all the coun- 
 tries represented, the adoption of laws 
 (where there do not already exist) pro- 
 viding for the deposit in the Government 
 Treasury of all the moneys received by 
 customs officers, and the substitution of a 
 system of rewards for specially merito- 
 rious service. (Eec. 17.) 
 
 D. — Additional suggestions. 
 
 29. The committee has been convinced 
 of the advantages to be derived from a 
 periodical compilation, publication, and 
 distribution of official statistics of the navi- 
 gation and foreign commerce of the coun- 
 
 dad por los derechos, siempre que esas mer- 
 caderlas representen diez por ciento del 
 valor total de la factura ; y cnando se 
 hay an abaadonado mercaderf as & las com- 
 pa&fas de seguros, 6atas deben ser consid- 
 eradas como sus legitimes dnenos en todo 
 lo concernlente S, la aduana. (Eec. 13.) 
 
 C. — Mitodos que han de seguirse para iw/- 
 poner las mullas y las penas. 
 
 27.- Contra la imposioidn de mnltas 6 
 de exoesivos derechos, debe concederse 
 el derecho cte apelaci6n ante un Tribunal 
 enoargado de investigar todos los bechos 
 Si la mayor brevedad, tomando en cuenla 
 la buena 6 mala i6 del iraportador, segun 
 aparezca de las pruebas. Al importador 
 debe permitfrsele que aparezca ante el 
 Tribunal personalmente, 6 por medio de 
 apoderado, y la decision debe pronun- 
 ciarse en tales casos sin tardanza. Errores 
 de pluma, equivooaciones <le poca im^ 
 portancia, irregularidades en la decla- 
 raci6n de entrada 6 en la factura 6 en 
 cualquier acto relacionado con la aduana, 
 que no alteren la suma que deba cobrarse 
 por derechos, uo deben, de por si, conside- 
 rarse como motivo para imponer niultas 
 y penas. (Eec. 17.) 
 
 28. La Comisidn est^ plenamente per- 
 suadida de que la justicia y regularidad 
 en la administracidn estiin constante- 
 mente en peligro, cuando se da 4i los 
 empleadosdeaduanaparllcipacidnalgnna 
 en los productos de mnltas y penas pecii- 
 niarias. El interns pecuniario en las mul- 
 tas 6 penas tiende S, vioiar el criterio de 
 los empleados y los inclina & exacciones 
 indebidas en provecho propio. La 
 Comisifin, por tanto, recomienda S, todos 
 los palsesaqui representados, laadopcidn 
 de leyes (donde aun no existan) en 
 que se establezca la entrega 4 ingreso eu 
 el Tesoro publico de todo lo recaudado 
 por los empleados de aduana, y la adop- 
 ci(5n de un sistema de recompensas por 
 servicios especialmente reconocidos como 
 meritorios. (Eec. 17.) 
 
 I) — Indicadones adidonales. 
 
 29. La Comisidn est^ oonveucida de las 
 ventajas que produciria la compilacidn, 
 publicacidn y distribuoi(5n periddica de 
 estadisticas oliciales sobre navegaciiin y 
 comercio exterior de los paises repre- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 535 
 
 tries represented in the Conference. These 
 statistics are often the indispensable bases 
 for legislative enactments affecting inter- 
 national interests. (Rec. 18.) 
 
 , SO. In addition to the adoption of com- 
 mon Statistical forms, the committee rec- 
 ommends the establishment of an inter- 
 national bureau for the systematic collec- 
 tion and distribution of useful informa- 
 tion relating to the exterior navigation 
 and commerce of the conferring powers, 
 and to the changes in their customs laws 
 and regulations. 
 
 The expense of maintaining such a bu- 
 reau would be inconsiderable and its ben- 
 efits inestimable. As one example of the 
 practicability and economy of such a bu- 
 reau, the bureau of universal postal 
 union, conducted by the Government of 
 Switzerland, may be cited. A more cog- 
 nate instance is to be found in the plan 
 for an international union for the pub- 
 lication of customs tariffs, etc., formu- 
 lated by the conference held at Brus- 
 sels in May, 1888, in which most of the 
 commercial nations of the globe were 
 represented, and it is urged that a 
 union be effected between the Republics 
 represented in this Conference, which 
 would insure a prompt and accurate 
 publication, at the common expense, for 
 the common benefit, of important com- 
 mercial information. To accomplish this 
 purpose the proposed international bu- 
 reau might with advantage be main- 
 tained under the supervision of one of 
 the represented countries and charged 
 with the translation into English, Span- 
 ish, and Portuguese, and the publication 
 and distribution of all the American 
 tariffs, and such modifications of the 
 same as may occur in due course. The 
 countries comprised in this Conference 
 should each engage to send to the bureau 
 without delay copies of — 
 
 (1) Their respective customs laws, in- 
 cluding tariffs corrected to date. 
 
 (2) Explanations of the effect of 
 modifications which are made in 
 the original laws. 
 
 seutados en esta Conferencia. Estas 
 estadlsticas son frecuentemente base in- 
 dispensable para la expedici<5u de las 
 leyes que afectan los intereses del comer- 
 oio internaoional. (Rec. 18.) 
 
 30. Ademfe de la adopci6n ae modelos 
 comunes para la estadlstica, la Comisi6n 
 recomienda tamlji^n el establecimiento de 
 una Oticina Internaoional, que d6be en- 
 cargarse de la colecci6n y distribucidu 
 sistem^tica de todos los datos litiles refe- 
 rentes S, la navegacidn y coinercio ex- 
 terior de todos los paises aqnl representa- 
 dos, asi como tambi^n de los cambios qne 
 se efectlien en sus leyes y reglamentos de 
 aduanas. 
 
 Los gastos para el mantenimiento de 
 esta oficina serian de pocas importancia, 
 en tanto que sus veutajas serlan inesti- 
 mables. Como ejemplo de la practica- 
 bilidad y economia de dicha oficina, 
 puede citarse la Oficina Universal de la 
 Unidn Postal," que se encuentra bajo la 
 vigilaucia del Gobierno de Suiza. Un 
 case m&a analogo puede afin encontrarse 
 en el plan de Uni6n Internacional de 
 Publioaciones de Tarifas ile Aduanas, etc., 
 etc., redactado por la Conferencia re- 
 unida en Bruselas en Mayo de 1888, en 
 la cual estaban representadiis la mayor 
 parte de las nacioues comerciales del 
 mundo. La Comisi6n recomienda S, las 
 naciqnes representadas en esta Conferen- 
 cia el establecimiento de una nnidu por 
 medio de la cual se pueda obtener la 
 pronta y exacta publioacidn, ^costa y en 
 provecho comiiu, de datos comerciales 
 importantes. Para lograr este objeto, 
 la Oficina Internacional euya creacidn 
 se propone, debe establecerse bajo la 
 vigilancia del Gobierno de alguno de 
 estos paises, enoargada de traducir al 
 ingles, espaSol y portugufe, y de publioar 
 y distribuir anualmente, todas las tarifas 
 americanas y las modificaciones que ellas 
 sufran. Los paises representados eu esta 
 Conferencia, deben obligarse & enviar & 
 la oficina mencionada, sin p4rdida de 
 tiempo : 
 
 (1°) Copia de sus respectivas leyes y 
 
 tarifas de Aduanas corregidas 
 
 hasta la fecha 
 (2°) Explicaciones referentes S, los 
 
 resultados producidos por las 
 
 modificaciones hechas en lasleyes 
 
 primitivas. 
 
536 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 (3) All circulars of instruction which 
 have been addresed to their re- 
 spective customs officers concern- 
 ing the exaction of duties on, and 
 the classification of, merchandise 
 under the tariff laws. 
 
 (4) All Commercial and Parcel Post 
 treaties in force or subsequently 
 adopted. 
 
 (5) All available statistics relating 
 to external commerce and domes- 
 tic productions. 
 
 The annual expense of maintenance 
 would properly be assessed in due propor- 
 tion to the amount of the foreign com- 
 merce of the countries interested. 
 
 A common form adapted to the uniform 
 exhibition of the desired facts will, if 
 desired by the Conference, be prepared 
 and submitted hereafter. (Rec. 18.) 
 
 (3") Todas las circulares en las cuales 
 
 se dan instrucciones especiales ^ 
 
 8U8 respectivos empleados de 
 
 aduaua, con referenda *al cobro 
 
 (le derechos y clasificaci6n de las 
 
 mereaderlas, segtiu el arancel. 
 
 (4") Todos Ids tratados comerciales 
 
 vigentes. y los que se adopten en 
 
 lo sucesivo. 
 
 (5°) Todas las estadisticas que puedan 
 
 obtenerse referentes & su comercio 
 
 exterior y produccidn nacional. 
 
 Los gastos anuales que ocasione 
 
 el sostenimieuto de esta odcina, 
 
 deben hacerse por los parses in- 
 
 teresados en proporci6n con la 
 
 cuantia de su comercio exterior. 
 
 La Comisidn prepararii y sonicter^ mfis 
 
 tarde, si asl lo quisiere la Couferencia, 
 
 un modelo comlln adaptado ^ la reunidn 
 
 uniforme de los datos deseados. (Rec. 18. ) 
 
 RECOMMENDATIONS. 
 
 In accordance with the conclusions thus 
 carefully set forth, your committee asks 
 the Conference to recommend to all the 
 countries here represented the adoption 
 of the following measures, the acceptance 
 of which need not imply a change in such 
 legislation of any of the American Re- 
 publics as already contains more liberal 
 provisions, the purpose of the Conference 
 being not merely to propose uniform rules, 
 but to establish more liberal provisions 
 than are now in force. 
 
 1. That forms be adopted for outward 
 manifestsof vessels, which shall be lodged 
 at the custom-house'by masters of vessels 
 at the time of clearance, and for supple- 
 mentary manifests of steamers belonging 
 to established lines to be made by the resi- 
 dent agents thereof, and lodged by them 
 in the custom-house within twenty-four 
 hours afterthe sailing of the vessels, which 
 manifests shall be used only for the deter- 
 mination of the cargo, etc., and shall not 
 require consular certification. 
 
 That every such manifest shall show the 
 name of the vessel and of her master, the 
 ports of departure and destination, a de- 
 scription of her cargo by marks, numbers, 
 and supposed contents of packages, with 
 names of consignees and consignors, but 
 no statement of values. 
 
 RECOMENDACIONES. 
 
 De conformidad con las conclnsiones 
 expuestas detenidamente mSiS arriba, la 
 Comisidn pide a la Conferencia que reco- 
 miende S, los Gobiernos aqui representa- 
 dos la adopci6n de las sigiiientes medidas. 
 La aceptacidn de ellas no obligardi & las 
 Reptiblicas americanas S modificar su 
 legislacidn cuando &ta contenga disposir 
 clones mSs liberales. El objeto de la 
 Conferencia no es simplemente procurar 
 la uniformidad en la legislaci6n, sino 
 tambi6n establecer disposiciones m^s 
 liberales que las vigentes. 
 
 I. Que se adopte una forma comiin 
 para el mauifiesto de salida de los buques, 
 que debe presentarse en la Aduana por 
 el Capit^u antes de salir del puerto, asl 
 como tambi^n para los mauiflestos suple- 
 mentarios de buques que pertenezcan & 
 lineas regulares, los cuales deben hacerse 
 y presentarse & la aduaua por los con- 
 signatarios de diohas lineas de vapores 
 dentro de las veinte y cuatro horas 
 siguientes & la salida del buque. 
 
 Estos manifiestos deben expresar el 
 nombre del buque y del Capitin, los pner- 
 tos de partida y destiuo, la descripci6n de 
 la carga por marcas, ulimeros y supues- 
 to contenido de ell a, asl como tambi^n 
 el nombre de los embarcadores y el de los 
 consignatarios, s n expresidn alguna de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 537 
 
 On the exportation of raerohandise each 
 individual shipper shall make and lodge 
 at the custom-honse for statistical pur- 
 poses a special manifest stating quanti- 
 ties, ol aracter, and values of the goods ex- 
 ported by him ; and for a failure so to do, 
 he shall be subjected to a penalty. 
 
 The master of any vessel may, within 
 forty-eight hours after the eutrauce at the 
 custom-house and before any of the cargo 
 shall have been landed, change her desti- 
 nation and proceed on his voyage. On en- 
 tering a foreign port the master of every 
 vessel belonging to one of the represented 
 countries shall lodge with the custom au- 
 thorities an inward manifest, containing 
 all the facts shown by the outward mani- 
 fest, including a list of the passengers and 
 crew and an account of surplus ship 
 stores remaining on board. This manifest 
 must be verified by the master's personal 
 declaration at the custom-house. It shall 
 not be accepted in lieu of an invoice and 
 no consular certification shall be required. 
 Forms for outward, inward, and shipper's 
 manifests are herewith submitted. 
 
 (See Par. 10.) 
 
 2. For the entry of Imported merchan 
 disb, invoices shall be made out in the 
 language and currency of either the 
 country of import or of export, or in any 
 currency actually paid for the merchan- 
 dise. They must declare the contents 
 and value of each package, and state 
 the quantities and the values of the goods 
 in figures and not in words, and the 
 amounts so expressed, with any additions 
 which the importer may make in his 
 entry, shall be accepted at the custom- 
 house as the basis for preliminary esti- 
 mates of duty. 
 
 Wherever consular certification of man- 
 ifests has heretofore been required the 
 certi Scat ion of invoices shall be accepted 
 in lieu of the same. The consul's fee 
 for legalization and certification shall 
 be fixed at the uniform rate of $2.50 
 for each invoice, but no fee shall be 
 required for duplicates of an original 
 Invoice, nor for any invoice the value 
 of which does not exceed |100; pro- 
 
 precios. Todo embarcador deberSi, al ex- 
 portar las mercaderias, hacery presentar 
 en la aduana, para fines estadlstioos, un 
 uianifiesto especial delas mercaderias que 
 embarca, con expresi6u de su cantidad, 
 cluse y valor, y si dejare de cnmplir este 
 deber, se le impondr^ la pena correspoii- 
 diente. 
 
 El Capitdn de nn bnque pnede, dentro 
 de las cuarenta y ocho horas siguien- 
 tes^ su declaracidn en la aduana, y antes 
 de efectuar el desembarque de parte 
 alguna dela carga, cambiarel destinodel 
 buque y eeguir su viaje. Al entrar 6, 
 un puerto extranjero, el Capit^n de un 
 buque perteneciente £i cualquiera de las 
 naciones aquf representadas, deber^ pre- 
 sentar ^ las autoridades de la aduana un 
 manifiesto de entrada, que exprese todos 
 los hechos que consten en el manifiesto 
 de salida', asf como tambi<^n nua lista de 
 los pasajeros y de la tripulacidn, y una 
 relacidn del rancho existente & bordo. 
 Este manifiesto deberii autentioarse por 
 medio de la declaracidn personal del capi- 
 tan ante el Administrador de la aduana: 
 no se aceptardr en lugar de la factura, ni 
 uecesitar^ de certificado consular. (Se 
 acompafian S, este dictamen modelos de 
 manitiestos de entrada y salida y mani- 
 fiesto de embarcadores. ) ( V6ase Par. 10. ) 
 
 2. Las facturas para las declaraciones 
 de entrada de las mercaderias deber^n 
 escribirse en el idioma del pais de im- 
 portaci6n 6 exportacion ; contendr^n la 
 exijresi(3n del valor en la moueda de 
 cualquiera de esos palses 6 en aquella 
 con que las mercaderias se ban pagado, 
 y expresar^n el contenido y valor de cada 
 bulto. La declaracidn de las cantidades y 
 valores se har^ en ntimeros, no en letras. 
 
 Los valores asi expresados, con las 
 adiciones que el importador crea conve- 
 niente hacer en su declaracidn, deber^n 
 aceptarse en la Aduana couio base preli- 
 ininar para el aforo de los derecbos. 
 
 En los paises donde se han exigido 
 hasta ahora oertificaciones consulares en 
 los manifiestos, debe aceptarse en su 
 lugar la certificacidn de la factura. Los 
 dereohos consulares por legalizacidn y 
 certifioacidn deber^n establecerse al tipo 
 uniforme de dos pesos y medio por cada 
 factura, y no debe exigirse derecho al- 
 guno por los duplicados de la factura ori- 
 ginal, ni por aquellas cuyo valor no ex- 
 
538 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 vided that snch invoice shall not have 
 been suUdivided for the purpose of re- 
 ducing its total value. 
 
 If, by the reason of delay in the mails 
 or other satisfactory cause, a certified 
 invoice can not be produced, entry shall 
 be allowed on a statement in the form of 
 an Invoice, and when the amount ex- 
 ceeds $100 the execution of a bond shall 
 be required for the subsequent produc- 
 tion of an invoice duly certified. 
 
 In ease any of the packages covered 
 by an invoice shall, by reason of short 
 shipment, fail to arrive, entry may sub- 
 sequently be made of the missing pack- 
 ages by means of a properly verified 
 extract or copy of the original invoice. 
 
 (Par. 11.) 
 
 3. That all imported merchandise shall 
 be entered at the port of arrival on a pre- 
 scribed forui, which shall be a declara- 
 tion or petition signed by the importer 
 and giving the ship's name, port of 
 departure and date of arrival, the par- 
 ticulars of the packages, including the 
 weight or quantity and the supposed duti- 
 able or free class of contents ; also their 
 values expressed in the currency of the 
 invoice and reduced to the currency of 
 the country of importation. The entry 
 must agree in all essentials with the 
 invoice and the bill of lading. 1 hat in all 
 proceedings relating to the importation 
 and entry of merchandise the declaration 
 of the importer over his signature shall 
 be received in lieu of his oath, and that 
 any false declaration so signed shall sub- 
 ject him to such penalties as may bo pro- 
 vided by the respective countries. 
 
 (Par. 12.) 
 
 4. That every reasonable facility shall 
 be afforded for the unobstructed transit 
 of merchandise through one country to an 
 adjacent country, especially where trans- 
 portation can be directly affected by rail- 
 way or water routes and where bonds 
 can be furnished for the delivery of such 
 merchandise, intact, within the jurisdic- 
 tion of the adjoining country. That in 
 no case shall the contents of such pack- 
 ages be made subject to duty or to exam- 
 ination by custom officers while in transit, 
 or to any onerous requirements and ex- 
 actions, but they shall be held amenable 
 
 ceda de cien pesos, con tal que la fac- 
 tura no haya sido snb-dividida con el fin 
 de redncir su valor total. 
 
 Si, por raz6n de demora det correo 6 
 por cualquiera causa aceptable, no pudiero 
 presentarse la faotura certificada, se per- 
 mitir^queladeclaracidnsehaga por medio 
 de una declaraci(5n en forma de factura ; 
 y si la cautidad excediere de $100, deberS 
 otorgarse fianza que garantice la presen- 
 tacidn de la faotura debidamente certifi- 
 cada. 
 
 En caso de que parte de los bultos 
 declarados en la factura no Uegaren por 
 deficiencia en la reinesa, podr^n declararse 
 despu^s por medio de un extracto 6 copia, 
 debidamente legalizada, de la factura 
 original. (Par. 11.) 
 
 3. Todas las mercaderias de importa- 
 cidn deben declararse en el puerto del 
 destine por medio de un dooumento uni- 
 forme, que consistira en una declaraci6n 6 
 peticl6n firmada por el importador, en la 
 cual se exprese el nombre del buque, el 
 puerto de salida, y la fecba de Uegada, los 
 pnrmenores de los bultos, su peso 6 can- 
 tidad, y la clase del arancel £i la cual perte- 
 nezcan para el pago de derechos, asl como 
 tambi^n su valor en la moueda corien- 
 te de la factura y en la del pals S, que 
 se importan. Las declaraciones deber^n 
 corresponder en todos los puntos esencia- 
 les con la factura ycon los couocimientos 
 de embarque. La declaraci6u firmada 
 por el importador debera sustituir al jura- 
 mento en todo lo concerniente & la im- 
 portacidn de mercaderias; pero la decla- 
 racidn falsa que se diere en i stos casos 
 aparejarii las penas que cada pais deter- 
 mine. (Par. 12.) 
 
 4. Deben proporcionarse todas las fa- 
 cilidades de trasporte al libre trd^nsito de 
 mercaderias de un pais S, 6tro veci no, espe- 
 cialmente quando el trasporte pueda 
 hacerse directamrnte por vias ferreas 6 
 acuiiticas, y pueda darse fianza para 
 la entrega de las mercaderias, intactas, 
 dentro de la jurisdicci<5n del pais veoino. 
 
 En ningim caso debe sujetarse el conte- 
 nido de los bultos al pago de derechos 6 
 Si examen por las antoridades de la adnu- 
 na, ni & exigencias onerosas 6 e.xtor- 
 siones, durante el triinsito; pero podrSin 
 ser vigilados cuando se juzguo necesario 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 539 
 
 to such snpervisiou only as slin.ll be in- 
 cidental to proper safeguards against 
 their unlawful introdiiotioninto the mar- 
 liets of the country through which they 
 may be transported. (Par. Iti.) 
 
 5. That technical defects in the form of 
 any document which has been duly au- 
 thenticated before the consul of any one 
 of the countries shall not, in that conutry, 
 be deemed sufflcieut cause for the imposi- 
 tion of fines or penalties, and that all 
 other manifest clerical errors may be 
 corrected, after entry atthe custom-house, 
 without prejudice to the consignee or the 
 owner. (Par. 9.) 
 
 6. That every facility si. all be granted 
 in the various ports of entry for the en- 
 trance and clearance of vessels and the 
 discharge and lading of cargoes ; and, on 
 all days when other official business may 
 be suspended, that the custom-houseshall 
 be open during some part of each day, for 
 the prompt entrance and clearance of ves- 
 sels. (Par. 14.) 
 
 7. That the scale of duties shall be so 
 arranged as to avoid the necessity of ad- 
 ditional fees and charges, and that every 
 country in which they continue to be ex- 
 acted shall establish and publish a list of 
 all fees and charges which are statutory 
 in its ports, and that such exactions shall 
 be respectively adjusted, so far as it is 
 practicable, to cover the actual cost of the 
 service rendered therefor. (Par. 15.) 
 
 8. That in all cases of dispute as to the 
 legal rate or amount of duty, the import- 
 er shall be allowed to deposit under pro- 
 test the maximum duty demanded by the 
 customs authorities and to take possessior 
 of his goods ; the entry in such cases to be 
 liquidated as promptly as practicable 
 after the final decision is reached, and the 
 excess of duty (if any) refunded to the im- 
 porter. (Par. 16.) 
 
 9. That in the principal ports of the 
 conntries here represented, a system shall 
 be adopted as soon as practicable, whereby 
 an importer who desires to place his im- 
 portation temporarily in the custody of 
 the Government before payment of duty 
 shall be enabled to store it at his own ex- 
 pense and risk, under the supervision of 
 the customs authorities. For this pur- 
 pose, warehouses shall be provided in 
 
 prevenir la introduccidn ilegal de las 
 mercaderias al pais por el cual transitan. 
 
 (Par. 13.) 
 
 5. Los dcfectos de forma de cnalquier 
 docnmouto que haya sido debidameute 
 autenticado ante el C6nsul de algtin 
 pals, no serau causa para que se impon- 
 gan en ese pals multas 6 penas. Todos 
 los errores de pluma podrdin subsanarse 
 despufis de la dee,laraci6u de entrada en 
 la aduana, sin que esto ocasioue perjuicio 
 al consignatario 6 dueno. (Parte 9.) 
 
 6. En, todos los puertos deben conce- 
 dersetodas lasfacilidades uecesarias para 
 la entrada y salida de los buques, lo 
 mismo que para el embarque y desem- 
 barque de las mercaderias ; y en los dlas 
 feriados debe estar abierta la aduana 
 durante ciertas horas para la pronta en- 
 trada y salida de los buques. (Par. 14.) 
 
 7. Los aranceles de aduana deben arre- 
 glarse de maneraque no sea necesario 
 pagar impuestos y derechos adicionales. 
 Los^paises en que 6stos se cobren, deben 
 formar y publicar una tarifa de los dere- 
 chos de puerto quetengan establecidos, y 
 cuidar de que, en cuanto sea posible, la 
 cuantia de ellos no sea sino la jnsta re- 
 muneraci<5u de losservicios por los cnales 
 se exijan. (Par. 15.) 
 
 8. En caso de desacuerdo en cuanto S, la 
 cuantia legal 6 monto de los derechos, se 
 permitird^ al importador depositar, bajo 
 protesta, el maximum de los derechos 
 exigidos por las autoridades de la aduana, 
 y toraar posesidn de sus mercaderias. 
 En tales cases, el aforo definitivo se har^ 
 tan pronto como sea posible, despufo de 
 haberse fallado definitivamente la cues- 
 ti(5L , y el exceso de derechos, si lo hubiere, 
 se devolverS; al importador. (Par. 16.) 
 
 9. En los principales puertos de los 
 paises aqui representados se adoptari, 
 tan pronto como sea posible, un sistema 
 por medio del cual, cuando un importador 
 desee dejar temporalmente las mercade- 
 rias bajo la guarda del gobierno, antes 
 de pagar los der<chos, pneda almace- 
 narias por su cueuta y riesgo, bajo la 
 vigilancia de las autoridades de la 
 aduana. Con este objeto se estableceriin 
 
540 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 which such goods may remain on storage 
 under bond during one or more years, and 
 from which they may be withdrawn at 
 any time by the injporter, in quantities 
 of not less than one package, or if in bulk, 
 not less than one ton in weight, upon pay- 
 ment of the duty and charges upon the 
 portion withdrawn for consumption, or, 
 if withdrawn for export, upon payment 
 of the expenses of storage and labor. 
 
 (Par. 17.) 
 
 10. That customs examinations shall be 
 made solely for the verification of the 
 declarations of the invoice and entry, and 
 be conducted with the least possible delay 
 and expense to the importer. Where the 
 duties are specific, the invoice valuation 
 shall be accepted for statistical purposes 
 without verification. (Par. 21.) 
 
 11. That actual samples of merchandise 
 of no commercial value sent by foreign 
 dealers, or brought by bona fide com- 
 mercial travelers, solely for inspection, 
 and personal effects and tools of trade or 
 occupation, brought by passengers for 
 their own use and not for sale, shall be 
 admitted without payment of duty, 
 under such restrictions as may be pro- 
 vided. (Par. 22.) 
 
 12. That the countries here represented 
 shall agree to circulate prompt informa- 
 tion of the existence, within their respect- 
 ive borilers, of contagious disease among 
 cattle and other live stock, and to estab- 
 lish proper precautions where importa- 
 tions of this character are threatened. 
 
 (Par. 20.) 
 
 13. Merchandise which has been recov- 
 ered from a wrecked or stranded vessel 
 may be entered without in^ oice at the 
 custom-house by either the salvors or the 
 importers for appraisement by the proper 
 authorities, and duties shall be paid 
 in accordance with such appraisement. 
 Importers shall also be accorded the priv- 
 ilege of abandoning to the Goveroment, 
 without liability for duty, any damaged 
 merchandise included in any invoice, 
 provided that the portion so abandoned 
 shall amount in value or q[uantity to ten 
 
 almacenes de depdsito bajo fianza, en los 
 cualeslas mercaderlas puedanpermanecer 
 almacenadas por uno 6 md^s alios, y de 
 donde podrSi sacarlas el importador en 
 oualqnier tiempo, y en cantidad que no 
 baje de uu bulto, 6, si la mercancia es 
 Si grauel, de no menos de una tonelada, 
 previo el go de los derechos y gastos 
 ooasionados por la porcidu retirada para 
 el consume ; y si se sacare para la expor- 
 taci6n, previo el page de almacenaje y 
 trabajo manual. (Par 17.') 
 
 10. Ei reconecimiento de mercaderlas 
 por las autoridades de aduana no debe 
 haoerse sino para comprobar la exaotitud 
 de las declaraciones hechasen lasfaoturas 
 y en las peticiones de despacho de entra- 
 da, y debe verificarse con el menor costo 
 al importador y en el tiempo m£ia breve 
 posible. Cuando los derechos sean espe- 
 clfioos, deberdi aceptarse el valor expresado 
 en la factura, para los fines estadfsticos, 
 sin reconocimiento de las mercaderlas. 
 
 (Par. 21.) 
 
 11. Las muestras de poco valor comer- 
 cial remitidas por comerciantes extrauje- 
 ros tan s61o para dar d conocer algtin 
 artlculo, 6 contenidas en el equipaje de 
 agentes comerciales de buena f6, y los 
 efectos 6 instrumentos de ocupaci6n 6 
 trabajo llevados por los pasajeros para su 
 propio uso y no para la venta, deber^n 
 admitirse libres de derechos con las res- 
 tricoiones que se impongan. (Par. 22.) 
 
 12. Los paises aqui representados de- 
 beriiu oonveuir en darse aviso, lo m^s 
 pronto posible, de la existencia en su 
 territorio de cualquiera enfermedad con- 
 tagiosa en el ganado vacuno 6 de otra 
 especie, y en dictar las medidas preventi- 
 vas necesarias en los puntos amenazados 
 porlaimportacidn del oontagio. (Par.20.) 
 
 13. Las mercancias que hayan sido re- 
 cobradas de entre los despojos de un n&a- 
 fragio 6 de nn buque encallado, podr^n 
 declararse en la aduana, sin necesidad de 
 factura, por los salvadores 6 por los impor- 
 tadores para que se avaltien por las auto- 
 ridades competentes, y deconformidad con 
 el avaMo dado se paguen los derechos. 
 
 'Los importadores deber^u tambi^n guzar 
 del privilegio dc abandonar al Gobierno, 
 sin responsabilidad por los derechos, las 
 mercaderlas averiadas inclnidaa en cual- 
 quiera factura, eon tal que la parte a!s 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 541 
 
 per centum of the entire invoice, and 
 whenever recovered goods have heen sur- 
 rendered to an insurance company, the 
 latter shall be recognized as the rightful 
 owner of the same for all customs pur- 
 poses. (Par. 26. ) 
 
 14. That when importers have paid at 
 the frontier the full amount of import 
 duties asspssed, they shall be exempted 
 from all further liability for duties within 
 the limils of the country of importation. 
 
 (Par. 18, 19.) 
 
 15. That where the rate or amount of 
 duties isdependent upon the weight, gross 
 weight shall generally be used, and that 
 in case net weight is required, allowances 
 for tare shall be made according to sched- 
 ules officially published. (Par. "25.) 
 
 16. Against the imposition of fines or ex- 
 cessive duties importers shall be granted 
 the right of appeal to a tribunal by which 
 their good or bad faith, as it may appear 
 from the evidence, will be taken into ac- 
 count; and the decision of said tribunal 
 upon the facts shall be final and shall be 
 made as promptly as practicable, and 
 ■whenever the good faith of the importer 
 is satisfactorily shown, no penalty shall 
 be incurred. Customs officers shall have 
 no participation in any of the customs re- 
 ceipts, but shall deposit them intact, in- 
 cluding moneys derived from fines and 
 forfeitures, into the treasuries of their re- 
 spective governments. (Par. 27, 28.) 
 
 17. That the governments here repre- 
 sented shall unite for the establishment 
 of an American international bureau for 
 the collection, tabulation, and publica- 
 tion, in the English, Spanish, and Portu- 
 guese languages, of information as to the 
 productions and commerce, and as to the 
 customs laws and regulations of their 
 respective countries; such bureau to be 
 maintained in one of the countries for 
 the common benefit and at the common 
 expense, and to furnish, to all the other 
 countries represented, such commercial 
 statistics and other useful information as 
 may be contributed to it by any of the 
 American republics. 
 
 That the Committee on Customs be 
 authorized and instructed to furnish to 
 the Couference a plan of organization 
 
 abandonada llegue en valor 6 cantidad & 
 diez por oiento del total de la factura; 
 y cuando los artlculos salvados hay an sido 
 abandonados & las CompaBlas de Seguros, 
 ^stas serdn consideradas conio legitimes 
 dueBos e'l todo lo concernieute & la adua- 
 na. (Par. 26.) 
 
 14. Cuando los importadores hayan 
 pagado en la frontera el total de los 
 derechos establecidos sobre sus merca- 
 derias, estas deben quedar libres de cua- 
 lesquiera otros derechos 6 impuestos en el 
 pals & que se impbrtan. (Par. 18, 19.) 
 
 15. En los paises en que se cobren los 
 derechos sobre el peso, debe adoptarse el 
 sistema del peso bruto. Cuando se pa- 
 guen sobre el peso neto, debe hacerse la 
 deduccidn de la tara conforme & tarifas 
 publicadas oficialmente. (Par. )!S>.) 
 
 16. Cuando se inipongan multas, 6 el 
 aforo de derechos se juzgue excKsivo, 
 el importador tendrd el derecho de apela^ 
 ci6n ante un tribunal que debe tomar 
 en consideracidn la buena 6 mala i€ del 
 importador, segtiu lo que resulte de las 
 prnebas exhibidas. El fallo de dicho 
 tribunal serSi definitive y se pronunciar^ 
 sin tardanza. El importador no incuirir^ 
 en pena alguna cuando su buena {6 haya 
 sido satisfactoriamente demostrada. Los 
 empleados de aduana no tendr^n pa,rtici- 
 paci6n personal alguna eu los derechos 
 cobrados, los cuales, junto con las sumas 
 procedentes de multas y pena de comiso, 
 ingresarfo en el tesoro de los respectivos 
 Gobiernos. (Par. 27, 28.) 
 
 17. Los paJses aqui represeutados se 
 unirSin con el objeto de establecer una 
 "Oficina Internacional Americana" para 
 la compllaci6n, arieglo y publicacidu, 
 en ingles, espafiol y portugufe, de da- 
 tes 6 informes referentes ^ la produc- 
 oidn, comercio, leyes y reglamentos de 
 aduana de los respectivos paises. Esta 
 oficina, fundada para el beneficio comfin y 
 sostenida Ji costa de los paises ccmtratantes, 
 tendrii su asiento en uuo de ^stos, y pro- 
 porcionar^ & todos ellos los datos esta- 
 disticos sobre comercio y demds iu formes 
 que scan de algnna utilidad, que sumi- 
 nistre cualquiera de las Reptiblioas ameri- 
 canas. 
 
 Se autoriza & instrnye & la Corai8i6n de 
 Reglamentos de Aduauas para que pre- 
 sente & la Confereucia un plan de orga- 
 
542 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 and a Bcbeme for tbe practical work of 
 the proposed bureau. (Par. y9, 30. ) 
 
 Washington, March 10, 1890. 
 J. Alfonso. 
 M. Romero. 
 CLfMACO Calder6ii. 
 Chas. K. Flint. 
 Salvaook de Mendon^a. 
 Manuel Aka66n. 
 N. Bolet Peraza. 
 H. G. Davis. 
 
 The recommendations of the above were 
 read by the Secretaries. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili and 
 chairman of the Reporting Committee, 
 explained that Mr. Nin, who had been 
 chairman of the committee, did not ap- 
 pear as a signitary of the report, as he 
 was absent. He stated that it was but 
 an act of justice to acknowledge the obli- 
 gations of the committee to Mr. Flint, a 
 Delngate from the United States and 
 member of the committee, for his labors 
 on the report. He stated also that in 
 explanation of his signature to tbe report 
 he would set forth to the conference the 
 contents of the written statement, which 
 he read and requested appended to the 
 minutes. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 observed that the first paragraph or 
 preamble of the recommendations ought 
 to be changed so as to end at the words 
 " following measures," and that the rest, 
 beginning at the words "tbe accept- 
 ance,'' ought to form a separate article at 
 the end as Article 18. He stated also that 
 he had noticed an omission to provide 
 for the obtaiument of statistics of com- 
 merce by land, and that with tbe view of 
 filling it he proposed to submit an addi- 
 tional article. 
 
 Mr Castellanos, a Delegate from Sal- 
 vador, drew attention to the fact that the 
 appendices which ought to accompany 
 the report were not added. 
 
 Mr. Davis, a Delegate from the United 
 States, explained the advantages of the 
 report, which would tend to facilitate 
 commerce, and in the preparation of 
 which the most competent experts in the 
 country had assisted, especially Mr. Corn- 
 stock, who had immensely aided Mr. 
 
 nizacidn y un proyecto sobre estableci- 
 mieuto y administracidn de la oficina pro- 
 puesta. (Par. 29,30.) 
 
 Washington, Marzo 10 de 1890. 
 J. Alfonso. 
 
 M. EOMERO. 
 
 ClImaco Calder6n. 
 Chas. E. Flint. 
 Salvador de Mkndon5a 
 Manuel AsAGdN. 
 N. Bolet Peraza. 
 H. G. Davis. 
 * 
 Leidas que fueron por los Secretaries 
 
 las recomendaciones del anterior dicti- 
 men, el Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 y Presideute de la Coinisidn informante, 
 tomd la palabra para explicar : 1° que el 
 Senor Nin, que f u^ originalmente el Presi- 
 dente de laComisi6n, no aparece firmando 
 el dict^men, por razon de su ausencia ; 
 2° que es nn acto de justicia reconocer la 
 gran parte que se debe al Honorable 
 Senor Flint, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, y miembro de la Comisibn, en la 
 proporcidn de ese trabajo ; y 3° que eu 
 explioaoiSn del porqu6 habia firmado el 
 dictSmen, debia hacer presente & la Con- 
 ferenoia lo que aparece de la uota cs- 
 crita, que ley6, y pidid se agregase como 
 ap^ndice al acta de este dia. 
 
 El Senor Romero, delegado por Me- 
 xico, observ6: que el primer p^rrafo 6 
 pre^mbulo de las recomendaciones debia 
 cambiarse de manera que ooncluyese 
 donde dice "las siguientes medidas;"y 
 que el resto desde las palabras " La acep- 
 taci6n,'' debia formar un artlculo sepa- 
 rado y ponerse al fin, como articulo 18". 
 Dijo tambien que se habia omitido pro- 
 veer respecto & la obtencifiu de estadlsti- 
 cas del comercio por tierra, y que con ob- 
 jeto de lleuar este vacio se proponia some- 
 ter un articulo adicional. 
 
 El Senor Castellanos, delegado por 
 Salvador, llam6 la atenci^n de la Confe- 
 rencia i, que los ap6ndices que deben 
 acompaBar al dict^men, seglin en ^1 se 
 dice, no aparecen agregados. 
 
 El Senor Davis, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, explic6 las ventajas del dic- 
 tamen, que tiende & facilitar el comercio, 
 y en cuya preparacidn habian intervenido 
 los hombres nida competentes del pais en 
 el ramo, especialmeute cl Senor Corn- 
 stock que habia ayudado con gran etica- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 543 
 
 Flint. He added that the Interstate 
 Commission and the Railroad Bureau 
 were making efforts to obtain the statis- 
 tics of land exports. 
 
 A discussion arose between Messrs. 
 Henderson, Davis, and Romero concern- 
 ing the form which should be adopted for 
 the additional article which Mr. Romero 
 intended to submit, but the hour for 
 adjournment having been reached, the 
 debate w.ns suspended until next session. 
 
 The Conference adjourned at 6:05 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarha, 
 
 First Vice rresideiit. 
 
 Horatio Guzman. 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 Feknando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOSlf. M. HURTADO, 
 
 Colombia. 
 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 
 Jos#, S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 
 J. G. do Amaral Valknte, 
 Salvador db Mendonqa, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MbxI a, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studeh \kkr, 
 William Henry Tkbscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United Stntes. 
 Nicanor Bolet Pkkaza, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 Kmilio C. Varas, 
 Josic Alfonsi), 
 
 Chili. 
 
 cia al Senor Flint. Anadi6 que la 
 Comisi6n denominada "Interstate Com- 
 missi6n," y la Oficina de estadistica de 
 los ferro-oarriles se estaban ocupad ode 
 observar la estadistica de la exportaoi6n 
 terrestre. 
 
 Su8cit6se entonces discusidn entre los 
 Seuores Henderson, Davis y Romero, 
 respecto ^ la forma que debia darse al 
 arliculo adicional que el liltimo Seflor 
 propouia se adopt ase; pero habiendo 
 llegado la hora de levantar la sesi6n, se 
 suspendid el debate para continuarlo el 
 signiente dia. 
 
 Se Ievant6 la 8esi6n A las seis y cinco 
 miniitos de la taide. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vicepresideiite. 
 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOS^ M. HURTADO, 
 
 Colomhia. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G DO Amarai, Valrntb, 
 Salvador de Mbndon5a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 
 Jer6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
 Mat/as Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 M&ico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 MoRius M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Josit Alfonso, 
 
 Chile, 
 
544 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Appendix A. 
 
 (MB. ROMERO'S SPEECH.) 
 
 I beg the Conference to allow me to 
 make some remarks before this debate is 
 closed which will be complementary to 
 those made by my colleague, the chair- 
 man of the committee, in regard to the 
 condition of Mexico with reference to 
 this matter. 
 
 As the Conference is aware, Mexico has 
 been the largest producer of silver in 
 the world. Two-thirds of all the silver 
 now existing has been produced by my 
 country, and although in the last few 
 years the annual production of that 
 metal in the United States ban exceeded 
 that of Mexico, I have the conviction that 
 when the production of Mexican mines 
 attains its full development,, which I 
 believe will take place before long in 
 view I f the rapid manner in which rail- 
 roads are being constructed there, our 
 annual production of silver will exceed 
 that of the United States. The produc- 
 tion here has attained its largest develop- 
 menf, while with us it is now only com- 
 mencing to be developed. When our 
 production is fully developed we will 
 occnpy again, as we did for many years 
 previously, the first rank in the world in 
 the production of silver. 
 
 Notwithstanding its mining wealth, 
 iind very likely on account of it, Mexico 
 has not suffered as much as might be ex- 
 pected from the depreciation in the value 
 of silver. The Mexican monetary system 
 is based upon silver coin ; the wages, 
 salaries, house rent, and the value of all 
 services and productions in Mexico have 
 not been snhject to the fluctuations caused 
 by the depreciation of silver. Foreign 
 merchandise only has been affected by 
 that. The enhanced value of real estate 
 in some parts is due to the development 
 of the country and not to the depreciation 
 of that metal. As Mexican mines are 
 generally rich, the depreciation in the 
 value of silver has reduced their profits 
 more or less; but this is hardly percep- 
 tible in a business subject to so many 
 contingencies as mining, and I have no 
 information that a single Mexican mine 
 has been abandoned on account of the 
 
 APjftNDICB A. 
 (DISOUBSO DEL SB. BOMEBO.) 
 
 SnplicoS la Conferencia meperniltaha- 
 cer algunas observaeiones antes de que 
 se cierre estadiscu-iidn sobre este asunto, 
 que servir^n de complemento & las expli- 
 caciones que ha hecho mi colega, el Pre- 
 sidente de la Comisi6n, respecto de la si- 
 tuacidn de Mexico relacionada con este 
 asunto. 
 
 Como la Conferencia sabe Mfeico ha 
 sido el mayor productor de plata en el 
 mundo : dos terceras partes de la plata 
 total que existe ahora en el mundo, se ha 
 producido en mi pals, y aunque en los tilti- 
 mos anos la produccidn de este metal en los 
 Estados Unidos, ha excedido & la de Mexi- 
 co, tengo la convicci6n de que cuando al- 
 cance mayor desarroUo la industria rai- 
 nera mexicana, lo cual creo se verificar^ 
 dentrode pocos afios, vista la rapidez 
 con que se estSn construyendo vfas f^r- 
 reas, nuestra produccidn anual de plata 
 exoeder^ & la de los Estados Unidoe, pues 
 aqui ha a.canzado ya su completo de- 
 sarroUo, mientrasque en Mexico eomionza 
 ahora & desarroUarse, y volveremos & 
 ocupar, como henios ocupado por muchos 
 aiios, el primer lugar del mundo, en esa 
 producidn. 
 
 Apesar de sn riqneza minora, y proba- 
 blemente & causa de 611a, no ha sufrido 
 Mexico por la depreciacidn de la plata, 
 tanto como pudiera creerse. El sisteraa 
 monetario mexicano est^ basado sobre la 
 moneda de plata : los precios de los jorna- 
 les, sueldos, salaries, rentas de casas y 
 valor de todos los servioios y prodnc- 
 ciones mexicanas, no han estado sujetos 
 & las fluctuaciones ocasionadas por la 
 baja de aquel metal, y Kolamente las 
 mercanclas extranjeras han sido afectadas 
 por esa baja. El aumento de valor en la 
 propiedad raiz en algunas regiones se debe 
 al desarrollo del pais, y no S la deprecia- 
 ci6n de este metal, siendo generalmente 
 ricas las minas mexicanas de plata la de- 
 preciacidn de ese metal ha reducido mas 6 
 m^nossus utilidades, lo cual aoenas se hace 
 perceptible en un ncgocio tan eventual y 
 expnesto & tantas contingencias como la 
 mineria; pcro no tengo noticiade que una 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 545 
 
 low price of its productions caused by the 
 depreciation in the value of silver. 
 
 For a Mexican who has never left his 
 country, or who is not aware of what 
 takes place in the monetary centers of 
 the world, silver has now the same value 
 as it had twenty years ago; and if he 
 could detect any diiference at all it would 
 only be in the price of foreign merchan- 
 dise, which has almost been compensated 
 with the lower price that they now com- 
 mand in comparison with what they had 
 twenty years ago. The Mexican Govern- 
 ment is the greatest sufferer on account 
 of the payment in London of the interest 
 of the Mexican foreign debt; but the ele- 
 ments of wealth of my country are so 
 iarge, that that difference is hardly per- 
 ceptible, and to ns it is equivalent to a 
 higher rate of interest. 
 
 So far as Mexico is concerned there is 
 no special interest, therefore, and much 
 less an urgent one, which miglit induce 
 It to take extreme measures to obtain an 
 increase in the value of silver, although 
 it is apparent that any increase in that 
 value would be advantageous to us. 
 
 The depreciation of silver has produced 
 in Mexico a result which seems almost 
 paradoxical, and notwithstanding it is a 
 real one. It has established a bounty 
 equal to the amount of depreciation in 
 the value of silver, which is now about 
 33 per cent in favor of the exportation of 
 other Mexican products, and this cause 
 has increased cousiderably the product- 
 ion and exportation of such products. 
 
 For many years, and principally on ac- 
 count of the great expense of transpor- 
 tation on the Mexican roads, as a conse- 
 quence of the uneven ground, and on 
 account of our lack of large lakes and 
 navigable rivers, the only Mexican prod- 
 ucts that could pay the expense of trans- 
 portation were precious metals, because 
 in small volume and weight they possess a 
 greater value than other articles ; and the 
 Mexican exportaiions, before the rail- 
 roads were built, consisted only of gold 
 and silver. This condition of things pre- 
 vented the development of the other 
 sources of wealth of the country, in 
 whatever was not absolutely necessary 
 for the local consumption, which was in 
 itself qnite small. 
 35 I 
 
 sola mina haya sido abandonada por 
 motivo de la baja en el valor desus frutos, 
 ooasi on ada por I a depreciaci (5n d e la plata. 
 
 Para el mexicano que no haya salldo 
 de su pais 6 que no est^ al tanto de lo 
 que pasa en los centres monetarios ex- 
 tranjeros, la plata cooserva ahora el 
 mismo valor que tenia hace veinte aHos, 
 y si alguna diferencia pndiera notar, seria 
 tan solo la de prooios algo mas altos en 
 las mercancias extranjeras, compensada 
 hasta cierto punto con la mayor baratura 
 que estas tieneu ahora respecto del precio 
 que aloanzaban hace veinte aHos. El 
 Gobierno es quien sufre mayor gravamen 
 al situaren Londres los intereses de la 
 deuda exterior; pero los elementos de 
 riqueza del pals son tan grandes, que 
 apenas se hace perceptible ese gravamen, 
 que para nosotros equivale ^ un tipo mas 
 alto de interns. 
 
 No hay pues por parte de Mexico 
 interns ningnuo especial, ni mucho menos 
 urgente, que lo haga proponer <5 recurrir 
 & meilidasextremas para procurar la alza 
 en el valor de la plata, aunqne es notorio 
 que toda alza en ese valor no podrla 
 menos que serle ventajosa. 
 
 La baja de la plata ha producido en Mexi- 
 co un efecto que ^ primera vista pareceri 
 paraddjico, y que sin embargo es efec- 
 tivo: el de estableoer una prima igual & 
 la cifra de la depreciaoifin de la plata que 
 es ahora de cosa de nn 33 por ciento en favor 
 de la exportacidn de otros productos mexi- 
 canos, lo cual no ha podido menos que 
 fomentar considerablemente la produo- 
 ci6n y exportaci6n de frutos agricolas. 
 
 For muchos aflos y & causa principal- 
 mente de lo muy costoso del trasporte en 
 los caminos de Mexico, como consecuencia 
 de lo muy quebrado del pals y de su falta 
 de grandes lagos y rios navegables, no 
 costeaba la exportacidn sino de metales 
 preciosos, que en un vollimen y peso muy 
 reducidos tenianun gran valor y la expor- 
 tacldn mexioana realraente no consistia 
 antes de la construccifin de ferrocarriles 
 mas que en oro y plata. Esta situacidn 
 hizo que no se desarroUaran los elementos 
 agrf colas del pais, sino, en cnanto era ab- 
 solutamente necesario para el consume 
 local, de por si exiguo y reduoido. 
 
546 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Before the depreciation of silver, which 
 coiucided with the beginning of the con- 
 gtruction of railroads iu Mexico, the ex- 
 portation of Mexican products, besides 
 precious metals, was really insignificant. 
 
 That depreciation coincided — as it was 
 natural, for the reasons stated — with the 
 increase in the production of other arti- 
 cles for export, because these articles 
 had a heavy bounty, equivalent to the 
 amount of the depreciation in silver. If 
 a Mexican merchant has to send |il,000, 
 for instance, to New York or London, he 
 has to use 1,333 Mexican dollars in silver ; 
 while, if he sends coflfee, vanilla, or any 
 other articles of national production, as 
 this is sold by gold in NewYork or London, 
 he saves that loss. If the price, for 
 instance, of coffee in New York or London 
 is $20 per 100 pounds, its price in Mexi- 
 can national coin would be $26.66, less 
 freight, insurance, commission, and other 
 small expenses. With this view, it is 
 therefore clear that the depreciation of 
 silver has produced, iu a great degree, a 
 decided benefit for Mexico, because it has 
 encouraged the production of other arti- 
 cles of as much value, as the precious 
 metals, and for the production of which 
 Mexico has great eleaients of wealth, and 
 very favorable conditions with which 
 nature has bountifully supplied her. 
 
 This plain explanation of the actual 
 condition of things iu Mexico will show 
 the Conference that, so far as my country 
 is concerned there is not any great neces- 
 sity, and much less an urgent one, to 
 propose or adopt any extraordinary meas- 
 ures with the view to restoring the value 
 of silver, and iha,t we can wait as long 
 as it may be necessary, so that the old 
 ratio of one to fifteen and one-half will 
 be restored; and this, in my judgment, 
 will take place before long. 
 
 The adoption of an international silver 
 coin will have for us another very serious 
 disadvantage. As the Conference is aware 
 the Mexican silver dollar is of greater 
 fineness and weight than any other in 
 the world, and for this reason, since we 
 have been coining it, our dollar has cir- 
 culated as national money and for its 
 nominal value almost everywhere, and 
 especially in China and other Oriental 
 
 Antes de que comenzara la depreoiacida 
 de la plata, que ooincidi6 con el principio 
 de la construccidn de ferrocarriles en Me- 
 xico, la exportacidn de frntos mexioanos 
 adem^s de los metales preciosos, era real- 
 mente insigniflcante. 
 
 Aquella depreciacidn ha coincidido, 
 como era natural, con el aumento en 
 la producci6n de articulos exportables, 
 porque dstos gozan una prima equiva- 
 lente S, la depreciacidn en el valor de la 
 plata. Para situar un comerciante de 
 Mexico, mil pesos en Nueva-York 6 en 
 L6ndre8, tiene que mandar mil treecien- 
 tos treinta y tres pesos en plata del cuDo 
 mexicano, mientras que si envia caf6 
 vainilla 6 algnn otro artlculo de pro- 
 duccidn nacioual y lo vende por oro 
 en Nueva-York 6 en L6udres, se ahorra 
 aquella perdida. Si el cafe vale en 
 Nueva-York 6 en Ldndres veinte pesos 
 quintal, por ejemplo, su precio en moueda 
 mexicana ser^ de veinte seis pesos se- 
 senta y seis centavos, deducidos fletes, 
 seguro, comisi6u y otros gastos. Bajo 
 este aspeoto, es pues olaro, que la depre- 
 ciaci6n de la i)lata, ha producido hasta 
 cierto punto, un beneficio para Mexico, 
 porque le ha permitido desarroUar la 
 producci6n de otros frutos de tanto valor 
 como los metales preciosos, y para los 
 cuales tiene elementos riqulsimos y oon- 
 diciones favorables de que lo ha provisto 
 prddigamente la naturaleza. 
 
 Esta sencilla mauifestacidn del estado 
 actual de coaas en Mexico, demostrar^ S, 
 la Confereuoia que por parte de mi pais 
 no hay necesidad imperiosa, ni urgencia 
 ninguna, de tomarmedidas extremas con 
 objeto de restablecer el valor de la plata, 
 y que puede esperar todo el tiempo que 
 fuere necesario para que la relacidn co- 
 mercial eutre la plata y el oro sea de 15 
 y medio £ uno, lo cual, ^ mi juicio, tendri 
 que suceder antes de mucho. 
 
 La adopcidn de una raoneda interna- 
 cional de plata tendrd. para nosotros otro 
 inconveniente muy serio. Como la Con- 
 ferencia sabe, la moneda mexicana tiene 
 mayor ley de plata y mayor peso, que la 
 de cualquiera otra naoi6n del muudo y 
 por este motive, desde su creaci(5u, ha 
 circulado como moneda nacioual y por su 
 valor nominal casi en todas partes, y es- 
 pecialmente en China y otras naoiones 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 547 
 
 countries. The coinage of the trade dol- 
 lar by the United States Government, 
 with a view to competing in the Oriental 
 marlfets with the Mexican dollar, did 
 not produce the result expected, and had 
 to be abandoned. 
 
 It would be difficult for the American 
 nations to agree that the international 
 silver dollar should have the same fine- 
 ness and weight as the Mexican dollar, 
 because in that case they would create a 
 coin of more value than their own. And 
 this would necessarily have to be depre- 
 ciated if they should accept the same fine- 
 ness and weight as that of the dollar of 
 the United States of America, which is 
 substantially the same as that of several 
 other of the American States. Then we 
 should have in Mexico two silver coins; 
 the international one with the weight 
 and fineness which should be agreed upon, 
 and the Mexican one with higher weight 
 and fineness. This difl'erence in weight 
 and fineness in two coins of the same 
 nominal value, coined in the same coun- 
 try, could not but cause serious embar- 
 rassments. 
 
 Notwithstanding all this, wishing Mex- 
 ico to contribute as far as it is in her 
 power, and even at the expense of any 
 reasonable effort, to the unification of 
 institutions and interests with all the 
 other American Eepublios, has been dis- 
 posed to accept the coinage of an inter- 
 national silver coin, without undervalu- 
 ing the fact that any step towards in- 
 creasing the value of silver will finally 
 be advantageous to us. 
 
 I have thought it convenient to make 
 these remarks to show the Conference 
 that notwithstanding that Mexico is the 
 largest producer of silver she has no 
 especial interest to accept extreme meas- 
 ures for the purpose of changing the 
 actual condition of things, because this 
 condition is much less injarious to her 
 than might be believed, and because, 
 taking into consideration all the facts in 
 the case, it is highly favorable in many 
 respects. 
 
 Before I finish my remarks I ask to be 
 allowed to refer very briefly to the mi- 
 nority reports presented by the two hon- 
 orable Delegates from the United States 
 of America, 
 
 orientales. La acuQaci<5n de nn peso de 
 tr^Jfico por el Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos, con el objoto de hacer oompeten- 
 cia en el mercado de Oriente al peso mexi- 
 cano, no prodnjo el resultado que se es- 
 peraba y bubo que abaudonarla. 
 
 Serf a diflcil que las naciones americanas 
 convinieran en adoptar como ley y peso de 
 la moneda internaoionl la del peso mexi- 
 cano, porque asl orearfan una moneda de 
 mayor valor que la suya propia, que que- 
 darla con una ley y peso inferior y de esta 
 mauera coutribnirlan & depreciarla. Si 
 se adoptara una ley y un peso igual & 
 los del peso de los Estados Unidos, que 
 son las raismas del peso de varies otros de 
 los demiis Estados Americanos, entonces 
 habria en Mexico dos monedas de plata; 
 la moneda internacional, con el peso y la 
 ley que se conviuiese, y la moneda mexi- 
 oana con peso y ley superior, y esta 
 diferenoia de ley y peso, entre dos mone- 
 das de un mismo valor, acufiadas en un 
 mismo pais, no podrla menos que ocasio- 
 narnos series embarazos. 
 
 Apesar de todo eso, deseando Mexico 
 contribair en cuanto de 61 dependa y Si 
 costa de cualqniera esfuerzo razonable, & 
 la unificaci6n de sus iustituciones 6 inte- 
 reses con las demiJs reptiblicas americanas, 
 est^ dispueeto £ aceptar la acuHacidn de 
 una moneda de plata internacional, siu 
 desconocer ^ la vez que todo paso en el 
 sentido de aumentar el valor de la pi .ta, 
 le ser^ al ffn provechoso. 
 
 He creido convenxente entrar en estas 
 explicacioues para demostrar & la Conte- 
 rencia que ^ pesar de ser Mexico la nacidn 
 m^8 productora de plata, no tiene niuguti 
 empetlo en adoptar medidas extremas para 
 cambiar el estado actual de cosas, porque 
 este le perjndica mucho ra^nos de lo que 
 pudiera creerse generalmeute, y bajo 
 ciertos aspectos hasta le es altamente fa- 
 vorable. 
 
 Antes de concluir harfi algunas obser- 
 vaciones respectode los votes particularea 
 de los dos delegados por los Estados Unidos 
 de Am&ica. 
 
648 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. Coolidge proposes to postpone the 
 consideration of this matter until the 
 United States shall have succeeded in 
 establishing biraetallistn. Nobody can 
 deny that should the United States and 
 England, which are the principal com- 
 mercial nations in the world, agree upon 
 establishing a given ratio between the 
 value of gold and silver we should come 
 back to the condition of things which 
 existed twenty years ago; that is, the 
 proportion of one to fifteen and one-half. 
 But taking into consideration the diffi- 
 culties which so far have existed iu ar- 
 riving at an agreement I have the con- 
 viction that if all the American nations, 
 including, of course, the United Stales, 
 should accept a common silver coin, 
 which would be a, legal-tender among 
 themselves, this fact by itself should in 
 all probability be enough to decide the 
 British Government, which, according to 
 the opinion of a special commission ap- 
 pointed by the Crown to study this 
 matter, feels already inclined to accept 
 bimetallism to do this, and in that case 
 the object which we desire would with- 
 out any difficulty be accomplished at 
 onoe. For this reason I believe that the 
 adoption of an international silver coin 
 by the American nations should con- 
 tribute in a very effective manner to the 
 purpose of the honorable Delegate, Mr. 
 Coolidge. 
 
 This gentleman fears that an interna- 
 tional silver dollar should be coined by 
 all the American nations, that coin would 
 come to the United States to be exchanged 
 for gold, and that in that way all the gold 
 now iu the Treasury should be lost and 
 the United States be obliged to give up 
 their gold standard and become mono- 
 metallist. In my opinion this fear is un- 
 grounded, because the United States buys 
 from the American nations to Ihe amount 
 of several millions of dollars iu raw ma- 
 terials, and the difference between the 
 amount bought and the American goods 
 exported to those cowntries, which is paid 
 by them in cash, could be paid in inter- 
 national silver coin which they might 
 receive. Besides, we could agree, as the 
 Latin Monetary Union did that each 
 American nation Should be bound to re- 
 deem in gold the international silver dol- 
 lar that each might coin. If the base for 
 
 El Sr. Coolidge propone que se aplaze 
 este asunto hasta que los Estados Unidos 
 hayan conseguido que se establezca el 
 bimetalismo. Nadie puede descooocer 
 que si la Inglaterra y los Estados Unidos, 
 que son las principales naciones comer- 
 ciales del mundo, convinieren en estable- 
 cer una relacidn dada entre el valor del 
 oro y de la plata, volverlaraos al estado 
 de cosas que existia hace veinte afios. 
 Pero en vista de las difioultades que este 
 aouerdo ha presentado hasta ahora, tengo 
 la oonviccidn'fie que si todas las naciones 
 Americanas, incluyendo por supuesto ^ 
 los Estados Unidos, convinieran en acep- 
 tar una moueda de plata de curso legal 
 entre 611a8, este heoho acaso bastaria para 
 que la Inglaterra, quesegliu se deduce del 
 dict^men de la Comisidn nombrada por 
 su Gobierno para el eitudio de este asun- 
 to, no est^ Mjos de aceptar el bimelalismo, 
 se decidiese & hacerlo, logr^udose asi el 
 objeto que todos deseamos. Bajo este as- 
 peoto pu6s, creo que la adopci6n de una 
 nioneda internacional por las naciones 
 americanas, con tribuiria eficazmmte ^la 
 realizaci6n de los propdsitos del Sr. Dele- 
 gado Coolidge. 
 
 T^me este caballero qne la moneda de 
 plata acuBada por las naciones ameri- 
 canas, fuese cambiada por el oro de los 
 Estados Unidos, y que asl perdiese este 
 pals todo su oro, y tuviese qne abandonar 
 su padrdn monetario de aquel metal y 
 volverse monometalista de plata. Este 
 temor me pareoe infnndado, porque cani- 
 prando los Estados Uniilos ^ las naciones 
 americanas varios millones de pesos de 
 materiag priraas enyo saldo pagan en nu- 
 merario, podilan aplicar la moneda de 
 plata aou&ada por aquellas naciones que 
 reeibieran, al pago de esais mercanefas, 
 por una parte ; y por la otra, porque po- 
 drfa establecerse, £C imitactfin de lo acor- 
 dado por la Uni6uMonetariaLatina, qne 
 cada naci6n americana tuviese obligaci6n 
 de redimir en oro la moneda de plata in- 
 ternacional que acnnase. Si se fijasepor 
 ejemplo para la acntiacidn de la moneda 
 internacional la base minima de un peso 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 549 
 
 coinage should be as the minima m one 
 dollar per each inhabitant in each coun- 
 try, there should be a demand at once for 
 120,000,000 ounees of silver, which would 
 necessarily increase the value of this 
 metal and have a very great moral influ- 
 ence in the solution of this problem by 
 the other commercial nations of the 
 world. 
 
 I have heard with great satisfaction 
 the very eloquent speech of the honora- 
 ble Delegate, Mr. Estee, and I am entirely 
 in accord with all the ideas expressed in 
 the same, which, I think, with ouly one 
 exception, are exactly the same as the 
 report of the majority of the committee. 
 I can not understand, therefore, why he 
 did not sign that report, which only 
 expresses his own views, although in a 
 more concise manner. The only point in 
 which Mr. Estee's report differs from that 
 of the majo/ity of the committee is about 
 the amount of intematiooal silver coin 
 which would be a legal tender in all pay- 
 meats, which he proposes will not exceed 
 $150. The majority report does not fix 
 any amount, but leaves that point, as 
 well as others relating to the coinage of 
 the dollar, to the decision of a special con- 
 ference to be appointed hereafter. There 
 is, therefore, no disagreement between 
 the report of the majority of the commit- 
 tee and the minority report of Mr, Estee ; 
 and, as I said, I can not understand why 
 he did not sign the majority report, even 
 stating, if he thought it necessary, the 
 only case in which he might not agree 
 with his colleagues. 
 
 I do not intend to give any explanation 
 in behalf of the United States, as the 
 numerous and very able Delegates repre- 
 senting this country in the Conference 
 are amply able to perform that task, iu 
 case they should ttiick it necessary to 
 make any explanations. But the knowl- 
 edge which I have of this country, as a 
 result of my residence in the same for 
 many years, prompts me to clear some 
 doubts which have appeared in the minds 
 of some of our colleagues, and which are 
 of some interest in this discussion. 
 
 Public opinion is deeply divided in the 
 United States on the question of silver. 
 The best proof that can be had of this 
 fact are the different opinions of the Dele- 
 
 por habitante, habrla desde luego la de- 
 manda de 120,000,000 de onzas de plata, 
 que haria necesariameute subir el valor 
 de este metal, prescindiendo de la iu- 
 fluencia moral que oausaria en el mundo 
 mercantil esa medida. 
 
 He oido con mucha satisfacclfin el elo- 
 ouente disourso del Sr. Delegado Estee, y 
 estoy enteramente de acuerdo con todas 
 las ideas que en el avanza, y que son las 
 mismas coutenidas en el dict^meu de la 
 mayorfa de la Comisi6n con una sola ex- 
 cepcidn. No puedo comprender por lo 
 mismo, como no ha suscrito ese dictSoien, 
 que contieno sus propias ideas, aunque 
 mas en concrete. El tinico punto en quo 
 diflere de la mayoria, es la cantidad 
 de moneda de plata intemaoional que 
 debe reoibirse forzosamente en cada 
 page, pu6s 61 propone que no pase de cin- 
 cuenta pesos, y la mayorfa no flja canti- 
 dad ninguna con ese objeto, sino que deja 
 este punto, lo mismo que otros relacioua- 
 dos con la emisidn de la moneda, i la de- 
 terminaci6n de una Conferencia especial 
 que deber^ reunirse para acordarlos. No 
 hay pues realmente desaouerdo eutre el 
 dictiilmen de la mayorfa y el voto particu- 
 lar del Sr. Delegado Estee, y no com- 
 prendo porque no iirm6 aquel dict^men, 
 oonsignando, si lo consideraba necesario, 
 la excepcidn indicada. 
 
 No pretendo hacer explioaciones S, nom- 
 bre de los Estados Uuidos, pu^s los nu- 
 merosos y h^biles delegados de este pais 
 en la Conferencia, son ampliamente com- 
 petentes para desempeuar esa tarea, si 
 creyesen que deberian dar algunas. Pero 
 el oonociraiento que tengo de este pais, 
 resultado de mi residencia en ^1 de varies 
 anos, nie permiten aolarar algunos puntos 
 que en cierto modo, parecen diflciles de 
 comprender. Tal vez mis explicaciones 
 puedan disipar la impresidn que ban de- 
 jado algunos conceptos vertidos aquf 
 sobre este asunto. 
 
 La opini6u pliblica entS, profundamente 
 divididaen los Estados Unidos con mo- 
 tive de la cuestidn de la plata. La mejor 
 prueba que pnede presentarse de ese 
 
550 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 gates representing the United States in 
 this Conference. I xian assure the Con 
 ference that both of these gentlemen pre- 
 senting minority reports are only the 
 faithful exponents of the respective sides 
 of the public opinion iu their country, 
 except that Mr. Estee's opinion does not 
 go quite so far as the prevaliug opinion 
 of tlie silver men in the United States. 
 
 Bankers, merchants, bond-holders, and, 
 as a geueral rule, all men who receive 
 rents, interest, or payments, are of the 
 opinion expressed by Mr. Coolidge, and 
 they believe that the country would go to 
 ruin if the amount of silver coined every 
 year should be increased. They look 
 with very great distrust upon the coining 
 of even two millions a month, which is 
 now made in accordance with the Bland 
 law. On the contrary, the agricultural 
 classes, the small merchants, the rural 
 population, and almost everybody else 
 not belonging to the other classes before 
 mentioned, are in favor of the unlimited 
 coinage of silver ; and they earnestly be- 
 lieve that if silver had been coined in 
 that way, the value of tliat metal would 
 not be depreciated so much and would be 
 in the same proportion as twenty years 
 ago. 
 
 Both of these opinions are almost 
 equally represented in the Congress of 
 the United States, and this circumstance 
 and the difficulty of passing any law on 
 account of the rules of the House of Rep- 
 resentatives, which protect the minority — 
 and there is always a very large minority 
 against any measure proposed — have re- 
 sulted in keeping the statu quo, notwith- 
 standing the effort which each side makes 
 to change it in favor of their respective 
 opinions. The gold men introduce in 
 every Congress a bill for the suspension 
 of coinage of silver, while the silver 
 men introduce a bill for the unlimited 
 coinage of that metal. But each one has 
 a very large opposition, which prevents 
 the passing of the same. 
 
 During the last Congress, and under 
 another administratiou which was of a 
 different political party, representing dif- 
 ferent economical views, a law was ap- 
 proved under which this Conference met. 
 The present administration had nothing to 
 do with the formation of that law, and for 
 this reason the Secretary of the Treasury, 
 
 hecho, es que esa divisidn existe aun entre 
 los diez delegados que los representan en 
 la Conferencia. Puede asegnrarse que 
 sua dos opiniones reflejan fielmente la 
 opini6n ptiblica de su pais. 
 
 Los banqueros, los comerciantes, los 
 tenedores de bonos de los Estados Unidos 
 y en general los capitalistas qtie recibeu 
 rentas 6 intereses, participan do las ideas 
 expresadas por ci Sr. Dclegado Coolidge, 
 crecn que el pals se arruinarla si se au- 
 mentara la acufiaciCn de la plata, y miran 
 cou suraa desconfianza y como un gran 
 peligro, la acuEacidu de dos millones de 
 pesos al mes, que actualmente se hace en 
 virtud de una ley vijente. Por el con- 
 trario las clases agrioultoras, los comer- 
 ciantes en pequeno, la poblaci6n rural y 
 casi toda la que no pertenece & las clases 
 antes enumeradas, est^n en favor de la 
 acufiacidu de la plata, y creen con la misma 
 buena f6 que si se hubiera hecho sin limita- 
 ci(5n, el valor de este metal no se habria 
 depreciado, y se conservaria en la misma 
 proporcidn que tenia con el oro hace veinte 
 auos. 
 
 Ambas opiniones est^n igualmente re- 
 presentadas en el Congreso de los Estados 
 Unidos, y esta circunstancia y la dificul- 
 tad de conseguir la aprobacidn de una 
 ley, conforme & los Reglamentos del Con- 
 greso de este pals cuando hay una minorfa 
 considerable en su contra, ban dado por 
 resultado la conaervacidn del statu quo, & 
 pesar del esfuerzo de cada fracci6n, por 
 cambiarlo en el sentido de sus convic- 
 ciones. Los partidarios del oro proponen 
 en cada Congreso suspender la aounacidn 
 de la plata. Los partidarios de este metal 
 proponen & su vez, su aoufiaci6n ilimi- 
 tada ; pero ambos contendientes tienen 
 una oposici6n considerable que les impide 
 llevar ^ cabo su respective proyeoto. 
 
 En el Congreso pasado, bajo otra Ad- 
 ministracidn de otro partido jioUtico, y 
 con difereutes ideas econ6micas que la 
 presente, se aprobiS la ley en virtud de la 
 cual se ha reunido esta Conferencia. La 
 presente Admlnistraci6n no tnvo ingeren- 
 oia uinguna en la formaoifin de esa ley, y 
 por este motivo el Secretario del Tesoro 
 que partioipa de las opiniones de los par- 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 551 
 
 Trho stares the opinions of the entire 
 nation, made in his last annual report to 
 Congress the recommendations read to us 
 by the Delegate from Costa Rica ; hut this 
 recomuiendation did not have then the 
 sanction of the President, as in his an- 
 nual message sent to Congress at the 
 same time as the Secretary of the Treas- 
 ury made his report the President ex- 
 pressly stated that he had not had the 
 time to examine carefully the ideas of 
 the Secretary npon this subject, and 
 therefore he could not recommend them. 
 Perhaps it might have been more cour- 
 teous for this Conference to abstain from 
 giving any opinion upon this subject en- 
 trusted to our consideration while we 
 were examining it; but when we take 
 into consideration the earnestness of pub- 
 lic opinion on this subject, and the great 
 concern of the question to the public of 
 this country, and theduty of theSecrofcary 
 of the Treasury is to make to Congress 
 such recommendations as he thinks are 
 calculated to promote the welfare of his 
 country, I do not think that in making 
 his recommendations about the silver 
 certificates he had the slightest inten- 
 tion to do any act which might be con- 
 sidered discourteous to this Conference. 
 
 tidarios del oro, hizo al Congreso en su 
 tiltima memoria anual, larecomendaci6n 
 que DOS ley6 el Sr. Delegado de Costa 
 Rica ; pero ella no tenia la sanci6n del 
 Presideute, pues en el mensaje que este 
 funcionario envi6 al Congreso al mismo 
 tiempo que el Secretario del Tesoro le 
 presentaba su memoria, manifesto expre- 
 samente que no habia tenido tiempo de 
 examinar con detencida las ideas del Se- 
 cretario sobre este punto, y por lo mismo, 
 no se hacfa solidario de ellas. 
 
 Habria sido aoaso mas consecnente para 
 con esta Con ferencia, abstenorse, mientras 
 est^ reunida, de emitir opiuidu sobre un 
 asunto que se habia encomendado ^ su 
 estudio; pero visto el calor de las opi- 
 niones de los hombres pollticosde este pais 
 sobre este negooio, su grave trascendeu- 
 cia para los iutereses polltioos de esta 
 nacidn, y la obligacifin en que est^ un 
 alto fuucionario, como el Secretario del 
 Tesoro, de hacer al Poder Legislative las 
 recomendaciones que considere de su 
 deber, en boneticio de su pais, no creo 
 que al hacer aquella recomendaeidu haya 
 tenido la mas ligera intencidn de cometer 
 un acto que pudiera consid(!rarse de des- 
 cortesia repecto de esta Conferencia. 
 
 Appendix B. 
 (mb. alfonso's sfeeob.) 
 
 The undersigned, a Delegate from Chili, 
 has signed the report of the Committee 
 on Customs Regulations, reserving the 
 right to make the observations which 
 follow, and which he asks may he at- 
 tached to the minutes of this session. 
 
 The Conference was called to study the 
 means best calculated to improve and to 
 simplify the customs regulations in the 
 several ports of the countries therein rep- 
 resented. The Government of Chili joins 
 with pleasure in this proposition when- 
 ever its execntion shall have for a stand- 
 ard a system more liberal than that which 
 now exists in Chili. 
 
 Animated by the same feeling, the com- 
 mittee has studiously examined this ques- 
 tion, and it has essayed to obliterate, by 
 means of a weli-conoeived plan, the in- 
 conveniences which to-day exist, such as 
 
 ApilNDIOE B. 
 (DlSOVItSO DEL SR. ALPON'SO.) 
 
 ■ El infrascrito, delegado de Chile, ha 
 suscrito el iuforme de la Comisidu de 
 Reglamentos aduaneros, reserv^ndose ha- 
 cer las saU'edades que van & expresarse, y 
 que pide se agreguen al acta de esta 
 sesi6n. 
 
 La Conferencia ha sido convocada para 
 estudiar los procedimientos m^s ade- 
 cuados para mejorar y simplificar los 
 reglamentos de aduana ei} los diferentes 
 puertos de los paises representados en 
 611a. El Gobierno de Chile se asocia con 
 gusto ^ este prop6sito, siempre que su 
 ejecuci6n tenga por norma un sistema 
 mds liberal que el que rije en Chile. 
 
 Dominada por el mismo esplritu, la 
 Comisidn ha estudiado atentamente esta 
 materia, y se ha propuesto hacer desa- 
 pareoer por medio de un plan hien com- 
 hinado los inconveuientes que hoy dia 
 
552 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 great labor, loss of time, heavy expenses, 
 aud great risk. 
 
 Notwithstanding this purpose of the 
 committee, in full keeping with the na- 
 ture of the duty imposed on it, there are 
 in the plans submitied to the Conference 
 some points in which the customs regu- 
 lations of Chill impose on commerce fewer 
 obstacles and less expense, or establish 
 measures, in the opinion of its delegation, 
 more advantageous. Consequently, the 
 undersigned, in full accord with the pro- 
 visions of the report relative to the ap- 
 proval of the measures proposed, not mak- 
 ing it obligatory to modify legislation 
 which is more liberal, has thought best 
 to make some explanations, for did he 
 not do so he would act at variance, in so 
 far as Chill is concerned, to the end 
 sought by the Conference in this behalf, 
 and which is to simplify customs regula- 
 tions. 
 
 On the other hand it is proper that the 
 progress made should be recorded, it 
 being allowable to state that in customs 
 regulations and provisions Chili for along 
 time past has had nothing to learn even 
 from the most advanced countries. 
 
 Referring to the first recommendation 
 of the report, it should be observed that 
 the customs legislation of Chili does not 
 demand that the master of a vessel carry- 
 ing foreign merchandise shall make a per- 
 sonal declaration before the custom-house 
 ofScials to verify the inward manifests. 
 The production of this latter document 
 is sufficient, and, in default thereof, the 
 origiual bill of lading, with a detailed 
 statement of the cargo not included in 
 them and the surplus ship stores on board. 
 The personal declaration of the master 
 has no object; it may be said that it is a 
 useless requirement. What is called an 
 outward manifest in the same first recom- 
 mendation exists in Chili under another 
 name. 
 
 As regards the second recommendation, 
 the said legislation does not demand that 
 the declaratious made for the entry of im- 
 ported merchandise shall be accompanied 
 by the original invoices. In the delivery 
 oi goods for home consumption these docu- 
 ments are not required. It is considered 
 
 existen, como son un trabajo exoesivd, 
 p^rdida de tiempo, fuertesgastos y muchos 
 riesgos. 
 
 No obstante este propdsito de la Comi- 
 sion, en un todo de acuerdo con la natu- 
 raleza del encargo que se le ha hecho, en 
 el plan que somete ^ la Conferoncia hay 
 algunos puntos en los cuales los regla- 
 raentos aduaneros de Chile imponeu al 
 comeroio menos trabas y menos gastos, 
 6 establecen procedimientos £i juioio de 
 su delegacidn niSs ventajosos. En conse- 
 ciieiicia, el inflfesorito, de acuerdo tam- 
 bieu con lo que se expresa en el informe 
 relativaraente ^ que la aceptacidn de las 
 medidas que se proponen no obligar^ ^ 
 modificar la legislacidn cuando contenga 
 disposiciones m^s liberales, ha necesitado 
 hacer algunas salvedades, puesto que de 
 otro nioJo habria contrariado, en lo que 
 respecta & Chile, el fin que persigue la 
 Conferencia en esta materia, y que con- 
 siste en simplificar los reglamentos de 
 adnana. 
 
 For otra parte es conveniente que se 
 pongan de manifiesto los progresos aloan- 
 zados, siendo permitido asegurar que en 
 reglamentos y procedimientos de adnana 
 hace ya muoho tiempo que Chile no tiene 
 nada que aprender ni aiin de las naciones 
 m^s adelantadas. 
 
 Respeoto al No 1 de las recomenda- 
 ciones del informe, debe observarse que 
 por la legislaoidn aduanera de Chile, no 
 se exije del capitan de unbuque, que con- 
 duzcamercaderlas extrangeras, que preste 
 nna declaracidn personal ante el jefe de 
 la aduana para dar autenticidad al mani- 
 fiesto de entrada. Basta la preseutacidu 
 de este documento, y en su defecto la de 
 los conocimientos originales con una razdn 
 cirouustanciada de la carga no compren- 
 dida en ellosy del raucho existente S, bor- 
 do. La declaraoidu personal del capitan 
 no tiene objeto : puede sostenerse que es 
 una traba infitil. En cuanto & lo que en 
 el mismo nrimero 1 se denomina mani- 
 fiesto de salida, existe en Chile bajo otro 
 nombre. 
 
 En (5rden al No. 2, la misma legislaoidn 
 no establece que, juito con la declara- 
 cidu hecha para importar mercaderias, se 
 acorapaSien las facturas originales. En 
 el despacho de efectos para el consume 
 interior no figuran estos documentos, los 
 cuales no se toman en consideraoidu en 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 553 
 
 that the inTotsea, with or without consu- 
 lar certification, can not serve as a basis 
 for the preliminary estimates of duty. In 
 Chili to import merchandise it is only 
 necessary to present a petition, called a 
 custom-house permit (pdliza de despacho), 
 which shall contain a reference to the 
 manifest of the cargo, the vessel bringing 
 it, and the port of lading, the consignee, 
 and a list of the merchandise in detail, 
 specifying its class and quantity. No 
 other docHment is required. Conse- 
 quently consular certification and the 
 fees incident thereto are unknown. 
 
 It is not required that the document 
 referred to in No. 3 should express the 
 valueof the merchandise, nor that thedeo- 
 laration shall conform to the invoices ; 
 this conformity is only required with the 
 inward manifest and especially the con- 
 tents of the packages. 
 
 The defects of form to whichNo. 5 refers 
 are not subject to the rule therein set down, 
 because the consular intervention referred 
 to is not recognized. There exists a gen- 
 eral rule which protects the good faith of 
 commerce, and which is to the effect that 
 whenever it is manifest an error has been 
 committed there is no room for the appli- 
 cation of penalties. 
 
 When cases of dispute as to legal rate 
 or amount of duty arise, subject-matter of 
 No. 8, the Chilian law provides that the 
 dispute be settled by the collector of cus- 
 toms, without appeal, after hearing two 
 experts, one named by the custom-house, 
 and the other by the importer and the 
 custom-house inspector. It is well to 
 have in view that the dispatch of goods 
 for home consumption is done in the fol- 
 lowing manner: The permit (p61iza de 
 despacho) presented, a custom-house in- 
 spector proceeds to the examination of 
 the packages mentioned in the permit. 
 This examination is conducted in the 
 presence of the importer, who may make 
 at the time any explanations he may see 
 fit. If the importer is satisfied with the 
 valuation made by the inspector, he 
 takes his goods and the matter is ended. 
 If he be not satisfied, the course already 
 indicated is followed, and the collector 
 decides the matter without appeal. The 
 proceeding is verbal and brief, and the 
 
 Chile para regular los derechos. Se ha 
 considerado que las facturas, con certifl- 
 cacidn consular 6 sin 611a, no puedeu 
 servir de base en los avaMos. En Chile, 
 para la importaci<5n de mercaderlas, se 
 presenta solo un pedimento, llamado 
 p(51iza de despacho, en la oual se expresa 
 el manificsto i que correspouden las mer- 
 caderlas, el buque que las ha conduoido y 
 su procedencia, y el consignatario, y se 
 detallan las mercaderlas con espeoifica- 
 ri6n de su clase y oautidad. No se exige 
 ningfin otro documento. Por consegui- 
 ente no se reconoce la existencia de la 
 certificaoi<5n consular ni se ocasiona el 
 pago que 6sta, produce. 
 
 En el documento a que se refiere el No. 
 3 no se exije que se exprese el valor de 
 las mercaderlas, ni que la deolaraoi6n 
 guardecouformidad con las facturas: esta 
 conformidad debe existir solo con el mani- 
 ficsto de entmda y eapecialmente con el 
 contenido de los bultos. 
 
 Los defectos de forma S, que se refiere el 
 No. 5 no se stijetan & la regla en que 61 
 se expresa, porque no se reconoce la inter- 
 vencidn consular S, que el mismo nlimero 
 se refiere. Existe una regla general que 
 rcsguarda la buena f^ del comercio, y que 
 consiste en que siempre que est^ de maui- 
 fiesto que se ha procedido por error, no 
 habr^ Ingar & la aplicacidu de pena. 
 
 Cuando se produced caso de desacuerdo 
 en el avaMo que regla el No. 8, la ley 
 chilena establece que la dificultad ser^ 
 deeidida sin ulterior recurso por el gefe 
 de la aduana oyendo S, dos perltos, 
 nombradosel uno por la aduana, y el otro 
 por el importador, y el gefe de vistas. 
 Conviene que se tenga presente que el 
 despacho de mercaderlas para el consume 
 interior se efeotiia del modo signiente. 
 Presentado el pedimento (p61iza de des- 
 pacho), un vista de aduana <5 empleado 
 superior, precede al exSmen y reconoci- 
 miento de los bultos especificados en la 
 p61iza. Esta operaoidn se praotica en 
 presencia del importador, el cual puede 
 dar en este acto todas las explicaciones 
 que le convengan. Si el importador se 
 conforma con el avaluo heoho por el vista, 
 toma sus mercaderlas y el despacho estd; 
 concluido. Si no se conforma, se sigue el 
 procedimiento ya indicado, y el gefe de la 
 aduana decide sin ulterior recurso. El 
 procedimiento es verbal y breve, y en 61 
 
554 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 importer tates part therein, he having 
 the right to express before the collector 
 what he considers as best serving his in- 
 terests. 
 
 As will be seen, both in the act of ap- 
 praisement and in the proceedings before 
 the collector when disputes arise, the im- 
 porter is heard and may iiiake all the ex- 
 planations the case may demand. 
 
 This system has been in force for many 
 years. Commerce is satisfied with it, un- 
 doubtedly, because it protects all its 
 rights. 
 
 In the other cases in which the dispatch 
 of goods gives rise to a dispute, for exam- 
 ple, when the petition (p61iza) does not 
 agree with the contents of the packages, 
 be it because the contents are of a class of 
 greater value than those called for, or 
 be it because they are of a class demand- 
 ing higher duties, the question is 
 tried by the ordinary civil courts, with 
 but one appeal, the proceedings in both 
 cases being brief and summary, and, nat- 
 urally, the importer being heard in both 
 oases. 
 
 The warehouses recommended in No. 
 9 have existed in Chili for more than half 
 a century. The state provides commerce 
 with all he accommodations necessary 
 to this end. The storage may continue 
 for three years, it being allowable to re- 
 new it for three years more at the re- 
 quest of the importer. Bonds are not de- 
 manded tor this storage. The charges 
 demanded by the state are moderate. 
 Thus, for example, when the charge is 
 upon the gross weight, the rate is four 
 cents per mouth for each hundred kilo- 
 grams. The importer may remove his 
 goods for home consum'ption or re-ex- 
 port them at the times and in the quan- 
 tities he wishes, it is understood, of 
 course, within the periods indicated. The 
 storage in the custom-house warehouses 
 is, as a general rule, obligatory. The 
 President of the Republic may make ex- 
 ceptions in order that some goods shall 
 be dispatched immediately upon their dis- 
 charge from the vessel, and that others 
 be deposited in private warehouses, in 
 consideration of the special character of 
 the said goods. 
 
 The remarks concerning No. 2, relating 
 to the invoice, are equally applicable to 
 
 intervieue tambien el importador, el cual 
 puede exporier ante el gefe de la aduana 
 lo que oonsidere conducente S, su dorecho. 
 
 Como se v^, tanto en el acto de practi- 
 carse el avaliio, como al resolver el gefe de 
 la aduana sobre el desacuerdo que haya 
 podido producirse, el importador es oido 
 y puede dar todas las explicaciones que el 
 caso requiera. 
 
 Este sistema est^ ya en vigor haoe 
 mnchos alios ; el comercio se manifiesta 
 satisfecho ooi;^ 61, sin duda porque cousi- 
 dera que resguarda todos sus dereohos. 
 
 En los denies casos en que el despacho 
 de mercaderlas && lugar &, una eontrover- 
 sia, por ejemplo, cuando lo expresado en 
 la p(31iza no guarda conformidad con el 
 contcnido de los bultos, ya sea porque 
 este contenido es de especies de mayor 
 valor que las pedidas, 6 ya sea porque es 
 de especies que adeudan mayores dere- 
 chos, la cuesti6u es falladapor lajusticia 
 ordinariaj en dos instancias, procedi^n- 
 dose en ambas breve y sumariameute, y 
 uaturalmente oy^ndose tambien en ambas 
 al importador. 
 
 El depdsito de las mercaderlas que se 
 recomienda en el No. 9 se practica en 
 Chile desde hace mils de medio siglo. El 
 Estado proporciona al comercio almacenes 
 adeouados & este objeto. El dep6sito 
 puede durar tres anos, siendo llcito reno- 
 varlo por otro periodo &, solid tud del im- 
 portador. No se exige para este dep6sito 
 el requisite de fianza. La oompensacidn 
 declarada por el Estado es mfidioa. Asl 
 por ejemplo, cuando se cobra en razou 
 del peso bruto, hay que pagar cuatro 
 centavos por oada cien kil6gramos. El 
 importador puede despachar para el 
 consume interior, 6 exportar sus merca- 
 derlas, en las 6pooas y cantidad que le 
 convenga, bien entendido, dentro de los 
 plazos indicados. El deposito en los 
 almacenes de la aduana es, por regla ge- 
 neral, obligatorio: el Presidente de la 
 Reptiblica puede establecer excepcioues 
 para que algunas mercaderlas sean des- 
 pachadas forzosamente & su desembarque 
 y para que otras sean depositadas en 
 almacenes partioulares, en atenci6n & la 
 olase especial de diohas mercaderlas. 
 
 A lo expuesto en el No. 10 es aplicable 
 la observaoidn que ha recaido sobre el 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 555 
 
 No. 10, It being necessary to add that the 
 examination referred to in the latter has 
 for its only object the verification of the 
 invoice and the contents of the packages 
 therein specified. 
 
 The provisions of No. 14, relating to the 
 exemption from liability for duties within 
 thelimils of the country of importation 
 ■when the full amount of Import duties 
 shall have been paid at the frontier, is 
 the rule observed in Chili, and a very old 
 one. The delivery once made, the goods 
 are considered as native for the effects of 
 this number. 
 
 Referring to the recommendation con- 
 tained in No. 16, conceruiug the right of 
 appeal, it has already been seen, in 
 treating of No. 8, what guaranties the 
 importer enjoys ; guaranties which long 
 practice has demonstrated are all that 
 commerce can wish for, and with which 
 it has expressed itself as satisMed. 
 
 Naturally, upon making the preceding 
 remoirks with the object of their being 
 annexed to the minutes, the undersigned 
 extends them so as to include the prem- 
 ises or preamble of the report of the com- 
 mi ttee in so -far as they relate thereto. 
 He has only, however, taken up the con- 
 clusions, which set forth the subjects 
 upon which the Conference is to pass. 
 
 No. 2 relativamento S, la factura, de- 
 biendo .agregarse que el reconocimiento 
 de que habla aquol niirnero solo tiene por 
 objeto eomprobar !a oouformidad de la 
 p<51iza de despacho con el contenido de 
 los bultos en ella especificados. 
 
 Lo que establece el No. 14 con relacidn 
 S q ue pagados los derechos de importacidn , 
 las mercaderfas quedan libres de cual- 
 quier otro derecho 6 impuesto en el in- 
 terior, es la regla observada en Chile, y 
 ya rauy antlgua. Una vez efectuado el 
 despacho, las mercaderias son considera- 
 das como mercaderias naoionales para 
 los efectos de este nfimero. 
 
 Con referenoia & la recomendaci6n con- 
 tenida en el No. 16, concerniente al dere- 
 clio de apelaoifin, ya se ha visto, al tra- 
 tarse del No. 8, las garantlas de que goza 
 el iuiportador, garantlas que una larga 
 pr(£ctica ha nianifestarlo que son todas las 
 que el comercio puede apeteeer, y con las 
 cualeseste se manifiesta satisfecho. 
 
 Naturalmente, al formular lag observa- 
 ciones que preceden con el objeto de que 
 se agreguen al acta respectiva, el iufras- 
 crito las hace extensivae &, los conside- 
 randos 6 presimbulo del proyecto de la Co- 
 misifin en cuanto con ellos se relacionen. 
 Solo ha querido ocuparse de las conclu- 
 siones, que son las que contienen la ma- 
 teria sobre que ha de pronunciarse la 
 Conferencia, 
 
FIFTY-FOURTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 54. 
 
 Washington, March W, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 •was called to order at 3.15 p. m. liy tlie 
 First "Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. 
 Zbgarea, a Delegate from Pern, followed 
 by Mr. Eomero, with the following del- 
 egates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Pern: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 GUatemula : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Costa Bica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay :' 
 
 Mr. Jos6 B. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jerdnlmo Zelaya. 
 Mexico: 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 Mr. Clement Studebater. 
 Mr. William Henry Tresoot. 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Mr. Henry C. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Paraza. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 Mr. JoBiS Alfonso. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 deegates present, after Mr. Alfonso, a 
 Delegate from Chili, had handed the 
 chair the following in writing: 
 
 Sesidn del 28 de Marzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia'del Sr. P. C. C. Zegarka, 
 delegado por el Peril, Primer Vicepresi- 
 dente, seguido por el Sr. M. Eomero, 
 Estando presentos : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Gozmdin. 
 Perfi: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 Costa Eica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos€ S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. 6. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 MiSxico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Eomero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mex£a. 
 Estados Unidos: 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 EI Sr. Clement Studebalser; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry <J. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili : 
 
 El Sr. Eniilio C. Varas; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Se abri6 la sesidn S, las tres y quince 
 niiuutos de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley<5, aprob6 y firm6 el acta del dia 
 anterior, con una observacidn del SeHor 
 Alfonso, delegndo por Chile, que pnso por 
 
 556 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAIjr CONFERENCE. 
 
 557 
 
 "Mr. Alfonso said that he ■wished to 
 make a remark on the minutes. It is 
 stated therein ihat in the discussion on 
 paper money he said that the credit of 
 Chili was the highest in the world. This 
 ia an error ; what he did say was that the 
 credit of Chili was among the hiighest. 
 He added also that this credit had grown 
 during the "regime" of paper money 
 although the latter was depreciated. 
 This part of his observations was perhaps 
 the most important, and it should appear 
 with the former." 
 
 Two letters were read which had been 
 received by the Chair ; one from Mr. 
 Quintana.a Delegate from the Argentine, 
 who stated that on account of sickness he 
 was prevented from attending the ses- 
 sion ; the second from Mr. Saenz Pefia, a 
 Delegate from the Ara;entine, statingtliat 
 he was also ill, and asking that as he 
 had not yet received the translation of 
 Mr. Henderson's speech on Customs 
 Union and had not been able to prepare 
 his reply, the further discussion of the 
 subject be postponed until Saturday, 
 April 5. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, said that as the transla- 
 tion of the speech could be sent to-day, he 
 requested that the Conferenoe wait until 
 Monday before taking action on Mr. Saenz 
 Pefia's letter, and this was agreed to. 
 
 The Executive Committee sent to the 
 Chair the following : 
 
 "Besolred, That the Executive Com- 
 mittee in preparing the reports and dis- 
 cussions of the Conference for publica- 
 tion, be authorized to make such modifi- 
 cations in Wie texts as may be necessary 
 to render the lajignage correct and pre- 
 cise, and to establish perfect concordance 
 between the Spanish, English, and Por- 
 tuguese versions; printed proofs of the 
 same to be submitted to the several dele- 
 gations. 
 
 "P. C. C. Zegarra. 
 
 "C. N. Bliss. 
 
 " Salvador de MbndoSca. 
 
 " M. Romero. 
 
 "J. M, Huktado." 
 
 eserito, S, invitaei(5n del SeHor Presidente, 
 y dice como signe : 
 
 "El Sr. Alfonso, dijo que neoesitaba 
 hacer nna observacitfn sobre el acta. Se 
 dice en ella qne, en un inoidente sobre 
 el regimen del papel moueda, yo sostuve 
 que el criSdito de Chile era el m& alto del 
 mundo. Esto nor tieneun error. Lo que 
 dije {u6 que el ce^dito de Chile est^ entre 
 los mfc altos. " Agregu6 tamhien que ese 
 cr6dito habia creoido durante el riSgimen 
 del papel moneda aunque este estuviera 
 depreciado. Esta parte de mi observaci6u 
 era quizas la mils importante, y es necesa- 
 rio que conste junto coa la anterior '" 
 
 Se di6 cuenta con dos eartas recibidas 
 por el Seiior Presidente, una del Sefior 
 Quintana, delegado por la Repliblica 
 Argentina, haoiendo presente que no 
 podia asistir & la sesidn por causa de in- 
 disposici(5n en su salud ; y otra del Sefior 
 Saenz Pefia, delegado por la Repliblica 
 Argentina, raanifestaudo que tambien se 
 hallaba enfermo, y que como todavia no 
 habia recibido la traduoci(5n del disourso 
 d"l Sefior Henderson, sobre Unidn adua- 
 nera, no habia podido preparar su repli- 
 ca, y 4eseaha que se pospusiese la consi- 
 deraoidu del asunto hasta el s^bado 5 de 
 Abril inmediato. 
 
 El Sefior Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, dijo que como la traduc- 
 ci6n del discurso podia enviarse en segui- 
 da al Sefior Saenz Pefia^ suplioaba & la 
 Conferonoia no resolver nada hasta el 
 Idnes pr6ximo sobre la peticidn contenida 
 en la carta anterior. Asf se determinfi. 
 
 La Comisi6n Ejecutiva soraetid S, la con- 
 sideraci6n de la Conferencia, la siguiente 
 proposicidn : 
 
 " Que se autorize S, la Comisidn Ejecu- 
 tiva para que al hacer la publicacidn de 
 los iufcrmes y discusiones de la Conferen- 
 cia, introduzca en el texto las modiflca- 
 clones necesarias ^ la correcci<5n y pre- 
 cisi6n del lenguage, y ^ la perfecta 
 concordancia de las versiones espafiola, 
 inglesa y portuguesa, debiendo someter 
 las pruobas definitivas de la impresidn A 
 los respeotivos Delegados. 
 
 " P. C. C. Zegarra 
 
 " C. N. Bliss. 
 
 " Salvador db Mbndon5a. 
 
 " M. Romero. 
 
 "J. M. Hurtado." 
 
558 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 said that he agreed to the proposition 
 and would vote for it, although he con- 
 sidered it unnecessary, as under the rules 
 the Executive Committee already pos- 
 sessed the authority they now sought. 
 
 Mr. Bliss, a Delegate from the United 
 States, and a member of the cummittee, 
 stated that such was also his opinion, hut 
 that as a doubt had arisen it had been 
 considered best to refer it to the Confer- 
 ence; and asked that the rules might be 
 suspended in order that the vote might 
 he taken at once. 
 
 After some remarks by Mr. Hurtado, 
 a Delegate from Colombia, the vote was 
 taken viva voce; first on the motion to 
 suspend the rules, and secondly on the 
 resolution of the committee, the result 
 being that both were unanimously agreed 
 to. 
 
 The Chair announced that the order 
 of the day called for the continuation of 
 the debate on the report of the Commit- 
 tee on Customs Regulations, and that 
 the models of manifests and other docu- 
 ments, which were to accompany the re- 
 port as appendices, had been received 
 and would be translated, printed, and 
 distributed. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 and a member of the reporting com mittee, 
 continued to explain his opinion in regard 
 to the additional article he proposed to 
 introduce in the report, and there being 
 a difference of opinion as to the form in 
 which this article should be presented, it 
 was agreed to suspend the session for five 
 minutes in order that it might be put in 
 writing. 
 
 The session having been resumed, Mr. 
 Romero presented the following : 
 
 "With a view that each Government 
 shall have official record of its export 
 trade by rail with adjoining countries, 
 any person delivering to a railway or 
 other transportation company, commod- 
 ities for export to an adjoining conntry, 
 shall also deliver a manifest thereof, 
 showing the kind, quantity, and value of 
 such commodities; and this manifest 
 shall be delivered to the customs officer 
 
 El Senor AlFONSO, delegado por Chile, 
 dijo que estaba conforme con la proposi- 
 cidn, y votaria por ella, aunque la oreia 
 inneoesaria, pues por el Reglamento, la 
 Comisi6n ejeculiva estaba ampliamente 
 autorizada para hacer lo que ahora desea. 
 
 El Sonor Bliss, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, y miembro de la Comi- 
 sidij, dijo que tambien era esa su opini6n 
 particular; pero qne habia habido dudas, 
 y que se habia creido lo mejor someter 
 el punto S, la decisidn de la Conferencia : 
 y pidi6 dispeusa de triimites, y qus se 
 votase la proposici6n inmediatamente. 
 
 Despues de algunas observaciones del 
 Senor Hurtado, delegado por Colombia, 
 se puso S, votaci6n en primer lugar la dis- 
 pensa de tr^mites, y luego lo propuesto 
 por la Comisidn Ejecutiva. Arahas vo- 
 taoiones fue ron un^nimes, y se toraaron 
 ^ viva voz. 
 
 El Senor Prbsidbntb anunci6 que pro- 
 cedia continuar discutieudo el dict^men. 
 delaComisidn de K glamentos de adiia- 
 nas, y que acababan de eutreg^rsele los 
 modelos de manifiestos y otros documen- 
 tos qne deben acompanarse como ap^ndi- 
 ces al expresado dictiimen, los cuales or- 
 deuaba se tradujesen, imprimiesen y dis- 
 tribuyesen. 
 
 El Senor RoMBKO, delegado por Mexico, 
 y miembro de la Comisidn informante, 
 contmud exponieudo su parecer respeto 
 al artlculo qne propone se agregue al 
 dicldlmeu; y habi^ndose suscitado discu- 
 si6u sobre la forma deSnitiva en que dicho 
 arilculo debia redactarse, se couviuo en 
 suspender la sesi6n por cinco minutos, ^ 
 fin de que pndiese ponerse por escrito. 
 
 Cuando volvi6 S, abrirse la sesidn, el 
 mismo Senor Romero someti6 S, la Cou- 
 ferencla el artlculo adicional, eu la forma 
 signiente : 
 
 " Con objeto de que cada Gobierno ob- 
 tenga los datos de su comercio de expor- 
 tacidn por las fronteras con las naciones 
 veoiuas, toda persona que entregue & una 
 compania de ferrocarril 6 de transporte 
 de otro g6nero por tierra, mercancfas para 
 exportarse en el pais vecino, entregari 
 con ellas un manifiestodelasmismas, que 
 exprese la clase, cantidad y valor de las 
 meicancfas; y este manifiesto se entre- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 559 
 
 of the exporting country nearest to the 
 borders thereof. 
 
 "M. ROMEEO." 
 
 Mr. Zbgaera here called Mr. Romero 
 to the chair, and from his seat asked 
 some questions concerning the report of 
 the committee, which Mr. Aragon, a Del- 
 egate from Costa Rica, and a member of 
 the committee, answered. 
 
 Mr. Zbgarba then stated that his vote 
 would be in favor of the report in the 
 following terms : 
 
 " My afSrmative vote means to recom- 
 mend the adoption of the suggestion of 
 the report as a basis for the measures 
 which, in pursuance with the high pur- 
 poses of this Conference, the Republic of 
 Pern may deem it advisable to talie 
 gradually and as far as permitted by her 
 interests, the requirements of her legis- 
 lation, and in general the special condi- 
 tions of her actual situation." 
 
 It having been noticed that a sufBcient 
 number of Delegates was not present to 
 vote on any subject, it was agreed to 
 adjourn, and this was done at 5.45 p. m. 
 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Second Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, ' 
 
 Nicaragua, 
 P. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Jos£ M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Pica, 
 JosA S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amabal Vai.ente^ 
 Salvador de Mkndon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 COBNEULS N. Buss, 
 
 garSi al empleado de la aduanadel pals ex- 
 portador, que est^ masceroadellugarpor 
 donde se exporten. 
 
 " M. Romero. " 
 
 El SeHor Zegarra llamd entonces al 
 Sefior Romero & ooupar la presidencia, 
 y despues de hacer algunas preguntas, ^ 
 que contestd el Seilor Arag6n, delegado 
 por Costa Rica y miembro de laCoraisifin 
 informaute, expresd : que su votoserlaen 
 favor de la adopcidu del diotdmen en los 
 siguientes tiSrminos : 
 
 " Mi vote afirmativo significa pues la 
 reoomendaci6n de las sugestioces del in- 
 forme en debate, como base de las me- 
 didas que en vista de los elevados pro- 
 p6sitos que persigue esta Conferencia, 
 seria conveniente que la Repliblica del 
 Peru tomase en coneideracidn gradual- 
 mente, y conforme, y hasta donde lo per- 
 mitan sus intereses, las exigencias de su 
 legislacidn, y en general las condiciones 
 espeoiales de su actual situacidn." 
 
 Habi^ndose notado & la conclusion de 
 estas observaoiones que no habia presente 
 suficiente niimero de Senores Delegados 
 para tomar resolucidn sobre ningun 
 asunto, se determinfi levantar la sesi6n. 
 
 Asi se hizo & las cinco y ouarenta y 
 ciuco minutes <i6 la tarde. 
 M. Romero, 
 
 Segundo Vieepresidente. 
 HoRACio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 Per4. 
 Jos^fi M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Pica. 
 Josl?; S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amakal Valbnte, 
 Salvador de Mendon5a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Buss, 
 
5G0 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estbe, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 Nioanor Bolet Feraza, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos:fi Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 J6sE Maria PLiciDO CaamaSo. 
 
 Ucuador. 
 
 Clkment Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Tresoot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 Nicanor Bolkt Peraza. 
 
 Venezuela. 
 JosiS Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto CASTfELLANOS, 
 
 Saliiador. 
 Josi; MakIa PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Mcuador, 
 
FIFTY-FIFTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 55. 
 
 WASHmoTON, March 29, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.10 p. in. by the 
 Second Vice-President, Mr. M. Eomero, a 
 Delegate from Mexico, followed by Mr. 
 F. C. C. Zfcgarra, with the following 
 Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Pern: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Deooud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valento. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonf a. 
 Honduras. 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico. 
 
 Mr. Matias Komero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia. 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela. 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili. 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador. 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cldo CaamaBo. 
 
 36 I 
 
 Sesiin del 29 deMarzo de 1890. 
 Presidencia del. Sr. M. Romero, dele- 
 gado por Mexico, Segundo Vicepresi- 
 dente, seguido por el Sefior F C. C. Zb- 
 GAERA, delegado por el Perd, Primer 
 Vicepresidente. Estando presentes • 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaoio Guzman. 
 Perti: 
 
 ElSr. Dr, F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. CSirlos Martinez Silva. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag(5n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoiid. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson : 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido 
 Caamalio. 
 
 561 
 
562 
 
 INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Crcz, a Delegate from Gruatemala, 
 sent word expressing regret that he was 
 prevented from attending. 
 
 The Chair having announced that the 
 order of the day called for the continua- 
 tion of the debate on the report of the 
 Committee on Customs Regulations, re- 
 quested Mr. Zegarra, who arrived at that 
 moment, to take the Chair, Mr. Romero 
 from his seat stated that the additional 
 article, the text of which he presented in 
 yesterday's session, should form part of 
 the first recommendation of the report, 
 being placed as the concluding para- 
 graph, so that the whole article should 
 read as follows: 
 
 " I. That forms be adopted for outward 
 manifests of vessels, which shall be lodged 
 at the custom-house by masters of vessels 
 at the time of clearance, and for supple- 
 mentary manifests of steamers belonging 
 to established lines to be made by the 
 resident agents thereof, and lodged by 
 them in the custom-house witliin twenty- 
 four hours after the sailing of the vessels, 
 which manifests shall be used only for the 
 determination of the cargo, etc., and shall 
 not require consular certification. That 
 every such manifest shall show the name 
 of the vessel and of her master, the ports 
 of departure and destination, a descrip- 
 tion of her cargo by marks, numbers, and 
 supposed contents of packages, with 
 names of consignees and consignors, but 
 no statement of values. "On the ex- 
 portation of merchandise each individual 
 shipper shall make and lodge at the 
 custom-house for statistical purposes a 
 special manifest stating quantities, char- 
 acter, and values of the goods exported 
 by him; and for a failure so to do, he 
 shall be subjected to a penalty. The 
 master of any vessel may, within forty- 
 eight hours after the entrance at the 
 custom-house and before any of the cargo 
 shall have been landed, change her destiT 
 nation and proceed on his voyage. On 
 entering a foreign port the master of 
 every vessel belonging to one of the rep- 
 
 Se abri<5 la sesidn S, las tres y diez mi- 
 nutos de la tarde. 
 
 Se leyd, aprobd y firmd el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 Se informfi ^ la Conferencia que el SeSor 
 Cruz, delegado por Guatemala, no podia 
 concurrir ^ esta sesi<5n. 
 
 El SeSor Presidbnte anuncid que con- 
 forme & la 6rden del dia debia oontinuarse 
 la discusidn del dictamen de la Comisi6n 
 de reglamentos de aduanas ; y habi^ndo- 
 se presentado en este memento en la sala 
 el Sefior Z%arra, el Sefior Romero le 
 cedi<5 la presidencia. 
 
 Desde su asiento, el Senor Rombro, 
 delegado por Mexico, manifesto que el 
 articulo adicional, cuyo texto presentd en 
 la sesi6n de ayer, debia formar parte de la 
 recomendacidn primera del dictSmen, 
 poni^ndose como p^rafo final de la misma, 
 de mode que la recomendacidn entera se 
 lea como sigue : 
 
 "1. Que se adopte una forma comlin 
 X^ara el manifiesto de salida de los bnques 
 que debe presentarse en la Aduana por el 
 Capit££n antes de salir del puerto, as 
 como tambi^n para los manifiestos snple- 
 meutarios de buques que pertenezcan S, 
 lineas regulares, los cuales deben haoerse 
 y presentarse S, la aduana por los cou- 
 signatarios de dichas lineas de vapores 
 dentro de las veinte y cuatro horas si- 
 guientes S, la salida del buque. Estos 
 manifiestos deben expresar el nombre 
 del buque y del Capit^n, los puertos 
 de partida y destine, la desoripcidn de 
 la carga por marcas, nllmeros y supu- 
 esto contenido de ella, asi como tambien 
 e] nombre de los embaroadores y el de 
 los consignatarios, sin expresidn alguna 
 de preoios; cada embarcador deberi, 
 al exportar las morcaderfas, hacer y 
 presentar en la aduana, para fines es- 
 tadlsticos, un manifiesto especial de las 
 mercaderlas que embarca, con expres:6n 
 de su cantidad, clase y valor, y si dejare 
 de cumplir este deber se le impondr£i la 
 pena correspondiente. El CapitSn de un 
 buque puede, dentro de las cuarenta y 
 echo horas siguientes & su declaracidn en 
 la aduana, y antes de efectuar el desem- 
 barque de parte alguna de la carga, cam- 
 biar el destino del buque y seguir su 
 viaje. Al entrar ^ un puerto extrangero, 
 el Capita de un pbuque erteneciente & 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 563 
 
 lesented countries shaU lodge witli the 
 customs authorities an inward manifest, 
 containing all the facts shown by the 
 outward manifest, including a list of the 
 passengers and crew and an account of 
 surplus ship stores remaining on hoard. 
 This manifest must be verified by the 
 master's personal declaration at the cus- 
 tom-house. It shall not be accepted in 
 lieu of an invoice, and no consular cer- 
 tificate shall be required. Forms for out- 
 ward, inward, and shipper's manifests are 
 herewith submitted." 
 
 "With a view that each government 
 shall have official record of its export 
 trade by rail with adjoining countries, 
 any person delivering to a railway or 
 other transportation company commodi- 
 ties for export to an adjoining country 
 shall also deliver a manifest thereof, 
 showing the kind, quantity, and value of 
 such commodities; and this manifest 
 shall be delivered to the customs officer 
 of the exporting country nearest to the 
 borders thereof." 
 
 He added that the concluding para- 
 graph of thepreamble to the recommenda- 
 tions, to which reference had been made 
 in the previous session, should be placed 
 at the end of the report as Article 18, to 
 read as follows : 
 
 "Art. 18. The acceptance of the fore- 
 going recommendations shall not require 
 any change in the present legislation of 
 the American republics, in case it should 
 contain more liberal provisions than here 
 proposed, as the purpose of the Conference 
 is not only to adopt uniform rules, but to 
 establish more liberal provisions than are 
 now in force." 
 
 He also said that he had agreed with 
 his colleagues of the committee, at the 
 request of the Delegates from Columbia, 
 that wherever in the report the words 
 "liberal measures" were used, the worrls 
 " simple and convenient" should be sub- 
 stituted. 
 
 On the TDotion of Mr. Alfonso, a Dele- 
 gate from Chili, it was unanimously 
 agreed that the report, as amended by 
 
 cualqniera de las naciones aqui repre- 
 sentadas, deber^ presentar & las autori- 
 dades de la aduana un manifiesto de en- 
 trada, que exprese todos los hechos que 
 cousten en el manifiesto de salida, asl 
 como tamhi^n una lista de los pasageros 
 y de la tripulacidn, y una relacidn del 
 rancho existente abordo. Este mani- 
 fiesto deberd; autenticarse per medio de 
 la deolaraoidn personal del Ca^iiiiJn ante 
 el Administrador de la aduana ; no se 
 aceptarsi en lugar de la factura, nineoesi- 
 tarSi de certificado consular. Se acom- 
 panan S, este diot^men modelos de maui- 
 fiestos de entrada y salida, y manifiesto 
 de embarcadores." 
 
 "Con objeto de que cada Gobierno ob- 
 tenga los dates de su oomercio de expor- 
 taci6u por sus fronteras con las naciones 
 veciuas, toda persona que entregue S, una 
 Compafila de ferrocarril, 6 de transporte 
 de otro g^uero por tierra, mercanclas para 
 exportarse en el pals vecino, entregar^; 
 con ellas un manifiesto de las mismas, que 
 exprese la clase, cantidad y valor de las 
 mercaucfas; y este manifiesto se eutre- 
 gar^ al empleado de la aduana del pals 
 exportador que est^ mSs cerca del lugar 
 por donde se exporten.'' 
 
 Agreg6 que la parte del pre^mbulo de 
 las recomendaciones del dictamen ^ que 
 se refiri6 en la sesi6n del dia anterior, 
 debia pouerse como recomendacifin 18", 
 en los siguientes t^rminos : 
 
 "18. La aceptaci6n de las recomenda- 
 ciones que preceden no requerirS ningfln 
 cambio en la legislaoidn de las Repiibli- 
 cas americanas, en cuanto ella contenga 
 disposiciones m& liberales de las que 
 aqui se proponen, pues el objeto de la 
 Conferencia no es solamente adoptar re- 
 glas uniformes, sino establecer medidas 
 mSs liberales de las que ahora estSin en 
 vigor." 
 
 Dijo tambi^n que habia convenido con 
 sus colegas de la Comisidn, por recomenda- 
 cion de los Delegados de Colombia, en que 
 donde quiera que en el dictSimen se usase 
 la expresion " medida liberal," ti otra 
 an^loga, se sustituyese la palabra "libe- 
 ral" por " sencillo y expedite.'' 
 
 A mooi6n del Senor Alfonso, delegado 
 por Chile, se couvino un^nimemente, en 
 que la votaoidn sobre el dictiJmen de la 
 
564 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. Romero, should be Toted upon as a 
 whole, and to leave the consideration of 
 the various recommendations to the 
 action of each Government. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, a Delegate from Nica- 
 ragua, stated that he would abstain from 
 voting, without either approving or dis- 
 approving the report, as he had not had 
 time to examine it with sufficient care to 
 form an opinion. 
 
 The ballot being taken, resulted in the 
 nnanimons adoption of the report. 
 
 The delegations voting were: Pern, 
 Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, United States, 
 Venezuela, Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Nicaragua abstained from voting. 
 
 The Chair announced that the order of 
 the day was exhausted, and Mr. Mexia, a 
 Delegate from Mexico, asked that the 
 discussion on the report of the Commit- 
 tee on Monetary Convention be con- 
 tinued, and after some discussion, in 
 which took part Mr. Martinez Silva, a 
 Delegate from Colombia ; Mr. Henderson, 
 a Delegate from the United States; Mr. 
 Aragon, a Delegate from Costa Eica; Mr. 
 Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili ; Mr. Bolet 
 Peraza, a Delegate from Venezuela; Mr. 
 Velarde, a Delegate from Bolivia ; and Mr. 
 Trescot, a Delegate from the United 
 States, this was unanimously agreed to, 
 with the understanding that the vote 
 should not be taken in thepresent session. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, and chairman of that 
 delegation, submitted in the name of his 
 delegation, the following project of 
 amendment to the majority report of the 
 reporting committee, which project ex- 
 pressed the unanimous opinion of the 
 United States delegation on the matter: 
 
 Comisidn, tal como resultaba enmendado 
 por el Senor Romero, fuese tan solo en 
 globo, y dejar & la acoidn de cada Go- 
 bierno la consideracidn delasrecomenda- 
 ciones individuales. 
 
 El Senor GuzmXn, delegado por Nica- 
 ragua, mauifestd que se abstendrfa de 
 votar eu el asunto, sin aprobar, ni desa- 
 probar el diot^men, porque no habia po- 
 dido estudiar el asunto saficientemente 
 para formar sobre 61 una opinidn fun- 
 dada. 
 
 Se procedid d tomar el voto, del que 
 resultd que el dictSmen fa6 aprobado por 
 unauimidad. 
 
 Las delegaciones que votaron fueron : 
 Peril, Colombia, Costa Eica, Paraguay, 
 Brasil, Honduras, Mfeico, Bolivia, Esta- 
 dos Unidos, Venezuela, Chile, Salvador, 
 y Ecuador. 
 
 Nicaragua se abstuvo de votar. 
 
 Anunci6 el Sefior Peesidente que la 
 orden del dia estaba agotada; y el Sefior 
 MExfA, delegado por Mexico, pidid que 
 continuase la discusi6ii deldictamen de la 
 Comisi6n de Convencidn monetaria, en lo 
 que, despues de alguna discusi6n en que 
 toniaron parte los Sefiores Martinez Silva, 
 delegado por Colombia, el Senor Hender- 
 son, delegado por los Estados Unidos, el 
 Senor Aragdn, delegado por Costa Eica, 
 el Sefior Alfonso, delegado por Chile, el 
 Senor Bolet Peraza, delegado por Vene- 
 zuela, el Senor Trescot, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, y el Senor Velarde, dele- 
 gado per Bolivia, se convino un^uime- 
 mente, con tal que no se votase el asunto 
 en la sesidu presente. 
 
 Entonces el Sefior Henderson, delegado 
 por los Estados Unidos, y Presidente de 
 la delegacidn americana, envid il la Mesa, 
 eu uombre de la delegacidn de los Estados 
 Uii.dos, el siguiente proyeoto de modifi- 
 caoi(3n al dict£imen de la mayoria de la 
 Comisidn informante, cnyo proyeoto ex- 
 presaba la opinidu uu^nime de los dele- 
 gados de los Estados Unidos sobre este 
 asunto. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 565 
 
 Amendment of United States Dele- 
 gation TO Report of Committee on 
 Monetary Convention. 
 
 The report as amended will read as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 " The International American Confer- 
 ence recommends to the nations repre- 
 sented in it : 
 
 " 1. That an International Monetary 
 Union be established. 
 
 ■'2. That as a basis for this union an 
 international silver coin may be issued, 
 which shall be uniform in weight and 
 fineness for use in all the countries repre- 
 sented in this Conference. 
 
 "3. That to give fall effect to this rec- 
 ommendation there shall meet in Wash- 
 ington a commission composed of one 
 Delegate from each nation represented in 
 this Conference, which shall consider the 
 quantity, the kind of currency, the uses 
 it shall have, and the value and propor- 
 tion of the interaational coin and its re- 
 lations to gold. 
 
 "4. Thatthis commission meet in Wash- 
 ington in a year's time, or less, after the 
 final adjournment of this Conference. 
 "J. B. Henderson, 
 
 "Chairman, 
 
 "Washington, March, 29, 1890." 
 
 The paper having been read by the 
 Secretaries, Mr. Mexia, a Delegate from 
 Mexico, and chairman of the reporting 
 Committee, stated in the name of the 
 committee that it desired, with the per- 
 mission of the Conference, to withdraw 
 the conclusions of the report before pre- 
 sented and to substitute those just sub- 
 mitted by Mr. Henderson. 
 
 No objection having been raised, the 
 Chair declared that this should be done. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 asked that as the discussion on the report 
 on Monetary Convention seemed to be ex- 
 hausted, and as some time yet remained 
 before the usual hour for closing the 
 session, the debate on the majority and 
 minority reports of the Committee on Cus- 
 toms Union be continued. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 desired that Messrs. Henderson and Saenz 
 Pena should be present before the subject 
 
 Enmienda Propuesta por la Dklega- 
 ci6n Americana al Dictambn dk la 
 Comisi6n de Convenci6n Monbta- 
 
 RIA. 
 
 El dictamen despues de corregido queda 
 comO sigue : 
 
 "La Conferencia Internaoional Ameri- 
 cana recomienda S, las naciones represen- 
 tadas en ella : 
 
 "1. Que se establezca una Unidn Mone- 
 taria Interuacional. 
 
 " 2. Que coujo base para esta Unidn se 
 acune una moueda internacional de plata, 
 de un mismo peso y ley, que pueda usarse 
 en todos los paises representados en esta 
 Conferencia. 
 
 "3. Que para dar el debido cumpli- 
 miento ^ esta recomendaci6n, se reuna en 
 Washington, uua Comisi6n compuesta de 
 un delegado por cada Naci<5n, la que 
 estudiar^ la cantidad en que ha de ex- 
 pedirse la moneda internacional, la clase 
 de cnrso que ha de tener y su valor y pro- 
 porci6u con relacidn al oro. 
 
 "4. Que esta Comisidn se reuna en 
 WasUiugtou dentro de un auo, 6 antes, S, 
 contar de la clausura de esta Conferencia. 
 "J. B. Henderson, 
 
 " Presidente. 
 " Washington, 29 deMarzo de 1890." 
 
 Leido que fu4 por los Secretarios el 
 anterior proyeoto de enmienda, el Sefior 
 M:ExiA,delegado por Mexico, y Presidente 
 delaComisidn informante, manifesto en 
 nombre de esta que con el permiso de la 
 Conferencia retiraba las conclusiones del 
 dictd^men de la mayoria y las sustituia 
 con las que acababa de presentar el Sefior 
 Henderson. 
 
 No huho objeoidn & que aal se hiciera: 
 y el Sefior Presidente did por hecha la 
 snstitucidn deseada. 
 
 El Sefior Romero, delegado por Mexi- 
 co, en vista de que aparecia agotada la 
 disCusi6n del dictamen de la Comisidn de 
 Convencidn Monetaria, y de que faltaba 
 continuase la disousidn de los dictamenes 
 de la mayoria y minoria de la Comisi6u 
 de Uni6n Aduanera. A esto opuso algunas 
 observaciones el Sefior Alfonso, que 
 deseaba que nada se hiciese hasta que 
 estuviesen presentes los Sefiores Saenz 
 Pena, y Henderson. Pero el Sefior Flint, 
 
566 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 was further diBcussed, but Mr. Flint, a 
 Delegate from the United States, having; 
 made a motion that Mr. Romero be re- 
 quested to read his paper, it was unani- 
 monsly agreed to by the Conference. 
 
 Mr. EOMBKO then read the remarks 
 hereto appended. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Estke, a Delegate 
 from the United States, the same was or- 
 dered translated, printed, and distrib- 
 uted. 
 
 Mr. Estee then moved to adjourn, which 
 which was unimously agreed to. 
 
 The Conference adjourned at 5.40 p. m. 
 
 James G. BLAruE, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Perw. 
 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOSrf M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Caldkr6n, 
 
 Colomhia. 
 Mandel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepublie. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos]6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 
 Jek6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Eneiqub a. MexI a, 
 
 Mexico. 
 JcjanF. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studkbaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 WiixiAM Henry Trbscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States, 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 delegado por los Estados Unidos, hizo mo- 
 cidn para que se suplicase al Seiior Romero 
 que leyese el discurso que tenia prepara- 
 do sobre este asunto; y la Conferencia 
 aocedid ^ ello por unanimidad. 
 
 El Sefior Romero leyd entonces el dis- 
 curso que seacompaQacomo " ap6ndice" 
 ^ esta acta. 
 
 El Sefior Estee, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, hizo mooidn para que el ex- 
 preaado discurso del Senor Romero, se 
 traduzcaal ingles, 6 imprima y distribuya. 
 Hizo entonces mooJon el mismo Sefior 
 EsTBB para que se levantase la sesifin, y 
 se acordd de conformidad. 
 
 Se levantd la sesidn S, las cinco y cua- 
 renta y cinco minutos de la tarde. 
 Jambs J. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 HORACIO GuzMix, 
 
 Nicaragjia. 
 F. C. C. Zbgabra, 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 j0s:6 m. hurtado, 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Calder6n, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manubl Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos:6 S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. Msxf a, 
 M&ico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henky Trbscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
 NiCANOB BOLBT PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 667 
 
 Jos]£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Cabtellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jo8]fi Maria Pi^oido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Josi Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:^ MarIa PLiciDO CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Appendix A. 
 
 MR. ROMERO'S SPUEOS. 
 
 Considering the importance of the ques- 
 tion of a Customs Union to all the Amer- 
 ican nations and especially to Mexico, and 
 in view of the opinions which have here 
 been expressed upon it, I believe it ad- 
 visable to make some corrections and ex- 
 planations regarding them. I shall begin 
 with the remarks made by Mr. Delegate 
 Flint in the session of the 17th instant. 
 
 For the purpose of sustaining the state- 
 ment he made in a speech at the banquet 
 which took place in Chicago on the 23d 
 of last October, in which he maintained 
 that 80 per cent, of the products of the 
 American nations consumed by the United 
 States are imported free of duty, and that 
 only 20 per cent, are subject to duty, 
 which was contradicted by the Delegate 
 from the Argentine, Mr. Flint read statis- 
 tics published by his Government which 
 revealed a result still more favorable. 
 Having taken the trouble to copy the 
 figures of that commerce from the latest 
 publication of the Bureau of Statistics of 
 the Treasury Department of the United 
 States, which includes the fiscal year of 
 1888-1889, 1 discovered radical differences 
 between the figures cited by Mr. Flint in 
 his speech and .those of the publication 
 referred to, and for this reason I inter- 
 rupted his speech to ask where he had 
 obtained his figures. Mr. Henderson 
 understood my question to refer only 
 to the statistics of trade with Mexico, 
 which was an error, as it comprised those 
 of the entire trade of the United States 
 with the American nations. 
 
 From the explanations of Mr. Flint it 
 appeared that he had taken his data from 
 a publication made by the Bureau of 
 Statistics of the Treasury Department, 
 
 Ap^ndicb a. 
 DISOURSO DEI, SESOR ROMERO. 
 
 En vista de la importancia que tiene 
 para todas las naoiones americanas, y 
 especialmente para M6xico, el asunto de 
 la Uni6n Adnanera, y de las opiniones 
 que sobre 61 se han expresado aqul, oreo 
 conveniente hacer algunas reotifioaeiones 
 y dar algunas explicaciones respecto del 
 mismo. Comenzar^ con el discurso pro- 
 nunciado por el Sr. delegado Flint, en la 
 sesidn del 17 del corriente. 
 
 Con el objeto de sostener la asercidn 
 contenida en el discurso del mismo Sr. 
 Delegado, en el banquete que tuvo Ingar 
 en Chicago el 22 de Octnbre liltimo, en el 
 que asegur6 que el 80 por ciento de las 
 mercancfas de las naoiones americanas 
 que consumen los Estados Unidos se 
 importa libres de derechos, y tan solo el 
 20 por ciento est^ gravado, la cual fu6 
 contradicha por el Sr. Delegado de la 
 Argentina, ley6 el Sr. Flint datos estadls- 
 ticos publicados por su Gobiemo, que 
 presentaban un resultado todavia mas 
 favorable. Habiendo teniSo" yo cuidado 
 de torn ar las cifras de ese comercio de la 
 liltima publicaci6n de la Seccifin de 
 Estadistica del Departamento del Tesoro 
 de los Estados Unidos, que compreude 
 el tiltimo afio econ6mico de 1868 & 1889, 
 encontrfi diferencias notable's entre los 
 datos contenidos en el discurso del Sr. 
 Flint y los d^aquella publicacidn, y por 
 este motive interrumpi su discurso, para 
 preguntarlo de ddnde habia tomado bus 
 datos. El Sr. Henderson entendid que 
 mi interpelaci6n se referia tan solo & 
 los datos del comercio con M&ico, lo cual 
 no era asi, pues abrazaba & los de todo el 
 comercio de los Estados Unidos con las 
 naciones americanas. 
 
 De las explicaciones del Sr. Flint re- 
 sults que habla tomado sas dates de una 
 pnblioaci6n hecha por la Seccidn de Esta- 
 dlstica del Departamento del Tesoro inti-' 
 
568 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 entitled, "Commerce of the United States 
 and other foreign nations with Mexico, 
 Central America, the West Indies, and 
 South America," which publication con- 
 tains statistical data up to the fiscal 
 year of 1887-1888, while I copied them 
 from another publication, also official, 
 entitled, "Annual statements, by coun- 
 tries and customs districts, of the im- 
 ports and exports of the United States for 
 the year ending the 30th of June, 1889." 
 My figures, therefore, were later by a year 
 than those of Mr. Flint, and, having 
 placed them at his disposal at the same 
 session, he included them in his speech 
 of the 17th as it appeared on the follow- 
 ing day in the New York newspapers, and 
 which was afterwards read in Spanish in 
 this Conference. 
 
 The same may be said of those pre- 
 sented by Mr. Saenz Pefia, Delegate from 
 the Argentine Republic, when he spoke of 
 the proportion between the free and duti- 
 able articles in the total import of foreign 
 goods in the United States. From the 
 last-cited publication it appears that the 
 total foreign importations in this country 
 during the fiscal year of 1888-'89 aggre- 
 gated $745,131,653, of whichamount $256,- 
 487,078 were imported free, and duties 
 were charged upon |488,644,574, which 
 shows that 34^ per cent, of the whole 
 were admitted free and 65^ paid duty. 
 
 The importations by the United States 
 of America of products from the American 
 Republics during the year 1888-'&9, ex- 
 cluding Paraguay, from which no data 
 is given in the book referred to, (prob- 
 ably because none of the products of 
 that country come here, or because, if 
 they do come, they are enumerated among 
 the products of some of its neighboring 
 nations), amount to $120,560,325, of which 
 $105,822,138 were admitted free of duty 
 and $14,738,187 taxed, giving the propor- 
 tion of 88f per cent, free to ISJ per cent. 
 , pajing duty. 
 
 Mr. Flint asserted that this result was 
 due to the commercial policy of his coun- 
 
 tulada " Comercio de los Estados Unidos 
 y otras naciones extranjeras con Mexico, 
 la America Central, las Indias Occiden- 
 tales y la Am&ica del Sur," cuya publi- 
 cacidn contiene dates estadisticos hasta 
 el afio econ(5mico de 1887 & 1888, mi6ntras 
 que yo los tom6 de otra publioacidn tam- 
 bien ofioial intitulada " Estadlstioa anual, 
 por paises y distritos aduaneros, de la 
 Importaci6n y Exportacidn de los Estados 
 Unidos en el aSo que terming el 30 de 
 Junio de 1889." Mis dates, porlomismo, 
 eran posteriojes en un afio, & los del Sr. 
 Flint, y habi6udole facilitado en aquella 
 misma sesidn, el apunte que tenia yo de 
 ellos, los consign^ en sa discurso del dia 
 17, en la forma en que 6\ aparecid al dia 
 siguiente en los peri6dicos de Nueva- 
 Xork, y que despues se ley6 en espafiol en 
 esta Conferencia. 
 
 En este mismo oaso estaban los que 
 present6 el Sr. Saenz Pefia, delegado de 
 la Repliblica Argentina, al hablar de la 
 proporoi6n que hay entre las mercancias 
 libres y las gravadas con derechos en la 
 importacidn total de mercancias ex- 
 trangeras en los Estados Unidos. De la 
 segunda publicacidn citada aparece que 
 el total de la importaoidu de esas mer- 
 cancias en este pais, en el afio econdmico 
 de 1888 & 1889, fn6 de $745,131,652, de 
 cuya cantidad se importaron libres de 
 derechos $256,487,078 y se cobraron 
 derechos sobre $488,644,574, de lo que 
 resulta que la parte libre de derechos 
 equivale al 34 y medio por oiento y al 65 
 y medio por ciento la que pag<5 derechos. 
 
 La importacifin en los Estados Unidos 
 de America, de mercancias de las Repn- 
 blicas American as, verifiiada en el afio de 
 1888 & 1889, sin tomar en cuenta al Para- 
 guay, respecto del cual no hay dato al- 
 guno en la publioacidn expresada, proba- 
 blemente por que no vienen aqui frutos 
 de aquel pais, 6 porque si vienen apare- 
 cer^n como producto de alguna otra de 
 las naciones contiguas, resulta un total 
 de $120,560,325, de los cuales entraron li- 
 bres de derechos $105,822,138 y gravados 
 con derechos $14,738,187, lo que da una 
 proporcion de 88 y tres cuartos por ciento, 
 libres de derechos, y de doce un cuarto 
 por ciento que pagan derechos. 
 
 El Sr. Flint asegur6 que este resnltado 
 se debia & los esfuerzos de la politioa eco- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 569 
 
 try to regulate its trade with the Ameri- 
 can nations, by imposing the lightest 
 possible duties. I do not consider this 
 statement to be accurate, as the greater 
 part of American products imported into 
 the United States of America are raw ma- 
 terials, which are free of duty for the 
 exclusive benefit of this country and not 
 because of sentimental considerations in 
 favor of the countries producing them 
 and which import them here because of 
 the very reason that they are not taxed. 
 Coffee alone represents nearly 64 per cent. 
 of the total amount of American produc- 
 tions which were admitted free of duty, 
 for during the last year it was imported 
 to the amount of $67,778,586, or be it 
 90 per cent, of the total amount of coffee 
 imported to the United States, which 
 reached $74,724,882, and the taking off of 
 the duty on coffee by the act of the Con- 
 gress of the United States of the 1st of 
 May, 1872, did not have in view, to my 
 mind, the promoting of trade with the 
 American nations that produce this ar- 
 ticle, but rather to lower the price of an 
 article which is almost a prime necessity 
 to the inhabitants of this country. 
 
 Mexico, for instance, sent to this market 
 last year coffee to the amount of about 
 $3,000,000; silver ore nearly |7, 000,000; 
 silver in bars and coined, $16,457,896, and 
 the only product having a duty which it 
 could import was the fiber called henequen, 
 to the extent of $6,000,000; which is due 
 to the fact that up to the present time 
 Mexico is the only country producing it. 
 
 The American nations raise several 
 other products which can not now enter 
 this country because they are taxed with 
 heavy duties, as is the case with sugar, 
 wool, etc.; andregardiug sugar, no reduc- 
 tion of duty has been effected, not even 
 with a single country, namely Mexico, and 
 in the face of a reciprocity treaty which 
 conceded to the United States great ad- 
 vantages, equivalent to the suppression 
 of those duties on Mexican sugar. 
 
 The civil war with the South, which 
 demanded heavy expenses and forced the 
 country to contract an enormous debt, 
 created the necessity to increase the rev- 
 enue, and for this purpose very heavy 
 
 ndmica de su pals, para regularizar su 
 comercio con las naciones americanas, gra- 
 vdlndo sus frutos con los menores derechoa 
 posibles. No considero exacta esta aser- 
 ci6n, pues la mayor parte de los articulos 
 americanos, importados en los Estados 
 Unidos de America, oonsisten en materias 
 primas, que son libres de derechos por 
 conveniencia exclusiva de este pais y n6 
 por consideraciones de sentimentalismo 
 respecto de las naciones que las producen, 
 y que se importan aqui precisamente por 
 la circunstancia de no estar gravadas. El 
 cafS representa por si solo cosa de un 64 
 por ciento de la cantidad total de mercan- 
 cias americanas que entraron aqui libres 
 de derechos, pues en el liltimo afio se im- 
 portd por valor de $67,778,586 6 sea 90.7 por 
 ciento del valor total del caffi importado ^ 
 los Estados Unidos que fu6 de $74,724,882 y 
 la eupresidn de los derechos sobre el caf€, 
 decretada por el Congreso de los Estados 
 Unidos el primero de Mayo de 1872, no 
 tuvo por objeto, segun entiendo, promo- 
 ver el comercio con las naciones america- 
 nas que producen ese fruto, sino abaratar 
 el precio de un artlculo, que es casi de 
 primera necesidad para los habitantes de 
 este pais. 
 
 Mexico, por ejemplo, envi6 i, este merca- 
 do en el liltimo aQo, caf 6 por cosa de$3, 000, - 
 000 ; piedra mineral de plata por oerca de 
 $7,000,000, plata en barras y acunadapor 
 $16,457,896, y el tinico frnto gravado con 
 derechos que pudo importar fu6 la fibra 
 Uamada henequen, por valor de $6, 000, 000, 
 lo cual se debe ^ que M&ico es hasta ahora 
 el linico pais quo la produce. 
 
 Las naciones americanas producen 
 otros varios frutos que no pueden entrar 
 ahora en este pals, porqne estau gravados 
 con fuertes derechos, como sucede con el 
 azTioar, las lanas, etc., y en el caso del 
 aziicar no se ha logrado rebaja de de- 
 rechos, ni aun respecto de un solo pais, 
 Mexico, y en virtud de un tratado de 
 reciprooidad que concedia Sj los Estados 
 Unidos grandes ventajas equivalentes & 
 la aupresion de aquellos derechos para el 
 azucar mexicauo. 
 
 La guerra civil con el Sur, que exigid 
 gastos muy fuertes, y obligd ^ la nacidn & 
 coutraer una cuantiosa deiida, trajo la 
 necesidad de aumentar los ingresos, y con 
 este objeto se impusieron derechos de im- 
 
570 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 import duties were imposed, and under 
 tlieir shadow new industries were es- 
 tablished in this country having as a 
 bounty the quota imposed as import du- 
 ties on foreign articles of a similar kind. 
 Thus a multitude of industries of great 
 importance have developed, which are 
 interested in the maintenance of high 
 duties. Moreoyer, the opinion prevails 
 among many favorable to such duties, not 
 any longer as a means of revenue, but be- 
 cause of their protective character. This 
 fact causes any measure tending to a re- 
 duction of these duties to meet a decided 
 opposition on the part of the manufactur- 
 ing and producing classes to the degree of 
 rendering it almost impossible to obtain 
 a reduction of, or exemption from, duties 
 even for raw materials, notwithstanding 
 the fact that this exemption must be the 
 basis for the preponderance of this coun- 
 try as a manufacturing and mercantile 
 nation. 
 
 Public opinion is here about equally 
 divided between protection, interested 
 in maintaining the present high tariff, 
 and free trade, whose partisans only de- 
 sire to reduce those duties to the extent 
 necessary to prevent the surplus in the 
 revenues of the country, which amounts 
 to nearly $100,000,000 per annum, and 
 which they consider as a source of de- 
 moralization and danger, and to cheapen 
 the native production of manufactured 
 articles. This circumstance and the fact 
 that the rules of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives of the United States Congress 
 gave great advantages to minorities, 
 have caused, on the one hand, several 
 bills to be introduced in each Congress 
 with the object of reducing the import 
 duties and, in consequence, the Treasury 
 surplus ; and on the other, that no head- 
 way has been made up to the present 
 in this direction. 
 
 The economic question in this country 
 has assumed a political character. One 
 of the great parties into which.it is di- 
 vided maintains in the most determined 
 manner the idea of protection, whereas 
 the opposing party works for the reduc- 
 tion of the present tariff for the objects al- 
 ready stated. At the last election for Pres- 
 ident and members of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives of the United States Congress 
 
 portaci(5n muy altos, & cuya sombra se es- 
 tablecieron industrias nuevas en este pais, 
 que teriian como prima la cuota cobrada 
 por derecho de importacidn S, los artfculos 
 similares extrangeros. De esta manera 
 sehan desarrollado multitnd de industrias 
 de gran cuantia, que estan interesadas en 
 la subsistencia de los derechos altos. 
 Prevalece ademas de parte de muchos una 
 opinion favorable S, 6stos, no ya como 
 medio de obtenerrentas piiblicas, sino por 
 su carSicter de derechos protectores. Esto 
 hace que cualguiera medida que tienda 
 ^ rebajarlos encuentre la mas deoidida 
 oposicidn de parte delas clases manufactn- 
 reras y produotoras, hasta el grado de que 
 no ha sido posible conseguir la rebaja 6 
 exencidn de derechos, ni aun para todas 
 las materias primas, sin embargo de que 
 esta exencidn tieue que ser la base de la 
 preponderanoia de este pais, como nacidn 
 manufacturera y mercantil. 
 
 La opinidn ptiblica est^ aqui casi igual- 
 mente dividida entre el proteocionismo, 
 interesado en conservar las altas cuotas del 
 arancel actual,y el libre oambio, cuyos par- 
 tidarios tan solo desean reducir aquellas 
 cuotas en lo que sea necesario, para evitar 
 el sobraute de las rentas piiblicas del 
 pais, de cerca de cien millones de pesos 
 al ano, que cousideran como una causa 
 de desmoralizacidn y de peligro, y para 
 abaratar la produccidn nacional de arti- 
 cnlos manufaoturados. Esta circunstan- 
 cia y la de que el reglamento de la CSr- 
 mara de Diputados del Congreso de los 
 Estados Unidos, concedia grandes venta- 
 jas ^ las minorlas, han hecho, por una 
 parte que se presenten en cada Congreso 
 proyectos de ley con objeto de reducir los 
 derechos de importacidn, y por consigui- 
 ente el sobraute de las ren tas ptiblicas, y 
 por otra que nada haya podido adelan- 
 tarse hasta ahora en ese camino. 
 
 La ouestidn eoondmioa ha tornado en el 
 pals un cartioter politico. Uno de los 
 grandes partidos en que 61 se di^'ide, 
 sostiene de la manera mas absoluta las 
 ideas proteocionistas, mientras que el 
 partido contrario aboga por la reducci6n 
 del arancel vigente, con los objetos ya 
 Indicados. En las tiltimas elocciones para 
 Presidente y Diputados al Congreso de los 
 Estados Unidos, triuufd el partido pro- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 571 
 
 the protection party won, and its economic 
 system figured as one of the principal 
 planks of its political platform, and to 
 which, in the judgment of many, its tri- 
 umph in the elections' was due. As I do not 
 mean to detain the Conference, I shall not 
 read the platform of the victorious party on 
 selecting its candidate before the election 
 toot place, and several other public docu- 
 ments which clearly demonstrate what 
 are the economic views of the statesmen 
 now in power. 
 
 Under such circumstances it is easy to 
 understand that the general tendency of 
 the country has not been favorable to the 
 freedom of trade, but, on the contrary, to 
 the mainttjnance of the present duties 
 upon foreign imports. This is clearly 
 demonstrated by what happened with re- 
 spect to the reciprocity treaty between 
 Mexico and the United States, signed on 
 the 20th of January, 1883, which was in- 
 itiated by the Congress of the United 
 States when it passed a law authorizing 
 the President to appoint a commission to 
 negotiate it. This Government appointed 
 as commissioner General Grant, one of its 
 most distinguished citizens, who had been 
 President and whose opinion had then 
 probably more influence here than that of 
 any other citizen. The treaty was nego- 
 tiated on an equitable basis ; that is to 
 say, without conceding special advan- 
 tages to one country to the prejudice of 
 the other ; and its negotiation was coin- 
 cident with the completion of a railway 
 trunk-line which put Mexico in direct 
 communication with the United States 
 and was in fact an extension of the 
 main lines of this country, and which, 
 it was naturally hoped, would be the 
 dawn of a great mercantile development 
 between the two great republics of North 
 America. The United States Senate ap- 
 proved that treaty, the President signed 
 it, and on the part of many of the produc- 
 ing classes here there were great desires 
 that it should be put into execution. 
 
 Notwithstanding all this, because it 
 was stipulated therein tha') sugar, fresh 
 fruits, and leaf tobacco from Mexico 
 should be admitted free of duty, those 
 interested in the production of these 
 articles in this country, which, being out 
 
 teccionista, ouyo sisterra econdmioo figurd 
 como una de las bases principales de su 
 programa politico y S, ese prinoipio se de- 
 bid, en concepto de muchos, su triunfo en 
 las eleociones. For no detener & la Confe- 
 renoia, no leo el programa que formuld el 
 partido triunfante al nombrar di su candi- 
 date, ^ntes de que Be veriflcara la eleccidn, 
 y otros varies documentos ptiblicos que 
 demuestran exactamente cuales son las 
 ideas econ<5micas deloshombresde Estado 
 que est£in ahora en el poder. 
 
 Bajo este estado de cosas es fdicil com- 
 prender que la teudencia general del pals, 
 no ha estado en favor de la libertad de 
 comercio, siuo por el contrario, de sos- 
 tener los actuales grav^menes sobre la 
 importacidn de mercancfas extrangeras. 
 Esto se demuestra muy claramente con 
 lo que pas6 con el tratado de reciprocidad 
 firmado entre Mexico y los Estados 
 Unidos el 20 de Enero de 1883, que fu^ 
 promovido por el Congreso de los Estados 
 Unidos, al aprobar una ley que autoriz6 al 
 Presidente para nombrar una Comisidn 
 que lo negooiara. Este Gobierno nombrd 
 Comisionado al General Grant, uno de los 
 cindadanos mas distinguidos del pais, que 
 habia sido Presidente, y cuya opinidn 
 teniaentoncesprobablementemasinfluen- 
 cia, que la de cualquier otro oiudadano. 
 El Tratado se negocid bajo bases equita- 
 tivas, es decir, sin conceder ventajas es- 
 peciales & un pals con perjuicio del otro, 
 y su negociacidn coincidid con la conclu- 
 sidn de una via ferrea troncal que ponia 
 Si Mdxico en comunicacidn directa con los 
 Estados Unidos, y que equivalia & una 
 prolongacidn de las vias troncales de 
 este pals; y naturalmente se esperaba 
 seria el preludio de un gran desarrollo 
 mercantil entre las dos grandes Eepfibli- 
 cas de la America Septentrional. El 
 Senado de los Estados Unidos aprobd ese 
 tratado; el Presidente lo ratified; y de 
 parte de muohas clases productoras de 
 aqui, cuyos intereses favorecia, habia 
 grande interds para que se pusiera en 
 ejecucidn. 
 
 Sin embargo de todo esto, porque en dl 
 se estipulaba que la azficar, frutas fres- 
 cas y tabaco en rama de Mdxico, entraran 
 libres de derechos, los interesados en la 
 producoidn de estos artlculos en este pais, 
 que por estar fuera de los trdpicos tiene 
 
572 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 of the tropics, must be artificial and ex- 
 pensive, raised a decided opposition, and 
 the House of Representatives did not 
 pass the bill necessary to put the treaty 
 in execution, this falling through because 
 of the failure of that requisite within the 
 time stipulated to carry the treaty into 
 effect. 
 
 There is another fact still more sig- 
 nificant, and which demonstrates with 
 the greatest clearness how strenuous and 
 efficacious are the efforts made by certain 
 interests of this country, no matter how 
 small they are, and even when they are 
 in conflict with those of the majority, and 
 which tend to carry protection to the 
 last extreme. In consequence of the con- 
 struction of railroads in Mexico and their 
 connection with those of the United States, 
 the exportation, for the purpose of work- 
 ing them i n this country, of silver ore was 
 begun, which ore on account of being com- 
 bined with other rebellious metals could 
 not be worked profitably by the "patio " 
 system, which as a general rule prevails 
 in Mexico, and it needed to be treated 
 on smelting reduction works, which 
 is very expensive in my country, as it re- 
 quires fuel which is very dear there, and 
 the establishmentof machinery and offices 
 which demand the expenditure of great 
 capital. That silver ore contains lead, 
 which, in turn, makes it an indispensable 
 ingredient in the smelting of other silver 
 ores known as dry, which abound in the 
 mines of this country, wi th which the lead- 
 bearing ores are combined, thereby con- 
 tributing greatly to cheapening the costof 
 the working of the other ores. In the year 
 1880, before the first main line between 
 Mexico and the United States was com- 
 pleted, the exportation of those minerals 
 amounted to barely 25 tons, while during 
 the last year it reached over 120,000. 
 The following table shows the value of the 
 ore imported here from the year lH8:i to 
 1889: 
 
 Silver ore. 
 
 1883, from all countries $59, 729 
 
 1884, from all countries 173, 054 
 
 1885, from aU countries 460, 865 
 
 1886, from all countries 1, 263, 256 
 
 1887, from all countries 3, 798, 284 
 
 1888, from Mexico only 4, 803, 667 
 
 1889, from Mexico only 6, 779, 160 
 
 que ser artificial y coslosa, hicierqn una 
 oposici6n decidida, y la C^mara de Di- 
 putados no aprob(5 el proyecto de ley que 
 era necesario para poner el tratado en 
 ejecucidn, habiendo expirado este por 
 falta de aquel requisite en el plazo conve- 
 nido para pouerlo en vigor. 
 
 Hay otro hecho todavia mas signifloa- 
 tivo, y que demuestra con mayor claridad 
 ouan decididos y eflcaces son los esfuerzos 
 que hacen los intereses creados en este 
 pals, por pequ^iios que sean, y aun cuando 
 est^n en conflicto con los de la mayorla, 
 y que tienden S> llevar el proteccionismo 
 S, su tiltimo extreme. Con motivo de la 
 construccidn de ferrocarriles en M&ico y 
 de su conexidn con los Estados Unidos, 
 se comenz6 & exportar, para beneficiarse 
 en este pais, piedra mineral de plata, que 
 por estar combiuada con otros metales 
 rebeldes, no se podia beneficiar con utili- 
 dades por el sistema de patio, que por 
 regla general prevalece en Mexico, y 
 necesitaba el beneficio de fundicidn, muy 
 costoso en mi pais, porque requiere com- 
 bustible que es alii oaro, y el estableci- 
 miento de maquinaria y ofioinas que exi- 
 gen el desembolso de grandes capitales. 
 Esa piedra mineral de plata contiene 
 plomo, lo cual ^ su vez, la hace ser ua 
 ingrediente indispensable en la f undioi<5n 
 de otros metales Uaraados secos, en que 
 abundan las minas de esta uaci6n, con los 
 cuales se combinan los plomosos, y cou- 
 tribuyen asl & facilitar y abaratar gran- 
 demente el costo del beneficio de los secos. 
 
 En el ano de 1880, antes de que se 
 terminara el primer ferrocarril troncal 
 entre M&ico y los Estados Unidos, la ex- 
 portaci6n de esos minerales apenas fu6 de 
 25 toneladas, mientras que en el tiltimo 
 ano pas6 de ointo veinte mil. La siguiente 
 tabla compreude al valor de esa piedra 
 importada aqui en los afios de 1883 di 1889 : 
 
 Piedra mineral de plata. 
 
 1883, de todos los paises $59, 729 
 
 1884, de todos los paises 172, 054 
 
 1885, de todos los paises.. 460,865 
 
 1886, de todos los paises 1, 263, 256 
 
 1887, de todos los paises ; 3, 798, 284 
 
 1888, de M&ico solamente 4, 803, 6ti7 
 
 1889, de Mexico solamente 6, 779, 160 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 573 
 
 This trade was mutually advantageous, 
 for it made it possible for Mexico to ex- 
 port an ore which, because it could 
 not be worked at little cost, had no com- 
 mercial value in my country, and at the 
 same time afforded the United States the 
 advantages of working in its own terri- 
 tory that raw material; of cheapening 
 the cost of working its own dry ores, 
 and of benefiting several of its trunk rail- 
 road lines. Notwithstanding this, and 
 because of the sole circumstance that in 
 two or three of its States there are some 
 mines bearing metals similar to those im- 
 ported from Mexico, which rendered it 
 impossible for the owners thereof to eujoy 
 a monopoly, nor the profits they desired, 
 a strong objection was made to the im- 
 portation, free of duty, of Mexican ore, 
 and Congress was asked to impose duties 
 thereon. Three successive administra- 
 tions of the United States refused to 
 grant this demand, which by no means 
 discouraged the interested parties, and 
 upon the assemblage of a new Congress, 
 or the inauguration of a new administra- 
 tion, or upon the appointment of a new 
 Secretary of the Treasury, they again 
 went to work, asking that the impor- 
 tation of Mexican ore combined with 
 lead be prohibited. At length, in July, 
 1889, they succeeded in getting the Treas- 
 ury Department to make some regulations 
 ■which exact the most onerous conditions 
 for the importation of that mineral, and 
 vfhich at once brought about the result 
 of reducing its importation into the 
 United States by one-half or two-thirds. 
 
 For one country to sell goods to another 
 it has to buy those which the latter 
 produces and the former needs, for trade 
 is nothing more than the mutually ad- 
 vantageousexchangeofproductsbetween 
 two nations, and if one country closes the 
 door to the goods produced by another 
 and which it needs, the increase of trade 
 between the two can hardly be expected. 
 If duty should be put upon mineral ore 
 the establishments necessary for working 
 them would be constructed in Mexico or 
 the minerals would be sent to Europe to 
 be worked there, and in either case the 
 interests of this country would suffer 
 most. 
 
 For this reason and several others I 
 deem it unnecessary to enumerate, for 
 
 Este comercio era mntnamente venta- 
 joso, porque permitia S, Mexico exportar 
 una piedra mineral que, por no poder^ 
 beneficiar & poco costo, no tenia valor 
 ninguno comercial en mi pals, y S, la vez 
 daba 5 los Estados Unidos las ventajas de 
 hacer en su territorio el beneficio de 
 aquella materia prima, de abaratar el 
 costo de beneficio de bus metales secos, y 
 de dar alimento ^ varias de sua vias fer- 
 reas troncales. Sin embargo de esfco y por 
 la sola circunstancia de que en dos 6 tres 
 Estados de este pals, hay algunas minas 
 con metales semejantes £i los que se im- 
 portaban de Mexico, lo cual hacia que 
 los dueBos de aquellas no pudiesen tener 
 un monopolio, ni las utilidades ^ que as- 
 piraban, se levaut6 una fuerte resistencia 
 contra la importacifin libre de derechos 
 de piedra mineral mexicana, y se solicits 
 del Congreso que le impusiese derechos. 
 Tres Administraciones sucesivas de los 
 Estados Unidos se negaron S, esta preten- 
 sion, lo cual en nada desanimaba S, los 
 interesados, que al rennirse un nuevo Con- 
 greso, 6 al inaugnrarse una nueva Ad- 
 ministracidn, 6 al ingresar un nuevo Se- 
 cretario del Tesoro, volvian & la oarga, 
 solicitando que se prohibiera la importa- 
 ei6n de piedra mi ueral de plata mexicana 
 con mezcla deplomo. Al fin, en Julio de 
 1889, lograron que el Departamento del 
 Tesoro expidiera un reglamento que exige 
 condiciones onerosisimas para la impor- 
 tacion de aquella piedra,y que desde luego 
 produjo el resultado de reducir en una 
 mitad, 6 en dos terceras partes, su impor- 
 taci<5n S, los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Para que un pals pueda vender mercan- 
 clas S, otro, tiene que comprar las que este 
 produzca y aquel necesite, pues el comer- 
 cio no es mas que el cambio de productos 
 mutuamente ventajoso entre dos na- 
 ciones, y si un pais cierra las puertas S, 
 las mercancfas que otro produce y que 61 
 necesita, mal puede esperarse el incre- 
 mento del comercio entre ambos. Si se 
 llegase S, gravar con derechos & la piedra 
 mineral mexicana se construirian en Mex- 
 ico las obras necesarias paia hacer alii su 
 beneficio, 6 se mandaria ^ Europa para 
 ser beneficiada, y en uno ti otro caso 
 Bufririan los intereses de este pals. 
 
 Por este motive y otros varies que oreo 
 innecesario enumerar, pues est^u al al- 
 
574 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAJST CONFEKENCE. 
 
 they are known to all and it would take 
 time to rehearse. I am convinced that 
 the public opinion of the United States 
 is not yet ready to adopt liberal commer- 
 cial measures with regard to its foreign 
 trade, or even with its sister Republics 
 of this continent. Notwithstanding this, 
 I do not think for this reason that we 
 should refrain from taking into consider- 
 ation and making every effort to reach a 
 satisfactory agreement in this respect 
 whenever this Government expresses, as it 
 has in the present case, its desire to reach 
 that result. For these considerations, 
 and notwithstanding the poor result of 
 the reciprocity treaty concluded with us, 
 we shall be disposed to receive and con- 
 sider its suggestions in this matter, and 
 this is one of the reasons why the Delegate 
 from Mexico, who is a member of the Com- 
 mittee on Customs Union, not only did not 
 accept the views of the minority to re- 
 ject the proposal for reciprocity treaties, 
 but signed the majority report, which 
 recommends the negotiation of the same. 
 
 Mr. Flint asserted also, in his speech, 
 that the imports into the American 
 nations of goods from the United States 
 amounted in the past year to |50,623,941, 
 of which amount 90 per cent., or be it 
 145,000,000, were dutiable, only $5,000,000 
 or 10 per cent, thereof, being admitted 
 free. 
 
 As far as Mexico is concerned these fig- 
 ures are also inexact. The data published 
 by the Bureau of Statistics of the Treas- 
 ury Department of this country respecting 
 the export trade with Mexico has been 
 deficient and entirely inaccurate. There 
 have been two causes for this inaccuracy, 
 the first is an error on the part of that 
 Bureau which made a reduction of 33 per 
 cent, upon the value of Mexican articles 
 imported into the United States, that be- 
 ing the difference in commercial value 
 between the United States gold dollar 
 and the Mexican silver dollar, and the 
 second because of there being no law in 
 this country which provides for the col- 
 lection of statistics of its exports by rail- 
 road and over its frontiers, the trade 
 with Mexico by way of the frontier is not 
 taken into account, and as there are at 
 present four railways between the two 
 Eepublics it maybe asserted that two- 
 
 cance de todos y seria largo referirlos, 
 tengo la convicci6n de que la opini6n pti- 
 blica de los Estados Unidos no esti toda- 
 via preparada para adoptar medidas co- 
 merciales en sentido liberal, respecto de su 
 comercio exterior, ni aun con las Eepli- 
 blicas hermanas de este continente. A 
 pesar de esto, no creo que por esta causa 
 deba dejarse de tomar en consideracidn y 
 de hacerse todo esfuerzo por Uegar S, un 
 aouerdo satisfactorio respecto de este 
 asunto, siembre que este Gobierno haga, 
 como lo ha heoho en el presente case, in- 
 dicacifin de su deseo de Uegar S, ese resul- 
 tado. Por esta razou y S, pesar del mal 
 6xito del tratado de reciprocidad que cele- 
 br6 con nosotros, estar^mos dispuestos & 
 recibir y considerarsusindicacionessobre 
 este asunto, y esta es una de las razones 
 porque el Delegado de M6xico, que forma 
 parte de la Comisidn de Uni(5n Aduanera, 
 no solamente no acept6 las ideas de la 
 minorla, de rechazar la propuesta de tra- 
 tados de reciprocidad, sine que suscribid 
 el dict^men de la may oria, que reoomienda 
 la negociaci6n de los mismos. 
 
 Asegurd tambiiSn el Senor Flint, en su 
 discurso, que la importacidn de meroau- 
 cias de los Estados Unidos en las naciones 
 americanas asoendi6 en el liltimo ano ^ 
 ^50,623,941, de cuya cantidad el noventa 
 por ciento, 6 sean $45,000,000, est^n gra- 
 vados con dereohos, siendo libres tan solo 
 cinco millones 6 el diez por ciento. 
 
 Tampoco hay exactitud en estos dates, 
 por lo que respecta S, M6xico. Los datos 
 publicados por la Secoi6n de Estadfstica 
 del Departamento del Tesoro de este pals, 
 han sido deflcienles y enteramente inexac- 
 tos respecto del comercio de exportacion 
 con Mexico. Ha habido dos causas para 
 estainexaotitud : la primera es una equivo- 
 caci6n de aquella Oficina que rebajaba el 
 33 por ciento sobre el valor de las meroan- 
 cias mexicanas importadas en los Estados 
 Unidos, por ser esa la diferencia de preoio 
 comercial entre el peso de oro de los Es- 
 tados Unidos y el peso mexicano de plata ; 
 y la segunda, que por no existir ley nin- 
 guna en este pals queproveala coleocidn 
 de datos sobre sus exportaoiones por ferro- 
 carril y por sus fronteras, no se toma en 
 cuenta el comercio que se hace con Me- 
 xico por la frontera; y como actualmente 
 hay cuatro vias ferreas entre las dos Ee- 
 pliblicas puede asegurarse que dos terceraa 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 575 
 
 thirds, or at least one-half, of its trade is 
 carried by rail, the data of which does 
 not appear in the statistical works of this 
 country. There are, besides, some discrep- 
 ancies, although of minor importance, in 
 the data relating to imports. According 
 to the statistics of this Government the to 
 tal importation of Mexican goods into the 
 United States during the fiscal year of 
 188S-'89 was $21,253,601, without taking 
 into account the importations of precious 
 metals, which amounted to |17,557,248, 
 making a grand total of |38,810,849, while 
 according to the official data o'f the Mexi- 
 can Government the exports of Mexican 
 goods to the United States amounted to 
 $40,853,363. 
 
 The total exports of Mexico during the 
 last fiscal year, according to the statistics 
 published by my Government, reached 
 the sum of |60, 158,423, consisting of pre- 
 cious metals to the amount of $38,785,275 
 and of other products to |21,373,148. 
 
 The exports of articles from the United 
 States to Mexico, according to the data of 
 the United States Government, in which 
 the trade by rail is not included, amounted 
 to 110,886,288 ; and, although the Mexican 
 Government has not yet published its sta- 
 tistics relating to the same year, it may 
 be asserted that those figures hardly rep- 
 resent one-third, or at the most one-half 
 of the actual exports. 
 
 I should further state that at least 60 
 per cent, of goods from the United States 
 imported into Mexico are free of duty, 
 for they consist principally of machinery, 
 raUs, oars, ties, and other railway mate- 
 rials which figure on the free list of the 
 Mexican tariff. 
 
 Before concluding I think it advisable 
 to refer to the last speech on this subject, 
 made on the 15th instant by the Delegate 
 from the ArgentineRepublic. It appears 
 to me that if the United States should 
 conclude a reciprocity treaty with the 
 Argentine Republic, by which this coun- 
 try would agree to receive the former's 
 wool free of duty, this product would 
 be greatly benefited, because it would 
 bring here a higher price than in any 
 other market to which it might be sent, 
 
 partes, 6 por lo menoa una mitad de su 
 comeroio, se hace por ferrocarrU, ouyos 
 dates no figuran en los trabajos estadlsti- 
 cos de este pais. Hay ademas disoordan- 
 cias, atinque de menor cuantia, en los 
 datos referentes & la imporfcacifin. Segun 
 los de este Gobierno la importacifin 
 total de mercancias mexicanas en los 
 Esfcados Unidos en el a5o econdmioo de 
 1888 ^ 1889, fu6 de $21,253,601, sin tomar 
 en cuenta la importaci6n de metales 
 preoiosos que aecendid S, $17,557,248, lo 
 que hace un total de $38,810,849, mientras 
 que, segun los datos oficiales del Gobierno 
 de Mexico, la exportacidn de mercancias 
 mexicanas ^ los Estados Unidos a8cendi6 
 S. $40,853,363. 
 
 La exportaoi6n total de Mexico en el 
 filtimo aSo econdmico, conforme & los 
 datos publioados por mi Gobierno, aacendi6 
 & la cantidad de $60,158,433, consiatiendo 
 en metales preoiosos por $38,785,275 y en 
 otras mercancias $21,373,148. 
 
 La exportaci6n para Mexico de mer- 
 cancias de los Estados Unidos, conforme 
 & los datos del Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos, en que no se toma en cuenta el 
 oomercio por ferrocarrU es de $10,886,288; 
 y aunque el Gobierno mexicano no ha 
 publicado todavia sus datos oorrespon- 
 dieutes al mlsrao ano, puede asegurarae 
 que esa cifra ap^nas representa una ter- 
 cera parte, 6 ^ lo m^s, una mitad de la 
 exportacidn efectlva. 
 
 Debo ademas manlfestar que por lo 
 m6n08 el 60 por ciento de los efectos que 
 se Importan en Mexico prooedentes de los 
 Estados Unidos, sou llbres de derechos, 
 puesoonsisten, prlncipalmente, en maqui- 
 naria, rieles, carros, durmlentes y otros 
 materiales para ferrocarrU que figuran en 
 la lista iibre del arancel mexicano. 
 
 Antes de conclulr, creo conveniente re- 
 ferirme al nuevo discurso que pronunoid 
 el 15 del corriente, respecto de este mismo 
 asunto, el Sr. Delegado de la Repriblica 
 Argentina. Me parece que si los Estados 
 Unidos celebraran con la Repiiblica Ar- 
 gentina, un tratado de reciprocidad en 
 virtud del cual convlniera este pals en 
 reoibir llbres de derechos las lanas de 
 aquel, sebenefioiarianestas grandemente, 
 porque tendrian aqui un preoio mas alto 
 que en cnalquiera otro meroado en que 
 
576 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 competing with those of other countries 
 not enjoying that advantage. 
 
 The total wool importation of the 
 United States in the last fiscal was |17,- 
 974,515, and of that amount only $908,969, 
 or 7 per cent. , was Argentine wool. While 
 competition exists between the English, 
 Australian, and native wools, which bring 
 a high price here, the present prices will 
 not diminish considerably, even if Argen- 
 tine wool should be admitted free, and if, 
 notwithstanding the duties they now pay, 
 they can compete with the rest, it will at 
 once be seen what an advantageous posi- 
 tion they would have if they were admit- 
 ted free of duty, and the tax upon the 
 others should remain. Probably for this 
 reason the far-seeing Argentine Govern- 
 ment proposed years ago to the United 
 States the celebration of a reciprocity 
 treaty, as we were informed by Mr. Dele- 
 gate Saenz PeBa. 
 
 It is, moreover, a wise policy on the 
 part of this Government, should it have 
 to reduce its import duties to prevent 
 a surplus in the public Treasury, or to 
 lower the cost of raw materials, to gain 
 some advantage by^educing them. If, 
 for instance, all the foreign wools were 
 admitted free of duty, the United States 
 would gain no advantage other than the 
 reduction of its import duties ; but if the 
 reduction were made in favor of only one 
 of the countries producing that article, 
 and in return for the proportionate ad- 
 vantages obtained by this Government, 
 it would gain, moreover, in favor of its 
 manufactures the advantages they might 
 obtain by means of reciprocity. I do not 
 pretend to advance any idea respecting 
 the possibility of bringing about a treaty 
 on these bases between the Argentine 
 and the United States, because I am not 
 authorized to speak in the name of either 
 of the two Governments, nor am I even 
 acquainted with their views upon this 
 important subject; and I merely dot down 
 these thoughts to demonstrate that the 
 Argentine Republic can not be entirely 
 indifferent to the negotiation of reciproc- 
 ity treaties, and that for the same reason 
 the majority report of the committee does 
 not propose anything which could be con- 
 
 concurrieran, sin esa ventaja, con las de 
 otros paises. La importacifin total de 
 lanas en los Estados Uuidos, en el filtimo 
 aflo econ<5mico fu6 de $17,974,515, y de 
 esa cantidad tan solo $908,969 6 sea el 
 7 por ciento, fu6 de lanaa argentinas. 
 Mientras exista la concurrencia de las 
 lanas inglesas y de Australia y de las 
 producidas aqui, que tienen un alto pre- 
 cio, no bajar^n considerablemente los 
 precios actuales, aun reoibi^ndose libres 
 las argentinas ; y si apesar de los derechos 
 que ahora pagan, pueden oompetir ellas 
 con las denras, se comprende desde luego 
 en qu6 ventajosa posicidn quedarian, si se 
 les permitiera entrar libres de derechos, 
 quedando gravadas las otras, lo cual 
 haria que se mantuvieran los precios 
 actuales. Probablemente por esta razon 
 el previsor Gobierno Argentiuo prbpnso 
 hace aSos ^ los Estados Unidos la cele- 
 bracidn de un tratado de reciprocidad, 
 segnn nos informd el Sefior Belegado Sa- 
 enz PeQa. 
 
 Seria ademas una polf tica s^bia de parte 
 de este pais, que si tiene que rebajar sus 
 derechos de importaci6n, para evitar el 
 sobrante en las areas p^blicaa, 6 para 
 abaratar el costo de las materias primas, 
 procure obtener algun provecho al redu- 
 cirlos. Si se reoibieran, por ejemplo, li- 
 bres de derechos, todas las lanas extran- 
 geras, no conseguirfan los Estados Unidos 
 mas ventaja que la reduecifin en sus dere- 
 chos de importaoidn; pero si la rebaja se 
 hiciera & uno solo de los paises produc- 
 tores de ese artioulo, y en compensaci<3n 
 de ventajas proporoionadas obtenidaspor 
 este Gobierno, le resultarian ademas, en 
 favor de sus manufacturas, las ventajas 
 que obtuvieran por medio de la recipro- 
 cidad. No pretendo avanzai ninguna 
 idea respecto de la posibilidad de Uevar S, 
 cabo un tratado sobre estas bases entre la 
 Argentina y los Estados Unidos, porque 
 no estoy autorizado ^ hablar & nombre 
 de ninguno de los dos Gobiernos, "y 
 nl siquiera conozco sus ideas sobre este 
 importante asunto; simplemente apunto 
 estos conceptos para demostrar que la 
 Rep^blica Argentina no pnede ser de 
 todo indiferente & la iiegociaci(5n de los 
 tratados de reciprocidad, y que por lo 
 mismo, el dictdimen de la mayoria de la 
 Comisidn, no propone nada que pudiera 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 577 
 
 BidereU as unfavorable, or inadvisable, for 
 that nation. 
 
 To the mind of the Delegate of the Ar- 
 gentine, free trade with the United States 
 would not affect In the least the treasury 
 of his country, for, as he informed us, the 
 United States themselves, notwithstand- 
 ing its protective duties on cotton and 
 woolen manufactures, receive from for- 
 eign n:.tions great quantities of these 
 articles, aud tliis is another of the rea- 
 sons he advanced for not signing the ma- 
 jority rep .rt. During the last lisoal year 
 1 he United States imported cotton manu 
 faclures to the amount of $26,805,942, and 
 woolens to the amount of $49,859,331. 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, replied to this objection 
 in terms which, although well-founded 
 ill part, did not appear to me to be con- 
 clusive in the premises, for he said that 
 the cause of the importations of foreign 
 articles similar to those manufactured 
 here was to be found in the special taste 
 of the consumers, aud he cited the case of 
 beer. 
 
 Although this may explain the impor- 
 tation of some articles, I do not think it 
 explains that of all. If the data of the 
 Statistical Bureau of this Government 
 regarding the importation of cottons and 
 woolens during the last fiscal year is 
 examined carefnlly, it will be found that 
 the manufactures of both materials im- 
 ported here are those done by hand, or 
 which require a great deal of hand-work, 
 which, because of its being cheaper in 
 Europe than here, can not be manu- 
 factured here profitably, aud have to, 
 therefore, to be iniijorted from abroad, 
 aud principally from Great Britain. But 
 ordinary goods, woolen as well as cotton, 
 which represent nearly nine- tenths of ma- 
 chine work and one-tenth of manual labor, 
 can not compete with those of this coun- 
 try. Under these circumstances — if the 
 Argentine Republic should admit free of 
 iluty the ordinai'y woolen and cotton 
 goods of the United States — it would nec- 
 essarily bring about somewhat of a re- 
 duction in the import duties now imposed 
 ou these goods coining from Europe. And 
 this brings me to another point of the 
 Delegate from the Argentine Republic. 
 37 I c 
 
 considerarsedesfavorable d iuconvenieute 
 para aqnella nacidu. 
 
 En concepto del Sr. Delegado de la Ar- 
 gentina, cl libre cambio con los Estados 
 Unidos no afectarla en nada el tesoro de 
 su pais, porque seguu nos manifesto, los 
 mismos Estados Unidos apesar de sus de- 
 rechos protectorcs sobre manufacturasde 
 algodony delana, recibenen grandescan- 
 tidades estos articulos de naciones ex- 
 trangeras, y esta es otra do las razones en 
 que 80 fund6 para no firmar el dict^men 
 de la mayorla. En efecto, en el liltimo 
 ano econfimico importaron los Estados 
 Unidos manufacturas de algodon por valor 
 de $26,805,942 J de lana por ,$49,859,331. 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado de los Es- 
 tados Unidos, contest6 esta objecidn en 
 t^rminos que, aunque fundados en parte, 
 no me parecen concluyentes en el caso, 
 pues dijo que la causa de que se importen 
 articulos extrangeros similares S, los que 
 se fabrican aqui consistia en el gusto es- 
 pecial de los consumidores, y cit6 el caso 
 delacerveza. Aunque estopuedeexplicar 
 la importaci6n de algunos articulos, no 
 creo que explique la de todos. 
 
 Si se examiiian atentamente los datos de 
 la Secci6n de Estadistica de este Oobier- 
 no, respecto de la importacidn de lanas 
 y algodoues, en el llltiuio ano eondmioo, 
 se encontrari que las raauufacturas de 
 ambas materias importadas aqui, son las 
 que se haceu i, mano, 6 que requiereu un 
 gran trabajo manual, que, por tener en 
 Europa un precio mas bajo que aqui, no 
 puedeu fabricarse con provecho en este 
 pals, y tienen que importarse, por lo 
 mismo, del extrangero, y principalmente 
 de la Gran Bretana. Pero los ggneros 
 ordinarins, tanto de lana como de algo- 
 don, en que entra cast en nneve d^oimos 
 el trabajo de las mSiquiuas y en un d^cimo 
 el del hoinbre, no pueden competir con 
 los de este pals. Esta circunstancia haria 
 pues, que si la Eepliblica Argentina re- 
 oibiera libres de derechos las manufactu- 
 ras ordinarias de lana y algodon de los 
 Estados Unidos, uecesariamente se re- 
 duciriau algun tanto los derechos de 
 importacidu que actualraeute cobran por 
 estas manufacturas de procedonoia euro- 
 pea. Y esto me lleva & otro concepto del 
 Sr. Delegado de la Eeptiblica Argentina. 
 
578 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMKKICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Ill reply to ail interrogation by Mr. 
 Delegate Estee, he stated that the import 
 duties of his country furnished two-thirds 
 of the public revenue. I have afterwards 
 seen the accuracy of these figures corrob- 
 orated by the statistics of the Argentine 
 Republic which I have been able to con- 
 sult. To my mind this fact demonstrates 
 the soundness of the remarks contained in 
 the majority report of the committee re- 
 garding these two points: First, that all 
 the American nations derive their princi- 
 pal revenue flroui import dutie.i imposed 
 on foreign goods; and, second, that these 
 duties will be more or less considerably re- 
 duced if the system of absolute free trade 
 were adopted between the nations, includ- 
 ing, of course, the United States. 
 
 The principal reasons advanced by the 
 minority for not signing the recommenda- 
 tion in favor of reciprocity treaties was: 
 First, that to their mind the Conference 
 is not authorized to consider reciprocity 
 treaties ; and, second, that such a recom- 
 mendation would consequently be, in con- 
 sequence, equivalent to officiousness to- 
 wards the Ameiican nations. 
 
 To the mind of some Delegates, and 
 especially those representing the United 
 States, the first section of the law of the 
 24th of May, 1888, which called this Con- 
 ference together, authorized it not only 
 to recommend but to celebrate reciprocity 
 treaties upon commerce and arbitration, 
 while the other subjects included in 
 the second section of the law were only 
 recommended to be discussed or con- 
 sidered. (The law uses the English " to 
 consider.") 
 
 But there is another conclusive reason 
 in favor of the recommendation of the 
 majority, and it is that, supposing the 
 Conference were not authorized but to 
 consider the subjects included in the sec- 
 ond section of the inviting act, the second 
 clause of which speaks of the Customs 
 Union, it should be remembered that un- 
 derstanding Customs Union to mean 
 unrestricted reciprocity, it is clear that 
 the Conference can recommend the cele- 
 bration of treaties of reciprocity without 
 restrictions, and if it has the right to pro- 
 
 En respuesta & una interpelacion del Sr. 
 Delegado Estee, manifesto que los dere- 
 chos de importacidn en su pais, equivalen 
 & dos terceras partes de sus rentas plibli- 
 oas. He visto despues corroborada la 
 exactitud de estosdatos, en las estadisti- 
 cas que he podido consultar de la Eepli- 
 blica Argentina. A mi me parece que 
 este hecho viene Sj demostrar lo fnndado 
 de las observaoiones del dictamen de la 
 mayoria de la Comisidn, respeoto de estos 
 dos puntos : primero, que todas la ua- 
 cidnes americanas derivan sus reutas 
 principates de los derechos de impoita 
 cion que cobran S, las mercancfas ex- 
 trangeras, y segundo, que estos derechos 
 se reducirian mas 6 m^nos considerable- 
 meiite si se adoptase el sistema del libre 
 cambio absolute, entre dichas naciones, 
 incluyendo por snpnesto S, los Estados 
 Uuidos. 
 
 La razon principal en que se fund<J la 
 minorfa para no suscribir la recomenda- 
 cidn-en favor de tratados de reclprocidad 
 consiste: primero, en que ^ su juicio no 
 est^ autorizada la Conferencia para ocu- 
 parse de tratados de reclprocidad, y se- 
 gundo, que su recomendacidn equivalla, 
 por lo mismo, ^ una oficiosidad respecto 
 de las naciones americauas. 
 
 En concepto de algunos Senores Dele- 
 gados, y especialmente de los que repre- 
 sentan S, los Estados Unidos de America, 
 el artlculo primero de la ley de 24 de Mayo 
 de 1888 que convocd esta Conferencia, la 
 autoriza no solo para recomendar, sino 
 para celebrar convenios sobre reclproci- 
 dad comercial y arbitramento, mientras 
 que los demas asuntos comprendidos en el 
 Articulo II de la ley, no se encomendaron 
 sino para discutirlos 6 oonsiderarlos. La 
 ley usa el verbo ingles to consider. 
 
 Pero hay otra razon concluyente en 
 favor de la recomendacidu de la mayo- 
 ria, y es que suponiendo que la Confer- 
 encia no estuviera autorizada mas que 
 para considerar los asuntos compren- 
 didos en al Articulo II de la ley de oon- 
 vocatoria, en ouya fraccidn segnnda 
 se habla de la Unidn Aduanera, debe 
 teuerse presente que eutdndiendose por 
 Union Aduanera la reclprocidad sin res- 
 tricoiones, es claro que la Conferencia 
 puede recomeudar la oelebracidu de tra- 
 tados de reclprocidad sin restricciones, y 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 579 
 
 pose absolute reciprocity, it evidently 
 has Che right to recommend partial reci- 
 procity, because the principle of law that 
 the greater includes the lesser is well es- 
 tablished. It ia therefore untenable to 
 maintain that the Conference has not the 
 right to recommend the celebration of 
 partial reciprocity treaties. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, in his speech replying 
 to that of the Argentine Delegate, in- 
 formed us that in the Committee on Cus- 
 toms Union he proposed the holding of a 
 special conference to study this subject, 
 and that this idea was not accepted by 
 his colleagues. In deference to this gen- 
 tleman, I think it advisable to explain, 
 in the name of the majority of the com- 
 mittee, the reason why his plan was not 
 accepted, notwithstanding the deference 
 with which the committee received his 
 suggestions. To our mind the diffloulties 
 in the way of a customs union, even con- 
 sidering as such unrestricted reciprocity, 
 are of such a nature that it is not 
 possible to overcome them for spme time, 
 at least while the United States maintains 
 its economic policy unchanged, and when 
 this will come about can not be foreseen. 
 Under these circumstances the holding of 
 a new conference, called especially for 
 this purpose, would give no better result 
 than 'hat had in the present Conference, 
 and it would be little loyal to our Govern- 
 ments if we caused them to be represented 
 anew in another conference charged with 
 the study of a subject which we are 
 convinced is not at present practicable. 
 
 Mr. Henderson also read to us the draft 
 of a report he submitted to the committee, 
 which, the Conference may have noted, 
 is substantially the same as that of the 
 majority, and this being so, and consider- 
 ing the fact that he asserted on another 
 occasion that the majority made several 
 modifications and suppressions in its re- 
 port to accommodate it to the views of 
 the Delegate from the United States, It 
 would seem natural that he should sign 
 that report without reservations. He did 
 not thinls it advisable so to do, and the 
 reservation with which he affixed his sig- 
 nature to the majority report and the cir- 
 cumstance of his having read his draught 
 of a report, which right he reserved to 
 himself upon signing the former, place 
 
 si tiene facultad para proponer la reci- 
 procidad absoluta, evidentemente la tiene 
 para recomendar la reciprocidad parcial, 
 porque es bien conocido el principio de 
 derecho que establece que quien puede lo 
 mas puede lo menos. No es por lo mismo 
 sostenible que no tenga facultad la Con- 
 ferencia para recomendar la celebracidn 
 de tratados parciales de reciprocidad. 
 
 El Sr. • Henderson nos manifesto en su 
 discurso, en respuesta al del Sr. Delegado 
 Argentine, que en el seno de !a Comisi6n 
 de Unidn Aduanera propuso la reunidn de 
 una Conferencia especial, encargada de 
 este asunto, y que este pensamiento no fu6 
 aceptado por sus colegas. Por deferencia 
 Si este caballero creo conveniente explicar, 
 & Dombrede la mayorla de la Comisidn, el 
 motive porque no se acept<5 su proyecto, 
 apesar de la deferencia con que la Comi- 
 sion ha reclbido sus indicacioues. A 
 nuestro juicio las dificnltades para la 
 Uni6n Aduanera, aun entendi6ndose como 
 tal la reciprocidad sin restricciones, son 
 de tal naturaleza que no es posible puedan 
 subsanarse por algun tiempo, S, lo menos, 
 mientras los Estados Unidos no cambien 
 radicalmento su sistema ecou6mico, y no 
 se puede preever cuando acoutezca esto. 
 En este supuesto, la reuni6n de una nueva 
 Conferencia, convocada especialmente 
 para este negooio, no daria mejor resul- 
 tado del que ha tenido en la presente, y 
 seria poco leal para con nuestros Gobior- 
 nos, si los hioi6ramos representarse de 
 nuevo en otra Conferencia, encargada de 
 un objeto que estamos persuadidoa no es 
 por ahora practicable. 
 
 El Sr. Henderson nos ley6 tambi^n el 
 proyecto de dict^men que present6 Si la 
 Comisi6n, el cual, como habr^ notado la 
 Conferencia es sustanoialmente igual al 
 de la mayorla, y en este case y supuesto 
 el hecho, que manifesto en otra ocasiiin, 
 de que la mayorla hizo varias modifica- 
 ciones y supresiones S, su dictdimen por 
 acomodarlo S, las miras del Sr. Delegado 
 de los Estados Unidos, pareceria natuial 
 esperar que 61 suscribiera sin reservas 
 ese diot^men. No crey6 conveniente 
 hacerlo asi, y la reserva con que puso 
 su flrma en el dict^men de la mayorla y 
 la circunstancia de que haya dado 
 leotura & su proyecto de dictSmen, 
 cnyo derecho se reservd al suscribir aquel, 
 vienen ^ colooarlo realmente en el case 
 
580 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCK. 
 
 him really in the position of having given 
 another minority report, although in suit- 
 stance his special report is the same as 
 that of the majority. 
 
 I shall conclude by referring to some of 
 the statements of the Delegate from the 
 Argentine, made when the rej'ort of the 
 Committee on Communications on the At- 
 lantic was nnder disonssion, because they 
 relate to the subject I have on ha^id 
 
 I do not think much importance should 
 be attached to the ideas expressed or dis- 
 cusisions arising in the Committee on 
 Ways and Means of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives, so long as they do not assume 
 the form of a committee report, for as 
 there are represented therein the economic 
 opinion's held by the different political 
 parties of this country, it is natural that 
 each one should present what he believes 
 to be in consonance with his views and 
 interests, and the result of its deliber- 
 ations, even after presentation to the 
 House in the shape of a committee or ma- 
 jority report, would barely be a matter 
 for this Conference to take up. In the 
 case to which I refer, the discussion was 
 upon what it was said the subcommittee, 
 having in hand the preparation of a plan 
 modifying the present tariff of this conn- 
 try would propose to the Committee on 
 Ways and Means of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives. Not long ago, for instance, it 
 was asserted that the subcommittee had 
 decided to propose to the committee the 
 imposition of duties on hides and lead 
 ores and the increasing of duties on wool, 
 and afterwards it was asserted that it had 
 decided not to accept these alterations. 
 
 I think, moreover, in view of the con- 
 flicting interests existing in this country 
 regarding the economic question, that 
 whatever the efforts of the Committee on 
 Ways and Means of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives be to propose a bill acceptable 
 to the party in power, it will not succeed 
 in obtaining legislative sanction by rea 
 son 01 the determined opposition which 
 it will meet on the part of the minority, 
 which is certainly ver.v respectable. 
 
 I may claim the floor again before the 
 vote is taken on the report under discus- 
 sion, should I think it necessary to make 
 other corrections in view of what may 
 be said iu the future in the course of this 
 debate. 
 
 de haber hecho uu voto particular, auuque 
 en el fondo su voto particular sea igual 
 al de la mayoria. 
 
 Terminar6 refiri^ndome S, alguuos con- 
 ceptos del Sr. Delegado de la Argentina 
 al discutirse el diotiimen de la Coniision 
 sobre Comunicaciones por el AtMiitico, 
 por estar relacionados con el asunto de 
 que me ocupo. 
 
 No creo deba darse mucha importancia 
 Sj las ideas que se emitan, 6 Si las discu- 
 siones que se susciten en el seno de la Co- 
 misidn de Hacienda de la C^mara de 
 Dipntados, mientras no asuman la forma 
 de dictamen de Comisidn, pues estando 
 representadas en ella lasopiniones econ6- 
 micas que profesan los diferentes partidos 
 politioos de este pais, es natural que cada 
 uno proponga lo que crea conveniente S 
 sus miras 6 intereses, y el resultado de sus 
 deliberaciones, aun despues de presentado 
 S, la Cfimara, como dictamen de la Co- 
 mision 6 mayoria, ap^nas seria materia de 
 que pudiera ocuparse esta Conferencia. 
 En el case & que aludo, se trataba de lo 
 que se decia propondria S, la Comisidn de 
 Hacienda de la C^mara de Dipntados, la 
 Sub-Comisi6n encargada de preparar un 
 proyecto de modificaciones al arancel ac- 
 tual de este pals. Hace poco se aseguraba , 
 por ejemplo, que habia doterminado la 
 Sub-Comisidn propone. S, la Comisifin 
 gravar con derechos S, los cueros y ii la 
 piedra mineral de plomo y aumentar los 
 derechos sobre la lana, y despues se ase- 
 gur6 que habia prescindido de aceptar es- 
 tas alteraciones. 
 
 Creo ademas en vista de los intereses 
 opuestos respecto de la cuestidn econd- 
 mica, que hay en este pals, que cuaVs- 
 quiera que sean los esfuerzos de la Comi- 
 sidn de Hacienda de la CSimara de Dipu- 
 tados, por proponer un proyecto de ley 
 aceptable al partido de la mayoria, no 
 lograrS obteuer la sancidn legislal iva en 
 virtud de la oposicidu decidula (|U0 i-n- 
 contraW de parte de la raiuorfa, que es 
 por cierto mny respetable 
 
 Me reserve para hacer de nuevo uso de 
 la palabra antes do que so vote el dictamen 
 que se discute, si oreyero necesario liacer 
 uuevas rectifloaciones, I'U vihia de lo que 
 se dijeri' raas adelante. 
 
FIFTY-SIXTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 56. 
 
 Washington, March 31, 1890. 
 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.20 p. in. by the 
 (^resident, Hon. James G. Blainb, fol- 
 lowed by Mr. Zegarra, and later by Mr. 
 EOMBKO, with the following Delegates 
 present : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Cirlos Martinez Silv.n.. 
 
 Mr. Cliraaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic: 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintan a. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. .Jos6S. Decond. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerfinimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico: 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. .Inan F. Velurde. 
 United Stares: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicaiior Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. ,Tos6 Alfonso. 
 
 Sesidn del 31 de Marzo de 1890. 
 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine, 
 seguido per el Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra y 
 despues por el Sr. M.Romero. Estando 
 presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. CHui.aco Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manncl Qnintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manual Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jcrfinimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico: 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos: 
 
 El Sr. .(obn B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraz.a. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 
 581 
 
582 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto CastellanoB. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pld^cido CaamaBo, 
 
 Tlie minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates pre-ent, with the following 
 corrections : 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that he desired that his remarlis 
 in the last session on the report of the 
 Committee on Monetary Convention be 
 included in the minutes of the day as 
 well as in the verbatim report of said de- 
 bate. 
 
 Mr. BoMERO, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 said that the substitution made by him of 
 the word "liberal" by "simple or con-, 
 venienf'only applied to the additional 
 article he had proposed, and not to the 
 whole report. 
 
 The Chair announced the receipt of a 
 letter from Mr. Saenz Pefia, a Delegate 
 from the Argentine Republic, stating that 
 he was sick in bed, and asking that the 
 discussion on Customs Union be post- 
 poned, and it was so agreed by the Con- 
 ference. 
 
 The Chair stated that the order of the 
 day called for the continuation of the de- 
 bate on the report of the Committee on 
 Monetary Convention. The conclusions 
 of the report, as now submitted, were 
 again read by the Secretaries. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine Eepublic, after explaining that 
 the situation of the Argentine Delegation 
 was changed in view of the unanimous 
 action of the United States Delegation, 
 asked to be informed of the reasons the 
 committee had in withdrawing its report 
 and accepting that proposed by the United 
 States. He stated that the Argentine 
 Delegation was not against a common 
 continental coin, but wished to know 
 why it .should be of silver and not of 
 gold. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 answered in the name of the committee, 
 that the real difference between the con- 
 clusions of the old report and the new 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Pl^eido 
 CaamaB.0. 
 
 Se abrid la sesidn S, las tres y veinte 
 rainntos de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firnid el acta del dia 
 anterior con las observaciones siguientes : 
 
 Una del SeHor Alfonso, delegado por 
 Chile, que dijo que deaeaba que las 
 observacionSs heohas por 61 en la sesidq 
 anterior, durante la discusidu del dicta- 
 men de ConvencitSn monetaria, se hiciesen 
 oonatar en el acta de dicho dia, sin per- 
 juicio de la inseroidn que han de tener en 
 el diario de las sesiones. 
 
 Otra del Sefior Romfro, delegado por 
 Mexico, que dijo que la sustituci6n hecha 
 por 61 de la palabra "liberal" por "sen- 
 cillo y expedito " solo fu6 en relaci6n con 
 el artfoulo adicional proptiesto por 61; y 
 no con todo el dictSimen. 
 
 Annncid el Senor Presidents que el 
 Senor Saenz Pena, delegado por la Re- 
 pliblica Argentina, le habia escrito una 
 carta, expresando que estaba enfermo en 
 cama, y pidiendo que se suspendiese la 
 discusi6n del asunto de Uni6n aduanera ; 
 y la Conferencia ordeno de conformidad. 
 
 Dijo entonces el Senor Presidente que 
 debia continnarse la discusidn del asunto 
 de Convencidn monetaria; y despues de 
 leersede nuevo porlos Secretaries las con- 
 clusiones del dict^men de la Comisidn, 
 tales como est^n ahora sometidas A la 
 Conferencia, tomd la palabra el Seflor 
 Quintana, delegado por la Reptiblica Ar- 
 gentina, y despues de explicar que la 
 situacidn de la delegacidn Argentina 
 habia cambiado, en vista de la accidn 
 un^nime de la delegaci6n de los Es- 
 tados Unidos, expres6 el deseo de que 
 se le informase que razones habia tenido 
 laComisidnpararetirarsusconclusionesy 
 aceptar las propuestas por la delegacidn 
 de los Estados Unidos, afiadiendo que la 
 delegaci6n argentina no se opone & la crea- 
 ci6n de una moneda continental, pero 
 que desea saber porqne esta ha de ser de 
 plata y no de oro. 
 
 El Senor AtFONSO, delegado por Chile, 
 contestd en nombre de la Comisi6n, que 
 la verdaderadifereucia entre las antiguas 
 couclnsiones y las nuevas consistia en que 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 683 
 
 consisted in the recommendatiou of the 
 latter, although the money to be coined 
 need not necessarily be legal tender; that 
 the new Commission to be appointed 
 should solve that point, as also the rela- 
 tive value of gold and silver. That it had 
 been agreed that the new coin should be 
 of silver in order to conform with the 
 language of the act of Congress of the 
 United States convening the Confer- 
 ence, but that gold was by no means ex- 
 cluded. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, in answer, explaining 
 the reasons which caused him to differ 
 with the reporting committee, said that 
 in his opinion the wors^ metal had been 
 taken to coin an international coin, and 
 I hat this showed the measure would tend 
 to protect the producer of silver. In his 
 opinion the better way would be to name 
 a Commission which should fix the rela- 
 tive value of the existing coins in each of 
 the countries of America, by which means 
 the expense of a new coinage would be 
 avoided, as well as other inconveniences. 
 
 The President then called Mr. Za- 
 GARRA to the chair. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 answered Mr. Quintana's remarks, insist- 
 ing on the advantages which the commit- 
 tee found in obtaining a unanimous opin- 
 ion on this subject and in leaving to a later 
 commission of experts all the technical 
 and economic difficulties arising there- 
 from. 
 
 Mr. EsTEE, a Delegate from the United 
 States, explained the reasons which had 
 prompted him as well as his colleague, 
 Mr. Coolidge, to surrender their respective 
 positions, and to support the project sub- 
 mitted by the United States Delegation 
 and adopted by the committee, and spoke 
 at length in support of the couclnsions 
 recommended therein. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra then called Mr. Romero 
 to the chair. 
 
 The following proposition was then 
 read : 
 
 "Beeommenda: (1) That an international 
 monetary union be established. (2) That 
 to give full effect to the foregoing recom- 
 mendation, a commission consisting of 
 one delegate for each nation shall meet 
 
 segun estas riltimas la moneda que sq 
 acuBe no tiene que ser uecesariamente de 
 ourso forzoso, cuyo puuto lo resolver^ la 
 Comisidn que se recomienda establecer, y 
 que decidirii tambien sobre el valor re- 
 lativo en que hayan de quedar el oro y la 
 plata. Y que se habia dicho que la mo- 
 neda comflu fuese de plata, para confor- 
 marse cou el lenguage del Acta del 
 Congreso de los Bstados Unidos, que cou- 
 voc6 esta Conferenoia, pero que con ello 
 no queda excluido el oro. 
 
 Replied S. esto el SeBor Quintana ex- 
 plicando las razones que lo movian & di- 
 ferir de la Comisidn informante, y ^ creer 
 que se habia escogido el poor de los meta- 
 les para hacer cou 61 la moneda interna- 
 cional, lo que S, su juicio demostraba que 
 la medida tendia S, proteger al productor 
 de plata. En su opinidn lo mejor seria 
 nombrar una Comisida que fijase el valor 
 relativo de las mouedas existentes en 
 cada uno de los palses de America, con lo 
 cual se evitarian los costos de acuBacidu 
 de la nueva moneda, y otros varios incon- 
 venientes. 
 
 El SeBor Prbsidbnte dejdentonces su 
 puesto y llamd & ocuparlo al Seuor Ze- 
 garra. 
 
 El SeBor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 replied & l.as observaoiones del Sefior 
 Quintana, 6 insistid en la ventaja, que la 
 Comisidn oreyd enoontrar de obtener una- 
 nimidad de pareceres en este asunto, y 
 en dejar & la futura Comisidn de peritos 
 el arreglo de todas las defloultades t6cni- 
 cas y econdmicas que pndieran presentarse. 
 
 El SeBor Esteb, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, explicd las razones que ha- 
 bian tenido tanto dl, como su colega, Mr. 
 Coolidge, para abandonar sus respectivas 
 posiciones, y suscribir el proyecto presen- 
 tado por la delegacidn de los Estados Uni- 
 dos y adoptado por la Comisidn, y habld 
 extensamente en defensa de las oonclu- 
 siones queen dl se recomiendan. 
 
 El SeBor Presidbntb (Zegarra) Uamd & 
 la presidencia al Sefior Romero. 
 
 Se did cuenta en seguida con lasiguien- 
 te proposicidn : 
 
 "Beoomienda: (1) Queseestablezoanna 
 UnidnMonetarialnternaoional. ('2) Que 
 para Uevarla S, efecto se reuna en Wash- 
 iugton, deutro de un afio ^ partir de la 
 feoha de clausura de esta Confereocia, 
 
584 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 iu Washiugtou, within one year to be 
 counted from the day of the final adjourn- 
 ment of this Conference, which shall de- 
 cide what kind of coin is to be adopted as 
 international, and the uses it will have. 
 (3) That incase that no conclusion can 
 be reached in regard to the foregoing ar- 
 ticles, the commission shall determine 
 the relative value to be given to the coin 
 of each nation in all the other nations, its 
 weightand fineness being taken into con- 
 sideration. 
 
 "Manuel Quintana. 
 
 "H. Guzman. 
 
 "Fernando Cbuz. " 
 
 Mr. Velarde, a Delegate from Bolivia, 
 and a member of the reporting commit- 
 tei', aftet a long speech, in which he an- 
 swered the remarks made against the 
 report of the committee, asked that the 
 above project be referred to the said com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 asked why the Delegation of the United 
 States had used the word "may" in the 
 second article of their report, making 
 thereby the coinage and legal tender op- 
 tional. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, and chairman of the said 
 Delegation, in answer explained that the 
 word had been chosen with great care in 
 view of the serious difficulties which the 
 subject offered, and on account of the 
 desire that the future commission, com- 
 posed of experts should have perfect 
 liberty to select the most advisable 
 course. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 after thanking Mr. Henderson for his 
 clear and frank explanation, declared 
 that his sympathies were with the former 
 report of the committee, which he con- 
 sidered of the most importance to the in- 
 terests of his country, but that he would 
 vote for any project which obtained the 
 support of the greater number of Delega- 
 tions, and would facilitate the solution of 
 the problem. 
 
 Mr. MBxfA, a De'egale from Mexico, 
 and Chairman of the Reporting Commit- 
 tee, explained the difficulties which had 
 arisen in the committee and the various 
 
 una Comisi6n compuesta de un Delegado 
 por cada nacidn, la cual resolverii acerca 
 de la olase de moneda que ha de adop- 
 tarse como internaoional y del cnrso que 
 ha de tener. (3) Que, en case de que no 
 pueda Uegarse al resultado que expresau 
 OS artlculos anteriores, la Comisidn de- 
 termine la relaci6u de valor en que la 
 moneda de cada naci6n ha de tener curso 
 legal en las otras, atendida su ley y peso. 
 
 " Manuk[, Qcintana, 
 *" H. GuzmAn, 
 "Fernando Cruz." 
 
 El Senov Velarde, delegado por Bo- 
 livia, y miembro de la Comisi6u inlor- 
 mante, despues de un extenso discurso en 
 respuesta ^ las observacioues hechas con- 
 tra el dict^men de esta, tal como est^ 
 modificado, pidi6 que el anterior jiroyecto 
 se pasase ^ inf orme dela misma Comisidn 
 
 El SeJlor Zegarra, delegado por el 
 Peni, pregunt6 porque la delegaci6u de 
 los Estados Unidos habia usado en la reco- 
 mendacidn segunda, el verbo auxiliar may. 
 liaoiendo por oonsiguiente potestativa la 
 acunacion de la moneda deplata, y potes- 
 tativo tambien el curso que debe tener; 
 y el SeDor Henderson, como Presideute de 
 dicha Delegaci6n, coutestd que la palabra 
 habia sido escogida con particular cuida- 
 do, en vista de las graves dificultades que 
 ofrece el asuuto, y por el deseo de que la 
 Comisidn futnra, compuesta de persouas 
 entendidas en el ramo, tenga aniplia li- 
 bertad de determinar lo que resulte mas 
 conveniente. 
 
 El Senor Zegarra, delegado por el 
 Peru, despuse do dar las gracias al SeQor 
 Henderson,' por sus fraocas y claras ex- 
 plicacioues, manifest6 que sus simpatias 
 estaban eu favor del dict^meu de la 
 Comisidn como se formuld originalmente, 
 y que eso era lo m^s couveniente S, los 
 intereses de su pals. Pero quo todo 
 proyecto que tuviese el apoyo del mayor 
 uumero de delegaciones, y facilitase 
 la solucidn del probleraa, encontraria sti 
 apoyo. 
 
 El SeHor MexIa, delegado por Mdxico, 
 y Presidente de la Comisidn informanle, 
 oxplicd las dificultades con que esta 
 habia tropezado en la consideracidn de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 585 
 
 mutual concessions which had become in- 
 dispensable, as it was of the greatest im- 
 portance, in the opinion of the commit- 
 tee, that the adhesion of the United 
 States Delegation should be obtained. 
 In answer to Mr. Quintaua's remarks, that 
 the idea of the committee would tend to 
 protect the producer of silver, he stated 
 that Mexico, although a great producer 
 of silver, far from being protected would 
 be injured by the measure, because the 
 Mexican silver dollar was of greater value 
 than any other, and gave in support of 
 the above various statistics. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 explained that the project presented by 
 himself and Messrs. Quintana and Guz- 
 man, was not properly an amendment 
 which necessitated reference to a com- 
 mittee, and that it had been presented 
 only for when the time arrived to discuss 
 the recommendations of the report ar- 
 ticle by article, and that the right was 
 reserved to withdraw or not the Viirious 
 articles if the opportunity should present. 
 He also stated that there was no papei 
 money in Guatemala, as the products of 
 the country were paid for in gold. 
 
 Mr. Zegarua, a Delegate from Peru, 
 called the attention of the Chair to the 
 fact that the motion of Mr. Velarde, that 
 the project presented by Messrs. Quiu- 
 tana, Guzman, and Crnz be referred to the 
 committee, ought to be settled by the 
 Conference one way or the other. 
 
 Mr Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, asked that the project be 
 translated, printed, and distributed be- 
 fore any action was taken. 
 
 The Conference adjourned at 6.20 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Hannibal Peicb, 
 
 Hayti. 
 Horatio GuziMan, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guateviala, 
 
 este asunto, y como habia sido indispen 
 sable haoer multitud de conoesioues 
 mtituas para Uegar S, un resultado, puesto 
 que S, juicio de la Comisidu no podia 
 presciudirso de obtener la adhesidu de la 
 delegacidu de los Estados Unidos. Eu 
 respuesta Si la indicacidn del Sefior Quin- 
 tana de que el pensamieuto de la Co- 
 misidn envolvia protecoi6u al produotor 
 de plata, dijo el SeSor Mexfa que Mexico, 
 aunque era mny grande produotor de 
 plata, resultaba perjudioado por la rae- 
 dida mfe bien que beneficiado, porque 
 el peso de plata mexicano era mejor y 
 valia m£s que todos los demas, mostran- 
 do al efecto diversas estadisticas que lo 
 comprueban. 
 
 El Senor Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, manifest6 que el proyecto presen- 
 tado por 41 y los Senorea Quintana y Guz- 
 man no era propiamente una enmienda, 
 que necesitase ser enviada ^laComisidn : 
 y (lue se habia preseutado tan solo para 
 cuando llegase el memento de discutir 
 arllculopor articulo lo recomendado por 
 la Comisi(5n, reservd^ndose el derecho de 
 retirar 6 no sus diversos incisos, cuando 
 llegase la oportunidad. Agregd que en 
 Guatemala no habia papelmoneda, y que 
 los productos del pals se pagan en oro. 
 
 El Senor Zegarra, delegado por el Perfi, 
 llam(5 la atenci6n de la Mesa al hecho de 
 que la mocifindel Sellor Velarde, delegado 
 por Bolivia, respecto ^ que se pasase & la 
 Comisidn el proyecto de los SeSores Quin- 
 tana, Guzmiin y Cruz debia resolverse por 
 la Conferencia, 6 afirmativa, 6 negativa- 
 mente. El Senor Henderson, delegado 
 por los Estados Unidos, manifestd que 
 antes de todo, debia traducirse al ingles, 
 6 imprimirse y distribnirse el proyecto 
 expresado. 
 
 Se levant6 la sesidn & las seis y veinte 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Preaidente. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 Haiti. 
 Horacio GUZMiN, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
586 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 jos^ m. hurtado, 
 CXrlus Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Qhintana, 
 
 Argentint Bepuhlit. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 
 United States 
 NiCANOR Bolbt Peraza, 
 
 J08£ ANDRADE, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 JOS:i& ALFONSO, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvfldor. 
 Jos£ Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 JOS:fi M. HURTADO, 
 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 CiifMACO Calder6n, 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Biea. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. Mex£a, 
 " M&dco. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 William Henry Trbscot- 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 NiCANOR Bolet Peraza, 
 Jos^ Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ MarIa Pl^cido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FIFTY SEVENTH LAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 57. 
 
 Washington, April 1, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called io order at 3.05 p. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James 6. Blaine, fol- 
 lowed by Mr. Zegakra, with the follow- 
 ing Delegates present : 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Crnz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Kepnblic : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintr.na. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 Mr. William Henry Treecot. 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 
 SeaUn del 1° de April de IHOO. 
 Presideucia del Sr. Jambs G. Blaine, 
 seguido por el Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Estando presente : 
 
 Haiti: 
 
 El Sr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaoio Guzmiin. 
 Peru: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentina: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Kica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerduimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juau F. Velarde. 
 Kstados Unidos: 
 
 El Sr. Johu B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee. 
 Veneznela: 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 
 587 
 
588 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFKRENCE. 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Joa6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanoa 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Maria PldicidoCaaraaHo. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed .by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair introduced the Hon. Hanni- 
 bal Price, Envoy Extraordinaiy and 
 Mini.ster Plenipotentiary of Hayti, ap- 
 pointed a Delegate from that country in 
 place of Mr. Laforestrie, who was obliged 
 to return to his country on account of 
 illness. 
 
 In taking his seat in the Conference, 
 Mr. Price thanked his colleagues for their 
 kind welcome, and expressed his convic- 
 tion that the labors of this Conference 
 would be an immense benefit to the 
 nations of thisbeniisphere. 
 
 Before proceeding with the order of the 
 day, Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that he had just received the 
 proofs of the verbatim reports of the 
 debates on one of the committee reports, 
 and he asked to know if the Executive 
 Committee had taken measures to provide 
 for t'ue termination of the printing of the 
 various debates, as ordered by the Con- 
 ference, before the adjournment of the 
 Conference. 
 
 Mr. Zegarba, a Delegate from Peru, 
 and Chairman of the Executive Commit- 
 tee, stated that the committee had been 
 continuously occupied with the matter, 
 and a special employ^ had been nominated 
 for this purpose, and that he hoped all 
 would be finished in due time. 
 
 The Chair announced that the order 
 for the day called for the continuation of 
 the debate on the report on monetary 
 convention. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 stated that in his opinion it was advisa- 
 ble to harmonize, as far as possible, the 
 text of the report with that of the act of 
 Congre.-s which convened the Conference, 
 
 Chili: 
 
 , lil Sr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Marid. Pl^cido 
 Caamafio. 
 
 Se abri6 la sesidn & las tres y cinco 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y firm6 el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 El Sefior Pkbsidents presentd & la 
 Confereneia al Honorable Senor Hanni- 
 bal Price, Enviado Extraordinario y 
 MinistroPlenipotenciario de la Reptibli- 
 ca de Haiti, que ha sido tambien nom- 
 brado delegado de su Gobierno para 
 suceder al Honorable Sefior Arthur La- 
 forestrie, que tuvo que volver ^ su pais 
 por causa de enfermidad. 
 
 Al tomar su asieuto, el Senor Price 
 arengd ^ la Confereneia, dando gracias 
 por la cordial acogida que se le habia 
 dado, y expresando su convicci6n de que 
 los trabajos de la Confereneia resnltarian 
 de inmenso beneficio para las naciones de 
 este hemisferio. 
 
 Antes de pasar Si la orden del dia, el 
 Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, ex- 
 puso que acababa de recibir las pruebas 
 de imprenta de lo que habia dicho en el 
 debate de uno de los dictamenes de Co- 
 misi6n adoptados por la Confereneia ; y 
 deseaba saber si la Comisi6u Ejecutiva 
 habia tomado medidas para que la im- 
 presidn de los procedimientos en el 6rden 
 aoordado por la Confereneia pudiese estar 
 conclnida antes de que terminasen defi- 
 uitivamente las sesiones de la misma. 
 
 El Sefior Zegarra, delegado por el 
 Peril, y Presideute de la Comisidn Ejecu- 
 tiva, contests que la Comisidn se habia 
 ooupado con empefio de este asunto, y 
 nombrado un empleado especial con este 
 objeto, y que era de esperarse que la obra 
 quedaria terminada Si su debldo tiempo. 
 
 El Sefior F'residkntb anuncid que pro- 
 cedia continuar discuticndo el asunto de 
 la Convenci6n Monetaria ; y habiendo 
 tomado la palabra el Sefior Romero mani- 
 festd que en su coucepto conveuia poni-.r 
 de acuerdo el texto del diot^men con el 
 del Acta del Congreso que convoc6 la 
 Confere jcia, y presentar las recomenda- 
 ciones de una manera mas clara y con- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 589 
 
 and he presented the recouimeudatious iu 
 a clearer form, as follows : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence recommends to the nations therein 
 represented : 
 
 "The appointment of Delegates from 
 eachof the American nations, each nation 
 having a vote, who shall meet iu Wash- 
 ington on the 1st of November of the pres- 
 ent year, for the purpose of considering 
 the adoption of a common silver coin to 
 be issued by each Government, the same 
 to be legal tender in all commercial trans- 
 actions between the citizens of all the 
 American States." 
 
 The Chair having asked the honorable 
 Delegate wliether the above was to be 
 considered as an amendment in the form 
 of a substitute for the recommendations 
 of the report now before the Conference, 
 and Mr. Romero having said that such 
 was his inlention, the Chair stated that 
 if there was no objection a vote would be 
 taken. 
 
 Mr. EsTEB, a Delegate from the United 
 States, opposed I he consideration of the 
 matter until Mr. Romero's amendment 
 should have been printed and distributed, 
 adding that the presentation of the new 
 plan caused him supprise, especially as 
 the chairman of the committee was a 
 member of the Mexican Delegation, and 
 was supposed to have expressed the 
 opinion of his Government in signing the 
 report and adopting the amendment pro- 
 posed by the United States. 
 
 Mr. HuRTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, moved that, in order to facilitate the 
 solution of the subject, the Conference go 
 into Committee of the Whole, and the 
 vote being taken, it was unanimously 
 agreed to. 
 
 On the session being re-opened with 
 Mr. Zegarra in the chair, Mr. Hurtado, a 
 Delegate from Colombia, submitted the 
 following project : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence is of opinion that great advantages 
 would accrue to the commerce between 
 nations of this continent by the use of a 
 coin or coins that would be current at 
 
 venicnte, por lo que sometia d la Confe- 
 rencia el siguieiite proyecto : 
 
 " La Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana recomienda ^ las uaciones repre- 
 sentadas en ella : 
 
 " Que se reuna en Washington entre el 
 1° de Octubre y el 31 de Diciemhre del 
 presente afio, una Comisidn Monetaria, 
 compuesta de Delegados de cada una de 
 las naciones amerieanas, teniendo un voto 
 cada nacidn, con objeto de considerar la 
 adopcidn de una moneda com&n de plata 
 que se acnSe por cada Gobierno, y que 
 sea moneda legal en todas las transaccio- 
 nes comerciales entre los ciudadauos de 
 todos los Estados americanos." 
 
 El SeHcir Prksidente pregunt6 al Se- 
 Ilor Romero si presentaba este proyecto 
 con el objeto de que sustitnyese al de la 
 Comisidn informante, que estaba ante la 
 Conferencia ; y habiendo el SeSor Romero 
 expresado que ese era su propdsito, el 
 Sefior Presidente orden<5 que se procedie- 
 se & votar sobre 61, si no habia obje- 
 ci6u. 
 
 El Senor Estee, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, se opuso S, que se decidiese 
 nada sobre el particular, hasta que estu- 
 viese traducido, irapreso y distribuido, el 
 uuevo proyecto del Senor Romero, a!la- 
 diendo que le oausaba sorpresa la pre- 
 sentacidn de la nueva idea, sobre todo 
 ouando. el SeSior Presidente de la Comi- 
 si6n informante era miembro de la dele- 
 gaci6n de Mexico, y era de suponerseque 
 expresaba la opinion de su Gobierno al 
 firmarel dictdlmen, y adoptar la enmienda 
 propuesta por la delegacidn de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos. 
 
 El Sefior HuktaDO, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, hizo moci6n para que la Conferen- 
 cia se constituyese en Comisi<5n general, 
 S, fin de facilitar el resultado y aunar las 
 opiniones; y habi^ndose sometido ^ vo- 
 tacidn esta propuesta, resultd aprobada 
 por unanimidad. 
 
 Cuando se abri6 de nnevo la sesi6u de la 
 Conferencia, bajo la Presiilencia del Senor 
 Zegarra, el Senor Hurtado, delegado por 
 Colombia, presents el siguieute proyecto: 
 
 "La Conferencia Internacional Ame- 
 ricana opina que lesultarian graudes 
 ventajas para el comercio entre las ua 
 oiones de este Continente, del uso de una 
 6 varias monedas que fueran de curso 
 
590 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 tlie same value in all the countries repre- 
 sented in this Conference. 
 
 " With a view to reach this result 
 it is recommended that an International 
 Monetary Conference, composed of dele- 
 gates from each Government, assemble in 
 Washington within one year from this 
 date, to prepare and propose for adop- 
 tion, if found practicable, a plan for the 
 establishment of an international mone- 
 tary union among the countries repre- 
 sented in this Conference.'' 
 
 Mr. Caamano, a Delegate from Ecua- 
 dor, explained that the complications 
 were increasing instead of diminishing ; 
 that now a new project was before the 
 Conference, and that, in his opinion, the 
 best thing to be done was to refer the 
 whole matter again to the reporting com- 
 mittee, and that with this view he sup- 
 ported the motion made the day before to 
 that effect by ." r. Velarde, a Delegate 
 from Bolivia. 
 
 After considerable discussion, in which 
 took part Messrs. Estee, Velarde, Cruz, 
 and Alfonso, Mr. Eombko, a Delegate 
 from Mexico, asked permission to with- 
 draw the project he had presented, which 
 was granted him. 
 
 A vote having been taken on the motion 
 to refer the matter back to the Reporting 
 Committee, together with all amend- 
 ments and suggestions offered, resulted 
 in this being decided upon by a majority 
 of 11 to 4. 
 
 Those voting affirmately were: Peru, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentine, Hon- 
 duras, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Chili, 
 Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 The negative votes were cast by Hayti, 
 Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the United 
 States. 
 
 Ingiving his affirmative vote, Mr. Cruz, 
 a Delegate from Guatemala, stated that he 
 did so in the sense expressed in his re- 
 marks during the debate on account of 
 the peculiar condition of the subject, as 
 in his opinion the modifications to a re- 
 port after it had been submitted to the 
 Conference formed part of the discussion 
 and ought not properly to be referred to 
 the committee. 
 
 corrieute con un mismo valor, en todos 
 los pafses representados en esta Confe- 
 rencia. 
 
 " Con la niira de alcanzar este fin, se 
 recomienda que se reuna en la cindad de 
 Washington, deutro de un afio, ^ partir 
 de esta feoha, una Conferencia Interna- 
 cional Monetaria compnesta de delegados 
 nombrados por cada nacidn, que prepare 
 y proponga la adopcidn, si ello se encon- 
 trase practicable, de un plan para el 
 estableoimiento de una Unidn Intema- 
 cional Monetaria entre las naciones re- 
 presentadas en esta Conferencia. 
 
 El SeSor CaamaSo, delegado por 
 Ecuador, expuso que las dificultades se 
 aumentaban cada vez m^, en vez de 
 disminuirse, que ahora habia un nuevo 
 proyecto, y que en su concepto no podia 
 hacerse nada mejor que someterlo todo 
 otra vez & la Comisidn informante ; y que 
 en ese sentido apoyaba la mocidn hecha 
 el dia anterior al mismo efecto por el 
 Sefior Velarde, delegado por Bolivia. 
 
 Despues de prolongada discusi6n en 
 que tomaron parte los Sefiores Estee, 
 Velarde, Cruz, y Alfonso, el SeOor 
 Romero, delegado por Mexico, pidi6 per- 
 miso de la Conferencia para retirar el 
 proyecto que habia presentado, y le fu^ 
 concedido. 
 
 Se puso ^ votaci<5n la propuesta de que 
 volviese el dictdmen, junto cou todas las 
 modificaciones propuestas, S, la Comisidn 
 informante; y resultd aprobada por una 
 mayoria de once votes contra cuatro, en 
 el 6rden siguiente : 
 
 Votaron por la afirmativa : Perfi, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Hon- 
 duras, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile, 
 Salvador, y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron por la negativa : Haiti, Nica- 
 ragua, Costa Rica, y Estados Unidos. 
 
 Al dar su voto afirmativo expres6 el 
 SeBor Ckuz, delegado por Guatemala, 
 que lo hacia uomo habia dicbo en el de- 
 bate, por virtud de la particular situacidn 
 de este negocio, pnes que en su concepto 
 las modificaciones S, un dict^men despues 
 de sometido & la Conferencia, formaban 
 parte de la disousifin, y no podian pro- 
 piamente enviarse de nuevo S, la Comi- 
 sifin. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEUENCE 
 
 591 
 
 Mr. Mbxia, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 and ohairruau of the Eeporling Commit- 
 tee, requested that the delegates who had 
 any amendments to make would send 
 them to the committee beforehand in or- 
 der that they might be carefully consid- 
 ered. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 said that on account of the holidays at 
 the end of the week he had heard that 
 some of the delegates desired the Con- 
 ference to adjourn from Thursday until 
 Monday next, and he made a motion to 
 this effect. 
 
 The above having been unanimously 
 agreed to, on the motion of Mr Hbndek- 
 SON, a Delegate from the United States, 
 to adjourn, the session was suspended at 
 5.40 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Pre8ident. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 
 JSayti. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 V. C. C. Zegaera, 
 
 Peru, 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 KOQUB Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepuhlio. 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paragaay. 
 J. 6. do Amaeal Valente, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MbxI a, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cleme.nt Studbbakbr, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 
 El SeBor MbxIa, delegado por Mexico, 
 Preaidonte de la ComisiCn iuforraante, 
 suplic(5 entonoes S, los Senores que tu- 
 viesen modificaoioues que sugerir se sir- 
 viesen reraitirlas S, la Comisifin, en tiempo 
 oportuno, Sj fln de coiisiderarlas debida- 
 mente. 
 
 El SeSor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 manifestd que en virtud de la solemnidad 
 de los restantes dias de esta semana, 
 algunos de los Senores delegados deseaban 
 que no hubiere sesida ni el jueves, ni el 
 viernes, ni el s^bado prcSximos ; y que 
 hacia mocidn S, ese efecto. 
 
 Aprobada que fu^ esta moci6n por una- 
 nimidad, el Senor Henderson, delegado 
 por los Estados Unidos, propuso que se 
 levantase la sesi6n ; y asi se acordd tam- 
 bien un£inimemente. 
 
 Se levan(6 la sesidu £i las cinco y cua- 
 renta miuiitos de la tarde. 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 Haiti. 
 Horacio GuzmXn, 
 
 A'icaraguct. 
 
 P. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 CiRLOs Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Roque Saenz PbSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaeal Valente. 
 
 Brasil. 
 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Mat£as Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Menders n, 
 Clement Studbbaker, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estkk, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
592 
 
 JNTERNATIOMAL AMKHICAN CONFERENCK. 
 
 JOSli A.NDKADB, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 Josij; Alfonso, 
 Chili. 
 
 ,J ACINIC CaSTELLANOS, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 JOSli Makia PlXoido Caamano, 
 
 Jiotiador. 
 
 Josis Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 Jos:6 AitFonso, 
 
 CMle. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josjfe MaeIa PlXcido Caamano. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
FIFTY EIGHTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 58. 
 
 Washington, April 2, 1890. 
 The International Ainerican Conference 
 was called to order at 3.20 p. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James G. Blaine, fol- 
 lowed by Mr. Zegakra, with the follow- 
 ing Delegates present : 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Peua, 
 
 Mr. Manuel Qnintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 
 38 I 
 
 Sesidn del 2 de Ahril de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine, 
 seguido por el Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Estando presentes : 
 
 Haiti : 
 
 El Sr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaoio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pefla ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Eomero; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos: 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Jos€ Andrade. 
 
 593 
 
594 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Chiii : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 SalT ador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido Caamaao. 
 
 The minutes of tbe previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair stated that the order of the 
 day called in the first place for the dis- 
 cussion on monetary convention, and 
 secondly for that on customs union ; but 
 that owing to the presence of Messrs. 
 Saenz Pena and Henderson, the last- 
 named subject would be taken up first if 
 these gentlemen desired it. 
 
 Mr. Henderson explained that the 
 debate on monetary convention would 
 probably only take a few moments, and 
 if Mr. Saenz Pena agreed, he would pro- 
 pose that this subject be first disposed of; 
 and as Mr. Saenz Pena gave his consent, 
 it was so ordered. 
 
 Mr. Zkgarra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 and Chairman of the Executive Commit- 
 tee, asked that before the order of the day 
 was proceeded with the Conference deter- 
 mine what should be done in respect to a 
 difficulty which had arisen in the printing 
 of the verbatim discussion on the report 
 on weights and measures, owing to the 
 desire of one of the Delegates to omit what 
 he had said. After some discussion it was 
 agreed, on motion of Mr. Quintana, a Del- 
 egate from the Argentine, that the wishes 
 of the honorable Delegate who desired to 
 have his words omitted be acceded to. 
 
 The Committee on Monetary Covention 
 submitted the following report, which 
 was read by the Secretaries : 
 
 " The Committee on Monetary Conven- 
 tion having considered the various 
 amendments presented to the Conference, 
 submits the following report : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence is of opinion that great advantages 
 would accrue to the commerce between 
 the nations of this continent by the use 
 of a coin, orceins, that would be current, 
 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso, 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos, 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Pl^oido 
 Caamaao. 
 
 Se abrid la sesidn S, las tres y veinte 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley6, aprobd y firm6 el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 Anuncid el Seaor Presidbnte que la 
 orden del d^ marcaba en primer lugar la 
 discusidn del asunto de convencidn mone- 
 taria, y en segu'ndo la de los dict^imenes 
 sobre Unidn aduanera; pero que como 
 se hallaban presentes los Senores Saenz 
 Pena y Henderson, podria invertirse este 
 drden, si diohos caballeros lo deseaban. 
 
 El SeBor Henderson expuso que le 
 parecia que el debate sobre convencidn 
 monetaria tomaria pooo tiempo, y que si 
 el Senor Saenz Peaa convenia en ello, 
 propondria que se diese precedencia S, 
 dicho asunto. T como el Senor Saenz 
 Peaa oonsintid en ello, asi se dispuso. 
 
 Entonces el Seaor Zegarra, delegado 
 por el Peril, y Presidente de la Coraisidn 
 Ejecutiva, pidi6 que antes de prooeder & 
 la orden del dia, determinase la Con- 
 fereuoia lo que debia hacerse respecto & 
 una dificnltad que se habia presentado en 
 la impresi6u de los procedimientos res- 
 pecto al dictamen de la Comisi6n de 
 pesos y medidas, debida al deseo de uno 
 de los SeBores delegados de que se omltiera 
 lo que habia dicho. Despu^s de alguna 
 discusidn se couvino, d^mocidn del Senor 
 Quintana, delegado por la Reptiblica 
 Argentina, que se accediese ^ los deseos 
 del Senor delegado que deseaba se 
 omitiesen sus palabras. 
 
 La Comisi6n de Convenoidn Monetaria 
 8ometi6 el siguiente dictamen: 
 
 "La Comisidn de Convenci<5n Mone- 
 taria, habiendo tornado en consideraoidn 
 las diferentes proposiciones sometidas & 
 la Conferencia, presenta el siguiente 
 proyecto : 
 
 " La Conferencia Iiiternacional Ameri- 
 cana opina que serfa muy provechoso 
 para el comercio entre las nacioues de 
 este Contineute el uso de una moneda 6 
 monedasde curso corriente y de un mismo 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 595 
 
 at the same valuo, in all the countries 
 represented in this Conference ; and there- 
 fore recoramends : 
 
 " 1. That an International American 
 Monetary Union he established. 
 
 "2. That, as a basis for this Union, an 
 International coin or coins be issued, 
 which shall be uniform in weight and fine- 
 ness, and which may be issued in all the 
 countries represented in this Conference. 
 
 " 3. That, to give full effect to this rec- 
 ommendation, there shall meet in Wash- 
 ington a Commission composed of one 
 delegate from each natiim represented in 
 this Conference, which shall consider the 
 quantity, the kind of currency, the uses 
 it shall have, and the value and propor- 
 tion of the international silver coin or 
 coins, and their relations to gold. 
 
 "4. That this Commission meet in 
 Washington in a year's time, or less, after 
 the final adjournment of this Conference. 
 
 " Washington April 2, 1890. 
 "E. A. Mbxia. 
 
 "MOKRISM. ESTBB. 
 
 ■' Jos^ Alfonso. 
 " Jeronimo Zelaya. 
 "Joan Franco Velarde. 
 "Carlos Martinez Silva." 
 
 Mr. Mexia, a Delegate from Mexico 
 and Chairman of the Reporting Com- 
 mittee, explained the reasons of the com- 
 mittee in offering the new report, taking 
 into consideration all the suggestions 
 which had been made, and taking advan- 
 tage of the advice and help of various 
 Delegates. 
 
 The Chair stated that a vote would be 
 taken to determine whether the new re- 
 port was accepted as a substitute of that 
 formerly presented by the Conference. 
 This, having been done, resulted in its 
 adoption by a majority of 15 to 1. 
 
 Thosevoting affirmatively were: Hayti, 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Colombia, Argentine, 
 Paraguay, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, 
 Bolivia, United States, Venezuela, Chili, 
 Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Guatemala voted negatively. 
 
 Before casting his vote, Mr. Cruz, a 
 Delegate from Guatemala, stated that in 
 
 valor en todos los paises representadoa 
 en osta Conferencia. En consecuencia 
 recomienda ; 
 
 "1° Que se establezca una Uni6n Mo- 
 netaria Internacional Americana. 
 
 "2°. Que como base de esta Uni<5n se 
 acunen una 6 mas monedas internaciuna- 
 les, uniformes en peso y ley, y que puedan 
 usarse en todos los paises representados 
 en esta Conferencia. 
 
 " 3°. Que para dar el debido cnmpli- 
 miento ^ esta recoraendacidn, se reuna en 
 Washington una Comisidn compuesta de 
 un delegado por cada naci<5n represen- 
 tada en esta Conferencia, la que estudiar^ 
 la cantidad en que ha de acuSarse la 
 moneda internacional, la clase de cnrso 
 que ha de tener, y el valor y proporoidn 
 de la moneda 6 monedas de plata, y sn 
 relacidn con el oro. 
 
 " 4". Que esta Comisidn se reuna en 
 Washington dentro de un afio, 6 antes, & 
 contar de la clausura de esta Confe- 
 rencia. 
 Washington, Abril 2 de 1890. 
 
 "E. A. MExfA, 
 
 " Morris M. Estbe. 
 
 " JosiS Alfonso. 
 
 " Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 
 "Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 
 "CiRLOs Martinez Silva." 
 
 Leido que fu6 por los Secretaries, tom<5 
 la palabra el Senor MExf A, delegado por 
 Mfelco y Presidente de la Comisifin in- 
 formante, y explio6 brevemente las ra- 
 zones que dsta habia tenido para ofrecer 
 el nuevo dict^meu, tomaudo en onenta 
 todas las observaciones hechas, y aprove- 
 chando los consejos y auxilio de varies 
 Senores delegados. 
 
 Determine el Seuor Pkesidbnte que se 
 votase ante todo, si el nuevo dictsimen se 
 aceptaba como una sustituoifin del ante- 
 riormeute presentado : y asl qued(5 acor- 
 dado, por una mayorla de quince contra 
 uno en el 6rden siguiente : 
 
 Votaronafirmativamente : Haiti, Nica- 
 ragua, Peril, Colombia, la Repliblica Ar- 
 gentina, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Vene- 
 zuela, Chile, Salvador, Ecuador. 
 
 Guatemala vot6 negativamente. 
 
 Antes de dar su voto, el SeHor Cruz, 
 delegado por Guatemala, manifesto, que 
 
596 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 order not to occupy the time of the Con- 
 ference at present, he would present 
 later, in writing, the reasons which had 
 induced him to vote negatively on the 
 whole subject. 
 
 The Chaib stated that the report 
 would now he voted upon article by 
 article. 
 
 Article I having been put to the vote, 
 resulted in its adoption by a majority of 
 15 to'l. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Hayti, 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Colombia, Argentine, 
 Paraguay, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, 
 Bolivia, United States, Venezuela, Chili, 
 Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Guatemala voted negatively. 
 
 Article II having been read, was 
 approved by the same majority, the same 
 delegations voting and in the same sense. 
 
 Article III was read. 
 
 Mr. Zbgarba, a Delegate from Peru, 
 stated that he would vote in favor of the 
 provisions of said article, but with tho 
 express reservation for the Government 
 of Peru to accept or not the couolasions 
 at which the new Commission might 
 arrive, as the interests of his country 
 might require. 
 
 Mr. Price, a Delegate from Hayti, sug- 
 gested that the article be modified in the 
 sense indicated by Mr. Romero, a Dele- 
 gate from Mexico, and the words "one 
 delegate or more" be inserted. 
 
 This having been agreed to aud the 
 vote having been taken, it was approved 
 aij amended by the same majority of 15 
 to 1, the same delegations voting as 
 before. 
 
 Article IV was read, and after some 
 discussion Mr. Quintana, a Delegate from 
 tho Argentine, presented the following 
 amendment, which was unanimously 
 agreed to : 
 
 " 4. That the Government of theUnited 
 Smies shall invite the Commission to meet 
 ill Washington within ayear, to be counted 
 from the date of the adjournment of this 
 Conference," 
 
 con el objeto de no quitar el tiempo & la 
 Conferencia no exponJa ahora, pero pre- 
 sentaria mas tarde por escrito, para que 
 constasen en el drden debido, las razones 
 que lo inducian Si votar negativamente 
 sobre todos y cada uuo de los partioulares 
 del dict^men. 
 
 Determind eu segnida el SeSor Presi- 
 DKNTB que se procediese & votar dicho 
 dict^men artloulo por artlculo. 
 
 Puesto & votaoidn el primero, quedd 
 aprobado por una mayoria de quince con- 
 tra una, en el 6rden siguiente : 
 
 Votaron aiirmativamente : Haiti, Nica- 
 ragua, Perti, Colombia, la Repfiblica Ar- 
 gentina, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, 
 M6xioo, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Vene- 
 zuela, Chile, Salvador, Ecuador. 
 
 Guatemala vot6 negativamente. 
 
 Ley<5se el segundo articulo y quedd 
 aprobado por lii misma mayoria, votando 
 las mismas delegaciones en el mismo 
 sentido. 
 
 Se leyd el articulo tercero. 
 
 El Sefior Zbgarra, delegado por el 
 Peru, manifestd que votarfa en favor de 
 sus determinaoiones, pero Con la expresa 
 reserva para el Gobierno del Perd del 
 derecho de aceptar 6 no las conclusiones 
 & que llegare la nueva Comisidn, segdn lo 
 exigiesen los intereses del pals. 
 
 El Senor Price, delegado por Haiti, 
 sugirid que el articulo se modificase, como 
 habia indicado ayer el Senor Romero, 
 delegado por Mdxioo, de manera que diga 
 que la expresada Comisidn cousista de 
 uno d mas delegados por cada nacidu. 
 
 Aceptada esta enmienda, se prooedid & 
 votar, y quedd el articulo aprobado en su 
 nueva forma, por la misma mayorfa de 
 quince contra uno. Los votes afirmativos 
 y el negativo fueron los mismos expresa- 
 dos anteriormente. 
 
 Leydse el articulo cuarto, y despues de 
 alguna discusidn, se presentd por el Sefior 
 Quintana, delegado por la Eeptiblica 
 Argentina, la siguiente enmienda : 
 
 "4°. Que el Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos invite & la Comisidn dreunirse en 
 Washington dentro de uu ano, & contar 
 de la clausura de esta Conferencia," 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONEEEENCE. 
 
 697 
 
 The vote on the article in its amended 
 form having been taken, it was adopted 
 by thesame majority, the aamedelegations 
 voting as before. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 stated that he wished it placed on record 
 that the agreement reached by the Com- 
 mission which it had been decided to con- 
 vene would not bind any nation repre- 
 sented in it unless ratified by its Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Mr. Zbgakra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 expressed himself in the same sense; and 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, stated 
 that although it was clearly expressed in 
 the preamble that the articles were purely 
 recommendations, he desired for the sake 
 of clearness that this be also set forth in 
 the minutes.' 
 
 The vote on the preamble of the report 
 having been taken, it was adopted by the 
 same majority of 15 to 1, the same dele- 
 gations voting as before. 
 
 The report as adopted reads as follows: 
 
 " The Committee on Monetary Conven- 
 tion having considered the various amend- 
 ments presented to the Conference, 
 submits the following report : 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence is of opinion that great advantages 
 would accrue to the commerce between 
 the nations of this continent by the use 
 of a coin or coins that would be current, 
 at the same value, in all the countries 
 represented in this Conference, and there- 
 fore recommends : 
 
 "1. That an International American 
 Monetary Union be established. 
 
 " 2. That as a basis for this Union an 
 international coin, or coins be issued, 
 which shall be uniform in weight and 
 fineness, and which may be used in all 
 the countries represented in this Confer- 
 ence. 
 
 "3. That to give full effect to this 
 recommendation, there shall meet in 
 Washington a Commission composed of 
 one delegate or more from each nation 
 
 Aceptada undlnimemente esta substitn- 
 ci6n del texto se procedid S, votar, y qnedd 
 el artfculo aprobado en la nueva forma, 
 por la misma mayoria, y las mismas dele- 
 gaoiones que los anteriores. 
 
 El SeHor Romero, delegado por Mexi- 
 co, expuso que deseaba que constase en 
 el acta que los acuerdos S, quo se llegue 
 por la Comisidn, cnyo establecimiento ha 
 quedado convenido, no obligard^n S, las 
 naciones en 611a representadas, si no reci- 
 ben la oorrespondiente ratiflcacifin de los 
 Gobiernos. 
 
 En el mismo sentido se expresfi el Sefior 
 Zegarra, delegado por el Perfi; y el SeQor 
 Alfonso, delegado por Chile, manifestd 
 que aunque en el preimbulo se expresaba 
 claramente la idea de que la Comisi6n no 
 haria sino puras recomendaciones, con- 
 venia sin embargo, en obsequio de la 
 claridad, que asi se expresase en el 
 acta. 
 
 Procedidse & votar sobre el pre^mbulo 
 del diotfimen ; y result6 aprobado por la 
 misma mayorfa de quince contra uno, 
 siendo los afirmativos y el negative los 
 mismos antes expresados. 
 
 El dict^men qued6 adoptado en el drden 
 siguiente : 
 
 "La Comisi6n de Convenci6n Mouo- 
 taria, habiendo tomado en consideracidn 
 las diferentes proposiciones sometidas S, 
 la Conferencia, presenta el siguiente pro- 
 yecto : 
 
 "La Conferencia lutemacional Ameri- 
 cana opina que serla muy proveohoso 
 para el comercio entre las naciones de 
 este oontinente el uso de una moneda 6 
 monedas de curso oorriente y de un mismo 
 valor en todos los paises representados eu 
 esta Conferencia. En consecuencia re- 
 recomienda : 
 
 " 1°. Quese establezcaunaUnidnMoue- 
 taria Internaeional Americana. 
 
 "2°. Que come base'de esta Uni6n se 
 acunen una 6 mas monedas iuternacio- 
 nales, uuiformes en peso y ley, y que pue- 
 dau usarse en todos los paises representa- 
 dos eu esta Conferencia. 
 
 " 3°. Que para dar el debido cumpli- 
 miento S, esta recomendaci6n, se reuna 
 en Washington una Comisi-6n compnesta 
 de uuo 6 m& Delegados por cada nacidn 
 
598 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 represented in this Conference, wliich 
 shall consider the quantity, the kind of 
 currency, the uses it shall have, and the 
 valne and proportion of the international 
 silver coin or coins, and their relations 
 to gold. 
 
 "4. That the Government of the 
 United States shall invite the Com- 
 mission to meet in Washington within a 
 year, to be counted from the date of the 
 adjournment of this Conference. 
 " Washington, April 2, 1890. 
 " E. A. MBxf A, 
 "Morris M. Estee, 
 " Jos]& Alfonso, 
 " Juan Francisco Velarde, 
 " Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 " Carlos Martinez Silva." 
 
 The President then called Mr. Zegarra 
 to the chair. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Henderson, a Dele- 
 gate from the United States, the discus- 
 sion of the report on Customs Union was 
 again opened, and Mr. Saenz FeSa, a 
 Delegate from the Argentine, having 
 requested the floor, made the speech 
 hereto appended. 
 
 At the conclusion of Mr. Saenz Pefia's 
 remarks, the hour for adjournment hav- 
 ing been reached, the session was sus- 
 pended at 6.10 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 Hayti. 
 
 JOSil M. HUKTADO, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 
 MaNOEL QniNTANA, 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 Josiii S. Dbooud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Am ARAL Valante, 
 Salvador db Mendon9a, 
 
 Brazil- 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 
 Mexico. 
 3vA.i>i F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 
 representada en esta Conferencia, la que 
 estudiar^ la cantidad en que ha de 
 acufiarse la moneda intemacional, la clase 
 de curso que ha de tener, y el valor y 
 proporci6n de la moneda 6 monedas de 
 plata y su relacidn con el oro. 
 
 "4°. Que el Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos invite & la Comisi6n &, reunirse en 
 Washington dentro de un ano & contar 
 de la clausnra de esta Conferencia. 
 
 "Washington, 2 de April de 1890. 
 " E»A. MBXfA. 
 "Morris M. Estee. 
 " Jos6 Alfonso. 
 " Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 " Jei{6nimo Zelaya. 
 " CXrlos Martinez Silva." 
 
 El Senor Presidbnte llam6 entonces 
 al Seuor Zegarra & ocupar su puesto. 
 
 A mocidn del Senor Henderson, dele- 
 gado por los Estados Unidos, se puso de 
 nuevo & discusidn el asunto de Uni6n 
 aduanera ; y habiendo tornado la palabra, 
 el SeHor Saenz PeSa, delegado por la 
 Repliblica Argentina, pronnncid el dis- 
 curso que se acompana oomo ap6ndice & 
 esta acta. 
 
 Concluido que fn^ ese discurso, y 
 habiendo dado ya la hora de reglamento, 
 se levautd la sesifin St las seis y diez 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vioepresidente 
 Hannibal Price, 
 Haiti. 
 Josiii M. Huktado, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina.' 
 Joslii S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valentk, 
 Salvador dic MuNDONgA, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zklaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Mfyico. 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Boliria. 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 599 
 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studkbaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 TJniteA States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLBT PbRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Chili. 
 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:fi Maria PLiciDO CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Stcdebakkr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 
 Eatados Unidos. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLBT PbRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:^ MARfA PLiciDO CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
600 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 MR. BABNZ PESA'S SPEECH. 
 
 Minutes of Fifty-eighth Day. 
 
 Mr. President, Honokable Dele- 
 gates: 
 
 In the preceding session I expressed at 
 length my views upon our present and 
 future trade. The able speeches to which 
 I have the honor to reply have not affected 
 these views, and I need not fortify or re- 
 peat them. 
 
 I shall consider, however, the remarks 
 addressed to me, commencing with those 
 of Mr. Flint. It will be remembered that 
 I did not correct the statement of the 
 honorable Delegate from the United States 
 when he told us that 80 per cent, of the 
 articles coming from Central and South 
 America were admitted in these customs- 
 houses free of duty. I said in so many 
 words that, without correcting those fig- 
 ures, I was ignorant of what was intended 
 to be proved by them ; and I frankly con- 
 fess I am still in ignorance. These fig- 
 ures show me what comes in, but do not 
 demonstrate what might come in. It is 
 clear that the greater part of the impor- 
 tations enter free, but how many are the 
 jjroducts of Central and South America 
 which go to European custom houses 
 dodging tbe American tariff? These aro 
 the statistics we should study, considering 
 all the elements, all the factors, and not 
 fragments altered by an optimism foreign 
 to our functions and our mission. The 
 honorable Delegate is attracted by the 
 exemption from duties of 80 per cent, of 
 the importations, and I am surprised it is 
 not 100 per cent. ; because it is evident 
 that after necessity, exemption from duty 
 is what attracts the article, while a tariff 
 turns it away, directing it towards other 
 ports in search of the privileges here de- 
 nied it. The honorable delegate takes 
 as a basis a depressed commerce, and 
 upon this argument it is clear one may 
 go to great extremes. If to-morrow a 
 prohibitory duty were put upon the prod- 
 ucts of America, and but one article were 
 admitted free, gutta-percha, for instance, 
 could not the Honorable Delegate tell us 
 that we had reached the climax of ex- 
 emption, because all that entered was ad- 
 mitted free of duty ? Would we not have 
 
 Ap^ndice. 
 
 Discurso de Senor Saenz Pena. 
 
 [Acta No. 58.1 
 
 Sefior Pkesidentb, SeSores Delbga- 
 DOS : En la sesidn anterior expuse con 
 amplitud mis opiniones sobre la ac- 
 tualidad y el porvenir de nuestros cam- 
 bios comerciales, ^llas no han sido 
 oonmovidas por los notables disoursos & 
 que nie es honroso contestar y no tengo 
 para que con^marlas ni repetirlas. 
 
 Voy Si hacerme cargo sin embargo, de 
 las observaciones que se me han dirigido, 
 comenzando por las del Sefior Flint. 
 
 Se recordar^ que el delegado que habia, 
 no rectified el dato del honorable Eepre- 
 sentante de los Estados Unidos, cuaudo 
 nos dijo que un 60 por cionto de los artl- 
 culos que eutraban de Centro y Sud 
 America entraban libres de derechos en 
 estas aduanas; dije textualmente que sin 
 rectificar aquellas cifras ignoraba lo que 
 ellas querlan probar ; y confieso ingenua- 
 niente que sigo ignorando lo que de- 
 seaba saber; fllas me explican lo que 
 entra, pero no me dicen lo que no puede 
 entrar; es claro que las importaciones 
 eat^n formadas en su mayor parte por 
 articulos libres ; pero { cuantos son los 
 productos de Centro y Sud America que 
 se dirigen & las aduanas de la Europa 
 esquivando las tarifas de America? 
 
 Esta es la estadfstica que debemos es- 
 tudiar, tomando todos sus elemeutos, to- 
 dos sus factores, y no fragmentosdescom- 
 puestos por un optimismo ajeno S, nuestras 
 funciones y ^ nuestra misidn ; el honorable 
 delegado se sieute seducido por la liber- 
 tad de un 80 por ciento de lo que entra, y 
 yo extrafio que no sea un ciento por cien- 
 to ; porque es evident? que despu^s de la 
 necesidad, es la liberti^d la que trae el ar- 
 ticulo, como es la tarifa qnien lo aleja, 
 bot^ndolo sobre otros puertos en busca 
 de las franquicias que le son negadas; el 
 honorable delegado toma por base uu co- 
 mercio deprimido y sobre este argumento, 
 es entendido que puede irse muy lejos ; si 
 mafiana se gravaran los productos de 
 Amdrica con un derecho prohitivo y qne- 
 daraun solo artlculo libre, lagutapercha, 
 ble ejemplo ^ no podria decirnos el hono- 
 rapor delegado que hablamos llegado al 
 maximum de la lib6rtad,8upuesto que todo 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 601 
 
 realized the economic ideals of Mr. Flint, 
 having reached 100 per cent, of exemp- 
 tion upon what enters ? The argument 
 of my honorable friend embodies, as Bas- 
 tiat says, " what is seen and what is un- 
 seen." He sees what enters, I wish to see 
 what enters and what can not enter; and 
 it will not be denied that 80 per cent, of 
 the exportations of Latin America do not 
 enter. I do not pretend that the nation 
 which the honorable Delegate so worthily 
 represents should buy all our products — 
 like pretension should not dwell in a 
 well-balanced mind; but, treating of in- 
 creasing our trade, we must of necessity 
 analyze it in the light of figures and not 
 of maxims as arbitrary as those presented 
 by the provisions of a tariif, measuring 
 the exemption on what is imported which 
 might be only one article, as is about to 
 happen with coffee, which represents 
 $67,742,586 of the imports of Central and 
 South America out of the total of 100,- 
 000,000 admitted free. When my honor- 
 able friend measures the liberality of his 
 tariffs upon the basis of the articles im- 
 ported, he reminds me of the grand mas- 
 ter of a mansion who was suprised that 
 eighty out of the hundred guests who 
 filled his rooms wei e there with his con- 
 sent and by invitation ; the eighty in- 
 vited guests would not surprise me, but 
 rather the twenty intruders, and if the 
 host desired to prove his great prestige in 
 the neighborhood, I should like to know 
 the number of those excluded from that 
 ostentatious hospitality. 
 
 The statistics of my honorable friend 
 verify those which I presented. I was 
 the first to announce that the balance 
 was in our favor and that it was just and 
 proper that the United States should seek 
 an equilibrium, even if we differed in the 
 means. There is one statement, however, 
 which I have not been able to verify, 
 and it is that which refers to the articles 
 which the United States exports to our 
 markets free of duty ; according to Mr. 
 Flint, of the $52,000,000 exported we 
 only admit 10 per cent. free. Criticising 
 our custom-houbesMr. Flint again argues 
 from the stand-point of dutiable and free 
 articles, but entirely disregards the 
 
 lo que entraba estaba libre ? 4 No habria- 
 raos realizado los ideales econdmicos del 
 SeBor Flint, llegando & un oiento por cien- 
 to de libertad sobre lo que entra? 
 
 El argumento de mi honorable amigo 
 tiene como decla Bastiat : "lo que se \6 
 y lo que no se \6;" 61 v6 lo que entra; yo 
 quiero ver lo que entra y lo que no puede 
 entrar ; y no se me negard^ que deja de en- 
 trar un 80 por ciento de lo que exportala 
 America Latina; yo no pretendo que la 
 nacidn que representa dignamente el 
 honorable delegado, compre touas nues- 
 tras producciones ; semejaute pretensidn 
 no puede caber en un cerebro organizado ; 
 pero tratando de aumentar nuestro comer- 
 cio tenemos necesidad de analizar nues- 
 tros cambios ^ la luz de los guarismos y 
 no de f6rmulas tan arbitrarias como las 
 que quiere darnos el oartabdn de una ta- 
 rifa, midiendo la libertad sobre lo que en- 
 tra, que puede ser un solo articulo, como 
 estS S: punto de suceder con el caf6, que 
 representa en las procedeucias de Centro 
 y Sud-Am6rioa |67,742,586, sobre los 106,- 
 000,000 que entran libres; cuaudo mi ho- 
 norable amigo mide la liberalidad de sus 
 tarifas sobre la base de los articulos que 
 entran, me hace el efeoto de un gran 
 sefior de su mansion que ee sintiera sor- 
 prendido porque ochenta sobre las cien 
 personas quellenaran amistosamente sus 
 salones, estuvieran alli con su consenti- 
 niiento y S, m^rito de su invitaci^n ; S, mi 
 no me sorprenderlan los 80 conocidos, sino 
 los 20 intrusos; y si el invitante quisiera 
 probarnos todavia su manificente presti- 
 gio en la comarca, yo uecesitaria conside- 
 rar el nfimero de los excluidos en aquella 
 pompa de hospitalidad. 
 
 Las estadisticas de mi honorable amigo 
 confirman las que yo he presentado ; he si- 
 do el primero en anunciarque la balanza 
 nos era favorable y que era j usto y lejltimo 
 que los Estados Unidos aspirarau al equi- 
 librio, si bien parece que disentimos en 
 los medios; hay un dato sin embargo que 
 no me ha sido posible vcrificar, y es el 
 que se reflere ^ los articulos libres que 
 los Estados Unidos llevan sobre nuestros 
 mercados; segfin el Senor Flint, sobre los 
 52,000,000 que se exportan de los Estados 
 Unidos solo recibimos libres un 10 por 
 oiento; al juzgar nuestras aduanas el 
 Senor Flint vnelve S, argumentar con el 
 ntimero de los articulos gravados y de los 
 
602 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 amount of the duties, and I have cited 
 two heavy American importations taxed 
 at C and 10 per cent., but this is not a 
 tax,- and such duty would signify but lit- 
 tle if it were imposed on all the importa- 
 tions. I stated that our countries tax 
 importations to the extent of the necessi- 
 ties of the revenue, and that the duty 
 falls especially on articles of luxury, but 
 not in a prohibitory way, nor with a pro- 
 tective spirit, and it is not strange then 
 that the greater part of what we import 
 should respond to a revenue which has no 
 surplus and which is indispensable to the 
 demands of our national existence. When 
 1 spoke of the ease with which we could 
 take off certain duties, I referred to our 
 trade with America, which is very limited, 
 but by no means to the general commerce. 
 I beg my honorable friend to recall the 
 occasion which brought forth that asser- 
 tion and he will observe that two state- 
 ments entirely distinct can not be 
 confounded, and it will be difficult for Mr. 
 Flint to prove that the duties imposed on 
 articles in the United States are in keep- 
 ing with those imposed by us, and there 
 is not rhetoric enough to conceal the dis- 
 advantages under which the importations 
 from Latin America are received in the 
 United States. The honorable Delegate 
 tells us that the articles of general com- 
 merce subject to duty are taxed on an 
 average of 45 per cent. I have here those 
 of America to prove that those from Cen- 
 tral and South America are subject to a 
 duty of 80 per cent. The nineteenth 
 page of the report (1889) authorized by 
 the Treasury Department shows as fol- 
 
 Central America : 
 
 Imports dutiable |293, 065 
 
 Duties 233,675 
 
 South America : 
 
 Imports dutiable 11, 880, 490 
 
 Duties 9,359,403 
 
 There is no artifice of eloquence here, 
 only figures revealing international com- 
 merce, which it is my duty to examine 
 and present to the honorable Conference 
 incompliauce with the duties it has im- 
 posed on me. 
 
 libres, pero se desentiende por completo 
 del monto del impuesto, y yo he citado 
 dos fuertes importaciones americanas 
 gravadas en la Repliblica Argentina con 
 5 y 10 por ciento ; pero <5se no es gravamen 
 y tal impuesto signifioaria bien poco, que 
 lo tuviera el total delas importaciones ; yo 
 me he anticipado &, deolarar que nuestros 
 paises gravan las importaciones en cuanto 
 lo exigen las necesidades de la renta, y 
 que el impuesto reoae espeoialmente sobre 
 los artloulos de lujo, pero no en forma 
 prohibitiva ni con espiritu proteocionista, 
 y no es extraBo entonees que el mayor 
 ntimero de uuestras importaciones respon- 
 dan S, una renta que no tiene excedentes 
 y que es indispensable para las exigencias 
 de la vida racional; cuando he hablado 
 de la fa- ilidad con que nos despreuderfa- 
 mos de ciertas entradas, me he referido S, 
 nuestro comercio con la America que es 
 limitadfsimo, pero de ninguna mauera al 
 comercio general ; ruego S mi honorable 
 amigo que se fije nuevamente eu la opor- 
 tunidad con que hice esta declaraoidn y 
 observardl que no pneden conf undirse dos 
 afirmaciones diametralmente distintas, y 
 le ser£i diflcil, entretaato, probar al Sefior 
 Flint, que los artioulos gravados en los 
 Estados Unidos lo estin en una forma 
 relacionada con la que nosotros impoue- 
 mos, y no habrdi retfirioa bastante para 
 disimular las desventajas con que son re- 
 cibidas en los Estados Unidos las impor- 
 taciones de la America Latina ; el honora- 
 ble delegado nos declara que los articu- 
 los del comercio general sujetos S^ imposi- 
 ci6n estSn gravados en un t^rmino medio 
 de nn 45 por ciento : aqui tr^iigo los de la 
 America para probar que los del Centro y 
 Sad est^u sujetos ^ un 80 por ciento ; la 
 pdigina 19 del Report (1889) autorizado 
 por el Departamento del Tesoro nos da 
 este resultado : 
 Oentro- America : 
 
 Importaciones gravadas . . $293, 065 
 
 Derechos 233,675 
 
 Sud- America : 
 
 Importaciones gravadas. . 11, 889, 490 
 
 Derechos 9,359,403 
 
 Aquf no hay artificios de eloouencia, 
 sino guarismos reveladores del comercio 
 intercontinental que tengo el deber de es- 
 tudiar y de presentar fi la honorable Cou- 
 ferencia cumpliendo la misifin con que 
 €lla misma me invistid. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 603 
 
 My honorable friend, Mr. Flint, invites 
 me to name one European nation which, 
 buying as much as the United States buys 
 from America, is more liberal in its 
 tariffs ; that is to say, that charges on 
 dutiable goods less than 80 per cent. 
 Speaking of the Argentine Republic, I 
 shall cite Germany, that buys from us 
 $13,000,000 as against $13,000,000, ad- 
 mitting our products 'ree; Belgium, from 
 whom we buy|ll,000,000 and which takes 
 from us $16,000,000; we export to France 
 $27,000,000 and buy only |22,0G0,000; 
 from the United States we buy $9,343,056, 
 and they bought of us in 1889 $,5,400,000, 
 maintaining a duty of 60 per cent, on 
 Argentine wool, which is onr principal 
 product, and which amounts to 263,486,- 
 678 pounds sent to those free ports 
 wherein Australia and the Cape of Good 
 Hope can not obtain the 15 per cent, of 
 difference with which they are favored 
 in the custom-houses of America. 
 
 Having complied with the request of 
 Mr. Flint to inforin him of our commerce 
 with Europe, I have only to thank him 
 for the good will with which he drops tig- 
 ures for the purpose of expressing gen- 
 erous wishes for the prosperity of South 
 America— wishes which I am grateful for 
 and which I reciprocate in the name of 
 the nation I represent. 
 
 I shall now take up the speech made by 
 the honorable chairman of the United 
 States Delegation. 
 
 I should commence by stating that not 
 being familiar with the statistics of the 
 continent, and having been forced to ex- 
 amine them under a pressure of time, I 
 did not hear without a start the statement 
 of Mr. Henderson when he told us that 
 my figures were mistaken in some cases 
 and incomplete in others. The honorable 
 Delegate has proven neither one assertion 
 nor the other. This may have been due 
 to his magnanimity, but I am inclined to 
 believe it was owing to ray accuracy. In 
 every case I have brought here the books 
 which prove my figures. 
 
 The honorable Delegate to whom I am 
 replying not only ascribes to me senti- 
 ments which can not be rightfully at- 
 tributed to me, Ijut he charges me with 
 statements I have not thought of mak- 
 
 Mi honorable amigo el Seilor Flint me 
 invita & que le cite una naci6n europea, 
 que comprando todo lo que los Estados 
 Unidos le comprau ^ la America, sea m^s 
 liberal en sus tarifas aduaneras, es decir 
 que cobre sobre los efectos gravados 
 m^uos del 80 por ciento; reflri€ndome al 
 comeroio de la Repfibiica Argentina, 
 yo le cito la Alemania que nos compra 
 13,000,000 contra 13, recibiendo nnes- 
 tros productos libres; & B61gioa le com- 
 pramos 11,000,000 y 611a nos recibe 16, 
 & Pranoia exportamos 27,000,000 y solo 
 le compramos 22,000,000; &, los Esta- 
 dos Unidos les compramos $9,343,056, y 
 61Ios nos ban comprado $5,400,000, en 
 1889, sosteniendo nn impuesto de 60 por 
 ciento sobre las lauas argentinas que for- 
 man nuestro principal producto, y que 
 asciende & 263,486,678, libras que embar- 
 camos para aquellos puertos libres, donde 
 la Australia y el Cabo de Buena Esperan- 
 za no pueden aprovechar el 15 por ciento 
 de diferencia con que son favoreoidas en 
 las aduanas de America. 
 
 Satisfecba la invitacidn del Sefior Flint 
 para que le revelara nuestro comeroio con 
 la Europa, solo me falta agradecerle la 
 benevolencia con que se separa de los 
 niimeros, para hacer votes generosos por 
 la prosperidad de la America del Sud, 
 votos que agradezco y retribuyo & nombre 
 de la naoi(5n que represento. 
 
 Me ocupar6 ahora del discurso pro- 
 nuuciado por el Hon. Chairman de la 
 Delegaci6n de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Debo empezar por declarar que no 
 estando familiarizado con las estadf sticas 
 del coutinente, y habiendo tenido que 
 estudiarlas bajo la presidn del tiempo, no 
 recibl sin alarma la afirmaoi6u del Sefior 
 Henderson cuando nos dijo, que mis 
 ntimeros estaban equivocados los unos, 6 
 iucompletos los otros ; el honorable dele- 
 gado no ha probado lo primero, pero 
 tampoco lo segundo ; serd) tal vez efecto 
 de su magnanimidad, me inclino S creer 
 que de mi exactitud ; en todos los cases, 
 aqul he traido los libros que confirman 
 mis cifras. 
 
 El honorable delegado & qnien contesto, 
 no solo me supone sentimientos qno no 
 puede atribuirme con dereoho, sine que 
 me hace iuourrir en afirmaciones que yo 
 no he pensado hacer. iQuerrla decirme 
 
604 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ing. Would my distiuguished colleague 
 inform me in what part of my speech I 
 made odious comparisons between the 
 United States and Great Britain, main- 
 taining the liberality of the latter and the 
 commercial intransigency of the former ? 
 
 I would ask the honorable chairman 
 of the American Delegation to show me 
 the page, the paragraph, the phrase 
 where I made a comparison distasteful to 
 anyone. He surely can not show it, un- 
 less it be where I stated that the British 
 possessions were more favored in these 
 markets than the Argentine Republic ; a 
 very different thing from what he attrib- 
 utes to me and which I have fully dem- 
 onstrated. In this connection General 
 Henderson produces statistics according 
 to which the United States get from us 
 nine times the wool bought of us by Eng- 
 land. I present to the honorable Dele- 
 gate the statistics of 1888, from which it 
 appears that while the United States has 
 bought 2,332,000 kilograms of carpet 
 wool, the United Kingdom bought 3,190, - 
 000 kilograms of high-grade wool, and 
 if it be true, the English statistics of last 
 year have not reached me, I can assure 
 him that there have not been imported 
 into the United States, as he states, 11,- 
 000,584 pounds, but only 8,279,626 of car- 
 pet wool and 353,162 of high-grade wool, 
 making a total of 8,632,788 pounds, which 
 are not the 11,000,000 which he supposes. 
 These figures the honorable Delegate 
 may verify by looking en page 136 of this 
 book of the Treasury which I place at his 
 disposal. 
 
 The honorable Delegate compares the 
 commerce of the Argentine Republic with 
 that of the United States, and comments, 
 like Mr. Flint, on the free list, which as 
 far as we are concerned is limited to raw 
 hides ; but I have already replied to this 
 argument, and he can not deny the insig- 
 nificance of our commerce so long as dur- 
 ing 1889 we sent to these markets $.5,400,- 
 000 ontof our total exports of $125,000,000, 
 and when the exports from New York to 
 Buenos Ayres represent nearly double that 
 figure ($9,343,856), its insiguificanoe is 
 even more apparent compared to the ex- 
 ports of the United States, which amount 
 to $742,000,C00. 
 
 It is this paucity of our trade which I 
 took upon myself to study, without at- 
 
 mi distinguido oolega, en que parte de 
 mi discurso haya estableoido paialelos 
 odiosos entre los Estados Unidos y la 
 Gran-Bretafia, sostenieudo la liberalidad 
 de la segunda y la intransigencia comer- 
 cial de los pri meros ? 
 
 Yo invito al honorable Chairman de 
 la Delegaci6n Americana S, que me senale 
 la p^gina, el psirrafo, el concepto dondo 
 haya establecido un paralelo disgustante 
 Iiara nadie; no me lo seBalar^ segura- 
 mente ^ no ser cuando haya dicho que las 
 posesiones brit^nioas, estaban mas favo- 
 recidas en estas plazas comerciales que la 
 Repfiblica Argentina ; cosa bien distlnta 
 de lo que (51 me atribuye y que he dejado 
 ^mpliamente comprobado; con este mo- 
 tive, el Senor Gen. Henderson presenta 
 una estadistica, segfin la cual los FiStados 
 Unidos nos recibeu nueve veces la lana 
 que ros corapra la Inglaterra; yo le 
 triiigo al honorable delegado la esta- 
 dlstioa de '88, y de ^lla resulta, que cuan- 
 do los Estados Unidos nos han comprado 
 2,332,000 kilos de lana ordinaria, el Reino 
 Unido nos oomprd 3,190,000 kilos de lana 
 fina, y si bien las estadfsticas inglesas del 
 tiltimo ano no han llegado & mis manos 
 puedo asegurarle que S, los Estados Uni- 
 dos no han entrado 11,000,584 libras como 
 61 lo afirma, sino 8,279,626 de lana ordi- 
 naria y 353,162 de lana fina, dando un to- 
 tal de 8,632,788 libras que no son los once 
 millones que 61 supone ; estos datos pnede 
 verificarlos el honorable delegado en la 
 pSgina 136 de este libro de la Tesoreria 
 que pongo ^ su disposici6n. 
 
 El honorable delegado estndia el co- 
 mercio de la Reptlblica Argentina con los 
 Estados Unidos y comenta como el Senor 
 Flint, los artlculos libres, que para noso- 
 tros estSn representados por los cueros 
 pelados ; pero este argumento lo he con- 
 testado ya, y 61 no podrii negarme el pau- 
 perismo de nuestro comeroio, toda vez 
 que solo entrarou d estas plazas en el '89 
 $5,400,000 sobre nuestra exportacidn do 
 125,000,000 ; y aun cuando la exporta- 
 cidu de Naeva-York & Buenos Aires ro- 
 preseuta casi el doble de aquella, $9,343,- 
 856, Bu insignificanoia resulta mas palpa- 
 ble comparada conlaexportacidn total de 
 los Estados Unidos, que es de $742,000,000 . 
 Es esta indigencia de nuestros intercara- 
 bios !a que me propuse estudiar sin ata- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 605 
 
 tacking any one and essaying to benefit 
 all. 
 
 I drop figures for the moment to take 
 up certain doctrines advanced by my dis- 
 tinguished colleague; according to him 
 the act of the Federal Congress had In 
 view two objects when it called the Con- 
 ference together; first, peace represented 
 by arbitration, and, second, commerce 
 from which, to his mind, arbitration 
 should spring. I am unable to under- 
 stand this generative power of commerce, 
 over political and social institutions which 
 prevail and are put into practice with en- 
 tire independence of commerce. But the 
 honorable Delegate states that all the rest 
 of the act is mere words, including in the 
 term the enacting clauses which provide 
 for a customs union. My distinguished 
 colleague will understand that the Argen- 
 tine Government did not permit itself to 
 interpret as mere flights of language the 
 concise terms of a positive law which was 
 worthy of the sanction of the Federal Con- 
 gress of the United States, but, on the con- 
 trary, gave to each article of said act the 
 importance it deserved and instructed its 
 Delegates in sympathy with the text and 
 spirit thereof. The debates begun, the 
 distinguished Delegate judges it easy to 
 evolve new ideas foreign to the law, and 
 ends by considering us indifferent, be- 
 cause we do not accompany him in the 
 exaltation of extemporaneous remarks. 
 It is well to establish the official position 
 of these two Delegations. That of the 
 United States has declared in the majority 
 of cases that it does not know the opinion 
 of its Government and that it acts with 
 out fixed instructions, which may or may 
 not be ratified. I do not have to recall the 
 incidents which came up in the committees 
 and in the Conference itself, that decided 
 the Argentine Delegates to abstain from 
 voting so long as they were not apprised of 
 the opinions of the inviting Government, 
 represented up to that time by two dis- 
 senting votes, which is equivalent to say- 
 ing that neither was official. The Hon. 
 Mr. Coolidge added that this was a stroke 
 of independence on the part of the Amer- 
 ican Government, and that the other 
 Delegations had nothing to do with its 
 actions. In the Argentine Republic di- 
 plomatic customs are different ; the for- 
 eign policy which demands unity of 
 
 oar & nadie y tratando de beneflciar & 
 todos. 
 
 Dejo los nlimeros por el momento, para 
 ocuparme de ciertas doctrinas que deseu- 
 vuelve mi distinguido colega ; segun ^I, 
 la ley del Congreso Federal tuvo en vista 
 dos objetos al couvocar la Conferencia ; 
 el primero, la paz representada por el ar- 
 bitrage, y el segnndo, el comeroio, de 
 donde en su ooncepto debia de nacer dI 
 arbitrage mismo ; yo no acierto ^ expli- 
 carme este poder generador del comercio, 
 sobre instituciones pollticas y humaui- 
 tarias que existen y se practioan con 
 independencia plena del luovimiento mer- 
 cant£l ; pero el honorable delegado afirma 
 que todo el resto de la ley es mera fra- 
 seologla, incluyendo en este t^rmino las 
 partes dispositivas que determinan justa- 
 mente una Unidn Aduanera; se explicar^ 
 mi distinguido colega, que el Gobierno 
 Argentine no se haya permitido iuterpre- 
 tar oouio giros caprichosos de lenguage 
 los t^rminos concretes de una ley positiva, 
 que mereoid la sancidu del Congreso 
 Federal de los Estados Unidos; muy al 
 oontrario le acorrld la importancia que 
 tenia cada uno de los artfculos de dicha 
 ley, y di6 instrucoioues & sus delegados de 
 aouerdo con el texto y el espfritu de la 
 convocatoria; pero abiertos los debates, el 
 distinguido delegado juzga f^cil pronun- 
 ciarse sobre nuevas concepcionesii; que la 
 ley no se reflere, y concluye por enoon- 
 trarnos displicentes, porque no lo acom- 
 pafiamos en el vfirtigo de la improvisacidn ; 
 conviene establecer la posicidn oficial de 
 estas dos Delegaciones ; la de los Estados 
 Unidos ha declarado en la mayor parte 
 de los oasos, que no conoce la opinion de 
 su Gobierno y que precede con instruc- 
 ciones en bianco que serSn, 6 nd, ratifica- 
 das; no tengo para que recordar los iuci- 
 dentes surgldos en las Comisiones y en el 
 seno mismo de la Conferencia, ouando ellos 
 decidieron & los Delegados Argentines, 
 i, abstenerse de la votacidn, en tanto que 
 no se leshicieran oonocer las opiniones del 
 Gobierno invitante, represeatadas hasta 
 entdnces por dos votes disidentes, lo que 
 vale deoir, que niuguuo era oficial; el 
 Honorable Sefior Coolidge agregaba, que 
 era fete uu rasgo de independencia del 
 Gobierno americauo y que las demfe dele- 
 gaciones nada tenlau que ver con su con- 
 ducta. En la Repriblica Argentina las 
 
606 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 thought and action is directed by the 
 national cabinet and nol left to the judg- 
 ment of twenty diplomatic representa- 
 tives and of a like number of delegates 
 who might attend International Con- 
 gresses. I do not criticize the diplomatic 
 practices of the United States, but I 
 follow those of my country. The Argen- 
 tine cabinet has not signed our instruc- 
 tions in blank, and I respect them as 
 indicative of order and foresight. Fol- 
 lowing, therefore, those instructious we 
 have resisted any deviation from their 
 concise and exact terms, and in this there 
 is no contradiction but perfect consistency 
 and conformity with our mission. 
 
 We have rejected the idea of a Zollve- 
 rein by the unanimous vote of the com- 
 mittee, aud Mr. Henderson avers that I 
 have also rejected reciprocity treaties; 
 but I invite him to read that part of my 
 remarks wherein I discussed the question 
 and in which I have defined our position; 
 it was as follows: "The Argentine Re- 
 public does not deny the possibility of 
 making treaties," and furthermore it 
 says: "She will express herself on this 
 point when it may be requested by 
 friendly nations, or when she decides to 
 initiate the invitation — a matter which 
 belongs to her cabinet." Where, then, is 
 the rejection of which Mr. Henderson 
 speaks ? It is very easy to plunge a Dele- 
 gate into contradictions when he is placed 
 in a position which he has not thought of 
 assuming, and words are attributed to 
 him which he never uttered. Or, is it 
 thought that the vote of the majority of 
 the committee could obligate me in a cer- 
 tain way to adopt recommendations and 
 reach conclusions which, inflnencing the 
 mind of the cabinet, would seriously af- 
 fect the attributes of the national sov- 
 ereignty? But on the other hand, with 
 which of the nations represented in the 
 committee could we make treaties, since, 
 according to Mr. Henderson, it is the 
 committee who has proposed it to ns. 
 
 With Mexico, Nicaragua, and Colombia 
 we have no trade other than our friendly 
 relations and a happy cordiality which we 
 shall ever cultivate with assiduous care. 
 With Chili and Brazil we maintain a 
 mediocre trade, but to conclude reciproc- 
 
 pr^oticas diplom^ticas son distintas ; la 
 politioa exterior que requiere unidad de 
 penaamiento y de accidn, es dirijida por 
 el Gabinete Nacional y no librada al 
 crit^rio de20 representantes diplom^ticos 
 y de otros tantos Delegados que pudieran 
 concurrir Si I'os Congresos Internaciouales ; 
 yo no critico los procedimieutos diplom^- 
 ticosdelosEscados Unidoa, pero obedezco 
 Sj los de mi naoidu; la Cancillerla Argen- 
 tina no ha firmado en bianco nuestras ins- 
 trucciones y yo las respeto oomo siiitoma 
 de drden y de previsidn: en uso pues de 
 aquellasinstrucciones, nos hemoa resistido 
 a salir de sus tfirmiuos precisos y concre- 
 tes, pero en esto no hay coutradiccidn si no 
 consecuencia y Idgica con nuestro man- 
 dato. 
 
 Hemos rechazado el pensamiento del 
 Zollverein por el voto un^nime de la Co- 
 misi6n ; y el Senor Henderson afirma que 
 tambi^n he rechazado los tratados de re- 
 ciprocidad; pero yo lo invito & leer la 
 parte de mi discurso en que he conside- 
 rado la materia, y en que he dehnido 
 nuestras pojiciones ; dice aai : " La Re- 
 piiblica Argentina no resiste la posibili- 
 dad lie haoer tratados ;" y en otra parte 
 agrega: "Ella se pronunoiar^ sobre este 
 punto, cuando fuere requerida por las na- 
 ciones amigas, 6 resuelva iniciar la invi- 
 tacidn: es asunto de su cancillerla." 
 J Doude est^ pues ese rechazo de que uoa 
 habla el Senor Henderson ? Es muy facil 
 demoatrar la oontradiccidn de uu dele- 
 gado, cuando se le coloca en actitudea 
 que no ha pensado aaumir y se le atribu- 
 yen palabras que jamais pronuncid. jO 
 se piensa que el voto de la mayoria de la 
 Comisidn, podia obligarme, en cierto mode, 
 & suscribir couscjos y ^ Uegar S, conclu- 
 aiones, que penetran en la mente misma 
 de las cancillerias, atacando series atri- 
 butos de la soberania nacional? Pero 
 J con cual, por otra parte, de las naoioneg 
 representadas en la Comisi6u podrlamos 
 celebrar tratados, ya que es la Comiai<3n 
 misma, segtin el Senor Hendoraon, quien 
 nos los ha propuesto ? Con Mdjico, Nica- 
 ragua y Colombia no tenemos mas comer- 
 cio que el de nuestras relaciones amisto- 
 sas, y una feliz cordialidad, que eultivar^- 
 mos siempre con esmero ; con Chile y el 
 Braail, mantenemoa uu comercio medio- 
 cre, pero para celebrai tratados de reci- 
 procidad con nuestros amigos y vecinos, 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCK. 
 
 607 
 
 itj' treaties witli our friends and-neigh- 
 bors we Deed not have them witnessed by 
 America. Going to Rio Janeiro and San- 
 tiago for the trade of Wasliington we 
 would have to follow a course as inex- 
 plicable as that which brought us from 
 the Plata to the Potomac by way of Liver- 
 pool. There now remains to consider the- 
 probability of making treaties with the 
 United States, and I again bog ray dis- 
 tinguished colleague to inform me and to 
 show me where and in what part of my 
 speech I have doubted the good faith of 
 his Government with respect to these 
 treaties. The words attributed to me by 
 the honorable Delegate are assuming an 
 alarming aspect because they attack my 
 sincerity. I am aware of the respect due 
 a nation and I know the duties of cour- 
 tesy, which I have not had to learn so far 
 from home. Nowhere, and I state it em- 
 phatically, honorable Delegates, have I 
 spoken the words ascribed to me by Mr. 
 Henderson. I appeal again to the 
 minutes. 
 
 Was there, perchance, bad faith when 
 the Government of the United States 
 rejected the treaty which the Argen- 
 tine proposed to it in 1870? How can 
 there be in this most legitimate exer- 
 cise of sovereignty inspired by the in- 
 terests of commerce as each nationality 
 understands them ? I cited the words of 
 Mr. Hamilton Fish to elucidate a policy 
 which is offensive to no one, even if it is 
 against the idea of treaties. No official 
 has proposed to us in the name of the 
 Government of the United States to re- 
 open negotiations upon that idea, and I 
 conld hardly have rejected it founding 
 the objection on the bad faith of this 
 Government. I can not understand, then, 
 because there is no extenuating reason 
 for the hypothesis, I can not understand, 
 J repeat, snch a reproach. The press of 
 this country has made incorrect state- 
 ments wheu it said that the Government 
 of the United States has proposed such 
 treaties to us. In the name of the Argen- 
 tine Delegation I state that such assertion 
 is unauthorized. 
 
 The circumstance of Mr. Henderson 
 voting in favor of the majority report 
 which recommends the treaties would 
 not be an indication of the opinion of 
 this Government, because, at the formal 
 
 no uecesitamos atestiguarlo con la Ame- 
 rica ; yo no entiendo que para ir & Rio 
 Janeiro y S, Santiago neoesitemos dirigir- 
 nos por el camino de Washington, tra- 
 yecto tan extrafio habriamos recorrido, 
 como el que nos ha encamiuado del Plata 
 al Potomac por la via de Liverpool; nos 
 queda por considerar la probabilidad de 
 hacer tratados con los Estados Unidos, y 
 aqui vuelvo Sj snplicar S, mi distingniuo 
 colega el Sellor Henderson, me diga y me 
 sefiale, donde y en que parte he puesto 
 en duda la buena f6 de su Gobierno, eon 
 relacidn & estos tratados; las palabras 
 que me atribuye el honorable delegado 
 van tomando uu caricter alarmante, por 
 cuanto atacan mi sinceridad; yo b6 los 
 respotos que se mereoe una naci6n, y co- 
 nozco los deberes de la cortesia, que no 
 he salido ^ aprenderlos tan lejos de mi pa- 
 tria; y en parte alguna, lo digo bieu alto, 
 Senoros delegados, he pronunciado las pa- 
 labras que me atribuye el Senor Hender- 
 son ; apelo nuevameute Si las actas. 
 
 J Habrfa acaso mala f6, en que el Gobier- 
 no de los Estados Unidos rechazara el tra- 
 tado que le propnso la Reptiblica Argenti- 
 na en 1870 ? Pero j como puede haberla en 
 el acto mas legltimo de soberania iuspirado 
 por los intereses del comercio, tales como 
 los entiende cada nacionalidad? Yo ho 
 citado las palabras del Sr. Hamilton Fish, 
 para aolarar una politica que no es ofeu- 
 siva para nadie, si bieu se" ha prouuu- 
 ciado en desacuerdo con la idea de los 
 tratados; pero funcionario alguno nos ha 
 propuesto S, nombre del Gobierno de los 
 Estados Unidos reanudar uegooiaciones 
 sobre aquel pensamiento, y mal he podido 
 rechazarlo fundado en la mala f6 de este 
 Gobierno ; no me explico pues, porque no 
 haj jii uu pretesto atenuante de la hipd- 
 tesis, no me esplico, repito, semejante 
 reproche; la prensa de este pais se ha 
 hecho eco de afirmaciones inexaotas, 
 ouaado ha dicho, que el Gobierno de los 
 Estados Unidos nos ha maudado proponer 
 tales tratados : desautorizo semejante 
 afirmacidn ^ nombre de la Delegaoidn 
 Argentina. 
 
 La oircunstancia de votar el Senor 
 Henderson el dict^men de la mayoria que 
 recomienda los tratados, no serla tam- 
 poco un slntoma de la opini6n de este 
 Gobierno, porque en las sesiones otioiales 
 
608 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 meetings which I attended, he stated he 
 was ignorant of that opinion, saying that 
 he spoke in his individual capacity. 
 There is more yet ; I have proposed to 
 him privately the discussion of a treaty; 
 I have indicated to hitn the articles upon 
 which it might be based, and up to the 
 present time I have not had his reply. 
 Where, then, is the rejection of the com- 
 pacts, which is uade as a charge against 
 the Argentine Delegates? Was it not 
 logical to suppose that the Government 
 of the United States still persisted in its 
 policy of 1870? Where is the offense in 
 this supposition ? Where the bad faith 
 that can be attributed to it ? 
 
 Mr. Henderson reminds us of the em- 
 barrassed situation of the United States 
 at the time of the propositions. The na- 
 tion was bearing the results of the civil 
 ■war and the tax-payers were svipporting 
 a debt of $2,600,000,000, 50 per cent, of 
 the interest thereon being paid by the 
 customs revenues. I am thankful for 
 these explanations of my honorable col- 
 league, but the Argentine Government 
 never asked them, and that of the United 
 States need not have made them in the ex- 
 ercise of an inalienable right. To-day the 
 economic situation has changed, it is true, 
 but there is one factor of that reply which 
 remains unalterable, because of its being 
 wiser than the people of the United States 
 —it is the Constitution which was pleaded 
 as the reason for the rejection when the De- 
 partment of State declared that it was not 
 treaties but the Federal Congress which 
 could modify or sanction customs duties. 
 I must confine myself to the policy 
 which the United States has of3.cially 
 maintained regarding my Government 
 without asking precedents of Hawaii, 
 when I have them in the Argentine Re- 
 public as explicit and clear as those of 
 any other nation. I do not think it nec- 
 essary to reply to a correction directed to 
 me, to the effect that the treaty with 
 Santo Domingo was not rejected, but 
 withdrawn by the President from the Sen- 
 ate. The unsubstantial difference in those 
 statements did not merit the correction ; 
 neither did the reference to the treaty 
 with Mexico merit it. I said that Con- 
 gress did not approve the treaty, and the 
 Delegate from Mexico corrects me, saying 
 that it is the House of Representatives 
 
 S. que- yo he asistido, 61 manifestd no 
 conooerla, declarando que hablaba en su 
 nombre personal ; hay algo m^s, yo le he 
 propuesto confidencialmente la discusidn 
 de un tratado, le he indicado los articulos 
 sobre que podia recaer, y hasta este 
 memento no he recibidt) su respuesta. 
 I Donde estS pues el rechazo de los pactoa, 
 que se formula como un cargo & los Dele- 
 gados Argentines? jNo era 16gico 
 suponer que el Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos persistia en su polltica de 1870 ? 
 J Donde est^ la ofensa de esa suposici6n ? 
 J Donde la malftf6 que podia atribulrsele ? 
 
 El Sefior Henderson nos recuerda la 
 situacidn embarazoza de los Estados 
 Unidos i, la 6poca de las proposiciones ; 
 la nacidu soportaba los resultados de la 
 guerra civil y los contribuyentes snf raga- 
 ban una deuda de $-i, 600, 000, 000, cuyos 
 intereses eran costeados en 50 por cieuto 
 por las aduanas; yo agradezoo las ex- 
 plicacionesde mi honorable colega, pero el 
 Gobierno Argentine no las pidi6 nunca, 
 y el de los Estados Unidos no neoesitaba 
 darlas para el ejercicio de un derecho 
 inalienable ; hoy la situacidn econdmica 
 ha cambiado, es cierto, pero hay un fac- 
 tor de esa respuesta que se mantiene inal- 
 terable, por su eabiduria, sobre el pueblo 
 mismo de los Estados Unidos : es la Cons- 
 titucidn que se in voc6 como raz6n de aquel ' 
 rechazo, cuando aiirmaba el Ministerio de 
 Estado, que no eran los tratados sino el 
 Congreso Federal quien podia modificar 
 6 sancionar los impuestos aduaneros. 
 
 Yo necesito atenerme & la polltica que 
 los Estados Unidos han sostenido oficial- 
 mente respeto de mi Gobierno, sin pedir 
 antecedontes al Hawal cuando los tengo 
 en la Repdblica Argentina, tan esplicitos 
 y claroB como los de cualquiera otra 
 nacidn ; no creo neceaario contestar una 
 rectificacifin que se me ha hecho, diciendo 
 que el Tratado de .■:anto Domingo no ta6 
 rechasado, sino retirado por el Ejecutivo 
 de las carpetas del Senado ; la difereucia 
 insubstancial de estos heohos no merecia 
 la rectificacidn; tampoco la mereola la 
 que se refiere al tratado celebrado con 
 M6jico; yo he dioho que el Congreso no 
 le prestd su aprobaoidn y su delegado me 
 reotifica diciendo que es la C^mara de Di- 
 putados la que lo retiene ; no desearia 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 609 
 
 which retains it. I would not wish to 
 touch upon these microscopic points^of 
 the diplomatic liturgy and breviary, and, 
 if I needed to know the opinion of the 
 Mexican Government upon the policy of 
 the United States with respect to making 
 treaties, it would only be necessary to re- 
 peat the words spoken by its representa- 
 tive, spoken officially and publicly in the 
 presence of all the Delegations of Amer- 
 ica. Ho has told us the following, refer- 
 ring to the House of Representatives of 
 the United States : 
 
 "The treaty examined in the commit- 
 tee, only one of the thirteen members 
 composing it, Mr. Abramham S. Hewitt, 
 reported iu favor of it ; the report of the 
 other members, which, more than areport, 
 appeared like a libel against Mexico, 
 founded their vote against the treaty." 
 
 After these words, I cau not understand 
 the corrections which the representative 
 of Mexico has wished to address to me 
 when I said that the policy of the United 
 States was not favorable to treaties. I 
 drop this incident and continue replying 
 to Mr. Henderson. 
 
 Tlie distinguished chairman of the Dele- 
 gation of the inviting Government speaks 
 to us of the hard conditions exacted by 
 the Argentine Delegate so that the United 
 States may vigorize its commerce with 
 the continent. The Delegate now having 
 the floor has not exacted nor asked a soli- 
 tary thing, and much leas has he pro- 
 posed to impose free trade with Europe 
 as a condition of continental trade. 
 
 I state, and maintain, that under a pro- 
 tective tariff American manufactures will 
 not enter free markets so long as that 
 protection is maintained against Europe, 
 even if it should be set aside for America 
 by means of a Zollverein. I have at- 
 tacked a system, but I have not disposed 
 with prodigality of foreign resources. 
 Between protection and absolute free 
 trade is the light tax which meets the 
 necessities of life, and from which we 
 ourselves can not separate ; ill, then, 
 would we have advised it to friendly 
 nations, even though they represent au 
 opulence beyond measure. 
 
 Mr. Henderson himself agrees with the 
 
 opinion I have sustained when he shows 
 
 three stages iu the natural growth of a 
 
 people, that of agriculture, that of man- 
 
 3910 
 
 detenerme sobre estos puntos microscdpi- 
 cos de la liturgia y del breviario diplom^- 
 tico ; si yo necesitara couocer las opiuio- 
 ues del Gobierno de M^jico, sobre la dis- 
 posicidu de los Estados Unidos para 
 celebrar tratados, me bastaria repetir 
 las palabras de su representante, pro- 
 nuuciadas en aoto oficial y publico, en 
 presencia de todas las Delegaciones de la 
 America ; 61 nos ha dicho lo siguiente 
 refill^ J I dose ^ la Cd^mara de Diputados de 
 los Estados Unidos : " Estudiado el 
 tratado en el seno de la Comisidn, tan 
 solo uuo de los trece miembros de que 
 aquella se componla, Mr. Abraham S. 
 Hewitt, dictammfi en su favor ; el dict^- 
 men de los demfils miembros, que m£is que 
 dict^men parecia un libelo contra M6jico, 
 fundaba su voto en contra del tratado." 
 
 Despn6s de estas palabras, yo no me 
 explico las rectificaciones que ha querido 
 dirijirme el representante de Mdjico, 
 cuando he dicho que la polltica de los 
 Estados Unidos no era favorable Sj los 
 tratados. Dejoesteincidente, ysigo ocu- 
 p^ndome del Sefior Henderson. 
 
 El distinguido Chairman de la Dele- 
 gaoi6n del Gobierno invitante, nos habla 
 de las duras condioiones exigidas por el 
 Delegado Argentine para que los Estados 
 Unidos vigorizeu su comerpio con el con- 
 tinente ; el Delegado que tiene la palabra, 
 no ha exigido ni pedido cosa alguna, 'y 
 muoho menos, ha tratado de impouer el 
 libre cambio con la Europa, como con- 
 dioi6n del cambio continental. 
 
 Yo digo y sostengo que bajo el rfigimen 
 proteccionista las mauufaoturas ameri- 
 canas no entrar£in S, los mercados de libre 
 conourrencia, siquiera esa protecoidn se 
 manteuga contra la Europa, aun cuando 
 se suprimiera para America por efecto del 
 Zollverein; he atacado un sistema, pero 
 no he dispuesto con prodigalidad de los 
 caudales ageuos ; entre el proteccionismo 
 y el libre-cambio absoluto, est^ el impues- 
 to moderado que sufraga las necesida- 
 des de la vida, y del que tampoco pode- 
 mos desprendernos nosotros; mal lo ha- 
 brlamos aconsejado eutoncea S, las na- 
 eiones amigas, por m& que 611a8 repre- 
 senten una opulenoia desmedida. EI 
 mismo SeQor Henderson viene & las opi- 
 niones quo he sostenido, cuando nos seBala 
 tres periodos en el ciecimiento natural de 
 
610 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ufacture, aud tliat of commerce, exactly 
 the same stages indicated by Frederic 
 Lizt, and which leads them to these con- 
 clusions : "The people once rich they 
 should approach by degrees the principle 
 of free trade so as to keep their agricult- 
 urists and manufacturers from idleness." 
 At the first stage protection is necessary, 
 the second justifies it. and the third re- 
 jects it. I have not said nor maintained 
 any thing other than this with respect to 
 the United States, which is now at the 
 pinnacle of thedevelopementof its riches. 
 Protection will fatally wound the foreign 
 trade for manufactured articles while 
 there exists in the world a marliet which 
 exports equally aud which can produce 
 them without restrictions. The honor- 
 able Delegate has not replied to my argu- 
 ment on cottons which are shipped from 
 America for Europe to manufacture, 
 afterwards returning them to the United 
 States in the proportion of 27,000,000. 
 He explains this economic phenomenon 
 as the whim of rich people it is a pity 
 that cottons are not the luxury of the 
 rich instead of the inheritance and cover- 
 ing of the poor ; otherwise the argument 
 would have been answered. 
 
 The honorable Mr. Henderson does not 
 inform me without marked emotion that 
 rails from Pittsburgh have succeeded in 
 entering Mexico. I am glad of this success, 
 and would wish that it should not be lim- 
 ited to a bordering nation, but that it 
 should extend to all the world, struggling 
 with the others against insurance aud 
 transportation freights; but if the hon- 
 orable Delegate wishes to prove by that 
 fact that 1 fell into a contradiction, I shall 
 have to repeat my words. "I shall not 
 speak," 1 said, "of manufactures of iron 
 and steel because they succeed in enter- 
 ing our markets, although with a slow 
 step." His argument, then, is far from 
 disconcerting me. 
 
 The honorable Delegate speaks of the 
 proper complaints which Europe could 
 make because of the unfavorable balance 
 of trade with the United States, but the 
 trade of Europe is too extensive to com- 
 plain. I have shown in my reply to Mr. 
 Flint how France, Germany, aud Belgium 
 feel the unfavorable balance of trade 
 with the Argentine Republic, but this 
 does not prove the liberality of the United 
 
 los pueblos, el de la agricultura, el de la 
 fabricaci6u, el del comercio ; exactos los 
 tres periodos que seuala Federioo Lizt y 
 que lo llevan S, estas conclusiones: "Ri- 
 ces los pueblos debeu acercarse por gra- 
 des al prinoipio de la libertad, para pre- 
 servar de la indolenoia & sus agricultores, 
 manufactureros y fabricautes ; " en el pri- 
 mer periodola proteccidu es necesaria, el 
 segundo la j ustifica, el tercero, la rechaza ; 
 yo no he dic'uo ni sostenido otra cosa con 
 relacidu S, los Estados Uuidos que se en- 
 cueutran en el iiuge y en el deaenvolvi- 
 miento de su riquoza ; la protecci6n ha de 
 herir de muerte el comercio exterior de 
 las manufacturas, mientras haya en el 
 mundo un mercado que sea igualmente 
 exportador y que pueda trabajarlas sin 
 el regimen de las restricciones ; el hono- 
 rable delegado no ha oontestado mi argu- 
 mento sobre los algodones, que son lleva- 
 dos de America para que los fabrique la 
 Europa, reimport^ndolos despues S, los Es- 
 tados Unidos en proporcifin de 27,000,000 ; 
 61 explica el feuomeno econdmico como 
 un capricho de las geutes de fortuna ; es 
 l^stima que los algodones no scan el lujo 
 del rico, sino el patrimouio y el abrigo 
 de los pobtes ; de otra mauera daria por 
 contestado el argumeuto ; el Hon. Senor 
 Henderson no me anuncia sin una emo- 
 ci6n marcada, que los rieles de Pitts- 
 burg, fundidos bajo el protecoionismo, 
 han logrado eutrar S, M^j ico ; y o me f e- 
 licito del 6xito y desearia no verlo limi- 
 tado S, una naoi6u fronteriza, sin 6 que 
 seextend.era por el mundo, euluchaigual 
 con el segnro y el trasporte ; pero si el 
 honorable delegado quiere probarme una 
 contradioci6n con aquel hecho, tendr6 
 que repetirle mis palabras : " No me ocu- 
 par6, "dije, "delasfabrioacionesdelhierro 
 y del acero, porque ellas lograu entrar en 
 nuestras plazas, aunque, con paso me- 
 surado;" su argnmento est^ pues lejos 
 de desconcertarme. 
 
 El honorable delegado nos habla de las 
 merecidas quejas que podia aducir la 
 Europa, por el resultado adverse de la 
 balauzacomercialoon los Estados Unidos; 
 pero el comercio de la Europa es dema- 
 siado cuantioso para lamentarse ; yo he 
 probado en mi respucsta al Senor Flint, 
 como la Francia, la Aleinania y la B61gica, 
 sienten la adversidad de la balanza con Id 
 Repdblica Argentina, pero esto uo alcauza 
 
INTEBNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 611 
 
 States witli America when its products 
 are here taxed at BO per cent. The lion- 
 orable Delegate says that the United 
 States could give up its foreigu comrnerce 
 ■with all the world and there would still 
 remain forty-two prosperous and rich na- 
 tions ; that favoring breezes would swell 
 the sails of vessels crossing the Great 
 Lakes, and that production would be 
 transformed but not diminished. 
 
 My distinguished friend here talks like 
 a citizen, but not like a statesman. Com- 
 mercial relations amounting to $1,500,- 
 000,000, which the very Government Mr. 
 Henderson represents proposes to encour- 
 age, can not be struck out by a stroke 
 of the pen or a burst of eloquence. I 
 know that the immense and rich terri- 
 tories of the United States constitute a 
 part of the terrestrial globe, that they 
 revolve with it around the luminous orb 
 and receive the influences of heat and 
 the seasons like the rest of the world, 
 seeliing and sustaining on the earth the 
 life of contact with all the rich centers 
 of civilization ; but my distinuuished 
 friend presents us a firmament made up 
 of 42 fixed stars, and I sorrow that he 
 should desire to destroy the universal 
 harmony and the life of relationship in 
 which the countries of the globe move 
 like the bodies iu the celestial sphere. 
 
 If I allowed myself to be carried away 
 by the exaltations of national sentiment 
 I should reply to Mr. Henderson that 
 when the United States should have writ- 
 ten on their monumental wall, " Here we 
 neither buy nor sell," the Argentine Re- 
 public would not be less prosperous, it 
 would continue to receive 300,000 immi- 
 grants annually ; we would not deprive 
 ourselves of the conceptions of art and 
 science which come to us from the brain 
 of the woild ; we would not stop paying 
 our debt, economizing on hunger and 
 thirst (as was once said by a magistrate 
 who presided over our destinies at a crit- 
 ical time), maintaining the credit and the 
 name of the Argentine Nation in theprin 
 ciple money market of the world. Our 
 lauds would not be less fertile, the ex- 
 ports for 1690 would not be recorded at a 
 lower figure than 170,000,000; wools would 
 continue to be coveted by all free markets, 
 
 A probar la liberalidad de los Estados 
 Uuidos con la America, ouando aqal se 
 gravan sus produotos con 80 por ciento. 
 Se dice por el honorable delegado que los 
 Estados Unidos podlan renunciar & su 
 oomercio exterior con todos los pueblos de 
 la tierra, quedando siempre 42 naciones 
 prdsperas y ricas : que vientos bonan- 
 cibles hincharfan las velas de sus buques 
 cruzando sus lagos interiores, y que la 
 produocidn seria transformada pero no 
 disminuida; mi distinguido amigo sieute 
 en este momento como ciudadano, pero 
 no como estadista ; no se suprimen con un 
 golpe de pluma, 6 con un arranque de 
 elocuenoia, relaoiones comerciales quo 
 ascienden & 1,500,000,000, y que el mismo 
 Gobierno que representa el Senor Hender- 
 son se propone fomentar ; yo entiendo 
 que los inmensos y ricos territories de 
 los Estados Unides constituyen una parte 
 del Globo terrestre, que giran con este al 
 rededor del astro luminoso y reciben la in- 
 fluencia del calor y de las estaoioues, 
 como el resto del mundo, buscando y sos- 
 teniendo en la tierra, la vida de contacto 
 con todos los centres ricos de la civiliza- 
 oi6n; pero mi distinguido amigo nos pre- 
 •senta un firmamento compuesto de 42 es- 
 trellas fijas, y yo deploro que quiera 
 fragmentar la universal armonia y la 
 vida de relaci6n en que se mueven los 
 pueblos en el Globo terraqueo, como los 
 astros en la esfera celeste. 
 
 Si yo me dejara Uevar por las exalta- 
 ciones del seutimiento nacional, oontesta- 
 ria al Senor Henderson, que ouando los 
 Estados Unidos hubieran esorito sobre su 
 muro lapidario. "Aqui no se compra, iii 
 se vende," la Republic a Argentina no seria 
 mas pr6spera, ni menos rica, oontinuaria, 
 recibiendo 300,000 inmigrantes anual- 
 mente, no nos privarianios de las couoep- 
 ciones del art e y de la ciencia que nos llegan 
 del cerebro del mundo, ni de.jarlamos de 
 pagar nuestra deuda, ahorraudo sobre el 
 hambre y la sed, como lo dijo y lo hizo el 
 majistrado que presidi6^uuestros destines 
 en mementos de crisis, y como lo hau 
 hecho todos los anteriores y los sucesi vos, 
 para manteuer el cr6dito y el norabre 
 de la Naci6n Argentina en el primer 
 mercado monetario del mundo; nues- 
 tras tierras no habrlan perdido su vigor, 
 las expdrtaciones de 1890, no dejarlan de 
 anunciarse en 170,000,000, las lanas segui- 
 
612 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 and the cereals, which reached this year 
 100,000,000, would be resigned at the end 
 to these threatening absences. 
 
 When the honorable General Henderson 
 thus expressed himself he did not properly 
 understand the opinion of the Gorern- 
 nient he worthtly represents. We have 
 been called together by the United States 
 to improve our commercial relations and 
 not to discuss their suppression. A conti- 
 nent is not called together for the purpose 
 of informing it that its relations and con- 
 tact are in every way unnecessary to the 
 inviting Government. Why should we dis- 
 cuss a common coin if it is not the instru- 
 ment of trade and the United States does 
 not need it with us ? Why reform customs 
 and port regulations if the vessels which 
 now cross the ocean may be at any time 
 closed up in Lake Michigan or Ontario f 
 
 I think that the eloquent remarks of 
 my distinguished friend may have been 
 heard under the dome of the Capitol when 
 the inviting act was under discussion ; but 
 once passed and the representatives of all 
 the nations gathered together by virtue 
 of it, I consider outbursts of national 
 pride entirely uncalled for. 
 
 The honorable Delegate asks us to ex- 
 press our views upon reciprocity treaties, 
 and he advises us to grasp (these are his 
 words) a situation which will not again 
 present itself to us. I have to remind him 
 that I represent a nation which is sufficient 
 unto itself and its sovereignty, and which 
 has not come here to take advantage of 
 the prosperity of others. General Hen- 
 derson may let the hammer fall upon the 
 boxes of the Treasury ; the Argentine Re- 
 public will make no bid, even though the 
 flying wings with which the Scythians 
 adorned the hands of Fortune should not 
 offer it to us again. 
 
 The honorable Delegate appears to be 
 surprised at my having spoken of the 
 order and freedom of my country, for- 
 getting how much he himself has told us 
 of the wealth of his. That remark had 
 an object. I know that the Spanish-Amer- 
 ican countries are judged by the light of 
 their past errors, that when we are not 
 considered under the pressure of a military 
 
 rian codiciadas por todos los mercadps 
 libres, y los cereales, que alcanzar^n este 
 ano & 100,000,000, se resignarian al fin de 
 auseucias tan conminatorias. 
 
 Cuaudo el Hon. General Henderson se 
 ha espresado en estos tiSrminos, no ha 
 interpretado con seguridad, las opiniones 
 del Gobierno que dignamenterepresenta; 
 hemes sido iuvitados por los Estados 
 Unidos para fomentar nuestras relacio- 
 nes comerciales y no para (Jiscutir su 
 Bupresidn ; no se convoca un Continente, 
 para notifioaCIe que sa relacidn y su 
 coutaoto le son del todo innecesarios al 
 Gobierno invitante. j Para que trataria- 
 mos de uniformar una moneda, si ella no 
 es sind el instrumento de los cambios, y 
 los Estados Unidos no lo necesitan con 
 nosotros f j Fara que reformar reglamen- 
 tos de aduanasy de puertos, si los buques 
 que hoy cruzan los Oceanos con la bandera 
 de los Estados Unidos, pueden ser encer- 
 rados de un memento para otro, en el 
 Michigan 6 el Ontario ? 
 
 Yo pienso que la eloouente concepcidn 
 de mi distinguido amigo ha podido 
 hacerse escuohar bajo las bovedas del 
 Capitolio, en el memento de discutirse 
 la ley de invitaci6n, pero una vez sancio- 
 nada, y reunidos en su m^rito los repre- 
 sentantes de todas las naciones, encuen- 
 tro del todo improcedentes las explosioues 
 del amor propio nacional. El honorable 
 delegado nos incita S, pronunciarnos 
 sobre los tratados de reciprocidad, y nos 
 aconseja aprovecharnos, son sus pala- 
 bras, de una situacidn que no se nos 
 volver^ ^ presentar ; tengo que recordarle 
 que represento una nacionalidad que se 
 basta ^ si misma y dl su soberanja, y que 
 no ha veuido ^ aprovechar agenas pros- 
 peridades ; el SeQor General Henderson 
 puede dejar caer el marElUo sobre la caja 
 del tesoro : la Repfiblio Argentina no har^ 
 postura, aun cuaudo las alas voladoras 
 conque adorn^ban los Escitas las manos de 
 lafortuna, no noslaofrezcannuevamente. 
 
 El honorable delegado parece sOrpren- 
 dido de que haya hablado del drden y de 
 las libertades de mi patria, sin recordar 
 cuanto nos ha dicho 61 mismo sobre las 
 riquezas de la suya; aquella exposioidn 
 tuvo su objeto; yo s6 que las naciones 
 Hispano-AmericanaiS son jazgadas & la 
 Inz de sus pasados errores, que cuando no 
 se nos snpoue b^jo la espuela de un des- 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 613 
 
 despotism we are represented mounted 
 on the war-hoxse and ever ready for the 
 revolution of the morrow. Should I have 
 to justify that belief, I should recall the 
 allusion made by the honorable Delegate 
 to the revolutions of a sister Republic. I 
 congratulate myself that the sons of the 
 illustrious Lincoln have to go back twenty- 
 five years to encounter the shots of a civil 
 contest. The Spanish Americans have 
 turned their backs forever on those dark 
 days ; they were the results of this cen- 
 tury, in which no country on earth has 
 acquired its rights without bloodshed. 
 Let us bow reverently before the fathers 
 of our liberty, without confounding with 
 barbarity what was the result of the 
 times and of necessity. New and clear 
 horizons open to-day to the free nations 
 under the auspices of concord and of peace. 
 The Argentine Republic was among the 
 first to express itself with generous as- 
 pirations and wishes, and before, long 
 before, submitting the basis of arbitra- 
 tion it had put it into practice with its 
 friend the Republic of Chili, and it had 
 stipulated for it with Brazil. A dispute 
 over territory existed when an unfortu- 
 nate war was begun, not with the heroic 
 and brave people, but with the Govern- 
 ment of Paraguay. The people of the 
 Argentine then declared that it was not 
 victory but arbitration which accorded 
 rights, and it was the President of the 
 United States who decided our question ; 
 arms were returned, and the people em- 
 braced In fraternal intimacy. Not only 
 have we been in that part of America the 
 promoters and active agents in arbitra- 
 tion, but we come to upliold it here; and 
 when the Delegate from Venezuela lifted 
 his voice in this room asking an impartial 
 and humane vote in favor of arbitration 
 to settle its question with England, he 
 knows well that the "Venezuelans found 
 a sympathetic echo in the hearts of the 
 Argentine Delegates, and on our own part 
 we shall never deplore too deeply that 
 the resolution was opposed by the distin- 
 guished Mr, Trescot, and that it has not 
 been reported to the honorable Conference, 
 so that we might vote in favor of it with 
 the changes which we indicated to its 
 author. 
 
 potismo militar, se nos representa monta- 
 dos sobre el caballo de guerra con la lanza 
 ylavincha, fuerza y emblema del atavis- 
 mo fratricida; si yo neoesitara justifioar 
 aquel presentimiento, recogeria la alusi6n 
 que el honorable delegado ha dirijido i, las 
 revoluciones de una Repilblioa hermana ; 
 yo me felicito de que los hijos del ilustre 
 Lincoln tengan que retrooeder 25 aSos 
 para encontrarse con los fuegos de una 
 contienda civil; tambien los pueblos His- 
 pano-Amerioanos se han alejado para 
 siempre de aquellos malos dias; ellos 
 fueron hijos de su siglo en que pueblo 
 alguno de la tierra ha conquistado sin 
 sangre sus derechos ; inclinfimosnos reve- 
 rentes ante los progenitores de nuestras 
 libertades, sin permitirnos oonfundir con 
 la barbaric, lo quefu6 obra de los tiempos 
 y de la uecesidad; nuevos y despejados 
 horizontes se abreu hoy para las naciones 
 libres, bajo los auspioios de la conoordia 
 y de la paz ; la Ropflblioa Argentina ha 
 sido de las primeras en pronunciarse con 
 sus aspiraoionesy votos generosos, y antes, 
 mucho antes de soraeterlas bases de arbi- 
 trage, lo habia puesto en pr^ctica con sa 
 amiga la Reptiblica de Chile, y lo habia 
 pactacloyacou susamigos del Brasil; una 
 disputa sobre territorio se oruzaba onan- 
 do una guerra ia6 empenada, no con 
 el pueblo her6ico y valeroso sind con 
 el Gobierno del Paraguay; el pueblo 
 Argentine deolar6 entouces que no era la 
 victoria sine el arbitrage quieu acordaba 
 derechos, y fu6 el Presidente mismo de 
 los Estados Unidos quien resolvid nnestro 
 litigio, depuestas las armas y abrazados 
 los pueblos en fraternal intimidad; no 
 solo hemes sido en aquella parte de la 
 America propagandistas y aotores de los 
 arbitramentos, sino que venimos & sos- 
 tenerlos aqui, y cuando el delegado de 
 Venezuela levantd su palabra en este 
 recinto pidiendo un v»to imparcial y 
 humanitario de la America, en favor del 
 arbitrage para su cuestidn con Inglaterra, 
 61 sabe bien que el pueblo veuezolauo 
 encontrd uu eoo simp^tioo en el corazon 
 delos Delegados Argentines, ypomuestra 
 parte nunca deplorar^rnos demasiado que 
 el proyecto fuera cambatido por el ilus- 
 trado Sr. Trescott y que no haya vuelto 
 & la honorable Conferencia para prestarle 
 nnestro voto con las reformas que !• 
 indicamos & sn autor. 
 
614 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Would to God that the wings of my 
 sentiment could bear the wishes and 
 hopes for Anioi-ioan solidarity which I 
 dedicate to a troubled sister from the very 
 heart of the country of Monroe. 
 
 The Spanish-American Republics are 
 misjudged when they are considered as 
 rebellions to ideas of peace ; they do not 
 hesitate before the problems of the pres- 
 ent nor the complications of the future, 
 because they are persuaded that peace 
 will improve while war will injure them. 
 
 Give them at least time to justify them- 
 selves, remembering that their emancipa- 
 tion dates from but yesterday, and that 
 the nations preceding us did not escape 
 the troublesome element of dissentious. 
 
 Before concluding this reply I should 
 indicate my official position in the Con- 
 ference. 
 
 The Chair saw fit to appoint me a 
 member of the Committee on Customs 
 Union and I accepted the appointment as 
 an act of submission, but not willingly, 
 because I have never had the honor to 
 nestle in the respectable lap of trade ; but 
 my services accepted, 1 have gone to work 
 to study the American commercial situ- 
 ation, searching for the causes of its ob- 
 structions and demonstrating the only 
 reforms which could remedy them. 
 
 I found an ansemic trade, a very ill pa- 
 tient who it was necessary to bring back 
 to health by means of the treatment my 
 intelligence might suggest. I made the 
 diagnosis, have demonstrate'd the gravity 
 of the case, but it appears that the family 
 so much interested in the improvement of 
 the patient does not wish the opinion of 
 a physician, but unconditional and com- 
 plimentary encomiums upon the prosper- 
 ous state of the patient. Therefore the 
 Delegate having the floor was evidently 
 not the one called upon to act in the lat- 
 ter capacity, and if there be errors in the 
 question as it now stands they are due 
 to my appointment and not to the freedom 
 of my judgment, which will be exercised 
 with independent frankness in all mat- 
 ters submitted to my examination. 
 
 American trade would never . be fully 
 considered "without the right to discuss 
 national tariffs as far as they serve to ob- 
 struct it. I have had to study the prod- 
 
 Ojal^ pudieran llegar en alas de mi sen- 
 timiento, los votos y aspiraciones de soli- 
 daridad amerioana que dedico £ una her- 
 mana atribulada desde el corazon misrao 
 de la patria de Monroe. 
 
 Las Repilblicas Hispauo - Amerioanas 
 son estudiadas con un criterio injusto, 
 cuando se las oou^idera refractarias ^ los 
 seutimientos de la paz; Silas no vacilan 
 ante los problomas del presente, ni an'e 
 las complicaciones del future, porque 
 estiin persuadidas que es la paz la que ha 
 de engrandeoerlas, como es la guerra 
 quien ha de de^rimirlas ; dej^sele siqui- 
 era el tiempo de justificarse, recordando 
 quesu eraancipaci6n data de ayer y que 
 las uacionalidades que nos han precedido, 
 no escaparon tampoco al golpe perturba- 
 dor de la anarquia. 
 
 Debo antes de termiuar esta replica, 
 dejar establecida mi posicidn oficial en el 
 seno de la Conferencia. 
 
 La mesa tuvo S, bien nombrarme 
 miembro de la oomisidn de Customs Union 
 y acnpt6 el cargo como un acto de some- 
 timiento, pero no de voluatad, porque 
 no be tenido el honor de pertenecer al 
 gremio respetable del comercio ; aceptadas 
 mis funoioiies, he procedido ^ estudiar el 
 movimiento meroantil americano, ubi- 
 cando la ciiusa de sus obstrucoiones y 
 seiialando lasuuicasreformas que podian 
 fomentarlo ; encontr^ un comercio 
 an^raico, un enfermo grave que era 
 necesario restUuir S, la vitalidad por los 
 medios y los tratamientos que mi inteli- 
 gencia pudo sugerirme; yo he hecho el 
 diagn6stico, he constatado la gravedad, 
 pero parece que la misma familia inte- 
 resada en el mejoramieuto del enfermo no 
 qulere la opini6n de un medico, sine un 
 elogio incoudioional y halagador, sobre 
 el prdspero estado del paciente; desde 
 luego el delegado que habla, no era el 
 indicado para estas tiltimas funciones, y 
 si hay errores en la actualidad de la 
 cuesti6n, 611asuacen de su nombramiento 
 y no de la libertad de su criterio, que 
 ser^ ejercido con independiente franqueza, 
 en todos los asuntos que se le encargue de 
 estudiar. 
 
 El comercio de la America no serf a oon- 
 siderado jamSs con exaotitud, sin el 
 derecho de penetrar las tarifas naoionales, 
 en cuanto eUas sirven S, obstruir el inter- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 615 
 
 nets destined to establish new currents 
 of trade and the maiNier in which they 
 can freely circulate in the interior of the 
 continent. If, therefore, I liave lingered 
 ■with the tariff of the United States I 
 have done nothing hut comply with a 
 duty and exercise a right with which the 
 Conference has clothed me. The Argen- 
 tine Delegation has always shown a great 
 respect for the sovereignties of friendly 
 nations, but this sentiment can not re- 
 strict the examination which, on the 
 other hand, is imposed on me. The in- 
 ternal trade of the United States has 
 merited from the Delegate who has the 
 floor naught but enthusiastic praise and 
 ■wishes for its prosperity. 
 
 But the Hon. General Henderson con- 
 founds my position vrith that of an ac- 
 cuser, and I repel his words officially aud 
 personally. If any unfounded aud gia- 
 tuitous accusation results from the clash 
 of our ideas, it is that so undeservedly di- 
 rected to me by the honorable Delegate 
 from the United States. I have accused 
 no country on earth; I have not desig- 
 nated as egotistical the political economy 
 of the United States. I appeal to my 
 honorable colleagues who have heard me, 
 and, as a last resort, to the minutes them- 
 selves. The Argentine Delegation is not 
 an accusing party. If the honorable Del- 
 egate feels aggrieved bj' the opinions I 
 have exp^ressed on this point, he could 
 have refrained from raising it in our dis- 
 cussion, but by no means attribute to 
 them the sense of his own. I have con- 
 sidered a system ; I have not attacked a 
 nation. Did I need an example to prove 
 that tariffs can not he sustained by feel- 
 ings of national pride and dignity, I 
 would only have to remind him of what 
 is demonstrated by contemporaneous sci- 
 entific history. Unofficially, and not up- 
 holding principles imposed by any con- 
 ference, the Hon. Mr. Orladstoue has just 
 dropped the pen with which he opened 
 his polemics on the tariffs of the United 
 States, and the eminent statesman who 
 hears me from the chair, the Hon. James 
 G. Blaiue, replied thereto, demonstrating 
 the greatness of his talent and the power 
 of his dialects. Having touched, although 
 very lightly, upon free trade and protec- 
 tion, lean not but convey to him my sin- 
 cere congratulations. The task of Glad- 
 
 cambio: yo he tenido que estudiar I03 
 productos llamados (i establecer nuevas 
 corrieutes, y la manera como que ellas 
 pueden circular con libertad en el inte- 
 rior del Contiuente; si pues me he deteni- 
 do en la tarifa de los Estados Unidos, no 
 he hecho otra cosa que ouraplir un deber, 
 y ejercitar uu derecho que me acord6 la 
 Conferencia; la Delegacidn Argentina ha 
 hecho lujo de respeto por los actos de 
 soberanfa de lasnacionesamigas; peroese 
 seutimiento no puede ooartar el estudio 
 que por otra parte se me impone ; el 
 comercio interior de los Estados Unidos 
 no ha merecido del Delegado que habla 
 siuo elogios y votes entusiastas por su 
 prosperidad. 
 
 El Honorable Gen. Henderson confunde, 
 sin embargo, mi actitud con la de un aou- 
 sador, y yo rechazo sus palabras, oficial 
 y particularmente; si alguna aousacidn 
 surge infundada y gratuita del choque de 
 nuestras ideas, es la que me dirige tan 
 inmerecidameute el honorable Chairman 
 de la delegaoidn de los Estados Unidos; 
 yo no he acusado ^ pueblo alguno de la 
 tierra, yo no he tratado de egoista la po- 
 lltica econ6mica de los Estados Unidos; 
 apelo al testimonio de mis honorables 
 colegas que me han esouohado, y en el 
 Ultimo caso, i las aotas mismas de la secre- 
 tarla; levanto pues esas palabras, y las 
 vuelvo contra quieu las pronunci6; la 
 Delegacidn Argentina no es parte acusa- 
 dora. 
 
 Si el honorable delegado se siente 
 molestado por las opinion es que he dedi- 
 cado ^ esta materia, 61 pudo sustraerla de 
 nuestras discuaiones, pero de ningnna 
 manera dirijirlas en el sentido de las 
 suyas; yo he considerado un sistema; no 
 he ataoado una nacidn ; si me fuera 
 necesario alglin ejeraplo para probar que 
 las tarifas no pueden sostenerse con 
 sentimientos de orgullo y de vanidad 
 nacional, me bastarla reeordat el que 
 nos ofrece la cr<5nioa cientifica contem- 
 poranea ; sin deberes ofioiales y sin 
 posiciones impuestas por Conferencia 
 alguna, el Honorable Gladstone acaba de 
 dejar la pluma con que abri6 su po]<5mica 
 aobre las tarifas de los Estados Unidos, 
 y el eminente estadista que me escu- 
 cha desde la Presidencia, el honorable 
 .Tames G. Blaine, lo oontestd tranquila- 
 meute, poniendo & prueba la intensidad 
 
616 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 stone was to my mind easier than that 
 nndertaken with such brilliant eiuditlon 
 by the honorable Secretary of State. 
 
 I am about to close. My distinguished 
 friend, Mr. Henderson, allows himself to 
 be misled by the hope that Chili and the 
 Argentine will some day accept his ideas ; 
 in my opinion the United States will some 
 day espouse our cause, as we are not pro- 
 tectionists and they are nearlng the stage 
 of growth when they can not longer be. 
 The United States will some day rule the 
 commerce of the world with their manu- 
 factures, and when I see the seas filled 
 with their merchant marine, the smoke 
 of their forges quadruplicated and their 
 high chimneys multiplied until they ob- 
 scure the sun with their breath, I shall 
 not hesitate in exclaiming : The United 
 States have reformed their tariff and have 
 renounced protection forever. 
 
 My distinguished friends of the inviting 
 Delegation may not agree for the time 
 being with the economic opinions I have 
 expressed, but they will accept, I hope, 
 the wishes which, without hesitation or 
 reservation, I entertain for the prosperity 
 of their illustrious and great nation. 
 
 de su talento, y el poder de sn dial^ctica ; 
 habiendo rozado aunqne muy ligera- 
 mente el libre-oambio y el proteocionlsmo 
 no puedo dejar de presentarle mis 
 fellcitaciones blen sinceras; la tarea de 
 Gladstone era mas f^cil & mi jnicio que 
 la que abord6 con tan brillante erudioidn 
 el honorable Secretario de Estado. 
 
 Voy & termlnar. Mi dlstinguido amigo 
 el Senor Henderson se deja seducir con 
 la esperanza de que Chile y la Repliblica 
 Argentina se encaminar^n algun dia & sus 
 propdsltos ; en mi opini6n son los Estados 
 Unidos los que vendr^n S, nuestras posi- 
 cioues, toda vez que nosotros nosomos pro- 
 teccionistas y ellos se aproximan al perlo- 
 do de creoimiento en que no pueden serlo ; 
 los Estados Unidos Uegariu algun dia S, 
 dominar el comercio del mundo con sus 
 mauufacturas, y cuaudo yo perciba pre- 
 fiados los mares con sus naves meroantes, 
 cuadruplicado el fuego de sus fraguas, y 
 multiplicadas las altas chimeneas que 
 Uegariln S, nublar el Sol con sus alientos, 
 yo no vaoilar^ en exolamar: Los Estados 
 Unidos han reformado sus tarifas, y ro- 
 nunciado al protecciouismo para siempre. 
 
 Mis distinguidos amigos de la Delega- 
 cion invitante no compartir^n por el 
 momento las opiniones econdmicas que 
 manifiestp, pero aceptarin, espero, los 
 votos que hago sin vacilaciones ni reser- 
 vas por la prosperidad de su ilustre y 
 gran nacidn. 
 
FIFTY-NINTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 59. 
 
 Washington, April 7, 1890. 
 The Intemational American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.10 p. m. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. Zb 
 GASRA, a, Delegate from Peru, with the 
 following Delegates present : 
 
 Hayti: 
 
 Mr. Hannibal Price. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ M. Hurtado. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 S. Deooud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. Gr. do Amaral Valente, 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonoa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jertfnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Stndeba.ker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Joa6 Alfonso. 
 
 Sesidn del 7 de Abril de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zkgarba, 
 delegado per el Perti, primer Vicepresi- 
 dente. Estando presentes : 
 
 Haiti: 
 
 El Sr. Hannibal Price. 
 PertI: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Argentina: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonoa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Roijiero. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. WiUiam Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 EJ Sr. Henry G. Davis ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nioanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Job6 Alfonso. 
 
 617 
 
618 
 
 INTEEKATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 SalTaclor: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Plilcido CaamaSo. 
 
 The mitmtes of the previous session were 
 read, approved, and signed by the Dele- 
 gates present. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a. Delegate from the 
 Argentine, stated that he wished it put 
 on record that the Argentine Delegation, 
 before casting its vote on the subject of 
 monetary convention, had asked the re- 
 porting committee whether the recom- 
 mendations of the report necessarily im- 
 plied that the international coin to be 
 made would be a silver one, and that the 
 chairman of the reporting committee 
 answered that the commission to be ap- 
 pointed later had been left absolute lib- 
 erty to determine whether it should be of 
 silver or gold, or of both metals. Mr. 
 QuiNTANA added that the vote of the Ar- 
 gentine Delegation had been based upon 
 this answer. 
 
 The following communication from the 
 Secretary of War was read : 
 
 Wak Department, April 4, 1890. 
 
 " Sir : The President has ordered a re- 
 view of the troops stationed in the city 
 of Washington, including the militia of 
 the District of Columbia, iu honor of the 
 International American Conference. He 
 directs me to invite, through you, the 
 members of the Conference to be preseut 
 with him at the reviewing stand on Fri- 
 day, April 11, at 4 o'clock p. m., on the 
 open grounds south of the Executive 
 Mansion. 
 
 "Very respectfully, yours, 
 "Ekdfibld Proctor, 
 
 "Secretary of War. 
 "Hon. James G. Blaine, 
 
 " President International 
 American Conference." 
 
 The Secretaries were instructed by the 
 Chair to acknowledge the receipt of the 
 above, gratefully accepting the invitation 
 on behalf of the Delegates. 
 
 The Chair announced that Mr. Cruz, a 
 Delegate from Guatemala, had written 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Mar£a PMcido 
 Caamano. 
 
 Se abrid la sesidn ^ las tres y diez minu- 
 tes de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley<5, aprob6 y firm6 el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 El Senor Q dint an A, delegado do la Ee- 
 ptiblica Argentina, manifestd quedeseaba 
 sehiciese oonstar que la delegacidn ar- 
 gentina antes de dar su voto en el asunto 
 de convencion monetaria, habia pregun- 
 tado S, la Coraisidn informante, si eldict^ 
 men implicaba necesariamente que la 
 moneda internaeional que ha de crearse 
 sea de plata, y que el Sefior Presidente de 
 laComisidn informante respond! 6 que el 
 dictamen dejaba en absolutalibertad dlla 
 Comisi6n futura para determinar si esa 
 moneda debia ser de plata, li oro, 6 si de- 
 bian acuQarse raonedas de los dos metales ; 
 aiiadiendo el Senor Qiiintana, que el voto 
 de la delegacidn argentina descans6 en 
 esta respuesta. 
 
 Se di6 lectura ^ la siguiente carta de 
 Senor Ministro de la Guerra : 
 
 " MiNISTEKIO DE LA GUBRRA, 
 
 " Washington, Abrilide 1890. 
 "SbSor: El Presidente ha dispnesto 
 que tenga lugar una re vista de las tropas 
 estaolonadas en la ciudad de Washington, 
 incluyendo la milicia del Distrito de Co- 
 lumbia, en honor de la Confereucia Inter- 
 naeional Americana. Y en consecuencia, 
 de drden suya, tengo el honor de convidar 
 & los Senores miembros de la Conferencia 
 para que se reunan con 6\ en la plata- 
 forma, desde donde se revistar^n las tro- 
 pas, en el campo que hace frente al lado 
 del sud de la Mansion Ejecutiva, el vier- 
 nes 11 de Abril, & las cuatro de la tarde. 
 " Muy respetuosamente 
 
 "Ebdfibld Proctor, 
 " Ministro de la Guerra. 
 " Al Sefior Presidente 
 
 de la Conferencia 
 Internaeional Americana." 
 
 El Senor Presidente orden(5 & los 
 Secretaries acusar el recibo de la anterior 
 carta, aceptando la invitaoidn y dando 
 las gracias. 
 
 El Selior Presidente anuncid que el 
 Sefior Cruz, delegado por Guatemala, 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 619 
 
 stating that he -would probably not be 
 able to be present in the session, in which 
 case he asked to be excused ; and that 
 further, the same Delegate had sent in 
 ■writing the reasons on which were 
 founded the negative vote he had cast in 
 the last session on the report of the Com- 
 mittee on Monetary Convention. This 
 document was read and ordered appended 
 to the minutes of the session. 
 
 The Chair stated that the order of the 
 day called for the continuation of the de- 
 bate on Customs Union. 
 
 Mr. Pricb, a Delegate from Hayti, re- 
 quested the floor and read the speech 
 hereunto appended. 
 
 A discussion arose whether the vote on 
 this subject should be taken or not in the 
 absence of the delegations of Nicaragua, 
 Guatemala, and Costa Eica, and after snv- 
 eral propositions had been made by Messrs. 
 Varas, Mendonga, and Hurtado, which 
 they withdrew later, it was agreed, on 
 the motion of Mr. Trescot, a Delegate 
 from the United States, that the matter 
 should remain in suspense until Thursday 
 next. 
 
 During the foregoing debate Mr. Hen- 
 derson, a Delegate from the United 
 States, in reference to the last speech of 
 Mr. Saenz Pena, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, made the remarks hereto ap- 
 pended. 
 
 Mr. RoMKRO, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 asked the floor to reply to certain remarks 
 contained in Mr. Saenz Pena's speech, and 
 stated that there was no contradiction in 
 what he had said in the Conference con- 
 cerning reciprocity treaties and what he 
 had stated in his speech made in New 
 York, and in his article published in the 
 North American Review. The honorable 
 Delegate sent to the Chair both papers, 
 with the request that they be appended 
 to the minutes. 
 
 The special report of the Committee on 
 Customs Regulations was handed to the 
 Chair, and was ordered translated, print- 
 ed, and distributed. 
 
 On the motion of Mr. Flint, a Dele- 
 gate from the United States, the Confer- 
 ence adjourned at 5:40 p. m. 
 
 habia escrito raanifestando que probable- 
 mente no poflria hallarse presente en la 
 8esi<)n, en cuyo case deseaba se le 
 excusase : y que ademas habia enviado 
 por escrito las razones en que se fund6 el 
 voto negative dado por 6\ en la sesifin 
 anterior al dict^men de la Comisi6n de 
 convenoidn monetaria. Este documento 
 fn^ leido, y se ordeu6 agregarlo corao 
 apiSndice 6, esta acta. 
 
 Conforme 6, la (jrden deldia continue la 
 discusi6u del asunto de Uni6u aduanera, 
 y tomando la palabra el Senor Price, 
 delegado por Haiti, pronunci6 eldisourso 
 que se aeompaua ignalmente oomo ap^n- 
 dice & esta acta. 
 
 Snscitdse discusidn sobresi debia proce- 
 derse 6 no S, votar respecto de este asunto, 
 & pesar de no estar presentes las Delega- 
 ciones de Nicaragua, Guatemala, y Costa 
 Rica; y despues de varias proposiciones 
 iiechas por los Seuores Varas, Menrlonga 
 y Hurtado, que despues las retiraron, se 
 acord6 ^ raoci6n del Senor Trescot, dele- 
 gado por los Estados Uuidos, que quedase 
 en suspense el asunto hasta el jueves 
 prdxirao. 
 
 En el curso del anterior debate el Senor 
 Henderson, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, hizo con referencia al liltimo dis- 
 cnrso del SeQor Saenz Pefla, delegado por 
 la Repriblica Argentina, lasobservaciones 
 que se acompauan como ap(Sndice ^ esta 
 acta. 
 
 El Senor Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 tom6 tambien la palabra para expresar, 
 en respuesta ^ oiertas observaciones con- 
 teuidas en el mismo discurso del Senor 
 Saenz Pena, que no habia conlradiccidn 
 entre lo que 61 habia dicho en esta Con- 
 ferencia respecto ^ tratados de reciproci- 
 dad, y lo que habia expuesto antes en el 
 discurso que prouunci6 en Nueva-York, y 
 en su artlculo en la Revista Norte- Ameri- 
 cana; y envi6 S, la Mesa ambos docu- 
 mentos, pidi^ndo quese agregasen al acta 
 como ap^ndicea. 
 
 Se di6 cuenta de que acababa de pre- 
 sentarse & la Miisa un diotSmen de la Co- 
 misidu de Reglamentos de Adnanas ; y se 
 orden<5 traduoirlo, imprimirlo y distri- 
 buirlo. 
 
 El SeSor Flint, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, hizo mocidn para que se le- 
 vantase la sesi6n ; y asl se acord6. 
 
620 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President, 
 HoKATio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Feru. 
 Fernando Chuz, 
 
 Guatemala, 
 
 JOSIlfi M. HURTADO, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentifie Bepublio. 
 Jos£ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amabal Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon§a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zklaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexI a, 
 
 Mexico. 
 John B. HRNOEnsoN, 
 Clement Studbbakbr, 
 
 T. jEEIfERSON COOLIDGR, 
 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estbe, 
 Henry 6. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos:fi Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos:6 Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Mcuador, 
 
 Se levantd la sesidn & las cinco y cna- 
 lenta ininntos de la tarde. 
 James G. Blaink, 
 
 Fresidente. 
 
 HORACIO GpZMjtN, 
 
 Nicaragua, 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Per4. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala, 
 JoslS M. Hurtado, 
 
 Colomhid. 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Jos:6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valbntb, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 " Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Hondnras. 
 MATfAs Romero, 
 Enrique A. MExf a, 
 
 Mexico. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebakee, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estadoa TJnidos. 
 NiCANOR Bolbt Pbraza, 
 
 Veneeiuila, 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Josjfi Alfonso, 
 
 CUle. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3os± Mar! A PlXcidu CaahaSO, 
 
 Mcuador, 
 
INTEKNATIONAIi AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 621 
 
 Appendix No. 1. 
 
 remarks of mb. cruz, a dblegate 
 for guatemala, in explanation of 
 sis vote on tre subject of mone- 
 tary oonvention. 
 
 In tlie session of Wednesday, the 2d 
 instant, with the object of not claiming 
 the attention of the Conference with long 
 explanations concerning the resolution 
 that day submitted by the Committee ou 
 Monetary Union, which was approved by 
 a large majority, and which it was decided 
 should be considered and voted on at 
 once, notwithstanding the fact that it 
 had not been made known or distributed 
 until that moment, I had the honor to 
 state that I reserved the fight to explain 
 the meaning of the negative vote ou the 
 motion to substitute that report for the 
 previous one and its amendments, and of 
 the negative vote also which, as a con- 
 sequence of this, I gave against the four 
 articles of the report. 
 
 Considering the various reasons ad- 
 vanced in the course of the debate, and 
 more especially what was manifested by 
 the United States Delegation, it ap- 
 peared to me that the most advisable 
 thing to do was to leave the entire ques- 
 tion, without making any previous decla- 
 ration, to the decision of a commission, 
 which should meet in Washington on a 
 date to be designated by the President of 
 the United States, to consider the estab- 
 lishment of a monetary union ; and in 
 case of finding it feasible, to determine 
 the basis upon which it could be founded 
 and decide upon the necessary details. 
 Furthermore, there was the circumstance 
 that it appears from the report, as pre- 
 sented, that the international coin shall 
 be of silver, inasmuch as it stated that 
 the oommit^sion which was to meet 
 should determine its relation to gold. 
 And if it be true that at the conclusion 
 of the debate explanations were made 
 which demonstrated that the coin might 
 be either of silver or gold, still the spirit 
 of the whole report is undoubtedly that it 
 should be of silver, thart is, that it be es- 
 sayed to increase the value of thi« metal. 
 The 1 igher value of gold over silver is 
 not harmful to agricultural countries like 
 that I have the honor to represent, be- 
 
 Ap^Sndice No. I. 
 
 OBSERTAOIONES DEL SE^OR CRUZ, 
 DELBQADO FOB GUATEMALA, EN EX- 
 PLI0A0I6NDESU YOTO EN EL ASUNTO 
 BE OONYENOION MONETARIA. 
 
 En la sesidu del mi^rcoles 2 del corrien- 
 te, con objeto de no ocupar la atencidn 
 de la Conferencia con largas explicacio- 
 nes acerca de la resolucidn propueata ese 
 mismo dia por la Comisidn de Convencidn 
 monetaria, que iba ya aprobada por una 
 gran mayoria y que se dispuso fuera con- 
 siderada y votada desde luego, apesar de 
 no haber sido dada & conocery distri- 
 buida hasta ese mismo memento, tuve la 
 honra de expresar que me reservaba el 
 dereoho de explioar el sentido del voto 
 negative para sustituir ese proyeoto al 
 anfierior y BUS enmiendas; y del voto ne- 
 gative tambi^n, que como consecuencia de 
 esto, di & los cuatro artloulos que com- 
 prende. 
 
 Ateudiendo & las diferentes razones que 
 se dieron en el curso del debate, y i, lo 
 que especialmente habia manlfestado la 
 Delegaci6n de los Estados Unidos, me 
 parecia que lo conveuiente era dejar del 
 todo el asunto, sin hacer ninguna declara 
 cidu anticipada, S, la resolucidn de una 
 Convenoi6u que se reuniera en Washing- 
 ton eu la fecha que el Presidente de los 
 Estados Unidos desiguara, para consi- 
 derar el establecimieuto de una Unidn 
 monetaria, y eu case de encontrarla ha- 
 cedera, para fijar las bases sobre las cuales 
 podria fundarse y determinar los puntos 
 necesarios de detalle. Ademas de esto, 
 mediaba la oircunstanoia de que tal como 
 fu6 presentado el proyecto de resolacifin, 
 indirectamente quedaba admitido que la 
 monedainternaoional seria de plata, pues- 
 to que se decia que la Comisi6n que iba 
 & reunirse determinaria su relaci6n con 
 el oro. Y si es verdad que al fin de la 
 discusifin se hicieron explicaciones para 
 dejar oonsignado que la moneda podria 
 ser de plata 6 de oro, el espiritu todo del 
 proyecto es indudablemente que sea de 
 plata, esto e% que ae procure aumentar el 
 valor de este metal. A los palses ag^rlcolas 
 como el que tengo la honra de representar, 
 no perjudica en Ultimo resultado el subido 
 valor del oro respeoto de la plata, porque 
 
622 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE.. 
 
 cause its exportable articles, which are the 
 principal sources of its wealth, may he 
 considered as gold, seeing that they are 
 sold for gold in foreign markets, while the 
 wages, which represent the principal 
 expense incident to the production of 
 these articles, are paid in silver. 
 
 I find, also, a grave objection to that part 
 of the report which refers to the amount of 
 the international money which each State 
 shall coin, because this either limits the 
 right of a nation, touching a point upon 
 which it alone can decide and which de- 
 pends upon variable circumstance, or it 
 supposes that there should be two kinds 
 of money in each State, of different fine- 
 ness and weight, the international and 
 that which is not international. 
 
 From this double money there can not 
 but arise serious inconveniences, and all 
 the real advantages are entirely obliter- 
 ated ; this would consist in that the money 
 used in each State would be admissible 
 in all the others, and in that if the coin- 
 age of one coin of the same weight and 
 fineness were not realized there would be 
 established at least the relative value at 
 which the coin of one State would be ad- 
 mitted in the others. Neither can it be 
 said that for this last an agreement is un- 
 necessary when there are already in the 
 United States offices where any one may 
 be informed of the relative value of each 
 money, because the United States are not 
 the only ones interested, and because, 
 aside from that, the report made by the 
 proper office does not make these coins 
 current funds. 
 
 • At any rate, in a matter of such im- 
 portance, which may compromise so much 
 economic interests, the Guatemalan Dele- 
 gation desires to leave its Government 
 entire liberty of action in order that it 
 may not consider itself morally bound 
 by the recommendation authorized by its 
 Delegate. 
 
 My negative vote, then, more than a 
 vote against the report, is a vote which 
 reserves for the Government of Guate- 
 mala the decision upon the point. I do 
 not wish to say, by any means, that the 
 Government, studying the recommenda- 
 tion proposed calmly and for a sufficient 
 time, can not accept it. If this should 
 happen, that is to say, if it accepts it, it 
 would gladly take part, through its Dele- 
 
 sus artfculos exportables que forman la 
 base principal de su riqueza, pueden con- 
 siderarse oomo oro, puesto que por oro se 
 vendeu en h/s meroados extrangeros, mien- 
 tras que los jornales que representan el 
 gasto principal en la proJucoi6n de esos 
 artfculos se pagan en plata. 
 
 He encontrado tambi^n una grave difi- 
 cultad en la parte del proyecto que se 
 refiere ^ la cantidad de moneda interna- 
 cional que cada Estado ha de acufiar, 
 porque esto, 6 limita el dereoho de la 
 nacicin acercai*de un punto que solo ella 
 puede juzgar, y que depende do circun- 
 stancias variables, 6 supone que deber^ 
 haber dos clases de moneda en cada Es- 
 tado, con diferente ley y peso, una la que 
 sea internacional y otra la que no lo sea. 
 De esta doble moneda no pueden menos 
 de originaree series inconvenientes y que- 
 dar eliminadas claramente las verda- 
 deras ventajas, que consistirian en que la 
 moneda que se usa en cada pais fuese ad- 
 misible en todos los otros ; y en que si no 
 se llegaba S, la acunacidu de una sola 
 moneda de una misma ley y peso, se esta- 
 bleciera por lo menos la relacidn de valor 
 en que la moneda de cada Estado seria 
 admitida en los otros. Ni puede decir.se 
 que para esto liltimo no se necesita con 
 venio, ya que en los Estados Unidos hay 
 oficinas donde pueden decir ^ cualquiera 
 el valor relative de cada moneda, porque 
 no se trata solo de los Estados Unidos ; y 
 porque fuera de eso, el informe que da la 
 oficina respectiva no hace que las monedas 
 scan de admisidn cbrriente. 
 
 De todos modes, en asunto de tanta im- 
 portancia, que puede comprometer tanto 
 losinteresesecon6micos, la Delegacidn de 
 Guatemala quiere dejar en entera liber- 
 tad de accidn ^ su Gobierno para que no 
 se considere moralmente oomprometido 
 por la recomendacidn autorizada por su 
 Delegado. 
 
 Mi vote negatiTO pues, mas que un 
 vote en contra, es nn vote que deja reser- 
 vada la resolucidn sobre el punto al 
 Gobierno de Guatemala. No quiero decir, 
 en ningun concepto, que este, meditando 
 con calma y suficiente espaoio de tiempo 
 la recomendacifin propuesta, no pueda 
 aceptarla. Si esto sucediera, es decir si 
 la aceptase, concurriria gustoso por medio 
 de su Delegado, cuando se le invitarapara 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEBENCE. 
 
 623 
 
 gate, when it shall De Invited to the 
 Commiasiou which is to meet in this cap- 
 ital pursuant to the recommendation. 
 
 My principal object is that it be clearly 
 recorded that the Guatemalan Govern- 
 meut is neither hound by the vote of its 
 Delegate to accept the conclusions last 
 proposed nor is it prevented from accept- 
 ing them or manifesting its acceptance in 
 time if it believe, after a study thereof, it 
 can overcome in any way the difficulties 
 which present themselves, or that the ad- 
 vantages of its adoption are greater than 
 the inconveniences. 
 
 Feknando Ckdz. 
 
 Washington, Jpril 7, 1890. 
 
 la Comisidn que ha de reunirse en esta 
 Capital en virtud de la recomendaoidn. 
 
 Mi objeto principal es que conste clara- 
 mente que el Cobierno de Guatemala, ni 
 queda ligado por el veto de su Delegaci<5n 
 & aceptar las conolusiones liltimamente 
 propuestas, ni queda tampoco excluido 
 de podor aceptarlas, y manifest^udoloasi 
 oijortunamente, si con vista de alias cree 
 que puede subsanar de algun mode las 
 dilicultades que se presenten, 6 que las 
 veutajas son mayores que los inconve- 
 nientes para su adopcidn. 
 
 Fernando Ckuz. 
 
 Washington, Abril 7 de 1890. 
 
 Appendix II. 
 
 MB. PIlIOi:'S SPEECir. 
 
 Mr. President — Gentlemen : 
 I was a witness in our last session of 
 the impatience manifested by several 
 members of the Conference, especially by 
 the Hou. Mr. Estee, a Delegate from the 
 United States, to close thedebate on this 
 question of customs union. I do not pro- 
 pose, consequently, to inflict on you a 
 long speech on this subject, which most 
 probably would produce no modification 
 in your opinions, as each one seems to me 
 to have definitely made up his mind on 
 this subject. 
 
 But not having had the honor to take 
 part in your ijrevious debates on this im- 
 portant and interesting question, I beg 
 of yon to permit me to expose to you in as 
 few words as possible the reasons for the 
 vote which I am about to cast ou the re- 
 port submitted for our deliberation. 
 
 In reality, we find ourselves in the pres- 
 ence of two reports; one of the majority 
 of the committee charged to examine the 
 questiou, which proposes to us to recom- 
 mend to our respective Governments to 
 make partial reciprocity treaties withoue 
 or more American states, if they have any 
 interest in so doing, while the other report 
 presented by the minority concludes with 
 a pure, simple, and undisguised rejection 
 of the proposition of a customs union. 
 
 Putting aside the details of organization 
 which are more or less complicated ao- 
 
 Ap^ndice No. II. 
 
 DISCUESO DEL SEITOE PEICE. 
 
 Senor Presidents, Sbnoebs : 
 
 En uuestra ultima sesi6n he sido testigo 
 del vivo deseo mauifestado por algu- 
 nos miembros de la Conferenoia, especial- 
 mente por el Hon. Senor Estee, Delegado 
 de los Estadoa Uuidos, para que concluyese 
 el debate sobre la cuestidn de Uni<5n Adua- 
 nera. No me propongo, de consiguiente, 
 molestar & Vds. con un largo discurso, que 
 probablemente no moditicaria las ideas, 
 expresadas, porque cada uno de uosotros 
 me parece irrevocablemente determiuado 
 & este respecto. 
 
 Pero, no habieudo tenido el honor de 
 tomar parte en los debates anteriores 
 sobre esta iuteresante 6 importante cues- 
 t\6u, ruegoque se me permita exponer, tan 
 brevemente como me sea posible, los mo- 
 tives del voto que voy S, dar sobre el dic- 
 tamen que se ha sometido ^ nuestra con- 
 sideraci6n. 
 
 En verdad, estamos en presencia de dos 
 dioliiuienes: uno de la mayoria de la 
 Comisi6n, encargada de examinar la cues- 
 ti6n, proponi6ndonos que recomendemos 
 ^ nuestros respectivos Gobiernos que 
 hagan tratados de reoiprooidad parcial 
 con uno 6 varios de los Eslados amerioa- 
 nos, si en ello tieuen algun interfe ; mien- 
 tras que el otro dict^men, presentado por 
 la miuoria, rechazai pura, simple y termi- 
 nantemeute, la proposici6n de la Uni6n 
 aduanera. 
 
 Haciendo ^ un lado los detalles de or- 
 ganizaci6Q, que pueden ser mas 6 mduos 
 
624 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 cording to the relative situations of the 
 the nations which form themselves into a 
 customs union, we will admit, with the 
 majority of the committee, that the two 
 characteristic signs of such an organiza- 
 tion are : the uniformity of customs tariff 
 with association for the division.of prod- 
 ucts and absolute, free exchange in the 
 interior of the territory of the Union. The 
 report couoludee, after this explanation, 
 that there is no use to constitute between 
 the nations represented in this Conference 
 a real customs uuion with proportionate 
 division of duties levied. 
 
 Such a union, it says, would necessitate 
 not only a partial sacrifice of the sov- 
 ereignty of American nations, but more 
 radical changes in their respective con- 
 stitutions than they would be willing to 
 accept. 
 
 I adhere to this opinion, but I think 
 that its natural consequence should be 
 the pure and simple rejection of any proj- 
 ect of customs union between the na- 
 tions of America, as the report of the 
 minority proposes. 
 
 Nevertheless, the majority is of the 
 opinion that in place of this real customs 
 union, " free trade between the Ameri- 
 can nations of all their natural or manu- 
 factured produets, that is to say, absolute 
 reciprocity, is acceptable in principle, be^ 
 cause all measures which tend to the free- 
 dom of commerce must necessarily in- 
 crease the traffic and the development of 
 the material resources of the countries 
 which accept this system, and a customs 
 union in this sense would probably give 
 as favorable results as those which are 
 obtained by free trade between the States 
 of this Union.'' 
 
 One is astonished after having read 
 this declaration to fiud that the repo'^c 
 concludes in the rejection of a customs 
 union thus conceived. If the results were 
 to necesiarily develop the material re- 
 sources of the States which accepted this 
 unlimited system of reciprocity, why 
 should we hesitate to adopt so beneficial 
 a system? 
 
 If it is true that the obstacle was the 
 purely fiscal interest attaching to the 
 custom-houses of our respective Nations, 
 it could easily be avoided by means of 
 
 complicados segfln la posioidn relativa 
 de las naciones que formen la Unidn 
 aduanera, reconozco con la mayorfa de 
 la Comisidn, que los dos signos carac- 
 tertsticos de semejante organizaoidn, son : 
 la uniformidad de las tarifas de aduana 
 para el reparto de los productos, y la liber- 
 tad absoluta de cambios en el interior 
 del territorio de la Unifin. Despues de 
 esta exp»sici6n, el dict^men ooncluye que 
 no es posible formar entre las naciones 
 representadas en esta Conferencia una 
 Uni6u aduanera propiamente dioha» con 
 reparto proporcional de los derechos per- 
 cibidos. 
 
 Esta Unidn, dice, exigiria no solamente 
 uu sacrificio parcial de la soberania de 
 las naciones americanas, sino taml)i6n 
 modificaciones radicales en sus respec- 
 tivas constitnciones, que no podrian 
 aceptar. 
 
 Me adhiero & esta opinidn; pero oreo 
 que su natural consecuencia seria el re- 
 chazo pura y simplemente de todo el pro- 
 yecto de Unidn aduanera entre las na- 
 ciones de America, como lo propone el dic- 
 tamen de la minorla. 
 
 Sin embargo la mayorfa es de pareoer 
 que & falta de esta Unidn aduanera pro- 
 piamente dicha, "el libre cambio entre 
 las naciones americanas de todos sus 
 productos naturales 6 manufacturados, lo 
 cual es, propiamente hablando, la recipro- 
 cidad absoluta, es aceptable en principio, 
 porque toda medida que favorezca la 
 libertad del comercio debe necesaria- 
 mente aumentar el tr^fico y el desarrollo 
 de los recursos materiales de los palses 
 que acepten este sistema, y la Unidn 
 aduanera en este sentido daria proba- 
 blemeate resultados tan favorables como 
 los obtenidos por el libre cambio entre 
 los Estados de esta Unidn." 
 
 Causa sorpresa despues de esta de- 
 claracidn ver que el diotamen concluye 
 rechazando la Unidn aduanera tal como 
 se la ha concebido. Si los resultados 
 deben ser necesariamente desarrollar los 
 recursos materiales de los Estados que 
 acepten este sistema de reciprocidadilimi- 
 tada, J porqud vacilariamos en aceptar un 
 sistema tan bendtico ? 
 
 Si fuera cierto que el obstd^oulo es pura- 
 mente el interds fiscal de las aduanas de 
 nuestras respectivas naciones, seria fSi<A\ 
 obviarlo fijaudo en cada Estado un dere- 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 625 
 
 the fixing in each State of an import duty 
 ad valorem, proportioned to its financial 
 necessities, but of -whioli the rate should 
 remain fixed, and invariable for all the 
 natural or manufactured products com- 
 ing from the coantries included in the 
 Union; there, truly, where there is no 
 differential tariff there is no protectionist 
 regime. 
 
 I do not think either that the obstacle 
 lies in the repugnance which the United 
 States of America might have in partially 
 giving up their policy of industrial pro- 
 tection. 
 
 As the Hon. Mr. Henderson, a Delegate 
 from the United States, has frankly stated, 
 this vast and beautiful country has at- 
 tained, as far as agricultural and manu- 
 facturing prosperity is concerned, a height 
 from whence it can defy all competition ; 
 it has arrived to-day at the third stage of 
 development of the public fortune ; it no w 
 aims to the extension of its foreign com- 
 merce ; it aspires to take on the great mar- 
 ket of the world the high position which 
 its formidable manufacturing power as- 
 sures it. We know that the American 
 customs furnish an excess of revenue of 
 seventy millions of dollars to the needs of 
 the Federal Treasury. We have also been 
 shown that this sum is larger than the 
 total of duties levied on all the importa- 
 tions from othernations of the New World. 
 It would, therefore, be easy for the United 
 States, I think, to consent to the sacri- 
 fices, light for them, which might be nec- 
 essary to assure the formation of an Amer- 
 ican Customs Union, if such a union be 
 really desirable. 
 
 No ! The obstacle is not there. It is 
 entirely on account of the inequality of 
 the economical situation of the different 
 Nations represented in this Conference. 
 
 In this development of public riches 
 which consists of three successive stages, 
 as the honorable Delegate, Mr. Hender- 
 son, has so well stated, agriculture, man- 
 ufactures, and commerce, we have not all 
 advanced at the same rate, we have not 
 all reached the same level of national 
 prosperity. Amongst all the Nations rep- 
 resented around this table there is but 
 one which has entirely passed beyond the 
 first two stages, bat one whose manufact- 
 40 I O 
 
 oho de importaridn ad valorem propor- 
 cional & sus necesidades financieras, pero 
 determinado, 6 invariable para todos loa 
 productos naturales dmannfacturadospro 
 venientes de los palses de la Unidn; porque 
 en efecto, donde no hay tarifa diferencial 
 no existe el regimen de protecciiin. 
 
 Ademfis, no creo que el obst^cnlo con- 
 sista en la repugnancia que los Estados 
 Unidos de America pudiesen sentir para 
 renunciar parcialmente & su politica de 
 proteccidn industrial. 
 
 Como lo ha expuesto con toda franqueza 
 el Hon. Sr. Henderson, Delegado de los 
 Estados Unidos, este vaato y hermoso pais 
 ha Uegado, bajo el punto de vista de la 
 prosperidad agricola 6 industrial, & una 
 altura, en que puede hacer frente & oual- 
 quiera competencia ; se encueutra hoy en 
 el tercer periodo del desarroUo de la 
 riqueza pliblica ; tiene en mira la exten- 
 si6n de su comercio exterior; aspira & 
 tomar en el gran mercado del mundo una 
 alta posicidu que pueda satisfacer su gran 
 potencia manufacturera. Sabemos que 
 lasaduanasamericanas proporcionan ana 
 renta de mas de 70 millones de dollars & 
 las necesidades del Tesoro federal. Se nos 
 ha demostrado tambi^n que estasuma ex- 
 cede al total de derechos que se cobran 
 sobre las importaciones provenlentes de 
 las otras naciones del Nuevo Mundo. 
 Seria de consigniente f^cil & los Estados 
 Unidos, i, lo menos asi lo creo, consentir 
 en los sacrifices, ligeros para ellos, que pu- 
 diesen ser neoesarios para asegurar la for- 
 macidn de la Uni6n aduanera americana, 
 si esta uni6n inese verdaderamente de- 
 seable. 
 
 No, el obstiEcnlo no est£i aUi. Consiste 
 enteramente en la desigualdad de la situa- 
 ci6n econdmica de las diferentes naciones 
 represeutadas en esta Conferencia. 
 
 En este desarroUo de la riqueza piiblica 
 que comprende tres perlodos sucesivos, 
 como lo ha explicado bien el Hon. Dele- 
 gado Henderson, la agrioultura, la indus- 
 tria y el comercio, no hemes caminado 
 todos de acuerdo, no henios llegado todos 
 al mismo nivel de riqueza nacional. No 
 hay entre las naciones represeutadas al 
 rededorde esta mesa ninguna que haya en- 
 teramente pasado los dos primeros perlo- 
 dos.una sola cnya industria manufacturera 
 
626 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 nriag industry has absolutely nothing to 
 fear from a system of international free 
 trade with the others. The others, for 
 the most part, and in spite of the rapid 
 progress accomplished during the last fif- 
 teen or twenty years, have hardly begun 
 at the present time to confront their man- 
 ufacturing problem; some of them, and 
 amongst these to my real and sincere re- 
 gret must be counted the country which 
 I have the honor to represent — some of 
 these have not even yet completely solved 
 their agricultural problem ; that portion 
 of their territory lying fallow is infinitely 
 larger than what it has been able to 
 bring under cultivation. 
 
 We are consequently not in the same 
 condition as those States which founded 
 the ZoUverein, nor of those States form- 
 ing the American Union. 
 
 The German Customs Association had 
 for its object to put an end to material 
 difficulties which do not exist between 
 the American nations. Prussia, which 
 took the initiative in this union, was 
 experiencing very serious commercial 
 embarrassments on account of the irregu- 
 lar configuration of its territory. Its 
 provinces of the north were completely 
 separated from those of the west by the 
 territories of Hanover, the two Hesses, of 
 Frankfort-on-the-Maln ; others were com- 
 pletely wedged in between neighboring 
 States. Its own territory inclosed foreign 
 possessions: Oldenburg, the Duchies of 
 Anhalt, etc. The same difficulties ex- 
 isted in the same degree for all the 
 States which successively adhered to the 
 ZoUverein. In constituting this customs 
 union they consequently overcame eco- 
 nomical diflSculties of such importance 
 that it was impossible to pay too dearly 
 for such a benefit, even if it was neces- 
 sary to purchase it at the price of some 
 sacrifice on the ground of industrial pro- 
 tection. 
 
 No such difficulties exist between the 
 American nations. On one or the other 
 ocean we have at our command, to insure 
 our commercial relations with foreign 
 lands, immense ports which even in a 
 hundred year^ wiU probably surpass our 
 needs. 
 
 no tenga absolutamenta nada qiie temer 
 respecto de las otras de un sistema de libre 
 cambio internacional. Las otras, por la 
 mayor parte, y rC pesar de adelantos r^pi- 
 dos, maravil loses yverificados en el tras- 
 curso de los riltimos quince 6 veinte 
 flfios, eomienzan & penas, & esta hora, 
 ^ considerar su problema industrial; al- 
 gnna«, y entre ellas se encuentra, siento 
 profnndamente decirlo, el pals que tengo 
 el honor de representar, no hau siquiera 
 resuelto todavia su problema agrlcola. 
 
 De consi^uiente no nos hallamos ni en 
 las condioiones de los Estados que ban 
 fundado el ZoUverein, nien las de los Es- 
 tados que coraponen la Unidn amerioana. 
 
 La Asociacidn adnanera alemana tenia 
 por objeto poner fin £ diffioultades mate- 
 riales que no existen entre las naciones 
 americanas. La Prusia, que tomd la ini- 
 ciativa de esta uni(5n, sufria grandes obs- 
 t£icn]os comerciales^ causa de laconfigu- 
 raci6n irregular de su territorio. Sus pro- 
 vincias del Norte estaban completamente 
 separadas de las del Oeste por los territo- 
 ries de Hanover, de los dos Hesses, y de 
 Francfort-sur-Mein ; otras estaban en- 
 teramente rodeadas por los Eatados ve- 
 cinos. Su propio territorio oomprendia 
 posesiones extrangeras, Oldenburg, los 
 ducados de Anhalt, etc. Id^nticos obst^ 
 culos existian en el mismo grado en todos 
 los Estados, que sucesivamente se adhirie- 
 ron & la Unidn. De consiguiente al formar 
 esta unidu aduanera, se libraron de difi- 
 cultades econfimicas de tal gravedad, que 
 no podria pagarse demasiado caro seme- 
 jante beneficio, aunque hubiese sido ne- 
 cesario adquitirlo al precio de cualqnier 
 sacrificio en el terreno de la proteccidn 
 industrial. 
 
 No existe diflcultad alguna de este gfi- 
 gero entre las naciones americanas. En 
 ambos Oc^anos, cada uno de nosotros 
 posee para llevar adelante nuestras res- 
 peotivas relaciones comerciales con el 
 extrangero, puertos inmensos, profundos, 
 que de aqui & cien afios, todavia satisfar^n 
 probabloraente hasta de pobrn nuestras 
 uecesidadea, 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN OONPERENCE. 
 
 627 
 
 Nevertheless, and this is an essential 
 point on which we should fix our atteution, 
 did the members of the Zollverein consent 
 to any real sacrifice in abolishing those in- 
 ferior custom-houses with which the terri- 
 tory of Germany bristled ? Eemember, 
 gentlemen, that the States to which ref- 
 erence is made here were peopled by 
 men of the same race, speaking the same 
 language, educated in the same uni- 
 versities, formed to manufacture and com- 
 merce in the one school of tlie HansBatic 
 League, arrived at the same degree of 
 intellectual culture of mechanical dex- 
 terity, of commercial activity, meu be- 
 longing in reality to one and the same 
 nation, to Germany, of which this Customs 
 Union only prepared the political unity 
 which we have seen as an accomplished 
 fact in less than half a century after the 
 creation of the Zollverein. No serious 
 interest of an economic order divided 
 these peoples, of which the workmen 
 could pass and did pass over the frontier 
 as soon as the slightest variation in the 
 rate of wages made it advisable for them 
 to do so. 
 
 It is this precisely which is now the case 
 between the States of the American Union. 
 The relative independence which each of 
 these States enjoys in the administration 
 of its local interests exercises no restric- 
 tive efi^eot on the fact of natural unity. 
 
 The liberty of trade between the vari- 
 ous States or Provinces of one and the 
 same nation is the natural outcome of the 
 free circulation of capital and of mercan- 
 tile skill under the protection of oue and 
 the same flag. Here the citizens of the 
 United States, who desire to devote them- 
 selves to agricultural labors and do not 
 find sufficient farming land in their vicin- 
 ity, carry to the West their energy, their 
 talents, and their capital. The weaver of 
 the North avoids competition, and spares 
 the expenses of transportation of the raw 
 material of his industry by going to es- 
 tablish his looms in the middle of the cot- 
 ton plantations of the South. The man 
 from Maryland does not leave his country 
 by setting up his tent in California; he 
 from Maine is still in his country when he 
 leaves his pine forests to go and work in 
 those of Oregon or Alabama. Outside of 
 material obstacles, overcome more and 
 
 Sinembargo, y h6 aquf el punto princi- 
 pal sobre que debemos fijar nueatra aten- 
 ci6n, i consiutieron los miembros del Zoll- 
 verein en alglln saorifioio real al su- 
 primir las aduanas interiores de que 
 estaba plagado todo el territorio de Ale- 
 mania? Eecordad, ScBores, que aquelloa 
 Estados se hallaban poblados por hom- 
 bres de una misma raza, que hablaban 
 un mismo idioma, edncados en las mismas 
 universidades, preparados para la indus- 
 tria y el comercio en la misma escuela de 
 la liga anseditica, Uegados todos al mismo 
 grade de cultura intelectual, de habilidad 
 mecSinica, de actividad coniercial; de 
 hombres pertenecientes en realidad ^ una 
 sola y misma uaci6n, la Alemania, cuya 
 uui6n aduauera no hacia mas que pre- 
 parar la uni6n politica que hemos visto 
 verificarse no mas de un medio siglo 
 despues de la creacidn del Zollverein. 
 Ningun s6no inter(5s de 6rden econiSmico 
 dividia estas poblaciones, cnyos obreros 
 podian paear, y en efecto, pasaban la 
 frontera tan luego como una pequeSa 
 variaci6n en el monto de los salarios los 
 obligaba £ ello. 
 
 Esto es precisamente lo que se verifica 
 aotualmente entre los Estados de la Unidn 
 americana. La independencia relativa 
 de que cada uno de estos Estados goza en 
 la administracidn de sns intereses locales 
 no ejerce ningfin efecto restrictive sobre 
 el hecho de la uuidad nacional. 
 
 La libertad de los cambios entre los 
 diferentes Estados, 6 las diversas pro- 
 vinoias de una sola y misma uaci(5n, es el 
 corolario natural de la libra circulaoidn 
 de los capitales y de la habilidad indus- 
 trial bajo la protecoi6n de una sola y 
 misma bandera. AquI, los ciudadanos de 
 los Estados del Este que deseau dedicarse 
 S, trabajos agrlcolas y no encuentran S, su 
 alrededor tierras cnltivables, llevau sii 
 energia, su talento y sus capitales al 
 Oeste. El tejedor dei Norte se sustrae 
 it la competencia, y ahorra los gastos de 
 trasporte de las materias primas de su 
 industria, yendo S, establecer su telar eu 
 medio de las plantaoiones de algoddn del 
 Sud. El originario de Maryland no sale 
 de su pals pura ir & poner su tienda en 
 California, el de Maine estd todaviaensu 
 pals, al dejar sus bosques de pinos para ir 
 & explotar los de Oregon 6 los de Ala- 
 
628 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 more in our days by the powerful inter- 
 Yention of steam and electricity, the citi- 
 zens of one nation thus move constantly 
 abont guided by the natural tendency of 
 manufacturers to come closer to the agri- 
 culturists who fnrnish them with the raw 
 material, or of the consumer, who puts 
 himself in direct contact with the pro- 
 ducer. It is this movement, this activity, 
 which is the fountain-head of the interior 
 commerce; it is the very life of a people. 
 It is also by this motion, by this constant 
 and rapid diffusion of capital and talent 
 that the prosperity of a nation is meas- 
 ured; I might almost say its degree of 
 civilization. 
 
 To take away from one's country all 
 the obstacles which oppose this circula- 
 tion ; to spread over it general and above 
 all professional instruction ; to assure to 
 all, natives and strangers, the greatest 
 possible security for their persons and 
 their goods ; to render accessible, by the 
 construction of railways and of canals, 
 all these rich and virgin lands which yet 
 abound in Latin America, only awaiting 
 the hand of man to produce immense and 
 incalculable riches ; to bring closer and 
 ever closer to the agriculturist the manu- 
 facturer who will utilize the raw material 
 extracted from the ground ; to diminish 
 the cost of transport, which is the most 
 powerful obstacle which opposes the prog- 
 ress of human society ; to diminish them 
 by putting the consumer and the producer 
 in direct contact by the creation of the 
 greatest possible number of centers of 
 population in the interior of each State; 
 to diminish them yet further in giving 
 on the spot, as nearly as possible, the last 
 mannfaoturing finish to the material ex- 
 tracted from the ground, thus reducing 
 the weight and volume of the matter to 
 be transported, to be delivered to the 
 commerce of the world; siich, gentlemen, 
 I dare to say, is the formula of the eco- 
 nomical problem which will impose itself, 
 which does to-day impose itself, on the 
 attention of statesmen in nearly all of 
 Latin America. 
 
 Let us throw a glance on the econom- 
 ical situation of those States. What do 
 
 bama. Fuera de que los obst^cnlos mate- 
 riales se van venciendo mas y mas en 
 nuestros dias, por la potente intervencifin 
 del vapor y de la electrlcidad, los ciuda- 
 daiius de una misma nacidn obedecen 
 coustautemente S, la tendencia natural de 
 los iudustriales de aoercarse S, los agricul- 
 tores, qnienes les proporcionan las mate- 
 rias primas, y iE la de los consumidores de 
 ponerse en contacto directo con el produo- 
 tor. Es este movimiento, esta aotividad 
 lo que es la fuente del comercio interior ; 
 lo que es la vida misma de un pueblo. 
 Es tanibi^n por este movimiento, por esta 
 constante yr^pida difusidn de los capi- 
 tales y del talento, que se mide la pros- 
 peridad de una nacidn, casi dir€, su grado 
 de civilizaci6n. 
 
 Hacer desaparecer en el interior de su 
 pals todos los obstSculos que se opongan 
 Sj esta circulacidn ; derramar i, torrentes 
 la instrucci<in general, sobre todo la ins- 
 truccidn profesional ; garantizar & todos, 
 nacionales y extrangeros, la mayor se- 
 guridad posible, tauto para sua personas 
 como para SUB bienes ; hacer de f^cil acceso 
 por medio de la construcoidn de ferro-car- 
 riles y canales navegables todas estis 
 tierras ricas y virgenes que abnndan 
 todavia en la America latina, y no 
 aguardan sino los brazos del hombre para 
 prodnoir riquezas inmensas, incaloula- 
 bles ; establecer relaciones cada vez mas 
 intimas entre el agrioultor y el manufao- 
 turero que da nueva forma & la materia 
 bruta que se extrae del suelo; disminnir 
 los gastos de trasporte, que forman el 
 mas poderoso obst^cnlo que se opone al 
 progreso de las sociedades humanas, dis- 
 minuirlos poniendo en contacto directo al 
 coasumidor y productor porlacreacicSn del 
 mayor ntimero posible de centres de po- 
 blacidn en el interior de cada Estado ; dis- 
 minuirlos todavia mas, dando en el Ingar 
 mismo, en cuanto fuere posible, la liltima 
 forma industrial & la materia bruta ex- 
 traida del suelo, reduciendo asl el peso y 
 el volumen de la materia que deba tras- 
 portarse y entregarse al comercio del 
 mundo ; tal es Senores, me atrevo & de- 
 cirlo, la f6rmula del problema econ<5mico 
 que debe imponerse, que se impone hoy & 
 la atencidn de los hombres de Estado en 
 casi toda la America latina. 
 
 Echemos una mirada sobre la situaci^a 
 ecou6mica de estos Estados, ^ que es lo que 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 629 
 
 we see ? Here is exported a quantity of 
 raw wool and is imported all the cloth 
 which is used. There hides are sent 
 away in araw state at the expense of the 
 producer, and travel thousands of miles 
 over the seas to receive the finish of the 
 tanner or shoemaker, and return in the 
 shape of shoes In other countries, as 
 well as my own, it is the cotton which is 
 carried away in a raw state which re- 
 turns as cloth. 
 
 The honorable Delegate, Mr. Hender- 
 son, has stated to us that no amount of pro- 
 tective tariff is sufficient to prevent the 
 rich American from having his clothes 
 made in London or in Paris. This is 
 absolutely true ; but in a country where 
 the poor man is also clothed from a for- 
 eign country, not on account of taste, 
 but on account of necessity, that states- 
 men should begin to agitate for it is 
 a sure sign that there are channels 
 which are closed and which should be 
 opened to the manufacturing activity of 
 the commonwealth. 
 
 Do you think that the home free trade 
 which causes the cotton spinner of the 
 North to go to the South of the United 
 States would suffice between different 
 nations to attract him beyond the limits 
 of his own country, and send him to the 
 plains of Hayti ? Would free trade alone 
 establish factories under the American 
 flag in Chili or in the Argentine ? Intel- 
 ligent workmen only leave and above all 
 only expatriate themselves under the con 
 ditions we see them arrive from Europe 
 to the United States, and since some 
 time to the great Latin Republics, drawn 
 hence by the bait of higher profits by the 
 perspective of a more rapid fortune than 
 they conld hope to realize in their own 
 country. 
 
 To buy in the cheapest possible market 
 is an attractive but fallacious theory. I 
 only take as a proof the unheard of and 
 wonderful prosperity realized by the 
 United States by the aid of the highest 
 protective tariffs known. The most pow- 
 erful element of prosperity for a people is 
 the division of labor ; it is also the most 
 solid basis of all social peace. 
 
 When a sufficient number of channels 
 for the industrial activity of the citizens 
 
 vemos ? Aqui, se exporta una gran canti- 
 dad de lana bruta, y se importa toda la 
 tela que se consume. All^, se embaroa el 
 cnero bruto, & costa del productor, para 
 ir ^ sufrir, d centenares de leguas mas 
 alM de log mares, la modifioacidn indus- 
 trial del curtidor y del zapatero, para 
 volver bajo la forma de zapatos. En 
 otras palses, como en el mio, es el algoddn 
 en bruto el que se va y el madapolau el 
 que vuelve. 
 
 El honorable Delegado Henderson nos 
 ha dicho que ninguna tarifa protectora 
 impide & los ricos americanos vestirse 
 con tolas provenientes de Paris 6 Londres. 
 Esto es absolutamente cierto ; pero en nn 
 pais donde el pobre se viste tambi^n con 
 telas provenientes del extrangero, no por 
 gusto, sino por necesidad, el hombre de 
 Estado debe conmoverse, porque eso de- 
 nota que hay alii canales que est^n cer- 
 rados y que debian estar abiertos & la 
 actividad industrial de la comunidad. 
 
 jPuede creerse que el libre oambio 
 interior, que hace ir a1 hiladorde algod6n 
 desde el Norte hasta el Sud delos Estados, 
 sea suficieute entre naciones diferentes, 
 para Uevarlo mas allsi de las fronteras y 
 extenderlo hasta las planioies de Haiti T 
 jTendria el libre cambio por si solo la 
 virtud de atraer al fabricante de telas 
 americano para establecer sus f^bricas en 
 Chile 6 la Argentina? Los trabajadoies 
 inteligentes no se mueven y sobre todo no 
 pasan la frontera sino bajo las ciroums- 
 tancias en que los vemos Uegar de Eu- 
 ropa ^ los Estados Unidos, y desde hace 
 algun tiempo £i las grandes Beptiblicas 
 latinas, atraidos por el incentive de 
 ganauciasmassnbidas, por la perspeotiva 
 de una fortuna mas rdlpida que la que 
 podrian adqnirir en su propio pais. 
 
 Comprar lo mas barato posible es una 
 teoriahalagueSa, pero enganadora. Basta 
 como ejemplo la grande y maravillosa 
 prosperidad realizada por los Estados 
 Unidos por medio de tarifas las mas alta- 
 mente protectoras que se conocen. El 
 elemento mas poderoso de la prosperidad 
 de los pueblos es la division del trabajo ; 
 es al mismo tiempo la base mas s61ida de 
 t^da paz social, 
 
 Cuando en nn pais no se encuentra nn 
 ntimero sufioiente de canales abiertos iCla 
 
630 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCK. 
 
 are not found in a country, not only this 
 country has no advantages to offer to in- 
 telligent foreign workmen, and thus de- 
 prive itself of the most simple and efSca- 
 cious means of initiating itself in the 
 progress of science, of the arts, and of in- 
 dustry, but in addition this activity 
 ■which finds no outlet flows back to the 
 head and to the heart of society. For 
 the want of something better each one 
 aspires to govern the State, and thus one 
 has before him the shocking spectacle of 
 a population of a few hundred thousand 
 souls exhausting itself in periodical strug- 
 gles without any apparent aim on a terri- 
 tory where millions of human beings 
 shoalJ live in comfort. 
 
 No, I do not deem desirable a system 
 the result of which might well be to pre- 
 vent, or at least to retard, the direct con- 
 tact of the consumer and the producer, 
 which might cause cotton and wool to be 
 indefinitely produced on one side of the 
 equator and cloth and blue jeans on the 
 other side. Perfect reciprocity can not 
 exist where a perfect equality in the condi- 
 tions of production do not exist. 
 
 I am not at all a systematic protection- 
 ist, but I do believe that every country 
 which has the ambition to reach the 
 height and the civilization of our century, 
 is obliged to go through an industrial edu- 
 cation ; to place itself in a position to 
 give to the natural products of its soil and 
 its climate all the necessary processes 
 which precede its final finish. I think 
 also that such an education should be 
 followed without swerving, and that each 
 Nation, that one above all which can not 
 congratulate itself on having fully at- 
 tained the highest level of the mechan- 
 ical skill of its time, should for these rea- 
 sons retain its freedom of action and re- 
 main absolute mistress of its customs 
 legislation. 
 
 However, I should not propose to my own 
 country to import iron ore from England 
 or coal from Pennsylvania for the mere 
 purpose of seeing tall chimneys smoking 
 in the country ; but I do say to her, buy 
 the iron which you need in the cheapest 
 possible market, place upon it a purely 
 fiscal import duty, learn how to manu- 
 facture this iron for yonr use, and, above 
 all, do not comnromlse the future ; do not 
 
 industriosa aotividad de los ciudadanos, 
 no solamente el pais no tlene ventaja 
 alguua que ofrecerfi los trabajadores Inte- 
 ligentes del exterior, y se prlva de este 
 mode di 1 medio mas senoillo, mas eficaz, 
 de inioiarse en el progreso de la olencia, 
 de las artes y de la industria, slno que 
 esta actlvidad, que no enouentra salida, 
 refluye S, la cabeza y al oorazon de la 
 sociedad. Por otra parte, cada uno aspira 
 & gobernar el Estado ; y se aslste al sor- 
 prendente espectSculo de una pobIaci6n 
 de algunos'<Bentenares de miles de almas, 
 agot^ndose en luchas periddicas y sin 
 objeto aparente, sobre territories en que 
 millones de seres humanos deberian poder 
 vlvlr con comodidad. 
 
 No creo deseable un sistema cuyo re- 
 sultado podria impedir, 6 por lo menos 
 retardarla aproximaci<5n, el contaoto dl- 
 recto del productor y el consumidor; hacer 
 que la lana y el algodon se produzcan in- 
 defiuidamente de un lado del Ecuador, y 
 el paQo y la zaraza del otro lado. La re- 
 ciprocidad perfecta no puede exlstir alli 
 donde no existe una igualdad perfecta en 
 las condiciones de la prndnccidn. 
 
 No soy proteccionista sistemdtico ; pero 
 creo que todo pueblo que amblciona 
 elevarse Si la altura de la civilizaoldn de 
 nuestro siglo debe hacer su educacifin in- 
 dustrial; ponerse en estado de dar S. los 
 produotos naturales de su suelo y de su 
 clinia todas las formas que deben prece- 
 der al consume. Yo creo tambUn que 
 esta educacidn debe llevarse it cabo sin 
 descanso, y que cada naclfin, sobre todo 
 aquella que no puede felioitarse de haber 
 Uegado al mas alto nivel de la habilidad 
 mec^nica de su tiempo, debe por estos mo- 
 tives quedar duefia de su acoidn y duena 
 abseluta de su legislacidn aduanera. 
 
 No prepengo & mi pals, por ejemplo, 
 que Importe mineral de hierro de Inglater- 
 ra y carbon de Pennsylvania para darse 
 el lujo de ver humear altos homes en 
 BUS campes ; pero si le digo que compre lo 
 mas barato posible el hierro de que tlene 
 necesidad; quenole impongaSilaeutrada 
 mas que undereohopurameute fiscal, y que 
 aprenda S, ajnstar este hierro S, nuestro 
 use y sobre todo no comprometa el por- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 631 
 
 put yourself uuder the impossibility of 
 trying to do to-morrow what has not 
 ■been possible for yon to accomplish yes- 
 terday or to-day. 
 
 I flatter, myself, gentlemen, that this 
 friendly assemblage of representatives of 
 allthenations of our hemisphere, thatthis 
 courteoas exchange of views which makes 
 us more acquainted and allows of our ap- 
 preciating each other and of esteeming 
 each other reciprocally, both ourselves as 
 individuals and the countries we repre- 
 sent here, I flatter myself that all this 
 will not be lost to the great cause of peace 
 or for the gradual or rapid development 
 of our commercial relations. Par from 
 that, each one here will recommend to his 
 Government, I am certain, the most lib- 
 eral customs legislation which is compat- 
 ible with its fiscal interests and with the 
 imperious necessity of developing the in- 
 dustrial power demanded by its climate, 
 by the peculiar nature of its soil, and by 
 its genius. In what concerns the Repub- 
 lic of Hayti, I am of opinion, and my rec 
 ommendationsto my Government will be 
 in this sense, that our import dues be re- 
 duced by means of our own laws and not 
 by an international treaty, to a uniform 
 rate for all products manufactured or nat- 
 ural, of our neighbors, for which we have 
 no actual interest in embarrassing the en- 
 try on our market in order to protect simi- 
 lar products of our national industry. 
 Let our doors remain wide open, let our 
 legislation oflfer the most serious, the 
 most real guaranties to all citizens of sis- 
 ter Republics, who, from the north, from 
 the center or from the south of America 
 desire to bring to us the example, the 
 benefit of their intelligence and of their 
 mechanical skill, or the help of their 
 capital. 
 
 In a word, free trade as far as possible ; 
 free trade in favor of those products, the 
 introduction of which would not com- 
 promise or retardourindustrial evolution; 
 free trade by our own legislation, 
 modifying itself and expanding itself 
 gradually but freely iff proportion to the 
 formation of our industrial power, and as 
 soon as we shall have conquered, to use 
 the words of the honorable Delegate, Mr. 
 Henderson, the difficulties of the second 
 phase of the development of our public 
 
 venir, y no se ponga en la imposibilidad 
 do inteutar mafiaua lo que no ha sido po- 
 sible realizar ayer ni hoy. 
 
 Me felicito, SeSores, de que esta reunidn 
 amistosa de representantes de todas las 
 uaoioues de nuestro hemisferio, de que 
 estos cambios corteses de ideas nos per- 
 mitan couooernos raejor, apreciarnos mas, 
 estimarnos mas, as! nosotros mismos in- 
 dividualiiiente, como los pueblos que re- 
 preseutamos. Me felicito de que nada de 
 esto que hemes hecho serdi perdido para la 
 gran causa de la paz, para el desarrollo 
 gradual y rSipido de nuestras relaoiones 
 comeroiales. Lejos de esto, cada uno de 
 nosotros recomendar^, estoy segnro, ^ su 
 pais, la legislacidn aduanera mas liberal 
 que sea compatible con sus intereses 6a- 
 cales y con la imperiosa neoesidad de de- 
 sarrollar la poteucia industrial indicada 
 por su clima, por la naturaleza particular 
 de su suelo, y por su genio. Por lo que 
 toca S, la Repliblica de Haiti, soy de 
 parecer, y har6 recomendaciones en este 
 sentido ^ mi Gobierno, de que nuestros 
 derechos de iraportaci6n deben rebajarse 
 por uuestras propias leyes y no por ningun 
 tratado intemacional, & un tipo uniforme 
 para todos los productos naturales 6 
 manufacturados de nueutros vecinos, cuya 
 entrada ^ nuestros mercados no tengamos 
 interes en estorbar, Si fin de proteger 
 productos similares de nuestra industria 
 nacional; que nuestras puertas quedeu 
 de par en par abiertas, que nuestra legis- 
 lacidn ofrezca las garantias mas serias, 
 luas efectivas para todos los oiudadanos 
 de las Repliblicas hermanas, que, desde el 
 Norte, del Centro 6 del Snd de la America, 
 quieran traernos el ejemplo, el beneficio 
 de su inteligenoia y de su habilidad 
 mec^uica 6 el concurso de sus capitales. 
 
 En nua palabra, el libre cambio en los 
 limites de lo posible, libre cambio en 
 favor de los productos cuya introduoci6n 
 no pueda comprometer 6 retardar nuestra 
 evolucidn industrial, libre cambio de parte 
 de nuestra legislacifin interior, modifl- 
 c^ndose, ensanch^ndose gradual pero 
 libremente, & medida que se forme nuestra 
 potenoia industrial, S, medida que ven- 
 zamos, para hablar como el Honorable 
 Delegado Henderson decia, las dificul- 
 tades de la segunda faz del desarrollo 
 
632 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONB^EEENCE. 
 
 foitunes, and as soon as the inequality 
 has become less apparent and that "un- 
 limited reciprocity " shall have become 
 less visionary. 
 
 Therefore, I reject entirely the conclu- 
 sions of the majority report of the com- 
 mittee, and without reserve I take part 
 •with the proposition formulated by the 
 minority in these' terms: "That the 
 American Customs Union is considered 
 impracticable." 
 
 de nuestra fortuna pliblica, & medida 
 que la desigualdad sea menos sensible y 
 que la " reciprooidad ilimitada" haya 
 Uegado & ser menos quim^rica. 
 
 Bechazo de consigniente enteramente 
 las conclusiones del dictamen de la 
 mayoria de la Comisidn, y me adhiero sia 
 reserva £ la proposioion formulada por la 
 minorla en eatos terminos: 
 
 " La Conterencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana rechaza el proyecto de una iinidn 
 aduanera entre las naciones de America." 
 
 Appendix III. 
 
 M. SOMEBO'S SFEBOS IN NEW YOBK. 
 
 Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the 
 Spanish-American Commercial Union : 
 1 thank you very much for your toast 
 in honor of the country I represent as its 
 Delegate to the International American 
 Conference. It fell to the lot of Mexico 
 to be the contiguous and nearest neighbor 
 of the United States, and I sincerely hope 
 that we will always be good friends. 
 
 As the city ot New York is the commer- 
 cial center of this great nation, the in- 
 crease of the commercial relations of the 
 country with its Southern neighbors is of 
 course a matter of interest for you, and 
 as such increase has, in my opinion, to 
 begin with Mexico, which is your nearest 
 neighbor, I hope I will be allowed to 
 allude to the conditions which I think 
 are necessary to the increase of that trade. 
 
 Of the several efforts which have been 
 made to increase the commercial rela- 
 tions between Mexico and the United 
 States, only have been successful those 
 in which the Mexican Government acted 
 alone, while those requiring the co-opera- 
 tion of the United States Government 
 have not met with the same fate. 
 
 The establishment of steam-ship lines 
 between Mexican and the United States 
 ports, and the construction in Mexico of 
 railways, which are really extensions of 
 trunk lines of the United States, have 
 proved the most efficient means of devel- 
 oping the commercial relations between 
 the two countries, and they have been 
 carried out in consequence of the liberal 
 subsidies granted by the Mexican Gov- 
 
 APifiNDICE No. III. 
 
 nisavBso del seSob bomero en 
 
 NUEYA YOBK. 
 
 Sefior Presidente y Sefiores de la Unidn 
 Comercial Hispano-Amerioana : 
 
 Agradezco & ustedes mucho su brindis 
 en honor del pals de que soy delegado ^ 
 la Conferencia Interuaclonal Americana. 
 Toc6 en snerte £i Mexico ser el vecino mSa 
 pr6ximo de los Estados Unidos, y deseo 
 sinoeramente que siempre seamos buenos 
 amigos y buenos vecinos. 
 
 Como la ciudad de Nuova York es el 
 centro comercial de esta gran nacidn, el 
 aumento de las relaoiones comerciales de 
 este pais con sus vecinos del Sur, es, por 
 supuesto, asunto de interns para ustedes ; 
 y como ese aumento tiene S, mi juicio que 
 empezar por Mexico que es el vecino In- 
 mediato, suplico se me permita alndir d 
 las condiciones que en mi concepto son 
 necesarias para realizar el aumento de ese 
 comercio. 
 
 De los varies esfuerzos que se han heoho 
 por aumentar las relaoiones comerciales 
 entre M^jico y Iom Estados Unidos, sola- 
 mente han side f ruotuosos los que han de- 
 pendido delgobierno de M€jico, y no han 
 dado igual resultado los que han necesi- 
 tado la oooperacidn del Gobierno de los 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
 El establecimiento do lineas de vapores 
 entre puertos mejicanos y de este pals y 
 la construccidn de ferrocarriles qne han 
 venido H ser la prolongacidn en M^jioo de 
 vlas troncales de los Estados Unidos, han 
 side de los pasos mitseficaoes para aumen- 
 tar las relaoiones comerciales entre ambos, 
 y se han llevado £t cabo gracias & la libe- 
 ralidad con que el Gobierno mejicano ha 
 Bubvenoiouado las lineas de vapores y la 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 633 
 
 ernment tosteam-6hip lines and to rail- 
 road companies, and whioh amount to 
 many millions of dollars. 
 
 Several treaties have been negotiated 
 at different times for the purpose of pro- 
 moting and increasing trade between the 
 two countries. The first one that I am 
 aware of was signed in the City of Mexico 
 in 1857, by Mr. Forsyth, with the admin- 
 istration of General Comonfort ; but I do 
 not know whether it was ever submitted 
 to the United States Senate for ratifica- 
 tion. The second treaty, known by the 
 name of the McLane-Ooampo treaty, 
 granted to the United States extraordi- 
 nary commercial advantages, and was con- 
 cluded at Vera Cruz in 1859, and was re- 
 jected by the United States Senate. 
 
 The Congress of the United States fore- 
 seeing that the communication by rail be- 
 tween the two Republics would be the 
 basis of a great increase of commerce be- 
 tween them, passed, August 7, 1882, a bill 
 appropriating a certain sum for the pay- 
 ment of the salaries and expenses of a 
 commission to negotiate a commercial 
 treaty with Mexico. The President of the 
 United States appointed as commissioner 
 one of the most distinguished citizens and 
 greatest statesmen this country ever had, 
 General UlyssesS. Grant, who, being well 
 acquainted with the resources, condi- 
 tions, and future of Mexico, and at the 
 same time being a just and upright man, 
 never entertained the idea of making a 
 one-sided agreement ; but, intending to 
 negotiate an arrangement of a permanent 
 character, concluded a treaty for the pro- 
 motion of the reciprocal interests of both 
 countries. I have no doubt that if that 
 treaty had been carried into effect that it 
 would have greatly developed trade be- 
 tween them, as seventy-eight articles, the 
 produce or manufacture of the United 
 States, would have been admitted in Mex- 
 ico free of all duties, whether federal. 
 State, or municipal. 
 
 Mexico had to overcome many difficul- 
 ties to accept that treaty. The Govern- 
 ment there depends forits support mainly 
 and almost exclusively on the import du- 
 ties, and can not reduce them without se- 
 rious loss of its public revenues, with all 
 its evil consequences. Although Mexico 
 is not yet a manufacturing country, sev- 
 eralindustries have sprung up there, nn- 
 
 coustruocion de viae f^rreas, empleando 
 en esto decenas de milloues de pesos. 
 
 En diferentes ocasiones se han celebra- 
 do tratados con el objeto de promover y 
 aumentar el comercio entre los dos palses. 
 El priraero de que tengo noticia, se firm<S 
 en Mexico el aSo de 1857 por Mr. Forsyth 
 con la administracidn del Presidente 
 Comonfort, sin que yo sepa si se someti<5 
 6 n6 ^ la ratificacidn del Senado de los 
 Estados Unidos. El segundo tratado, co- 
 nocido con el nombre de McLane-Ocam- 
 po, que daba S, los Estados Unidos extra- 
 ordinarias ventajas meroantiles, se firm6 
 en Veracruz en 1859 y fu6 deseohado por 
 el Senado de los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Previendo el Congreso de los Estados 
 Unidos que la comunicaci6n por ferrooar- 
 ril entre las dos Repriblioas seria la base 
 de un gran incremento comeroial entre 
 ellas, aprob<5 el 7 de agosto de 1882 una 
 ley que autoriz6 el pago de sueldos y gas- 
 tos de una comisi6n que negociaraun tra- 
 tado comeroial con Mexico. El Presiden- 
 te de los Estados Unidos nombrd para 
 deserapeSar esta comisi6n Si nno de los 
 m^ distinguidos ciudadanos de este pais 
 y de sua estadistas m^s notables, el Gene- 
 ral Ulises S. Grant, quien conociendo pro- 
 fundamente los recursos, condioiones y 
 porvenir de Mexico, y siendo S, la vez 
 hombre recto y j usto, comprendid que no 
 couvenla celebrar un paoto leonino; y 
 con el propdsito de hacer una obra 
 duradera, celebrd un tratado que promo- 
 vla reclprocamente los intereses de ambos 
 palses, y que no dudo habrfa producido 
 un gran desarrollo del comercio entre am- 
 bos si hubiera llegado S, ponerse en ejecu- 
 ci6n, pues 78 de los artioulos producidos 
 6 manufacturados en los Estados Unidos, 
 se admitlan en Mexico libres de todo de- 
 recho federal, del Estado 6 municipal. 
 
 Muchas dlficultades tuvo que veneer 
 Mexico para aceptar ese tratado, pues el 
 Gobierno depende para vivir principal, si 
 nd exclusivamente, de los derechosde im- 
 portacidn, y no puede reducirlos sin una 
 gran perdida de bus reutas pllblicas con 
 todas sus terribles conseouencias. Aunqne 
 Mexico no es todavla nn pals manufaoture- 
 ro, so han comenzado S, establecer algunas 
 
634 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 der the shadow of high import duties 
 which afford incidental protection, and 
 many of such industries were threatened 
 ■with utter ruin by the franchises granted 
 to similar manufactures of the United 
 States. The long credits given to Mexi- 
 can merchants for the payment of goods 
 bought in Europe, and, in fact, the whole 
 mercantile system at present established 
 in Mexico, were also endangered by 
 the stipulations of a reciprocity treaty 
 with the United States. Notwithstand- 
 ing all these obstacles the Mexican Gov- 
 ernment, wishing to increase her trade 
 with the United States, overcame them 
 all, and the treaty of reciprocity was 
 signed January 20, 1883. 
 
 It was then thought by American states- 
 men that the production of manufactured 
 articles in this country, stimulated by the 
 protective laws enacted since 1861 at the 
 commencement of the civil war, had then 
 begun to exceed the home consumption, 
 notwithstanding the fact that its home 
 market, on an average of about 50,000,000 
 of inhabitants, consuming proportion- 
 ately more than any other people, was a 
 very large one. It was thought that in 
 order not to check that production it had 
 become necessary to open new markets, 
 and none was certainly more convenient 
 than that of Mexico, a country which 
 adjoins the United States for over 2,000 
 miles which is inhabited by 12,000,000 
 people which produces relatively very 
 few manufactured articles, and possesses 
 all the advantages of climate, and the 
 labor necessary for the production of the 
 raw material which this country needs as 
 a supply for her manufactories. 
 
 The reciprocity treaty, however, met 
 with opposition from some comparatively 
 small productive classes of this country, 
 who considered their interests endangered 
 and it only passed the Senate of the United 
 States by the number of votes absolutely 
 required for its ratification. 
 
 The necessary biU to carry out the 
 treaty having been introduced in the 
 House of Representatives, in accordance 
 with the constitutional provision which 
 requires that all laws affecting the pub- 
 lic revenue should originate in the House, 
 it was referred to the Committee of Ways 
 
 industrias S, la sombra de los altos derechos 
 de importacidn, y muchas de ellas se ar- 
 ruinariansi se concedieran franquicias & 
 manufacturas similares de los Estados 
 Unidos. Los largos cr^ditos para pagar 
 las mercanolas compradas en Europa de 
 que gozan los comerciantes mexicanos, y 
 todo el sistema mercantil establecido hasta 
 ahora en Mexico, se verfan tambi^u ama- 
 gados con las estipulaciones de nn tratado 
 de reciprocidad. El Gobierno de Mexico se 
 sobrepuso, sin embargo, ^todas estasdifi- 
 cultades y con el deseo de aumentar su 
 tr^fico con los Estados Unidos, y el tratado 
 de reciprocidad se firm6 el 30 de enero de 
 1883. 
 
 Se crey(5 entonoes que la produoci(5n de 
 artlcnlos manufacturados en este pais, es- 
 timulada por las leyes protecciouistas, ex- 
 pedidas desde 1861, en que comenzfi la 
 guerra civil en los Estados Unidos, co- 
 men zaba ya ^ exceder al consume, sin 
 embargo de tener como mercado una po- 
 blaci(3u por t^rmino medio de oincuenta 
 millones de habitantes, que consumen en 
 mayor proporoi(5n que los moraddres de 
 cualquiera otra parte del globo. Como 
 consecuencia de esto se crey<5 igualmente 
 que habria necesidad, para no limitar esa 
 producci6n, de procurarle nuevos meroa- 
 dos, y que ningtin otro era tan convenien- 
 te como el de Mexico, que es un pals con- 
 tiguo S, los Estados Unidos, por una ex- 
 tension de 2,000 millafi, habitado por 
 12,000,000 de almas, que producen relati- 
 vamente muy pooos articulos manufactu- 
 rados, y que tieue todos los elementos de 
 clima y de brazos indisponsables para pro- 
 ducir las. materias primas que este pals 
 necesita para el fomento de sus industrias. 
 
 A pesar de esto, el tratado de reciproci- 
 dad con Mexico encontrd oposicifin por 
 parte de algunos productores de este pals, 
 que consideraban amagados sus intereses, 
 y no fu6 sauoionado en el Senado de los 
 Estados Unidos, sino por el niimero de 
 votes absolutamente necesario para su ra- 
 tificacidn. 
 
 Habi^ndose presentado ii la Cdlmara de 
 Dipntados el proyecto de ley necesario 
 para que el tratado se pusieae en ejecu- 
 ci6n, en cumplimiento del preoepto cons- 
 tituoional que requiere que toda ley que 
 afecte & las rentas piiblicas tenga su orf- 
 gen en aquella Ciimara, se pas<> ^ la Co- 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 635 
 
 and Means, composed, as it is-well known, 
 of the most eminent financiers and prin- 
 cipal leaders of the two political parties 
 into which the House was divided. The 
 committee intrusted the study of the 
 treaty and the preparation of the report 
 thereon to a distinguished Representa- 
 tive of Michigan, who was thought to be 
 especially acquainted with the matter 
 and peculiarly fitted for such a work. 
 After due consideration of this subject, 
 only one member, Mr. Abram S. Hewitt, 
 out of the thirteen of the committee, 
 reported in favor of the treaty. 
 
 The report of the majority seemed to 
 be a libel against Mexico rather than a 
 report, and rested its adverse vote on the 
 treaty on the ground that '' the release 
 of revenue was somewhat in favor of our 
 Mexican neighbors;" but, immediately 
 after this assertion, it averred that 
 "while the advantage in respect to 
 duties released would seem to be, for 
 the present, somewhat in favor of our 
 people " (the United States), it was 
 remarked that "the treaty would be an 
 unwarrantable interference with product- 
 ive industries carried on in our coun- 
 try," meaning sugar, and tobacco, al- 
 though soon thereafter, it was acknowl- 
 edged that "the importation from Mexico 
 of both those articles during the last 
 fiscal year, was comparatively small." 
 The Mexican tobacco could never affect 
 the production of the same article in this 
 country, as the quality of each is quite 
 different. 
 
 The other reasons offered in that report 
 for the rejection of the treaty were not 
 any sounder, as they consisted in saying 
 that " there can not be any reciprocity, 
 inasmuch as Mexico has only 10,000,000 
 inhabitants (upon the authority of the 
 report), while the United States have 
 60,000,000;" that "the machinery and 
 agricultural implements" (which were 
 among the articles of the United States 
 on the free list of the treaty) " were not 
 imported into Mexico, where there was 
 110 need for them," when the statistical 
 data published annually by the United 
 States Government show the reverse to 
 be the case ; that " the Mexican Govern- 
 ment is a confederated republic in name, 
 
 misidn de Hacienda, que como es sabido 
 se compone de las eminencias financieras 
 y politieas de los partidos reptesentados 
 en dicha Ciimara, y oomprende & los cori- 
 feos mds notables de los dos partidos 
 principales en que ahora se divide. La 
 Comisi6n encomend<5 el estudio del trata- 
 do y la redaccidn del dict^men S, un distin- 
 guido dipntado de Michigan, S, quien por 
 sus aptitudes peculiares y por sus conoci- 
 mientos especiales del asuuto, se le consi- 
 derd el m^s competente. Estudiado el 
 caso en el seno de la Comisidn, tan sdlo 
 uno de los trece miembros de que ella se 
 componia, Mr. Abraham S. Hewit, dicta- 
 mind en favor del tratado. 
 
 El dict^men de los dem^s miembros, que 
 m£is que diot^men parecia un libelo en 
 contra de Mexico, fundabaprincipalmente 
 su voto adverse al tratado, en que "el 
 monto de las rebajas en los dereohos de 
 importacidn es mas bien en favor de 
 nuestros vecinos, los Mexicanos;" pero & 
 continuaoidude este concepto, se asevera- 
 baque "alpasoquelaventajaen lareduc- 
 cidn de derechos, parece estar, por ahora, 
 alglin tanto en favor de nuestro pueblo 
 (el de los Estados Unidos)," y se agrega- 
 ba que "el tratado eqaivaldrfa S, una in- 
 trusidn iiy'ustifieable en algunas de las 
 principales industrias de nuestro pals," 
 cuyo concepto se referia al azTioar y al ta- 
 baco ; aunque inmediatamente despu^s se 
 dice que " la importacidn de ambos arti- 
 culos, procedentes de Mexico, es relativa- 
 mente pequeQa." El tabaco mexicano 
 nunca afectaria la producci6n de ese artl- 
 culo en este pals, por ser muy diferente la 
 calidad de ambos. 
 
 No son m^s sdlidos los dem^s argumen- 
 tos aducidos en ese dict^men en contra 
 del tratado, pues consisten en aseverar 
 que "no puede haber reciprooidad por 
 cuanto, segun el dictiimeu, Mexico tiene 
 solamente 10,000,000 de habitantes, mien- 
 tras los Estados Unidos tienen 60,000,- 
 000 " ; en dar como un hecho que " no se 
 importan en Mexico maquinaria 6 instru- 
 mentos de agrioultura Cque eran de los ar- 
 tefaotos de los Estados Unidos que el tra- 
 tado admitia libresde derechos), porque 
 no se usan en aquel pals," — cuando los 
 dates estadisticos que se publican anual- 
 mente, demuestran lo oontrario; en asegu- 
 rar que "el Gobierno de Mexico, es una re- 
 ptiblica de nombre, y de hecho un despo- 
 
636 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 and a military despotism in fact," which, 
 even if true, would not affect at all the 
 ecoDomioal questions which the treaty 
 intended to solve ; that although we have 
 lived together as neighbors, geograph- 
 ically, for a century, we are yet to-day in 
 a manner strangers to each other," over- 
 looking the fact that two neighboring 
 nations connected by the sea and by rail 
 can not be strangers to each other, and 
 that if any estrangement existed it would 
 cease with the increase of commerce 
 which the treaty intended to accomplish ; 
 that " to speak of permanent or desirable 
 commercial relations wilh a Government 
 and people thus estranged from us in sen- 
 timent, is without hope of success or 
 promise of substantial permanent re- 
 sults," and the report itself tends to make 
 each country still more a stranger to the 
 other; that " the iirst duty of the United 
 States was to protect its citizens from 
 the effects of constantly recurring revolu- 
 tions in Mexico," when the fact is that 
 no political disturbances of any kind 
 have taken place there for several years 
 past, and none since the treaty was 
 signed ; that " the United States citizens 
 have been long exposed on the Mexican 
 border to depredations by lawless bands," 
 when, in fact, the Mexicans have natu- 
 rally been the main sufferers from past 
 disturbances; that "the United States 
 citizens have no adequate protection to 
 person and property in Mexico," which 
 statement is, I imagine, at variance with 
 the reports thereon received by the State 
 Department ;' that " the Mexican tariff " 
 (whose asperities, as regards the United 
 States, were removed by the reciprocity 
 treaty) "was a system of rank injus- 
 tice," a pardonable qualification in view 
 of the little knowledge possessed of the 
 Mexican fiscal laws ; that " while such a 
 system exists it was useless to conclude 
 any treaty" when the object of this 
 treaty was precisely the partial abroga- 
 tion of said tariff; that "the establish- 
 ment of free zone was itself a revolu- 
 tionary act, in violation of the constitu- 
 tion of Mexico and hostile to the United 
 States Government," a statement wholly 
 ^ ithout foundation and due to the lack 
 of sufficient knowledge of Mexican his- 
 tory; that "although treaties of extra- 
 dition between the two countries do and 
 
 tismo militar," — ^lo cual, aun en caso de 
 ser cierto, no afectaria en nada & la cues- 
 tidn econ(5mica ; en deoir que "sin em- 
 bargo de que M&ico y los Estados Unidos 
 son vecinos geogrd^ficamente hablando, 
 son extrafios entre si" — cuando no pueden 
 ser extraBas dos naciones unldas por el 
 Oo^ano y por ferrocarriles, y cnando sn 
 apartamiento oesaria con el aumento de co- 
 mercio que el tratado se proponla realizar; 
 en declarar, en segnida, que " no habia es- 
 peranza de establecer con €xito relaciones 
 comerciales con un gobierno y un pueblo 
 tan extranos & los de los Estados Unidos," 
 cuando, como va dicho, no existe seme- 
 jante extrafiamiento, y dado que existiera, 
 el dict^men antes tenderfa & aumentarlo 
 que disiparlo; en deoir que el primer 
 dehor de los Estados Unidos era proteger 
 Si sns ciudadanos contra las revoluciones 
 que "ocurrlan en Mexico," — cnando hace 
 varies anos que han cesado los trastornos 
 polltioos en Mexico y ninguno ha tenido 
 iugar con posteriori dad al tratado y al 
 dict^men ; en que " los ciudadanos de los 
 Estados Unidos est^n expuestos en las 
 fronteras con Mexico i las depredaciones 
 de los bandidos," — siendo asf que por 
 razdn natural los mexicanos han. sidd las 
 victimas prinoipales de los disturbios de 
 la frontera; en que "los ciudadanos de 
 los Estados Unidos residentes en Mexico 
 no tenian proteoci6n adecuada en sus 
 personas y propiedades," (y en esto oreo 
 que el dict^men est^ en desaouerdo con 
 los datos que hay en el Departamento de 
 Estado) en que "el araucel mexicauo 
 (ouyos rigores respeoto de los Estados 
 Unidos eran removidos por el tratado de 
 reciprocidad) "tenia por sistemalain- 
 justioia mSa completa" (a system of rank 
 injustice) calificaoidn discalpable por la 
 poca versaci6n del autor del dict^men con 
 las leyes mexioanas ; en que " no podia 
 hacerse tratado ninguno mientras subsis- 
 tiese ese araucel," cuando el tratado tenia 
 preoisamente por objeto modifioar ese 
 mismo arancel; en que " el establecimi- 
 ento de la zona libre era un acto revolu- 
 cionario, violatorio de la Constitucidn 
 de Mexico y hostil al Gobierno de los Es- 
 tados Unidos ; " la falta de conocimlento 
 de la historia de Mexico explica la inexac- 
 titud del liltimo ooncepto; en que "aunqne 
 existian tratados de extradiciiSn eutre los 
 dos paises, sua estipolaciones nunca se 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 637 
 
 have existed, their provisions have never 
 been fairly enforced," when the archives 
 of the State Department must show that 
 Mexico has delivered not only foreigners 
 whose extradition has been requested in 
 accordance with the treaty, but even her 
 own citizens, while the United States 
 Government have never reciprocated; 
 that "France and England had demanded 
 concessions upon several important points 
 in favor of their citizens and subjects be- 
 fore assuming the attitude of commercial 
 allies, when the treaty practically placed 
 the citizens of the United States in a 
 better mercantile position than the 
 citizens or subjects of any other power ; 
 and lastly, that- " the expediency of the 
 treaty was very doubtful, under a polit- 
 ical point of view,'' when the treaty did 
 not intend to solve any political question, 
 and only dealt with commercial prob- 
 lems. 
 
 It is true that several of the members 
 of the Committee of Ways and Means who 
 signed the report, stated that they did 
 not concur in all the reasons assigned 
 therein, but they all agreed to its recom- 
 mendations, and, as they did not specify 
 the reasons upon which they were at vari- 
 ance, it is to be supposed that they ac- 
 cepted some or most of them. 
 
 It would be almost an insult to the 
 people of the United States to account 
 for the failure of the reciprocity treaty by 
 such flimsy, incongruous and contradic- 
 tory reasons as those stated in the report 
 of the majority of the Committee, nor 
 that their object was to protect sectional 
 interests, which, without foundation, 
 were considered jeopardized, as there is 
 no reform, no matter how insignificant it 
 may be, that will not affect some inter- 
 ests, regardless of the general benefit of 
 the w hole country. The only rati onal and 
 philosophical explanation which I find 
 is that the production of the manufac- 
 tured articles of the United States had 
 not then reached such a degree as to make 
 it necessary to adopt measures to open 
 foreign markets ; and that tlierefore, the 
 effort then made with that object did not 
 succeed because it was premature. If 
 such measure could not be carried out 
 when it was limited to Mexico alone I do 
 not think it was likely to be successful if 
 nxtended to the other American nations. 
 
 hablan llevado i cabo," ouando en el 
 archivo del Departamento de Estado 
 existen constancias de que Mexico no so- 
 laniente ha entregado Si los extranjeros 
 que se le han pedido conforme al tratado, 
 sino aun & sus propios ciudadanos, mien- 
 tras que los Estados Unidos han rehu- 
 sado hacer otro tanto; en que "Fran- 
 cia 6 Inglaterra hablan exigido con- 
 oesiones sobre puntos importantes en 
 favor de sus ciudadanos y slibditos y 
 habian asumido la actitud de aliados co- 
 merciales," cuando el tratado ponia & los 
 ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos en 
 mucho mejor condioi<5n de la que guarda- 
 ban los slibditos 6 ciudadanos de cnal- 
 quiera otra potencia ; y por filtimo, en 
 que "dicho tratado era de una convenien- 
 oia politica muy dudosa," cuando 61 no 
 tocaba ningnna cuestidn polftica, y no 
 tenia md)s que uu aspecto meramente 
 mercantil. 
 
 Es cierto que varios de los signatarios 
 del dictamen hicieron presente que no 
 aceptaban todos sus razonamientos ; pero 
 todoB estuvieron de aouerdo en sus con- 
 clusiones, y como no expresaron con cua- 
 les de los razonamientos contenidos en el 
 dictamen no estaban de acuerdo, debe 
 creerse que aceptan los principales. 
 
 No seria posible creer, sin hacer una 
 ofensa ^ este pueblo, que el fracaso del 
 tratado de reciprocidad se debiera & las 
 ridlculas, incongruentes y contradictorias 
 alegaciones contenidas en el dictiCmen, y 
 ni siquiera ^la intencifin de sobreponer 
 intereses de muy poca cuantia, que con 
 raz6n 6 sin ella se consideraban amena- 
 zados — pues no hay reforma ninguna, por 
 insignifioante que sea, que no afecte los 
 intereses de alguien, — 6 los intereses ge- 
 nerales del pals; y la linica explicaci<Jn 
 racional y filos6fica que yo le enouentro, 
 es que la producci(5u do articulos manu- 
 faoturados no ha llegado todavia en los 
 Estados Unidos i, un incremento tal que 
 haga ueoesario tomar medidas para abrirle 
 nuevos raercados en el extranjero, y que 
 por lo mismo, el esfuerzo hecho entonces 
 con eoe objeio no pudo tener buen 6xito 
 por ser premature. Si no se pudieron 
 poner en pr£ictica esas medidas cuando se 
 liniitaban solo ^ Mexico, no considero pro- 
 bable que pudieran extenderse S, las de- 
 m^ naciones americanas. 
 
638 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONi'EEENCE. 
 
 I think that the American people have 
 all the Ingenuity and fitness necessary to 
 compete with any other people in the 
 ■world, in the production of manufactured 
 articles. It is true that the higher wages 
 paid here, the import duties upon raw 
 material, and the high price of fuel, 
 malie the production of certain goods 
 dearer here than in some other countries; 
 but it must he observed, at the same 
 time, that the application of machinery, 
 which is used here in a larger scale than 
 in other nations, cheapens production to 
 such an extent that many articles are 
 made cheaper here than anywhere else, 
 as I believe is the case with the manu- 
 facture of steel rails at the Edgar Thomp 
 son Works in Pittsburgh, Pa., where ev- 
 erything is done mechanically, and as 
 natural gas is used as a fuel, the cost 
 ought to be less than anywhere else. If 
 the manufacture of other articles has not 
 yet reached that level, it is due, in my 
 opinion, to the fact that its production 
 is not large enough for the consumption 
 of the home market, which is snch a large 
 one, of over 6.5,000,000 of people ; and to 
 the fact that the protection afforded to 
 manufactures by high import duties on 
 similar articles made in other countries, 
 keep up high prices, which makes manu- 
 fflcturing here a profitable business, and 
 precludes for the present the necessity of 
 looking for foreign markets. 
 
 But when production shall exceed the 
 consumption, the object of those pro- 
 tective measures will have ceased, and 
 the time for revision will then come, and 
 when this happens the cost of production 
 will be reduced to such a degree as to 
 permit competition with similar manu- 
 facturers of any other countries. In the 
 meanwhile it has been premature to 
 speak of adopting the necessary measures 
 for opening foreign markets to the manu- 
 factured articles of the United States, in 
 view of the fact that they are not yet pro- 
 duced in sufficient quantity for the home 
 market, where they are sold at a higher 
 price than they could command abroad. 
 
 Such have been my views up to the 
 time when this International American 
 Conference met, and since then, the ex- 
 pression of opinion I have heard and the 
 demonstrations I have witnessed in the 
 principal productive centers of this 
 
 Creo que el pueblo de los Estados Uni- 
 dos tiene las coudiciones y aptitud nece- 
 sarias para competir con cualquiera otro 
 pueblo del mundo en la producci6n de ar- 
 tlculos manufacturados. Es cierto que los 
 altos jornales que se pagan aquf, los dere- 
 chos de importacifin sobre materias pri- 
 mas y el precio mayor del combustible son 
 motivos para que la produccirtn de ciertos 
 artlculos resulte m^s oostosa que en otros 
 palses ; pero debe tenerse presente, S, la 
 vez, que la aplicaoidn de la maquiuaria 
 que se hace atjul en mayor escala que en 
 otros palses, abarata la produccidu de tal 
 manera, que permiteproducir muchos ar- 
 tlculos i, menor precio que en cualquiera 
 otra parte, como creo debe suceder con la 
 proi]uci6n de rieles de acero en la fa- 
 brica de Edgar Thompson, en Pittsburg, 
 en donde todas las operaciones se haccu 
 mecSnicamentey seusacorao combustib'e 
 el gas natural. Si no se ha llegado toda- 
 vla & esa baratura en la producci6n de 
 otros artlculos, oousiste esto ^mi juicio, 
 en que no se producen aiin en cantidad 
 bastante para satisfacer el mercado inte- 
 rior, por si muy vasto, pues es ahora el 
 de 65,000,000 de 'habitantes ; y estando 
 esas manafacturas protegidas por altos 
 derechos de importacidn sobre las simi- 
 lares de otros palses, deja su produoci6n 
 muy fuertes utilidades, sin necesidad de 
 buscar mercados en el extranjero. 
 
 Pero cuando la prodnccidn exceda al con- 
 sumo habr^'cesado el objeto de las medidas 
 protectoras de la produccifiu nacioual, y 
 creo que entonces, al revisarlas, se abara- 
 tar^ 6sta al grado da poder competir con 
 las manufacturas similares de cualquiera 
 otra nacidn. Entre tanto, parece que ha 
 side prematuro hablar de adoptar las 
 medidas uecesarias para abrir mercados 
 oxtraujeros S. los artefaotos de los Estados 
 Uuidos, porque puede decii-se que toda- 
 vla no se producen en cantidad bastante 
 para el cousumo interior, en el que en- 
 cuentran precio mSs alto que el que pu- 
 dieran tener en el extranjero. 
 
 Estas ban side mis ideas hasta la re- 
 uni6n de la Conferoiicia Interuacional 
 Americana; pero las opiuiones que he oido 
 expresar desde entonces, y las demostra- 
 ciones que he presenciado recientemeute 
 PO los principales centros productores de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 639 
 
 country during the recent excursion of 
 the Delegates to the Conference, and 
 those which are now being made in this 
 city, the raetropolis of the country and 
 the emporium of its commerce, that I 
 confess my views begin to shake, and I 
 am inclined to believe that the situation 
 is changing ; that public opinion, which 
 really controls the destinies of the nation, 
 favors the adoption of the necessary 
 measures for the opening of new markets 
 abroad, and that it is becoming now pos- 
 sible to carry out similar provisions to 
 those contemplated in the reciprocity 
 treaty with Mexico. 
 
 It is my earnest wish that sucb pro- 
 visions, or any other measures which will 
 increase the commercial relations of our 
 respective countries and the United 
 States, will be adopted at an early date 
 for the mutual benefit of all concerned, 
 and no better opportunity can certainly 
 be offered for such purpose than the meet- 
 ing in the city of Washington of the 
 International American Conference, at 
 the invitation of the Government of the 
 United States and in compliance with an 
 act of Congress. 
 
 este pafs, durante la excursion de los de- 
 legados & dicha Conferencia, y las que se 
 est^n haciendo actualmente en esta ciu- 
 dad que es la motr6poli del pafs y el em- 
 porio de su comercio, son tales que, confi- 
 eso, empiezo Si vacilar y vuelvo ^ crecr 
 que la situaci6u ha cambiado : que la 
 opinidn publica, que es la que realraente 
 dirije los destines del pals, favorece ya 
 las medidas necesarias para abrirse nue- 
 vos mercados en el cxtranjero, y que serla 
 ya posible llevar S, cabo medidas seme- 
 jantes d las comprendidas en el tratado 
 de reciprocidad con Mexico. 
 
 Tengo el va&s sincere deseo de que se 
 adopten lo m^s pronto posible esas 
 medidas, 6 cualesquiera otras que aumen- 
 teu el comercio entrenuestrosrespectivos 
 palses y los Estados Unidos en beneficio 
 mutuo de todos los interesados, y creo 
 que no seria f^cil que se preeeutara ooa- 
 si6n nidis favorable i)ararealizarelobjeto, 
 que la rennidn en la ciudad de Washing- 
 ton de la Conferencia Internacional 
 Americana, celebrada por iuvitacidn del 
 Gobierno de los Estados Unidos, y en vir- 
 tud de una ley del Congreso. 
 
 Appendix IV. 
 
 IBE AUNEXATIOlf OF MEXICO. 
 
 [Published in the North Americau Keview of 
 
 May, 1889.] 
 
 ApiiNDICE No. IV. 
 
 LA ANEX16N DE MEXICO. 
 
 [Traducci6n espa&ola del artlculo que aparecid ou 
 
 el ' ' North American Keview " de Mayo de 1889. ] 
 
 All thoughts of annexation being dis- 
 carded, as they are practically now, the 
 ■wisest policy to be pursued between the 
 United States and Mexico, and one to 
 ■which all political parties in this country 
 seem now to adhere, would be, in my 
 opinion, so to enlarge the political, social, 
 and commercial relations between the two 
 Republics as to identify them in great 
 commercial and industrial interests, but 
 without diminishing the autonomy, or 
 much less destroying the nationality, of 
 either. That policy would give to the 
 United States and to Mexico all the ad- 
 vantages of annexation without any of its 
 drawbacks. Both countries have already 
 practically been made a single postal ter- 
 ritory. It is to be hoped that before long 
 their commercial intercourse will grow in 
 such proportions as to make possible and 
 
 Una vez descartada toda idea de ane- 
 xi6n por parte de este pals, como creo que 
 practicamente lo estdl ya, ine parece que 
 la politlca mas sabia que puede seguirse 
 enfre Mexico y los Estados Unidos, y la 
 cual parece que adoptan aqui todos los 
 partidos poHticos, deberia ser, en mi 
 opinidn, la de establecer relaciones poli- 
 ticas, comerciales y sociales entre las dos 
 Eepublicas, de tal naturaleza que las 
 identifiqueu en grandes intereses comer- 
 ciales e industriales ; pero sin dismiuuir 
 la autonomia 6 destruir la nacionalidad 
 de ninguna de ellas. Esa polltica daria 
 Si los Estados Unidos y S Mexico todns las 
 ventajas de la anexi6u, sin ninguno de 
 sus inconvenientes. Ambos paises han 
 hecho ya practicamente de su territorio 
 un solo territorio postal. Es de espe- 
 rarse que antes de mucho sus relaciones 
 
640 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 convenient to both Bomething more than 
 commercial reciprocity. Their contiguous 
 territory, closely united by sereral trunk 
 lines of railroad, will necessarily hasten 
 that result. 
 
 For the present, and in all probability 
 for sometime to come, commercial recip- 
 rocity is all that is needed for the develop- 
 ment of trade relations between the two 
 countries. Their territorial contiguity 
 and the steel bands which now connect 
 them require special rules to foster and 
 develop their commercial intercourse 
 somewhat different from those applied 
 to other countries. Reciprocity has, be- 
 sides, the advantage of allowing the re- 
 form of the tariff laws of a country to be 
 made for a compensation to itself and 
 with great benefit to the other country. 
 If, for instance, the United States should 
 decide now, with a view to reduce their 
 revenue, or for any other reason satisfac- 
 tory to themselves, to abolish the duty on 
 sugar, as they did sometime ago with the 
 duty on coffee, they would gain nothing 
 but a reduction of revenue in case the 
 abolition was extended to all nations, but 
 if it is made only for Mexico, they would 
 receive an ample compensation in favor 
 of their products and manufactures. Be- 
 sides, reciprocity as agreed upon with 
 Mexico in the pending treaty does not re- 
 strict in any manner the constitutional 
 power of the Congress of each country to 
 alter at their will their respective revenue 
 laws. 
 
 Commercial union presents a great many 
 more difficulties to overcome. If by com- 
 mercial union between two countries it is 
 understood that both should have the 
 same tariff laws for the importation of 
 foreign articles, and mutually receive free 
 of duties their own, the difficulty will at 
 once arise about who will make, amend, 
 and repeal such laws ? If the Congress of 
 each country simultaneously but inde- 
 pendently should do this, it would be very 
 difficult for them to come to an agreement, 
 representing countries with different needs 
 and interests. A joint congress, where both 
 countries should be represented, would be 
 subject to serious objections, besides re- 
 quiring a modification of the fundamental 
 
 comerciales hayan crecido eu tales pro- 
 porciones que sea posible y conveniente 
 para ambos algo mas que la reciprocidad 
 comercial. Su contiguidad territorial y 
 su estreoha unidn por varias lineas tron- 
 cales de ferrooarril facilitar^ necesaria- 
 mente este resultado. 
 
 Por abora y probablemente por algnn 
 tiempo mas, la reciprocidad comercial es 
 todo lo que se neoesita para desarrollar 
 las relaciones mercantiles entre los dos 
 paises. Su contiguidad territorial y las 
 bandas de acero que los unen ahora re- 
 quieren reglas especiales para regir y 
 aumentar su comercio, algun tanto dife- 
 rentes de las que se aplican ^ los demas 
 palses. La reciprocidad tiene, ademas, 
 la ventaja de que permite que se reformen 
 las leyes de importaci6n de un pals, con 
 una compensacidn equivalente, y ^ la vez 
 con benefioio para el otro pals. Si, por 
 ejemplo, los Estados Unidos desearen, 
 ahora, con objeto de reducir sus ingresos, 
 6 por alguna otra razon, abolir los de- 
 rechos sobre el aziicar, como lo hicleron 
 hace algnn tiempo con el caf€, no gaaarian 
 mas resultado, si la abolicidu se hiciera 
 general para todos los paises, que el de 
 disminuirsus rentas. Pero si los abolieran 
 tan solo para Mexico, recibirian una com- 
 pensaci<5n equivalente en favor de sus pro- 
 ductos y manufacturas. Por otra parte, 
 la reciprocidad, tal como se convino con 
 Mexico, en el tratado pendiente, tiene, 
 tambi^n, la ventaja de que no restringe 
 en manera alguna la facultad constitu- 
 cional del Congreso de cada pais para a^- 
 terar sus respectivas leyes fiscales. 
 
 La unidn comercial presenta muchas 
 mayores dificultades. Si por nnidn comer- 
 cial entre dos pafses se entiende que 
 ambos tengan las mismas tarifas 6 leyes 
 para la importacidu de meroanclas ex- 
 tvangeras y que reciban libres de derechos 
 las mercanclas del otro pals, se presenta 
 desde luego la difloultad de quien formarii, 
 modificarS y derogar^ tales leyes. Si ha 
 de ser esta facultad de los Congresos de 
 cada pais obraudo simultanea pero inde- 
 pendientemente, seria muy dificil que 
 pudieran llegar Si un acuerdo, represen- 
 taudo naciones con diferentes necesidades 
 6 intereses. Un Congreso comun en que 
 ambos pafses estuvieraa repres-ntados, 
 tendriainconvbnientes muy series, ademas 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 641 
 
 laws of the two. They would have to be 
 represented as equals, or in proportion to 
 their population, or their territorial area. 
 If as equals, the larger might suffer in its 
 interests, and if in proportion to their 
 population or territory, the smaller one 
 would be the suiierer. 
 
 But even restricting commercial union 
 to the free importation in each country 
 ofthe products, and manufactures of the 
 other, which measure could properly be 
 called unrestricted reciprocity, keeping 
 both their respective tariffs, issued in ac- 
 cordance with their constitutions, for the 
 products and manufactures of other coun- 
 tries, provision should be made about the 
 way to modify their revenue laws, be- 
 cause if, in the case of American cotton 
 goods, for instance, they would be de- 
 clared by Mexico free for all (jther coun- 
 tries, the United States would then cease 
 to derive the advantages of reciprocity; 
 and how would such laws be amended 
 and repealed is a matter very difficult to 
 decide, as in that case it would be neces- 
 sary to give to either country a voice in 
 the enactment of the laws of the other, 
 and this would hardly be acceptable to 
 any, and would again require the modifi- 
 cation of the fundamental laws of both. 
 
 The question of commercial union be- 
 tween Mexico and the United States pre- 
 sents such complex problems, that it is 
 more advisable to leave to the needs and 
 exigencies of the future to indicate the 
 way of solviug them, and for the present 
 all the interests and needs of both coun- 
 tries would in my opinion be subserved 
 with restricted reciprocity, as the one 
 agreed upon in the pending treaty. 
 
 In conclusion, I would express my sin- 
 cere conviction that the United States 
 desire above all things, the increasing 
 prosperity and secure stability of Mexico 
 and of the other Spanish-American pow- 
 ers, and that they are really anxious for 
 closer and more friendly relations. We 
 have not heretofore known as much of 
 each other as we ought to have, and 
 41 I 
 
 de que para establecerlo se requeriria la 
 modificacidn de las leyes fuudamentales 
 de los dos. Ambos tendrian que estar 
 representados en 61, 6 como iguales, 6 en 
 proporci6u Si su poblacidn, 6 territorio. 
 Si como iguales, el mas grande sufriria en 
 sus inteieses; y si en proporcidu & su 
 poblacion 6 territorio, el mas pequefio 
 seria la victima. 
 
 Pero auu restringiendo la unidn comer- 
 cial ^ la importacidn, libre de derechos 
 en ambos palses, de los productos y ma- 
 nufaoturas del otro, ouya medida podiia 
 llamarse mas propiamente reciprocidad 
 absoluta 6 sin rcstricciones, teniendo cada 
 uno el derecho de expedir sus respectivos 
 aranceles, de aouerdo con las prescrip- 
 ciones de sus leyes fuudamentales, poi lo 
 que hace ^ los derechos de Importacidn 
 para los productos y mauufacturas de 
 otros paises, deberia convenirse en la 
 mauera de modiiicar dichos aranceles, 
 por que en el case, por ejemplo, de 
 que las mauufacturas dealgodon de todos 
 los paises se declarasen libres ^ su impor- 
 tacidn en Mexico, los Estados Unidos 
 dejarian, entonces, de obtener las venta- 
 jas de la reciprocidad; y la manera de 
 modificar dichos aranceles es nn asunto 
 muy dificil de decii'ir, porque tendria 
 que darse ^ cada pals alguna ingerencia, 
 en la formacidn de las leyes del otro, que 
 probablemente no seria aceptable para 
 ninguno de los dos y requeriria, tambi^n, 
 en ambos, la modificacidn de sus leyes 
 fuudamentales. 
 
 La cuestidn de la unidn comercial con 
 Mexico presen ta problemas tan complexos, 
 que es mas conveniento dejar que las ue- 
 cesidades y exigencias del porvenir indi- 
 quen la manera de resolverlos, y por 
 ahora, todos los intereses y necesidades de 
 ambos paises quedarian, en mi opinidn, 
 satisfechos con una reciprocidad res- 
 tringida, como la que se oonviuo en el 
 tratado pendiente. 
 
 Para concluir creo conveniente ex- 
 presar mi opinidn de que los Estados 
 Unidos desean ante todo la estabilidad y 
 prosperidad de Mexico y de las demas 
 naciones hispano-americanas, y quieren 
 sinceramenle estrechar sus relaciones 
 amistosas con ellas. Es un becho que 
 hasta ahora no nos conocemos los unos 4 
 los otros y el couooimiento recfjiroDa es 
 
642 
 
 IKTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 our mutual knowledge and understand- 
 ing is certainly the first step to take before 
 we can reach more satisfactory results. 
 M. EOMBRO. 
 
 Washington, April 20, 1889. 
 
 el primer paso para llegar & resnltados 
 mas satisfac Lories. 
 
 M. Romero. 
 Washington, April 20 de 1889. 
 
 Appendix V. 
 
 mb. henderson's spbeoh. 
 
 Mr. Pkbsidbnt: At the last meeting it 
 was my purpose, as soon as I procured a 
 translation of the speech of the honorable 
 Delegate from the Argentine, Mr. Saenz 
 Pefia, to examine it and see whether in 
 my judgment it called for an answer from 
 me. It is true 1 did not get a translation 
 of the speech until late Saturday night, 
 and other engagements have occupied my 
 entire time from then to the present. I 
 have glanced over the speech, however, 
 and whilst I recognize the exceeding abil- 
 ity therein displayed I do not deem it 
 proper to continue the discussion auy 
 longer in the line indicated by the hon- 
 orable gentleman's speech. Whilst I ac- 
 knowledge the ability of it, and the vast 
 learning displayed by the honorable gen- 
 tleman, yet it will be seen from an exami- 
 nation of his remarks, if we are willing 
 to take the bare agreement of the Argen- 
 tine, that they will receive our goods free 
 of duty or at modified duties, provided 
 we will take the few remaining articles 
 of the Argentine Republic free, and they 
 are very few indeed. 
 
 I can not see what harm will come out 
 of it. If we agree to take the Argentine 
 products free it will certainly open a 
 market for them ; and if they agree to 
 take ours free, and they can get the same 
 articles free from Europe, why, they are 
 under no obligation to take our articles, 
 therefore they would strike a good bar- 
 gain. We would be compelled to receive 
 all the products of the Argentine, while 
 the Argentine would receive none of our 
 products unless the Argentine merchants 
 could buy those products cheaper than 
 they could buy them of Europe. What 
 possible damage would be done the Ar- 
 gentine 1 can not see. 
 
 APlllNDICE No. V. 
 DISaVBSO DEL SESOlt HENDEBSON. 
 
 Sr. Pkesidbnte : En la filtima sesidn 
 form6 el prop6sito de estudiarel discurso 
 del Sr. Defegado por la Argentina, Sr. 
 Saenz Pena, tan pronto oomo bubiera con- 
 seguidosutraducoi6n,y versi habia en 61 
 alguna cosa que exigiese coutestacidn de 
 mi parte. Verdad es que lleg6 ^ mis 
 mauos dicha traducoidn en la noche del 
 S^bado, pero otros asuntos han ocupado 
 mi tiempo desde entonces hasta este ins- 
 tante. He hojeado, sin embargo, el 
 discurso, y aun cuando recouozoo sus 
 grandes m^ritos, no me parece convenien- 
 te contiuuar la discusidn por mas tiempo 
 en el terrene en que se ha colocado aquel 
 distinguido caballero. Aun cuando re- 
 conozco la gran liabilidad y vasta erudi- 
 ci6n desplegada por 61, observard no obs- 
 tante, al examinar sus palabras, si es que 
 nos conformamos con la simple manifes- 
 tacion de la Argentina — que esta Repii- 
 blica recibir^ todos nuestros artlculos li- 
 bres de derechos, 6 con derechos reducidos, 
 si nosotros admitamos, libres tambien de 
 derechos, los artlculos de ella que aun 
 contiuuan pagJiudolos, y que por cierto 
 son ya muy pocos. 
 
 No creo que esto produzca ningun per- 
 j uicio. Si coiivenimos en admitir libres de 
 derechos los productos de la Argentina, 
 ellos enoontrar^n un nuevo mercado. Y 
 si ella conviene en admitir los nuestros 
 del mismo modo, la circuinstaucia de que 
 puede hacer otro tanto con respecto & 
 Europa, y de no verse obligada por con- 
 signiente ^ tomar los nuestros, haoe que el 
 negocio rosulte para ella muy ventajoso. 
 Nosotros estariamos forzados S, recibir 
 todos los productos de la Argentina, mien- 
 tras que ella no recibiria los nuestros, ^ 
 menos que los comerciantes argentinos 
 pudieran comprarlos mas baratos que los 
 de Europa. No veo que esto pueda pro- 
 duoir uiugun perj uicio ^ la Argentina. 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 643 
 
 Now, ODe otlier remark aud I am done. 
 We hear a continual complaining of the 
 iujustioe of i;he high duties of the Uuited 
 States as compared with the duties of the 
 Argentine. I have had but a moment to 
 look up that subject and 1 will occupy 
 their attention for ou'y a few minutes. I 
 have merely looked at the duties of the 
 Argentine so far as I can obtain them at 
 present, and at the duties in our own 
 country. 
 
 In 1887 the total importations of foreign 
 merchandise into the United States was 
 over 683 millions iu value. The duties 
 collected amounted to $214,000,000 upon 
 this 683 millions, showing an average rate 
 of duty of 31.34 per cent. In 1888 our 
 importations were over 71i millions. The 
 duties which we collected upon the 712 
 millions were $216,000,000, showing an 
 average rate of duty of 30.33 per cent. In 
 1889 we imported over 741 millions of 
 foreign products, collecting duties 
 amounting to $220,000,000, showing the 
 average rate of duty charged to be 29.75 
 per cent. These figures indicate a con- 
 tinual reduction iu the average rate of 
 duty. 
 
 Now, I have not been able to obtain the 
 exact state of trade in the Argentine Re- 
 public since 1887. "The Annual Statis- 
 tician and Economist," published at New 
 York and San Francisco, estimates the 
 imports into the Argentine Republic for 
 1887 at $121,342,960, and the total revenue 
 collected for that year was $52,091,716. 
 I admit that it is not stated in this statis- 
 tical work what proportion of this reve- 
 nue is derived from customs duties, but I 
 hold in my band a statement from the 
 " South American Journal," reprinted in 
 the " River Platte Times," showing the 
 entire revenue of the Argentine for 1889 
 to have been as Hows : 
 
 •Customs duties at the cap- 
 ital $46,569,700.16 
 
 And iu the Provinces .... 9, 705, 331. 32 
 
 Una palabra mas y acabar^. Hemos 
 oido oontinuas quejas sobre la injnstioia 
 de los orecidos derechos de los Estados 
 Unidos en comparacicin con los de la 
 Argentina. No he tenido mas que un mo- 
 mento para estudiar este asunto y ocupar^ 
 la atenoidn de Uds. por solo unos minutos. 
 Hepodido linioamente estudiar muy su- 
 perficialmente los aranceles de la Argen- 
 tina, tales como me ha sido posible oon- 
 seguirlos y los oomparar^ con los de 
 nuestro pais. 
 
 El valor total de las importaoiones en 
 los Estados Unidos de mercaderias extran- 
 geras en 1887, pas(5 de 683 millones de 
 pesos. El valor de los derechos cobrados 
 ascendid Sj 214 millones de pesos, que 
 comparados con los 683 millones, dan uu 
 promedio de derechos de 31.34 porciento. 
 En 1888 nilestras importaciones pas.aron 
 de 712 millones; los derechos que cobra- 
 mos sobre esos 712 millones fueron 216 
 millones de pesos, lo que muestra un t6i- 
 niiuo medio de 30.33 porciento. En 1889 
 import amos mas de 741 millones de mer- 
 caderias extrangeras, y oobramos derechos 
 por valor de 220 millones de pesos, lo 
 que da un promedio de derechos de 29.75 
 por ciento. Estos numeros indicau una 
 reducoidn continua del promedio de los 
 derechos. 
 
 No me ha sido posible con segnir la ex- 
 posici(in exacta del comercio en la Repti- 
 blica Argentina desde 1887. El peri6dico, 
 denominado "The Annual Statistician and 
 Economist," publicado en Nueva-York y 
 en San Francisco, calcula las importa- 
 ciones hechas en la Argentina en 1887 
 en fl.il, 342,960, y las reutas totales co- 
 bradas en el mismo aflo en $52,091,716. 
 Admito que no se dice en esa estadistica 
 cual sea la proporci6n de los derechos de 
 ad nana con respecto al total de las 
 rentas, pero tengo en mis manos una 
 publicaci6n hechaporel "South American 
 Journal" y reimpresa en el "River Plata 
 Times, " en que se dice que la renta total 
 de la Argentina en el aQo 1889 ha sido 
 como sigue : 
 Derechos de aduana en la 
 
 >Capital $46,569,700.16 
 
 Y en las ProTincias 9, 705, 331. 32 
 
 Making a total from 
 customs of . . . „ . 56, 275, 031. 48 
 
 Que hacen un total 
 de derechos de... 
 
 56, 275, 031. 4S 
 
644 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Now, to make up the balance of the 
 revenue for the year 1889, they collected : 
 
 From btamped paper $4, 171, 018. 46 
 
 From business permits 1 , 500, 000. 00 
 
 From direct tax 3, 500, 000. 00 
 
 Andfromfines 30,000.00 
 
 Making a total rev- 
 enue in 1889 of. . . 
 
 65, 476, 049. 94 
 
 If this be correct, and it bears the im- 
 press of authority upon its face, and does 
 not differ from the statistical iuformatioa 
 I have obtained, the customs duties in 
 the Argentine Republic yielded over 56 
 millions, while all other sources yielded 
 only a little over 9 millions. 
 
 Assuming then that the tax-es were in 
 1889 the same as in 1887— that is, without 
 change of law — the importations in 1889 
 amounted to, say, |151,000,000. Now, if 
 151 millions of importations yielded |56,- 
 275,000 of revenue, the average rate of 
 duty can not be less than 37.26 per cent., 
 which is a much larger average rate of 
 duty than that imposed on importations 
 into the United States for three years. 
 Aud if we take the Argentine commerce 
 of 1887 the same result is disclosed. If in 
 the total revenue of 1889 of over 65 mil- 
 lions the revenue other than import du- 
 ties was $9,000,000 it may be assumed that 
 in a total of $52,000,000 all of it came from 
 impost duties except $7,000,000, to wit, 
 $45,000,000 from impost duties in 1887. 
 Hence, if an importation of 121 millions i u 
 1887 paid 45 millions duty into the Treas- 
 ury the rate per cent, must have been 
 37.19, largely over the duty paid upon the 
 average importations into this country in 
 the years 1887, 1888, or 1889. 
 
 Now, Mr. President, I have, unleiss 
 figures speak incorrectly, and I am sorry 
 my fiiend (Mr. Saenz Pefia) is not present 
 to-day to correct me if I am in error, 
 shown the condition existing in both 
 countries. Aud I find it necessary, inas- 
 much as he has made me a physician min- 
 istering to the diseased condition of the 
 
 Ahora bien para completar el total de 
 las rentas en el afio de 1889, cobraron : 
 
 Porpapel sellado $4,171,018.46 
 
 Por licencias para hacer 
 
 negocios 1,500,000.09 
 
 Por contribuciones directas 3, 500, 000. 00 
 Ypormullas 30,000.00 
 
 Queformaunarenta 
 total en 1889 de . . 65, 476, 049. 94 
 
 Si esto es exacto, — como supongo, pues 
 su autoridad es manifiesta, ademas de que 
 no difiere de otros datos estadisticos que 
 he obtenido, — los derechos de aduana de 
 la Reptiblioa Argentina produjeron mas 
 de 56 millones, mientras que todas las de- 
 mas rentas solo produjeron algo mas de 
 nueve millones. 
 
 Suponiendo pues, que los impuestos en 
 1889 fueron los mismos que en 1887 — es 
 decir sin cam bio de la ley — las im- 
 portacioues en 1889 subieron &, digamos, 
 151 millones de pesos. Ahora bien, si 151 
 millones de importaciones produjeron 
 $-6,275,000 de derechos, el promedio de 
 estos no puede ser menos de 37.26 por 
 ciento, lo cual es mucho mas que lo que 
 los Estados Unidos han impuesto ^ sus im- 
 portaciones ea los tres liltimos anos. El 
 misrao resultado obtendriamos si con- 
 siderasemos el comercio de la Argentina 
 en 1887. Si en las rentas totales de 1889 
 de mas de 65 millones de pesos, las demas 
 entradas independientes de los derechos 
 de aduana fueron de nueve millones de 
 pesos, puede suponerse que el total de 53 
 millones de pesos, menos siete millones, 
 fu6 recaudado como derechos de aduana, 
 lo que da $45,000,000 de derechos de im- 
 portaci6n en 1887. Luego, si las importa- 
 ciones de 121 millones en 1887 pagarou 45 
 millones como derechos & la Tesorerla, el 
 tanto por ciento debi6 haber sido de 37.19, 
 lo que es mucho mayor que el derecho 
 cobrado sobre el t^rmino medio de las im- 
 portaciones ^ este pals en los afios de 
 181-7, 1888, 6 1889. 
 
 He mosfcrado, 6r. Presidente, & menos 
 que los nfimeros se equivoquen, y siento 
 que mi amigo el Sr. Saenz PeSla no est^ 
 presente para corregirme, si estoy equivo- 
 cado, la condicidu existente de ambos 
 pafses. Y por cuauto 61 cree que soy un 
 m6dico que trata de mejorar elestado en- 
 fermizo de los Estados Unidos, me es 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 645 
 
 United States, to say to him : "Physician, 
 heal thyself." 
 
 Now, Mr. President, the honorable gen- 
 tleman has found that duties are alarm- 
 ingly high in this country, and that he 
 can not profitably trade with us. There- 
 fore he rejects the idea of mailing a single 
 reduction upon a single article of ex- 
 portation or importation. While I can 
 not see the logic uf this reasoning, my 
 friend may possibly see it in some light 
 in which it has not been presented to me. 
 Buthe insistsupon arraigningthese heavy 
 duties. Now, I have shown that, so far 
 as the impost duties are concerned, they 
 are higher on the average in the Argen- 
 tine Republic than they are in the United 
 States. 
 
 Now, Mr. President, do you ask me if I 
 indorse everything in the tariff policy of 
 the United States t I assuredly do not. 
 I have distinctly shown what has pro- 
 duced the tariff policy of the United 
 States. I made that, I hope, perfectly 
 clear a fe^ days since. I am not a de- 
 voted advocate of high tariff duties ; I 
 never was. But when these invidious 
 comparisons are made between the policy 
 of the Argentine and that of the United 
 States, I deem it my duty, Mr. President, 
 to array the figures before this Confer- 
 ence and show my friend that we are not 
 so unjust and harsh in our policy as he 
 would imagine. 
 
 And now let me say, as was truthfully 
 said nineteen centuries ago : "And why 
 beholdest thou the mote that is in thy 
 brother's eye, but perceivest not the 
 beam that is in thine own eye ?" 
 
 neoesario decirle : " Doctor, curate & tl 
 mismo." 
 
 El estimable caballero, Sr. Presidente, 
 ha encontrado que los derechos son suma^ 
 mente crecidos en este pafs, y que el suyo 
 no puede comeroiar con nosotros con veu- 
 taja. Por tanto, rechaza la ideade redu- 
 oir los derechos, aun de nn solo articulo 
 de exportacidn 6 importacidn. Aunque 
 yo no puedo ver la Idgica de este razona- 
 miento, mi amigo puede sin embargo 
 verla, bajo algun aspeoto que no coqozco. 
 Pero 61 insiste en censurar estos fuertes 
 derechos. Y yo he demostrado que en 
 cuanto S, derechos de importacidn, estos, 
 por tiSrmino medio, son mas altos en la 
 Reptiblica Argentina que en los Estados 
 Unidos. 
 
 Se me preguntar^, Sr. Presidente, si 
 yo apruebo todo lo que se provee en 
 el arancel delosEst'dos Unidos t De- 
 cididamente n<3. He indicado bieu dis- 
 tintamente las cansas que han producido 
 esas disposiciones, los Estados Unidos. 
 Creo haberlo manifestado bien claramente 
 hace pocos dias. Yo no soy ardiente defen- 
 sor de un arancel subido ; nunca lo fui. 
 Pero cuandosehacen comparaoiones odio- 
 sas entre la poIJtica fiscal de la Argentina y 
 la de los Estados Unidos, creo de mi deber, 
 Sr. Presidente, traer losnilmeros S, la Con- 
 ferencia, y mostrar & mi amigo que no 
 somos tan injustos y severos en nuestra 
 polltica como 61 nos supone. 
 
 Y permltaseme decir ahora, como se 
 decia con verdad, diez y nueve siglos 
 hace,"Y4porqu6veslapajaenelojodetu 
 hermano y no la viga en el tuyo 1 " 
 
SIXTIETH DAY. 
 
 Washington, April 8,' 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.15 p. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James G. Blaine, with 
 the following Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ M. Hurtado. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras: 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador: 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos 
 Ecuador: 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria PlScido CaamaQo. 
 
 646 
 
 ACTA No. 60. 
 
 Sesidn del 8 de April de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. Jambs G. Blaine. 
 Estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El. Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peiti : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr.. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 M&ico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero. 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson; 
 
 El Sr.'Ciement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 El Sr. Joe6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido 
 Caamano. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 647 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair stated that there was no 
 order of the day. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Bank- 
 ing was handed to the Chair, and was 
 ordered printed and distributed. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Zkgarra, a Delegate 
 from Peru, the Conference adjourned at 
 3.35 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOS:^ M. HURTADO, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PbSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Beputlic. 
 Jos:fi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 3. G. DO Amaral Valbnte, 
 Salvador de Mendon^a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zrlata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 
 .Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studbbaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Esteb, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 3os& Andradb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Vakas, 
 Jos:6 Alfonso, 
 
 ChiU. 
 
 Se abrid la sesi6n & laa trea y quince 
 minutos de la tarde. 
 
 Se leyd, aprobS y firm(5 el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 Anuncid el SeSor Pkbsidente que no 
 estaba seBalado asunto alguno en la orden 
 del dia. 
 
 Se envi6 S, la Mesa el dictamen de la 
 Comisidn de banoos, y se mand(5 impri- 
 mirlo y distribuirlo. 
 
 A mocidn del SeEor Zegarra, delegado 
 por el Peril, se levant6 la sesidn i, las tres 
 y treinta y cinco minutos de la tarde. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 
 HORACIO GUZMiN, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Per'A. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos^ M. Hdrtado, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUB Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Josifi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valbnte, 
 Salvador de Mendon^a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jor6nimo Zalaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MATf AS Romero, 
 
 Mixico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebakbr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
 NlCANOR BOLET PbRAZA. 
 
 Jos:^ Andradb, 
 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 
SIXTY-FIRST DAY. 
 
 ACTA So. 61. 
 
 Washington, April 9, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 ■was called to order at 3.40 p. m., by the 
 President, Jambs G. Blaine, with the 
 following Delegates present : 
 
 Mcaragna : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hartado. 
 Argentine Eepublic : 
 
 Mr. Roque Saenz Pefia; 
 
 Mr. Manuel Qulntana. 
 
 Mr. Jos^ S. Deooud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico: 
 
 Mr. Matias Komero. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson; 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Andrade. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varaa; 
 
 Mr. Job6 Alfonso. 
 648 
 
 Sesiin del 9 de Abril de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. Jambs G. Blain"E. 
 Estando preseutes: 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaclo Guzman. 
 Perfi: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pefia ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zalaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matfas Komero. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 EI Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados TJnidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 
 El Sr. WiUiam Henry Trescot; 
 
 EI Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza; 
 
 El Sr. Job6 Andrade. 
 Chile: 
 
 EI Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. 3os6 Alfonso. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 649 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 ■were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 A letter from Mr. Mexia, a Delegate 
 from Mexico, was read, excusing himself 
 from attending the session on account of 
 sickness. 
 
 Mr. Aragon, ft Delegate from Costa 
 Kica, begged to be excused, as he was 
 detained.in New York. 
 
 The minority report on banking signed 
 by Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, 
 was handed to the Chair and ordered 
 printed and distributed in conjunction 
 with the majority report on the same sub- 
 ject. 
 
 The Chair announced that there was 
 no order of the day. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, and chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on General Welfare, sent to the 
 Chair the unanimous report of the com- 
 mittee of arbitration, which was ordered 
 printed and distributed. 
 
 At the request of several of the Dele- 
 gates, the Spanish version of the report 
 was read by the Secretary. 
 
 Mr. BOLBT Peraza, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela, and chairman of the Commit- 
 tee on Port Dues, stated that the report of 
 the committee would be ready for presen- 
 tation in a few moments. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexicoi 
 having suggested that this report might 
 be considered as presented without the 
 necessity of the Conference waiting, and 
 there having arisen no objection to this 
 course, it was so agreed. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Zbgarra, a Delegate 
 from Peru, the Conference adjourned at 
 4.05 p. m. 
 
 Jambs G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidenl. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Crtjz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 30s& m. huktado, 
 Carlos Martinez SiLva, 
 Colombia. 
 
 Se abri<5 la sesidn & las tres y ouarenta 
 minutos de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley<5, aprobd y flrm<5 el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 Se di<5 cuenta con una carta del Sefior 
 Mexia, delegado por Mexico, anunciando 
 que no podia asistir porhallarseenfermo; 
 y con otra del SeBor Arag6n, delegado por 
 Costa Rica, en que anuncid encontrarse 
 detenido en Nueva-York por ocupaciones 
 urgentes. 
 
 El Senor Varas, delegado por Chile, y 
 miembro de la Comisidn de bancos, envid 
 & la Mesa su dict^men particular, y pidid 
 que se imprimiera y distribuyera junto 
 con el que la mayorla ha presentado. 
 
 Anuncid el SoHor Presidente que la 6r- 
 den del dia no senalaba asunto alguno. 
 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, y Presidente de la Co- 
 misi6u de hienestar general, presents el 
 dict^men que dioha Comisidn ha acordado 
 por unanimidad someter & la Conferencia 
 en el asunto de arbitrage : y se orden<5 
 imprimirlo y distrilrairlo. 
 
 A petici6n de algunos SeEores delega- 
 dos, se ley6 el texto castellano del expre- 
 sado dicttoen. 
 
 El Sefior Bolet Peraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, y Presidente de la Comisidn 
 de dereohos de puerto, manifest6 que el 
 dict^men de dicha Comisi6n estaba con- 
 cluido, y podrfa presentarse en pocos me- 
 mentos ; pero como el Senor Romero, de- 
 legado por Mexico, sugiri6 que no se ne- 
 cesitaba esperar por ^1, y que podria d^r- 
 sele por presentado, para los efectos de 
 ordenar su impresidn y distribuoidn, la 
 Conferencia acord6 que asi se hiciera. 
 
 A moci6n del Sefior Zegarra, delegado 
 por el Peru, se levant6 la sesi6n ^ las 
 cuatro y ciuco minutos de la tarde. 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 
 HORACIO GUZMitN, 
 
 Ificaragna. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peril. 
 Fernando Crdz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 J08]fi M. HUKTADO, 
 
 CiRLOs Martinez Silva, 
 Colombia. 
 
650 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ROQTJE Saenz PeS? Aj 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine BepubUo. 
 Manuel Akagon, 
 
 Coita Bica. 
 3os& S. Decoud, 
 
 Parctgnay. 
 3. Gr. DO Amaral "Valente, 
 Salvador de Mbndon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henperson, 
 Clement Studebakkb, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 United States. 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 Josl5 Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josifi Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3os& Maria PljCcido CAAHAlfo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Roque Saenz PeSJa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Coita Bica. 
 3oa^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 3. G. DO Amaral Valentb, 
 Salvador db MEND0N9A, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sondwraa. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 
 M^ico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, . 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge,, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estados XJnidos. 
 
 NiCANOK BOLBT PERAZA, 
 
 3os& Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 3os& Alfonso, 
 
 ChiU. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 SaVeador. 
 3osfi MarIa Pl^cido CaakaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
SIXTY-SECOND DAY. 
 
 Washington, April 10, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.20 p. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James 6. Blaine, fol- 
 lowed by Mr. F. C. C. Zegarka, with the 
 following Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua: 
 
 Mr. Horatio Gazman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Koque Saenz PeBa. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decond. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Eomero. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefiferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos€ Andrade. 
 
 ACTA No. 62. 
 
 Sesion del 10 de Ahril de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. Jambs G. Blaine, 
 seguido por el Sr. F. C. C. Zkgakha, 
 delegado por el Peru, Primer Vicepresi- 
 dente. Estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 ElSr. Jos6M. Hurtado; 
 
 El Sr. Ciirlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pefla ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decond. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matfas Eomero. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee : 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 
 651 
 
652 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Job6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanoa. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Josg Maria Pl^cido Caamano. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair announced that Mr. Mesia, 
 a Delegate from Mexico, was prevented 
 hy sickness from attending the session. 
 
 Mr. EsTEE, a Delegate from the United 
 States, handed the Chair the following 
 motion. 
 
 "Resolved, That this Conference meet 
 to-morrow (Friday) at 10 a. m. and ad- 
 journ at 1 p. m., and that thereafter this 
 Conference hold two sessions daily, one 
 from 11. a. m. to 1 p. m., and one from 3 
 p. m. to 6 p. m. 
 
 " Morris M. Estee, 
 "EoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 ".Jose Dbcoud, 
 " M. Romero, 
 "Manuel Aragon, 
 " C. Martinez Silva, 
 "H. Guzman, 
 "F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 "Manuel Quintana." 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, ob- 
 jected to action on this project being tahen 
 at once without its having gone through 
 the regular course prescribed by the rules, 
 alleging, among other reasons, that the 
 subject of arbitration, which woulfl soon 
 come before the Conference, demanded 
 careful study on his part for the protec- 
 tion of his country. 
 
 In view of this, Mr. Estee, with the 
 consent of his colleagues who had Binned 
 the motion, stated that he withdrew the 
 second part of the same, and asked the 
 suspension of the rules for the considera- 
 tion of the first part. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, having agreed, and unan- 
 imous consent being given, it was agreed 
 that a session would be held to-morrow, 
 Friday, April 11, from 11 a. m. to 1 p. m., 
 instead of the usual afternoon session. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Extra- 
 dition, together with an expos6 made by 
 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos^ Maria Pl^cido 
 CaamaQo. 
 Se abrid la sesid & las tres y veinte 
 minutes de la tarde, 
 
 Se ley6, aprobd y firmd el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 El Seuoi^ Presidente anuncid que el 
 Senor Mexia, delegado por Mdxico, se 
 encontraba imposibilitado de asistir, per 
 causa de enfermedad. 
 
 El Senor Estee, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unldos, envid & la Mesa el prpyecto 
 de resdluoidn siguiente : 
 
 " Se resuelve : Que la Conferencia tenga 
 sesidn manana (Viernes) S, las 10 a. m. y 
 que se levante lamisma si la 1 p. ra. y que 
 ^ contar de mafiana la Conferencia cele- 
 bre dos sesidues diarias; una de 11 a. m. 
 d; 1 p. m. y otra de 3 p. m, 5 6 p. m. 
 " Morris M. Estee, 
 " EoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 " Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 " M. Romero, 
 " Manuel Arag6n, 
 " C. Martinez Silva, 
 " H. GuzmXn, 
 " F. C. C. Zbgakra, 
 " Manuel Quintana.'' 
 
 El Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 se opuso ^ que se tomase acoidn inmedia- 
 tamente sobre este proyecto, sin que se 
 le hiciera pasar porlos trdimites deRegla- 
 mento, alegando entre otras razones que 
 el asunto de arbitrage que ha de tomarae 
 pronto en consideracidn demaudaba de- 
 tenido estudio de su parte en defensa de su 
 pals. En vista de esto el SeBor Estee, 
 con el cousentimiento de los dem^s Sefiores 
 firmantes del proyeto, retird la segunda 
 parte del mismo, y pidid consentimiento 
 unfCnime para dispensar los tr^mites res- 
 pecto & la primera. Consintid en ello el 
 SeSor Alfonso, y obtenido el consentimi- 
 ento unSlnime que deseaba el SeSor Esteo 
 se determind que se celebre una sesidn 
 maSana, viernes 11 de Abril, S, las once del 
 dia, en vez de la hora usual del Regla- 
 mento. 
 
 Se did cuenta con el diotamen de la 
 Comisidn de extradioidn, acompafiado con 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 653 
 
 the chairmsm, Mr. Zelaya, a Delegate from 
 Honduras, was haudecl to the Chair, and 
 ordered printed and distributed. 
 
 The Chaik announced that the order of 
 the day called for the continuation of the 
 debate on customs union, and Mr. Saenz 
 PkSa, a Delegate from the Argentine, hav- 
 ing asked the floor, made the remarks 
 hereto appended. 
 
 Mr. Albonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 explained the reasons for his contrary 
 opinion to that of the majority. 
 
 The majority, report having been pub 
 to the vote, it was approved by a major- 
 ity of 12 to 3. as follows : 
 
 Those voting in favor of thereport were: 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Costa Rica, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, 
 United States, Venezuela, Salvador, and 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Those voting against it were : Tne Ar- 
 gentine, Bolivia, and Chili. 
 
 Paraguay abstained from voting. 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pbna, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, asked that the minority report 
 be also voted upon, and a discussion 
 havingarisen as to whether, in conformity 
 with parliamentary practice, this could 
 be done, in which debate Messrs. Romero, 
 Saenz Pefia, Aragon, Velarde, Caamauo, 
 and Guzman took part. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, made a motion to recon- 
 sider the vote by which the report of the 
 majority had been adopted. He added 
 that if the Conference accepted the pro- 
 posed reconsideration the minority could 
 present as a substitute the report formu- 
 lated by them. 
 
 This motion having been voted upon, 
 resulted in the refusal of the Conference 
 by a majority of eleven votes to four to 
 reconsider the previous vote. 
 
 Those voting against a reconsideration 
 were : Nicaraugua, Peru, Guatemala, Co- 
 lombia, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, United 
 States, Venezuela, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 The Argentine, Costa Rica, Bolivia, and 
 Chili voted for a reconsideration. 
 
 una exposloidn de su Presidente, el Sefior 
 Zblaya, delegado per Honduras ; y se 
 orden6 imprimirlo y distribuirlo. 
 
 El Seiior Pkesidbntb anunci6 que la 
 6rdendel dia seSialaba como asuntoinme- 
 diato la contiuuaei6n del debate sobre 
 Uuidu aduanera; y babiendo tomado la 
 palabra el Seiior Saenz PeBa, delegado 
 por la Repiiblica Argentina, se oxpresd en 
 los t(5rmino8 que apareoen del diseurso que 
 se acompana como ap6ndice ^ esta acta. 
 
 El Seiior Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 explic6 las razones en que descansa su 
 parecer contrario al dict^men de la ma- 
 yoria. 
 
 Puesto ^ votaci6n el dict^men de la 
 mayoria, results aprobado por doce votos 
 afirmativos contra tres negatives, en el 
 (Srden siguiente : 
 
 Votaron en favor del dict^men : Nica- 
 ragua, Perri, Guatemala, Colombia, Oosfca 
 Rica, Brasil, Honduras, M6sico, Estados 
 Unidos, Ven ezuela, Salvador, y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron contra la adopcidn del informe: 
 La Repiiblica Argentina, Bolivia, y Chile. 
 
 Ladelegaci6n del Paraguay se abstuvo 
 de votar. 
 
 El Senor Saenz PeSa, delegado por la 
 Reptiblica Argentina, pidi6 que se votase 
 tambi(5a el dict^men de de la minoria ; y 
 habi^ndose suscitado discusidn aceroa de 
 si, oonforme S, las reglas y pr^cticas par- 
 lamentarias, debia 6 n6 acoederse S 6II0, en 
 cuyo debate que tomaron parte los Senores 
 Romero, Saenz Pefia, Arag6n, Velarde, 
 Caamauo, y Guzman, el Senor Henderson, 
 delegado por los Estados Unidos, hizo mo- 
 ci6u formal para que se reconsiderase el 
 voto por el cual se habia adoptado el dictd)- 
 meu d la mayoria, anadiendo que si la Cou- 
 ferencia aceptaba la reconsideraoifin pro- 
 puesta, podia la minoria presentar como 
 un sustituto el dictfimen formulado por 
 611a. 
 
 Puesta Si votaci6n esta moci6n, results 
 que la Conferencia por once votos contra 
 cuatro, rehusd reeonsiderarelvoto tomado 
 anteriormente. 
 
 Votaron en contra de la reconsideracifin : 
 Nicaragua, Peril, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Brasil, Hondurae, Mexico, Estados Uni- 
 dos, Venezuela, Salvador, y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron en favor de 611a la Repiiblica 
 Argentina, Costa Rica, Bolivia, y Chile. 
 
654 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Paraguay abstained from voting. 
 
 Mr. Hendbrsok explained that as 
 chairman of the delegation of the United 
 States, he found himself obliged vote 
 against his own motion, as he was not 
 supported by the majority of his col- 
 leagues in the delegation. 
 
 On Mr. Saenz Pbna, a Delegate from 
 the Argentine, insisting that the vote be 
 taken on the minority report, the Chair 
 submitted the question to the decision of 
 the Conference, ordering that those who 
 were in favor of a voce being taken on 
 the report should say aye, and those con- 
 trary to it should say no. 
 
 A ballot by delegations having been 
 taken, resulted in the decision by a ma- 
 jority of 11 to 5 not to vote on the minor- 
 ity report. 
 
 Those voting against a ballot being 
 taken were : Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, 
 Colombia, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, 
 United States, Venezuela, Salvador, and 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Those voting in favor of a ballot were : 
 The Argentine, Costa Eica, Paraguay, 
 Bolivia, aud Chili. 
 
 Mr. Decoud, a Delegate from Paraguay, 
 stated that he adhered to the report of the 
 minority. 
 
 The secretaries informed the Delegates 
 of the arrangements which had been ma Je 
 for the accommodation of the members 
 and their families for the parade to take 
 place on Friday, the 11th, in honor of the 
 Conference. 
 
 Mr. Studbbaker, a Delegate from the 
 United States, asked a suspension of the 
 rules in order that the report of the Com- 
 mittee on Port Dues might be considered 
 at once by the Conference. Unanimous 
 consent having been obtained, the con- 
 clusions of the following report were read. 
 
 La delegaci6n del Paraguay se ahstuvo 
 de votar, 
 
 El Senor Henderson explicd q^ue como 
 Presidente de la del6gaci6n de los Estados 
 Uuidos, se habia visto obligado & votar 
 contra su propia mocidn, porque esta no 
 encontraba apoyo en la mayorla de sus 
 colegas de la Delegacidn. 
 
 Habiendo insistido el Sefior Saknz 
 PESa, delegado por la Eepiiblioa Argen- 
 tina, en que se pusiese ^ votaci6n el dic- 
 t^men de la minoria, el Senor Presidente 
 sometid el^unto S, la decisidn de la Con- 
 ferencia, ordenando que los que quisieran 
 que se votase sobre el Inforrae dijieran si, 
 y los que se opusiesen ^ ello dijerau n6. Y 
 habiendo tornado el voto por delegaciones 
 re8ult6 decidido por 11 contra 5, que no 
 se votaae el dictSmen de la minorfa. 
 
 Las delegacioues que se negaron ^ que 
 este se votase fueron Nicaragua, Perfi, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Brasil, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Estados Unidos, Venezuela, Sal- 
 vador, Ecuador. 
 
 Las que votaron por la afirmativa fue- 
 ron la Eepdblica Argentina, Costa Rica, 
 Paraguay, Bolivia, y Chile. 
 
 El Senor Decoud, delegado por Para- 
 guay, manifesto que se adheri^ al dict^ 
 men do la minoria. 
 
 Se di(5 cuenta por los secretarios de los 
 arreglos hechos para que los Senores De- 
 legados y sus familias pudiesen asistir S, 
 la parada dispuesta en honor de la Con- 
 ferencia el viernes 11 del corrieute. 
 
 El Senor Studebaker, delegado por 
 los Estados Unidos, pidi6 dispensa de 
 tr^mites para proceder acto oontinuo S, la 
 discusi6u del diot£imen de la Comisidn de 
 derechos de puerto, y habi^ndose obtenido 
 oonsentimiento un^nime para hacerlo asi, 
 se di(3 leotura S, las conclusiones del 
 siguiente dictiimen : 
 
 REPORT OTf THE COMMITTEE ON PORT INFORME DE LA COMI8i6n DB DERECHOS 
 DUES. DE PUERTO. 
 
 The committee, after duly considering 
 the various suggestions which have been 
 offered, and also the difBculties raised 
 by certain of the delegations to fixing 
 at present any one common and uniform 
 rate of port dues in all the nations repre- 
 sented in the Conference (on account of 
 the special conditions at present prevail- 
 
 La Comisi(5n tomando en consideraoi6n 
 las diversas indicaoiones formuladas y 
 las diflcultades de que se ha hecho m^- 
 rito por algunas delegaciones para fijar, 
 desde luego, una cuota comlin y uniforme 
 de derechos de puerto, en todas las na- 
 ciones representadas en la Conferencia, 
 dadas las condiolones especiales en que al 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 655 
 
 ing in the ports of several of said nations 
 in respect to the seivices for which the 
 charges are made), and desiring to ap- 
 proach as closely as possible to uniform- 
 ity, while it is impracticable completely 
 to abolish the charges now imposed upon 
 vessels in the shape of such dues, has the 
 honor to submit the following report : 
 
 The International American Conference 
 hereby resolve to recommend to the Gov- 
 ernments therein represented — 
 
 First. That all port dues be merged in 
 a single one, to be known as tonuage dues. 
 
 Second. That this one charge shall be 
 assessed upon the gross tonnage, or, in 
 other words, upon the total carrying ca- 
 pacity of the vessel. 
 
 Third. That each Government fix for 
 itself the amount to be charged as ton- 
 nage dues, but with due regard to the 
 general policy of the Conference upon the 
 subject, which is to facilitate and favor 
 navigation. 
 
 Fourth. That there be excepted from 
 the provisions of article 1 the dues 
 charged or to be charged under unex- 
 pired contracts with private companies. 
 
 Fifth. That the following shall be ex- 
 empt from tonnage dues : 
 
 1. Transports and vessels of war. 
 
 2. Vessels of less than twenty-five tons. 
 
 3. Vessels which shall have been com- 
 pelled to put into port by reason of dam- 
 ages suifered at sea. 
 
 4. Yachts and other pleasure boats. 
 
 NiOANOR BOLBT PeKAZA. 
 
 Emilio C. Varas. 
 Clkmbnt Studbbaker. 
 HoRAOio DE Guzman. 
 Salvador MENDOugA. 
 Manuel Quint ana. 
 Washington, April 9, 1890. 
 
 Mr. HuRTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, made a motion that the vote on the 
 articles of the report be not taken by del- 
 egations, but that those against which no 
 objection was raised be considered ap- 
 proved. 
 
 This was unanimously agreed to. 
 
 Articles I and II of the conclusions of 
 the report were unanimously approved. 
 
 presente se encuentran establecidos los 
 servicios de puerto en varias do 611as ; y 
 deseando couseguir en cuanto sea practi- 
 cable dicha uniformidad, mientras no sea 
 posible acordar la corapleta supresi6n de 
 los gravSmenes que afect.an ^ las naves 
 por tales dereohos, tiene el honor de pro- 
 pouer el siguiente proyecto: 
 
 La Conferencia Internacional acuerda 
 reoomendar S. las Gobiernos representados 
 en 611a— 
 
 Primero. Que todos los derechos de 
 puerto se comprendan en uno solo, bajo 
 la deuominaoi6n de derecho de touelage. 
 
 Segundo. Que este derecho se cobre 
 sobre el tonelage bruto, 6 sea sobre la 
 total capacidad de la nave. 
 
 Tercero. Que cada Gobierno fije el 
 monto de este derecho teniendo en cnenta 
 el espiritn que anima & la Conferencia, 
 que es el de facilitar y favorecer la nave- 
 gacidn. 
 
 Cuarto. Que queden exceptuados del 
 artioulo l" los derechos que se cobren 6 
 hayan de cobrarse en virtud de coutratos 
 pendientes con empresas particulares. 
 
 Quinto. Que queden exentos del pago 
 de la contribuoi6n : 
 
 1. Los trasportes 6 buqnes de guerra. 
 
 2. Loa que midan menos de veinticiuco 
 toneladas, 
 
 3. Los que por haber sufrido averlas se 
 vean obligados ^ arribar & los puertos. 
 
 4. Los yates y dem^s embarcacioues 
 de paseo. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLBT PeRAZA. 
 
 ' Emilio C. Varas. 
 Clement Studebaker. 
 
 HORACIO GUZM/Cn. 
 
 Salvador dk Mendon9A. 
 Manuel Quint ana. 
 Washington, Abril 9 de 1890. 
 
 El Seflor Hurtado, delegado por Colom- 
 bia, hizo mocidn para que los artlonlosde 
 este dict^men no se votasen por delega- 
 oiones, sine que se oonsiderasen adoptados 
 aquellos contra los que no se hiciese re- 
 paro. 
 
 Aoeptada esta mocion por unanimidad, 
 86 aprobaron sucesivamente y sin oposi- 
 ci()n los artlculos 1" y 2° de las recomen- 
 daciones del dict^men. 
 
656 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 The President called Mr. Zegakra. to 
 he chair. 
 
 Article III having been read, Mr. Eo- 
 MBKO, a Delegate from Mexico, proposed 
 that there be added thereto the words 
 "and with a view to reach later a com- 
 mon rate ;" but opposition having arisen, 
 he withdrew his amendment, and the ar- 
 ticle was uDanimously approved as sub- 
 mitted in the report. 
 
 Article IV, having been read, was unani- 
 mously agreed to. 
 
 Article V was read. 
 
 Mr. Hurtado, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, proposed that the third clause of said 
 article be ametded to read as follows: 
 
 " 3. Vessels which may be compelled 
 by force majeure to enter a port, deviat- 
 ing from their course." 
 
 The reporting committee having ac- 
 cepted the above amendment, the article 
 in its new form was unanimously 
 adopted. 
 
 The Chaik having stated that the 
 whole of the report was adopted, with 
 the amendment above set forth, Mr. • 
 Davis, a Delegate from the United States, 
 moved to adjourn; and this was done at 
 5.35 p. m, 
 
 F. C. C. Z^GARKA, 
 
 First Vice-President, 
 HoKATio Guzman, 
 
 lyicaragua, 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 Jos£ M. HUIiTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colomiia. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 JosA S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amakal Valbnte, 
 Salvador de Mendon^a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 
 Jer6n mo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 £oUvia. 
 
 El Senor Presidbnte llam(5 entoncesel 
 SeQor Zegarra S, ocupar su puesto. 
 
 Leido el artfculo 3°, el Sefior Eomero, 
 delegado por Mexico, propuso que se le 
 aBadiesen las palabras "y con la mira de 
 llegar mas tarde S, una cuota uuiforme." 
 Pero habifindose suscitado oposicidn i, 
 611o, retird su enmienda el Senor Eomero, 
 y el articulo qued6 aprobado un^nime- 
 mente tal como venia propuesto. 
 
 Leido el articulo 4° se aprobd por una- 
 nimidad. 
 
 Seleyd el articulo 5° y el Senor Hurtado 
 delegado, por Colombia, propuso que el 
 inciso tercero de dicho articulo se modi- 
 fioase de manera que diga como sigue : 
 
 " Tercero : Los buques que por fuerza 
 mayor se vieren compelidos S, entrar en el 
 puerto, desvi^ndose de su rumbo." 
 
 La Comisidn informante acept<S la en- 
 mienda : y el articulo en su nneva forma, 
 qued<5 aprobado por unanimidad. 
 
 Declard el Sefior Presidbnte que el 
 dictitmen quedaba adoptado con la modi- 
 ficacidn antedicha ; y el Senor Davis, dele- 
 gado por los Estados Unidos, hizo mocidn 
 para quo se levaotara la sesidn, lo cualse 
 efectud por acuerdo un^nime ^ las 5 y 
 35 minutos de la tarde, 
 F. C. C. Zegahra, 
 
 Primer Fioepresidente. 
 HoRACio GuzmIn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Scisii M. Hurtado, 
 CjCrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. ^ 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valbnte, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Mat! AS Eomero, 
 
 MfyAco. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 Bolivia. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERICNCE. 
 
 657 
 
 John B. IIendbuson, 
 Clement Studicbaicbr, 
 
 T. JeFFEBSOX COdLIDGE, 
 
 William Heniiy Tuescot, 
 Andrew Caunegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Da.vis, 
 
 Dtiited States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Jos£ Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josi; Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos^ Maria PlXcido CaamaRo. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 42 I C 
 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jeffkuson Coolidge, 
 William Uknry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 
 Estadoa Unidos. 
 
 NiGANOR BoLET PbRAZA, 
 
 Jos:fi Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jo8:6 Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josifi Mar! A PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
658 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Appendix A. 
 
 MB. SABITZ PESA'S SPEECH. 
 
 Mr. President and Gentlemen : I 
 shall say but a few words in reply to the 
 last speech of my distinguished friend, 
 General Henderson. 
 
 In the course which this debate has 
 taken it has lost its generalizing tendency 
 and the interest which it awakened in 
 the nations of America. Since it has left 
 two nations, or rather two tariffs, dis- 
 puting with each other as to the spirit of 
 liberality which inspires them respect- 
 ively ; 1 should not take too great ad- 
 vantage of the attention with which my 
 distinguished colleagues have favored me, 
 and shall limit myself to mere rectifi- 
 cations. 
 
 Mr. Henderson seems to object to the 
 disagreeable comparisous between the 
 tariff systems, and I must decline to be 
 responsible for their having been com- 
 pared. I was forced into undertaking it 
 by the invitation of Mr. Flint, and it is 
 therefore on his colleague that the blame 
 should fall, which, however, seems to 
 point towards me. As to the question of 
 statistics, I should also make some ex- 
 planations. 
 
 I have spoken of i he commerce of the 
 United States in relation to America, and 
 Mr. Henderson argues with me on the 
 figures of general commerce, which have 
 not entered into my calculations except 
 on particular occasions, and which are 
 not concerned with the matter I have 
 now in hand. With reference to these 
 facts he brings up the tariffs of the United 
 States, placing a duty on their trade only 
 to the extent of 45 per cent., but it is this 
 same proportion which contrasts it with 
 the 80 per cent, levied on the importa- 
 tions from Central and South America, 
 lu that way the question is carried be- 
 yond the bounds within which it should 
 be discussed by the honorable Confer- 
 ence, and applied to interests foreign to 
 this continent and to the nations here 
 represented. Let ns for a moment look 
 
 ApAxdice A. 
 DI80UBS0 DEL SESOB SAENZ PESA. 
 
 Senor Phesidente, Sefiores DeleGa- 
 DOS : Voy ^ decir tan solo dos palabras en 
 contestaci6n al liltimo discurso de mi dis- 
 tinguido amigo el Senor General Hender- 
 son. 
 
 La actuajidad de este debate ha per- 
 dido sn tendenoia generalizadora y el in- 
 terns que despertaba ^ las nacionalidades 
 de la America, por cuanto hau quedado 
 dos naciones, dos aranceles, mejor dicho, 
 disputandose el esplritu de liberalidad 
 que los inspira ; no debo pues abusar de 
 la atencidn con que me han favorecido 
 mis distinguidos colegas y voy & limitarme 
 & meras rectiflcaciones. 
 
 El Sefior Henderson parece condenar 
 los paralelos odiosos entre los regimeues 
 arancelarios, y yo debo declinar la res- 
 ponsabilidad del juicio comparative; 
 eutr6 & el obligado por la invitacidn del 
 SeHor Flint, yentonces es sobre su colega 
 sobre quien puede reoaer la culpabilidad 
 que parece <iirigirse contra el delegado 
 que habla 
 
 Con rulaci6n S, la estadistica, debo tam- 
 bien hacer algunas aclaraciones. 
 
 Yo he hablado del comercio de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos con relacidn dlla America, y el 
 Sefior Henderson me arguye con las cifras 
 del comercio general que no han entrado 
 en mis c^lculos sino por ocasidn, y que 
 escapan & las f unciones que eu este mo- 
 mento desempefio ; sobre estas bases pre- 
 senta las tarifas de los Estados Unidos 
 gravando aqnel comercio con solo un 45 
 por ciento; pero es esta misma proporcidn 
 la que contrasta con el 80 por ciento que 
 pesa sobra las importaciones de Centre y 
 Snd America ; la cuesti6n se saca asi del 
 terrene eu que debe considerarla el Hon. 
 Colega, Uevfindola sobre intereses agenos, 
 y & los del continenteyilas naciones aqul 
 represeutadas. Entremos ahora siquiera 
 ligeramente & las tarifas argentinas, ya 
 que al Hon. Delegado parece agradarle esta 
 vez el paralelo ; yo tengo d la mano las 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 659 
 
 ;it tlie AigeDtiue tariflfs, since the com- 
 parison seems, in I he present instance, to 
 please the honorable Delegate. I have 
 here the statistics of the years 1887 and 
 1888, which give us this result: 
 
 eatadlaticas del 87 y del 88 que noa dan 
 este resultado : 
 
 Tear. 
 
 Dutiable im- 
 portatious. 
 
 Dntiea. 
 
 1887 
 
 1888 
 
 $104, 698, 66? 
 105, 165, 887 
 
 $33, 908, 874 
 34, 176, 630 
 
 
 
 We see, then, that in 1887 the dutiable 
 articles have been subjected to a duty of 
 31 per cent., and in 1888, 32 per cent., 
 which shows a notable difference when 
 compared with the 45 per cent, levied on 
 the United States' general commerce and 
 the 80 per cent, with which the products 
 of America are burdened. 
 
 These figures are taken from the offi- 
 cial statistics of the Argeiitine Republic ; 
 those of 1887 are already in possession of 
 the honorable Delegate, as I have had the 
 honor to send them to him privately, and 
 those of 1888 are now here in front of me, 
 and I place them at his disposal. I will 
 state that I do not accept as authentic 
 statistics those which am drawn from 
 articles published in the daily press, or 
 from loose circulars issued anonymously. 
 
 The honorable Delegate makes another 
 calculation, taking as basis the total free 
 and dutiable importations, and arrives at 
 the conclusion that the United States 
 has levied a duty on them in 1889 of 
 2;).75 per cent. On this he bases the as- 
 sertion that the Argentine tariffs are 
 higher, but I can prove to him through 
 these same books tliat in 1887 we only 
 reached 28.8 per cent., and in 1888 we 
 have gone down to 26.9 per cent. 
 
 I have examined tl.ese statistics only 
 to please my distinguished friend, and 
 for the purpose of having it well under- 
 stooii that the Argentine customs have 
 not amounted to the $51,000,'000 that he 
 supposes. But these facts prove nothing 
 whenever we have to consider the tariffs 
 with relation to America, and it is there 
 that liberality leaves much to be desired, 
 and there is no necessity for me to repeat 
 that goods from the United States enter 
 our custom-houses with a duty of 5, 10, 
 and 25 per cent., a substantial difference 
 
 ABO. 
 
 Importaoionee 
 gravadas. 
 
 Derechoa. 
 
 1887 
 
 1888 
 
 $104, 58ft, 662 
 105, 165, 887 
 
 $33, 906, 874 
 34,476,630 
 
 
 
 Resulta pues que eu el 87 las materias 
 iupouibles ban soportado el dl%, y en 
 el 88 el 32%, diferencia bien notable con 
 el 45% que se impone en loa EstadosUni- 
 dos al comcrcio general, y con el 80% con 
 que ae gravan los productos de America. 
 
 Estas oifras son tomadas de las estadls- 
 ticas ofioiales de la Reptiblica Argentina; 
 la del 87 est^ ya eu manos del Hon. Dele- 
 gado porque he tenido el honor de envi^r- 
 sela privadamente, y la del 88 estS 
 sobre esta mesa y la pongo ^ su disposi- 
 ci6n ; declarando que no reoibo como es- 
 tadisticas exactas las que nacen de artl- 
 culos que publica la prensa diaria, 6 de 
 hojas sueltas libradas Si la clrculacidn bajo 
 la responsabilidad interlope del anfinirao. 
 
 El Honorable Delegado hace otro e^l- 
 culo tomando por base el total de las im- 
 portaciones libres y gravadas, y de 61 re- 
 resalta que los Estados Uuidos han co- 
 brado sobre ellas en 1889, 29, 75 por 
 ciento : de aqui deduce que las tarifas ar- 
 gentinaa son mas fuertes en el impuesto; 
 pero yo puedo probarle con eatos mismos 
 libros que en 1887, solo alcanzamos ^ un 
 28.8 per ciento, y en 1888 hemes dismi- 
 nuido hasta 26.9 por ciento. 
 
 He examinado estas estadlsticas, tan 
 solo por complacer^uii distinguido amigo, 
 S, efi'cto de dejar bien sentado que las 
 adnanas argentinas no han producido los 
 $51,000,000, que 61 supoue ; pero estos da- 
 tes en el fondo no nos prueban nada, toda 
 vez que las tarifas debemoa considerarlas 
 con velacl6n Si la America, y es alll donde 
 las liberalidades dejan mucho que desear, 
 y no tengo para que repetir que los artl- 
 oulos de los Estados Uuidos eutran en 
 nuestras aduanas con 5, 10 y 25 por ciento, 
 diferencia suatancial con el 80 por ciento 
 
660 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 from the 80 per cent, levied here on the 
 dutiable products of Central and South 
 America. 
 
 The substantial difference in these 
 tariffs is not exactly in the number of du- 
 tiable articles, but in the amount of the 
 duty which is heavy even to prohibition, 
 on those articles which are the cause of 
 domestic protection. Thus we see that 
 the Argentine tariffs, with a greater num- 
 ber of dutiable articles (82 per cent.), 
 bring in a revenue proportionally inferior 
 to that received by the United States, ^\ ith 
 a fewer number of dutiable articles. 
 
 I, for my part, would prefer to end a 
 debate which has already been too long 
 drawn out and which diminishes in in- 
 terest to the Conference, since it has ended 
 by individualizing itself in two tariffs. 
 They, like the treaties of reciprocity, are 
 subjects for governments rather than for 
 a conference, since they do not influence 
 the entire continent. 
 
 I end the discussion, then, hoping that 
 my illustrious friend. General Henderson, 
 may be willing to accept the assurances 
 of the pleasure I have experienced in list- 
 ening to his defense of his convictions, 
 and stating the reasons which gave rise to 
 thedebate which he has carried on so ably 
 on his part. 
 
 con que se gravan los productos imponi- 
 bles de Centro y Sud-Ara6rica. 
 
 La diferencia snstancial de estas tarifas 
 no est^ propiamenteen el ntimero de artl- 
 culos gravados, sino en el monto del 
 gravamen que recae pesado hasta la pro- 
 hibicifin, sobre aquellos articulos que for- 
 man el objetode la proteccidn nacional; 
 asi vemos que las tariTas argentinas gra- 
 vando mayor nfimero de articulos (82 por 
 ciento) producen una renta proporcio- 
 nalmente inferior S, la que obtienen los 
 Estados Unidos con menor ndmero de ar- 
 ticulos gravados. 
 
 Por mi parte no desearia continuar en 
 UD debate quo ya se prolonga demasiado 
 y que disminuye en interns para la Con- 
 ferencia, desde que ha conclnido por indi- 
 vidualizarsB eu dos tarifas; ellas como 
 los tratados de reciprocidad, son asuntos 
 de Cancilleria mas que de Conferencia, 
 desde que no exiiendan su dominio sobre 
 el Continente. 
 
 Termino pues la discusidn rogaudo S, mi 
 ilustrado amigo el Sefior General Hen- 
 derson, quiera aceptar los sentimientos 
 de complacencia con que he visto defendi- 
 das sus convicoiones 6 insinuados los 
 principios que dieron origen al, debate, 
 sostenido por su parte con tanta ilustra- 
 ci<5n como inteligencia. 
 
SIXTY-THIED DAY 
 
 ACTA No. 63. 
 
 Washington, April 11, lrf90. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 11.10 a. m. by the 
 First Vice-President, Mr. ¥. C. C. Ze- 
 GAKRA, a Delegate from Peru, with the 
 following Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valeute. 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdniii'D Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson, 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot, 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie, 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee, 
 Mr. Henry 6. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Jos4 Alfonso. 
 
 Seaion del 11 de Abril de 1890. 
 Presidenciii del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 delegado por el Peru, Primer Vicepresi- 
 dente. Estaudo presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perri: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 El. Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : • 
 
 El Sr. JercSnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matfas Romero. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Xrescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 
 mi 
 
662 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMKRICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellaiios. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido CaamaSo. 
 
 The minutes of tlie previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by tiie 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. CoOLiDGB, a Delegate from the 
 United States, called the attention of the 
 Conference to the advisability of recon- 
 sidering the third clause of Article V of 
 the report of the Committee on Port 
 Dues, for the purpose of clearly explain- 
 ing the real meaning of the words in the 
 Spanish text : " fuerza mayor," rendered 
 in the English text by the French words 
 " force majeure." After some discussion 
 it was unanimously agreed to revise and 
 change the wording of said clause, and 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 submitted to the consideration of the 
 Conference the following : 
 
 "3. Vessels which by any unforeseenaud 
 irresistible cause shall be compelled to put 
 into port, deviating from their course." 
 
 The amendment, having been discussed, 
 was unanimously adopted. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, and chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on General Welfare, handed the 
 Chair the report of the committee refer- 
 ring to arbitration as a means for settle- 
 tleraentof the diiiferences of the nations 
 of America and those of Europe, which 
 was ordered printed and distributed. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 asked that the report of the Committee on 
 General Welfare, just distributed, be not 
 discussed until Monday, as it was neces- 
 sary that he study it with care. This re- 
 quest was unanimously agreed to. 
 
 Mv. BoLET Pbraza, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela, made the motion that the Con- 
 ference after and on Monday next, the 
 14th instant, begin its sessions at 11 a. ra., 
 taking a recess from 1 p. m. till 3 p. m., 
 and continuing them from that hour till 
 f p. m. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Pl^cido 
 Caaraano. 
 Se abri6 la sesi6u & las once y diez 
 minutes de la niaiiana. 
 
 Se ley6, aprob6 y iirmd el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 El Seuor Coolidge, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, Uarad la atencidn de la 
 Conferenoia sobre la conveniencia de 
 reconsidgrar la aprobaci6n del inciso 
 tercero del articulo 5° del dictamen de 
 la Comisidn de dereohos de puerto, con el 
 objeto de explioar claramente el Terda- 
 dero sentido que ha de darse £i las pa- 
 labras del texto castellano que dicen 
 "fuerza mayor," expresadas en ingles 
 por las francesas " force majeure ; " y ha- 
 bi^ndose, despu^s de considerable dis- 
 cusi6n, convenido por unanimldad de 
 votos en revisar y modiflcar los t^rminos 
 del citado inciso, el Senor Eomeko de- 
 legado por Mexico, 80meti6 £i la conside- 
 racidu de la Conferencia la redaooidn 
 siguiente : 
 
 " 3. Los que por cualquiera ciiusa im- 
 prevista 6 irresistible se vean obligados & 
 arribar ^ los puertos, desvi^ndose de su 
 ourso." 
 
 Discutida que fu6 esta propo8ici6n,que- 
 d6 aprobada por unanimidad. 
 
 El Sefior Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos y Presidente de la Comi- 
 si6n de Bienestar General, sometid ^ la 
 Conferencia el dictamen de la Coniisi6n 
 referente ^ arbitrage como medio de re- 
 solver las diferencias entre las naciones 
 de America y las de Europa. Y se orden6 
 su impresidu y distribucidn. 
 
 El SeSor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 pidi6 que el dictamen de la Comisifin de 
 Bienestar General, que acababa de dis- 
 tribuirse impreso, no se pusiese ^discusiflu 
 hasta el liines, puesto que tenia que estu- 
 diarlo con cuidado. A 6\lo se accedid 
 uniinimemeDte. 
 
 El SeBor Bolbt Pf;raza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, hizo mooidn para que la Con- 
 ferenoia 6, partir desde el Itines pr6ximo, 
 catorce del corriente Abril, erapiezo sus 
 sesidnes £ las once de la maliana, sus- 
 pendi^ndolas S, la una de la tarde, y con- 
 tinudndolas en seguida desde las tres 
 basta las seis. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 663 
 
 After some tliscuasion, it was agreed to 
 suspend the rules and consider the motion 
 at once ; and a vote having been taken, 
 it was unaijimously adopted. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Bank- 
 ing having been opened to discussion, as 
 called for by the order of the day, Mr. 
 Hurtado, a Delegate from Colombia, 
 asked the floor and expressed his views 
 on the report. 
 
 The hour for adjournment having been 
 reached, the Chair announced that the 
 debate was suspended at 1 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos]6 M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martin kz Silva, 
 
 ColoviMa. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine SepuMie. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 308± S. Deooud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. 6. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador DE'MBNDONgA, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zblata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 
 Jfexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 Hbnrt G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BoLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Josifi Andradb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josii: Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 Despu^s de alguna discusidn, se deter- 
 mine dispensar de los tr^mites reglamen- 
 tarios la proposioidn del SeQor Bolet Pe- 
 raza, y votar sobre 611a inmediatamente. 
 Y puesta que fucS d votacidu qned6 adop- 
 tada un^nimemente. 
 
 Comenzada la discusidn del dict^men 
 de la Comisidu de banoos, oonforme lo seSa- 
 laba la drden del dia, el Sefior Hurtado, 
 delegado por Colombia, tomd la palabra y 
 expresfi sus ideas respecto del asunto. 
 
 Y habiendo llegado la hora de suspen- 
 der la sesidn, el Sefior Pubsidbnte lo 
 anunci<S; y se levautd la sesidn & la una 
 de la tarde. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegaeka, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidenie. 
 Horacio GuzmjCn, 
 
 Kioaragua, 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Giiatemala. 
 Jos£ M. Hurtado, 
 CXrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos:^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de MENooNgA, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studbbaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Morris M. Estbb, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Estados Uttidos. 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 Jos^fi Andradb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
SIXTY-FOURTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No.6i. 
 
 Washington, April 12, 1890. 
 The luternational American Conference 
 was called to order at 3.10 p. m. by the 
 FirBt Vice-President, Mr. F. C. C. 
 Zkgarra, a Delegate from Peru, with the 
 following Delegates present : 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jot6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pefia. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr, Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil '. 
 
 Mr. J. 6. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. hian F. Velarde. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. Johu B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefteraon Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 
 fi64 
 
 'Sesi6n del 12 de Airil de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegarra 
 delegado por el Perfi, I'rimer Vicepresi- 
 dente. Estando presentes : 
 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzmdin. 
 Perfi : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 •il Sr. Dr. Fernando Crnz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina: 
 
 ElSr. Dr. Roque Saenz Pefia; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendcnga. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Martlas Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan P. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Stu'lebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONrERENCE. 
 
 665 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. NicauoiBolet Peraza. 
 Mr. Jos6 Audrade. 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 handed the Chair the written explanation 
 of his vote on the report of the Commit- 
 tee on Customs Union, hereto appended. 
 
 Mr. SiLVA, a Delefjate from Colombia, 
 moved that the Conference offer a vote of 
 thanks to the United States Government 
 for the review held in honor of the Dele- 
 gates to the Conference yesterday, and 
 the motion was unanimously carried. 
 
 The Chair announced the receipt of the 
 majority and minor! ty reports of the Com- 
 mittee on International Law, on Diplo- 
 matic In tervention on Claims, and on the 
 Navigation of Rivers, which were ordered 
 printed and distributed. 
 
 The order of the day called for the con- 
 tinuation of the report of the Committee 
 on Banking, which follows: 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 El Sr. .Jos6 Audrade. 
 Chile: 
 
 ElSr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Se abrid la sesidn S, las trcs y diez mi- 
 nutos de la tarde. 
 
 Se ley<5, aprob6 y firm6 el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 El SeSor Cecz, delegado de Guatemala, 
 onvi6 & la Mesa para que se acompane al 
 acta, la explicacifin de su vote en el asuu- 
 to de la Unidn artuanera. 
 
 El Senor Martinez Silva, delegado 
 por Colombia, hizo mooi6n para que en 
 la forma debida se diesen las gracias al 
 Sr. Presidente de los Estados Unidos por 
 la revista militar que tuvo lugar en honor 
 de la Conferencia el dia de ayer. Y se 
 acord6 por unanimidad que as{ se hiciera. 
 Anuncid el Sefior Presidente que aea- 
 baba de recibir los dict^meues de la ma- 
 yoria y minoria de laComisifin de Derecho 
 internacional, sobre el derecho de intisr- 
 veueidu diplomd^tica en materia de recla- 
 maciones, y sobre navegacidn de los rios ; 
 y se ordend su impresidn y distribucidn. 
 
 Conforme dllo dispuesto en laorden del 
 diase continud la discusidn del dictdlmen 
 de la Comisidn de Bancos, que dice como 
 sigue : 
 
 Report of the Committee on Banking. DictImen de la Comisi6n de Bancos. 
 
 Pursuant to resolution passed at the 
 meeting of the Conference on December 
 7, 1889, your committer was appointed to 
 consider and report upon the methods of 
 improving and extendingthebankingand 
 credit systems between the several coun- 
 tries represented in this Conference, and 
 now has the honor to submit as the result 
 of its deliberations the following report : 
 
 Your committee believes that there is 
 no field of inquiry falling within the 
 province of this Conference for the exten- 
 sion of Inter-American commerce more 
 fundamentally important than that of 
 international American banking, and 
 that, in fact, the future of the commercial 
 relations between North, South, and Cen- 
 tral America will depend as largely upon 
 the complete and prompt development of 
 
 La Comisi6n que se norabrd en cumpli- 
 miento del acuerdo de 7 de Diciembre de 
 1889, para examinar 6 informar acerca de 
 los medios de mejorar y extender las faoili- 
 tades bancarias y los sistemas de cr^dito 
 entre los diferentes pafses representados 
 en esta Conferencia, tiene ahora el honor 
 de someter, como resultado de sus tra- 
 bajos, el siguiente dictamen : 
 
 La Comisidn es de parecer que de todos 
 los asuntos que caen bajo el dominio de 
 esta Conferencia, encaminados & desar- 
 rollar el comercio entre las naciones 
 americanas, no hay ninguno mas fun- 
 damental mente importante que el re- 
 ferente S, bancos internaoionales ameri- 
 cauos, y que en realidad el porvenir de 
 aquel comercio depender^ tanto del rflipido 
 y completo desarrollo de las facilidadea 
 
666 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 international banking facilities as upon 
 any other single condition whatever. 
 
 In the opinion of your committee the 
 question of the mechanism of exchange 
 is secondary, if at all, only to the ques- 
 tion of the meclianism of transportation. 
 Even after better means of transportation 
 than tho.se which exist shall have been 
 established it will be impossible for the 
 commerce between American nations to 
 be greatly enlarged unless there be sup- 
 plied to their ^merchants means for con- 
 ducting the banking business which shall 
 in some measure liberate them from the 
 practical monopoly of credit which is 
 now held by the bankers of London and 
 the European Continent. 
 
 If there be an enlargement of the means 
 of transportation, unaccompanied with 
 an equal extension of financial facilities, 
 only partial benefits will be derived from 
 the former as compared with the benefits 
 which might be derived were the two 
 improvements to progress together. 
 
 Your committee is of the opinion that 
 the commerce between the American 
 countries might be greatly extended if 
 proper means could be found for facilitat- 
 ing direct exchanges between the money 
 markets of the several countries repre- 
 sented in this Conference, even if there 
 were no improvements in transportation. 
 
 The first effect would be to afford a 
 more direct " clearance-in-account" of 
 goods exported against goods imported. 
 
 The large amount of commissions now 
 paid to the European bankers could not 
 only be decreased, but such commissions 
 would be paid to American bankers or 
 merchants themselves, and in this way a 
 share of the profits which now go almost 
 solidly to the European money markets 
 could be kept in the financial cen ters of 
 this continent. 
 
 There does not exist to day among the 
 countries rppresented in this Conference 
 any organized system of bankers' ex- 
 changes or credits; for instance, drafts 
 upon the United States are not obtain- 
 able at all in many of the markets of 
 South America, and in most of them are 
 only salable at a discount below the ster- 
 ling equivalent. In like manner drafts 
 
 bancarias internacionales como pudiera 
 depender de cualquiera otra causa indi- 
 vidual de cualquier g^nero, de cualquiera 
 naturaieza. 
 
 A juicio de la Comisidn no hay mas que 
 un asunto ante el cual el mecanismo de 
 los cambios pueda oonsiderarse secunda- 
 rio; y ese es el del mecanismo de !os 
 transportes. Aun despu6s de contar con 
 rnejores medios de transporte que los que 
 existen aotualmente, seria imposible dar 
 muoho impulso al comercio entre las 
 naciones agiericanas sin proveer S, los 
 comerciantes de las facilidades condu- 
 centes para hacer operaciones de bancos, 
 y asegurar en algun modo su indepen- 
 dencia del monopolio ejercido hoy por los 
 banqueros de Londres y del Contineute 
 de Europa. 
 
 Si se aumentaran las facilidades de 
 transporte sin acompaSarlas al mismo 
 tiempo de nn aumento igual de facilidades 
 flnancieras, solo se derivarian, beneficios 
 parciales y menores de los que podriau 
 obtenerse, si las dos mejoras se adoptasen 
 oonjuutamente. 
 
 La Comisidn cree que, auu cnando no 
 se mejorarau los modios actuales de trans- 
 porte, el comercio entre las nacioues ame- 
 ricanas crecerla considerablemente, si se 
 encontrasen medios adecuados para faci- 
 litar los cambios direotos entre los mer- 
 cados monetarios de los pafses aqui repre- 
 sentados. 
 
 El primer resultado que producirla este 
 sistema serla una liquidacidn de cuentas, 
 mas directa, entre lo exportado y lo im- 
 portado. 
 
 No solo se disminuirian las oomisiones 
 que hoy se pagan fi los banq ueros europeos, 
 sino que aquellas se pagarlau ^banqueros 
 americanos, 6 & los mismos comerciantes, 
 y de este modo el provecho que derivan 
 ahora los mercados monetarios europeos 
 podrla disfrutarse en los centros finan- 
 cieros de este oontinente. 
 
 No existe hoy entre los palse.s represen- 
 tados en esta Conferenoia uingiin sistema 
 organizado de erudite, <5 de cambio, entre 
 los respectivos bancos. Por ejemplo, en 
 muchos mercados de Sud America no es 
 posible comprar letras contra los Estados 
 Unidos y en la mayorla de aquellos eu 
 que pue(ien obtenerse, se obtieuen solo 
 con descueuto sobre su equivaleute en 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 667 
 
 upon South and Central America are prac- 
 tically unknown in the money markets of 
 New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New 
 Orleans, Chicago, and Boston. 
 
 The point has been made that to ex- 
 tend business between our States long 
 credits must in givtn. Hnw is it possible 
 for manufacturers and merchants at dis- 
 tant points to form relations of such a 
 character as to justify the granting of long 
 credits? At present such relations arc 
 chiefly formed through the intervention 
 of European banks and baukers, which 
 are not interested in the extension of 
 trade between the different countries 
 represented in this Conference except in 
 a secondary and subordinate sense. The 
 extension of trade between Europe and 
 the Americas, not between the Americas 
 themselves, is their first care. By the 
 establishment of a well-organized system 
 of international American banking our 
 merchants and manufacturers wonld be 
 able to establish improved credit rela- 
 tions, and those administering the system 
 in the several money markets of the 
 Americas would immediately become in- 
 terested in fostering such relations and 
 facilitating such business to the utmost 
 extent. 
 
 The merchants of the United States 
 now importing goods from the countries 
 of South and Central America make such 
 importations, as the investigations of your 
 committee show, almost without excep- 
 tion, through the use of English bankers' 
 credits. 
 
 The total foreign commerce of the West 
 Indies, Mexico, South and Central America 
 amounted last year to $1,085,545,000 
 United States gold. The committee have 
 not been able to ascertain the amount of 
 the commerce among the Latin America 
 States. The total exchange of commodi- 
 ties between the United States and coun- 
 tries to the South during the year ending 
 June 30, 1888, aggregated to $282,902,408, 
 of which the imports into the United States 
 amounted to |181, 058,966 of merchandise 
 and $21,236,791 of specie and bullion, and 
 exports from the United States $71,938,181 
 of merchandise and $8,668,470 of specie 
 and buUion. Of the $181,000,000 of mer- 
 chandise brought into the markets of the 
 
 libras esterlinas. Del mismo modo son 
 oasi desconocidos en los mercados moneta- 
 rlos de New- York, Philadelphia, Balti- 
 more, Chicago y Boston lo6 giros sobre la 
 America del Sud y del Centre. 
 
 Dlcese que para aumentar los negooios 
 entre todos nosotros ban de eoncederae 
 or^diton d plazo largo, j Como es posible 
 que entre fabricantes y comerciantes que 
 resideu i, tan grandes distaucias se formen 
 relacionesque justifiquen la conoesifin de 
 creditos d largo piano? En la actualidad 
 esas relaciones est^n priucipalmente es- 
 tablecidas por el intenuedio de losbanoos 
 y banqueros europeos, los ouales no de- 
 sean, sino de un modo secundario, el 
 aumento delcomereio entre los diferentes 
 palses aqui representados. Su primer 
 cuidado es el aumento del comeroio entre 
 Europa y las Americas, y n<S el de las 
 Americas entre si. Los comerciantes y 
 fabricantes podrian mejorar sus relaciones 
 de cr^dito, estableoiendo un sistema bien 
 organizado de bancos americanos interna- 
 cionales que ligue & todos los centres fl- 
 nanoieros de los palses rejjresentados en 
 estaConferencia, y los que est6n ^ lacabeza 
 de este sistema en los distintos mercados 
 monetarios de las Americas seinteresarian 
 inmediataniente en aumentar, lo mas 
 posible, esas relaciones y en facilitar los 
 uegocios. 
 
 Segtin las investigaciones de la Co- 
 misidn, el comeroiante de los Estados 
 Unidos que importa mercanclas de Cen- 
 tre y Sud America, lo hace casi siempre, 
 usando delcr^dito delos banqueros ingle- 
 ses. 
 
 El total del comercio exterior de las 
 Antillas, Mexico, Sud y Centro America 
 ascendid el ano pasado ^$1,085,545,000 en 
 ore de los Estados Unidos. La Comisi6n 
 no ha podido averiguar el monto del co- 
 mercio entre los palses de la Amfirioa 
 Latin a. 
 
 El comercio total de los Estados Unidos 
 con los palses del Sud en el afio que ter- 
 mini en Junio 30 de 188H a8cendi6£i$282,- 
 902,408; las importaoiones en los Estados 
 Unidos subieron ii$181, 058,966 en mercan- 
 clas, y $21,236,791 en efectivo y en pasta ; 
 y las exportaciones de los Estados Unidos 
 fueron $71,938,181 en mercanclas y $8,668,- 
 470 en efectivo y en pasta. De los ciento 
 ocheuta y uu millones de mercanclas que 
 
668 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Uuited States the greater part was paid 
 for by remittances to London or the Con- 
 tinent, to cover drafts drawn in the ex- 
 porting marlsets against European letters 
 of credit. 
 
 For the use of these credits on Europe 
 a commission of three-quarters of one 
 per cent, is customarily paid, and the 
 foreign banks reap this great profit at a 
 minimum of risk, inasmuch as the drafts 
 drawn against these credits are secured 
 not only by the goods represented by the 
 shipping documents against which the 
 bills of exchange are drawn, but also by 
 the responsibility of the party (generally 
 the consignee) for whose account the let- 
 ters of credit are issued, and without any 
 outlay of cash, as the American merchant 
 places the cash with the European bank- 
 ers to meet such drafts at or before ma- 
 turity. 
 
 This system results in the loss to 
 America of interest and differences in 
 exchange as well as of commissions, all of 
 which could be saved to our countries if 
 international American banking were so 
 developed and systematized as to afford 
 a market for drafts drawn against letters 
 of credit issued in America, such as now 
 exists for drafts drawn against European 
 letters of credit. 
 
 At present, therefore, the situation is 
 such that the merchants of this continent 
 are virtually dependent upon European 
 bankers so far as financial exchanges are 
 concerned, notwithstanding the fact that 
 there are ample capital and responsibility 
 in the countries here represented, and it 
 is the opinion of competent persons that 
 such capital would be ready to avail itself 
 of the opportunity of transacting this 
 business directly between the financial 
 centers of our respective countries with- 
 out the intervention of London if the 
 laws were such as to permit the conduct 
 of the business of international banking 
 under as favorable provisions as are now 
 enjoyed by the European bankers. The 
 prime difference would be that these 
 transactions would be carried on by Amer- 
 ican instead of European capital, and 
 tliat the profit would remain here instead 
 of going abroad. This, however, is im- 
 
 se introdujeron en los mercados de los 
 Estados Unidos, la mayor parte se pagti 
 remitiendo ^ Londres 6 al Continente los 
 fondos nrcesarios para cubrir los giros 
 hechos en los mercados exportadores con- 
 tra cartas de cr^dito europeas. 
 
 Para obtener estos cr^ditos en Europa 
 hay que pagar generalmente una comisidn 
 de tres cuartos por cieuto, y son los bancos 
 extrangeros los que hacen esta gran ga- 
 nancia con casi ninguu riesgo, pues los 
 giros est^n asegurados no solo por los 
 conocimientos de las mercancfas S, que se 
 refieren los conocimientos sobre los cuales 
 se ban girado las letras de cambio, siuo 
 tambien por la garantia personal del 
 tomador quo generalmente es el consig- 
 natario, Tampoco tieneu necesidad de 
 desembolaar nada, por cuanto el oomer- 
 ciaute aniericano envia los fondos ^ los 
 bauqueros europeos para pagar esos giros 
 Unas veces & su vencimiento, otras veces 
 £iutes. 
 
 Do este sistema results para America 
 no solo la p6rdida del interns antedicho, 
 sino tambien la de la diferencia del 
 cambio, y la de las comisiones, y todo eso 
 pudiera evitarse, si se organizara debida- 
 meute un sistema internacional de bancos 
 que permita crear en este hemisferio un 
 mercado para giros contra cartas de 
 cr^dito emitidas en America, del mismo 
 modo que existe hoy para los giros hechos 
 contra cartas de cr^dito europeas. 
 
 Lasituaci(5n es tal hoy dia que los comer- 
 ciantes de este continente dependeu, en 
 cuanto S, cambios financieros, de los ban- 
 queros de Europa, S, pesar de que, en los 
 palsee aqui representados existen amplia- 
 mente capital y respousabilidad ; y es la 
 opinidn de personas competentes que 
 dicho capital aprovecharia con gusto la 
 primera oportunidad de emplear se di- 
 rectamente entre los centros financieros 
 de nuestros respeotivos paises, sin la iu- 
 tervenci6n de Londres, si las leyes fueran 
 tales que permitieran hacer negocios in- 
 ternacionales de banco bajo las miamas 
 circuustancias favorablea en que hoy se 
 encuentrau los bauqueros europeos. La 
 diferencia esencial consistiria en que estas 
 transacciones se harfan con capital ameri- 
 cano, y no europeo, y que las ganancias 
 en vez de ir al extrangero permanecerlan 
 en el pais. Esto es, sin embargo, imposible 
 de realizarse hoy, por cuanto los bancos 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 669 
 
 possible of realization at present, in view 
 of the fact that the banking houses of the 
 United States doing foreign business are 
 usually controlled by London principals, 
 and that it is impossible, without some 
 change in the legislation of the United States 
 to secure a sufficient aggregation of capital 
 in corporate form, and so free from the 
 burdensome restraints and taxes now im- 
 posed npon moneyed corporations as to 
 permit competition on equal terms with 
 the European bankers. 
 
 Many different plans have been dis- 
 cussed concerning the best means of facil- 
 itating direct banking business between 
 our countries. Your committee has con- 
 sidered, and dismissed, a number of prop- 
 ositions relative to the establishment of 
 banks by means of which the national 
 governments themselves should aiford 
 financial facilities for inter- American 
 banking. Such action, in your commit- 
 tee's j udgment, does not fall within the 
 proper sphere of government. There is 
 no reason, however, why the Governments 
 represented in this Conference should not 
 severally charter banking corporations to 
 carry on business of the class which is 
 now generally done by the great banking 
 corporations of London, that is, not in 
 the issuing of circulating bank notes, but 
 for the purchase and sale of bills of ex- 
 change, coin, bullion, advancing on com- 
 modities generally, and for the issuing of 
 bankers' letters of credit to aid merchants 
 in the transaction of their business. 
 
 In the United States, where capital ex- 
 ists in particularly large volume, and 
 would lend itself most readily to business 
 of this class, and consequently to the 
 facilitating of international commerce, the 
 laws are not such as to encourage the aggre- 
 gation of capital for such purposes. So far 
 as your committee has been able to dis- 
 cover after careful inves' igation there 
 is no general statute of the United States 
 nor of any of the States of the United 
 States under which a banking company 
 can be organized with ample capital, 
 which would have the power of issuing 
 such letters of credit and transacting such 
 business as is done by the leading bank- 
 ing companies of London, which virtually 
 occupy the held. In the United States 
 it will be necessary, in order to secure 
 the proper facilities and the proper oor- 
 
 de los Estados Unirlos que haoen negocios 
 con el extraugeio est^n virtualniente 
 gobernados por personas quo viven en 
 Londres, y por ouanto es uecesario que se 
 erimiende la legislacidn de los Estados Unidos 
 con el objeto de obtener capital suflciente, con 
 eastencia legal, y tan libre de las opresivas 
 restricciones 6 impuestos que agovian hoy 
 & las oorporaoiones financieras, que le 
 periiiita hacer oompetenoia, en igualdad 
 de circunstancife, con los banqueros 
 europeos. 
 
 Muchosson los proyectos qne se han dis- 
 outido con el fin de facilitar que se hagan 
 negocios de banco directos entre nnestros 
 palses. Esta Comisidh ha estudiado y 
 desechado gran ntimero de proposiciones 
 para el establecimiento de bancos, por 
 cnyo medio los Gobiernos misiiios aten- 
 derian S, satisfacer las necesidades de que 
 se trata. La Comisi6n no cree que tales 
 servlcios correspondan propiamente & la 
 esfera de acci6n de los Gobiernos. Pero 
 no hay razon que impida & los que aqul 
 estdn representados otorgar cartas de in- 
 corporacidn S, sociedades de banco, y au- 
 torizarlas ^ hacer negocios an^logos S, los 
 que hoy hacen generalmente los grandes 
 bancos de Londres, es dccir, no & emitir 
 billetes de banco,sino S, comprar y vender 
 letras de cambio, monedas, metales en 
 pasta y mercancias en general, y expedir 
 letras de (;r6dito, que faciliten & los oo- 
 mercianteslatransaccidn de sus negocios. 
 
 En los Estados Unidos, donde hay capi- 
 tales en gran abundancia y libres para 
 eutrar en negocios de esta clase y en con- 
 secuencia facilitar el comercio interna- 
 cional, las leges son tales que no ctimnlan 
 su asociacidn con ese objeto. Despufe de 
 detenidas investigaciones, esta Comisi6n 
 encuenlra que no hay ley alguna general 
 de los Estados Unidos, 6 indi\idual de 
 alguno de los Estados de la Uni6n, 
 bajo la cual pueda organizarse una oom- 
 paOfa de banco con amplio capital y con 
 autorizaci6n bastante para emitir cartas 
 de erudites, y hacer otros de los negocios de 
 que hoy se ocupan los principales bancos 
 de Londres, que virtualmente son dueiios 
 del terrene. Para obtener esa existencia 
 legal y proveer & la neoesidad antedioha, 
 se necesita en los Estados Unidos, que se 
 dicte una ley especial por la q^ue se otor- 
 
670 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 jjorate existence, that there should he 
 legislation granting a charter, and in 
 most of the States such legislation is ex- 
 pressly prohibited by the terms of their 
 constitutions. Furthermore, the laws of 
 the several States are such as to impose 
 the severest restrictions upon moneyed 
 corporations, and to subject them to tax 
 ation so heavy that it would render it 
 impossible to carry on the business of in- 
 ternational banking in successful com- 
 petition with the English, French, and 
 German bankers. 
 
 Your committee believes that the beat 
 means for facilitating the development of 
 banking business, and, generally, of finan- 
 cial relations between the markets of 
 North, South, and Central America, as 
 well as for improving the mechanism of 
 exchange without calling on any Govern- 
 ment whatever to exceed its proper func- 
 lions, would be the passage of a law by 
 the United States incorporating an Inter- 
 national American Bank, with ample cap- 
 ital, with the privilege on the part of the 
 citizens of the several countries in the Con- 
 ference to take shares in such bank pro 
 rata to their foreign commerce ; which 
 bank should have no power to emit circu- 
 lating bank notes, but which should have 
 all other powers now enjoyed by the 
 na.tional banks of the United States as to 
 deposit and discount, as well as all such 
 powers as are now possessed by firms of 
 private bankers in the matter of issuing 
 letters of credit, and makingloans u pon all 
 classes of commodity, buying and selling 
 bills of exchange, coin, bullion; and with 
 power, to indorse or guaranty agiiiust 
 proper security, and generally to do what- 
 ever can already be done by the great 
 banking firms who are carrying on their 
 business without the aid of corporate 
 charters under the laws of a general 
 partnership. Your committee believes, 
 upon well-founded information, that the 
 capital to such a bank would be promptly 
 subscribed. 
 
 The United States Government might 
 and should reserve the largest visitorial 
 powers. The business of such bank could 
 be conducted with perfect safety, and 
 with profit to its shareholders, and the 
 greatest benefit to onr international coni- 
 
 gue lo que se llama' una carta de inoorpo- 
 racifin ; y en la mayor parte de los Estailos 
 estoestSprohibldoterminautementeporsu 
 propia Constitucidn. Adem^s lasleyes de 
 los distintos Estados son tales que imponeu 
 las restricoiones mds severas d las corpo- 
 raciones financieras, y ^stasestiinsngetas 
 al pago de impuestos tan orecidos que 
 aeria de todo punto imposible emprender 
 negocios internaoionales de banco en com 
 petencia con los banqueros ingleses, fran- 
 ceses, y alemanes. 
 
 La Comiaidn cree que el mejor medio 
 de facilitar el desarrollo de los negocios 
 de banco, y en general de las relaciones 
 financieras entre los meroados del Norte, 
 Centro y Sud de America, y de mejorar el 
 mecanismo de los cambios, sin necesidad 
 de que ninglin Gobieruo exceda su com- 
 petencia, seria que el de los Estados Uni- 
 dos dictase una ley concedieudo carta 
 de iucorporacidn Si un Banco luternacio- 
 ual Americano, con capital suficiente que 
 pueda aumentarse seguu lo exijan sua ne- 
 gocios, y concedieudo & los ciudadanos 
 de los paises repreaentados eu esta Con- 
 ferenoia el dereoho de susoribir cierto nti- 
 mero de acciones, en proporcidn a su 
 comercio exterior, y sin la facultad de 
 emitirbilletesdebauco; pero deberd.gozar 
 detodas lasotrasfacultades de recibir de- 
 pdsitos y hacer dcscuentos de que hoy go- 
 zan loa bancos uacionales de los Estados 
 Unidos y de los que gozan los banqueros 
 parti oulares respecto & la emisi6n de cartas 
 de cr^dito, negociacidn de pr&tamos sobre 
 todas clases de mercaderlas, compra y 
 venta de letras de canibio, monedas y 
 metales en pasta, y con facultad para 
 endosar 6 garantizar previas las corres- 
 pnndieutes fiauzas, y en general para 
 hacer todo lo que hoy hacen las graudes 
 sociedades de banco, quo hacen negocios 
 sin ninguua carta de inoorporacidn y solo 
 bajo las leyes que rijen en geueral las 
 sociedades oolectivas. Esta Coniiaidu 
 cree, fundada eu informes que estima sa- 
 tisfactorios, que el capital necesario para 
 este banco seria susorito sin demora. 
 
 El gobierno de los Estados Unidos po- 
 diia y deberia retener las mas ilmplias fa- 
 cultades de inspeccidn. Las operaciones 
 del banco podrlan hacerae con entera se- 
 gnridad y con gran provecho asi para 
 los accionistas como para el comercio 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 671 
 
 meroe. Branches or agencies of such a 
 bank could be established in all of the 
 principal financial centers of America, 
 with the formal recognition of the Gov- 
 ernments of the several States in which 
 snch agencies are established, or arrange- 
 ments might be entered imo with exist- 
 ing bauking institutions of the other 
 countries for transacting the business, 
 thus at once affording markets through- 
 out the two continents for the purchase 
 and sale of bills of exchange, facilitating 
 and improving credit conditions gener- 
 ally, and at once effecting a complete 
 mechanism of exchange, such as already 
 exists between our respective countries 
 and the European money markets, but 
 which has as yet no existence between 
 the money markets of North, South, and 
 Central America for the reason already 
 stated. 
 
 One of the direct benefits to be derived 
 by all of the Governments represented in 
 the International American Conference 
 from the establishment of snch a bank 
 would be, that the investors in the sev- 
 eral countries in different classes of 
 American securities would have better 
 means than any which now exist for 
 making such investments. For example, 
 a South or Central American State about 
 to float a foreign loan would feel itself 
 less dependent upon a single combination 
 or syndicate of European bankers than 
 at present. There would be open to such 
 borrowing State two markets to which to 
 apply for national loans, as against a 
 single market to the mercy of which said 
 borrowing Government is now virtually 
 exposed. The same holds good as to all 
 classes of State and municipal securities 
 whatever. Latin American investors 
 would find means more readili at com- 
 mand for the investment in and investi- 
 gation of all classes of North American 
 securities, and the investors of the United 
 States would also find means for the in- 
 vestigation of and iu vesi ment in all classes 
 of securities issued by the Slates, munici- 
 palities, orcorporationsof Latin America. 
 
 Your committee recognizes the fact that 
 London has, for many years, derived the 
 largest possible benefits, through itabauk- 
 
 internacioual. En los principales centres 
 financieros de America podrian estable- 
 oerse agendas y sucursales que fuerau 
 formalmente reconooidas por los Gobieruos 
 de los diversos pafses en que estuviesen 
 establecidas, 6 podrfa entrarse en arreglos 
 con las institaciones de banco de los otros 
 Estados para la transaccidn de los nigo- 
 cios, proporoionando de este modo, en 
 arabos continentes, mercados para la 
 compra y venta de letras de cambio, y 
 facilitando y mejorando, en general, las 
 condiciones de cr6dito, y estableciendo 
 desde luego un mecanismo de eambio 
 como el que existe entre nnestros respec- 
 tivos paises y los mercados mouetarios 
 de Enropa, pero que aotualmente y por 
 las rjzones ya expuestas no existe entre 
 nuestros mercados monetarios. 
 
 Uno de los beneficios que los Gobiernos 
 de los paises represeutados en esta Con- 
 ferencia obtendrian del establecimlento 
 de dicho banco, serla proporcionar mayo- 
 res facilidades de las que existen aotual- 
 mente ^ los oapitalistas de los diversos 
 paises que deseen colocar su dinero en las 
 diferentes clases de obligaciones <5 titiilofi 
 amerioanos. 
 
 Por ejemplo, cuando uno de los paises 
 de Centre <5 Sud America deseare nego- 
 ciar un empr^stito extrangero, no depen- 
 derla tanto, como le sncede en la actuali- 
 dad, de una sola combinacidn 6 sindicato 
 de banqueros de Londres. 
 
 De este modo estarian abiertos & la na- 
 ci6n que solicita el pr^stamo dos mercados 
 &. que poder acudir para los empr^stitos 
 naciouales, y no uno solo £icuya merced se 
 encuentre virtualmente. Lo mismo se 
 aplica & cualquiera clase de bonos d 
 titulos de deuda de un Estado 6 municipio. 
 Ijos oapitalistas Latino-Americanos halla- 
 rlan & su disposicidn medios mas f^ciles de 
 colocar su dinero y de investigar el valor 
 de toda clase de bonos y titulos de los 
 Estados Uuidos; y los oapitalistas de este 
 pais tendrian medios para investigar 6 
 invertir su capital en pr^stamos sobre toda 
 clase de bonos emitidos por los Estados, 
 municipalidades y corporaoiones de la 
 America Latina. 
 
 La Comisi6n reconoce el hecho de que & 
 virtud de estas facilidades banoarlas con 
 nuestros diversos Estados, Londres ha 
 
672 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ing facilities with our several States, in 
 taking all classes of American loans which 
 have generally proved themselves to be 
 of a most stable and desirable character, 
 but, nevertheless, upon terms which have 
 yielded the London bankers abnormally 
 large profits simply because the element 
 of competition does not exist by reason of 
 the absence of proper banking relations 
 between the several American countries. 
 The institution of such a bank as proposed 
 would at once afford relief against this 
 state of affairs, and would be of benefit, 
 not only to the merchants in the manner 
 described, but to all classes of investors 
 generally, and without distinction. 
 
 In recommending the organization of 
 an International American Bank, the 
 recommendation is based upon the pres- 
 ent condition of trade. The establish- 
 ment of better means of transportation and 
 the promotion of trade in other ways will 
 enlarge the demand for the class of facil- 
 ities of a banking character which has 
 already been referred to. The rapidly in- 
 creasing wealth of North and South Amer- 
 ica also enhances the need for a complete 
 system of inter- American exchange, and 
 insures the subscriptions for an adequate 
 capitalization to an International Amer- 
 ican Bank to meet such needs. As an 
 evidence of this increase the valuation of 
 the property of the United States in 1870 
 was estimated at thirty billions; in 1880, 
 forty-three billions six hundred millions, 
 beingsOmewhat larger than the estimated 
 value of the property of Great Britain at 
 that time. The capital and business of 
 the Americas is now much larger than 
 when European facilities for banking be- 
 tween Europe a;nd the Americas were es- 
 tablished. 
 
 Banks of the character described, hav- 
 ing agencies in the financial centers of the 
 countries here represented, would mate- 
 rially promote the establishment and im- 
 mediate use of a common standard for 
 calculating values whenever such a stand- 
 ard shall be determined upon by the count- 
 ries in' interest. 
 
 While the sentiments of the independ- 
 ent nations of this continent are favora- 
 ble to the settlement of all disputes by 
 
 obtenido las mayores ganancias posibles 
 en la contrataci6n de toda clase de em- 
 pr^stitos americanos, los que en general 
 han resultado ser negocios permanentes y 
 apeteoibles. Pero las condiciones que 
 han impuesto los banqueros de Londres, 
 y que han producido ganancias anormales, 
 han sido exageradas, y solo pndieron im- 
 ponerse pornohaberhabidocompetencia, 
 la que hubiera existido, si se hubieran 
 oreado las adecuadas relaciones bancarias 
 entre los pafses de este contineute. El 
 establecimiento de un Banco oomo el pro- 
 puesto mejoraria Inmediatamente este 
 eatado de oosas y benefioiaria no solamente 
 S. los comerciantes, de la manera arriba 
 descrita, sino, en general, & toda clase de 
 capitalistas sin distinci6u alguua. 
 
 La recomenilacidn para que se organice 
 uu Banco Internacional Americano se 
 fuuda en el estatlo actual del comeroio. 
 El niejoramiento de los medios de trans- 
 porte y de otras facilidades para el comer- 
 cio aumentarS la demanda de facilidades 
 bancarias, & que seha hecho referenda 
 mas arriba. El crecimiento r^pido dela 
 riqueza do Norte y Sud America hace crecer 
 tambi^n la necesidad de establecer un 
 sistema complete de cambios inter-ame- 
 ricanos, al misnio tiempo que asegura 
 las suscripoiones al Banco Internacional 
 Americano, dotSndolo de capital suficien 
 te para hacer frente S, sus neoesidades. 
 Como prueba de este crecimiento, puede 
 citarse que la propiedad de los Eslados 
 Uuidos fu6 avaluada en 1870 en |30,000,- 
 000,000 ; y en 1880 en |43,600,000,000, que 
 es suma algo mayor que la que representa 
 el valor de la propiedad de la Gran Bre- 
 tafia, en el mismo aBo. El capital y los 
 neyocios de las Americas son ahora mucho 
 mas grandes que cuando se establecie- 
 ron facilidades bancarias entre Europa y 
 America. 
 
 Bancos, como el que se proyecta, con 
 agendas establecidas en los centres linan- 
 cieros de los pafses aqui representados, 
 fadlitarlan muchisimo el establecimiento 
 y use inmediato de un tipo oonjliu para 
 calcular los valores cuando quiera que se 
 considerase oportuno establecerlo. 
 
 Las naciones independientes de este 
 continente favorecen el pensamiento de 
 que todas sus difereuciassean arregladas 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 673 
 
 arbitration as expressed by resolntions 
 introduced in this Conference, thus ren- 
 dering war highly improbable if not im- 
 possible among thein, there exists no 
 6uch guaranty that war may not take place 
 in Europe. In such evmt, as long as we 
 remain solely dependent for our financial 
 facilities upon European money centers, a 
 complete demoralization of our credit fa- 
 cilities and our money markets would 
 necessArily follow and cause financial dis- 
 aster and distress, which would be consid- 
 erably lessened, if not altogether avoided, 
 were there a well organized system of in- 
 ter-American exchange. 
 
 It may be asked why can not the object 
 sought for in this memorial be attained 
 through the agency of a private bank. 
 The answer is, that in the extension of 
 inter American trade it would be diffi- 
 cult, we might well say impossible, to 
 impart either prestige or credit to a pri- 
 vate bank. The establishment of an 
 international bank by authority of Con- 
 gress would promptly command from the 
 other American Governments concurrent 
 legislation which would provide the 
 amplest and most trustworthy torm of in- 
 ternational co-operation. As neither the 
 bank in the United States nor the branches 
 that may be established elsewhere can 
 have the power to issue circulating uoIbs 
 the most complete evidence is afforded in 
 that fact that the bank is to be devoted 
 solely to the commercial interests of the 
 two continents and must rely for its profits 
 upon the increase of the volume of busi- 
 ness from which alone it can secure its 
 profits. 
 
 In view of all the facts hereinbefore set 
 forth, your Committee recommends to the 
 Governments here represented the grant- 
 ing of concessions for international bank- 
 ing, and especially recommends the estab- 
 lishment of an International American 
 Bank, to be organized under a United 
 States national charter, with branches or 
 agencies in the several represented coun- 
 tries, and as incident thereto, suggests to 
 the Delegates of the United States the 
 desirability of submitting this report to 
 the President of the United States with a 
 view tnat, should he deem it proper, he 
 may recommend to the Congress of the 
 United States the enactment of a charter 
 
 por medio dearbitramento,y de este modo 
 resulta muy improbable, si no imposible, 
 que se declare la guerra entre ellas ; pero 
 en Europa no existe garantia alguna de 
 que esta r.o estalle. En ese caso, mien- 
 tias permanezcainos dependientes exolu- 
 sivamente de los centros monetarios de 
 Europa para nuestras facilidades banca- 
 rias, tendriamos qne exponernos S, la des- 
 moralizaci6n de nuestro erudite y de 
 nuestros mercados monetarios y sufrir 
 dosasires financieros, que podrlan dismi- 
 nuirse si no evitarse del todo, si hubiera 
 un sistema bieu organizado de cambio 
 inter-americauo. 
 
 Quiziis se pregunte 4 porqufi no se con- 
 seguirfau los mismos fines por medio de un 
 banco no incorporado? La respuesta es 
 que, al extenderse nuestro comercio con 
 las Americas del Centro y del Sur, 
 sella muy difloil, 6 mejor dicho im- 
 posible, asegurar cr^dito ni prestigio & 
 un banco privado. El establecimiento de 
 un banco internacional en virtud de una 
 ley del Congreso invitarla legislacidn oon- 
 currente de parte de los otros Gobiernos 
 americauos, fomentarla, una co-operaci6n 
 internacional m^s estable y m^s impor- 
 tante. Puesto que ni el mismo banco 
 en los Estados Unidos, ni las sucursales 
 que en otros puntos se establecieren, ten- 
 drlan la faoultad de emitir papel moneda, 
 es absolutamente elaro que la linica fun- 
 ci6n del banco seria el fomento de los in- 
 tereses comerciales de los dos continentes 
 y que todas sus ganancias se derivarian 
 del aumento de los uegocios. 
 
 En vista de los hechos anteriormente 
 expuestos, la Comisifiu recomienda : 
 
 Que los Gobiernos aqui representadoH 
 otorguen coucesiones encaminadas & 
 facilitar negocios iuternacionales de 
 cambio; y especialmente recomienda el 
 estahleoimiento de un Banco Interna- 
 cional Americano, que deber^ ser organi- 
 zado bajo una carta de inoorporacidn na- 
 cional de los Estados Unidos, con agendas 
 6 sucursales en los paises aqui represen- 
 tados. Como consecuenoia de esto se 
 sugiere ^ la Delegacidn Americana que 
 someta el presente informe al Presidente 
 de los Estados Unidos & fin de que, si asf le 
 parece bi6u, recomiende al Congreso de 
 
 43 I 
 
674 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 for an Interuational American Bank, for 
 the benefit and enlargement of the com- 
 merce of the Americas. 
 
 j. m. huetado. 
 Chas. R. Flint. 
 Salvador db Mbndon9A. 
 
 los Estadoa Unidos, que conceda carta de 
 iuoorporaoidn S, un Banco Internacional 
 Americano para facilltar y aumeutar el 
 comercio de las Americas. 
 
 J. M. Hurtado. 
 
 Chas. R. Flint. 
 
 Salvador de Mendonqa. 
 
 MINORITY REPORT OF MR. EMILIO C. 
 VAEAS, delegate from CHILI. 
 
 According to the information received 
 by the committee, banking Institutions es- 
 tablished in accordance with the bases of 
 the modern credit systems designed to aid 
 and facilitate commercial transactions, 
 are found in the countries represented in 
 the Conference. 
 
 The limitations and restrictions estab- 
 lished by the laws of some countries, which 
 abridge the liberty of their operations and 
 prevent the greatest extension of credits, 
 appear to be partly founded upon ancient 
 practices, the necessity of abandoning 
 which begins to be felt by the growing 
 needs of commerce; and partly upon .con- 
 siderations of a local character, which 
 it has been thought necessary to consult. 
 Not deeming it practicable to attempt at 
 this moment, taking into consideration 
 these particular conditions, the enactment 
 of uniform legislation for the institutions 
 of credit existing in the nations of Amer- 
 ica, the undersigned Delegate believes 
 that the promotion of the commercial re- 
 lations between the different countries 
 represented in the Conference and the 
 natural demands of more direct and active 
 transactions, will cause the necessity of 
 abandoning such restrictions and limita- 
 tions to be practically felt and stimulate 
 the legislator to their removal. 
 
 Consequently, and reserving to himself 
 the right to amplify these considerations 
 in discussion, if necessary, the under- 
 signed is of opinion : 
 
 That the Governments represented in 
 the Conference should be recommended 
 to encourage the exchange of products 
 between their respective countries, to 
 give to trade every facility tending to 
 this end and to remove the difficulties 
 which embarrass the operations of the in- 
 stitutions of credit intended to aid it. 
 E. C. Varas. 
 
 Washington, D. C, April 8,1890. 
 
 INFORME DEL SESOR EMILIO C. VARAS, 
 DELEGADO DE CHILE. 
 
 Segtin los In formes obtenidos per la 
 Comisidn, e^sten en los palses represen- 
 tados en la Conferencia, institaciones 
 bancarias destinadas & servlr y facilitar 
 las transacciones comerciales y estableci- 
 das de conformidad & los principios del 
 sistema de cr^dito de nuestros tiempos. 
 
 Las limitaciones y restricciones esta- 
 blecidas por las leyes de algunos paises, 
 que entraban la llbertad de sus opera- 
 ciones y la mayor extensi6n del cr^dito, 
 aparecen fundadas, ya en antfguas pr^c- 
 ticas, la necesidad de cuyo abandono 
 empieza i, hacerse sentir por las crecien- 
 tes exigencias del comercio, ya en con- 
 sideraciones de un orden local que se ha 
 estimado necesario consultar. No con- 
 sider£indose practicable por ahora, dadas 
 esas particulares situaciones, el acuerdo 
 de una legislaci6n uniforme para las ins- 
 tituciones de cr(5dito existentes en las 
 naoiones americanas, el delegado infras- 
 crito cree que el fomento de las relaciones 
 comerciales entre los diversos pafses re- 
 presentados en la Conferencia, y las natu- 
 rales exigencias de mas direotasy activas 
 transacciones, har^n sentir pf^cticamente 
 la necesidad de abandonar aquellas 
 restricciones y limitaciones, estimulando 
 al legislador ^ obviarlas. 
 
 En conseouencla y reserv^ndose el in- 
 frascrito arapliar estas consideraciones en 
 la discusidn, si ello fuere necesario, opina : 
 
 Se recomiende ^ los Gobiernos repre- 
 sentados en la Conferencia, que estimnlen 
 los cambios de productos entre sus res- 
 pectivos palses, acordando al comercio 
 todas las facilidades conduoentes S, ese 
 fIn,yobviando las dificultades queemba- 
 raoen las operaciones de las instituoiones 
 de or^dito destinadas S, servirlo. 
 
 E. C. Varas. 
 
 Washington, AMI 8 df 1890. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 675 
 
 Mr. Vakas, a Delegate from Chili, and 
 signatory of the minority re'^ort, spoke in 
 support of the conclusions of the same. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 presented the loUowing amendment to 
 the conclusions of the majority report : 
 
 " In view of the facts stated in this re- 
 port, the committee recommend that the 
 Governments represented at the Confer- 
 ence should grant concessions for the par- 
 pose of facilitating international matters 
 of exchange, and especially for theestal)- 
 lishment of an international American 
 bank in the United States of America, 
 with branches thereof in the other Amer- 
 ican nations, to be organized in accord- 
 ance with acts of incorporation from the 
 respective Governments. 
 
 " The committee propose, therefore, 
 that each Delegate should forward this 
 report to his respective Government, and 
 recommend that the act of incorporation 
 of said International American Bank and 
 of its branches should be granted." 
 
 Mr. Aragon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, stated that his name did not appear 
 as a signatory of the report of the major- 
 ity, but that he was a member of the 
 committee, and spoke at length in sup- 
 port of the opinion of the majority. 
 
 Mr. Hurtabo, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia and chairman of the reporting com- 
 mittee, and Mr. Mendonca, a Delegate 
 from Brazil and member of the commit- 
 tee, continued the debate, supporting the 
 conclusions of the report. 
 
 The following amendment, signed by 
 Messrs. Zbgarra, Guzman, and Cruz, 
 was read by the Secretaries : 
 
 " The undersigned propose the follow- 
 ing amendment to the amendment of the 
 honorable Delegate from Mexico : That 
 the final words of the report be stricken 
 out, beginning 'to be organized' etc., and 
 be substituted by the following : 
 
 " ' The committee recommends the Gov- 
 ernments here represented to grant con- 
 cessions which may tend to facilitate in- 
 
 El Sefior Varas, delegado por Chile, y 
 firmante del dictSmeu de la minoria, tom(5 
 la palabra en defensa de las conclusiones 
 de este liltimo. 
 
 El SeHor Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 ofreci<5 la siguiente enmienda & las reco- 
 mendaciones de la mayorfa : 
 
 "En vista de los hechos expuestos en 
 este dictamen la Comisidn recomienda 
 que los Gobiernos representados en la 
 Conferencia, octorgnen concesiones que 
 tiendan & facilitar negocios internaciona- 
 les de cambio, y especialmente recomienda 
 el establecimiento de un Banco Intema- 
 cional Americano, en losEstados'Unidosde 
 America, con sucursales en las dem^ na- 
 cionesamericanasquedeber^norganizarse 
 respectivamente en virtud de decretos de 
 incorporaci6n de los Gobiernos, expedidos 
 por el de los Estados Unidos de America, 
 por lo que hace al banco internaoioual, y 
 los de las dem^s naciones americanas por 
 lo que bace S, bus agendas 6 sucursales. 
 
 "En consecuenoia tambifin propone 
 que cada Delegaci6n trasmita & su res- 
 pective Gobierno este dictdlmeu y que se 
 le recomienda que solicite la concesi6n 
 del decreto de incorporaci6n al Banco In- 
 ternacional Americano y sus sucursales." 
 
 El Sefior Arag6n, delegado por Costa 
 Rica, manifesto que aunque era miembro 
 de la Comisidn informante, su nombre no 
 aparece al pi6 del dict^imen ; y habl6 en 
 seguida largamente en defensa del parecer 
 de la mayorla. Sigui^ronle en el uso de 
 la palabra el Sefior Hurtado, delegado de 
 Colombia y Presidente de la Comisidn 
 informante, y el Sefior Mendonfa, dele- 
 gado por el Brasil, y miembro de la 
 misma, apoyando ambos las conclusiones 
 de la mayorla. 
 
 La siguiente enmienda, firmada por los 
 Sefiores Zegarra, Guzman, y Cruz fu6 
 leida por los Secretaries : 
 
 " Los que suscriben proponen la siguien- 
 te raodiflcacidn d. la enmienda sugerida 
 por el Hon. SeSor Delegado por Mexico : 
 Que se eliminen las palabras finales del 
 dictamen en debate desde las siguientes : 
 ' que deber^ ser organizado bajo una carta, 
 etc.,' y quede la recomeudaci6n en estos 
 t^rminos : 
 
 "'La Comisirtn recomienda que los 
 Gobiernos aqui representados otorguen 
 concesiones que tiendan Si facilitar 
 
676 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ternational transactions of exchange, and 
 especially recommonds the establishmeEt 
 of an International American Bank.' 
 
 " F. C. C. Zegarea. 
 
 "H. Guzman. 
 
 " Fernando Ckuz." 
 
 Mr. Flint, a Delegate from the United 
 States and a member of the reporting 
 committee, moved to recommit the 
 whole subject, in order that the amend- 
 ments might be considered ; and Mr. 
 Velarde, a Delegate from Bolivia, sup- 
 ported the motion. But objections hav- 
 ing arisen on the part of Mr. Hurtado 
 and others, Mr. Flint withdrew his 
 motion. 
 
 Mr.VARAS, a Delegate from Chili, stated 
 that he adopted Mr. Flint's motion, and 
 asked that a vote be taken on the matter. 
 
 The vote having been taken, it was 
 decided by a majority of 7 to 4 that the 
 sabject should not be referred back to the 
 committee. 
 
 Those voting negatively were: Peru, 
 Colombia, Argentine, Costa Rica, Brazil, 
 United States, and Venezuela. 
 
 Those in favor of its being referred back 
 to the committee were : Honduras, Mex- 
 ico, Bolivia, and Chili. 
 
 Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, and 
 author of the minority report, stated that 
 be accepted the form suggested by the 
 amendment of Messrs. Zegarra, Guzman, 
 and Cruz as a substitute to the conclusion 
 of his own report. 
 
 Mr. Aragon, a Delegate from Costa 
 Rica, as the hour for the closing of the 
 session had arrived, asked that it be pro- 
 longed until the vote was taken, but 
 Mr. MENDON9A, a Delegate from Brazil, 
 pointed out that there was no quorum 
 present for a vote. 
 
 The Conference therefore adjourned at 
 6.10 p. m. 
 
 Jambs G. Blainb, 
 
 President. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zbgarka, 
 
 Peru. 
 
 negocios iuternacionales de cambio, y 
 espeoialmentfi recomienda el estable- 
 cimiento de un Banco Internacional 
 Americano.' 
 
 "F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 
 "H. GdzmIn. 
 
 "Fernando Cruz." 
 
 El Sr. Flint, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, y miembro de la Comisidn infor- 
 mante, hizo moci6n para que el asunto 
 volviese de nuevo £ la Comisidn, & fin de 
 considerar debidamente todas las enmien- 
 das propuestas. El Sefior Velarde, 
 delegado por Bolivia, apoy(5 esta proposi- 
 ci6n ; pero habi^ndose suscitado obje- 
 ciones por el Sefior Hurtado, y otros Se- 
 fiores, el Sefior Flint retird su moeidn. 
 El Sefior Varas, delegado por Chile, nianl- 
 festfi entonces quo hacfa saya la mooidn 
 del Sefior Flint, y pidi6 el voto de la 
 Conferencia. 
 
 Puesto S. votaoi<5n este incidente, resultd 
 decidido por una mayoria de siete contra 
 cuatro que el asunto no volviese d la 
 Comisidn. 
 
 Los que votaron en este sentido fueron : 
 Perri, Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, 
 Brasil, Estados Unidos y Venezuela. 
 
 Los que votaron por que volviese A la 
 Comisidn fueron : Honduras, Mfeico, Bo- 
 livia, y Chile. 
 
 El Sefior Varas, delegado por Chile, y 
 autor del dict^men de la minoria, mani- 
 fet6 que aoeptaba la forma sugerida en 
 la enmienda de los Senores Zegarra, Guz- 
 man, y Cruz, la cual deseaba qnedase 
 sustitnida S. la conclusidn de su propio 
 dictannen. 
 
 El Sefior 4.rag6n, delegado por Costa 
 Rica, en vista de que habla Uegado la 
 bora reglamentaria, de cerrar la sesidn, 
 pidi6 quefeta seprolongasehastaconoluir 
 el asunto ; pero el Sefior Mendon^a ob- 
 serve que no estaba presente el sufioiente 
 nlimero de Sefiores Delegados para poder 
 votar. 
 
 En vista de esto, el Sefior Prbsidente 
 declar6 cerrada la sesidn, siendo las seis 
 y diez minutos de la tarde. 
 James 6. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 
 HORACIO GUZMiN, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegakra, 
 Pen*. 
 
INTERNATIONALr AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 677 
 
 Feknando Crcz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOS:fi M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 CoJonibia. 
 EoQUE Sajsnz PBi?A, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine BepuiUo. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Jos£ S. Decodd, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 3. G. DO AMA1!AL Valentb, 
 Salvador de MKNDON9A, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Eomero, 
 Enrique A. Mbxia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolima. 
 John B. Hkxderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Morris M. Estbb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Chakles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCAUOR BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Jos]6 Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JosiS M. IIdrtado, 
 CjCrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Eoque Saenz PbSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina, 
 Manuel Akag6n, 
 
 Costa Bioa. 
 Jos^ S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 3. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador db MENDON9A, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Monduras. 
 MatIas Eomero, 
 Enrique A. MExfA, 
 
 M^ioo. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb. 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estkb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henrt G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Estados Unidoa. 
 
 NlCANOR BOLBT PeRAZA, 
 
 Josii: Andrade, 
 
 Vanezuela. 
 Emilio C. Varas, 
 3os± Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 
678 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEKTCAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Appendix A. 
 
 TSE TOTE OF MR. OBUZ, DELEGATE 
 FROM GVATEMALA, ON CUSTOMS 
 mSION. 
 
 Owing to the fact that there is a, 
 division of opinion among the mem- 
 bers of the committee charged to study 
 and report on the subject of Customs 
 Union, and taking into consideration 
 what has been said by both parties dur- 
 ing the long and enlightened debate just 
 ended, I am led to think that it would 
 be convenient to leave a statement ex- 
 plaining the meaning and reasons of the 
 vote I gave on this subject. Wishing 
 this declaration to be spread on the min- 
 utes, I shall make it as brief as possible. 
 
 In giving my assent to the report of the 
 majority, whose direct recommendation 
 to the Governments is limited to the nego- 
 tiation of reciprocity treaties with one or 
 more of the American nations with whom 
 it should be convenient to make them, 
 and on bases that in each case could be 
 considered acceptable, I have understood 
 that far from being at present' practi- 
 cable, the establishment of a Customs 
 Union has been clearly stated to be the 
 opposite. Otherwise the recommenda- 
 tion would have been made to enter into a 
 Customs Union, and not to do something 
 that is a great deal less than that, as 
 would be the case if treaties of recipro- 
 city were only made ; but even this is so 
 mildly recommended that it does not in 
 the least compromise the liberty of action 
 of the nations to whom it is sent, and 
 who are to decide upon it in the manner 
 and under such circumstances or oppor- 
 tunities as they may see fit. 
 
 The actual condition of the United 
 States and the Latin American Republics, 
 as the report of the majority so well ex- 
 presses it, is not such as would permit the 
 establishment of a Customs Union, and 
 for that reason, and as a consequence 
 thereof, the committee, who could not 
 recommend it, limited itself to suggest 
 only that which it considered practicable 
 at present. In the same way that I be- 
 lieve that the committee would have 
 clearly and expressly proposed the adop- 
 tion of a Customs Union if it had been 
 found practicable, I do not understand 
 
 Ap^ndice a. 
 
 (yoto del sb. cruz, delegado fob 
 guatemala, bnelasuntode union 
 aduanera. ) 
 
 La cirounstanoia de haberse dividido 
 en su dict^men la Comisidn encargada de 
 estudiar el asunto de Uni6n Adnanera 6 
 informar acerca de 61, y la consideraoidn 
 de lo que por una y por otra parte se ex- 
 press en el prolongado y luminoso debate 
 que acaba de terminar, me hacen creer 
 que es conveniente dejar constancia del 
 sentido y fundamentos del veto que dl 
 en el particular. Con el objeto de que se 
 agregue esta manifestacidn al acta res- 
 pectiva, voy & haoerlo tan sucintamente 
 como sea posible. 
 
 Al aprobar el dictfimen de la mayoria, 
 cuya recomendacidn directa S, los Gobi- 
 ernos se limita & la celebracidn de trata- 
 dos de reciprocidad con nna 6 raia de 
 las naciones Americanas, con quienes lea 
 oonviniere concluirlas, y sobre las bases 
 que en cada caso encontraren aceptables, 
 heentendido quelejos de estimar actual- 
 mente practicable la liga 6 unidn adua- 
 nera, se reconocf a claramente lo contrario. 
 De otra saerte, la recomendacidn habrfa 
 sido para eutrar en csa liga aduanera, y 
 no para algo que es muchlsimo menos, es 
 decir, para hacer simplemente tratados de 
 reciprocidad ; y alin esto, tan atenuado 
 que en nada compromete la libertad de 
 las naciones S, quienes la recomendacl6n 
 se dirije, para decidir en drden i, la opor- 
 tnnidad y circunstancias en que les con- 
 venga ajnstarlos. 
 
 Como el informe de la mayoria lo ex- 
 presa, las aotuales condiciones, tanto de 
 los Estados Unidos como de las Replibli- 
 cas Latino-Americanas, no son compati- 
 bles con el establecimiento de una liga 
 aduanera, y por eso, y como conseouencia 
 de ello, la Comisidn que no pudo recomen- 
 darla, se concrete & reoomendar lo tinico 
 que por hoy encuentra practicable. Asl 
 como eutiendo que la Comisidn debid pro- 
 poner clara y expresamente la formacidn 
 de la liga aduanera, si la hubiera encon- 
 trado realizable, no entiendo que tuviera 
 que declararla terminantemente imposi- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 679 
 
 yrbj said committee, just because it is 
 impracticable now, should declare it im- 
 possible. The Conference has been con- 
 vened to study all matters of general in- 
 terest to the Nations of America, and with 
 the view of recommending to their re- 
 spective Governments for final adoption, 
 the matters that will tend to bring said 
 nations closer together, to prevent war be- 
 tween them, to establish close and friendly 
 relations, to develop commerce and recip- 
 rocal exchange, and do away with those 
 differences which constitute the main ob- 
 tacles to their more cordial, free, and fre- 
 quent communications. In addition to 
 the fact that the- declaration that a Cus- 
 toms Union is impracticable is something 
 more than a recommendation, and is not 
 limited to the present time, the said decla- 
 ration could not respond, in my opinion, to 
 the spirit of the act of Congress. By merely 
 not recommending the Customs Union, 
 and recommending instead the negotia- 
 tion of reciprocity treaties, the purposes 
 of the act of Congress are fully accom- 
 plished. No undue obligation is imposed 
 upon the countries represented by us, nor 
 is a declaration made which if conducive 
 to something could certainly be to some- 
 thing different from the purposes of the 
 invitation. 
 
 I believe that a committee called upon 
 to act in this matter, especially in an as- 
 sembly which is purely consultative, has 
 a greater amplitude of action than a 
 judge to whom a case is submitted and 
 whose decision must embrace all the es- 
 sential points of the controversy. The 
 idea of the Conference is without any 
 doubt to do everything possible in order 
 to respond to the great purposes had in 
 view, and if in any matter the whole 
 thing can not be done, it is lawful and 
 proper to do "something at least. This 
 without taking into consideration that 
 the act of Congress of the United States 
 which authorized the President to call 
 this Conference together states the mat- 
 ter herein referred to with sufficient 
 clearness. 
 
 True it is that the difficulties for the 
 establishment of a Customs Union are at 
 present great, and probably insurmount- 
 able ; but the advantages which treaties 
 of reciprocity, limited to certain articles 
 and concluded upon especial bases to be 
 
 ble, en el case contrario. La Conferen- 
 cia ha sido convocada para estudiar asun- 
 tos de interns general para los pueblos de 
 America, con el objeto de hacer recomen- 
 daciones ^ los Gobiernos respectivos para 
 que se adopte todo aquello que tienda d 
 aoercarlos, & eviiar entre 611os la guerra, 
 Sj crear Intiraas y amistosas relaciones, ^ 
 fomentar el comercio y el cambio recl- 
 proco, y & borrar en lo posible aquellas 
 diferencias que son obst^culos para sus 
 mils estrechas, libres y frecuentes comuni- 
 caciones. Y fuera de que la declaraoi6n 
 de ser impracticable Ja unidn aduanera es 
 algo mils que una recomendacidn, y no 
 estiC limitada tampoco precisamente & la 
 actualidad, esa declaracidn no habria res- 
 pondido en mi concepto al esplritu del 
 Congreso. Con solo no reoomendar la 
 liga aduanera, y con recomendar en vez 
 de 6Ila, la celebraoi<5n de tratados de re- 
 ciprocidad, se cumple perfectamente el 
 objeto ; y ni se impone ningtin compro- 
 miso indebido & los palses repreaeutados, 
 ni se hace una manifestacidn, que si £i 
 algo condujera, no seria ciertamente Si los 
 propdsitos de la Convocatoria. 
 
 Creo que una Comisidn en estas mate- 
 rias, especlalmente en una asamblea pa- 
 ramente consultiva, tiene mayor ampli- 
 tud de acoi6n que la que tiene un juez ^ 
 quien se le soniete una demanda, y cnyo 
 fallo debe comprender todos los capltulos 
 hubstanciales que aquella abraza. I/a idea 
 de la Conferencia es, sin diaputa, que se 
 haga cuauto se pueda hacer para res- 
 ponder S, los grandes objetos que se tu- 
 vieran en mira: y si en algnna materia 
 no puede hacerse todo, es legitime y de- 
 bido hacer por lo menos algo. Esto, pres- 
 cindieudo de que la misma disposicidn del 
 Congreso de los Estados Unidos que au- 
 toriz6 al Presidente para convocar esta 
 Conferencia, lo dice asi con auficieute cla- 
 ridad respecto del punto de que se trata. 
 
 Asi como son grandes y probablemente 
 insuperables por hoy, las dificultades 
 para el establecimiento de una liga adua- 
 nera, son manifiestas las ventajas que 
 ofrecerlan los tratados de reoiprocidad 
 limitados ^ determinadda artlculos y so 
 
680 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 established in each case, wonld afford are 
 manifest. 
 
 The foregoing considerations fully ex- 
 plain the reason why I had not the pleas- 
 ure of acceding to the proposition that the 
 minority report should he voted upon. 
 The recommendation of the majority ac- 
 knowledges the present impracticability 
 of the Customs Union, and besides this I 
 do not believe that two different reports 
 on one and the same subject can ever bj 
 accepted. One having been accepted, 
 and with it the recommendation which 
 it makes, all others are thereby excluded. 
 
 I think that at the proper time all the 
 amendments and modifications deemed to 
 be proper can be introduced in the report 
 of the Edajority, but after the said report 
 is approved all other votes are, in my 
 opinion, improper. 
 
 In conclusion the Delegation of Guate- 
 mala would say that although in its 
 opinion the especial declaration made by 
 the minority ought not to have been 
 made, it nevertheless concurs in the idea 
 that a Customs Union between all the 
 Nations of America is at present imprac- 
 ticable ; but for the same reason it thinks 
 that it is proper to recommend at least 
 the negotiation of reoiprooity commer- 
 cial treaties. 
 
 This sense of the report of the ma- 
 jority is also the sense of my vote on this 
 subject. 
 
 Fernando Cbuz. 
 
 Washington, April 11, 1890. 
 
 bre las bases especiales que en cada caso 
 se estimen convenientes. 
 
 Las anteriores consideraciones indican 
 ya tambi^n el motive por el que no tnve 
 la satisfaccidn dc acceder £ique se votara 
 el dictSmen do la minorfa. La resoln- 
 ci(5n que la mayoria propuso, reconoce 
 indirectamente la actual impracticabili- 
 dad de la liga aduanera ; y aparte de esto, 
 no cno que pueden aceptarse dos dict^ 
 mcnes distintos sobre un mismo asnnto; 
 sind que aceptado uno, y con 61 la reso- 
 lucidn que propone, quedan excluidos to- 
 dos los otros. 
 
 Considero quo oportunamente habrfan 
 podido introducirse aldiotd^men de la 
 mayorla, todaslas enmiendas, adicionea y 
 modificaciones que se hubieran creido 
 necesarias; pero que una vez aprobado 
 sin 611as, era ya improoedente cualquiera 
 otra votaci<5n. 
 
 En restimen la Delegacidn de Guate- 
 mala, si bi6n cree que no ha debido 
 hacerse la declaracidn especial, propuesta 
 por la miuorla, concurre en el pensami- 
 ento de que la liga aduanera entre todaa 
 las naciones de America es en la acta- 
 alidad impracticable ; pero por lo mismo 
 piensa que debe recomendarse siquiera la 
 formacidn de tratados de reoiprocidad 
 comercial. 
 
 Esto sentido que es el mismo del dict£- 
 men de la mayorla, es el que tiene el veto 
 S, que estas explicaciones se refieren. 
 
 Fernando Cruz. 
 
 Washington, Airil 11 de 1890. 
 
SIXTY-FIFTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 69. 
 
 Washington, Aj)ril 14, 1890. 
 The International American Conference 
 was called to order at 11.50 a. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James G. Blaine, fol- 
 lowed by Mr. Zegarra, First Vice-Presi- 
 dent, with the following Delegates pres- 
 ent: 
 
 Nicaragua, 
 
 Mr. Horatio Gazman. 
 Peru, 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Gruatemala, 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia, 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Eepublic, 
 
 Mr. Eoqne Saenz Pena. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Eioa, 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay, 
 
 Mr. Job6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil, 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras, 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico, 
 
 Mr. Matlas Bomero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia, 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States, 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 
 Sesidn del 14 de Ahril (!e-1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine, y 
 despues del Sr. F. C. C. Zegakba, dele- 
 gado por el Peni, Primer Vioepresidente. 
 Estando presentes. 
 
 Nicaragua ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaoio Guzmin. 
 Perd: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jose M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Koque Saenz Pena; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdu. 
 Paraguay: 
 
 El Sr. Job6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 El. Sr. Salvador de Mendonfa. 
 Honduras ; 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matlas Romeo ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos. 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 ElSr. Henry G. Davis; 
 
 El Sr. Charles E. Flint. 
 
 681 
 
682 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 Venezuela, 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chili, 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varaa. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Ecuador, 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Pld^oido Caamafio. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. HoETADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, and chairman of the Committee on 
 Banking, stated in the name of the com- 
 mittee that they had duly considered all 
 that had been said in the debate of the 
 previous day, together with the amend- 
 ments suggested by Messrs. Varas, Ro- 
 mero, Zegarra, Guzman, and Cruz, and 
 had succeeded in adopting a unanimous 
 report. He therefore asked the Confer- 
 ence to allow the withdrawal of the for- 
 mer report and the substitution of the 
 following conclusions : 
 
 "After consideration your committee 
 advises the adoption of the following 
 resolution : 
 
 " Besolved, That the Conference recom- 
 mends to the Governments here repre- 
 sented the granting of liberal concessions 
 to facilitate inter-American banking and 
 especially such as may be necessary for 
 the establishment of an International 
 American Bank. 
 
 "J. M. HUETADO. 
 
 "E. C. Vaeas. 
 
 "Chas. R. Fi,int. 
 
 " Saivadok de Mendonja. 
 
 " Mantjel Aeagon." 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, stated he was in favor of the 
 present report and would vote for it, if the 
 following words be inserted at the end of 
 the final paragraph : 
 
 "With branches or agencies in the 
 several countries represented in this Con- 
 ference." 
 
 Mr. HuKTADO, iu the name of the com- 
 mittee, accepted the above amendment. 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicauor Bolet Peraza ; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Maria Pl^oido 
 CaamaQo. 
 Se abrid la sesi(5n S, las once y cincuenta 
 minutes de la maQana. 
 
 Se ley6, aprobd y firm6 el acta de la 
 sesi6n anteriso-. 
 
 Ei Seflor Huktado, delegado por Co- 
 lombia y Presidente de la Comisi6n de 
 bancos, manifesto, en nombre de la Comi- 
 si<5u, que habiendo esta considerado de- 
 bidamente cuanto se habia dicho en el 
 debate el dia anterior, y las modifica- 
 tiones que se habian propuesto por los 
 SeBores Varas, Romero, Zegarra, Guzman 
 y Cruz, habia logrado alcanzar unanimi- 
 dad; y que en este concepto pedia permiso 
 de la Couferenoia para retirar el anterior 
 dictamen, y snstituirlo porel que enviaba 
 a la Mesa, cuyas conclusiones dicen oomo 
 sigue : 
 
 "Como resultado de atenta considera- 
 oi6n, la Comisidn propone la adopcidn de 
 la siguiente resoluci6n : 
 
 " (S'e resuelve : La Conferencia recomien- 
 da ^ los Gobiernos en ella representa- 
 dos, otorguen concesiones favorables al 
 desarroUo de operaciones bancarias inter- 
 ^mericanas y muy especialmente las que 
 sean conduceutes al establecimiento de 
 un Banco Internacional-Americano. 
 
 "Washington, 12 de Abril de 1890. 
 
 "J. M. HURTADO. 
 
 "E. C. Varas. 
 "Chas. R. Flint. 
 
 "SALVADOE de MSNDONgA. 
 
 "Manuel Arag6n." 
 
 El SeSor Quintana, delegado por la 
 Reptiblica Argentina, manifesto que es- 
 taria de acuerdo con la sustitucidn, y vo- 
 taria por el nuevo dictamen, si al fin de la 
 recomeudacidn se agregaban las palabras 
 siguientes: "Con facultad de establecer 
 sucursales 6 agendas en los demas pafses 
 representados en esta Conferencia." 
 
 El Sefior Huetado, en nombre de la 
 Comisi<5n informante, aceptd la adici6n 
 propuesta por el Sefior Quintana. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 683 
 
 Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Cbili, and 
 signatary of the new report, thanked Mr. 
 Hurtado for his kind words, and stated 
 his willingness to adhere to anything 
 tending to the cordial relations between 
 the nations here represented. 
 
 The substitution of the report having 
 been accepted by the Conference, the 
 vote was taken thereon as amended by 
 Mr. Quintana, and resulted in its unani- 
 mous adoption. 
 
 The Delegates voting were : Nicaragua, 
 Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentine, 
 Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, United States, Vene- 
 zuela, and Chili. 
 
 The following special report of the 
 Committee on Customs Regulations was 
 then opened for discussion : 
 
 Special Report of the Committee on 
 Customs Regulations. 
 
 At the meeting of the Conference, 
 held Match 29, 1890, the following resolu- 
 tion was adopted: 
 
 "That the Governments here repre- 
 sented shall unite for the establishment 
 of an American International Bureau for 
 thecoUection, tabulation, and publication 
 in the English, Spanish, and Portuguese 
 languages of information as to the pro- 
 ductions and commerce and as to the cus- 
 toms laws and regulations of their re- 
 spective countries; such Bureau to be 
 maintained in one of the countries for 
 the common benefit and at the common 
 expense, and to furnish to all the other 
 countries such commercial statistics and 
 other useful information as may be con- 
 tributed to it by any of the American Re- 
 publics. That the Committee on Customs 
 Regulations be authorized and instructed 
 to furnish to the Conference a plan of or- 
 ganization and a scheme for the practical 
 work of the proposed Bureau." 
 
 In accordance with said resolution the 
 committee submits the following recom- 
 mendations : 
 
 1. There shall be formed by the coun- 
 tries represented in this Conference an 
 association under the title of " The Inter- 
 national Union of American Republics" 
 
 El Sefior Vakas, delegado por Chile, y 
 firmante del nuevo dict^men, di6 las 
 graoias al Sellor Hurtado por sus frases 
 oorteses, y manifesto su disposicidn ^ 
 consentir en todo lo que significase 
 armonia y buena voluntad entre las 
 naciones aquf representadas. 
 
 Aceptadasin oposicidnpor la Conferen- 
 cia la su8tituci(5n del antiguo dictamen 
 por el nuevo, se prooedi(5 S, votar sobre 
 este riltimo, tal como propuso el Sefior 
 Quintana que quedase adioionado, y 
 result6 aprobado uniinimemente. 
 
 Las delegaciones que votaron fueron : 
 Nicaragua, Peril, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Republica Argentina, Costa Rica, Para- 
 guay, Brasil, Honduras, M6xico, Bolivia, 
 Estados Unidos, Venezuela, y Chile. 
 
 Plisose en seguida S, discusifin el dicta- 
 men especial de la Comisidn de reglamen- 
 tos de aduana, que dice como sigue: 
 
 Informe Especial db la Comisi6n de 
 Rbglamentos de Aduaka. 
 
 En la sesidn de la Conferencia del 29 
 de Marzo de 1890 se aprobfi la siguiente 
 reeoluci6n : 
 
 "Los paises aqni representados se uni- 
 r^n con el objeto de establecer una 'Ofi- 
 cina Internacional Americana' para la 
 compilaci6n, arreglo y publicacidn en in- 
 gles, espanol y portugu6s de dates 4 in- 
 formes referentes ^ laproduccidn, comer- 
 cio, leyes y reglamentos de aduana de 
 los respeotivos paises. Esta oficina, fun- 
 dada parael beneficio comtin y sostenida 
 ^ costa de los paises contratautes, ten- 
 dr^ su asiento en uno de estos, y propor- 
 cionar^ ^ todos ellos los dates estadlsticos 
 sobre comercio y dem& informes que scan 
 de alguna utilidad,qu6 suministre cual- 
 quiera de las Repiiblicas americanas. 
 
 "Se autoriza <5 instruye ^ la Comisidn 
 de Reglamentos do Adnauas para que pre- 
 sente & la Conferencia un plan de orgaui- 
 zaci6nyunproyecto sobre establecimiento 
 y administracidn de la oficina propuesta." 
 
 De conformidad con dicha resoluci(5n, 
 la Comisi6n presenta las siguientcs reco- 
 mendaciones: 
 
 1. Se formar^ por los paises representa- 
 dos en esta Conferencia una Asociaoidn 
 titulada " Uni6n Internacional de las Re- 
 pTiblicas americanas para la pronta com- 
 
684 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 for the prompt collection and distribn- 
 Uon of commercial information. 
 
 2. The International Union shall be 
 represented by a Bureau to be established 
 in the city of Washington, D. C, under 
 the supervision of the Secretary of State 
 of the United States and to be charged 
 ■with the care of all translations and pub- 
 lications and with all correspondence 
 pertaining to the International Union. 
 
 3. This Bureau shall be called "The 
 Commercial Bureau of the American Re- 
 pnbuoB, and its organ shall be a publi- 
 cation to be entitled " Bulletin of the 
 Commercial Bureau of the American Re- 
 publics." 
 
 4. The Bulletin shaU be printed in the 
 English, Spanish, and Portuguese lan- 
 guages. 
 
 5. The contents of the Bulletin shall 
 consist of— 
 
 (a) The existing customs tariffs of the 
 several countries belonging to the Union 
 and all changes of the same as they oc- 
 cur, with such explanations as may be 
 deemed useful. 
 
 (6) All official regulations which affect 
 the entrance and clearance of vessels and 
 the importation and exportation of mer- 
 chandise in the ports of the represented 
 countries ; also all circulars of instruc- 
 tion to customs officials which relate to 
 customs procedure or to the classification 
 of merchandise for duty. 
 
 (c) Ample quotations from commercial 
 and parcel-post treaties between any of 
 the American Republics. 
 
 (d) Important statistics of foreign com- 
 merce and domestic products and other 
 information of special interest to mer- 
 chants and shippers of the represented 
 countries. 
 
 6. In order to enable the Commercial 
 Bureau to secure the utmost accuracy 
 in the publication of the Bulletin, 
 each country belonging to this Union 
 shall send directly to the Bureau, with- 
 out delay, two copies each of all offi- 
 cial documents which may pertain to 
 matters having relation to the objects of 
 the Union, including customs tariffs, offi- 
 cial circulars, international treaties or 
 agreements, local regulations, and, so far 
 as practical, complete statistics regarding 
 
 pilacidn y distribucidn de dates sobre el 
 comeroio." 
 
 2. La Uni6n Internacional serd^ repre- 
 seutada por una oficina que se establecerS 
 on Washington, D. C, bajo la vijilancia 
 del Secretario de Estado de los Estados 
 UnidoB, la cual tendr^ S, su cargo todaa 
 las traducciones y publicaciones y la cor- 
 respondencia relativas ^ la Unidn Inter- 
 nacional. 
 
 3. Esta oficina se Uamard "Oficina Co- 
 mercial de las Repiiblicas americanas," 
 cuyo drganO^ser^ uua publicaoidn titulada 
 " Boletin de la Oficina Comeroial de las 
 Repiiblicas amei icanas.'' 
 
 4. El " Boletin " se imprimir^ en ingles, 
 castellano y portngu^s. 
 
 5. El contenido del "Boletin" consis- 
 tirfi de : 
 
 (a) Las tarifas vigentes en los diversos 
 palse.spertenecientes & la Uni6n, lo mis- 
 mo que todas las modificaoiones de las 
 mlsmas, segun oourran, con las explica- 
 ciones que se juzguen convenientes. 
 
 (6) Todos los reglamentos oficiales refe- 
 rentes &, la entrada y salida de buques, 
 y ^ la exportacidn de mercaderias en los 
 pnertos de los pafses representados ; lo 
 mismo que todas las circulares dirigidas 
 S, los empleados de las Adnanas relativas 
 S, los procedlmientos aduaneros, 6 S, Isb 
 clasificacidn de las mercanclas que deban 
 pagar derechos. 
 
 (c) Amplios extractos de los tratados de 
 comercio y de correos entre las Repflbli- 
 cas americanas. 
 
 (d) Dates estadlaticos importantes re- 
 ferentes al comercio exterior y & los pro- 
 ductos nacionales, y otros Informes de in- 
 terns especial para los comerciantes y 
 embarcadores de los paises representados. 
 
 6. A fin de que la Oficina Comercial ob- 
 tenga la mayor exaotitud en la publica- 
 ci6n del "Boletin,'' cada Naci6n pertene- 
 ciente ^ esteUnidn remitirfi directamente, 
 y sin demora, ^dicha Oficina dosejempla- 
 res de los documentoa oficiales que pue- 
 dan tener relacidn con los asuntos que se 
 refieran ^ los fines de la Unidn, incluyendo 
 los aranceles de aduana, circulares oficia- 
 les, tratados 6 acuerdos intemacionales, 
 reglamentos locales y, en cuanto sea 
 posible, una estadistica completa del 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 685 
 
 commerce and domestic products and re- 
 Bources. 
 
 7. This Bureau shall at all times be 
 available as a medium of communication 
 and correspondence for persons app]\ ing 
 for reasonable information in regard to 
 matters pertaining to the customs tariffs 
 and regulations and to the commerce and 
 navigation of the American Republics. 
 
 8. The form and style of the Bulletin 
 shall be determined by the Commercial 
 Bureau and each edition shall consist of 
 at least 1,000 copies. In order that diplo- 
 matic representatives, consular agents, 
 boards of trade, and other preferred per- 
 sons shall be promptly supplied with the 
 Bulletin, each member of the Union may 
 furuish the Bureau with addresses to 
 which copies shall be mailed at its ex- 
 pense. 
 
 9. Every country belonging to the In- 
 ternational Union shall receive its -quota 
 of each issue of the Bulletin and the quota 
 
 of each country shall be in proportion to 
 its population. 
 
 Copies of the Bulletin may be sold (if 
 there be a surplus) at a price to be fixed by 
 the Bureau. 
 
 10. While it shall be required that the 
 utmost possible care be taken to insure 
 absolute accuracy in the publications of 
 the Bureau, the International Union will 
 assume no pecuniary responsibility on 
 account of errors or inaccuracies which 
 may occur therein. A notice to this eftect 
 shall be conspicuously printed upon the 
 first page of every successive issue of the 
 Bulletin. 
 
 11. The maximum expense to be in- 
 curred for establishing the Bureau and 
 for its annual maintenance shall be 
 $36,000, and the following is a detailed 
 estimate of its organization, subject to 
 such changes as may prove desirable : 
 One director iu charge of Bureati, 
 
 compensation $5,000 
 
 One secretary 3,000 
 
 One accountant 2,200 
 
 Oneclerls 1,800 
 
 One clerk and type-writer 1,600 
 
 One translator (Spanish and En- 
 glish) 2,500 
 
 One translator (Spanish and En- 
 glish) 2,000 
 
 comercio y de los productos y recursos 
 nacionales. 
 
 7. Esta Oficina servirS, en todo tiempo, 
 de medio de comunicacidn para propor- 
 cionar Si las personas que lo soliciten 
 aquellos iuformes que scan razonables y 
 se refieran £C asuntos pertenecientes & los 
 aranceles y reglameutos de aduana y al 
 comercio y navegacidn de las Reijublicas 
 americanas. 
 
 8. La Oficina Comercial determinardlla 
 forma y estilo del " Boletin," debiendo 
 constar cada edioldu de mil ejemplares ^ 
 lo menod. A fin de que los representantea 
 diplom^ticos, agentes consulares, C^ma- 
 ras de Comercio y otras personas distin- 
 guidaa reciban sintardanzael " Boletin," 
 cada miembro de la Uni(5n puede propor- 
 cionar S, la Oficina las direcciones S, que 
 deban remitirse los ejemplares, ^ costa de 
 la misma oficina. 
 
 9. Cada pais perteneciente ^ la Uni6n 
 Internacional recibir^ la proporcidn que 
 le correspouda de cada edicidn del "Bo- 
 letin, " la que aevS en relaci6n £i su po- 
 blaci6n. 
 
 Se podr^n vender uumeros del "Bole- 
 tin " (si hay excedente) ^ un precio fijado 
 por la Oficina. 
 
 10. La Uui6n Internacional no asume 
 re8poni?abilidad pecuniaria por los errores 
 6 inexactitudes quepuedau ocurrir en las 
 publicaciones de la Oficina, aunque se 
 pondr^ el mayor cuidado posible en obte- 
 ner la mdis absoluta exactitud en dichas 
 publicaciones. Se imprimii'^ ^esteefecto, 
 en la primera piigina y en lugar visible, 
 en cada edicidu del "Boletin", on aviso 
 en que asi se diga. 
 
 11. El iii^Simumdegastosanualespara 
 establecer y mantener la Oficina ser^ de 
 $36,000. El siguiente es uu estado de- 
 tallado de su organizaoidu, sujeto ^ las 
 moditicaciones que se juzguen conve- 
 nientes : 
 
 Un Director, enoargado de la Ofi- 
 cina $5,000 
 
 Unseoretario 3,000 
 
 Un tenedorde libros 2,200 
 
 Uu dependiente 1,800 
 
 Uu dependiente, type- writer 1, 600 
 
 Un traductor (de castellano 6 
 
 ingles) 2,500 
 
 Un traductor (de castellano 6 
 ingles) 2,000 
 
686 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Cue translator (Portagaese and 
 
 English) $2,500 
 
 Ono messenger 800 
 
 One porter 600 
 
 22,000 
 
 Rent of apartments, to contain 
 one room for director, one room 
 for secretary, one room for trans- 
 lators, one room for clerks, etc., 
 and one room for library and 
 archives 
 
 Lights, heat, cleaning,- etc 
 
 3,000 
 500 
 
 3,500 
 
 Vn traduotor (de portuga^s 6 
 
 ingles) |2,500 
 
 Un oiensajero 800 
 
 Un portero 600 
 
 22,000 
 
 Gaatos de Ofidna. 
 
 Alquiler de casa, que contenga un 
 cuarto para el Director, uno 
 para el seoretario, uno para los 
 traductorSB, uno para los de- 
 pendientes, etc., y uno para la 
 biblioteca y archive 
 
 Alnmbrado, fuego, limpieza, etc. 
 
 3,000 
 500 
 
 3,500 
 
 Publieation of TmlleUn. 
 
 Printing, paper, and other ex- 
 penses • 10,000 
 
 Postage, express, and miscellane- 
 ous expenses 500 
 
 10,500 
 
 "12. The Government of the United 
 States will advance to the International 
 Union a fund of $36,000, or so much of 
 that amount as may be required, for the 
 expenses of the Commercial Bureau dur- 
 ing its first year, and a like sum for each 
 subsequent year of the existence of this 
 Union. 
 
 13. On the Ist day of July of the year 
 1891, and of each subsequent year during 
 the continuance of this Union, the director 
 of the Commercial Bureau shall transmit 
 to every Government belonging to the 
 Union a statement in detail o f the expenses 
 incurred for the purposes of the Union, 
 not to exceed |36,000, and shall assess 
 upon each of said Governments the same 
 proportion of the total outlay as the 
 populations of the respective countries 
 bear to the total populations of all the 
 countries represented in the Union, and 
 all the Governments so assessed shall 
 promptly <remit to the Secretary of State 
 of the United States, in coin or its equiva- 
 lent, the amounts respectively assessed 
 upon them by the director of the Bureau. 
 In computing the population of any of 
 
 Publicacidn del "Boletin". 
 Impresidn, papel y otros gastos. $10,000 
 Franqueo, gastos diversos y de 
 
 ' expreso ' 
 
 500 
 
 10, .500 
 
 12. El Grobierno de loa Estados Unidos 
 anticipar^ ^ la Uni<}n Internacional la 
 suma de $36,000 6 la parte de dicha suma 
 que se neeesite para los gastos del primer 
 ano de la Oficina Comercial, y una suma 
 igual para cada ano subsiguiente, durante 
 el tiempo que exista dicha Unidn. 
 
 13. El dia primero de Julio de 1891 y 
 de cada ano subsiguiente, mientras dure 
 la Unl6n, el Director de la Oficina Comer- 
 cial reraitird; ^ cada uno de los Gobier- 
 nos perteneoientes ^ la Uni(5n, un estado 
 detallado de los gastos heohos para los 
 objetos I'.e esta Uni6n, los que no deber^a 
 exceder do la suma de S36,000, y que de- 
 hecSa ser cubiertos por los Gobiemos 
 mencionados en la misma proporoidn, res- 
 pecto Si la suma total gastada, que la 
 poblaci6n de cada una guarda S> la totali- 
 dad de las poblaciones de todos los paises 
 representados ; y todos los Gobiernos con- 
 tribuyentes enviariin con puntualidad al 
 Seoretario deEstadodelosEstados Unidos, 
 en efectivo 6 su equivalente, las sumas que 
 respectivamente les hayan sido seBala- 
 das por el Director de la Oficina. Para 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 687 
 
 the countries of this Union, the director 
 of the Bureau shall he authorized to use 
 the latest official statistics in his posses- 
 sion. The first assessment to be made 
 according to the following table : 
 
 caloular el moato de estas ouotas propor- 
 cionalmente & la poblaoi6n de cada uno 
 de los paises representados, el Director 
 de la Oficina estari aatorizado para usar 
 los liltimos datos estadfsticos que se en- 
 cuentren en su poder. La primera asigna- 
 cidn se har^ de acuerdo con la tabla sigui- 
 ente: 
 
 Couutries. 
 
 Popnlation. 
 
 Hayti 
 
 Kicaragna 
 
 Pe-.u 
 
 G-natemala — 
 
 tjrugrnay 
 
 Colombia 
 
 Argentine 
 
 Costa Bica 
 
 Faragnay 
 
 Brazil 
 
 Honduras 
 
 Mexico 
 
 BoliviA 
 
 United States 
 
 Veneznela 
 
 Chili 
 
 Salvador 
 
 Eonador 
 
 500, 000 
 
 200, 000 
 
 2, 600, OOO 
 
 1,400,000 
 
 600, 000 
 
 3, 900, 000 
 
 3, 900. 000 
 
 200, 000 
 
 250 000 
 
 14,400,000 
 
 350, 000 
 
 10,400,000 
 
 1, 200, 000 
 50, 150, 000 
 
 2, 200, 000 
 2, 500, 000 
 
 660, 000 
 1, 000, 000 
 
 Tax. 
 
 $187. 50 
 
 75.00 
 
 975. 00 
 
 525. 00 
 
 225. OO 
 
 1, 462. 50 
 
 1, 462. 50 
 
 75.00 
 
 93.76 
 
 5, 260. 00 
 
 131.25 
 
 3, 900. CO 
 
 450.00 
 
 18,800.00 
 
 825. 00 
 
 937. 60 
 
 243.75 
 
 376. 00 
 
 14. In order to avoid delay in the estab- 
 lishment of the union herein described, 
 the Delegates assembled in this Confer- 
 ence will promptly communicate to their 
 respective Governments the plan of organ- 
 ization and of practical work adopted by 
 the Conference, and will ask the said Gov- 
 ernments to notify the Secretary of State 
 of the United States, through their ac- 
 credited representatives at this capital or 
 otherwise, of their adhesion or non-adhe- 
 sion, as the case may be, to the terms 
 proposed. 
 
 15. The Secretary of State of the United 
 States is requested to organize and estab- 
 lish the Commercial Bureau as soon as 
 practicable, after a majority of the coun- 
 tries here represented have officially sig- 
 nified their consent to join the Interna- 
 tional Union. 
 
 16. Amendments and modifications of 
 the plan of this union may be made, at 
 anytime during its continuance, by the 
 vote, officially communicated to the Sec- 
 retary of State of the United States, of a 
 majority of the members of the Union. 
 
 17. This Union shall continue in force 
 during a term of ten years from the date 
 
 Paises. 
 
 Poblaci6n. 
 
 Cnot-a. 
 
 Haiti 
 
 600, 000 
 
 200, 000 
 2,600,000 
 1, 400, 000 
 
 600,000 
 3, 900. 000 
 3,900,000 
 
 200, 000 
 
 250,000 
 14,400,000 
 
 350,000 
 10,400,000 
 1, 200, 000 
 50,160,000 
 2, 200, 000 
 2,600,000 
 
 650, 000 
 1, 000, 000 
 
 $187.50 
 
 
 Peril 
 
 975 00 
 
 
 
 
 
 Colombia 
 
 1 462 60 
 
 Argentina 
 
 CostaEica 
 
 L 462. 60 
 76.00 
 
 Brasil... 
 
 5,250.00 
 
 
 Mexico 
 
 3, 900. 00 
 
 
 
 18 806.00 
 
 
 825 00 
 
 Chile 
 
 937. 50 
 
 Salvador 
 
 243 75 
 
 
 375.00 
 
 
 
 14. Con el objeto de evitar demoras en 
 el establecimiento de la Unidn aqui des- 
 crita, los Delegados reunidos en esta 
 Conferencia comunicar^n, sin p^rdida de 
 tiempo, & sua respectivos Gobiernos el 
 plan de organizacidn y de trabajos prdic- 
 ticos adoptados por la Conferencia, y se 
 pedirdiigualmente ^ diohos Gobiernos que 
 notifiquen al Secretario de Estado de los 
 Estados Unidos, por medio de sus repre- 
 sentantes acreditados en esta Capital, 6 
 de cualquiera otra manera, su aceptacidn 
 6 no aceptacidn, segfin 6II08 resuelvan, 
 de los t^rminos propuestos. 
 
 15. Se suplica al Secretario de Estado 
 de los Estados Unidos que se sirva tomar 
 S, su cargo la organizacidn y estableci- 
 miento de.la Oficina Comercial, tan pronto 
 como sea posible, despu^s que una mayo- 
 rfa de Jas naciones aqu£ representadas, 
 haya oficialmente informado de su asenti- 
 miento & agregarse S, esta Unidn Comer- 
 cial. 
 
 16. Se pueden hacer reformas y modifi- 
 caciones al plan de esta Unidn por me- 
 dio de un voto de la mayoria de los 
 mienibros dela misma, que ee comunicarjj 
 oficialmente al Secretario de Estado de 
 los Estados Unidos. 
 
 17. Esta Uni6n continuard; en vigor du- 
 rante el t^rmino de diez aSos contados 
 
688 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 of its organization, and no country be- 
 coming a member of the Union shall cease 
 lo be a member until the end of said 
 period of ten years. Unless twelve 
 months before the expiration of said 
 period a majority of the members of the 
 Union shall have given to the Secretary 
 of State of the United States official 
 notice of their wish to terminate the 
 union at the end of its first period, the 
 Union shall continue to be maintained for 
 another period of ten years and there- 
 after, under the same conditions, for suc- 
 cessive periods of ten years each. 
 
 Jos:fi Alfonso. 
 
 M. Romero. 
 
 N. BoLKT Pbraza. 
 
 Salvador db Mendon5a. 
 
 H. G. Davis. 
 
 Chas. R. Flint. 
 
 Mr. BOLBT Peraza, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela, drew attention to an error in 
 the report as to the population of Nicara- 
 gua ; but on the suggestion of Mr. Guz- 
 man, a Delegate from Nicaragua, it was 
 agreed that this as well as other mistakes 
 of detail might be corrected after the re- 
 port had been adopted. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 stated that this report should be con- 
 sidered an appendix to the general report 
 of tho committee, which had been already 
 adopted by the Conference, without a 
 vote being taken on it, in order to avoid 
 difilculties of detail. 
 
 The vote having been taken on the re- 
 port, it was unanimously adopted by the 
 Conference. 
 
 The delegations voting were: Nicara- 
 gua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Argen- 
 tine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, Hon- 
 duras, Mexico, Bolivia, United States, 
 Venezuela, Chili. 
 
 The delegation from Peru voted affirm- 
 atively in the sense above expressed. 
 
 The report of the Committee on General 
 Welfare on Arbitration was read. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, and chairman of the re- 
 porting committee, stated that he had 
 
 desde la fecha de la organizacidn, y nin- 
 gun pais que entre como miembro de dicha 
 UnidndojarStdeserlohastaquehayatrans- 
 currido ese periodo de diez anos. A menos 
 que doce meses antes de expirar dicho 
 plazo, una mayoria de los miembros de la 
 Uui(5n haya dado aviso oficial al Seore- 
 tariu de Estado de los Estados Unidoa 
 manifestando el deseo de terminal la 
 Unidn al conoluir el primer periodo, la 
 Unidn coutinuar^ y ser^ mantenida por 
 otro periodo de diez anos, y asi suoesi- 
 vamente, bajff las mistnas condiciones, 
 por periodos sncesivos de diez afLos cada 
 uno. 
 
 Josi Alfonso. 
 
 M. Romero. 
 
 N. BOLET Peraza. 
 
 Salvador de MBNooNgA, 
 
 H. G. Davis. 
 
 Chas. R. Flint. 
 
 El Seiior Bolet Peraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, hizo notar que al darse en el 
 dictamen la poblacidn de Nicaragua, se 
 habia padecido un error; y ^ indicaci<5n 
 del Senor Guzman, delegado por Nicara- 
 gua, se con vino eu que asf estacomo cual- 
 quiera otra equivooacidn que se encon- 
 trase en el dictdlraen, podia corregirse 
 despues que este hubiere side discntido y 
 aprobado. 
 
 El Senor Zegarra, delegado por el 
 Perfi, manifests que este dictamen debia 
 en rigor considerarse como un ap^ndice 
 al general de la Comisi6n, ya aprobado 
 por la Conferencia, y que valia mas no 
 votar sobre 6\ para evitarse dificnltades 
 de detalle. 
 
 Puesto & votacidn el dictamen results 
 aprobado por nnanimidad. 
 
 Las delegaciones que votaron fueron 
 las siguientes : 
 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentina, Co.sta-Rioa, Paraguay, Brasil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, Estados Uni- 
 dos, Venezuela, Chile. 
 
 El voto afirmativo da la delegacldn del 
 Perti fu6 en el sentido antes exiiresado. 
 
 Procedidse en seguida S, dar lectura al 
 dictamen de la Comisi6n de Bienestar 
 genera], sobre el asunto de arbitrage. 
 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos y Presidente de la 
 Comisidn, manifestd que habia notado di- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 689 
 
 noticed several "errata" iu the English 
 text, and mistakes in concordance in the 
 English and Spanish texts, and that it 
 seemed hest to him to suspend the session 
 in order that the members of the com- 
 mittee could unite and malie the necessary 
 corrections. 
 
 This having been agreed to, the Chair 
 declared a recess and the Conference 
 would meet again at 3 p. m. 
 
 The session was re-opened at 3.30 p. m. 
 with Mr. Zegarra in the chair. 
 
 The following report of the Committee 
 on General Welfare was read : 
 
 versas erratas y faltas de conoordancia 
 en los textos castellunoi5 ingldsdel dicta- 
 men, y que le pareoia converiiente se sus- 
 pendiese la sesicju, a fin de que los 
 mienibrosdelaComisifinpudierenreunirse 
 y hacer las oorrecciones necesarias. 
 
 Habi ndose convenido en ello, el Sefior 
 Pkesidbnte declard suf»penclidalascsi6n, 
 para coutinnarla a liis tres de la tarde. 
 
 Volvi6 il abiirse la sesidn ii las tres y 
 treinta miuutos de la tarde, bajola Presi- 
 dencia del Seiior Zkgarra ; y se leyd el 
 siguiente dictamen de- la Comisidn de 
 Bienestar general : 
 
 "The Delegates from North, Central, 
 and South America in Conference assem- 
 bled: 
 
 Believing that war is the most costly, 
 the most cruel, the most fruitless, and the 
 most dangerous expedient for the settle- 
 ment of international differences ; 
 
 Believing that the growth of moral 
 principle in the world has awakened a 
 public opinion in favor of the amicable 
 adjustment of all questions of interna- 
 tional interest by the intervention of im- 
 partial counsel ; 
 
 Animated by a realization of the great 
 moral and material benefits that peace 
 offers to mankind, and that the existing 
 conditions of the several nations is espe- 
 cially propitious for the adoptioit of arbi ■ 
 tration as a substitute for armed strug- 
 gles; 
 
 Believing that the American Republics, 
 sharing alike the principles, the obliga- 
 tions, and the responsibilities of popular 
 conatitutional government, and bound 
 together by vast and increasing mutual 
 interests, may, within their own circle, 
 do much to establish peace on earth and 
 good will to men ; 
 
 And considering it their duty to de- 
 clare their assent to the high principles 
 which tradition has authorized, public 
 reason supports, and the whole of man- 
 kind proclaims, in protection of the weak 
 States, iu honor of the strong, and to 
 the benefit of all ; 
 
 Do solemnly recommend all the Gov- 
 ernments by which they are accredited 
 44 I C 
 
 "LasDelegaciones del Norte, Centro y 
 Sud de America, reunidas en Conferencia 
 Internacional Americana,- 
 
 Creyendo quo la guerra es el medio m&s 
 cruel, el m^s incierto, el m^s ineficaz y el 
 mSs peligroso para decidir las diferencias 
 in tern aciou ales ; 
 
 Reconociendo que el desenvolvimiento 
 de los priucipios morales que gobiernan 
 las sociedades polftioaa, ha creadouna ver- 
 dadera aepiracidn en favor de la soluoidn 
 pacifioa de aquellas disidenoias ; 
 
 Animadas por la idea de los grandes 
 beneficios morales y materiales que la 
 paz ofreoe Si la humanidad, y confiando en 
 que la condici6n actual de sus respectivos 
 palses es especialmente propicia para la 
 consagracidndel arbitraje en oposicidn 3j 
 las lucbas armadas ; 
 
 Conveucidas, por su amistosa y cordial 
 reunidn en la presente Conferencia, de que 
 las naoiones americanas, regidas por los 
 principles, deberes y responsabilidades del 
 Gobierno demoorStico, y ligadas por co- 
 munes, vastosy orecientes intereses, pue- 
 den, dentro de la esfera de su propia 
 accidn, afirmar la paz del Continente y 
 la buena voluntad de todos sus habi- 
 tantes ; 
 
 Y reputando de su deber prestar asenti- 
 miento ^ los altos prinoipios que, en 
 apoyo de los Estados debiles, en honor de 
 los fuertes, y en beneficio de todos, vienen 
 autorizados por la tradici6n, sostenidos 
 por la razon ptiblica y aclaraados por la 
 humanidad eutera; 
 
 Encarecen S, los Gobiernos que repre- 
 sentan la celebraci<5n de un tratado uni- 
 
690 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 to celebrate a uniform trealy of arbitra 
 tion in the articles following, namely: 
 
 Article I. 
 
 The Republics of North, Central, and 
 South America hereby adopt arbitration 
 as a principle of American international 
 law for the settlement of all differences, 
 disputes, or controversies that may arise 
 between them. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 Arbitration shall be obligatory in all 
 controversies concerning diplomatic 
 rights and privileges, boundaries, terri- 
 tories, indemnities, the right of naviga- 
 tion, and the validity, oonstrnotion, and 
 enforcement of treaties. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 Arbitration shall be equally obligatory 
 in all cases, other than those mentioned 
 in the foregoing article, whatever may be 
 their origin, nature, or occasion; with the 
 single exception mentioned in the next 
 following article. 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 Such exception shall be when, in the 
 judgment of any nation involved in the 
 controversy, its independence might be 
 endangered by the result of arbitration ; 
 for such nation, arbitration shall be op- 
 tional, but it shall be obligatory upon 
 the adversary power. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 All controversies or differences, with the 
 exception stated in Article IV, whether 
 pending , or hereafter arising, shall be 
 submitted to arbitration, even though 
 they may have originated in occurrences 
 antedating the present treaty. 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 No question shall be revived by virtue 
 of this treaty, concerning which a defi- 
 nite agreement shall already have been 
 reached. In such cases, arbitration shall 
 be resorted to only for the settlement of 
 questions concerning the validity, inter- 
 pretation, or enforcement of such agree- 
 raents. 
 
 forme de arbitraje sobre las bases si- 
 guientes : 
 
 ArtIculo I. 
 
 Las Reptiblicas del Norte, Centroy Sud 
 de America, adoptan el arbitraje couio 
 prinoipio de Dereoho Intern acional Ameri- 
 cano para la solncidn de las diferencias, 
 dispntas 6 contiendas entre dos 6 m^s de 
 ellas. 
 
 , ArtIculo II. 
 
 El arbitraje es obligatorio en todas las 
 cuestiones sobre privilegios diplomSlti- 
 cos, llmites, territories, indemnizaciones, 
 derechos de navegacii5n, y validez, inteli- 
 gencia y cnmplimiento de tratados. 
 
 ArtIculo III. 
 
 El arbitraje es igualmente obligatorio, 
 con la limitacidn del articulo siguiente, 
 en todas las dem^s cuestiones no enun- 
 ciadas en el articulo anterior, cualesquiera 
 que scan su causa, uaturaleza li objeto. 
 
 ArtIculo IV. 
 
 Se exceptlian linicamento de la dispo- 
 sicidn del articulo que precede, a,quella8 
 cuestiones que, & jnicio exclusivo de al- 
 guna de las naciones interesadas en la 
 contienda, comprometan su propia inde- 
 pendencia. En este case, el arbitraje 
 serS voluntario de parte de dicha nacidn, 
 y obligatorio para la otra parte. 
 
 ARTfCULO V. 
 
 Quedan comprendidas dentro del arbi- 
 traje las cuestiones pendientes en la ac- 
 tualidad, y todas las que se susoitea en 
 adelante, aun cuandoprovengandehechos 
 anteriores al presente Tratado, 
 
 ArtIculo VI. 
 
 No pueden renovarse, en virtnd de 
 este Tratado, las cuestiones sobre que las 
 partes tengan celebrados ya arreglos 
 definitives. En tales casos, el arbitraje 
 se limitary exclusivamente & las cues- 
 tiones que se susciten sobre validez, in- 
 teligencia y oumplimiento de dichos ar- 
 reglos. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 691 
 
 Article Vll. 
 
 Any government may serve in the capac- 
 ity of arbitrator which maintains friendly 
 relations with the nation opposed to the one 
 selecting It. The office of arbitrator may 
 also be intrusted to tribunals of justice, 
 to scientific bodies, to public officials, or to 
 private individuals, whether citizens or 
 not of the States selecting them. 
 
 AliTfCUI.O VII. 
 
 Laeleccidn de itrbitros no reconoce II- 
 mites ni preferencias. El cargo de iirbitro 
 puedereoaer, en consecuencia, sobrecual- 
 qaiera Gobierno que mantenga buenas 
 relaciones con la parte contraria de la 
 naoi6n que lo escoja. Las funciones ar- 
 bitiales pueden tambi^ii ser confiadas & 
 los Tribunales de justicia, S, las corpora- 
 clones cientlfioas, &, los fuucionarios pti- 
 blicos, y ^ los simples partioulares, sean 6 
 no ciudadanos del Estado que los nombre. 
 
 Article VIII. 
 
 ArtIculo VIII. 
 
 The court of arbitration may consist of 
 one or more persons. If of one person, the 
 arbitrator shall be selected jointly by the 
 nations concerned. If of several persons, 
 their selection may be jointly made by the 
 nations concerned. Should no choice be 
 made, each nation claiming a distinct in- 
 terest in the question at issue shall have 
 the right to appoint one arbitrator on its 
 own behalf. 
 
 Aeticlb IX. 
 
 Whenever the court shall consist of an 
 even number of arbitrators, the nations 
 concerned shall appoint an umpire, who 
 shall decide all questions upon which the 
 arbitrators may disagree. If the nations 
 interested fail to agree in the selection 
 of an umpire, such umpire shall be se- 
 lected by the arbitrators already ap- 
 pointed. 
 
 Article X. 
 
 The appointment of an umpire, and 
 his acceptance, shall take place before 
 the arbitrators enter upon the hearing of 
 the questions in dispute. 
 
 Article XI. 
 
 The umpire shall not act as a member 
 of the court, but his duties and powers 
 shall be limited to the decision of ques- 
 tions upon which the arbitrators shall be 
 unable to agree. 
 
 Article XII. 
 
 Should an arbitrator, or an umpire, be 
 prevented from serving by reason of 
 death, resignation, or other cause, such 
 
 El tribunal pnede ser uuipersonal 6 co- 
 lectivo. Para que sea uuipersonal, es 
 neoesarlo que las partes elijan el irbitro 
 de comiin acuerdo. Si fuere coleotivo, 
 las partes podriin convenir en unos mis- 
 mos ^rbitros. A falta de acuerdo, cada 
 nacidn que represente un interns distinto 
 tendrfi derecho de nombrar nn Srbitro 
 por su parte. 
 
 ARTfcuLO IX. 
 
 Siempre que el tribunal se componga 
 de un nllmero par de dirbitros, las naciones 
 interesadas designard^n un tercero para 
 decidir cualquiera discordia que ocurra 
 entre ellos. Si las naciones interesadas 
 no se pusieren de acuerdo en la elecci6n 
 del tercero, la harSu los ^rbitros nombra- 
 dos por ellas. 
 
 ArtIculo X. 
 
 La designaoidn y aceptaci6n del tercero 
 se verificarSn antes de que los ^rbitros 
 principien & oonocer del asunto sometido 
 & su resoluoidn. 
 
 ARTfotJLO XI. 
 
 El tercero no se reunir^ con los firbi- 
 tros para formar tribunal, y su encargo 
 se limitary d decidir las disoordias de 
 aquellos, en lo principal, y en los inci- 
 dentes. 
 
 ArtIculo XII. 
 
 En caso de muerte, renuncia 6 impedi- 
 mento sobrevinieute, los firbitros y el 
 tercero sertfn reemplazados por otros nom- 
 
692 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 arbitrator or umpire shall be replaced by 
 a substitute, to be selected in the same 
 manner in whicb the original arbitrator 
 or umpire shall have been chosen. 
 
 Article XIII. 
 
 The court shall bold its sessions at such 
 place as the parties iii interest may agree 
 upon, and in case of disagreement or 
 failure to name a. place the court itself 
 may determine the location. 
 
 Article XIV. 
 
 When the court shall consist of several 
 arbitrators, a majority of the whole num- 
 ber may act notwithstanding the absence 
 or withdrawal of the minority. In such 
 case the majority shall continue in the 
 perfoimance of their duties until they 
 shall have reached a final determination of 
 the questions submitted for their con- 
 sideration. 
 
 Article XV. 
 
 The decision of a majority of the whole 
 number of arbitrators shall be final both 
 on the main and incidental issues, unless 
 in the agreement to arbitrate it shall have 
 been expressly provided (hat unanimity 
 is essential. 
 
 Article XVI. 
 
 The general expenses of arbitration pro- 
 ceedings shall be paid in equal proportions 
 by the governments that are parties 
 thereto ; but expenses incurred by either 
 party in the preparation and prosecution 
 of its case shall be defrayed by it indi- 
 vidually. 
 
 Article XVII. 
 
 Whenever disputes ai ise the nations in- 
 volved shall appoint courts of arbitration 
 in accordance with the provisions of the 
 preceding articles. Only by the mutual 
 and free consent of all of such nations may 
 those provisions be disregarded, and courts 
 of arbitration appointed under different 
 arrangements. 
 
 Article XVni. 
 
 This treaty shall remain in force for 
 twenty years from the date of the ex- 
 change of ratifications. After the ex- 
 
 brados por las mismas partes y del mismo 
 modo que lo fueron aquellos. 
 
 ARTfCULO XIII. 
 
 El Tribunal ejercerd; sub funciones en 
 el Ingar designado por las partes; y si 
 ellas no lo designaren, 6 no estuvieren 
 de aouerdo, en el que el mismo Tribunal 
 escogiere al efecto. 
 
 ArtIculo XIV. 
 
 Cuando el Tribunal fnere colegiado, la 
 accidn de la mayorla absoluta no serS 
 paralizada 6 restringida por la inasis- 
 tencia 6 retiro de la minorfa. La mayorla 
 deber^, por el contrario, llsvar adelante 
 sus prooedimientos y resolver el asunto 
 sometido S, su consideraci6n. 
 
 ArtIculo XV. 
 
 Las decisiones de la mayorla absoluta 
 del Tribunal oolectivo constituir^n sen- 
 tenoia, asl sobre los incidentes como sobre 
 lo principal de la causa, salvo que el com- 
 promiso arbitral exigiere expresamente 
 que el laudo sea pronunciado por nnani- 
 midad. 
 
 ARTfCULO XVI. 
 
 Los gastos generales del arbitraraento 
 serdin pagados S, prorata entre las na- 
 ciones que sean parte en el asunto. Los 
 que cada parte haga para su representa- 
 cidn y defensa en el juicio serd^n de su 
 cuenta. 
 
 ARTfCULO XVII. 
 
 Las naciones interesadas en la contienda 
 formariin en cada caso el Tribunal arbi- 
 tral de acuerdo con las reglas establecidas 
 en los artlculos precedentes. S61o por 
 mtituo y libre consentimiento de todas 
 ellas, podr^n separarse de dichas disposi- 
 ciones para constitair el Tribunal en con- 
 diciones diferentes. 
 
 ARTfCULO XVIII. 
 
 Este Tratado subsistir^ durante veinte 
 anos contados desde la fecha del canje de 
 las ratiflcaciones. Concluido este t6rmi- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 693 
 
 piration of that period it shall con- 
 tinue in operation until one of the con- 
 tracting parties shall have notified all 
 the others of its desire to terminate it. 
 In the event of such notice the treaty 
 shall continue obligatory upon the party 
 giving it for at least one year thereafter, 
 but the withdrawal of one or more nations 
 shall not invalidate the treaty with respect 
 to the other nations concerned. 
 
 no, seguir^ en vigor hasta que alguna de 
 las partes oontratantes notifique ^ las 
 otras su deseo de que caduqne. En esto 
 caso, continuard; subsistente hasta que 
 franscurra un aSo desde la feoha de dicha 
 notiflcacidn. 
 
 Es entendido, sin embargo, que la sepa- 
 raci(5n de alguna de las partes oontra- 
 tantes, no invalidar^ el Tratado respecto 
 de las otras partes. 
 
 Article XIX. 
 
 This treaty shall be ratified by all the 
 nations approving it, according to their 
 respective constitutional methods; and 
 the ratifications shall be exchanged in 
 the city of Washington on or before the 
 first day of May A. D. 1891. Any other 
 nation may accept this treaty and become 
 a party thereto by signing a copy thereof 
 and depositing the same with the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States ; where- 
 • upon the said Government shall commu- 
 nicate this fact to the other contracting 
 parties. 
 
 In testimony whereof the undersigned 
 plenipotentiaries have hereunto affixed 
 their signatures and seals. 
 
 Done in the city of Washington, in 
 copies in English, Spanish, and Por- 
 tuguese, on this day of the month of 
 , one thousand eight hundred and 
 ninety. 
 
 JOHK B. Hendekson. 
 Manuel Quixtana. 
 Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 N. Bolet Peraza. 
 J. M. Hurtado, 
 J. G. DO Amaeal Valbnte. 
 Fernando Cruz. 
 Washington, April 9, 1890." 
 
 The following letter from Mr. flaste- 
 llanos, a Delegate from Salvador, was 
 read : 
 
 " Washington, April 13, 1890. 
 " Mr. Secretary : Kindly inform the 
 honorable Conference that owing to un- 
 foreseen circumstances J am compelled to 
 go to New Yorli. I am very sorry not to 
 bo able to attend the meeting to morrow, 
 when the report on arbitration, as pre- 
 sented by the enlightened members of 
 the Committee on General Welfare will 
 
 ArtIculo XIX. 
 
 Efite Tratado se ratifioar^ por todas las 
 naciones que lo aprueben, oonforme ^ sus 
 respeotivos procedimientos constitncio- 
 nales; y las ratificaciones se canjearSin en 
 la ciudad de Washington el dia 1" de 
 Mayo de 1891, 6 antes, si fuere posible. 
 
 Cualqniera otra uacidn puede adherirse 
 & este Tratado y ser tenida como parte en 
 dl, firmando un ejemplar del mismo, y de- 
 positfodolo ante el Gobierno de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, el cual har^ saber este hecho 
 & las otras partes oontratantes. 
 
 En f6 de lo onal, los infrascritos Ple- 
 nipotenciarios ban puesto sus flrmas y 
 sellos. 
 
 Hecho en la ciudad de Washington, en 
 ejemplares en inglds, castellano y 
 portngnds, i los dias del mes de 
 
 demil ochocientos noventa. 
 
 John B. Henderson. 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 N. Bolet Pbraza. 
 J. M. Hurtado. 
 J. G, do Amaral Valente. 
 Fernando Cruz. 
 Washington, 9 de Ahril de 1890." 
 
 Se ley6 en seguida la siguiente carta del 
 Senor Castellanos, delegado por Salvador : 
 
 "Washington, April 13 de 1890. 
 "Senor Sborbtario: SIrrase ponei- en 
 conocimiento de la Honorable Conferencia, 
 qne con motive de un accidente inespe- 
 rado tengo necesidad de marchar ^ New- 
 York, sintiendo mucMsimo no poder 
 asistir ^ la sesidn de manana, en que se 
 discutir^ el Informe sobre arbitrage pre- 
 sentado por los ilustrados miembros dela 
 
6U 
 
 itfTJaENATlONAL AMEKICAN CONt'EEENCS!. 
 
 be discussed, to whioli report I give my 
 ii^ost eutbusiastic approval beforehand. 
 
 " I do not tliink I am mistaken when I 
 allow myself to assert that all the Gov- 
 ernments which we have the honor to 
 represent will accept with pleasure, and 
 without any reservations, the recom- 
 mendations therein made; and as it is 
 improbable that another opportunity such 
 as the present will present for the repre- 
 sentatives of all the nations of this con- 
 tinent to meet — inspired by the most 
 friendly feelings of fraternity and con- 
 cord — I have the honor to propose to my 
 distinguished friends and colleagues that 
 we should carry out at once our aspira- 
 tions, and make a treaty, "ad referen- 
 dum," in which each' and all of the pro- 
 posed articles shall be included. 
 
 "For my part I frankly acknowledge 
 that I shall consider as the highest honor 
 reached by me in the course of my life the 
 act of affixing my signature to a docu- 
 ment which shall call forth the plaudits 
 of all humanity, and which, owing to ils 
 transcendental character, will in the fu- 
 ture be considered as the most brilliant 
 triumph of civilization ever attained in 
 the course of centuries, since the founda- 
 tion of Christianity to our days. 
 
 "I am convinced that no Government 
 will refuse to ratify the initiative step 
 taken here by its representative, and that, 
 on the contrary, our conduct will receive 
 full approval. 
 
 "If, as I think and hope, my honorable 
 colleagues are of the same opinion, I ven- 
 ture to request them to approve this prop- 
 osition, not according to the proceedings 
 established by the rules, but by acclama- 
 tion. 
 
 ' ' I am, yours, truly, 
 
 "Jacinto Castellanos." 
 
 Mr. Saenz PeSa, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, stated that the discussion on 
 the report on general welfare ought not 
 to be continued until some member of 
 said committee was present, and that they 
 were at present occupied in correotiug and 
 finally arranging the language of their 
 report. 
 
 Before the discussion which arose on 
 this subject had been terminated, the 
 
 Comisidu de Bienestar General, por lo que 
 me auticipo S, darle mi mas ent'Usiabta 
 aprobacifin. 
 
 "No Oreo estar equivocado si me per- 
 mito afirmar que todos los gobiernos que 
 tenemoslahonrad^representar aceptar^n 
 con gusto, y sin reserva alguna, las reco- 
 mendaciones en 61 contenidas; y como 
 dificilmente se presentar^ otra oportuni- 
 dad como la presente de eucontrarse 
 reunidos los represeu tantes de todas las 
 naciones del Contineute, auimadas de los 
 mas puros seutimientos de fraternidad y 
 de Concordia, me hago el honor de i>ro- 
 poner S, mis distinguidos araigos y colegas 
 que realizemos desde luego nuestras as- 
 piraciones, celebrando un tratado ad 
 referendum, en que se consignen todos y 
 cada uno de los articulos propuestos. 
 
 " Por mi parte, confieso con franqneza 
 que consideraria como el mas alto honor 
 alcanzado en el curso de mi vida poner 
 mi firma en un documento que merecer^ 
 los aplausos de la humanidad entera, y 
 que por su trascendencia en el porvenir 
 ser^ reputado como el mas brillante triun- 
 fo de la civilizaci6n, obtenldo en el trans- 
 curso de los siglos, desde la f undaci6n del 
 cristianismo hasta nuestros dias. 
 
 '■'Abrigo la conviccidn de que ningun 
 gobierno senegarS ^ratificar la iniciativa 
 tomada por su respectivo representante, 
 y que por el contrario merecerd. uuestra 
 conducta toda su aprobaoidu. 
 
 "Si, como confio, y espero, mis honora- 
 bles colegas fuesen de la misma opini6n, 
 me atrevo ^ suplicarles que esta proposi- 
 cidn no sea aprobada por el medio esta- 
 blecido en el reglamento siuo por aclama- 
 ci6n. 
 
 " Soy de V. atento servidor, 
 
 " Jacinto Castellanos." 
 
 El SeJior Saenz PeSa, delegado por la 
 Kepiiblica Argentina, dijo que no podia 
 continuarse la discusi6n del dictameu de 
 la Comisidn de Bienestar General hasta 
 que estuviesen preseutes los SeHores que 
 pertenecen Si la misma Comisidu, los que 
 se encontraban actualmente ooupados en 
 la correcci6n y arreglo definitive del len- 
 guage de aquel dictamen. Antes de que 
 la discusi6n que se suscitd sobre este 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 695 
 
 members of the abov'e committee took 
 their seats in the Couference. 
 
 Mr. CaamaNo, a Delegate from Ecuador, 
 stated that he had beeu absent during the 
 vote on the reports on banting and cus- 
 toms regulations, but he wished it placed 
 on record that his Tote was in favor of 
 the same. 
 
 The supplementary report of the Com- 
 mittee on General Welfare was read and 
 ordered printed and distributed. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine, having requested the floor, spoke 
 as follows : 
 
 Mr. Pkksidbnt, Honorable Dele- 
 gates : 
 
 The preamble of the project of arbi- 
 tration, now under discussion, eloquently 
 condenses the high ideas and noble senli- 
 ments which have induced the Commit- 
 tee on General Welfare to submit it to 
 the deliberations of this august assembly. 
 
 Before International American x law 
 there are neither great nor small nations 
 on the continent; all are equally sover- 
 eigu and independent ; all equally worthy 
 of consideration and respect. 
 
 The arbitration proposed is not, in con- 
 sequence, a compact of abdicatiou, of 
 vassalage, or of submission. Before, as 
 well as after its conclusion, all and each 
 of the nations of America will preserve 
 the exclusive direction of its political 
 destinies, with absolute independence 
 from the others. 
 
 Neither does the project create a Coun- 
 cil of Amphiotyons, nor is it an American 
 Confederationcompactjbyvirtueof which 
 the majority of the nations adhering, as- 
 sembled in Continental Areopagus, can 
 impose their judgments upon contending 
 nations, nor even force them morally, and 
 much less physically, to carry out the ob- 
 ligations contracted. 
 
 The contract really is the consecration 
 of the friendship, confidence, and frater- 
 nity of the American nations, heartily 
 determined to solve, by means of arbitra- 
 tion, all those questions not affecting 
 
 punto hubiese terminado, los Sefiores 
 miembros de la Comisi6u untedicha se 
 presentaron en la sala, y tomaron sus 
 asientos. 
 
 El Sefior CAAMASfo, delegado por Ecua- 
 dor, manifestd que no habia podido asis- 
 tir & la sesi(5n de por la maSana, y queria 
 hacer constar que su voto respecto i los 
 dict^menes de las Comisi6nes de Baucos 
 y Reglamentos de aduana, aprobados 
 hoy, era en favor de los mismos. 
 
 Se did lectnra & un dictamen adicional 
 de la Comisidn de Bienestar General, y se 
 ordeufi imprimirlo y distribuirlo. 
 
 El SeHor Quintana, delegado por la 
 Repiiblica Argentina, tomd la palabra ex- 
 presiindose en los siguieutes terminus : 
 
 Sefior Prbsidbnte, Sefiores Delega- 
 DOS : 
 
 El pre^mbulo del proyeoto de arbitraje, 
 que en este momento se discute, condensa 
 elocuenteniente las altas consideraciones 
 y los nobles sentimientos que han indu- 
 cido & la Comisidn de Bienestar General 
 ^ someterlos & las deliberaciones de esta 
 auKusta asamblea. 
 
 Ante el Derecho internacional ameri- 
 cano no existen en el Continente naciones 
 grandes ni pequefias; todas son igual- 
 mente soberanas 6 independientes ; todas 
 son igualmente dignas de consideracifin 
 y de respeto. 
 
 El arbitraje propueeto no es, en conse- 
 cnencia, un pacto de abdicacifin, de va- 
 sallaje, ni de sometimiento. Antes como 
 despues- de celebrado, todas y cada una 
 de las naciones de America conservarSn 
 la direccidn exclusiva de sus destines 
 poHticos, con absoluta prescindencia de 
 las demas. 
 
 Ese proyeoto no crea tampoco un Con- 
 sejo de Anfictionea, ni es un pacto de 
 Confederaci6n americana, en virtud del 
 cnal la mayoria de las naciones adhe- 
 rentes, reunidas en Aredpago Continental, 
 pueda impouer sua decisiones ^ las na- 
 ciones contendoras, ni siquiera sea para 
 conipeleiias moralmente, y mucho menos 
 materialmente, & la ejecucidn de los com- 
 promisos coniraidos. 
 
 Lo que ese pacto es, en realidad, es la 
 consagraci6n de la amistad, de la con- 
 fianza y de la fraternidad de las naciones 
 amerioanaa, sinceramente decididas A so- 
 lucionar, por medio del arbitraje, todas 
 
696 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 their own independence; becuuse the in- 
 dependence of a nation can never he sub- 
 mitted to tlie judgment of another, and 
 should always reside in the palladium of 
 national patriotism. 
 
 As a work of peace, of justice, and of 
 concord it does not restj then, upon the 
 strength of numbers nor the force of arms. 
 It rests solely upon the public faith of the 
 nations accepting it, upon the sense of 
 dignity of each of them, and upon the 
 moral responsibility of that one which 
 should tread upon this great work of civil- 
 ization and of law, of the American mind 
 and heart — faith, sense, and responsibility 
 more respectable.uobler and more efficient 
 than the material strength of any one na- 
 tion however great and powerful. 
 
 A plan of arbitration has thus been 
 formulated which, though obligatory in 
 a general sense, is never compulsory 
 through the action of any State not di- 
 rectly and exclusivelj' interested in the 
 case. If against all anticipations, against 
 all desires, and against all hopes, arbi- 
 tration should bo unduly declined in any 
 case, and war break out between the dis- 
 senting nations, the only thing left to 
 the other nations, great or small, in fact, 
 but all equal before the law, is the mourn- 
 ful necessity of deploring the downfall of 
 the noblest human aspirations; and no 
 nation shall be able to claim, by virtue, 
 of the project under discussion, the right 
 to mingle in the contest, except in the 
 cases and within the limits in which in- 
 ternational law authorizes mediations or 
 the good offices of any State maintaining 
 good relations with the contending par- 
 ties. 
 
 Such, Gentlemen, is the clear letter of 
 the proposed treaty, and. such is also the 
 incontroverUble spirit of all its clauses. 
 Such has been, moreover, the predominant 
 Idea of the committee, which has con- 
 stantly eliminated all suggestions tending 
 to attribute to its stipulations a compul- 
 sory character, even though it be purely 
 moral, on the part of the other adhering 
 nations, which are alien to the question 
 raised. Such is, above all, the genuine 
 and undeniable sense in which the Argen- 
 tine Delegation has had the honor to sign 
 it, and it will assume the duty of uphold- 
 ing it through me. 
 
 aquellas cuestiones que no afecten su 
 propia indepeudencia; pdrque la inde- 
 pendenoia de una nactdn no se somete al 
 juicio ageno, y debe siempre quedar bajo 
 la salvagnardiadel patriotismo naoional. 
 
 Como obra de paz, de justioia y de Con- 
 cordia, no reposa, pues, sobre la fuerza 
 del uumero, ni sobre el poder de las 
 armas. Reposa unicamente sobre la f€ 
 pliblica de las naciones que lo aceptan, 
 sobre el sentimien to de la dignidad de cada 
 una de ellas, y sobre la responsabilidad 
 moral de aqpella que acentara & esta 
 grande obra de la civilizaci6n y del de- 
 recho, de la mente y del corazon america- 
 uos, f6, sentimieutoy responsabilidad mas 
 respetables, mas nobles y mas eficaces que 
 el poder material de naci<5n alguna pnr 
 grande y poderosa que sea. 
 
 Hase formulado asl un arbitraje, gene- 
 ralmente obligatorio, pero jamas compul- 
 sorio por las vias de heoho, de uinguna 
 de las naciones que no seau las directa y 
 exclusivamente interesadas en el caso 
 oourrente. Si, contra todas las previ- 
 siones, contra todos los deseos, y contra 
 todas las esperauzas, el arbitraje fuera 
 indebidamente declinado en algnn caso, y 
 la guerra sobreviniese entre las naciones 
 disidentes, & las demas, grandes 6 peque- 
 nas do hecho, pero iguales todas ante el 
 Derecho, solo qnedar^ la triste misidn de 
 deplorar el fracaso de las mos nobles a«- 
 piraoiones humanas, y niuguna podria in- 
 vocar, en virtud del proyecto en discusidn, 
 la f aculdad de inmiscuirse en la contienda, 
 fuera de los casos y de los limites en que 
 el Derecho de Gentes autoriza la media- 
 ci6n, 6 los buenos oflcios, de oualquier Es- 
 tado que mantenga buenas relaciones con 
 las partes oontendoras. 
 
 Tal cs, Seuores, la letra olara del trata- 
 do propuesto y tal es tambi^n el esplritu 
 intergiversable de todas sub clalieulas. 
 Tal ha side ademas la idea domiuante de 
 la Comisi6n, que constantemente ha eli- 
 minado todas las indicaciones tendentes 
 & atribuir A, sus estipulaciones car^oter 
 compulsorio, aunque no fuera mas que 
 puraraente moral, de parte de las demas 
 naciones adhereutes, pero agenas & la 
 cae8ti6n surgida. Tal es sobre todo la 
 inteligencia gennina 6 indeclinable con 
 que la Delegacidu argentina ha tenido el 
 honor de suscribirlo, y se hara un deber 
 de sosteuerl ■ por mi drgano. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 697 
 
 I hardlj need add tbat were it other- 
 wise the Argentine Delegation would not 
 hesitate to withdraw its support, al- 
 though it would regret such a course. 
 Happily, it entertains the firm conviction 
 that snch an exlreinity will not occur. 
 It will also congratulate itself, however, 
 for this explanation of its ideas respect- 
 ing the general scope of the project of 
 arbitration. Perhaps it will serve to pre- 
 vent in the future interpretations as un 
 authorized as they are repugnant to the 
 sincerity of some, the dignity of others, 
 and the cordiality of all. 
 
 Mr. Saenz PbSa, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, confirmed all that was saidhy 
 his colleague, and asked that the above 
 speech be inserted in the minutes, which 
 was agreed to. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 spoke as follows : 
 
 " It is a source of great gratification for 
 me to see that the Delegates of seven 
 American nations, represented in the 
 Committee on General Welfare of this 
 Conference, amonjj which are the United 
 States of America, have concluded to rec- 
 ommend an agreement which intends to 
 abolish war and sul stitute it by friendly 
 and pacific means. As a man of peace aud 
 as a representative of a Republic which is 
 not aggressive, I can not help looking 
 -with satisfaction that the use of force be 
 given up for the settlement of differences 
 among American nations and replaced by 
 means similar to those used by private 
 persons in similar cases, although with 
 such modifications as are required by the 
 character of indepeudeat nations of the 
 Republics represented in this Conference. 
 
 I regret that the instructions which 
 the Mexican Delegates in this Conference 
 have received from their Government on 
 this subject will not. allow us to accept, 
 in all its breadth, the principle con- 
 tained in the report of the committee. 
 But when a reform which affects in such 
 transcendent manner the present system of 
 civilized nations, and which establishes 
 such radical changes in whal heretofore 
 has been generally practiced, it is not 
 strange that the Mexican Government 
 should consider that the principles accept- 
 ed in the report of the committee go too 
 
 Apenas necesito agregar que, de lo con- 
 trario, la Delegacidn argentinano vacila- 
 ria en retirarle su apoyo, por mas sensible 
 que le fuese hacerlo. Abriga felizmente 
 la plena conviccidn de que ese caso ex- 
 treme no llegardi. Siempre se congratu- 
 larS sin embargo de esta explanacicin de 
 su ideas respecto de la indole general del 
 proyecto de arbitraje. Quiza ella sirva 
 para evitar en lo futuro interpretaciones 
 tan desautorizadas como coutrarias ilia 
 sinceridad de unas, ^ la diguidad de otras, 
 y ^ la cordialidad do todas. 
 
 El Seilor Saenz Pena, delegado por la 
 Republica Argentina, confirm^ todo lo 
 dicho por su Sefior colega, y pidi6 que el 
 discurso del Selior Quintuua se iusertase, 
 en el acta, & lo que se determine de con- 
 forraidad. 
 
 El SeJior Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 pronuncid eu seguida el siguiente discurso: 
 
 Es para mi motivo de positiva compla- 
 cencia ver que los delegados de siete na- 
 ciones americanas representadas en la 
 Comisidn de Bienestar General de esta 
 Conferencia, entre las cuales se compren- 
 den los Estados Unidos de America, hayan 
 convenido en recomendar un proyecto que 
 tiene por objeto abolir la guerra y sus- 
 tituirla por medios amistosos y paclficos. 
 Como hombre de paz y como representante 
 de una Reptiblica que no es agresora, no 
 puedo m6nos que ver con satisfaccidn que 
 para terminar las diferencias que se sus- 
 citen entre las naciones americanas, se 
 reemplaze el medio salvaje de la fuerza, 
 por arbitrios semejantes d. los que usan 
 los particulares en cases an^logos, aunque 
 con las modificacioues que requiere el 
 carScter de naciones independentes de las 
 entidades aqnl representadas. 
 
 Lamento no poder seguir en este asunto 
 S las demas delegaciones ; pero las ins- 
 trucciones que los delegados de Mexico 
 hemes recibido de nuestro Gobierno sobre 
 61, no nos permiten adoptar en toda su 
 extensidn los principios contenidos en el 
 dictamen de la Coiuision. Tratd^ndose 
 de una reforma que afectara tan trascen- 
 deutalmente el modo de ser de las 
 naciones civilizadas, y que establece un 
 cambio radical en lo que hasta ahora se 
 ha practicado genoralmente, no es de 
 extranarse que el Gobierno Mexicano 
 cousidere que van demasiado lejos los 
 
698 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 far, and that in a subject so delicate as 
 the present it is more prudent to go by 
 short steps, which, if they are not so ad- 
 vanced as the report of the committee, 
 would have the advantage, perhaps, of be- 
 ing safer, and that in all cases, far from 
 interfering with future advances Until 
 the common desideratum is reached, 
 would be so many other steps taken safely 
 towards the realization of that object. 
 
 With great diffidence ou our part, be- 
 cause, as we are not able to give our com- 
 plete adhesion to the report of the com- 
 mittee, we have no right to expect that 
 our views upon this important subject 
 should be accepted, and rather with the 
 object of explaining the views of our Gov- 
 ernment, the Mexican Delegates will 
 make a cursory review of the diiferent 
 articles of the report, and give our opinion 
 on each of them. 
 
 We must state beforehand that we have 
 received precise instructions from our 
 Government upon the main points of the 
 report of the committee, as we sent home 
 the several projects on arbitration of 
 which we had been aware, and the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States of America 
 submitted one direct. y to the Mexican 
 Government ; therefore our Government 
 has had time enough to study this impor- 
 tant subject and to send us its instruc- 
 tions on the same. 
 
 In our treaties with the United States 
 of America we have agreed to the use 
 of arbitration for the settlement of fu- 
 ture difficulties between the two coun- 
 tries, and therefore the Mexican Govern- 
 ment accepts arbitration as a principle of 
 international American law, with a view 
 to settle differences among the nations of 
 this continent, and therefore we will be 
 glad to give our approval to the first 
 article of the report. 
 
 In the minds of all the Delegations here 
 present is the conviction that if arbitra- 
 tion is acceptable as a principle and in 
 general terms, there are also cases in 
 which it might not be proper to adopt it ; 
 and one of the principal difficulties which 
 appears in considering this subject is to 
 establish such exceptions without nullify- 
 ing the principle itself. 
 
 prinoipios adoptados en el dictd^men de 
 la Comisidu, y que en un asuuto tan 
 delicado como este, sea mas prudente dar 
 pasos que, si son meuos avanzados, ten- 
 di^n en cambio la probabilidad de ser 
 mas seguros, y que en todo case, lejos de 
 impedir avances futuros para llegar hasta 
 el desideratum, serian otras tautas con- 
 quistas alcanzadas de una mauera irre- 
 vocable, en la realizacidu de aq uel objeto. 
 
 Con gran desconfianzade nuestra parte, 
 pues, no pudieudo prestar nuestra ad- 
 hesion sin ^aerva, al proyecto de la 
 Comirsi6n, no tenemos derecho de esperar 
 que se aoepten nuestras ideas sobre este 
 importante asunto, y mas bien con el fin 
 de fundar nuestro voto, y manifestar 
 exactamente cuales son las miras de 
 nuestro Gobierno, har^mos los delegados 
 de Mexico, un examen lijero de los dife- 
 rentesartfculosque componen el proyecto 
 y expresar6m08 nuestra opinion respecto 
 de oada uno de ellos. 
 
 Debemos manifestar, ante todo, que res- 
 pecto de los puntos capitales del pro- 
 yecto de la Comi8i6:i, tenemos instruc- 
 ciones preoisas de nuestro Gobierno, pues 
 habieudole nosotros sometido los varios 
 proyectos sobre arbitraje quehabian Ueg 
 ado S, nuestro conocimiento, y habi^ndole 
 propuesto unodireotamente el Gobierno de 
 los Estados Unidos de Am^r.ca, ha tenido 
 tiempo de estudiar este asunto y de co- 
 municarnos aus instrucciones respecto del 
 mismo. 
 
 En nuestros tratados con los Estados 
 Unidos de Am&ica tenemos estipulado el 
 recurso de arbitramento, que el Gobierno 
 de Mexico acepta como principio de De- 
 recho Internacioual Americano, con ob- 
 jeto de terminar las difereucias que se 
 susciten entre las naciones de este Conti- 
 nente y en este concepto aprobarfimos por 
 supuesto, el Articulo I del proyecto de la 
 Comisibn. 
 
 Ell la mente de todas las delegaoionss 
 aqui presentes, ha estado la idea de que 
 si ese sistema era aceptable en principio 
 y en t^rminos generales, hay tambi^n 
 cases en que no seria convenieute apli- 
 carlo, y uua de las dificultades princi- 
 pales con que se tropieza al examiuar 
 este asuuto, es la de estableoer esas ex- 
 cepcioues, sin nulillcar el principio mis- 
 mo. 
 
INtEKNATlONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 699 
 
 The arbitration project presented to 
 this Conference on the 15th of January 
 last by the Delegations from the Argen- 
 tine Kepublic and the United States of 
 Brazil, excepts in its Article 1st such 
 questions as would affect national sov- 
 ereignty. 
 
 The project submitted by the Uniicd 
 States Government to Mexico about ihe 
 end of February last excepted such ques- 
 tions as would aflect the territorial in- 
 tegrity and the report of the committee 
 has as an exception such questions as 
 might affect the indeipendehce of the con. 
 tracting nations. The Mexican Goveru- 
 ment believes that, besides this last ex- 
 ception, another ought to be agreed upon 
 for such questions as affect, in a direct 
 way, the national honor and dignity of one 
 of the contracting nations; and therefore 
 :he Mexican Delegates do not approve 
 of Article 2 of the report of the committee, 
 without the addition just stated. 
 
 Examining the form of Article II of the 
 report, we have to say that it seems to us 
 unnecessary to euumerale the cases in 
 which arbitration is binding, since Article 
 III provides that it should be so in all cases 
 except those stated in the following Ar- 
 ticle IV, which are such as may endanger 
 national independence. There appears 
 besides, in our opinion, some contradiction 
 between Article II and IV, since Arti- 
 cle II provides the arbitration as obliga- 
 tory in all boundary and territorial 
 questions ; and it may very easily happen 
 in some cases that such questions might 
 endanger the independence of the coun- 
 try, and then arbitration would not be 
 binding in conformity with the provis- 
 ions of Article IV. 
 
 We do not wish to mention special 
 cases as it is always disagreeable, al- 
 though they might show this very 
 plainly. The independence of a country 
 might be endangered either totally or 
 partially. It is plain that iudependence 
 might be endangered partially when, on 
 account of territorial questions or ques- 
 tions of boundary, a country would be in 
 danger of losing the greater or consider- 
 able portions of its territory. In compli- 
 ance with Article II, arbitration would 
 be binding, while Article IV, provides 
 that it should not be so if such questions 
 would endanger national independence. 
 
 Elproyeoto de arbitraineutopresentado 
 & esta Conferencia el 15 de Enero liltimo 
 per las delegaciones de las Eepublicas 
 Argentina y del Brasil, oontenia en su 
 Articulo I, la excopoidn de las ouestiones 
 que afecten la soberania nacional; el some- 
 tido al Gobierno Moxicauo por el de los 
 Estados Unidos, S, fines de Febrero signien- 
 te, exceptuaba las cuestiones que afecta- 
 ran la integridad territorial; y el proyecto 
 de la Comisi6u consalta como excepci(5n, 
 las cuestions que comprometan la indepen- 
 dencia de las uaciones contratantes. El 
 Gobierno de Mexico cree que ademas de 
 estaliltima excepcidn, deberia estipularse 
 la de las cuestiones que afecten de una ma- 
 nera directa el honor y la dignidad de una de 
 las naciones contratantes, y por lo mismo, 
 los delegados de Mfeico no podrfimos 
 aprobar el articulo segundo del proyecto 
 de la Comisidn, siuo con la adicidn que 
 acabamos de indicar. 
 
 Ocnpiindonos de la forma del Articulo II 
 del proyecto, debemos manifestar que pa- 
 rece inneoesario enumerar las cuestiones 
 en que es forzoso el arbitramento, su- 
 puestoqueelArtfculo III estableceque lo 
 sea en todas, m^nos en las expresadas 
 en el articulo siguiente (IV), que son las 
 que comprometan la independencia. 
 
 Ademas, en nuestro concepto, hay 
 alguna contradiccidn entre los artiouloa 
 II y IV, supuesto que el II establece el 
 arbitramento como obligatorio en todas 
 las cuestiones de limites y de territories, 
 y pudiera suceder muy bien en algunos 
 ca80S,que est as cuestiones comprometiesen 
 la independencia de un pals, y entonces 
 no seria obligatorio el arbitramento con- 
 forme al Articulo IV. Por no particu- 
 larizar cuestiones, lo cual es siempre 
 desagradable, no cito ejemplos, que. Si mi 
 modo de ver, demuestran esto con claridad 
 La independencia de un pals puede verse 
 comprometida total 6 paroialmente. Es 
 claro que se comprometeria parcialmente 
 esa independencia cuando por cuestiones 
 de territorio 6 de liinites, un pais se viera 
 en peligro de perder la mayor, 6 una parte 
 considerable de su territorio ; y sinem- 
 bargo, oonforme al Articulo II, en esas 
 cuestiones seria obligatorio el arbitraje, 
 cuando oonforme al Articulo IV no lo 
 seria, por eomprometerse por ellas la 
 independencia nacional. 
 
700 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Article V of the report of the committee 
 includes among the cases to be decided 
 by arbitration such questions as are 
 pending when the treaty is signed. lu 
 our opinion it would be preferable not to 
 embrace such questions, for many reasons 
 which it would be, it seems, unnecessary 
 to state. Arbitration ought to be ac- 
 cepted as a philosophical, humanitarian, 
 and progressive measure, founded on 
 principles of reason and public con- 
 venience ; and it would be more easily 
 accepted if it is presented in the abstract 
 aud without referring it to the decision 
 of pending questions. From the moment 
 that such questions have to be submitted 
 to arbitration the bearing of this sys- 
 tem changes radically, and therefore its 
 probable solution changes likewise. For- 
 tunately there are few questions which 
 are now pending and which would be 
 exempted from binding arbitration if 
 the provisions of Article V should be 
 changed. 
 
 But notwithstanding all this, as the 
 Mexican Government is willing to accept 
 such a treaty of arbitration as might be 
 approved, by this Conference, we would 
 -give up our objections against Article V, 
 provided the exception which we havejust 
 stated — that is, that arbitration would 
 not be binding in questions which would 
 affect in a direct way the honor and 
 dignity of one of the contracting nations 
 — should be accepted. 
 
 Of course, if the provisions of Article V 
 should be omitted. Article VI, which is 
 merely explanatory of the other, ought to 
 be also omitted. There is, besides, some 
 contradiction between those two articles. 
 The VI provides that such questions as 
 have been already decided by definite 
 agreements or treaties, should not be re- 
 opened, but it adds that concerning ques- 
 tions of validiti/, interpretation, or enforce- 
 ment oianch. agreements arbitration shall 
 bo employed. In our opinion this pro- 
 vision is equivalent to a renewal of all the 
 questions already decided by definite 
 agreements or treaties, notwithstanding 
 the stipulation contained in the first 
 sentence of Article 6, since if such ques- 
 tions as involve the validity, interpretation, 
 and fulfillment of previous treaties are 
 subject to arbitration, this is equivalent 
 
 El articulo V del proyecto de la Comi- 
 sidn, incluye las cuestiones pendientes al 
 firmarse el tratado respectivo entre las 
 que deben decidirse por ^rbitros. A nues- 
 tro juicio seria preferible no compren- 
 derlas, por muchas razones obvias, que 
 pareco innecesario indicar. El arbitraje 
 dcbe aceptarse como una luedida filos6fica, 
 humanitaria y de progreso, al mismo 
 tiempo que fundada en la razon y conve 
 niencia,y se aceptaria mas facilmeute si 
 se cousiderara en abstra'cto y sin referirla 
 S, la decisi6% de cuestiones pendientes. 
 Desde el momento en que esas cuestiones 
 dcbau someterse £ arbitraje, oambia la 
 manera de verlo y de considerar su so- 
 luci6n. Afortunadamente son ijocas las 
 cuestiones que est^n ahora pendientes y 
 que quedarian exceptuadas del arbitraje 
 forzoso, si se presciudiera de la estipula- 
 cidn consignada en el articulo V. Pero 
 £ pesar de todo esto y deseando el Gobier- 
 no de Mexico aceptar el trjjitado que 
 apruebe esta Conferencia, prescindiria 
 de sus objecciones contra este articulo, 
 siempre que se aceptase la excepci<5n que 
 acabo de indicar, esto es, incluir entre las 
 cuestiones respecto de las cuales no sea 
 obligatorio el arbitramehto, aquellas que 
 afecfen de una manera directa el honor 
 y la dignidad de una de las nacioues 
 interesadas. 
 
 Por supuesto que si se draitiese la estl- 
 pulaci(5u del articulo V habria tamblen 
 que suprimir el VI, que es explicatorio 
 del anterior. Hay ademas y hasta cierto 
 punto alguna contradiccidn entre estos 
 do8 articulos'. En el VI se establece que 
 no se renovardln las cuestiones que hayan 
 sido decididas ya por arreglos deiiuitivos 
 6 Iratados ; pero se agrega que deber^ 
 reourrirse alarbitramenlo pd,ra el arreglo 
 de cuestiones que se susoiten sobre la 
 valldez, interpretacidn 6 oumplimiento de 
 dichos tratados. En nuestro coucepto 
 esta estipulacidn equivale & renovar las 
 cuestiones decididas por arreglos defini- 
 tives 6 tratados, apesarde la estipulacidn 
 conteuida en la primera parte del articulo 
 VI, pues someter S, arbitraje las cues- 
 tiones que se susciten con motivo de la 
 validez, inttUgencia y ouviplimiento de tra- 
 tados anteriores, equivale & revivir las 
 que quedaron terminadas por medio de 
 los miamos tratados. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 701 
 
 to reviving (he questions which wore 
 settled by the moans of the same treaties. 
 Article VII provides for the complete 
 liberty of each of the contracting nations 
 inthe selection of arbitrators. While we 
 accept this stipulation as a very proper 
 ouf, we believe at the same time that 
 it could be stated in more concise words 
 and without the need of mentioning, as 
 it does, who can act as arbitrators. 
 
 Article VIII points out how the arbitra- 
 tion court shall be organized, and its first 
 two sentences are entirely acceptable — 
 to wit, that in case the court is composed 
 of one, two, or more judges, all these 
 shall be jointly selected by the nations 
 concerned. The third sentence foresees 
 the contingency when the nations con- 
 cerned should not agree upon the appoint- 
 ment of one or more judges, and gives 
 each nation claiming a distinct interest in 
 the question at issne the right to ap- 
 point one arbitrator on its own behalf. 
 The difficulty at once arises that if the 
 interested nations are even in number, 
 which is the most frequent case, as in a 
 general rule questions arise between two 
 nations, no majority could be had in a 
 court with an even number of judges 
 when opinion was equally divided. 
 
 The same article (VIII) presents, besides, 
 a new question, which is, in our opiniou, 
 very serious aud of very difficult solution. 
 It is possible, although it may not be a 
 frequent case, that differences may spring 
 up upon the same question between more 
 than two nations. If these differences 
 should cause, before arbitration is ac- 
 cepted, a war, whatever might be the 
 number of the nations concerned the 
 question would be reduced to two sides 
 only, and all the nations would have to 
 join one or other of the belligerents; as 
 I do not know in any case of a war be- 
 tween more than two natious where each 
 of them has fought all the others. What- 
 ever might be the interest of the nations 
 concerned, all those having similar inter- 
 ests go on one side as against the oppos- 
 ing interests of one or more natious. 
 Uuder such circumstances, and once arbi- 
 tration accepted, a case may present in 
 which each nation claiming to represent 
 
 El aitlcLilo VII establece la mas plena 
 libertad para que oada una de las na- 
 ciones interesadas elija ^rbitros^ quienes 
 merezcau su confianza. Al paso que 
 aoeptamos esta estipulacidn como conve- 
 niente, creemos que esa libertad podria 
 cousignarse en t^rminos mas concisos 
 y sin necesidad de partioularizar, como 
 se haoe en este artioulo VII, en quienes 
 puede recaer el nombramiento de ^rbi- 
 tros. 
 
 El artlculo VIII determina como ha de 
 organizarse la Corte Arbitral y sus dos 
 primeros oonceptos son enteramente acep- 
 tables, esto es, que en case de que la 
 Corte se componga de uno solo, 6 de dos 
 6 mas Jueces, sean estos nombrados de 
 comun acuerdo por las naciones intere- 
 sadas. El tercer caso provee la coutin- 
 gencia de que las naciones interesadas no 
 se pongau de acuerdo en el nombramiento 
 de uno 6 mas &bitros, y da i cada una de 
 las naciones que representen «» interes 
 distinto, el derecho de elegir un juez. 
 Desde luego se presentaria la dificultad de 
 que si el niimero de 1 as n aci ones interesadas 
 fuese par, que es lo que acontece mas fre- 
 cuentemente, pues por lo general las cues- 
 tiones se suscitan entre dos naciones, no 
 podria haber mayoria en una Corte com- 
 puesta de un niimero par de jueces, 
 cuando estuviesen igualmente divididas 
 las opiuiones entre ellos. 
 
 El niismo articulo VIII preseuta ademas 
 una cuestidn nueva, que en nuestro con- 
 cepto es grave y de muy dificil resolu- 
 ci6n. Es posible, aunque no seria fre- 
 cuente, que se susoiten diferencias sobre 
 una misma cuestidn entre mas de dos 
 naciones. Si estas diferencias hubierau 
 de llegar, antes de aceptarse el arbitraje, S, 
 un rorapimiento de hostilidades, cualqui- 
 era que fuera el niimero de las naciones 
 interesadas, la cuestidu vendria S, quedar 
 reducida Si dos lados solamente, figurando 
 las demas naciones como aliadas de uno 
 11 otri) de los contendientes, pues no co- 
 nozoo ejeinplo de que se haya hecho una 
 guerra por varias naciones, cada una de 
 las cuales la haya sostenido en contra de 
 todas las demas, empefiadas en la misma 
 contienda. Cualesquiera que sean Ids inte- 
 reses de cada una de las naciones afeetadas, 
 todos los que tienen una similitud 6 soli- 
 daridad, se unen en uno solo, en contra 
 del interes 6 intereses opuestos, que tarn- 
 
702 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 a distinct interest in the question at is- 
 sue, and appointing one judge in accord- 
 ance with the provisions of Article VIII, 
 the decision would be controlled by the 
 number of interests affected and not on 
 account of the importance of such inter- 
 ests and of the rights affecting the same, 
 sinofe on one side there were two or more 
 States and on the other side only one, 
 each being represented by a judge in the 
 court of arbitration. A majority would 
 be sure to be against the State which ap- 
 peared alone. 
 
 This subject is so much more difficult 
 to decide, since if it should be agreed 
 that only two interests should be recog- 
 nized in each question, whatever might 
 be the number of nations affected, it 
 might appear that two or more States 
 would be represented by one judge ; 
 that is, would have equal representation 
 to their opposing party, should this be a 
 single State. I just mention these facts 
 to make appear the difficulties of the 
 case, which might be called a new 
 one, since it was not embraced in any of 
 the previous projects, and to the conven- 
 ience of studying it very carefully before 
 a proper solution is arrived at, which 
 would be acceptable to all the interested 
 nations. 
 
 Article IX provides that when the 
 court of arbitration an even number 
 of judges the interested nations should 
 appoint an umpire, who shall decide 
 all , questions upon which the arbitra- 
 tors may disagree; and if they could 
 not agree upon the election of an um- 
 pire, such umpire shall be selected by 
 the arbitrators already appointed. But 
 the article does not state what shall be 
 done when the arbitrators do not agree 
 upon the appointment of the umpire, 
 which case is also frequent, and would be 
 likely to arise when one State was inter- 
 seted in postponing or delaying arbitra- 
 tion. 
 
 We have no remarks to make upon 
 Article X, to which we will give our 
 affirmative vote 
 
 ArticleXI provides thatthe umpire shall 
 not act as a member of the court, but his 
 duties and powers shall be limited to the 
 decision of questions upon which the ar- 
 
 bien se funden en otro. En estas circnms- 
 tancias y aceptado ya el arbitramento, 
 se presentaria el case de que nombrando 
 un iirbitro cada naci<5u que represente un 
 i uteres distinto, segnnlo dispone el arti- 
 culo VIII <lel proyeoto, viniera ^ resol verse 
 la cucstidn por el nlimero de intereses 
 afectados, y no por la cuantia de esos in- 
 tereses, 6 por los derechos que pudieran 
 versarse en ella, pnes si de una parte habia 
 dos 6 tres Estados, por ejemplo, y de la 
 otra nno solo, estando representado cada 
 Estado por un juez en la Corte Arbitral, 
 habria mayoria en contra del Estado que 
 apareoiera solo en la contienda. Este 
 asunto es tanto mas dificil de resolver, 
 cnanto que si se determinase que no de- 
 berian reconocerse mas que dos intereses 
 en toda cuesti^n, cualquiera que fuera el 
 ntimero de las naciones afectadas por ella, 
 resultaria que dos 6 mas Estados estarian 
 representados por un solo ^rbitro, es de- 
 cir, tendriau ignal representaoi6n, £C la 
 que tuviera su contendiente en caso de 
 ser nn solo Estado. 
 
 Apnnto estas consideraciones para hacer 
 presentes las dificultades que ofrece este 
 caso, que puede Uamarse nuevo, por 
 no haberse considerado en los proyectos 
 anteriores, y la ueoesidad de estudiarlo 
 detenida y maduramente, antes de pro- 
 poner una soluoidn que sea aceptable 
 para todos. 
 
 El Artlculo IX determina que cuando la 
 Corfce Arbitral tenga un ntimero par de 
 Jueces, las naciones interesadas nombra- 
 r^n un tercero que decida las cuestiones 
 en que haya divergencia de opini6n entre 
 los ^rbitros, y establece que si ellas no pu- 
 dieran ponerse de acuerdo en el nombra- 
 mi en to de tercero, sea este nombrado por 
 los ^rbitros respeotivos ; pero no se dice 
 que deberdi haoerse cnando los d;rbitro8 
 tampoco se pongan de acuerdo en el nom- 
 bramiento de tercero, caso que es tambi^n 
 frecuente, y que seria probable se pre- 
 sentara cuando algnn Estado tuviera in- 
 terns en aplazar 6 dificultar el juicio ar- 
 bitral. 
 
 No hay observaoidn que hacer al Artl- 
 culo X que 6btendr£i nuestro voto aflrma- 
 tivo. 
 
 El Artfculo XI determina que el tercero 
 en discordia no forme parte de la Corte 
 Arbitral, y que susfunciones se liiniten & 
 decidir las cuestiones respecto de las 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 703 
 
 bitrators shall be unable to agree. The 
 experience in conrta of arbitration which 
 have so far acted, shows that it is prefera- 
 ble that the umpire should be a judge in 
 the court of arbitration, as in that way 
 he has an opportunity of informing him- 
 self carefully of all the details of the ques- 
 tion that he is to decide. In the courts 
 of arbitration ormixed international com- 
 missions in which the umpiiehas not acted 
 with the commissioners it has appeared 
 that he acts only upon the decision of the 
 commissioners and such briefs.and argu- 
 ments as are presented in the trial, and his 
 dutie-t are limited to giving a decision in 
 regard to the different opinions of the arbi- 
 trators ; while, when the umpire forms a 
 part of the court and acts with the other 
 arbitrators, he has full knowledge of the 
 question from its beginning. He then 
 hears all the briefs and arguments and ex- 
 ceptions of the interested parties. He dis- 
 cusses the matter with the other judges, 
 and it is probable, therefore, that his decis- 
 ion would be more correct. This system 
 has, besides, the advantage of simplifying 
 the duties of the court of arbitration and 
 reduces very much the time allotted for 
 the fulfillment of its functions. 
 
 Articles XII, XIII, XIV, XV, and XVI 
 seera acceptable to us. 
 
 We think the stipulations entirely un- 
 necessary of Article XVII, which author- 
 ize only by the mutual and free consent 
 ofall the nations the appointment of courts 
 of arbitration under different arrange- 
 ments than those proposed in the report, 
 because we do not think there are any 
 other ways different from those contained 
 in the report. International arbitration 
 consists in the settlement of the questions 
 or difference between two or more na- 
 tions by the decision of a tribunal organ- 
 ized especially for that purpose. This 
 court can be organized with one judge 
 alone, or with several judges, and the 
 report provides for both cases. The 
 only case which is not provided for, and 
 which might be affected by Article XVII, 
 will be when one of the interested nations 
 will not use its right to select an arbi- 
 trator, and consents to the question 
 being decided by the arbitrators selected 
 or appointed by the other States. But 
 in this case, as the interested nations 
 would give up aright, there ought to be 
 
 cuales no est^n de aouerdo los drbitros. 
 La experiencia en tribunales arbitrales 
 reuuidos hasta ahora, demuestra que es 
 prelerible que el tercero forme parte de 
 la Corte Arbitral, porqne de esa manera 
 tiene mas oportunidad de informarse de- 
 tenidamente de todos los detalles de la 
 cuesti6M que deba decidir. En efecto, 
 eu los tribunales 6 Comisiones mixtas 
 inteinacionales, en que el tercero no ha 
 funcionado con los demas, ha resul- 
 tado que someti6ndosele en conjuuto 
 las decisiones delos Arbitros 6 Comisioua- 
 dos y las pruebaa y alegatos preseiitados 
 en el juicio, sus deberes se limitan ^ dar 
 su fallo respeoto de las opiniones diver- 
 gen tes de los Arbitros, mientras que 
 cuantlo forma parte de la Corte, tiene 
 conocimiento del asunto desde su 6rigen, 
 oye los alegatos y excepciones de los in- 
 teresados, discute con los dirbitros aobre 
 los puntos en cuestidn, y esmas probable, 
 por lo mismo, que su resolaoidn sea mas 
 acertada. Este sistema tiene tambien la 
 ventaja de que simplifica considerable- 
 mente el trabajo de la Corte Arbitral y 
 abrevia en mucho el tiempo en que dobe 
 desempeSar sus fuuciones. 
 
 Parecen aceptables los Articulos XII, 
 XIII, XIV, XV y XVI. 
 
 Creemos enteramente innecesaria la es- 
 tipulacidn del ArtlculoXVII que autoriza, 
 por mutuo conaencimiento de todas las 
 naciones interesadas en una cuestidn, el 
 recurrir & otros medios de arbitramento 
 para terminar sus diferencias, porque no 
 puede haber otros medios diferentes de los 
 conteuidos en el proyecto. El arbitra- 
 mento intern aoional conslste en que las 
 cuestiones 6 diferencias suscitadas entre 
 dos 6 mas naciones se terminen por el fallo 
 de un tribunal organizado ad hoc. Este 
 tribunal puede formarse de una sola 6 de 
 variaa personas, y el proyecto prevee 
 ambos casos. El linico que no esti pre- 
 visto y que pudiera comprenderse en el 
 Articulo XVII, seria el de que uno de los 
 Estados interesadoa, no quiaiera hacer 
 uso de au derecho de nombrar un ^rbitro 
 y se sometiera la cuestidn i, los Arbitros 
 nombrados por los otros Estados; pero 
 esta rennncia de un Estado & ejeroer 
 los derechos que se le oonceden no estii 
 oomprendida en el Articulo XVII, y no 
 deberia hecesitar ningun requisito para 
 
704 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 nothing else required for the validity of 
 the decision in the case. 
 
 Although the draft submitted to the 
 Mexican Government fixes ten years for 
 the validity of the arbitration treaty, we 
 would make no objection to accepting the 
 twenty years proposed in Article XVIIl 
 of the report of the committee. 
 
 Article XIX marks the manner of mak- 
 ing the exchange of ratifications of sucli 
 treaty as may be agreed u pon. This ar- 
 ticle provides in what way the ratifica- 
 tions shall be made, of course, after the 
 treaty has been signed. This seems to be 
 the opinion of the cojumittee, as in the 
 final paragraph of the preamble to their 
 report it recommends to all the Govern- 
 ments represented in this Conference to 
 conclude a uniform treaty of arbitration 
 under the articles which appear in the 
 report; and in such case there can be 
 no objection to Article XIX. But if 
 it is thought that the report itself, once 
 approved by this Conference, is a treaty, 
 we have to say that in our opinion, as the 
 act of Congress of the United States of 
 America, of the 24th of May, 1868, which 
 convened this Conference, only authorizes 
 it to discuss all I he subjects stated in the 
 same, it is not possible that a treaty should 
 be signed in this Conference. The report 
 of the committee, tfnce approved by all 
 the Delegations which form this Confer- 
 ence, or by a majority of them, might be 
 -reduced to a treaty, but, in that case, such 
 persons as would sign it would do so not 
 as Delegates, which is the position they 
 have in this Conference, but as plenipo- 
 tentiaries from their respective Govern- 
 ments. But this is a question of form 
 only, as it is clear that if the American 
 Governments accept the report of the com- 
 mittee as it has been presented, or with 
 some modifications, they would have no 
 objection to giving it at once the form of 
 a treaty, so as to make it binding among 
 themselves. 
 
 The second section of Article XIX es- 
 tablishes the way in which other na- 
 tions not represented in this Confer- 
 ence, or who if represented now will not 
 accept it, can later accept the same. We 
 think that this system is not quite the 
 proper one, because the ratification of a 
 
 su v^lidez, sapaesto que solo afeotaria al 
 Estado que espontaneamente renuuciara 
 i, su derecho. 
 
 Annque en el proyecto sometido al 
 Gobiemo de Mexico se fijaba el plazo de 
 diez anos para la vigencia del tratado de 
 arbitramento, no tendrian inconveniente 
 BUS delegados en aceptar el de veinte 
 anos fijado en el Articulo XVIII del pro- 
 yecto de la Comisi6n. 
 
 El Aitiuulo XIX provee al modo de 
 verificar el canje de las ratificaciones del 
 tratado que te oelebre sobre este asunto, 
 lo cual debe entenderse que se har^ des- 
 pues de celebrarse el tratado. Esta parece 
 ser la inteligencia de la Comisidu, supues- 
 to que en el p^rrafo final de la introduo- 
 ci6u £t su proyecto, propone que se enca- 
 rozca & los Gobiernos represeutados eu 
 esta Conferencia la celebracidn de un 
 tratado de arbitraje sobre las bases conte- 
 uidas en el mismo proyecto, y en ese seu- 
 tido no puede hacersele objeooidu. Pero 
 si se considera que el proyecto mismo, una 
 vez aprobado por la Conferencia, es ya un 
 tratado, debemos manifcstar que, en 
 nuestro concepto, no autorizando la ley de 
 24 de Mayo de 1888, en virtud de la cual 
 se ha reunido esta Conferencia, mas que 
 la discusi6u de los negocios sometidos 4, 
 ella, no est^ en sus atribuciones, por lo 
 mismo, la de firmar un tratado. Una vez 
 aprobado el dictamen por todos los dele- 
 gados que forman la Conferencia, 6 por 
 una mayoria de ellos, podria redncirse S, 
 tratado, en cuyo oaso los que lo firmaran 
 no lo harian con el car^cter de delegados 
 que tienen en esta Conferencia, sino 
 como plenipotenciarios de sus respeotivos 
 palses. Tambi^n esta es, sinembargo, una 
 cuestidn de forma, porque es claro que 
 si los Gobiernos americanos aceptan el 
 proyecto propuesto por la Comisidn, en 
 los t^rminos en que est^ concebido, 6 con 
 algunas modificaciones, no tendrian in- 
 conveniente ninguno en darle desde luego 
 la forma de tratado, para que pueda sur- 
 tir los efectos correspondientes. 
 
 El segundo p^rrafo del Articulo XIX 
 establece una manera de que se adhieran 
 al tratado de arbitramento las naciones 
 que no estSu represontadas en esta Confe- 
 rencia, 6 que estSndolo no lo acepten al 
 firmarse, que no es euteramente conforme 
 cou el sistema seguido hasta ahora para le 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 705 
 
 treaty by such nations would not be done 
 in the usnal way, which is, namely, that 
 each nation should give an authentic copy 
 of the treaty to each of the other nations 
 which is a party to the same, and should 
 receive an authenticated copy from said 
 nations of the same treaty, each contain- 
 ing the exact text of the treaty. If a copy 
 of this is left with only the Government of 
 United States of America the other sigaa- 
 lory Governments would not have such 
 copies in their possession, and if this were 
 the case the exchange of ratifications, as 
 it is proposed by the committee, would be 
 deficient. 
 
 We would state to the Conference, be- 
 fore we end our remarks, that we regret 
 very much that it was not possible for 
 the committee to present this report 
 earlier than they did, because in that 
 case we could have obtained special in- 
 strnctions from onr Government on all 
 the points embraced therein. But not- 
 withstanding this, and with the view 
 of not placing obstacles in the way of this 
 important matter, we would, of course, 
 give our approval to all the articles of 
 the report upon which we have special 
 instructions of our Government. We also 
 shall give onr apjiroval to all such articles 
 which in our opinion would be acceptable 
 to our Government under the general in- 
 structions that we have from it, even in 
 case that such objections as we have made 
 to the form of said articles should not be 
 accepted by the Conference, and that we 
 would reserve onr vote in regard to such 
 other articles as may contain provisions 
 which have not been embraced in the 
 previous projects which we have sub- 
 mitted to our Government, and upon 
 which, therefore, we have not received 
 precise instructions. But we will express 
 the opinion of the Mexican Government 
 upon said subjects before the final ad- 
 journment of this Conference, if, as we ex- 
 pect, we should receive instructions in 
 time. 
 
 Mr. Mbxia, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 asked that the above speech be also in- 
 serted in the minutes, and it was so or- 
 dered. 
 
 45 I C 
 
 canje de ratificaciones de tratados, que 
 consiste en que cada naci6n exhiba un 
 ejemplar del tratado ^ cada una de las 
 otras naciones con las cuales lo ha firmado, 
 y 5 su vez reciba de cada una de ellas 
 un ejemplar del mismo tratado cuyos 
 ejemplares, por ser aut^nticos, sirvea 
 para decidir cualquiera duda que pueda 
 presentarse respecto del texto del mismo 
 tratado. El depdsito de un ejemplar 
 del tratado de arbitramento, en poder 
 del Gobierno de loS Estados Unidos de 
 America, no pondria en poder de los demas 
 Gobiernos que lo firmen, otro ejemplar del 
 mismo, requisite que se ha considerado 
 necesario para hacer el canje de ratifica- 
 ciones de un tratado. 
 
 Para concluir, manifestar^mos Sj la Con- 
 ferencia que sentimos que no haya sido 
 posible Si la Comisidn presentar su dicti- 
 men con mayor oportunidad, para haber 
 podido obtener instrucoiones especiales 
 de nuestro Gobierno sobre todos lospuntos 
 contenidos en 61, aunque consideramos 
 que lo difioil del asunto no le permitifS 
 terminarlo antes; pero que, sin embargo 
 de esto, y con el objeto de no dilatar por 
 nuestra parte un negocio tan importante, 
 aprobar^mos, por supuesto, todos los arti- 
 culos del proyecto, respecto de los cuales 
 tenemos instruccioues de nuestro Gobier- 
 no en ese sentido ; prestar6mos tambi^n 
 nuestra aprobaci6n & todos los demas 
 articulos que ^ nuestro juicio scan acep- 
 tables Si nuestro Gobierno, segun las ins- 
 truccioues generales que tenemos de 61, 
 aun cuando objetemos su forma, y uues- 
 trasob jecciones no sean aceptadas por la 
 Couferencja; y salvar^mos nuestro voto 
 respecto de aquellos otros articulos que 
 contengan disposiciones, respecto de las 
 cuales no hayamos recibido instruccioues 
 precisas, por no haber estado comprondi- 
 das en los proyectos anteriores que heraos 
 sometido S, nuestro Gobierno, & reserva de 
 expresar la opinidn del Gobierno mexica- 
 ho sobre los mismos, antes de la clausura 
 de la Conferencia, si como lo esperamos, 
 las recibi^remos para entonces." 
 
 El Senor MexIa, delegado por Mexico, 
 pidi6 que el anteoedente discurso se in- 
 sertase tambii5n en el acta ; y asl se or- 
 den6. 
 
706 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, spoke 
 as follows, asking that, as a precedent had 
 been established, his speech be also in- 
 serted in, and not appended to, the min- 
 utes: 
 
 " We, the undersigned Delegates from 
 Chili, have examined the report on arbi- 
 tration submitted by the Committee of 
 General Welfare with all the attention 
 that -a matter so serious and delicate re- 
 quires. 
 
 The main purpose of this paper pre- 
 cludes us from entering into any particular 
 discussion of the nineteen articles of the 
 report; but the consideration of the 
 fundamental idea established in it as the 
 basis of the whole project, namely, that 
 arbitration be recognized as obligatory, 
 and be stipulated in a public treaty as 
 ■the only means for settling conflicts, or 
 contentions which may arise, or exist, 
 among the American nations, irrespective 
 of their causes, or circumstances, except- 
 ing only those questions which affect 
 national independence, has led us to the 
 conviction that the conclusion of the 
 treaty which the Committee of General 
 Welfare recommends would produce, if 
 carried into effect, more difficulties, and 
 more pernicious results, than those which 
 it proposes to obviate or avoid. And 
 those results would indeed weaken, and 
 in the end destroy the efficiency of the 
 system the strengthening of which is 
 desired, and whose efficiency and author- 
 ity, when timely resorted to, all the na- 
 tions are interested in preserving. 
 
 The method suggested by the com- 
 mittee for the preservation of perpetual 
 peace and fraternal concord among the 
 nations is not indeed a novelty. From 
 immemorial times it has been the subject 
 of study, and more or less successful com- 
 binations, for writers of public law; and 
 to-day it continues to be one of the prin- 
 cipal bases of the study of international 
 law. 
 
 The Spanish-American nations, inspired 
 by the lofty sentiment of securing com- 
 plete pacification of the continent, and 
 settling by peaceful decisions conflicts 
 whwjli might assu^ie another different 
 character, have attempted on six different 
 occasions, ever since 1826, to give form 
 and application to that generous aspirq. 
 
 El SeBor Vaeas, delegado por Chile, 
 tomb lapalabra, y seexpresdcomosigue, — 
 solicitando en vista del precedente esta- 
 bleoido hoy, que su discurso se inserts 
 tambidn en el acta. 
 
 "Los infrascritos, delegados de Chile, 
 nos hemes instruido del proyecto sobre 
 arbitraje, presentado por la ComisicSn de 
 Bienestar General, con la atenoidn que 
 reclama uegooio tan grave como delicado. 
 
 El propdsito primordial de esta exposi- 
 cidn nos reti^ne de entrar en la aprecia- 
 cidn detallada de las 19 proposiciones 6 
 articulos de que consta el proyecto ; pero 
 el examen de la base fundamental esta- 
 blecida en 61, a saber : que se reconozca 
 como obligatorio, y se estipule en un tia- 
 tado pliblico, que el recurso del arbitraje 
 se aplicar^ como medio ^ico para deci- 
 dir los conflictos y contiendas que sobre- 
 • veugan 6 existan entre las naciones 
 americanas, cualesquiera que scan sus 
 causas y sus conseoueneias, coa la excep- 
 ci6u linica de los que afeoten ^ la inde- 
 pendencia nacional, nos ha traido al con- 
 vencimiento deque la celebraoidn deltra- 
 tado que propone la Comisidn de Bienes- 
 tar General, eon todas las estipulaoio- 
 nes en 61 recomendadas produoiria en la 
 pr^ctica diiicultades y resultados acaso 
 mas perjudiciales que los que se desea 
 prevenir y evitar — resultados que debili- 
 tarian y conoluirian por desvirtuar el re- 
 cuse mismo que se trata de robusteoer, y 
 cuya autoridad y eficacia importa & las 
 naciones todas mantener, consaltando su 
 oportuna aplicacidn. 
 
 El arbitrio propuesto por la Comisidn 
 para restableoer y mantener paz per- 
 petua y fraternal ooncordia entre las 
 naciones no es nuevo fin verdad. Desde 
 tiempos inmemoriales ha side objeto de 
 estudios y combinaciones mas d menos 
 felices de los publicistas, y hoy dia con- 
 tinua siendo una de las bases principales 
 de estudio en el Derecho de Gentes. 
 
 Las Naciones Hispano-Americanas, ins- 
 pirandose en el elevado sentimiento de 
 llegar S, la pacificacidn completa del Cou- 
 tinente, y de solucionar por decisioues 
 paclficas conflictos que podrian tomar 
 otro caracter, ban ensayado, en seis epo- 
 cas differentes, desde 1826, el dar forma 
 y aplieaei^n ^ es» aspiracidn genefos* 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEiilCAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 707 
 
 tion which prevails In the civilized world ; 
 hut their reiterated efforts, although for- 
 mulated in terms less absolute or restrict- 
 ive than those suggested by the Commit- 
 tee of General Welfare, have ended in a 
 complete failure, when submitted to the 
 test of practice, and to the unexpected 
 resistances of human passions aud inter- 
 ests. 
 
 Neither is this the first time in which 
 that idea, which favorspeace and4)rotect8 
 civilization, has sprung up in the North 
 American con tinent. As far back as 1838, 
 a petition was addressed lo the Congress 
 of the United States by the Peace Society 
 of New York and other analogous institu- 
 tions, asking the representatives of the 
 nation to provide for and recommend to 
 all the civilized nations the establishment 
 of a high tribunal of arbitration, which 
 should take cognizanoeof all international 
 questions without any limitations what- 
 ever, and decide them in accordance with 
 a code of rules obligatory for all, and af- 
 fording all desirable guaranties. 
 
 Nevertheless, the United States Con- 
 gress of 18.38 deemed the idea of obliga- 
 tory and uncoDditional arbitration, which 
 is now reproduced before the Conference, 
 to be impracticable, for the reasons, which 
 still subsist at the present time and are 
 worthy of study, set forth in the memora- 
 ble report which the House of Representa- 
 tives of those days unanimously adopted. 
 
 The remark may perhaps be made, 
 while invoking historical precedents of 
 such weight against the fundamental 
 basis of the treaty recommended by the 
 Committee of General Welfare, that the 
 Delegates from Chili reject arbitration as 
 a means of settlement of international 
 questions and of preservation of peace. 
 
 No. It is not so by any means. 
 
 It is in keeping with human nature, col- 
 lectively or individually, not to be free 
 from controversies, or disputes, either be- 
 cause a party wishes to assert a right 
 which the other party refuses to recog- 
 nize, or because a claim is made which is 
 deemed to be excessive, or which is re- 
 jectodj although it may bp founded on 
 facts which constitute a wrong, or are 
 deemed to be such, or for other reasons. 
 
 que predomina en el mundo civilizado; 
 pero sus reiterados esfuerzos, formulados 
 en condiciones menos absolntas y restric- 
 tivas aun que las que impone la Comisidn 
 de Bienestar, han escollado en la pr^ctica 
 y en las inesperadas resistenciaa de los 
 intereses y de las pasiones humanas. 
 
 No es esta tampoco la vez primera que 
 aquella idea amparadora de la paz y pro- 
 tectora de la civilizaoidn germina en el 
 Continente Norte-Americauo. Ya, en 
 1838, se elevd al Congreso de los Bstados ' 
 Unidos por la Sociedad de la Paz de New 
 York, apoyada por otras instituciones 
 an^logas, una solicitud pidiendo & los 
 representautes de la Nacidn, convocaaon 
 y propusiesen i, todos los paises civiliza- 
 dos el establecimiento do un Alto Tribu- 
 nal Arbitral & que deberian sonieterse 
 todas las cueetiones intemacionales, sin 
 limitacidn alguna, para ser decididas con 
 arreglo S, an codlgo de prescripciones 
 obligatorias para todos, consultando en 
 ellas las gaiantias deseables. 
 
 Y bieu, el Congreso de los Estados 
 Unidos de 1838 juzg<5 impracticable la 
 idea del arbitraje obligatorio 6 incondi- 
 cional, que hoy se reproduce ante la Con- 
 ferencia Internacional, por cousidera- 
 oiones que subsisten hasta el presente, y 
 que son dignas de ser consultadas en el 
 memorable informe qne el Congreso de 
 Representautes aprobfi entonces por una- 
 uimidad. 
 
 Se observari, tal vez, que, al invocar 
 tan antorizados anteoedentes histdricos 
 en contra de la base fundamental del 
 Tracado propuesto por la Comisi6n de 
 Bienestar, los Delegados de Chile re- 
 chazaii el recurso del arbitraje como 
 uno de los medios de soluoionar las 
 cuestiones intemacionales y de conservar 
 la paz. 
 
 No, ciertamente. 
 
 Es condioidn de las agrupaciones hu- 
 manas como de los hombres individual- 
 mente conaiderados, no verse libres de 
 controversias ni de disputas, ya por qne 
 la una intenta haoer valer un derecho 
 que la otra resiste, ya por que se alega 
 una pretensi6a que no se recouoce 6 se 
 reputa excesiva, ya por hechos que cons- 
 tituyen una ofensa 6 se consideran como 
 tales, 6 por otras diyeraas oausas. Y no 
 
708 
 
 INTEKNATXONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 And it is not unfrequent to see discussions 
 on these subjects become embittered, and 
 aggravated by susceptibilities of amour 
 propre, many a time complicated with 
 questions of national honor — the result be- 
 ing that differences admitting of an easy 
 arrangement suddenly assume the char- 
 acter of insuperable difficulties which can 
 not be settled by peaceful means, and con- 
 sequently bring about bloody conflicts. 
 
 At other times these conflicts are due 
 to unjustifiable aggressions which are to 
 be resisted by force. 
 
 The spirit of modern civilization pro- 
 tests against such a state of things, in 
 whichforoe dictates the final decision, and 
 earnestly endeavors to find out some 
 means either of avoiding war or of mak- 
 ing it less frequent. 
 
 In pursuance of this Christian and hu- 
 mane aspiration the act of Congress of 
 May 24, 1888, authorized the President of 
 the United States of North America to 
 invite the several Governments of the 
 Republics of Mexico, Central and South 
 America, Hayti, Sau fiomlngo, and the 
 Empire, now Republic, of Brazil to join 
 the United States in a conference for the 
 purpose of discussing and recommending 
 for adoption to their respective Govern- 
 ments some plan of arbitration for the 
 settlement of disagreements and disputes 
 that may hereafter arise between them. 
 
 The tendency which inspired such a 
 praiseworthy statute arises out of a feel- 
 ing which the Government of Chili shares 
 and whose goodness it recognizes. 
 
 It may not be out of place to remark 
 here, to this respect, that Chili, which 
 owes to fatiguing and unceasing labor the 
 cultivation of its soil, and the formation of 
 an essentially industrious, energetic, and 
 vigorous people, can not but consider all 
 external conflicts as an injurious disturb- 
 ance of its habits. No effort, indeed, is 
 necessary to convince one that a people 
 which owes its living and its welfare to 
 the daily labor doos not feel inclined to 
 promote quarrels, the results of which, 
 always lamentable, are logically to be 
 felt more keenly upon itself. 
 
 Men and nations when placed under 
 such circumstances necessarily constitute 
 elements of order, of concord and of peace; 
 
 es raro ver agriarse las discusiones que 
 con tales motives se suscitan mezcl^ndose 
 en ellas susceptibilidades de amorpropio, 
 que se complican muchas veces con 
 cuestiones de honor nacional; de donde 
 resulta que divergencias de facil arreglo 
 toman de improvise caracter de insolu- 
 bles por las vias pacificas, y provocan 
 como consecuencia eonflictos sangrientos. 
 
 En otras ocasiones, estos eonflictos re- 
 oouocen por causa primera avances 6 
 agresiones injijptiflcables que es forzoao 
 resistir con la fuerza. 
 
 El espiritn de la civilizaci6n moderna 
 protesta contra tal estado de cosas en que 
 la fuerza dicta la resolucidn definitiva, y 
 busca con esmero los arbi trios conducentes 
 S, evitar las guerras, 6 siqniera & dismi- 
 nuirlas. 
 
 Conform^ndose d;esta8 aspiraciones hu- 
 man! tariasycristianaslaleyde34de Mayo 
 de ISdS autoriz6 al Presidente de los Es- 
 tados Unidos de Norte America para in- 
 vitar & los Gobiernos de las Reptiblicas de 
 MiSxico.Centroy Sur America, Haiti, Santo 
 Domingo y el Imperio, hoy Repiiblica, del 
 Brasil, ^ unirse ^ los Estados Unidos para 
 celebrar una Conferencia, con el objeto de 
 discutir y recomendar S, la adopci6n de 
 sus respectivos Gobiernas algun plan de 
 arbitraje para el arreglo de las cuestiones 
 y desavenencias que puedansuscitarseen 
 lo futuro entre ellas. 
 
 La tendencia en que se inspird aquella 
 ley, digna de todo encomio, nace de un 
 sentimento que comparte y cuya bondad 
 roconoce cl Gobierno de Chile. 
 
 Es oportuno recordar, & este propdsito, 
 que Chile que debe S, una ruda y cons- 
 tante labor la cultura de su suelo, y la 
 formaci6n de un pueblo esencialmente 
 trabajador, en^rgico y vigoroso, no puede 
 considerar sino como perjudicial pertur- 
 baoi6n de sus hd^bitos los eonflictos exte- 
 riores. Se concibe, en verdad, sin es- 
 fuerzo, que las naciones y los ihdividuos 
 que debeu & la labor cuotidiana sus ele- 
 mentos de vida y bienestar no se sientan 
 inclinados S, promover qnerellas cuyos 
 siempre lamentables resultados tienen 
 ]6gicamente que hacerse sentir mas viva- 
 mente aobre ellos mismos. 
 
 Los hombres y las naciones colocados 
 en condiciones tales constituyen forzosa- 
 mente elementos de orden, de concordia 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 709 
 
 and it may therefore be said, as an estab- 
 lished fact, that when they happen to be 
 engaged in war it is because they have 
 been dragged into it against their will 
 either through acts or aggressiqns admit- 
 ting of no remedy under peaceful methods. 
 
 The nation which we have the honor to 
 represent being, as she is, thoroughly and 
 earnestly engaged in the pursuits of ener- 
 getic and profitable labor, has lived for 
 more than thirty years in a condition of 
 absolutely undisturbed domestic peace. 
 Under the shelter of that peace interests 
 of considerable magnitude have been cre- 
 ated which constantly develop themselves 
 and Increase, owing to the confidence 
 which the preservation of order inspires 
 in a society which has already accom- 
 plished very much in the way of political 
 progress, and which constantly endeavors 
 to render these interests safer and more 
 extensive. 
 
 As a consequence of the spirit of its 
 civilization, Chili entertains the most 
 earnest desire to find always in peaceful 
 methods the adequate settlement of the 
 conflicts which might lead to the disas- 
 trous results of war. The Republic has 
 constantly sought for her welfare, her 
 progress, her prosperity, and the most 
 substantial foundation of international 
 harmony, in peace and in the methods 
 which lead to it ; and her Government, 
 inspiring itself in these sentiments, and 
 converting them into practical facts, has 
 consecrated in her public treaties, for 
 very nearly forty years, the principle of 
 arbitration as a means of preventing 
 armed conflicts. 
 
 Recent and eloquent testimony of this 
 is given bj' the tribunals of arbitration 
 ■which sat at Santiago in 1883, and were 
 created at the suggestion of the Chilian 
 Government. The decisions of those 
 courts have been religiously obeyed and 
 executed. 
 
 In the treaty concluded with the Ar- 
 gentine Confederation, by which a pro- 
 tracted question of limits between both 
 nations was adjusted, arbitration was 
 stipulated as the method to be resorted 
 to for the settlement of whatever dis- 
 agreements might arise during the actual 
 survey of the boundary under the pro- 
 visions of said treaty. 
 
 y de paz ; y puede por lo misrao estable- 
 cerse que, cuando se les ve arrastrados ^ 
 la guerra, lo han sido contra su propia 
 voluutad, 6 por actos y agresiones insolu- 
 bles por los arbitrios de la paz. 
 
 Consagrada la nacidn que tenemos el 
 honor de representar d una labor en€r- 
 gica y fecunda ha vivido, durante un 
 peri6do de mas de treinta aflos, en medio 
 de una tranquilidad interior no pertur- 
 bada por el mas ligero disturbio. A la 
 sombra de esa paz, se han creado in- 
 tereses considerables que se desarrollan y 
 crecen mediante la conflanza que inspira 
 la conaervaci6n del drdeu en una sociedad 
 que ha realizado ya ao pocos progresos 
 politicos y que dirije sin cesar sus esfuer- 
 zos ^ afianzarlos y ^ extenderlos. 
 
 Como consecuencia del esplritu de su 
 civilizacidn, Chile alienta el mas vivo 
 deseo de encontrar siempre en decisiones 
 de paz la solucidn de conflictos quepueden 
 Uevar &, los resultados doloroaos de la 
 guerra. La Reptiblica ha buscado cons- 
 tantemente en la paz y en los arbitrios que 
 ^ ella conducen su bienestar, su progreso, 
 su prosperidad, y el fundamento mas s61ido 
 de la armonia internacional ; y su Go- 
 bierno iuepiriCndose en esos sentimientos 
 y traduci^ndolos en hechos, ha consagra- 
 do, desde hace cerca de cuarenta anos, en 
 tratados pliblicos, el recurso del arbitraje 
 como medio de evitar conflictos b^licos. 
 
 Testimonio vivo y reciente de ello son 
 los Tribunales Internacionales Arbitrates 
 que funcionaron en 1883 en Santiago, crea- 
 dos por la iniciativa del Gobierno de 
 Chile, y cuyas resolueiones han sido re- 
 ligiosamente ejecutadas por 61. 
 
 En el tratado celebrado con la Cenfe- 
 deracidn Argentina quepuso t^rmino ^ la 
 prolongada cuestidn de llmites existente 
 entre ambas Naciones, consultdse tambi^n 
 el recurso arbitral para los desacuerdos 
 que pudierau surjir de la fijaoidn de los 
 linderos que deben establecerse entre 
 ellos conforme & las estipulaciones de 
 aquel tratado. 
 
710 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 It, not being within the scope of this 
 paper to make a particular enumeration 
 of the numerous cases in which the Gov- 
 ernment of Chili has practically shown 
 its purpose of resorting to arbitration for 
 the settlement of international questions 
 to which it has been a party ; and we 
 shall confine ourselves to the most recent. 
 The particular enumeration above men- 
 tioned might easily be made and would 
 show that our Government has not con- 
 fined itself to agreeing to submit to arbi- 
 tration certain specified cases, but has 
 accepted it in many cases, which had not 
 been foreseen, and has suggested it in 
 others, although on some occasions it has 
 seen with sincere regret that its expecta- 
 tions were not seconded by the contend- 
 ing power. 
 
 It is therefore our duty to place on rec- 
 ord here that adhesion to the political 
 ideal which is the subject of the aspira- 
 tions felt has always been the invariable 
 rule of conduct of the Government of 
 Chili, and that its realization has been 
 sought by it with open and decided favor. 
 
 The precedents which have served to 
 guide our Government for the settlement 
 of its exitemal questions, and its constant 
 attachment to the principle of arbitration 
 having been set forth, although in a gen- 
 eral way, it now becomes incumbent upon 
 us to explain the standard with which 
 we, the Delegates from Chili, measure the 
 plan of arbitration submitted to the Con- 
 ference. 
 
 Arbitration being recognized, as it is, 
 as a principle of international law, can 
 not by any means become a guaranty of 
 peace, if its application does not corre- 
 spond to its nature. 
 
 Its origin is the voluntary and free as- 
 sent of the nations which find themselves 
 in disagreement to trust to a third party 
 the appreciation and the fate of their 
 rights and interests; and its efficiency 
 depends upon the respect, also voluntary, 
 to be paid to its decisions, irrespective of 
 the obligations and sacrifices which it 
 may impose. If arbitration is obligatory 
 its own nature is thereby antagonized ; 
 and the moment it is forced upon the na- 
 tions, its decisions will lose their efficien- 
 cy, and the right of the principle itself 
 will become discredited. 
 
 No entraido en nnestro prop6sito el 
 deseo de hacer una enumeraci6n prolija 
 de los numerosos casos en los cuales el 
 Gobiemo de Chile ha acentuado de un 
 modo prdlotico su propdsito de buscar en 
 los recursos del arbitraje la manera de re- 
 solver las cuestiones internacionales en 
 que ha sido parte, nos limitamos £i citar 
 los mas recientes. Aquella enumersbci6n 
 prolija, fScil de hacer, manifestaria que 
 nnestro Gobiemo no se ha limltado ^ 
 pactar en casos determinados aqnel arbi- 
 trio, slno que fo ha aceptado tambi^n en 
 muchas ocasiones no previstas, y 16 ha 
 propuesto voluntariamente en otras, en 
 algunas de las cuales ha visto con sincero 
 sentimiento que sua aspiraciones no eran 
 secundadas por la potencia contendiente, 
 
 Climplenos, pues, dejar constanoia de 
 que ha sido norma invariable de conducta 
 en el Gobiemo de Chile sn adhesion al 
 ideal politico Si que se aspira, y que ba 
 perseguido su realizaci<5n con abierto y 
 decidido empeSo. 
 
 Expuestos S, grandes rasgos los prece- 
 dentes que ban servido de guia & nnestro 
 Gobiemo en el arreglo de bus diferencias 
 exteriores, y su acatamiento constante al 
 principio arbitral, inctimbenos ahora ma- 
 nifestar cual es el criterio con que los de- 
 legados de Chile aprecian el arbitraje tal 
 como ha sido sometido & la Conferencia. 
 
 Reoonooido este arbitrio como principio 
 de Derecho internaclonal, es indispensa- 
 ble para que constituya una garantia de 
 paz, que su aplicacidn corresponda S, su 
 Indole, Si la natnraleza que le es propia. 
 
 Derivado del voluntario y libre asenti- 
 miento de las naciones en desacuerdo para 
 deferir & ageno juicio la apreciacidn y la 
 suerte do sus derechos 6 intereses, y de- 
 pendiendo su efioacia del respeto igual- 
 mente voluntario de las obligaoiones y 
 sacrificios que envnelvan sus decisiones, 
 la imposicidn obligatoria de tal principio 
 es contraria S sn natnraleza, y por con- 
 siguiente, el consentimiento forzado & 
 sus decisiones desvirtuar^ la eficacia de 
 estas, y desacreditara la bondad del prin- 
 cipio mismo. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 711 
 
 We, the Delegates from Chili, do there- 
 fore declare, that while we fully recogni ze 
 the value of the principle of arbitratiou, 
 we do not accept it as unconditional and 
 obligatory. The Government of the Re- 
 public will in the future, as it has done in 
 the past, resort to arbitration for the set- 
 tlement of international conflicts or diffi- 
 culties in which it may be involved, when- 
 ever, in its judgment, the controversy or 
 question may admit of such settlement. 
 
 We, the Delegates of Chili, are unwill- 
 ing to entertain the illusion that any con- 
 flict which may directly afiect the dignity 
 or the honor of a nation shall ever be sub- 
 mitted to the decision of a third party. 
 Judges shall not be looked for, either in 
 that case, or in any other of analogous 
 nature, to decide whether a nation has the 
 right to maintain her dignity or preserve 
 her honor. For the defense of both, all the 
 elements of strength and resistance which 
 may be counted upon will be called forth ; 
 and there is no temerity in asserting that 
 a country ready to submit this class of 
 questions to the decision of an arbitrator 
 would lack its raiaon d'etre. 
 
 Moved by these considerations, the Del- 
 egation fromChili thinks itself in the right 
 when asserting that the principle of abso- 
 lute arbitration, applicable to all cases 
 which may occur, may, notwithstanding 
 its good purposes, become of doubtful ap- 
 plication in serious international crisis. 
 
 We must insist in this afSrmation. A 
 nation whose dignity has been wounded, 
 or whose honor has been attacked, will 
 never seek in arbitration the remedy for 
 the oflense. 
 
 The principle of absolute arbitration, 
 no matter how congenial and sympa- 
 thetic, when understood and applied in 
 the way above stated, belongs in our 
 opinion to the realm of illusions, and has 
 against it the serious objection that it is 
 inconsistent with the nature of things. 
 
 Said principle can not therefore be ao- 
 . oepted without limitations. 
 
 This is our conviction, reached after 
 attentive and mature consideration of the 
 project. 
 
 Would it be advisable to enumerate 
 those limitations ? This is a question to 
 which the answer to be given is difficult. 
 It is not possible for any one to foresee, 
 or determine with exactness, all the cases 
 
 Declarau, cu cousecuoncia, los Delega- 
 dos de Chile que, reoonociendo en absolute 
 la bondad delprincipio, nolo aceptan con 
 car^cter incondicional y nbligatorio, y 
 que el Gobierno de la Eepfiblica recurrirS 
 al arbitraje en lo future como lo ha hecho 
 en el pasado, para dirimir las dificultades 
 6 oonflictos internacionales en quo pneda 
 hallarse comprometido, siempre que oon- 
 sidere que la controversia que se trata de 
 solucionar sea aceptablo de aquel arbitrio. 
 
 No quieren los Delegados de Chile ha- 
 cerse la ilusifin de creer que serdln someti- 
 dos & la apreoiaci6n ajena y ^ la decisifin 
 de Srbitros conflictos que afecten directa- 
 mente (I la dignidad (i al honor de una na- 
 ci6n. En tales cases y otros semejantes no 
 so buscar^ jueces para deoidir si una na- 
 ci6n tiene el derecho de mantener su digni- 
 dad, 6 conservar su honor. Se defenderSn 
 ambos con todos los elementos de f aerza y 
 de resistencia de que sea posible disponer; 
 y no seria temerario decir que un pals que 
 se hallase dispuesto & someter esta clase 
 de cuestiones & la suerte de uu fallo ar- 
 bitral carecia de razon de ser. 
 
 Movida por tales consideraciones, la 
 delegaci6n de Chile cree poder afirmar 
 que la fdrniula del arbitraje absolute, 
 aplicable & todos los cases que pnedan 
 ocurrir, muy bien intencionada, sin duda, 
 ser^ en las graves crisis internacionales 
 de dudosa aplicacKin. 
 
 Se hace forzoso insistir en esta afirma- 
 ci6n, Una nacidn herida en su dignidad, 6 
 ultrajada en su honor, no habr^ de buscar 
 en el arbitraje la reparaciiSn de la ofensa. 
 
 El principle de arbitraje absolute, muy 
 hermoso y simpStico ciertaraente, enten- 
 dido y aplicado de este mode, entra, ^ 
 nuestro juicio, en el terrene de las ilu- 
 siones, y adolece del grave inconveniente 
 de ser incompatible con la naturaleza de 
 las cosas. 
 
 Dicho principle no puede, en conse- 
 cuencia, aceptarsesin limitaciones. Esta 
 es nuestra conviccidn, formada despaes 
 de atenta y madura consideracidn del 
 proyecto. 
 
 iConvendria especifioar esas limita- 
 ciones? He aqul uu punto de resolu- 
 ci6n diffcil. No es posible prever ni de- 
 terminarcon fijeza todos losoasos en qnela 
 naturaleza de la cuestidn permita que sea 
 
712 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFBEENCE. 
 
 in which the tiatiire of the questiou per- 
 mits of arbitration. All enumerations 
 would be deficient, if not casuistic. This 
 is the reason why, in explaining the ex- 
 ceptions, general and vague expressions 
 are resorted to, they being the only ones 
 which in all cases can constitute a guar- 
 anty of the fact that the necessary liberty, 
 of action was preserved. It is not strange 
 that exceptions, as the following, may be 
 adopted, namely: The national sover- 
 eignty, the national dignity, and some 
 others of similar import, which give the 
 power not to submit to arbitration what 
 can not be subject of arbitration. 
 
 The application of these principles has 
 naturally to be left to the criterion and 
 will of the nation which may be called 
 to construe them, and which in each 
 particular case will determine whether 
 the fact which has presented Itself is or 
 is not included among them. And it can 
 not be otherwise; because if the decis- 
 ion is to be given by a third party the 
 interested nation would be affected in 
 its sovereignty, which is not to be ad- 
 mitted. If admitted, the evil produced 
 thereby would be undoubtedly still worse 
 than the evil vhioh it was attempted to 
 correct. 
 
 The Government of Chili, in reserving 
 its liberty to resort to arbitration in each 
 particular case, does nothing else than to 
 take shelter under one of these geueral 
 propositions recently indicated, whose 
 purpose is to establish an exception to 
 the principle of arbitration. To say that 
 arbitration will be resorted to whenever 
 the conflict does not involve a point, for 
 instance, of national dignity, and say also 
 that the interested government shall de- 
 cide whether the pending difficulty is 
 of such a nature as to admit of settle- 
 ment by arbitration, is in substance to 
 say the same identical thing, because 
 in both cases freedom of action is se- 
 cured. The language may be, and is in- 
 deed different. But the practical effect 
 of their application will be identical. 
 And what is said with regard to one of 
 those general propositions is applicable 
 to all others of the same character, it 
 being self-evident that the general idea, 
 embodied in all of them is consistent with 
 the most complete latitude of apprecia- 
 tion. 
 
 sometida Sj arbitraje. Toda enumeracidn 
 seria deficiente cuando no casulstica. Es 
 por esto por lo que, para fijar las excep- 
 ciones, se recurre de ordinario ^ fdrmulas 
 generales y vagas, las rinicas quo pueden 
 constitutir, en todo oaso, una garantia 
 de que se conserva la neoesaria libertad 
 de acci6n. No es extrafio que se adopten 
 fdrmulas de excepci(5n como estas, la so- 
 berania nacional, la dignidad nacional, ti 
 otras pareoidas, que facultan para no so- 
 meter al fallo^de jueces lo que no puede 
 ser materia de juicio. 
 
 La aplicacidn de estas formulas ha de 
 quf dar naturalmente sometida al arbitrio 
 6 criterio de la nacidn llamada & interpre- 
 tarlas, quien determinar^ en cada caao 
 particular si el hecho que se presenta se 
 halla 6 no comprendido dentro de ellas. 
 Y no puede ser de otra manera, porque, si 
 esta determiuacidn quedara sometida & 
 ageno arbitrio, la nacidn interesada sufri- 
 ria detrimento en su soberania, lo que no 
 es aceptable; y, si lo fuera, se produciria 
 un mal mucho mayor sin duda que el 
 que se trataba de evitar. 
 
 Eeserv^ndose su libertad de apreciacidn 
 para cada case particular, el Gobierno de 
 Chile no hace otra oosa que ampararse 
 bajo una de esas fdrmulas generales, 
 recien indicadas, que tienen por objeto 
 establecer una excepcidn al principio de 
 arbitraje. Decir que se emplear^ este 
 medio siempre que el oonflicto que se in- 
 tenta resolver no afecte, por ejemplo, la 
 dignidad nacional, y decir que el Go- 
 bierno interesado decidir^ si la dificultad 
 pendiente es de tal naturaleza que pueda 
 ser resuelta por medio del arbitraje, es en 
 elfondo una misma 6 id^ntica cosa, puesto 
 que en ambos casos queda reserv ada la 
 misma libertad de acoi6n. Las palahras 
 pueden ser y son en efecto diversas ; pero 
 el resultado practice de su aplicacidn 
 bstS, id^ntico. Y lo que se sostiene con 
 relacidn & una de dichas fdrmnlas, es 
 aplicable S, todas las del mismo car^cter, 
 siendo evidente que la idea general que 
 encierran todas ellas es compatible con 
 la mas completa latitud de apreciaci6n. 
 
INTEENATIONAT. AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 713 
 
 Passing now to the consideration of this 
 interesting matter from another point of 
 view, we must state that, in order that 
 obligatory arbitration should become an 
 efficient rule in the international rela- 
 tions to which it is intended to be ap- 
 plied, it would be indispensable for it to 
 secure a method of enforcement similar to 
 that which is resorted to for the enforce- 
 ment of awards of similar nature, ren- 
 dered in cases of conflicts between individ- 
 uals, that is to say, the constitution of an 
 authority, superior to both contracting 
 parties, and to which they both submit. 
 An obligation whose enforcement de- 
 pends only upon the will of the party 
 which contracted it — an obligation which 
 has no other sanction than a moral one — 
 to what can it be reduced in the frequent 
 changes of governments and administra- 
 tions in the countries, and often imply 
 not only changes of opinion, but also, and 
 very frequently, oblivion of former en- 
 gagements ? 
 
 It seems evident that war shall not 
 be declared against the nation which 
 having agreed to submit to arbitration 
 all its international questions, without 
 exception, should act, however, as if no 
 such agreement had ever been made. It 
 would be absurd and ridiculous that for 
 the sake of securing permanent peace war 
 should be undertaken. 
 
 Would it be possible to constitute an 
 authority superior to the nations which 
 accepted the principle absolutely, to 
 which the enforcement of the decision 
 should be intrusted ? 
 
 This is a new difficulty, not less insu- 
 perable than the foregoing. 
 
 The delegation ftom Chill answers the 
 two questions negatively. Hence it may 
 be doubted if such an authority could 
 ever be constituted, whether in the form 
 of a permanent tribunal, or in any other 
 form. 
 
 The reason of this impossibility is ob- 
 vious. The constitution of that authority 
 would create a danger for the sovereignty 
 of the nations which accepted it, and 
 would be at all times a kind of constant 
 threat against the same sovereignty. 
 
 The formation of a sovereign authority 
 of this character, which by its own nature 
 is incompatible with independence, pro- 
 
 Contemplando ahora esta iuteresanto 
 materia bajo otro aspeoto, para que el 
 arbitraje obligatorio pudiera constituir 
 una regla eflcaz en las relaciones inter- 
 naciouales Ji que trata de aplicarse, seria 
 menester que pudiera hacerse efeotivo, 
 del mismo modo que las decisiones que 
 recaen en conflictosdeintereses individua- 
 les, por medio de una autoridad superior 
 a las partes contratantes, y S la cual 
 estas estuvieren sometidas. Una obliga- 
 ci6n ^ ciiyo cumplimiento solo est^ liga- 
 da la voluntad del que la ha contraido, 
 una obligacidn que no tiene otra sanci6n 
 que una sancioii moral, j S, que quedarSi 
 reduoida en el cambio freouente de 
 regimeues y de personas que experi- 
 meute el Gobierno de los pueblos, cam- 
 bios que no solo implican mudanzas de 
 opim6n, sin6 tambi^n, y muy frecueute- 
 mente, olvido de anteriores compromi- 
 ses? 
 
 Parece evidente que no habr^ de decla- 
 rarsela guerra ^la nacion que, babi^ndose 
 comprometido S, someter todas sus dife- 
 rencias iuternacionales, sin excepcifin, al 
 arbitraje, procediera como si jamas 
 hubiese contraido semejante obligacidn. 
 Seria irrisorio y absurdo que, en obseqnio 
 de la paz permanente, se empezase por 
 emprender una guerra. 
 
 4 Seria posible constituir una autori- 
 dad superior S las naciones que aceptan el 
 prinoipio de un modo absolute, con la 
 misidn de hacerlo efectlvo ? Y siendo 
 esto posible 4 seria convenieute y aoep- 
 table ? 
 
 He aqui una nueva dificultadnomenos 
 insuperable que las precedentes. 
 
 La delegaci6n de Chile contesta nega- 
 tivamente S, ambas preguntas. Desde 
 luego es permitido dudar que semejante 
 autoridad pudiera algunavezconstituirse, 
 ya sea en la forma de un tribunal per- 
 manente, ya en otra forma. 
 
 La razon de esta imposibilidad es obvia, 
 desde que la constituci6n de aquella 
 autoridad importaria an peligro para la 
 soberania de las naciones que la aoep- 
 tasen, y seria & la vez una amenaza le- 
 vantada contra eaa misma soberania. 
 
 La formaci6nde una autoridad soberana 
 de este caracter, que por su naturaleza 
 misma seria incompatible con la inde- 
 
714 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 yokes strong resistance among nations ; 
 and it is one of the gravest obstacles 
 wliich has so far opposed the adoption 
 of arbitration as a universal and absolute 
 means of settlement of the conflicts 
 arising among them. 
 
 The conclusion to be drawn from the 
 foregoing statementsis, that the preserva- 
 tion of peace and tranquillity among the 
 nations of America, which §o legitimately 
 preoccupies the Conference, must befound 
 rather in the seriousness of the Govern- 
 ments, in the correctness of their action, 
 and in their subjection to principles of 
 justice and equity, than in purely moral 
 engagements entered into by them. The 
 Delegation of Chili believes itself author- 
 ized to state, in this respect, that it repre- 
 sents a nation and a Government which 
 afford all necessary guaranty. 
 
 It would be superfluous to mention 
 here the series of writen treaties which, 
 although destined to prevent war, have 
 ended in provoking it. 
 
 If the idea of accepting arbitration, in 
 all cases, and without exception, as a 
 means of settlement. of the difficulties be- 
 tween the nations, should become an 
 American international agreement, no 
 one can guaranty that some time after- 
 wards the treaty made to that effect 
 would not have the same fate as other in- 
 ternational compacts entered into and 
 concluded under more favorable circum- 
 stances. 
 
 It being impossible for man to cause the 
 struggle of conflicting interests, founded 
 on the nature of things, on the conditions 
 of humanity, to cease either between na- 
 tions, or between individuals, one of the 
 ideals of civilization would be, no doubt, 
 find out some manner of settlement satis- 
 factory to all the contending parties. 
 
 The award of ao arbitrator may be the 
 last word in a controversy ; but this will 
 not destroy the germ which produced it. 
 As a general rule, one of the contending 
 parties generally -deems itself to have 
 been wronged ; and it is not rash to state 
 that the source of the disagreement re- 
 mains latent. 
 
 It is n truth, which needs no demon- 
 stration, that a decision or award will 
 
 pendencia, provoca siempre fuprtes resis- 
 tencias cntre las naciones, y es uno de los 
 mas graves obst^culos que hasta hoy se 
 han opuesto para que el arbitraje sea 
 adoptado como medio universal y abso- 
 lute de resolver los conflictos que se 
 snsciten entre ellas. 
 
 De lo que acabamos de exponer se des- 
 preude que el afianzamiento de la paz y 
 de la tranquilidad entre las naciones 
 americanas, preocupaci6u legitima de la 
 Conferencia, mas que en los pactos es- 
 critos, mas que en los compromisos pura- 
 mente morales que por medio de ellosse 
 contraigan, debe buscarse en la seriedad 
 de los Gobiernos, en la correccidn de sus 
 procedimientos, en la sujecidn S, los prin- 
 cipios de jnsticia y equidad. A este res- 
 pecto, la delegacidn de Chile se cree 
 autorizada para decir que representa una 
 naci<5n y un Gobierno que ofrecen todas 
 las garantias apetecibles, 
 
 Superfluo seria mencionar aqui la serie 
 de tratados escritos que, destinados S. pre- 
 veuir la guerra, hau concluido al fin por 
 provocarla. 
 
 Si llegase ^ convertirse en acuerdo in- 
 ternacional americano la idea de aceptar 
 el arbitramento en todo caso, sin excep- 
 ci6u alguna, como medio de solucionar 
 las dificnltades entre las naciones, nadie 
 pnede garantir que en algun tiempo un 
 tratado de esta naturaleza no correria la 
 misma suerte que otros pactos intema- 
 cionales suscritos bajo los mas favorables 
 anspicios. 
 
 No siendo posible hacer desapareoer de 
 entre las naciones, como de entre los indi- 
 vidnos, el cheque de intereses encontra- 
 dos, que tienen su origen eu la naturaleza 
 de las cosas, en la condici6n misma de la 
 humanidad, uno de los ideales de la ci- 
 vilizaci6n seria, sin duda alguna, hallar el 
 medio de resolver el conflicto & satisfao- 
 cidn de las partes contendientes. 
 
 Una sentencia arbitral podr^ ser la 
 liltima palabra de una controversia, pero 
 no destruir^ siempre el germen que la ha 
 producido. Por regla general, uno de los 
 contendientes se considerar^ con ella per- 
 judicado, y no es temerario presumir que 
 el origen del desacuerdo permanecerS en 
 61 latente. 
 
 Es una verdad que no necesita demos- 
 traci6n que una sentencia no produoirS 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFBRKNCE. 
 
 715 
 
 never produce in the settlement of differ- 
 ences of whatever kind they may be, the 
 same beneficial results, as are obtained 
 from a voluntary agreement amicably con- 
 'cluded, especially if it is considered that 
 that decision may very well not be in 
 some cases, in accordance with the prin- 
 ciples of justice, or perhaps even in viola- 
 tion of them. 
 
 It may be said, however, and very 
 justly, that it is not easy to reach at all 
 times a voluntary and friendly settlement. 
 
 In cases of this kind it will be useful to 
 resort to some means which may facili- 
 tate the desired agreement, and cause the 
 disagreeing nations to come together, 
 enter into new deliberations, or prolong 
 the proceedings already taken. In the 
 opinion of the Delegation from Chili me- 
 diation is this method. 
 
 The mediation of a Government, friend- 
 ly to the parties, with no interest in the 
 contention, animated by a feeling of 
 strict impartiality, offers the invaluable 
 advantage of giving time to reflect and 
 allowing the business in dispute to be 
 more calraly considered. Mediation can 
 furthermore contribute, when no direct 
 arrangement is made, to efficiently facili- 
 tate the reference to arbitration. In its 
 own sphere of action it embraces all 
 peaceful possible solutions. 
 
 For the reasons above stated the Gov- 
 ernment of Chili deems mediation, in the 
 contentions just referred to, to be one of 
 the best measures which can be suggested 
 for the preservation of peace. 
 
 It is an arduous task to try to reach, at 
 once and immediately, general and abso- 
 lute arbitration. Experience teaches that 
 serious and lasting works in state policy 
 are always gradually and slowly accom 
 plished. Passing rapidly, without transi- 
 tion, from one established system to an- 
 other system essentially different, is to 
 run the risk of soon coming back to the 
 starting-point. 
 
 The recommendation of a system of 
 limited arbitration would have been 
 sufficient for the moment, according to 
 our judgment, to secure the humani- 
 tarian purposes which the Conference 
 desires to attain, and, as it is easy to 
 understand at once, it would have 
 
 nunca, en la 8oluci6n de las diferencias 
 de cualquier g6nero que sean, los mismos 
 benfiflcos resultados que un acuerdo vo- 
 luntario y amistosamente celebrado, sobre 
 todo si Be oonsidera que aquella puede 
 muy bien, no conformarse, en ocasiones, 
 con los prinoipios de justicia, y aun con- 
 cnloarlos alguna vez. 
 
 Se observard;, sin embargo, y con razon, 
 que no es facil llegar siempre S, un acuerdo 
 voluntario y amistoso. 
 
 Para tales cases ser^utilexcogitaralgun 
 arbitrio que facilite el deseado acuerdo, 
 un arbitrio que, acercando S, las naciones 
 que se encuentran en desavenencia, per- 
 mita uuevas deliberaciones, 6 A6 lugar ^ 
 prolongar las existentes. 
 
 A juicio de la Delegaoi6n de Chile este 
 arbitrio lo suministra la mediacidn. 
 
 La mediacidn de un Gobiemo amigo de 
 las partes, desinteresado en la contienda, 
 animado de un esplritu de rigurosa im- 
 parcialidad, ofrece la inapreciable ven- 
 taja de dar tiempo ^ la reflexidn, permi- 
 tiendo considerar con mas calma el nego- 
 cio oontrovertido. La mediacidn puede 
 ademas contribuir, ^ falta de un arreglo 
 directo, ^ faoilitar eficazmente la consti- 
 tucidn del arbitraje. En sn esfera de ac- 
 ci6n entran todas las soluciones pacificas 
 posibles. 
 
 A virtud de estas cousideraciones, el 
 Gobiemo de Chile estima la mediacidn, 
 en las condiciones que aoabau de expre- 
 sarse, como una de las mejores medidas 
 que pueden proponerse para la conserva- 
 cidn de la paz. 
 
 Es ardua tarea pretender llegar de una 
 vez, 6 inmediatamente, al arbitramento 
 general y absolute. La experiencia nos 
 ensefia que las obras serias y duraderas 
 en el terrene politico son aquellas que se 
 realizan gradual y leutamente. Pasar 
 rapidamente y sin transicidn, de un regi- 
 men establecido S, otro esencialmente di- 
 verse es exponerse S, retroceder prdnto al 
 punto de partida. 
 
 La recomendacidn de un sistema de 
 arbitraje limitado habria bastado, por 
 ahora, & nuestro juicio, ^ los fines hnma- 
 nitarios que persigue la Conferencia, y 
 habria presentado, como se oomprende & 
 primera vista, mas facilidades en sn eje- 
 cuoi<5n que las que ofrece el plan absoluto 
 
716 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 afforded greater facilities for the execu- 
 tion of the project than the absolute plan 
 which has been submitted to the deliber- 
 ation of this assembly. 
 
 A particular analysis of the different 
 provisions contained in the project of 
 arbitration submitted to this Conference 
 suggests, on the other hand, serious con- 
 siaeration, both in regard to the form and 
 in regard to the substance of its pro- 
 yisions ; but we think that it is not nec- 
 essary for us to insist upon them, as our 
 purpose is to abstain from taking any 
 part either in the discussion or the vote 
 to which the project must be submitted. 
 We beg, however, to be permitted to 
 indicate two of the gravest objections 
 which determine us not to sanction this 
 proceeding. 
 
 This grave subject of arbitration has 
 come up before the Conference in a form 
 which is unusual in our deliberations. 
 
 This assembly, conforming itself to the 
 spirit of the act of Congress to which it 
 owes its existence, has invariably recog- 
 nized as the established rule of its action 
 that its only and exclusive mission is to 
 discuss principles and ideas whose ac- 
 ceptance it may agree to recommend to 
 , the Governments therein represented. AH 
 former agreements have been in this line. 
 
 Deviating from this course of action, 
 which we had thus far deemed it to be es- 
 sential, in our own Constitution, the Com- 
 mittee of General Welfare has not con- 
 fined itself to recommending to us an idea 
 or a principle whose adoption might be 
 beneficial for our countries and their re- 
 lations with each other. It has gone far 
 beyond this, and recommends to us the 
 adoption of a solemn treaty. 
 
 It would be unnecessary for us to enter 
 into any argument for the purpose of 
 proving that the Conference of which we 
 form a part has not met here for that 
 purpose. 
 
 No warrant can be found for the Com- 
 mittee of General Welfare attributing to 
 the Conference the power to make trea- 
 ties, either in the antecedents which gave 
 birth to the Conference, the acceptance 
 of the invited Governments, or the spirit 
 which constantly has guided it from the 
 beginning of its labors. 
 
 que ha sido sometido & las deliberaoiones 
 de esta asamblea. 
 
 Un an^lisis detallado de las disposiciones 
 contenidas en el proyeoto de arbitraje 
 sometido ^ la Conferencia, sugiere, por 
 otra parte, serias consideraciones, sobre 
 su forma y su fondo, en las cuales no 
 creemos deber insistir, siendo como es 
 uuestro propdsito abstenernos de tomar 
 parte en 1^ discusifin y votaoi6n ^ que 
 dicho proyecto debe ser sometido. Nos 
 permitimos, sin embargo, insinuar dos de 
 les mas graves, que determinau adernas 
 nuestra prescindenoia en este negooio. 
 
 Este grave asunto del arbitraje ha ve 
 nido ante la Conferencia en una forma 
 inusitada hasta hoy en nuestras delibe- 
 raciones. 
 
 Esta asamblea, conform^ndose al es- 
 piritu de la ley S, que debe su origen, ha 
 reconocido invariablemente como norma 
 de BUS tareas, que su linica y exclusiva 
 misidn es discutir principios 6 ideas cuya 
 aceptacidn convenga recomendar & los 
 Gobiernos en ella representados. Los 
 anteriores acuerdos han tenido este carac- 
 ter. 
 
 Separindose de uu procedimiento, que 
 hemes considerado como esenoial ^ nues- 
 tra propia constitucidn, la Comisifin de 
 Bienestar General no se ha limitado S, 
 recomendarnos una idea 6 un principio 
 cuyaadopcidn seria ben6fica para nuestros 
 respectivos palses y bus mutuas relaciones. 
 Ha ido mucfio mas lejos, y nos propone la 
 adopcidn de un tratado solemne. 
 
 Seria innecesaria tarea alegar argumen- 
 tos para probar que la Conferencia de 
 que formamos parte no se ha reunido cou 
 tal objeto. 
 
 No podria haUarse un justificative S, la 
 faoultad de celebrar tratados que la Co- 
 misi(5n de Bienestar General le atribuye, 
 ni en los antecedentes que le dieron ori- 
 gen, ni en las aoeptaciones de los Gobier- 
 nos ponvocados, ni en el espliitu que la 
 ha guiado constantemente desde el co- 
 mienzo de sus labores. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 717 
 
 We are, therefore, of the opinion that 
 the negotiation of a solemn treaty, such 
 as the one now before the Conference, 
 does not fall under any circumstances 
 within the sphere of the Conference, 
 neither is it in accordance with its spirit, 
 nor can it be harmonized with the prin- 
 ciples established by it for its proceedings. 
 
 The Committee of General Welfare has 
 gone still fai'ther. It does not only pro- 
 pose to our consideration a solemn treaty, 
 but provides by it that arbitration shall 
 be obligatory not only for the settlement 
 of questions which may arise in the fut- 
 ure, but those ■which may so arise out of 
 accomplished facts, irrespective of their 
 origin or date. 
 
 Such a retroactive effect of the proposed 
 compact is not only in opposition to the 
 general principles of the public law, but 
 contrary to the avowed purpose of the 
 Congress of the United States which 
 passed the law under which we have met, 
 which law states that : 
 
 "The President of the United States 
 be, and he io hereby, requested and au- 
 thorized, to invite the several Govern- 
 ments of the Eepublicsflf Mexico, Central 
 and South America, Hayti, San Domingo, 
 and the Empire of Brazil to join the 
 United States in a conference to be held 
 at Washington, for the purpose of dis- 
 cussing and recommending for adoption 
 to their respective Governments some 
 plan of arbitration for the settlement of 
 disagreements and disputes that may 
 HEREAFTER ARISE between them." 
 
 The declarations made in the text of 
 the above act of Congress were ratified 
 and insisted upon by the Conference 
 itself when the different committees were 
 created, and a committee of seven was 
 organized "to report some plan of 
 arbitration for the settlement of dis- 
 agreements that may hereafter arise 
 between the several nations represented 
 in this Conference." 
 
 It is, therefore, manifest that this time 
 the committee has deviated from the rule 
 by which it onght to be guided. 
 
 But even if this point would admit of 
 any doubt, or if either the act of Con- 
 
 Opinamos, en consecuencia, que la cele- 
 bracidn de un tratado solemne como el 
 que pende actualmente de sus delibera- 
 oiones, no entra ni en las faoultades de 
 la Conferencia, ni est^ de aouerdo con su 
 espfritu, ni se ajusta ^las bases estableci- 
 das por ella misma en sus procedimlentos. 
 
 La Comisidn de Bieneotar ha ido toda- 
 via mas lejos. No solo propone & nues- 
 tra consideraoi6n la adopcidn de un tra- 
 tado solemne, sin<5 que establece en 6\ 
 que deberdln ser materia de arbitraje for- 
 zoso 11 obligatorio no solo las cuestiones 
 futuras, sin6 las que se suscitaren por 
 hechos consumados, cualesquiera que 
 sean su origen y la €poca de la cual de- 
 rivan. 
 
 Este efecto retroactive del pacto que se 
 propone no solo pugna con los prinoipios 
 generales del Derecho publico, sine que 
 es contrario al propdsito manifiesto del 
 Congreso que dictd la ley de couvocatoria 
 & que nos hemes referido. 
 
 " Se faculta al Presidente de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, dice el texto literal de la ley, 
 y se le pide qye invite ^ los diversos Go- 
 bieruos de las Eepiiblioas de M&ica, Cen- 
 tre y Sud America, Haiti, Santo Domingo, 
 y el Imperio del Brasil, & unirse ^ los Esta- 
 dos Unidos para celebrar una Conferencia 
 que tendril lugar en Washington, con el 
 objeto de discutir y recomendar & la adop- 
 ci(5n de sus respectivos Gobiernos algun 
 plan do arbitraje para el arreglo de los de- 
 saouerdos y cuestiones que puedan EX LO 
 FUTORO susoitarse entre ellos." 
 
 Las declaracjones contenidas en el tex- 
 to de la ley que acabamos de citar fueron 
 reforzadas por la Conferencia mi^ma, 
 quien, al dividirse en Comisiones, resolvid 
 que se nombrase una de siete individuos 
 encargada de proponer un plan de arbi- 
 traje para el arreglo de las diferencias que 
 oeurran entre las diversas naciones repre- 
 sentadas en ella. 
 
 Aparece, pues, de manifiesto que en esta 
 vez la Comisidn se ha separado de la regla 
 Si que debia ajustar su conducta. 
 
 Y supuesto que este punto sugiriese 
 dudas, 6 que no hubieran existido el pre- 
 
718 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 gress or the lesolation passed by the Con- 
 ference had never existed, the fact is 
 that mingling with existing facts, or 
 attempting to modify the condition of 
 things brought about in consequence of 
 said facts, is neither opportune nor in 
 keeping with the nature and character 
 of a body like this. If the action of the 
 Conference is stripped of the elevation of 
 views in which it must be inspired, it 
 has necessarily to lose a portion of its 
 efficiency and prestige. 
 
 How the committee has not seen that 
 in attempting to give a larger spher^ to 
 its work, it rendered it weaker can not be 
 comprehended. The committee would 
 have shown more foresight, if it had 
 simply recommended arbitration for the 
 future. Such action would have been 
 more in harmony with the mission of 
 promoting American union intrusted to 
 the Conference. 
 
 This must have been the spirit of ihe 
 Government of the United States, when 
 through the Secretary of State, the Hon. 
 James G. Blaine, President of this Con- 
 ference, to whom the initiative of the 
 same belongs, it officially set forth in the 
 circular of November 29, 1881, the follow- 
 ing declarations, which he used as an in- 
 ducement for the Governments of America 
 to accept the invitation : 
 
 "The President is especially desirous 
 to have it understood that in putting forth 
 this invitation the United States does not 
 assume the position of counseling or at- 
 tempting through the voice of the Con- 
 gress to counsel any determinate solution 
 of existing questions which may now di- 
 vide any of the countries of America. 
 Such questions can rot properly come be- 
 fore the Congress. Its mission is higher. 
 It is to provide for the interests of all in 
 the future, not to settle the individual 
 differences of the present." 
 
 With the foregoing statements the Dele- 
 gates from Chili believe to have accom- 
 plished the following double purpose : 
 
 Mrst. To have stated in a clear and pre- 
 cise manner, without disguise or reticence, 
 what the views of their Government are in 
 this delicate question of arbitration, what 
 is the rule of action their Government has 
 invariably followed in regard thereto, and 
 what is the spirit which will animate it in 
 
 cepto de la ley, ni el acuerdo de la Con- 
 ferencia, que hemes traido & la vista, en 
 todo caso habria sido tan oportuno como 
 prudente, y conforme S, la indole de cuer- 
 pos como este, no mezclarse en los hechos 
 existentes, no procurar modiflcar con sus 
 acuerdos las situaciones creadas por ellos. 
 De otro modo, oareciendo estos acuerdos 
 de la elevaoidn en que deben estar inspi- 
 rados, tienen que perder parte de sa efica- 
 cia y de su prestijio. 
 
 No se com^ende como ha podido esca 
 parse ^ la penetraci6n de la Comisidn que 
 pretendiendo dar mayor extensidn S, su 
 obra, evidentemente la debilitaba. 
 
 Habria sido sin duda mas previsor con- 
 cretarse al arbitramento para lo future, 
 pues un procedimiento tal se habria oon- 
 formado mejor con la misiiSn de Unidn 
 americana confiada ^ la Confereucia, 
 
 En esos sentimientos se inspird, debe- 
 mos creerlo, el Gobierno de los' Estados 
 Unidos, ouando por el drgano del Secre- 
 tario de Estado, el Honorable Sr. James 
 G. Blaine, Presidente de esta Confereucia, 
 y Si ouya iniciativa debe su origen, consig- 
 naba oficialmente en la circular de 29 
 de Noviembre de 1881, las siguientes 
 declaraoiones, como un estimulo S, los 
 Gobiernos americanos para que concnr- 
 riesen Si ella. 
 
 " Desea especialmente el Presidente se 
 tenga entendido que al haoer esta invita- 
 ci6n, los Estados Unidos no asumen el 
 papel de consejero directo, ni se proponen 
 tampoco aconsejar por la voz del Congreso 
 ninguna soluoidn concreta de las cuestio- 
 nes que al presente puedan dividir S, 
 algunos de los Estados de America. Estas 
 cuestiones no son propiameute del resorte 
 del Congreso. Su misidn es mas alta. 
 Ella se relaciona con especlalidad con el 
 future, sin pretender alcauzar las indivi- 
 duales diferencias del ijresente." 
 
 Con estos antecedentes, la delegacidn 
 de Chile cree llenar justificadamente el 
 siguiente doble propdsito : 
 
 Primero; Dejar establecido de uua 
 manera clara, y precisa, sin ambajes ni 
 reticenciaa, cnal es la apreciacidn que la 
 cuestidn delioada del arbitraje merece & 
 su Gobierno, cual la norma invariable de 
 conducta que ha observado S ese respecto, 
 y cual la voluntad de que est^ animado 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 719 
 
 resorting to said method whenever proper, 
 with all freedom of action, which it ex- 
 pressly reserves. 
 
 Second. To explain to the Couference 
 their own position in regard to this grave 
 subject, and set forth as thoy have done 
 in thd precediug remarks the grounds of 
 their action. 
 
 Theiefore we, the undersigned Dele- 
 gates from Chili, do hereby declare that 
 we abstain from discussing or voting 
 on this project, and ask that this paper 
 should be appended to the minutes, as 
 provided by the rules and the practices 
 of this Conference. 
 
 Washington, April 14, 1890. 
 
 E. C. Vakas. 
 J. Alfonso. 
 
 Mr. TUBSCOT, a Delegate from the 
 United States, stated that Mr. Hender- 
 son, chairman of the reporting Commit- 
 tee, had been obliged to leave, and asked 
 that the vote be not taken until his re- 
 turn ; and (hat in the meantime, if unani- 
 mous consent was obtained, the report of 
 the Committee on Extradition be taken 
 np. 
 
 Unanimous consent having been ob- 
 tained, the following report was read : 
 
 para aplicarlo con la libertad de accidu 
 que para tal fin se reserva. 
 
 Segundo : Explioar ante la Conferencia 
 su propia actitud en la oonsideraoidn de 
 este grave uegocio, fund^adose en las 
 observaciones que quedan consignadas. 
 
 En consecuencia, los infrascritos dele- 
 gados de Chile, declaramos que nos ahs- 
 teneraos de tomar parte en la discusidn y 
 votacidn de eete proyeoto, pidiendo que 
 esta oplnidn y manifestaoidn escrita se 
 agregue al acta correspondiente, en con- 
 formidad al Reglamento y ii la pr^ctica 
 de la Conferencia. 
 
 Washington, 14 de Ahril de 1890. 
 
 E. C. Vakas. 
 J. Alfonso. 
 
 El SeSor Thescot, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, manifestd que el Sefior 
 Henderson, Presidente de la Comisi(3n in- 
 formante, habia tenido que auseutarse, y 
 solicitd que no se procediese S, votar sobre 
 el asunto hasta que dicho Sefior volviese 
 al salon ; y que entretanto, podia, si para 
 ello habia conseutimiento un^nime, pro- 
 cederse ^ disoutir el dictamen de la Comi- 
 8i6n 3e extradicidn. 
 
 Habi6ndose obtenido para ello conseuti- 
 miento uninime, se procedi6 ^ leer el dii:- 
 tamen que dice como signe : 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CON- 
 FERENCE. 
 
 Committee on Extradition. 
 
 Mr. President : The undersigned Dele- 
 gate has deemed it to be his duty to sub- 
 mit a report on the project of International 
 Penal Law drafted by the South Ameri- 
 can Congress of Montevideo, a project of 
 treaty which the committee over which 
 he lias the honor to preside recommends 
 for adoption to the Spanish-American 
 Governments, as being the besl model to 
 be followed by them in framing the ex- 
 tradition treaties which they may make 
 with each other, while at the same time 
 it recommends also to the said Spanish- 
 American Governments to conclude with 
 the United States special treaties of ex- 
 tradition founded on other principles, 
 more suited to the peculiar circumstances 
 and habits of legislation of the latter 
 
 ''CONFERENCIA INTEBNACIONAL 
 AMERICANA. 
 
 Comisi6n de Extradici6n. 
 
 Sr. Presidente : El Delegado que hace 
 uso de la palabra ha creido oportuno 
 formular un informe acerca del proyeoto 
 de tratado de Derecho Penal luterna- 
 cional del Congreso Sud-Americano de 
 Montevideo, proyeoto de tratado cuya 
 adopcidn recomienda la Comisidn que le 
 cabe la honra de presidir, para los que 
 celebren entre si los Gobiernos de His- 
 pano-AmiSrica, recomendando Si estos, al 
 propio tiempo, la celebracidn de trata- 
 dos especiales con los Estados Unidos, 
 ya que las peculiares circumstanoias y 
 niodo de ser de esta ultima naci6n y los 
 tratados de oxtradicidn que tiene cele- 
 brados con muouos Estados de Europa y 
 America, los cuales obedecen S, un deter- 
 miuado criterio, no le permiten acojei ej 
 
720 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 country, and more in harmony with the 
 »ther treaties thus far concluded between 
 the United States and many other na- 
 tions, both of Europe and America. 
 
 The Montevideo treaty, to which I now 
 pass, can not be taken as a model under 
 the above circumstances for extradition 
 treaties with the United States. 
 
 The treaty contains five titles : The first 
 on jurisdiction ; second, on asylum; third, 
 extradition ; fourth, proceedings for the 
 extradition j fifth, on the preventive ar- 
 rest ; said five titles being subdivided into 
 fifty-one articles". 
 
 On the subject of jurisdiction the treaty 
 provides that the territorial law and the 
 power of the courts of the territory in 
 which crime was committed must prevail. 
 The right of punishing belongs naturally 
 and in justice to the State whose laws 
 have been violated, and against whose 
 sovereignty an attack has been made by 
 the offender. It is natural and just that 
 the investigation be made and ended at 
 the same place where the crime was perpe- 
 trated ; where the proofs and instruments 
 relating to the same are found ; where all 
 abettors and accomplices are ; and where 
 a greater number of proofs can be'col- 
 lected to secure conviction. 
 
 It is, therefore, proper for the courts of 
 
 the territory to take cognizance of the 
 
 case, to conduct the proceedings and to 
 
 impose the deserved punishment on the 
 
 . guilty party. 
 
 I think it opportune to quote here a few 
 sentences from the instructive report 
 submitted to the Montevideo Congress by 
 Mr. Saenz Pefia, a member of the commit- 
 tee which drew up the draft of the treaty 
 
 "Fortunately, Honorable Plenipoten- 
 tiaries, private international law, which 
 has not received naturalization papers 
 in any country, Las resisted with fore- 
 sight and prudence all outbursts of na- 
 tional pride. According to it, the right of 
 punishment belongs exclusively to the 
 State whose laws have been violated, 
 and whose sovereignty has been offended 
 by the crime. The States whose laws 
 have not been touched, and which have 
 not seen either their territories or their 
 subjects submitted to any wrong or 
 offense, can not exercise that right, be- 
 
 proyecto de tratado de Montevideo, de 
 que paso & ocuparme. 
 
 Dicho proyeoto comprende cinco tltu- 
 los. El 1° trata de la jurisdiccion ; el 2° 
 del asilo ; el 3° del regimen de la extra- 
 dioi6n; el 4° del procedimiento de la 
 extradicifin, y el 5° de la prisi6n preven- 
 tiva, siendo mchos titulos materia de 51 
 artlculos. 
 
 En materia de jurisdiccidnprevaleceel 
 principle de la ley territorial y la potestad 
 de los jueoes en cuyo territorio se cometen 
 los delitos. Lo natural, lo justo, es que 
 el derecho de represidn toque al 
 Estado cuyas leyes han side infringidas 
 y & cuya soberania se ha atentado con la 
 oomisifin del crimen. Lo natural y justo 
 es que el proceso se sustancie y termine 
 allf donde el hecho delictuoso ha sido 
 perpetrado, donde se enouentran los ins- 
 trumentos y las prnebas de ese mismo 
 hecho, donde se hallan los c6mplice8 que 
 en 61 han tornado participio, y donde puede 
 recojerse la mayor suma de dates para el 
 esolarecimiento del propio hecho. Es, 
 pues, de la competencia del Tribunal 
 territorial la secuela de los procesos y la 
 imposici6n del castigo & que los culpables 
 Be han hecho acreedores. 
 
 Oportnno es citar aqui algunos concep- 
 tos del luminoso informe que el Sr. Dr. 
 Saenz Pena, miembro de la Comisi6n 
 redactora del proyecto de tratado de 
 Derecho penal internacional formula y 
 ley6 ante el Congreso de Montevideo. 
 
 "Afortunadamente Sres. Plenipotencia- 
 rios, el Derecho interuacional privado, 
 que no ha tornado carta de ciudadanla, 
 en ningunpais, haresistido con previsi6n 
 y con prudenoia, estas esplosiones de van- 
 agloria nacional ; y segun 61, el derecho 
 de represidn es privative del Estado, cuyas 
 leyes han sido violadas y cuya soberania 
 es ultrajada por el crimen mismo ; los 
 Estados que sienten intactos sus dere- 
 chos, que no han visto agredidos en su 
 territorio & sus resideutes, 6 51 sus sfibditos, 
 no pueden ejercer tal represidn, por que 
 no tienen interns en el castigo, por que no 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 721 
 
 cause they have no interest in the pun- 
 ishment, or can invoice the right of self- 
 defense, in whose name society exercises 
 the right of punishing. That lawful 
 self-defense can not be invoked by a State 
 which has not been ofifended, because 
 self-defense implies au attack, and that 
 which is made against the laws of one 
 nation can not be avenged by the others 
 without accepting the principle that 
 justice is absolute and universal, a prin- 
 ciple which modern philosophy has rele- 
 gated to itstheooratical domains. 
 
 " The tendencies of the theocratic school 
 have been supported with fruitless decla- 
 mations about impunity ; but those who 
 refute acquiescence to any conclusions 
 reached by that school are far, however, 
 from advocating disorder and from en- 
 couraging Clime by suppressing penalties. 
 The territorial jurisdiction measures the 
 punishment and makes it to be in accord- 
 ance with its social interest. It represses 
 the attack by making use of a lawful and 
 natural self-defense ; and this repression 
 so exercised within the limits of its own 
 sovereignty, and under the proper juris- 
 diction, is as far distant from securing 
 impunity as is the law far distant from 
 arbitrary action or from the crime' itself. 
 
 ' ' The consequences of this alleged uni- 
 versal jurisdiction are not less pernicious 
 when these arguments are ignored and 
 the law of the place where the offense 
 was committed is applied in foreign coun- 
 tries. Sach a solution of the problem 
 in my judgment, attacks clearly and evi- 
 dently the principle of the sovereignty 
 of the States. The national courts, 
 those having original jurisdiction, and 
 representing the outraged law and so- 
 ciety, would be replaced by foreign 
 courts which have neither mission nor 
 rights nor duties within the borders of 
 that sovereignty ; and we would meet 
 againhere those angry avengers, who have 
 profanely aped divine justice, exercised 
 or rather usurped by human justice." 
 
 Several writers on private interna- 
 tional law advocate the principle that the 
 nationality either of the offender or of the 
 victim should prevail. But this principle 
 has not been admitted, and has against 
 it, as stated in the report above quoted, 
 the declarations made by the laws of Eng- 
 land and of the United States of North 
 46 I 
 
 pueden invocar la defensa juridioa ennom- 
 bre de la onal las sociedades ejercen la pen- 
 alidad; y esa defensa juridica no puede 
 invocarla uu Estado que no ha sido ofen- 
 dido, porque la defensa eupone ataque y 
 agresidn, y la que se hallevado contra las 
 leyes de una nacidn, no puede ser ven- 
 gada por todas las otras, sin caer en el 
 principio de la justioia universal y abso- 
 luta que la filosoffa moderna ha venido 
 desalojando de sus dominios teocr^ticos. 
 
 "La tendencia de esta escuela se ha 
 sostenido con declamaciones est^riles 
 sobre la impunidad; pero los que com- 
 baten todas sus conclusiones est^n lejos 
 de propagar el desordeu y de alentar el 
 crimen por la snpresidu de la pena; 1» 
 jurisdicci6n territorial calcula el castigo 
 sobre el interns social, reprime el ataque 
 con la defensa natural y legitima, y la 
 represidn en esta forma ejercida, dentro de 
 las soberanlas, couforme con las juris- 
 dicciones, dista tanto de la impunidad, 
 como dista el derecho de lo arbitrario 6 
 del delito mismo. 
 
 "No son meuos pemrciosas laS conclu- 
 siones de lajurisdiccidn universal, cuando 
 se elnden estos argumeutos, aplicando en 
 el extrangero la ley del lugar del delito ; 
 esta solucidn ^ mi juicio, ataca de una 
 manera mas evidente y clara el principio 
 de la soberania de los Estados ; los Tri- 
 bunales nacionales, los que ejercen una 
 jurisdicci6n originaria, representando la 
 ley y la sooiedad ultrajadas por el crimen, 
 serfan suplantados por jueces extran- 
 geros que no tienen misi6n, derechos ni 
 deberes dentro de las fronteras de aquella 
 soberania, volverlamos ^ encontraruos 
 con aquellos vengadores airados, reouerdo 
 profano de la justicia divina ejercida 6 
 usurpada por la justicia humana." 
 
 Algunos tratadistas de Derecho inter- 
 nacional privado invocan el principio de 
 la nacionalidad del agente 6 de la victima 
 del crimen para someter el proceso ^ los 
 tribnnales de la nacidn de origen; pero 
 este principio no ha podido abrirse paso, 
 y tiene en su contra, como se expresa en 
 el informe de la Comisi6n arriba citado,las 
 
722 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 America, which are absolutely in favor of 
 the prevalence of the law of the territory 
 in which the crime waa committed, with- 
 out taking into consideration at all the 
 nationality of the offender, or that of the 
 victim or wronged party. 
 
 It is provided in the project that such 
 violations of criminal law as are' perpe- 
 trated in a State, but exclusively affect 
 rights and interests guarantied by the 
 laws of another State, shall fall under the 
 jurisdiction of the State affected by them, 
 and shall be punishable according to its 
 laws; siioh is the provision of the second 
 article. In this case, the jurisdiction 
 which, according to the general principle, 
 belongs to the courts of the territory will 
 pass to the courts of the country affected 
 by the crime, just as if said crime had 
 been committed there, which is in accord- 
 ance with the principle proclaimed by 
 Fiore : " Whoever the perpetrator, or the 
 victim of a crime, may be, the repression 
 of the latter belongs to the courts and to 
 the laws which protect the violated 
 right." It is true that the instruments 
 with which the crime was committed are 
 not there, neither are the other facts 
 which could help to secure conviction ; 
 but it was there where the crin-e produced 
 its effects, where the wrong was done, 
 where society was attaclied, and where, 
 therefore, proceedings should be begun 
 against the offender, as a derivation, if 
 it can be said so from the principle of 
 territorial jurisdiction. In support of 
 this provision, Mr. Saenz Pefia, the re- 
 porting member of tho committee, ex- 
 pressed himself as follows : 
 
 "The history of criminal cases shows 
 that a crime can be committed in a State 
 and affect exclusively the rights and in- 
 terests of another State. Which is the 
 proper tribunal to tcy the guilty party ? 
 Which are the laws applicable to the 
 case? Under the admitted principle of 
 relative justice, which looks only to the 
 interest of the States affected by the 
 crime, it is necessary to recognize that 
 the jurisdiction belongs to the country 
 which has been wronged, because it is 
 the only one which can invoke the prin- 
 ciple of lawful self-defense as foundation 
 and reason for the penalty. For instance , 
 the counterfeiting of stamps and coins 
 may be accomplished in a territory other 
 
 legislaoiones de Inglaterra y lod Estados 
 Unidos del Norte, que aceptan ou abso- 
 lute, la ley delterritorio en que el delito se 
 perpetra, prescindiendo de la nacionali- 
 dad del agente, de la victima 6 del dam- 
 nificado. 
 
 Se estableoe en el proyecto que los he- 
 choa de car^cter deliotuoso, perpetrados 
 en un Estado, quo serlan justiciables por 
 las autoridades de este, si en 61 prodnjeran 
 BUS efectos, pero que solo danan derechos 
 6 intereses garantidos por las leyes de 
 otro Estado,,ser^n juzgados por los Tribu- 
 nales y penados por las leyes de 6ste lilti- 
 mo. Esta es la disposicidn del articulo se- 
 gundo. En este case la competencia, que 
 segtin el principle general tooa al Juez 
 del territorio, pasa al Tribunal del pals 
 afectado por el crimen, oomo si en 61 so 
 hnbiese cometido, lo cnales conformecon 
 el principle proclamado por Fiori : '' Sea 
 quien fuere el autor 6 la victima de un 
 crimen, su represi<5n corresponde ^ los 
 Tribnnales y & las leyes que amparan el 
 derecho violado." Verdad es que alii no 
 se encuentran los instrumentos del delito, 
 ni todos los dem^s dates que pudieran 
 servirparasn complete esolareoimiento; 
 pero es alll donde el delito obraba sus 
 efectos, donde se inferla el daSo, donde 
 se atacaba H la sociedad, y donde por 
 consiguiente debia incoarse el correspon- 
 diente proceso contra el culpable, como 
 una derivacidn si asi puede decirse, del 
 principio de la jufisdicoifin territorial. 
 Con motive de tal disposicidn, se expresd 
 asf el miembro informante de la Comisidn 
 redactora del proyecto. Dr. Saenz Pena. 
 
 " La historia de los procesos nos ensena 
 que un delito puede perpetrarse en un Es- 
 tado afectando exolusivameute los dere- 
 chos y los intereses de otro. jCu^l es el 
 tribunal competeute parajuzgar al cul- 
 pable y cnales las leyes aplicables al case ? 
 Desenvuelto el principle de la justicia 
 relativa, que oousulta el interns de los 
 Estados afectados por el crimen, es for- 
 zoso reconocerla jurisdiccidn del pais ex- 
 clusivamente damnificado, porque es el 
 Tinico que puede invocar la defensa ju- 
 ridioa, como base de la penalidad y razon 
 del castigo ; la falsifioacidn de sellos y 
 monedas, por ejemplo, puede perpetrarse 
 en nn territorio distinto de aquel S, cuyo 
 Gobierno perteneoen las monedas 6 los 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 723 
 
 than that to which these stamps and coins 
 belong. Where can the desire for repres- 
 sion be found except in the country whose 
 rights of sovereignty have been trampled 
 down, whose laws have been violated, 
 and whose public authority has been de-, 
 prived of one of its exclusive rights? I 
 think it unnecessary to insist upon this 
 point, about which all the authors and 
 penal legislation agree; the committee 
 accept the jurisdiction of the wronged 
 country, but it does not believe that by so 
 doing it deviates from the principle of 
 territorial jurisdiction, such as has been 
 understood and explained in this report, 
 namely, that the jurisdiction of the crime 
 is that of the country which protects the 
 violated rights." 
 
 As sometimes a crime may affect 
 several States, Article 3 provides that 
 the jurisdiction of the State in whose 
 territory the offender is caught shall pre- 
 vail for his punishment; but if the 
 offender should seek shelter in a State 
 different from the ones affected by his 
 action, the jurisdiction of the State 
 which asked first for the extradition 
 shall prevail. But in the cases referred 
 to in the said article, if there be only one 
 ipffender there shall be only one trial, 
 and the penalty to be imposed shall be 
 the heaviest established by the penal laws 
 of the different States concerned ; and if 
 the heaviest penalty should not be ad- 
 mitted in the State where the trial took 
 place, then the nearest one to it in severity 
 shall be imposed. In explanation of this 
 article, the author of the report of the 
 Committee on International Penal Law 
 before the Montevideo Congress says : 
 
 "The honorable plenipotentiaries are 
 aware that when the penal law in force 
 in one of the States is heavier than 
 that of the State where the trial takes 
 place, the result is that a foreign law is 
 applied, because the penalty is regulated, 
 not according to the law of the case, but 
 according to the law which is most severe. 
 We most bear in mind, however, that 
 the country where the trial takes place 
 punishes not only the crime that affects 
 it, but also the one affecting the other 
 wronged countries. The investigation is 
 made in the name of all the victims, 
 nnder a delegation of the authority and 
 jnriSdiotion of the other States, made for 
 
 sellos. jD6nde debe ubioarse el interns 
 de la represifin, sine alii donde se sienten 
 ultrajados los derechoa de soberania, y 
 estafado el poder pliblico, en una de las 
 facultades que le son privativas ? No 
 creo necesario insistir sobre este punto en 
 que se muestran conformes los autores y 
 las legislaoioiies penales; la Comisi6u 
 acepta la jnrisdiccifin del pais damni- 
 ficado, y no cr6e en esto, separarse del 
 principle territorial, tal como lo ha en- 
 tendido y explicado en este informe; la 
 jurisdicoi6n del delito es la del pals que 
 ai»para los derechos violados." 
 
 Como S, veces un delito puede afeotar ^ 
 diferentes Estadoa se dispone en el arti- 
 culo teroero que prevalezca para juz- 
 garlo, la oompetencia del pais dainni- 
 ficado en cuyo Territorio se capture el 
 delincuente; pero si el delincuente se re- 
 fugia en un Estado distinto de los damni- 
 ficados prevalecer^ la corapetencia de los 
 Tribnnales del pals que tuvieae la priori- 
 dad en el pedido de estradicci(5n. Pero en 
 los caaosdel expresado artloulo, si se tra- 
 tase de un solo delincuente no habr^ mdls 
 que un juicio, y se aplicar£i la pena m^s 
 grave de laa establfcidas en las distintas 
 leyes penales infringidas, y no estando ad- 
 mitida la pena ra^s grave por el Estado 
 en que se juzga el delito, se aplicardi la 
 que mSs se le aproxime en gravedad. 
 Comentando este artlculo dice el auior 
 del informe de la Comisidn de Dereoho 
 penal ante el Congreso de Montevideo. 
 
 "No se oculta & los Senores Pleni- 
 potenciarios, que cuando la ley penal 
 de algunos de los otros Estadoa es m^s 
 grave que la del pala del juicio, tiene 
 lugar en definitiva la aplicacidn de una 
 ley extranjera, desde que la pena se 
 gradria, no por la jurisdicoidn del pro- 
 ceso, sino por la que reviste mayor snma 
 de seveiidad ; pero debe tenerse presentei 
 que el pals que jnzga caatiga no aola- 
 mente el delito que lo afecta, sino el que 
 ha comprometido tambien ^ laa otras 
 naciones damuiticadas ; se juzga y se 
 procede, pues, ^ nombre de todas las 
 victimas, ejerciendo una juriadiccidn 
 delegada por todos los Eatados, en interns 
 
724 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 the purpose that there be no more 
 than one trial. No abdication of sover- 
 eignty or jurisdiction takes place iu this 
 case; there is merely a concurrence of 
 penalty, legitimately created, and based 
 on the necessity of repression and punish- 
 ment. As to the election of the most se- 
 vere penalty, it is justi6ed by the scope 
 of the crime. Suppose the case of a State 
 that punishes with a brief confinement 
 an offense punished severely by the laws 
 of another nation which has the same 
 right to punish it : Could the latter be sat- 
 isfied with the judgment of the former, 
 that imposes a penalty resembling more 
 impunity than punishment? Is it not 
 necessary to see that the laws of all the 
 Governments affected by the crime be 
 ■complied with ? This is what is just, and 
 this is the answer which forces itself as 
 essentially judicial; much more so, if we 
 consider that the plurality of wronged 
 interests is an aggravating circumstance 
 of the crime, because through it its effects 
 become more transcendental. The severity 
 must be proportionate to the extent of 
 the circle, or number, of persons injured 
 by the perversity of the offender, whether 
 said persons are private individuals, or 
 corporations, or States." 
 
 Article 5 gives each of the contracting 
 States the power to expel from its terri- 
 tory, under its own laws, the offenders 
 who have taken shelter therein, if after 
 having given notice to the State against 
 which the refugee committed an extradit- 
 able offense, no action is taken by it. 
 
 Although the expulsion of the offenders 
 has been considered as an ungenerous 
 limitation of the right of asylum or of the 
 hospitality which every nation should 
 liberally bestow on foreigners, in the 
 present case, however, the explusion is 
 agreed to as a measure of social Security, 
 Generous andliberal should, indeed, every 
 nation be toward the honest and laborious 
 foreigners who go there to reside, and to 
 enjoy the benefits of that community; 
 but not towards those foreigners who 
 arrive tainted with crime and who only 
 take refuge in the bosom of a foreign 
 nation for the purpose of escaping punish- 
 ment for the crimes perpetrated by them 
 in their own country. Every political 
 
 del juicio unico ; no hay en el caso 
 abdicacidn de soberania, ni de jurisdio- 
 ci<5n, sino concurso de penalidad, que se 
 impone legltimamente, fundado en el 
 interns de la represidn y del castigo. En 
 cuanto ^ la eleccidn de la pena m^s 
 grave, ella se justifioa por las amplitudes 
 del delito. Supfingase el caso de un 
 Estado que castiga con una reclusidn 
 leve un delito penado severamente por 
 la legislacidn de otra nacifin que ejerce 
 los mismos tltulos Si la penalidad, ^ que- 
 darfa esta s^tisfecha con el jnicib de ese 
 segundo Estado, que impone una pena 
 m^s parecida & la impnnidad que al 
 castigo ? 4 O habr^ de oonsultarse la 
 satisfaccidn y la vindicta de todos los 
 intereses y de todos los Gobiernos com- 
 prometidos por el crimen ? Esto es lo 
 jnsto y esta es la 8oluci6n que se impone 
 como esencialmente juridica ; m^xime si 
 se recuerda, que la pluralidad de intere- 
 ses damniflcados, es circunstancia agra- 
 vante del mismo delito, y que este se 
 vnelve m& transcendente y mas pnnible 
 & medida que se estiende el cfrculo de las 
 persouas heridas por la perversidad del 
 delincuente, scan ellas visibles, juridioas 
 6 pollticas." 
 
 Por el articulo quinto se atribuye S, los 
 Estados signatarios la facultad de expul- 
 sar con arreglo S, sus ley es & los delincuen- 
 tes asilados en su territorios, siempre 
 que despu^s de requerir & las autoridades 
 del pals dentro del cualse cometid algnno 
 delos delitos que antorizan la estradicidn, 
 no se ejercite por ellas accidn represiva 
 alguna. 
 
 Aunque la expulsi6n de los deliuouentes 
 se ha considerado como una limitaci6n 
 poco generosa del dereoho de aailo, 6 de la 
 hospitalidad que toda nacidndebeofrecer 
 con munificencia al extrangero, en el 
 caso de que aquf se trata la expulsion se 
 acuerda como una medida de seguridad 
 social. Generosa y liberal por dem^s debe 
 mostrarse toda nacifin con los extrangeros 
 que van ^ domiciliarse 6 S, residir en ella ; 
 generosa y liberal, si, pero con los extran- 
 geros honrados, laboriosos, y pacificos que 
 van Si compartir los beneficios de aquella 
 comunidad politica ; mas no con los ex- 
 trangeros de maloB antecedentes que Ue- 
 gan contaminados con el crimen,y que solo 
 se acojen al regazo de ajena nacioualidad 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 725 
 
 commanity has the right and the duty to 
 watch for its safety and eliminate from 
 its own national body all new elements 
 of immorality which, in addition to those 
 always existing within it, owing to the 
 feebleness of human nature, may do harm 
 to it. On this subject, as in all others 
 dealt with by him, the reporting mem- 
 ber of the Committee of the Montevideo 
 Congress above named made remarks 
 worthy of note. But I will deprive my- 
 self of the pleasure of transcribing what 
 he said, for the sake of brevity. 
 
 Article 6 X)rovides that all acts done in 
 the territory of a State which are not 
 punishable iiooording to its laws, but are 
 punishable in the country where they 
 produce thtir effect, shall not be made 
 the subject of Judicial action in the latter, 
 except in case that the offender is found 
 within its territory. The foundation of 
 this article is that according to the laws 
 of the country where the act was done, 
 this has not the character of a crime, and 
 the author thereof appears as innocent. 
 As such, the Government of that country 
 could protect him and refuse his extradi- 
 tion when requested. 
 
 Article 7 and the following up to the 
 13, inclusive, relate to extraterritorial 
 jurisdiction. The rules of public inter- 
 national law are preserved for the trial 
 and punishment of the offenses committed 
 by members of a legation. 
 
 In regard to crimes or offenses committed 
 on the high seas or in neutral waters, 
 either on board a man-of-war or a mer- 
 chant vessel, the treaty provides that 
 they shall be investigated and punished 
 according to the laws of the State to 
 which the flag of the vessel belongs. 
 Here we can see the territorial law ap- 
 plied, because of the fiction that a man- 
 of-war is a portion of the national terri- 
 tory floating over the waters. Owing to 
 this very fiction the offenses committed 
 on board a man-of-war of a State are 
 also tried and punished according to 
 the law of the nation to which the 
 flag belongs, no matter what the mari- 
 time jurisdiction may he where the ves- 
 
 para sustraerse al castigo de los delitos 
 que perpetrarou en la propia. Toda co- 
 munidad polltica tiene el dereoho y est^ 
 en el deber de velar por su seguridad, eli- 
 minando de su seno los elementos de inmo- 
 ralidad que puedan dafiarla, aparte de 
 los que de suyo eucierra como condicidn 
 inherente ^ la naturaleza humana. Sobre 
 esta materia, como sobre todas las otras 
 de que trata, sou muy dignas de nota las 
 apreciaciones que hace el miembro infor- 
 mante de la Comisidn que antes he citado 
 ante el Congreso de Montevideo, y que no 
 me doy el placer de trasoribir por su con- 
 siderable extensidn. 
 
 En el artlculo sexto se estatuye que los 
 heohos realizados en el territorio de un 
 Estado que no fuesen pasibles de pena 
 segtin sus leyes, pero que estuviesen pena- 
 dos por la nacidn en donde producen sus 
 efectos, no podrdin ser juzgados por esta, 
 sino ouando el delincuente cayesebajo su 
 jurisdicci(5n. El fundamentodeeste artl- 
 culo estriba en que, al semblante de las 
 leyes del pais en quo el hecho se cometid, 
 este no reviste el car^cter de delito, el 
 agente se repnta inooente, y en oac(dad de 
 tal, el Gobierno de dicho pals debe ampa- 
 rarlo y denegar su entrega al serle deman- 
 dada. 
 
 En el artlculo s^timo y siguientes hasta 
 el trece inclusive, se trata de la jurisdio- 
 ci<5n ejercida fuera de las fronteras naclo- 
 nales como una dilatacidn dela soberanla 
 m^s all^ de los llmites del territorio. 
 
 El Derecho internaoional ptiblico rige 
 en materia de juzgamiento y castigo de los 
 delitos cometidos por los miembros de 
 una Legaoidn. 
 
 En 6rden & los delitos cometidos en alta 
 mar 6 en aguas noutrales, ya sea abordo 
 de buques de guerra 6 mercantes, se dis- 
 pone que debeu juzgarse y penarse con- 
 forme & las leyes del Estado d que per- 
 tenece la bandera del buque. Vdse aqui 
 aplicada la ley territorial por la ficcidn eu 
 virtud de la cual se considera Si las naves 
 de guerra como fragmentos del territorio 
 nacional que flotan en las olas. Es d 
 mdrito de esa flcci6n que los deliios come- 
 tidos abordo de los buques de guerra de 
 los Estados sou juzgados por la ley del 
 pabelldn, cualquiera que sea la jurisdio- 
 cidn marltima en que se hallen. 
 
 Lo propio se eatablece respecto de la 
 marina mercante en alta mar, y asf, los 
 
726 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 sel may happen to find itself. The same 
 proTisiou is made with regard to mer- 
 chant vessels on the high seas ; and so the 
 offenses committed on hoard these vessels 
 are tried and punished acourding to the 
 laws and hy the tribunals of the country 
 to which the vessel belongs. In support 
 of this provision, namely, the prevalence 
 of the jurisdiction of the flag on the high 
 seas, the reporting member of the afore- 
 said committee of the Montevideo Con- 
 gress cites the case of the Creole, and the 
 discussion which took place thereon be- 
 tween the United States and Great Brit- 
 ain, whose respective Governments 
 claimed to have jurisdiction of a crime 
 committed on the high seas. Great Brit- 
 ain had to yield to the principle of the 
 jurisdiction of the flag. 
 
 But when the offenses are perpetrated 
 on board of merchant vessels which are iu 
 territorial waters of another nation the 
 provision is that such crimes shall be in- 
 vestigated and punished according to the 
 laws of the State in whose territorial 
 waters the vessel happened to be at the 
 time in which the offense was perpetrated. 
 Territorial waters are declared to be for 
 the purpose of penal jurisdiction, those 
 which are comprised in a belt 5 miles 
 wide, running along the coast, either of 
 the mainland or of the islands which form 
 part of the territory of each State. 
 
 With Article 14, Title 1, relating to 
 jurisdiction, ends ; and it sets forth that 
 criminal prosecutions shall be barred by 
 limitation as provided by the laws of 
 the country which has jurisdiction of the 
 offense. With reference to this article, the 
 reporting member of the committee of the 
 Uruguayan Congress speaks asfoUows : 
 
 "Limitation, as applied to penal ac- 
 tions, says Ortolan, is the inevitable re- 
 sult of the constant march of time by 
 which all the necessities of public utility, 
 all human recollections, all means of evi- 
 dence, are modified or obliterated. Time 
 takes away from society the right of pun- 
 ishing, because the interest of society for 
 the repression of that special offense be- 
 comes effaced through its action. 
 
 ' ' While all legislation agrees to the prin- 
 ciple that punishment is prevented from 
 being inflicted by the action of time and 
 that time has the power to make penal- 
 ties inapplicable, they differ much as to 
 
 aotos delictnosos cometidos abordo se 
 juzgan por las leyes y trlbunales del pais 
 Si que el buque pertenece. En apoyo del 
 principio consignado, 6 sea de la jurisdic- 
 cidn del pabelldn en alta mar, se cita 
 en el informe del miembro de la Comi- 
 si6n que vengo mencionando el caso <;el 
 "CrMe" y la disciiKi6u que sobrevino 
 entre los Estados Uuidos y la Gran Bre- 
 taSa, disputd^ndose la jurisdicoidn de un 
 delito en alta mar. La Gran Bretana 
 tnvo que inclinarse ante el principio de 
 la jurisdiocidn del pabelWn. 
 
 Mas, tratiiudose de delitos perpetrados 
 abordo de los buques mercantes en aguas 
 jurisdiccionales deotra nacidn, se dispone 
 que tales delitos se juzguen y penen por 
 la ley del Estado en cuyas aguas juris- 
 diccionales se encuentre al tiempo de 
 perpetrarse la infraccidn, declar£indose 
 aguas territoriales para los efectos de la 
 jnrisdiccidn penal, lascomprendidasen la 
 extension de cinco millas desde la costa 
 de tierra firme 6 islas que forman parte 
 del territorio de cada Estado. 
 
 Con el artlculo 14 se cierra el titulo pri- 
 mero refereate ^ la j uri sdiccidn y en dioho 
 artlculo se establece que la prescripci(5n 
 se rija por las leyes del Estado al cual 
 corresponde el conooimiento del delito. 
 Ocup^ndose de este artlculo el miembro 
 informaute de la Comisifin ante el Cou- 
 greso de Uruguay, se expresa asi : 
 
 "La prescripcidn penal, dice Ortolan, 
 es el efeoto inevitable de la marcha snoe- 
 siva de las horas, que modifica 6 hace 
 desaparecer las necesidades de utilidad 
 ptiblica, los recuerdos humanos, los ele- 
 mentos de prueba, y que deja caer de las 
 manos de la sociedad el dereoho de casti- 
 gar, porque se extingue el interns de la 
 sociedad en la represidn. 
 
 " Todas las legislaciones se conforman, 
 en efecto, con la extinci<5n de las penas por 
 la aocidn del tiempo, que tiene el poder de 
 volverlae improducentes; pero ellasdifie- 
 ren en el t6rmino de la prescripcidn y son 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 121 
 
 the period of time wliich is required to 
 do so. Hence the conflict arises. It may 
 be that the criminal action becomes 
 effaced by limitation, under the laws 
 of the nation which is requested to de- 
 liver up the offender, while under the 
 laws of the nation which requests the ex- 
 tradition, it has not been so effaced. 
 Must the law of asylum prevail in this 
 case over that which keeps the action 
 alive, and whicb after all must try the 
 offender? Shall the juirsdiction of the 
 country which conducts the proceedings 
 be, on the contrary, recognized and ac- 
 cepted for the purpose of deciding whether 
 that limitation does or does not exist?" 
 
 "The committee has settled this conflict 
 ill a sense favorable to the country re- 
 questing the extradition, because it is the 
 one which has power to conduct the pro- 
 ceedings. It is not unknown to the com- 
 mittee that most of the treaties already 
 entered into between the nations oppose 
 this principle. The treaty between 
 France and England, of 18?6, provides 
 that the statute of limitation of the 
 country from which the extradition is re- 
 quested must be the rule to be followed. 
 France also has made a treaty with Spain, 
 Belgium, and Switzerland, by which the 
 country to which the request is made can 
 refuse the extradition when the prosecu- 
 tion is barred by limitation under its own 
 law. But it must be observed, neverthe- 
 less, that whenever Switzerland has been 
 called to construe these compacts, the 
 Federal Council has delivered up the 
 offenders, as it was the case with France, 
 even in cases in which the action was 
 barred by limitation under the Swiss 
 laws but not under the French. 
 
 "The committee, in pronouncing itself 
 in favor of the law of the country making 
 the request, thinks to do something in 
 keeping with the principles of territorial 
 jurisdiction, and of unity of trial and 
 proceedings. The State which makes the 
 request is always the wronged one, and 
 has undeniable jurisdiction to take and 
 punish the offender. Its jurisdiction 
 must not be obstructed or nullified by 
 the country of asylum, unless it wishes 
 to dissolve the bonds which connect all 
 countries in the interest of justice, and 
 render it necessary for them to refuse asy- 
 lum to persons guilty of common crimes. 
 
 estas disidencias las quo originan el con- 
 flicto ; puede oourrir qae la pena eat6 prcs- 
 crita porla nacidn requerlda para la extra- 
 dici6n, y no lo est^ por las leyes del Estado 
 requirente. j Debe en este cabO prevale- 
 cer la legislacidn del pais de asilo, sobre 
 aquella que mantiene en vigor la acoi6n 
 y los castigos y que en definitiva debe 
 juzgar al delincuente ? j O ha de acep- 
 larse la jurisdicci6n del prooeso para de- 
 cidir de la prescriptibilidad de las ao- 
 ciones? 
 
 " La Comisidn ha resuelto este conflic- 
 to en sentido favorable al Estado requi- 
 rente, es decir, al que ejerce competencia 
 en el proceso ; no se le oculta, sin embargo, 
 que la generalidad de los tratados se pro- 
 nuncian en contra de este principio ; el 
 de Francia con Inglaterra celebrado en 
 1876 impone la prescripcifin del Estado 
 requerido ; la misma Francia ha paotado 
 con EspaBa, con B61gica y con Suiza, 
 tratados que facultan al Estado requerido 
 para rehusar la estradiccidn cuando la 
 pena esti prcscrita con arreglo ^ sus 
 leyes; debe observarse, sin embargo, que 
 cuando la Suiza ha interpretado esos 
 pactos, el Consejo Federal ha entregado 
 ^ la Francia los delincuentes cuya pena 
 estaba prescrita por sus propias leyes, 
 cuando no lo estaba por las leyes fran- 
 cesas. 
 
 "La Comisidn, al decidirse por la le- 
 gislacidn del Estado requirente, guarda 
 Idgica con sus principios jurisdiccionales 
 y con la unidad del juicio y del proceso ; 
 el Estado requirente es siempre el dam- 
 nificado, tiene una junsdicoidn indispu- 
 table sobre el reo, que no dobe ser obs- 
 trucoionada por el pais de asilo, iJ menoa 
 de romper con la solidaridad social que en 
 el interns de la justicia uiega el refugio ^ 
 los delitos comunes; la Comisi6n encuen- 
 tra que la preecripcidu impuesta por el 
 pais requerido crea en el fondo dos juris- 
 dicciones para el mijmo delito, la que 
 tiene derecho S, couocer del fondo del 
 
728 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONPERENCli;. 
 
 "The committee finds that if the statute 
 of limitation of the country to which the 
 request is made is to he followed, two ju- 
 risdictions would be created for the same 
 offense ; one having the right of conduct- 
 ing the trial, and the other having au- 
 thority to decide whether the action is or 
 is not extinguished by limitation. On 
 what juridical foundation can we rest to 
 proclaim such a partnership for the trial 
 of one and the same offender ? 
 
 The committee finds no ground upoii 
 which such a doctrine can he based, and in 
 spite of the authority of the authors and 
 the treaties which favor it, feels compelled 
 torejectit. Itnotices, on the other hand, 
 that this principle fills with uncertainty 
 everything relative to punishment. What 
 will be the use, for instance, of a law pro- 
 viding fixed periods of time for the ex- 
 tinction of action in criminal ca8e8,if those 
 periods become nugatory under the laws 
 of other countries, out of which the of- 
 ender will carefully select that one which 
 frees him from punishment ? Suppose the 
 case of a State in which for reasons of 
 a private and national character the ac- 
 tion in criminal matters is not barred by 
 limitation until after the lapse of thirty 
 years. Can its power to do so, which is 
 founded ou its own sovereignty and on 
 local necessities, as stated by the French 
 writer just named, be ignored to such an 
 extent ? And what advantages would we 
 derive from acknowledging that that State 
 has the right to make its own laws and 
 suit itself, if said laws can become nuga- 
 tory and nullified by the action of other 
 laws, providing that after ten years the 
 prosecution shall be barred by limitation ? 
 Is there any doubt that the offenders 
 would go and shelter themselves there ? 
 
 •' I believe, gentlemen, that it is neces- 
 sary for us to act against these practices 
 and doctrines even if accepted by interua- 
 tioua,l compacts. The Swiss Federal Coun- 
 cil placed itself on a true juridical ground 
 when it waived the right which it had 
 under a treaty with France. We must 
 see that in the treaties to be concluded in 
 t';e future, the delivery of the offender 
 should be obligatory and not optional, as 
 mere juridical interest will not always 
 prevail against circumstances, or against 
 formal refusals, derogatory to jurisdiction 
 and sovereignty." 
 
 proceso, y la que vendrla S, decidir de la 
 prescriptibilidad de las acciones. j Qu6 
 fundamento jurldico puede llevarnos £i 
 cousagrar esta coparticipaci6n en el juicio 
 de nn mismo criminal f 
 
 La Comisidn no encuentra apoyo & 
 semejante dgctrina, apesar de los auto- 
 res y de los tratados que la consagran ; 
 observa, s£, que este principio viene S, 
 llenar de incertidnmbre todos los t6r- 
 minos y las prescripciones del castigo. 
 J De qu^ sirve, en efecto, que una legis- 
 laci6n prescriba t€rminos fatales para la 
 extinci<)n de las penas, si esos t^rminos 
 se vuelven ilusorios por las leyes del 
 asilo, entre las que el culpable tendr^ 
 cuidado de elegir las que le eximan de la 
 peualidad? Snpdngase un Estado que 
 por consideraciones de 6rden privado y 
 nacional, no prescribe las acciones penales 
 hasta los treinta aSos. Puede desoono- 
 c6rsele' esa facultad ejercida en nombre 
 de la soberania y de las necesidades locales 
 que recordaba haoe pooo el jurisconsulto 
 francos? jPero qu6 aventajariamos con 
 recouocerle el derecho de dictarse bus 
 leyes, si ellas se vuelven insuhsistentes y 
 nulas por efecto de una legislaoidn ex- 
 trangera que prescribiera la pena £i los 
 diez afios y que ser£a clertamente buscada 
 por el delincuente como lugar de asilo? 
 
 " Yo creo, sefiores, que es neoesario reao- 
 cionar contra las pr^cticas y los nsos qne 
 han aceptado los pactos internacionales ; 
 el Consejo Federal Suizo se ha colocado 
 en un terrene verdaderamente juridico al 
 rennnciar la facultad que le acordaba su 
 Tratado con la Francia ; pero los que se 
 celebren en el porvenir, deben ser pres- 
 criptivos y no facultativos, porqne no 
 siempre el interns jurldico ha de prevale- 
 cer sobre conveniencias transitorias, 6 
 sobre negativas formales que atacarian S, 
 la jurisdiocidn y con ella ^ la soberanla." 
 
International American conference. 
 
 729 
 
 Let us uow pass to the second title 
 which deals with the right of asylum. 
 
 The legislations of all countries agree 
 ■in extending to strangers, more or less 
 generously, the right of asylum. In far 
 off periods, when neither the solidarity of 
 mankind nor the principle of universal 
 justice, which demands prompt and in- 
 exorable punishment of all offenders, were 
 well understood, the nations used to pro- 
 tect foreigners, even when guilty of the 
 gravest crimes in their own native coun- 
 try, because they were foreigners. In 
 leaving their countries after the per- 
 petration of an offense another nation 
 sheltered them and gave them protection, 
 even if their hands were stained with 
 blood. In modern times, times of ad- 
 vanced civilization and progress in all 
 the branches with which the spirit of 
 man has dealt, such a thing does not hap- 
 pen any more. The right of asylum is 
 generally granted to the honest and in- 
 dustrious foreigner, or to the political 
 refugee, who, after a firm fight for the 
 triumph of his ideas, is forced to leave 
 his country. I shall give here the literal 
 text of Article 15, Title 2, on asyluni: 
 
 "No offender who has taken refuge in 
 the territory of a State shall be surren- 
 dered to the authorities of any other 
 State except upon demand of extradition 
 and according to the regular course of 
 proceedings established for that purpose." 
 
 Article 16 reads as follows : 
 
 "The asylum is inviolable for political 
 offenders ; but the State is under the ob- 
 ligation of preventing refugees of this 
 kind from accomplishing within its ter- 
 ritory any acts whatever which may en- 
 danger the public peace of the nation 
 against which the offense was committed." 
 
 With reference to the latter article, the 
 learned reporting member of the commit- 
 tee on penal international law of the Mon- 
 tevideo congress says : 
 
 "The determination of the character 
 of these offenses is often subject to the 
 changes inherent to political institutions, 
 which are modified and changed much 
 more frequently than the ordinary law. 
 Hence it is, for instance, that a man 
 deemed to be a criminal, a traitor to the 
 country, prosecuted as the author of a 
 felonious crime against his king, may af- 
 terwards be considered as the redeemer of 
 
 Paeemos ahora al titulo segundo en que 
 se trata del asilo. 
 
 Las legislaciones de todos los pafses 
 est^n conformes en otorgar con mfe 6 
 menos largueza el derecho de asilo & los 
 extrangeros. En 6pocas remotas, cuando 
 atin no era bien comprendida la solida- 
 ridad de la espeoie hnmana, y el principio 
 de la justicia universal no demandaba por 
 el pronto 6 iuexorable castigo de los delin- 
 cuentes, los Estados amparaban no s61o al 
 extrangero por su calidad de tal sino aun 
 S, aquellos que se habian hecho reos de los 
 mas graves crlmenes en elsuelo de su na- 
 tiva patria. Al abandonar esta, tras la 
 comisi6n de un delito, otra los acogia y 
 albergaba aunque Uevaran las manos te- 
 Hidas de sangre. En los tiempoa moder- 
 nos, tiempos de avanzada civilizacidn en 
 todos los ramos & que el eapfritu se ha 
 aplicado, no sucede ya as£, y el asilo solo 
 se dispensa con generosidad al extrangero 
 honrado y laborioso, 6 al perseguido poli- 
 tico, que en lucha tenaz por el triunfo de 
 sus ideas se ve obligado S, abandonar su 
 patria. He aqui el tenor literal del ar- 
 ticulo 1") del enunciado titulo segundo, en 
 materia de asilo: 
 
 " Ningtin delincuente aailado eu el ter- 
 ritorio de un Estado podrii ser entrega- 
 do & las autoridades de otro, sino de con- 
 formidad & las reglas que rigen la extra- 
 dicidn. " 
 
 Y el artloulo 16 dice asl : 
 
 " El asilo es inviolable para los perse- 
 guidos por delitos politicos, pero la na- 
 cidn del refugio tieue el deber de impedir 
 que los asilados realizen, en su territorio, 
 actos que pongan en peligro la paz pfi- 
 blioa de la naci6n contra la cual han de- 
 linquido. " 
 
 Con ocasidu de este artlculo dice el 
 ilustrado miembro informante de la Co- 
 misidn de Derecho penal internacional 
 ante el Congreso de Montevideo : 
 
 "La calificaci6u de estos delitos se 
 siente por otra parte sujeta & la veleidad 
 de las instituciones pollticas, que se 
 modifican y se cambian con mSs fre- 
 ouencia que las leyes comunes ; de ahl 
 que el delincuente y el traidor^ la patria, 
 que ayer era perseguido como el autor de 
 un crimen oprobioso contra la corona de 
 su rey, por ejemplo, sea recibido vaSa 
 tarde como redentor de las libertades de 
 
730 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 his couutry, the savior of iis liberties, aud 
 the hero of the new-boru republic. What 
 I say about the forms of government is 
 fully applicable to all the movements 
 which produce a change in the political 
 situation, and also in the legal condition 
 of the offender. Forms of goTernment, 
 has said the attorney-general of the court 
 of Li6ge, are things purely conventional, 
 different in each country ; the efforts made 
 to change them do not affect the universal 
 conscience. Failure renders the authors 
 criminals, success transforms them into 
 heroes. "Furthermore, political asylum 
 is a factor in the work of reparation, pos- 
 sibly to be effected some day, a reparation 
 ■which would become post mortem if re- 
 venge would have been allowed by grant- 
 ing extradition. It is necessary on the 
 other hand for all human opinions to find 
 shelter somewhere in the world and be 
 free from persecution and punishment. 
 Should the latter be possible in the . 
 country of asylum, an outrage would be 
 committed against the freedom, not of ac- 
 tion but of thought. 
 
 This right of sheltering the political 
 exiles is coupled with the duty on the 
 part of the country of asylum of pre- 
 venting any acts against the nation where 
 the offense was committed from being 
 perpetrated. It is clear that the refugee 
 has not the right of conspiring from there 
 against his country, and that there is the 
 right of watching him so as to prevent 
 him from disturbing the peace between 
 his Government and the Government of 
 the country of asylum. " The State 
 which is threatened by the proximity of 
 the offender when he has sought asylum 
 in a neighboring country has the right 
 to demand his being removed from the 
 border and forced to go to the interior of 
 the country ; and this is always granted 
 between Governments which are on 
 friendly terms, even if no provision to 
 the effect is fonnd in the treaties. Some 
 States have enacted temporary provisions 
 tending to guaranty in action on the part 
 of the political refugee ; and I remem- 
 ber, among others, a law of Spain which 
 compels the refugees not to reside within 
 120 kilometers of the frontier of France 
 and Portugal, and to make their residence 
 once chosen unchangeable unless with the 
 previous consent of the Spanish Govern- 
 
 su patria y como el prdoer de la reptiblica 
 naoiente ; lo que digo de las formas de 
 gobierno, lo puedo extender & todos los 
 movimientos que produoen un cambio de 
 situaci6u politioa, y que determinan una 
 mutacidn visible en la condicifin legal 
 del reo; las formas gubernativas, ha 
 dicho el Procurador General de la Corte 
 de Liege, son cosas de pura convenci6n, 
 que varian de pals; los esfuerzos para 
 trasformarlas no afectan la conciencia 
 universal; el fracaso vuelve & sus autores 
 crirainales ;» el 6xito los trasforma en 
 ~ heroes ; el refugio politico tiene adem^s 
 el poder de haoer factibles las grandes 
 reparaciones, que se volverian pdstumas, 
 si la extradicidn hubiera permitido la 
 venganza ; necesario es por otra parte 
 que las oonvicoiones humanas encuentren 
 en el mundo un Ingar de refugio, donde 
 no se permita la persecucidnni el castigo, 
 que serian atentatorios de la libertad, no 
 ya de accidn, sino de pensamiento. 
 
 " Este derecho de asilar & los fagitivos 
 pollticos, es acompaBado de los deberes 
 contraidos por el pais de asilo, de impedir 
 todo atentado contra la naoidn en que el 
 reo ha deliuquido; se comprende que el 
 asilado no tenga el derecho de conspirar 
 desde alii contra sn patria, y que se reco- 
 nozca el deber de vigilarlo, para que no 
 comproraeta la relaci6n de los gobiernos 
 establecidos por los hechos de la persecu- 
 si6n y del refugio; el Estado amenazado 
 por la proximidad del delincuente, cuando 
 este se ha refugiado en pals limitrofe, tiene 
 derecho & pedir su internacidu, que se 
 aco-dar^ siempre entre gobiernos que 
 niantienen relaciones amistosas, aunque 
 no est^ convenido en los tratados ; algunoa 
 Estados ban diccado disposiciones de ca- 
 rScter interno, tendentes & garantir la 
 inacci(5n del refugiado politico; entre otras 
 recnerdo la legislacifin de Espana que 
 prescribe al asilado una residencia dis- 
 tante de 120 kilfimetros de las fronteras 
 de Francia y Portugal; residencia que 
 una vez elegida no le serS dado cambiar 
 sin consentimiento previo del Gobierno 
 espafiol ; par^ceme, sinembargo, que estas 
 disposiciones cercenan las amplitudes del 
 asilo politico, imponiendo al refugiado 
 una Kujecidn que se vuelve deprimente, 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONi^ERENCB. 
 
 731 
 
 ment. It seems to mo, however, tliat tbis 
 provision lessens the exten t of the poUU- 
 cal asylum and subjects the refugee to a 
 law which Is oppressive when not required 
 for the interest of the adjacent country, 
 whose peace may be well assured with or 
 without the presence of the offender near 
 the frontiers. In theStatesof South Amer- 
 ica no provisions of this nature have been 
 made, and it is to be hoped that they 
 never will. The political refugee must 
 find an hospitable asylum, without any 
 other limitation than that which should 
 be imposed to prevent him from engag- 
 ing again iu subversive acts. One must 
 not look at him as a criminal, for he is 
 not one in the eyes of the other nations, 
 which can not punish human opinions 
 even if they are inimical to the order es 
 tablished in a particular State. If the said 
 opinions do not become practical action 
 within the territory of refuge, the political 
 refugee must be considered rather as a 
 man of convictions than a guilty person. 
 With regard to coiumoa offenders tak- 
 ing refuge in a, legation, it is stated in 
 Article 17 that they shall be siirreudered 
 to the local authorities by the head of the 
 said legation, at the request of the Secre- 
 tary of Foreign Relations, if not spon- 
 taneously; but for political oifeuders the 
 legation shall be an asylum and shall be 
 respected as such. The head of the lega- 
 tion, however, shall be bound to give 
 immediate information of what has hap- 
 pened, to the Government near which he 
 is accredited which may required that the 
 refugee be sent away from the national ter- 
 ritory. The head of the legation shall, 
 in bis turn, have the right to require the 
 proper guaranties to be given for the exit 
 of the offender without any injury to 
 the inviolability of his person. The 
 same rule shall be applicable to the 
 refugee on board a man-of-war in the 
 territorial waters of the State. The pro- 
 visions of this seventeenth article as 
 to the asylum for political offenders 
 in the legation follow the same prin- 
 ciple referred to above, by virtue of 
 which the legations are considered as 
 a portion of the national territory whose 
 Government they represent ; but the dip- 
 lomatic asylum, restricted as it is to polit- 
 ical offenders, does not exist for such 
 persons as are charged with offenses of 
 
 cuando no es exijida por el interns del 
 pals liniltrofe cuya paz puede sentirse 
 aseguradaoon dsinlapreseuciadel culpa- 
 ble cerca de sus fronteras. En los Esta- 
 dos de la America del Sur, no hay disjjo- 
 sioiones de este carjioter, y es de desear 
 tambi^n que no las haya; el refugiado 
 politico debe encontrar un asilo hospita- 
 lario, sin mas limitacifin que la que fueru 
 impuesta por su reincidencia en unevos 
 actos subversives; es necesario no mi- 
 rar en 61 un culpable, porqiie no lo es 
 Si los ojos de los otros Estados, que no 
 castigan las conviccioues humanas, por 
 mfe que ellas perjudiquen el drden insti- 
 tucional de alguno de ellos; basta que 
 esas convicciones no se traduzoan en ac- 
 ci6n dentro del propio territorio, para que 
 el asilado politico deba ser considerado 
 mils como un conveucido que como un 
 culpable." 
 
 Por lo que hace & los delincnentes co- 
 munes que he asilan en una Legaoidn se 
 esfatuye en el articulo 17 que scan entre- 
 gados por el Jefe de ella ^ las autoridades 
 locales previa gesti6u del Ministerio de 
 Relaciones Exterioies, cuando no lo efec- 
 tuase espontaueameute ; mas en orden £i 
 los asilados por delitos pollticos el asilo 
 ser^ respetado, estando obligado no obs 
 tante el Jefe de la Legacidu & poner iu- 
 mediatamente el heoho en couooimiento 
 del Gobierno del Estado ante el cual est^ 
 acreditado, quien podr^ exijir que el per- 
 seguido sea puesto fuera del territorio 
 nacional El Jefe de la Legacidn podrii 
 exijir S, su vez las garantlas necesarias 
 para que el refugiado saiga del territorio 
 nacional, respet^ndose la inviolabilidad 
 de su persona, y este mismo principio de- 
 be observarso con respeoto & los asilados 
 en los buques de guerra surtos en aguas 
 territoriales. Lo dispuesto en el men- 
 cionado articulo 17, 6 sea el asilo de los 
 reos pollticos en las Legacioues, obedeoe 
 al mismo principio de que antes se ha 
 hablado, en virtud del cual se consideran 
 aquellas couio parte del territorio na- 
 ciouiil & que deben su creaci6n ; pero el 
 asilo diploiiifitico, restringido como es pa- 
 ra los reos pollticos, no existe para los de- 
 lincnentes com nms que deben serentrega- 
 dos desde luego al Gobierno ante quien la 
 
732 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 non-political character, who shall be sur- 
 rendered immediately to the Government 
 to which the legation is accredited. 
 The reasons for this limitation are clear. 
 The provisions of Article 15 shall not 
 be applicable to deserters from vessels of 
 war while in the territorial waters of a 
 State, and they, whatever their nation- 
 ality may be, shall be delivered up by 
 the local authorities upon proper identi- 
 fication at the request of the legation, or 
 if there is no legation, of the consular 
 officer of the respective country. Let us 
 hear what the reporting member of the 
 South American Congress has to say ; 
 
 "Article 18 of the project refuses the 
 asylum to deserters from the navy, and 
 this refusal is based on the necessities in- 
 herent to the existence of the latter. 
 Calvo regards this extradition merely as 
 an act of courtesy based on the mutual 
 convenience of the States which have 
 seen the danger of leaving the vessels un- 
 protected by extradition, and at the same 
 time on the wish of punishing all offenses 
 agaiusttlieflag. Some agreements to this 
 eliect have been generally inserted in the 
 consular treaties, and in those of navi- 
 gation and commerce. France has done 
 80 with Belgium on February 5, 1883, and 
 with Greece in 1876. There are besides 
 the treaties of Austria with Eussia (180;^, 
 1815, and 1822), of Prussia with Denmark 
 (1820) and with Luxemburg (1844). 
 
 "The United States, lilce all the mari- 
 time powers, grant without difficulty the 
 extradition of deserters from the navy, 
 but not so that of deserters from the 
 army. The committee, however, has made 
 the rule equally applicable to the latter. 
 I am well aware that this will give rise 
 to discussion ; but if it is admitted (hat 
 military spirit and discipline must be 
 preserved on board a man-of-war, I do 
 not see why It must not be preserved in 
 the same way in the army. The army 
 indeed would suffer more than the navy 
 through granting asylum and immunity 
 to deserters. We represent here coun- 
 tries, most of them bordering upon each 
 other, which have on their frontier, either 
 large bodies of soldiers, or some detach- 
 ments or military posts. The States 
 need these regular forces to be kept at 
 
 Legacidu esti acreditada. Obvias son 
 las razones en que se fundan las prescrip- 
 ciones del articulo citado. 
 
 De la regla establecida en el articnio 15 
 qnedan exceptuados los desertores de la 
 marina de guerra surta en aguas territoria- 
 les de un Estado, debieudo ser eatrega- 
 dos cualquiera que sea su nacioiialidad 
 por la autoridad local Sj pedido do la Lega- 
 cidu, 6 endefecto de esta, al agente con- 
 sular respectivo, previa la prueba de 
 ideutidaddela persona. Oigamosacerca 
 de esta disposicidu almiembro informante 
 sobre la materia ante el Congreso Sur 
 Americano : 
 
 "El articulo 18 del Proyecto, niega el 
 asilo Si los desertores de la niariaa de 
 guerra, fundado en las necesidades in 
 herentes S, su existencia misma ; el publi- 
 oista Calvo mira esta extradicion como 
 un acto de pura cortesia basada en la con- 
 veniencia reoiprooa de los Estados, que 
 ban previsto el peligro de librar sns bu- 
 ques al abandono que la desercidn les im- 
 pondrfa, al mismo tiempo que sienten in- 
 terns en no dejar impune un delito contra 
 el pabelldn ; las convenciones firraadas 
 al respecto se han insertado generalraente 
 en los tratados consulares, como en losde 
 navegaci(5n y comercio ; asi lo han hecho 
 la Franoia con la B61gica el 5 de Febrero 
 de 1873, y con la Grecia eu 1876 ; hay ade- 
 m^ los tratados del Austria con la Eusia 
 (1808, 15 y 22), de Eusia con Dinamarca 
 (1S20) y con el Luxemburgo (1844). 
 
 "Los Estados Unidos, como todaslaspo- 
 tencias raaritimas, acuerdan sin dificaltad 
 la extradicidn de los desertores de mar ; 
 pero otra cosa sucede con los del ejiSrcito 
 de tierra ; la Comisidn no los excluye sin- 
 embargo en su proyecto de tratado, si 
 bien me consta que el principio va & ser 
 ataoado en la discusidn particular. 
 
 " Si hay necesidad y conveniencia en 
 manteuer la moral y la disoiplina mili- 
 tar abordo de las naves, esa conveniencia 
 no se sieute menos viva en el ejdrcito de 
 tierra, que se veria compromeiido seria- 
 mente, con el asilo y la impunidad que se 
 acordara alquehadesertadosusbanderas; 
 represeutamos pafses en su mayor parte 
 limltrofes, que cuando no tieuen divi- 
 sioaes de ejdrcito, conservan destacamen- 
 tos sobro sus llneas fronterizas ; pues bien 
 esas fuerzas regulares que los Estados 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 733 
 
 those places; and demoralization would 
 soon prevail among them, and the forces 
 would soon be scattered, if punishment 
 could he escaped by merely crossing the 
 frontier, which is often an imaginary line 
 distant a few steps from the camp. 
 
 " It is said, gentlemen, that desertion is 
 a peculiar offense ; but no person can 
 deny that it is one. It consists, when judi- 
 cially considered, in the nonperformance 
 of a duty due to the nation, and the fulfill- 
 ment of which is evaded by the flight of 
 the debtor. The safety of the nation is 
 endangered thereby, as at a given moment 
 of critical importance for the preservation 
 of a State whole armies might be dis- 
 banded. It is said also that military 
 punishments are too severe ; but the im- 
 punity of desertion by making it non- 
 extraditable would render that severity 
 still more necessary. Those who are at 
 the head of the Army would be obliged 
 to be more vigilant and to punish with 
 all possible severity simple attempts at 
 desertion. The result would be that 
 while the attempt is cruelly punished the 
 accomplished act is unpunished. 
 
 " It has been unduly alleged that there 
 is some analogy between political offense 
 and desertion from the army. But this 
 is inadmissible. Weiss rejects the idea 
 as truly as eloquently. If political refu- 
 gees, says this writer, are entitled to 
 asylumj it is because for them the exile 
 is the only way of escaping the revenge 
 of their victorious opponents, and be- 
 cause after having fought faithfully for 
 their cause they can raise their heads 
 and hope for better days. But can this 
 be said of the deserter, the man who 
 having been brought up in his own coun- 
 try, under the protection of its laws, 
 refuses it his services, which are owed at 
 its demand by all citizens, and takes to 
 flight, leaving to others the defense of 
 homes and property ?" 
 
 We have now reached title 3 on ex- 
 tradition. 
 
 By Article 19 of this title, every one of 
 the contracting nations shall be bound 
 to deliver up to each other the offenders 
 that have taken refuge within its terri- 
 tory, whenever such circumstances shall 
 occur as are generally stated in the extra- 
 dition treaties. 
 
 lienen necesidad de conservar sobre pun- 
 tos determinados de sus territories, se ve- 
 rlan pronto desmoralizadas y disueltas 
 ouando el soldado alcanzara & percibir la 
 impunidad, cou atravesar nna llnea ima- 
 ginaria que estS ^ diez pasos de su camp- 
 ainento. 
 
 "Sedice, Senores, queladesercidn esun 
 acto especialisimo, pero no puede afir- 
 marse que doje do ser un delito ; judicial- 
 mente considerado importa iainejecuci6n 
 de una obligacidn de hacer, qnese impone 
 al acreedor que es la nacidn por actos 
 reprobados como la fuga, actos que po- 
 nen en peligro la seguridad del Estado, 
 pndiendo disolver cuerpos, divisiones y 
 ej6rcito8, en mementos decisivos para la 
 estabilidad del drden y de los Gobiernos ; 
 se habla tambien de la severidad de los 
 castigos en el fuero militar ; pero el tem- 
 peramento que se bnsca seria contrapro- 
 duceute ; porque los que tieneu el mando 
 y responsabilidad de esos ej^rcitos se 
 verian obligados S, duplicar la vigilancia 
 y & agravar las penas, de donde resnltarla 
 castigada con crueldad la teatativa, y el 
 delito consumado absolutamente impune. 
 
 "Se ha querido notar una analogla 
 inadmisible entre el delito politico y el de 
 desercidn, que Weiss rechaza con tanta 
 verdad como elocuencia ; si los refugia- 
 dos politioos, dice este autor, tienen de- 
 recho & la hospitalidad, es porque para 
 ellos el destierro es el unico medio de 
 sustraerse de la venganza de sus adversa- 
 ries triunfantes, y porque despues de ha- 
 ber comhatido lealmente por su causa, 
 ellos pueden marchar con la frente alta, 
 esperando que brillen mejores dias ; pero 
 J puede decirse otro tanto del deserter, de 
 ese hombre que forin.ado en su patria al 
 abrigo de la proteooidn de sus leyes, le 
 uiega los servicios que ella reclama de sus 
 hijos, y toma la fuga dejando ^ otros el 
 onidado de defender sus hogares y sus 
 bienes?" 
 
 Hemes llegado al titulo 3°. en que se 
 trata del regimen de la extradicidn. 
 
 Por el artlculo 19 de este titulo se obli- 
 gan los Estados signatarios S, entregarse 
 los delinouentes refugiad'os en sus terri- 
 tories siempre que concurran determina- 
 das circunstaucias, las mismas que se 
 aoostumbra cousignar en los tratados de 
 extradicidn. 
 
734 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 But the text of Article 20 is the follow- 
 ing: 
 
 " The extradition shall be carried on iu 
 full, and in no case can it be hindered by 
 the nationality of the offender.'' 
 
 According to this article the offender 
 who takes refnge in the territory of his 
 native country, after having committed 
 crime abroad, is not free from extradi- 
 tion. This is against the opinion of 
 respectable authorities and against the 
 stipulations of several treaties entered 
 into by and between several European 
 States, wherein au exception in favor of 
 their own citizens seeking for a refuge in 
 their native territories is established. 
 But some other authorities, no less re- 
 spectable, can be cited in support of the 
 provision of the article above quoted; 
 and it is, on the other hand, in perfect 
 harmony with the principle of territorial 
 jurisdiction. This article was fully dis- 
 cussed in the Congress of Montevideo, 
 and was adopted there. The reporting 
 member, in supporting it with all the 
 weight of his convictions, expressed him- 
 self as follows : 
 
 " The offenses committed by a citizen 
 of a State, while abroad, can be consid- 
 ered under three different aspects. 
 
 '' The first is when the offender remains 
 iu the foreign territory where he perpe- 
 trated the offense ; the second, when afrer 
 committing the offense he has sought 
 asylum in a third State, different from 
 his own and from the one where he com- 
 mitted the offense ; and the third — and 
 of this we are now speaking — when the 
 offender has come back to the territory 
 of his own native country. 
 
 " The first and second oases present no 
 difficulty for us, as we have voted iu fa- 
 vor of the principle of territorial jurisdic- 
 tion. The courts and law of the territory 
 where the offense was committed indis- 
 putably have all power and jurisdiction. 
 This I think, too, I have fully shown in 
 the general report. But in the third case, 
 when the offender has come back to his 
 own nation, can this principle be abro- 
 gated on account of the political ties 
 and connections of the offender with the 
 nation wherein he has sheltered himself? 
 In other words, can the original jurisdic- 
 tion of the criminal courts be given up 
 
 Mas el tenor literal del artfculo 20 es 
 como sigue : 
 
 " La extradici<5u ejeroe todos sus efeotos 
 sin que en ningrln. caso pueda impedirla 
 la uacionalidad del reo." 
 
 Al semblante de este arttculo no queda 
 exoeptuado de la entrega el culpable que 
 se refugia en el territorio de sn pafs 
 de orlgen, despu^s de haber delinquido 
 en suelo extrangero, contra la opinidn 
 de autoridades respetables y contra lo 
 establecido en las convenciones tilti- 
 mamente oelebradas por los diversos Es- 
 tados Europeos, en las cuales se con- 
 signa la excepoidn S, favor de los na- 
 cionales del pais del refugio. Esto no 
 obstante, autoridades igualmente respe- 
 tables abonan lo preceptuado en el arti- 
 culo, por estar en perfecta consonancia 
 con el principio de 'la ley territorial. 
 Dicho artlculo fu^ ampliamente discutido 
 en el Congreso de Montevideo y quedd 
 victorioso. Apoy£indolo con su alta razdn 
 y con toda la fuerza de sus convicciones 
 el miembro informante de la Comisidn, 
 al tomar patte en el debate, dijo : 
 
 " Son tres los casos que puede presen- 
 tar un naclonal, en los delitos producidos 
 fuera del territorio de su nacidn. 
 
 "Esel primero cuando el culpable se 
 mantieue en el territorio extrangero donde 
 cometi6 su crimen ; es elsegundo, cuando 
 despu(5s de delinquir, el reo ha buscado 
 asilo en un tercer Estado, que no es el de 
 su orlgen, pero tampoco el del delito ; el 
 tercer caso, que en este momento nos 
 ocupa, ocurre cuando el culpable se ha 
 refugiado en el territorio de su pais de 
 orlgen. 
 
 " La solucifin de los dos primeros casos, 
 no ofrece dificultad, toda vez que hemos 
 votado la territorialidad de la ley penal; 
 los tribunales y las leyes del territorio en 
 que se ha delinquido, tienen y ejercen 
 una competencia indisputable, que creo 
 haber demostrado extensamente en el in- 
 forme general ; pero en el caso tercero, 
 cuando el reo se ha asilado en su nacidn, 
 4 deben derogarse estosprincipios,por efeo- 
 to del vinculo politico del delincuente,oon 
 la nacidn que le did origen y que le presta 
 asilo ? En otros tdrminos j la extradioidn 
 y la competencia de los tribunales del 
 crimen, deben deponer su jurisdiccidn 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 735 
 
 because of the nationality of the offender 
 wheu his own country gives hira aByluni ? 
 
 "I understand, gentlemen, that such a 
 btrange privilege of the nationality tak- 
 ing away the offender from the locus de- 
 licti would disturb the whole system of 
 jurisdiction and oj)po8ethe principle that 
 the territorial law must prevail. It would 
 be detrimental to soverKignty. The in- 
 terests of citizenship can not go so far as 
 to allow snob a disturbing exception to be 
 admitted. It would carry us to pitiful in- 
 consistencies. The fact is that through 
 it more favors would be given to the inter- 
 est of the guilty man, who must have no 
 nationality before the penal law, than to 
 the interest of the citizen. 
 
 " I can understand the individualism of 
 the law when it is based on a lawful in- 
 terest; I can understand that the personal 
 statute follows the person wherever it 
 goes, and I understand it without finding 
 justification for it, because although it 
 tends to insure a protection which is un- 
 necessary in modern times, it deals, how- 
 ever, with lawful and honest interests, as 
 is without doubt the exercise of the civil 
 rights. But protection wheu granted to 
 criminal acts and to malefactors and guilty 
 persons can not be based upon any moral 
 or judicial idea. Protection is explicable 
 when granted to one who claims what is 
 his, or defends his rights ; but it is inex- 
 plicable when granted to the perpetrator 
 of a crime, 
 
 " Extradition, on the other hand, does 
 not imply trial or punishment. Its only 
 purpose is to deliver up the offender and 
 cause him to be subject to the proper 
 jurisdiction, all things coming back to 
 the status quo existing at the time in 
 which the offense was committed. It 
 causes the flight not to alter at all the 
 legal condition of the offender, nor does 
 it permit a kind of undue complicity to 
 be created between the criminal and the 
 country of refuge. This principle, there- 
 fore, flows logically and naturally from 
 modern international law which has con- 
 secrated the union, jointly and severally, 
 of all the States in favor of justice and 
 against impunity; different from the 
 old school, which protected the offender 
 against the demands of social justice. 
 We can not break this compact of univer- 
 
 originaria, ante la nacionalidaddel deliu- 
 oueute, cuaudo es su propio pals quieu le 
 da asilo ? 
 
 "Yo entiendo, SeSores, que este raro 
 privilegiodelanacionalidad, sustrayendo 
 al culpable del 'locus delicti,' pertur- 
 ba el drden de las jurisdicciones, y ataca 
 el prinoipio de Ja ley territorial con 
 meooscabo de la soberauia; y si blen es 
 cierto que se aduce el interns del reg- 
 nfcola para fuudar esta excepcidn per- 
 turbadora, ^1 no puedellevaruos hasta in- 
 currir en estas inoonsecuencias lanien- 
 tables; m^xime si se recuerda, queuose 
 deflende propiamente el interns del naoio- 
 nal, sino la ventaja del. culpable, que no 
 debe tener nacionalidad ante los ojos de 
 la ley penal. 
 
 " Yo me explico el personalismo de las 
 leyes, cuando 61 se funda en un interns 
 legitime; me explico eseestatuto personal, 
 que rije la capacidad civil de las per- 
 sonas, donde quiera que se hallen,y me lo 
 explico sin justificarlo, porque si bien se 
 trata de una proteccidn innecesaria en los 
 tiempos modernos, ella ampara, por fin, 
 intereses llcitos y honestos, como son, ^ 
 no dudarlo, los que se refleren al ejercicio 
 de los derechos civiles ; pero esa misma 
 preteccidu, inspirada en actos delictuosos, 
 y protegiendo £i malhechores y culpables, 
 no puede fundarse en nocidn alguna jurl- 
 dioa ni moral; la protecci6n se explica 
 sobre el sujeto de un derecho, pero de nin- 
 gun modo, sobre el agente de un delito. 
 
 "La extradicidn, por otra parte, no im- 
 porta juicio ni castigo; tiene por objeto 
 sonieter al delincueute ii la jurisdiccidu 
 del delito, reponieudo.las cosas al estado 
 que tenlan en el memento de su consuma- 
 ci6n, estableciendo que la fuga no all era 
 la condici6n legal del reo, ni sirve a crear 
 una complicidad reprobada cou el pals 
 de orlgen; este principle, pues, fluyel6- 
 gica y naturalmente del Derecho interna- 
 cional moderno, que ha consagrado la aoli- 
 daridad de los Estados, en pro de la jus- 
 ticia y en contra de laimpunidad, & dife- 
 rencia de la vieja escuela, que amparaba 
 al culpable contra las exigencias de la jus- 
 ticia social; no podemos, pues, romper 
 este pacto de soiidaridad universal, en 
 nombre de un vinculo politico, que no 
 agrava ni atenlia el alcanoe del mal, y 
 que no puede atacarla jurisdioci6n origi- 
 
736 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 sal union only on the ground of the 
 political tie, which neither aggravates 
 nor extenuates the offense. That tie can 
 not affect the original jurisdiction, be- 
 cause, as Dr. Ramirez said in his remark- 
 able book, society punishes an offender 
 because he is a member of the social col- 
 lectivity, not because he is a member of 
 this or that political community. The 
 man put on trial for a crime is not a 
 Belgian, a Frenchman, or an Austrian, 
 but a self-conscious and responsible being 
 ■who has to answer before the courts and 
 the laws of the country for the offense 
 which he committed. 
 
 "It is said, in support of the principle 
 which vre are approving, that the coun- 
 try of origin does not desire the impunity 
 of the offender, but only claims the right 
 to punish him. But under what law 
 would the penalty be fixed? Would it 
 be tinder the law of the country of origin ? 
 
 " If soj-we would fall into the error of ap- 
 pealing to a law which was not violated 
 or ignored by the act to be punished. 
 Neither the penalty imposed nor the law 
 applied are the penalty and the law to 
 which the offender was subjected at the 
 time of the offense. He was then subject 
 to the jurisdiction and power of the sov- 
 ereign in -whose territory the offense was 
 committed. And so we may perceive 
 easily what a great disturbance would be 
 created by admitting this dualism of sov- 
 ereignties, acting simultaneously, in re- 
 gard to one and the same person ; and this 
 without counting the attack made upon 
 the independence of a State by punish- 
 ing offenses and taking measures towards 
 securing safety and repression which orig- 
 inally belong to the territorial sovereign. 
 
 " If the laws resorted to are not those 
 of the country of origin, but those of the 
 territory where the crime was committed, 
 then the incongruity will be still more 
 evident, because the penal law, which 
 is territorial by its character, by its es- 
 sence, and by the unanimous vote of the 
 honorable Congress, would go across the 
 frontiers of each State and be applied by 
 foreign judges who would replace the na- 
 tional, thus making a further attack upon 
 the sovereignty. The wronged laws and 
 nation would receive in this case no satis- 
 faction or redress, and the penalty would 
 lose all its exemplary character," 
 
 naria, porque, como ha dicho muy bien el 
 Doctor Ramirez en su notable libro, la 
 sociedad castiga al agente del crimen, 
 como miembro de la colectividad social, 
 y no como parte de tal 6 cual colectividad 
 polltica; nose procesaalbelga, alfranc(5s 
 ni al austriaoo, sind al ser consciente y 
 responsable ante los tribunales y la ley en 
 cuyo territorio delincLuid. 
 
 "Se dice, en apoyo del principio, que 
 el pals de origen no pretende la inipuni- 
 dad del regnlcola, sino que reolama el 
 derecho de imponerle por si mismo el 
 castigo; pero, jcual seria la ley que de- 
 terminarla la pena ? 
 
 " J Seria la del mismo pafs de origen? 
 Caemos entdnces en la inconsecuencia de 
 aplicar una ley que no ha sido violada ni 
 desconooida, por los actos que se repri- 
 men; se impone una pena y se aplica 
 una ley, ^ la que el regnlcola no estaba 
 sometido, en el momento de delinquir, 
 toda vez que se hallaba sujeto Si la juris- 
 dicci6n y al imperio del territorio del 
 delito; y se explica facilmente toda la 
 perturbacidn que trae consign esta duali- 
 dad de soberanlas, pesando al mismo 
 tiempo sobre un mismo sujeto; esto 
 sin contar con el ataque que se lleva S, la 
 independencia de un Estado, castigando 
 delitos y ejerciendo actos de seguridad 
 y represidn, que oorresponden original 
 mente al soberano territorial. 
 
 "Si se aplican, no ya las leyes de la 
 nacidn de origen, sino las leyes del terri- 
 torio en que el delito se produjo, la Incon- 
 secuencia es m^ evidente todavia, porque 
 la ley penal que es territorial por su ca- 
 r^/ter, por su esencia y por el veto u n ^ni me 
 del Honorable Congreso, veudria d, salvar 
 las fronteras de cada Estado, y & ser apli- 
 cada por jueces extrangeros que se susti- 
 tuirian & los jueces nacionales, llevando 
 un segundo ataque al principio de la 
 soberania; la ley y la naci6n ultrajadas 
 no habrian tenido en el caso reparacidn 
 ni desagravio, la pena tampoco seria 
 ejemplar," 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 737 
 
 A very important provision is the one 
 contained in Article 21 of this title, by 
 which the extraditable character of the 
 offenses is fixed as follows : 
 
 (1) As to non-convicted offenders, those 
 offenses which under the laws of the 
 country which demands the extradition 
 are punished with a maximum penalty not 
 less than two years' imprisonment, or an- 
 other equivalent. 
 
 (2) As to convicted offenders, those 
 offenses which are punishable with a max- 
 imum penalty of one year of imprison- 
 ment. 
 
 It can be seen by this article that the 
 committee in adopting the project of the 
 treaty of penal law of Montevideo en- 
 tirely deviated from the old system of 
 describing by name the offenses which 
 admit of extradition, and adopted in 
 lien thereof the method of synthetically 
 embracing the offenses within the circle 
 of a determined penalty. This circuit 
 embraces a number of offenses larger 
 than the one reached by the old system, 
 under which only a few specified offenses 
 are extraditable. Owing to that system, 
 there are so many offenders who escape 
 punishment, which is a serious evil for 
 society as well as for the States, for the 
 adage is well known, "If you close the 
 doors of punishment, you will open those 
 of crime." Let even the slightest offenses 
 be punished, for if they are tolerated, 
 that will encourage the offenders to com- 
 mit greater ones. 
 
 But according to Article 22, no person 
 shall be delivered up on extradition pro- 
 ceedings on account of duel, adultery, 
 libel, or offenses against religion. The 
 final part of the same article provides 
 that persons guilty of common offenses 
 (non-political) connected with any of the 
 above named shall admit of extradition. 
 
 There is nothing in this article which 
 needs explanation. The same can be said 
 in reference to the last five articles of 
 Titles. With regard to the fourth and 
 fifth titles, which respectively refer to 
 the "Proceedings of Extradition'' and to 
 the "Preventive Arrest," it is enough to 
 say that their provisions are with little 
 47 I 
 
 Disposici6n de bastante interds es la 
 contenida en el artlculo 21 del titulo de 
 que nos ooupamos, al doterminar las in- 
 fracciones que autorizau la entrega del 
 reo y que son las siguientes : 
 
 (1) Respecto de los presuntos delin- 
 cuentes, las infracoiones que segun la ley 
 penal de la naci6n requirente, se hallen 
 sujetas S una pena pri vativa de la libertad 
 que no sea menor de dos alios, Ti otra 
 equivalente. 
 
 (2) Respecto de los sentenciados, los 
 que scan castigados con un aBo de la 
 misma pena como minimum. 
 
 Vfise por el artfonlo transorito que la 
 Comisidn al adoptar el proyeoto de tra- 
 tado de Derecho penal de Montevideo, se 
 aparta por completo del inveterado sis- 
 tema de enumerar los delitos pasibles de 
 extradici6n, y opta por el de abarcarlos 
 de un modo sint^tico dentro de la 6rbita 
 de determinada penalidad. Esa 6rbita es 
 comprensiva de un mayor nlimero de casos 
 de delincuencia, ^ que no aloanza el an- 
 tiguo sistema, segrin el cual solo dan radr- 
 gen S, la extradicidn ciertos y determina- 
 dos delitos, pooos en verdad. Por tal 
 sistema gran ntimero de delincueutes 
 quedan impunes, lo cual es un grave mal 
 para la sooiedad y para los Estados, pues 
 muy conocido y diguo de tenerse presente 
 es el aforismo, "Si se cieran las puertas 
 del castigo se abren las del delito." Casti- 
 guense las infracciones aliu de cardloter 
 menos grave, que toleradas, dan alas y 
 brios & los delincueutes para los mayores 
 atentados. 
 
 Pero no sou susoeptibles de extradicidn, 
 segliu el artlculo 22, los reos de los si- 
 guientes delitos: Elduelo; el adulterio; 
 las injurias y calumnias; los delitos con- 
 tra los cultos. Al final del mismo artlculo 
 se d6clara que los reos de delitos comunes 
 conexos con cualquiera de los anterior- 
 mente enumerados, est^n sujetos H extra- 
 dici6n. 
 
 Nada hay que notar en el contexto del 
 artlculo citado, y es excusado me parece, 
 haoerlo materia de uu comentario. Lo 
 mismo cabe decir respecto de los ciuco 
 artlculos siguientes con que termina el 
 titulo 3°; y en cuanto i£ los titulos 4° y S" 
 relatives al prooedimiento de extradici6n 
 y ^ la priei6n preventiva, baste decir que 
 
738 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 diflferenoe similar to those generally set 
 foitb in the extradition treaties. 
 
 Before ending the report which I have 
 the honor to submit to the Conference, I 
 must state that in my modest work I have 
 used as a guide the conscientions and 
 most elaborate report which the learned 
 Delegate from the Argentine Republic, 
 Dr. Saenz Pena, submitted to the South 
 American Congress, and for which I take 
 pleasure in extending to him my sincere 
 congratulations. If my honorable col- 
 leagues wish to consult this excellent 
 document, for the enlightenment of their 
 opinions on this subject, they will find in 
 it the strong reasons which induced the 
 Montevideo Congress to aaprove the 
 treaty on penal law, which I recommend 
 for its adoption to the honorable Confer- 
 ence. 
 
 A further reason, and not a slight one, 
 in its favor is to be found in the fact that 
 the plenipotentiaries of seven South 
 American nations did sign that treaty, 
 and that it is to be hoped that it will 
 become a law between those nations. 
 
 The tendency towards unity of legisla- 
 tion is general, and the solidarity of man- 
 kind is admitted; but if that coveted 
 unity is only a, generous utopia when 
 considered in reference to the whole of 
 mankind, it will perhaps become some- 
 thing practical when considered only in 
 reference to our hemisphere or to the 
 young nations which inhabit it, all of 
 which, thanks to God, enjoy free institu- 
 tions, which are the only ones that dig- 
 nify man . These nations are called to be- 
 come more and more closely bound to- 
 gether by the many social, political, and 
 economical ties, by the adoption of the 
 same international laws, by the inter- 
 change of their products, and by the ex- 
 pansive spirit of a faithful and loving 
 sisterhood, 
 
 Jeki^nimo Zblaya. 
 
 Washington, April 10, 1890. 
 
 las disposiciones contenidas en ellos, son 
 con pocas diferencias seraejautes ^ las que 
 se acostumbra consignar en los tratados 
 de extradicidn. 
 
 Antes de termmar el informe con que 
 tengo el honor de dar cuenta ^ la Confe- 
 rencia, debo mauifestar que en mi mo- 
 desta labor me ha servido de guia el con- 
 cienzudo y bieu razonado inferme que el 
 culto Delegado por la Republica Argen- 
 tina, Dr. Saenz PeRa, presents ante el 
 Congreso Sud-Amerioauo y por el oual 
 me complazco en darle mis sinceras cpn- 
 gratulaoioues. En ese notable docu- 
 mento, si mis houorables Colegarse sirv^n 
 consultarlo para ilustrar su concepto en 
 la materia d que 6\ se contrae, encontrarfin 
 los sdlidos fundamentos que sirvieron al 
 mencionado Congreso para formular el 
 proyecto de tratado do Dereoho penal in- 
 ternacional de Montevideo, que reco- 
 miendo S, la adopcidii de la Conferencia. 
 
 Razonynode poco momento para re- 
 comendarlo, es la de que los Plenipoten- 
 ciarios de siete naciones de Sud-Amdrica 
 hau suscrito aquel proyecto, que es de 
 esperarse llegarit Sj ser ley entre dichas 
 naciones. General es la tendencia hiicia 
 la nnidad de legislacidn, atendida la 
 solidaridad de la especiehnmaua, ysi esa 
 anhelada unidad no es mils que una gene- 
 rosa Utopia que pretende abarcar & 
 fodo el gdnero humane espareido en el 
 planeta, quiz^ dejar^ de serlo con relacidn 
 Si nuestro hemisferio, 6 & las j6venes na- 
 ciones que lo habitan, naciones que, pro- 
 fesandotodas, ^Diosgracias, iustituoiones 
 libreg, que son las liuicas que dignifican al 
 hombre, est^n llamadas S. unirse en es- 
 treohisimos lazos, por mliltiples vinculos 
 sociales pollticos y econdmicos, por la 
 adopcidn de unas mismas leyes interna- 
 cionales, por el inteicambio de sus pro- 
 ductos, y por un esplritu expansive de leal 
 y carifiosa coufraternidad. 
 
 Jek6nimo Zelaya, 
 Washington, Abril lOde 1890. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 739 
 
 Committee on Extradition. 
 
 The International American Confer- 
 ence resolves to recommend to the Govern- 
 ments of the Latin American nations 
 the adoption of the treaty of penal inter- 
 national law adjusted by the Sonth Amer- 
 ican Congress of 1888, and also that each 
 one of them shall couchide with the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States of North 
 America special treaties of extradition 
 upon bases acceptable to them and as 
 uniform as possible. 
 
 Washington, April 10, 1890. 
 
 Jkronimo Zblaya. 
 Wm. Henry Trescot. 
 Manl. Quintana. 
 RoQUE Saenz PbSa. 
 
 Comisi6n de Extradici6n. 
 
 ' La Conferencia Internaoional Ameri- 
 cana resuelve recomendar dl los Gobiernoa 
 de las Naciones Latino-Araericanas la 
 adopcidn del Tratado de Derecho Penal 
 Internaoional ajnstado por el Congreso 
 Sud- Americano de 1888, y que cada uno 
 de dichos Gobiernos celebre con el de los 
 Estados Unidos de Norte America trata- 
 dos especiales de extradicidn sobre bases 
 aceptables para estos, y tan nniformes 
 como sea posible. 
 Washington, Airil 10 de 1890. 
 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Wm. Henry Trescot. 
 Manl. Quintana. 
 RoQUE Saenz FeSa. 
 
 APPJSNDIX. 
 
 Draft of a Treaty on International 
 Penal Law. 
 
 Title I. — On Jurisdiction 
 
 Article I. 
 
 The crimes and offenses committed 
 within the territorial jurisdiction of a 
 nation shall be punished according to 
 the laws of that nation ; and the offend- 
 ers, whatever their own nationality, or 
 the nationality of the victim, or wronged 
 party, may be, shall be subject to trial 
 before the courts of the country where 
 the offense was committed. 
 
 AP^NDICK 
 
 Tratado de Derecho Penal Inter- 
 nacional. 
 
 TfTULO I. — De la Jurisdiccidm. 
 
 ArtIculo 1. 
 
 Los delitos, cualquieraqne sea lanacio- 
 nalidad del agente, de la vfctima 6 del 
 damniflcado, se juzgan por los tribunalea 
 y se penan por las leyes de la Nacidn en 
 coyo territorio se perpetran. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 Such violations of criminal law per- 
 petrated in a State, which exclusively 
 affect rights and interests guarantied 
 by the laws of another State, shall fall 
 under the jurisdiction of the State af- 
 fected by them, and shall be punished 
 according to its laws. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 ArtIculo 2. 
 
 Los hechos de car£icter delictnoso perpe- 
 trados en un Estado que serian justioia- 
 bles por las autondades de este, si en 61 
 produjeran sus efeotos; pero que solo 
 daSan derechos 6 interesesgarantidos por 
 las leyes de otro Estado, serdin juzgados 
 pnr los tribunales y penados segun las 
 leyes de este tUtimo. 
 
 ARTfCULO 3. 
 
 When an offense affects different States, 
 the jurisdiction of the State in whose 
 territory the offender is arrested shall 
 prevail. 
 
 Cuando un delito afecta & diferentes 
 Estados, prevaleceri para juzgarlo la 
 competencia de los tribunales del pals 
 damniflcado en onyo territorio se capture 
 al delincnente. 
 
J40 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 If the pffender should seek shelter in a 
 
 State different from the ones affected by 
 
 his action, the jurisdiction of the State 
 
 ■which asked first for the extradition shall 
 
 -prevail. 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 In the oases referred to in the preced- 
 ing article, if there is only one offender 
 there shall be only one trial, and the 
 penalty to be imposed shall be the gravest 
 one established by the penal laws of the 
 different States concerned. 
 
 If the . penalty found out to be the 
 gravest should not be admitted in the 
 State in which the trial takes place, the 
 nearest in gravity shall be imposed. 
 
 The court shall, in all cases, apply to 
 the executive power in order that due 
 notice of the initiation of the proceedings 
 be given through it to the interested 
 States. 
 
 Akticle V. 
 
 Each one of the contracting States 
 shall have the power to expel from its 
 territory, under its own laws, any offender 
 who has taken shelter therein, if after 
 having given notice to the State against 
 ■ which the refugee committed an extra- 
 • ditable offense no action is taken by it. 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 Acts done in the territory of a State 
 which are not punishable according to its 
 laws, but are punishable in the country 
 where they produce their effects, shall 
 not be made the subject of judicial action 
 in the latter, except in case that the of- 
 fender is found within its territory. 
 
 This rule shall be applicable also to 
 those offenses which do not admit of ex- 
 .tradition. 
 
 Article VII. 
 
 For the trial and punishment of the of- 
 fenses committed by a member of a le- 
 gation, the rules of public international 
 law shall be observed. 
 
 Article VIII. 
 
 Crimes and offeuses committed on the 
 -high- seas, or-on neutral waters, either on 
 board a manof-war or a merchant vos- 
 
 Si el delincuente se refuglase en nn Ea- 
 tado distinto de los damnificados, prova- 
 lecerii la competencia de los tribunales 
 del pais que tuviese la prioridad en ol 
 pedido de extradicidn. 
 
 ArtIculo 4. 
 
 En los cases del artionlo anterior, tra- 
 tfindose de un solo delincuente, tendr^ 
 lugar un solo juicio, y se aplicar^ la.pena 
 mas grave de las establecidas en las dis- 
 tintas leyes penales infringidas. 
 
 Si la pena mas grave no estnviera ad- 
 mitida por el Estado en que se juzga el 
 delito, se aplicarS la que mas se le apro- 
 xime en gravedad. 
 
 El jnez del proceso deberS, en estoa 
 casos, dirigirse al Poder Ejecutivo para 
 que este di5 conooimiento de su iniciaci6a 
 d, los Estados interesados en el juicio. 
 
 ARTfCULO 5. 
 
 Cnalquiera de los Estados signatarioa 
 podr^ expulsar, con arreglo ^ sus leyes, & 
 los delincuentes asilados en su territorio, 
 siempre que despues de requeiir & las 
 autoridades del pais dentro del cual so 
 cometio alguno de los delitos que anto- 
 rizan la extradici6n, no se ejercitase por 
 ellas acoidn represiva alguna. 
 
 ARTfCULO 6. 
 
 Los hechos realizados en el territorio 
 de un Estado, que no fueren pasibles de 
 pena segun sus leyes, pero que eatuviesen 
 penados por la Naci6n en donde producen 
 sus efectos, no podriin ser juzgados por 
 esta, sino cuando el delincuente cayese 
 bajo su jurisdiccidn. 
 
 Eige la misma regla respecto de aque- 
 llos delitos que no autorizan la extradicidn 
 de los reos. 
 
 ArtIculo 7. 
 
 Para el juzgamiento y castigo de loa 
 delitos cometidos por cnalquiera de los 
 miembros de una Legacion, se observariln 
 las reglas establecidas por el Dereoho In- 
 ternaoional Publico. 
 
 ARTfCDLO 8. 
 
 Los delitos cometidos en alta mar 6 en 
 aguas neutiales, ya sea il bordo de buques 
 de guerra 6 mercantes, se juzgan y peuau 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 741 
 
 Bel, shall be investigated and punished 
 according to the laws of the State to 
 which the flag Df the vessel belongs. 
 
 Article IX. 
 
 Crimes and offenses committed on board 
 a man-of-war, while in the waters of a 
 foreign nation, shall be investigated and 
 punished by the courts of the State to 
 which the vessel belongs and according 
 to its own laws. 
 
 The same rule shall be applicable to 
 ofleuses committed outside the vessels 
 by members of the crew thereof, or by 
 persons employed on board the same, if 
 the said crimes or offenses affect only the 
 law or rule of discipline in force at the 
 vessel. But when the crimes or offenses 
 herein referred to, committed outside the 
 vessel, were so committed by persons not 
 belonging to the ship's company, then 
 the jurisdiction to try the offenders shall 
 belong to the State in whose territorial 
 waters the vessel may happen to find it- 
 self. 
 
 Article X. 
 
 Crimes and offenses committed on board 
 a man-of-war, or on board a merchant 
 vessel, under the circumstances of Article 
 II, shall be investigated and punished as 
 provided by that article. 
 
 Article XI. 
 
 Crimes and offenses committed on board 
 a merchant vessel shall be investigated 
 and punished according to the laws of the 
 State in whose territorial waters the 
 vessel happens to be found. 
 
 Article XII. 
 
 Territorial waters are declared to be, 
 for the purposes of jurisdictiou, those 
 which are comprised in a, belt five miles 
 wide running along the coast either of 
 the mainland or of the islands which form 
 part of the territory of each State. 
 
 Article XIII. 
 
 Acts of piracy, as defined by public 
 international law, shall be subject to the 
 jurisdiction of the State under the power 
 of which the offenders may happen to 
 fall. 
 
 por las leyes del Estado £ quo pertenece 
 la bandera del buque. 
 
 ARTfcULO 9. 
 
 Los delitos prepetrados il bordo de los 
 buques do guerra de uu Estado, que se 
 encueutreu en aguasterritoriales de otro, 
 se juzgan y penan con arreglo & las leyes 
 del Estado £i que diohos buques perte- 
 nezcan. 
 
 Tambien se juzgan y penan seguu las 
 leyes del pais S, que los buques de guerra 
 perteueeen, los hechos punibles ejecuta- 
 dos fuera del recinto de estos, por indi- 
 viduos de su tripulaci6n, 6 que ejerzan 
 algun cargo en ellos, cuando dichos hechos 
 afeoten principalmente el orden discipli- 
 nario de los buques. 
 
 Si en la ejeouoi6n de los hechos puni- 
 bles solo intervinieren individuos no per- 
 teneoientes al personal del buque de 
 gnerra, el enjuiciamiento y castigo se 
 verificar^ con arreglo S, las leyes del Es- 
 tado en cuyas aguas territoriales se en- 
 cuentra el buque. 
 
 ARTfCULO 10. 
 
 Los delitos cometidos S, bordo de un 
 buque de guerra 6 mercante, en las condi- 
 ciones prescritas en el artJculo 2°, ser^n 
 juzgados y penados con arreglo S, lo que 
 estatuye dicha disposici6n. 
 
 AKTfcULO 11. 
 
 Los delitos cometidos £ bordo de los 
 buques mercantes son juzgados y penados 
 por la ley del Estado en cuyas aguas juris- 
 diccionales se encontraba el buque al 
 tiempo de perpetrarse la infraccidn. 
 
 ARTfCULO 12. 
 
 Se declaran aguas territoriales, S, los 
 efectos de la jurisdiccidn penal, las com- 
 prendidas en la extension de cinoo millas 
 desde la costa de tierra firme 6 islas que 
 forman parte del territorio de cada Es- 
 tado. 
 
 ARTfCULO 13. 
 
 Los delitos considerados de piraterla 
 por el Derecho Internacidnal Ptiblico, 
 quedan sujetos & la jurisdiccidn del Es- 
 tado bajo cuyo poder caigan los delin- 
 cuentes. 
 
742 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Article XIV. 
 
 Criminal prosecutions shall be barred 
 by the statute of limitations of the coun- 
 try having jurisdiction to punish the 
 offense. The expulsion of offenders shall 
 be also governed by the laws of the same 
 country. 
 
 Title II. — On Asylum. 
 
 Akticle XV. 
 
 No offender who has taken refuge in the 
 territory of a State shall be surrendered 
 to the authorities of any other State ex- 
 cept upon demand of extradition and ac- 
 cording to the regular course of proceed- 
 ings established for that purpose. 
 
 Article XVI. 
 
 The asylum is inviolable for political 
 offenders; but the State has the duty of 
 preventing refugees of this kind from 
 accomplishing within its territory any 
 acts whatever which may endanger the 
 public peace of the nation against which 
 the offense was committed. 
 
 Article XVII. 
 
 Such persons as may be charged with 
 offenses of non-political character, and 
 seek refuge In a legation, shall be sur- 
 rendered to the local authorities by the 
 head of the said legation, either at the 
 request of the secretary of foreign rela- 
 tions or by his own movement. But for 
 political offenders seeking for shelter at a 
 legation, the legation shall be an asylum, 
 and shall be respected as such. The liead 
 of the legation, however, shall be bound 
 to give immediately, to the government 
 of the State to which he is accredited, in- 
 formation of what has happened ; and 
 the said Government shallhave the power 
 to demand that the refugee be sent away 
 from the national territory in the short- 
 est possible time. 
 
 The head of the legation shall, in his 
 turn, have the right to require the proper 
 guaranties to be given for the exit of the 
 offender without any injury to the invio- 
 lability of his person. 
 
 The same rule shall be applicable to the 
 refugees on board a man-of-war in the 
 territorial waters of the State. 
 
 ARTfoULO 14. 
 
 La prescripcidn se rige por las leyes del 
 Estado al cual corresponde el conool- 
 mientodel dell to. 
 
 TfTULO II. — Del asilo. 
 
 ArtIculo 15. 
 
 Nlngun dallncuente asilado en el terri- 
 torio de un Estado podrfi ser entregado S, 
 las antoridades de otro, sino de conformi- 
 dad & las reglas que rigen la extradicidn. 
 
 ARTfCULO 1.6. 
 
 El asilo es inviolable para los perse- 
 guidos por delitos poHtioos, pero la Na- 
 el6n de ref ugio tiene el deber de impedir 
 que los asllados realicen en su territorio, 
 actos que pongan en peligro la paz piiblica 
 de la Nacidn contra la cual han delin- 
 quido. 
 
 ARlfCULO 17. 
 
 El reo de delitos comunes que se asilase 
 en una Legacidn, deberS ser entregado por 
 el gefe de ella & las autoridades locales, 
 previa gestidn del Ministerio de Rela- 
 ciones Exteriores, cuando no lo efectuase 
 espont^neamente. 
 
 Dicho asilo ser^ respetado con relaci6n 
 A los perseguidos por delitos politicos; 
 pero el gefe de la Legacifin est^ obligado 
 & poner Inmediatamente el hecho en co- 
 nocimiento del Gobierno del Estado ante 
 el cual est^ acreditado, quien podr£ exi- 
 gir que el perseguido sea puesto fuera del 
 territorio nacional, dentro del mas breve 
 plazo posible. 
 
 El gefe de la Legacl6n podr^ exigir & 
 su vez, las garantias necesarias para que 
 el refugiado saiga del territorio nacional, 
 respet^ndose la inviolabilldad de su per- 
 sona. 
 
 El mismo principio se observarS con 
 respeoto S. los asilados en los buques de 
 guerra surtos en aguas territoriales. 
 
INTEENATIONAIi AMERICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 743 
 
 Article XVIII. 
 
 The provisions of Article XV shall not 
 be applicable to deserters from vessels of 
 war while in the territorial waters of a 
 State. 
 
 Said deserters, whatever their nation- 
 ality may be, shall be surrendered by the 
 local authorities, upon the proper iden- 
 tification, whenever the legation, or if 
 there is no legation, the consular officer of 
 the respective country, may ask for it. 
 
 ARTfcnLO 18. 
 
 Exoeptfiase de la regla estableoida en 
 el artlculo 15 & los desertores de la ma- 
 rina de guerra surta en aguas territoria- 
 les de un Estado. 
 
 Esos desertores, cualquiera que eea su 
 naoionalidad, deber^n ser entregados por 
 la autoridad local, & pedido de la Lega- 
 ci6D, 6 en defecto de esta, del agente con- 
 sular respectivo, previa la prneba de 
 identidad de la persona. 
 
 Title 111 — Extradition. 
 Article XIX. 
 
 Every nation shall be bound to deliver 
 up to each other such offenders as have 
 taken refuge within its territory, when 
 ever the following circumstances shall 
 concur, namely : 
 
 (1) That the nation which asks for the 
 delivery has competent jurisdiction to 
 take cognizance and punish the offense 
 with which the refugee is charged. 
 
 (2) That tl'.e offense, owing to its na- 
 ture or gravity, authorizes the extradi- 
 tion. 
 
 (3) That the nation which demands the 
 extradition has presented such documents 
 as, under its own laws, authorizes the im- 
 prisonment and trial of the offender. 
 
 (4) That the action against the offender 
 has not been barred by the statute of 
 limitations, under the laws of the country 
 which makes the demand. 
 
 (.5) That the offender has not been pun- 
 ished for the same offense, and has not 
 served his sentence. 
 
 TfTULO III. — Del regimen de la extradiciSu. 
 
 AetIculo 19. 
 
 Los Estados signatarios se obligan & 
 entregarse los delincuentes refugiados en 
 8U territorio, siempre que concurran las 
 siguientes circuustancias : 
 
 (1) Que la Naci6n que reclama el delin- 
 ouente tenga jurisdicoidn para conocer y 
 fallar en juicio sobre la infraccidn que 
 motiva el reclamo. 
 
 (2) Que la infraccidn, por su naturaleza 
 6 gravedad, autorize la entrega. 
 
 (3) Que la Naoidn reolamante presente 
 documentos que, segun sns leyes autorizen 
 la prisidn y el enjuiciamiento del reo. 
 
 (4) Que el delito no est^ presorito con 
 arreglo & la ley del pals reclamante. 
 
 (5) Que el reo no haya sldo penado por 
 el mismo delito ni cumplido su condena. 
 
 Article XX. 
 
 The extradition shall be carried on in 
 full, and in no case can it be hindered by 
 the nationality of the offender. 
 
 Article XXI. 
 
 The offenses for which the extradition 
 is warranted are the following : 
 
 (1) As to non-convicted offenders, those 
 offenses which under the laws of the 
 country which demands the extradition 
 are punishable with a maximum penalty 
 not less than two years' imprisonment, or 
 another equivalent. 
 
 AETfcULO 20. 
 
 La extradicidn ejerce todos sns efeotos 
 sin que en ningun case pueda impedirla 
 la nacionalidad del reo. 
 
 ArtIculo 21, 
 
 Los hechos que autorizan la entrega 
 del reo, son : 
 
 (1) Eespecto S, los presuntos delin- 
 cuentes, las infracciones que segun 
 la ley penal de la Naoidn requi- 
 rente, se hallen sujetos & una peua 
 privativa de la libertad, quo no sea 
 menor de dos afios, fl otra equiva- 
 lente. 
 
744 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE.. 
 
 (2) As to convicted offenders, those of- 
 fenses which are punishable with a maxi- 
 mum penalty of one year of imprison- 
 ment. 
 
 Akticlk XXII. 
 
 No person shall be delivered up on ex- 
 tradition proceedings when the charge 
 consists of any of the following offenses : 
 Duel, adultery, libel, treason. But com- 
 mon (non-political) offenses connected 
 with any of the above named shall war- 
 rant the extradition of the offenders. 
 
 Article XXIII. 
 
 Political offenses, offenses attacking the 
 internal or external safety of a State, or 
 common offenses which are connected 
 with them, shall not warrant the extra- 
 dition. 
 
 The determination of the character of 
 these offenses belongs to the nation upon 
 which the demand of extradition is made ; 
 and that right shall be exerrised under 
 and according to the provisions of the 
 law which should prove to be more favor- 
 able to the offender. 
 
 Article XXIV. 
 
 No civil or commercial action affecting 
 the offender shall prevent the extradition 
 from being accomplished. 
 
 Article XXV. 
 
 The extradition of the offender may be 
 delayed as long as he may remain subject 
 to the penal action of the State from 
 whence he is asked; but the extradition 
 proceedings shall not be interrupted for 
 that reason. 
 
 Article XXVI. 
 
 Such offenders as may he delivered u p 
 on extradition proceedings, shall never 
 be either trietl or punished for political 
 offenses, or for any acts connected -with 
 political offenses, previously committed. 
 . But said offenders may be subject to 
 trial and punishment in the country to 
 which they were surrendered, upon con- 
 sent of the State which surrendered them, 
 for oft'onses which are extraditable which 
 did not give foundation to the demand 
 gr.inted. 
 
 (3) Respecto de los sentenciados, las 
 que sean castigadas con un aQo de 
 la misma pena como minimum. 
 
 ArtIcdlo 22. 
 
 No son snsceptibles de extradici6n los 
 reos de los siguientes delitos : El duelo ; 
 el adulterio; las injurias y calumnias; 
 los delitos contra los cultos. Los reos de 
 delitos comunes conexos con cualquiera 
 de los anteriormente enumeradoa, estiJu 
 sujetos & extjfadicidn. 
 
 ARTfCULO 23. 
 
 Tampoco &6,n mdrito & la extradicidn, 
 los delitos pollticos y todos aquellos que 
 ataoan la seguridad interna 6 externa de 
 nn Estado, ni los comunes que tengan 
 concxldn con ellos. 
 
 La clasiScaciiin de estos delitos seharil- 
 por la Naci6n requerida, con arreglo & la 
 ley que sea mas favorable al reclamado. 
 
 ArtIculo 24. 
 
 Ninguna aocidn civil 6 comercial rela- 
 cionada con el reo podr^ impedir su ex- 
 tradioidn. 
 
 ArtIculo 25, 
 
 La entrega del reo podrS ser diferida 
 mientras se halle sujeto & la acoidn penal 
 del Estado reqnerido, sin que esto impida 
 la sustanciacidn del juioio de extradioidn. 
 
 ArtIculo 26. 
 
 Los individuos cuya extradici6n hubie- 
 se sido concedida, no podr^u ser juzga- 
 dos ni castigados por delitos pollticos an- 
 teriores & la extradioidn, ni por aotos 
 conexos con ellos. 
 
 PodriiQ ser juzgados y penados, pr^vio 
 consentimiento del Estado requerido, 
 acordado con arreglo al presente Tratado, 
 los delitos snsceptibles de extradicidn que 
 no hubiesen dado causa ^ la ya concedida. 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 745 
 
 Article XXVII. 
 
 When the demands of extradition are 
 several and are made for different offenses, 
 the delivery shall he made to the nation 
 against which the gravest offense was 
 committed. 
 
 If the offenses are equally grave, then 
 the delivery shall he made to the nation 
 which first aslsed for it. But if all the 
 demands are of the same date, the deliv- 
 ery shall he made according to the discre- 
 tion of the Government which grants the 
 extradition. 
 
 Article XXVIII. 
 
 If, after an offender is delivered up to a 
 State, a new demand is made by another 
 State for re-extradition, it shall be op- 
 tional for the State which first granted 
 the extradition to accede or not to the 
 new demand, except in case that the 
 prisoner was set at liberty. 
 
 Articlb XXIX. 
 
 When the penalty for the offense with 
 which the offender is charged is the 
 penalty of death, the nation which grants 
 the extradition may demand as a, condi- 
 tion for the surrender the commutation 
 of the sentence, and the imposition of 
 the penalty next inferior in degree. 
 
 ArtIculo 27. 
 
 Cnando diversas Naciones solicitareu 
 la entrega de un mismo individuo por 
 razon de diferentes delitos, se acoederi, 
 en primer t^rmino, al pedido de aquella 
 en donde S, juicio del Estado requerido 
 se hubiese cometido la infraccidn mas 
 grave. Si los delitos se estimasen de la 
 misraa graved ad, se otorgarii la preferen- 
 cia ^ la que tuviese la prioridad en el 
 pedido de extradicifin ; y si todos los pe- 
 didos tuvieran la misma fecha, el pais re- 
 querido determinar^ el 6rden de la en- 
 trega. 
 
 ArtIculo 28. 
 
 Si despues de verificada la entrega de 
 un reo & un Estado, sobreviniese respecto 
 del mismo individuo un nuovo pedido de 
 extradici6u de parte de otro Estado, 
 corresponder^ acceder 6 no al nuevo 
 pedido, S, la misma Naci6n que verified la 
 primera entrega, siempre que el recla- 
 mado no hubiese side puesto en libertad. 
 
 ARTfCULO 29. 
 
 Cnando la pena que haya de aplicarse 
 al reo sea la de muerte, el Estado que 
 otorga la extradicidn, podr^ exigir sea 
 sustituida por la pena inferior inmediata. 
 
 Title IV. — Proceedings of Extradition. 
 
 Article XXX. 
 
 The demands of extradition shall be 
 presented through the respective lega- 
 tions or consular offices, but if none has 
 been established they shall be presented 
 directly from Government to Govern- 
 ment, and they shall be necessarily ac- 
 companied by the following documents : 
 
 (1) In cases of non-convicted offenders, 
 by an authenticated copy of the statute, 
 or provision of criminal law applicable to 
 the offense on which the demand is based 
 and of the warrant of arrest and other 
 papers referred to in No. 3 of Article 19. 
 
 (2) In cases of convicted criminals, by 
 an authenticated copy of the final sen- 
 tence passed against the offender and the 
 
 TItulo IV. — Del procedimiento de extra- 
 diciin. 
 
 ArtIculo 30. 
 
 Los pedidos de extradicifin serSn intro- 
 ducidos por los agentes diplomiiticos 6 
 cousulares respectivos, y en defeoto de 
 estos, directamente de gobierno S, gobier- 
 no, y se aoompafiarSn los siguientes doo- 
 umentos : 
 
 (1) Eespecto de los presuntos delin- 
 cuentes, copia legalizada de la ley penal 
 aplicable d la iufraccidn que motiva cl 
 pedido, y del auto de detencidn, y demas 
 antecedentes S. que se refiere el iuciso 3° 
 del artlcnlo 19. 
 
 (2) Si se trata de un sentenoiado, copia 
 legalizada de la sentencia condeuatoria 
 ejeoutoriada, exhibi^ndose & la vez, en 
 
746 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 proper evidence that the condemned man 
 was summoned and was either represented 
 at the trial or legally adjudgpd in contu- 
 maoiam. 
 
 Article XXXI. 
 
 If the Government npon which the 
 demand of extradition is made should 
 deem the said demand to be unwarranted, 
 owing to some defects of form, it shall re- 
 turn the papers to the Government which 
 made it, with the proper explanation of 
 the defects. 
 
 Article XXXII. 
 
 If the demand of extradition is made 
 in due form, the Government upon whicli 
 it is made shall transmit all the papers 
 to the judgeor tribunal of competent 
 jurisdiction on the subject ; and the said 
 judge or tribunal shall order the arrest of 
 the offender, if it is deemed proper, under 
 the provisions of this treaty. 
 
 Article XXXIII. 
 
 Whenever, under the provisions of the 
 present treaty, the arrest of the refugee 
 is to be made, due notice shall be given 
 to him, within the twenty- four hours next 
 following to his arrest, of the causes and 
 reasons for which he was arrested, and 
 of the right which is vested in him under 
 the following article. 
 
 Article XXXIV. 
 
 The prisoner shall be allowed, within 
 the peremptory term of three days, to be 
 counted from the date of his flirst exami- 
 nation, to object to his extradition on the 
 following grounds: 
 
 (1) That he is not the same man to 
 whom the demand of extradition refers. 
 
 (2) That the documents upon which the 
 demand is based are not in due form. 
 
 (3) That the extradition is not war- 
 ranted. 
 
 Article XXXV. 
 
 Evidence in support of his statements, 
 whenever such evidence may be neces- 
 sary, shall be admitted ; and this admis- 
 sion shall be governed by the same rules, 
 as far as relevancy and time are concerned, 
 as are in force in the country where the 
 proceedings take place. 
 
 ignal forma, la justiflcacidn de que el reo 
 ha sido citado, y representadoenel juicio 
 6 declarado legalmento rebelde. 
 
 ARxfcuLO 31. 
 
 Si el Estado requerido considerase im- 
 procedente el pedido por defectos de 
 forma, devolver^ los docnmentos respeo- 
 tivos al Gobierno que lo formul6, expre- 
 sando la causa y defectos que impiden sa 
 sustanciacidn judicial. 
 
 w 
 
 ARxfcuLO 32. 
 
 Si el pedido de extradicidn hubiese sido 
 introduoido en debida forma, el Gobierno 
 requerido remitirii todos los antecedeiites 
 al juez 6 tribunal competente, quien 
 ordenar^ la prisi6n del reo y el secuest;ro 
 de los objetos concemientes al delito, si & 
 su juicio procediese tal medida, con arre- 
 glo Si lo establecido en el presente Tratado. 
 
 ARxfcuLo 33. 
 
 En todos los casos en que proceda la 
 prisidn del refugiado, se le har^ saber su 
 causa en el t^rmino de veinte y cuatro 
 horas, y que puede hacer uso del derecho 
 que le acuerda el articulo siguiente. 
 
 ArtIculo 34. 
 
 El reo podr^, dentro de tres dias pe- 
 rentorios contados desdo el siguiente al 
 de la notificaci^n, oponerse & la extradi- 
 ci6n, alegando : 
 
 (1) Que no es la persona reclamada ; 
 
 (2) Los defectos de forma de que ado- 
 lezcan los docnmentos presentados ; 
 
 (3) La improcedencia del pedido de 
 extradicidn. 
 
 ArtIcwlo 35. 
 
 En los casos en que fuese necesaria la 
 comprobaci6n de los hechos alegados, se 
 abrirfi el incidente S, prueba, rigiendo 
 respecto de ella y de sns tdrminos las 
 prescripciones de la ley procesal del Es- 
 tado requerido. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 747 
 
 Article XXXVI. 
 
 After the whole evidence is on file, the 
 judge or tribunal shall decide within ten 
 days, and without any further steps, 
 whether the extradition must or must not 
 he granted. 
 
 An appeal can he taken against this 
 decision to the court of final jurisdiction 
 on the subject, within three days, and 
 that court shall decide within five days. 
 
 ARTfcULO 36. 
 
 Prodncida la prueba, el incidente serA 
 fallado sin raas tr^mite, en el t^rmino de 
 diez dias, declarando si hay 6 no lugar S, 
 la extradioidn. 
 
 Dicha resoluci6n ser^ apelable, dentro 
 del t^rmino de tres dias, para ante el tri- 
 bunal competente, el cual pronunciari su 
 decision en el plazo de oinoo dias. 
 
 Article XXXVII. 
 
 ArtIculo 37. 
 
 If the decision is in the sense that the 
 extradition be granted, the tribunal 
 which rendered it shall give notice 
 thereof immediately to the executive 
 power, in order that the proper provision 
 be made by it for the delivery of the pris- 
 oner. 
 
 If the decision is adverse to the extra- 
 dition, the judge or tribunal shall order 
 at once the release of the prisoner, and 
 shall give due information to the exec- 
 utive power by sending to it a copy of 
 its decision. 
 
 If extradition was refused because the 
 documents were not sufficient, the case 
 shall be re-opened whenever the Govern- 
 ment whose demand was refused presents 
 new docnmeuts, or supplements those 
 which had been presented before. 
 
 Article XXXVIII. 
 
 Whenever the prisoner may acquiesce 
 to his being delivered up, the court shall, 
 upon entering in due form the said acqui- 
 escence, render a decision granting his 
 extradition. 
 
 Si la sentencia fuese favorable al pedido 
 de extradicidu, el tribunal que pronunci6 
 el fallo, lo har^ saber inmediatamente al 
 Poder Ejecutivo, £i tin de que provea lo 
 nocesario para la entrega del delinouente. 
 
 Si fuese contraria, el juez 6 tribunal 
 ordenar^ la inmediata libertad del de- 
 tenido, y lo coraunicar^ al Poder Ejecu- 
 tivo, adjuntando copia de la sentencia, 
 para que la ponga en oonocimiento del 
 Gobierno requierente. 
 
 En los cases de negativa por insufl- 
 ciencia de documentos, debe reabrirse el 
 juicio de exlradici6n, siempre que el Go- 
 bierno reclamante presentase otros, 6 
 complementase los ya presentados. 
 
 ARTfcULO 38. 
 
 Si el detenido manifestase su couformi- 
 d^d con el pedido de extradici<5n, el juez 
 6 tribunal librarSi acta de los t^rminos eu 
 que esa conformidad haya sido prestada, 
 y declarari, sin mas trSmite, la proce- 
 dencia de la extradici<5n. 
 
 Article XXXIX. 
 
 Every article or object found in the pos- 
 session of the offender, and having any- 
 thing to do with the offense for which 
 the extradition takes place, shall be de- 
 livered up together with the prisoner. 
 
 Those which were found in the posses- 
 sion 6f third parties shall not be delivered 
 up without the possessor thereof having 
 been first given the proper hearing, and 
 a decision being rendered upon his state- 
 ments. 
 
 ARTfcULO 39. 
 
 Todos los objetos concernientes al delito 
 que motiva la extradicidn y que se halla- 
 ren en poder del reo, ser^u remitidos al 
 Estado que obtuvo la entrega. 
 
 Los que se hallaren en poder de teroe- 
 roa no ser^n remitidos sin que los posee- 
 dores sean oidos previamente y resueltose 
 las excepciones que opongan. 
 
748' 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Article XL. 
 
 When the extradition is to take place 
 by land, the Government which delivers 
 up the prisoner shall be bound to take 
 the latter to the frontier, either of the 
 State which makes the demand, or of the 
 State through which he has to be carried. 
 
 When the extradition is to take place 
 by water, whether of the sea or of a river, 
 the prisoner shall be delivered up to the 
 agents of the other nation at the port of 
 embarkation. 
 
 The nation who asked for the extradi- 
 tion shall always have the right to send 
 one or more police officers for the proper 
 custody of the prisoner ; but the functions 
 and power of said officers shall be sub- 
 ordinate to and dependent upju the au- 
 thority of the police of the country which 
 has made the delivery. 
 
 Article XLI. 
 
 Whenever the extradition of a prisoner 
 has been granted but the delivery can not 
 be actually accomplished without passing 
 through the territory of another State, 
 the latter shall grant permission to do 
 so, upon no other requisite or formality 
 than the exhibition, diplomatically, of 
 the decree by which the extradition was 
 granted, and of which an authciiticated 
 copy shall be put on file. 
 
 If the permission is granted, the pro- 
 visions of No. 3 of the foregoing article 
 shall be complied with. 
 
 Article XLII. 
 
 The expenses which may be incurred 
 owing to tho demand of extradition until 
 the moment of the delivery, shall be paid 
 by the State upon which the demand is 
 made; but all others incurred after that 
 moment shall be paid by the Government 
 which made the demand. 
 
 Article XLIII. 
 
 Whenever the extradition is granted, 
 and the offender delivered up is not a con- 
 victed criminal, the Government of the 
 nation to which the said offender was de- 
 livered up, shall be bound to communicate 
 to the Government which granted the ex- 
 tradition the decision which may be ren- 
 dered in the case or trial for which it was 
 granted. 
 
 ArtIculo 40. 
 
 En los casos de hacerse la entrega del 
 reo por la via terrestrc, corresponder^ al 
 Estado requerido efectuar la traslacida 
 del inculpado hasta el punto mas ade- 
 cuado de an frontera. 
 
 Cuandola traslaci6n del reo deba efeo- 
 tuarse por la via maritima 6 fluvial, la 
 entrega se har^ en el puerto mas apro- 
 piado de embarque S, los agentes que debe 
 constituir la^acidn requierente. 
 
 El Estado requierente podr^, en todo 
 caso, constituir uno 6 mas agentes de 
 segnridad ; pero la intervencidn de €stos 
 quedar^ subordinada ^ los agentes 6 au- 
 toridades del territorio requerido 6 del de 
 trflasito. 
 
 ARTfCULO 41. 
 
 Cuando para la entrega de un reo, cuya 
 extradicidn hubiese sido acordada por una 
 Naci6n & favor de otra, fuese necesario 
 atravesar el territorio de un Estado inter- 
 medio, cl tr&sito ser^ autorizado por 
 6ste sin otro requisito que el de la exhibi- 
 ci6u por la via diplomSticadeltestimonio 
 en forma del decreto de extradicidn, ex- 
 pedido jjor el Gobierno que la otorgd. 
 
 Si el tr^nsito fuese acordado, regir^i lo 
 dispuesto en el inoiso3''del artlculo ante- 
 rior. 
 
 ARTfCULO 42. 
 
 Los gastos que demande la extradicidn 
 del reo, aer^n por cnenta del Estado re- 
 querido hasta el momento de la entrega, 
 y desde ent6nces & cargo del Gobierno re- 
 quirente. 
 
 ARTfCULO 43. 
 
 Cuando la extradicidn fuese acordada 
 y se tratase de un enjuiciado, el Gobierno 
 que la hubiese obtenido, comunicardl al 
 que la coneedid, la sentencia definitiva 
 recaida en la causa que motiv6 aquella. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 749 
 
 Title V. — Of the Preventive arrest. 
 
 Article XLIV. 
 
 In cases of urgency the State upon 
 which the demand of extradition is made, 
 shall order the preventive arrest of the 
 offender, if so asked by mail or by tele- 
 graph, by the State which makes the de- 
 mand, on condition, however, that a 
 sentence, or a warrant of arrest, against 
 the said offender is positively asserted to 
 have been issued, and the nature of the 
 offense with which he is charged is clearly 
 stated and defined. 
 
 Article XLV. 
 
 Th« person so arrested shall be set at 
 liberty if within ten days subsequent to 
 the arrival of the first mail sent after the 
 date of the petition for the preventive 
 arrest no formal demand of extradition 
 is made. 
 
 Article XLVI. 
 
 In all cases of preventive arrest the re- 
 sponsibility thereof belongs to the Gov- 
 ernment which asked for it. 
 
 TfxuLo V. — De la prui&n preventiva. 
 
 Art! CULO 44. 
 
 Cuando los Gobiernos signatarios repu- 
 tasen el caso urgente, podr^n solioitar 
 por la via postal 6 telegr^fioa, que se pro- 
 ceda administrativamente al arresto pro- 
 visorio del reo, asi oomo & la seguridad de 
 los objetos ooncernientes al delito, y se 
 aocederSi al pedido, siempre que se invo- 
 que la existeucia de una sentencia 6 de 
 una (5rden do prisi6n, y se determine con 
 claridad la naturaleza del delito castigado 
 6 persegnido. 
 
 ARTfcULO 45. 
 
 El detenido serd puesto en libertad, si 
 el Estado requirente no presentase el 
 pedido de extradicifin dentro de los diez 
 dias de la Uegada del primer correo des- 
 pachado despues del pedido de aiTesto 
 provisorioi 
 
 ARTfCULO 46. 
 
 En todos los cases de prisidn preventiva, 
 las responsabilidades que de ellaemauen 
 corresponden al Gobierno que solicit6 la 
 detenoi6n. 
 
 General provisions. 
 
 Article XLTII. 
 
 No simultaneous ratification of this 
 treaty by all the conti acting States shall 
 be necessary for its validity. The State 
 which approves of the treaty shall com- 
 municate its approval thereof to the Gov- 
 ernments of the Argentine Republic and 
 of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, 
 which shall give notice thereof to the 
 other contracting States, This process 
 shall take the place of an exchange. 
 
 Article XLVIII. 
 
 The exchange having been made in the 
 manner provided for in the preceding ar- 
 ticle, the treaty shall remain in force for 
 an indefinite period of time. 
 
 Article XLIX. 
 
 If any of the contracting nations should 
 deem it advisable to discontinue its ad- 
 hesion to the treaty, or should desire to 
 make some modification of its provisions. 
 
 Disposidones generales. 
 
 ArtIculo 47. 
 
 No es indispensable paralavigencia de 
 este Tratado su ratifioacidu simultdinea 
 por todas las Naciones signatarias. La 
 que lo apruebe lo comunioard; ^ los Go- 
 biernos de las Repliblicas Argentina y 
 Oriental del Uruguay para que lo hagan 
 saber & las demas Naciones contratantes. 
 Este procedimiento hardl las voces de 
 cange. 
 
 ARTfcULO 48. 
 
 Hecho el cange en la forma del articulo 
 anterior, esto Tratado quedarii en vigor 
 desde ese acto por tiempo indefinido. 
 
 ARTfcULO 49. 
 
 Si alguna de las Naciones signatarias 
 oreyese conveniente desligarse del Tra- 
 tado 6 introducir modificaciones en ^1, lo 
 avisarit & las demas ; pero no quedar^ des- 
 
750 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 it shall be in its power to do so ; but it 
 sball give notice of its intention to do so 
 to the other parties ; and it shall not he 
 released from its obligation until two 
 years after such notice shall have elapsed; 
 and during this period it shall endeavor 
 to reach some arrangement on the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 Article L. 
 
 The stipulations of this treaty shall 
 be applicable only to offenses committed 
 during the time in which it has been in 
 operation. 
 
 Akticlb LI. 
 
 The provisions of Article XLVII are 
 applicable to the nations -which have not 
 attended this Congress, but wish to ad- 
 here to this treaty. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that there was no reason why he 
 could not accept the second part of the 
 report, but in so far as the first part -was 
 concerned. Chili had rejected the treaty 
 of international penal law of Montevideo, 
 and the Chilian delegation could not rec- 
 ommend for adoption what had been 
 already rejected. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, m, Delegate from Nicara- 
 gua, stated that he could not recommend 
 the adoption of a treaty which he had 
 not yet had time to carefully read. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 stated that on this occasion, as on a for- 
 mer one on which the treaties of Monte- 
 video had been mentioEed, he has to ex- 
 plain that his Government, at the invita- 
 tion of that of the Argentine, is studying, 
 through the Department of Justice, said 
 treaties, and that the Mexican delegation 
 had been instructed not to express an 
 opinion on them. In regard to the second 
 part of tlie conclusions, there was no diffi- 
 culty in accepting it, although Mexico 
 already had a treaty of extradition with 
 the United States which had so far given 
 satisfaction. 
 
 Mr. Zklata, chairman of the reporting 
 committee, said that Mr. Guzman's ob- 
 jection was just, and that he considered 
 it wise to postpone the discussion of the 
 subject until the next session. 
 
 ligada sino dos afios despues de la denuu- 
 cia, tfirmino eh que se procurar^ llegar 
 & un nuevo acuerdo. 
 
 ARTfcULO 50. 
 
 Las estipulaciones del presente Tratado 
 solo ser^n aplicables S> los delitos perpe- 
 trados durante su vigencia. 
 
 ARTfcuLO 51. 
 
 El artf culo 47 es extensivo ^ las Naciones 
 que no habiendo concurrido & este Con- 
 greso, quisieran adherirse at presente 
 TraAado." 
 
 El Sefior Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 manifesto que no tenia inconveniente en 
 aceptar la segunda parte de la recomenda- 
 cidn del dict^men ; pero que respecto de 
 la primera debia decir que el Gobierno de 
 Chile habia rehusado aceptar el tratado 
 de Derecho penal internaoional de Monte- 
 video, y que la Delegacidn de Chile no 
 podia recomendarle que adoptase lo ya 
 rechazado. 
 
 El SeSor GuzMiN, delegado por Nica^ 
 ragna, manifesto que no podia reoomendar 
 la adopcidn de un tratado que no habia 
 todavia tenido tiempo de leer con cui- 
 dado. 
 
 ElSefior Romero, delegado porMfeico, 
 expuso que en esta ocasidn como en la 
 anterior en que se habl6 de los tratados 
 de Montevideo, debia hacer constar que 
 su Gobierno £ invitacifin del de la Re- 
 ptiblica Argentina estaba estudiando por 
 conducto de la Secretaria de Justicia los 
 referidos tratados ; y que la Delegacidn de 
 Mexico habia recibido instrucciones de su 
 Gobierno de no expresar opinidn respecto 
 de los mismos. Y que en cuanto & la se- 
 gunda parte de la recomendacidn no tenia 
 inconveniente en aceptarla, aunque Mexi- 
 co tenia ya celebrado con los Estados 
 Unidos un tratado que se consideraba sa- 
 tisfactorio. 
 
 El Setior Zblata, Presidenfce de la 
 Comisidn informante, dijo que le parecia 
 justa la observaci6n del SeSor Guzman, y 
 que crela oportuno posponer la discusidn 
 del punto hasta la sesi6n pr^Sxima. 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE 
 
 751 
 
 Mr. CAAMA.So,aDelegate from Ecuador, 
 asked that it be postponed until the after- 
 noon session, and it was so agreed. 
 
 The hour for adjournment having been 
 reached, the Chair declared the session 
 closed. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 HoKATio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 P. C. C. Zegabra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernawdo Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos£ M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 E(5que Saenz PeSa, 
 
 Argentine. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 JosA S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentb, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jhr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Eomero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexieo. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker. 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 NiCANOR Bolbt Peraza. 
 Jos^ Andradb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 3os& Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Soak Maria PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Eg;iiador. 
 
 El Seflor CaamaSo, delegado por Ecua- 
 dor, pidid que no se tratase de este asunto 
 en la sesicin de la maQaua del dia siguiente 
 sfno en la de la tarde, y asf se dispuso. 
 
 Habiendollegadolahorareglamentaria, 
 se levanto la sesifSn. 
 
 Jambs 6. Blaine, 
 
 Preaidente. 
 Horacio GuzmjCn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peri. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Jos:fi M. Hurtado, 
 CiRLOs Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colombia. 
 EOQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 
 ArgtnUna. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Eica. 
 Josifi S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. 6. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador db Mbndon9a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jbr6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Eomero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estbe, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Estados Tfnidos. 
 NiCANOK Bolet Peraza, 
 Jos:fe Andradb, 
 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile, 
 Jo8:fi MarIa PlIcido CaamaSto, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
SIXTY-SIXTH DAY. 
 
 Washington, Jpril 15, 1890. 
 The InternalionalAmericau Conference 
 ■was called to order at 11.15 a. ra. by the 
 President, Hon. James G. Blaine, with 
 the following delegates present : 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peru : 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Gantemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando iCruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Mr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pefia. 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Joa6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. "Velarde. 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 Mr. William Henry Tresoot. 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee, 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 753 
 
 ACTA No. 66. 
 
 Sesidn del 15 de Abril de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine, 
 Estaudo presentes : 
 
 Haiti: 
 
 El Sr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Perti: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El. Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado; 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 El Sr. Climaco Calderdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz Pena ; 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica: 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer(5nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Boliva : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 ElSr. T. Jefferson Coolidge; 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee ; 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 El Sr. Charles R. FUnt. 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 753 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Joa6 Andrade, 
 Chili : 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Maria Pliioido Caamafio. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 The Chair announced that the order 
 of the day called for the continuation of 
 the debate on Arbitration. 
 
 Mr. Zblata, a Delegate from Hon- 
 duras, spoke as follows, requesting that 
 his remarks be inserted in the minutes : 
 
 Mr. Presidekt — Gentlemen : 
 
 The subject under discussion to-day is 
 one of great interest. 
 
 There is no question of greater magni- 
 thde before the International American 
 Conference than this which treats of sav- 
 ing the Republics of this continent from 
 the ravages of war and avoiding blood- 
 shed, often spilled in fruitless struggles 
 and for unjustifiable motives. It is nec- 
 essary, gentlemen, to put an end to 
 these cruel sacrifices, too often witnessed 
 in the New World, to the shame and 
 horror of humanity and civilization. 
 Let Europe, if it so desires, and the rest 
 of the world if it wishes it, continue to 
 witness these scenes, protested against, by 
 honorable men ; let the spectacle of 
 ferocity and barbarity called war scandal- 
 ize humanity, but gentlemen in our 
 America let this fatal plague cease; sweep 
 away this scourge from our continent 
 for the glory of our liberal iustitutions 
 and by the liberty which we enjoy from 
 one extreme of the continent to the other ; 
 add to these blessings the glory of peace 
 which will augment its prestige, its pros- 
 perity, its credit and its honor. 
 
 So long as you delay to confer upon the 
 peoples you represent this ineffable bless- 
 ^^Si ^y opposing this measure, just so 
 long do you thwart their desires, betray 
 their confidence and their dearest inter- 
 ests. Civilization, humanity, and Chris- 
 tianity cries out to us for this remedy of 
 4810 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 El Sr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 ElSr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Jos6 Marfa PKoido 
 Caama&o. 
 Se abrid la sesi6n S, las once y quince 
 minutos de la maliana. 
 
 Se ley6, aprobd y firmd el acta del dia 
 anterior. 
 
 El Sefior Prbsidente anuncid que la 
 drden del dia senalaba la continuaci<5n 
 del debate sobre el asunto de arbitrage. 
 El Sefior Zblaya, delegado por Hon- 
 duras, tom6 la palabra y se expresd como 
 sigue ; solioitando que su discurso se in- 
 sertase en el acta. 
 
 SeEor Pkesidente : SeBores Delegados : 
 Sobre manera interesante es el asunto 
 que hoy se discute. Ninguno de tanta 
 magnitud como ^ste en que la Conferencia 
 Internacional Americana trata de salvar 
 A las Republicas del Coatiuente de los 
 furores y estragos de la guerra y de econo- 
 mizar la sangre de los pueblos, vertida 
 las mas de las veces en luchas est^riles y 
 por motives injustificables. Preoisa, 
 Sefiores, poner tdrmino S, esas crueles 
 hecatombes, que hau venido presenciiin- 
 dose en el nuevO mundo con vilipendio y 
 csoarnio de la humanidad y de la civiliza- 
 ci6n. Que la Europa, si asl lo quiere, 
 y que el resto del mundo, si asl lo quiere 
 tambi6n, coutinuen presentando, con pro- 
 testa de las almas honradas, ese espect^- 
 culo de ferooidad y barbaric que se llama 
 la guerra; pero haced cesar vosotros, 
 Sefiores, en nuestra America ese azote 
 fatal; haced cesar ese ominoso flagelo en 
 nuestro Contineute, para que S, la gloria 
 de las generosas instituciones y libertades 
 de que goza de uno & otro extreme, afiada 
 la gloria de la paz que ha de aumentar 
 su prestigio y prosperidad, su crddito y su 
 honra. 
 
 Cuanto tardeis en derramar sobre los 
 pueblos que representais esa inefable ben- 
 dioidu, consagrando el remedio del ar- 
 bitrage, traicionais el voto, traicionais la 
 conflanza y los mas caros y palpitantes 
 intereses de esos mismos pueblos. La 
 civilizaci6n, la humanidad y el oristia- 
 
754 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 arbitration for all conflicts which may 
 arise in the future between American na- 
 tions; we are implored to use calm and 
 impartial reason instead of having re- 
 course to violence and the sword ; we are 
 warned not to consume the wealth of the 
 people in belicose armaments but to use it 
 for the promotion of general welfare ; we 
 are begged to annihilate in our hemisphere 
 the horrible monster of discord and sav- 
 age war, and on the crown of such a noble 
 work, let ns write of these holy words: 
 Fraternity, Peace, Justice. 
 
 This, Mr. President, and gentlemen of 
 the Conference, is the desire and the vote 
 which, in the name of my Government 
 and of my country, in the matter under 
 discussion, I offer to the International 
 American Conference. Great will be the 
 honor of this Conference, which will thus 
 realize the most portentious and the most 
 glorious of conquests, if, when it closes 
 its sessions to-day its vote should close 
 forever the period of armed revolutions 
 and wars and leave America, free Amer- 
 ica, a single exception among political 
 entities, reposing in the arms of perpetual 
 peace, and ofter to the universe the 
 grandest, the happiest, and the most 
 noble of examples. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 stated that he was preparing an expos6 
 of the motives for his vote on the sub- 
 ject, and asked that the discussion be 
 postponed until the afternoon session. 
 He added that Mr. Caamafio had con- 
 sented to withdraw his motion of the 
 previous day, and to allow the discus- 
 sion of the report on Extradition. 
 
 A difference of opinion having arisen 
 on this point, the vote was taken and 
 resulted in the adoption of Mr. Cruz's 
 motion by a majority of 14 to 1. 
 
 The Delegations voting were: Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, Tenezuela, 
 Chili, and Ecuador. 
 
 The United States voted negatively. 
 
 nismo nos piden que oonsagremos el arbi- 
 trage para todos los conflictos que pue- 
 dan surgir en lo futuro entre las naciones 
 americanas; nos piden que en vez de 
 ocurrir ^ la fuerza, & la violencia 6 S, la, 
 espada, se ocurra al dictamen de la razon 
 sereua 6 imparcial ; nos piden que no se 
 consuma el tesoro de los pueblos en arma- 
 mentos y b^licos pertrechos, sino que se 
 consuma en promover el bienestar gene- 
 ral; nos piden que aniquilemos en nues- 
 tro hemisferio el monstruo horrendo de 
 la discordia y de la guerra salvage, y que 
 por coronamiento de tan magna obra, es- 
 cribamos sobre sus ruinas estos santos 
 nombres: fraternidad, paz, justicia. 
 
 Este es, Sefior Presidente, este es, Se- 
 aores Delegados, el anhelo y el voto que 
 traigo A la Conferencia Internacional 
 Americana, en nombre de ml Gobi emo y 
 de mi pais, en la materia que se discnte. 
 Grande honor serd para la Conferencia y 
 ella realizar^ la mis portentosa y la mas 
 gloriosa de las conquistas, si, al cerrar 
 hoy sus sesiones, vota por que se cierre 
 para siempre el perlodo de las revolu- 
 ciones armadas y de las batallas, y hace 
 que la Am6rica, que la America libre, sin 
 excepci6n de una sola de sus entidades 
 polltioaa, repose en los brazes de una paz 
 perdurable, y ofrezca al universo el mfis 
 grande, el mSa fecnndo y noble de los 
 ejemplos." 
 
 ' El Senor Crtjz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, manifesto que estaba preparando 
 una exposicidn de los motives de su voto 
 en el asunto en debate, y que deseaba 
 ee pospusiera la discusidn hasta la sesi(5n 
 de por la tarde. Afiadi6 que el Sefior 
 Caamafio habia consentido en que para 
 ese efecto se entendiese retirada su 
 moci6n del dia anterior. Enfcretanto 
 podia discutirse el dictamen de la Co- 
 misi6n de extradicidn. 
 
 Habi^ndose suscitado alguna discnsidn 
 respecto de este punto, se> procedifi d 
 votar, resultando adoptada la proposicicSn 
 del Sefior Cruz por una mayoria de 14 
 contra 1. 
 
 Las Delegaciones que votaron por la 
 afirmativa fneron: Nicaragua, Perfi, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, Mexi- 
 co, Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador. 
 
 El voto negativo fn6 de los Estados 
 Unidos. 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN COITPERENCB. 
 
 755 
 
 Mr. MEirD0N5A, a Delegate from Brazil, 
 moved that before the regular business of 
 the day was taken up, the Conference ap- 
 point the acting secretary, Mr. Rodriguez, 
 full secretary, and Mr. Zegarra seconded 
 the motion. 
 
 A vote having been taken, Mr. Rodri- 
 guez was unanimously appointed Spanish 
 Secretary of the Conference. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Extra- 
 dition was re-opened for discussion. 
 
 Mr.CAAMASfo, a Delegate from Ecuador, 
 read the remarks hereto appended. 
 
 The PRBSlDBNTcalled Mr. Zegarra, First 
 Vice-President, to the chair ; and the de- 
 Jbate being continued, Messrs. Bolet Per- 
 aza, Quintaua, Martinez Silva, and Saenz 
 Pefia spoke on the treaty of penal inter- 
 national law of Montevideo. 
 
 At the request of Mr. Bolet Pbraza, 
 it was agreed to append to the minutes 
 the stenographer's notes of his remarks. 
 
 Messrs. Guzman and Cruz handed to 
 the Chair the following amendment, 
 which was unanimously accepted by the 
 committee : 
 
 " The American International Conference 
 resolves : 
 
 "(1) To recommend to the Governments 
 of the Latin-American nations the study 
 of the treaty of penal international law 
 made at Montevideo by the South Ameri- 
 can Congress of 1888, in order that within 
 a year, to be counted from the date of the 
 final adjournment of this Conference, they 
 may express whether they adhere to the 
 said treaty, and in case that their adhe- 
 sion is not complete, which are the re- 
 strictions or modifications with which 
 they accept it. 
 
 "(2) To recommend at the same time 
 that those Goveroments of Latin America' 
 
 7 
 
 which have not already made special trea- 
 ties of extradition with the Government 
 of the United States of North America, 
 shonld make them. 
 
 H. Guzman, 
 Fernando Cruz." 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 stated that in order that there might not 
 appear any contradiction between his re- 
 
 El Sefior MBNDON9A, delegado por el 
 Briisil, hizo moci6n para que se nombrase 
 en propiedad Seoretario hispano-amerl- 
 cano de la Conferencia, al que lo es inte- 
 rino Dr. Kodriguez. El SeSor Zegarra, 
 delegado por el Perii, apoyd la mocidn ; y 
 habi^udose procedido ^ votar, resnltd 
 nombrado uuSinimemente el Dr. Rodri- 
 guez, Secretario hispano-americano de la 
 Conferencia. 
 
 Se puso & discusidn el dictamen de la 
 Comisidn de extradicidn, y el SeBor 
 CaamaSo, delegado por el Ecuador, pro- 
 nuncid el discurso que se acompaSa al 
 acta como ap^ndice. 
 
 El SeSor Prbsidbnte llam6 entbnoes 
 al Senor Zegarra i, ocupar su puesto, y 
 continuada la disousidn, tomaron la pa- 
 labra sucesivamente los Sefiores Bolet 
 Peraza, Quintaua, Martinez Silva y Saenz 
 PeSa, con referenda al Tratado de Dere- 
 cho penal internaoional de Montevideo. 
 
 A peticidn del Senor Bolet Pbraza se 
 acord6 acompafia* S, esta acta como ap^n- 
 dice la transcripcldn taquigr^fica de sa 
 discurso. 
 
 Los SeSores Guzman y Cruz enviaron 
 Sj la Mesa la siguiente enmienda, que la 
 Comisidn acept6 por nnanimidad : 
 
 "La Conferencia Internaoional Americana 
 resuelve ; 
 
 "(1) Reoomendar S, los Gobiernos de 
 las naciones Latiuo-Amerioanas el estndio 
 del Tratado de derecho penal Interna- 
 oional ajustado por el Congreso Sud- 
 Americano de 1888 de Montevideo para 
 que dentro de un atto contado desde la 
 fecba'de la clausura de esta Conferencia 
 expreseu si adhieren ^ 61, manifestando 
 en caso de no ser absoluta su adhesidn, las 
 restricoiones 6 modificaciones con que lo 
 aceptan. 
 
 " (2) Recomendar al mismo tiempo que 
 aquellos Gobiernos de la America Latina 
 que no hayan celebrado tratados espeoia- 
 les de extradicidn con el Gobierno de 
 los Estados Unidos de Norte-Am^rica, 
 los celebren. 
 
 H. GuZMjfN." 
 
 Fernando Cruz. 
 
 El Sefior Rombro, delegado por Mdxico, 
 manifests que ^ fin de que no apareciese 
 contradiocidn entre lo que ayer expreso 
 
756 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMEEICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 marks of yesterday and the vote which 
 he was about to give in favor of the 
 amendment, he would state that he would 
 approve the first recommendation about 
 studying the Treaty of Montevideo be- 
 cause his Government is already studying 
 it, and concerning the second part he 
 would say that it was unnecessary for 
 Mexico since she had long ago signed a 
 treaty of extradition which is now in 
 force, but notwithstanding this fact he 
 would approve of the second recommen- 
 dation. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that the proposed amendment did 
 not affect Chili's position in the matter, 
 as he could not recommend to his Gov- 
 ernment the study of a subject already 
 rejected. As to the second part, he was 
 in favor of it to-day, as he had been be- 
 fore. He asliied that the two recommen- 
 dations be voted on separately. Mr. 
 Alfonso added that he has instructions 
 from his Government to accede to the 
 delivery of citizens. 
 
 The roll was called and the first recom- 
 mendation was adopted by a majority of 
 fourteen to one. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Nica- 
 ragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentine, Costa Eica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, United States, 
 Venezuela, and Ecuador. 
 
 Chili voted negatively. 
 
 Theseoondrecommendationhavingbeen 
 voted upon, was unanimously adopted, the 
 same Delegations voting as beforer* 
 
 The Conference then adjourned until 
 the afternoon session. 
 
 The session was re-opened with the 
 Hon. James G. Blainb in the Chair, and 
 the debate on arbitration was continued. 
 
 Mr. Decoud, a Delegate from Paraguay, 
 read the following : 
 
 "The Delegation of Paraguay takes 
 pleasure in stating that it gives its affirm- 
 ative vote to the project of arbitration as 
 formulated, leaving nevertheless to the 
 decision of , its Government the confirma- 
 tion thereof, with such reservations as 
 may be deemed proper." 
 
 en nombre de la Delegaoidn de Mfeico y 
 el voto que va ^ dar esta en favor de la 
 modificaci6n, debia hacer constar que 
 aprobari esta por que el objeto de su 
 prirnera parte es tan solo recomendar el 
 estudio del tratado de Montevideo, estu- 
 dio que estS haciendo ya el Gobierno de 
 Mexico y que respecto de la segunda debe 
 mauifestar que para Mexico es innece- 
 saria esa recomendaci6n porque tiene 
 oelebrado, bace tiempo, un tratado de ex- 
 tradicidn con los Es.adosUnidos, sin em- 
 bargo de lo oual tambien votar^E por ella. 
 
 El Sefior Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 manifesto que la enmieuda propuesta no 
 afecta la situacidn de la delegacidn de 
 Chile en el asunto, pues que no podia re- 
 comendar & su Gobierno el estudio de uu 
 tratado ya rechazado. Eespeoto de la 
 segunda parte estaba conforme ahora como 
 lo habia estado antes. Pidid en seguida 
 que se votasen las dos recomendaciones 
 separadamente, y asl se acordd. Anadid el 
 Sr. Alfonso que tenia instrncciones de su 
 Gobierno para acceder S, la entrega de los 
 nacionales. 
 
 Puesta S, votacidn la prirnera recomen- 
 dacidn, resultd adoptada por una mayorla 
 de catorce votos contra uno, en el drden 
 siguiente : 
 
 Por la afirmativa : Nicaragua, Perli, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Costa 
 Eica, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, Me- 
 xico, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Venezuela, 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Por la negativa : Chile. 
 
 Tomado el voto respecto & la segunda 
 recoraendacidn, resultd adoptada por una- 
 nimidad, votando las mismas delegaoiones 
 que acaban de nombrarse. 
 
 La Conferencia levantd entonces la se- 
 sidn para rennirse de nuevo & las tres de 
 la tarde. 
 
 Llegada esta hora, y ocupada la Presi- 
 denoia por el Honorable Sefior James G. 
 Blaine, se conti nud la discusidn del asunto 
 de arbitrage, y el Sefior Decoud, dele- 
 gddopor Paraguay, pronuncid el siguiente 
 discurso : 
 
 " La delegaoidn del Paraguay se oom- 
 place en manifestar que d^ su voto afirma- 
 tivo por el proyecto de arbitrage en los 
 tiSrminosformulados, librando no obstante 
 ^ la decisidn de su Gobierno expresar su 
 coufirmaoidn con las reservas que juzgue 
 conveuiente. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 757 
 
 This declaration requires a short expla- 
 nation. 
 ■ My Government sympathizes deeply 
 with the principle of arbitration as it has 
 proved more than once, not only by sub- 
 mitting to arbitration its differences with 
 other nations, but by endeavoring to ob- 
 tain the acceptance thereof in other 
 treaties concluded with friendly coun- 
 tries. Such has been and will be the in- 
 variable conduct of my Government. I 
 am sure it will give its most careful at- 
 tention to everything destined to secure 
 in a permanent manner the peace and 
 welfare of the sister republics of the 
 American continent, strengthening and 
 binding closer and most lastingly the 
 existing fraternal bonds. In making the 
 reservation above mentioned, I only obey 
 a sentiment of strict duty, having espe- 
 cially in mind that the general instruct- 
 ions given me could not foresee some of 
 the important points set forth in the able 
 project submitted to the consideration of 
 the Conference, and to which the Delega- 
 tion of Paraguay is proud to express its 
 general adhesion. In this I not only in- 
 terpret the lofty sentiments of American 
 fraternity which animate the Government 
 which I have the honor to represent, but 
 also pay respectful tribute to the eternal 
 principle of right and justice, which 
 are the only reasons to be invoked for the 
 peaceful and amicable solution of the 
 differences or conflicts which may arise 
 between sister states, intimately con- 
 nected in the past by glorious traditions, 
 and united in the present and in the 
 future by common aspirations of glory 
 and prosperity under the tutelar shade of 
 free institutions. 
 
 Mr. Ckuz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 and a member of the reporting commit- 
 tee, spoke as follows: 
 
 Mr. President aud Delbgates: 
 
 Believing that others better qualified 
 than I would present to the Conference, 
 together with the project of arbitration, 
 a report serving, as it might be said, as 
 an explanation of the reasons on which 
 the various articles which it contains are 
 ■ founded, I had abstained from stating 
 anything which might answer that pur- 
 
 " Esta declaracidn requiere una breve 
 explicaci<5n. 
 
 " Mi Gobierno simpatizaprofundamente 
 con el principiodel arbitrage, como lo ha 
 evidenciado en m^s de una ocasidn, no 
 solo sometiendo S, la deoisidn arbitral sus 
 diferenoias con otras nacionos, sino pro- 
 pendiendo Si que 61 se consigne en varies 
 tratadoB celebrados con paises amigos, 
 Tal ha sido y ser£i su norma de conducta 
 invariable; y estoy seguro que prestar^ 
 su m^s sollcita atencifin & todo pensa- 
 miento destinado & asegurar de una 
 manera permanente la paz y el bienestar 
 de las Eeptiblicas hermanas del Conti- 
 nente americano, haciendo m^s estrechos 
 aun y duraderog los vinonlos fraternales 
 existentes ; pues al hacer la salvedad 
 indicada, solo pbedezco ^ uq deber de 
 estricta escrupnlosidad, teniendo es- 
 pecialmente presente que mis instruc- 
 ciones generales al respeoto no han podido 
 prover algunos puntos consignados en el 
 notable proyecto sometido & la onsidera- 
 ci6n de esta Conferencia, y al cual la 
 Delegacidn del Paraguay se honra en 
 expresar su adhesion, interpretando no 
 solo los elevados sentimientos de con- 
 fraternidad americana que animan al 
 Gobierno que tengo el honor de repre- 
 sentar, sino como una manifestaoi6n. 
 respetuosa S, los etemos prinoipios del 
 Derecho y la justicia, linicas razones que 
 deben invocarse en la soluoidu pacifioa y 
 amigable de las diferenoias, 6 conflictos, 
 surgidos entre pueblos hermanos, ligados 
 intimamente en el pasado por tradiciones 
 gloriosaa y uuidos en el presente y en el 
 futuro por aspiraciones oomunes de 
 grandeza y prosperidad S, la sombra 
 tutelar de las instituciones libres." 
 
 El Seaor Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, y miembro de la C6mision infor- 
 mante, tom6 entonces la palabra, ex- 
 pres^ndose en los siguientes t^rminos : 
 
 Sefior Presidente ; Sefiores Dblega- 
 Dos: 
 
 Creyendo que otras personas, con me- 
 jores titulos para ello, presentarlan S. la 
 Conferencia, junto con el proyecto de 
 arbitraje, un informe que fuera una 
 especie de exposicidn de motivos de los 
 diferentes artloulos que comprende, me 
 habia abstenido de expresar algo que 
 tuviese en mira responder & ese objeto. 
 
758 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 pose. But as none has been as yet pre- 
 sented, perhaps because the chairman 
 and the other learned and esteemed mem- 
 bers of the committee expect to make all 
 necessary explanations on this most in- 
 teresting subject, when called forth in 
 the course of the debate, I have deemed 
 it proper to submit, though succinctly 
 and hurriedly, the grounds upon which 
 the delegation of Guatemala rested in 
 proposing the different articles of the 
 project now under debate. I speak in my 
 own name, and not in that of the com- 
 mittee to which I belong, because I do not 
 feel authorized to express its opinions, 
 and the main purpose that I have in view 
 in making these remarks is to avoid, if 
 possible, through a previous explanation 
 of the spirit of each article, and of the 
 reasons why it was adopted, unnecessary 
 discussions, and loss of the short and 
 valuable time still left to us. 
 
 There is but little to be said upon arti- 
 cle 1, which provides for the establish- 
 ment of arbitration as a principle of 
 American international law, for the 
 settlement of all diflferences, disputes, 
 and controversies between two or more 
 of the Republics of the American conti- 
 nent. To replace cruel war by the civil- 
 izing and humane method of arbitration ; 
 to decide such disputes as may unhappily 
 arise, not amid the flames and thunders 
 of war, and through force and violence, 
 but by the calm and impartial judgment 
 of enlightened reason, after fail con- 
 sideration of the respective claims j is uu- 
 doubtedly a great advance, which will 
 do eternal honor to the nation, which for 
 that purpose, and for others also of im- 
 portance, invited the nations of America 
 to come an* meet in the* city of Wash- 
 ington. Whatever the practical results 
 of this Conference, in respect to the other 
 points of the programme upon which it 
 was called to act, may prove to be, the 
 fact that it has done something serious to 
 cause arbitration to be adopted, and war, 
 and with it all the disasters and calami- 
 ties which follow in its train to be 
 abolished in America, will ever be suffi- 
 cient by itself to challenge the grati- 
 tude of the continent, or more properly 
 speaking, of all mankind. For my part, 
 I can imagine no spectacle more sub- 
 
 No habl6ndose presentado ninguno hasta 
 ahora, aoaso porque el Presidente y dem^ 
 ilustrados y estimables compafieros de 
 Comisidn, se proponen ir haciendo todas 
 las explicacloues que se necesiten confor- 
 me lo exija el ourso del debate, acerca de 
 materia tan interesante, me ha parecido 
 oportuno exponer, por mi parte, siquiera 
 sea suciutamente y £t la lijera, los funda- 
 raentos de la Delegacidn que represento 
 al proponer los diferentes articulos del 
 proyecto que estdl discutiendose. Hablo 
 en mi nombre i)ropio j no en el de la 
 ComisicSn £i que pertenezoo, porque no 
 me creo autorizado para tomar su voz ; y 
 el resultado principal que busco es el de 
 ver si es posible que la explicacidn previa 
 del espfritu de cada artloulo y de las 
 razones que determinaron su adopci6n. 
 ahorre algunas discusiones y salve algana 
 parte del poco y precioso tiempo que nos 
 queda. 
 
 Poco habr^ que deoir acerca del arti- 
 culo primero que se refiere & la adopcidn 
 del arbitraje, como principio de Derecho 
 intemacional americano, para la solucidn 
 de las diferencias, disputas 6 contiendas 
 entre dos 6 mas de las Repdblicas del 
 Continente americano. Reemplazar el 
 medio cruel de la guerra por el humane y 
 civilizador del arbitraje ; deoidir las 
 disputas que desgraciadamente ocurran, 
 no entre el fuego y el estruendo de las 
 baterlas militares y con el apoyo de la 
 fuerza y la violencia, siuo por el fallo se- 
 rene 6 imparcial de la razon ilustrada, 
 pr6vio el examen de los derechos res- 
 pectivos, es sin duda un grandlsimo paso 
 que harSi eterno honor Si la naci6n que 
 con ese fin, y con otros tambien importan- 
 tes, convoc6 Si las naciones de America 
 para que se reuniesen en la ciudad de 
 Washington. Sean cuales fueren los re- 
 sultados pr^cticos de esta Conferencia res- 
 pecto de lo dem^s que comprende el pro- 
 grama de asuntos que estaba llamada £ 
 tratar, bastard que haya heeho algo serio 
 & fin de que se establezca el arbitraje en 
 toda America, y se pioscriba la guerra y 
 con ella el cortejo de calamidades que la 
 acompafian, para tener asegurados los 
 mas legitimes titulos & la gratitud del 
 Continente, mejor dicho, S la gratitud 
 de la humanidad. Por mi parte, nada 
 puedo imaglnar m^ hermoso que el 
 grnpo de todos los pueblos de America 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMJiKICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 759 
 
 limely beautiful than the united peo- 
 ples of America solemnly proclaiming 
 that only enlightened reason, aiid not 
 blind force, shall hereafter settle all the 
 conflicts arising among them. To- morrow, 
 when reaching our homes, and conveying 
 to our countrymen the glad tidings of 
 peace, we may promise to mothers, wives, 
 sisters, and daughters, that war will 
 never more snatch from their arms the 
 objects of their afifectiou, to be carried to 
 its bloody fields and he sacrificed, leav- 
 ing them clad in mourning, full of 
 angaish, and a prey to misery and dis- 
 tress. 
 
 What matters of dispute should he 
 submitted to arbitration was the subject 
 of elaborate and interesting discussions in 
 the committee. To take away the abso- 
 lutely obligatory character of arbitration, 
 and make it dependent solely upon the 
 will of the parties concerned, allowing 
 them to resort to it or to set it aside 
 according to their wishes, would have 
 been tantamount to having accomplished 
 nothing. Arbitration must be, as a rule, 
 obligatory; if not, it will be nothing. 
 When we say obligatory we do not mean 
 that the recourse to it must be enforced 
 by direct compulsion; but simply that 
 said recourse must not he left to the dis- 
 cretion of the parties concerned. The 
 nation's sovereignty can not admit of any 
 coercion ; nor could it he exercised with- 
 out producing at once, either a war with 
 all the evils which it is desired to avoid, 
 or a fatal injury to the national character. 
 
 Controversies between private parties 
 are settled by tribunals which render 
 decisions, and cause their decisions to be 
 enforced, but nations in this respect are 
 differently situated. This, in my judg- 
 ment, does not cause in any way the 
 obligatory character of arbitration to 
 be useless. Any thing that a nation 
 binds itself to do, or which it as- 
 sumes, or recognizes to be its duty- to 
 accomplish, is and must be obligatory, 
 solemnly obligatory, even if there be no 
 other guaranty than its promise. As 
 among gentlemen the pledged word is 
 sacred, and has infinitely more force than 
 fines or imprispnment ; so, among nations, 
 the signature of one of them affixed to a 
 treaty supersedes all other guaranties. 
 
 declarando solemnemente que solo la 
 razon ilustrada, y no la f uerza ciega, serfC 
 la que decida en lo sucesivo todos sus 
 confiictos. MaQana al volver S, nuestros 
 hogares, Uevar^mos la buena nneva de 
 paz & los hombres; y podr6mos promoter 
 ^las madres, ^ las esposas, ^ las hermar 
 nas y & las hijas, que no tendrfo ya que 
 temer que la guerra vaya ^ arrebatarles 
 & los objetos de su cariDo para Uevarlos 
 ^ sus campos sangrientos y acabar con su 
 existencia, dej^ndolas S, ellas vestidas de 
 luto, Uenas de dolor, y expuestas & la mi- 
 seria y la desgracia. 
 
 Asunto de sostenidas 6 interesantes de- 
 liberaciones ia6 el de la natnraleza de 
 las cuestiones que dehian someterse 
 al arbitraje. Quitar ^ ^ste en lo abso- 
 lute el car^cter de obligatorio, y dejarlo 
 del todo dependiente de la libre adop- 
 ci6n de las partes interesadas, para re- 
 ourrir ^ 61 si qnerlan, y para pasar sobre 
 €1, si asi lo deseaban, habria equivalido 
 & no haber hecho nada. El arbitraje, 
 por regla general, tiene que ser obliga- 
 torio, 6 no ser^ nada ; y cuando se dice 
 obligatorio, se significa que no quede 
 al arbitrio de la naci6n reourrir 6 no S 61; 
 pero no, por ninglin concepto, que se es- 
 tablezoa Con medios directos de eompe- 
 lerla i cumplir esa obligaoi6n. La sobe- 
 rania de las naciones no se compadece 
 con sanciones de esa naturaleza, ni habria 
 ^ qnien ooncederle el poder de hacerlas 
 efectivas, sin ir derechameute & la guerra 
 que se estaba tratando de evitar y sin de- 
 capitar el concepto de nacidn. Para las 
 cuestiones de los particulares hay tri- 
 bunales establecidos que diotan sus reso- 
 luciones y las hacen efeoiiivas; las na- 
 ciones no est^n en elmismocaso; pero 
 esto, & mi juioio, en nada influye para 
 considerar que no tieue valor alguno el 
 carSoter obligatorio que se d£i al arbitraje. 
 
 Obligatorio y solemnemente obligatorio 
 para una nacidn es todo lo que ellase im- 
 pone, 6 reconoce como tal, aunque no haya 
 ninguna otra garantla que la de su com- 
 promiso. Asl como entre caballeros es sa- 
 grada la palabra que se empeBa y tiene in- 
 finitamente mas fuerza que la que pueden 
 tener la multa (51a prisidn para hacer cum- 
 plir lo ofrecido ; asi la firma de una na- 
 ci6n en un Tratado hace iunecesaria oaal- 
 
760 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The nation which has agreed to con- 
 sider arbitration as obligatory, for the 
 settlement of all questions, will cer- 
 tainly resort to it rather than to war, for 
 the simple reason that she voluntarily 
 bound herself to do so. She would nat- 
 urally feel ashamed, and cause all other 
 nations to be ashamed of her, if she at- 
 tempted to violate an agreement freely 
 entered into and solemnly recorded, for 
 no other reason than her fancy, or be- 
 cause there is no means to compel her to 
 keegi her faith. He must have a poor 
 opinion of the dignity of man, a poorer 
 still of the dignity of nations, who be- 
 lieves that nothing can be obligatory, 
 except what can be enforced by actual 
 compulsion. To such compulsion na- 
 tions can not be subjected; but even if 
 they could, no sanction can be found more 
 efficient than the moral obligation con- 
 tracted by a sacred engagement, nor can 
 any be stronger and more painful than 
 thd reprobation with which all the other 
 Republics would brand the forehead of 
 the nation which should thus trample 
 upon the sacredness of international com- 
 pacts. 
 
 The nations of America have met here 
 freely ; and those which do not favor ob- 
 ligatory arbitration, whether absolutely 
 or only in regard to certain subjects, can 
 reject it freely ; but those which freely 
 accept it and bind themselves to con- 
 sider it obligatory, have certainly done 
 so with the determination to comply with 
 their promise. When a nation says: I will 
 fulfill this promise, we have to take for 
 granted that nothing is more binding 
 than her word. If doabts are entertained 
 about her sincerity, the best thing is to 
 refrain from any dealings vrith her. 
 When the signatures of the representa- 
 tives of the nations of America are affixed 
 to a paper, absolute security can be felt 
 that the nations represented by them 
 will respect the engagement, and that 
 they will never attempt to evade the full 
 compliance therewith under the pretext 
 that there is no power or authority capa- 
 ble of compelling them to fulfill it. For 
 this reason the committee has contented 
 itself with setting forth the cases in which, 
 arbitration shall be obligatory, without 
 recognizing or admitting its being car- 
 ried into effect by compulsion. 
 
 quiera ot'ra sanci6n. La naci6n que ha 
 admitido el arbitraje como obligatorio para 
 la decision de sus cuestiones, S, 61 recurrir^ 
 y no di la guerra., simplemeute porque S, 
 ello quiso obligarse, y porque se avergon- 
 zarla de si misma y tendrlan vergilenza de 
 ella todas las demas naciones, si violara 
 un compromise, libremente aceptado y 
 solemnemente constituido, s<51o porque le 
 convenia y porque no habia medio de coac- 
 ci(5n para compelerla ^ su complimiento. 
 Triste concepto se formaria de la dignidad 
 de los hombrSs, y m^s triste aun de la 
 dignidad de las naciones, el que oreyese 
 que nada es obligatorio para ^stas, y para 
 aquellos, sino Jo que puede hacerse efec- 
 ti vo por medios de oompulsidn. No los hay 
 para las naciones, pero silos hubiera, nin- 
 guno tendrla jamas la eficacia que tiene 
 el sagrado compromise moral, ninguna 
 sancidu mas fuerte y dolorosa que la dela 
 reprobacidn que lanzarian todas las otras 
 Reptiblicas sobre la frente de la que fal- 
 tara S, la santidad de los pactos interna- 
 cionales. 
 
 Libremente se han reunidoaquf las na- 
 ciones de America ; libremente rechazar^n 
 el arbitraje obligatorio, en todas d alguna 
 de sus partes, las naciones que asf lo 
 crean conveniente; pero las que libre- 
 mente lo acepten, y como obligatorio se lo 
 impongan, es porque est^n dispuestas y 
 decididas S, cumplirlo asf ; y cuando una 
 naci6n dice: esto cumplir^, 6 se acepta 
 que nada puede empe&ar de m^s valor que 
 su palabra ; 6 si se duda de la siuoeridad y 
 eficacia de esta, hay que prescindir de 
 tratar con ella. Donde est^ la firma de 
 los representautes de las naciones de 
 America, se puede teuer la absoluta se- 
 guridad de que 6sta8 respetariin su com- 
 promiso, mds que si estuviera acompa- 
 nado de todas las sanciones inmaginables, 
 y de que jamais tratar^u de eludirlo so 
 pretexto de que no hay poder que les im- 
 ponga forzosamente su cumplimiento. 
 Por eso la Comisidn se ha limitado S, ex- 
 presar en qu6 casos el arbitraje ser^ obli- 
 gatorio, pero sin reconocer ni admitir 
 ninguna espeoie de compulsidu para 
 Uegar S, 61. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 761 
 
 The rommittee did not establisli as an 
 absolute principle that arbitration should 
 be obligatory in all cases, except those 
 involving a nation's independence, be- 
 cause it feared that if the article read in 
 that way, a more or less scrupulous in- 
 terpretation of its language might lead to 
 the discovery that national independence 
 was involved in every controversy, and 
 thus render arbitration nugatory. It de- 
 cided, accordingly, to make first of all an 
 enumeration, as accurate as possible, of 
 the qnestionssubjecttoarbitration, which 
 do not admit in any way whatever of the 
 allegation that they involve the nation's 
 independence ; and upon this ground 
 Article 3 reads thut " arbitration shall be 
 obligatory in all questions concerning dip- 
 lomatic rights and privileges, bound- 
 aries, territories, indemnities, the right of 
 navigation, andthevalidity, construction, 
 and enforcement of treaties.'' In this 
 way, and finding that there is no standard 
 to decide which controversies would and 
 which would not imperil a nation's inde- 
 pendence, nor any possibility of estab- 
 lishing it, because such constructions can 
 be placed upon the word independence as 
 to cause most serious and almost insoluble 
 difficulties, the committee got over the 
 difficulty by enumerating especially the 
 cases in which no doubt at all in this re- 
 spect can ever be entertained. In all 
 these cases mentioned in Article 3 arbi- 
 tration shall always be obligatory, and the 
 exception that national independence is 
 imperiled in them shall never be admitted. 
 The committee, while acknowledging 
 that no controversy which imperils that 
 independence is a proper subject for ar- 
 bitration, because no nation can allow 
 any one to sit in judgment on her na^ 
 tional existence, holds however, that the 
 cases set forth in the article above men- 
 tioned do not fall under the head of those 
 in which national independence is im- 
 periled. It really believes to have done 
 something important in describing a cer- 
 tain number of cases, in which the excep- 
 tions referred to will never hold. 
 
 As I before stated, it was feared (as 
 is natural in matters of such importance) 
 that the enumeration made in Article 2 
 might be Incomplete, and on this account 
 it was found necessary to explain that in 
 addition to those oases, a resort to arbitra- 
 
 La Comisifin no pudo establecer como 
 principio tinico que elarbitraje seria obll- 
 gatorio en todos las cuestiones, excepto 
 aqnellas que comprometleran la indepen- 
 deucia naoional, porque tuvo el justo 
 temor de que dejando redactado el artl- 
 cnlo en esos t^rmlnos, una interpretacidn 
 mils 6 menos escrupulosa podrla en todos 
 los cases encontrar comprometida esa in- 
 dependencia y volver asi nugatorio el 
 arbitraje. Qniso, por lo tanto, hacer 
 primero una enumeraoidn, tan esacta 
 como f uera posible, de algunas de las cues- 
 tiones sujetas S. arbitraje que quedaban 
 completamente fuera de la alegaci6u de 
 comprometerse conellas laindependencia 
 nacional ; y por eso dice el artloulo ter- 
 cero que el arbitraje es oMigatorio en todas 
 las cuestiones aobre privilegios diplomdiicos, 
 Umites, territorios, indemnisadones derechos 
 de navegacidn y sohre validez, inteligencia y 
 cumpUmiento de tratados. Asf, no pudiendo 
 darse ni haber una regla para determinar 
 cuiiles cuestiones comprometen la inde- 
 peudencia nacional y curies n6, porque es 
 un conceptoque cuando quiereprecisarse 
 demasiado, ofrece gravisimas y casi insolu- 
 bles dificultades, comenzd por eliminar 
 completamente de la relaci6n con ell a las 
 cuestiones espeoificadas. En consecuen- 
 cia, en los cases del artlculo 3° el arbi- 
 traje ser^ siempre obligatorio, y respeoto 
 de ellos no podr^ sostenerse que compro- 
 meten la independencia nacional. La 
 Comisidn que acepta que las cuestiones 
 que la ponen en peligro quedan exceptua- 
 das del arbitraje, porque una naci6n no 
 puede poner en tela de juicio su existen- 
 cia y su concepto de naci6n, ni admitlr 
 que se revoque & duda, oonsidera que las 
 que en el citado artlculo se puntualizan, 
 no entran en el nfimero de las que hacen 
 peligrar la Independencia ; y algo ha 
 creido hacer con lograr poner S, salvo de 
 toda excepoidn oierto numero de asuntos. 
 
 Como antes he indicado, habia la des- 
 confianza, que es natural en asuntos de 
 tanta magnitud, de que la enumeracidn 
 del artlculo 2° no fuese completa; y por 
 eso, despues de detallar las cuestiones que 
 ^ste enumera, hubo necesidad de explicar 
 
762 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 tlon shoald be also obligatory in all others 
 not enumerated in said article, whatever 
 their cause, nature, or object (Article 3) 
 might be. But, then, the question may 
 be asked, whether after a provision gen- 
 eral and broad enough as to cover all 
 cases having been made, there was any 
 use in making two articles, one of par- 
 ticular character covering only certain 
 cases, and another, of general character, 
 applicable to all? The answer is this: 
 In the cases enumerated in Article 2 no 
 exception is to be allowed; but in the 
 others not enumerated therein, but 
 included in the general provision, there 
 is a limitation, consisting in the circum- 
 stance that the question to be settled does 
 not involve or imperil the nation's inde- 
 pendence, and this is a point to be de- 
 termined solely by the nation itseltj which 
 is the only legitimate judfee for a ques- 
 tion of such transcendent importance. In 
 such a case a nation is entirely free of all 
 obligation and engagement to submit the 
 question to arbitration ; and if she does 
 submit it, it will be only because she 
 wishes to do so. 
 
 iThe project exempts from arbitration 
 only those cases in which the independ- 
 ence of the nation is involved; but it 
 says nothing about cases afifecting the 
 national honor or dignity. To do other- 
 wise would have been equivalent to erase 
 with one hand what the other hand had 
 written. There is no question whatever 
 which in some way or another does not 
 affect the national honor and dignity; 
 and to allow a recourse to war for those 
 cases would be tantamount to having ac- 
 complished nothing. It might be that 
 nations would judge of what affects their 
 honor, much in the same way as the 
 duelists do : the most insignificant occur- 
 rence would be magnified into a casus 
 telli, just as a brawling swordsman 
 might see an impeachment of his honor 
 in a mere omission to salute him with suf- 
 ficient courtesy, or in a look which his 
 sensativeness chose to consider an insult- 
 ing one, or in many other kindred facts. 
 
 So, much, honorable Delegates, as to 
 the nature of the cases which are to be 
 submitted to arbitration ; and besides 
 this point, there is another, of no less 
 importance, which refers to the time or 
 
 que, adem& de ellas, quedaban oompren- 
 didaa en el ariiiraje obligatorio todaa las 
 demds cuestiones no enunciadas, cualesqui^ 
 ra que/uesen su causa, naturaleza & objeto 
 (articulo 3°). Pero entonces se dir^, si 
 ese artfculo es general y lo compreude 
 todo jporque se- puso primero uno parti- 
 cular y luego otro general en el oual debe 
 aquel estar incluidol La respuesta es 
 obvia : es porque respecto de los asuntos 
 enumerados en el articulo 2° no hay ex- 
 cepcidn, mientras que respecto de los de- 
 m£is no especi£cados sine incluidos en la 
 generalidad,hay lalimitaoidn "dequeno 
 comprometan la independencia naciooal" 
 (art. 4°), punto cuya resoluci6n queda al 
 juicio exclusive de la naoidn interesada 
 en la controversia, puesto que ella es el 
 tinicojuez legitime en materia tan tras- 
 cendental. Queda, en tal case, libre de 
 toda obligacidu y compromiso para suje- 
 tar su cuesti6n & arbitramento ; y si la 
 sometiere, serdi solamente porque quiso 
 hacerlo. 
 
 Limltase el proyeoto & exceptuar las 
 cuestiones que comprometan la indepen- 
 dencia, y no ii las que comprometan el 
 honor 6 la dignidad nacional, porque de 
 otra suerte se habria borrado con una 
 mano lo que con la otra acababa de es- 
 cribirse. No hay cuesti6n, sea la que fuere, 
 de la que no pueda decirse que interesa al 
 honor y dignidad nacional, y dejar el re- 
 curso de la gnerra para esos cases, tanto 
 significaria como no haber adelantado 
 nada. Podria pasar con las nacionea, al 
 calificar lo que compromete su honor, lo 
 mismo que pasa con los duelistas ; el 
 motive mas insignifioante podria ser un 
 casus belli, como seria un lance de honra 
 para un espadacbin el que no se le hubiera 
 ealudado con profunda cortesia, el que se 
 le hubiera dirigido una mirada que (A. 
 calificase de provocativa, y otros tantos 
 hechos del mismo tenor. 
 
 Esto, Sefiores Delegados, por lo que toca 
 & la naturaleza de las cuestiones que ban 
 de quedar comprendidas en el arbitraje; 
 pero adem& de ese punto, hay otro no 
 menos importante y es el que se refiere & 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 763 
 
 date of their ooourronoe. This is an ele- 
 ment of an entirely different character; 
 and only those who overlook the essential 
 distinction established by it can find some 
 provision, subsequently made in the proj- 
 ect, contradictory with the foregoing. 
 If those provisions are examined in the 
 light of that distinction, it will be easily 
 seen that they are not inconsistent at 
 all. After having set forth and enumerated 
 according to their nature the questions 
 subject to arbitration the project takes 
 them up with relation to time, and Arti- 
 cle 5 provides that " all controversies now 
 pending, or hereafter arising, shall be 
 admitted to arbitration, even though they 
 may have originated in occurrences ante- 
 dating the treaty." As to future ques- 
 tions there can be no doubt. As to the 
 pending ones I also think that there is 
 none. 
 
 The purpose of the plan of arbitration 
 is to establish as a living fact of real sig- 
 nificance the sisterhood of the Republics 
 of America, to banish war from the con- 
 tinent, and to cause the empire of peace to 
 prevail. This purpose would be frus^ 
 I trated if arbitration were to be re- 
 sorted to only in cases hereafter 
 arising. To submit to arbitration only 
 these cases, and reserve all others aris- 
 ing out of facts already accomplished 
 to be settled by the cannon in bloody con- 
 flicts, would not give any evidence of 
 real intention to preserve friendship, even 
 if the agreement is sealed with fraternal 
 embraces. If arbitration is humane, civ- 
 ilizing, and worthy of adoption, why limit 
 it to future questions and not make it 
 applicable to the pending o es? The 
 principle thatlaws can not be givefa retro- 
 active effect rests upon the ground that 
 rights already acquired can not be al- 
 lowed to be endangered ; but who could 
 complain with reason when questions are 
 settled by arbitration and not by Gatling 
 gunsT 
 
 And here I beg leave to state that the 
 committee framing the fifth article, 
 which refers to this point, only repeated 
 the words of the seventh clause of section 
 2 of the act of Congress of the United 
 States approved May 24, 1888, which au- 
 thorized the President to invite the na- 
 
 la 6pooa 6 tiempo. Elementos son estos 
 enteramente diversos, y los que & esa 
 difereuoia escncial no prestan toda aten- 
 ci6n creen encontrar contradiotorias dis- 
 posiciones que no lo son en realidad si se 
 examinaran ouidadosamente desde el ver- 
 dadero y diferente punto de vista que ^ 
 cada una de ellas corresponde. Deter- 
 minadas las cuestiones atendida su natu- 
 raleza, el proyecto las considera respecto 
 del tiempo, y en consecuencia, el artioulo 
 5" dice que quedan comprendidas dentro del 
 ariitraje las cuestionea pendientea enla ao- 
 tualidad, y todas las que se suaciten en ade- 
 lante, dun cuando provengan de hechoa an- 
 teriorea. En 6rdeu dilas cuestiones futuras, 
 no puede caber dud a; tampoco puede 
 caber, en ml concepto, en drden & las 
 cuestiones pendientes. 
 
 El objeto del plan de arbitraje es con- 
 sagrar oomo un hecho efeotivo y de ver- 
 dadera significacidn la fraternidad de las 
 Repliblicas de America, hacer que la 
 guerra desaparezca y se levante el imperio 
 de la paz en el Continente ; y tal objeto 
 quedaria completamente frustrado si el 
 arbitraje tuviera que limitarse & las cues- 
 tiones que naciesen en lo suoesivo. No 
 seria prueba de verdaderas intenciones de 
 amistad admitir el arbitraje para todo lo 
 que ocurra eu adelante, y darse en ese 
 concepto el abrazo de hermanos, pueblos 
 que al mismo tiempo se estfin preparando 
 £i sostener con los cafiones en lucha encar- 
 nizada bus preteusiones respecto de los 
 hechos ocurridos con anterioridad. Si 
 el arbitraje es humano, oivilizador 
 y digno de aceptar, jporqufi circums- 
 cribirlo & las cuestiones futuras y no 
 extenderlo & las pendientes ? Ann en 
 materia de leyes, el principle de que no 
 tienen efecto retroactive es para que no 
 perjudiquen derechos ya adquiridos, pero 
 4 quien puede quejarse con razon de que 
 SU3 cuestiones se deoidan por iirbitros 
 y no por ametralladoras ?' 
 
 Y aqui seame permitido manifestar qne 
 la Comisi(5n al escribir ese artfculo 5° que 
 asf lo declara, no ha hecho otra cosa que 
 repetir las palabras del punto s6ptimo de 
 la seccidn 2" de la ley del Congreso de los 
 Estados XJnidos del 24 de Mayo de 1888 que 
 f acultd al Presidente para convidar £i que se 
 
764 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 tions of America to meet in this Confer- 
 ence. It says : '' That in forwarding the 
 invitations to the said Governments, the 
 Prssident of the United States shall set 
 forth ahaX the Conference is called to con- 
 sider — (7) An agreement and recommenda- 
 tion for adoption to their respective Gov- 
 ernments of a definite plan of arbitration 
 of all questions, disputes, and differences 
 that may now or hereafter exist letween them, 
 to the end that all difficulties and disputes 
 between such nations may be peaceably 
 settled and wars prevented." If this is a 
 wise law, as I believe that one of the 
 honorable Delegates from the Republic 
 of Chili very rightly said when he alluded 
 to it in his eloquent speech of yesterday, 
 the project whose fifth article is based 
 upon tlie express text of one of its pro- 
 visions has undoubtedly the best guar- 
 anty that it will be ratified. 
 
 But in making arbitration applicable 
 to all questions, even the pending ones, 
 it was not, nor could it be, the intention 
 of the committee to re-opeo cases settled 
 and terminated by final arrangements. 
 Otherwise, instead of accomplishing the 
 purpose of preserving peace, it would 
 have caused conflicts now dead to be re- 
 vived, and done injury to acquired rights 
 resting on final arraugements. What was 
 settled in that way, must remain settled. 
 But, as it may happen that some question 
 arise in regard to the validity of the 
 agreements made, or the constructiou 
 properly to be placed upon them, or their 
 execution, then arbitration is to be re- 
 sorted to for its settlement. Nor could 
 it be otherwise, since arbitration is ap- 
 plicable to all future questions, and no 
 possibility exists of preventing the new 
 controversy from arising. And if it act- 
 ually does arise, shall it he decided by 
 war ? Is it not clear that it, like all other 
 questions, must be decided by arbitra- 
 tion? If the agreement was valid, it 
 will be so decided ; and if there Is any 
 doubt as to its real meaning, arbitration 
 will determine which is the right con- 
 struction to be placed upon it, and no 
 injury wiU be done to any one. 
 
 Article 7 tends to secure perfect free- 
 dom in the election of the arbitrators^ 
 
 reunieran en esta Conferencia las naciones 
 de America. Dice asl : " Que al dirigirlas 
 iuvitaciones & diohos Gobiernos el Presi- 
 dente de los Estados Unidos exprese que 
 la Conferencia se reunirS para considerar 
 * * * S6ptimo : un convenio y recomen- 
 daci6n para que los respectivos gobiernos 
 adopten un plan definitive de arbitraje 
 para todas las cuestiones, disputas y diferen- 
 eias que exisie/n ahora, 6 existan deapu^s, 
 entre ellas, S, fin de que todas las diticultades 
 *ntre dicUas naciones se arreglen pacfflca- 
 mente y se ^ite la guerra." Si esta ley 
 es sabia, como crco que la llam6 con raz6n 
 uno de los Honorables Sefiores Delegados 
 de la Reptiblica de Chile, en el elocueute 
 discurso que ley6 ayer, el proyecto que 
 cuenta para su artloulo 5° con el apoyo 
 del texto expreso de la mencionada ley 
 en su parte resolutiva, tiene la m^ 
 apeteoible garantia de que dicho artloulo 
 ha de ser aprobado. 
 
 Mas, al incluir en el arbitraje todas las 
 cuestiones, aun las pendientes, no hasido 
 ni podia ser el prop6sito de la Comisidn, 
 remover las cuestiones ya completamente 
 terminadas por medio de arreglos defini- 
 tives. De otra suerte, lejos de conseguir , 
 el objeto de cimentar la paz, habrf a hecho 
 revivir las discordias ya muertas, y habria 
 perjudicado dereohos adquiridos, pnrque 
 tales son los que se derivan de afreglos 
 definitives. El asunto que con ellos 
 qued(5 concluido, coucluido queda. Po- 
 dr^ suceder sf, que alguna vez se suscite 
 cuesti6n sobre la validez de tales arreglos, 
 sobre su inteligencia 6 cumplimiento, y 
 para tales puntos exolusivamente, si se 
 recouoce la competencia del arbitraje. 
 Ni podia ser de otro modo, una vez que 
 quedan incluidas en 61 todas las cues- 
 tiones futuras, y una vez tambien que es 
 imposible evitar que se levanten esas 
 cuestiones. Y si se susoitan jhabrdin 
 de decidirse por las armas ? 4 No es claro 
 que, como todas las dem^, han de de- 
 cidirse por arbitramento ? T si el arreglo 
 fu6 vSilido, viJlido se declararSi ; y si hay 
 duda en la interpretacidn de alguna 6 
 algnnas de bus partes, el Tribunal arbi- 
 tral declarar^ cual es la legltima, sin que 
 esto irrogue & ninguno verdadero per- 
 juicio. / 
 
 El artlculo 7" tiene en mira estahlecer 
 completa libertad para la eleccidn de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 765 
 
 with only one restriction, namely that, no 
 nation which does not hold amicable 
 relations with one o£ the contending 
 parties can be named by its opponent. 
 It is certainly a difficult thing to try 
 to please all ; and while for some an 
 enumeration of all tbose who can be arbi- 
 trators might be deemed unnecessary, for 
 others it might be deemed indispensable. 
 For my part, I shall say, that my only 
 purpose was to secure the greatest pos- 
 sible clearness, and leave the smallest 
 possible room for doubts. I understand 
 that in a document of this nature this 
 is the spirit which should prevail. 
 
 Article 8 refers to the election of one 
 single arbitrator, if such be the agree- 
 ment of both contending parties, or of 
 two or more, as the case might be. In 
 the latter event, thfe two parties can elect 
 as they choose either the same persons or 
 different ones to be arbitrators. And as 
 it may happen that two or more nations 
 are interested in a contention, the proj- 
 ect, following the principle of Roman 
 law transmitted to nearly all modern 
 Latin codes, provides that each interested 
 nation should name au arbitrator. If the 
 arbitrators are to be impartial judges and 
 not passionate counsel for the party 
 which elected them, this arrangement 
 can not be objected to. 
 
 When the tribunal of arbitrators con- 
 sists of an even number of members, the 
 difficulty may present itself that the vote 
 be equally divided and no award obtained. 
 To meet this emergency Article 9 requires 
 an umpire to be appointed, who shall de- 
 cide all cases of .disagreement between 
 the arbitrators ; and in order to avoid that 
 for want of an agreement between the 
 Interested nations the proposed remedy 
 should prove ineffectual, the same article 
 reads that if the parties themselves do 
 not elect the umpire the arbitrators 
 should do it. It is for the same purpose 
 of removing dif5Scnlties in this respect that 
 Article 10 provides that the appointment 
 of the umpire and his acceptance of the 
 position shall be made previously to the 
 arbitrators beginning their work. 
 
 That the umpire is chosen, not to sit in 
 the tribunal together with the arbitra- 
 
 ^rbitros, sin otra reatriccidn que la de no 
 poderse nombrar con el oar^cter de tal i 
 una nacidn que no mantenga buenas re- 
 laciones con la parte contraria de la 
 naci6n que la uombra. Diflcil es, por lo 
 demiis, contentar las opiniones de todos ; 
 para alguDos ser^ innecesaria la onume- 
 racion que en 61 se haoe de todos los que 
 pueden desempeuar las funciones arbi- 
 trales ; otros, la habrian exigido si no se 
 hubiera hecho. Por mi parte, el objeto 
 ha sido que hnbiera la mayor claridad, y 
 que 86 dejara el menor lugar posible & 
 dudas. A ese esplritu entiendo que debe 
 subordinarse todo entrabajos ydoonmen- 
 tos de esta Indole. 
 
 Eefi^rese el artlculo 8° & la faoultad de 
 nombrar un solo ^rbitro, si estin de 
 acuerdo en 61 las partes contendientes, 6 
 de nombrar dos 6 mas ; y en este case, 
 tambien pueden ser elegidas por ambas 
 nnos mismos irbitros ; 6 diferentes, si no 
 se uuiforman en la eleccidn. Y como 
 puede suceder que alguna vez est^n in- 
 teresadas en una contienda dos 6 mas na- 
 ciones, el proyecto, siguiendo el principio 
 de la ley romana, que ha pasado ^ cast 
 todas las legislaciones civiles, dice que 
 cada nacidn que represente un interns 
 distinto tendr^ derecho de nombrar nn 
 ^rbitro. Si los ^rbitros han de ser jucees 
 imparciales y no abogados apasionados 
 de la parte que los nombra, esta disposi- 
 ci6n no puede encontrar objeciones. 
 
 Cuando el Tribunal arbitral oonste de 
 un nlimero par de ^rbitros, puede trope- 
 zarse con el inconveniente de un nfimero 
 igual de votos en sentidos opuestos, y en 
 conseouencia de falta de resolncidn arbi- 
 tral. Para proveer S. 61, el artlculo 9° 
 exige la designaoi^n de un ^rbitro tercero 
 para decidir cnalquiera discordia que 
 ocurra entre ellos ; y ^ fin de que la falta 
 de acuerdo de las naciones interesadas no 
 deje sin efecto el remedio propuesto, se 
 dispone tambien que subsidiaramente la 
 elbccidu la harden los mismos Sirbitros 
 nombrados por ellas. Con el mismo fln 
 de evitar dificultades de car^cter an^logo, 
 el artlculo 10° dice que la designacifin y 
 aceptacidn del tercero se verificar^n antes 
 de quelos ^rbitros principien & conocer del 
 asunto sometido S, su resolucl6n. 
 
 Que el tercero no es para constituir 
 Tribunal con los arbitros sino solo para 
 
766 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 tors, but only to decide in case that they 
 disagree, is the evident purpose of these 
 provisions, and so it is established in 
 Article 11. Article 12 provides for the 
 case of death or resignation of one of the 
 arbitrators or the umpire, and establishes, 
 as it is natural, that the vacant place be 
 filled by new appointments made by the 
 parties interested and in the same manner 
 as before. 
 
 ■ Article 13 refers to the place where the 
 tribunal of arbitration shall sit ; and this 
 point is left to the discretion of the inter- 
 ested parties. If they do not select the 
 place, or can not agree to it, the tribunal 
 itself shall make the designation. 
 
 The provision of Article 14 is very im- 
 portant and necessary. In a tribunal 
 consisting of various members the action 
 of the majority can not be allowed to be 
 subject to the caprice of the minority, 
 nor can the said minority be permitted to 
 stop, at its will, by retiring or staying 
 away, the action of the majority. The 
 majority has a perfect right to go on 
 with its work, and of deciding on the 
 subject submitted to its consideration. 
 
 The case has already presented itself 
 practically, of a dispute being raised 
 about the validity of an award, on ac- 
 count of its having been made by a 
 majority of votes and not unanimously. 
 In order to remove this obstacle. Article 
 15 provides that the decisions of the 
 majority, both on the subject-matter and 
 in all incidental questions, shall have the 
 weight of a judgment, unless it was pro- 
 vided in agreeing to the arbitration that 
 the award should be unanimous. 
 
 In regard to the expenses of the arbitra- 
 tion, Article 16 provides that those which 
 are general shall be paid pro rata by the 
 interested nations, and those incurred by 
 each party in the presentation of the case 
 and its defense shall be paid exclusively 
 by it. 
 
 The principle which pervades the whole 
 project and which is to leave the greatest 
 possible freedom to the nations which re- 
 sort to arbitration, is obeyed in Article 17, 
 which provides that upon agreement said 
 nations have the power to constitute the 
 tribunal as they may deem fit, and im- 
 
 decidir los cases de diacoidia, es evidente 
 y asl lo establece el artloulo 11. Y el artl- 
 culo 12, al prover el case de muerte, re- 
 nuncia 6 impedlmento sobreviniente, de 
 los airbitros 6 del tercero, estatuye lo que 
 es natural, que scan reemplazadbs por 
 otros nombrados por las mismas partes, y 
 del mismo modo que fueron aquellos. 
 
 El articulo 13 se refiere al lugar en que 
 hau de ejercerse las funciones arbitrales, 
 y deja & las luaclones interesadas la fa- 
 cultad de nombrar el lugar qne les pa- 
 rezoa. Si no lo hacen 6 no se pusiereu de 
 acuerdo, se recnrre & lo finico que puede 
 recurrirse, ^ que la designacidn del lugar 
 la haga el mismo Tribunal. 
 
 Muy importante y necesaria es la dis- 
 posioidn del artfculo 14. Ennn Tribunal 
 colegiado no piiede admitirse que la accidn 
 de la mayoria quede sujeta al capricho de 
 la minorfa, y que ^sta use, siempre que 
 quiera, del medio de paralizarla re- 
 tir^ndose 6 dejando deasistir. La mayo- 
 ria tiene perfecto derecho de ir adelaUte 
 en sus procedimientos y de resolver el 
 asunto sometido & su consideraci6n. 
 
 Se ha presentado ya prScticamente el 
 caso de dispntarse la validez de unareso- 
 luoidn arbitral por haberse pronunciado 
 €sta, por mayoria y no por unanimidad de 
 votes. Para removerlo, se ha escrito la 
 disposici6n del articulo 15, que da & las 
 decisiones de la mayoria absoluta, asi en 
 lo principal oomo en los incidentes, fuerza 
 de sentencia, salvo que el compromiso 
 arbitral exigiere expresamente ■ que el 
 laudo sea pronunciado por unanimidad. 
 
 Acerca de los gastos del juicio arbitral, 
 el articulo 16 declara que los gastos ge- 
 nerales se paguen & pro rata entre las na- 
 ciones interesadas, y que scan de cuenta 
 exclusiva de cada parte los impendidos 
 en su representacidn y defensa. 
 
 Bespetando el principio que domina en 
 el proyeoto de dejar toda la posible liber- 
 tad d las naciones qne recurren al juicio 
 arbitral, dice el articulo 17 que, siempre 
 qne estuvieren de acuerdo, podr^n consti- 
 tuir el Tribunal como les pareza, y poner 
 todas las condiciones y requisites que & 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 767 
 
 poae as ipany conditions and reqaisites as 
 they choose. But in default of this agree- 
 ment, the provisions of the project should 
 he complied with, heoause, otherwise 
 there is no guaranty that the differences 
 will be settled by arbitration. 
 
 Article 18 provides that the treaty shall 
 he in existence for twenty years. On the 
 part of the Delegation of Guatemala there 
 is no objection to making this compact 
 perpetual. 
 
 Before finishing, I must say that in iv 
 project which I presented to the sub-com- 
 mittee, which studied this subject, and 
 to which I had the honor to belong, I 
 suggested some other articles which 
 tended in my opinion to render arbitra- 
 tion still more effective by providing 
 for the mediation ofothernations, and by 
 requiring notice to be given to them, not 
 only of every dispute which might have 
 arisen, but also of the progress made in 
 the steps preparatory to its settlement by 
 arbitration. 
 
 My worthy colleagues of the commit- 
 tee deemed that it was better to confine 
 the project to only those provisions which 
 might be called of organic character, and 
 leave all others for a new project to be 
 presented afterwards, and which would 
 embrace all matters of detail. I acceded 
 with pleasure to their wishes, although in 
 fact it has been impossible ibr the pro- 
 ject submitted to confine itself exclu- 
 sively to provisions of or agnio character. 
 
 It is also my duty to declare that my 
 powers on this subject are of the amplest 
 nature, and that I am authorized by my 
 Government to go in this matter as far 
 as I reasonably can. 
 
 Now, I have to make a further state- 
 ment, which is also purely personal to 
 my Delegation — I am ready to sign at 
 once a treaty, containing the articles of 
 the project presented to the Conference, 
 such as may be adopted by it. And if I 
 were to be permitted to express an ardent 
 desire of my heart, I would suggest to all 
 the Delegates who are empowered to sign 
 treaties, to join me in concluding at once 
 a convention to that effect, thus saving 
 time and avoiding difficulties in a matter 
 which is of vital interest for America, 
 and does great honor to her, to the United 
 States which called together the Latin 
 
 bien tengan. Pero i falta de ese acuerdo, 
 las disposiciones del proyeoto tienen que 
 ser observadas, porque de lo contrario, no 
 habria garantia alguna de que se viniese 
 al arbitramento. 
 
 El artlculo 18 designa el plazo de veinte 
 afios para la duracidn del tratado. For 
 parte de la Delegacidn de Guatemala no 
 habria incon veniente en que el pacto fuese 
 de car^cter perp^tuo. 
 
 Antes de conoluir, debo manifestar que 
 en un proyecto que llev6 S, la subcomisidn 
 que estudi6 este asunto, y de la cual me 
 cupo la honra de formar parte, habfa al- 
 gunos otros artlculos que tendian, en mi 
 concepto, ^ hacer m^ ineludible el arbi- 
 tramento, por la mediacidn de las demas 
 naciones, y la noticia que debia d^rseles 
 de oualquiera cuesti<5n que ocurriese y del 
 progreso que se hiciera en los pasos prepa- 
 ratories del arbitramento. 
 
 Mis dignos compa&eros estimaron que 
 valia mds limitar el proyecto S, lo que 
 fuera orgiinico, por decirlo asl, y dejar lo 
 demas para otro que podrla venir despu^s 
 y comprenderia todo lo reglamentario ; 
 y gustoso accedi S, su indicacidn, si bien 
 el mismo proyecto actual no ha podido 
 cefiirse S^ lo que es esencialmente org^nico. 
 
 Cfimpleme declarar tambi^n que mis 
 facnltades en este asunto son amplfsimas ; 
 y que he estado y estoy autorizado por 
 mi Gobiemo para ir en 61 tan lejos, como 
 racionalmente pueda irse. 
 
 Climpleme tambien hacer la manifesta- 
 ci<5n que del mismo modo es enteramente 
 propia de mi Delegacidn, de que estoy dis- 
 puestoiifirmardesdeluego untratadoque 
 oomprenda los articnlos del proyecto pre- 
 sentado, en los t^rminos que fueren apro- 
 bado^ por la Conferencia ; y si me fuese 
 permitido, expresaria finalmente mi vi- 
 vlsimo deseo de que todas las Delegaciones 
 que lo aoepten, y tengan autorizacidn 
 para firmar tratados, se unan & la m£a 
 para hacerlo desde ahora, y salvar tiempo 
 y trilmites en asunto de tan vital interns 
 y de tanta honra para America, para el 
 Gobierno de los Estados Unidos que con- 
 
768 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 American Republics principally for that 
 purpose, and to the Latin American Re- 
 publics themselves which gladly accepted 
 the invitation. 
 
 Our mission, then, will prove to have 
 been truly beneficial for our countries, 
 and for the cause of civilization and hu- 
 manity. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, stated that in his opinion the 
 report should be first voted upon as a 
 whole, and then each article taken up 
 separately, and after complimenting Mr. 
 Cruz on the words just read, he expressed 
 the approval of the Argentine Delegation 
 to the reoommendationsof the report. He 
 added that the declaration made by the 
 Argentine Delegation, which appeared on 
 the minutes of the foregoing day, was well 
 known to the other Delegations, and that 
 the silence of the latter on the subject led 
 him to believe that this point was well 
 understood by all. 
 
 Mr. Zbgarra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 spoke as follows, and asked that his words 
 be inserted in the minutes : 
 
 Mr. Pkesidbnt, Before the project is 
 put to the vote as a whole, and far from 
 having any desire to re-open the debate, 
 but with a view of establishing the 
 reasons for the vote of the Peruvian Dele- 
 gation upon this interesting subject, I 
 take the liberty of asking the attention 
 of my honorable colleagues. 
 
 It is well known by the honorable Con- 
 ference that on the 15th of January of 
 the present year, the Argentine aud Bra- 
 zilian Delegations submitted to the con- 
 sideration of the Conference a project of 
 arbitration. This project, Mr. President, 
 from the very beginning, merited the ap- 
 probation of the Peruvian Delegation, 
 because it determined not only the essen- 
 tial conditions of arbitration, but it laid 
 down certain important principles, the 
 scope of which was not and could not be 
 other than a mutual pledge of nations to 
 nations in America that the purposes to 
 open up for our beautiful Continent a 
 new era of true cordiality and fraternity 
 were serions, were well founded, were 
 solid. 
 
 For the Peruvian delegation, the bond 
 between these two parts of the project to 
 
 voc6 ^ las Repdblicas latino-americanas 
 con ese principal objeto, y para 6sta8 que 
 gustosas respondieron & la invitaci6n. 
 
 Nuestra misidn, entonces, habr^ sido 
 verdaderamente fructuosa para uuestros 
 palses respectivos y para la causa de la 
 humanidad." 
 
 El Senor Quintana, delegadd por la 
 Repliblica Argentina, manifestd que en 
 su opinidn debia votarse primero el pro- 
 yeoto en gldbo, y despues articulo por ar- 
 tlculo ; y deapues de tributar un elogio al 
 trabajo leido por el SeBor Cruz, expresd 
 el asentimiento de la delegaoidn argentina 
 & las recomendaciones del dict^men. 
 Agreg6 que la declaracidn hecha por la 
 delegacidn Argentina, que aparece del 
 acta del dia anterior, era bien conocida 
 de las otras delegaciones, y que el silencio 
 de estas le hacia creer que aquella habia 
 sido bien entendida por todos. 
 
 El Sefior Zbgarra, delegado porel PenI, 
 se expres6 como sigue, pidiendo que sus 
 palabras se insertasen en el acta. 
 
 Sefior Presidente : Antes de que se 
 vote en general el proyecto, lejos de tener 
 el deseo de reabrir el deba1;e, y solameute 
 para fundar bien el alcance del voto de la 
 delegaci6n del Perfi en este interesante 
 asunto, me atrevo^demandar la atenci6u 
 de mis Honorables Colegas. 
 
 Es sabido por la Honorable Conferencia 
 que, en 15 de Enero del preseute afio las 
 delegaciones delas Repriblicas Argentina 
 y el Brasil sometieron & la consideracidn 
 de la Conferencia un proyecto de arbi- 
 traje. Ese proyecto, Sefior Presidente, 
 desde Inego mer6ci6 la aceptacidn de la 
 Delegaci6n del Perti, porque en €i no 
 solamente se determinabau las condi- 
 ciones esenciales del arbitraje, sine que 
 se establecian ciertos^principios impor- 
 tantes, cuyo alcance no era ni podia ser 
 otro que darse una preuda mlitua unas 
 naciones ^ otras, en America, de que eran 
 serios, de que eran fundados, ,de que eran 
 sfilidos, sus propdsitos de abrir para este 
 bello Contiuente nuestro, una era de ver- 
 dadera cordialidad, de verdadera fraterni- 
 dad. 
 
 Para la Delegaoidn del Perfi, el enlace 
 entre estas dos partes del proyecto, & que 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 769 
 
 whicli I refer was necessary, so much so, 
 indeed, that although a positive depend- 
 ence of one part upon the other could 
 not be established, they were ncTerthe- 
 less complementary and together contrib- 
 uted to reciprocal solidity. 
 
 The honorable Committee of General 
 Welfare, for motives which I respect, has 
 seea fit, in consideringthisimportant proj- 
 ect, to separate the two parts which com- 
 posed it ; thus a special report appears re- 
 ferring only to the more direct conditions 
 of arbitraition, while another complement- 
 ary report takes into consideration the 
 other articles proposed by the Delegations 
 mentioned. 
 
 Considering the high standard which 
 from the beginning was given by the Pe- 
 ruvian delegation to the articles in which 
 n^w principles of American law were laid 
 down, all the details of this question are 
 almost of secondary importance. 
 
 For this reason, Mr. President, the 
 speaker will not follow the critical anal- 
 ysis made by the delegate from Mexico, 
 since he is not convinced, as perhaps other 
 delegates are not, that the work presented 
 to us is absolutely without imperfections. 
 
 We have just heard the eloquent expo- 
 sition of motives made by the Delegate 
 from Gautemala, a member of that com- 
 mittee; this saves me much time, and I 
 am glad to be able to save that of the Con- 
 ference, nor can I nor should I follow the 
 argument made by thehonorable Delegate 
 from Chili, because of the courtesy duehim, 
 and because 1 have no right to drag him 
 from the sheltering reserve in which he has 
 ensconced himself by positively abstain- 
 ing from participation in the debate, nor 
 should I consider one or any of the ob- 
 jections he has made in his remarks in the 
 premises. My object, Mr. President, is 
 simply to declare, as I now do, that the 
 recommendation which the Delegation 
 from Peru will make to its Government 
 respecting this most important subject 
 will be a welding of the two reports — that 
 upon the plan of arbitration and that 
 upon the condemnation of conquest — 
 which are pending in this Conference, 
 not considering exactly as dependent the 
 491 
 
 me he referido, era necesario, y de tal 
 manera asl, que aunque si hien no puede 
 establecerse dependencia inmediata de la 
 una 6 la otra parte, sin embargo ambas 
 se oomplementan y ambas contribuyen & 
 darse reciprocamente solidez. La Ho- 
 norable Comisi6n de Bienestar General, 
 por motives que respeto, ha tenido ii bien 
 al considerar, al tomar en cuenta este 
 importante proyeoto, dividir las dos partes 
 de que constaba : asi es como aparece 
 presentado un informe especial que solo 
 se refiere ^ las condiciones mas directas 
 del arbitrajo, y otro informe compleraen- 
 tario en que se toman en cuenta los otros 
 articulos propuestos por las delegaciones 
 mencionadas. 
 
 Ante el car^cter elevado que la Delega- 
 ci(3n del Peril ha dado desde un prinoipio 
 Si los articulos en que se sentaban nuevos 
 principios de Derecho americano, casi son 
 de rauy secundaria importancia todos los 
 detalles de esta cuestidn. Por eso es, Se- 
 fior Presideute, que no entraiii el delegado 
 que Labia, ni seguir^ en el an^lisis critico 
 hecho por el Honorable delegado de Mexi- 
 co, puesto que no tiene el convencimiento, 
 como tal vez no lo tengan tampoco algunos 
 otros honorables SeQores delegados, de 
 que la obraquese nos preseuta oarece ab- 
 solutamente de imperfecciones. 
 
 Acabamos de oir la exposioidn de moti- 
 ves eloouentemente expuesta por el Ho- 
 norable Seuor Delegado por Guatemala, 
 miembro de esa Comisidn, y ella me ahorra 
 mucho tiempo, y tengo mucho gusto en 
 ahorrSiirselo tambien & la Conferencia. 
 Tampoco puedoni debo seguiral Honora- 
 ble Senor Delegado por Chile, porque por 
 un deber de cortesia, y en vista de su 
 abstenoidn absoluta, creo que no tengo 
 derecho de arrancardel asilo de la absten- 
 ci6n en que se ha encerrado, ni de tomar 
 en consideracidn, ni una, ni muchas de las 
 objeciones expueatas en la exposici(5n que 
 ha presentado al respecto. 
 
 Mi objeto simplemente es, Sefior Presi- 
 dente, declarar, como declaro, que larecn- 
 mendacl<5n que sobre este asunto impor- 
 tantlsimo harS la delegacifin del Peril & 
 su Gobierno, ser^ referente en conjuuto 
 & los dos dictamenes sobre el plan de ar- 
 bitraje y sobre condenacidn de la conquis- 
 ta, que estSn pendientes ante esta Confe- 
 rencia, no precisamente consider^indolos 
 
770 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 one upon the other, hut as complement- 
 ary and joint. The ohjeotion which has 
 heen made that the arbitration recom- 
 mended is devoid of all sanction does not 
 does not do away with this; if it does 
 not find sanction, perhaps the best thing 
 to be done is to approve the articles to 
 which I have referred, which establish 
 certain principles by virtue of which, in 
 the estimation of all the Republics of 
 America, acts consummated as against the 
 fixed rules laid down for the exercise of 
 arbitration shall be invalid and illegal, 
 as these rules are set forth in the second, 
 seventh, and eighth articles of the plan 
 presented by the Argentine and Brazilian 
 Delegations. 
 
 I know, and undoubtedly my honor- 
 able colleagues also know, the story of 
 arbitration in America. I am not blind 
 to the fact, gentlemen, that sometimes 
 it has been impossible to resort to arbi- 
 tration when it was most needed ; neither 
 do I Ignore that it may have been in- 
 efficient to counteract the excesses of 
 ambition or the desires of envy, but this 
 is not a reason for us to turn our back 
 entirely on principles so elevated and so 
 full of hope for the future. 
 
 To the mind of the Delegation from 
 Peru, in addition to the principles re- 
 ferred to, the most positive sanction is 
 national faith bound up in a solemn com- 
 pact. I can give living proofs of the 
 extremity to which my country carries its 
 respect for its promises, and in the name 
 of my Government, I believe that in all 
 the sister Republics tribute is rendered 
 to the sanctity of compacts. 
 
 The Peruvian Delegation, therefore, ac- 
 companies its colleages with its signa- 
 ture, approving the plan for the peace of 
 America in the terms designated; if it 
 should err in presenting its recommen- 
 dation to the Government of its country 
 it will ever have the just pride of having 
 been associated with so numerous and 
 honorable a company. 
 
 Mr. HuRTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, stated that he would vote in favor 
 of the report, although it contained limit- 
 ations, and that the Government of his 
 country had hoped for more than was ex- 
 
 dependientes el uno del otro, pero si como 
 complementariosy conjuntos. No aloanza 
 S, desviarla de este prop6sito la objeccidn 
 quese haheohode que carece el arbitraje 
 recomendado de toda sanci6n ; si sanci6n 
 no se enouentra, tal vez ninguna otra hay 
 mSs apropfisito que la aprobacifiu de los 
 arllculos que estableoen oiertos prinoi- 
 pios en virtud de los cuales carecerSu en 
 la estimaci6n de las Reptiblicas todas de 
 America de valor y legalidad los actos que 
 se consnmen contra las reglas determina- 
 das para e^ ejeroioio del arbitraje, como 
 est^n expresadas en los artlculos 2°, 7° y 
 8° del proyecto presentado por las dele- 
 gaoiones argentina y brasilera. 
 
 Conozco, 6 indndabloraente mis honora- 
 bles colegas conooeu tambien, la historia 
 del arbitraje en la America. No se me 
 oculta, Senores delegados, que alguna vez 
 ha sido imposible apliearlo cuandom^ ne- 
 cesidad habia de ello ; no se me oculta 
 tampoco que ann tal vez habrdl sido inefi- 
 caz para contrarestar las intemperanoias 
 de la ambici6n, 6 los pruritos de la codicia ; 
 pero no es esta razon para que volvamos 
 la cara enteramente ^ priucipios tan ele- 
 vados y tan llenos de esperanza para el 
 pervenir. 
 
 En concepto de la Delegaci6n del Perti, 
 junto con los principios recordados, la 
 sanci6n ni^s positiva es la f6 nacional 
 empefiada en un pacto solemne. Palpi- 
 tantes pruebas puede dar el que habla, de 
 hasta donde Ueva su patria el respeto S, 
 BUS compromises ; y 61 se hace el honor ^ 
 nombre de su Gobierno, de considerar que 
 en todas las Republicas hermanas se tri- 
 buta culto S, la santidad de los pactos. 
 
 La Delegaci6u del Perti, por oousiguien- 
 te, acompana con su firma Si sus colegas 
 & aprobar el proyecto para la paz de la 
 America en los t6rminos expresados; si 
 ella pudiera haber errado al presentar su 
 recomendaci6n al Gobierno de su pals, 
 siemprele asistirS el justisimo orguUo de 
 haberse asociado S. tan numerosa y hono- 
 rable compaSiia. " 
 
 El Senor Huktado, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, expuso que votaria en favor del 
 dictamen, annque este contiene limita- 
 ciones ; que el Gobierno de Colombia as- 
 pira ii mucho m^ que lo que el dictamen 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 771 
 
 pressed in the report. He added that he 
 would present in writing his views on the 
 subject. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 banded the following written explana- 
 tion of his vote to the Chair : 
 
 "The Delegation from Mexico votes in 
 the affirmative in this case, because it is 
 in favor of arbitration as a principle and 
 as a general rule ; but its vote does not 
 imply the acceptance of all the principles 
 embraced in the several articles of the re- 
 port. 
 
 "M. ROMEKC." 
 
 The vote having been taken on the re- 
 port as a whole, it was unanimously 
 adopted. 
 
 Those voting were: Hayti, Nicaragua, 
 Pern, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentine, 
 Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, United States, Vene- 
 zuela, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Chili abstained from voting. 
 
 Mexico voted as per written statement. 
 
 Salvador voted as set forth in the let- 
 ter accompanying the minutes of the pre- 
 vious day. 
 
 Article I was then read, and having 
 been voted upon was unanimously 
 adopted, the same delegations voting as 
 before. 
 
 Article II was read. 
 
 Mr. Hurtado, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, proposed the following amendment 
 to be placed after the word "diplo- 
 matic : " 
 
 "and consular rights and prerogatives, 
 boundaries, territories, and territorial 
 right-s, indemnities, the rights of naviga- 
 tion on seas and rivers, reparation for 
 injuries, satisfaction for offenses, denial 
 of justice, and the validity, construction, 
 and enforcement of treaties, without any 
 exceptions whatsoever." 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine, moved that Article II, with the 
 amendment suggested by Mr. Hurtado, 
 be referred back to the committee, and 
 that the discussion thereon be suspended 
 nntil to-morfow. 
 
 A vote having been taken it was so de- 
 cided by a majority of twelve to three. 
 
 expresa : y que presentaria por escrito sua 
 miras en el particular. 
 
 El Sefior Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 envi6 & la Mesa la siguiente explioaci6n 
 de su voto : 
 
 "La Delegacidn de Mexico vota afir- 
 mativamente, en lo general, porque est^ 
 eu favor del arbitramento como principio, 
 y en t^rminos generales; pero su voto no 
 implica la aprobaoidn de todos los prin- 
 cipios contenidos en los diferentes artl- 
 culos del proyeoto que se vota. 
 
 "M. Romero." 
 
 Pfisose & votaci(5n el dictamen en globo, 
 y resultd aprobado por unanimidad, vo- 
 tando las delegaciones signientes: 
 
 Haiti, Nicaragua, Perti, Guatemala, Co- 
 lombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, 
 Brasil, Honduras, Bolivia, Estados Uui- 
 dos, Venezuela, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 La delegacidu de Chile se abstuvo de 
 votar. 
 
 La de Mexico vot6 como resulta del 
 documento anterior. 
 
 La de Salvador como consta de la carta 
 acompafiada en el acta antecedente. 
 
 Leydse el artjculo l" del dictamen, y 
 resultd aprobado por nnanimidad, vo- 
 tando las mismas delegaciones que acaban 
 de nombrarse. 
 
 Leido el artlculo 2°, el Sefior Hurtado, 
 delegado por Colombia, ofrecid una en- 
 mienda que consiste en borrar todo lo que 
 estS despues de la palabra "cuestiones" 
 y sustituirlo por lo siguiente : 
 
 "Sobre derechos y prerogativas diplo- 
 m^ticas y consulares, Umites, indemniza- 
 ciones, derechos de navegacidn en mares 
 y rios, reparacion de dafios, satisfaccidn 
 por ofensas, denegacifin de justicla y 
 validez, interpretacidn y cumplimiento 
 de tratados, sin excepciones do hinguna 
 clase." 
 
 El Sefior Quintana, delegado por la 
 Repbulica Argentina, hizo mocidn 
 para que el artlcule 2° con la enmienda 
 del Sefior Hurtado pasase de nuevo ^ la 
 Comisifin, suspendi^ndose toda discusi6n 
 Bobre ^1 hasta mafiana. Y puesta que fa6 
 & votacidn esta proposicidn del Sr. Quin- 
 tana, resultfi aprobada por una mayoria 
 de 12 votos contra tres. 
 
772 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Those in favor of suapeuding the dis- 
 cussion were: Hayti, Peru, Guatemala, 
 Colombia, Argentine, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, 
 and Ecuador. 
 
 Those opposed to it were: Nicaragua, 
 Costa Rica, and the United States. 
 
 Article III having heen voted upon, 
 was unanimously adopted, the same 
 delegations voting as before, with the 
 exception of Mexico, which abstained 
 from voting, stating that their vote 
 would depend on what the committee re- 
 ported on Article II. 
 
 Article IV, after having been read and 
 discussed, was referred back to the com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Article V was read, voted upon, and 
 unanimously approved by the same dele- 
 gations as before, that of Mexico abstain- 
 ing from voting. 
 
 Article VI was read, and having been 
 voted upon was unanimously adopted, 
 the same delegations voting as before. 
 Mexico voted affirmatively for the first 
 sentence of the article, and negatively to 
 the second. 
 
 Article VII was read. 
 
 After Mr. Quintajsta, a Delegate from 
 the Argentine, had drawn attention to 
 the fact that the English and Spanish 
 texts did not conform, the article was 
 voted on and unanimously adopted. 
 
 The same delegations as before, includ- 
 ing Mexico, voted. 
 
 Article VIII was read, and having been 
 discussed, was voted upon and unani- 
 mously adopted by the same delegations 
 as before, with the exception of that of 
 Mexico, which gave the following vote 
 in writing : 
 
 "The Mexican Delegation votes affirm- 
 atively for the first sentences of Article 
 VIII, and abstains from voting on the last 
 sentence, which says, ' should no choice, 
 etc' " 
 
 Articles IX and X having been read, 
 discussed, and voted on separately, were 
 unanimously adopted, the same delega- 
 tions as before, Mexico included, voting. 
 
 Article XI was read, and after some 
 discussion between Messrs. Romero, Hur- 
 tado, and Andrade, on the relative ad- 
 vantages of an umpire sitting in the 
 
 Votaron en la afirmativa : Haitf, Pertl, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Para^ 
 guay, Brasil, Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, 
 Venezuela, Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron en la negativa: Nicaragua, 
 Costa Rica, y los Estados Unidos. 
 
 Leydse el artloule 3° y qued<5 aprobado 
 por unanimidad, votando las mismas 
 delegaciones antes uombradas ; pero la 
 de Mexico se abstuvo de votar por razon 
 de que su veto dependia de lo que infor- 
 mase la Comisi6n respecto del artlculo 
 2°. 
 
 Pnesto S: discusldu el artlculo 4° so 
 aoord<5 enviarlo de nuevo S, la Comisidn. 
 
 Leyfise el artlculo 5° y pnesto & vota- 
 ci6n results aprobado uniinimemente, por 
 las mismas delegaciones que el anterior. 
 
 La de Mexico se abstuvo de votar. 
 
 Se ley 6 el artlculo 6° y puesto ^ vo- 
 taoidn results adoptado por unanimidad, 
 votando las mismas delegaciones mencio- 
 nadas. El veto de la delegaci6n de Me- 
 xico fu6 afirmativo en cuanto ^la primera 
 parte del artlculo ; negative en cuanto ^ 
 la segunda. 
 
 Se leyd el artlculo 7°, y despuos que el 
 Sefior Quintana, delegado por la Repii- 
 blica Argentina, expuso que se debian 
 poner de conformidad el texto ingles y el 
 castellano, se pus6 & votacidn y results 
 aprobado por unanimidad; votando 
 afirmativamente todas las delegaciones 
 mencionadas, inclusa la de Mexico. 
 
 Se ley6 el artlcnlo 8°, y despues de dis- 
 cutido se puso ^ votaci6n y qued6 adop- 
 tado por unanimidad, votando las mismas 
 delegaciones nombradas ; pero la de Me- 
 xico did su vote por escrito como sigue : 
 
 "La delegaci(5n de Mexico vota afir- 
 mativamente por la primera parte del ar- 
 tlculo 8° y se abstiehe de votar respecto 
 de la sentencia final que dice " S, falta do 
 acuerdo etc." 
 
 Leidos que fueron, discutidos, y votados 
 separadaniente, los articulos 9 y 10 queda- 
 ron aprobados por unanimidad, votando 
 las mismas delegaciones nombradas, inclu- 
 yendo la de Mexico. * 
 
 Leydse el artlculo 11, y despues do 
 alguna discusidn entre el Sefior Romero 
 y los SeHores Hunado y Andrade sobre 
 los m6titos respeotivos del sistema de qua 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 773 
 
 court or as set forth in the recommenda- 
 iiions of the article, a vote was then 
 taken resulting in the unanimons ap- 
 proval of the article, the same delegations 
 voting as before, including that of Mexi- 
 co, which stated, through Mr. Romero, 
 that in their opinion the umpire should 
 act as a member of the court. 
 
 A motion by Mr. MBND09A, a Delegate 
 from Brazil, to prolong the session until 
 all the articles had been voted upon, was 
 overruled by a majority of eleven to four. 
 
 Those voting in favor of adjourning 
 were: Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Co- 
 lombia, Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, 
 Honduras, Bolivia, United States, and 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Those opposed thereto were: Hayti, 
 Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela. 
 
 Mr. QuiKTANA, a Delegate from the Ar- 
 gentine, asked that instead of a double 
 session to-morrow, one long session from 1 
 until 6 p. m. be held. This having been 
 unanimously agreed to, the Conference 
 adjourned at 6 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarea, 
 
 Vice-President. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 
 Sayti. 
 HoKATio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 Fernando Crdz, 
 
 Chiatemala. 
 
 JoslS M. Huetado, 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 Colovihia. 
 RoQUE Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine BepuNic. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Co8ta Rica. 
 
 JoslS S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mbndon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Sonduras. 
 
 el tercero en discordia forme parte del 
 tribunal, y el que se recomienda por el 
 artlculo, se puso este Si votaci()n,yqued6 
 aprobado por uuanimidad, votando las 
 mismas delegaciones que anteriormente. 
 El voto de Mexico fue en favor del arW- 
 culo, expresando el Sefior Romero que lo 
 daba aunque que su opinidn era con- 
 traria S, que el tercero en discordia no se 
 reuna con los Srbitros. 
 
 El Sefior Mendonqa, delegado por el 
 Brasil, propuso que se prolongase la sesidn 
 hasta que quedaran votddos todos los ar- 
 tlculos : pero la Conferencia deoidid ne- 
 gativamente por un voto de 11 contra 4 eu 
 el <5rden que sigue : 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente : Nicaragua, 
 Perti, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, 
 Costa Rica, Paraguay, Honduras, Bolivia, 
 Estados Unidos, y Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron negativamente : Haiti, Braail, 
 Mexico, y Venezuela. 
 
 El Sefior Quintana, delegado por la 
 Repfiblica Argentina, propuso que eu 
 lugar de una sesidn doble el dia de ma- 
 fiaria no hubiese mas que una continua, 
 empezando S, la una ; y asi se decidi(5 por 
 unanimidad de votos. 
 
 Se levantd la sesidu £1 las seis de la 
 tarde. 
 
 F. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 
 Vicepresidente. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 Saiti. 
 Horacio GuzmIn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 Jos£ M. Hurtado, 
 CIrlos Martinez Silva, 
 
 ColomMa. 
 RoQUE Saenz PbSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Jos:£ S. Decodd, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
774 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 Matias Eombro, 
 Eneiqub a. MEXf a, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Hekdbrson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jepeerson Ooolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 mokkis m. esteb, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NlCANOR BOLET PERAZA, 
 
 Jos£ Andbade, 
 
 3oa± Aleonso, 
 
 CMli. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josifi Maria PlIcido CaamaJ^o, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 MATf A8 EOMEO, 
 
 Enrique A. MsxfA, 
 
 M4xioo. 
 Juan P. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 HENRY^fe. Davis, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 
 Estados Unidoa. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PERAZA, 
 
 Jo8:fi Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 3oB& Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos]fi MaeIa PlXcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 775 
 
 Appendix A. 
 
 Ap]5ndice a. 
 
 MB. OAAMASO'S SPEECR. 
 
 Before giving my vote in fiivor of the 
 report of the Committee on Extradi- 
 tion and recommending to my Govern- 
 ment the adoption of the principles which 
 it establishes as bases for extradition 
 treaties, I wish to state the motives for 
 the reservations with which I shall mate 
 said recommendation. If the conclusions 
 ot the report contained in detail the 
 articles included in the body thereof, I 
 would propose a change in the twenty- 
 third so that it would remain couched in 
 these terms: "Political offenses and of- 
 fenses attacking the internal safety of a 
 State shall not warrant extradition." 
 But I must state why I restrict the article 
 to this form ; because it is repugnant to 
 my conscience to assume the pledge of 
 recommending it as it is now worded and 
 even approved by the Congress of Monte- 
 video, which will be ever memorable in 
 history. 
 
 I have had barely time to study the 
 erudite report of the committee submitted 
 twenty hours since ; thus, without going 
 to the length I desire, I might, and the 
 subject requires I shall, make a few ob- 
 servations; and claiming as a right the 
 exercise of the practice lately established 
 in this Conference, I ask that they may 
 may be spread upon the minutes of this 
 meeting. 
 
 Every offense, from the very fact of 
 being such, is subject to penalty, and 
 every penalty should be made effective 
 under pain of. weakening the foundation 
 upon which human society rests. The ap- 
 plication of this principle, as fixed as the 
 necessity to guaranty the well-being of 
 society, has been moderated by tolerance 
 born of the culture of the time and of 
 education which, generalizing itself, 
 teaches duties and rights, and forms a part 
 of the system of corrective provisions. 
 But that tolerance, carried to the ex- 
 treme, is the worst of tyrannies, because^ 
 applied to the practices which at bottom 
 affect social tranquillity, it either obliges 
 individuals to again exercise the rights 
 of primitive ages, or imposes on society 
 the duty of tolerating crimes which ought 
 
 DISaUBSO DEL SESOB OAAMASO. 
 
 Antes de dar mi voto en favor de las 
 indicaciones de la Comisidn de Extra- 
 dici6n, y para recomendar & mi Gobier- 
 no la adopcidn de los prinoipios que es- 
 tablece como bases para tratados de ex- 
 tradioidu, quiero expresar los motives de 
 las reservas con quo har^ dicha recomen- 
 daci<5n. Si la parte resolutiva del infor- 
 me contuviera detalladamente los arti- 
 cnlos que preseuta en la expositiva, yo 
 propondria la reforma del 23 dej^ndolo 
 reducido & estos t^rminos : " Tampoco 
 dan miSrito S, la extradioifin los delitos 
 polfticos y todos aquellos que atacan la 
 seguridad interna de an Estado." Pero 
 debo manifestar porqu6 limitaria & esl a 
 forma eae articiilo, pues repugna & mi 
 conciencia aceptar el compromise de reco- 
 mendarlo, tal comoest^ redactado, y aun 
 aprobado por el Congreso de Montevideo, 
 que ser^ siempre memorable en la histo- 
 ria americana. 
 
 Apenas he tenido tiempo para estudiar 
 el erudito informe de la Comisifin pre- 
 sentado hace veinte horas ; asl, sin exten- 
 dernie cuanto deseo, podria, y el asunto 
 requiere, har^ algunas observaciones ; 
 y alegando como derecho, la pr^ctica 
 establecida ultlmamente en esta Coufe- 
 rencia, pido que ellas consteu en el acta 
 dela presente sesi6n. 
 
 Todo delito por el mero hecho de serlo, 
 queda siijeto Siunaresponsabilidad, y toda 
 respousabilidad debe hacerse efectiva, so 
 pena de debilitar los fundamentos en que 
 estriban las agrupaciones humanas. La 
 aplicaci 6n de este principio, tan fi^rme como 
 la necesidad de garantir el bienestar de los 
 asociados, ha sido moderado por la tolc- 
 rancia, que se deriva de la cultnra de la 
 6poca, y de la educacidn, que generalizdn- 
 dose.ensenadeberes yderechosy hace una 
 parte del camino de las disposiciones cor- 
 rectivas. Pero esa tolerancia, llevada al 
 extreme, es la peer de las tirauias, porque, 
 aplicada & las priicticas que afectan en su 
 fondolatranquilidad social, (iobliga &\os 
 individuos & recobrar los dereohos de la 
 4poca primitiva, 6 impone i la sociedad el 
 deber de tolerar crimenes que deben ex- 
 
776 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 to be expiated ; and it imposes it in favor 
 of the guilty, who are placed in a posi- 
 tion of preference. This inverses the es- 
 tablished order and saps our social life, 
 which, as we know, is a transaction by 
 which we renounce part of our rights in 
 consideration of preserving the rest. 
 
 Why this transaction? Because laws 
 and institutions, acting with the calmness 
 which almost always is wanting in the 
 victim of a crime, takes in hand its detec- 
 tion and punishment to prevent its going 
 nupuuished and its repetition. Philan- 
 thropy as a word is euphonic and sweet, 
 as a sentiment delicate, and as a practice 
 noble. Woe to the heart that does not 
 shelter it ! Woe to the society which does 
 not consider it in its deliberations ! But 
 philanthropy, like every good act, has 
 its scope and opportunity ; for neither 
 perfect kindness is known between men, 
 nor charitable acts are such when they 
 engender countervailing effects. Among 
 the considerations which limit, or should 
 limit the application of a principle of com- 
 passion, one must be that of measuring its 
 scope, and measuring it by taking into 
 account the number and quality of the 
 favored, as also the nuiLber and quality 
 of those who are divested of the guaranty, 
 directly or indirectly, which the punish- 
 ment of a punishable act carries. 
 
 Tliese antecedents, viewed in connection 
 with Article 23, resnlt in that there are ex- 
 cluded from extradition all those offenses 
 attacking the external safety of the State 
 and common offences connected therewith, 
 and, also, with those which are committed 
 attacking its internal safety. 
 
 What is the effect of extradition ? It is 
 to put the offender in the hands of the 
 justice of the country wherein the crime 
 is perpetrated, in order that the enforce- 
 ment of the law may not be evaded; it is 
 an act of deference, a mark of respect 
 which the nations show to each other, 
 mutually protecting themselves against 
 violence, placing the culprit outside the 
 pale of the protection of the land in which 
 he seeks refuge. Very well, is it just that 
 this protection be more favorably lavished 
 upon him who commits atrocious crimes 
 than upon those which the plan to which 
 
 piarse ; y lo impone en beneficio del culpa- 
 ble, S, quien so colooa en condioiones de 
 car^cter preferente. 
 
 Esto invierte el drden estableoido y 
 mina nuestra vida de sociedad, qne, como 
 sabemos, es una transaccidn por la que 
 renunciamos parte de nuestros derechos, 
 S, trueque de conser var el resto. 4 Porqu6 
 esta transacci6n? Porqufe las leyes y 
 las instituoiones, prooediendo con la 
 serenidad que casi siempre falta & la 
 victima de un crimen, toman ^ su cargo 
 pesquisarlo jjCastigarlo, para evitar su 
 impunidad y prevenir su repetici6u. La 
 filantropia, como palabra es eufiSnica, y 
 dulce como sentimiento delicado y como 
 aplicacidn noble. Ay del corazon que no 
 la abrigue! Ay de la sociedad que.no la 
 tome como factor en sus deliberaciones ! 
 Pero la filantropla, como todo acto bueno, 
 tiene su medida y su oportunidad; pues 
 ni la bondad absoluta se concibe entre 
 los hombres, ni las disposiciones ben^ficas 
 lo son cuando engendran un fin contra- 
 producente. Entre las oonsideraciones 
 que limitan, 6 que deben limitar, la 
 aiilicacidn de un prinoipio de conmisera- 
 cidn, tiene que ser una de 611as la de 
 medir su alcauce, y medirlo tomaudo en 
 cuenta el nlimero y calidad de los 
 agraciados, asi como la calidad y nfimero 
 de los que quedan desvestidos de la 
 garantia, directa 6 iudirecta, que en- 
 cierra la punici6n de un acto sujeto S, 
 castigo. 
 
 Relacionando estos antecedentes con el 
 artlculo 23 resulta que se exoluyen de la 
 extradicidn los delitos de los que ateutan 
 contra la seguridad exterior del Estado, y 
 los delitos comunes que tienen conexidn 
 con estos y tambien con los que se come- 
 ten atacaudo su seguridad interna. 
 
 jCual es el efecto de la extradicidn ? Es 
 poner al delincuente en manos de la jus- 
 ticia del pals en que se perpetra el crimen, 
 para que la acci6n de la ley no quede es- 
 carnecida; es un acto doferente, una 
 mnestra de respeto que las naciones se 
 otorgan, protegi^ndose mutuameute con ■ 
 tra el desenfreno, poniendo al culpable 
 fuera del amparo delsuelo qne busca como 
 refugio. Ahora, bien ; jes justo que este 
 amparo sea m^s benfivolamente prodi- 
 gado al qne comete crimenes atroces que 
 S, los que el proyecto ^ que alndo sujeta £i 
 la extradici6n ? jEn qud delito incurre 
 
IJSTEENAl'IONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 777 
 
 I allude subjects to extradition t What 
 offense does he commit who puts or tries 
 to put in danger the external safety of a 
 State, and as a fact, threatens its sover- 
 eignty t What ? It is the crime of high 
 treason, the worst that human perversity- 
 can conceive ; it is the crime of deepest 
 dye and which marks with a stain that 
 centuries can not wipe out. And does 
 our plan protect that crime t The trea- 
 son that kills, that desires to kill the 
 second religion, which is love of country; 
 does that crime which attacks its own 
 home merit shelter being guarantied it 
 in another place ? Should there be a land 
 favorable to such a monster? What is 
 the philosophy of this principle? In 
 what is it founded? What its scope? Is 
 moral sanction hoped for ? If this be so 
 let us buru our penal codes, because there 
 is no offense not followed by this sanc- 
 tion, very often of little force. Does the 
 most abominable of crimes merit the 
 greatest of considerations? 
 
 Do transgressions affecting society in 
 general merit favorable exceptions? Is 
 it philanthropy, is it humanity, is it jus- 
 tice to shield the assassin, the incendiary, 
 tlie robber, depriving a whole country of 
 its rights and despoiling it of the prerog- 
 atives which protect its dignity and assure 
 its preservation ? Is it natural to place 
 on the further side of a frontier of easy 
 access a bulwark for bandits that they 
 may waylay and threaten the respectable 
 portion of the population ? Is considera- 
 tion had for one offending and not for 
 public vengeance, which has its jurisdic- 
 tion and claims the exercise thereof? 
 
 Very well, offenses properly called po- 
 litical aie such as are committed with 
 the intent of changing the institutions 
 of a, country, reforming them or chang- 
 ing the administrative personnel, with- 
 out subjection to the laws of the 
 country, resorting to bribery or arms. I 
 know, know it well, as we all do, that 
 these acts, if they are never excusable in 
 the face of a Constitution being broken, 
 a law violated, or a right trampled upon, 
 come within the scope of acts of a debat- 
 able nature, because they are often the 
 doctrines planted by good and bad writ- 
 ers, and becausj in this sphere of action 
 what to-day is an offense to-morrow is 
 
 el que pone 6 trata de poner en riesgo la 
 seguridad exterior de un Estado, yen de- 
 finitiva, atenta contra su soberania? 
 ^Cual? Es el crimen de alta traicifin, y 
 el mayor que puede concebir la perversi- 
 dad humana; es el crimen por antono- 
 masia y que marca con un signo que no 
 borran ni los siglos. jY &un S. ese crimen 
 proteje nuestro proyeoto? La traci6n 
 que inata, que quiere matar la segunda 
 religion, que es el amor ^ la patria ; ese 
 crimen que ataca & su propio albergne, 
 J merece quo se le garantice en otro ? 
 i Debe haber tierra propicia para seme- 
 jante monstruo? jCu^l es la filosofia de 
 este principle? jEn qug se funda? jA 
 qu6 tiende? jSe espera la saucifin 
 moral ? Si esto es asl, quememos uuestros 
 C(5dig08 penales, pues no hay delito que 
 no vaya seguido de ese corrective, y este 
 es muchas voces de poco alcance. jLa 
 mas abominable, de las atrocidades me- 
 rece la mayor de las consideraciones ? 
 
 Las trasgresiones que afectan d la socie- 
 dad en geueral ^ merecen excepcidn favo- 
 rable ? J Es filantropia, es humanidad, es 
 justlcla, cobijar al asesiuo, al inceudiario, 
 al ladron con violencia, desuudando de 
 BUS derechos S, un pals entero y, priv^ndole 
 de las prerogativas que guaidan su dig- 
 nidad y aseguran su conservaci6n ? j Es 
 natural poner al otro lado de una frontera, 
 def^cil paso, un baluarte para los ban- 
 didoB, para que acechen y amenacen ii la 
 porci6n honrada? ^Se tiene compasi6n 
 por un delincuente, y no por la vlndicta 
 pfiblica, que tiene sus fueros y reclama 
 el goce de ellos ? 
 
 Ahora blen, los delitos propiamente 
 llaniados politicos son los que se ejecu- 
 tan para cambiar las iustituciones de un 
 pais, reformarlas 6 varlar el personal ad- 
 nilnistrativo, sin sujetarse ^ las leyes y 
 apelaudo al cohecho, 6 & las armas. Yo 
 conozco, 86 bien, y sabemos todos, que 
 estos actos, si nuuca son excnsables, 
 cuando estS; de frente una Constitu- 
 ci6n que se ronipe, una ley que se 
 viola, 8 un derecho que se atropella, 
 outran en el domiuio de los hechos 
 de naturaleza discntible, por cuanto 
 qne muchas son las doctrinas que 
 siembran buenos y males publioisras, y 
 porque en esta esfera de accidn mafiaua 
 
778 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 qualified aa an heroic act. I do not go 
 into this matter, bnt considering as politi- 
 cal offenses those attempts or acts against 
 internal order, so considered by the laws 
 in force at the time when said offenses 
 are committed, I ask : Why should the 
 common offenses which precede, accomp- 
 any, or follow those acts he excepted ? Is 
 it, perchance, not easy to determine what 
 are the measures demanded by said acts, 
 and to separate those which are purely 
 military measures from those that are out- 
 brealis of wickedness, of personal re- 
 venge, or of perversity ? Are crimes, 
 perchance, necessary to bring about a 
 change or uphold a principle ? I not only 
 reply that they are not, but that any 
 change founded on crimes is inacceptable, 
 and in place of an extenuating cause it is 
 an aggravating one, leaving the offenses 
 that may be perpetrated in all their de- 
 formity under the ban of the penal law. 
 
 It will be well to notice that the tre ties 
 made by the United States of Aiueri a with 
 many of the principal nations of Euiope, 
 in enumerating the offenses liable to ex- 
 tradition, do nut except those that are 
 committed with the object of insuring 
 the success of some political plan. And 
 it can not be said that this has not been 
 thought of because this kind of crimes are 
 the chronic iniirmity of our Eepublics. 
 Monarchies al o have been and are con- 
 stantly brtatenod; history's pages are 
 full with all kinds of criminal attempts ; 
 monaichs enjoy a less peaceful sleep than 
 our maml ataries ; and just at present 
 tbe nihilists, fenians, and socialists aim 
 their blows against the crowns and keep 
 the people in constant alarm with thieats 
 of anarchy, and scandalize the world 
 with 1 heir pretentious. In order to prove 
 my assertion I shall refer to the treaiies 
 signed with England in November, 1794; 
 with France in .November, lb43; with 
 the Germanic Confederation in June, 
 1852; with Austria in July, 1856; with 
 Italy in March, 1868; with Belgium in 
 March, 1874 ; and with Spain in August, 
 1882. Add to this the peculiar circum- 
 stances that article 3d of the treaty of 
 1877, according to which common offenses 
 connected with political ones were ex- 
 
 se califica de hecho her6ico lo que hoy 
 es un atentado. No entro, pnes, en estas 
 apreciaciones; pero considerando como 
 delitos politicos las tentativas 6 actos 
 consumados en orden al regimen interne, 
 considerados asi por las leyes que est^n 
 en vigencia en la 6poca en que tales 
 actos se verifioan, pregunto : jporqu6 se 
 garantizan tambien los delitos comunes, 
 que preceden, acompafian, 6 siguen ^ esos 
 actos? jAcaso no es f^oil determinar 
 cuales son las medidas que dichos pro- 
 pdsitos exigen, y deslindar las que son pu- 
 ramente militares de las que son desbor- 
 des de la maldad, de las venganzas per- 
 sonales 6 dela perversidad ? jSon aeaso 
 necosarios los crimenes para operar un 
 cambio 6 sancionar un principio? Yo 
 respondo no solamente que no lo son, sine 
 que toda transform acidn que se apoya en 
 crimenes es inaceptable, y que en vez de 
 ser causa atenuante lo es agravante, de- 
 jando los delitos que se perpetran, con 
 toda su deformidad, bajo la ferula de la 
 ley penal. 
 
 Convieu ■ hacer notar que los tratados 
 c lebrados por los Estados TJn.dos de 
 America con muchaa de las princ pales 
 naciones de Europa, al hacer la enuraera- 
 cidn de los delitos sujetos ^ extradici6n, no 
 exceptuan los que se cometen con el fin 
 de consumar 6 asegurar la obtencidn de un 
 fin politico. Y no se dii^ que no se ha 
 pensado en eso por que esta clase de deli- 
 tos son achaques de nueslras Eepllblicas. 
 Las monarqufas ban estado y estan con- 
 stantemente amenazadas; la bistoria tieue 
 llenas sus p^inas de toda clase de aten- 
 tados; los so', eranos tienen un sueSo 
 menos tranquilo que nmestros mandata- 
 ries ; y Eoy mismo los nihiisl as, fenianjs, 
 y socialistas asestan sus golpea contra las 
 coronas y tienen en alarma inoesante & 
 los pueblos que amenazan con la anar- 
 quia, y al mundo entero que escaudali- 
 zan con sus pretensioues. En comproba- 
 ci6n de mi aserto puedeu verse los trata- 
 dos firmados con In^laterra enNoviembre 
 de 1794, con Francia en Noviembre de 
 1843, con la ConfederaCidu Germanica en 
 Junio de 1852, con Austria eu Julio de 
 1856, con Italia en Marzo de 1868, con B41- 
 gica en Marzo de 1874 y con EspaSa en 
 Agosto de 1882; con a muy notable oir- 
 cunstan ia de que eu este tra ado se eli- 
 min6 el arliould 3° del de Enero de 1877, 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 779 
 
 cepted from extradition, -sras eliminated 
 from the treaty of 1S82 concluded with 
 Spain. The treaties w.th Mexico of De- 
 cember, 1861, and with Veneziiela of Au- 
 gust, 1860, find tbeiiieelves iu the same 
 condition. 
 
 The principle recommended to us once 
 accepted, the result would be that a chief 
 of highwaymen can organize a baud, pro- 
 claim a political principle, and a leader as 
 bad as they, and to the sound of that cry 
 and under the banner of that principle, 
 rob, fire, flee from the public force, take 
 refuge in a neighboring country, and aeeli 
 and profit by their depredations. It 
 wonld be the same as saying that a sol- 
 dier could malje himself a dictator, and 
 during the prevailing disturbance sack a 
 bank and flee to enjoy his rapine in for- 
 eign parts. It would be the same as say- 
 ing that a group of conspirators could 
 kill a ruler and afterwards flee to boast 
 of what they would call a political act, 
 while it is a treacherous murder, or to in- 
 cite the commission of like crimes. Why 
 should a treacherous assassin have more 
 guaranties than those who commit offenses 
 up to a certain point secondary, like many 
 of those subject to extradition and which 
 our codes punish with one year of impris- 
 onment f 
 
 I think, gentlemen, that the offenses 
 which should be excepted are political 
 offenses, those purely political, but never 
 common offenses, because they are not in 
 dispensable to the securing of social ends, 
 and the contrary will open the door to 
 criminality. I believe that persons com- 
 mitting common offenses, and who at the 
 same time are responsible for political of- 
 fenses, should be subject to extradition for 
 the former, under a formal pledge of the 
 demanding nation not to press the latter 
 committed before extradition. 
 
 The last clause of the twenty-third arti- 
 cle I think inadequate and even harmful 
 to national dignity. Looking over the 
 five series of articles which comprise the 
 treaty on penal law of Montevideo, we 
 see that the first, second, third, sixth, 
 and that upon "jurisdiction " provide 
 that offenses shall be tried and punished by 
 the courts of the nation where they are per- 
 petrated ; that under "Extradition" Ar- 
 
 segun el cual se exceptuaba de la extra- 
 dici6n A los reus de delitos comu es en 
 couexiiju con los pollticos. En iguales 
 condiciones que los tratados Sj que aludo 
 es iln los celebrados con M6xlco en Di- 
 ciembre de 1861, y con Venezuela en 
 Agosto del 1860. 
 
 Sentado el principio que se nos reoo- 
 mienda, resultaria que un jefe de saltea- 
 dores pnede organizar una cuadrilla, in- 
 vocar un principio politico y un oaudillo, 
 malvado como ellos, y al sou de ese grito 
 y bajo la sorabra de ese principio robar, 
 quemar, huir de la fuerza ptiblica, refu- 
 giarse en pals vecino y bnrlarse y dis- 
 frutar de sus depredaoiones. Querria 
 decir que un soldado audaz podria hacerse 
 Dictador, y en mementos de angustia sa- 
 quear un banco y fugar para gozar de su 
 rapina en el extrangero. Querria decir 
 que un grupo de conjurados puede matar 
 u un Mandatario, 6 ir despues Si jaotarse 
 de lo que llamarian aoto politico, cuando 
 es un asesinato aleve, 6 ^ excitar para que 
 se cometan crimenes iguales. jPorqu6 un 
 matador con alevosia ha de tener m^s 
 garantias que los que incurreu en culpa- 
 bilidades, hasta cierto punto secundarias, 
 como muchas de las que est^n sujetas S, 
 extradicidn, y que nuestros c6digos casti- 
 gan con un afio de reclusidii ? 
 
 En resfimon, SeSores, mi opinidn es que 
 los delitos que deben garantizarse son los 
 politicos, los meramente pollticos; pero 
 jaraas los crimenes comunes, porquo no 
 sou indispensables para la obteucidn de un 
 fin social y lo contrario abrirdi la puerta S, 
 la oriminalidad. Creo que los individuos 
 que incurren en crimenes comunes y al 
 mismo tiempo son responsables de delitos 
 pollticos, deben estar sujetos & la extra- 
 dioidn, por los primeros, bajo formal com- 
 promise de la nacidn solicitante de pre- 
 scindir de los segundos, cometidos antes 
 de la extradicidn. 
 
 El inciso del artloulo 23 lo juzgo ina- 
 decuado y aun hiriente & la dignidad na- 
 cional. Registrando los oinoo ouerpos de 
 artlculos que forman el tratado de Dere- 
 cho Penal internacional de Montevideo, 
 vemos que los 1°, 2°, 3", G^, y 140 sobre 
 " Jurisdiccii5n," establecen que los delitos 
 sejuzgan y penan por los Tribunales de la 
 nacidn enqueseperpetran ; y queen el"Re- 
 gimen de extradioidn " los artlculos 19 
 
780 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 tides XIX (section 3) atid XXI (section 1) 
 agree in that the nation demanding the ex- 
 tradition shall present such documents as, 
 under its own laws, authorize the impris- 
 onment and trial of the accused. 
 
 Why, then, does the section of Article 
 23 give the right of classification to the 
 nation upon which the demand is made? 
 I do not understand it, because I can not 
 conceive why in this one case, and one 
 which may be born of the crime of trea- 
 son, or of common offenses of a grave na- 
 ture, a country is shorn of its right to 
 judge that another may assume the right 
 to qualify its proceedings and override 
 its decisions. The general rule of de- 
 manding extradition when the courts 
 have adjudged criminality to exist, once 
 adopted, the section tends to make that 
 judgment, which is issued in due form, 
 nugatory, subjecting it to amendment or 
 revocation. 
 
 Having made those remarljs, I vote for 
 the plan as a whole. 
 
 (inciso 3°) y 21 (inciso 1") convienen on 
 que la naddn reclamante preaenie documen- 
 tos que, segun sus leges, autoricen laprision 
 y enjuioiamiento del reo. 
 
 {Porque, pues, el inciso del artlculo 23 
 dii el derecho de clasificacidu & la naoidn 
 requerida ? No lo comprendo, porque no 
 alcanzo ^ concebir porqu6 para este solo 
 case, y caso que pued6 nacerde uu crimen 
 de lesa patria, 6 de delitos comunes 
 graves, se despoje & un pais do su propio 
 criterio, para »que otro asuma el derecho 
 de calificar sus procedimientos y sojuzgar 
 sus deliberaciones. Una voz adoptada la 
 regla general de deraandar la extradici6n 
 cnando log Tribunales han declarado 
 existi? criminalidad, el inciso tiende £i 
 hacernugatoria esa declaraci6n, expedida 
 en toda forma, sujetSndola S, ser refor- 
 mada 6 revocada. 
 
 Hechas estaa observaoiones, apayo el 
 proyeoto en general. 
 
 Appendix B. 
 
 opinion of mr. bolet peeaza, del- 
 egate fboyc venezuela, on the 
 
 SUBJECT OF EXTRADITION. 
 
 Mr. President, the Venezuelan Delega- 
 tion is sorry to be compelled to not agree 
 wholly with the honorable members of 
 the committee in their report. It will 
 vote for a part of it — that in which the 
 Governments are left at liberty to con- 
 clude extradition treaties without sub- 
 jecting itself entirely to the provisions of 
 that wise treaty of the Montevidean Con- 
 ference, because in the very article criti- 
 cised by my honorable colleague from 
 Ecuador there is a point upon which it is 
 impossible for the Venezuelan Delegation 
 to agree or compromise, for in it those 
 who conspire against the safety of a na- 
 tion in foreign countries are excluded 
 from extradition. 
 
 In common language this crime ia 
 known as high treason, and there can not, 
 nor should there be, a mantle of impunity 
 to protect those guilty of so monstrous a 
 crime. The Venezuelan Delegation can 
 not give an approving vote, or recommend 
 an article of a treaty which places under 
 
 ApiSndice B. 
 
 opinion del selfor bolet peeaza, 
 deleqado fob venezuela, en el 
 asunto de extbadiclon. 
 
 SeSor Presidentb : La delegaoi«5n de 
 Venezuela y& S, tener el disgasto de no 
 ac6mpaJxar & los honorables miembros de 
 la Comisi6n en la totalidad de su informe. 
 VotarS por una parte de ^1, aquella en 
 que se deja & los Gobiernos en libertad 
 de celebrar trat.ados de extradicidn, sin 
 sujetarse en un todo & lo que ese sabio 
 tratado de la Conferencia de Montevideo 
 contiene, porque justamente en el artlculo 
 comeutado por mi Honorable colega por 
 el Ecuador, hay un punto sobre el cual le 
 es imposible ^ la delegaci6n de Venezuela 
 convenir ni transigir, pues que en 61 se 
 exclnye del caso de exiradici6n & los que 
 conspiren contra la seguridad exterior de 
 una naoidn. 
 
 A este delito se le llama en el lenguage 
 universal alta traicidn & la patria, y no 
 puede, no debe, haber manto de impuni- 
 dad que proteja & reos de tan horrendo 
 crimen. La delegaci6n de Venezuela no 
 podria dar su veto de aprohaoi6nni de re- 
 comendaci6n ^ un artlculo de trsrtado que 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 781 
 
 the protection of any nation in the world, 
 and much less under the protection of an 
 American nation, whoever may conspire 
 with the foreign invader who tramples our 
 soil, against its sovereignty and integrity. 
 For such an attempt, for such a crime, 
 comparable only to parricide, all the legal 
 penalties should be heaped up, all the ire 
 of legislation, as are all the maledictions 
 of moral nature, to condemn it. 
 
 With regard to so-called political of- 
 fenses, I do not recognize them in the 
 category of offenses meriting punishment. 
 These so-called political oflfeuses are apt 
 to become some day the aureole of great 
 men, of great patriots, when the judgment 
 of history confronts them and examines 
 their conscience and the motives which 
 prompted them to act. By this pat h of 
 sublime effort have ascended to glory all 
 the great figures humanity recognizes as 
 liberators of their fellow-men. 
 
 By mind and by affiliation liberal, and 
 as a sincere Democrat I can not recognize 
 that so-called offense. To my mind they 
 are properly excepted from extradition, 
 as prescribed by the article cited, and 
 I also oousider as properly excepted those 
 common offenses which originate there- 
 from, because, as the honorable Delegate 
 from Hondurashas well said, the tendency 
 of some vindictive or oppressive govern- 
 ments is to confound one with the other. 
 These common offenses connected with 
 political acts may appear, in the light of 
 some principles, as meritirg penal sever- 
 ity, but they are justifiable if the right 
 which parties as well as nations have to 
 defend themselves is considered. 
 
 It would be more correct, therefore, to 
 leave that part of the article as it is, 
 which provides n refuge for the man 
 who leaves his oonntry, persecuted by a 
 tyrannic government which his duty and 
 his honor oblige him to disown and to 
 oppose. Do not lot us appear less gener- 
 ous than the foreigner who offers hospi- 
 tality to the unjustly persecuted. If we 
 wero to include among extraditable of- 
 fenses those called political we would ex- 
 pose ourselves to bring that danger upon 
 ourselves, because, young as our Kepub- 
 
 ponga bajo el amparo de cualquiera nacidn 
 en el mundo, ymuohomeuos bajo el ampa- 
 ro d-e una nacidn americana,£iquien quiera 
 que pudiese conspirar contra su soberania 
 6 integridad con el extrangero invasor 
 quo holla nnestro suelo. Para ese aten- 
 tado, para ese ciimen, comparable tan 
 solo con el parricidio, deberian acumularse 
 todas las penas legates, todas las iras de 
 la legislaci^n, como para oondenarlo se 
 alzan todas las maldiclones de la moral 
 humana. 
 
 For lo que toca & los delitos llamados 
 pollticos, yo no los reconozco en la cate- 
 goria de las faltas que ameritan penas. 
 Los llamados delitos pollticos suelen ser u n 
 d iala aureola de los grandes hombres, de los 
 grandes patriotas, cuando el juicio de la 
 historia se enfrenta con ellos y examina 
 Bu conciencia y los mfiviles que tuvieron 
 para obrar. For esa via de esfuerzos 
 supremos han subido & su glorificaoifia 
 todas las grandes figuras S, quienes la hu- 
 manidad reconoce como libertadores de 
 sus semejantes. 
 
 Como liberal de sentimientos y de filia- 
 ci6n, como demdcrata sincere, yo no 
 puedo reconocer ese llamado delito. 
 Para mi estan muy bien exceptuados de 
 la extradici<5u, como lo requiere el arti- 
 culo & que me contraigo, y encuentro 
 igualmente bien exceptuados los delitos 
 comuues que de ellos se originen, porque 
 como muy bien ha dicho el Honorable 
 Delegado por Honduras, la tendencia de 
 algunos Gobiernos vengativos 1i opre- 
 sores es eonf nudir unos y otros aotos. Es- 
 tos delitos comunes conexionados con las 
 acciones politicas pueden parecer & la luz 
 de ciertos principios dignos de la severi- 
 dad penal ; pero son justificables si se 
 atiende al dereoho que los partidos como 
 las naciones tienen para su defensa. 
 
 Mas acerfcado es, pues, dejar esa parte 
 del artlculo tal como estS, y que provee & 
 un asilo para el hombre que emigra de su 
 patria, perseguido por un Gobierno ti- 
 r^nico, S, quien su deber y su houra obli- 
 gau S, desconooer y hostilizar. No vaya- 
 mos ^ apareoer raenos generosos que el 
 extrangero que brinda hospitalidad al 
 perseguido de la justicia. Si fu&emos & 
 incluir los llamados delitos politicos 
 entre los que merecen la extradici(5n, nos 
 exiDondriamos ^ preparar ese peligro para 
 nosotros mismos, porque jdvenescomo son 
 
782 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 lies are, still subject to the contingency 
 of revolts toestablisli our liberties, which 
 of us can be sure that he will not be to- 
 morrow in a somewhat different situa- 
 tion from to-day ? Which of us can say 
 that, to-day the representative of a Gov- 
 ernment, he will not to-morrow be the 
 representative of a revolution, because 
 the honorable Governments we now have 
 may be changed for others which shall 
 put an end to our liberties ? 
 
 But, I repeat, that with respect to the 
 crime of high treason, I am of the opinion 
 it should be included in the facilities 
 which nations have to reach their offend- 
 ers even on foreign soil. 
 
 For the reasons adduced the Venezuelan 
 Delegation abstains from adhering to the 
 whole of the articles of the treaty of 
 Montevideo to which I refer, regretting 
 extremely not to fully accompany the 
 honorable committee which has recom- 
 mended that work so worthy of the ap- 
 plause of natives and foreigners. 
 
 In conclusion, I shall only say that I beg 
 the Chair to be good enough to insert this 
 declaration in the minutes of to-day's 
 session. 
 
 nuestras Eepliblicas, sometidas todavia S, 
 las contingencias de las revueltas para 
 asentar sus libertades, j quien de noso- 
 tros puede asegurar que no aei^ manana 
 algo diferente de lo que es hoy ? j Quien 
 de nosotros puede deoir que hoy repre- 
 sentante de un Gobierno no sea manana 
 representante de una revolucidn, porque 
 cambien los Gobiernos honorables que 
 tenemos, por otros que couculquen nues- 
 tras libertades ? 
 
 Pero repito que eu lo que respecta al 
 crimen de Igsa patria opino porqne se 
 incluya en la facultad que tienen las na- 
 ciones de alcanzar S, sus perpetradores aun 
 en suelo extrafio. 
 
 Por todo lo expuesto se abstiene la De- 
 legaci6n de Venezuela de adherirse al to- 
 tal coutenido del articulo del tratado de 
 Montevideo S, que me refiero, sintiendo 
 en extreme no acompafiar por completo & 
 la Honorable ComiSidn que ha recomen- 
 dado esa obra tan digna del aplauso de 
 propios y extraQos. 
 
 Para terminar solo dir6 que suplioo ^ 
 la Presidencia se sirva insertar esta de- 
 claraicidn en el acta de la sesidn de hoy. 
 
SIXTY-SEVENTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 67. 
 
 Washington, April 16, 18U0. 
 Tlie International American Conference 
 was called to order aA 1:20 p. m. by tlie 
 First Vice-President, Mr. F. C.C.Zbgar- 
 KA, a Delegate froni Peru, followed by 
 the Hon. James G. Blaine, with the fol- 
 lowing Delegat es present : , 
 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala: 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva; 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Reque Saenz Pena . 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jo86 S. Deooud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. 6. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendong a. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. JerOnimo Zelaya. 
 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexla. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 SesiSn del 16 Abril de 1890. 
 Preeidencia del Sr. F. C. C. Zegauka, 
 delegado por el Perti, Primer Vicepresi- 
 dente, seguido por el Honorable Sr. James 
 G. Blaine. Estando presentes : 
 
 Haytf : 
 
 El Sr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peni: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz PeSa ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Aragfin. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos<S S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. ,J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 M<5sioo : 
 
 El Sr. Mallas Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 783 
 
784 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Uuited States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge 
 
 Mr. "William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jop6 Alfonso. 
 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria PlSEoidoCaamaHo. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present, with the corrections 
 made by Messrs. Romero, Qaintana, and 
 Alfonso. 
 
 A communication was read, asking the 
 Delegates to appoint a day for an excur- 
 sion to Mount Vernon, and it was decided 
 to do so when the Conference should have 
 terminated its labors. 
 
 The debate on Arbitration was con- 
 tinued; and on motion of Mr. Quintana, 
 a Delegate from the Argentine, it was de- 
 cided to first take up Articles II and IV, 
 as reported back by the committee. 
 
 Article II was read as follows : 
 
 "Arbitration shall be obligatory in all 
 controversies concerning diplomatic and 
 consular privileges, boundaries, territo- 
 ries, indemnities, the rights of naviga- 
 tion, and the validity, construction, and 
 enforcement of treaties.'' 
 
 Mr. RoMEKO, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 handed the Chair the following project, 
 with the request that it be recorded in 
 the minutes; 
 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ;" 
 
 El Sr. WiUiam Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee; 
 
 El Sr. John P. Hanson ; 
 
 ElSr. Henry G.Davis; 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 
 Chile; 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas ; 
 
 El Sr. Joa6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Joa6 Maria PMcido 
 , CaamaSo. 
 
 Se abrid la sesifin S, la una y veinte 
 minutes de la tarde. 
 
 Se leyfi, aprobd y flrmd el acta del dia 
 anterior con las correcciones hechas por 
 los Senores Romero, Quintana y Alfonso. 
 
 Se di(5 cuenta de una comunioacidn en 
 que se deseaba saber de los SeQores Dele- 
 gados que dia les parecia oportuno para 
 haoer una excursifin A Mount Vernon ; y 
 habi^ndose expresado el deseo de aceptar 
 la invitacidn se determin6 que el viage 
 tuviese efecto despues de terminar los 
 trabajos de la Conferencia. 
 
 Continufise el debate sobre el asuntode 
 arbitrage, y Si moci(5n del SeBoi' Quin- 
 tana, delegado por la Eepliblica Argen- 
 tina se determind empezar por los articu- 
 los 2° y 4°, como venianpropuestosdefini- 
 tivamente por la Comisi<5n. 
 
 Se l6y6 el artlculo 2°, que viene pro- 
 puesto en estos t^rminos. 
 
 "El arbitrage es obligatorio en todas 
 las cuestiones sobre privilegios diplomSp 
 ticos y consulares, llmites, territories, in- 
 demnizaciones, derechos de navegacidn, 
 y validez, inteligencia y cumplimiento 
 de tratados." 
 
 El Sefior Romero, delegado par Mexi- 
 co, euvi6 S, la Mesa el siguiente proyecto, 
 de que pidid se pusiese en el acta la cor- 
 respondiente constancia, y dice como 
 sigue: 
 
INTEKNAXIONAL AMEKICAN CONrjiRENCE. 
 
 786 
 
 "Articlb I. 
 
 "The Eepublios of North, South, and 
 Central America hereby adopt arbitration 
 as a principle of international American 
 law, for the settlement of such questions 
 as may arise among themselves after the 
 final adoption of this treaty by the Eepub- 
 lics which are parties to it. 
 
 " AktIculo I. 
 
 "LasRepiiblioas dela America del Norte 
 del Sar y del Centro adoptan por el pre- 
 sente el Arbitramento como nn principio 
 deDerecho Internacional Americano, para 
 la soluci6n de las ouestiones que puedan 
 suscitarse entre ellas, despues de la adop- 
 cidn de este Tratado por las Eepiiblicas 
 que lo acepten. 
 
 "AnxicLE II. 
 
 "In the event of any nation declining 
 to arbitrate a difference or dispute with 
 oue or more nations on the ground that 
 such a mode of settlement endangers its 
 national independence or is incompatible 
 with national honor and dignity, the na- 
 tions concerned in the difference before 
 taking further action shall ask the media- 
 tion of a common friend whose good offices 
 shall be employed to make a friendly set- 
 tlement. Failing to secure an amicable 
 adjustment, the mediator shall decide 
 whether the difference is one which may 
 be submitted to arbitration in accord- 
 ance with the provisions of this treaty. 
 The decision of the mediator shall be final. 
 
 "AktIculo II. 
 
 "Si algunadelas naciones contratantes 
 se rehusare & someter & arbitraje un caso 
 de diferencia 6 cuestidn porque conside- 
 rare que ese arbitrio amenaza su indepen- 
 dencia 6 es incompatible con el honor y 
 la diguidad nacional, las Kepdblicas ^ 
 quienes afecte la diferencia, solicitar^n 
 antes de tomar ninguna otra resoluoi(5a, 
 la mediaoi6n de un amigo comdn, cuyos 
 buenos oficios tendr^u pot objeto llegar & 
 un arreglo amistoso. Si no se consigulere 
 ese fin, el mediador decidirdi si el caso es 
 de los que deben someterse & arbitraje 
 de acuerdo con las estipnlaciones de este 
 tratado. La decisidn del mediador serd 
 final. 
 
 "Article III. 
 
 "The Republics which are parties to 
 anj' question at issue shall agree in each 
 case whether said question shall be de- 
 cided by one umpire or by three or more 
 judges organized in a court of arbitra- 
 tion. The parties shall themselves agree 
 apon the manner of electing the umpire 
 or judges. 
 
 "Article IV. 
 
 "The umpire or court of arbitration 
 shall sit in the country that may be agreed 
 upon by the Republics interested in the 
 difference, and shall act until the final 
 award is announced. 
 
 "ARTfcuLO III. 
 
 " Las Reptiblicas iuteresadas en la cues- 
 ti6n pendiente oonvendrSn en cada caso 
 si dicha cuestirtn ha de decidirse por un 
 ^rbitro, 6 por tres 6 mas jueces organi- 
 zados en una Corte de Arbitramento. 
 Las mismas Republicas convendrSn en la 
 manera de elegir el &bitro, 6 jueces. 
 
 "ARTfCULO IV. 
 
 "El ^rbitro 6 la Corte de Arbitramento, 
 se reunir^n en el pais en que convengan 
 las Reptiblicas jnteresadas en la cuestidn 
 y funcionar£ir hasta dar su fallo defini- 
 tive. 
 
 "Article V. 
 
 "In the event of a court of three or 
 more judges being chosen to hear and de- 
 termine the case, the decision of the ma- 
 jority shall be final, unless the parties to 
 
 50 I O 
 
 "ARXfCULO V. 
 
 " En caso de que los interesados elijan 
 una Corte de tres 6 mas jueces para 
 conocer y decidir una cuestidn, se con- 
 siderar^ final la decision de la mayorfa, a 
 
786 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 the issue shall before trial have demanded 
 unanimity in the verdict. . 
 
 "Article VI. 
 
 " The expense of the arbitration shall 
 be paid in equal parts by the two nations 
 interested in the settlement of the ques- 
 tion at issue. 
 
 "Article VII. 
 
 " This treaty shall remain in force for 
 ten years from the date of exchange of its 
 ratifications, and shall continue in force 
 thereafter until one of the contracting 
 parties shall give notice to all the others 
 of a wish to terminate the same, and far- 
 ther until the expiration of one year from 
 the date of said notification. But the 
 vrithdrawal of one party from the treaty 
 shall not have the effect to invalidate the 
 treaty so far as the other parties are con- 
 cerned. 
 
 "Article Vlll. 
 
 " This treaty shall be ratified by all the 
 nations who agree to it, in accordance 
 with their respective constitutional pro- 
 cedure, and the ratifications shall be ex- 
 changed in the city of Washington as 
 soon thereafter as possible. When it shall 
 have been ratified by a majority of the 
 coiiiracting nations, the treaty shall be 
 proclaimed at once, and accessions to the 
 saiuo may be received thereafter from 
 otlier nations. 
 
 " In witness whereof the undersigned 
 Plenipotentiaries have hereunto set their 
 hands and seals. 
 
 "Done at the city of Washington, in 
 eighteen copies in the English, Spanish, 
 
 and Portuguese languages, this day 
 
 of A. D. 1890." 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 stated that in his opinion Article II of the 
 project under debate clearly expressed 
 that arbitration was obligatory, without 
 exception, in all oases it mentioned, and 
 that it would be impossible ever to allege 
 in any of those cases that national in- 
 dependence was imperiled. 
 
 The vote having been taken on the 
 above article, it was adopted by & ma- 
 jority of fifteen to one. 
 
 no serqne las partes in teresadasestipulen 
 ^ntes de que comienze el juicio, que se 
 requiera un fallo uu^aime. 
 
 "ARTfCULO VI. 
 
 "Los gastos del aibitramento serSn 
 pagados por partes igoales por las dos 
 naciones interesadas en el arreglode la 
 cuestidn que lo promueva. 
 
 " ArtIculo VII. 
 
 " Este tratado durar^ en vigor por diez 
 anos, oontados desde la fecha del canje 
 de sus ratificationes, y durar^ vijente 
 hasta un alio despues de que una de las 
 partes contratantes notifiqne & todas las 
 otras su intencidn de terminarlo. Pero 
 si una Republioa retirase su aquiesoencia 
 al tratado, no quedar^ invalidado por lo 
 quehace & las demas Repliblicas, 
 
 "ARTfCULO VIIL 
 
 " Este tratado se ratificarii por todas las 
 naciones que convengau en 61, de con- 
 formidad con los reqnisitos de sus respec- 
 tivas oonstituciones, y las ratificaciones 
 se cangeai^n en la ciudad de Washing- 
 ton, tan pronto como sea posible. Cuando 
 haya sido ratificado por la mayorfa de 
 las naciones contratantes, aev^ procla- 
 mado desde luego por ^stas, y las demas 
 podrdin despues adberirse ^ 61. 
 
 " En testimonio de lo cnal los Plenipo- 
 tenciarios infrascritos, lo ban aellado y 
 firm ado. 
 
 ' ' Hecho en la ciudad de Wasli ington, en 
 diez y echo ejemplares, en las lenguas es- 
 
 pafiola, portuguesa 6 inglesa el dia 
 
 de del ano' del Sefior de 1890." 
 
 El Senor Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, manifesto que en su conoepto el 
 articulo 2° del proyecto en discusifin ex- 
 presaba claramente que el arbitrage era 
 obligatorio sin excepcidn en todos los 
 cases que 61 mencionaba, sin que pudiera 
 nunoa alegarse respeoto de alguno de ellos 
 que la independeneia nacioual estaba 
 comprometida. 
 
 Puesto & votacidn el articulo results 
 aprobado por una mayoria de quince con- 
 tra UBO en el drden siguiente: 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 787 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Haj ti, 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay,. Brazil, 
 Honduras, Bolivia, United States, Vene- 
 zuela, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Mexico voted negatively, and Chili ab- 
 stained from voting. 
 
 Article IV was read as follows: 
 
 "The sole (^uestiona excepted from the 
 provisions of the preceding article are 
 those which, in the judgment of any one 
 of the nations involved in the contro- 
 versy, may imperil its independence. In 
 which case, for such natior., arbitration 
 shall be optional ; but it shall be obliga- 
 tory upon the adversary power." 
 
 Mr. EOMEKO, a Delegate Irom Mexico, 
 stated that he would vote in favor of the 
 article if the following words were added : 
 "And such questions as affect directly 
 the honor or dignity of one of the nations 
 concerned." If these words were not in- 
 serted he would vote negatively. 
 
 After some discussion it was decided 
 not to change the wording of the article. 
 
 The honorable President, Jamks G. 
 Blaine, having arrived, took the Chair. 
 
 The vote having been taken, the article 
 was adopted. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were: Hayti, 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Bolivia, United States, Veae- 
 zuela, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Mexico voted negatively , and Chili ab- 
 stained. 
 
 Articles XII and XIII were read sepa- 
 rately, voted on, and were unanimously 
 adopted, the same delegations voting as 
 before. 
 
 Article XIV was read, voted on, and 
 unanimously adopted, the same delega- 
 tions voting, with the exception of Mex- 
 ico, which abstained. 
 
 Articles XV, XVI, XVII, and XVIII 
 were read, separately voted upon, and 
 unanimously carried, the same delega- 
 tions voting, Mexico included. 
 
 Article XIX was read. 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente: Haiti, Nica- 
 ragua, Perti, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, 
 Honduras, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Vene- 
 zuela, Salvador, y Ecuador. 
 
 Vot<5 negativamente : Mexico. -Chile 
 se abstuvo de votar. 
 
 Leydse el articulo 4° que vieae de la 
 Comisidn en el 6rden que sigue : 
 
 "Art. 4°. Se exoeptuan linioamente 
 del articulo que precede aquellas cuestio- 
 nes que & juicio exclusive de alguna de 
 las naciones iuteresadas en la coutienda, 
 comproraeten su propia indepeudencia. 
 En este case el arbitrage ser^ voluntario 
 de parte de dioha nacidn ; pero ser^ obli- 
 gatorio para la otra parte. " 
 
 El Sefior Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 mauifest6 que votaria en favor del articu- 
 lo, si se le permitia agregar despues de 
 }as palabras "sn propia independencia " 
 las siguientes : " y los que afectan direota- 
 mente el honor y la diguidad de una de 
 las naciones interesadas. " De lo contra- 
 rio votaria negativamente. 
 
 Despues de alguna discusitfn se dejer- 
 min6 que el lenguage del articulo no de- 
 bia cambiarse. 
 
 El Hon. James G. Blaine se presents 
 en esos mementos en la sala, y tomd la 
 Prcsideucia. 
 
 Se puso & votacidn el articulo 4" y 
 qued6 aprobado en el 6r(len siguiente : 
 
 V'otaron afirmativamente: Haiti, Nica- 
 ragua, Perfl, Guatemala, Colombia, Ar- 
 gentina, Costa-Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, 
 Estados Unidos, Venezuela, Salvador y 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Mexico votd negativamente. 
 
 Chile se abstuvo de votar. 
 
 Se di6 lectura sucesi va y separadamente 
 & los artioulos \'i y 13, y fueron aproba- 
 dos, tambifin sucesiva y separadamente, 
 por unanimidad, votando las mismas dele- 
 gaciones que lo hicierou respecto de los 
 que aoaban de nombrarse. 
 
 Se ley6 el articulo 14, y qued<; tambi^n 
 aprobado un^uimemente, por el mismo 
 veto que los dos anteriores artioulos, ex- 
 cepto Mexico que se abstuvo de votar. 
 
 Se leyeron sucesiva y separadamente 
 los articnlos 15, 16, 17 y 18, y fueron tam- 
 bien sucesiva y separadamente adoptados 
 por unanimidad, votando las mismas de- 
 legaciones, incluyendo la de Mexico. 
 
 Ley6se el articulo 19. 
 
788 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guj,tc-mala, 
 asked if it would uot be better Instead of 
 depositing with the Government of the 
 United States a copy of the treaty signed 
 by the nation accepting it, to deposit as 
 many copies as there were signatory 
 nations, in order that each one could be 
 provided with an original instrument. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, explained the inconvenience 
 of such a course, and recommended the 
 advantages of the provision of the Article, 
 which was the same as that adopted with 
 success by the South American Congress 
 of 1888. 
 
 The Chair stated that he would draw 
 the attention of the Conference to the fact 
 that the treaty proposed by the commit- 
 tee should be signed by those delegations 
 accepting it before leaving. 
 
 Mr. Zegarra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 explained that in his opinion there was 
 no necessity that the Delegates should 
 sign any treaty, as there was no reason to 
 adopt a different course in regard to arbi- 
 tration than what had been followed in 
 all subjects discussed by the Conferepce, 
 namely, that of recommending to the re- 
 spective Governments the acceptance of 
 what had been agreed upon. 
 
 The President explained that by the 
 act of Congress, the Delegates had been 
 invited simply to consider all the subjects 
 set forth therein, but that in regard to 
 the subject of arbitration they had been 
 asked to discuss and recommend for adop- 
 tion to their respective Governments the 
 plan agreed upon. 
 
 Before proceeding with the discussion 
 the vote was taken on Article XIX, and 
 resulted in its adoption 
 
 Those voting in favor of the same were: 
 Hayti, Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Co- 
 lombia, Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, 
 Brazil, Honduras, Bolivia, United States, 
 Venezuela, Salvador and Ecuador. 
 
 Mexico and Chili abstained from vot- 
 ing. ^ 
 
 Mr. Castellanos, a Delegate from Sal- 
 vador sent to the chair the following res- 
 olution : 
 
 "Hesolved, To proceed to the conclusion 
 of a treaty ad referendum, by the Dele- 
 gates of the nations herein represented. 
 
 ElSeaorCRUZ,delegadoporGuatemala, 
 preguuto si no seria mejor que en vez de 
 depositarse ante el Gobierno de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos un ejemplar del tratado fir- 
 mado por la naci6a que ^ 41 se adbiera, se 
 depositasen tantos ejeniplares como hay 
 naciones signatarias, & fin de que cada 
 una posea nu instrumento original. 
 
 El Senor Quintana, delegado por la 
 Repilblica Argentina, explicd los incon- 
 venientes que tendria en la prfictica la 
 sugestidn del Sffior Cruz, y recomendd 
 las ventajias del sistema propuesto por el 
 artlculo, que fu^ el mismo adoptado con 
 6xito en el Congreso Sud-Americano de 
 1888. 
 
 EI Sefior Prbsidentb dijo que debia 
 Ilamar la atenci6n de la Conferencia al 
 hecho de que el tratado propuesto por la 
 Comisidn debia firmarse por los SeSores 
 Delegados que lo aceptasen antes de au- 
 sentarse. Y con este motivo el Senor 
 Zegarra tomo la palabra, y expuso que 
 en su opini6n no habia.necesidad de que 
 los SeQores Delegados firmen tratado al- 
 guno, pues no habia razon para adoptar 
 respeoto del asunto de arbitrage uu 
 in^todo de accidn distinto del adoptado 
 para todos los dem^s asuntos que la Con- 
 ferencia habia considerado, que es el de 
 redomendar & los respeotivos Gobiernos 
 la aceptacidn de lo acordado. 
 
 El Senor Presidents explicd que con- 
 forme Si la ley de convocatoria las delega- 
 ciones habiau sido iuvitadas simplemente 
 Si "considerar" todas las cuestiones que 
 alll se expresan ; pero que respecto de 
 arbitrage habian sido Uamadas S, " dis- 
 cutir y recomendar para su adopci6n " el 
 plan que hubiesen convenido. 
 
 Antes de proceder adelante en esta dis- 
 cusi6n, se vot(5 el artJoulo 19, que resultd 
 aprobado, abst^niendose de votar las de- 
 legaciones de Mexico y Chile. Las que 
 votaron en favor del artlculo fueron : 
 Haiti, Nicaragua, Perfi, Guatemala, 
 Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Para- 
 guay, Brasil, Honduras, Bolivia, Estados 
 Unidos, Venezuela, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 El , Setter Castellanos, delegado por 
 Salvador, envid S, la Mesa la siguiente 
 proposicidn : 
 
 "Se resuelve : Proceder S, la celebracion 
 de un Tratado ad referendum por los De- 
 legados de las naciones aqui representa- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 789 
 
 cuntaiiiing all the recommeudatiouH of the 
 report of Ihe Committee ou General Wel- 
 fare on International Arbitration whicli 
 have been approved ; said treaty to be 
 subject, as under the law, to the approval 
 of the respective Governments. 
 
 " Jacinto Castellanos." 
 
 das, oonsigniindose todas las reoomenda- 
 ciones aprobadas del Informe presentado 
 por la Comisi6n de Bienestar General 
 sobre arbitrage internacional ; quedaiido 
 sujelo, como es de derecbo, ii la aijroba- 
 ci6n de los reapectivos Gobiernos. 
 
 "Jacinto Castbllanos." 
 
 A long discnsbioQ arose in which took 
 part Messrs. Price, Quiutana, Castellanos, 
 Treaoot, Carnegie, Henderson, Martinez, 
 Silva, Audrade, and the President, who 
 left the chair for this purpose, calling 
 upon Mr. Zegarra to occupy it. 
 
 It was finally decided that the project 
 should be sent back to the committee with 
 Mr. Castellanos' proposal and others, it 
 being understood that the nineteen arti- 
 cles, already approved, should not be 
 changed in any sense. 
 
 Ou the motion of Mr. Cruz, a Delegate 
 from Guatemala, the session was adjourned 
 at 5.20 p. m. to be continued the next day 
 at 2 p. m. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 
 Bayti. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 
 Sioaragua. 
 P. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Per>i. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Josfi M. Hurtado, 
 Carlos Martinkz Silva, 
 Climaco Caldes6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine EepnhUc. 
 Manukl Aragon, 
 
 Costa Eica. 
 Jos6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de Mendon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 
 Su8cit6se una larga discusi6n, en que 
 tomaron parte los Seuores Price, Quin- 
 tana, Castellanos, Trescot, Carnegie, Hen- 
 derson, Martinez Silva, Andrade, y el 
 Sefior Presidente, que para el efecto dej6 
 su pueato, Uamando Sj ocuparlo al Seuor 
 Zegarra ; y qued6 acordado que el pro- 
 yecto volviese & la Comi8i6u para conside- 
 rar lo propuesto por el Seiior Castellanos 
 y los denies Seiiores, quedando entendido 
 que los diez y nueve artlonloa ya aproba- 
 dos no podian alterarse en nada. 
 
 A mocidn del Seiior Ckuz, delegado por 
 Guatemala, se levantdla sesidn, para con- 
 tinuarla el dia siguieute H las dos de la 
 tarde. 
 
 Se levanto la sesiou 6, las oinco y veinte 
 minutos de la tarde. 
 
 James G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidenle. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 
 Haiti. 
 Horacio Guzman, 
 
 Niearagiia. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 Josli M, Hurtado, 
 CXrlos Martinez Silva, 
 ClImaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Roque Saenz Pena, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentina. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Jos]5 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de MENDf)N9A, 
 
 Braail. 
 Jei!6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Eondurns. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enkique a. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 
790 
 
 IKTEBNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Juan F. Vklaede, 
 SoKHa. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 CoENBLius N. Bliss, 
 
 CliEMENT STUDEBAKKK, 
 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles B. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET PeEAZA, 
 
 Jos]!; Andeade, 
 
 JosiS Alfonso, , 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josi; Maria PlIcxdo CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Esiados Umdos. 
 
 NiCANOE BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 Josii Andradb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos:6 Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josi: MarIa PlXcido CaamaSo. 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
SIXTY-EIGHTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA So. 
 
 Washinqtoii, April 17, 1890. 
 ThelnteruatioDal American Conference 
 was called to order at 2.10 p. ra. by the 
 President, Hon. James G. Blainb, with 
 the following Delegates present : 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Gnzman. 
 Peru: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ M. Hurtado ; 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Kepublic : 
 
 Mr. Roqne Saenz Peiia ; 
 
 Mr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragori. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. ^ 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente; 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Romero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 Sesidn del 17 de Airil de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaine. 
 Estando proseutes: 
 
 Haytf : 
 
 El Sr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horaoio Guzman. 
 Perri: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zogarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernaudij Cruz. 
 Colombia: 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ M. (Iiirtado; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 ~E1 Sr. Climaco Caldcrdn. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Roque Saenz PeBa; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quintana. 
 Costa Rica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag(5n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valeute ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de MendouQa. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jerdriimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico: 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 791 
 
792 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMKEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 United States : 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coo.idge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Eatee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 , Mr. Josfi Andrade. 
 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C, Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr Jos6 Maria PMcidoCaamaQo. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 ■were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present, with (he corrections 
 to which Mr. Romero drew attention. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, and chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on General Welfare, presented in 
 the name of said committee a project for 
 a resolution on the subject of arbitra- 
 tion; but the Chair stated that before 
 proceeding to discuss it the Conference 
 should vote upon the preamble of the re- 
 port, the nineteen articles of which had 
 been adopted. 
 
 After some discussion arising out of the 
 remarks of Mr. Zegarra, a Delegate from 
 Peru, who stated that according to the 
 practice and agreement of the Confer- 
 ence neither the preamble nor agreements 
 preceding the recommendations or con- 
 clusions of a report are subject to discus- 
 sion or vote, which should be confined to 
 the conclusions alone; it was decided to 
 read the preamble and vote on the para- 
 graphs separately. 
 
 The first paragraph having been read, 
 Mr. Price, a Delegate from Hayti, stated 
 that the name of his country should be 
 mentioned as it was not a part of Central 
 America. 
 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint. 
 Venezuela: 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza; 
 
 El Sr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 Chile: 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador: 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. ,Joe6 Marfa Pl^cido 
 Caamafio. 
 Se abri6 la se8i6n dilas dos y diez minu- 
 tos de la tarde. 
 
 Se leyd, aprob6 y firmd el acta del dia 
 anterior, con las correcciones indlcaJas 
 por el Sefior Romero. 
 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos y Presidente de la Comi- 
 sidn de . bienestar general, presents, en 
 nombre de esta, un proyecto de resolucidn 
 en el asunto de arbitrage ; pero el SeQor 
 Presidente manifesto que antes de pro- 
 ceder ^ocuparsede e8taproposici6n, debip, 
 la Conferencia votar el pre^mbulo del dic- 
 dict^men cuyos diez y uueve articulos ha- 
 bian side adoptados. Y despues de alguua 
 discusidn, morivada por las observaoiones 
 del Senor Zegarra, delegado por el Peni, 
 respecto ^ que segiin las pr^cticas y 
 acuerdos de esta Conferencia, ni los 
 predimbulos, ni las razonamientos que 
 preceden ^ la parte dispositiva 6 reco- 
 mendatoria, de los dictiimenes son objeto 
 de discusidn, limit^ndose esta y el voto de 
 la Conferencia ^ solo las recomendaoiones, 
 se determiu6 dar lectrfi^a al expresado 
 pre^mbulo, p&rafo por p^trrafo, y some- 
 teilo £i votaoidn. 
 
 Leido que fu6 el primero, el Sefior 
 Price, delegado por Haiti, manifestd que 
 el nombre de su pals debia mencionarse, 
 pues Haiti no se oocsidera parte de la 
 America Central. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 793 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that it should be understood that 
 Chili was not included in the general 
 mention of Sonth America. 
 
 Paragraph 1 was approved. 
 
 The reading having been continued, 
 objection was made to the English trans- 
 lation of the five following paragraphs 
 which had originally been written in 
 Spanish. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 moved to strike ont the five paragraph- > 
 but Mr. Zelaya, a Delegate from Hondu- 
 ras, opposed it and moved a recess of fif- 
 teen minutes for the purpose of correct- 
 ing the translation, and presenting it to 
 the Conference in as good English as the 
 original was in Spanish. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States and chairman of the Report- 
 ing Committee, stated that in his opiuion 
 it was better to strike out the five para- 
 graphs. This gave rise to a long debate, 
 in which Messrs. Quintana and Estee took 
 part. 
 
 Mr. Zelaya's motion for a recess hav- 
 ing been voted upon, was carried by a 
 majority of 10 to 5. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Hayti, 
 Peru, Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, 
 Brazil, Honduras, Bolivia, Salvador, and 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Those voting negatively were ; Nicara- 
 gua, Colombia, Mexico, United States, 
 and Venezuela,. 
 
 Guatemala and Chili abstained from 
 voting. 
 
 Before taking the recess, the Chair 
 stated that it would be well to appoint 
 the gentlemen who should undertake the 
 correction, and in pursuance of this sug- 
 gestion Messrs. Cruz, Henderson, and 
 Trescot were named. 
 
 The session having re-opened, Mr. Cruz 
 handed the following corrected version 
 to the Chair : 
 
 "The Delegates, from North, Central, 
 and South America in Congress assem- 
 bled : 
 
 "Believing that war is the most cruel, 
 the most fruitless, and the most dauger- 
 
 El Senor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 expres(5 que debia entenderse que Chile 
 no estaba oomprendido en la mencidn 
 general de Sud-Ami5rica. 
 
 Qued6 aprobado el p^rrafo primero. 
 
 Continuada la lectura, se suscitd oues- 
 tidn sobre la fidelidad de la tradnccidn 
 inglesa del texto de los cinco siguieutes 
 pSirrafos del preSimbulo ouyo original se 
 escribid en castellano. 
 
 El Sefior CRUZ,delegado por Guatemala, 
 hizo moci6u para que se suprimiesen los 
 expresados cinco pSirrafos; pero el SeQor 
 Zelaya, delegado por Honduras, se opuso 
 S, ello, 6 hizo mocidn para que se suspen- 
 diese la sesidn por quince minutos, con el 
 objeto de corregir la traduccidn y presen- 
 tar S, la oonferonoia el texto en tan buen 
 ingles como era bueno el castellano en 
 que se habia escrito. 
 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Eatados Unidos y Presidente de la Co- 
 misidn informante, expresd que en su con- 
 oepto era mejor suprimir los cinco piirra- 
 fos, lo que di<5 lugar S, un largo debate en 
 que tomaron parte los Senores Quintana 
 y Estee. 
 
 Pnesta S, votacidn la propoaicidn del 
 Senor Zelaya, la Conferencia ordend un 
 receso, por una mayoria de diez votes 
 contra cinco, en el 6rden siguiente : 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente: Haiti, Peru, 
 Argentina, Costa Kica, Paraguay, Brasil, 
 Honduras, Bolivia, Salvador, Ecuador. 
 
 Votaron negaCivamente : Nicaragua, 
 Colombia, Mexico, Estados Unidos, Ve- 
 nezuela. 
 
 Guatemala y Chile se abstuvieron de 
 votar. 
 
 Antes de suspender la sesidn, manifesto 
 el Seiior Pbesidentb que era mejor desig- 
 uar las personas que debian ocuparse de 
 la oorreccidu ; y de acuerdo con esta idea 
 fueron nombrados loa Senores Cruz, Hen- 
 derson, y Treaoot. 
 
 Abierta de nuevo la sesidn, el Si-tlor 
 Ckuz, delegado por Guatemala, euvid ii la 
 Meaa el siguiente predimbulo corregido 
 definitivaraente : 
 
 "Las Delegaciones de Norte, Centro y 
 Sud America, reunidas en Conferencia 
 Internacional Americana, 
 
 "Creyendo que la guerra es el medio 
 mdls cruel, el mSs incierto, el mfe Inefi- 
 
794 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 ous expedient for the settlement of inter- 
 national differencoe ; 
 
 "Eecognizing that the growth of the 
 moral principles which goveril political 
 societies has created an earnest desire in 
 favor of the amicable adjustment of such 
 differences ; ~ 
 
 "Animated by arealization of the great 
 moral and material benefits that peace of 
 fers to mankind, and trusting that the ex- 
 isting conditions of the respective nations 
 are especially propitious for the adoption 
 of arbitration as a substitute for armed 
 struggles: 
 
 " Convinced by reason of their friendly 
 and cordial meeting in the present Con- 
 ference that the American Republics, 
 controlled alike by the principles, the 
 duties, and responsibilities of popular 
 government, and bound together by vast 
 and increasing mutual interests, can, 
 within the sphere of their own action, 
 maintain the peace of the continent and 
 the good-will of all its inhabitants. 
 
 "And considering it their duty to lend 
 their assent to the lofty principles of 
 peace which the most enlightened public 
 sentiment of the world approves; 
 
 " Do solemnly recommend all the Gov- 
 ernments by which they are accredited to 
 celebrate a uniform treaty of arbitration 
 in the articles following." 
 
 The preamble in its corrected form 
 having been voted upon was adopted, 
 the following delegations voting : Hayti, 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentine, Costa Eioa, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Bolivia, United States, Ven- 
 ezuela, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Mexico and Chili abstained from voting. 
 
 The following project of a resolution, 
 presented by Mr. Henderson, chairman 
 of the Committee on General Welfare, 
 was read: 
 
 " Besolved, Tliat each and all recom- 
 mendations adopted by this Conference 
 shall be engrossed and signed by the Del- 
 egations approving them, and that a 
 snfificient number of copies be prepared 
 and signed to deliver one copy to each 
 Delegation for transmission to its Govern- 
 
 caz y el m^s peligroso para decidir las 
 diferencias intern acionales; 
 
 " Eeoonociendo que el desenvolvimien- 
 to de los principios morales que gobier- 
 nan las sooiedades pollticas, ha cfeado 
 una verdadera aspiracidn en favor de la 
 solucidn pacifica de aquellas disidencias ; 
 
 "Animadas por la idea de los grandes 
 beneficios morales y materiales que la paz 
 ofrece ^ la humanidad, y confiando en 
 que la condicidn actual de sns respecti vos 
 paises es especialmente propicia para la 
 consagracidn del arbitraje en- oposiciOn & 
 las Inchas armadas; 
 
 " Convenoidas, por su amistosa y cordial 
 reuni6n en la presente Conferencia, de 
 que las naciones americanas, regidas por 
 los priacipios, deberes y responsabilidades 
 del Gobierno democrat ico, y ligadas por 
 comunes, vastos y crecientes intereses, 
 pueden, dentro de la esfera de su propia 
 accjfin, afirmar la paz del Cuntinente, y la 
 bnena voluntad de todos sus habitantes ; 
 
 "T reputando de su deber prestar 
 asentimieuto & los altos principios, que 
 en honor y beneficio de los pueblos vienen 
 autorizados por la tradici6n, sostenidos 
 por la razon ptiblica, y aclamados por la 
 humanidad entera: 
 
 "Encarecen ^ los Gobiernos que repre- 
 sentan la celebracidn de un tratado uni- 
 forme de arbitraje sobre las bases sigui- 
 entes." 
 
 Puesto & votacidn el pre^mbnlo en la 
 forma en que ahora se presenta, qued6 
 aprobad<5 por el siguiente voto : 
 
 Votaron en favor de su adopci<5n : 
 Haiti, Nicaragua, Perfi, Guatemala, 
 Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Para- 
 guay, Brasil, Honduras, Bolivia, Estados 
 Unidos, Venezuela, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Las delegaciones de Mexico y Chile se 
 abstuvieron de votar. 
 
 Di6se en seguida lectura al proyecto 
 de resolucidn presentado por el Seilor 
 Hendbeson, Presidente de la Comisi<5n de 
 bienestar general, que dice como sigue: 
 
 "Se reduelve : Que todas y cada una de 
 las recomendaciones adoptadas por esta 
 Conferencia scan puestas en limpio para 
 ser Armadas porlas delegaciones que las hu- 
 bieren aprobado ; y qne se prepare y firme 
 un ntimero snficiente de ejemplares para 
 que pueda entregarse uno & cada delega- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 795 
 
 ment, recommouding that such action be 
 taken thereon as may be deemed proper." 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that as the above project had 
 reference to all the subjects of the Con- 
 ference, he must speak on the matter. 
 He stated that he did not approve such a 
 departure from the usual course of the 
 Conference; that the Delegation from 
 Chili would not sign any document be- 
 yond the minutes, but would conform 
 with the act of invitation, and recom- 
 mend what they deemed proper. 
 
 Mr. Tkescot, a Delegate from the 
 United States, proposed that the resolu- 
 tion be amended, and that T;he words 
 "each and all recommendalions" be 
 stricken out and the words " the plan 
 of arbitration adopted by this Confer- 
 ence " be inserted. 
 
 Mr. QuiNTANA, a Delegate from the 
 Argentine, declared that he would vote 
 against the amendment, and that he 
 would also vote against the resolution, 
 because he had agreed to the latter in 
 committee as a compromise, believing 
 that Mr. Henderson's opinion represented 
 that of the United States Delegation, but 
 that Mr. Trescot's amendment showed 
 him he had been mistaken, and that con- 
 sequently the agreement having been 
 broken on one part, it could be broken 
 on the other, and that the Argentine 
 Delegation was free to vote against it. 
 
 After some remarks by Messrs. Hur- 
 tado, Cruz, Velarde, and Mendonoa, ex- 
 planatory of the vote they Were about to 
 give, the ballot was taken and Mr. Tres- 
 cot's amendment was adopted by a ma- 
 jority of 9 to 4. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Hayti, 
 Nicaragua, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa 
 Rica, Honduras, Bolivia, United States, 
 and Venezuela. 
 
 Those voting negatively were : Peru, 
 Argentine, Paraguay,, and Salvador. 
 
 Brazil, Mexico, and Chili abstained 
 from voting. 
 
 Mr. HuRTADO, a Delegate from Co- 
 lombia, moved a further amendment of 
 the above, namely : To strike out the 
 
 ci(5n Si fin de transmitirlo & su Gobierno 
 con la recomendacidn de que tome res- 
 pecto de su asunto la acci6n"que estime 
 conveniente." 
 
 El Sefior Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 dijo que como este proj'ecto se referia & 
 todos los asuntos de la Conferenoia, le 
 era posible tomar parte en la discusidn : 
 que no aprobaba seraejante desviacidn de 
 la costumbre y reglas adoptadas por la 
 Conferencia: y que la Delegaci6n de 
 Chile no firiiiaria niugfin documento, ex- 
 cepto las actas, y procederia con arreglo 
 ^ lo que dice la ley de convocatoria, y 
 recomendaria lo que creyeae oportuno. 
 
 El Sefior Teescot, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, propus6 que la resolu- 
 cidn se enmendase, quitendo las palabras 
 " todas y cada una de la's recomendaoiones 
 adoptadas" y suatituy^ndolas por las si- 
 guientes: "el plan de arbitrage adopta- 
 do." 
 
 El Sefior Quintana, delegado por la Re- 
 piiblioa Argentina, declard que votaria 
 contra la enmienda, y tambi^n contra la 
 resoluoidn. Que habia acoedido ^ esta 
 liltima en el seno de la Comi&i6n, contra 
 su opinion personal, por solo el deseo de 
 transigir diferencias, creyendo que la 
 opinidn del Sefior Henderson era la de 
 la Delegacidn de los Estados Unidos ; pe- 
 ro que la enmienda propuesta por el Sefior 
 Treacot le hacia ver su equivocacrdn. Y . 
 que por lo tanto, roto el compromiso por 
 una parte, quedaba roto para todos, y la 
 delegaci6n Argentina se hallaha en liber- 
 tad de votar en contra. 
 
 Despues de algnnas observa iones de 
 los Sefiores Henderson, Cruz, Velarde, y 
 Mendonja, explioatorias de los votos que 
 darian en el particular, se puso ^ votacidn 
 la enmienda del Sefior Trescot, que quedd 
 aprobada por una mayorla de nueve 
 contra cuatro, en el drden siguiente: 
 
 Votaron por la afirmativa: Haiti, 
 Nicaragua, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa 
 Rica, Honduras, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, 
 y Venezuela. 
 
 Votaron negativameute : Peru, Argen- 
 tina, Paraguay, y Salvador. 
 
 Se abstuvieron de votar Brasil, Mexico 
 y Chile. 
 
 El Sefior HuRTAno, delegado por Co- 
 lombia, hiz6 mooi6n para que se modi- 
 ficase el proyecto preseutado por el Sefior 
 
796 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEKlCAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 final words after "for transmiss'ioa to its 
 Government." 
 
 The amendment being voted upon, was 
 adopted by a majority of eleven to one. 
 
 Tiiose voting affirmatively were: Hayti, 
 Niearagna, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa 
 Rica, Brazil, Honduras, Bolivia, United 
 States, Venezuela, and Salvador. 
 
 Pern voted negatively. 
 
 Mexico and Chili abstained from vot- 
 ing. 
 
 The resolution as finally amended was 
 then voted upon, and it was adopted by a 
 majority of eleven to one, the same Dele- 
 gations voting as before. 
 
 The text of the resolution as adopted 
 reads as follows: 
 
 "Besolved, That the plan of Arbitration 
 adopted by this Conference shall be rn- 
 grossed and signed by the Delegations 
 approving it, and that a sufficient number 
 of copies be prepared and signed to de- 
 liver one copy to each Delegation for 
 transmission to its Government." 
 
 Mr. Zegaera, a Delegate from Peru, 
 stated that he did not consider that he 
 was authorized as a Delegate in this Con- 
 ference to sign anything but the minutes 
 of the sessions. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Bolet Feraza, a 
 Delegate from Venezuela, the Coi.ference 
 adjourned at 6.30 p. m. 
 
 F. C. C. Zegarua, 
 
 First Vice-President. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 
 Hayti. 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 JHcaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 jos£ m. hurtado, 
 CArlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Caldbr6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 Costa JUca. 
 Jos6 S. Decoud, 
 Paraguay, 
 
 Henderson, delegado por los Estados 
 Unidos, borrando las palabras finales, de 
 modo que concluya donde dice " i fin 
 de transniitirlo (i su Gobierno." 
 
 Puesta S, votaci6n esta enmienda re- 
 sultd aprobada por una mayorla de'once 
 contra uno. 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente: Haiti, Nica- 
 ragua, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, 
 Brasil, Honduras, Bolivia, Estados Uni- 
 dos, Venezuela, y Salvador. 
 
 Perri vot6 negativamente. 
 
 Mexico y C)iile se abstuvieron de votar. 
 
 Pus6se entouces S, votacifin el proyecto 
 tal como resulta despues de las enml- 
 endas : y qued6 adoptado por una ma- 
 yoria de once contra uno, votando las 
 mismas delegaciones que tomaron parte 
 en la anterior votaci6n. 
 
 El texto del proyecto definitivamente 
 aprobado esel siguiente : 
 
 "Seresuelve: Que el plan de arbitrage 
 adoptado por esta Confereucia se ponga 
 en limpio, y se firme por las delegaciones 
 quelo hubieren aprobado ; y que se pro- 
 pare y firme un numero sufioiente de 
 ejemplares para que pueda entregarse uno 
 S, cada delegacidn, & fin de transmitirlo 
 & 8U Gobierno.'' 
 
 El Senor Zkgarra, delegado por el 
 Peru, manifesto que 61 no se consideraba 
 autorizado como delegado en esta Confe- 
 reucia para firmar uada que no fuese las 
 actas de las sesiones. 
 
 Y S, mooi6u del Senor Bolet Puraza 
 delegado por Venezuela, se levantd la 
 sesi6n ^ las seis y media de la tarde. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Primer Vicepresidente. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 Haiti, 
 lioRACio GuzmIn, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Gnatemala. 
 Jos:6 M. Hurtado, 
 f 'jCulos Martinez Silva, 
 CLfMACO CalDer6.v, 
 ColumMa. 
 Manuel Arag6n, 
 
 Costa Bica. 
 Josli! S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMKRICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 797 
 
 J. 6. DO Amaual Valbnte, 
 Salvador ok M11NDON5A, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zblaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Eomeuo, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 
 T. jEIfFEUSOX COOLIDGK. 
 
 William Henry Tkescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 United Slates. 
 
 KlCAKOK BOLBT PeRAZA, 
 
 Jos£ Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josjfe Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Josii Maria PLiciDO CaamaSo, 
 
 JScuador. 
 
 J. G. DO Amaual Valentb, 
 Salvador de MENDOsgA, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Eombko, 
 
 Mexico: 
 Juan f. Velarde, 
 
 IloHvia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studbbakek, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trescot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 Morris M. Estee, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles E. Flint, 
 
 Eistados TJnidos. 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 JosiS Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Jos£ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3os± MarIa PljCcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
SIXTY-NINTH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 69. 
 
 Washington, April 18, 1890. 
 The International Aiijerican Conference 
 was called to order at 11 a. m. by the 
 President, Hon. James G. Blaine, with 
 the following Delegates present : 
 Hayti : 
 
 Mr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Guzman. 
 Peju: 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Grnatemala. 
 
 Mr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 M. Hurtado. 
 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 
 Mr. Climaco Calder6n. 
 Argentine Republic : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Pefia. 
 
 Mr. Manuel Qnintana. 
 Costa Bica : 
 
 Mr. Manuel Aragon. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoad. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonja. 
 Honduras : 
 
 Mr. Jerdnimo Zelaya. " 
 Mexico : 
 
 Mr. Matias Bomeio. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexia. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velard*. 
 United States: 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. Morris M. Estee. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry G. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles E. Flint. 
 798 
 
 Seaidn del 18 de Abril de 1890. 
 President^ del Sr. James G. Blaink 
 Estando presentes: 
 
 Haiti : 
 
 El Sr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzman. 
 Peril: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra., 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 M. Hurtado ; 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva ; 
 
 El Sr. CKmaoo Calder6n. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Eoque Saenz Pefia ; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Qaintana. 
 Costa Eica : 
 
 El Sr. Manuel Arag6n. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Mendonpa. 
 Honduras: 
 
 El Sr. Jer<5nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Eomero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan P. Velarde. 
 EstadOB Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr. Morris M. Estee; 
 
 El Sr. John F. Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr. Henry G. Davis ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles E. Flint. 
 
INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 799 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 Mr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Jos^ Andrade. 
 Chili: 
 
 Mr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 Mr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 Mr. Jos6 Maria Fl^cido CaamaQu. 
 
 The minutes of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present, with the following re- 
 marks of Mr. Castellanos, a Delegate from 
 Salvador, who stated that the reasons did 
 not appear therein why he had given his 
 negative vote to the amendment of Mr. 
 Tresoot. That in his judgment it was en- 
 tirely useless to give a special form to the 
 recommendation on arbitration, because 
 with or without signatures the nature of 
 simple recommendation was not in the 
 least changed. That it was of the same 
 nature as in all other recommendations 
 approved by the Conference when sub- 
 mitted to its consideration. That in order 
 to avoid his negative vote bBing miscon- 
 strued and taken to mean a disagreement 
 as to the substance, he called attention 
 to the fact that he had given his full ap- 
 proval in the most emphatic manner to 
 the plan of arbitration, even before it 
 had been submitted for discussion, and 
 that he desired also that it be carried into 
 effect by means of a treaty ad referendum. 
 But as the Conference had decided to give 
 the recommendation the form proposed 
 by Mr. Tresoot, he declared that he had 
 no objection to signing the document, and 
 that he wished his words to be recorded 
 in the minutes to avoid the appearanco 
 of inconsistency or contradiction. 
 
 Mr. Guzman, a Delegate from Nicara- 
 gua, made the remarks hereto appended. 
 (No. 1.) 
 
 The Chair announced that the order 
 of the day called for the following report 
 of the Committee on General Welfare: 
 
 Venoznela: 
 
 El Sr. Nicanor Bolet Peraza; 
 
 El Sr. Josfi Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas; 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 Alfonso. 
 Salvador: 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Joe6 Maria Pl^oido 
 CaamaBo. 
 Se abri6 la sesi6n ^ las once de la ma- 
 Sana. 
 
 Se leyd, aprob6 y firm(5 el acta de la 
 sesidn anterior, con la siguiente observa- 
 ci(3n del Sefior Castellanos, que dese6 
 se hiciese constar, en estos t^rmiuos: 
 
 El Senor Castellanos mauifest6 que no 
 se habian consignado en el acta las 
 razones que manifesto ayer para explicar 
 su voto negative ilaenmiendapropuesta 
 por el Senor Delegado Trescot : que S, su 
 jnicio careoia completamente de objeto 
 dar una forma especial Si, la recomenda- 
 oidu sobre arbitraje, porque con las firmas 
 6 sin ellas no se cambiaba absolutamente 
 la uaturaleza de simple recomendacidu, 
 exactamente lo mismo que todas las demas 
 aprobadas por la Conferencia en log otros 
 puntoB sometidos ^ su consideraci6n ; 
 pero que como pudiera interpretarse que 
 su desaprobacidn en Quauto & la forma, 
 implicaba de alguna manera desacuerdo 
 en el fondo, — y constando de un mode au- 
 t^ntico que no solo le habia dado su 
 completa aprobacifin, aun antes que se 
 sometiera S, disousi6n, sino que tambien 
 deseaba que se llevara & la pr^ctica por 
 medio de la celebraci6n de un Tratado ad 
 referendum, — ya que la Confel-encia habia 
 resuelto que se le diera ^ dicha recomenda- 
 cidu la forma propuesta por Mr. Trescot, 
 declaraba que no tenia ningun inconve- 
 niente en Armaria ; y que deseaba que se 
 consignaran sus palabras en el acta, para 
 que no se creyera que habia contradiocifin 
 6 inconsecuenoia en sus opiniones. 
 
 El Senor GuzmjCn, delegado por Nica- 
 ragua, areng6 ^ la Conferencia, expre- 
 sando el deseo de que su disourso se agre- 
 gase al acta como apdndice. (No. 1.) 
 
 Anuaci6 el Sefior Presidente que el 
 asunto siguiente en la 6rden del dia era 
 el (liotamen de la Comisi6n de bienestar 
 general que dice como sigae : 
 
800 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 " The International American Confer- 
 ence resolves : That this Conference, hav- 
 ing recommended arbitration for the set- 
 tlement of all disputes among the Re- 
 publics of America, begs leate to express 
 the wish that all controversies between 
 them and the nations of Europe may be 
 settled in the same friendly manner. 
 
 "It is further recommended that the 
 Government of each nation herein repre- 
 sented communicate this wish to all 
 friendly powers. 
 
 "J. B. Henderson. 
 " Manl. Quintana. 
 " j. m. hurtado. 
 "Fernando Cruz. 
 
 "N. BOLET Peraza. 
 "J. G. do Amaral Valentb. 
 "Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 "Washington, April 11, 1890." 
 
 Mr. BOLBT Pbraza, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela,and a member of the reporting 
 committee, made the remarks hereto ap- 
 pended. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 stated that he agreed to the first part of 
 the report, but that although he agreed 
 to the spirit of the second part he thought 
 that the form was not properly exjiressed 
 and might be improved upon. 
 
 After considerable discussion, in which 
 toot part Messrs. Guzman, Price, Bolet 
 Peraza, and Carnegie, Mr. Alfonso, a 
 Delegate from Chili, asked the floor in or- 
 der to state that as the report under dis- 
 cussion was founded on the plan of arbi- 
 tration already approved, the delegation 
 of Chili could take no part in the debate 
 or vote, but lie reserved the right to sub- 
 mit his ideas on the subject to his Govern- 
 ment, not with the purpose of rejecting 
 it, but of recommending it in such form 
 as was proper and consistent with the 
 position he had taken on the general sub- 
 ject of arbitration. 
 
 The vote having been taken on the re- 
 port as a whole, resulted in its unanimous 
 adoption. 
 
 The delegations voting were : Hayti, 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, United States, 
 Venezuela, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Chili abstained from voting. 
 
 " La Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana resuelve: Que habiendo recomen- 
 dado esta Conferencia el arbitrage para la 
 decisidn de las disputas entre las Replibli- 
 cas de America, se permite expresar el 
 deseo de que tod as las controversias entre 
 ellas y las naciones de Enropa sean decidi- 
 das por el mismo amistoso medio. 
 
 "LaConferenciarecomiendaademasqae 
 los respect! vos gobiernos de las naciones 
 en ella representadas comuniquen este 
 veto Si todas las potencias amigas. 
 
 ♦ "J. B. Henderson. 
 " Manl. Quintana. 
 " J. M. Hurtado. 
 "Fernando Cruz. 
 " N. Bolet Peraza. 
 ".1. G. do Amabal Valentb. 
 "Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 " Washington, Airil 11 de 1890." 
 
 El Sellor Bolet Peraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, y miembro de la Comisi6n 
 informante, pronuncid el discnrso que se 
 acompaua como an^ndice S esta acta 
 (No. 2). 
 
 El Senor Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 raanifestd que estaba de acnerdo con la 
 primera recoraendaci6n del dict^men ; 
 pero respecto de la segunda, aunque de 
 acuerdo en el fondo, encontraba que se 
 debia redactar de una manera mas ade- 
 cuada ; y rlespues de una larga discusifin 
 en quetomaron parte los Seuores Guzman, 
 Price, Bolet Peraza y Carnegie, el Senor 
 Alfonso tom6 la palabra para decir que 
 como el dictamen que se discute tiene por 
 base el plan de arbitrage ya aprobado, la 
 Delegacidn de Chile no puede tomar parte 
 ni en la votaoi6n ni en el debate, si bien 
 se reserva el derecho de manifestar S, su 
 Gobierno su pensamiento sobre el pro- 
 yeoto, no para rechazarlo, sino para reco- 
 mendarlo en aquella forma propia y 
 compatible con la posicidn que ha tornado 
 en el asunto general de arbitrage. 
 
 Puesto & votaci6n el dictamen cu globo 
 resultd aprobado por unanimidad, por las 
 siguieutes delegaciones: Haiti, Nicara- 
 gua, Peril, Guatemala, Colombia, Argen- 
 tina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, Hon- 
 duras, Mexico, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, 
 Venezuela, Salvador y Ecuador, 
 
 Chile se abstuvo de votar. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 801 
 
 Article I having been read, Mr. Quin- 
 TANA, a Delegate from the Argentine, 
 asked that the -word "all" he stricken 
 out in both instances where it occurred 
 in the article, and the committee having 
 duly agreed to the amendment, the ar- 
 ticle was voted npon and unanimously 
 adopted, the same delegations voting as 
 before. Chili abstaining. 
 
 Article II was read, voted upon, and 
 unauimously adopted, the same delega- 
 tions voting as before, Chili abstaining. 
 
 Mr. Andrade, a Delegate from Vene- 
 zuela,made the remarks hereto appended. 
 
 The hour for a recess having been 
 reached, the session was adjourned. 
 
 The session was re-opened with the 
 Hon. Jambs G. Blaine in the chair. 
 The following invitation was read : 
 
 Ley(5se la recomendaoi(5n primera del 
 dictaraen y el SeQor Quintana, delegado 
 por la Repdblloa Argentina, propuso que 
 se borrase la palabra " todas " que pre- 
 cede 3, las frases "las disputas," y "las 
 controversias.'' La Comisidn informante 
 acept6 la enmiendapropuesta, y puesto & 
 votaoidn el pfirrafo, results aprobado por 
 unanimidad, votando las mismas delega- 
 ciones expresadas, y absteni^ndose Chile. 
 
 Se di(5 lectura al segundo p^rrafo : y 
 puesto it votacidn result6 aprobado un^ni- 
 memente, votando las mismas delega- 
 oiones uombradas, y absteni^ndose Chile. 
 
 El Sefior Andrade, delegado por 
 Venezuela, pronunci6 el discurso que se 
 acompana como ap6ndice No. 3, i, esta 
 acta. 
 
 Llegada la bora de terminar la primera 
 parte de la sesifin, se levantd esta para 
 continuarla d) la bora de cosiiumbre. 
 
 Eeabierta que fu6, con el Hon. Senor 
 Jambs G. Blaine en la Presidencia, se 
 di<3 lectura & la siguiente carta: 
 
 "Department of State, 
 
 "WasUnglon, Jprill8, 1890. 
 "H. Rbmsen Whitehouse, Esq., 
 
 " Secretary of the International Ameri- 
 "can Conference: 
 "Dear Sir: The Department is in re- 
 ceipt of a letter of the 17th instant, writ- 
 ten by the President's order, in which he 
 directs that an invitation be extended to 
 the members of the Conference in ques- 
 tion, to attend with the ladies of their 
 families a, reception which is to be held 
 at the Executive Mansion on Tuesday 
 evening next, the 22d instant, from 9 lo 
 11 o'clock, in honor of the officers of the 
 Army and Navy and Marine Corps. 
 
 "Asking that you will kindly make the 
 President's wishes in this respect known 
 to the members and officers of the Con- 
 ference, 
 
 "1 remain, dear sir, very truly yours, 
 " William F. Wharton, 
 "Assistant Secretary." 
 
 51 I 
 
 "Departamento de Estado, 
 
 " Washington, Abril 18 de 1890. 
 "Sefior H. Ekmsbn Whitehouse, 
 
 "Secretario de la Conferencia Interna- 
 donal Americana : 
 " Senor : El Departameuto ha recibido 
 una carta, fechada el 17 del corriente, y 
 escrita de orden del Sefior Presidente, en 
 que se sirve disponer que se invite S, loa 
 Senores miembros de la Conferencia, y & 
 sus Senoras y famili as, para una recepci6a 
 que ha de lener Ingar en la mansi6n del 
 Ejecutivo, el proximo martes, veinte y 
 dos del corriente, de noeve S, once de la 
 noche, en honor de los oficiales del ej^r- 
 oito y armada, 6 infauteria de marina de 
 loR Estados Uuidos. 
 
 "Pidiendo £ V. que se sirva hacer pre- 
 sente H los Sefiores Delegados y oiiciales 
 do la Conferencia los deseos del Sefior 
 Presidente & ese respecto, quedo de V. 
 atento S. S. 
 
 " El Sub-Secretario, 
 
 "William F. Whauton." 
 
802 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. Castbllanos, a Delegate from Sal- 
 vador, stated that he had been absent 
 when the vote was taken on the reports 
 ou banking, extradition , and the special 
 report on customs regulations, but that 
 he wished it placed ou record that his 
 vote was in favor of these reports. 
 
 The order of the day called for the dis- 
 cussion of the following supplementary 
 report of the Committee on General "Wel- 
 fare : .^ 
 
 Supplementary Report of the Com- 
 mittee ON General Welfare. 
 
 ' Whereas there is, in America, no terri- 
 tory which can be deemed res nulliua; 
 and 
 
 Whereas, in view of this, a war of con- 
 quest of one American nation' against 
 another would constitute a clearly un- 
 justifiable act of fiolence and spoliation; 
 and 
 
 Whereas the possibility of aggressions 
 upon national territory would inevita- 
 bly involve a recourse to the ruinous sys- 
 tem of war armaments in time of peace ; 
 and 
 
 Whereas the Conference feels that it 
 would fall short of the most exalted con- 
 ception of its mission were it to abstain 
 from embodying its pacific and fraternal 
 sentiments in declarations tending to pro- 
 mote national stability and guaranty just 
 international relations among the nations 
 of the continent: 
 
 Be it therefore resolved iy the Inter- 
 national American Conference, That it 
 earnestly recommends to the Governments 
 therein represented the adoption of the 
 following declarations : 
 
 First. That the principle of conquest 
 shall never hereafter be recognized as 
 admissible under American public law. 
 
 Second. That all cessions of territory 
 made subsequent to the present declara • 
 tions shall be absolutely void if made 
 under threats of war or the presence of 
 an armed force. 
 
 Third. Any nation from which such 
 cei^sions shall have been exacted may 
 always demand that the question of the 
 validity of the cessions so made shall be 
 submitted to arbitration. 
 
 Fourth. Any renunciation of the right 
 to have recourse to arbitration shaU be 
 
 El Seuor Castbllanos, delegiido por 
 Salvador, manifest*} que por haber estadp 
 ausente no habia podido dar su veto sobre 
 los dictiimenes de las Comisiones de Ban- 
 cos y Extradioidn, y sobre el especial de 
 la Comisi6n de Reglamentos de aduanas; 
 pero que queria que constase que su voto 
 era en favor de los tres dict^menes. 
 
 La 6rden del dia senalaba para discutirse 
 en seguidael dictamen complementariode 
 la Comisi6n de Bienestar General, que 
 dice como sigae : 
 
 Informe Complementario de la Comi- 
 si6n del Bienestar General. 
 
 Considerando : 
 
 Primero. Que no existen en America 
 territories res nulUus. 
 
 Segundo. Que las gnerras de conquista 
 entre naciones americanas serian actos 
 injustificables de violeucia y despojo. - 
 
 Tercero. Que la inseguridad del terri- 
 torio nacional condnciria fatalmente al 
 ruinoso sistema de la paz armada. 
 
 Cnarto. Que la Conferencia no lleuaria 
 la parte mas elevada de su misidn si se 
 abstuviera de consagrar sus aspiraciones 
 pacificas y fraternales por medio de decla- 
 raoiones que consoliden los vlnoulos na- 
 cionales y afianzen las relaciones inter- 
 nacionales de todos los Estados del Con- 
 tinente. 
 
 Besuelve: Enearecer & los Gobiernos 
 representados en ella, la adopcidn de las 
 signientes declaraciones : 
 
 Primera. La conquista queda eliminada 
 para siempre del Dereoho Pliblico Ame- 
 ricano. 
 
 Segnnda. Las cesiones territoriales 
 posteriores & las presentea declaraciones 
 ser^n insanablemente nulas, si fuesen 
 hechas bajo la amenazade la guerra, 6 la 
 presidn de la fueiza armada. 
 
 Tercera. La naci<5n que las hiciese 
 tendrS siempre derecho para recurrir al 
 arbitrage, reclamando contra la validez 
 de las cesiones asf ejecutadas. 
 
 Cuarta y liltima. La renuncia del dere- 
 cho de recurrir al arbitrage carecer^ de 
 
INTEENA.TIONAL AMKEICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 803 
 
 null and void whatever the time, circum- 
 stances, and conditions, under which such 
 renunciation shall have been made. 
 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 
 Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 
 N. BOLBT Peraza. 
 
 The Delegation of Colombia adopts the 
 preamble and the first article or declara- 
 tion of the resolutions. 
 
 J. M. Hurtado. 
 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valente. 
 
 Fernando Cruz. 
 
 Mr. Varas, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that the" Delegation from Chili 
 would abstain from voting or taking part 
 in the debate thereon. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, sent to the Chaiir the fol- 
 lowing plan of a resolution, which ex- 
 pressed the views of the United States 
 Delegation, requesting that it merely be 
 placed on record in the minutes : 
 
 "Whereas, in the opinion of this Confer- 
 ence, wars waged in the spirit of aggres- 
 sion or for the purpose of conquest 
 should receive the condemnation of the 
 civilized world; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That if any one of the nations 
 signing the treaty of arbitration proposed 
 by the Conference, shall wrongfully and 
 in disregard of the provisions of said 
 treaty, prosecute war against another 
 party thereto, such nation shall have no 
 right to seize or hold property by way of 
 conquest from its adversary." 
 
 After a long discussion in which took 
 part Messrs. Cruz, Hurtado, and Hender- 
 son, Mr. Zegarra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 spoke as follows : 
 
 Mr. President, Honorable Delegates : 
 
 When the Delegation of Peru gave its 
 vote in favor of the general scheme of 
 the plan of arbitration formulated by the 
 Committee on General Welfare, it ex- 
 pressed with all clearness what was the 
 8coi)e of its vote. I recalled, in Ihat con- 
 nection, the principles of international 
 American law submitted and sustained 
 
 valor y eficacia, cualesquiera que fuesen 
 la (Spoca, ciroumstanciasy oondiciones en 
 que hubiesen side hechas. 
 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 
 Juan Francisco Velarde. 
 
 N. Bolbt Peraza. 
 
 La delegaci(3n de Colombia adopta las 
 consideraciones 6 preimbnlo y el primer 
 articnlo 6 declaracidn de la parte disposi- 
 tiva. 
 
 J. M. Hurtado. 
 
 J. 6. DO Amaral Valente. 
 
 Fernando Cruz. 
 
 El Sefior Varas, delegado por Chile, 
 manife8t6 que la delegacidn de su pais se 
 abstenia de tomar parte en la discnsidn, 
 y de dar vote sobre este asunto. 
 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, envid S, la Mesa el si- 
 guiente proyecto de resolucifin, no para 
 discutirse, sino simplemente para que oons- 
 tasen las miras de la delegacidn de los 
 Estados Unidos, respecto de este punto, y 
 pidi6 que asl se hiciese constar en el acta: 
 
 " Por cuanto en la opinidn de la Con- 
 ferenoia las guerras emprendidas con el 
 espiritu de agresi6n, 6 con propcSsitos de 
 conquista, debeu recibir la condenacidn 
 del mundo civilizado. 
 
 " Por tanto, se resuelve: Que si algunas 
 de las naoiones signatarias del tratadode 
 arbitrage propuesto por esta Conferencia 
 entrare en guerra injustamente, y en in- 
 fraccidn de las disposiciones de dicho tra- 
 tado,contra alguna otra naci<Sn signataria 
 del mismo, la primera no tendrd; derecho 
 i apoderarse, 6 ^ retener por via de con- 
 quista, ningnua propiedad de su adver- 
 sario." 
 
 Despues de una larga discusidn en que 
 tomaron parte los Senores Cruz, Hender- 
 son, y Hurtado, el Sefior Zegarra, delega- 
 do por elPerfi, se expres6 en los signientes 
 t^rminos: 
 
 Sefior Presidente: Sefiores Delega- 
 DOS: 
 
 Cuando la Delegacidn del Perti did su 
 voto, en general, al plan de arbitrage for- 
 mulado por la Comisidn de Bienestar, 
 expres<5 con toda claridad cual era el al- 
 cance de ese voto. Eecordd con tal moti- 
 ve, los principios de Derecho internaoio- 
 nal americano, proijuestos y aprobados 
 por las Delegaciones de la Eeptiblioa Ar- 
 
804 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 by the Delegations of tbe Argentine Re- 
 public and the United States of Brazil 
 since the 15th of last January ; and I 
 stated that, as they, I also considered 
 those principles as an inseparable corol- 
 lary of the plan of arbitration, destined 
 to forever banish armed contests between 
 the republics of the new continent. 
 
 The report now under discussion refers 
 to those priuciples, the Committee, hav- 
 ing thought it advisable, as it appears, 
 to separate them from the report on arbi- 
 tration and to include them in the special 
 report submitted to the consideration of 
 the honorable Conference. This has not, 
 however, wiped out the necessary con- 
 nection existing between the stipulations 
 that are to govern arbitration and the 
 general principles which are to guaranty 
 and invigorate it. 
 
 This connection so correctly and justly 
 recognized from the beginning by our 
 honorable colleagues from Brazil and the 
 Argentine, has also been now recognized, 
 judging from the words we have heard, 
 by the honorable Delegate from Chili 
 and the honorable Delegate from Colom- 
 bia. The former has declared that having 
 abstained from discussing and voting the 
 plan of arbitration, he abstains also from 
 discussing and voting the plan which 
 condemns conquest, because they are both 
 to his mind intimately connected ; and 
 the latter, in turn, has not been able to 
 forego constant reference to arbitration 
 in considering tbe principles contained 
 in the report at present under discussion. 
 
 It was not the Delegate from Peru who 
 had the honor to present these principles 
 to the Conference, they appeared over 
 the signatures of tbe representatives of 
 two of the most powerful nations of South 
 America; but now that the hour to con- 
 sider them has arrived, I fully accept 
 them, declaring at the same time that just 
 as much as my honorable colleagues I be- 
 lieve those principles to be indispensable 
 to the preservation of peace, the consoli- 
 dation of veritable frjiternity, the main- 
 tenance of a good understanding and the 
 bringing about of confidence and solid 
 well-being between the American Repub- 
 lics. 
 
 The reception accorded here to those 
 principles could not baye been wore sigT 
 
 gentina y de los Estados Unidos del Bra- 
 sil, desde pi qninoe de Enero tiltimo ; y 
 expres6 que oomo ellas yo tambien esti- 
 maba la aceptacidnde aquellos prinoipios 
 oomo inseparable corolario del plan de 
 arbitrage,destinado S, desterrar paraSem- 
 pre las contieudas armadas entre las Re- 
 piiblicas del Nuevo Continente. 
 
 El proyecto que se discute ahora se 
 refiere & aquellos principios, habiendo 
 preido conveniente, segun pareoe, la Co- 
 misidn, separarlos del que se refiere al ar- 
 bitrage y comprenderlos en el proyecto 
 especial que hoy se eucuentra sometido S. 
 la consideracidn de la Honorable Coufe- 
 rencia. No por esto ha desaparecido el 
 necosario enlace que existe entre las os- 
 tipulaciones que han de regir el arbitrage 
 y los prinoipios generales que ham de 
 garantizarlo y robusteoerlo. 
 
 Reconocido con tanta exactitud y jus- 
 ticia ese enlace desde un princlpio por 
 uuestros honorables colegas del Brasil y 
 de la Argentina, lo ha sido tambien ahora, 
 ^ juzgar por las palabras que hemes oido, 
 por el Honorable Delegado por Chile y 
 por el Honorable Delegado por Colombia. 
 Aquel ha declarado que habi^ndose abs- 
 tenido de discutir y votar el proyecto de 
 arbitrage, se abstiene tambien de dis- 
 cutir y votar el proyecto que condena la 
 conquista, por estar ambos & sn julcio in- 
 timamente relacionados ; y este ^ su vez, 
 no ha podido presciudir de referirse in- 
 cesantemente al arbitrage, para apreciar 
 los prinoipios contenidos en el proyecto 
 que en estos mementos se discute. 
 
 No fu6 el delegado por el Perti el que 
 tuvo el honor de presentar estos prin- 
 cipios ante la Confereucia, habi6ndolos 
 revestido de sus firmas los representantes 
 de dos de las miis poderosas naciones de 
 la America meridional; pero ahora que 
 ha llegado el memento de apreciarlos, de 
 una manera expresa los acepto, decla- 
 rando & la vez, que tanto como mis ho- 
 norables colegas, conceptilo esos princi- 
 pios indispenaables para conservar la paz, 
 para consolidar la verdadera fraternidad, 
 para sostener la baena iuteligencia, y 
 para producir la confiauza y el sdlido bien- 
 estar entre las Repliblicas americanas. 
 
 No puede haber sido m^s espont^nea, 
 no pue4<s ftf^ber sido m^s Bignifloativa li^ 
 
INTERIM ATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 805 
 
 nificant, priuciples initiated by tlio rep- 
 resentatives of two American nations, 
 strong and happy, in the full enjoyment 
 of an nnrestrlcted prosperity, on a broad 
 and uutramraeled road, the path of their 
 future progress open to their vigorous 
 march, and with a past without events 
 or misfortunes that could be thought 
 able to obscure their judgment or dis- 
 turb their criterion. 
 
 I accept, then, as a whole, the plan 
 tinder discnssion, which tends to sanction 
 the general principles proposed by the 
 honorable Delegates from Brazil and the 
 Argentine. I shall also give au aflirma- 
 tive vote, on the several articles compos- 
 ing that plan, for I consider that in them 
 are to be found those principles, just as 
 they were formulated by those honorable 
 Delegates in the second, sixth, seventh, 
 and eighth articles of their plan, sub- 
 mitted at the session of the 1.5th of Jan- 
 nary last in the form in which it appears 
 in the corresponding minutes. This is the 
 sense I attribute to the report and in this 
 sense must my vote of acceptance be con- 
 sidered. 1 should also declare once more 
 that with my honorable colleagues from 
 Brazil and the Argentine Republic, with 
 the honorable Delegate from Colombia and 
 the honorable Delegate from Chili, I also 
 consider this project as a necessary and 
 inseparable complement of that which 
 refers to arbitration ; both, therefore, 
 will be comprised in one and the same 
 recommendation when the time shall ar- 
 rive to communicate to my Government 
 the decisions reached by this honorable 
 Conference. 
 
 I ask that my remarks be spread ui)ou 
 the minutes." 
 
 The roll having been called the report 
 was adopted as a whole by a majority of 
 fifteen to one. 
 
 The delegations voting affirmatively 
 were : Hayti, Nicaragua, Peru, Guate- 
 mala, Colombia, Argentine, Costa Rica, 
 Paraguay, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, 
 Bolivia, Venezuela, Salvador, and Ecua- 
 dor. 
 
 The United States voted negatively, 
 and Chili abstained from voting. 
 
 After a long discussion, in which took 
 part Messrs. Carnegie, Quintana, Hender- 
 
 acogida que aqul ban lenido esoa prin- 
 ciplos, iuioiados porlos representantes do 
 dos naciones americanas, f uertes y felices, 
 eu el pleno goce de una prosperidad sin 
 restricciones, en anoho y desembarazado 
 camino, con la via de sus fnturos progre- 
 sos iiisu viril marcha abierta, y con un pa- 
 sado sin contratiempos 6 desgracias que 
 pudieran creerse capaoes de ofuscar su 
 j uicio 6 perturbar su criterio. 
 
 Acepto, pues, en general, el proyccto que 
 86 discute, y que tiende & dejar sancioua- 
 dos los principles generalos, propuestos 
 por los honorables Delegados del Brasil y 
 de la Argentina ; tambien dar6 mi voto 
 de aceptacidn ^ los diferentes artlculos 
 de que consta ese proyecto porque consi- 
 dero que eu ellos se encuentran compren- 
 didos esos principios tales como fueron 
 formulados por aquellos honorables Dele- 
 gados en losartlculossegundo, sexto, s6p- 
 timo y octavo de su proyecto presentado 
 en la sesi6n del quince de Enero liltimo 
 eu la forma que consta del acta respec- 
 tiva. Esta es la inteligencia que doy al 
 proyecto, y en este sentido ha de ser con- 
 siderado mi voto de aoeptaci6n. Tambien 
 debo declarar una vez m^s, que lo mismo 
 que mis honorables colegas del Brasil y 
 de la Eeptiblica Argentina, lo mismo que 
 el Honorable Delegado por Colombia y el 
 Honorable Delegado por Chile,yo tambien 
 cousidero oste proyecto, complemento ne- 
 cesario 4 inseparable del que se rofiere al 
 arbitrage ; ambos serSn, por consiguien- 
 te, comprendidos en una sola y en la 
 raisma recomendacidn cuando Uegue la 
 oportuuidad de comnnicar ^ mi Gobierno 
 los acuerdos celebrados por esta honora- 
 ble Conferencia. 
 
 Pido que mis palabras consten en el 
 acta." 
 
 Puesto ^ votacidu el dictd^men en globo 
 result6 aprobado por una mayoria de 
 quince votes contra uno. Votarou eu 
 la afirmativa: Haiti, Nicaragua, Peni, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, Me- 
 xico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Salvador, y 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Los Estados Unidos votarou negativa- 
 mente. Chile se abstuvo de votar. 
 
 Puesto S, discusi<5n el dictSmen por ar- 
 tlculos se Bnscit6 una larga discusi6n en 
 
806 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 son, Hurtado, and Martinez Silva, Mr. 
 Carnegie proposed that a recess of twenty 
 minutes be taken in order that an agree- 
 ment might be arrived at which would 
 secure the vote of the United States del- 
 egation, and this was unanimously agreed 
 to. 
 
 On the session being resumed the Hon. 
 Jambs G. Blaine said that he thought 
 he could have the pleasure of announcing 
 that a plan had been agreed upon which 
 would meet with the unanimous support 
 of the Conference, and he read in Eng- 
 lish the following, which Mr. Cruz, a Dele- 
 gate from Guatemala, read in Spanish : 
 
 " First. That the principle of conquest 
 shall not, during the continuance of the 
 treaty of arbitration, be recognized as ad- 
 missible under American public law. 
 
 "Second. That all cessions of territory 
 madeduringthecontinuauceof the treaty 
 of arbitration shall be void if made under 
 threats of war or the presence of an armed 
 force. 
 
 "Third. Any nation, from which such 
 cessions shall be exacted, may demand 
 that the validity of the cessions so made 
 shall be submitted to arbitration. 
 
 "Fourth. Auyrenunciation of the right 
 to arbitration made under the conditions 
 named in the second section shall be null 
 and void." 
 
 The Conference having unanimously 
 agreed to accept the above as a substitute 
 for the former report, it was voted upon 
 and unanimously carried. 
 
 The delegations voting were : Hayti, 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, United States, 
 Venezuela, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Chili abstained from voting. 
 
 The order of the day called for the dis- 
 cussion of the following report of the 
 Committee onlnternationalLaw on claims 
 and rights of diplomatic intervention. 
 
 que tomaron parte los Seaores Carnegie, 
 Quintaua, Henderson, Hurtado y Marti- 
 nez Silva, ^ la oual se puso tdrmiuo con 
 una proposicidn del Seficr Carnegie, que 
 solicit6 se suspendiese la sesifin por veinte 
 minutes, & fin de ver si era posible obtener 
 un acuerdo d que la delegacifin de los Es- 
 tados Unidos pudiese suscribir, cnya pro- 
 posicidn fuo aceptadii un^nimemente. 
 
 Terminado el plazo del receso, y rea- 
 bierta la sesidn, el Honorable Sefior 
 James G. Blaine dijo que tenia el gusto 
 de anuncian^; la Conferencia quesehabia 
 Uegado por la Comisidn ^ un acuerdo, 
 que on concepto suyo mereceria el apoyo 
 unSnime de los SeSores Delegados, y 
 procedi6 ^ leer en ingles el siguiente pro- 
 yecto, que el Sefior Cruz, delegado por 
 Guatemala, leyd inmediatamente despuea 
 en oastellano: 
 
 "1°. El principio de conquista queda 
 eliminado del Derecho pfibUoo americano, 
 durante el tiompo que est6 en vigor el 
 Tratado de arbitrage. 
 
 "2°. Las cesiones de territorio que se 
 hicieren durante el tiempo que subsista 
 el Tratado de arbitrage serdin nulas, si se 
 hubieren verificado bajo la au^enaza de la 
 guerra, 6 la presidn de la fnerza armada. 
 
 " 3°. La nacidu que hubiere heoho tales 
 cesiones tendr^ derecho para exigir que se 
 deoida por arbitramento acerca de la vali- 
 dez de ellas. 
 
 " 4°. La renuncia del derecho de recur- 
 rir al arbitrage, heoha en las condiciones 
 del articulo 2°, careoer^ de valor y efica- 
 cia." 
 
 Habidndose couvenido por unanimidad 
 en aceptar estos cuatro articulos en subs- 
 titucidu del dictamen anteriormente pre- 
 seutado, que estaba en discusidn, se proce- 
 di6iuvotarsobreellos,qnedandoaprobado8 
 por unanimidad. , 
 
 Las delegaciones que votaron fueron : 
 Haiti, Nicaragua, Perfi, Guatemala, 
 Colombia, Argentina, Costa Eica, Para- 
 guay, Brasil, Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, 
 Estados Unidos, Veneznela, Salvador y 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Chile se abstuvo de votar. 
 
 El asunto siguiente en la 6rden del dia 
 fu6 el dlotSmen de la Comisidn de Derecho 
 internacional sobre reclamaciones y el de- ■ 
 recho de intervenoidn diplom^tica, que 
 dice como sigue: 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 807 
 
 Eepokt oi' THE Committee on Inter- 
 national Law. 
 
 One of tho honorable Delegates for the 
 Republic of Venezuela has presented two 
 resolutions setting forth different decla- 
 rations respecting certain cases in which 
 claims against the Government of a coun- 
 try by foreigners residing.therein should 
 he considered as inadmissible. In case 
 the aforesaid declarations should be con- 
 sidered in the form in which they have 
 been presented, the committee charged 
 with the preparation of a report thereon 
 would submit to the consideration of 
 their author, and to the decision of the 
 Conference, some additions and amend- 
 ments which, to its mind, it would be 
 necessary to insert. It does not do so, 
 however, because it believes that instead 
 of entering into special matters of detail, 
 what should be done is to discover and 
 determine the true principle whiohshonld 
 legally govern in the premises, and to 
 recommend its adoption as the only key 
 to a full and perfect solution of all the 
 questions which may arise in this behalf. 
 
 The committee well understands that in 
 ihose times when the idea was still domi- 
 nant that the foreigner was an enemy 
 against whom was enforced (according 
 to the provisions of the Roman public 
 law) continuous authority certain doc- 
 trines should be established to protect 
 him from the consequences of that feeling 
 of manifest hostility. It can well under- 
 stand that when the exercise of civil 
 rights was limited to natives, it should 
 be necessary to introduce principles and 
 proceedings by means of which the for- 
 eigner might be afforded some defense in 
 the precarious position in which the then 
 generally prevailing ideas placed him ; 
 and it can understand, in fine, that when 
 intercourse between countries was less 
 frequent, when civilization in America 
 was but little advanced, and a spirit of 
 isolation, a feeling of distrust, and asenti- 
 ment of egotism dominated, all of which 
 is contrary to the equal enjoyment of the 
 guaranties and benefits of the law, the 
 foreigner should be forced to remain -with 
 his gaze fixed upon the National Govern- 
 ment, so as to neutralize the effects of the 
 aversion and repugnance with which ho 
 was received. But it can not, by any 
 
 DiCTiMEN DE LA MaYOBIA DB LA COMI- 
 
 8i6n DB Deeecho Inteknaoional. 
 
 Uno de los Honorables Delegados por 
 la Repfiblica de Venezuela, ha presentado 
 dos proyectos que comprendeu diferentes 
 deolaraciones respecto de diveraos casos 
 en que han de cousiderarse inadmisibles 
 las reclamaciones de los extraugeros con- 
 tra el Gobierno en cuyo territorio reeiden. 
 La Comisidn encargada de dar diotimen 
 respecto de ellos, someteria S, la conside- 
 raci6u de su autor y d) la resolucidn de la 
 Conferencia, varias adiciones y modifi- 
 caciones que, & sn juioio, serfa necesario 
 introducir, si hubieran de tomarse en 
 cuenta las declaraciones aludidas en 
 la forma en que han sido presentadas. 
 No lo hace, porque piensa que, en vez de 
 entrar en puntos especiales de detalle, lo 
 que corresponde es buscar y plantear el 
 verdadero prinoipio que legalmeute haya 
 de regir en la materia, y recomendar que 
 se adopte como la clave linica que da 
 yerdadera y oorapleta soluoi<5n & todas 
 las ouestiones que en orden & este asunto 
 se ofrezoan. 
 
 La Comisidn se explica que en los tiem- 
 pos en que todavia se conservaba la idea 
 de que el extraugero era un enemigo con- 
 tra el que se ejercia, segtin las palabras 
 consagfadas por el Derecho pfiblioo ro- 
 mano, eterna autoridad, se hicieran valer 
 cicrtas dootrinas para protegerle contra 
 ese sentimiento de manifiesta hostilidad. 
 Se explica que cuando el goce delos dere- 
 chos civiles estaba limitado S, los naciona- 
 les, fuera preciso introducir priuoipios y 
 procedimientos S, favor de los cuales el ex- 
 trangero pudiese tener alguna defensa en 
 la precaria posioidn en que le colocaban 
 las ideas que generalmente prevalecian; 
 y se explica en fin, que cuando las rela- 
 ciones entre los pueblos eran menos fre- 
 cuentes, cuando estaba poco adelautada 
 la civilizacidn en America, y dominaban 
 unesplritu de aislamiento, un sentimiento 
 . de desconflanza y una inspiraci<5n de egois- 
 mo, contrarias & la igualdad en la par- 
 ticipacidn de todas las garantlas y bene- 
 ficios de la ley, el extrangero tuviera que 
 mantenerse con la mirada iija en el Gobier- 
 no de su nacionalidad para neutralizar los 
 efectos de la aversidn y repugnancia con 
 que era recibido. Mas no puede expli- 
 carse por ninglln t^rmino, que habiendo 
 
808 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 means, understand (theories and senti- 
 ments, circumstances aud principles of 
 legislation respecting ttie rights of the 
 foreigner having changed in every ijar- 
 ticular) that principles should have any 
 weight which can only servo to create 
 distrnst, to foment estrangement, to pre- 
 vent assimilation, and to protect the 
 schemes of worthless people— a protection 
 which is nearly always asked with the 
 sole ohject of profiting thereby, and 
 which keeps the Governments in a con- 
 stant state of excitement which may oc- 
 casion disagreeable incidents of even 
 graver consequences. 
 
 The committee gladly recognizes that 
 the Christian, liberal, and humane prin- 
 ciple is, that the foreigner should not be 
 inferior to the native in the exercise and 
 enjoyment of all and each of the civil 
 rights, but it can not understand that the 
 foreigner should enjoy considerations, 
 prerogatives, or privileges denied to the 
 native. It repels openly any restriction 
 which places the foreigner in a condition 
 inferior to that vouchsafed by the law to 
 the native, but it likewise repels the pre- 
 tension that the foreigner should be su- 
 perior to the native ; that be should be a 
 perpetual menace to the territory whose 
 protection he seeks and whose advan- 
 tages he enjoys ; that recourse to a foreign 
 sovereignty which makes itself felt in an 
 independent country should serve as a 
 means of self-advancement whenever 
 improper demands are not satisfied. 
 
 Nowadays, when our people receive the 
 foreigner with open arms ; to-day, when 
 they deny him no right, and recognize 
 that an intelligent, hard-working, and 
 honorable immigration is the most potent 
 element of civilization and greatness of 
 prospi;rity and advancement; to-day when 
 we are far removed from barbarous times, 
 and the foreigner is not the p'-<?my but 
 the brother to whom are operied wide the 
 doors of the most generous hospitality, 
 those doctrines founded upon bases wholly 
 inadmissible are a veritable and shameful 
 anachronism. 
 
 None of the progress of modem civili- 
 zation is unknown to the Republics of 
 America. Granting the foreigner the 
 same rights, neither less, nor more, that 
 the native enjoys, they do all they can 
 
 cambiado, de todo en todo, las teoriasy los 
 sentimientos, las circunstancias y las bases 
 de las legislaciones respecto de dereohos 
 del extranjero, puedan hacerse valer prin- 
 ciples que solo sirven para crear recelos, 
 para fomentar el alejamiento, para impe- 
 dir la asimilacifin y para proteger los 
 Ijlanes de personas no siempre recomen- 
 dables, que con solo el objeto de lucrarse 
 mantienen S, los Gobiernos en constante 
 excitacidn, ocasionada ^ desagradables 
 incidentes de mSs alta trascendencia. 
 
 La ComisicSn que gustosa reconoce que 
 el principio cristiano liberal y de humani- 
 dad es el de que el extrangero no sea in- 
 ferior al nacional en el ejeroicio y goce de 
 todos y cada nno de los dereohos civiles, 
 no puede comprender que el extrangero 
 disfrute de conslderaoiones, preroga- 
 tivas y privilegios de que no goza el 
 nacional. Rechaza abiertamente cual- 
 quiera, restriccidn que haga al extrangero 
 de oondicidn inferior Sj la que la ley garan- 
 tiza al nacional ; pero rechaza del mismo 
 modo, la pretension de que el extrangero 
 sea de mejor condicidn que el nacional, 
 que sea una perp6tua amenaza en el ter- 
 ritorio cuyo asUo va & buacar y cuyas 
 ventajas disfruta, y que le ofrezca medio 
 de explotaci6n el recurso ^ una sobe- 
 rania extraBa y que se hace valer en un 
 pais independiente, siempre que no se 
 satisfacen sus exigencias aunque Be.an 
 indebidas. 
 
 Hoy que nuestros pueblos reciben al 
 extrangero con los brazes abiertos ; hoy 
 que no les escatiman ningiin dereoho, y 
 que reconocen que una inmigracidn inteli- 
 gente, laboriosa y honrada es elelemento 
 mas poderoso de civilizacidn y gran- 
 deza, de prosperidad y de adelanto, hoy 
 que lejos ya de los tiempos b^Hrbaros, el 
 extrangero no es el enemigo sino el her- 
 mano, £i quien se abren de par en par las 
 puertas de la m£is generosa hospitalidad, 
 son un verdadero y vergonzoso anacro- 
 nismo eaas doctrinas fundadas sobre bases 
 totalmente inadmisibles. 
 
 A las Repfiblicas de America no sonex- 
 tranos ningunos de los adelantos de la mo- 
 dema civilizaci6n. Daudo al extrangero 
 los mismos dereohos, no menos, pero tam- 
 poco mas, que los qne tienen los naciona- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 809 
 
 aud should do. And if these rights are 
 not enough, and if they are not found to 
 be sufficiently guarantied and to be 
 placed beyond the pale of abuse ; if there 
 is danger that abuse will sometime be 
 committed, as there is danger of earth- 
 quakes, of floods, of epidemics, of revo- 
 lutions, and of other misfortunes, the for- 
 eigner should have considered it all be- 
 fore deciding to live in a country where 
 he may run such risks. And on the other 
 hand, supposing that some abuse is com- 
 mitted, that abuse is not without pen- 
 alty and correction, as that committed 
 against the native is not left remediless ; 
 and, moreover, it has attached to it other 
 penalties more efficacious, that of moral 
 reprobation, the judgment formed by 
 other nations, the separation of all those 
 who under other conditions would assist 
 in making its elements of production 
 fruitful, and, in consequence, isolation, 
 poverty, and universal condemnation. 
 
 A nation does not with impunity devi- 
 ate from the line of duty marked out by 
 ethics, law, and civilization ; and between 
 the harm which may occasionally result 
 from such deviation and the greater and 
 innnmerable harms caused by the other 
 practice, the committee does not hesitate 
 to choose. If it is wrong to once in a 
 while commit abuses against the native 
 or the foreigner, worse a thousand times 
 is the example of scandalous claims con- 
 cocted and sustained by the malignity and 
 the ingratitude of a pernicious man, and 
 the solution of which is made to depend on 
 the judgment or the will of the stronger. 
 For, as a final result, there is nothing 
 but the uncalled-for intervention of the 
 stronger, which, constituted into an im- 
 passioned defender of its citizens, imposes 
 its will and ideas as law, and compels the 
 weaker to do its bidding. And this un- 
 warranted verging upon the sovereignty 
 of the others, and thisstimulant to a senti- 
 ment of native aversion, undoubtedly pro- 
 duces far more lamentable consequences. 
 
 The foreigner, with all the rights of the 
 native, with ho right less, yet with no 
 right more, is the principle which, to the 
 mind of the committee, is the base upon 
 which every theory in the premises should 
 rest — the starting point for practical con- 
 clusions in so interesting a matter. If 
 
 les, haceu cuanto pueden y deben hacer. 
 Y si estos derechos no son bastantes, si no 
 se hallan siifioientemente garantidos y 
 puestos S, cubierto de todo abuse, si hay 
 peligro de que 6ste pueda cometerse al- 
 guna vez, como hay peligro de terremo- 
 tos, de inundaclones, de epidemias, de 
 revoluciones, y de otra^ desgracias, el ex- 
 trangero debe haberlo considerado todo 
 antes de resolverse S, vivir en una tierra 
 en que puede correr tales riesgos. Y por 
 otra parte, snponiendo que se cometa al- 
 gtin abuso, ese abuso no queda sin san- 
 cI6n ni corrective, como no lo qneda el que 
 contra el nacional se cometa ; y ademSs de 
 esa, tiene otra sancidn mas eficaz, la re- 
 probacidn moral, el concepto que los 
 dem^s pueblos se forman, el alejamiento 
 de todos los que de otra suerte irfau & 
 hacer fecundos sns elementos de produc- 
 cidn, y consiguientemente su aislamiento, 
 su pobreza y condenacidn universal. No 
 impunemente se separa una nacidn de 
 la linea de deberes que le trazan la mnral, 
 el derecho y la civilizacidn; y entre el 
 mal que resulte algnua vez de su des- 
 viaci6n, y los males mayores ^incontables 
 que del otro procedimiento se derivan, la 
 Comisi6n no vacila en laeleccldn. Si malo 
 es que alguna vez secometan abuses con- 
 tra el nacional, 6 contra el extrangero, 
 peer todavia mil veces es el ejemplo de 
 exageradisimas 6 enteramente infundadas 
 reclamaciones, fraguadas y sostenidas por 
 la malignidad y la ingratitud de nn hom- 
 bre pernicioso, y cuya resolucidn se hace 
 depender de lo que entienda 6 quiera el 
 mas fuerte. Porque en ultimo resultado, 
 no hay mSs que la iudebida intervencidn 
 del m& fuerte que constituido en defensor 
 de su nacional, impone su voluutad y su 
 pensamlento como ley y obliga al mds de- 
 bit ^ pasar por lo que le parece. Y este 
 atentado ^ la soberanfa de los otros, y 
 este estfmulo de un sentimiento de aver- 
 sion nacional, es iiidudablemente de cou- 
 secuencias mucho m^s funestas. 
 
 El extrangero, con todos los derechos 
 que el natural, con ningun derecho menos, 
 pero con ningun derecho mSa, es el prin- 
 ciplo que S, juicio de la Comisidu es la 
 base sobre Ta cual ha de asentarse toda 
 teoria en la materia ; el punto de partida 
 para las conclusiones pr^icticas en asunto 
 
810 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 the Government is responsible to its 
 citizens for infractions of the Constitu- 
 tion or the laws, committed hy agents of 
 the public authority in the discharge of 
 their duties, it will he equally responsi- 
 ble to foreigners, and vice versa. If the 
 Government is not responsible to its citi- 
 zens for damages caused by insurgents or 
 rebels, neither will it be responsible to 
 foreigners, and vice versa. If the natives 
 have any protection against the decisions 
 and procedure of the courts, the same 
 right shall be granted foreigners. In a 
 word, in everything touching the exer- 
 cise of civil rights natives and foreigners 
 shall be on a perfectly equal footing: — 
 equal rights, equal obligations, equal 
 access to the authorities, equal pro- 
 cedure, equal appeals; but in no case 
 shall the foreigner be superior— an ex- 
 asperating condition which may estab- 
 lish an indefensible and inexplicable 
 duality of sovereignties and authorities. 
 The foreigner should not appear like a 
 spoiled child, always encircled by the 
 arms of the Government of his nation- 
 -ality to prevent him from stumbling and 
 injuring himself. He should himself 
 judge and decide where it is advisable 
 for him to go and where not, and try to 
 live peaceably under the shelter of the 
 laws of the country he may select as a 
 place of residence, and the protection of 
 civilization and morality. To enjoy all 
 the privileges and all the considerations 
 of natives, to be treated like them, is all 
 to which the foreigner can aspire ; and 
 this is what is gladly conceded him. 
 
 As a result of these reflections, the 
 committee propose the following resolu- 
 tions, to wit : 
 
 The International American Conference 
 recommends to the Governments of the 
 countries therein represented the adop- 
 tion, as principles of American interna- 
 tional law, of the following : 
 
 (1) Foreigners are entitled to enjoy 
 all the civil rights enjoyed by natives; 
 and they shall be accorded all the bene- 
 fits of said rights in all that is essential 
 as well as in the form or procedure, and 
 the legal remedies incident thereto, abso- 
 lutely in like manner as said natives. 
 
 (2) A nation has not, nor recognizes 
 in favor of foreigners, any other obli- 
 
 tan interesante. Si el Gobierno es respon- 
 sable & los nacionales por infraociones de 
 la Constitucidn 6 de las leyes, cometidas 
 por agentes de la autoridad ptiblica en el 
 ejercicio de sus fnnoiones, serd igual- 
 mente responsable S, los oxtrangeroa y 
 vice-versa. Si el Gobierno no es respon- 
 sable & los nacionales por los dafios cau- 
 sados S, facclosos 6 rebeldes, tampoco lo 
 ser^ & los extrangeros ; y al contrario, 
 si tienen los nacionales algUn recurso 
 contra las decisiones 6 procedimientos de 
 los Tribuiiales ese mismo tendr^n los 
 extrangeros. En nna palabra, en todo 
 lo que se refiera al uso de derechos civiles, 
 nacionales y extrangeros han de estar 
 completamente equiparados ; iguales de- 
 rechos, iguales obligaciones, igual aoceso 
 ^las autoridades, iguales procedimientos, 
 iguales recursos; pero en ninglin caso, el 
 extranjero de superior, irritante condi- 
 cidn que establezca ana insostenible 6 
 inexplicable i dualidad de poderes y de 
 soberanfas. El extrangero no debe apa- 
 recer como un nino mimado, rodeado 
 siempre de los brazos del Gobierno de su 
 nacionalidad para que no tropiece y se 
 haga dafio. Debe por si juzgar y deter- 
 minar adonde le conviene ir y adonde v6 ; 
 y tratar de vivir tranquil amente & la 
 sombra de las leyes del pals que escoja 
 para su residencia y al amparo de la ci- 
 vilizacifin y de la moralidad. Teuer todo 
 en favor y todas las consideraciones de 
 los nacionales, ser tratadoscomo ellos, es 
 ^ ouanto puede aspirar el extrangero ; y 
 esto es lo que gustosamente se le otorga. 
 
 Como resultado de esas reflexiones, la 
 Comisi(5n propone la resolnci<5n que i 
 continuacidn se expresa : 
 
 La Confereucia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana recomienda ^ los Gobiernos de las 
 uaciones en ella representadas, reco- 
 nozcaiicpmoprinoipios de Derecho inter- 
 nacional amerioano, los siguientes : 
 
 1° Los extrangeros gozan de todos los 
 derechos civiles de que gozan los nacio- 
 nales ; y pueden hacer uso de ellos, en el 
 fondo, la forma 6 procedimiento, y en 
 los recursos & que den lugar, absoluta- 
 mente en los mismos t^rminos que dichos 
 nacionales. 
 
 2" La Naoidn no tiene ni leconoce S, 
 favor de los extrangeros ningunas otras 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 811 
 
 gations or responsibilities than those 
 which in favor of the natives are estab- 
 lished, in like cases, hy the constitution 
 and the laws. 
 
 Fernando Cruz. 
 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 
 J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 
 Josi^ Alfonso. 
 Washington, April 12, 1890. 
 
 Mr. Price, a Delegate from Hayti, 
 stated that he was obliged to abstain 
 from voting on this suhject, as the con- 
 stitution of his country was opposed to it. 
 
 It having been agreed to vote jointly 
 on the two recommendations of the re- 
 port, they were approved by a majority 
 of fifteen to one. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were: Nic- 
 aragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, 
 Chili, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 The United States voted negatively, 
 and Hayti abstained from voting. 
 
 The following, of the same committee, 
 on the navigation of rivers was read : 
 
 obligacioLies 6 responsabilidades que las 
 que ^ favor de los naoionales se halleu 
 establecidas en igual caso por la Cousti- 
 tucidu y las leyes. 
 
 Fernando Cruz. 
 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 
 J. M. P. CaamaSo, 
 
 Jos£ Alfonso. 
 "Washington, Ahril 12 de 1890. 
 
 El SeSor Price, delegado por Haiti, 
 manifest6 que tenia el sentimiento de 
 anunciar que debia abstenerse de votar 
 sohre las recomendaciones de esfce dicta- 
 men, pues la primera especialmente se 
 opone ^ la Coustitucidn de su pals. 
 
 Puestas ^ votaoidn reunidaslas dos re- 
 comendaciones del expresado dictamen 
 quedarou aprobadas por una mayorfa de 
 quince contra uuo. 
 
 Votaron afirmativamente : Nicaragua, 
 Perfi, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, 
 Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile, Sal- 
 vador y Ecuador. 
 
 Los Estados Unidos votaron negativa- 
 mente. Haiti se abstuvo de votar. 
 
 Di(5se cuenta en seguida con el otro 
 dictamen de la Comisi6n de Derecho iu- 
 ternacional sobre navegacidn de los rios, 
 que dice como sigue : 
 
 Report of the Committee on Inter- 
 national Law 
 
 Dictamen de la MAYOKfA de la Co- 
 misi6n de Derecho Internaoional 
 
 ON THE NAVIGATION OP RIVERS. 
 
 Some of the honorable Delegates have 
 proposed that the Conference make a rec- 
 ommendation to the several nations 
 therein represented, to adopt the princi- 
 ple that the navigation of rivers be free 
 to all the nations whose territories their 
 waters bathe, and that the sovereign 
 States bordering on the headwaters of 
 such rivers shall have free passage to the 
 sea by means thereof. 
 
 The first point that has presented itself 
 for the examination of the committee to 
 whom the proposition alluded to was re- 
 ferred, is whether it is within the prov- 
 ince of this Conference to entertain mat- 
 ters which, like that mentioned, belong 
 to public international law. The com- 
 mittee has no doubts upon the point; it 
 
 SOBRE NAVEGACi6n DB LOS RIOS. 
 
 Algunos de los Honorables Delegados 
 han propuesto que la Conferencia haga 
 una recomendacidn S, los Gobiernos de las 
 diversas naoiones en 611a representadas, 
 para que adopten el principio de que es 
 libre la navegaol6n de los rios para todas 
 las naoiones por cuyos territories corren, 
 y que los Estados soberanos de partes su- 
 periores tienen derecho & la salida al mar 
 por medio de dichos rios. 
 
 El primer pnuto que se ha ofrecido al 
 examen de la Comisidu S, la que se mandd 
 pasar ese proyecto, es el de si esti en las 
 facultades de esta Conferencia, ocuparse 
 en asuntos que, como el que se acaba de 
 mencionar, corresponden al Derecho Pli- 
 blico Internaoional. Para la Comisidn no 
 es dudoso ese punto; cree que si bien 
 
812 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 believes that althougTi it might be in- 
 opportune to enter indiscriminately upon 
 all the subjects of the public law of 
 nations, the right of this Conference to 
 consider and discuss them and to decide 
 upon the recommendation which it con- 
 siders should be made, can not be gain- 
 said. Without going outside of the 
 terms of the act of the Congress ofi the 
 United States which authorized the call- 
 ing together of this Conferen«e, it may 
 be plainly demonstrated that subjects 
 like that under consideration are in no 
 wise beyond its competency. The second 
 section of the act to which the committee 
 has j ust made reference, provides that the 
 President of the United States, in for- 
 warding the invitations to the sever il 
 Governments of America, should set forth 
 that the Conference is called to consider: 
 " First. Measures that shall tend to pre- 
 serve the peace and promote the prosper- 
 ity of the several American States." 
 
 podr^ no ser oportuno entrar indistinta- 
 mente eu todos los asuiitos del Derecho 
 publico de gentes, no puede ponerse en 
 tela de juicio la competencia de esta 
 asamblea para tomarlos en consideraci6u, 
 discutirlos y resolver acerca de la reoo- 
 raeiidacifin que considere debe hacerse. 
 Ariu sin salir de los t^rminos de la ley del 
 Congreso de los Estados Unidos que auto- 
 riz6 la convocaoidn de esta Conferencia, 
 puede comprobarse plenamente que asun- 
 tos como el actual no se hallan en manera 
 alguna fu*ra de su dominio. 
 
 La secci6n segunda de la ley S, que la 
 Comisi6n acaba de referirse, determind 
 que al dirigir las invitaoiones & los di- 
 versos Gobiernos de America, el Presi- 
 dente de los Estados Unidos expresaria 
 que la Conferencia iba & reunirse para 
 considerar : 
 
 1° Medidas que tiendan ^ mautener la 
 paz y promover la prosperidad de los di- 
 ferentes Estados americanos. 
 
 And— 
 
 " Eighth. To consider such other sub- 
 jects relating to the welfare of the several 
 States represented as may be presented by 
 any of said States which are hereby in- 
 vited to participate in said Conference." 
 
 Any subject, then, which by any dele- 
 gation may be submitted to the decision 
 of the Conference, if it relates to the wel- 
 fare of the nations therein represented, 
 is fully within the programme of sub- 
 jects which is the object of its delibera- 
 tions. And if we consider, moreover, the 
 character with which the majority of the 
 Delegates to this Conference are invested, 
 there can not be the shadow of a doubt of 
 their ample faculty to bring into the field 
 of discussion subjects of this nature. 
 
 After this explanation, it behooves the 
 committee to state that, in its judgment, 
 no difficulty presents itself to its making 
 a recommendation in the sense proposed 
 by the signers of the resolution. 
 
 This free navigation appears to be a 
 natural right; it is recognized by writers 
 on international law of the highest re- 
 pute in Europe as well as in the United 
 States and Spanish America; audit ac- 
 cords with what is established in the de- 
 
 "Y8°. Para considerar cualesquiera 
 otros asuntos relatives al bienestar de los 
 diferentes Estados representados, que se 
 presenten por cualquiera de los Estados 
 convidados para tomar parte en la Con- 
 ferencia.'' 
 
 Cualquier asunto, puds, que por cual- 
 quiera Delegacidn se someta S la re- 
 solucidn de la Conferencia, con tal que 
 interese al bienestar de las naciones en 
 ella representadao, est^ comprendido, de 
 todo en todo, eu el niimero de las materias 
 que han de ser objeto de bus delibera- 
 ciones. Y si se atiende ademiis al ca- 
 rScter de que por lo general han venido 
 investidas las delegaciones i, esta Confe- 
 rencia, no podrd) revocarse S, dnda por 
 ningfin extremo^ la amplia facultad de 
 traer al terreno de la discasidn temas de 
 esa indole. 
 
 Despuds de esta explicacidn, oorres- 
 ponde 6, la Comisidn manifestar que & 
 su juicio, nlnglin inconveniente se ofreoe 
 para hacer una recomendacidn en el sen- 
 tido quo propon'en los signatarios del 
 proyecto. Esa libre navegaoidn parece 
 ser un derecho natural, esti reconocido 
 por los m^s reputados escritores de Dere- 
 cho Internaoibnal, asi europeos, como de 
 los Est alios Unidos d Hispano- Americanos; 
 y OS couformo con lo que se encuentra 
 
INTKKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 813 
 
 cisions of noted European congresses and 
 in the articles of different treaties touoli- 
 ing the navigation of important rivers. 
 This is the principle also which the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States has vigor- 
 ously and victoriously sustained on more 
 than one occasion ; and, finally, the prin- 
 ciple is iu keeping with the fraternal re- 
 lations which should exist between the 
 several American nations that will uot 
 deny to their neighbors that which will 
 benefit them and which is even indispen- 
 sable, and does not cause any inj ury or 
 harm. 
 
 For these reasons, which have been 
 fully set forth in the report of one of the 
 Delegates who presented the resolution 
 and which reasons the committee does not 
 here reproduce, because they are so well 
 known to all, it proposes the following 
 conclusion : 
 
 Whereas it is an admitted principle of 
 international law, founded on reasons of 
 justice and equity, and which the general 
 advantage demands, that the naviga- 
 tion of rivers shall be free to all natious 
 whose territories border on them, and for 
 those nations which have no other means 
 of reaching the sea; the International 
 American Confereuoe 
 
 Resolves to recommend to the several 
 Governments of the nations represented 
 in this Confei ence to adopt, declare, and 
 recognize the following principles : 
 
 (1) That rivers which separate several 
 States, or which bathe their territory, 
 shall be open to the free navigation of the 
 merchant marine or ships of war of the 
 riparian nations. 
 
 (2) That this declaration shall not 
 affect the jurisdiction nor the sovereignty 
 of any of the riparian nations either in 
 time of peace or war. 
 
 Fernando Ck0z. 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 Jos3fi Alfonso. - 
 Washington, Ainil id, 1~90. 
 
 Mr. Ckuz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 explained that although Mr. Caamafio, a 
 Delegate from Ecuador, was a member of 
 the reporting committee, aud ivas iu har- 
 mony with the recommendations made, 
 he had not signed the report, because he 
 was the author of the resolution upon 
 •V^bioh the report ha4 hepa based. 
 
 establecido en las resoluoiones de famosos 
 Congresos enropeos, y en los artlculos de 
 diferentes tratados acerca de la navega- 
 oi(5u de rios importantes. Ese es el princi- 
 pio tambifin que el Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos ha sostenido en^rgica y victorio- 
 sainente en m^s de una ocasifin ; y por 
 tiltimo, el prinoipio quo corresponde ^ las 
 fraternales relaciones que deben existir 
 entre los diferentes pueblos de America 
 que no ban de negar Sj sus vecinos, lo 
 que Si estos aproveoha y hasta es indis- 
 jpeusable sin oausarles S, ellos perjuioio 6 
 detrimento. Fundada en estos motivos, 
 que han sido ampliamente expuestos en 
 el informe de uno de los Delegados que 
 presentaron el proyecto, y en los que no 
 insiste la Comisi6n por ser bien conocidos 
 por todos, propone la siguiente conclusidn: 
 
 Atendiendo & que es principio admitido 
 en el Derecho Internacional y apoyado en 
 razones de justicia y equidad y en lo que 
 la conveniencia general exige; que sea 
 libre la iiavegaci6n de los rios para todas 
 las naciones cuyos territories oonfinan; 
 la Conferencia Internacional Americana 
 
 Besuelve : Recomendar & log diversos Go- 
 biernos de las naciones representadas en 
 esta Conferencia que adopten, declareu y 
 reconozcan las resoluoiones que sigueu : 
 
 1" Que los rios que separan diversos 
 Estados 6 corren por sus territories que- 
 dan abiertos S, la libre navegaoi6n de las 
 naciones ribercnas. 
 
 2° Que esta declaracidn no afecta el 
 dominio ni la soberaula de cada una de 
 las naciones riberefias asl en tiempo de 
 paz como de guerra. 
 
 Fernando Ckuz. 
 Manuel Quintana. 
 JoslS: Alfonso. 
 Washington, 12deAbrildel890. 
 
 El Sefior C ruz, delegado por Guatemala, 
 y Presidente de la Comisi6n informante, 
 explic6 que aunque el SeSor Caamafio, 
 delegado por Ecuador, es miembro- de 
 dicha Comisidn, y est^ de acuerdo con 
 las recomendaoiones hechas, no flrmfi sin 
 embargo el dictamen, por haber sido el 
 autor del proyecto de resoluc;6n que ^Q 
 motive. 
 
814 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. BOLBT Pbraza, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela, stated that he would abstain 
 from voting, as he had not had sufficient 
 time to carefully study the report. 
 
 It having been agreed to vote the two 
 articles together, they were adopted by a 
 majority of 14 to 2. 
 
 Those voting affirmatively were : Hayti, 
 Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentine, 
 Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, Houduras, 
 Mexico, Bolivia, Chili, Salvador, and., 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Nicaragua and the United States voted 
 negatively. 
 , Venezuela abstained from voting. 
 
 The Chair announced that Mr. Trescot'a 
 minority report and the remarks of Mr. 
 Caamanno would be appended to the 
 minutes. (Nos. 4, 5, and 6.) 
 
 Mr. MENDONgA, a Delegate from Brazil, 
 asked that the session be prolonged until 
 several subjects which it was desired to 
 bring up had been disposed of; and no 
 objection having been raised, it was so 
 agreed. 
 
 Mr. HuRTADO, a Delegate from Colom- 
 bia, sent to the Chair the written opiuiou 
 of the delegation of Colombia on the sub- 
 ject of arbitration, and asked that it be 
 appended to the minutes; which was 
 agreed to. (Appendix No. 7.) 
 
 Mr. MENDON9A, a Delegate from Brazil, 
 read the following remarks, which he 
 requested might be appended to the 
 minutes : (Appendix No. 8.) 
 
 The honorable Delegate's remarks con- 
 cluded with the following motiou : 
 
 "That all delegations here present, the 
 United States delegation included, vote 
 and provide the means to place, with the 
 necessary permission, on the walls of the 
 room in the State Department in which 
 were inaugurated our sessions, a bronze 
 tablet, on which shall appear above the 
 roll of the delegations, the following in- 
 scription in the four languages of this 
 Conference : 
 
 ".TheNations of North, South, and Cen- 
 tral America resolve that it be commem- 
 orated that in this room, on the second 
 day of October of the year 18~9, James G. 
 Blaine, Secretary of State of the United 
 
 El SeBor. Bolbt Peraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, expnso que tenia el sentimien- 
 to de abstenerse de votar en este asunto 
 porque no habia tenido tiempo de estudiar 
 el dictameu detenidameute. 
 
 Habi^udose ccnvenido en votar en con- 
 junto las dos recomeudaciones quedaron 
 adoptadas por una mayoria de oatorce 
 votos contra dos. 
 
 Votarou en favor de ellas : Haiti, Peru, 
 Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Costa 
 Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, Mexi- 
 co, Bolivia, Chile, Salvador y Ecuador. 
 
 Nicaragua y los Estados Unidos votaron 
 negativamente. 
 
 Venezuela se abstuvo de votar. 
 
 El Senor Prbsidbnte anunoid entonces 
 que el dictamen de minoria del Senor 
 Trescot, se agregaria como ap6ndlce & esta 
 acta, como tambi^n los discursos del Senor 
 Caamafio. (Nos. 4,, 5 y 6.) 
 
 El Senor MENDOsrgA, delegado por el 
 Brasil, pidi6 que se prolongase la sesidn 
 hasta que se hubiese dispuesto de varios 
 asuutos que debian proponerse & la Con- 
 ferencia ; y como no {lubo oposicidu, asi 
 qued6 determinado. 
 
 El SeSor Hurtado, delegado por 
 Colombia, envifi entonces S, la Mesa el 
 parecer escrito de la delegacidu de su pats 
 en el asunto de arbitrage, y pidi6 que se 
 agregase al acta. Asi se dispuso. (Ap^u- 
 dice No. 7.) 
 
 El Seflor MENDONgA, delegado por el 
 Brasil, toni6 eutonces la palabra, y pro- 
 nunciri el discurso que se acompana & 
 esta acta (Apgudioe No. 8) en que oon- 
 cluj6 proponieudo lo siguiente: 
 
 " Que las delegaciones de esta Conferen- 
 cia, incluyendo la de los Estados Unidos, 
 concurran -S, que en la sala del Departa- 
 mento de Estado en que se tuvo la sesi6n 
 inaugural, se ooloque despuesdeobtenido 
 el correspondiente permiso, una tabla de 
 bronce, en que ademas de los nombres de 
 los Senores Delegados, se ponga la siguien- 
 te iuscripoidn en las cuatro lenguas de 
 la Conferencia: 'Las uaoiones del Norte, 
 del Centre y del Sud de America resolvie- 
 ron conmemorar, que en esta sala, en2de 
 Octubre de 1889, se inauguraron, bajo la 
 Presidenoia del SeHor James G. Blaine, 
 Seoretario de Estado, las sesiones de la 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 815 
 
 states, presiding, were opened the ses- 
 siona of the International American Con- 
 ference, which, besides other measures 
 destined to promote the Union and wel- 
 fare of the peoples of this continent, rec- 
 ommended to them as a guaranty of 
 peace the principle of obligatory arbi- 
 tration. " 
 
 A vote having been taken on the above, 
 it was nnanimoi.sly adopted. 
 
 The Delegations voting were: Hayti, 
 Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, 
 Argentine, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, 
 Honduras, Mexico, Bolivia, United States, 
 Venezuela, Salvador, and Ecuador. 
 
 Mr. Martinbz Silva, » Delegate from 
 Colombia, after some explanation, sent to 
 the Chair the following resolution : 
 
 "Resolved, That there be established 
 at such location in the city of Washing- 
 ton as the Government of the United 
 States may designate^ to commemorate 
 the meeting of the International Ameri- 
 can Conference, a Latin-American Memo- 
 rial Library, to be formed by contribu- 
 tions from all the Governments repre- 
 sented in this Conference, wherein shall 
 be collected all the historical, geographi- 
 cal, and literary works, maps, manu- 
 scripts, and official documents relating to 
 the history and civilization of America; 
 such library to be solemnly dedicated 
 on the day on which the United States 
 celebrates the Fourth Centennial of the 
 Discovery of America.'' 
 
 Mr. BOLET Pbraza, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela, after applauding and support- 
 ing Mr. Martinez Silva's motion, sug- 
 gested that the library should be called 
 after Columbus, to which Mr. Silva 
 agreed. 
 
 The motion, having been voted upon, 
 was unanimously carried. The same del- 
 egations voting as before. 
 
 Mr. Romero, a Delegate from Mexico, 
 offered the following resolution, whiqh 
 on the snggestion of Mr. Aragon, a Dele- 
 gate from Costa Rica, was voted by accla- 
 mation, all the Delegates standing and 
 applaadiug: 
 
 "The International American Confer- 
 ence, on the closing day of its labors, has 
 
 "Resolved, Remembering that to the 
 Hon. James G. Blaine, Secretary of State 
 
 Conferencia In ternacional Americana, que 
 entre otras medidas productoras de uni6n 
 y bienestar para los pueblos de este conti- 
 nente recomendd, como garantia de 
 paz, el principio del arbitrage obliga- 
 torio.'" 
 
 Puesto & votaci(5u este proyeoto, qued<5 
 aprobado por unanimidad, votando las 
 delegaciones siguientes: Haiti, Nicara- 
 gua, Perrl, Guatemala, Colombia, Argen- 
 tina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brasil, Hon- 
 duras, Mexico, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, 
 Venezuela, Salvador, y Ecuador. 
 
 El Senor Martinez Silva, delegado 
 por Colombia, despues de varias explica- 
 ciones, envi6 S, la Mesa el siguiente pro- 
 yecto de resolucidn : 
 
 " Se rtsuelve : Que se funde en la ciudad 
 <le Washington para commemorar la reu- 
 nidn de la Conferencia Internacional 
 Americana, una Biblioceca Latino-Ame- 
 ricana, en un local especial que se solici- 
 te del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos, 
 formada por contribuciones de todos los 
 Gobiernos representados en esta Confe- 
 rencia, donde se recojan todas las obras 
 hi8t6ricas, geogrdficas, literarias, mapas 
 y documentos oficiales de toda especie. 
 
 '' Eata Biblioteca deberd inaugurarse 
 soleniuemente el dia en que se celebre en 
 los Estados Unidos el cuarto centenario 
 del descubrimiento de la America." 
 
 El SeHor BoLET Pbraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, despues de apoyar y aplaudir 
 el pensamiento del Sefior Martinez Silva, 
 propuso que la Biblioteca se llame de Co- 
 lon en lo que el Senor Martinez Silva con- 
 vino. 
 
 Paesto S, votaci6n el proyecto qued6 
 aprobado por unanimidad, votando las 
 mismas delegaciones antes nombradas. 
 
 El Sefior Romero, delegado por Mexico, 
 sometid 6, la Conferencia la siguiente re- 
 soluci6n, que & moci6n del Senor Aragdn, 
 delegado por Costa Rica, se votd por acla- 
 macidn, poni^udose de pi6 todos los Se- 
 Qores Delegados y aplaudiendo el resul- 
 tado: 
 
 "La Conferencia Internacional Ameri- 
 cana, 
 
 "Besuelve: En el liltimo dia do sns se- 
 siones, recordando quesomos deadores en 
 
816 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 of the United States o£ America, and the 
 distinguislied President of this assembly, 
 w6 are largely indebted for a meeting 
 thereof and for the blessings we hope may 
 spring therefrom, it is with pleasure that 
 we now tender liim our sincere thanks for 
 the ability, impartiality, and courtesy 
 with which he has discharged his duties 
 as President of this Conference.'' 
 
 Mr. EOMERO then proposed the follow- 
 ing resolution, which on the suggestion 
 of Mr. Caamano, of Ecuador, was voted 
 in the same manner as the foregoing : 
 
 "The Latin-American Delegates to the 
 International American Conference assem- 
 bled at Washington, on the closing day 
 of their labors, have 
 
 " Besolved, That in behalf of our re- 
 spective Governments we hereby tender 
 to the Government of the United States 
 of America our heartfelt thanks for its 
 kindness in inviting our respective Gov- 
 ernments to meet at its national capital, 
 on a peaceful, laudable, and profitable 
 mission, and for the uniform courtesy 
 with which we have been received and 
 treated." 
 
 Mr. Henderson, a Delegate from the 
 United States, spoke as follows: 
 
 What we have done in the discharge of 
 duty here we hope may live forever. In 
 reaching conclusions the freedom of de- 
 bate was essential. It is the highest 
 privilege, the richest ' blessing of a free 
 people. If in that freedom of speech a 
 word of acrimony has been used, let us 
 now consider it expunged from the record 
 and resolve to forget it forever. If the 
 people of the United States or its Dele- 
 gates have done anything to give pleasure 
 to our distinguished guests we are pro- 
 foundly glad. If we could do more our 
 pleasure would be greatly enhanced. 
 
 Mr. Briss, a Delegate from the United 
 States, made the folio wiug motion, which, 
 
 gran parte al Hon. James G. Blaine, Se- 
 cretario de Estado de los Estados Uuidoa 
 de America, y distinguido Presideute de 
 esta Conferencia, por la reunidn de la 
 misma, y por los buenos resultados que 
 de ella esperarnos, tenemos el placer de 
 darle nuestras sinceras gracias por la ha- 
 bilidad, imparcialidad y oortesia con que 
 ha desempenado las funciones de la Presi- 
 deucia." 
 
 El mismo Sefior Eomero presents en 
 seguida la proposicidn que sigue, que fa6 
 votada y aftrob.ida exaotamente del mismo 
 modo que la anterior, S, moci6n del Sefior 
 Caamano, delegado por el Ecuador: 
 
 "Los Delegados latiuo-americanos Si la 
 Conferencia Internacional Americana : 
 
 "Beanelven: En el llltimo dia de sus 
 sesioues, manifestar nuestra gratitud al 
 Gobieruo de los Estados Unidos de Am&i- 
 oa, Sj nombre de nuestros respectivos 
 Gobiemos, por su invitacidn para hacerse , 
 represeutar en esta capital, en uuamisidn 
 paoiflca, laudable y de proveoho, y por la 
 cortesia con que hemos sido recibidos y 
 tratados durante nuestra permauencia en 
 este pais.'' 
 
 El Senor Henderson, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, se expresd entonces en 
 los siguientes t^rminos: 
 
 "Lo que hemos hecho, en cumplimiento 
 de nuestros deberes, Sefior Presidente, es 
 de esperarse que subsista para siempre. 
 Para llegar S, las conclusiones ^ que 
 hemos llegado, ha sido indispensable la 
 mds corapleta libertad de debate. Este 
 es el privilegio mfe apreoiable, la aspira- 
 ci6n mSs levantada, de uu pueblo libre. 
 Si en esa libertad de la discusidn se ha 
 escapado una palabraacre, 6 maleonante, 
 un^mosnos ahora para considerarla bor- 
 rada de nuestras actas, y decidamos olvi- 
 darla para siempre. Si por el pueblo 
 de los Estados Unidos, 6 por sus delega- 
 dos, se ha hecho alguna cosa que causaia 
 placer, <5 satisfaccidn, S nuestros distin- 
 guidos hu^spedes, nos alegraraos de ello 
 profundamente. Si pudi^ramos hacer 
 algo m£ts en ese mismo sentido, nuestra 
 satisfaecidn seria mucho mayor." 
 
 El Sefior Bliss, delegado por los Esta- 
 dos Unidos, present!} el siguiente proyeoto 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 817 
 
 on motion of Mr. Akagon, was voted by 
 acolamatioa, all the Delegates standing : 
 
 "Resolved, That we express our pro- 
 found thanks to the Vice-Presidents of 
 this Conference for the able and impartial 
 manner iu which they have discharged 
 their duties." 
 
 Mr. Studebakbr, a Delegate from the 
 United States, offered the following reso- 
 lution, which was also adopted by accla- 
 mation : 
 
 "Resolved, That the Executive Officer, 
 Secretaries, Sergeancs-at-Arms, Interpre- 
 ters, and Stenographers of this Con- 
 ference are entitled to the highest com- 
 mendation for the able and satisfactory 
 discharge of very arduous and responsi- 
 ble duties." 
 
 The Conference then adjourned at 6.40 
 p. m. to meet for the last time to-morrow 
 at 11 a. m. 
 
 James G. Blainb. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 Hayti. 
 
 Horatio Guzman, 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 Fernando Ckuz, 
 Guatemala. 
 
 JOS:fi M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Climaco Caldbr6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 ROQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 Costa Rica. 
 
 3os& S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valentb, 
 Salvador db Mendon^a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 
 Matias Romero, 
 Enrique A. MexIa, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 
 52 I 
 
 de re8oluci6n, que fu^ igualmente votado 
 y adoptadoporaclamaci6u, comopropuso 
 el Sefior Arag(5n, poni^ndose de pi6 todos 
 los SeQores Delegados : 
 
 " Se resuelve : Que tributamos nuestras 
 m^3 profundas gracias S, los Sefiores Vice- 
 presidentes de esta Conferencia por la 
 manera h^bil 6 iraparcial con que han 
 desempefiado su encargo." 
 
 El Sefior Studebakkr, delegado por 
 los Estados Unidos, envi6 Si la Mesa el 
 signiente proyecto de resoluci6n, que fu6 
 votado y aprobado por aclamaoidn, lo 
 mismo que el anterior : 
 
 "Se resuelve: Que el Oflcial Ejecutivo, 
 los Secretaries, el Sargento de Armas, los 
 iut^rpretes, y los taqulgrafos de esta 
 Conferencia son merecedores del miis alto 
 elogio,porla manera h^bil y satisfactoria 
 con que han desempefiado sus muy ardiios 
 y delicados deberes." 
 
 La Conferencia levant(5 la sesicin ^ las 
 seis y cuarenta minulos de la tarde, para 
 continuaria el dia siguiente & las once de 
 la mafiana. 
 
 James G. Blaine. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 Haiti. 
 
 HoRACio GuzmIn, 
 
 Nicaragua, 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 j0s]£ m. hurtado, 
 CIrlos Martinet Silva, 
 
 ClImACO CALDEn6N, 
 
 Colombia. 
 EoQUE Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Manuel Aiiag6n, 
 
 Costa Rica. 
 Jos:6 S. Decoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 3. G. do Amaral Valente, 
 Salvador de MBNOONgA, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer(5nimo Zeiata, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MExf a, 
 
 M&cico. 
 Juan F. Velarde. 
 
 Bolivia, 
 
818 
 
 INTEENATIOIJ^AL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebakbe, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 
 Nicanor Bolet Peraza, 
 Jos:fi Andkadb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josifi Alfonso, 
 
 Chili. 
 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos£ Maria PlIcido CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Stcdebakbr, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidgb, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 EstadoB Unidos. 
 Nicanor Bolbt Pbraza, 
 Josfi Andeadb, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 Jos^ Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 Jos£ MarIa. PlXcido CaamaSo. 
 
 Ecuador, 
 
 Appendix No. 1. 
 speeoa of mb. b. gvzman. 
 
 ApilNDICB No. 1. 
 DISGUBSO DEL SESOB GUZMIN. 
 
 Mr. President, Honorable Dele- Sefior Presidentb, Sefiores Delbgados • 
 
 GATES : 
 
 Upon closing the notable debate that 
 has taken place in this Conference with 
 respect to the plan of arbitration which 
 has just been approved, the Nicaraguan 
 Delegation desires to say a few words, 
 which it hopes will be listened to kindly. 
 
 I believe it to be giy duty to state, 
 that the Nicaraguan Delegation would 
 have seen with satisfaction a clause 
 introduced into the plan of which I 
 speak which should establish efiSoient 
 measures to prevent, as far as possible, 
 the breaking of the obligations con- 
 tracted; for, although it is a recognized 
 fact that naDions can not be compelled 
 like individuals to carry out their agree- 
 mentSj it is also true that, without recur- 
 ring to violent means, there are means of 
 a purely moral character which oould be 
 appealed to in the case (improbable, I 
 admit, but still possible) of an American 
 Government violating its pledges to arbi- 
 trate. 
 
 What has been said in this regard, in 
 language as cultured as it was eloquent, 
 
 Al oerrarse el notable debate que ha 
 tenido lugar en el seno de eata Confe- 
 renoia, con motive del Proyecto de arbi- 
 trage que acaba de ser aprobado, desea la 
 Delegaci<5n de Nicaragua decir algunas 
 palabras que espera escuchareis con be- 
 nevolencia. 
 
 Creo de mi deber manifestar, desde 
 luego, que la delegaci<5n de Nicaragua 
 habria visto con Batisfacci6n que se hu- 
 biese iutroducido en el proyecto de que 
 me ocupo, una cldlusula que estableciese 
 medios eficaoes para evi tar, en cuanto sea 
 posible, que se quebrante lo pactado, 
 pues, aunque es una verdad reconooida 
 que las 'naciones no pueden ser compeli- 
 das, como los individuos, 4, cumplir sua 
 compromises, tambien es cierto que siu 
 recurrir ^ medidas violentas, que esta 
 Conferencia es la primera en condenar, 
 existen recursos de car^oter puramente 
 moral, & los cuales se podria apelar en el 
 caso improbable, convengo en ello, pero 
 posible, de que uu Gobierno americano 
 qnisiese violar el pacto de arbitrage. 
 
 Lo que ^ este respecto ha dioho, en 
 lenguage tan culto como elocuente, mi 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 819 
 
 l)y my distinguished colleague and friend, 
 the Delegate from Guatemala, is true in 
 principle, and it would be in fact if polit- 
 ical questions were always viewed with 
 the calm impartiality of equity and jus- 
 tice. 
 
 There is nothing more solemn than 
 international compacts; nothing more 
 sacred than the word of a country pledged 
 by its legitimate, repiesentatives, and 
 when such compacts are signed — when 
 such words are pledged — no one is dis- 
 posed to admit that the day may come 
 when the former will be violated or the 
 latter broken ; but, gentlemen, what does 
 contemporaneous history demonstrate ? 
 I leave the reply to the learning of my 
 colleagues. 
 
 The committee undoubtedly did not 
 believe it advisable to recommend the 
 adoption of eflScacious means to render 
 the infraction of the treaty on arbitra- 
 tion impossible, or, perhaps, it could 
 not in its wisdom discover any recourse 
 which, at the same time that it acted as a 
 guaranty for the pledge, would not be a 
 species of menace to the independence 
 and sovereignty of the nations of the 
 continent. I bow before the decision 
 arrived at by the honorable committee in 
 this delicate matter, for I am pleased to 
 recognize that its members dedicateu 
 themselves to their work with an intelli- 
 gence and learning that I admire, and 
 animated by an essentially American 
 spirit, which 1 applaud. 
 
 Futile it is, gentlemen, for me to raise 
 my feeble voice here to enhance the incom- 
 parable results to be obtained by substi- 
 tuting arbitration for war as the means 
 of solving difficulties arising between the 
 American Governments. The honorable 
 Delegates who have preceded me on the 
 floor during the instructive debate which 
 has just terminated have already said, 
 with eloquence denied me, all that could 
 be said ; but I wish to state, in the name 
 of the Government I have the honor to 
 represent in this assembly, that Nicaragua 
 united and will ever unite enthusiastic- 
 ally with her sisters of the continent in 
 any effort that shall tend to render im- 
 possible armed conflicts in the future be- 
 tween the countries of America. 
 
 distinguido colega y amigo el SeBor Dele- 
 gado de Guatemala, es en priucipio muy 
 cierto, y lo seriaenlarealidad, si lascues- 
 tioues poHticas se tratasen siempre en la 
 Serena regi6n de la equidad y la justicia. 
 
 Nada m& respetable que los paotos in- 
 ternacionales, nada m^s sagrado que la 
 palabra de un pueblo empeHada por sus 
 legitimes represeutantes; y cuando tales 
 pactos se firman, cuando tales palabrasse 
 cmpeSan nadie est^ quizdl dispuesto ^ ad- 
 mitir que puede llegar un dia en que se 
 trate de infnngir los primeros, 6 de f altar 
 &1 la segunda; pero, Sefiores, j que nos 
 ensefia la historia contemporanea ? D^o 
 la respuesta & la ilustracidn de miu ho- 
 norables colegas. 
 
 La Comisi6n no crey<5 conveniente, sin 
 duda, recomeudar que se adoptase un 
 medio eficaz para hacer imposible la in- 
 fracci6n del Tratado de arbitramento, 6 
 quiz^ no pudo en su sabiduria eucontrar 
 un recurso que, al mismo tiempo que sir- 
 vieee de garantlaparalopactado,nofuese 
 una especie de ameuaza d la independen- 
 cia y soberania de las naciones del Con- 
 linente. Me incline ante la re«oluoi6n 
 queen estedelioado asunto adopt6 la Ho- 
 norable Comi8i6n, pues me complazco en 
 reoonocer que sus miembros se consagra- 
 ron & la obra con una inteligencia 6 ilus- 
 tracidn que lea admiro, y animados de un 
 esplritu esencialmente americauo, que les 
 aplaudo. 
 
 Inutil es, Senores, que yo levante aqui 
 mi debil voz para enoarecer los inapreoia- 
 bles resultados que dar^ el arbitrage, 
 sustituido & la guerra, oomo medio para 
 resolver dificultades entre los Gobiernos 
 americanos. Los honorables Delegados 
 que me han precedido en el uso de la pala- 
 bra durante el lumiuoso debate que acaba 
 determinar, han dicho ya, conelocuenoia 
 de que no soy capaz, cuanto era posible 
 decir ; pero quiero si manifestar en nom- 
 bre del Gobierno que tengo la honra de 
 representar en esta Asamblea, que Nica- 
 ragua se une y se unir^ siempre con en- 
 tusiasmo &, sus hermanas del Continente 
 en cualquier esfuerzo que tienda ^ hacer 
 iiiiposibles en lo futuro los oonflictos ar- 
 mados entre los pueblos de America. 
 
820 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Dedicated to the peaceful work of her 
 iutellectual and material development, 
 enjoying, under a well constituted Gov- 
 ernment and the protection of a consti- 
 tution duly respected, all the liberties 
 that a republican people can wish, her 
 credit raised to a height that would do 
 honor to nations ten times larger and 
 richer than she, having in view the open- 
 ing across its surlace of that great medium 
 of interooeanic communication which will 
 offer to the commerce of the world now 
 and beauteous horizons, Nicaragua will 
 hear with pleasure the good news that 
 this distinguished assembly, in which all 
 the Governments of America are found 
 represented, has carried into effect the 
 •wise and civilizing principle of arbitra- 
 tion, noble and transcendental decision, 
 ■which, upon ending war forever, will be 
 an assurance of peace to the weak who 
 have always feared the threats of the 
 strong, and will serve as a profitable les- 
 son to the strong, who have ignored, with 
 lamentable frequency, the rights of the 
 ■weak. 
 
 Nothing can be more significant, gen- 
 tlemen, nothing can better please the 
 friends of universal peace, than to see the 
 United States, the American Nation whose 
 strength rivals that of the first powers of 
 the world, taking the initiative in the 
 matter which claims our attention, for- 
 getting physical prowess, symbol of bar- 
 barism, to stand upon Right, standard of 
 Christian civilization. Worthy of this 
 noble and generous country, which owes 
 to peace its marvellous growth, are the 
 efforts it has made and continues makiug 
 to the end (hat the New World may pre- 
 sent to humanity the sublime spectacle of 
 an immense continent, peopled by differ- 
 ent races and on whose surface eighteen 
 independent nationalities exist, making 
 of arbitration the corner-stone of inter- 
 national American law. 
 
 On bringing to a close, Mr. President 
 and honorable Delegates, these few ■n'ords, 
 let the Nicaraguan delegation be permit- 
 ted to express the desire that at no very 
 distant d.iy all the nations of this conti- 
 n nt, without a single exception, may bo 
 united by the compact winch has merited 
 the approbation of this honorable assem- 
 
 Consagrada & las labores pacificas de 
 su deseuvolvimiento intelectnal y mate- 
 rial, gozaudo, bajo un Gobierno bien 
 constituido y al amparo de uua Coustitu- 
 ci6n debidamente respetada, de todas las 
 libertades que puede apetecer un pueblo 
 republicano, levantado su cr^dito ^ una 
 altura que honraria S, naciones diez veces 
 m^s grandes y m^s ricas que ella, tenieu- 
 do en perspectivala apertura ^ traves de 
 su suelo de esa gran via de comunicacidu 
 interoce^Enica, que va ^ ofrecer al comercio 
 del mundo nuevos y hermososhorizontes, 
 Nicaragua recibirii con alegria la buena 
 nneva de que esta ilustre asamblea, en la 
 que se hallan representados todos los Go- 
 biernos de America, ha llevado ^ la prfio- 
 tica el sabio y civilizador principio de 
 arbitrage, noble y trascendental rosolu- 
 cidn que, al aoabar ~para siempre con la 
 guerra, ser^ unagarantiadetranquilidad 
 para los d^biles que han temido siempre 
 las amenazas de los fuertes, y servirdl de 
 provechosa ensenauza para los fuertes, 
 que han desconocido, con lamentable 
 frecuencia, los derechos de los dfibiles. 
 
 Nada puede haber mas significativo, 
 SeBores, nada puede complacer mas S. los 
 amigos de la paz universal, que ver S, los 
 Estados Unidos, la nacidn americana cuyo 
 poder rivaliza con el de las primeras 
 potencias de la tierra, llevando la inicia- 
 tiva en la cuesti6n que nos ooupa, olvi- 
 d^ndose de lafuerza material, simbolode 
 la barbarie, para fijarse solo en el derecho, 
 norma de la civilizaoidn cristiana. Dig- 
 nos son de este noble y generoso 
 pueblo, que debe Si la paz su maravilloso 
 engraudecimiento, los esfuerzos que ha 
 heoho y oontinua haoiendo para que el 
 Nuevo Muudo preseute & la humanidad el 
 sublime espet^culo de un Continente in- 
 menso, poblado por diferentes razas, y en 
 cuyo suelo existen 18 nacionalidades in- 
 dependientes, que hace del arbitrage la 
 piedra angular del Derecho internacional 
 araericano. 
 
 Al terminar, Senor Presidente, y SeHores 
 Delegados, estas pocas palabras, sea per- 
 mitido S, la Delegaoidn de Nicaragua ex- 
 presar el deaeo de que en no lejano dia, 
 todas las naciones de este Continente, sin 
 excepcidn alguna, est6n ligadas por el 
 pacto que b'^ merecido la aprobaci6n de 
 esta Honorable asamblea, para que no 
 
INTEKNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 821 
 
 bly, that the sorrowful and melanchoUy 
 spectacle of Americans shedding Ameri- 
 can blood upon the boKom of our loved 
 America may never again present itself. 
 
 vuelva Sj presentarse jamfe el triste y 
 desconsolador espet^culo de que ameri- 
 cauos derramen sobre el suelo de nuestra 
 querida America, sangre amerioana. 
 
 Appendix No. 2. 
 
 APi^NDICE No. 2. 
 
 SPEECH OF MB. SOLET PEBAZA. DISOUBSO DEL SESOB BOLET PEBAZA. 
 
 Hortordble llepresentatives of the Republics 
 of America : 
 The resolution which you are about to 
 consider, brief as it is, has ponderous sig- 
 nificance, as it is the complement of the 
 transcendental measure which we have 
 just recommended for the peace and con- 
 cord of our countries. We have mutually 
 promised each other that no more Ameri- 
 can blood shall be spilled by Americau 
 hands; that from now henceforward the 
 continent we inhabit shall comprise only 
 sister nations, held in firm embrace, with 
 but one ambition animating them; that 
 of each striving to distance the others in 
 reaching the acme of civilization and the 
 climax of progress. 
 
 But these aspirations and those prom- 
 ises would not suffice to give light to 
 America did we not imbue the other con- 
 tinent with this same feeling of condem- 
 nation of war and love of justice which 
 has inspired our resolutions of to day. 
 
 And this is precisely what the resolu- 
 tion before us will bring about, asking in 
 the name of humanity and civilization 
 that disputes into which we are provoked 
 by other countries be not decided by 
 force, which we possess not, but by rea- 
 son and justice, which are the standard 
 of those nations that aspire to the respect 
 and love of the other nations of the earth. 
 
 The Delegate who has the honor to ad- 
 dress you at this solemn time presented, 
 three months since, in the name of Vene- 
 zuela, a resolution which gave rise to that 
 we are now considering. The form aud 
 not the spirit of that measure demanded 
 a modification, and I thus understood it, 
 and I assented, consequently that it be 
 referred to the Committee on General 
 Welfare that it might be couched in other 
 terms. The delay it has suffered is due 
 
 Sonorables Mepresentanies de las Bepilbli- 
 cas de Amirica : 
 
 La resoluci6n que vais & considerar, 
 breve en su expresidn como es, tiene una 
 significacifin muy elevada, como quiera 
 que es el cumplimiento de la medida tras- 
 cendental que acabamos de recomendar 
 para la paz y ]a Concordia de nuestros 
 pueblos. Nos hemos prometido matua- 
 mente que no se derraujaria mas sangre 
 americana por mauosamericanas; que de 
 hoy mSs, el Continente que habitamos no 
 contendr^ sino naciones hermanas con- 
 fnndidas en un estrecho abrazo, con una 
 sola emulaci6n en su esplritu, el de Uegar 
 cada cual primero que las demas S, la 
 meta de la civilizaci6n y & las grandezas 
 del progreso. 
 
 Pero estas aspiraciones y aquellas pro- 
 mesas, no bastarian para dar paz & la 
 America, si no llevamos al otro conti- 
 nente este mismo sentimiento de repro- 
 baci6n & laguerra, y amor porla justicia, 
 que ha inspirado nuestras resoluciones 
 de hoy. 
 
 Y esto es cabalmente lo que la que 
 tenemos por adelante yi, i, conseguir 
 pidi^ndo en nombre delahumanidady de 
 lacivilizaciijn, quelasdisputasiqueotros 
 pueblos nos provoquen no sean decididas 
 porlafuerza que no poseemos, sino que 
 sean tambien decididas por la razon y por 
 la justicia, que son la norma de las 
 naciones qne aspiran al respeto y al amor 
 de lo.s demas pueblos de la tierra. 
 
 El Delegado que tiene la honra de diri- 
 girse di vosotros en este solemne momento, 
 presentd hace tres meses, en nombro de 
 Venezuela, una proposicidn que di6 ori- 
 gen ^ esta que ahora consideramos. La 
 forma y no el esplritu de aquella medida 
 requerian una modificaci6n, y asi lo com- 
 prendi, y acept6 on oonsecuencia que 
 paease & la Comisidn de Bienestar Gene- 
 ral para ponerla en otros t^rminos. La 
 dilaci(5n que sufri6 este asunto no fu^por 
 
822 
 
 INTEENATIOH'AL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 not to it, but because it depended upon 
 the course which the plan of arbitration 
 followed in the committee, for, treating 
 as it did recommending arbitration for 
 the solution of disputes with foreign na- 
 tions, our desire would carry more weight 
 ifter our having adopted that friendly 
 recourse for our domestic difficulties. 
 
 Venezuela, then, thanks the honorable 
 committee for having unanimously ac- 
 ceeded to its desire, and feels proud to 
 have brought about that resolution, which 
 not only takes in its special case but em- 
 braces all those which to-day touch or 
 may concern later her sister Republics of 
 America. 
 
 It may be that in some case this desire 
 of the Conference may not succeed in 
 finding an echo in the political conscience 
 of some one of the nations which quarrel 
 for the possession of territory or for other 
 matters which affect our rights ; but it 
 matters not. One country does not form 
 the world, however vain it may be, nor 
 does the success of force upholding in- 
 justice obtain sanction, and how many 
 examples are to be found in history of 
 victories gained on the field of battle 
 ■which are so many defeats in the field of 
 universal judgment. 
 
 With respect to Venezuela, prepared as 
 she is to meet the consequences of her re- 
 sistance to submitting to dishonorable 
 pretensions respecting her sovereignty 
 and territorial integrity, she will appeal 
 first to the sentiments of justice with that 
 document in hand, and if, notwithstand- 
 ing that vote of sympathy of all America, 
 from the greatest and most powerful to 
 the smallest republic of the continent, 
 she is forced to the extremity of defend- 
 ing herself alone, she will do it resolutely 
 and proudly, and her sons will fight and 
 die for the honor of the country, spread- 
 ing to the breeze, together with her tri- 
 colored flag, that sheet of paper on which 
 is recorded the sympathy of her sisters in 
 Ameriaa. 
 
 ^1, sino porque dependia del curso que 
 llevase el plan de arbitrage que en el 
 seno de la Comisidn se concertaba, pnes 
 que tratSndose de recomendar el arbi- 
 trage para la solucifin de disputas con 
 pueblos extraHos, tendria mas fuerza 
 nuestra aspiracidn, despues que hnbi^se- 
 mos adoptado para nuestras dom^sLicas 
 disidencias aquel recurso amistoso. 
 
 Venezuela, pues, d^ las gracias & la 
 honorable Comisidn por haber atendido 
 un^uime & Sn clamor, y se siente orgu- 
 Uosa de haher provocado esa resoluci6n, 
 que no solo abarca su caso especial, sino 
 que abrazatodos los que hoy atarien,6 pue- 
 den concernir mas tarde, S, sus hermanas 
 las Eeptiblicas de America. 
 
 Puede ser que en alguna ocasidn este 
 deseo de la Conferencia no Uegue ^ tener 
 eco en la concieucia politica de alguna 
 naci6n de las que con las nuestras rifien 
 por posesidn de territorio, 6 por otras 
 causas que afectan nuestros derechos; 
 pero no importa : el mundo no lo forma 
 un solo pueblo, por envanecido que se 
 sienta ; ni la sancidn la fija el €xito de la 
 fuerza sostonieudo S, la iujusticia, y 
 i cuautos ejemplos se cuentan en la histo- 
 ria de victorias gauadas en el campo de 
 batalla que son otra« tantas derrotas en 
 el coucepto universal ! 
 
 En cuauto ^ Venezuela, preparada Como 
 estiJ para afrontar las cousecuencias de 
 su resistencia ^ someterse S, pretensiones 
 desdorosas para su soberania 6 integridad 
 territorial, apelar^primero al sentimiento 
 de jnsticia con ese docnmento en la mano ; 
 y si iu pesar de ese voto de simpatia de 
 toda la America, desde la mas grande y 
 poderosa Eepablica hasta la mas pequeSa 
 del continente, se la pone en el extremo 
 de defenderse por si misma, lo har^ con 
 resoluci6n y altivez, y sus hijos peleardin 
 y morirfin por la houra de la patria enar- 
 bolando junto con su bandera tricolor, esa 
 hoja de papel en que queda consignada la 
 simpatia de sus hei'manas de la America. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 823 
 
 Append X No. 3. 
 
 BEMABES OF MB. ANDBADE, DELE- 
 GATE FBOM VENEZUELA. 
 
 Mr. President : The two last acts ap- 
 proved by the Conference are of them- 
 selves enough to assure it just fame and 
 endnriug glory, if it he true, as the wis- 
 dom of all the centuries has professed, 
 that true glory consists in the fame de- 
 rived from the benefits afforded the 
 human race. They may not signify as yet 
 in the field of facts (and unhappily they 
 do not), the immediate and universal reign 
 of justice and peace among nations, but 
 they are, at least, the faithful expression 
 of the advance made by law in the 
 dominion of thought up to the year ninety 
 of the nineteenth century. The history of 
 international law will initiate with them, 
 without doubt, a new era, and will re- 
 cord them not as a reckless leap of im- 
 patience or as a capricious flight of fancy, 
 but as a progressive step, regular, in time 
 and in keeping with those preceding ; the 
 hind foot being firmly planted while the 
 other advances, as Dante advised for 
 climbing heights witliout danger. Be- 
 cause of this firm faith I harbor, I 
 grieve that all the friendly arms here 
 united (I grieve with a feeling of pro- 
 found and sincere Americanism) aie not 
 on this day intertwined ascending in 
 unison the glorious heights to whose 
 summit the United States guides ns. I 
 had wished that all the nations of the 
 Ameriean Ethnarchy represented in this 
 Conference should show themselves to- 
 day before the world under the shield 
 of one law and one justice, and partici- 
 pating in one glory and praise ; and I ex- 
 press the wish that this desire may be 
 realized at no very distant day. 
 
 Ap^ndice No. 3. 
 
 DISCrUIiSO DEL SEJfOB ANDBADE, DELE- 
 6AD0P0B TENEZVELA. 
 
 Sefior Prbsidente : Los dos filtimos ac- 
 tos aprobados por la Conferenoia bastan 
 por si solos para asegurarle justa fama y 
 gloria duradera, si es cierto, oomo lo ha 
 profesado la sabiduria de todos los siglos, 
 que la verdadera gloria consiste en la 
 fama de los beneficios hechos al g^nero 
 humano. Pueden no siguiticar todavia, 
 en el campo de los hechos, y por des- 
 gracia no lo significan, el reinado in- 
 mediato y universal de la justicia y la 
 paz entre las naciones ; pero al menos son 
 la expresi<3n fiel del progreso eumplido 
 por el Derecho en el dominio de las 
 ideas hasta el ano noventa del siglo XIX. 
 La historia del Derecho internacional 
 abrird; con ellos, i, no dudarlo, unanueva 
 6poca, y los registrar^, no como un salto 
 aventurado de la impaciencia, 6 como un 
 voleo caprichoso de la ilusifin, sine como 
 un paso progresivo, regular, dado al 
 compos y medida de los anteriores, bien 
 afirmado el pi6 de atr^s mientras el de 
 adelante estfi en el aire, ^ semejanza de 
 lo que Dante aconseja para subir sin peli- 
 gro & las grandes alturas. Por esta i6 
 intima que abrigo, siento que no todos 
 los brazos hermanos aqui reunidos, lo 
 siento con dolor de profundo y sincero 
 americanismo, aparezcan en este dia en- 
 lazados, ascendiendo & un mismo tiempo 
 la gloriosa montaiia S, cuya cima nos 
 guian los Estados Unidos. Yo habia 
 deseado que todas las naciones de la et- 
 narquia americana representada en esta 
 Conferenoia se manifestasen hoy ante el 
 mundo amparadas con el escudo de un 
 mismo derecho y una misma justicia, y 
 participando de una misma gloria y ala- 
 banza ; y hago votos por que este deseo 
 se realice en no remote porvenir. 
 
824 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Appendix No. 4. Ap^indice No. 4. 
 
 Committee on International Law. Comisi6n de Derecho Intbrnacional. 
 
 Hinority report on Ihe subjects of claims 
 and diplomatic intervention, and of the 
 navigaiion of rivers. 
 
 I cao not concur in the majority report 
 for the following reasons : 
 
 I object to the term "American Inter- 
 national Law.'' There can no more be an 
 American international law than there 
 can be an English, a German, or a Prus- 
 sian international law. International 
 law has an old and settled meaning. It 
 is the common law of the civilized world, 
 and was in active recognized and continu- 
 ons force long before any of the now es- 
 tablished American nations had an inde- 
 pendent existence. We accepted it as 
 one of the conditions of our recognition 
 and we have no right to alter it without 
 the consent of the nations who really 
 founded it and who are and must be 
 to-day, notwithstanding our increasing 
 power and consequence, large and equal 
 factors in its maintenance. 
 
 I of course recognize the right of any 
 one nation or combination of nations to 
 suggest such amendments and improve- 
 ments as the progress of civilization ren- 
 ders advisable ; but to make such changes 
 a part of international law requires the 
 consent of the civilized world. 
 
 Nor do I deny the right of any two or 
 more nations to adjust theirgeneral polit- 
 ical relations according to principles of 
 which they approve, but this obligation 
 is simply a treaty obligation, is confined 
 in its action to the contracting parties, 
 and can not exempt them or either of 
 them from the larger and older obligations 
 of international law, should they ever 
 conflict. 
 
 Dictamen de la minoria en las cuesiidnes de 
 reclamadones, derecho de intervencidn di- 
 plomdliea y navegacion de los rios. 
 
 No puedo estar de acuerdo con el in- 
 forme de la mayoria por las razones 
 siguientes : 
 
 Me opongo Sj la adopcidn de la frase 
 "Derecho internacional americano." No 
 es posible que haya un Derecho interna- 
 cional americano, del miamo modo que 
 no es posible que existaun Derecho inter- 
 nacional ingl6s, aleman 6 ruso. La frase 
 Derecho internacional, tiene ya desde 
 muy antiguo unsiguiflcadobien definido. 
 Es el Derecho comun del mundo civili- 
 zado, y ha estado en activa y reconooida 
 vigeucia desde mucho antes que las 
 nuevas naoiones amerioauas tuvieran una 
 existencia independiente. Nosotros lo 
 aceptamos como una de las condiciones 
 en que se basaba el reoonocimiento de la 
 nuestra, y por tan to no tenemos derecho 
 para alterarlo, sin el conseutimiento de 
 las naciones que en realidad lo fundaron, 
 y que son y ser^n, apesar de nuestro 
 creciente poder, grandes 6 iguales fac- 
 tores en la obra de su mantenimiento. 
 
 Yo, por supuesto, reconozco el derecho 
 que una Nacidn 6 una reuui6n de naciones, 
 tiene para sujerir los cambios 6 mejoras 
 que el progreso de la civilizaci6u acredite 
 ser convenientes. Pero para hacer que 
 estos cambios formsn parte del Derecho 
 internacional senecesitael conseutimiento 
 del mundo oivilizado. 
 
 Tampoco niego el derecho que dos 6 mas 
 naciones teugan 6 puedau tener para 
 regular sus relaciones politicas, con- 
 forme ^ ciertos principios determinados 
 en que couvengau ; pero las obligaeiones 
 que asl se contraigan depender^il simple- 
 mente del tratado en que eso se estipule ; 
 y su acci6n estar^ circumscrita solaraente 
 & las naciones contratantes, sin que por 
 ello se sustr^igan estas & obligaeiones mds 
 antlguas y de mayor extensidu, contraidas 
 anteriormente, y fundadas en el Derecho 
 internacional, dado case que los principios 
 nuevos estuviesen en desacuerdo con este. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 825 
 
 Even the four points of the Congress of 
 Paris, which were adopted by all the great 
 powers of Europe, do not claim to be 
 internatioual law and are admitted to be 
 binding only upon and between those 
 nations who were signatories of the treaty. 
 
 In the contention over the Alabama 
 claims England and the United States 
 did agree that the decision bhould be 
 governed by the application of certain 
 principles which it was admitted were 
 not principles of existing international 
 law, but to be accepted quoad hoc as the 
 rule uf judgment in the special case. 
 
 And it is very noticeable that notwith- 
 standing the declaration of such intent, 
 no effort has been made in either case to 
 widen these special transactions into al- 
 teration or amendment of international 
 law. I assume, therefore, that the object 
 of this reference is not to establish an 
 American international law, in contrastov 
 conflict with an European international 
 law, but to suggest certain modifications 
 as desirable, and to agree that, pending 
 theii' incorjioration into the i.ternatioual 
 law of the world, we will, among our- 
 selves, agree to be bound by the prin- 
 ciples embodied in these resolutions. 
 
 Assuming this, the question is : Is it 
 judicious for nsto adopt those resolutions 
 as the rule of action between ourselves 
 and to make the necessary effort to have 
 them iucorporated into the internatioual 
 law of the world ? For it is clear that 
 they are either portions of existing inter- 
 national law. in which case we are already 
 under their protection and bound by their 
 obligations, or they are not existing in- 
 ternational law, and then it is not in our 
 power to make them so. 
 
 These recommendations cover two sub- 
 jects : 
 
 (1) The subject of reclamation by for- 
 eigners against a government in which 
 
 Ni aiiu respecto de los cuatro puntos 
 del CoDgreso de Paris, adoptados por to- 
 das las graudes potenoias de Europa, se 
 ha pretendido que pertenezcan al Derecho 
 internaoional. No se les considera con 
 fuerza obligatoria sino eutre las naciones 
 signatarias del tratado en que se estable- 
 cieron. 
 
 En la contienda relativa d las reclama- 
 ciones del Alabama, la Inglaterra y losEs- 
 tados Unidos convinieron en que aquella se 
 decidiese, atendieudo £ ciertos principios, 
 que ambas partes admitier6u no pertene- 
 cer al Derecho iuternaci oual vigente, pero 
 que sin embargo aceptaron quoad hoc, 
 como regla & que debia someterse el fallo 
 de aquel asuuto especial. 
 
 Y ea de advertirse muy especialmente 
 que niuguna de las doa partes que convi- 
 nieron en dichosprincipiospara aquel case 
 dado, ha liechojamas esfuorzo alguoo para 
 darles mayor extensi6n, con el flu de al- 
 terar 6 cnmendar el Derecho interna- 
 cioual. Presume por consiguiente, queel 
 objeto de las proposiciones que se ban 
 sometido & nuestro examen no es el de 
 establecer uu Denchointernacional ame- 
 ricano, en oposioi6n 6 conflicto con el 
 Derecho internacioual europeo, sino el de 
 sugerir modificaciones quo se consideran 
 tiles, y couvenir en que, mediante, su in- 
 corporacidn en el Derecho internacioual 
 Idel mundo, noscomprometamosiiguiarnos 
 por los principios contenidos en dichas 
 proposiciones. 
 
 Suponiendo que esto sea asi, el punto 
 de la cuestidn se reduce ^ lo sigaiente: 
 J Es juicioso que adopt^mos las resolu- 
 ciones propuestas, las establezcamos 
 como regla de conducta, y hagamos 
 el necesario esfuerzo para conseguir que 
 se las inoorpore eu el Derecho interna- 
 cionil del muudo? Es evidente que las 
 referidas proposiciones, 6 forman parte 
 del Derecho internacioual existente, en 
 cuyo caso estamos ya bajo eu protecci6u, 
 adem^s de obtar sujetos ^ las obligaciones 
 que nos impouen : 6 no forman parte de 
 dicho Derecho, eu cuyo caso carecemoa 
 del poder de incluirlas en 61. 
 
 Las recomendaciones de que se trata se 
 refiereu & dos asuntos diferentes: 
 
 1". El de las reclamacionea de los ex- 
 trangeros contra el Gobierno del pals en 
 
826 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 they reside or with which they have had 
 transactions. 
 
 (2) The subject of the navigation of 
 rivers running as boundaries between or 
 running in different portions of their 
 course through different territories. 
 
 I shall first consider the subject of re- 
 clamation. 
 
 My objection to the very earnest and 
 eloquent report of the majority is not to 
 its details, but to the iiresittble conclu- 
 sion of its logic, which I can not interpret 
 in any other sense than the entire and 
 absolute denial of the right of dipkmatio 
 reclamation between independent govern- 
 ments in vindication or protection of the 
 rights of its citizens residing in foreign 
 countries. It is possible that cases of di- 
 rect violence or tort by the government 
 itself may be excepted, but net clearly. 
 
 " The foreigner with all the rights of 
 the native," saya the report, "with no 
 right less, yet with no right more, is the 
 principle which, to the mind of the com- 
 mittee, is the base upon which every 
 theory in the premises should rest. The 
 starting point for practical conclusions in. 
 so interesting a matter. If the Govern- 
 ment is responsible to its citizens for in- 
 fraction of the Censtitution or the laws, 
 committed by agents of the public author- 
 ity in the discharge of their duties, it will 
 be equally responsible to foreigners, and 
 vice versa. If the Government is not re- 
 sponsible to the citizen for damages 
 caused by insurgents or rebels, neither 
 will it be responsible to foreigners, and 
 vice versa. If the natives have any pro- 
 tection against the decision and proced- 
 ure of the courts, the same right shall be 
 granted foreigners. In a word, in every- 
 thing touching the exercise of civil rights 
 natives and foreigners shall be on a per- 
 fect equal footing equal rights, equal 
 obligations, equal access to the authori- 
 ties, equal procedure, equal appeals, but 
 in no case shall the foreigner be superior, 
 an exasperating position which may es- 
 tablish an indefensible duality of sover- 
 eignties and authorities. The foreigner 
 should not appear like a spoiled child, 
 always encircled by the arms of th» Gov- 
 ernment of his nationality to prevent him 
 from stumbling and injuring himself." 
 
 que residen, 6 con ouyo Gobiemo han te- 
 nido negocios. 
 
 2". El de la navegacidn de aquellos rios 
 que forman en todo 6 en parte los llmites 
 territoriales de varios paises, 6 que atra- 
 viesan en su curso diversos territories. 
 
 Principiar^ por el asunto de las recla- 
 maciones. 
 
 Mi op08ioi6n al animado y eloouente 
 dict^men de la mayoria, no versa sobre 
 puntos de detalle, sino sobre la esencia 
 misma de las conclusiones Idgicas que irre- 
 gistiblemeute se derivan de sus premisas, 
 y que tengo que interpretar en el sentido 
 de que niega completa y absolutamente & 
 Gobiomos indepeodientes el dereoho de 
 
 • establecer reclamaoiones diplomaticas en 
 protecci6n, 6 en vindicaci6n, de los de- 
 rechos de sus ciudadanos, residentes en 
 paises extraugeros. Es posible que el 
 dictd^meu exceptue aquellos de violencia 
 directa 6 indudable, 6 deinjusticia, come- 
 tidos" por un Gobierno ; pero si es asl, no 
 esi^ expresado claramente. " El extran- 
 gero con todos los derechos que el nacio - 
 ual," dice el informe, "con ninglin derecho 
 menos, pero con ningfin derecho m^s, es 
 el prinoipio quo ^ juicio de la Comisi(5u es 
 la base sobre la cual ha de asentarse toda 
 teoria eu la materia ; el punto de partida 
 para las conclueiones practioas en asunto 
 tan interesaute. Si el Gobierno es respon- 
 sable ^ los nacionales por infracciones de 
 la Const! tuci6n, 6 de las leyes, cometidas 
 por agentes de la autoridad ptiblica, en el 
 ejercicio de sus funciones, serii igualmente 
 responsable & los extrangeros y vice versa. 
 Si el Gobierno no es responsable H los na- 
 
 • cionales por los danos causados por faccio- 
 sos 6 rebeldes, tampoco lo seiS, & los ex- 
 trangeros; y al contrario, si tienen los 
 nacionales algun reoftrso contra las deci- 
 siones, 6 procedimientos, de los Tribu- 
 nales, es6 mismo tendriiln los extrange- 
 ros. En una palabra, en todo lo que se 
 refiera al uso de derechos oiyiles, na- 
 cionales y extrangeros han de estar com- 
 pletamente equiparados : iguales dere- 
 chos, iguales obligaciones, igual aoceso & 
 las autoridades, iguales procedimientos, 
 iguales recursos ; pero en ninglin case, 
 el exftangero de superior, irritante con- 
 dici(5n, que estahlezoa una insostenible 
 6 inexplicable dnalidad de poderes y 
 de soberanlas. El extrangero no debe 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 827 
 
 Putting aside the supposed coudiUou. 
 existing in fact nowhere, in which "for- 
 eigners are entitled to enjoy all the civil 
 rights enjoyed by natives," the above 
 forcible and plausible statement can not 
 be accepted without most important limi- 
 tations. It may be admitted, but with 
 serious reservations, that the resident 
 foreigner in all contracts with private 
 natives and in relation to violations of 
 municipal law has no right to ask more 
 protection than is given to the native 
 citizen. But even here there is the un- 
 derlying assumption that what is granted 
 by native law and proceaure, what is 
 given to the native citizen is substantial 
 justice. If under any peculiar law, under 
 any absolutism of procedure, under any 
 habit or usage of traditional authority to 
 which natives are accxistomed and willing 
 to submit, the native process or judgment 
 does not afford this substantial justice, 
 the right of the foreigner to such substan- 
 tial justice would be nevertheless com- 
 plete and how can it be assured to them ? 
 But if this be so even in cases of private 
 contention, how is it with the cases where 
 the reclamation of the foreigner is against 
 the Government itself? 
 
 Into what court will the Government 
 allow the sovereignty of the nation to be 
 called to answer its responsibility to the 
 claimant, smi how is its judgment to bo 
 enforced? What, under such a theory, 
 becomes of a native merchant in a bel- 
 ligerent country ? What guaranty has the 
 foreigner against the forced loan to which 
 a native citizen may be bound patri- 
 otically to submit? Take the case of the 
 foreign bondholder furnishing to the Gov- 
 ernment invaluable assistance at critical 
 times where the debt is neither denied nor 
 repudiated but simply and persistently 
 left unpaid. Has any Government hesi- 
 tated to protect by diplomatic reclama- 
 tion the interests of its subjects, which 
 
 aparecer como un niQo mimado, rodeado 
 siempre de los brazos del Gobierno de su 
 nacionalidad, para que no tropiece y se 
 haga daSo.'' 
 
 Sin discutir sobre la existencia de esa 
 supuesta condicidn de cosas, que &, la ver- 
 dad no existe en ninguna parte, de que el 
 extrangero tenga todos los derochos del 
 nacioual, dir6 sin embargo que las mani- 
 festaciones del p^rrafo que aoabo de co- 
 piar, no pueden aceplarse, aunque caluro- 
 samente presentadas, sino con muchas 
 y muy importantes limitaciones. Podrla 
 admitirse, aunque con serias reservas, que 
 el extrangero residento en un pais no 
 tenga, en materiasde contratos celebrados 
 por61 connacionales sin carficter ptiblico H 
 olicial, 6 en casos de infracciones indivi- 
 duales del Derecho privado del pais, el de- 
 recho de demandar mas proteccidn que la 
 que se concede al nacional. Pero ^un en 
 ese case, habria siempre que dar por sen- 
 tado al hacer esta concesiou, que lo qne 
 las leyes y procedimientos naoionales es- 
 tablecen en favor 6 en contra de los na- 
 cionales es completa y sustancialmente 
 jnsto. Si por algunapeculiaridaddeuna 
 ley, 6 por algfin absolutismo de procedi- 
 miento, 6 por algnn hiibito 6 costumbre de 
 autoridad traditional, que & los naciona- 
 les no repugua y S, que^est^n anuentes 
 i, someterse, los procedimientos 6 juioios 
 del pais no garantizan aqnella completa 
 justicia, no por eso se disminuiria en nada 
 el derecho del extrangero para deman- 
 darla. j Y como podria conseguirla sin la 
 reclamaci(5u internacional ? 
 
 Si esto es asl, aun en casos de contiendas 
 de cariioter privado, j que no serS cuando 
 se trate de reclaraaciones contra el Gobier- 
 no misiiio ? J Ante qne tribunales per- 
 mitirS el Gobierno que la soberania de la 
 nacidn sea demandada y comparezoa H 
 descargarse de la responsabilidad que se 
 le exige ? j Que le pasard; bajo esta teorla 
 al coniorciante nacional en un pais beli- 
 gerante ? j Que garantla teudr^ un ex- 
 trangero contra un euipr^stito forzoso, & 
 que el nacional estS obligado patridtica- 
 mente 6, someterse ? Supdngase el caso 
 de un tenedor de bonos de una douda ex- 
 trangera, que en tiempos calamitosos pres- 
 t6 valiosisimos auxiliosal Gobierno deu- 
 dor, cuya deuda este Gobierno ni niega, ni 
 
828 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 DO foreigner can enforce in the courts of 
 his debtor ? Take the case where the per- 
 sons and property of foreigners have not 
 received the protection to which their 
 relation with the native Government en- 
 titles them. Is it conceivable that so 
 great a departure from ancient usage and 
 recognized international law would be 
 accepted ? 
 
 It will be recollected that very recently 
 the experiment has been tried. In 1888, 
 only two years ago, the Ecuadoran Con- 
 gress passed a law decreeing as follows : 
 
 repudia sino simgle y persistentemente re- 
 husa hacer el pago, j cual es la nacidn 
 que ha vaoilado jamis en proteger por 
 medio de reclamaciones diplomSticas los 
 intereses de sus ciudadanos, que estos no 
 podrlan nnnca hacer valer ante los tribu- 
 nales de la nacidn deudora ? Supdngase 
 el caso eu que las personas y propiedades 
 de un extrangero no hayan recibido la 
 protecoifin quo les es debida, y ^ que tie- 
 nen dereoho como los nacionales : j serla 
 siquiera ooucebible que una desviaoifin 
 tan grandeile las prScticas por largo tiem- 
 po reconocidas como perteneeiontes al 
 Derecho intemacional pudiera ser aoep- 
 tada? 
 
 Debe recordarse que baoe muy pooo 
 tiempo se ha puesto ^ prueba este expert- 
 mento. En 1888, hace solamente dos afios, 
 el Congreso del Ecuador pas<5 una ley en 
 que se decret(5 lo siguiente : 
 
 "Article I. 
 
 "ArtIculo I. 
 
 " The nation is not responsible for 
 losses and damages caused by the enemy 
 either in civil or international war or by 
 mobs, riots, or mutinies, or for those which 
 may be caused by the Government in its 
 military operations or in the measures it 
 may adopt for the restoration of public 
 order. Neither natives nor foreigners 
 shall have any right of indemnity in such 
 cases. 
 
 " La nacidn no es responsable por las 
 p^didas 6 dafios causados por el enemigo, 
 ya sea en guerra civil, 6 internaoional, 6 
 por tumultos, sediciones, 6 motines, ni 
 tampoco por otros dafios que se hayan 
 causado por el Gobierno en sus opera- 
 ciones militares, 6 por efecto de medidas 
 que se haya visto obligado Si tomar para 
 restablecer el drden publico. Ni los ex- 
 trangeros ni los nacionales tendr^n dere- 
 cho alguno Si reclamar iudemnizacidn al- 
 guna en tales cases. 
 
 "Article II. 
 
 "ARTfCULO II. 
 
 " Neither is the nation responsible for 
 losses or damages consequent upon meas- 
 ures adopted by the Government towards 
 natives or foreigners in involving their 
 arrest, banishment, internation, or extra- 
 dition whenever the exigencies of public 
 order or a complianoie with treaties with 
 neighboring nations require such action. 
 
 "Tampoco responderil la nacidn por 
 las pdrdidas d perjuicios que se originen 
 de medidas adoptadas por el Gobierno 
 contra naturales 6 extrangeros, orde- 
 nando su arresto, d su expnlsidn, interna- 
 cidn d extradicidn, cuando quiera que las 
 exigencias del drden pflblioo d el cumpli- 
 miento de tratados con las naciones ve- 
 cinas requieran dichas medidas. 
 
 "Article III. 
 
 "AUTfCULO III. 
 
 "The payment of indemnities not ex- 
 cluded by the foregoing articles can not 
 
 " No se pagar^ ninguna indemnizacidn 
 aun en lo8 casos no exoluidos en los arti- 
 
 be made except in conformity with the culos auteriores, sino de entera conformi- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 829 
 
 law of public credit and after a previous 
 judgment hj a competent jndicial officer. 
 
 "Article IV. 
 
 "Neither foreigner nor native shall 
 have the right of presenting claims to 
 the legislature which were previously 
 rejected by a former Congress. 
 
 "Article V. 
 
 " Foreigners who may have filled posi- 
 tions or commissions which subjected 
 them to the laws and authorities of 
 Ecuador can make no reclamation for 
 payment or indemnity through a diplo- 
 matic channel." 
 
 The diplomatic corps at Quito pretested 
 against the ait as contrary to the law of 
 nations. On October 23, 1888, the State 
 Department addressed the following in- 
 structions to the Minister of the United 
 States. After referring to the various ar- 
 ticles of what it terms "the extraordi- 
 nary law " it jjroceeds : 
 
 " It is unnecessary to gnote further pro- 
 visions of the statute to show Wiat it is 
 subversive of all the principles of inter- 
 national law. This is so plain that it 
 does not require or admit of argument. 
 By such a declaration of rules for the 
 guidance of her conduct in international 
 relations, Ecuador places herself outside 
 of the pale of international intercourse. 
 It can not be supposed that she will per- 
 severe in such a course, which would be 
 destructive of lier commerce and render 
 amicable relations with her impossible. 
 
 "You are, therefore, instructed to say 
 to the Ecuadorian Government that the 
 provisions of the law in question have 
 been read by this Department with re- 
 gret, and that tiie United States could 
 never acquiesce in any attempt on the 
 part of that Government to use such a 
 statute as an answer to a claim^which 
 this Government hp,d presented." 
 
 Now, while the conclusions and argu- 
 ment of the report do not make specific 
 reference to this legislation, it does seem 
 
 dad con la Ley de Cr(5dito publico, y des- 
 pu^s de que se hayapronunciado la oorres- 
 pondiente sentsncia por la autoridad ju- 
 dicial competente. 
 
 "ARTfcULO IV. 
 
 "Ni los nacionales ni los extrangeros 
 tendrdin dereoho de preseutar al Congreso, 
 reclamaciones que hayau side rechazadas 
 en otra eesidn anterior del mismo. 
 
 "ARTfCOLO V. 
 
 "Los extrangeros que hayan desem 
 peHado cargos pliblicos, 6 comislones que 
 los hayan sometido ^ las leyes y autori- 
 dades del Ecuador, no podrdin hacer re- 
 clamaci6n alguna por la via diplomStica, 
 para obtener el pago de lo que se lea 
 adeuda, 6 de alguna indemnizacidu." 
 
 El cuerpo diplom^tico de Quito protests 
 contra esta ley como contraria al Derecho 
 internacional. El 23 de Octubre de 1888, 
 el Departaraeuto de Estado diriji6 al Mi- 
 nistro de los Estados Unidos en Ecuador, 
 las oportunas instrucciones, en que des- 
 pu6s de hacer alusidn & los diversos 
 artioulos de esta ley que llama " extraor- 
 dinaria," sigue : 
 
 "Es innecesario contiuuar citando mds 
 disposiciones de 8»ta ley para demostrar 
 que es contraria & todos los principios de 
 Derecho internacional. Esto es tan 
 patente que no necesita, ni admito de- 
 mostracifin. Al declarar que estas reglas 
 ban de servirle de guia en sus rela- 
 ciones internacionales, el Ecuador se ha 
 colocado 61 mismo fuera de toda comuni- 
 cacidn internacional, y no puede supo- 
 nerse que persista en semejante conducta, 
 que destruiria su comercio, 6 imposibili- 
 taria las relaciones amistosas con dicho 
 pais. 
 
 " Se le faculta ^ Ud. de consiguiente, 
 para decir al Gobieruo del Ecuador que 
 las disposiciones de la ley en cuestidu han 
 sido leidas por este Departamento con 
 sentimiento, y que los Estados Unidos 
 jam^ podrdn consentir en ninglin paso 
 que se d6 para hacer valer dicha ley en 
 respuesta & una reclamacidn que este G<o- 
 bierno hubiera presentado.'' 
 
 Ahora bien, es cierto que las conclu- 
 siones y razouamientos del dict^men no 
 haoen referenda especial Sdichaley ; pero 
 
830 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 to me that its provisions would be gener- 
 ally supported both by tlie language and 
 reBolution. The second resolution reads 
 thus: 
 
 "A nation has not, nor recognizes in 
 favor of foreigners any other obligations 
 or responsibilities tbau those which, in 
 favor of the natives, are established by 
 the constitution and the laws." 
 
 I can put but one interpretation upon 
 this language, and that is that whatever 
 be the complaint of a resident foreigner 
 against the Government under whose 
 jurisdiction he is residing, he has no right 
 in protection of his interests other than 
 such as the Government may have pro- 
 vided in the way of judicial trial or ex- 
 ecutive appeal to its own citizens, and 
 this principle once admitted, of course 
 there follows the absolute exclnsion of 
 diplomatic reclamation; for the report 
 says: 
 
 "None of the advancements of modern 
 civilization is unknown to the Republics 
 of America; granting the foreigner the 
 same rights, neither less nor more, than 
 the native enjoys, they do all they can 
 and should do, and if their rights are not 
 enough, and if they are not found to be 
 sufficiently guarantied, and to be placed 
 beyond the pale of abuse; if there is 
 danger that abuse will sometimes be com- 
 mitted, as there is danger of earthquakes, 
 of floods, of epidemics, of revolutions, and 
 other misfortunes, the foreigner should 
 have considered it all before deciding to 
 live in a country where he runs such 
 risks." 
 
 I am willing to admit that there are 
 cases in which this appeal of a foreigner 
 to have the protection of his own country 
 has been abused — that there may be cases 
 in which the lapse of time, the loss of 
 records, the insufficiency ot evidence, the 
 confused and revolutionary character of 
 the circumstances under which the claims 
 may be alleged to have arisen, all com- 
 bine to diminish the equities of a dip- 
 lomatic reclamation. But these are rare 
 and are always subject to the scrutiny of 
 the reclaiming Government, and if there 
 is a subject upon which nations are pro- 
 
 la verdad es que las disposicionea de 
 aquella se encuentran apoyadas, tanto 
 por el lenguage como por el esplritu de 
 la resoluoidn que se propone. 
 La segunda resolucidu dice como sigue : 
 " La nacidn uo tiene ni reoonoce ^ favor 
 de los extrangeros ningunas otras obliga- 
 ciones 6 responsabilidades que las que S. 
 favor de los nacionales se hallen estable- 
 cidas, en igual oaso, por la Coustituciffn 
 y las leyes." 
 
 No puedo interpretar este lenguage, 
 mfc que de una manera, y es que cualquie- 
 ra que sea la queja de un extrangero 
 contra el Gobiernobajo cuya jurisdiocidn 
 reside, no tiene mas derecho en cuanto & 
 proteccidn de sus intereses, que el que el 
 Gobierno mismo haya proveido, ya en la 
 forma de un litigio judicial, ya en la de 
 apelaoidn administrativa, respecto do los 
 nacionales. Una vez admitido este prin- 
 cipio, se sigue necesariamente la absoluta 
 exclusion de toda reclauiaoidn di^ilomil- 
 tica. El dictamen dice : 
 
 "A las Repiiblioas de America no son 
 extraSos ningunos de los adelantos de la 
 moderua oiviIizaci6u. Dando al extran- 
 gero los mismos derechos, no menos, pero 
 tampoco iM^s, que los que tienen los na- 
 cionales, hacen cuanto pueden y dcbeu 
 hacer. Y si estos derechos no sou bas- 
 tantes, si no se hallan suScientemente 
 garantidos y puestos & cubierto de todo 
 abuso ; si hay peligro de que 6ste pueda 
 cometerse alguna vez, como hay peligro 
 de terremotos, de inuudaciones, de epide- 
 mias, de revoluciones y de otras desgra- 
 cias, el extrangero debe haberlo conside- 
 rado todo antes de resolverse S, vivir en 
 una tierra en que puede oorrer tales ries- 
 gos." 
 
 Estoy dispuesto ^ admitir que hay ca- 
 ses en que el Uamamiento de un extran- 
 gero al Gobierno de su pals para que lo 
 proteja ha side hecho indebidamente, y 
 que puede haber otros caaos en que el 
 trascurso del tiempo, la p6rdida de docu- 
 mentos, la insuficiencia de la j>rueba, el 
 cardicter confuse y revolucionario de los 
 sucesos que dieron lugar ^ las reclama- 
 ciones, hayan iufluido en dismmuir la 
 equidad y justicia de una relamaciiin 
 diplomStica. Pero estos cases son raros, 
 y siempre est^n sujetos Sescrupuloso exil- 
 men por parte del Gobierno reclamante. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 831 
 
 verbially cautious it is the risk of in- 
 volving national interests and incurring 
 risks of provoking international diffi- 
 culties in vindication of the violsition of 
 the rights of private individuals. And I 
 can say confidently, witli no inconsider- 
 ahLe knowledge of the diplomatic recla- 
 mations made by the Government of the 
 United States, that the large majority of 
 the claims wtich it has become the duty 
 of the United States Governtneut to press 
 upon foreign nations has been in behalf 
 of such claimants as the report desiribea, 
 ■well founded in equity, reasonable in de- 
 m»nd, and of singular temperamse in ttone. 
 
 Those claims have represented the cour- 
 age and enterprise and capital of a shrewd, 
 venturesome, but singularly intelligent 
 and broad chiss of men. They have vent- 
 ured much, not it is true without hope of 
 rewardr, but very much that did substan- 
 tial work in building up large industries, 
 in sustaining struggling Governments, 
 and in aiding other nations in their efforts 
 at independence. And every day, as the 
 world comes closer together, this com- 
 munity of enterprise, this transfer of labor 
 and capital to do the work of other nations 
 is spreading, and becoming not merely 
 private and inconsiderable contracts, but 
 large transactions, involving legislative 
 action, government intervention, and na- 
 tional responsibility. 
 
 The narrow technicality and the una- 
 voidable prejudices of municipal law are 
 growing too small for affairs of such mag- 
 nitude. 
 
 And if there is a noticeable fact in the 
 history of international claims, it is that 
 the almost certain result of diplomatic 
 reclamation is the arbitration of an im- 
 partial tribunal, in which ail the equities 
 are carefully scrutinized g,nd by which 
 almost every contention has been solved 
 by a compromise which relieves national 
 irritation and satisfies individual justice. 
 I am satisfied that within the last fifty 
 years surer foundations for the establish- 
 ment of a real international law by dip- 
 
 Si hay un aisunto en que las naciones 
 son proverbialmente cautas, es en no ex- 
 ponerse d correr el riesgo de comprome- 
 ter sus intereses y provocar conflictos 
 internacionales, en viadicaci6n de dere- 
 chos de individuos particulares que 
 hayan sido deaconocidos 6 ultrajados ; y 
 ptvedo decir con coufianza de estar en la 
 verdad, y no sin bastunte conocimiento 
 de las reclamaciones diplomSticas hechas 
 por el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos, 
 que la gran mayorla de las reclama- 
 ciones que los Estados Unidos han 
 t^ido el deber de hacer ^ las naciones 
 extrangeras han sido bieu fundadas en 
 equidad, razonables en las dejnandas, y 
 de singular templanza en el tono. 
 
 Esas reclamaciones han representado 
 el valor, la determinacitfn, el espirltu 
 de empresa, y el capital de una olase 
 numerosa de hombros actives, empren- 
 dedores y de gran iuteligencia. Arries- 
 garon mucho, no en verdad sin la espe- 
 ranza de ser recompeusados, pero con- 
 tribuyeudo considerablemeute & crear 
 grandes industrias, & sosteuer Gobiernos 
 vacilantes, y S ayudar S, otras naciones 
 en sus luchas por asegurar su indepen- 
 dencia. Y & medida que los pueblos se 
 acercan unos Si otros, esta comuuidad de 
 empresa, esta transferencia de trabajo 
 y capital para elaborar el progreso de 
 otras naciones, se ensancha y eugrandece, 
 pasando de loa limites de contratos pri- 
 vados y pequeSos para entrai' en el de 
 transaociones de gran importancia, que 
 requieren legislacidn especial, y haoen 
 neoesaria la intervencidn del Gobierno, y 
 la responsabilidad nacional. , 
 
 El estrecho teonicismo, y las inevitables 
 preocupaciones de las leyes del pais, 
 tienen demasiada pequenez para aplicarse 
 S, negocios de esta magnitud. 
 
 Y si en la historia de las reclamaciones 
 internacionales existe algo que sea digno 
 de atencidn, es el hecho de que el resnl- 
 tado casi seguro de la reclamaoi6n diplo- 
 m^tica es el arbitrage ante un tribunal 
 imparcial, en que todas las cirounstau- 
 clas de la equidad del caso son cuidadosa- 
 mente exaininadaSiS por cnyo medio cast 
 todfts las oontiendas han sido resueltas, 
 aceptando una transacoida que alivia la 
 irritaci6n nacional, y que satisface la 
 justicia del individuo. Yo estoy con- 
 
832 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 lomatic reclamation, thus terminating in 
 arbitration, liave been laid than by any 
 influence at work in the history of the 
 world. This system has given us a series 
 of special decisions covering a multiplic- 
 ity of cases arising from the developing 
 necessities of closer national relations, 
 which will become, sooner or later, a code 
 of decisions to which appeal may safely 
 be made. The time has not yet come, but 
 come it must, when all differences not 
 between government and government — 
 for that I deem impossible, but between 
 the citizens of one country and the gov- 
 ernment of another — will find a common 
 and legal tribunal to administer a recog- 
 nized juiisdiction. But until that comes 
 and as the surest and most efficient means 
 to secure its coming is diplomatic recla- 
 mation seeking and finding arbitration. 
 
 I am unwilling to repeat the common- 
 place declaration, " Eomanus civus sum." 
 
 It has been distorted by the political 
 declamation of that sort of passion which 
 sometimes mistakes itself for patriotism ; 
 its truth has been abused by great and 
 arrogaut nations, and may be again. But 
 human nature must be changed, and 
 changed for the worse, before you can 
 separate loyalty to the Government and 
 protection to the citizen. And that flag 
 had better be furled under which a citi- 
 zen does not feel that he is safe against 
 inj iistioe. 
 
 With these views I can not concur in 
 any opinions which diminish the right or 
 reduces the power of a nation by diplo- 
 matic reclamation, which is the manifes- 
 tation of its moral strength and vitality, 
 to protect the rights and interests of its 
 citizens. 
 
 vencido de que en log tilHmos cincnenta 
 alios se han fijado bases mas sdlidas para 
 el establecimie'nto de un verdadero Dere- 
 cho interuaoional, por medio de reolaraa- 
 cioncs diplom^ticas terminadas eu arbi- 
 tramento, que por cualquiera otro medio 
 couocido en la historia del mundo. Este 
 sistema uos ha suministrado una serie de 
 decisiones en gran nlimero de cases, origi- 
 nados por virtual del inoremento de las 
 relaciones nacionales, que formardr tarde 
 6 temprano, una especie de coJigo, que 
 podr^ consultarso con provecho. El 
 tiempo no ha Uegado todavla en que las 
 diferencias, no entre Gobierno y Gobierno, 
 porque eso es imposible, sine entre los 
 oiudadanos de un pals y el Gobierno 
 de otro, encuentren un Tribunal comiiii, 
 de jurisdiccidu reconocida en que scan 
 iijustadas. Pero entre tanto, y como el 
 medio mas seguro y eficaz de obtener ese 
 resultado, la reclamaci6n diplom^tica 
 est^ buscando y encontrando en el arbi- 
 trage la manera de resolver las dificnl- 
 tades. 
 
 No repetiriS por cierto la manoseada ex- 
 olamaci6a : "Romanus oivis sum," que 
 ha side exagerada por la declamaci6n 
 polltica, que ^ veces Hainan patriotismo, 
 y de cuya verdad se ha abusado y puede 
 aiin abusarse por naoiones grandes y ar- 
 rogantes. Pero antes de que sea posible 
 separar la fidelidad al Gobierno y la pro- 
 tecci6n al ciudadano, serS preoiso que la 
 naturalviza humana haya cambiado. Si 
 una baudera no es bastante fuerte para 
 que el ciudadano se oonsidere seguro bajo 
 ella contra toda injusticia, ser^ mejor 
 replegarla. 
 
 Teniendo estas convicciones no pnedo 
 estar de acuerdo con los que abriguen 
 ideas que tiendan & disminuir el derecho, 
 6 la facultad de una naci6u para proteger 
 por medio de una reclamaci6n diplo- 
 m^tica, que es por cierto la manifestacidn 
 de su f uerza y vitalidad moral, los derechos 
 6 intereses de sus ciudadanos. 
 
 NAVIGATION. 
 
 With regard to this subject I have lit- 
 tle to say. The majority report states, I 
 think, with suflicieut accuracy the gen- 
 eral doctrine, although how far these 
 rights of navigation belong to the world 
 as against the riparian sovereignty has 
 
 navegaci6n. 
 
 Sobre este asnnto poco tengo que decir. 
 El dictarnen de la mayoria estableoe, ^ 
 mi parecer, con bastante exactitud la 
 doctrina general, aunque nunca ha sido 
 definido de un mode absoluto hasta quo 
 puuto pertenece al mimdo el dereche de 
 
INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 833 
 
 not perbaris been absolutely settled. And 
 I wonid have to make some reservation as 
 to the first declaration, " that rivers 
 which separate several States or which 
 bathe their teiritories shall be open to the 
 free navigation of the merchant marine 
 or ships of war of the riparian nations." 
 
 The old contention as to the limitation 
 of the naval power of Russia in the Black 
 Sea might well be revived on the course 
 of a great continental river where the 
 riparian owners were of very different 
 degrees of strength. And in case of war 
 qnestions might arise not easily answered; 
 for I confess, with all my study of inter- 
 ■national law, I have not learned what, if 
 any, outside of questions of pure human- 
 ity, are the limital ions on the right of war, 
 and history seems to me only to teach that 
 law, as the skeptical Frederick said of 
 Providence, is always on the side of the 
 stronger battalions. 
 
 I think that the appreciation of the 
 principle, now so geuerally recognized aa 
 not to need confirmation, had better be 
 left to the wisdom of the riparian owners, 
 whose interests will more surely lead to 
 sagacious aud amicable settlement of 
 questions which may arise than any ap- 
 peal to general principles. 
 
 I do not object to the committee ex- 
 pressing its views upon the resolutions 
 which have been referred to it, but I can 
 not concur in any resolution declaring 
 their principles to he-principles of Ameri- 
 can international law. 
 
 63 
 
 Wm. Hknry Trescot, 
 United Slates Delegate, 
 I 
 
 uavegaci6n, en oposioi6n al derecho do las 
 soheraiifas riliertuas. Dcbo, sin eml)argo, 
 hacer una reserva con respeoto S. la pri- 
 mera dtclaraoidn "quo los lios que sepa- 
 ran varies Es( ados, 6 qne baiiau siis ter- 
 ritorios, deberdn e->tar abiertos A la libre 
 nevegacidn do la marina mercautc, 6 de 
 guerra de las naoiones ribereiias." 
 
 La antigna,lisiiuta respect o ^ larestric- 
 cidn del poder naval de Rusia en el mar 
 Negro podria ser renovada en el caso de 
 que en las miirgeuos de un gran rio con- 
 tinental, existieran naciones desigual- 
 mente fuertes; y en caso de guerra po- 
 drfan suscil arse complicacioues delicadas. 
 Y si he de confesarlo, apesar de todo mi 
 estndio del Derecho internacional, toda- 
 vfi no he podido apreuder cuales son, 
 aparte de las consideraciones de humani- 
 dad, los llmites que tenga el derecho de la 
 guerra. La historia parece que comprae- 
 be las palabras del esc^ptico Federico, con 
 respecto ^ la Providencia, cuando decla 
 que ^sta se enountraba siempre del lado 
 de los batallones mas fuertes. 
 
 Creo que es mejor, que la apreciacifin de 
 unprincipio, tangeneralmenlereconocido 
 hoy que no necesita confirmaoi6u, se deje 
 ^ la prudencia de las Potenoias riberefias, 
 cuyo propio interns las inclinarSi cou 
 aoierto S, efectuar arreglos sabios 6 amis- 
 tosos de las di ferencias qne pudieran sur- 
 gir. Eso es preferible ^ establecer prin- 
 cipios generales. 
 
 No opongo objeccidn St que la Comisidn 
 exprese opinifin sobre la-n proposiciones 
 que se le han encoraendado ; pero no puedo 
 conourrir en ninguua resoluoidu que de- 
 clare que los priucipiosen ella formula- 
 dos son principles de Derecho interna- 
 cional amerioano. 
 
 William Hbnky Trescot, 
 Delegado de los Eatados Unidoi, 
 
834 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Appendix No. 5. 
 
 ApiSndick No. 5. 
 
 Committee on Intehnatioxal Law. Comisi6n dk Dbkeciio Intkrnacional. 
 
 REMARKS OF THE DELEGATE FROM 
 ECUADOR IN SUPPORT OF HIS RESO- 
 LUTION ON THE FREE NA VIOATION 
 OF RIVERS FLOWINO THROUGH THE 
 TERRITORIES OF VARIOUS NATIONS. 
 
 It seems to me desirable to present 
 briefly some reasons in support of the res- 
 olution submitted by me with reference 
 to the free navigation of the rivers which 
 flow through different countries, since the 
 navigation of those rivers and the free 
 access through them to the oceans and 
 seas are matters of vital importance for 
 our nations. 
 
 In the first place, and even independ- 
 ently of the provisions of international 
 law, nature herself, by her spontaneous 
 movements, appears to decree the freedom 
 which should be enjoyed by the traffic 
 upon such rivers. The trauquil, yet un- 
 ceasing, flow of their waters, which, in 
 their course, bear the elements of fertility 
 and irrigation, and distribute beuefits to 
 the provinces which they bathe on their 
 way ; the independence with which, from 
 their sources, they proceed, without 
 license first obtained, to mingle in some 
 common center, in obedience to the irre- 
 sistible laws of equilibrium and gravita- 
 tion, teach us that every obstacle to the 
 development of the riches which they 
 promote, or which would impede the re- 
 latious which they facilitate, is contrary 
 to the principles of natural law. From 
 this source, the mother of most of the 
 maxims which regulate the conduct of 
 individuals and the laws of society, in- 
 ternational law has likewise derived 
 many doctrines which now have the sanc- 
 tion of national agreements, aiid have 
 been adapted to the requirements of mod- 
 ern civilization, the spirit of which tends 
 to minimize the difficulties in the way of 
 the development of the common interests. 
 Thus the boundaries of countries are fixed 
 with the fullest possible reference to the 
 lines marked out by the water-ways and 
 mountain ranges; and the oceans, with 
 their imposing immensity, have secured 
 the recognition of their freedom. 
 
 I proceed now to quote certain passages 
 
 INFORMS DEL DELEOADO FOR EL 
 ECUADOR, EN APOTO DE LA PROPO- 
 SIC16N SOBRE LA LIU RE NAVEGAC16N 
 DE LOS RIOS QUE GORREN POR LOS 
 TERRITORIOS DE VARIAS NACIONES. 
 
 Par^ceme oportuuo hacer una breve 
 exposicidn de las razones que apoyan el 
 proyecte presentado, con referencia & la 
 libre navegaoi6n de los rios que pasan por 
 diferentes naciones, y cuya uavegacidn y 
 salida ^ los mares, li oc6anos, es necesaria 
 para la vitalidad de todas. 
 
 Desde luego y alSn prescindiendo de las 
 prescripciones del Derecho internaoional, 
 la naturaleza misma, con su movimiento 
 espoiit^neo, parece que estatuye la liber- 
 tad de que debe gozar el trSfico de diohos 
 rios. El ourso tranquilo 6 incontenible 
 de sus aguas, que en su corriente arrastran 
 los elementos de fertilizacidn y riego, y 
 reparten beneficios S, las comaroas que 
 banan eu su tr^nsito ; la independencia 
 con que desde su firigen se encaminan, sin 
 permiso previo, ^ unirse en un centro 
 comtin, obedeciendo S, las leyes inoontro- 
 vertibles del desnivel y la atraccidn, en- 
 senan que todo obstSculo para el deseu- 
 volvimiento de la riqneza queforaentan 
 y para coartarlas relacioneaque facilitan, 
 es coiitrario S, los principios del Derecho 
 natural. De esta fuente, madre de la 
 mayor parte de las m^ximas que regulan 
 los actos del individuo, y las leyes de la 
 sociedad, ha tornado tambi^n el Derecho 
 interuacional muchas doctrinas sancio- 
 nadas hoy por el aouerdo de las naciones, 
 y amoldadas S, las exigeucias de la pre- 
 sente civilizacidn, cuyo esplritu tiende al 
 minoramiento de trabas que entorpezoan 
 el deseuvolvimiento de los intereses gene- 
 rales. Asf los llmites de los paises se 
 fijan obedeciendo, hasta donde es posible, 
 las comparticiones que demarcan las vias 
 fluviales y las Cordilleras ; y los oo^anos 
 con su imponente inmeusidad, se han he- 
 cho reconocer como libres. 
 
 Paso ahora S, oitar algunas palabras de 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 835 
 
 from distinguished authors, who have 
 written upon the subject. 
 
 Wheaton remarks as follows : 
 
 " The right of navigating, for commer- 
 cial purposes, a river which flows through 
 the territories of different States, is com- 
 mon to all the nations inhabitiug the dif- 
 ferent parts of its banlis ; but this right 
 of innocent passage being what the text- 
 writers call an imperfect right, its exer- 
 cise is necessarily modified by the safety 
 and convenience of the State affected by 
 it, and can only be effectually secured by 
 mutual convention regulating the mode 
 of its exercise. 
 
 " It seems that this right draws after it 
 the incidental right of using all the means 
 which are necessary to the secure enjoy- 
 ment or the principal right itself. Thus 
 the Roman law, which considered naviga- 
 ble rivers as a public or common property, 
 declared that the right to the nse of the 
 shores was incident to that of the water, 
 and that the right to navigate a river in- 
 volved the right to moor vessels to its 
 banks, to load and unload cargoes, etc." 
 
 Bello, citing Vattel, Kent, Phillimore, 
 and Calvo, says: 
 
 "A nation which owns the upper por- 
 tion of a navigable river has the right (to 
 demand) that the nation controlling the 
 lower part shall not impede its uavigation 
 to the sea or molest it by regulations or 
 burdens not necessary to its (such other 
 nation's) security, or to compensate it for 
 such inconvenience as the navigation may 
 occasion." 
 
 The same author refers to the contro- 
 versies respecting the Mississippi and the 
 St. Lawrence, and adds : 
 
 "TTie powers which participated in the 
 Congress of Vienna, in 1815, adopted as a 
 basis for the regulation of the navigation 
 of the Rhine, the Necker, the Mein, the 
 Moselle, the Mense, and the Scheld, all of 
 which divide or cross different countries, 
 'that the navigation through the whole 
 course of these rivers from the, point at 
 which each of thembegins to be navigable, 
 to its mouth, should be entirely free, those 
 navigating them being to conform to the 
 ordinances which should be promulgated 
 for their police, and which, said regula- 
 tions should be as nearly uniform among 
 themselves, and as favorable to the com- 
 
 autores distinguidos, que han esorito so- 
 bre la materia. 
 
 Wheaton dice lo siguiente: 
 
 " The right of navigating, for commer- 
 cial purposes, a river which flows through 
 the territories of different States, is com- 
 mon to all the nations inhabiting the 
 different parts of its banks ; but this right 
 of innocent passage being what the text 
 writers call an imperfect right, its exercise 
 is necessarily modified by the safety and 
 convenience of the State affected by it, 
 and can only be effectually secured by 
 mutual convention regulating the mode 
 of its exercise. 
 
 " It seems that this right draws after it 
 the incidental right of using all the means 
 which are necessary to the secure enjoy- 
 ment of the principal right itself. Thus 
 the Roman law, which considered naviga- 
 ble rivers as a public or common properly, 
 declared that the right to the use of the 
 shores was incident to that of the water, 
 and that the right to navigate a river in- 
 volved the right to moor vessels to its 
 banks, to lade and unlade cargoes, etc." 
 
 Bello, citando S, Watel, Kent, Philli- 
 more y Calvo, dice : 
 
 " Una naci6n, que es duefia de la parte 
 superior de un rio navegable, tiene derecho 
 & que la nacidu que posee la parte infe- 
 rior no le impida su navegaoi6n al m^r, 
 ni la moleste con reglamentos y gravSi- 
 menes que no sean necesarios parasu pro- 
 pia seguridad, 6 para oompensarle la in- 
 comodidad que esta navegaci6n la oca- 
 sione.'' 
 
 El mismo antor cita las controversias 
 respecto al Mississippi y al San Lorenzo, y 
 a&ade : 
 
 " Las Potenoias que concurrieron al 
 Congreso de Viena en 1815, sentaron 
 por base para el reglameuto de la nave- 
 gacidn del Rhin, el Necker, el Mein, el 
 Mosela, el Meusa, y el Escalda, ciiyos rios 
 eeparan 6 atraviesan diferentes Estados, 
 ' que la navegacidn en todo el curso de 
 estos rios, desde el punto en que empieza 
 cada uno de ellos S, ser navegable, hasta 
 su embocadura, fuese enteramente libre, 
 conform^ndose los navegantes i las or- 
 denaozas que se promulgaran para su 
 policia, las euales serian tan unifornies 
 entre si, y tan favorables al comeroio do 
 todas las naciones, como fuese posible.' " 
 
836 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 Dierce of all the nations, as might bo pos- 
 sible.' " . 
 
 A similar rule was adopted for the free 
 navigation of the Elbe, by the nations 
 interested therein, by a conTention form- 
 ulated at Dresden on the 12th day of De- 
 cember, 1821. The treaties of the 3d of 
 May, 1815, betYPeen Austria, Russia, and 
 Prussia, oonflnned at the congress of 
 Vienna, established the same freedom of 
 navigation for the Vistula and the other 
 great rivers of ancient Piil:ind. In 
 another part it continues : "There seems 
 to be, furthermore, sufficient reason for 
 our hoping that the States of Paraguay, 
 Bolivia, Buenos Ayres, and Brazil, acting 
 upon similar principles, will open the 
 Parang River to the navigation of the 
 world." 
 
 Such was the state of things in 1854, 
 when Phillimore brought out the first 
 volume of his important work. But it 
 was not long before these hopes were 
 realized, as to the opening of the fnll- 
 flowiug St. Lawrence River, to which 
 opening.at last, and with great liberality, 
 Great Britaiu consented, the whole world 
 coming thus to share the benefits of this 
 great channel of commerce. This was 
 announced by Phillimore in the preface 
 to his third volume (1857), and he re- 
 corded at the same tiuie other notable 
 changes. The free navigation of the 
 Danube, assured by the treaty of Paris 
 (1856), places this magnificent body of 
 water under the same rule as that to 
 which, by the treaty of Vienna (1815), 
 the other principal rivers of Europe had 
 been subjected ; and by a convention be- 
 tween Austria, Parma, and Modeua, the 
 navigation of the P6 was facilitated. 
 
 Mr. Gallaudet, in his Treatise on Inter- 
 national Law, says : 
 
 "If the freedom of the seas is a princi- 
 ple of justice definitely established by the 
 law, and recognized by the practice of na- 
 tions, it seems logical and natural to ap- 
 ply it to the navigation of rivers, placing 
 them on the same footing as seas, requir- 
 ing that the particular regulations estab- 
 lished by each country, respectively, in 
 regard to their navigation, should not be 
 of a restrictive nature, aud demanding 
 that the authority of law should only be 
 brought forward to facilitate and formal- 
 
 Adopt6se igual regla para la libre na- 
 vegaci6n del Elba entre las potencias in- 
 teresadas en ella, por una acta firmada 
 en Dresden el 12 de Diciembre de 1821. 
 Los tratados de 3 de Mayo de 1815 entre 
 el Austria, la Eusia y la. Prusia, confir- 
 mados en el Congreso de Viena, estable- 
 cieron la misma franqueza para la nave- 
 gacifirl del Vistula y de los otros grandes 
 rlos de la antigna Polonia. En otra 
 parte contiaua : " Parece haber tambifin 
 bastante razon para prometernos que los 
 Estados del Paraguay, Bolivia, Buenos 
 Aires, y el Brasil, procediendo soUre 
 iguales prinoipios, abrirSiu el rio Parang 
 &, la navegacidn del mundo." 
 
 Tal era el estado de cosas en 1854, 
 cuando Phillimore dabii ^luz el Tomo I de 
 su Importante obra. Pero tardaron po :o 
 eu realizarse sus esperauzas, en cuanto & 
 la apertura del candaloso rio San Lo- 
 renzo, & que accedi6 por fin, y con suma 
 liberalidad, la Grau-BretaBa, gozando asi 
 el mundo entero el beneficio de este gran 
 canal de comeroio. Asl lo anuncia Philli- 
 more en el prefacio de su Torao II (1857), 
 apnntado al mismo tiempo otras plausi- 
 bles innovaciones. La libre navegaci6n 
 del Dauubio, asegurada por el tratado de 
 Paris (18.56), colocaeste magnlfico caudal 
 de aguas bajo el mismo regimen Sqnepor 
 el tratado de Viena (1815) estabau sujetos 
 otros de los principales rios de Enropa; 
 y por una convencito entre el Austria, 
 Parma y M6dena, se hizo miis expedita la 
 navegaci6n del Po. 
 
 El Sr. Gallaudet en su "Tratado de leyes 
 internacionales," dice : 
 
 " If the freedom of the seas is a principle 
 of justice definitely established by the law, 
 and recognized by the practice of nations, 
 it seems logical and natural to apply it to 
 the navigation of rivers, placing them on 
 the same footing as seas, requiring that 
 the particular regulatioas'established by 
 each country respectively, in regard to 
 their navigation, should not be of a re- 
 strictive nature, and demanding that the 
 authority of law should only be brought 
 forward to facilitate and formalize the 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 837 
 
 ize the rights of all and cause them to be 
 respected. 
 
 " Within the last hundred years these 
 principles have prevailed more and more 
 over the early restrictive policy, nntil we 
 find at the present time all the great rivers 
 of Europe and America open to com- 
 merce under the lightest possible restric- 
 tions." 
 
 Let us now hear Bluntschli : " When a 
 river flows through tlie territory of sev- 
 eral States, on its way to the sea, it might 
 happen that^ one of these States, if its 
 sovereignty were unrestrained in this de- 
 partment, would close to the others all 
 access to the sea and deprive them of all 
 maritime commerce. This would rob the 
 ports and rivers of their true character; 
 prevent them from accomplishing their 
 end, which is to bind the peoples to one 
 another. 
 
 " The development of international law 
 demands accordingly the free navigation 
 of the~8treams or rivers forming part of 
 the public domain. This idea was first 
 formulated by the treaty of Paris, in 1814, 
 with respect to the navigation of the 
 Rhine. Even then the application of this 
 principle to all the streams of Europe was 
 anticipated as probable." 
 
 Piore, asserting that " the navigable 
 rivers which flow into the sea, and cross 
 or divide several States, are international 
 rivers," and positing furthermore the 
 principle that '' international rivers 
 should be governed by tlje principles of 
 international law and not by the indi- 
 vidual interests of any of the States upon 
 their banks," announces the following 
 doctrine: 
 
 "In our opinion, the international char- 
 acter of river navigation follows neces- 
 sarily, and in law, in the case stated, from 
 the nature of things, that is, from the in- 
 divisibility of the river, the natural right 
 to freedom, and the international charac- 
 ter of commerce. 
 
 "Every State possessing a small portion 
 of a river has a right to demand that such 
 river shall conHnue open to international 
 commerce, or what is the same thing, to 
 demand that the States shall create no ob- 
 stacle to the international navigation of 
 
 rights of all and cause them to be re- 
 spected. 
 
 "Withiii the last hundred years these 
 principles have prevailed more and more 
 over the early restrictive policy, until we 
 find at the present time all the great rivers 
 of Europe and America open to commerce, 
 under the lightest possible restrictions." 
 
 Oigamos S, Bluntschli : 
 
 "Lorsqu'un fleuve traverse le territoire 
 de plusieurs 6tat8, pour se joter dans la 
 mer, il pourrait se faire qu'un de ces 6tats, 
 si on ne restreiguait pas sur ce point sa 
 souverainet^, ferm&t aux autres I'accfes 
 de la mer, et les priv4t de tout commerce 
 maritime ; par }h on enleverait aux ports 
 ou fleuves leur caraotere, ou les emp6che- 
 rait de r^aliser leur but, qui est de roller 
 les peuples. 
 
 " Le d^veloppement du droit interna- 
 tional reclame done la libre navigation 
 des fleuves ou riviferes faisant partie du 
 dom aine public. Cette id6e f ut formulae, 
 pour la premifere fois, par le traits de Pa- 
 ris, en 1814, k I'^gard de la navigation du 
 Rhin. On envisageait d^j^ alors comme 
 probable I'application de ce principe h tous 
 les fleuves d'Europe." 
 
 Fiore, establecieudo que " los rios nave- 
 gables que se hallan en comunicacidn 
 con el mar y atraviesan 6 separau el ter- 
 ritoriodedi versos Estados, son rios inter- 
 nacionales," y sentando tambi^n como 
 principio que " los rios internacionales 
 deben regirse por los prin cipios del Derecho 
 internacional, y no por los iutereses in- 
 dividuales de cualqniera de los Estados 
 fronterizos," sienta la siguiente doctrina : 
 
 " En nuestro sentir, el carficter inter- 
 nacional de la uavegacidn fluvial se 
 deriva necesaria y juridicamente, en el 
 caso propuesto, de la natnraleza de las 
 cosas, esto es, de la indivisibilidad del 
 rio, del derecho natural de la libertad, y 
 del car^cter internacional del comercio. 
 
 " Todo Estado que posee una pequena 
 parte de unrio tiene derecho S. exigir que 
 este quede abierto al comercio interna- 
 cional, 6 lo que es lo mismo, & exigir que 
 los denies Estados no creen obst^culo 
 alguno Si la navegacidn internacional del 
 
838 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 the river, such as would impede it in any 
 way on the section subject to its jurisdic- 
 tion. 
 
 "The international regulations govern- 
 ing the navigation of rivers should be 
 under the collective guaranty of all the 
 States, aod ought to be binding even 
 upon those of the border! ng States which 
 should not have adopted them." 
 
 There are still in our portion of the 
 world great rivers which pass through 
 the territories of various nations, but the 
 free navigation of which is not estab- 
 lished in a clear and definite way. The 
 navigation of the tributaries of the 
 Amazon between Ecuador, Colombia, 
 Brazil, and Peru is still subject to re- 
 strictions which hinder the free trans- 
 portation of the treasures afforded by the 
 inland forests of South America, and I 
 am not sure that the existing treaties 
 concerning the navigation of the rivers 
 Orinoco, Parang, Plata, and others afford 
 all the guaranties demanded by the amaz- 
 ing growth of commerce and agricultural 
 enterprises. 
 
 In any event, whether because, as I 
 have said, there are rivers whose free nav- 
 igation and free exit are not guarantied 
 explicitly by and between the riparian 
 States; or, because such treaties as may 
 be in existence are subject to be discon- 
 tinued, either at the will of the contract- 
 ing parties, upon notice to that effect, or 
 by expiration of the time stipulated in the 
 same, it becomes incumbent upon us now, 
 while inspired by a common and great 
 desire to accomplish something for our 
 respective conntries, withont limiting our 
 action to the present time, to invoke prin- 
 ciples which, once recognized, shall con- 
 stitute a safe and stable basis for their 
 security and development in the future. 
 J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 
 Washington, April 12, 1890. 
 
 rio, impidi^ndola de cualquier manera en 
 la seccifin sujeta S, su jurisdlccidn. 
 
 "Los reglamentos iuternaclonales de 
 navegacl6n fluvial deber^n estar bajo la 
 garantfa colectiva de todos los Estados 
 y ser obligatorios aiin para los pueblos 
 fronterizos que no los hubiesen aceptado." 
 
 Entre nosotros hay todavla grandes 
 rios que pasan por los terrltorlos de varias 
 naoiones y cnya libre navegaci6n no esti 
 establecida de una manera clara y deter- 
 minada. La navegacidn de los afluentes 
 del Amazonas, entre el Ecuador,Colombia, 
 Brasil y el Peni, estSiatin sujeta ^ restrio- 
 clones, que embarazan el franco trasporte 
 de las riquezas que brludan los bosques 
 centrales de Sud-Am6rica; y no 86 si los 
 tratados que exlsten para la navegacidn 
 de los rios Orinoco, Parand^, Plata y otros, 
 estipulan todas las garantfasque demanda 
 el crecimiento vertigluoso del comereio y 
 de las explotaciones agrlcolas. 
 
 De todos modos; ya porque, como he 
 dicho, hay rios cuya libre navegacidn y 
 libre salida no est^ pactadas de uu 
 modo expllclto entre los paises riberenos, 
 ya porque los tratados exlstentes quedan 
 sujetos al desaucio 6 al vencimiento de 
 tfirminos prefijados, se hace necoarioque 
 hoy, que nos liga el vehemente anhelo de 
 hacer algo en favor de nnestros paises, 
 siu llmltarnos & lo presente, establezca- 
 mos prlnoipios que, una vez reconocidos, 
 sean panta segura 6 Invariable para sn 
 tranquilidad y desarollo, en lo porvenir. 
 
 J. M. P. CaamaSo. 
 Washington, Abril 12 de 1890. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 839 
 
 Appendix No. 6. 
 
 remarks of mr. oaamano. dele- 
 bate from ecuador. 
 
 I feel that I must refute the report of 
 the Hon. Mr. Tresoot, a Delegate from 
 the United States, respecting the claims 
 of foreigners, and also that which refers 
 to the free navigation of rivers hounding 
 or hathing in their course several nations. 
 
 With regard to the former, Mr. Trescot 
 founds his objections, among other rea- 
 sons, in that their heing general rules of 
 general international law he can not 
 admit the doctrine of international Amer 
 ican law. The able diplomat forgets 
 that the Committee on General Welfare 
 has studied the subject of extradition and 
 has presented its report, the putting into 
 practice of the recommendations of which 
 will be nothing else than the application 
 of an international penal system in Amer- 
 ica; and he forgets, also, that the Plan 
 of Arbitration, the debate upon which 
 has just terminated, which plan is signed 
 first by General Henderson, who repre- 
 sents and is chairman of the United 
 States delegation, says in the firsl artiele 
 thereof that the RepuMics of Xorlh, Cen- 
 tral and South Amirica adopt arbitration 
 as a principle of international American law. 
 And to-day, under the direction of the 
 present Scretary of State, President of this 
 Conference, has there not been formulated 
 a project of recommendation relating to 
 conquests which says that this shall be 
 abolished as a principal of international 
 American laiv f This implies not only a 
 disagreement between the opinion of the 
 United States Government and one of its 
 Delegates, but also a contradiction whicli 
 may be considered as demoustrating that 
 the establishment and adoption of rules 
 of international law for our continent is 
 by no means foreign to the Conference. 
 
 On the other hand, how have the max- 
 ims of the international law of the civil- 
 ized world been generalized ? When have 
 all the nations met together to form 
 codes upon the different branches it em- 
 braces ? What country has the right to 
 take the initiatory step towards reform 
 
 Al'l^NDIOB No. 6. 
 
 DISOURSO DEL SElfOR OAAMAlfO, DELE- 
 OADO POR ECUADOR. 
 
 Me es indispensable refutar el iuforme 
 del Hon. Senor Trescot, delegado por 
 los Estados Unidos, en lo pertinente H las 
 reclamaciones do los extrangeros y tam- 
 bien en lo que se refiere & la navegaci6n 
 libre de los rios que limitan 6 baSan en 
 Bu ourao varias uaeiones. 
 
 Con respecto S, las primeras, el Senor 
 Trescot funda su resistencia, entre otras 
 razones, en la de que no pueden estable- 
 cerse doctrinas de Derecho americano, 
 existiendo reglas generales del Derecho 
 internaclonal general. El h^bil diplom^- 
 tico olvida que la Comisi6n respectivase 
 ha ocupado de la extradicidn, y ha emi- 
 tido un dictamen, cuya pr^ctica no ser^ 
 otra cosa que la aplicacidn de un sistema 
 penal internaclonal en America ; y olvida 
 tariibien que el Proyecto de arbitrage que 
 se acaba de discutir, cuyo proyecto apa- 
 reoe firmado en primer lugar, por el Hon. 
 Sen'ir General Henderson, que representa 
 y preside la delegaoi<5n de los Estados 
 Unidos, dice eu su artlculo 1" que las 
 Bepublicas del Norte, Centro y Sudde Ameri- 
 ca adoptan el ariitrage como principio de 
 Derecho internacional americano. Hoy 
 mismo, hajo la direcoidn del actual Se- 
 cretario de Estado, Presidente de esta 
 Conferencia, jno se ha formulado un Pro- 
 yecto derecomendaci6u, relative ^la con- 
 quista, diciendo quo ^sta queda abolida 
 del. Derecho internacional americano? Esto 
 implica no s61o una discouforaiidad entre 
 las opiniones del Gobierno de los Estados 
 Unidos y uno de sus Delegados, sino tam- 
 bien una contradicoi6n que debe tomarse 
 en cuenta, al probar que no es de ningun 
 modo ageno & la Conferencia el estable- 
 cimiento y adopoidn de reglas de Derecho 
 internacional para nuestro Continente. 
 
 Por otra parte, j,como se han generali- 
 zado las mfeimas del Derecho interna- 
 cional del mundo civilizado? jCuaudo 
 se han reunido todas las naoiones ^ formar 
 c6digos sobre los diferentes ramos que 
 abraza? j,Qu6 pals tiene el derecho de 
 iniciativa para provocar reformas en 6sta 
 
840 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 in this particular ? International law is 
 the result of the deliberations which 
 have been accumulating little by little in 
 I the course of time ; and these delibera- 
 tions have been the outcome of the laws 
 of necessity and the right of self-preser- 
 vation, or of the argreejnents that the 
 governments have entered into, meeting 
 in greater or less number : those laws, 
 those rights, and those agreements, ac- 
 cepted afterwards expressly or impliedly 
 by other governments, have gone on form- 
 ing the catalogue which now serves as 
 the standard ; a catalogue that is far 
 from beiug complete and much less in- 
 variable, since the new way nations have 
 of looking at things makes many of the 
 principles recognized and followed varia- 
 ble. Moreover the general progress and 
 the spirit of forbearance with which the 
 present civilization is viewing allhuman 
 acts requirfe that some practices be rec- 
 ognized which up to the present, al- 
 though qualified as good, have not ob- 
 tained general sanction. But what 
 nation, I repeat, should initiate this res- 
 olution? Should they be those which at 
 Vienna, Geneva, Paris, or Berlin have es- 
 tablished maxims of international law, 
 which, accepted by the meeting powers, 
 have been adopted by the others, or at 
 least by the majority ? For, if the interna- 
 tional law formed at the instance of Euro- 
 pean nations has detailed the manner of 
 making war upon each other, have not we 
 Americans the right to initiate fraternal 
 measures, by seconding the plan pre- 
 sented by the committee, which tends to 
 prevent controversies and to our treating 
 each other as members of a common fam- 
 ily ? I do not see why we do not exer- 
 cise the faculties we have. Furthermore, 
 if the nations of the other continents do 
 not adopt our maxims, we shall apply 
 them among ourselves, with the assur- 
 ance that sooner or later they will ac- 
 knowledge our correctness and will fol- 
 low us. Do ■ we, perchaijce, desire to 
 make statutes for the world ? If the hon- 
 orable Delegate is not pleased that the 
 majority report be approved, he should 
 attack it in its substance. Because we 
 approve some points and do not others, 
 we ought not to open one way for some 
 and close it to others, thus falling into 
 
 materia f El Derecho de Gentes es el ra- 
 sultado de las deliberaciones que han ido 
 acumulindose poco S, poco, con el trans- 
 ourso de lod tiempos; y estas delibera- 
 ciones se han tornado, 6 de las leyes de la 
 necesidad, y del derecho de la propia 
 conservacidn, 6 de los acuerdos que' los 
 Gobieruos han ido celebrando, reunion- 
 dose en mayor 6 menor nlimero : esas 
 leyes, esos derechos y estos acuerdos, 
 aceptados despnes, tdicita 6 explicita- 
 mente, por los demas pueblos, ban ido 
 formandg el catdllogo que hoy sirve de 
 norma; catfflogo que estJi muy lejoe de 
 ser completo y mucho menos invariable, 
 (lesde que las nuevas faces que v& to- 
 mando el modo de ser de las nacioues 
 hacen precisamente variables mnohos de 
 los principios reconocidos y seguidos. 
 Ademas ; el progreso general y la indole 
 de snavidad que la actual civilizacifin va 
 dando S, todos los actos humanos, piden 
 se reconozcan algnnas pr^cticas que basta 
 hoy, aun cuandocaliflcadascomo buenas, 
 no han obtenido una sanci6a general. 
 
 J Pero, qu6 nacifin debe iniciar, repito, 
 6sta evoluci6n ? ^ Debeu ser las mismas 
 que en Viena, Ginebra, Paris 6 Berlin 
 han deterniinado mdlximas de Derecho 
 Internacional que, aceptadas por las 
 Potencias coucurreutes, han sido adop- 
 tadas por las demiiis, 6 cuando mOnos por 
 lii generaldad? jPorqu6 America, con 
 sus diez y ocho pueblos y sus ciento diez 
 iiiillones de habitantes, adulta ya, pro- 
 gresista, rica, no ha de tener aliento para 
 lanzar doctriuas civilizadoras, y abraztCn- 
 dolas, exoitar para que las adopte el otro 
 Continente? jPorquO si el Derecho de 
 Gentes, instaurado por los pueblos de 
 Europa ha detallado la manera de hacerse 
 la gnerra, no ha de tocar S, los ameri- 
 canos, iniciar medidas de fraternidad, se- 
 cundando el proyecto propuesto por la 
 Comisi6n, que tiende S, evitar controver- 
 sias y S, tratarnos oomo personas de una 
 familia comiin ? Yo no veo porqn6 no 
 hacemos uso de prerogativas que tenemos. 
 Adem^ ; si las demas nacioues no adoptan 
 nuestras m^ximas, las aplicarOmos entre 
 uosotros, y nosotros gozarOmos de sus 
 beneficios, con la seguridad de que, tarde 
 6 temprano, nos han de dar la razon y nos 
 han de seguir. j Acaso qneremos ostatuir 
 reglas parael orbe ? Si al Sefior Delegado 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 841 
 
 an inconsistency which has no reasonable 
 foundation. 
 
 If we go into the fundamental reason 
 adduced by the Hon. Mr. Trescot, we 
 find it reduces itself to the duty of afford- 
 ing and the right to ask protection of the 
 Governments for injuries that may be 
 done a foreigner. Laying aside the fact 
 that in the calculation of our Government 
 estimates we always consider that a cer- 
 tain proportion thereof is employed iu 
 satisfying demands of the very parties 
 who go to our countries to seek fortune 
 and position, it being pertinent to recall 
 the fact that it Is to-day a new meljhod of 
 speculation to meddle in our local con- 
 tentions, and at once profit by what to 
 the natives iM ruinous. This history is 
 long and could fill volumes. I remember 
 that by virtue of a vote of confidence 
 given by Cougiess to the Executive of 
 Ecuador, authorizing him to make admin- 
 istrative adjustment respecting claims, a 
 foreigner was satisfied with $2,000 when 
 he claimed $80,000. The time has now 
 come when the decisions of our courts are 
 a little more respected, and we do not 
 concede, to the detriment of our honor, 
 the right to revise and judge them in the 
 light of interest by those who live out of 
 our countries and who do not fully know 
 the antecedents, the motives, and the 
 true inwardness of the continuous claims 
 which may lay in our treasures, that are 
 called poor and only in this case are 
 judged rich. Moreover, I ask, what is 
 the desideratum of treaties of friendship ? 
 Is it not true that it is stipulated as 
 an advantage that foreigners should be 
 treated as natives? Mr. Trescot knows 
 this very well. What does the treaty be- 
 tween this Republic and that of Ecuador 
 say in one of its last clauses ? It estab- 
 lishes "that North Americans in Ecuador 
 shall be treated as natives;" therefore, if 
 we are now trying to establish as a 
 maxim what to-day is aspired to as a 
 privilege, why do we reject the idea? 
 This great nation which has just set us 
 
 no le agrada que se sancione el Informe 
 de la mayoria, debe combatirlo en su 
 fondo ; pues no porque unoa puntos sean 
 de nuestra simpatia y otros n6, hemes de 
 abrir nna misma fuente para los unos y 
 cegarla para los otros, incurriendo en una 
 contradiccidn que no tiene punto de 
 apoyo prudente. 
 
 Si entramos en la razon fundamental, 
 aducida por el Hon. Sefior Trescot, 
 vemos que ella tinicamente se reduce al 
 deber de dar y al derecho de pedir pro- 
 teoci6n ^ los Gobieruos por los ultrajes 
 que se puedan hacer S, un extrangero. 
 Prescindir6iii08 de quo ya en uuestrospre- 
 supuestoa siempre consideramos que una 
 parte se emplea en salisfacer exigencias 
 de los mismos que van S, buscar S, nues- 
 tros paises fortuna y posicidn, aiendo 
 rauy del caso recordar que es hoy una 
 nueva manera de especnlaci(5u inmiscuir- 
 se en nuestras contiendas locales y luego 
 sacar provecho de lo que para los nacio- 
 nales cs rninoso. Esta historia es larga 
 y serfa de escribirse en vollimenes ; yo 
 recuerdo que on virtud de un voto de 
 confianza dado por el Congreso al Poder 
 Ejecutivo del Ecuador, autoriz^ndole ^ 
 hacer arreglos administrativos, en punto 
 ^ reclamaciones, quedd contento con 
 $2,000 un extrangero que reclamaba 
 $80,000. Ya es Uegado el caso de que se 
 respeten un poco m^ las decisiones de 
 nuestros Tribunales y de que no couceda- 
 mos, con mengua de nuestro decoro, el 
 derecho de revisarlas y juzgarlas Si la luz 
 del interns de quienes viven fuera de 
 nuestros paises y no conocen ^ fondo los 
 antecedentes, los mdvilesy losfnndamen- 
 tos de los contfnuos reclames con que se 
 acechan nuestras Tesorerias, que se las 
 llama pobres y solo para este caso se las 
 juzga ricas. Adem^, pregnnto ^cu^l es 
 el desideratum de los tratados de amis- 
 tad? jNo es verdad que se estipula 
 como .ventaja, que los extrangeros sean 
 tratados oomo los naoionalesP Esto lo 
 sabe muy bleu el Sefior Trescot. jQu6 
 dice en una de bus tillimas cMusulas el 
 tratado de esta Reptiblica con la del 
 Ecuador? Establece "que los Norte- 
 Americ.inos en el Ecuador ser^n tratados 
 como los nacionales ; " Inego si queremos 
 fijar como maxima lo & que hoy se aspira 
 como privilegio, ^porqu^ rechazamos la 
 
842 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 the example of proposing arbitration, 
 why does it not seal its work, leaving ns 
 liberty of action and trusting to tiie honor 
 of our judiciary and governments? 
 
 The law of the Republic of Ecuador, 
 now cited by the Hon. Mr. Trescot, is 
 presented to m» surronnded by an aure- 
 ola of Americanism which it previously 
 lacked ; that law, perhaps stamped as a 
 sample of anomalous provisions, is suf- 
 ficiently praised by the recommendations 
 of the Committee on International Law, 
 on which, with the exception of myself, 
 are notable statesmen, who, without 
 knowledge of that law, have established 
 identical bases. If they, as I hope, are 
 approved by the other Republics of this 
 grand group. I, who am an Ecuadorian, 
 shall consider it as a precious document 
 which honors my country. If the hon- 
 orable Secretary of State signed a note 
 refuting it, he followed the dictates of his 
 principles ; but that does not deprive us 
 of the right to judge it in our turn, much 
 more so now that the Conference, with its 
 expressed aspirations, justifies the action 
 of the legislature of Ecuador. 
 
 Respecting the project of the free navi- 
 gation of rivers to which the recommenda- 
 tion refers, the honorable Delegate from 
 the United States says that it is founded 
 
 ■ upon a generally recognized principle, 
 but that the nations interested should be 
 allowed to m'ake the arrangements they 
 may deem convenient in the premises. 
 
 If we accept this as a sufficient reason, 
 why have' we met here ? Was it, per- 
 chance, to invent new systems of common 
 
 ^administration, or to discover the un- 
 known in international law ? We have 
 been invited and have met to establish 
 in the name of Columbus the principles 
 that lie in our agreements of peace, which 
 are already known and have met with 
 approval more or less explicit, and which 
 the opportunity now presents itself to 
 declare as accepted by the countries we 
 represent. I do not agree, and neither 
 does the present generation, with the 
 doctrine which, by the way In which the 
 eminent statesman, Mr. Trescott, cites it, 
 he seems to approve the estimates of 
 
 idea? Esta gran naci6n que acaba de 
 darnos ejemplo, proponi^ndonos el arbi- 
 trage, jporqu6 no sella su obra, dej^ndo- 
 nos duenos de nuestro criterio y fiaudo en 
 la honradez de nuestro Poder Judicial y 
 de nuestros Gobiernos ? 
 
 El Decreto de la Reptiblica del Ecuador, 
 oitado hoy por el Honorable SeSor Tres- 
 cot, se me preaeuta rodeado de una 
 aureola de americanismo de que antes 
 carecia; ese Decreto, tal vez estampado 
 como una muestra de disposioiones an6- 
 malas, estiSsuHcientemente aplaudido por 
 las recomendaciones de la Comisidn de 
 Derecho Interuacion:il, en la que, con 
 excepcidn de mi personalidad, hay nota- 
 bles estadistas, que sin conocer tal De- 
 creto han sentado id^nticas bases. Si 
 ellas, como lo espero, son aprobadas por 
 las dem^ Repflblicas de este hermoso 
 grupo lo considerar^ yo, que soy ecuato- 
 riauo, como un precioso documcnto que 
 honra S, mi pais. Si el Honorable Secre- 
 tario de Estado suscribid una nota refu- 
 t^udolo, cumpli6 con los dictados de bus 
 piincipios ; pero eso no quita cl derecho 
 de juzgarla S, nuestro turno, mucho m& 
 hoy que la Conferencia, con sus aspira- 
 ciones explicitas, justifica los procedi- 
 mientos de la Legislatura del Ecuador. 
 
 En lo relative al proyecto de la libre 
 navegaci6n de los rios, & que se refiere la 
 otra recomendacidn, dice el Seuor Dele- 
 gado por los Estados Unidos, que esta se 
 fundaeuunprincipiogeneralmenterecono- 
 cido; pero que debe dejarse S, las naciones 
 interesadas para que hagan los arreglos 
 que crean couvenientes. 
 
 Si tomdsemos esto como razon snficieute. 
 jipara qu6 nos hemos rennido? Acaso 
 para inventar nuevos sistemas de admi- 
 nistracidn comun, 6 paradescubririncdg- 
 nitas en el Dercho Internacional ? Se nos 
 ha convocado y hemos concurrido para 
 establecer en el mundo de Colon los prin- 
 oipios que estfin en nuestras conveniencias 
 de tranqnilidad, que son ya conocidos, y 
 cuentan con la aprobacidn nidis 6 m^nos 
 explfcita, y S, losquellega laoportuuidad 
 de decl ararse como aceptados por los pai ses 
 que representamos. 
 
 Yo uo estoy de acuerdo, ni la presente 
 generaci6n lo est£ tampoco, con la doc- 
 trina que, de la manera como la cita el 
 eminente estadista Sefior Trescot, parece 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 843 
 
 the Kiiig of Prussia as such, as history 
 records, not as authorized judgment to be 
 cited but as a thesis appropriate to a 
 century which, like his ideas, has gone 
 never to return. Certain it is that physi- 
 cal force sometimes enervates the calm 
 ■judgment of nations — but as everything 
 is balanced In this world, the small re- 
 publics increase their strength in the in- 
 verse ration of their arsenals ; -and when 
 weaker the more they depend on reason 
 and right which make way for themselves 
 between squadrons and armies ; small 
 countries, when they form t>ie conscience 
 of their acts and direct these and know 
 the value of this, sustain their riglits, 
 envelope themselves in their flag and 
 accept the fate marked out for them. 
 
 I am grieved that the acquiescence of 
 the great Republic is not the most val- 
 ued complement of the project I pre- 
 sented, and I grieve because this nation 
 justly weighs so much in the political bal- 
 ance that its opinions can not by any 
 means be viewed with indifference, and 
 we greatly desire its approval. But in 
 the end, as neither the Mississippi runs 
 through Central or South America, nor 
 the Amazon, father of rivers, bathes the 
 northern part of this hemisphere, we must 
 content ourselves with the delegation of 
 the United States maintaining the stand 
 it has taken, while the other nations es- 
 tablish a principle which affects us 
 directly and which will produce great re- 
 sults. 
 
 que le cs simpStica. Las apreciaciones 
 del Roy de Prusia son de aquellas qnfe la 
 historia guarda, no como senteucias au- 
 torizadas que merezcan citarse, sino como 
 una t^sis adaptable S, un siglo que , con sus 
 ideas, pasd y no volver^. Cierto es que 
 la fuerza material llega £i veces S, enervar 
 el juicio tranquilo de lasnaciones; pero, 
 como todo est^ equilibrado en el mundo, 
 las pequenas Republicas aumentan su vi- 
 rilidad en razon iuversa de sus arsenales ; 
 y mientras m^sd^biles, m&s se apoyanen 
 la razon y el derecho que se abren carapo 
 por entre las escuadras y los ej^roitos : 
 los pequenos paises, cuando forman la 
 conciencia de sus actos y tienen dignidad 
 ysabeu cuanto esta vale, sostienen su de- 
 recho, se envuelven en su pabelWn y arros- 
 tran la suerte que se les depara. 
 
 Siento mucho que la aquiescencia de la 
 gran Reptiblica no sea el valioslsimo com- 
 plemento del proyecto que presents ; y lo 
 siento porque, con j usticia, pesa tanto esta 
 nacidu en la balanza polltica, que su modo 
 de pensar no puede ser de ninguna manera 
 indiferente,y lo solicitamos con vehemente 
 deseo. Pero, en definitiva, como ni el 
 Mississippi corre por Centre y Sud-Am6- 
 rica, ni el Amazonas, padre de los rios, 
 riega la parte Norte de este hemisferio, 
 deber^mos conformarnos con que la dele- 
 gacidn de los Estados Unidos se encierre 
 en la reserva que manifiesta, sentando las 
 demas un principio que nos afecta direc- 
 tamente y que nos prodncirii grandes 
 ventajas. 
 
844 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Appendix No. 7. 
 
 totje of tre colombian deleqtion 
 on abbitbation. 
 
 Mr. President : The Delegates of Co- 
 lombia have given their support to the 
 plau of arbitration presented by the com- 
 mittee appointed to report thereon ; but 
 that plan falls short of their hopes and ex- 
 pectations, and they therefore desire to 
 place on record their views respecting 
 this important matter. 
 
 The independent nations of this con- 
 tinent Were invited by the Government 
 of the United States to send representa- 
 tives ^o Washington, chiefly for the pur- 
 pose of devising a plan of agreement 
 which would provide for the peaceful, 
 just, and equitable settlement of all sub- 
 jects of difference that might allse among 
 them. This was intended as a means to 
 a most important and humane end. The 
 object in contemplation was to render war 
 on this continent a highly improbable, if 
 not an impossible event. It was a noble 
 idea; a lofty aspiration, which, from its 
 very magnitude, would appear unattain- 
 able ; yet the problem was solved from 
 the moment that the nation, the most rich, 
 populous, and powerful on this continent, 
 spontaneously and unconditionally pro- 
 posed to abandon the traditional recourse 
 to arms as a n cans of disposing of diffi- 
 culties between nations, and to adjust all 
 questions arising in future among Ameri- 
 can nations amicably and peacefully ac- 
 cording to the respective ri)>hts of the 
 contending parties. 
 
 It was a generous offer, which for mag- 
 nanimity is without parallel in the an- 
 nuals of history. 
 
 That the means contemplated would 
 lead to the end aimed at, seems reasona- 
 ble to admit ; and it would be self evident 
 if we could examine the proposition, 
 divesting ourselves of theiniiuence which 
 the invariable and constant recourse to 
 war, as the means of setting disputes 
 between nations, must exercise in our 
 minds. For this reason, it is greatly to 
 be regretted that the chief object for 
 which this Conference was convened has 
 not been thoroughly carried out ; for as 
 long as there remain a certain class of 
 questions for whose peaceful adjustment 
 
 ApfoNDiCB No. 7. 
 
 TOTO DE LA DELEGAOION DE COLOMBIA 
 EN EL ASUNTO DE ABBITRAOE. 
 
 ^enor Pkesidbntk: Los Delegados de 
 Colombia han prestado sii aseutimiento 
 al proyecto de arbitraje presentado porla 
 Comisidn nombrada para informar sobre 
 la materia ; pero ese plan no satisface las 
 esperanzas que esta delegaci6n babia con- 
 cebido, y desde luego, ella desea dejar 
 constancia de sus ideas sobre este im- 
 portante asunto. 
 
 Las naciones independientes de este 
 Coutinente fueron invitadas por el 6o- 
 bierno de los Estados Unidos para enviar 
 representantes S, Washington, eoa el ob- 
 jeto principalmente de acordar un plan de 
 convenio queproveyeraal arreglo paolfico 
 justo y equitativode todoslos asuntos de 
 discordancia que pudieran suscitarse en- 
 tre ellas. Con este pensamiento se pro- 
 baba & poner los medios para alcaUzar 
 un fin tan importante como humanitario. 
 El objeto que se proouraba recabar era 
 conseguir qne la guerra en este couti- 
 nente fuera altamente improbable, si no 
 del todo iraposible. La idea no podia ser 
 mils noble, ni la aspiraci6n miis elevada ; 
 alpunto que enpropia magnitud la hacia 
 aparecer irrealizable. 
 
 Sinembargo,elproblereiaqued6re8uelto 
 desde que la nacidu la m^ rica, fuerte y 
 populosa del coutinente espont^nea 6 in- 
 condicionalmente proponia abaudonarel 
 tradicional recurso S, las arraas como ar- 
 bitrio para dirimir las dificultades entre 
 naciones, y que las cuestiones que en lo fu- 
 ture se suscitaren entre las naciones de 
 America se ajustasen amistosa y pacifica- 
 mente con arreglo S, los respectivos de- 
 rechos de las partes contendientes : geue- 
 roso ofrecimiento que por sn magnanimi- 
 dad no tiene paralelo en los anales de la 
 historia. Que el medio que se contem- 
 plaba habia de oonduoir al fin sobre que 
 se tenia puesta la mira, parece racional 
 consentirlo ; y ello seria de suyo evidente 
 si pudieramos examinar la proposicifin, 
 descart^udonosdel influjo que el invaria- 
 ble y constante recurso S, la guerra, como 
 medio de poner t^rmino S. las disputas en- 
 tre las naciones, necesariamente ejerce eu 
 el ^nimo. Por esta razon es altamente 
 sensible que no se haya logrado por com- 
 pleto el objeto principal para que esta 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 845 
 
 a means is not provided, and its adoption 
 made obligatory, war is no longer an im- 
 possibility; undisturbed peace is, under 
 such circumstances, no longer secured, 
 and the object in view, with all its 
 blessings and advantages, will in a great 
 measure be frustrated. 
 
 The report of the committee withholds 
 from arbitration questions involving the 
 independence of a nation. To this, or 
 any other like reservation, the Delega- 
 tion of Colombia is opposed ; not only be- 
 cause, as already observed, it would nul- 
 lify the chief object of the agreement, 
 but also because it would place at a great 
 disadvantage the weaker of the two na- 
 tions in controversy; for, if it be the 
 weaker nation that refuses to settle by 
 arbitration, there will be no course left 
 open to it but to accept, under compul- 
 sion, the conditions which the stronger 
 adversary may please to impose ; and, if 
 it be the stronger nation that refuses to 
 compromise, then the weaker will have 
 no means left of obtaining redress. Nor 
 is this argument in favor only of the 
 smaller or weaker states of this conti- 
 nent ; for whatever two states may be 
 at difference, as a rule, one of them must 
 be weaker than the .other, and to the 
 former the argument would be applica- 
 ble. 
 
 On the other hand, it js difficult to 
 perceive the reason ot the reservation 
 proposed in the report exempting from 
 arbitration questions involying the inde- 
 pendence of a nation. It might possibly 
 arise from the idea that independence 
 is so great a blessing, so precious a boom, 
 that where the rights which constitute 
 its entirety are concerned, no question or 
 doubt should be tolerati d. But, while 
 admitting the force of this remark it 
 may be state 1 that it is not applicable as 
 against arbitration, for it is not conceiva- 
 ble that an award be given, in a contro- 
 versy between two nations, which woul 1 
 deny or impair the independent rights 
 of either. The argument, therefore, as 
 applied to the case under consideration, 
 
 Conferenciafu^convocacla; porque, niien- 
 tras quede subsistente determinada cate- 
 goria de cuestiones para cuyo pacifioo ar- 
 reglo no se provean los niedios y la obli- 
 gacidn de observarlos, cual sucede en el 
 proyecto preseutado y adoptado en la 
 Conferencia, la guerra sersl siempre posi- 
 ble, la conservacidu de la paz caracer^ 
 de garantias, y el anhelado fin y los beue- 
 ficios y las ventajas que se esperaban al 
 canzar ser^n en gran parte frustrados. 
 
 El informe de la CoraisiOu sustrao del 
 arbitramento las cuestiones que coiiipro- 
 inetan la independencia nacional. A esta 
 reserva, como iicualqniera otra de igual 
 naturaleza, la Delegacidn de Colombia 
 est^ opnesta; no solo en cuanto, como 
 ya so ha hecho observar, desvirXua el 
 principal objeto del couvenio, sine por 
 cuanto, adem&, coloca ' la naci(5n m^s 
 d^bil en la controversia en nna situacidn 
 desventajosa. Porquo si fuere la nacidn 
 m^s d^bil la que se negara ^ arbitrar, no 
 la quedar^ otro recurso, sinO aceptar, 
 bajo compulsion, las condiciones que el 
 adversario ni^s fnerte tenga S, bien im- 
 ponerle; y si fuere la nacidn m^s poderosa 
 la que rehusare el coinpromiso, entonces 
 carecerdi el d6bil de los medios de obtener 
 satisfaccidn. Y no es esta consideraoi6u 
 aplicable nnicaraente Si los cases en que 
 se trate de los m^s pequefios pueblos de 
 este continente ; por que cualesquiera 
 que sean los dos Estados que se hallen en 
 desacuerdo, por regla general, el uno .ser^ 
 relativamente ddbil respecto del otro, y 
 & aquel se aplicaria lo expuesto. 
 
 Por otra parte no es fdcil darse cuenta 
 de la raz<5n que hay a para la reserva hecha 
 en el informe, al exceptaarse del arbi- 
 traje las cuestiones que comprometan la 
 independencia nacional. Posible es que se 
 considere la independencia bendicidn tan 
 grande y bien tan precioso, que no deba 
 tolerarse cuestidn 6 dada alguna sobre 
 puntos que ataBen su incolumidad. Pero, 
 aun admitiendo la fuerza de considera- 
 ciones de este orden, pnede hacerse ob- 
 servar que no son aplicables al tratarse 
 del arbitraje: pues no se concibe que 
 como resultado de una controversia entre 
 dos naciones pueda dictarse un laudo en 
 que se desconociera <5 menoscabara la in- 
 dependencia de alguna de ellas. La ar- 
 gumentacidn desde luego con relacidn al 
 
846 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 has cogency only inprinciple, but is of uo 
 practical application. 
 
 Yet, if arbitration bo rejected as a 
 means of adjusting disagreements where 
 the rights of independence are concerned 
 or called in qneation, what means will be 
 left for settling the d ispute ? There will be 
 but one, the ultima ratio, war, with all its 
 consequences. And Iiow is it conceivable 
 that they who so sedulously guard their 
 independence would expose it to the 
 chances and uncertainties of war, in 
 preference to placing it under the segis 
 of j Qstice ? There have been many courts 
 of arbitration established and hundreds 
 of cases have been decided by them 
 touching the rights and obligations of 
 nations ; yet, not a single award has been 
 pronounced impairingindependent rights! 
 Can the same thing be said with regard 
 to disputes settled by war? Has there 
 beer a single instance of such in which 
 the reverse has not proved the case ? As 
 a rule, is not one of the belligerents in- 
 variably compelled to sue for peace and 
 accept the conditions imposed upon him 
 by ihe other? Does not this constitute 
 an act of subjection, a loss of independ- , 
 ence? 
 
 Still, it can not be denied that questions 
 might arise between nations, the subject 
 matter of which, or the principles in- 
 volved in them, it would be for certain 
 considerations highly objectionable to 
 submit to arbitration ; yet there should 
 be a means of peacefully disposing of 
 them when they may present themselves, 
 in order to preserve harmony and to re- 
 move the possibility of war. This, how- 
 ever, is not accpmplished b.Y a reservation 
 such as made in the report of the com- 
 mittee on matters touching the independ- 
 ence of a nation ; for the question, what- 
 ever it may be, if occurring, would re- 
 main open ; all that is provided for is 
 that it shall not be submitted to arbitra- 
 tion. 
 
 The delegation of Colombia has ex- 
 pressed the opinion that by limiting the 
 competence of tribunals of arbitration 
 and the jurisdiction of arbitrators to 
 cases for which redress is not provided by 
 the courts of the nation respondent in 
 the dispute, and also excluding matters 
 touching the inherent rights of a people 
 
 punto que se considera, tiene fuerza solo 
 en principio, pero no en su aplicacidu 
 pr^ctica. Ahora bien, si se rechaza ol 
 arbitraje como medio de arreglar los de- 
 sacuerdos, cnando se halle compromerida 
 la iudependeucia nacional j S, que medios 
 deber^ recurrirse para dirimirla dispnta ? 
 No quedarii sine uno : " ultima ratio," la 
 guerra, con todas suo consecueucias. j Y 
 como puede conoebirse que los que zelo- 
 samente cautelan su independencia, la ex- 
 pongan ^ los peligros 6 incertidurabres de 
 la guerra, de preferencia ^ colocarla bajo 
 la 6jida de la justicia ? Numerosos tribu- 
 nales de arbitramento se han erij ido, y ceu- 
 tenares de cases han sido por ellos resuel- 
 tos, tocante los derechos y obligacionesde 
 los Estados, sin que se haya pronunciado 
 un laudo con menoscabo de los derechos de 
 i udependencia. j Puede decirse otrQ tanto 
 de las contiendas resueltas por la guerra? 
 Hay por ventura de tales cases alguno cu 
 que no haya sucedido precisamente lo con- 
 trario? Como regla general ^no resulta 
 invariableraente que uno de los belige- 
 rantes se encuentra compel ido .£i solicitar 
 la paz y aceptar las condiciones que su 
 enomigo tenga & bien imponerlo ? No oons- 
 tituye esto un acto de snjecidn y por lo 
 tanto p6rdida de independencia ? 
 
 No obstante, es innegable que pueden 
 susoitarse cueslioues entre los pueblos, 
 cuya sujeta materia, 6 los principles em- 
 bebidos en ellas, seria, por considera- 
 ciones de cierto 6rden, objetable someter 
 Sj una decisidn arbitral. Debeiia empero 
 proveerse medios para resolver tales eues- 
 tiones paclficamente, cualquiera que se 
 presentaren, en obsequio de la baena in- 
 teligencia y aiin de evitar la posibilidad 
 de la guerra. No se alcanza, sin embargo, 
 este resultado, median te reservas en la 
 forma indicada en el iuforme de la Co- 
 misi6n sobre asuntos que comprometan la 
 independencia nacional ; por que este ar- 
 bitrio dejaria lacuesti^n pendiente ouando 
 se susoitase, y solo estatuye que olla no 
 ser^ decidida por medio del arbitraje. 
 
 La Delegaci6n de Colombia ha mani- 
 festado el conce2to de que si te limitara 
 la competencia de los tribunales de arbi- 
 tramento, y la jurisdicci6n de los arbitros, 
 Si los cases en que las leyes de la Nacidn 
 contra que sereclamareno provean reme- 
 dio 6 corrective ; y si ademas se excluyere 
 de su conooimiento los puntoa que en- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 847 
 
 as established by public law we w ould re- 
 move tbe danger, or rather the objections 
 based on the considerations which have 
 been alluded to and which are brought 
 to bear against the adoption of interna- 
 tional arbitration in an absolute form, be- 
 cause the fact of the controverted ques- 
 tion being of such a nature might be pre- 
 sented to the tribunal in the shape of a 
 demurrer, which would prevail and thus 
 dispose of the matter in dispute unless the 
 demurrer were declared groundless by the 
 unanimous vote of the tribunal. 
 
 In fine, then, the substance of the plan 
 would be embraced in the following: All 
 subjects of difference between the nations 
 parties to the agreement shall be sub- 
 mitted to arbitration ; provided, always, 
 that cases for which the law of the States 
 shall afford remedy or redress, or which 
 involve the exercise of sovereign right, 
 shall bo of the exclusive competence of 
 the State. Such allegations of incompe- 
 tency, when made, if not concurred in by 
 the nation complainant, might be pre- 
 sented to the court of arbitration in the 
 shape of a demurrer, which would pre- 
 vail unless the court unanimously declares 
 that the exception was not sufBciently 
 well founded to be sustained. 
 
 From the projet submitted, it would 
 appear that arbitration is to be resorted 
 to as soon as a question or dispute arises. 
 In the opinion of the Colombian delega- 
 tion, a settlement should first be sought 
 by diplomatic intercourse carried on in a 
 fair and amicable spirit ; by invoking the 
 good oflSoes of friendly Governments, and 
 by such other means as might bring 
 about a compromise and satisfactory 
 settlement. Arbitration should be the 
 last recourse, in the same manner as 
 among private citizens who do not appeal 
 to law until other means of adjusting 
 their difficulties have been attempted 
 without success. 
 
 The projet submitted says nothing about 
 tbe procedure to bo followed by the tri- 
 bunalsof arbitration. Thisseems a grave 
 omission. Besides the loss of time en- 
 tailed by a tribunal of arbitration when 
 required to lay down and adopt rules of 
 procedure for itself, these often can not be 
 complied with by the purties to the suit," 
 
 vuelvan dereohos iuherentes S, los pueblos, 
 cual los reconoce el dereoho de gentes; 
 desapareceria el peligro, 6 mejor dioho 
 las objeciones que fundadas en las cou- 
 sideraciones ^ que se ha aludido, se alegan 
 contra la adopcidn del compromise in- 
 ternacional en su forma absoluta. Por 
 que el hecho de ser de tal naturaleza 
 la cuestidn en controversia, podria pre- 
 sentarse al Tribunal en la forma de ex- 
 cepoidn pareutoria, que prevalecerla y de 
 csta manera pondrfa fin al asunto en dis- 
 puta, f£ menos que la excepcidn fuere de- 
 olarada iufundada por el vote un^nime 
 del Tribunal. En resolucidn, la parte 
 sustantiva del proyecto se reduciria & lo 
 siguiente: Todos los asuntos de discor- 
 dancia entre las naciones partes en'el con- 
 venio se someter^n S, arbitramento ; pero 
 son de la exclusiva competencia de cada 
 Estado, aquellos pnntos para los cuales 
 las leyes del pals provean remedio 6 cor- 
 rectivo, y los que ataflen al ejercicio de 
 los derechos de soberanla. 
 
 Segun el proyecto presentado parece 
 que deberd; recurrirse al arbitranienlo tan 
 luego ue presente cuesti6u 6 disputa. En 
 el sentir de la Delegacidn de Colombia 
 deberia antes buscarse una solucidn 6 
 arreglo de la diferencia por la via diplo- 
 m^tica, tratandose el asunto por ambas 
 partes con franqueza y amigablemente ; 
 podrian tambien invocarse los buenos 
 oficios de G,obiernoa amigos y acudirse & 
 oualquiera otros medios que pudieran 
 conducir ^ una transacci6n y arreglo 
 satisfactorio del asunto. El arbitraje 
 debiera ser el liltimo recurso, cual suoede 
 entre los individuosparticulares quienes 
 no apel n S, los tribunales, sino despues 
 de haber eusayado sin buen exito otros me- 
 dios para el arreglo de sus desavenencias. 
 
 Nada dice cl proyecto presentado res- 
 pecto del procedimiento ^ que deberSn 
 ajustarse los tribunales de arbitraje. Esta 
 omisi6n es de gravedad. Ademas de 
 la pdrdi da de tiempo que resulta cuan- 
 do ol tribunal mismo tiene que oou- 
 parse en las reglas de procedimiento que 
 adoptarii, sucede las mas veces que las 
 
848 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEEICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 because they only become known after the 
 trial has commenced; in thisrespeot itmay 
 be said that the^rq/e* is not a plan of arbi- 
 tration, and goes no further than advo- 
 cating the principle as a means of settling 
 disputes between nations, to which ex- 
 tent, the delegation of Colombia cordially 
 adheres to its provisions. 
 
 As a means of perhaps rendering war 
 impossible, even in the event that a na- 
 tion, party to the agreement, were tempted 
 to violate its provisions, the delegation 
 of Colombia considers that a clause should 
 be introduced declaring that any nation, 
 party to the treaty, which should, in 
 violation thereof, wage war against an- 
 other, would be responsible and liable to 
 each and all the other nations, parties to 
 the treaty, for the damages and injuries 
 it might cause to their respective citizens 
 and their property. No nation can afford 
 to wage a war of aggression if liable for 
 the injuries it causes to neutrals. The 
 nation attacked or invaded would incur 
 no liability as long as it acted in self-de- 
 fense only, and within its own territory. 
 
 In conclusion, the delegation of Colom- 
 bia considers and expresses regret that the 
 proposal made by the Government of the 
 United States has n ot been fully responded 
 to, and that the opportunity to secure in- 
 violable peace on the American Continent, 
 and thus establish the basis necessary to 
 the full development and security of the 
 common interests which are daily increas- 
 ing among the peoples of this continent, 
 has not been taken full advantage of 
 However, the friendly feelings and good- 
 will mutually manifested during the 
 labors of th^ International American Con- 
 ference among the delegations of the 
 different countries represented, justify 
 the liveliest hope and expectation that a 
 more perfect understanding, of which the 
 results of the present Conference are an 
 earnest, will ere long be reached, securing 
 to the nations of America closer and more 
 intimate relations and the incalculable 
 benefit of living in undisturbed harmony 
 and peace among themselvea. 
 
 partes no pueden ajustarse S, ellas con pro- 
 vecho por que no vienen en conocimiento 
 de ellas sino ilespues de iniciado el juieio : 
 A este respecto pnede decirse que el pro- 
 yecto no encierra nn plan de arbitramento 
 y se limita S, recomendar este principio 
 como medio para arreglar las disputas 
 entre las naciones, ^ lo cual la Delegacidn 
 de Colombia se adhiere cordialmente. 
 
 Como medio de imposibilitar quizas el 
 recurso & las armas, auu en el evento que 
 alguna nacidu, parte en ti convenlo, se 
 hallare d^puesta S, violar sns disposi- 
 ciones, medianto el empleo de la fuerza, 
 laDelegaciou de Colombia considera que 
 deberla existir una clausula en que se 
 deolarara que cualqniera nacidn, parte en 
 el convenio, que con violacidn del pacto, 
 hiciera la guerra & otra, seria responsable 
 y obligada hacia cada una y todas las de- 
 mas naciones, partes^u el convenio, por 
 los dafios y perjuicios que causara £i sus 
 respectivos cindadanos y sus propieda- 
 des. Pues ninguna nacidn emprender^ 
 una guerra agresiva, si se la hace respon- 
 sable por los daSos que causare & los 
 neutrales. Ed cuanto & la nacidn ata- 
 cada 6 invadida se la consideraria como 
 obrando.en defensa propia, y desdeluego 
 sin responsabilidad por las consecuencias, 
 siempre quelimitara sus operaciones al 
 £imbito de su propio territorio. 
 
 En resolucion, la Delegaoido. do Colom- 
 bia considera y lamenta que la proposi- 
 cidn del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos 
 no haya sido acojida por completo, y que 
 por consecuencia no se haya aprovechado 
 la ocasitSn de establecer la paz en forma 
 inviolable, que es la base indispensable & 
 la seguridad y pleno desarrollo de los 
 cuantiosos interuses cumuues que se crean 
 eutre los pueblos de este Continente. No 
 obstante, los amistosos sentimientos, y 
 mlitua buena voluntad que ha reinado 
 entre las Delegaciones representadas en 
 la Conferencia Internacional, durante el 
 curao de sus labores justifican el vaticinio 
 y la mas liaongera esperanza de que se 
 alcanzar^ mas tarde un acuerdo perfecto 
 y completo entre las naciones de America, 
 que los ponga en mas estrechas 6 intimas 
 relaciones y les asegure el incalculable 
 benefloio de vivir en perfecta armonia y 
 paz imperturbable entre ellas. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFEEENCE. 
 
 849 
 
 Appendix 8. 
 
 JfJJ. MENDONgA'S SPEEOS. 
 
 We have reached the end of our work 
 after more than six months of daily in- 
 tercourse, studies, and discussions in this 
 Conference, to which thu nations of this 
 continent came as friends, to separate as 
 sisters. 
 
 Nothing could give a, higher proof 
 of the spirit of American fraternity than 
 these deliberations of eighteen nations, 
 speaking four languages, representing 
 different races and various interests, and 
 notwithstanding having as their only 
 rule the principle of union which results 
 from the homogeneousness of republican 
 institutions. It can not be denied that 
 the Supreme Cause of human destiuy (a 
 providential cause or an historical law) 
 began by commemorating this meeting of 
 peoples for a work of good will and civ- 
 ilization with the bloodless disappear- 
 ance of the last monarchy from the face 
 of the New World. 
 
 May the same Supreme Cause grant 
 that the century only removed from us 
 by a decade of years shall see at the light 
 of its dawn no Enropean possession ou 
 the free soil of America, and that all col- 
 onies chained to the ground by conquest 
 on this side of the Atlantic may transform 
 themselves in so many other sovereign 
 States. 
 
 We have sometimes heard here expres- 
 sions perhaps too haughty, although al- 
 ways the interpreter of the free opinion 
 of free peoples ; not once, though, was 
 the unity of views endangered with which 
 all of us, inspired by generous and high 
 motives, with our eyes on the future, la- 
 bored in the field where our countries 
 will show to the world the marvelous 
 sight of a whole continent devoted to the 
 arts of peace and contending only for the 
 iirst places in the Pantheon of democracy. 
 
 54 I O 
 
 Ap^ndice No. 8. 
 
 DISOOBSO DEL SESOR MENDONgA, 
 DELEQADO FOB EL BBASIL. 
 
 Hemes Uegado al t^rmino de uuestros 
 trabajos, despues de haber estado reuni- 
 dos mas de seis meses, y de habernos dedi- 
 cado diariamente S, los estndios y discu- 
 siones de esta Conferencia, & que las na- 
 ciones del Continente de America con- 
 cnrrieron como amigas, para separarse 
 despues como hermanas. 
 
 Ninguna prueba podria darse mas con- 
 vincente del esplritu de la fraternidad 
 auiericana, que las deliberauioues de estos 
 diez y ocho Estados, poblados por distin- 
 tas razas, hablando cnatro lenguasdistin- 
 tas, y representando distintos intereses, 
 inspiriindose sierapre, sin embargo, en la 
 norma rinica de un principio de uni6n, 
 fundado esencialmente en la homogenei- 
 dad de sus instituciones repnblioanas. 
 No puede negarie que la Causa Snprema 
 de los destines humanns, lliimese causa 
 providencial, 6 ley hist6rica, priucipi6 por 
 acompa&ar esta reuni6n de nuestvos pue- 
 blos, ideada para dar forma & nn pensa- 
 miento de civilizaci6n y buena voluntad, 
 con el favor indudable de la desaparici6n, 
 sin derramamieuto de sangre, de la tilti ■ 
 ma monarquia que quedaba en el terri- 
 ritorio del Nuevo Mundo. 
 
 Plegue & ese Poder Supremo, que al 
 resplandor de la alborada del siglo pro- 
 ximo, de que apenas nos separa una d6- 
 cada, no se descubra ya ninguna posesidu 
 europea sobre la tierra libre de America ; 
 y quo las colouias que la conquista eu- 
 cadend en este lado del AtMntico se 
 haya(P ya transformado en Estados inde- 
 pendientes. 
 
 Hemos oido algunas veces en el recinto 
 de nuestras reuniones frases tal vez de- 
 masiado altivas, pero siempre reveladoras 
 fieles de la libre opinidn de los pueblos 
 libres representados por nosotros. Nunca 
 sin embargo se vi6 en jieligro, ni 
 siquiera por "un solo momento, la soli- 
 daridad del pensamiento con que todos 
 nosotros, llenos de aspiraciones gene- 
 rosas y elevadas, y con la mlrada fija 
 en el future, trabajamos & porfia en que 
 nuestras patrias pudiesen dar al mundo 
 el maravilloso espect^oulo de la ooncordia 
 
850 
 
 INTEKNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 In this Conference are represented na- 
 tions so vast that the sun to light their 
 territory takes the tenth part of its appar- 
 ent course around the earth, while others 
 are so small that one-hundredth part 
 of that course is enough to traverse them. 
 Some 80 populated that the millions of 
 their inhabitants are counted by tens, 
 and some so deprived of population as 
 yet that their thousands barely exceed 
 the hundreds. It is an honor to us to 
 assert that there never existe'd around 
 this table other measure for the respect 
 to the opinion or the value of the vote of 
 any and all nations, than that of the most 
 perfect equality among sovereign States. 
 
 It is not incumbent on me to give an 
 account of our work and point out the 
 elements of progress we brought together. 
 But we know that we have done well. 
 
 To-morrow when we separate, each one 
 will carry with him the consciousness of 
 a duty accomplished, and the pleasant 
 recollections of the noble sentiments of 
 our brother workers. That consciousness 
 shall be our best reward, and we may 
 transmit to our sons a glory mightier than 
 that of the Greek soldiers who conld say 
 to their sons: " We were at Salamis, we 
 were at Platea," by saying to ours : " We 
 worked for the inviolability of the peace 
 and the sovereignty of the American 
 Nations at the Conference of Washing- 
 ton." 
 
 Night before last the President of the 
 United States said to us that the memory 
 of this Conference will be "enduring and 
 historical." 
 
 It was my intention to propose that 
 the Latin American delegations should 
 respond to the gentle and fraternal re- 
 spect with which we were received by 
 the great Republic of the North, with the 
 
 de un continente entero, dedicado & las 
 artes de la paz, y sin otra livalidad que 
 la de alcanzar el primer pnesto en el Pan- 
 teon de la Democracia. 
 
 Algunas de las naciones represenladas 
 en esta Conferencia son de extension tan 
 vasta, que para iluminar sas territorios 
 se necesita que el sol recorra la d^cima 
 parte de sn aparente curso al rededor 
 de nuestro globo, mientras que hay otras 
 tan pequefias que la cent^sima parte do 
 aquel curso. seria bastante para el mismo 
 objeto. Algunas de ellas est^n tan pobla- 
 das que tos millones de sus habitantes se 
 cuentan por decenas, mientras que hay 
 otras por el coutrario, que lo est^n tan 
 poco, que no pasa de cientos de miles el 
 nlJmero de sus moradores. Es por tanto 
 un titulo de honor para nosotros poder 
 asegurar que al rededor de esta mesa 
 nunca hubo mas medida de respeto para la 
 opini6n, 6 de libertad para la palabra, 6 
 de valor para el voto, que una absoluta y 
 perfecta igualdad de los Estados sobe- 
 ranos. 
 
 No es de mi incnmbencia hacer aqnf una 
 resefla de los trabajos & que hemos dado 
 cima, nl enumerar los elementos de nro 
 greso que nos hemos esforzado en sem- 
 brar. La verdad es, y todos lo sabemos, 
 que hemos hecho bien y prooedido reota- 
 mente. 
 
 Manana cuando nos separemos defini- 
 tivamente, cada uno de nosotros llevar^ 
 consigo, junto con la conciencia del deber 
 cumplido, el recuerdo grato de los ele- 
 vados sentimientos de nuestros compa- 
 lieros de trabajos. Esa conciencia ser£ 
 nuestro mejor premio; y la gloria que le- 
 gar^mos & nuestros hijos superar^ la de los 
 guerreros griegos, cuando ^ los susos les 
 decian : " Estuvimos en Salamina, 6 en 
 Platea.'' Nosotros podr^mos decir : "Asis- 
 timos & la Conferencia de Washington 
 para afirmar la inviolabilidad de la paz, 
 y la soberania de las naciones america- 
 nas." 
 
 El Presidente de los Estados Unidos 
 nos decia antenoche que el recuerdo de 
 esta Conferencia seria " duradero 6 hi8t6- 
 rioo." 
 
 Uabia sido mi intencidn proponer que 
 las Delegaciones latino-americanas cor- 
 respondiesen al caballeroso y fraternal 
 respeto con que la gran Reptiblica del 
 Norte las hn reoibido, erigiendo un mona- 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 851 
 
 offer of a monument to commemorate our 
 work in this Federal capital. But my 
 noble friend from the Republic of Colom- 
 bia, the Hon. Martinez Silva, suggested 
 to me another idea, which I deem better 
 than mine, and leaving to him to initiate 
 it, I limit myself now to move that all 
 delegations here present, the United 
 States delegation included, vote and pro- 
 vide the means to place, with the neces- 
 sary permission, on the walls of the room 
 of th6 State Department in which were 
 inaugurated our sessions, a bronze tablet, 
 on which shall be engraved, above the roll 
 of the delegations, the following inscrip- 
 tion, in the four languages of the Confer- 
 ence: "The Nations of North, Central, 
 and South America resolve that it bo 
 commemorated that in this room,ou the 
 second day of October of the year 1889, 
 James G. Blaine, Secretary of State of 
 the United States, presiding, were opened 
 the sessions of the International Amer- 
 ican Conference, which, besides other 
 measures destined to promote the union 
 and welfare of the peoples of this conti- 
 nent, recommended to them as a guar- 
 anty of peace the principle of obligatory ■ 
 arbitration." 
 
 Salvador de Mendon9a. 
 Washington, Api-il 18, 1890. 
 
 mento conmemorativo de nuestros tra- 
 bajos, levanlado en esta Capital federal 
 por todas las naciones latino-ameri- 
 cauas. Fero mi noble amigo de la Re- 
 ptiblica de Colombia, el Sr. Martinez 
 Silva, me comunicd otra idea que con- 
 sidero mas titil, y cuya realizaci6n dejo 
 ^ su iniciativa, por lo cual solo me limito 
 S, exponerla, y es que todas l'n,B Delega- 
 cienes acreditadas en esta Conferencia, 
 incluyendo la de los Estados Unidos, con- 
 curran & que en la sala del Departamento 
 de Estado en que se iuauguraron nuestras 
 sesiones, se coloqne despues de obtenido 
 el correspondiente permiso, una tabla de 
 bronce, en que ademas de los uombres de 
 los SeBores Delegados se ponga la siguien- 
 te inscripcidn en las cuatro lenguas de 
 la Conferencia : "Las uacioues del Norte, 
 del Centro y del Sur de Am6rica resolvie- 
 ron conmemorar que en esta sala, en dos 
 de Octubre de 1889, se inauguraron bajo 
 la Presidencia del Sefior James G. Blaine, 
 Secretario de Estado, las sesiones de la 
 Conferencia In ternacionalAmericana,que 
 entre otras medidas productoras de unidn 
 y bienestar para los pueblos de este Con- 
 tinente, recomend6 como garantia depaz, 
 el prinoipio del arbitraje obligatorio." 
 Salvador de Mbndon9a. 
 Washington, Abril 18 de 1890. 
 
SEVENTIETH DAY. 
 
 ACTA No. 70. 
 
 Washington, Ajpril 19, 1890. 
 The Inlernational American Conference 
 was called to order at 11 a. m., by the 
 President, Hon. James 6. Blaine, with 
 the following Delegates present : 
 Hay ti : 
 
 Mr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 Mr. Horatio Gazman. 
 Pern : v 
 
 Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 Mr. Fernando Craz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 Mr. Jos^ M. Hnrtado. 
 Mr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentine Eepablio : 
 
 Mr. Eoque Saenz Fe&a. 
 Mr. Mannel Quiutana. 
 Costa Kica : , 
 
 Mr. Mannel Aragon. 
 
 Mr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brazil : 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Yalente. 
 
 Mr. Salvador de Mendonga. 
 Honduras. 
 
 Mr. Jer6nimo Zelaya. 
 Mexico. 
 
 Mr. Matias Bomero. 
 
 Mr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia. 
 
 Mr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 United States. 
 
 Mr. John B. Henderson, 
 
 Mr, Cornelius N. BUss. 
 
 Mr. Clement Studebaker. 
 
 Mr. T. Jefferson Coolidge. 
 
 Mr. William Henry Trescot. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Mr. John F. Hanson. 
 
 Mr. Henry 6. Davis. 
 
 Mr. Charles R. Flint, 
 853 
 
 SesUn del 19 de AbHl de 1890. 
 Presidencia del Sr. James G. Blaink. 
 Estando presentes : 
 
 Haiti : 
 
 El Sr. Hannibal Price. 
 Nicaragua : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Horacio Guzmiin. 
 Perd: 
 
 El Sr. Dr. F. C. C. Zegarra. 
 Guatemala : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Fernando Cruz. 
 Colombia : 
 
 El Sr Jo86 M Hurtado. 
 
 El Sr. Carlos Martinez Silva. 
 Argentina : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Boque Saenz Pena; 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Manuel Quiutana. 
 Costa Bica : 
 
 £1 Sr. Manuel Aragdn. 
 Paraguay : 
 
 El Sr. Jos6 S. Decoud. 
 Brasil : 
 
 El Sr. J. G. do Amaral Valente ; 
 
 El Sr. Salvador de Meudouga. 
 Honduras : 
 
 El Sr. Jer6nimo Zelayi. 
 Mfeico : 
 
 El Sr. Matias Romero ; 
 
 El Sr. Enrique A. Mexfa. 
 Bolivia : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Juan F. Velarde. 
 Estados Unidos : 
 
 El Sr. John B. Henderson ; 
 
 El Sr. Cornelius N. Bliss ; 
 
 El Sr. Clement Studebaker ; 
 
 El Sr. T. Jefferson Coolidge ; 
 
 El Sr. William Henry Trescot ; 
 
 El Sr. Andrew Carnegie ; 
 
 El Sr, John F, Hanson ; 
 
 El Sr, Henry 6. Davis, ; 
 
 El Sr. Charles R. Flint, 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 853 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 Mt. Nicauor Bolet Peraza. 
 
 Mr. Job6 Andrade. 
 Chili. 
 • Mr. Emllio C. Varas. 
 
 Mr. Jo86 Alfonso. 
 Salvador, 
 
 Mn Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Eonador. 
 
 Mr. 3ob6 Maria Plficido CaamaSo. 
 
 The minates of the previous session 
 were read, approved, and signed by the 
 Delegates present. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 stated that his delegation accepted the 
 last resolutions of the Conference adopted 
 yesterday, during the presentation of 
 which he bad been absent, with the ex- 
 ception of the motion of Mr. Mendonca, 
 which he could not agree to, because it 
 was inconsistent with the position the 
 Chilian delegation had taken in regard to 
 arbitration. 
 
 Mr. Tresoot, a Delegate from the 
 United States, sent the Chair the state- 
 ment hereto appended, in explanation of 
 his vote on the subject of intematioral 
 law. 
 
 Mr. Zegabra, a Delegate from Peru, 
 and First Vice-President of the Confer- 
 ence, thanked his colleagues for the honor 
 done him in electing him to such a dis- 
 tinguishM position. 
 
 Mr. Cruz, a Delegate from Guatemala, 
 thanked the honorable President for the 
 uniform courtesy shown, and moved the 
 adjournment of the Conference sine die. 
 
 Mr. Alfonso, a Delegate from Chili, 
 offered the following resolution, which 
 was unanimously adopted : 
 
 "In homage to the memory of the im- 
 mortal discoverer of America, and in grat- 
 itude for the inestimable service rendered 
 by him to civilization and humanity, the 
 International American Conference here- 
 by declares its co-operation with the mani- 
 festation to be made in his honor on the 
 occasion of the fourth centennial of the 
 discovery of America." 
 
 Venezuela : 
 
 El Sr. Nioanor Bolet Peraza ; 
 El Sr. Jos6 Andrade. 
 Chile : 
 
 El Sr. Emilio C. Varas. 
 El Sr. Jos€ Alfonso. 
 Salvador : 
 
 El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos. 
 Ecuador : 
 
 El Sr. Dr. jos^ Maria Plfcido 
 Caama&o. 
 bo abrid la sesidn & las once de la ma- 
 &ana. 
 
 Se ley<J, aprob6 y flrmd el acta del dla 
 anterior. 
 
 El SeHor Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 manifestd que la Delegaci6n de su pals se 
 adheria S, los tiltimos acuerdos de la Con- 
 ferenoia celebrados ayer, y en que no 
 pndo tomar parte por haber tenido que 
 ausentarse. Respecto de la moci6n del 
 Se&or Mendonca, tenia sin embargo el 
 sentimiento de exponer que no podia ac- 
 ceder S, ella, sin contradecir la actitud to- 
 mada por Chile en el asunto de arbitrage. 
 El Seiior Trescot, delegado por los 
 Estados Unidos, envid S, la Mesa el es- 
 crito que se acompa&a al acta, explica- 
 tive de sn voto en los asuntos de la Co- 
 misidn de Derecho internacional. 
 
 El Sefior Zegarra, delegado por el 
 Perfi, y primer Vice-Presidente, arengd 
 ^ la Conferencia, d^ndole gracias por el 
 honor que le habia conferido, eligi^ndolo 
 para un puesto tan honorifico y distin- 
 guido. 
 
 El Sefior Cruz, delegado por Guate- 
 mala, did gracias al Sefior Presidente de 
 la Conferencia por su uniforme cortesia, 
 6 hizo mooidn formal para que la Confe- 
 rencia cerrase sus sesiones definitiva- 
 mente. 
 
 El Sefior Alfonso, delegado por Chile, 
 envi6 S. la Mesa el siguiente proyecto de 
 resolucidn que fue undlnimeraente apro- 
 bado: 
 
 "En homenage & la memoria del im- 
 mortal descubridor de la America y en 
 gratitud de los inmensos servicios pres- 
 tados Si la civilizacifin y ^ la humanidad, 
 la Conferencia se asocia S, las manifesta- 
 ciones que se hagan en su honor con 
 motivo del ouarto anniversario del des- 
 cubrimiento de la America." 
 
854 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Mr. BoLBT Feraza, a Delegate from 
 Venezuela, stated that before finally ad- 
 journing the Conference should give 
 thanks to the United States Government 
 for the splendour of the hospitality which 
 all the Delegates had received, and ex- 
 press -wishes for the perpetual prosperity 
 of the United States ; and this was unani- 
 mously agreed to. 
 
 The Hon. James G. Blaine, President 
 of the Conference, after maMng the re- 
 marks hereto appended, declared the In- 
 ternational American Conference ad- 
 journed sine die at 12 noon. 
 Jambs 6. Blaine, 
 
 President. 
 Hannibal Pkicb, 
 Hayti. 
 HoKATio Guzman, 
 
 Nicaragita. 
 F. C. C. Zbgarra, 
 Peru. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 
 Josfi M. HURTADO, 
 
 Carlos Martinez Silva, 
 Cmmaco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUB Saenz PeSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Argentine Bepuhlio. 
 Manuel Aragon, 
 
 Costa Pica. 
 Jos:6 S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valbnte, 
 Salvador db Mendon9a, 
 
 Brazil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 Matias Romero, 
 ENRfQUE A. Mbxia, 
 
 Mexico. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jefferson Coolidge, 
 WiLUAM Henry Trbscot, 
 Andrew Carnegie, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 United States. 
 
 El SeSor Bolbt Peraza, delegado por 
 Venezuela, expuso que antes de terminar 
 definitivamente sus sesiones, la Confe- 
 rencia debia dar gracias al Gobierno de 
 los Estados Unidos por la esplendidez de 
 la hospitalidad que se habia dado & todas 
 las delegaciones, y hacer votos por la per- 
 petua prosperidad de los Estados Unidoe. 
 Asi se determind un^nimemente. 
 
 El Hon. Senor Jambs G. Blainb, Pre- 
 sidente de la Conferenoia, oerrd entonces 
 definitivamente las sesiones de esta, pro- 
 nunciando el discurso que se acompa&a. 
 Terrain ose la sesidn S, las doce del dia. 
 Jambs G. Blaine, 
 
 Presidente. 
 Hannibal Price, 
 Hayti. 
 
 HORACIO GUZMiN, 
 
 Nicaragua. 
 F. C. C. Zegarra, 
 
 Pent. 
 Fernando Cruz, 
 
 Guatemala. 
 JosjS M. Hurtado, 
 CXblos Martinez Silva, 
 CLfMAco Calder6n, 
 
 Colombia. 
 RoQUE Sabnz PbSa, 
 Manuel Quintana, 
 
 Manuel Arag6m, 
 
 Costa Pica. 
 JosiS S. Dbcoud, 
 
 Paraguay. 
 J. G. DO Amaral Valbnte, 
 Salvador Mbndon5a, 
 
 Brasil. 
 Jer6nimo Zelaya, 
 
 Honduras. 
 MatIas Romero, 
 Enrique A. MbxIa, 
 
 M^ieo. 
 Juan F. Velarde, 
 
 Bolivia. 
 John B. Hbndbbson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, 
 Clement Studebaker, 
 T. Jbfpbbson Coolidge, 
 William Henry Trbscot, 
 Andrew Cabnegie, 
 John F. Hanson, 
 Henry G. Davis, 
 Charles R. Flint, 
 
 Estados Vnidos. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 855 
 
 NiCANOR BOLET FERAZA, 
 
 J08:fi Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 3os& Alfonso, 
 
 CUli. 
 Jacinto Castbllanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3os& Mabia P1.ICID0 CaamaSo, 
 
 Eauador. 
 
 NiCANOK BOLET PeRAZA, 
 
 3os& Andrade, 
 
 Venezuela. 
 Josfi Alfonso, 
 
 Chile. 
 Jacinto Castellanos, 
 
 Salvador. 
 3qs& Maria PLiciDO CaamaSo, 
 
 Ecuador. 
 
 Appendix A. 
 
 MR. TBESCOTS REMARKS. 
 
 Mr. Trescot said that he would snbmit 
 the minority report on International Law, 
 which he had made without any discus- 
 sion. The subject was an important one, 
 but the views of all the Governments had 
 been fully stated in the majority and 
 minority reports. After the most careful 
 consideration, the United States would 
 vote against the recommendations of the 
 majority report and could not, therefore, 
 be bound by them as declarations of 
 American public Jaw. 
 
 Ap^ndice a. 
 OBSERYAOIONES DEL SBSOR TRESOOT. 
 
 El Sefior Trescot dijo que, al someter 
 el dictdlmeu de la minoria de la Comisidn 
 de Derecho Internacional lo habia hecho 
 expresando que no se necesitaba discusifin. 
 El asunto es importante ; pero todos los 
 Gobiernos han expresado extensamente 
 BUS ideas respecto de 61, asf en los dict^- 
 menes de la mayoria como en el de la 
 minoria. Despues de la mas cuidadosa 
 consideracidn los Estados Unidos votaron 
 contra las recomendacidnes de los dict£i- 
 menes de la mayoria; y no podrdin por lo 
 tanto considerarse obligados & admitirlas 
 como principios del Derecho pliblico 
 americano. 
 
 Appendix B. 
 
 mr. zmoarra's speech. 
 
 Mr. President, Honorable Delegates : 
 The hour of departure is at hand and I 
 can not resign myself to see it reached be- 
 fore your have heard the expressions of 
 my sincere gratitude. 
 
 For long months there have been die- 
 cussed in this Conference matters of the 
 greatest importance to America. The 
 complicated problems which have been 
 the object of your study and your solici- 
 tous desire to realize generous aspirations 
 will justly claim the attention of the 
 whole world, whose gaze has been fixed 
 on so memorable an assembly. 
 
 In it you have seen fit to assign me 
 the distinction of serving you, designa- 
 ting as my special task that of aiding 
 in the proper direction of the debates, 
 maintaining the rights of all the Delega- 
 tions founded on the resnect and consider- 
 
 ApfiNDICB B. 
 DIS0UR8O DEL SESOR ZEOARRA. 
 
 Sefior Prbsidente, Sefiores Delega- 
 DOS : La hora de la partida se acerca y 
 no puedo resignarme & esperarla sin que 
 antes oigais la sincera expresidn de mi 
 agradeoimiento. 
 
 Durante largos meses se han disontido 
 en el seno de esta Conferencia negocios 
 de las mas alta importancia para la 
 America ; los complicados problemas que 
 han sido objeto de vuestro estudio y vues- 
 tro soHcito empefio por realizar generosas 
 aspiraciones llamar^n con justicia la 
 atencidn del mundo entero cuyas miradas 
 han estado fijas en tan memorable asam- 
 blea. 
 
 En ella tuvisteis & bien asignarme la 
 diistincidn de serviros, sefial^ndome como 
 mi especial tarea la de cooperar en la 
 buena diveccidn de los debates, mante- 
 niendo el derecho de todas las delegaoiones, 
 fundado en el respeto y consideracidn por 
 
856 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE 
 
 ation for the opinion of eaohof tbein, and, 
 on my part, 1 have endeavored at all times 
 and to the best of my ability to comply 
 ■with yonr wishes. 
 
 I had, honorable Delegates, no distinc- 
 tion that could recommend me to your 
 eyes other, than that (most highly prized 
 by me) of having merited the confidence 
 of my country, for I appeared in this 
 assembly in the character of its represent- 
 ative. 
 
 It is my country, then, honorable Dele- 
 gates, which yon have complimented, and 
 to her alone belongs the honor, to her the 
 fraternal proof of respect you have wished 
 to show. 
 
 I shall inform my country with par- 
 donable pride of the homage done her, 
 through one of her most humble sons, 
 when my name was used in connection 
 with so marked a proof of yonr sympathy. 
 The high position you have stssigned in 
 this Conference to the representative of 
 Peru will remain a most flattering recol- 
 lection to me, as well as the greatest 
 source of pride to my children. 
 
 Once again, honorable Delegates, ac- 
 cept my deepest gratitude. 
 
 las opmiones de cada una de ellas, y por 
 mi parte, he procnrado en todos los ins- 
 tantes y en la medida de mis fuerzas, dar 
 cnmplimiento a vuestros deseos. 
 
 No he tenido, SeBores Delegados, otra 
 distincidn que pndiera recomendarme ^ 
 vuestros ojos, que la apreciabillsima para 
 mi de haber merecido la confianza de mi 
 patria, pues que enaltecido aparecf en 
 este recinto, con el carictor de sn repre- 
 sentante. 
 
 A mi patria, pues, SeHores Delegados, 
 es Sj la que en mi persona babeis distin- 
 guido, y solo S, ella pertenece el honor, 
 Sj ella, el testimonio fraternal de respeto 
 que habeis querido tributarle. 
 
 Asooiado mi nombre S, tan marcada 
 manifestacitfn de simpatfa de vuestra 
 parte, tendr6 el justo orgullo de ofrecer & 
 mi patria el homenage de que ha sido 
 objeto en el Ultimo de sus servidores, sien- 
 do para mi el recuerdo mas halagiieno 
 como ser5 el timbre que mas enorguUece- 
 tS, S, mis hijos, la memoria de la posici6n 
 eminente que habeis se&alado en esta 
 Conferencia al Eepresentante del Perfi. 
 ' Una y otra vez, Sefiores Delegados, 
 profundamente os lo agradezco. 
 
 Appendix C. 
 
 (MB. SLAmU'S 8PBS0S.) 
 
 GBNTiaiMBN : I withhold for a moment 
 the word of final adjournment, in order 
 that I may express to you the profound 
 satisfaction with which the Government 
 of the United States regards the work 
 that has been accomplished by the Inter- 
 national American Conference. The 
 importance of the subjects which have 
 claimed your attention, the comprehen- 
 sive intelligence and watchful patriotism 
 which you have brought to their discus- 
 sion, must challenge the confidence and 
 secure the admiration of the Governments 
 and peoples whom you represent ; while 
 that larger patriotism which constitutes 
 the fraternity of nations has received 
 from you an impulse such as the world 
 has not before seen. 
 
 The extent and value of all that has 
 been worthily achieved by your Confer- 
 ence can not be measured to-day. We 
 
 Appendicb C. 
 
 DISOVRSO DEL HON. SEttOB JAMES O. 
 BLAINE. 
 
 SbSobes : Detengo por un memento la 
 palabra de clausura final para expresar 
 ^ Usted«s la satisfacci6n profunda con 
 que el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos 
 contempla el trabajo realizado por la 
 Conferencia Internacional Americana. 
 La importancia de los asuntos que han 
 ocupado su atenoi6n, y la vasta inteli- 
 gencia y vigilante patriotismo que han 
 demostrado Ustedes al discutirlos, han 
 de escitar la confianza y provocar la ad- 
 miraci6n de los Gobiernos y los pueblos, 
 que Ustedes representan; mieniras que 
 aquel otro patriotismo mas vasto, que 
 constituye la f raternidad de las naciones, 
 ha recibido de parte de Ustedes el mayor 
 impulso que hasta ahora se le haya dado 
 en el mundo. 
 
 La extensidn y el valor de todo lo que 
 ee ha hecho tan diguamente por la Con- 
 ferencia no puede apreciarse bien en el 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE, 
 
 857 
 
 stand too near it. Time will define and 
 heighten the estimate of your work ; ex- 
 perience will confirm our present faith ; 
 final results will be your vindication and 
 yonr triumph. 
 
 If, in this closing hour, the Conference 
 bad but one deed to celebrate, we should 
 dare call the world's attention to the de- 
 liberate, confident, solemn dedication of 
 two great continents to peace, and to the 
 prosperity which has peace for its foun- 
 dation. We hold up this new Magna 
 Charta, which abolishes war and substi- 
 tutes arbitration, between the American 
 Republics, as the first and great fruit of 
 the International American Conference. 
 That noblest of Americans, the aged poet 
 and philanthropist, Whittier, is the first 
 to send his salutation and his benedic- 
 tion, declaring, "If in the spirit of peace 
 the American Conference agrees upon a 
 rule of arbitration which shall make war 
 in this hemisphere well-nigh impossible, 
 its sessions will prove one of the most 
 important events in the history of the 
 world." 
 
 I am instructed by the President to 
 express the wish that before the mem- 
 bers of the Conference shall leave for their 
 distant homes, they will accept the hos- 
 pitality of the United States in a visit to 
 the Southern section of the Union, simi- 
 lar to the one they have already made to 
 the Eastern and Western sections. The 
 President trusts that the tour trill not 
 only be a pleasant incident of your fare- 
 well to the country, bat that you will 
 find advantage in a visit to so interesting 
 and Important a part of our Republic. 
 
 May I express to yon, gentlemen, my 
 deep appreciation of the honor you did 
 me in calling me to preside over your 
 deliberations. Your kindness has been 
 unceasing, and for your formal words of 
 approval I offer yon my sinoerest grati- 
 tude. 
 
 momento actual. La tencmos demasiado 
 cerca. El tiempo es quien definiriC y levan- 
 tarS & 8U debida altura el valor de los tra- 
 bajoB & que se ha dado realizacion. La ex- 
 periencia confirmar^ nuestra presente i6; 
 y lo resultados finales les serviriin & Uste- 
 des de lauro y vindicaci6n. 
 
 Si en estos liltimos mementos, la Con- 
 ferencia no tuviese que celebrar sino uno 
 solo de SQs hechos, ese bastaria sin embar- 
 go para fijar la atencifin del mundo re- 
 specto ^la manera deliberada, confiada, 
 y solemne con que dos graudes continentes 
 consagraron su atencifin & la paz, y ^ la 
 prosperidad que en la paz tiene en funda- 
 mento. Nosotros mantenemos que esta 
 nueva Magna Carta por la cual es abolida 
 la guerra entre las Repllblicas americanas, 
 y snstituida por el arbitrage, es el primero 
 y el grau fruto de la Conferencia Interna- 
 ciouiil Americana. Aquel nobilisimo ame- 
 ricano, poeta anciano y fildntropo emi- 
 uente, Whit tier.es el primero que nosenvia 
 su saludo y su bendicidn, declarando que 
 "si en un espiritu de paz la Conferencia 
 americana acuerda un arreglo de arbi- 
 trage que haga casi imposible la guerra 
 en este hemisferio, sus sesiones habr^n 
 side uno de los mas importantes aconteci- 
 mieutos en la historia del mundo.'' 
 
 Tengo <5rden del Presidente para mani- 
 festar su deseo de que antes de retirarse 
 & sns respectivos hogares, los Senores 
 miembros de la Conferencia tengan ^ 
 bien aceptar la hospitalidad de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos en una visita & la seccidn 
 meridional de la Uni6n,^ semejanza de 
 la que hicieron & las secciones del eate y 
 del oeste. El Presidente eonfia en que 
 este paseo ser^ no solo un incidente 
 agradable del adios de Ustedes al pais, 
 sino tambien que encontrarfe provecho 
 en visitar una parte tan interesante 6 
 importante de nuestra Reptiblica. 
 
 Seame, ahora, licito, Sefioies, expresar 
 i, Ustedes mi profunda apreciacidn del 
 honor que me hicieron al Uamarme & 
 presidir & eslas delibe'raoiones. La 
 bondad de Ustedes haoia mi no ha cesado 
 nunca; y por las palabras formales de 
 aprobaoidn que se han pronunciado en 
 favor mio dirijo & Ustedes la sincera ex- 
 presifin de mf gratitud. 
 
858 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEEENCE. 
 
 Invoking the blessing of Almighty God 
 upon the patriotic and fraternal work 
 which has been here began for the good 
 of mankind, I now declare the American 
 International Conference adjonmed with- 
 ont day. 
 
 Invocando la bendicidn de Dies Todo- 
 poderoso sobre la obra patritjtica y fra- 
 ternal qne se ha empezado aqnl, para 
 bien de la hnmanidad, declare cerrada 
 defiuitivamente la Conferencia Inter- 
 nacional Americana. 
 
 Correct : 
 
 H. Bemsen Whitehouse, 
 Secretary International Conferemoe. 
 
 Conforme con sus' originales : 
 
 30afi IGNACIO EODBIGUEZ, 
 
 Seoretario de la Confer&ma Intemaeional 
 Ameriffma. 
 
APPMSDIX TO THE MINUTES OF 
 THE FIFTIETH DA Y. 
 
 Mk. Henderson's Speech. 
 
 - Mr. President : I shall not detain the 
 Conference beyond the short time neces- 
 sary to state the position of the United 
 States Delegation on the subject now 
 under discussion. 
 
 The act of Congress under which this 
 Conference convenes authorizes and re- 
 quests the President of the United States 
 to invite the States here represented to 
 join us in considering " questions relating 
 to the improvement of business inter- 
 course and means of direct communica- 
 tion between said countries, to encourage 
 such reciprocal commercial relations as 
 will be beneficial to all, and secure more 
 extensive markets for the products of 
 each of said countries." 
 
 It is true that the President is directed 
 by the act to set forth in the invitations 
 forwarded that the Conference will con- 
 sider, " measures that shall tend to pre- 
 serve the peace and promote, the pros- 
 perity of the several American States," 
 and , also "measures toward" (meaning 
 measures that thall tend toward) "the 
 formation of an American customs union, 
 under which the trade of the American 
 nations with each other shall, so far as 
 possible and profitable, be promoted." 
 
 Whether we consider the entire scope 
 of the act, or these isolated provisions 
 separately, it is difficult to reach a con- 
 clusion other than the one already indi- 
 cated by me in previous debates- on this 
 subject. The whole object and aim of 
 this Conference, as projected in the minds 
 of the people of the United States, is to 
 abolish war between the nations here rep- 
 resented by peaceful settlement of all 
 their disputes and controversies and the 
 establishment of such commercial rela- 
 
 APPENDICE AL ACTA NO. 50. 
 
 DiSCURSO DEL SK. HENDERSON. 
 
 No detendr^ & la Conferenoia uiSa 
 tiempo que el necesario para exponer la 
 posici6n que ooupa la Delegaci<Sn de los 
 Estados Unidos en el asunto que ahora 
 se discnte. 
 
 La ley del Congreso, en virtud de lit 
 cual se celebra esta Conferenoia, autoriza 
 al Presidente de los Estados Unidos para 
 invitar & las Naciones aqui representadas, 
 d discutir reunidas ciertos " asnntos rela- 
 tives al inoremento del trd^fico comercial 
 y la mejora de los medios de comnnica- 
 cidn directa entre ellas; fomentar rela- 
 clones comerciales reciprocas, prove- 
 chosas para todos, y asegurar mercados 
 va&a extensos & sus respectivas produo- 
 ciones." 
 
 Cierto es que el Presidente qned6 au- 
 torizado por la susodicha ley, para ex- 
 presar, al tiempo de transmitir la invita- 
 ci6n, que la Conferenoia est^ Uamada S, 
 considerar: "medios que tiendan & con- 
 servar la paz y fomentar la prosperidad 
 de los diversos Estados Americanos " co- 
 mo tambien " medidas encaminadas & la 
 formaci<5n de una unidn aduanera ameri- 
 cana, bajo la cual se fomente, en cuanto 
 sea posible y provechoso, el comercio en- 
 tre las naciones americauas nnas con 
 otras." 
 
 Si por tanto consideramos, ya sea el 
 propdsito completo de la ley en su con- 
 junto, ya el de sus disposiciones separa- 
 damente, ser^ dificil llegar & otra con- 
 cluBi6n que la que ya he expresado en los 
 debates que hau tenido lugar sobre este 
 asunto. El objeto y el fin primordial de 
 esta Conferenoia, tal como la concibi6 el 
 pueblo de los Estados Unidos, es abolirla 
 guerra entre las naciones que forman la 
 Am&ioa, y sustituirla por arreglos paci- 
 ficos de todas sus dispntas y oontroversias, 
 
 859 
 
860 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 tions as may unite them iu the bonds of 
 a. close and perpetual friendship. 
 
 These are the great pnrDOses lying close 
 to the hearts of the people of the United 
 States, and the act of Congress is simply 
 the legislative embodiment of their 
 wishes. All other phraseology of the act 
 is merely subsidiary to those ends. If 
 other measures seem to be indicated iu 
 the law, on careful ex.amination they 
 cease to be independent, but at once 
 merge themselves into the one grand pur- 
 pose of peace between our republics — 
 this peace to be cemented and made per. 
 petnal by the bonds of commercial in- 
 terest. 
 
 In the light of this construction of the 
 act of Congress the conduct of the United 
 States Delegation in this body, we think, 
 becomes plain and of easy interpretation. 
 As a member of the Arbitration Commit- 
 tee it will be my duty to formulate, if pos- 
 sible, some plan for the peaceful solution 
 of international quarrels, in order that 
 national energy may hereafter be directed 
 solely to the arts of peace and individual 
 energy, to the embellishment and hap- 
 piness of the home. 
 
 As a member of the Customs Union 
 Committee I have endeavored equally to 
 re'Spond to the just expectations of our 
 Government, reflecting, as we know it 
 does, the earnest and almost unanimous 
 wiah of the people . One of the earl^- diffi- 
 culties presented by my associates in the 
 latter committee was properly to define 
 the true meaning of the words " customs 
 union." It will be seen that in my inter- 
 pretation of the act of Congress this defi- 
 nition is quite immaterial. They who 
 earnestly wish to attain great ends iu 
 this world must not be turned aside by 
 mere words. The object to be attained 
 in the langaage of the act is "to encour- 
 age reciprocal commercial relations." 
 
 If a customs union means something 
 that will not and can not be made to 
 promote such relations, then let us put it 
 aside anfl turn to other means. In my 
 construction the objectioniible words do 
 not look to absolute identity of customs 
 duties, nor to the distribution of total 
 revenue on any fixed and unchangeable 
 
 estableciendo ademfo'entre ellas aqnellas 
 relaciones comerciales queseestimencon- 
 ducentes & hacer que su amiatad sea per- 
 p^tua y mucho m^s fntima. 
 
 Estos son los grandes propdsitos que el 
 pueblo de los Estados Unidos alimenta con 
 carino, y de que el Acta del Congreso an- 
 tedicho no es m^s qne la expresi6n legal. 
 Toda la fraseologla de esa ley es cosa se- 
 cundaria ysubordinada & esos dos objetos. 
 Si se cree que la ley eucierra otras cosas 
 se verji deapues de nn ex^men detenido 
 que todas ellas estdln comprendidas en 
 el gran propdsito de paz entre nuestras 
 RepHblicas, la cual ha deser cimentada y 
 perpetnada por los lazos de los intereses 
 comerciales. 
 
 Bajo esta interpretacidn del acta del 
 Congreso, nos parece que la conducta do 
 la Delegacidn de los Estados Unidos es 
 clara y f^cil de explicar. Como miembro 
 que soy do la Comisifin de Arbitrage ser^ mi 
 deber redactar, en cuanto sea posible, un 
 proyecto para arreglar pacificamente di- 
 ferencias internaoiouales de modo que en 
 el porvenir la energla nacional se emplee 
 solamente en aotos de paz y la energfa in- 
 dividual en el embellecimiento y felicidad 
 del hogar. 
 
 Como miembro de la Comisidn de Uni6n 
 Aduanera, he tratado igualmente de 
 desempafiar el encargo que nos conti6 
 nuestro Gobiemo, por cuanto refleja, como 
 sabemos, el sincero y casi uniinime deseo 
 de nuestro pueblo. Una de las primeras 
 difioultades con que tropezaron mis 
 colegas en esta Comisidn fu6 la de definir 
 exactamente lo que se entiende por las 
 palabras "Uni<5n Aduanera." Se ver^ 
 por la interpretacidn que yo doy al Actar 
 del Congreso que esta definicidn es de 
 poca importancia. Los que sinceramente 
 deseau alcanzar en este mundo uu gran 
 resultado no deben pararse en palabras. 
 El objeto que se desea obtener, seglin lo 
 dice el Acta,- es " fomeutar relaciones 
 reclprocas de comercio." Si Uni6n Adua- 
 nera significa algo que no puede con- 
 tribnir (i fomeutar esas relaciones, pon- 
 gd^mosla & un lado y ooupfimosnos de otra 
 cosa que puede hacerlo. A mi modo de 
 entender las oosas, la Uni6n Aduanera de 
 que se trata, no significa una identidad 
 absoluta de dereclios do Aduana, ni 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMEKICAN CONFEKENCE. 
 
 861 
 
 basiB of division. Saoh was tbe case 
 even in the German Zollverein. Differ- 
 ential duties were there allowed for the 
 enconragement of special industries, the 
 nation exercising the right of accounting 
 therefor in the final division of the reve- 
 nue. And the whole scheme was re- 
 peatedly changed and reformed. 
 
 But for the proper adjustment of differ- 
 ent import duties and the establishment 
 of an equitable basis of division of the 
 revenue collected it was never anticipated 
 that this body should take action. It is 
 for us to lay down general principles and 
 leave others to the worli of details. Oar 
 duty will have been best performed when 
 we mark out the lines along which the 
 streams of international wealth and pros- 
 perity shall hereafter flow. It is for 
 others to build and operate those lines. 
 And while human sagacity can not pro- 
 vide for future contingencies, let our con- 
 solation be that each generation brings 
 the highest wisdom to the solution of its 
 own problems. 
 
 It was under the influence of such 
 views that I proposed in the committee 
 the following report, to wit : 
 
 " While this Conference is not prepared 
 to say whether a customs union between 
 the States here represented is at this time 
 practicable, yet in view of the great im- 
 portance of such a union, if the same can 
 be organized and established without se- 
 riously disturbing the revenue systems of 
 our respective governments, and in view 
 of the many intricate and difficult ques- 
 tions involved on the form ulation of a plan 
 for such a union, and in the arrangement 
 of the details necessary for its successful 
 operation, we earnestly recommend to our 
 governments the appointment of a com- 
 mission, to be composed of able revenue 
 experts, who shall, with the greatest care, 
 examine all the questions involved in, or 
 in any manner connected with, the crea- 
 tion and execution of such a union, and 
 
 tampooo la distribuoidn del total de las 
 entradas conforme & reglas fijas 6 inva- 
 riables de repartimiento. Ni atin en el 
 Zollverein Aleman sucedid nunca tal 
 cosa. AUf se permitierou ciertos derechos 
 diferenciales para fomentar industrias 
 especiales, y la uaoi6n que los impuso se 
 los cargaba en cuenta al hacer la divisidn 
 final de las entradas. 
 
 El plan total del Zollverein fu6 cam- 
 biado y reformado en diversas ocasiones. 
 Pero nunca se pensd que esta Conferencia 
 debiera oouparse, ni determinar nada, 
 respecto £i arreglos sobre los diferentes 
 dorechos de importacidn, 6 para estable- 
 cer una base equitativa para la divisifiu 
 de los derechos cobrados. A nosotros nos 
 corresponde solo establecer principios 
 generales, y & otros les tocar^ perfeo- 
 cionar los detalles. Nuestro deber se 
 habrd; cumplido m& satisfactoriamente 
 cuando hayamos trazado las Hneas que de- 
 ber^n seguir en el porvenir las corrientes 
 de la riqueza y prosperidadinternacional. 
 A otros les tocar^ construir y explotar 
 esas Hneas. Y aun que es cierto que la 
 sagacldad humana no puede proveer ^ 
 todas las contingonoias del future, debe 
 servirnos de consuelo considerar que cada 
 generacidn tiene en su seno la prudencia 
 y sabiduria que es necesaria para resol- 
 ver los problemas de su respectiva actua- 
 lidad. 
 
 Fu6 en este coucepto, que propnse & la 
 Comisidn ol signiente dict^men, S, saber : 
 
 " Aun cuando esta Conferencia no est^ 
 preparada para decidir si ea 6 no practi- 
 cable por ahora la formacidn de una Liga 
 Aduanera entre los pafses aquf represen- 
 tados, sin embargo, en vista de la gran 
 importancia de dicha Liga, si 6sta pndiera 
 organizarse y establecerse sin causar 
 serios trastornos en los sistemas de Adua- 
 nas de nuestros respectivos Gobiernos, y 
 en vista de la multitud de cuestiones in- 
 trincadas y dificiles que implicaria la re- 
 dacci6n de semejante proyecto de Uni<5n, 
 coll todos los pormenores necesarios para 
 eu buen 6xito, nos parece oportnno re- 
 comendar S, nuestros Gobiernos que nom- 
 brenuna Comisl6n compuesta de peritos 
 en la materia, quo examinen, con el mayor 
 cuidado, el asnnto bajo todos susaspeotos, 
 y estudien cuanto se relacione con la 
 
862 
 
 INTERKATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 make 'report to the several governments 
 interested at the earliest day practioabli. 
 
 " Second, this Conference has no doubt 
 of the propriety and expediency of mak- 
 ing great and important reductions of 
 impost duties between the nations repre- 
 sented herein and we therefore recom- 
 mend to our respective governments that 
 they proceed at once to formnlate and 
 establish treaties of reciprocity, under 
 which the peculiar products of one nation 
 maybe admitted into the ports of others 
 entirely free of duty, or at such reduced 
 I rates of duty as may best promote and 
 advance the welfare of each, having due 
 regard to the revenue systems of the gov- 
 ernments interested, and, also to their 
 subsisting treaty stipulations with Eu- 
 ropean powers." 
 
 This proposition not finding favor, I 
 substituted another form of report based 
 on a compromise between my own views 
 and the expressed wishes of colleagues. It 
 is not substantially dilferent from the ma- 
 jority report as now made, for the form 
 and phraseology of which we are indebted 
 to the distinguished members of the com- 
 mittee from Mexico, Sr. Romero, and Sr. 
 Valente from Brazil. I reproduce this 
 second proposal of mine for the sole pur- 
 pose of indicating and preserving in the 
 record the views and conduct of the 
 United States Delegation on this very 
 important subject. It is as follows : 
 
 " The Committee on Customs Union has 
 made a careful study of the questions sub- 
 mitted to its consideration, and begs 
 leave to report as follows, to wit : 
 
 "A customs union in its generally ac- 
 cepted meaning is an agreement between 
 two or more sovereign powers that in 
 the matter of import duties territorial 
 lines shall be disregarded; that the nations 
 forming such union shall interchange 
 their own commodities on a basis of free 
 trade, adopting substantially the same 
 tariff laws as applicable to other nations 
 and dividiug the revenue thus collected 
 in such proportions as may be fixed by 
 
 .formacidn y planteamiento de dicha Liga, 
 presentaudo su dictiimen, S, los diferentes 
 Gobiernos interesados, tan pronto como 
 lo sea posible. 
 
 "En segundo lugar, esta Conferencia 
 no tiene duda de r^ue es propio y ventajoso 
 efectuar grandes 4 importantes rebajas 
 en los derechos de importacidn que se 
 cobrau entre las nacioues aqui represen- 
 tadas; y nosotros, por oonsiguiente, 
 recomendamos & nuestros respectivos 
 Gobiernos que principien desde luego ^ 
 negociar y^poner en priiotica tratados de 
 reciprocidad, en virtud de los cuales los 
 productos especiales de un pais sean 
 admitidos en los puertos de todos los 
 otros, ya sea enteramente libres de 
 derechos, 6 ya sujetos solo & los derechos 
 mas mddicoB, que sean posibles, para 
 mejor fomentar la prosperidad de cada 
 naei6n, atendiendo debidamente S, los 
 sistemas de rentas de los Gobiernos 
 interesados, y tambien S, los tratados 
 que existan celebrados con los palses 
 europeos." 
 
 Como esta proposicida no ia6 acogida, 
 la sustituj por otra, que era una transac- 
 cidn, 6 t^rmino medio, entre mis opiniones 
 y los deseos expresados por mis colegas. 
 No es en el fondo distinta del dict^men 
 de la mayorla, tal como ha sido pre- 
 sentado, y cuya forma y fraseologla se 
 deben S^ los distinguidos miembros de la 
 Comisidn, el Sefior Romero de Mexico y 
 el Sefior Valente del Brasil. Pondr6 aqul 
 esta segnnda proposicidn mia con solo el 
 objeto de hacer que consten en la dis- 
 cusidn las miras y opiniones, y tambien 
 la conducta de la Delegacidn de los Es- 
 tados Unidos, en este importantisimo 
 negocio. Es la siguiente : 
 
 " La Comisifin de Unidn Aduanera ha 
 estudiado cuidadosamente las cuestlones 
 que se sometieron S, su consideracidn, y 
 tiene el honor de informar lo que sigue : 
 
 •'Se entiende generalmente por Uni6n 
 Aduanera, un convenio entre dos 6 mas 
 naciones soberanas, por el cual se esta- 
 blece que en materia de derechos de impor- 
 tancia se prescinda de Uneas territoriales 
 y que las naciones que forman la uni6n 
 cambien sua productos bajo la base del 
 comercio libre, adoptando sustancial- 
 mente un mismo .irancol, y dividiendo la 
 renta recaudada, en la proporci<5n que se 
 flje, bien porun tratado, bien por un Con- 
 
IKTERNA.TIONAL AMERICAN CONFEEKNCE 
 
 863 
 
 treaty or by the judgment of an inter- 
 national congress representing thenations 
 interested. 
 
 "Tlie establishment of such a union 
 between any considerable number of the 
 States represented in this Conference in- 
 volves numerous, difficulties which, in 
 our judgment, should be seriously con- 
 sidered by our respective governments 
 before approving and accepting the sys- 
 tem. 
 
 " To place such a union apon a basis 
 that would prove to be just and perma- 
 nent might require changes in the consti- 
 tutional provisions of some of the States 
 and would certainly require radical 
 changes in the laws affecting their pres- 
 ent revenue and financial systems. 
 
 "A difiScnlty of no less serious charac- 
 ter would be foand in the constitution of 
 a tribunal for the equitable division and 
 distribution of the common fund collected 
 at the ports of the several States forming 
 the union. 
 
 " But while the committee believes that 
 such a union is at present impracticable, 
 it is clearly of the opinion that all rea- 
 sonable measures looking to the freedom 
 of commerce between the States of the 
 Western Hemisphere should be encour- 
 aged and commended, not only by this 
 Conference but by the States themselves. 
 
 " A measure to which no valid objection 
 can be urged on the part of any State is 
 the creation of reciprocity treaties be- 
 tween such States as may desire a more 
 liberal exchange of the products of their 
 industries. Mutual concessions will cer- 
 tainly bring equivalent benefits. At first 
 fewer articles may beexempted from duty, 
 but as freedom of trade develops new 
 sources of wealth and furnishes other 
 means of revenne, additional articles may 
 be added to the free list, until in the pro- 
 gress of time substantial free trade may 
 be accepted by a large number if not by 
 all American States. 
 
 "The committee therefore recommends 
 to their respective governments that they 
 proceed at the earliest day practicable to 
 
 greso internacional convocado al efecto 
 por los Estados interesados. 
 
 "ElestablecimientedeunaUnidndeesta 
 clase entre tan grande ntlmero dc Estados 
 oomo el de los representados en esta Con- 
 ferencia, presenta muchas dificultades, 
 que ^ nuestro juioio deben previamente 
 considerarse con atenci<3n por nuestros 
 respectivos Gobiernos. 
 
 " Para cimentar esta Uni6n sobre una 
 base justa y permanente, seria tal vez 
 necesario modifioar la Constitucidn de 
 algunos Estados, 6 indudablemente ten- 
 drian tambien que hacerse algunos cam- 
 bios radicales en las leyes de Aduanas y 
 las que estan vigentes sobre asuntos flnan- 
 cieros. 
 
 " Otra dificultad de caritcter no menos 
 serio se encoutraria en la formacidn^de un 
 tribunal, S, quien se encargase la divisi6n 
 equitativa, y el reparto del producto total 
 comlin recaudado en los puertos de los di- 
 ferentes Estados que componen la Unidn. 
 
 "Pero aunque la Comisidn considera 
 que no es practicable por ahora, el es- 
 tablecimieuto deestaUnidn, es deoidida- 
 mente sn opini6n que toda medida razo- 
 nable que tienda hicia el comeroio libre 
 entre los Estados del Hemisferio Occi- 
 dental, debe ser estimada y recomendada, 
 no solo por esta Conferencia, sino por los 
 Estados mismos que S, ella concurren. 
 
 "No puede hacerse objecidn seria por 
 ningun Estado, contra la formacidn de 
 tratados de reciprocidad comeroial entre 
 aquellos paises que deseen obtener mayor 
 liberlad de cambio para los productos de 
 sus industrias. Mdtuas concesiones Tn'Sfa 
 de producir indudablemente mtituas utl- 
 lidades. Al principio solo estarJin exentos 
 de dereohos, unos cnantos artlculos ; pero 
 & medida que la libertad del comercio de- 
 sarroUe nuevas fuentes de riqueza, y su- 
 ministre nuevas fuentes derenta, podilan 
 irse agregando otros artlculos £i la listade 
 los que no pagan derechos, hasta que al 
 fin, con el transcurso del tiempo, quede el 
 libre cambio aceptado 6 instalado en nn 
 gran nlimero de los Estados de America, 
 si no en todos ellos. 
 
 " La Comisl(5n propone por lo tanto & 
 la Conferencia que reoomiende & los Go- 
 biernos en ella representados, que en su 
 
864 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMEBIC AN CONFERENCE. 
 
 formulate and establish treaties of reci- 
 procity between any two or more of the 
 nations here represented, by which their 
 products may be mutually admitted into 
 the ports of the contracting parties, either 
 free of duty or at such reduced rates of 
 duty as may best advance and promote 
 the welfare of each." 
 
 While the majority report is not what I 
 desired, it at least accepts the principle 
 of free commercial intercourse. In that 
 regard it responds to the act of Congress 
 and meets the anticipations of our people. , 
 lu its substance, therefore, and possibly 
 in its exact form, it will receive our sup- 
 port. 
 
 And now, Mr. President, my duty would 
 be fully performed but for the obligation 
 to refer to some of the positions assumed 
 by the distinguished Delegate from the 
 Argentine ^Mr. Saenz Pefia) in his able 
 and elaborate argument against this re- 
 port. The encomiums bestowed by him 
 on the institutions of his own qpuutry 
 meet a joyous welcome in the hearts of 
 all Americans. It is scarcely necessary, 
 in the face of recent events, that we again 
 assure the Delegates here assembled that 
 the prosperity and growth of their re- 
 publics excite no spirit of jealousy or envy 
 with us. On the contrarj their progress 
 is here hailed with sincere delight. 
 
 Republican government is on trial in 
 the Western Hemisphere. Any one failure 
 would weaken the system, while every 
 success adds another column of support. 
 Therefore, if nobler passions were absent, 
 even selfish pride would step in and com- 
 mand our sympathy and help. 
 
 Not one word of censure have we passed 
 on the economical systems of our sister 
 republics. If seeming wrongs come to 
 us at times we attribute them to their 
 necessities. We have implicitly trusted 
 in their good-will, and we patiently 
 await the application of their own reme- 
 dies. 
 
 oportunidad conveniente negocien y cele- 
 bren tratados de reciprocidad comBrcial, 
 mediante los cuales se admitan mtitua- 
 mente sus respectivoa productos, en los 
 puertos de las naciones signatarias, 6 
 bien libres de derechos, 6 pag^ndolos 
 muy medicos, S, fin de fomentar el biea- 
 estar comfin." 
 
 Annque el dict^men de la mayoria no 
 es exactamente como yo lo deseaba, aeep- 
 ta al m^nos el principio de la libertad 
 de comercio. En este respecto satisface 
 d las exigencias de lo que dispone el Acto 
 del Congreso, y las. esperanzas denuestro 
 pueblo. Por lo tanto noaotros los delega- 
 dos de los Estados Unidos apoyamos la 
 substancia de ese dict^men, y tal vez po- 
 driamos tambieu aceptarlo en la forma 
 quetieue. 
 
 Con esto Senor Presideni e, terminarian 
 mis deberes en el asunto. Pero tengo que 
 hacer referenda S, la actitud tomada por 
 el distinguido delegado de la Rep^blica 
 Argentina (SeHor Saenz Pena) en su 
 h^bil y bien escrito alegato contra el ex- 
 presado dict^men. Las alabanzas que 
 prodiga ^ las instituciones de su pais son 
 reoibidas con cordial aplauso y alegria 
 por todos los Americanos. Escasamente 
 es necesario afirmar, en vista de recientes 
 aoontecimientos, que es nuestro deseo 
 asegurar una vez m^s ^ los delegados aqui 
 rennidos, que la prosperidad y progreso 
 de sus Repliblicas no despierta en noso- 
 tros uingdnespiritu de celos, 6 de euvidia. 
 Muy al contrario, ese progreso lo aclama- 
 mos con deleite y satisfaccidn sincera. 
 
 El Gobierno repnblicano est^ ^ prueba 
 en nnestro Hemisferio. Un solo descala- 
 bro debilltaria todo el sistema ; y por el 
 contrario cada triunfo le anade un nuevo 
 apoyo. Por tanto, si sentimientos mas 
 nobles nos faltaeen, aunque no fuese mas 
 que por orgullo 6 interns propio, tendri- 
 amos que experimeutar la profunda y 
 sincera simpatfa, que sentimos por tan 
 gran adelanlo. 
 
 Ni una sola censura se ha escapado de 
 nuestros labios contra los sistemas eco- 
 n(5micos de las Repliblicas hermanas. Si 
 alguna vez esos sistemas nos ban hecho 
 al'gun dano, lo bemos atribuido & las ne ' 
 cesidades del pais. Hemes confiado im- 
 plicitamente en su baena voluntad, y 
 hemos esperado con paciencia & que ellaa 
 a.ismas aplicasen el remedio oportuno. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 .865 
 
 It therefore pains us the more that the 
 distinguished Delegate should justify his 
 distrust of our good faith in now offering 
 reciprocity treaties by recalling our re- 
 jection of such treaties twenty years ago. 
 At that time we had just emerged from 
 the shadow of a great war — a war whose 
 exaotionscouldnothaveljeen borne by any 
 people who loved their country less. At 
 that time (1870) we owed a debt of 
 $2,600,000,000, borrowed from confiding 
 creditors abroad, and commercial honor 
 commanded its payment. 
 
 For the six years preceding this action 
 of Mr. Pish, and inclusive of the year 
 1870, we had collected nearly $200,000,000 
 per year from customs dues, and largely 
 over $200,000,000 per year from internal 
 and excise taxes. This was a bitter neces- 
 sity, from which there could be no es- 
 cape until, by faithful payments, we 
 copld reduce the annual interest and pay 
 a part of the debt. That has now been 
 df-ne. The excise taxes, which then 
 aflfeoted almost every industry and trans- 
 action of the citizen, have been removed, 
 except upon tobacco and fermented and 
 distilled liquors. 
 
 Numerous articles then subject to tariff 
 duties have been placed on the free lists, 
 and in other cases import duties are 
 greatly reduced. The public debt is 
 now within $1,000,000,000, undergoing 
 monthly reduction, bearing a low rate 
 of interest, and capable of reduction to 
 the lowest rate known among nations, if 
 any of it should remain unpurchased at 
 its maturity. 
 
 A maxim of the law no less than of good 
 morals commands that we be not gener- 
 ous at the expense of justice. We can- 
 not give away that which belongs to 
 another. Our revenue to the highest en- 
 durance of taxation then belonged to 
 our creditors. At that time almost every 
 article of importation, from whatever 
 source, paid duty, and we had constant 
 struggle to pay ouf expenses and maintain 
 our credit. At present there is an annual 
 surplusrevenue of over $70,000,000. This 
 55 10 
 
 Es por esta razon, que nos ha dolido 
 tanto que el distinguido delegado bus- 
 case apoyo para su desoouflanza en nues- 
 tra bueua f6, al propouer tratados de re- 
 ciprocidad, en el hecho de que hace veinte 
 afios los rechazamos. Acab^bamos en- 
 tonces de salir de una gran guerra, cuyas 
 exigencias no hubiera podido soportar 
 pueblo alguuo que amase meuos quenoso- 
 tros & su propio pals. En aquella (5pooa 
 (1870) pesaba sobre nosotros una deuda 
 de $2,600,000,000, que habiamos contraido 
 con acroedores extrangeros que confiaban 
 en nosotros ; y nuestro honor nos forzaba 
 & satisfacerla. Durante los seis alios que 
 precediiron & la respuesta citada del Sr. 
 Fish, inn.luyendo el ano de 1870, estuvi- 
 mos recaudando casi $200,000,000 al afio 
 por derechos de aduana, y mucho mfc de 
 $200,000,000 al iiBo por impuestos y con- 
 tribuciones interiores. 
 
 Amarga era la necesidad de hacerlo asf ; 
 pero no habia modo de evitarla niientras 
 no se hubit'se reducido el interes anual 
 quo se pagaba puntualmente, y se hubiese 
 tambieu satisfecho una parte de la denda. 
 Eso es^ hecho en el dia. Las contribu- 
 ciones que pesaban sobre casi todas las 
 industrias y sobre casi todas las tran- 
 sacciones del ciudadano ban sido supre- 
 midas, con excepcidn tan solo de las que 
 auu pesan sobre el tabaco y las bebidas 
 espirituosas y fermentadas. Numerosos 
 articulos que pagaban entonces derechos 
 de Aduana figuran hoy en la lista de los 
 que se importan libremente. La deuda 
 priblica se ha reducido & menos de $1,000,- 
 000,000, y se disminuye mea por mes. El 
 inter6s que se.paga es mucho mas bajo, y 
 puede reducirse al tipo mas bajo que es 
 conocido entrelas naciones, si es que algo 
 quedare de esa deuda que no haya sido 
 redimido antes de su vencimiento. 
 
 Es mdlxima de derecho y de sana moral 
 que no seamos generosos, perjudioando 
 laJHsticia. No podemos regalar lo que 
 no nos perteneoe. Nuestras rentas tan 
 altas como la paciencia de los contribu- 
 yentes podia permitirlo, pertenecian & 
 nuestros aoreedores. En aquel tiempo 
 casi no habia artlculo importado de donde 
 quiera que,, viniese, que no pagase dere- 
 chos ; y tuvimns que estar en una lucha 
 constante para cubrir nuestros gastos y 
 mantener nuestro or^dito. Actualmente 
 
866 
 
 INTEENATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 must and will be reduced, and I have 
 believed that a wise statesmanship on the 
 part of the Republics represented in this 
 Conference Aould seek the benefit of this 
 reduction. 
 
 In 1870 our necessities demanded one 
 course of action. In 1890 our necessities 
 equally demand another course of action. 
 Tem/pwa mutantur et noa muiamur in illis. 
 Timi-s change and with them we change. 
 
 The honorable Delegate tells us that 
 commerce obeys the laws of interest and 
 not those of affection. He then proceeds 
 to arraign the tariff policy < f the United 
 States, and seemingly satisfies his own 
 mind that the Argentine Republic can find 
 no profit in trading with a people who tax 
 two-thirds of their importations. His en- 
 tire speech is burdened with studied and 
 labored complaints to show the injustice 
 of our selfish and exclusive policy. He 
 extols the virtue and excellence of free 
 trade and commends it in glowing rheto- 
 ric to the acceptance of nations. 
 
 This is not the time nor the place for 
 me to discuss the comparative merits of 
 free trade and protection. I pause only 
 to ask my friend why he fails to accept the 
 logic of his own argument. We offered 
 him absolute free trade and he rejected it. 
 We offer him now in the majority report 
 liberal treaties of reciprocity and they too 
 find no favor. 
 
 He complains that Argentine wool is 
 excluded from our marke^8, and con- 
 • trasts the liberality of England with the 
 selfishness of the United States. Will 
 he permit me to remind him that Great 
 Britain, wilh free trade, purchased of the 
 Argentine list year 1,*26,067 pounds of 
 wool, while the United States purchased 
 from her 11,000,584 pounds, or nearly nine 
 times as much ? 
 
 But whatever complaints may be 
 lodged against our commercial policy by 
 
 tenemos un sobrante de m^ de $70,U0O,- 
 000 por alio. Esto debo redncirse, y se 
 reduciri; y me parece que una politica 
 prudente de parte de las Republicas 
 americanas deberia inducirlas S, aprove- 
 charse del beneflcio que esta reduccidn 
 les proporcione. 
 
 En 1870 nuestras necesidades nos impo- 
 nfan una linea de conducta especial. En 
 1890 nuestras necesidades aoonsejau una 
 conducta distinta. Tempora mutantur et 
 nos mutamus in illia. Los tiempos cambiau 
 y con ellos cambiamos nosotros. 
 
 El Honorable delegado nos dice que el 
 comercio obedece ^ las leyes del interns y 
 no ^ las del sentimiento ; formulando en 
 seguida una acusacidn contra el arancel 
 de Aduanas de los Estados Unidos. La 
 conclusidn que de esto saca, y que parece 
 serle satisfactoria, es que la Reptiblica 
 Argentina no se beneficiard en nada co- 
 merciando con un pais que impone dere- 
 chos S, las dos terceras partes de todo lo que 
 importa. Su discurso entero estd^ lleno 
 de quejas estudiadas con prolijidad y es- 
 mero, con que aspira & demostrar la in- 
 justicia de nuestra exclusiva y egoista 
 politica. Alaba las virtudes y excelen- 
 cias del libre cambio, y elocuentemente 
 lo recomienda ^ la aceptaoifin de las na- 
 ciones. 
 
 No es este el lugar ni la ocasidn en que 
 yo eraprenda discutir 6 comparar los m6- 
 ritos respectivos del libre cambio y de 
 la proteccidn. Me detengosim plemente 
 para preguntar £i mi amigo j porque eu- 
 tonces no sigue 61 mismo la 16gica de su 
 argumento? Nosotros le hemos ofrecido 
 libre cambio, corapleto y absoluto: y 61 
 lo ha reohazado. Le ofrecemos ahora, 
 como se ve en el diotdmen de la mayoria, 
 tratados liberales de reciprocidad y tam- 
 poco los mira con favor. Se queja de que 
 111 lana argentina estii excluida de nues- 
 tros mercados, y-contrasta la liberalidad 
 de Inglaterra con el egoismo de los Esta- 
 dos Unidos. J Me permitirS que le recu- 
 erde que la Gran Bretana, con libre cam- 
 bio, comprd de la Reptiblica Argentina, 
 el ano pasado, 1,326,067 libras de lana, 
 mientras que los Estados Unidos oompra- 
 ron de la misma 11,000,584 libras, 6 cerca 
 de nueve veoes m^ ? 
 
 Pero Sean cnales fueron las quejas que 
 las naciones Europeas puedan presenter 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 867 
 
 European nations, certainly tlie American 
 Republics should not complain of us. 
 
 Taking the year 1888 as the last one 
 furnishing full statistics, I find that we 
 sold to the Argentine, of our domestic 
 products, $6,099,411, of which nearly 
 every article was subject to duty in her 
 ports. In the same time we purchased of 
 the Argentine goods valued at |5,902,109, 
 of which the dutiable articles amounted 
 to only $1,34 j,088, or less than one-fourth 
 of the whole. And deducting from these 
 dutiable articles the wool we received, 
 costing $1,178,003, it leaves only $164,065 
 of Argentine productions which paid duty 
 into our Treasury, These articles, ex- 
 cluding the wool only, which averaged 
 24.T9 per cent., probably paid into our 
 Treasury not exceeding $73,000. And at 
 this point permit me to say that we an- 
 nually import from all countries about 
 100,000,000 pounds of wool, and this coun- 
 try stands ready to establish with the Ar- 
 gentine the most liberal treaties of reci- 
 procity by which the only remaining 
 articlee of her exportation into our coun- 
 try may be admitted free of duty. 
 
 We sold to Chili in 1888 goods valued 
 at f2,423,303, She sold us goods valued 
 at $2,894,.')20, all of which came into our 
 ports free except $256,280; and of the 
 latter amount $217,987 represented wool, 
 leaving of other articles taxable the 
 inslgnifiLant sum of $38,293. This at the 
 average rate of duty in this country ex- 
 cluding the wool, paid into our Treasury 
 about $17,000. The wool of Chili, like 
 that of the Argentine, we now offer to 
 accept free of charge through liberal 
 treaties of reciprocity. 
 
 To Brazil we export only $7,063,892, 
 while we import of her products $53,710,- 
 334. Of this large amount only $6,836,- 
 
 contra nuestra politica oomeroial, no son, 
 poc cierto, las Repiiblicas Americanas las 
 que pueden seguirlas en ese camino y 
 quejarse tainbien de nosotros. 
 
 Referi^ndome a.l ano de 1888 riltimo de 
 que tenemos estedlsticas complotas, en- 
 cuentro que vendimos ^ la Repliblica 
 Argentina, produotos nuestros por valor 
 de $6,099,411, y que casi sobre todos ellos, 
 hubo que pagar derechos de importacidn 
 en los puertos de aquella Repliblica. En 
 es mismo peiiodo, le compramos articulos 
 suyos por valor de $3,902,169, y de ellos 
 no pagd derechos sine una parte quo repre- 
 senta solo $1,342,088, 6 sea m6nos de un 
 cuarto del total. Deduciendo de estos 
 articulos que pagaron derechos, la lana 
 que recibimos por valor de $1,178,003 solo 
 quedan $164,085 para representar el valor 
 de las producciones de la Repliblica Ar- 
 gentina, que fuerou gravadas en bene- 
 ficiodeuuestro erario. Estos articulos, ex- 
 cluyendo la lana, que rindi6 por t^rmino 
 medio, uu 24.70 por ciento, no pagaron 
 ])robablemente ^ nuestra Tesorurla mas 
 que unos $73,000. Y permitaseme decir en 
 este momeuto que nosotros importamos 
 anualmeiite de lodos los paises unos cien 
 millones de libras de lana, y que estamos 
 dispuestos ^ hacer con la Repliblica Ar- 
 gentina los tratados m^s liberales que 
 scan posibles de reciprocidad comercial, 
 por medio de los cuales se admitan en 
 nuestros puertoa libres de derechos los 
 linicos articulos que se exportan de su pais 
 para el nuestro. 
 
 A Chile le vendimos en 1888efectos va- 
 lorados en $2,423,303 ; y Chile nos vendid 
 por $2,894,5 iO, de lo cual todo entrd en 
 nuestros puertos libre de derechos, ex- 
 cepto solo $256, 2S0. De esta ultima can- 
 tidad $217,987 represeutaron el valor de 
 la lana que nos vino de aquel pals, que- 
 dando asl la insignificaute suma de $38,293 
 para representar el valor de los otros arti- 
 culos que pagaron derechos. Esto, al tipo 
 medio de los derechos que se pagan en 
 nuestro pals, exceptuadalalana, produjo 
 para el erario unos $17,000. Nosotros ofre- 
 cemos aoeptar las lanas de Chile, como las 
 Argentinas, libres de derechos por medio 
 de tratados de reciprocidad. 
 
 Expsrtamos para el Biasil tan solo por 
 cantidad de $7,033,892 6 importamos de 
 alll $53,710,234. De esta gran cantidad 
 
868 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONPEKENCE. 
 
 410 is dutiable, and of the dutialile arti- 
 cles sugar alone constitutes $6,752,555, 
 leaving of other articles a value of only 
 183,885 subject to tax; 
 
 To Brazil we now tender such induce- 
 ments on the subject of sugar as will 
 stimulate that industry and afiford it an 
 assured and lasting market in the United 
 States. 
 
 If we take Venezuela, the showing is no 
 less liberal on our part. While she buys 
 of us only $3,008,336, we purchase of her 
 products valued at |10,051,250, and of this 
 large sura comparatively speaking, we tax 
 only $8,345, receiving into our Treasury 
 less than $4,000 from a commerce with 
 Venezuela of $13,000,000. 
 
 In the same manner we have an annual 
 commerce with Colombia of over $9,000,- 
 000, of which importations amounting to 
 only $148,890 pay duty. Hides, rubber, 
 vegetable ivory, vanilla, cocoa, coffee, 
 bananas, and cocoanuts all come free, and 
 the chief article taxed is opium prepared 
 for smoking, an article that should not be 
 either produced or consumed. 
 
 All of South America purchases from us 
 $28,609,144. We purchase from South 
 America $84,356,398, of which less than 
 one-seventh (or $11,880,490) pays duty. 
 If vce deduct the dmiable importations 
 from British, French, and Dutch Guiana, 
 consisting largely of sugar, we have only 
 $8,989,719 of dutiable articles received 
 from all the Republics of South America. 
 
 The Central American S'ates make no 
 charge of illiberality against us. They 
 annually buy of us $4,131,574 and we buy 
 of them to the extent of $7,623,378, and 
 of this latter amount the dutiable list is 
 only $266,523, 
 
 To Mexico we export, through her sea- 
 ports, $9,242,188 (I have not the exports 
 by rail), while we import |17,329,889, of 
 which goods to the amount of $6,287,117 
 pay duty. 
 
 de artioulos solo se pagan derechos per 
 $6,83fi,410, de que oorresponden al azricar 
 $6,752,555 ; de modo que no queda para 
 los dem^s artfculos sido la pequeBa suma 
 de $83,855 que pagan derechos, 
 
 Al Brasil lehacemosproposiciones tales 
 respecto del azficar, que si se aceptan, fo- 
 mentard)n su iudustria en este ramo y le 
 proporcionard^n un mercado seguro y per- 
 manente en los Estados Unidos, 
 
 Con VeneEuela nuestra oondncta no es 
 m^nos lijjeral. Ella uos compra por valor 
 Je $3,008,336; pero nosotros le compramos 
 $10,051,250 de sus productos; y de esta 
 suma que oomparativameute bablando es 
 granao, solo pagan derechos unos $8,345, 
 de que resulta para nuestra Tesorerfa una 
 entrada de mSnos de $4,000, oomo resul- 
 tado de un comercio que asciende ^ $13,- 
 000,000. 
 
 Lo misnio pasa con Colombia. Nuestro 
 comercio anual con esa Eepfiblica asci- 
 ende & $9,000,000, en los cuales la impor- 
 tacion que paga derechos solo representa 
 $148,890. Cueros, goma elfetica, marfil 
 vegetal, vaiuilla, cacao, caf6, plritanos, y 
 cocos, todo eso entra libre de derechos; 
 y el principal articulo importado que 
 los paga es el opio preparado para fumar, 
 articulo que nodebia, enrealidad, nipro- 
 ducirse ni consumirse. 
 
 TodalaAm^ricadelSud compra deno.so- 
 tros por valor do $28,609,144. Nosotros 
 le compramos por el de $84,356,398 ; y de 
 esta totalidad una s^ptima parte y nada 
 mSs ($11,880,490), est^ gravada con dere- 
 chos. Si deducimos la que se importa 
 gravado, dela Guayanasinglesa, francesa 
 y holandesa, y consiste principalmente 
 en azilcar, resulta que todas las mercan- 
 cias importadas de todas las Replblicas 
 de Sud America, en los Estados Unidos, 
 ascienden en valor ii $8,989,719. 
 
 Las Reptiblicas de Centre-America no 
 nos acusan de egoistas. Hollas nos com- 
 pran anualmente por valor de $4,131,574, 
 y nosostros les compramos por valor de 
 $7,623,378; y de estos solo $266,523 pagan 
 derechos. 
 
 A Mexico enviamos por la. via marlti- 
 ma, porque no conozco lo que enviamos 
 por ferro-carril, $9,242,188 ; y de 61 impor- 
 t^mos $17,329,889. De los artioulos que 
 representan este gran valor, los que pagan 
 derechos montau solo S $6,287,117, La 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 869 
 
 The Mexican dutiable list, oonBisting 
 largely of lint-bearing products, sucli as 
 hemp, jute, sisal grass, etc., may be 
 greatly modified, if not entirely changed 
 to the free list, under the operation of 
 discreet reciprocal legislation. 
 
 The moment we leave our sister Repub- 
 lics the relations of trade are changed. 
 Our imports from the West Indies amount 
 to $71,565,666, of which over $61,000,000 
 are dutiable and only $10,000,000 are non- 
 dutiable. The same is the case in British 
 6'uiana, from which we import to the 
 value of $2,816,627, all of it dutiable ex- 
 ■oept $5,755. 
 
 I allude to these statistics for the sole 
 purpose of vindicating the United States 
 against the charge of selfishness and 
 unkindness in its commerce with the 
 American Republics. Great Britaiu might 
 complain that while she annually buys 
 of us $358,238,790, we buy of her only 
 $177,897,975. Belgium might complain 
 that while we purchase of her $10,000,000, 
 she buys of us nearly $25,000,000. The 
 balance of our trade with Spain is nearly 
 $10,0i,0,000 against her, and even with the 
 wool-growihg countries of Australasia our 
 trade is as two to one in our favor. 
 
 In our commerce with all Europe in 
 1888, the balance of trade in our favor 
 was $142,040,628. In our trade with 
 South America the balance against us is 
 $54,777,171. Of our total exports abroad 
 both Chili and the Argentine Republic 
 combined take but little over 1 per cent., 
 an amount insufficient to excite avarice or 
 tempt cupidity. I therefore pray my hon- 
 orable friend, that when he speaks of us 
 hereafter, he speak of us as we are — 
 "nothing extenuate nor set down aught 
 in malice." 
 
 lista de loR produotos mexicauos que pa- 
 gan derechos comprende principalmente 
 productos textiles, como c^namo, heni- 
 quen, agave, etc., etc. ; pero los derechos 
 que so cargan S, estos y otros artlculos 
 pueden ser rebajados considerablemente, 
 si no abolidos por completo por tratados 
 de reoiprocidad. 
 
 Nuestras importaoiones de las Autillaa 
 asoienden ^$71,565,566; de los cuales hay 
 $61,000,000 que pagan derechos. Los 
 artlculos libres no pasan de un valor de 
 $10,000,000. Lo Djiamo nos sucede con la 
 Guayana inglesa, de la quo importamos 
 $2,816,627 ; pag^udose derechos sobre 
 todo eso, excepto $5,755. 
 
 Se ve, pues que en el momento eu que 
 nos separamos de las Repfiblioas nuestras 
 hermanas, nuestras relaciones comerciales 
 experimentan un cambio. 
 
 Cito todas estas estadfsticas con el tlnico 
 objeto de vindicar S, los Estados Unidos 
 contra la acusacidn flue se le haoe de ser 
 egoista y desconsiderado en su comercio 
 con lasRepriblicaa Amerioanas. La Grau 
 Bretana podriaquejarae, pues que aunque 
 nos compra anualmente por valor de 
 $358,238,790, nosotros no le oompramos 
 sine $177,897,975. Tambien pudiera ha- 
 cerlo B^Igica, pues que nosotros le com- 
 pramos por valor de $10,000,000, mientras 
 que ella nos compra por cosa de $25,000,- 
 000. La balanza de nuestro comercio 
 con Espafia es de unos $10,000,000 contra 
 ella ; y hasta con los paises prodnctores de 
 lana de Australasia, nuestro comercio 
 guarda la proporci6n de dos ^ uno en fa- 
 vor nuestro. 
 
 La balanza del comercio en nuestro 
 triifico con Europa en 1888 in6 de $142,- 
 040,628 & nuestro favor. En nuestro 
 tr^ficocon laAmdricadel Sud, la balanza 
 contra nosotros asoendid & $54,777,171. 
 De todas nuestras exportaoiones al ex- 
 trangero oorresponden ^ Chile y ^ la Re- 
 ptiblica Argentina (los dos paises juntos), 
 poco mds del uno por ciento, lo que es 
 por oierto una suma demasiado insigni- 
 ficante para excitar la avaricia, 6 desper- 
 tar codicia. 
 
 Supllco, pues, & my Honorable amigo 
 que en lo sucesivo, cuando hable de no- 
 sotros, nos pinte como somos, sin atenuar 
 6 exagerar nuestras cosas ("nothing ex- 
 tenuate nor set down aught in malice "). 
 
870 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 For the revenue syntem of the United 
 States we do not claim perfection. Like 
 many other national measures it has taken 
 shape from the circumstances attending 
 its growth and development. It had its 
 origin in the necessities of the Treasury, 
 and has been modified from time to time 
 as those necessities changed. Increased 
 revenue was its original olject, and pro- 
 tection was merely incidental. 
 
 In the rapid growth of the country 
 conditions are materially changed. We 
 have now reached a point where great 
 and immediate reductions are absolutely 
 demanded. It is at such a period that we 
 call our sister Republics to consider the 
 propriety of reciprocal trade. We do not 
 call them to consider a barren impossi- 
 bility. We have a Treasury surplus of 
 $70,000,000. This must be stricken from 
 our revenues. I have already shown that 
 our entire dutiable importations from the 
 Republics represeutgd here to-day are as 
 follows: 
 
 From South America |8,989 719 
 
 From Mexico 6, 28!t, 1 17 
 
 From Central America 226, 523 
 
 Total 15,505,359 
 
 The duty on these importations, at the 
 average tariff rate of 45 percent., would 
 be 17,000,000. We can safely dispense 
 with that sum and there still remains a 
 surplus of $63,000,000. With, this large 
 sum we shall be able to comply with the 
 hard conditions imposed on us by the 
 Argentine as a condition of reciprocal 
 commerce. The honorable Delegate, it 
 will be remembered, demands as a con- 
 dition precedent to free trade with his 
 Republic, that we admit free of duty raw 
 material not only from the Argentine but 
 from all the world. Without this he 
 claims that the United States can never 
 be able to compete with European na- 
 tions in foreign markets. Human reason- 
 ing can not disturb the multiplication 
 table, and one cold fact sometimes robs 
 rhetoric .of all its beauty. At the mo- 
 ment the gentleman was making hia 
 
 For lo que haoe al sistema de rentas 
 pliblicas de los Estados Unidos no lo oree- 
 mos perfecto. A semejanza de otras ins- 
 tituciones naolonales, ha venido tomando 
 forma, con arreglo & las circunstanoias 
 en quo nacieron y se desarroUaron. De- 
 bid su origen S, las necesidades del erario, 
 y ha ido cambi^ndose ^ medida que estas 
 lo permitian. Su esenoial objeto primi- 
 tivo fu(S aumentar las rentas nacionales; 
 la protecci6n de la industria fu6 mera- 
 mente incidental. For virtud del r^pido 
 crecimiento del pals, la condioi<5n de las 
 cosas ha c^mbiado per complete. Hemes 
 Uegado S, un punto en que se hace neoe- 
 saria una considerable reducci6n de nues- 
 tras entradas; y es este el momento en que 
 invitamos ^ las Repliblicas, nuestras her- 
 manas, & considerar la conveniencia de 
 fomentar y mejorar nuestro comercio ; no 
 por cierto para estudiar una esteril im- 
 posibilidad. Nosotros tenemos en nues- 
 tra Tesoreria un sobrante en caja de 
 $70,000,000 ; y esto ha de desaparecer de 
 nuestro sistema de rentas. He demos- 
 trado ya que el total de lo que impor- 
 tamos de las Repliblicas aqul representa- 
 das, que entra gravado con derechos es 
 hoy como sigue : 
 
 America del Sud |8, 989, 719 
 
 Mexico 6,289,119 
 
 America Central 226, 523 
 
 Total 15,550,359 
 
 Los derechos que cobramos sobre estas 
 importaciones, al tipo medio del arancel 
 de 45 por ciento, ascienden solamente & - 
 siete millones de pesos ; y esta esuna suma 
 de que facilmente podriamos desprender- 
 nos, qued^ndonos todavia un sobrante de 
 $63,000,000. Sobre esta crecida base de 
 riqueza, bien podemos aoeptar las duras 
 coudiciones que la Reptiblica Argentina 
 nos impone, para estableoer con nosotros 
 un comercio reciproco. Debe no olvidarse 
 que el Honorable delegado exige como 
 condici6n previa para establecer libra 
 cambio entre nosotros y su Republica la 
 de que nosotros admitamos libre de dere- 
 cho, las materias primas procedentes no 
 solo de la Repiiblioa Argentina sino tam- 
 bien del mundo entero. Sin esto, dice, 
 los Estados Unidos no podrfin nunoa com- 
 petir con las naciones europeas en los 
 mercaflos extraugeros. 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 871 
 
 speech in this body the following notice 
 was coming to onr State Department : 
 
 "Twenty-five thousand tons of Ameri- 
 can steel rails have recently been im- 
 ported into Mexico for use in the con- 
 struction of the Monterey and Mexican 
 Gnlf Railroad. The president of the 
 road says that the cost was less than it 
 would have been on the same quantity 
 of European steel rails of the same, 
 grade." 
 
 This occurs, too, when the tariff ou 
 ore is 75 cents per ton, on pig-iron $6.72 
 per ton, on steel rails themselves 1 17.00 
 per ton. 
 
 What is here said is eqally true in re- 
 spect of iron and steel in every form, of 
 boots and shoes, of furniture, of agri- 
 cultural implements, of cotton manu- 
 factures in all the forms of ordinary use, 
 of locomotives and railway-cars, and of 
 numberless other articles where the tariff 
 duty is swallowed up in the competition 
 between domestic producers. 
 
 The honorable member finds among our 
 importations certain articles similar to 
 those manufactured in the United States, 
 and without reflection rushes to the con- 
 clusion that the laws of interest alone 
 prompt these importations. Other mo- 
 tives may, and often do, control the pur- 
 chase of the foreign article at even higher 
 prices. Where great individual wealth 
 prevails, the promptings of taste, and 
 even vanity, may induce the importa- 
 tion. On no other theory is it possible 
 that foreign ales and beer to the extent 
 of 2,500,000 gallons should be brought to 
 this country. We produce these articles 
 in all varieties, in unbounded quantities, 
 and at the lowest possible cost of pro- 
 duction, yet consumers are found willing 
 to pay an impost tax of 52 per cent, for 
 the foreign article. The same may be 
 said of other articles which are largely 
 
 No hay razonamiento humano que 
 pueda alterar la tabla de multiplicar, y 
 la frialdad de los hechos roba muchas 
 veces toda su belleza & los esfuerzos de 
 retdrica. Justamente eu la bora misma 
 en que el Honorable delegado estaba pro- 
 nunciando su discurso ante este cuerpo, 
 llegaba £. nuestro Departamento de Estado 
 la siguiente uoticia : 
 
 " En Mexico se ban importadas recien- 
 temente 25,000 toneladas de carriles de 
 acero americano para construccidn del 
 ferro-carril de Monterey al Golfo de Mex- 
 ico. El Presideute de la CompaSJa de ese 
 ferro-carril, dice que el costo de dichos 
 carriles es niucho m6nor que el que exi- 
 giria la misma cantidad y calidad de car- 
 riles de acero venidos de Europa". 
 
 Y esto sucede aun ahora, cuando el 
 derecho que grava el mineral dehierro es 
 .75 por tonelada, el que pesa sobre el 
 hierro en lingotes $6.72 por tonelada, y el 
 que pagan los carriles de acero f 17 por 
 tonelada. 
 
 Todo lo que se dice es igualmente 
 cierto con respecto al hierro y al acero en 
 todas sus formas, ^ las botas y zapatos ; 
 S, los muebles, S, los instrumeatos de 
 agricultura, S, los tejidos de algddon en 
 todas las formas de uso comtin, S, las loco- 
 motoras y coches de ferro-carril, y & otros 
 varies innumerables artlculos, en que 
 desaparecen los derechos de Aduana en la 
 competencia con los productores del pals. 
 
 El Honorable delegado encuentra que 
 en nuestras importaciones fignran ciertos 
 artlculos de la misma clase, de los que se 
 f abrican en los Estados Unidos ; y de ese 
 hecho oonoluye, sin refleccionar bastante, 
 que las leyes del interns son las linicas 
 que imperan en estas importaciones. 
 Pero son otros los motivos que pueden 
 imperar, y que realmente imperan, en la 
 compra de artlculos extrangeros, aun & 
 preoios m^s elevados. Donde prevalece 
 una gran riqueza individual, las aspira- 
 ciones del buen gusto y aun de la vanidad, 
 son causa muchas veces de estas impdrta- 
 ciones. De ningtin otro modo se explica 
 que se importen aqui sobre 2,500,000 
 galones de cervezas extrangeras, cuyos 
 artlculos producimos nosotros en cantidad 
 ilimitada, y cou el menor costo posible. 
 Sin embargo hay cousumidores que pagan 
 con gusto un impuesto 6 contribucidn de 
 
872 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 imported, while domestic products of the 
 same liind are still more largely exported. 
 
 The first stage of national growth is 
 agricultural, the aeooiid is manufactur- 
 ing, and the third is commercial. The 
 first two stages with us have been 
 reached, and we now enter upon the 
 third. The same restless energy, the 
 same enterprise, and the same inventive 
 genius which gave success to agriculture 
 and manufactures will mark the develop- 
 ment of commerce. 
 
 The census of 1890 will disclose an au- 
 t 
 
 nual manufacturing product in the United 
 States of |>i, 000,000, 000. The products of 
 the farm will be vastly greater. The 
 use of these products at home shows ac- 
 cumulating wealth and comfort among 
 the people and marks the highest stage 
 of civilization. 
 
 But even these vast products may be 
 increased by slight exerlion, and we 
 admit that we seek other markets. 
 Surely this desire is a legitimate one, and 
 if we can furuish these products to other 
 nations at the lowest price their interest 
 and ours will both be promoted by the 
 transaction. 
 
 If we can not furnish them cheaper 
 than o; hers, reciprocity treaties will not 
 compel the contracting nation to take 
 them. The Argentine is now offered open 
 ports for all her products in return for 
 what may prove an empty promise to us. 
 We make no complaint that she rejects 
 the offer. The golden opportunity, how= 
 ever, may not come again. 
 
 " The old Scythians 
 Painted Wind fortune's powerful hands with wings 
 To show her pifts come swift and .suddenly, 
 Which if her favori- e be not swift to take 
 He loses them forever." 
 
 In conclusion, Mr. President, I beg my 
 friend to cast away his gloomy fears con- 
 cerning the future of the United States. 
 
 52 por ciento por usar este articulo 
 extrangero. Lo mismo puede decirse de 
 otros artloulos que importamos en grandes 
 cantidades, aunqne tambien exportamos 
 productos dom€sticos de la misma clase 
 en cantidad mncho mayor todavia. 
 
 El primer periodo del creoimiento na- 
 cional es en el sentido de la agricultura, 
 el segundo eu el de la fabricacidn, el 
 tercero en el del comercio. Nosotros 
 hemes pasado por los dos primeros, y 
 entramos ahora len el tercero. El desar- 
 roUo de nuestro comercio se marcar^ por 
 la misma incansable energia el mismo 
 esplritu emprendedor y el mismo genio 
 inventivo que coron6 con 6xito nuestra 
 agricultura y nuestra fabricacifin. El 
 censo de 1890 demostrari que las manu- 
 faoturas de los Estado Unidos han pro- 
 ducido anualmente por valor de $8,000,- 
 000,000. Los productos agrfcolas ser^n 
 todavia mncho mayores. El uso que 
 aqul se hace de estos productos muestra la 
 riqueza y bienestar crecientes de nuestro 
 pueblo, y el altislmo grado de su civiliza- 
 ci6n. 
 
 Pero estos mismos encrmes productos 
 pueden todavia aumentarse, con solo muy 
 pequeuos esfuerzos : y asi es que confesa- 
 mos el deseo de adquirir nuevos mercados. 
 Esto es ciertamente legitime; y si pudie- 
 ramos sumiuistrar & las dem^s naciones ^ 
 precio minimo, los mismos productos, los 
 beneficios que de ello resultard^u serlan 
 para ellas lo mismo que para nosotros. 
 Si no pudieramos suministrarlos mSs bara- 
 tos que otras naciones, los tratados de 
 reoiprocidad no obligarian & que se nos 
 tomasen. Hoy ofrecemos ^ la Repiiblica 
 Argentina entrada libre para todos bus 
 productos, aunque en cambio quizes no 
 resulte para nosotros sino una simple pro- 
 mesa. No nos quejamos de qae ella no 
 acepte nuestro ofrecimiente. Pero una 
 oportunidad tan preciosa quizes no vol- 
 verd^ 6, presentarsele jamSs. 
 
 '•Los antiguos Escitas pintaban con alas 
 las potentes manos de la ciega fortuna, 
 para mostrar que sus favores vienen 
 pronta y repentinamente y que si el fa- 
 vorecido no los acepta con presteza los 
 pierde para siempre." 
 
 Eu conclusido, SenorPresidente, suplico 
 & mi amigo que deseche sus sombrios pre- 
 sentimientos respecto al porvenir de los 
 
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 873 
 
 Our seeming prosperity is not an unsub- 
 stantial mirage, a painted illusion which 
 vanishes before approach, much less Is 
 it the brilliant electric flash to be fol- 
 lowed by blinding darkness. 
 
 If all our foreign trade wore entirely 
 lost, we should not be as one who sorrows 
 wilhout hope. We would still have forty- 
 two rich and powerful nations for thft free 
 interchange of commodities. Our lands 
 would be no less fertile, our mechanics no 
 less ingenious, our mines no less produc- 
 tive. Industries would soon be diversi- 
 fied and adapted to the changed condi- 
 tions. Happily we have among ourselves 
 all the elements of wealth, all th ■ requi- 
 sites of supreme independence. The de- 
 nial of a few accustomed luxuries would 
 not derange our finance s, founded as they 
 are upon a specie basis. It would silence 
 no workshop, stop no locomotive, furl the 
 sail of no inland ship, nor damp the fires 
 of a single furnace. 
 
 Children would still attend the schools 
 and human charities would not be neg- 
 lected. 
 
 We should still retain our institutions 
 of freedom, with all their guaranties of 
 human happiness. The soil would still 
 bring forth abundant crops, while the 
 manufacturer and artist would continue 
 to supply means of comfort and objects 
 of beauty. The climate would be un- 
 changed, and the air still be breathed by 
 freemen only. 
 
 But why do I contemplate, even for a 
 brief moment, such impossible things as 
 suggested by the honorable Delegate. 
 The mission of America ie higher aod 
 nobler than this. Our Congress is now 
 proposing to tender reciprocity to the 
 Canadian provinces. Mexico at last 
 turns away from revolutions and bloody 
 strife, and- devotes her energies to the 
 development of resources rich beyond 
 human conception. Under the adminis- 
 tration of a wise President, the victories 
 of peace claim higher honors than those 
 of war. It is still true that "when the 
 wicked beareth rule, the people mourn ;'' 
 "and when the righteous are in authority, 
 the people rejoice." 
 
 Estados Uuidos. Nuestra patente pros- 
 peridad no es un espejismo tan incorpo- 
 rco, una ilusifin tan dorada, como 61 se 
 figura, lista S, desaparecer cnando nos 
 aceroamos S, ella, y mucho menos la bri- 
 Uante chiepa el(Sctrica que ha de ser se- 
 guida por absolnta oscuridad. Si per- 
 dieramos por complete todo nuestro oo- 
 mercio exterior, no estariamos todavia en 
 la situaci6n del afligido que no tiene es- 
 peranza alguna^ Seriamos todavia cua- 
 reuta y dos naciones ricas y poderosas, 
 con libre y mtituo cambio de nuestros pro- 
 ductos. Nuestraa tlerras no serlan menos 
 fertlles, ni nuestros mecanismos menos 
 ingeuiosos, ni nuestras minas menos pro- 
 ductivas. Las industrias variarian y se 
 adaptarian prontamente & estas nuevas 
 condiciones. Afortunadamente poseemos 
 aqui e.ntre nosotros todos los elementos 
 de riqueza, todos los requisites de inde- 
 pendencia suprcma. La renuucia de al- 
 gunos placeres de Injo & que estamos 
 acostumbrados no desconcertarfa nuestra 
 situacidn finanoiera, que est^ fundada 
 en una base monetaria. 
 
 No enmudeoeriau los talleres, ni se para- 
 rfan las locomotoras; no se recogerlan 
 las velas de los bnques que navegau en 
 nuestros mares interiores, ni se apagarlan 
 los fnegos de una sola fornalla. Los nines 
 continnarlan llenando nuestras innumera- 
 bles escuelas, y las instituciones carita- 
 tivas contiuuarJan recibiendo la misma 
 atenci6n. Retendriamos tambieu todas 
 nuestras libres instituciones, con todas 
 sus garantfas de felicidad humana. El 
 suelo rendiria las mismas abundantes 
 cosechas; y el fabricante y el arlista con- 
 tinnarlan suministrandoarlloulos de uti- 
 lidad y de belleza. El clima no cambiaria, 
 y el misnio aire pure y bemSticb seria 
 sierapre respirado por solo hombres libres. 
 
 Pero jporque me detengo S, considerar, 
 ni aun por uu memento, tales cosas ? La 
 misidn de America es mas alta y mas no- 
 ble que todo eso. Nuestro Congreso se 
 est^ ahora preparando para ofrecer reci- 
 prooidad & las provincias canadieuses. 
 M6xico, al fin ha vuelto la espalda S, las 
 revoluciones y las sangrientas luchas, y 
 emplea su energla en el desarrollo de sus 
 terrenes, mucho mas ricos que lo que la 
 mente humana puede ooncobir. Bajo la 
 administracidn de nn Presidente sabio, 
 
874 
 
 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 The spirit of enterprise begins to spread 
 like contagion into Central America. Im- 
 agination already paints on her canals 
 the commerce of the world. The loco- 
 motive is there a messenger of peace, the 
 steel rail a bond of friendship. 
 
 Colombia and Venezuela and Brazil 
 and Ecuador and Peru already feel the 
 irresistible impulse which impels to a 
 closer union. The Argentine and Chili 
 may hesitate for a time, but finally they 
 too will join hands with their sister Re- 
 publics, and joyfully assist to fulfill the 
 bright destiny that awaits us all. 
 
 los triunfos pacfficos que ha obtenido 
 merecen honores mucho mas altos quo los 
 de la guerra. Todavia es verdad el adagio 
 de que " el Gobierno del malo afligo al 
 pueblo, y el del justo lo regocija." ' 
 
 El espiritu de empresa principia ^ con- 
 tagiar S, Centro-Am<5rica y & esparcirse 
 por todo su territorio. La imaginacidn 
 \6 ya pasar por sus canales el comeroio 
 del mundo. AlK la locomotora es el 
 meusagero de paz y la Tia fSrrea un lazo 
 de amistad. Colombia y Venezuela, el 
 Brasil, Ec^jador, y el Perti, sienten ya el 
 impulse irresistible que los incita ^ una 
 nnidn estrecha. 
 
 Chile y la Argentina vacilariin tal yez 
 por algun tiempo ; pero, al fin, tambien 
 ellas se unir£in S, sus repHblicas hermanas 
 y ayudar^ alegremente & realizar el 
 brillante f utnro que el destine nos depara. 
 
TABLA DE MATERIAS. 
 
 A. 
 
 ACTAS. PAginaH. 
 
 Disposiciones tomadas respeoto de ellas 29,40,43,44,46,47.160,239,337 
 
 ALFONSO (SEiJOR D. JOSE). 
 
 Mencionado ....15, 19, -23, 25, 43, 47, 54, 55, 56, 61, 67, 68, 70, 76, 91,92,93,96,119, 
 129, 160, 186, 197, 208, 210, 211, 215, 235, 239, 249, 254, 273, 283, 289, 
 324, 337, 349, 409, 417, 423, 439, 498, 525, 542, 551, 556, 5!57, 564, 582, 
 583, 588, 590, 591, 652, 653, 662, 706, 750, 756, 784, 793, 795, 800 853 
 
 ANDRADE (SES-QR DON JOSE). 
 
 Menoiouado 28,56,62,71,91,92,122,138,185,214,772,789,801,823 
 
 ARAG-dN (SESTOR DON MANUEL). 
 
 MeDcionado 14, 23, 58, 60, 69,71,76,91,93,100, 137, 146,283, 289, 293, 354, 
 
 369, 409, 423, 486, 497, 498, 525, 564, 649, 653, 675, 676, 815, 817 
 
 ARBITRAGE INTERNACIONAL. 
 
 Plan del Sefior Cesar Norsa de Milan, para establecer un tribunal inter- 
 
 nacional 100 
 
 Proposioiones presentadas por los Sres. Saenz PeBa, Valente y Mendonja. 107 
 
 Texto del dictaraen presentado por la Comiaidn de Bienestar General .. . 662, 683 
 
 Discurso del Sefior Quintana 695 
 
 Id. del Senor Eomero '. '. 697 
 
 Id. del Sefior Varas 706 
 
 Id. del Senor Zelaya 753 
 
 Discurso del Sefior Deooud ....... , 756 
 
 Exposicidn de motivos del Sefior Cruz 757 
 
 Discurso del Sefior Zegarra 768 
 
 Proyecto del Sefior Eomero .v -- 784 
 
 Discurso del Sefior Guzman 818 
 
 B. 
 
 BANCO INTERNACIONAL AMERICANO. 
 
 Eecoiuendada su creacl6n 683 
 
 BANCOS. 
 
 La Comisi6n de Banoos presenta sn diotamen 647 
 
 EI Sr. Varas presenta uu diotamen particular 649 
 
 Texto del diotamen de la Comi8i6n 669 
 
 Id. del Sr. Varas 674 
 
 Enmlenda del Sr. Eomero .- 675 
 
 Enmienda de los Sres. Zegarra, Guzman y Cruz 675 
 
 Nue vo dictamen 675 
 
 Modiiioacidn sugerida por el Sr. Quintana 682 
 
 La acepta el Sr. Hurtado - 682 
 
 Qned6 aprobado el dictamen en su nue va forma 683 
 
 875 
 
876 TABLA DE MATEEIAS. 
 
 PAginaa, 
 
 BIBLIOTECA LATINO-AMERICANA. 
 
 El Sr. Martinez Silva propone su estableoimiento 819 
 
 El Sr. Bolet Peraza propone que se Uame de Colon 815 
 
 BLAINE (HON. JAMES &.). 
 
 Disourso de bienvenida 10 
 
 Elegido Presidente de la Conferenoia , 14 
 
 Menoionado 16,18,36,87,90,93,96,213,088,788,789,806 
 
 Eeoibe un voto de graoias.-^ 816 
 
 Deolara cerrada la Confereucia luternacional Americana 854 
 
 Su disourso de olausura 856 
 
 BLAINE (SR. -WALKER). 
 
 Acuerdo de la Conferenoia con motivo de su fallecimiento 112 y siguienteS. 
 
 BLISS (HON. CORNELIUS N.). ♦ 
 
 Menoionado , 14,15,19,32,72,90,104,281,282,558,816 
 
 BOLET PERAZA (SESTOR D. NICANOR). 
 
 Menoionado 15,28,37,68,70,76,81,92,93,96,116,137, 
 
 146, 282, 337, .162, 365, 368, 424,498,564,662,688,755,780,800,814,819,1-21,894 
 
 BOLIVIA. (Eepresentada por el Sr. D. Juan Francisco Velarde.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidenoia el No. 13 29 
 
 BOURKE (CAPITAN JOHN G.) Vease Sargento de armas. 
 
 BRASIL. (Representado primero por los Sres. D. Lafayette Kodriguea 
 Pereira, D. J. G. do Amaral Valente y D. Salvador de Meudonja: y 
 despues por solo los dos tiltinaos Seiiores.) 
 Le too<5 en el sorteo para la Vioe-Presidencia el No. 10... 25 
 
 C. 
 
 CAAMASO (SEfiOR DON JOSE M. PLACIDO). 
 
 Menoionado 15, 28, 69, 71, 91, 92, 93, 137, 146, 168, 
 
 282, 289, 355, 422, 423, 590, 653, 695, 751, 755, 775, 816, 834, 839 
 CALDEr6n (SEiJOR DON CLfiMACO). 
 
 Menoionado 28,33,91, 92, 134,205, 397 
 
 CAMARA DE COMERCIO DE SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
 
 Carta S, la Conferenoia 20 
 
 CANAL INTBROCBANICO 20 
 
 CARNEGIE (HON. ANDREW). 
 
 Menoionado 75,91, 92, 789, 800, 806 
 
 CASTELLANOS (SBfiTOR DON JACINTO). ■ 
 
 Menoionado 93,47, 67, 75,91, 
 
 92, 93, 125, 186, 235, 367, 368, 369, 542, 693, 788, 789, 799, 802 
 COLEGIO DE GEORGETOWN. 
 
 Invitaoi6u ^ los Sres. Delegados para "visitar aquella instituci6n 50 
 
 COLOMBIA. (Represeutada por los Srs. Don Jos6 Marcelino Hurtado, Don 
 CiCrlos Martinez Silva y Don Cliraaco Calderdn.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidencia el No. 6 -. i35 
 
 Su voto en el asunto de arbitrage 844 
 
 COMISIONES. 
 
 Creadaa las permanentes 83 
 
 Su personal aminciado 92 
 
 Sus presidentes son los primeroa nombrados 93 
 
 comisi6n de bancos. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Dioiembre de 1889 ....'. 83 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Hurtado, Mendonfa, Varas, Flint, Aragdn 92 
 
 Fresenta su dictamen .^ 647 
 
TABLA DE MATERIAS. 877 
 
 COMISI6N DE BIEWESTAR GENERAL. PAglnas. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre'de 1889 -. §3 
 
 Sns atribuciones debien fijarse, teniendo en cnenta las observaciones del 
 
 Sr. Varas 33 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Henderson, Quintena, Velarde, Bolet Peraza, 
 
 Hurtado, Valente, Cruz -...., 93 
 
 Seletrasmiteparainformeel plan de Tribunal Internaoional del Sr. Cesar 
 
 Norsa de Milan 100 
 
 Se le trasmite con el mismo objeto el proyecto de resoluoidn del Sr. 
 Bolet Peraza sobre arbitrage entre Venezuela y la Gran Bretalia, res- 
 
 peoto S. la cue8ti6n de las Guayaiias 116 
 
 Se le trasmite una carta del Minislro de Correos sobre convenciones 
 
 postales 134 
 
 Presenta eu dlctamen s6bre arbitrage 649 
 
 Presenta sn dlctamen sgbre el mismo asunto entre las naciones de Europa 
 
 y las de America 662 
 
 Presenta sn dictamen sobre conquista 802 
 
 COMISION DE COMISIONES. 
 
 Nombrada el 2 de Octubre de 1889 15 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Bliss, Bolet Peraza, Cruz, Zegarra, Nin 15 
 
 Di6 ouenta con su dictamen 19 
 
 COMISION DE COMUNICACrONES FOR EL ATLANTICO. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre de 1889 78 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Saenz PeBa, Coolidge, Mendonja, Deooud, La- 
 
 forestrie 91 
 
 Presentd su dictamen 337 
 
 Mantiene el Sr. Saenz Pena, que las naciones que no colindan con el 
 Atld^ntico no son partes eu el asunto, y su voto tieue que limitarse ^ 
 
 la expresi6n del gusto con que ven lo becho por los interesados 417 
 
 Id. que su Gobierno contribuir^ para las subvenciones si el arancel de 
 
 aduadatide los Estados Unidos no se altera contra su pats 416 
 
 COMIS16N DE COMUNICACIONES FOR EL GOLFO DE ME- 
 XICO Y MAR CARIBE. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre de 1889 78 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Aragdn, Guzman, Calderdn, Hanson, Silva 91 
 
 Su dictamen 374 
 
 COMISION DE COMUNICACIONES POF EL PACIFICO. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre de 1889 79 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Caamano, Varas, Estee, Castellauos, Mexia 91 
 
 Presenta sn dictamen 338 
 
 Reoomendacidn adoptada 424 
 
 COMISI6N DE COMUNICACIONES FOR FERROCARRIL. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre de 1889 79 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Velarde, Dstvfs, Mexia, Cruz, Zelaya, Castella- 
 nos, Carnegie, Aragdn, Martinez Silva, Andrade, Caamano, Zegarra, 
 
 Varas, Quintana, Njn, Valente, Uecoud 91 
 
 Se agrega S, ella al Sr. Guzman de Nicaragua 182 
 
 La Comisidn presenta su dictamen 200 
 
 COMISION DE CONVENCI6N MONETARIA. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre de 1889 82 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Mexia, Egtee, Martinez Silva, Alfonso, Coolidge, 
 
 Velarde, Zelaya 92 
 
 Presenta su dictamen „, 286 
 
 Presenta n^evo dictamen , , 594 
 
878 TABLA DB MATEKIAS. 
 
 COMISI61T BE CSEDENCIALES. 
 
 Nombrada ellS de Noviembre de 1889 18 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Romero, Quiutana, Coolidge 18 
 
 Presentfi ouatro dict^menes deolarandQ que estaban extendidas en baena 
 y debida forma las credenoiales de los Sres. Saenz Peuay Quintana 
 de la Eepriblioa Argenciua, Varas y Alfonso de Chile, Velarde de Bo- 
 livia, Arag6n de Costa Rica, Cruz de Guatemala, Guzman de Nica- 
 ragua, Zelaya de Honduras, Castellanos de Salvador, Nin de Uruguay, 
 Romero de Mexico, y Tresoot, Estee y Coolidge de los Estados 
 
 Dnidos 23,24 
 
 Present6 otro diotamen eu el mis no sentido respecto de las de los Sres. 
 Hurtado, Martinez Silv.v y Calderou de Colombia, CaamaBo del 
 Ecuador, Laforestrie de Haiti, Mexia de Mexico, Decoud de Para- 
 guay, Bolet Peraza, Silva y Andrade de Venezuela, Studebaker, 
 
 Davis, y Hanson de los Estados Unidos ^. 28 
 
 Presents otro dictaraeu en el mismo sentido respecto de las de los Sres. 
 Eodrigues Pereira, Amaral Valente, y Meudonga del Brasil, y Bliss 
 
 delos Estados Uuidos 33 
 
 Presentd otro diotamen eu el mismo sentido respecto de la del Sr. Car- 
 negie de los Estados Unidos 75 
 
 Id. id. respecto de la del Sr. Flint de los Estados Unidos 122 
 
 Id. id. respecto de la del Sr. Henderson de los Estados Unidos 359 
 
 COMISION DE DERECHO INTERNACIONAL. 
 
 CreadaelTde Diciembre de 1889 83 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Cruz, Quintana, Trescot, Alfonso, Caamano 93 
 
 Presenta sa dictamen 20 1 
 
 Presenta otro diotamen en los asuntos de las proposiciones de los Sres. 
 Andrade y Caamafio, manifestando que no caben dentro del cfrculo 
 
 de SU8 atribuciones 201 
 
 Se la constituye en Comisidu especial para dar diotamen sobro ambos 
 
 asuntos 236 
 
 Da dictamen sobre el de reclamaoiones 807 
 
 Id. sobre elde navegaoi6u 811 
 
 Dictamen de la minoria en ambos asuntos 824 
 
 COMISI6N DB DERECHOS DE PUERTOS. 
 
 Creadael7 de Diciembre de 1889 80 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Bolet Peraza, Laforestrie, Varas, Studebaker, Nin . 92 
 
 Presenta su dictamen 293 
 
 Presenta un dictamen especial sobre derechos consulares 365 
 
 Los Sres. Mendonga, Quintana, Aragfin, y Guzmfc, agregados & la 
 
 Comisi(5n 369 
 
 Presenta nuevo dictamen - - .- 649 
 
 COMISldKT EJECUTIVA. 
 
 Creada por el artloalo 1° del dictamen de la Comisidn de Comisiones 63, 72 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Zegarra, Romero, Bliss, Hurtado, Meudonpa y 
 
 el Presiiente de 1^ Conferenoia, "ex officio" 90 
 
 Presenta su dictamen respecto & los dooumentos que deben imprimirse.. 208 
 
 Su dictamen sobre la renuncia del Sr. Pierra 273 
 
 Recibe un vote de confianza para decidir como estime propio el asunto 
 
 de la renuncia del Sr. Pierra 276 
 
 Autorizada para atender i, la publioaidn de los debates y dictiimenes, y 
 hacer laa correcciones necesarias en los textos originales y sua tra- 
 duociones 557 
 
TABLA DE MATEKIA8. 879 
 
 COMISI6N DE EXTHADICI6N. 
 
 Crcada el 7 do Diciembre de 1889 81 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Zelaya, Tresoot, Saenz Pefia, Quintana 92 
 
 Presenta su dictamen 653 
 
 COMISI6N DE ORGANIZACI6N. 
 
 Nombrada el 2 de Ootubre de 1889. 14 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Eomero, Eodrigues Pereira, Nin, Guzman, Hurtado 14 
 
 Propuso que se nombrara Presidente al Honorable Senor James G. 
 Blainfe ; y que en su ausencia ooupara la Presidencia por turno nno de 
 los Sres. Delegados de cada naci6D, seguu el orden que designara la 
 suerte 14 
 
 COMISI6N PARA NOTIPICAR AL HON. JAMES G. BLAINE SU 
 ELECCI6N DE PRESIDENTE DE LA CONFERENCIA. 
 
 Creada el 2 de Ootubre de 1889 14 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Hurtado, Bliss, Zegarra, Velarde y Aragdn 14 
 
 Di6 cuenta de haber cumplido su encargo 15 
 
 Acompaua al Senor Blaine ^ tomar posesidn do su asiento 16 
 
 COMISI6N PARA IR A VISITAR A LOS SRES. LAFORESTERIE 
 y ZELAVA ENFERMOS. 
 
 Nombradael24 de Enero de 1890 126 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Mexia, Valente y Studebaker 126 
 
 COMISION DE PATENTES Y MARCAS DE FABRICA. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre de 1889 81 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Decoud, Carnegie y Calderon..'. 92 
 
 Presenta su dictamen 197 
 
 COMISI6N DE PESOS Y MEDIDAS. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre de 1889 80 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Castellanos, Silva y Studebaker 92 
 
 Presenta su dictamen j 109 
 
 Acepta la modificaci6n propuesta por el Sr. Eomero 125 
 
 COMISI6N DE REGLAMENTO. 
 
 Creada el 2 Octubre de 1889 15 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Alfonso, Quintana, Trescot, CaamaEo, Eomero, 
 
 Castellanos y Valente , 15 
 
 Annnci6 que su trabajo estaba listo para traducirse 6 imprimirse 19 
 
 Presenta el proyecto de Eeglamento 25 
 
 Presenta dictamen sobre la mooi6n del Sr. Hurtado relativa & impresidu 
 
 de las actas 43 
 
 Presenta dictamen sobre la mocidn del Sr. Martinez Silva, relativa & 
 
 la Vice-Presidenoia de la Conferencia 55 
 
 Informa qne debe aceptarse la proposicidn del Sr. Eomero de que las 
 
 boras de las sesiones sean de tres ^ seis de la tarde 103 
 
 Presenta dictamen sobre las proposiciones del Sr. Nin sobre avisos que 
 
 deben darse S, los Sres. Delegados, y clausura de la Conferencia 122 
 
 Id. id. sobre la proposicidn del Sr. Coolidge de admitir ^ la sala de 
 
 sesiones ciertos representan tes de los perifidicos 124, 182 
 
 Presenta su informe sobre la proposici6n del Sr. Estee de celebrar se- 
 siones diarias -■ 176 
 
 COMISI6N DE REGLAMENTOS DE ADUANA. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre de 1889 79 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Nin, Alfonso, Eomero, Calder6n, Flint, Men- 
 donga, Davis, Arag(5n y Bolet Peraza 91 
 
 El Sr. Ninrenuncia su Presidencia 130 
 
 Da cuenta con el dictamen subre la proposicidn del Sr. Eomero respecto 
 
 S> establecer una nomenclatura comun de mercaderlas , 174 
 
880 TABLA DE MATEEIAS. 
 
 Fdginas. 
 COMISION DE REGLAMENTOS DE ADUANA-Continnaoion. 
 
 Presenta diotamen sobre el asunto general de su incumbencia 281 
 
 Presenta diotamen especial sobre el asunto de la Oficina de Informaci(5n.. 619 
 
 COMISI6n de REGLAMENTOS SANITARIOS. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre de 1889 80 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Gnzmiin, Valente, Zegarra, Hanson, Andrade, 
 
 Laforestrie yNin 91 
 
 Da cuenta con su diotamen 191 
 
 Explioa el Sr. Guzman que el diotamen no viene firmado por los Sres. 
 NiD y Laforestrie, por que el primero estsE ausente y el segundo en- 
 
 fermo 191 
 
 COMISION DE REVISION DEL REGLAMBNTO. 
 
 Nombrada el 4 de Dioiembre de 1889 58 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Cruz y Mexia 58 
 
 Presenta el Reglamento revlsado 90 
 
 comisi6n de union aduanera. 
 
 Creada el 7 de Diciembre de 1889 77 
 
 Compuesta de los Sres. Valente, Henderson, Saenz Pefia, Romero y 
 
 Martinez Silva 90 
 
 Se le agregan los Sres. Alfonso Guzman y Bolet Peraza 96 
 
 Diotamen de la mayoria presentado por el Sr. Valente 213 
 
 Id. de la minoria presentado por el Sr. Saenz Pena 213 
 
 COMUNICACIONES POR EL ATLANTICO. 
 
 Diotamen presentado 337 
 
 Id. aprobado 418 
 
 COMUNICACIONES POR FERRO-CARRIL. 
 
 Diotamen aprobado. .., 210 
 
 COMUNICACIONES FOR EL GOLFO DE MEXICO Y EL MAR 
 CARIBE. 
 
 Diotamen de la Comisidn -. 374 
 
 Carta del Sr. Juan Wanamaker al Sr. Henderson 337 
 
 Informe del Minisrro de Correos 389 
 
 Id. del Sr. Calderdu 397 
 
 Aprobado el diotamen 410 
 
 COMUNICACIONES FOR EL FACIFICO. 
 
 Diotamen presentado 338 
 
 Carta del Sr. Caamaflo ^ 433 
 
 Enmieuda propuesta por el Sr. Zegarra 433 
 
 Reoomendaoidn adoptada 434 
 
 CONFBDERACION AMERICANA. 
 
 Carta del Sr. W. L. Folsom sobre este asunto . 50 
 
 CONQUISTA. 
 
 Resoluoiones ofrecidas por la Delegacldn Argentina y la del Brasil 107 
 
 Diotamen de 'a Comisi6n de Bienestai: General sobre el dereoho de con- 
 
 qiiista 802 
 
 Opinidn de la Delegaci6n de los Estados Unidos 303 
 
 Debate gQ-j 
 
 Discurso del Sr. Zegarra g03 
 
 Veto en lo general 1 g05 
 
 Debate sobre los articulos g05 
 
 Adoptado el diotamen en sn forma definitiva 806 
 
 CONVENCION DENOMINADA INTERSTATE DEEP HARBOR 
 CONVENTION. 
 
 Tranmite resolaoiones de felicitataoiiSn & la Conferenoia 5 
 
TABLA DE MATEEIAS. 881 
 
 , Piglnas. 
 
 CONVBNCI6N MONETARIA. 
 
 Diotamen de la Comisldn 435 
 
 Diotamen del Sr. Mexia 437 
 
 Id. del Sr. Alfonso 439 
 
 Id. delSr. Estee 452 
 
 Id. delSr. Coolidge 473 
 
 Enmlenda propuesta porel Sr. Coolidge & su propio diotamen 486 
 
 Discuriso del Sr. Coolidge 488 
 
 Id. del Sr. Estee en coDteBtacidu al Sr. Coolidge 501 
 
 Id. del Sr. Martinez Silva 524 
 
 Id. del Sr. Eomero 544 
 
 Eumienda propuesta por la Delegaoi6n de los Eatadoa Unidos 565 
 
 Aoeptacidn por la Comisidn informante 565 
 
 El Sr. Eomero propone una enmienda y la retira 589,590 
 
 Vuelve el a«unto & la Comisidn con todas las enmiendas 590 
 
 Nuevo diotamen de la Comisifin 594 
 
 Se aprueba en globo el nuevo diotamen 595 
 
 Se aprueban los articulos 1° y 2° del mismo 596 
 
 Se aprueba el artioulo 3° con una enmienda del Sr. Price 596 
 
 Se aprueba el artfcnlo 4° con una enmienda del Sr. Quintana 597 
 
 Se aprueba el preambulo .' 597 
 
 Texto de la recomendaci6n adoptada 597 
 
 COOLIDGE (SR. T. JEFFERSON). 
 
 Mencionado 18, 24, 38, 91, 92, 117, 119, 276, 366, 370, 473, 486, 487, 488, 662 
 
 COPPINGER (LA SRA. ALICE BLAINE). 
 
 Acoidn de la Conferencia con motive de su fallecimiento 142 
 
 COSTA RICA. (Eepresentada por el Sr. Don. Manuel Arag(5n.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidencia el No. 8 25 
 
 CRUZ (SESOR don FERNANDO). 
 
 Mencionado, 15,23, 33, 35, 50, 58. 62, 63, 68, 75, 77, 90, 91, 93, 142, 214, 235, 
 
 252, 255, 256, 260, 269, 277, 280, 337, 360, 365, 417, 427, 562, 584, 585, 590, 595, 
 
 618, 621, 665, 675, 678, 754, 757, 759, 786, 788, 789, 793, 795, 803, 813. 853 
 
 CUARTO CENTENARIO DEL DBSCUBRIMIENTO DE AMERICA. 
 
 Proposioidn del Sr. Alfonso 853 
 
 CURTIS ("WILLIAM ELEROY). Ofioial Ejecutivo. 
 
 Eeoibe un voto de gracias 817 
 
 CHILE. (Eepresentada por los Srs. Don Emilio C. Varas y Don Jos(5 Alfonso.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vioe-Presidenoia el No. 16 25 
 
 D. 
 
 DAVIS (HON. HENRY G.). 
 
 Mencionado 26, 28, 55, 91, 92, 97, 197, 210, 542, 656 
 
 DECOUD (SR. DON JOSlfi S.). 
 
 Mencionado 28, 66, 78, 91, 92, 239, 355, 413, 654, 756 
 
 DELEGADOS. 
 
 Presidir^n las sesiones, en ausencia del SeHor Presidente, uno por cada 
 
 naci6n, segun el orden que designe la suerte - 14 
 
 Delegados acoreditados en la Conferencia: s 
 
 Por Haiti: , 
 
 El Sr. Arthur Laforestrie hasta el dia 5 de Marzo de 1890, en que 
 
 se retir6 por enfermedad 280 
 
 El SeSor Hannibal Price, presentado en la Conferencia el dia 1° de 
 
 Abril, del890 688 
 
 Por Nicaragua : El Senor Dr. Don Horacio Guzmiin 7 
 
 Pot Peril: El SeHor Dr. Don F. C. C. Zegarra 7 
 
 56 I O 
 
882 TABLA DE MATERIAS. 
 
 PdsiDES. 
 
 DELEGADOS— Continuaoion. 
 
 Uelegados accreditados en la Conferencia — Continnacion. 
 
 Pot Guatemala: El Senor Dr. Don Fernando Cruz 6 
 
 Por Uruguay: El Senor Dr. Don Alberto Niu 7 
 
 Por Colombia: Los Sres. Don Jos6 Marcelino Hnrtado, Don Carlos 
 
 Martinez Silva y Don Cllmaoo Calderon ^ ' 6 
 
 Per la EepuMica Argentina : Los Sres. Drs. Don Dr. Eoque Saenz Pelia 
 
 y Don Dr. Manuel Quintana 6 
 
 For Costa Siea : El Sr. Don Manuel Arag6n 6 
 
 Pot Paraguay ; El Sr. Don Jos6 S. Decond 7 
 
 Por el Brasil : Los Sres. Don Lafayette Eodrigues Pereira (que se 
 retird, pag. 36), Don J. G. do Amaral Valente, y Don Salvador de Men- 
 
 donja .* 6 
 
 Vox Honduras: ElSr.Don Jerdnimo Zelaya 6 
 
 Por Mexico : Los Sres. Don Matias Romero y Don Enrique A. Mexia.. 6 
 
 Vov Bolivia: El Senor Don Juan Francisco Velarde ". 6 
 
 Por los Estados Unidos: Los Sres. John B. Henderson, Cornelius N. 
 Bliss, Clement Studebaker, T. Jefferson Coolidge, William Henry 
 Trescot, Andrew Carnegie, Morris M. Estee, John F. Hanson, 
 
 Henry S.Davis y Charles R.Flint 7 
 
 Por FeneaueZd: Los Sres. Don NioauorBoletPeraza, Don Jos^Andrade > 
 
 y Don Francisco Antonio Silva 7 
 
 For Salvador: El Sr. Jacinto Castellanos 7 
 
 For Ecuador: El Sr. Don Jos6 Maria Pl^cido Caamauo 6 
 
 DESECHOS CONSULARES. 
 
 Dictamen presentado 365 
 
 Id.aprobado 435 
 
 DERECHO INTERNACIONAL. ' 
 
 Dictamen recoraendando el estudio del los tratados de Derecho interna- 
 clonal privado civil, comercial y procesal del Congreso de Monte- 
 video leunido el 5J5 de Agosto de 1888; y ciertas reglas para la lega- 
 
 lizacidn de dooumentos 240,270 
 
 Dictamen recoraendando que se nombre otra Comisidn para que examine 
 
 los asuntos de Derecho priblico internacional sometidos ^la Conferencia 235 
 
 Se autoriza S, la misma Comisi6n para que estudie dichos asuntos 235 
 
 Proyecto presentado por el Senor Andrade, respecto & reclamaciones 138 
 
 Nuevo proyecto del mismo Sr. sobre el mismo asunto 185 
 
 Proyecto de resolucidn del Sr. Caamaflo sobre navegacidn de rios 146 
 
 Disourso del Sr. Caamano en apoyo de su resoluoi6n 834 
 
 Dictamen sobre reclamaciones y derecho de intervencidn diplomStica. .. 807 
 
 Dictamen de la minoria (el Sefior Trescot) sobre el mismo asunto 824 
 
 Id. sobre navegaoi6n de rios 811 
 
 Id. de la minoria (el Sr. Trescot) sobre el mismo asunto 824 
 
 DERECHOS DE PUERTOS. 
 
 Dictamen discutido 347,360 
 
 Id.aprobado en globo 360 
 
 Enviado de nuevo & la Comisidn 369 
 
 Nuevo dictamen 654 
 
 Aprobado el dictamen . 656 
 
 Refutaci(5n del dictamen del Sr. Trescot por el Sr. Caamano 832 
 
 DIARIO DE LAS SESIONES. 
 
 Se ley6 el escrito en ingles en la seaidn primera de la Conferencia, cele- 
 
 brada el 2 de Octubrede 1889 _ • 18 
 
 Lo tradujo de repente al castellano y lo ley6 en esta lengua el SeSior 
 
 Romero, delegado por Mexico 18 
 
 @e acuerda su impresi^n en castellano y en ingles ,...,,, ,....,, 18 
 
TABLA DE MATERIAS. 883 
 
 DIAHIO DE I.AS SESIONES— Contiouaciou. 
 
 Se explica la causa de loa errores cometidos en los de los cinco primeros 
 
 dias 44 
 
 Se reserva para mas adelante determinar sobre su redaccidn 6 impresidn . 44 
 
 Pide el Sr. Nin que se proceda & imprimirlo 140 
 
 E. 
 
 ECUADOR. (Representado por el Sr. Dr. Don Jo86 Maria PUoido Caamafio.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidencia el No. 18 25 
 
 ESTADOS UNIDOS. (Representados por los Srs. John B. Henderson, 
 Cornelius N. Bliss, Clement Studebaker, T. Jefferson Coolidge, Wil- 
 liam Henry Trescot, Andrew Carnegie, Morris M. Estee, John P. 
 Hanson, Henry G. Davis, Charles R. Flint.) 
 
 Le toca el No. 14 en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidencia 25 
 
 Voto de gracias de los delegados extangeros al Gobierno de los Estados 
 
 Unidos 816 
 
 ESTEE (HON. MORRIS M.). 
 
 Menoionado..20, 23, 46, 50, 58, 82, 91, 126, 129, 131, 139, 140, 146, 275, 282,283,337, 
 343, 346, 347, 410, 417, 452, 487, 497, 499, 501, 529, 542, 566, 569, 590, 652, 692 
 EXTRADICl6]Sr. 
 
 Dictamen presentado 652 
 
 Texto del dictamen 719 
 
 Recomendacidn 739 
 
 Tratado de Derecho penal iuternacional de Montevideo 739 
 
 Discurso del Sr. Caama&o 755 
 
 Enmienda propuesta por los Sres. Guzman y Cruz 755 
 
 Adoptada la enmienda '. 756 
 
 F. 
 
 PERGUSSON (ARTHUR "W.). 
 
 Se le da un voto de gracias por bus servicios como intfirprete 817 
 
 FERRO-CARRIL INTERNA CIONAL. 
 
 Vease Comunicaoiones por ferro-carril. 
 FLINT (HON. CHARLES R.). 
 
 Meucionado 14, 18, 19, 91, 93, 132, 130, 334, 338, 566, 619, 676 
 
 G. 
 
 GUATEMALA. (Representada por el Sr. Dr. D. Fernando Cruz.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidencia el No. 4 25 
 
 GUZMAN (SEf^OR DR. DON HORACIO). 
 
 Mencionado 14, 19, 23, 27, 64, 69, 70, 76, 91, 93, 96, 116, 182, 191, 301, 204, 214, 
 
 270,275,281,286,336,337,342.369,411,427, 
 564, 584, 653, 675, 688, 750, 755, 799, 800, 818 
 
 HAITI. (Representada primero por el Sr. Arthur Laforestrie, y despues por 
 el Sr. Hannibal Price.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidencia el primer lugar 95 
 
 HANSON (HON. JOHN F.). 
 
 Mencionado 38,50,91,92,215 
 
884 TABLA DE MATEEIAS. 
 
 P^ginas. 
 HENDERSON (HON. JOHN B.). 
 
 Menoionado 13, 20, 25, 29, 39, 51, 76, 81, 84, 90, 93, 104, 109, 112, 113, 134, 
 
 182, 255, 257, 264, 326, 342, 343, 413, 487, 500, 
 543, 557, 564, 584, 591, 594, 598, 619, 642, 653, 
 654, 688, 789, 792, 793, 794, 795, 803, 805, ,816 
 HONDURAS. (Kepresentado por el Sr. Don Jer6iiimo Zelaya.) 
 
 Le tooa en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidelicia el No. 11 25 
 
 HURTADO (SBNOR D. J0S6 M.). 
 
 Menoionado 14,28,29,40,49,55,58,63,68,69, 75, 76, 81, 87, 90, 92, 93, 125, 
 
 126, 131, 182, 183, 185, 191, 209, 290, 337, 354, 361, 365, 366, 524, 
 558, 589, 655, 656, 663, 675, 682, 770, 771, 772, 796, 803, 806, 814 
 
 I. 
 
 INTERPRETES. 
 
 Menoionados 71,817 
 
 INVITACIONBS. 
 
 Se acepta la heoha per el Gobierno de lo3 Estados Unidos ^ los Sefiores 
 Delegados para visitar una parte del pais, antes de empezar los tra- 
 bajos de la Conferencia 15 
 
 Invitaci6n de Mr. William F. T. Hughes, preseutada por el Hon. Senor 
 Flint, delegado por los Estados Unidos, para presenoiar en Chester, 
 Pa., el acto de echar al agua uno de sua vapores 19 
 
 Se declara que las que se hagan se entiendan hecbas S, los delegados indi- 
 
 vidualmente, y no d la Conferencia 19, 20 
 
 luvitaoidn del Colegio de Georgetown para que los Sres. Delegados hagan 
 
 una visita & aquel institute 50 
 
 Artlculo reglamentario respecto de ellas propnesto por el Sr. Romero 64 
 
 Iuvitaci6n para asistir & los ceremonias conmemorativas de la inaugura- 
 ci6n del Gral. Washington como primer Presidente de los Estados 
 Unidos '.. 67 
 
 Invitaoifin del Presidente de los Estados Unidos & los Delegados para las 
 
 reoepoiones ofieiales 103 
 
 Id. id. para presenoiar una revista de las tropas en honor .de la Confe- 
 rencia 618,654 
 
 Id. para visitar & Mount Vernon 784 
 
 li. 
 
 LAPOliESTRIB (SR. ARTHUR). 
 
 Menoionado 28, 67, 77, 91, 92, 122, 126,280, 281,801 
 
 LEY DE CONVOCACi6n DE LA CONFERENCIA. 
 
 Acta del Congreso de los Estados Unidos de America, aprobada el 24 de 
 Mayo de 1888, antorizando al Presidente para invi tar & la Conferencia : 
 
 Introducci6nhi8t6rica 1 
 
 La misma traduoia al castellano 5 
 
 M. 
 
 MARTINEZ SILVA (SR. DR. DON CARLOS). 
 
 Menoionado 28, 40, 61, 90, 91, 92, 125, 129, 134, 137, 188, 236, 249, 250, 
 
 251, 254, 326, 423, 499, 526, 564, 755, 789, 806, 815 
 MBNDON9A (SR. DON SALVADOR DE). 
 
 Menoionado 32, 75, 90, 91, 92, 107, 186, 188, 215, 218, 360, 361, 365, 
 
 368, 369, 675, 676, 755, 773, 795, 814, 849 
 MEXIA (SR. DON ENRIQUE A.). 
 
 Menoionado . ..28, 58, 82, 91, 92, 126, 423, 437, 497, 565, 584, 591, 595, 649, 652, 705 
 
TABLA DE MATEEIAS. 885 
 
 Fdginas. 
 MEXICO. (Representada por los Sres. D. Matias Romero y J). Enriqne A. 
 
 Mexia.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vice- Presidenoia el No. 12 25 
 
 MONEDA COMTTN. (Feose Unidn monetaria.) 
 
 N. 
 NAVEGACION DE RIOS. 
 
 Proyeoto de resoluclfSn del Sr. CaamaSo sobre la llbre navegaci<5n de los 
 
 rioB '. 137 
 
 Pasado i, informe de la Comisida de Derecho Inteinacional 137 
 
 Biotamen de la Comisidn, deolarando que el asuuto no le corresponde por 
 
 estar fuera de sas atribuciones 201 
 
 Dictamen de la mayoria de la nneva Comisi6n 811 
 
 Dictamen de la minoria 824, 855 
 
 Informe del Sr. Caamafio 834 
 
 Su discnrso en refutacidn del dictamen del Sr. Trescot 839 
 
 NICARAGUA. (Representada por el Sr. Dr. D. Horacio Guzman.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vioe-Preaidencia el segundo lugar 25 
 
 NIN (SECTOR DR. DON ALBERTO). 
 
 Menoionado 14, 15, 23, 33, 37, 42, 44, 68, 91, 92, 108, 130, 140, 150, 168, 176, 281 
 
 NOMENCLATURA COMUN DE MERCADERIAS. 
 
 Proposicidn del Sr. Romero para que se establezoa una nomenolatura 
 
 comun de mercaderlas 97 
 
 Pasa & informe de la Comisi6n de Reglamentos de Aduana 100 
 
 Dictamen de la Cemisi<5n 174 
 
 Aprbbado el dictamen con una modifioacidn propuesta por el Sr. Zegarra, 
 
 y aceptada por el Sr. Romero 196 
 
 O. 
 
 OPICIAL EJECUTIVO. ( Vease Curtis, Wm. E.) 
 
 OFICINA DE INFORMACI6n. ( Vease Reglamentos de Aduana.) 
 
 PARAGUAY. (Representada por el Sr. D. Josfi S. Decoud.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vioe-Presidencia el No. 9 25 
 
 PATENTES Y MARCAS DE PABRICA. 
 
 Dictamen presentado 197 
 
 Id. aprobado 235 
 
 PERU. (Representada por el Sr. D. F. C. C. Zegarra.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidencia el tercer lugar 25 
 
 PESOS T MEDIDAS. 
 
 Dictamen presentado y leido el 15 de Euero de 1890 109 
 
 Recomendaoidn que se adopts 125 
 
 PIERRA (SR. DON FIDEL G.). 
 
 Nombrado Seoretario de la Conferencia 32 
 
 Renuucia su puesto 194 
 
 Mocidn del Sr. Calderdn en favor suyo 201 
 
 Retira su renuncia condicionalmente 204 
 
 Retira la condici6n impuesta en la anterior carta. .- 218 
 
 Cesade ser Secretario lO* 
 
 PRICE (HON. HANNIBAL). 
 
 Carta del Departamento de Estado, anunciando el nombramiento del 
 Hon. Sr. Hannibal Price, Ministro de Haiti, para ser delegado de esa 
 Repdblica en la Conferencia internacional americana ...... .... 497 
 
886 TABLA DE MATERIA8. 
 
 P&ginas. 
 FRICI! (HON. HANNIBAIi)— Continuacion. 
 
 Presentado ^ la Conferencia el 1° de Abril de 1890 588 
 
 Pronuncla un discurso saludando ^ la Conferencia 588 
 
 Propone una enmienda al aitlcalo 3° del diclamen de la Comisi<5u de con- 
 
 vencidn monetaria 596 
 
 Pronuncla uu discurso en el asunto de Uni6n aduanera 619, 6^3 
 
 Toma parte en el debate sobre arbitraje 789 
 
 Explica que Haiti no puede considerarse un pueblo de la America Cen- 
 tral....- - 792 
 
 Sua observaciones en el asunto de arbitraje con Europa 800 
 
 Se abstiene de volar en el asunto de reclamaciones 6 intervenol(5n diplo- 
 
 mdltica ,.« 811 
 
 FROCEBIMIEN'TOS DE LA CONFERENCIA. 
 
 Son reservados 52 
 
 ( Vease Actas. Diario de las sesiones.) 
 
 Q- 
 
 QUINTANA (SESrOR D. MANUEL). 
 
 Mencionado 15, 18, 19,90, 24, 25, 36, 45, 46, 47, 50, 51, 53, 56, 57, 68, 
 
 70, 71, 81, 84, 91, 93, 93, 107, 134, 188, 209, 215, 218, 
 236, 239, 250, 261, 273, 276, 289, 326, 347, 355, 361, 365, 
 366, 368, 369, 374, 498, 557, 582, 583, 584, 594, 596, 618, 
 682, 695, 755, 768, 771, 773, 784, 788, 789, 795, 801, 805 
 
 E. 
 
 RECLAMACIONES V DERECHO DE INTERVENCION DIPLO- 
 MATICA. 
 
 Declaraciones presentadas por el Sr. Andrade 138 
 
 Pasadas & informe de la Comision de Derecho Internacional 138 
 
 Nuevo proyecto de declaraciones al mismo efecto presentado por el Sr. 
 
 Andrade 185 
 
 Pasado S^ informe de la Comisidn de Derecho Internacional 185 
 
 Dictamen de la Comisidn manifestando que el asunto no le corresponde 
 
 por estar fuera de sus atribuoiones '. 201 
 
 Dictamen de la mayoria de la Comisidn 807 
 
 Id. dela minoria 814, 824, 855 
 
 REGLAMENTO. 
 
 Se nombra la Comisidn para formularlo 15 
 
 Se da por presentado el proyecto de Reglamento, para que sea impreso.. 19 
 
 Se da cuenta con el proyecto de Eeglamento 25 
 
 Se aprueban sus siete primeros artlculos 28 
 
 8b aprueban los artlculos 8°, 9° 10°, 11°, 12° y 13° 36 y siguientes 
 
 Se aprueban los artlculos siguientes hasta el 17° exclusive 43 y siguientes ' 
 
 Se aprueba el artloulo 18° 52 
 
 Se aprueba el artlculo 17° 57 
 
 Itegla de que en case de empate se entienda la caestidn resuelta negativa- 
 
 mente 57 
 
 Be£;lamento aprobado, y pasado Si un Comisidn revisoraa de sii lengnage, 
 
 y del arreglo metddico de sus diferentes artlculos 57, 58 
 
 Revisado y adoptado definiti vamente 90 
 
 Se eamienda el artlculo 15° 283 
 
 REGLAMENTOS DE ADTTANAS. 
 
 Texto del dictamen para una nomenclatura comuu de mercaderlas 174 
 
 Aprobado este dictamen con una modificacidn 196 
 
TABLA DE MATEEIAS. 887 
 
 Pdginas. 
 KBGIiAMENTOS DE ADUANAS— Continuacion. 
 
 Dictaiuen general sobre reglamentos de adnaua y su discusidu 526, 5S8 
 
 Id. aprobado 564 
 
 Texto del dictamen especial para el establecimiento de una " Oficina inter- 
 
 nacional Americana.'' 683 
 
 Aprobado este dictamen 688 
 
 RXiGLAMENTARIOS SANITARIOS. 
 
 Dictamen presentado 101 
 
 Id. aprobado 216 
 
 REFT7BLICA ARGENTINA. (Eepresentada por los Sres. Dr. D. Eoque Saenz 
 Pefia y Dr. D. Manuel Quintana.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Yice-Presidencia, el s^ptimo lagar 25 
 
 RODRIGXTBS PEREIRA (SR. D. LAFAYETTE). 
 
 Menoionado -. 14,32,36 
 
 RODRIGUEZ (SR. DR. DON JOSE IGNACIO). 
 
 Aetna como secretario 194 
 
 Nombrado Becretario un^nimemente 755 
 
 Menoionado 71,194,755,817 
 
 ROMERO (SESOR D. MATIAS). 
 
 Meocioiiado. 13, 14, 15, 18, 25, 29, 32, 39,40,, 54, 55, 56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 90, 91, 93, 96, 97, 99, 
 103, 112, 114, 117, 125, 142, 143, 144. 186, 192, 196, 209, 215, 218, 239, 
 255, 277, 293, 326, 337, 343, 346, 354, 355, 362, 409, 525, 542, 544, 558, 
 562, 566, 567, 582, 589, 590, 597, 61'J, 632, 639, 653, 656, 675, 697, 750, 
 755, 771, 772, 784, 787, 800, 815, 816. 
 
 S. 
 
 SAENZ FEit^A (SR, DR. DON ROQUE). 
 
 Menoionado . . .23, 54, 90, 91, 92, 100, 103, 107, 125, 129, 181 , 194, 197, 390, 297, 334, 337, 
 341, 342, 343, 413, 416, 428, 499, 557, 582, 598, 600, 653, 654, 658, 694, 
 697, 755. 
 SALVADOR. (Eepresentada por el Sr. D. Jacinto Castellanos.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidencia cl No. 17 25 
 
 SARGENTO DE ARMAS. ^ 
 
 Se le da un voto de gracias 817 
 
 SECRETARIOS. 
 
 El Honorable Sr. Charles E. Flint, nombrado Secretario provisional de la 
 
 Conferencia 14 
 
 Los Sres. GuzmSn, delegado por Nicaragua, y Zegarra, delegado por el 
 
 Perri, nombrados Secretaries interinos 19 
 
 El Sr. H. Eemsen Whitehonse, nombrado por unanimidad de votos Secre- 
 tario anglo-americano de la Conferencia 32 
 
 El Sr. Don Eidel G. Pierra, nombrado por unanimidad de votos, excepto el 
 de la Delegaoidn de Mexico, Secretario hispano-americano de la Con- 
 ferencia 32 
 
 El Sr. Dr. Don. Jo86 Ignacio Eodriguez funciona de Secretario, pag. 194, 
 
 y es nombrado por unanimidad para el puesto 755 
 
 SESIONES DE LA CONFERENCIA. 
 Son reservadas. 
 
 ( Fease Aotas. Procedimientos. Eeglamento 58 
 
 SILVA (SR. DON FRANCISCO ANTONIO). 
 
 Menoionado 28,91,92 
 
 STXTDEBAKER (SR. CLEMENT). 
 
 Menoionado 28,51,52,92,126,129,171,362,654,817 
 
888 TABLA DE MATEEIAS. 
 
 T. 
 
 P&ginas. 
 TAQUIGRAFOS. 
 
 Se les da iin voto de graoias 817 
 
 TRACY (HON. BENJAMIN P.). 
 
 Accidn dela Conferencia respecto S, las des^racias de familia que le afli- 
 
 ■ jierou 143 
 
 TRESCOT (HON. WM H.). 
 
 Mencionado .... 15, 23, 29, 30, 33, 41, 57, .58, 67, 70, 76, 84, 87, 92. 93, 101, 157, 158, 186, 
 215,219,235,251,268,282,337,410, 564, 719, 789, 793, 795, 824, 
 853,855. 
 
 IT. 
 
 uni6n aduanbra. 
 
 Diotamen de la mayoria de la Comisidn 293 
 
 Los Sres. Saenz Pefia y Alfonso, miembros de la misma Comisidn, pre- 
 
 sentan un diotamen de minoria 296 
 
 Disourso del Sr. Saenz Pena en apoyo del diotamen de la minoria 297 
 
 Discurso del Sr. Alfonso en el mismo sentido 324 
 
 Disousidn incidental sobre si debia esperarse 6 no para continuar el de- 
 bate S, que estuvieseu tiaducidos los discursos anteriores, tomando 
 parte en este debate los Sres. Martinez Silva, Guzman, Alfonso, Ve- 
 larde, Valeute, Henderson y Quintana 326 
 
 Disourso del Sr. Eomero en apoyo del diotamen de la mayoria 336 
 
 Observaciones del Sr. Guzman en el mismo sentido 324 
 
 El Sr. Saenz PeBa y el Sr. Alfonso haoen explicaoiones respeoto S, la fra- 
 
 seolojfa del diotamen de la minoria 324,337 
 
 El Sr. Flint pronunoia un discurso sobre el asuuto 338 
 
 Diotamen de la minoria, modiiicado 342 
 
 Discurso del Sr. Henderson 413 
 
 Id. delSr. Romero 567 
 
 Nuevo disourso del Sr. Saenz PeBa 600 
 
 Disourso del Sr.Price 623 
 
 K^plioa del Sr. Henderson al Sr. Saenz Pefia 642 
 
 Id. del Sr. Romero 619, 632, 639 
 
 Ultimo disourso del Sr.Saenz Pefia ' 658 
 
 Se aprob(5 el diotamen de la mayoria 653 
 
 Disousidn sobre si debe <5 no votarse tambien el dictamen de la minoria . . 653 
 
 uni6n monbtaria internacional. 
 
 (Fease Convencidn Monetaria.) 
 URUGUAY. (Representada per el Sr. Dr. D. Alberto Nin.) 
 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vioe-Presidenoia el No 2 25 
 
 Cesa de estar representada 174 
 
 T. 
 VALENTE (SESOR D. J. G. DO AMARAL). 
 
 Mencionado 15,32,90,91,92,93,107,126,3^6 
 
 VARAS (SESrOR DON EMILIO C). 
 
 Mencionado 18, 23, 29, 40, 69, 76, 83, 91, 92, 93, 275, 337, 354. 355, 361, 
 
 362, 365, 367, 413, 417, 427, 649, 675, 676, 683, 706, 803 
 VELARDE (SESOR D. JUAN P.). 
 
 Mencionado 14, 23, 69, 78, 81, 91, 92, 93, 182, 188, 200, 219, 220,280, 
 
 282, 293, 326, 423, 499, 564, 584, 590, 653,-676, 795 
 VENEZUELA. (Representada por los Sres. Don Nicanor Bolet Peraza, Don 
 Jos6 Andrade y Don Francisco Antonio Silva.) 
 Le toca en el sorteo para la Vice-Presidencia el No. 15 25 
 
TABLA DE MATEEIAS. 889 
 
 Fdiginas. 
 VBNTAJAS KECIPROCAS CONCBDIDAS POR VIRTUD DE 
 
 TRATADOS. 
 
 Proposiciones del Sr. Caamaiio & este respecto 146 
 
 Pasan & informe de la Comisidn de Dereoho Internaoional 147 
 
 VICE-PRESIDENTES. 
 
 Cada uno de los SeBores Delegados ocupar^ la Presidencia por turuo, segun 
 
 el ordeo que la suerte designe para sus naoiones respectivas, cuando 
 
 falte el Presldente 14 
 
 Se designa por eorteo el turno de la Vioe-Presidencia, en el orden si- 
 
 guiente: 1°, Haiti; 2°, Nicaragua; 3", Perfi: 4", Guatemala; 5°, 
 
 Uruguay ; 6°, Colombia ; 7°, Eepfiblica Argentina ; 8°, Costa Rica ; 
 
 9°, Paraguay; 10°, Brasil; 11", Houdaras; 12°, Mexico; 13°, Bolivia; 
 
 14°, LosEstados Unidos; 15°, Venezuela ; 16°, Chile; 17°, Salvador; 
 
 18°, Ecuador 25 
 
 Se dispone que la Conferencia elija un primer Vioe-Presidente y uno 
 
 segundo 62 
 
 Primer escrutinio ' 68 
 
 Eleccidn del Sr. Zegarra para primer Vioe-Presideate y del Sr. Komero 
 
 para segundo 76,77 
 
 W. 
 
 VTANAMAKER (HON. JOHN). 
 
 Su carta al Sr. Henderson sobre Con venios postales 287 
 
 'WHITEHOtTSE (HON. H. REMSEN). 
 
 Nombrado por unanimidad Secretario de la Conferencia 32 
 
 Sele daun voto de gracias •. 817 
 
 Z. 
 
 ZEGARRA (SEiJOR D. P. C. C). 
 
 Mencionado 14, 15, 19, 31, 51, 56, 68, 76, 90, 91, 92, 99, 112, 194, 196, 208, 211, 215, 
 
 219, 256, 282, 283, 289, 355, 368, 422, 423, 427, 5i59, 584, 585, 588 
 594, 596, 647, 649, 675, 688, 755, 763, 792, 796, 803, 853, 855. 
 
 ZELAYA (SR. DON. JER6nIMO). 
 
 Mencionado . . 23, 57, 68, 74, 75, 91, 92, 126, 129, 131, 191, 204, 236, 277, 719, 750, 753, 793 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 
 ACT OP CONGRESS authorizing the Conference 1 
 
 Historical introduction 1 
 
 Spanish, translation of 1 5 
 
 ALFONSO (MR. JOSE). 
 
 A delegate from Chili 15, 19, 23, 25, 43, 37, 54, 55, 56, 61, 67, 68, 70, 76, 91, 92, 93, 
 
 96, 119, 129, 160, 186, 197, 208, 210, 211, 215. 235,239,249, 
 254,273,283,289,324,337, 342, 409, 417, 423, 439, 498, 
 525,542,551,556,557,564, 582, 583, 588, 590, 591, 652, 
 653, 662, 706, 750, 756, 784, 793, 795, 800, 853. 
 AMERICAN CONFEDERATION. 
 
 Letter from Mr. W. L. Folsoni 50 
 
 ANDRADE (MR. JOSE). 
 
 A delegate from Venezuela. . .28, 56, 62, 71, 91, 92, 122, 138, 185, 214, 772, 789, 801, 823 
 ARAGON (MR. MANUEL). 
 
 A delegate from Costa Rica .... 14, 23, 58, 60, 69, 71, 76, 91, 93, 100, 137, 146, 283, 289, 
 293, 354, 369, 409, 423, 486, 497, 498, 525, 564, 649, 653, 675, 676, 815, 817 
 ARBITRATION. 
 
 Plan of Mr. Cesar Norsa, of Milan, to establish an international tribunal. 100 
 
 Eesolntions introduced by Messrs. Saenz Pena, Valente, andMendonpa.. 107 
 
 Text of the report as presented by the Committee on General Welfare.. 689 
 
 Speech of Mr. Quintana 695 
 
 Speech of Mr. Eomero 697 
 
 Speech of Mr. Zelaya 753 
 
 Speech of Mr. Decoud 756 
 
 Reasons for the vote of Mr. Cruz 757 
 
 Speech of Mr. Zegarra 768 
 
 Plan proposed by Mr. Romero 784 
 
 Speech of Mr. Guzman 818 
 
 ARGENTINE REPUBLIC (represented by Hon. Roque Saenz PeSa and 
 Dr. Quintana). 
 Praws No. 7 in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 B. 
 
 BANK, INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN. 
 
 Its establishment recommended 683 
 
 BANKING. 
 
 Committee on Banking presents its report 647 
 
 Special report of Mr. Varas 649 
 
 Report of the committee 669 
 
 891 
 
892 INDEX. 
 
 BANKING— Continued. 
 
 Report of Mr. Varas 674 
 
 Amendment by Mr. Eomero 675 
 
 Amendment by Messrs. Zegarra, Guzman, and Cruz 675 
 
 Revised report 675 
 
 Amendment of Mr. Quintana .' 682 
 
 Report as revised approved 683 
 
 BLAINE (HON. JAMES G.). 
 
 Address of vrelcome 10 
 
 Elected President of tlie Conference 14 
 
 Mentioned 16,18,36,87,90,93,96,213,588,788,789,806 
 
 Vote of thanks ^ 816 
 
 Declared the International American Conference closed 854 
 
 Closing speech 856 
 
 BLAINE (MR. ■WALKER). 
 
 Action of the Conference in regard to his death 112 
 
 BLISS (HON. CORNELIUS N.). 
 
 A delegate from the United States 14, 15 19, 32, 72, 90, 104, 281, 282, 558, 816 
 
 BOLET PERAZA (ME. NICANOR). 
 
 A delegate from Venezuela 15, 28, 37, 68, 70, 76, 81, 92, 93, 96, 116, 137. 146, 282, 
 
 337,362, 365, 368, 424, 498, 564, 662, 688, 755, 780, aOO, 814, 819, 821, 891 
 BOLIVIA (represented by Mr. Juan Francisco Velarde). 
 
 Draws number 13 in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 29 
 
 BOURKE (CAPTAIN JOHN G.) (See Sergeant-at-Arms.) 
 BRAZIL (represented first by Messrs. Lafayette Rodrigues Pereira, J. 
 G. do AmaralValente, and Salvador Mendonpa; and afterwards by 
 the two latter). 
 
 Draws number 10 in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 BUREAU OF INFORMATION. (-See Customs Regulations.) 
 
 C. 
 
 CAAMANO (MR. JOSE M. PLACIDO). 
 
 A delegate from Ecuador 15, 28, 69, 71, 91, 92, 93, 137, 146, 168, 282, 289, 355, 
 
 422, 423, 590, 653, 695, 751, 755, 775, 816, 834, 839 
 CALDERON (MR. CLIMACO). 
 
 A delegate from Colombia 28,33,91,92,134,205,397 
 
 CANAL, INTEROCEANIC 
 
 Letter from the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco 20 
 
 CARNEGIE (HON. ANDREW). 
 
 A delegate from the United States 75,91,92,789,800,806 
 
 CASTELLANOS (MR. JACINTO). 
 
 A delegate from Salvador ~. 23,47,67,7.5,91,92,93, 125, 
 
 185, 235, 367, 368, 369, 542, 693, 788, 789, 799, 802 
 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Memorial on Interoceanio Canal 20 
 
 CHILI (represented by Messrs. Emilio C. Varas and Jos6 Alfonso.) 
 
 Draws number 16 in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 CLAIMS AND DIPLOMATIC INTERVENTION. 
 
 Resolutions offered by Mr. Andrade 138 
 
 Referred to Committee on International Law 138 
 
 Resolutions offered by Mr. Andrade 185 
 
INDEX. 893 
 
 Page 
 CIiAIMS AND DIPLOMATIC INTERVENTION— Continued. 
 
 Eereferred to the Committee on International Law 185 
 
 Report of committee, showing that the subject did not fall within its 
 
 jurisdiction 201 
 
 Majority report of the committee 807 
 
 Minority report 814,824-855 
 
 COIN (COMMON). (See Monetary Union.) 
 
 COLLEGE (GEORGETOWN). Invitation tendered to the delegates to 
 visit 50 
 
 COLUMBIA (Represented by Messrs. Jos6 Marcelino H'urtado, C&los 
 Martinez Silva, and Cllmaco Calderon.) 
 
 Draws number 6 in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 Vote on arbitration ., 844 
 
 COMMITTEES. 
 
 Permanent committees authorized 83 
 
 Permanent committees announced . 93 
 
 COMMITTEE ON BANKING. 
 
 Appointed December 7, 1889 83 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Hurtado, from Colombia ; Mendonja, from Brasil ; 
 Varas, from Chili ; Flint, from the United States ; Arag6n, from 
 
 / Costa Rica 92.93 
 
 COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES. 
 
 Authorized 15 
 
 Messrs. Bliss, delegate from the United States ; Bolet Peraza, from Vene- 
 zuela; Cruz, from Guatemala; Zegarra, from Peru; and Nin, from 
 
 Uruguay, appointed 15 
 
 Presents its report 19 
 
 COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATION ON THE ATLANTIC. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 18S9 78 
 
 Messrs. Saenz Pena, delegate from the Argentine Republic; Coolidge, 
 from the United States ; Mendonga, from Brasil ; Deooud, from Para- 
 guay; Laforestrie, from Hayci, appointed 78 
 
 Presents its report , 337 
 
 Mr. Saenz Pena states that the nations not bordering on the Atlantic are 
 not directly concerned with this afifair and that their vote should be 
 limited to expressing their satisfaction as to the points agreed upon 
 
 by the other i ulerested nations 50 
 
 COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATION ON THE GULF OF MEXICO 
 AND THECARRIBEAN SEA. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 1889 78 
 
 Messrs. Arag6n, Guzman, Calderon, Hanson, and Silva, appointed 91 
 
 Presents its report 374 
 
 COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATION ON THE PACIFIC. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 1889 79 
 
 Messrs. Caamano, delegate from Ecuador : Veras, from Chili ; Estee, 
 from the United States ; Castellanos, Salvador ; Mexia, from Mexico, 
 
 appointed 79 
 
 Presents its report 338 
 
 Approved as amended 424 
 
 COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS. 
 
 Appointed November 18, 1889 18 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Romero, Quintana, Coolidge 18 
 
894 INDEX. 
 
 COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS— Continued. 
 
 Presents reports declaring in due form the credentials of Messrs. Saenz 
 Pena and Qnintana, of the Argentine Republic ; Messrs. Varas and 
 Alfonso, of Chili ; Velarde, of Bolivia ; Arag6n, of Costa Rica; Cruz, 
 of Guatemala; Guzman, of Nicaragua ; Zelaya, of Honduras ; Castel- 
 lanos, of Salvador ; Nin.of Uruguay ; Romero, of Mexico ; and Tres- 
 
 cot, Estee, and Coolidge, of the United States 23, :!(> 
 
 Report in regard to Messrs. Hurtado, Martinez, Silva, and Calderon, of 
 
 Colombia; CaamaDo, of Ecuador; Laforestrie, of Hayti; Mexia, of 
 
 Mexico; Decoud, of Paraguay ; Bolet Peraza, Zelaya, and Andrade, 
 
 of Venezuela ; Studebaker, Davis, and Hanson, of the United States . . 2H 
 
 Report in regard to Messrs. Rodrigues Pereira, Amaral Valente, and 
 
 Mendon^a, of Brasil ; and Bliss, of the United States 32 
 
 Presents similar report in regard to Mr. Carnegie, of the United States. . . 75 
 
 Presents similar report in regard to Mr. Flint, of the United States 122 
 
 Presents similar report in regard to Mr. Henderson, of the United States. 359 
 
 COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS REGULATIONS. 
 Authorized December 7, 1889. 
 Messrs. Nin, Alfonso, Romero, Calderon, Flint, Mendoufa, Davis, Aragfin, 
 
 Bolet Peraza. Appointed 91 
 
 Mr. Nin resigns as chairman of the committee 130 
 
 Report on the resolution offered by Mr. Romero in regard to the adoption 
 
 of a common nomenclature of merchandise 174 
 
 Report on the general subject of its jurisdiction 281 
 
 Special report on bureau of information 619 
 
 COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS UNION. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 1889 77 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Valente, Henderson, Saenz Pena, Romero, and 
 
 Martinez Silva.... 90 
 
 Increased by the addition of Messrs. Alfonso, Guzman, and Bolet Peraza. 96 
 
 Majority report submitted by Mr. Valente 213 ' 
 
 Minority report submitted by Mr. Saenz Pena 213 
 
 COMMITTEE (EXECUTIVE). 
 
 Authorized 63, 72 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Zegarra, Romero, Bliss, Hurtado, Mendonga, and 
 
 the Preside nt of the Conference ex officio 90 
 
 Report in regard fo documents to be printed 208 
 
 Reports on the resignation of Mr. Pierra 273 
 
 Authorized to act on the resignation of Mr. Pierra 276 
 
 Authorized to attend to the publication of the debates and reports and 
 
 make the corrections necessary in the original text and translations. 557 
 
 COMMITTEE ON EXTRADITION. 
 
 Authorized December7, 1889 , 81 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Zelaya, Trescot, Saenz Pefia, and Q u in tana 92 
 
 Presents its report 653 
 
 COMMITTEE ON GENERAL WELFARE. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 1889 '. 83 
 
 Its functions to be defined in accordance with the remarks made by Mr. 
 
 Varas 83 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Henderson, Quintana, Velarde, Bolet Peraza, Hur- 
 tado, Valente, and Cruz 93 
 
 Plan of an international tribunal suggested by Mr. Cesar Norsa, of Milan, 
 
 referred to it for consideration 100 
 
INDEX. 895 
 
 Paga 
 COMMITTEE ON GENERAL ■WELFARE— Continued. 
 
 Eesolution presented by Mr. Bolet Peraza relative to arbitration between 
 Venezuela and Great Britain in regard to the Guayana dispute 
 
 referred 116 
 
 Presents report on the subject of arbitration 649 
 
 Presents report recommending arbitration between the nations of Europe 
 
 and those of America .' 662 
 
 Presents fioal report 802 
 
 COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL LAW. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 1889 83 
 
 Messrs. Cruz, Quintana, Trescotj Alfonso, and Caamafio, appointed 93 
 
 Presents report 201 
 
 Presents another report ou the resolution of Messrs. Andrade and Caam- 
 
 aiSo, that the subject was out of its jurisdiction 201 
 
 Authorized to report upon both subjects 236 
 
 Presents report on the subject of claims 807 
 
 Presents report upon navigation 811 
 
 Presents report upon the minority of both subjects 824 
 
 COMMITTEE ON MONETARY CONVENTION. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 1889 82 
 
 Messrs. Mexia, Estee, Martinez Silva, Alfonso, Coolidge, Velarde, Zel- 
 
 aya, appointed .' 92 
 
 Presents report 286 
 
 Presents additional report 594 
 
 COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INFORM MR. BLAINE OP HIS 
 ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE. 
 
 Appointed October 2, 1889 14 
 
 Connposed of Messrs. Hnrtado, delegate from Colombia ; Bliss, delegate 
 from the United States; Zegarra, delegate from Peru ; Velarde, dele- 
 gate from Bolivia ; aad Arag6n, delegate from Costa Rica 14 
 
 Gave notice of having finished their duties 15 
 
 Escorts Mr. Blaine to the chair 16 
 
 COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION. 
 
 XaihoTiied October 2, 1889 14 
 
 Messrs. Komero, delegate from Mexico ; Rodrigues Pereira, delegate from 
 Brasil; Nin, delegate from Uruguay; Guzman, delegate from Nicara- 
 gua ; and Hurtado, delegate from Colombia, appointed 14 
 
 Nominates as President of the Conference, the Hon. James G. Blaine, 
 and recommends that in his absence the chair be occupied by one of 
 
 the delegates of each nation in the order designated by lot 14 
 
 COMMITTEE ON PATENTS AND TRADE-MARES. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 1889 81 
 
 Messrs. Decond, Carnegie, Guzman, and Calderon, appointed 92 
 
 Presents report 197 
 
 COMMITTEE ON PORT DUES. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 1889 80 
 
 Messrs. Bolet Peraza, Laforestrie, Varas, Studebaker, and Nin, ap- 
 pointed 92 
 
 Presents report 293 
 
 Presents a special report on consular fees 365 
 
 Messrs. Mendon^a, Quintana, Aragdn, and Guzman are added to the com- 
 mittee 369 
 
 Presents a new report 649 
 
896 INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 COMMITTEE ON RAILWAY COMMUNICATION. 
 
 Authorized December?, 1889 "^^ 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Velarde, delegate from' Bolivia ; Davis, from the 
 United States ; Mexia, from Mexico ; Craz, from Guatemala ; Zelaya, 
 from Honduras; Castellanos, from Salvador; Carnegie, from the 
 United States ; Aragdn, from Costa Eica ; Martinez Silva, from Co- 
 lombia; Andrade, from Venezuela; CaamaQo, from Ecuador; Zegarra, 
 from Peru ; Varas, from Chili ; Quintana, from Argentine Republic ; 
 Nin, from Uruguay ; Valeute, from Brazil; Decoud, from Paraguay. 79 
 
 The number of the committee was increased by the addition of Mr. 
 
 Guzman, from Nicaragua 182 
 
 The committee presents its report 200 
 
 COMMITTEE ON REVISION OP THE RULES. 
 
 Appointed December 4, 1889 58 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Fernando Cruz and Enrique A. Mexia 58 
 
 The committee presents revised draft of the rules 9o 
 
 COMMITTEE ON RULES. 
 
 Authorized October 2, 1889 15 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Alfonso, Quintana, Trescpt, Caamano, Romero, Cas- 
 tellanos, and Valente 15 
 
 Announces that its report is ready to be translated and printed ... - 19 
 
 Submits the code of rules drafted by the committee 25 
 
 Presents report on the resolution of Mr. Hurtado in regard to printing 
 
 the minutes 43 
 
 Presents report on the resolution of Mr. Martinez Silva relative to Vice- 
 Presidency of the conference 65 
 
 Advises that the resolution offered by Mr. Romero fixing the hours of 
 
 the sessions from 3 to 6 p. m. be accepted 103 
 
 Presents report on the resolution offered by Mr. Nin in regard to notices 
 
 to be given to the delegates relative to the closing of the Conference. 122 
 Presents report on the proposition of Mr. Coolidge to admit certain repre- 
 sentatives of the press to the hall of the Conference 124, 182 
 
 Presents report on the resolution of Mr. Estee to hold daily sessions 176 
 
 COMMITTEE ON SANITARY REGULATIONS. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 1889 80 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Guzman, Valente, Zegarra, Henderson, Andrade, 
 
 Laforestrie, and Nin 91 
 
 Makes a report 191 
 
 Dr. Guzman explains that the report is not signed by Messrs. Nin and 
 
 Laforestrie because the first is absent and the second ill 191 
 
 COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO VISIT THE SICK DELEGATES 
 (Messrs. Laforestrie and Zelaya). 
 
 Appointed January 24, 1890 126 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Mexia, Valente, and Studebaker 126 
 
 COMMITTEE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 
 
 Authorized December 7, 1889 80 
 
 Composed of Messrs. Castellanos, Silva, and Studebaker 92 
 
 Presents report 109 
 
 Accepts the amendment proposed by Mr. Romero 125 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS ON THE ATLANTIC. 
 
 The committee presents its report 337 
 
 Discussion on the report ~ 413 
 
 Adoption of the report 418 
 
INDEX. 897 
 
 Page. 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS ON THE GULP OF MEXICO AND THE 
 CARRIBEAN SEA. 
 
 Report of the committee 374 
 
 Statement sent by the Postmaster-General 389 
 
 Statement from Mr. Calderon 397 
 
 Jjetter from Mr. John Wanamaker to Mr. Henderson 387 
 
 Adoption of the report 410 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS ON THE PACIFIC. 
 
 The committee presents its report • 338 
 
 Discussion on the same 418 
 
 Letter from Mr. Oaamallo 422 
 
 Amendment propnsed by Mr. Zegarra 423 
 
 COMMUNICATION BY RAILROAD. 
 
 Report approved 210 
 
 CONQUEST, RIGHT OF. 
 
 Resolutions offered by the delegations of the Argentine Republic and 
 
 Brazil 107 
 
 Report of the Committee on General Welfare on the right of conquest. ..' 802 
 
 Opinion of the delegation of the United States 803 
 
 Debate 803 
 
 Speech by Mr. Zegarra 803 
 
 Vote on the whole 805 
 
 Debate upon the articles 805 
 
 Adoption of the report in its reyised form 806 
 
 CONSULAR FEES. 
 
 The committee presents its report 365 
 
 Discussion on same 434 
 
 Adoption of the report 435 
 
 CONVENTION INTERSTATE DEEP HARBOR. 
 
 Sends resolutions of greeting to the Conference 50 
 
 COOLIDGE (T. JEFFERSON). 
 
 A delegate from the United States 18,24,38, 
 
 91, 92, 117, 118, 276, 366, 370, 473, 486, 487, 488, 662 
 
 COPPINGER (MRS. ALICE BLAINE). 
 
 Action of the Conference in regard to her Jeath 142 
 
 COSTA RICA (represented by Mr. Manuel Arag6n.) 
 
 Draws number 8 in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 CRUZ (MR. FERNANDO). 
 
 A delegate froni Guatemala 15, 23, 33, 35, 50, 58, 62, 63, 68, 75, 77, 90, 91, 93, 
 
 277, 142, 214, 235, 252, 255, 256, 260,269, 280, 337, 360, 365, 417,427, 562, 584,585, 
 590, 595, 618, 621, 665, 678, 675, 754,757, 759, 786, 788, 789, 793, 795, 803, 813, 853 
 
 CURTIS, WILLIAM ELEROY (executive officer). 
 
 Receives a vote of thanks 817 
 
 CUSTOMS REGULATIONS. 
 
 Report approved with a modification 196 
 
 Report on customs regulations and debate thereon ..: 526,558 
 
 Above report adopted 564 
 
 Special report for the establishment of an International American Bareau . 683 
 
 Above report approved 688 
 
 CUSTOMS UNION. 
 
 Majority report of the committee 293 
 
 Messrs. Saenz PeQa and Alfonso, members of the committee, submit a 
 
 minority ri'port 296 
 
 57 X g 
 
898 INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 CUSTOMS UNION— Continued. 
 
 Speech of Mr. Saenz PeSa in support of t^e minority report\ 297 
 
 Speech of Mr. Alfonso in support of the minority report 324 
 
 Incidental debate on the translation of the foregoing sppeohes 326 
 
 Speech of Mr. Romero in support of the minority report 326 
 
 Eemarks of Dr. Guzman in the same sense 324 
 
 Explanations of Mr. Saenz Pena and Mr. Alfonso as to the language of 
 
 their report 337 
 
 Speech of Mr. Flint 338 
 
 Amendment to the minority report 342 
 
 Reply of Mr. Henderson to Mr. Saenz Pena 413 
 
 Speech of Mr. Romero » 567 
 
 Second speech of Mr. Saenz Pena . 600 
 
 Speech of Mr. Price 625 
 
 Speech of Mr. Henderson in reply 642 
 
 Speech of Mr. Romero in reply.., 619,632,639 
 
 Third speech of Mr. Saenz Petla 658 
 
 Report of the majority approved 653 
 
 Discussion as to whether the report of the minority mnst or must not be 
 
 put to a vote 653 
 
 D. 
 DAVIS (HON. HENRY &.). 
 
 A delegate from the United States 26, 28, 55, 91, 92, 97, 197, 210, 542, 656 
 
 DECOUD (Mr. JOSE S-.). 
 
 Mentioned 28,66,78,91,239,355,413,654, 756 
 
 DELEGATES. 
 
 To preside at the session during the absence of the President, one for 
 
 each nation, in tlie order assigned by lot 14 
 
 Delegates accredited to the Conference : 
 From Hayti, Mr Arthur Laforestrie, to March 5, 1890, when he retired 
 
 on account of illness 280 
 
 Mr. Hannibal Price, on the lat of April, 1890, was presented to the 
 
 Conference , .588 
 
 From Nicaragua, Mr. Horatio Guzman 2 
 
 From Peru, Mr. F. C. C. Zegarra 3 
 
 From Guatemala, Dr. Fernando Cruz 2 
 
 From Uruguay, Dr. Alberto Nin 3 
 
 From Colombia, Messrs. Jos6 Marcelino Hurtado, Carlos Martinez 
 
 Silva, and Cllmaco Calderon 2 
 
 From Argeniine Republic, Messrs. Roque Saenz Pena and Quintana.. . 2 
 
 From Costa Rica, Manuel Aragrtn 2 
 
 From Paraguay, Mr. Jos6 S. Deooud 2 
 
 From Brazil, Messrs. Lafayette Rodrigues Pereira (who retired, 36), 
 
 Mr. J. G. do Amaral Valeute, and Salvador de Meudou^a 2 
 
 ' From Honduras, Jeronimo Zelaya ' 2 
 
 From Mexico, Messrs. Matias Romero and Enrique A. Mexia 2 
 
 From Bolivia, Mr. Juan Francisco Velarde 2 
 
 From the United States, Messrs. John B. Henderson, Cornelius W. Bliss, 
 
 Clement Studebaker, T. Jefferson Coolidge, William Henry Trescot, 
 
 Andrew Carnegie, Morris M. Estee, John F. Hanson, Henry G. Davis, 
 
 and Charles E. Flint >. 3 
 
 From Venezuela, Messrs. Nicanor Bolet Peraza, Jos6 Andrade, and 
 
 Francisco Antonio Silva 3 
 
 From Salvador, Mr. Jacinto Castellanos 3 
 
 From Ecuador, Mr. Job6 Maria Pl^ido Caamailo 2 
 
INDEX. 899 
 
 B. 
 
 Page. 
 ECUADOR (represented by Mr. Jos6 Maria PlSoido CaamaSo.) 
 
 Draws No. 18 io the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 ESTBE (MR. MORRIS M.). 
 
 Mentioned 20,23,46,50,58,82,91,129,126,131,139,140,146 
 
 275,282, 283, 337, 343, 346, 347, 410, 417, 452, 4>i7 
 497,501,499,529,542,566,589, 590, 6:)2,699. 
 
 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (See Committee, Executive.) 
 
 EXECUTIVE OFFICER. (See Curtis, Wm. E.) 
 
 EXTRADITION. 
 
 Report presented. 652 
 
 Text of the report 719 
 
 Recommendations 739 
 
 Treaty of internatioual penal law of Montevideo 739 
 
 Speech of Mr. Caamauo 755 
 
 Amendment oflfered by Messrs. Guzman and Crnz 755 
 
 Adoption of the amendment 756 
 
 F. 
 
 FERGUSSON (ARTHUR W.). 
 
 Accorded a vote of thanks for his services as interpreter : 817 
 
 FLINT (MR. CHARLES R.). 
 
 Mentioned 14,18,19,91,93,122,130,334,338,566,619,676 
 
 THE FOURTH CENTENNIAL OP THE DISCOVERY OF AMER- 
 ICA. 
 
 Resolution by Mr. Alfonso 853 
 
 G. 
 
 GUATEMALA (represented by Dr. Fernando Cruz). 
 
 Draws number 4 in the casting of lots for the Vice- Presidency 25 
 
 GUZMAN (DR. HORACXOJ. 
 
 Mentioned 14,19,23,27,64,69,70,76,91,92,96, 
 
 116, 182, 191, 201, 204, 214, 270, 275, 281, 286, 326,337, 342, 
 369, 411, 427, 564, 584, 653, 675, 688, 750, 755, 799, 818, 800 
 
 H. 
 
 HANSON (MR. JOHN F.). 
 
 Mentioned 28, 50,91, 92,215 
 
 HAYTI (represented first by Mr. Arthur Laforestrie and afterwards by 
 Mr. Hannibal Price). 
 
 Draws the first place in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 HENDERSON (MR. JOHN B.) 
 
 Mentioned 13,20,25,84,29,39,51,76,81, 84,90, 93, 104, 109,112, 113, 
 
 134, 182, 255, 257, 264, 326, 342, 343, 413, 487, 500, 543, 557, 564, 584, 
 591, 594, 598, 619, 642, 653, 654, 688, 789, 792, 794, 793, 795, 803, 805, 816 
 HONDURAS (represented by Dr. Jeronimo Zelaya). 
 
 Draws No. 11 in the casting of the lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 HURTADO (MR. JOSE M.). 
 
 Mentioned ^ 14, 28, 29, 40, 49, 55, 58, 63, 68, 69, 75, 76, 81, 87, 90, 92, 
 
 93, 125, 126, 131, 182, 183, 185, 191, 209, 290, 337, 354, 361, 365, 366, 
 524, 558. 589, 655, 656, 663, 675, 682,770, 771, 772, 796, 803, 806, 814 
 
900 INDEX. 
 
 I., 
 
 Page. 
 INTERNATIONAL LAW. 
 
 Report recommending the study of all the treaties of private interna- 
 tional law, civil law, commercial law, and law of procedure adopted 
 by the Congress held in Montevideo on the 25th of August, 1888, and 
 
 certain rules for the legalization of documents 240,270 
 
 Beport recommending the appointment of another committee to examine 
 
 the matter of public international lawsubmitted to the Conference.. 235 
 
 The committee recommended to study said subjects 235 
 
 Report upon claims and diplomatic intervention 807 
 
 Report of the minority (Mr. Trescot) upon the same subject 834 
 
 Repoit of the minority upon the navigation of rivers 8U 
 
 Report of the minority (Mr. Trescot) upon the same subject 824 
 
 Plan presented by Mr. Audrade with regard to claims 138 
 
 Anew plan presented by the same upon the same subject 165 
 
 Draft of resolution by Mr. Caamaiio upon the navigation of rivers 146 
 
 Speech of Mr. Caamano in support of his resolution 834 
 
 Reply to the report of Mr. Trescot by Mr. Caamano 832 
 
 INTERNATIONAL RAILROAD. (See Communications by Railroad.) 
 INTERPRETERS. 
 
 Mentioned 71,817 
 
 INVITATIONS. 
 
 Extended by the Government of the United States to the delegates to 
 visit a part of the country before beginning the labors of the Confer- 
 ence ; acceptance 15 
 
 Invitation from Mr. William F. T. Hughes, through Mr. Flint, delegate 
 of the United States, to be present at the launching of a steamer in 
 
 Chester, Pa. ; acceptance 19 
 
 It was declared that all invitations should be considered as extended to 
 
 the delegates individually and not to the Conference 19, 20 
 
 Invitations from Georgetown College to the delegates to visit that insti- 
 tution ; accepted 50 
 
 Rule proposed by Mr. Romero governing invitations 64 
 
 Invitation to be present at the ceremonies oo umemorating the inaugu- 
 ration of General Washington as the first President of the United 
 
 States 67 
 
 Invitatiou from the President of the United States to the delegates to at- 
 tend the official receptions 103 
 
 Inyitation from the President of the United States to the delegates to 
 
 witness a review of the troops in honor of the Conference 618, 654 
 
 Invitatiou from the President of the United States to the delegates to 
 
 visit Mount Vernon 784 
 
 J. 
 
 JOURNAL or THE SESSIONS. 
 
 That of the 2d of October, 1889, as prepared in English : 18 
 
 Mr. Romero, delegate from Mexico, made an oral translation, which he 
 
 read 18 
 
 The printing of the same in Spanish and English was ordered 18 
 
 Cause of the errors committed in the journals of the first five days ex- 
 plained 44 
 
 Decision on the printing of the same postponed 44 
 
 Mr. Nin asks that the printing be proceeded with 140 
 
INDEX. 901 
 
 L. 
 
 Page. 
 
 LAFORESTRrEi (MR. ARTHUR). 
 
 Mentioned 28, 67, 77, 91, 92,''l22, 126,280,281,801 
 
 LATIN AMERICAN LIBRARY. 
 
 Its establishment is proposed by Mr. Martinez Silva 819 
 
 Mr. Bolet Peraza proposes to call it the Colombian Library 815 
 
 M. 
 
 MARTINEZ SILVA (MR. CARLOS). 
 
 Mentioned 28, 40, 61, 90, 91, 92, 125, 129, 134, 137, 188, 236, 249, 250, 
 
 251, 254, 326,423, 499, 526, 564, 755, 789, 806, 815 
 MENDONCA (MR. SALVADOR de). 
 
 Mentioned 32,75,90,91,92,107,186,188,215,218,360,361, 
 
 365, 368, 369, 675, 676, 755, 773, 795, 814, 849 
 MEXIA (MR. ENRIQUE A.). 
 
 Mentioned 28,58,82,91,92,126,423, 437,497,565, 584,591,595,649,652,705 
 
 MEXICO (represented by Messrs. Matias Komero and Enrique A. Mexia). 
 
 Draws number 12 in the casting of the lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 MINUTES. 
 
 The minutes limited to a suooinot statement of the debate and final action 
 taken on the subjects on each day, as decided on the 291h of Novem- 
 ber, 1889 20 
 
 To be read in Spanish and English by the respective secretaries 160 
 
 Note to be taken of the remarks made in regard thereto ; to be approved 
 
 ■without discussion ; 160 
 
 Article 5 of the regulations - 160 
 
 Those of the first five days to be formulated in accordance with the pro- 
 vision made on the 29th of November of 1889, in order to make use of 
 those already printed and kno,vu under the title of Preliminary Re- 
 ports 160 
 
 Minutes of the first day in this form was read, approved, and signed on 
 
 the 27th of January, 1890 160 
 
 Those of the second day, on the 29th of January, 1890. Those of the third 
 
 day, ou the 31st of the same month 160 
 
 Those of the fourth day, on the 5th of February. Those of tlie fifth day, 
 
 on the 7th of February 160 
 
 The minutes of the sessions, prior to the adoption of the rules, not yet 
 approved, if there are any, they will be signed by the President of the 
 
 session in which they be read and approved 160 
 
 They must contain the entire texts of the approved reports 239 
 
 Debate about having the entire texts of the speeches inserted in the 
 
 minutes of the session in which they were made 337 
 
 MONETARY CONVENTION. 
 
 Eeport bf the committee 435 
 
 Report of Mr. Mexia 437 
 
 Eeport of Mr. Alfonso 439 
 
 Eeport of Mr. Estee 452 
 
 Eeport of Mr. Coolidge 473 
 
 Amendment proposed by Mr. Coolidge to his own report 486 
 
 Speech of Mr. Coolidge 488 
 
 Speech of Mr. Estee 501 
 
 Speech of Mr. Martinez Silva 524 
 
 Speech of Mr. Eomero 544 
 
902 INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 MONETARY CONVENTION— Continued. 
 
 Amendment proposed by the delegation of the United States - 565 
 
 The reporting committee agcepts the same 565 
 
 Mr. Komero proposed an amendment and withdraws it . 589,590 
 
 Subject referred back to the committee with all the amendments 590 
 
 Another report of the committee 594 
 
 The other report approved as a whole 595 
 
 Articles first and second of the same approved 596 
 
 Article three, with amendment by Mr. Price, approved 596 
 
 Article fourth, with amendment by Mr. Quintana, approved 597 
 
 The report approved 597 
 
 The text of the recommendations adopted 597 
 
 IS" 
 
 NAVIGATION OF RIVERS. 
 
 Resolution introduced by Mr. Caamano on the free navigation of rivers . 137 
 
 Eeferredto the Committee on International Law 137 
 
 Eeported by the committee with the statement that the subject does not 
 
 fall within its jurisdiction .- 201 
 
 Majority report of the new committee 811 
 
 Minority report 824,8.55 
 
 Report of Mr. Caamdfio 834 
 
 Mr. Caamauo's speech in reply to Mr. Trescot's minority report , 839 
 
 NICARAGUA, (represented by Dr. Horacio Guzman;. 
 
 Draws No. 2 in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 NIN (MR. ALBERTO). 
 
 Mentioned 14, 15, 23, 33, 37, 42, 44, 58, 91, 92, 108, 130, 140, 150, 168, 176, 281 
 
 NOMENCLATURE OP MERCHANDISE. 
 
 Resolution offered by Mr. Romero to establish a comteon nomei^olature 
 
 of merchandise 97 
 
 Referred to the Committee on Customs Regulations 100 
 
 Report of the committee 174 
 
 Adopted with an amendment suggested by Mr. Zegarra and seconded by 
 
 Mr. Romero 196 
 
 P. 
 
 PARAGUAY (represented by Hon. Jos^ S. Decoud). 
 
 Draws No. 9 in the casting of lots for the Vice- Presidency 25 
 
 PATENTS AND TRADE-MARES. 
 
 Report submitted 197 
 
 Report adopted 235 
 
 PERU (represented by Hon. F. F. C. Zegara). 
 
 Draws No. 3 in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 FIERRA (Mr. FIDEL G.). 
 
 Elected secretary of the Conference 33 
 
 Resigns his position 194 
 
 Motion of Mr. Calderon in his favor 201 
 
 Withdra ws his resignation conditionally 204 
 
 Withdraws his conditions 218 
 
 Resignation accepted 294 
 
 PORT DUES. 
 
 Discussion of the report , 347,350 
 
 Report approved as a whole 360 
 
INDEX. 903 
 
 PORT DUES— Continued. *^^' 
 
 Referred back to the committee 369 
 
 Revised report 654 
 
 Report approved 656 
 
 PRICE (HON. HANNIBAL). 
 
 Letter from the State Department announcing the appointment of Hon. 
 Hannibal Price, minister of Hayti, as delegate to the International 
 
 American Conference 497 
 
 Introduced to the Conference April 1, 1890 588 
 
 His address to the Conference , 588 
 
 Offers an amendment to article 3 of thereporton monetary convention.. 596 
 
 His speech on the subject of customs union 619, 623 
 
 Takes part in the debate on arbitration 789 
 
 Explains that Hayti can not be considered a Central American nation .. 792 
 
 His remarks on the subject of arbitratiou with Europe 800 
 
 Abstains from voting on the subject of claims and diplomatic interven- 
 tion 811 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE ARE SECRET. (See Min- 
 utes.) 
 
 Journal of the proceedings 52 
 
 Q0INTANA (MR. MANUEL). 
 
 Mentioned... 15, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 36, 45, 46, 47, .50, 51, 53, 56, 57, 68, 70, 71, 81, 
 84, 91, 92, 93, 107, 134, 188, 209, 215, 218, 236, 239, 250, 261,273,270, 
 289, 594, 326,'34, 7355, 361, 365, 366, 368, 369, 374, 498, 557, 582, .5'-3, 
 584, 696, 618, 682, 695, 755, 768. 771, 773, 784, 788, 789, 795, 801, 905 
 
 E. 
 
 RECIPROCAL ADVANTAGES GRANTED BY TREATIES. 
 
 Resolution offered by Mr. Caamano in regard thereto 145 
 
 Referred to the Committee on International Law 147 
 
 RECIPROCITY. (&e Customs Union.) 
 
 REGULATIONS (CUSTOMS). (5ee Customs Regulations.) 
 
 REGULATIONS (SANITARY). (5ee Sanitary Regulations.) 
 
 RODRIGUES PEREIRA (MR. LAFAYETTE). 
 
 Mentio ned 14, 32, 36 
 
 RODRIGUES (DR. D. JOSE IGNACIO). 
 
 Acts as Spanish- American secretary 194 
 
 Appointed unanimously 755 
 
 Mentioned .....871,194,755,817 
 
 ROMERO (MR. M ATI AS). 
 
 Mentioned 13,14, 15, 18, 25, 29, 32, 39,40, 54, 55,56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 90, 
 
 91, 93, 96,97, 99, 103, 112, 114, 117, 125, 142, 143, 144, 186, 192, 
 196, 209, 215, 218, 339, 255, 277, 293, 326, 337, 343, 3ii4, 355, 363, 
 409, 525, 542, 544, 558, 562, 566, 567, 582, 5H9, 590, 697, 619, 632, 
 639, 653, 656, 675, 697, 750, 755, 771, 772, 784, 787, 800, 815, 816 
 
 RULES. 
 
 Appointment of the Committee on Rules 15 
 
 Report of the committee considered as filed so as to have it printed 19 
 
 Report submitted 52 
 
 Rules from No. 1 to No. 7 approved 28 
 
 Rules from No. 8 to No. 13 approved 36 
 
 Rules from No. 13 to No. 16 unanimously approved 43 
 
904 INDEX. ^ 
 
 RULES— Continued. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Rule No. 18 approved 52 
 
 Rule No. 13 approved 57 
 
 Rule that in case of a tie vote the question shall be understood decided 
 
 in the negative 57 
 
 Rules approved and referred to special committee for revision of language 
 
 and methodical arrangement 57, 58 
 
 Rules revised and finally adopted 90 
 
 Rule 15 amended 203 
 
 S. 
 SAENZ PEl^A (MR. ROQXTE.) 
 
 Mentioned 5J3, 54, 90, 91, 92, 100, 103,107,125,129,181,194,197,290,297,334, 
 
 337, 341, 342, ,343, 413, 416, 428, 499, 557, 582, 598, 600, 653, 654, 
 58,694,697,755. 
 
 SALVADOR (represented by Dr. Jacinto Castellanos). 
 
 Draws No. 17 in drawing for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 SANITARY REGULATIONS. 
 
 Reports submitted -^ 101 
 
 Report approved 216 
 
 SECRETARIES. 
 
 Charles R. Flint appointed ten\porary secretary of the Conference 14 
 
 Dr. Guzman, a delegate from Nicaragua, and Mr. Zegarra, a delegate 
 
 from Peru, appointed secretaries pro tern 19 
 
 Mr. H. Remsen Whitehouse unanimously elected to be English secretary 
 
 of tiie Conference 32 
 
 Mr. Fidel C Pierra appointed unanimously Spanish secretary of the Con- 
 ference. Mexican delegation abstains from votinge 32 
 
 Dr. Jos6 Ignacio Rodrigue acts as secretary 194 
 
 Elected unanimously 765 
 
 SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. 
 
 A vote of thanks tendered him 817 
 
 SESSIONS OP THE CONFERENCE ARE SECRET. (See Minutes, 
 
 Proceedings, Rules.) 
 SILVA (MR. FRANCISCO ANTONIO). 
 
 Mentioned 28,91,92 
 
 STENOGRAPHERS. 
 
 A vote of tlianks tendered to them 817 
 
 STUDEBAKER (MR. CLEMENT). 
 
 Mentioned 28, .51, 52, 92, 126, 129, 171,362,654,817 
 
 T. 
 TRACY (HON. BBNJ. P.). 
 
 Action of the Conference in regard to the calamity which befell his 
 
 family 143 
 
 TRESCOT (MR. WM. H.). 
 
 Mentioned.. .15, 23, 29, 30, 33, 4 1, 57, 58, 67, 76, 70, 84, 87, 93, 92, 101, 157, 158, 186, 215^ 
 219, 235, 251, 268, 282, 337, 410, 564, 719, 789, 793, 795, 824, 853, 855 
 
 U. 
 
 UNITED STATES (represented by Messrs. John B. Henderson, Corne- 
 lius N. Bliss, Clement Studebaker, T. Jefferson Coolidge, William 
 Henry Tresoot, Andrew Carnegie, Morris M. Estee, John F. Hanson, 
 Charles R. Flint, H. G. Davis). 
 
INDEX. 905 
 
 Page. 
 UNITED STATES— Continued. 
 
 Draws No. 14 in the casting of tlie lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 A vote of thanks by the foreign delegates to the Government of the 
 
 United States 816 
 
 URUGUAY (represented by Dr. Alberto Nin). 
 
 Draws No. 2 in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 Ceases to be represented 174 
 
 V. 
 
 VALENTE (MR. G. DO AMARAL). 
 
 Mentioned 15,32,90,91,92,93,107,126,326 
 
 VARAS (MR. EMILIO C). 
 
 Mentioned 18, 23, 29, 40, 69, 76, 83, 91, 92, 93, 275, 237, 254, 355, 361, 
 
 362, 365, 367, 413, 417, 427, 649, 675, 676, 683, 706, 803 
 VELARDE (MR. JUAN F.). 
 
 Mentioned 14, 23, 69, 78, 81, 91, 92, 93, 182. 188, 200, 219, 220, 280 
 
 282, 293, 326, 423, 499, 564, 584, 590, 653, 676, 795 
 VENEZUELA (represented by Messrs. Bolet Peraza, Job6 Andrade, and 
 Francisco Antonio Silva). 
 
 Draws No. 15 in the casting of lots for the Vice-Presidency 25 
 
 VICE-PRESIDENTS. 
 
 In the absence of the President the chair to he occupied in turn by one 
 of the delegates, selected by lot, of each nation represented in the 
 
 Conference ...'. 14 
 
 Vice-President designated by lot in the following order: (1) Hayti; 
 (2) Nicaragua; (3) Pern; (4) Guatemala; (5) Uruguay; (6) Colom- 
 bia; (7) Argentine Republic; (8) Costa Kioa; (9) Paraguay: (10) 
 Brasil; (11) Honduras; (12) Mexico; (13) Bolivia; (14) United 
 States; (15) Venezuela; (16) Chili; (17) Salvador; (18) Ecuador. 25 
 The Coiiferenoe orders the election of the First and Second Vice-Presi- 
 dents 62 
 
 The first ballot taken for the election of Vice-Presidents 68 
 
 Election of Mr.Zegaira as the First Vice-President and Mr. Eomero as the 
 
 Second 76,77 
 
 W. 
 
 ■WANAMAKER, HON. JOHN. 
 
 Letter to Mr. Henderson on the subject of postal convention 387 
 
 ■WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 
 
 Keports submitted and read on January 15, 1890 109 
 
 Eecommendation adopted 125 
 
 ■WHITEHOUSB (H. REMSBN). 
 
 Elected unanimously to be English secretary of the Conference 32 
 
 A vote of thanks tendered him ...■. 817 
 
 Z, 
 
 ZEGARRA (MR. F. C. C). 
 
 Mentioned 14, 15, 19, 31, 51, 56, 68, 76, 90, 91, 92, 99, 112, 194, 196, 208, 21 1, 
 
 215, 219, 256, 282, 283, 289, 355, 368, 422, 423, 427, 559, 584, 585, 
 588, 594, 596, 647, 649, 675, 688, 755, 768, 792, 796, 803, 853, 855 
 ZELAYA (MR. JERONIMO). 
 
 Mentioned.. .23, 57, 68, 74, 75, 91, 92, 126, 129, 131, 191, 204, 236, 277, 719, 750, 753, 793 
 

 ''^mM^. 
 
 T^HMliil 
 
 
 mTt^'<^^ 
 
 m'Uiir 
 
 
 ^SMm