The Press. — London, England, 1856-06-07 00:00:00

I JUNE 7, 1856; dered the Tenant League impotent. Mr. HoRsMAN was called to order under extra ordinary circumstances. It is not the first time that he has been " disorderly " in his proceedings, and we surmise that his art parliamentary mismanagement of this serious subject will not improve his relations with the House of Common•. It deserves, also, to be noticed that Mr. Jour D FITZGERALD, the Attorney General for Ireland, was not in his place to speak on Wednesday. We have reports now before us of proceedings in Ireland where this gentle man took a very decided part. Does Mr. FITZGERALD recollect a meeting of Irish Mem bers, at Dublin, in 1852, and also another assembly in London, just before Lord DERBY S Cabinet fell from power? We recol lect these meetings, and we cannot account for the line now followed by the Member for Ennis. But Mr. FITZGERALD, though Attorney- General, is a man of small account. He has little of an orator, and less of a statesman, in his intellect. What we censure is the im proper conduct of the Cabinet in leaving such a question to " Agitators." The subject could be dealt with practically, if Ministers were in earnest. But on this, and every other question, Lord PALMERSTON has no other public object than to bide over the session, and leave everything exactly as it is ! THE UNITED STATES' DIFFICULTIES. OCR relations with the United States have now assumed so critical and threatening an aspect that it is desirable to review the proceedings which have led to the rupture that has taken place. Two Blue-books have been lately pre sented to Parliament—one containing the " Correspondence with the United States " respecting Central America," t" other giving the " Papers relating to Recfuiting in " the United States." In these books we shall, if anywhere, find facts to guide our judgment as to the causes of the complica tions which exist. We enter on their examina- tion with no other desire than to grasp the material points in each case, and to set them fairly before our readers. As the Central American question comes first in order of time, we begin with the Blue-book relating to it. THE PRESS. Governments being brought into collision on account of this intrinsically worthless country. In the subsequent communications on the part of our Government with Mr. CLAYTON and Mr. LAWRENCE, the United States Minister to the Court of St. James, it was most expressly stated that the United States Government desired no exclusive advantages of any kind in Nicaragua, and that the Government was most anxious to conclude an agreement with Great Britain, that neither country would " settle, annex, colonise, or fottify," any part of Central America. The wish of the United States Government was, that the projected communication between the two oceans should be open on equal terms to the whole world, and the United States Government gave the best assurance that could be desired of its sincerity by disavowing the Treaty concluded by Mr. HIRE, and by forming another Treaty with Nicaragua for the security of the pro posed canal Communication to be executed by the enterprise of such private capitalists of all nations as might be disposed to engage in it. But a difficulty with respect to this Treaty presented itself. The State of Nicaragua claimed the whole territory across the isthmus frogs ocean to ocean, and on that pretension the treaty with the United States for the formation of a canal had been founded, while the British Government supported the claim of the King of Mosquito to a portion of the Atlantic coast, and to the territory at the mouth of the river San Juan, where the town of Greytown was situated, and where it was proposed that the canal should commence. The protectorate of the Mosquito claim by the British Government was regarded with great jealousy by the people of the United States, and the question was—how could this diffi culty be got over. Sir HENRY BIILWER, who was sent by our Government to negotiate a satisfactory settle ment of the question, proposed early in January, 1850, that the dispute between the Mosquito King and the State of Nicaragua should be left aside, and that the Governments of England and the United States should confine themselves to a guarantee of the security of the proposed communication, to be open on terms of equal advantage to the commerce of all nations. He wrote to Lord PAL3IERsToN, February 3, 1850 : In this view of the case, the protectorate which her Mtkjesty exercises over the Mosquitos, instead of being prejudicial to the aforesaid enterprise, may be an essential element in its favour, and all that seemed to be required in order to brig Great Bri tain and the United States to a perfect understand • ing is, that both should abandon every particular advantage, the one such as might be derived from the protectorate over the Mosquitos, and the other such as might be derived from any contract or treaty with Nicaragua ; and, to make the fact that they do so clear and palpable, taking as their basis of their thorough good understanOing the construction of that canal which offers benefits common to the two, and droppiricr as a point of controversy those disputes as to the Nicaraguan and Mosquito territory, on which it is next to impossible that they should come to any arrangement It was on this basis that the Bulwer-Clay ton Treaty Was It 'med. But it «•ill be seen that the main difficulty was cushioned not removed. The United States Government perceived, and could not help perceiving, that so long as the Mosquitos retained possession of part of the Nicaraguan territory, and so long as the British protectorate over the Mus quitos remained in force, the British Govern ment might Jo covertly, what it covenanted not to do openly, as the governing council of the Mosquitos was entirely composed of Eng lishmen. Sir H. BITLWER wrote to Lord PAL MERSTON, Feb, 18, 1k.1.50: I ought not to disguise from your Lordship that this question is becoming, the longer it remains in abeyance, the more intricate and perplexing ; and that it contains within it, if not the seeds of actual war, the seeds of such hostile and angry excitement as render war always possible, and very often pro duce many of the evils of war, even when war itself is not produced. The United States Government constantly and consistently wished for some arrange ment by which the Mosquito Indians might be induced to resign their claim, ample com pensation being given to them, and the British protectorate be thus absolutely put au end 531 to. But Sir H. BULWER was of opinion that it was impossible for us now to give up the country claimed by the Mosquitos to the Nicaraguans on any pretext, or in any manner whatsoever, or to abandon this Feople for any object. or under the asp.ct of any danger, to extermination, or to the hostility of any class of enemies. Hence, when the Bnlwer•Clayton Treaty was concluded, the seeds of war were suffered to remain, though at the suggestion of Sir HENRY their vitality was as far as possible neutralised by a declaration that the British Government had no intention to make use of the protection which Great Britain affords to the people of Mosquito for the purpose of doing, under cover of that protection, any of the things the intention to do which is disclaimed. The Treaty itself, in reference to its main purpose of securing the neutrality of the pro posed shin-carnal, declared in its first article that the Governments of Great Britain and the United States agree— That neither will ever occupy, or fortify, or colo nise, or assume, or exercise, any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any part of Central Amer►ca. Before this convention was ratified, Sir H. BULWER received instructions from Lord PAL MERSTON to make a declaration to the Secre tary of the United States that nothing con tained in the Convention should apply to " her " Majesty's Settlement of Honduras or its de " pendencies." This declaration was accepted by Mr CLAYTON without dispute; and it is on the meaning to he attached to the above clause in the Convention, and to the phrase " Honduras and its dependencies," that the dispute on the Bulwer Clayton Treaty has arisen. Mr. CLAY TON stated to Sir H. BULWER that the Conven tion was not intended on either side to apply to British Honduras, or "to the small islands "in the neighbourhood of that settlement " which may be called its dependencies." Since the Convention was signed in April 1850 until the present time, the Governments of England and the United States have been constantly engaged in negotiations to effect some settlement of the port and town of Grey town, either by yielding it to the State of Nicaragua, in consideration of a fixed payment or a scale of duties, or by annexing it to the State of Costa Rica, or by declaring the port a free port, under guarantee of England and the United States,—regard being always had to the claims of the Mosquito Indians for compensa tion. From a variety of causes, and principally from the obstinate refusal of the State of Nicaragua to agree to any proposed terms, no settlement has been made, and meanwhile serious difficulties have occurred from the anomalous position in which Greytown was placed,—as when H.M.S. Express compelled the American steamer Prometheus to pay the duties demanded by the port authorities, and when Captain HowNs compelled the Coun cil of Greytown to refrain from interference with the station of a United States Company, which the Council asserted to be in their jurisdiction. In reference to the latter pre. ceeding, Lord CLARENDON wrote (April 29, 1853), pressing for a settlement of the hazardous question of the future position of Greytown, the Mosquito kingdom, and Central America generally Until the matter be finally disposed of . . . continue to assert the title of Mosquito to those boundaries which have always been claimed by that territory, and in so asserting those boundaries Great Britain must still repel any aggression within those limits which may be committed by Nicaragua, Hon duras, or any other Central American Power. A new source of difficulty had shortly before arisen. In July, 1852, a proclamation was issued by the Governor of British Honduras, that certain islands off the coast of Central America, comprising Ruatan and Bonacca, were to be formed into a British colony under the title of the Bay of Islands. When this act was brought under consideration of the Go vernment of the United States, the right of Great Britain to these islands was contested, while the answer of our Government was, that they were included under the title of depen dencies of the [colony of British Honduras. The United States Government reply that the position is untenable, as the principal islands I , . . . . JUNE 7, 1856; THE PRESS. 531 dered the Tenant League impotent. Mr. ' Governments being brought into collision on account to. But Sir H. BULWER was of opinion that it HORSMAN was called to order under extra- of this intrinsically worthless country. was ordinary circumstances. It is not the first In the subsequent communications on the impossible for us now to give tip the country time that he has been " disorderly" in his part of our Government with Mr. CLAYTON and claimed by the Mosquitos to the Nicaraguans on proceedings, and we surmise that his un- Mr. LAWRENCE, the United States Minister to any pretext, or in any manner whatsoever, or to parliamentary mismanagement of this serious the Court of St. James, it was most expressly abandon this Feople for any object, or under the subject will not improve his relations with the stated that the United States Government aspect of any danger, to extermination, or to the House of Common , . desired no exclusive advantages of any kind hostility of any class of enemies. It deserves, also, to be noticed that Mr. in Nicaragua, and that the Government was Hence, when the Bulwe r -Cl a yt on T rea ty was Joins D FITZGERALD, the Attorney-General for most anxious to conclude an agreement with concluded, the seeds of war were suffered to Ireland, was not in his place to speak on Great Britain, th a t ne ith er country would remain, though at the suggestion of Sir Wednesday. We have reports now before us " settle, annex, colonise, or foitify," any part HENRY their vitality was as far as possible of proceedings in Ireland where this gentle- of Central America. The wish of the United neutralised by a declaration that man took a very decided part. Does Mr. States Government was, that the projected the British Government had no intention to make FITZGERALD recollect a meeting of Irish Mem- communication between the two oceans should use of the protection which Great Britain affords to bers, at Dublin, in 1852, and also another be open on equal terms to the whole world, the people of Mosquito for the purpose of doing, assembly in London, just before Lord and the United States Government gave the under cover of that protection, any of the things the DERBY S Cabinet fell from power? We recol- b es t assurance t h at cou ld b e des i red of i ts intention to do whi c h i s di sc l a i me d. lect these meetings, and we cannot account sincerity by disavowing the Treaty concluded The Treaty itself, in reference to its main for the line now followed by the Member for by Mr. HISE, and by forming another Treaty purpose of securing the neutrality of the pro- Ennis. But Mr. FITZGERALD, though Attorney- with Nicaragua for the security of the pro- posed ship-canal, declared in its first article General, is a man of small account. He has p ose d cana l commun i cat i on to b e execute d b y that the Governments ' of Great Britain and little of an orator, and less of a statesman, in the enterprise of such private capitalists of all the United States agree— his intellect. What we censure is the im- nations as might be disposed to engage in it. . That neither will ever occupy, or fortify, or proper conduct of the Cabinet in leaving such But a difficulty with respect to this Treaty colo- n question to " Agitators." presented itself. The State of Nicaragua nice, or assume, or exercise, any dominion over Nicaragua, Central Rica, the osquito coast, or any The subject could be dealt with practically, claimed the whole territory across the isthmus part of merica. if Ministers were in earnest. But on this, and frogs ocean to ocean, and on that pretension every other question, Lord PALMERSTON has no the treaty with the United States for the Before this convention was ratified, Sir H. other public object than to bide over the formation of a canal had been founded, while BULWER received instructions from Lord PAL- session, and leave everything exactly as it is! the British Government supported the claim MERSTON to make a declaration to the Seere- of the King of Mosquito to a portion of the t t ary ed of . the ti United t States_ that ld nothing , c h on- ieConven Convention apply ' to` er THE UNITED STATES' Atlantic coast , . and to the territory at the mouth of the river San Juan, where the town " Majest n ,y's Settlement of Honduras or itsde " pendencies." This declaration was accepted by DIFFICULTIES. of Greytown was situated, and where it was proposed that the canal should commence. Mr CLAYTON without dispute; and it is on the The protectorate of the Mosquito claim by the meaning to he attached to the above clause in OUR relations with the United States have now British Government was regarded with great the Convention, and to the phrase " Honduras assumed so critical and threatening an aspect and its dependencies," that the dispute on the jealousy by the people of the United States, that it is desirable to review the proceedings and the question was—how could this diffi- Bulwer Clayton Treaty has arisen. Mr. CLAY- which have led to the rupture that has taken culty be got over. TON stated to Sir H. BULWER that the Conven- tion was not intended on either side to apply Sir HENRY BIILWER, who was sent by our place. Two Blue-books have been lately pre- to British Honduras, or "to the small islands Government to negotiate a rettisfactory settle- . , sented to Parliament—one containing the :` in . tne neighbourhood of that settlement ment of the question, proposed early in " Correspondence with the United States January, 1850, that the dispute between the • which may be called its dependencies." " respecting Central America," t" other Mosquito King arid the State of Nicaragua Since the Convention was signed in April giving the " Papers relating to Recruiting in should be left aside, and that the Governments 1850 until the present time, the Governments " the United States." In these books we of England and the United States should confine of England and the United States have been themselves to a guarantee of the security of constantly engaged in negotiations to effect shall, if anywhere, find facts to guide our the proposed communication, to be open on some settlement of the port and town of Grey- judgment as to the causes of the eomplica• terms of equal advantage to the commerce of town, either by yielding it to the State of tions which exist. We enter on their examina- all nations. He wrote to Lord PALMERSTON, Nicaragua, in consideration of a fixed payment lion with no oche: desire than to grasp the February 3, 1850 : or a scale of duties, or by annexing it to the In this view of the case, the protectorate which State of Costa Rica, or by declaring the port a material points in each case, and to set them her Majesty exercises over the Mosquitos, instead of free port, under guarantee of England and the fairly before our readers. As the Central being prejudicial to the aforesaid enterprise, may be United States,—regard being always had to the American question comes first in order of an essential element in its favour, and all that c l a i ms o f th e M osqu it o I n di ans f or com p ensa - seemed to be required in order to brig Great Bri- Lion. From a variety of causes, and principally time, we begin with the Blue-book relating t a r n an d th e U n it e d St a t es t o a p er f ec t u n d e rstand • from the obstinate refusal of the State of to it. ins is, that both should abandon every particular Nicaragua to agree to any proposed terms, no CENTRAL AMERICA. advantage, the one such as might be derived from settlement has been made, and meanwhile the protectorate over the Mosquitos, and the other At the commencement of September, 1849, be derived from . any contract or treaty Mr. HISE, the Chargé d'Affaires of the United such with Nicaragua ; might anomalous position in which Greytown was and, to make the fact that they do States at Guatemala, concluded, on his own so clear and palpable, taking as their basis of their placed,—as when H.M.S. Express compelled responsibility, and without the sanction of the thorough good understanOing the construction of the American steamer Prometheus to pay the United States Government, a treaty with the that canal which offers benefits common to the two, duties demanded by the port authorities, and State of Nicaragua, by which the latter grants and droppirig as a point of controversy those disputes when Captain HoLLINS compelled the Conn- to the " United States an exclusive right of way as to the Nicaraguan and Mosquito territory, on cil of Greytown to refrain from interference " across her territories, including therein the which it is next to impossible that they should come with the station of a United States Company, " river San Juan, for the purpose of joining to any arrangement which the Council asserted to be in their " the two oceans by a canal across the It was on this basis that the Bulwer-Clay- jurisdiction. In reference to the latter pre. " isthmus." In this Treaty the United States ton Treaty was Ir caned. But it will be seen ceeding, Lord CLARENDON wrote (April 29, were made to guarantee to Nicaragua for ever that the main difficulty was cushioned not 1853), pressing for a settlement of the whole of her territory, and promised to removed. The United States Government the hazardous question of the future position of become a party to any defensive war in perceived, and could not help perceiving, that Greytown, the Mosquito kingdom, anti Central which that State might become engaged to so long as the Mosquitos retained possession America generally Until the matter be protect her territory The Government of of part of the Nicaraguan territory, and so finally disposed of .. . General TAYLOR, then President, acted with long as the British protectorate over the Mus- continue to assert the title of Mosquito to those the greatest openness to the British Adminis- quitos remained in force, the British Govern• boundaries which have always been claimed by that tration. Mr CLAYTON saw Mr. CRAMPTON, our ment might Jo covertly, what it covenanted territory, and in so asserting those boundaries Great Minister at Washington ;he explained to him not, to do openly, as the governing council of Britain must still repel any aggression within those the difficulty in which this Treaty had placed the Mosquitos was entirely composed of Eng- duras, or any other Centralmits which ma be committed by Nicaragu . a, Hon- theAmerican Power United States Government. as it was most l; sa i men. Sir H. BIILWER wrote to Lord PAL- desirous not to acquire any rights of an exclu- MERSTON, Feb, 18, 1850: A new source of difficulty had shortly before sive character which might bring it into colli- arisen. In July, 1852, a proclamation was I ought not to disguise from your Lordship that sion with any other Power. But, said Mr. this question is becoming, the longer it remains in issued by the Governor of British Honduras, CLAYTON— abeyance, the more intricate and perplexing ; and that certain islands off the coast of Central You are aware of the opinion which, whether that it contains within it, if not the seeds of actual America, comprising Ruatan and Bonacca, were right or wrong, is generally entertained in this cowl- war, the seeds of such hostile and angry excitement to be formed into a British colony under the try of the claim of the Mosquito Chief to any part of as render war always possible, and very often pro title of the Bay of Islands. When this act the terri ory claimed by Nicaragua ; and you can duce many of the evils of war, even when war itself was brought under consideration of the Go- form an idea of the eagerness with which the party is not produced. vernment of the United States, the right of opposed to the Government will avail themselves of The United States Government constantly Great Britain to these islands was contested, the opportunity of either forcing us into collision with Great Britain on this subject, or of making it and consistently wished for some arrange - while the answer of our Government was, that appear that we have ab an d one d, through pusillani• ment by which the Mosquito Indians might they were included under the title of depen- tnity, great and splendid advantages, fairly secured be induced to resign their claim, ample corn- dencies of the [colony of British Honduras. to the country by treaty. It will require great caution pensation being given to them, and the British The United States Government reply that the on both sides, said Mr. Clayton, to prevent the two protectorate be thus absolutely put au end position is untenable, as the principal islands Al ii CENTRAL AMERICA. At the commencement of September, 1840, Mr. HISE, the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States at Guatemala, concluded, on his own responsibility, and without the sanction of the United States Government, a treaty with the State of Nicaragua, by which the latter grants to the " United States an exclusive right of way " across her territories, including therein the " river San Juan, for the purpose of joining " the two oceans by a canal across the " isthmus." In this Treaty the United States were made to guarantee to Nicaragua for ever the whole of her territory, arid promised to become a party to any defensive war in which that State might become engaged to protect her territory The Government of General TAYLOR, then President, acted with the greatest openness to the British Adminis tration. Mr CLAYTON saw Mr. CRAMPTON, our Minister at Washington ; he explained to him the difficulty in which this Treaty had placed the United States Government. as ►t was most desirous not to acquire any rights of an exclu sive character which might bring it into colli sion with any other Power. But, said Mr. CLAYTON— You are aware of the opinion which, whether right or wrong, is generally entertained in this coun try of the claim of the Mosquito Chief to any part of the terri ory claimed by Nicaragua ; and yi)u can form an idea of the eagerness with which the party opposed to the Government will avail themselves of the opportunity of either forcing us into collision with Great Britain on this subject, or of making it appear that we have abandoned, through pusillani mity, great and splendid advantages, fairly secured to the country by treaty. It will require great caution on both sides, said Mr. Clayton, to prevent the two