CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES. 



203 



federation, and next year it was decided that all disputes between tlie several 

 states should be henceforth decided, not by war, but by arbitration. In order to 

 give practical effect to that principle, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, at that time 

 at war about a question of frontiers, appealed to the decision of the United States 

 President. Lastly, the congress assembled ia September, 1889, in the city of 

 San Salvador, concluded a treaty of union between the five states, thereby 

 constituting themselves a federation under the name of " Centro-America," for a 

 provisional term of ten years. According to this official project, the novitiate 



rig. 87.— Political Divisions of Central America. 

 Scale 1 : 17,500,000. 



oOO Miles. 



should be brought to a close in 1900, when the definite federal constitution will 

 be proclaimed. 



But scarcely had this federal compact been signed when disappointed ambi- 

 tions tore it to shreds, A fierce war broke out between San Salvador and 

 Guatemala ; Costa Eica and Honduras soon after joined in the fray ; and no sooner 

 had these troubles been momentarily quelled than Honduras became the scene of 

 a sanguinary revolution, calling for the active interference of Guatemala. In 

 the middle of November, 1890, President Bogran, of Honduras, had to fly for his 

 life, and a de facto government was proclaimed by General Sanchez, leader of the 

 revolutionary party Sanchez was soon after captured and shot. But towards 



