3When the Conference of Washington was suggested, stormy winds were blowing in Central America, One armed conflict was succeeding another almost without cessation, for even when one was brought to a close, the seed of another was already germinating. In this state of affairs the friendly voices of Presidents Roosevelt and Díaz were heard, inviting the Governments of these countries to come to some fraternal arrangement, throwing a veil over the differences which divided them, and seeking to induce them to establish among themselves in the future a cordial and unbreakable understanding.
With this view the meeting of that Conference was arranged; with the same view went those of us who had the high honor of being designated by our respective Governments to treat in their names in conformity with this great idea, cherishing warm in our hearts the holy love of country and with the firm intention of working for its larger growth and glory, without admitting anything which might diminish its independence and dignity.
And we fulfilled our mission in accordance with what patriotism and the necessities of our peoples demanded of us, to which the Treaties which we drew up are irrefutable testimony, and if they have not borne for Central America all the good fruits which we had a right to expect of them, the cause of this must be sought elsewhere and not in the principles formulated by these Treaties, which were dictated to us both by civilization and by our fervent feelings of patriotism, The following phrases, spoken by the Secretary of State of the American Government, in the closing session of the Convention give a good idea of what was thought in the United States