Lord Eliot Convention - The Agreement

The Agreement

Meanwhile, the battle of Artaza (April 20–22, 1835) had occurred, resulting in the defeat of the Isabeline troops under Gerónimo Valdés, who took refuge at Estella.

Zumalacárregui stationed himself at the valley of Berrueza (valle de la Berrueza) and met with Lord Eliot there. Zumalacárregui agreed fairly quickly to the accord. The agreement was signed by Zumalacárregui on April 24 at Asarta; this act thereby spared the lives of 27 Isabeline prisoners who were about to be executed.

Lord Eliot wished to have an autograph of Zumalacárregui; the Carlist general, meanwhile, wrote that "at Asarta, located in the valley of Berrueza, celebrated for the various battles that have occurred there during this century, I had the honor to receive Lord Eliot on April 25, 1835, Lord Eliot - Tomás de Zumalacárregui." As a gift, Lord Eliot gave Zumalacárregui a telescope that Wellington had used during the War of Spanish Independence; the telescope is conserved today at the Museo Militar in Madrid.

The British commissioners traveled with Zumalacárregui from Asarta to Estella in search of the Isabeline general Gerónimo Valdés, in charge of the operations in the north of Spain after the resignation of Espoz y Mina, to sign the agreement. On the way there, they stopped at a convent at Irache; Zumalacárregui reported that at Irache "there were some very beautiful nuns who made an excellent chocolate."

Eliot did not find Valdés at Estella, but found him instead at Logroño. Valdés was not happy with the text that had been signed by Zumalacárregui, and made changes that he considered prudent. He signed the agreement at Logroño on April 27, 1835. A Carlist colonel who had accompanied the British commissioners to Logroño brought back the new text to Zumalacárregui, who signed the newly worded agreement on April 28, 1835 at Eulate.

The Convention contained the following nine stipulations:

• 1. Preservation of Lives of Prisoners
• 2. Periodical exchange of Prisoners
• 3. Number of Prisoners exchanged to be equal.
• 4. Exchange according to Rank
• 5. Towns selected for detention of Prisoners to be respected.
• 6. Political Prisoners to be tried in conformity with the Laws.
• 7. Sick and Wounded to be respected
• 8. Stipulations to be binding in all Provinces of the Monarchy.
• 9. Strict observance of Convention.

Article Six specifically stated:

During the present contest, no person, whoever he may be, civil or military, shall be deprived of life on account of his Political Opinions, without having been previously tried and condemned in conformity with the Laws, Decrees, and Ordinances in force in Spain. This is only to be understood in reference to those who are not in reality Prisoners of War; for as regards them, the stipulations contained in the preceding Articles shall be binding.