The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-15 00:00:00

So clear was this understanding on the part of the
United States, that, in correspondence contemporaneous
with the ratification of the convention, it was distinctly
expressed, that the mutual covenants of non-occupation
were not intended to apply to the British establishment
at the Balize. This qualification is to be ascribed to the
fact that in virtue of successive treaties with previous
sovereigns of the country Great Britain had obtained a
concession of the right to cut mahogany or dye woods at
the Belize, but with positive exclusion of all domain or
sovereignty ; and thus it confirms the natural construction
and understood import of the treaty as to all the rest of
the regions to which the stipulations applied.
It, however, became apparent, at an early day after
entering upon the discharge of my present functions, that
Great Britain still continued in the exercise, or assertion,
of large authority in all that part of Central America
commonly called the Mosquito coast, and covering' the
entire length of the State of Nicaragua and a part of
Josta Riea; that she regarded the Balize as her absolute
domain, and was gradually extending its limits at the
expense of the State of Honduras ; and that she had for-
mally colonized a considerable insular group known as the
Bay Islands, and belonging, of right, to that State.
All these acts or pretensions of Great Britain being
contrary to the rights of the States of Central America
and to the manifest tenor of her stipulations with the
United States, as understood by this government, have
been made the subject of negotiation through the Amer-
ican Minister in London. I transmit herewith the instruc-
tions to him on the subject, and the correspondence
between him and the British Secretary for Foreign
Aff tirs, by which you will perceive that the two govern-
ments differ widely and irreconcileably as to the con-
struction of the convention, and its effect on their respec-
tive relations to Central America.
Great Britain so construes the convention as to main-
tain unchanged all her previous pretensions over the Mos-
quito coast, and in different parts of Central America.
These pretensions, as to the Mosquito • oast, are founded
nn the assumption of-political relation between Great
Britain and the remnant of a tribe of Indians on that coast,
entered into at a time while the whole country was a
colonial possession of Spain. It cannot be successfully
controverted, that by the public law of Eu-ope and Ame-
rica, no possible act of such Indians or their predecessors
could confer on Great Britain any political rights.
Great Britain does not allege the assent of Spain as the
origin of her claims on the Mosquito coast. She has, on
the contrary, by repeated and successive treaties, re-
nounced and relinquished all pretensions of her own, ,nd
recognised the full and sovereign rights of Spain in the
most unequivocal terms. Yet these pretensions so with-
out solid foundation in the beginning, and thus repeatedly
abjured, were at a recent period revived by Great Britain
against the Central American States, the legitimate suc-
ors to all the ancient juris llci ion of Spain in that
They were first applied only to a defined part of
the coast of Nicaragua, afterwards to the whole of its
Atlantic coast, and, lastly, to a part of the whole coast of
Costa Rica; and they are now reasserted to this extent,
notwithstanding engagements to the United States.
On the eastern coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica the
interference of Great Britain, though exerted at one
time in the form of military occupation of the port of
San Juan del Norte, then in the peaceful possession of the
appropriate authorities of the Central American States,
is now presented by her as the rightful exercise of a pro-
tectorship over the Mosquito tribe of Indians.
But the establishment at the Baize, now reaching far
beyond its treaty limits into the State of Honduras, and
that of the Bay Islands, appertaining of right to the
same state, are as distinctly colonial governments as
those of Jamaica and C made, and therefore contrary to
the very letter as well as the spirit of the convention
with the United States, as it was at the time of ratifica-
tion. and now is, understood by this government.
The interpretation which the British government, thus

region

in assPrtiodand act, persists in ascribine to the ennven-

tion,entirety changes its character. While it hold us to
all our obligations, it in a great measure releases Great
Britain from those which constituted the consi ieration
of this government for entering into the convention. It is
impossible, in my judgment, for the United States to
acquiesce in such a construction of the respective rela-
tions of the two governments to Central America.
To a renewed call by this government upon Great
Britain, to abide by, and carry into effect, the stipula-
tions of the convention according to its obvious import,
by withdrawing from the possession or colonization of
portions of the Central American States of Honduras,
Nicaragua,_and Costa Rica, the British government has at

length replied, affirming that the operation of the treaty

__. .
is prospective only, and did not require Great Britain to
abandon or contract any possessions held by her in Cen-
tral America at the date of its conclusion.
This reply substitutes a partial issue, in place of the
general one presented by the United States. The British

-
government passes over the question of the rights of Great
Britain, real or supposed; in Central America, and
assumes that she hail such rights at the date of the treaty,
and that those rights comprehended the protectorship of
the Mosquito Indians, the extended jurisdiction and
limits'of the Belize, and the colony of the Bay Islands,
and thereupon proceeeds by implication to infer that, it
the stipulations ofthe treaty be merely future in effect.
Great Britain may still continue to hold the contested
portions of Central America. The United States cannot
admit either the inference, or the premises. We steadily
deny that, at the date of the treaty, Great Britain had

any possessions there, other than the-limited and peculiar
establishment at the Balize, and maintain that, if she had
any, they were surrendered by the convention.
This government recognising the obligations of the
treaty, has of course decided to see it executed in good
faith by both parties; and in the discussion, therefore, has
not looked to rights, which we might assert, independently,
of the treaty, in consideration of our geographical posi-
tion, and of other circumstances, which create for us rela-
tions to the Central American States different from those
of any government of Europe.
The British government. in its last communication,
althongh well knowing the views of the United States,
still declares that, it sees no reason why a conciliatory
spirit may not enable the two gov.-rnments to overcome
all obstacles to a satisfactory adjustment of the subject.
Assured of the correctness of the construction of the

treaty constantly adhered to by this government,' and
resolved to ieqist on the rights of the United States, yet
actuated also by the same desire which is avowed by the
British government, to remove all causes of serious mis-
understanding between two nations associated by so many
ties of interest and kindred, it has appeared to me prop r
not to ceusider an amicable solution of the controversy

hopeless. •
There is, however, reason to apprehend that, with
Great Britain in the actual occupation of the disputed
territories, and the treaty therefore practically null. so
far as regards our rights,, this international difficulty
cannot long remain undetermined without involving in
serious danger the friendly relations, which it is the
interest, as well as the duty, of both countries to cherish
and preserve. It will afford me sincere gratification, if
future efforts shall r -suit in the success anticipated here-
tofore with more confidence than the aspect of thE
permits me tkow to entertain

e case

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of the attempt
ethiseetlngnalgteead
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which Stats e
the
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exigencies
oi Britain itnh hase
war grown
in
sv ue
t One other subleCl(;FicsTuS.siOti
with Russia induced her to make, to draw recruits from
the Milted States.
It is the traditional and settled policy of the United
States to maintain impartial neutrality during the wars
which, from time to time, occur among the great powers
of the world. 'Performing all the duties of neutrality to-
wards the respective belligerent States, we may reason-
alai?? eltpect them not to interfere with our lawful enjoy-
ment of its benefits. Notwithstanding the existence of
such hostilities, our citizens retain the indiyidual right to
continue all their accustomed puisuits, by law 4 or l 7 spas