Bryan–Chamorro Treaty facts for kids

The Bryan–Chamorro Treaty was an agreement between Nicaragua and the United States. It was signed on August 5, 1914. This treaty gave the United States special rights over any future canal built through Nicaragua. It also allowed the U.S. to set up a naval base there. The United States Senate approved the treaty on June 19, 1916.

Why the Treaty Happened

The United States was very interested in building canals. They had just finished the Panama Canal in 1914. Nicaragua was another possible place for a canal. The U.S. wanted to make sure no other country built a canal there. They also wanted to control any future canal in Nicaragua themselves.

Before the treaty, Nicaragua's president, José Santos Zelaya, was talking to countries like France and Germany. He wanted them to help build a canal in Nicaragua. The United States did not like this idea. They saw it as competition for their new Panama Canal.

The U.S. supported groups that opposed President Zelaya. These groups were led by Emiliano Chamorro Vargas and Juan José Estrada. With U.S. help, President Zelaya and then President Jose Madriz left the country. The U.S. then helped set up new governments in Nicaragua.

From 1912 to 1933, the United States had a military presence in Nicaragua. They helped keep certain leaders in power. These leaders included Adolfo Diaz and Emiliano Chamorro. In return, the U.S. got political agreements from Nicaragua.

What the Treaty Said

The treaty was named after the main people who negotiated it. These were William Jennings Bryan, who was the U.S. Secretary of State, and Emiliano Chamorro, who represented Nicaragua.

Under the treaty, the United States gained several important rights:

• They got rights to any canal built in Nicaragua forever.
• They could set up a naval base in the Gulf of Fonseca for 99 years, with an option to renew.
• They could lease the Great and Little Corn Islands in the Caribbean for 99 years, also with an option to renew.

In exchange for these rights, Nicaragua received three million dollars from the United States.

Most of this money was used to pay back debts Nicaragua owed to U.S. banks and other creditors. U.S. officials managed these payments. This helped Nicaragua's government keep collecting its own taxes. Nicaragua had built up these debts quickly. This was partly due to earlier conflicts and efforts to rebuild the country.

Ending the Treaty

The Bryan–Chamorro Treaty stayed in place for many years. However, on July 14, 1970, the treaty was officially ended. This happened during a meeting between the United States, led by President Richard Nixon, and Nicaragua, led by Anastasio Somoza Debayle. All parts of the treaty were canceled at that time.

Why the Treaty Was Important

The main goal of the Bryan–Chamorro Treaty was to protect the Panama Canal. The U.S. wanted to stop any other country from building a competing canal in Nicaragua. Building a canal through Nicaragua would have made the water journey between New York City and San Francisco much shorter. It would have cut about 800 kilometers (500 miles) off the trip.

The treaty made sure that Nicaragua could not build a canal on its own. It also stopped any European countries from building one there. This kept the Panama Canal as the main route for ships.

Problems Caused by the Treaty

The treaty also caused some problems. The part that allowed the U.S. to build a naval base in the Gulf of Fonseca was controversial. El Salvador and Costa Rica both felt that this violated their rights. They argued that the Gulf of Fonseca was shared by all three countries.

The Central American Court of Justice heard their case. The court ruled in favor of El Salvador and Costa Rica. However, the United States ignored this decision. This greatly weakened the court, and it eventually closed in 1918.

See also

In Spanish: Tratado Bryan-Chamorro para niños