File No. 332/46B.
The Secretary of State to Minister McCreery.
Washington, February 20, 1907.
Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of a note which I addressed on the 8th instant to the chargé d’affaires ad interim of Honduras, stating [Page 625] the procedure which to this department appears necessary to make effective the engagements of Article V of the convention signed on the Marblehead on July 20, 1906, and of Article III of the general treaty of amity signed at San Jose on September 24, 1906, with respect to submission to the arbitration of the Presidents of the United States and Mexico of the differences between Honduras, Guatemala, and Salvador.
While it may be premature to consider the manner in which the stipulation of the treaty of San Jose is to be carried out, it may not be out of place to suggest that it may be convenient to assume that the words “Their Excellencies the Presidents of the United States of America and of the United States of Mexico being hereby designated as arbitrators” may be deemed to permit the parties to the arbitration to submit their differences to either or both of the arbitrators so designated. It is conceivable that either the nature of the matter to be arbitrated or its comparative unimportance may make it inconvenient for the Presidents of the United States and of Mexico to act jointly as arbitrators, and that provision should be made for the selection of either to act alone or perhaps for the delegation of arbitral powers of the respective Presidents (in the event of their being invited to act jointly) to the deputy or deputies they may name for that purpose.
You will communicate these views to the Government of Mexico for the information of President Diaz.
I am, etc.,