The Central American Court of Justice

Abstract

Federation in Central America. The organization of an international court in Central America was greatly facilitated by the fact that since their independence began the five Central American states have had a tradition of solidarity. This tradition has persisted in spite of frequent dissensions, and it has been expressed in numerous attempts at federation. Under the Spanish régime, the Vice-royalty of Guatemala included in its five provinces the territory of what is now the five states. It was this dependency which declared its independence in 1821. Two years later the Republic of the United States of Central America was formed, and it continued for some years. Later attempts at union were made in 1835, 1842, 1847, 1852, 1889, and 1895, all of them more or less abortive, as was the latest attempt in 1921. Unanimous agreement of the five states was always difficult to achieve; distances were great and communications difficult; and no pressing need made union imperative. Yet the attempts at federation were renewed from time to time, over a period of a century. They had the effect of encouraging cooperation in many fields, and led to the efforts in 1902, 1907 and 1921 to create a judicial agency for the handling of disputes between the five states.