Both nations base their claims on their interpretations of three historic documents, the Cañas–Jerez Treaty, the Cleveland Award, and the Alexander Award issued by E.P. Alexander who acted as an arbitrator between the two countries in 1897.
Obje zemlje temelje svoje tvrdnje na svojim interpretacijama tri povijesna dokumenata Ugovor Cañas–Jerez, Clevelandska nagrada, i nagrada Alexander koju izdaje Edward Porter Alexander, koji je djelovao kao arbitar između tih dviju zemalja 1897.