The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-12 00:00:00

TI S CENTRAL AMERICAN QUESTION.

The following memorandum, drawn up by the
representatives of Honduras, will be submitted to
the representatives of the different European
Powers accredited to her Majesty, as explanatory
of the policy of Honduras on the only subject on
which it can have a general or European interest :

"The geographical position of Central America, be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, gives to that
country a special interest in the eyes of commercial na-
tions.

" The establishment of adequate lines of interoceanic
communication through its territories by means of rail-
ways or canals, or both, is an object of universal im-
portance.

"Great Britain and the United States, recognising its
importance, have made it the subject of a special con-
vention, concluded in the year 1850, in Article VIII. of
which they establish, as a general principle,' and agree
to extend their protection, by treaty stiouiati9ns,' to
all practicable communications, whether by canal or
railway, across the isthmus which connects North and
South America.
" They also declare that such communications be-
ing open to the subjects and citizens of Great Britain
and the United States, on equal terms, should also be
open to the subjects and citizens of every other State
which is willing to grant thereto such protection as
Great Britain and the United States engage to afford.'
"Now, although several lines of interoceanic commu-
nications have been designated, each having its earnest
supporters, yet it is the opinion of competent judges that
the line recently proposed through the State of Hon-
duras, from Puerto Caballos to the Bay of Fonseca,
possesses signal advantages over any ether that has
yet been suggested for a railway.
"The commission to which its examination was con-
fided reported that 'the natural conditions of the county,
its general salubrity, and abundant resources, not less
than capacious, safe, and altogether unexceptionable bar-
hours, at both extremities, distinguish this line as corn
bining the obvious and primary requisites for anadequate
and permanent intenceanic communication.' And Cap-
tain Fitzßoy, R.N., in his report to Lord Clarendon on
the subject, after a general review of the various routes,
concludes that this recently proposed line through
Honduras appears to him more promising, as a perma-
nently important work, than any other railway yet pro-
posed across the isthmus.'

"To facilitate the construction of a work, promising
so great advantages, the Government of Honduras has
conceded a charter of the most liberal character to the
parties to whose enterprise the world is indebted for
the discovery and explanation of the route. This char-
ter recognises in their fullest extent the principles laid
down in the convention between Great Britain and the
United States. It offers equal facilities to the whole
world, and is not encumbered by stipulations which
might restrict the usefulness of the work or give to any
nation the slightest advantage over another.
"This charter, which was ratified by the Legislative
Chambers of Honduras, and proclaimed as a law of the
State on the 28th of April, 1854, provides (Art. 5, sec.
6) that the Government of Honduras shall open nego-
tiations with the various Governments with which it may
have relations, for their separate recognition of the
neutrality, and for the protection of the route ;' and
to prevent any misunderstanding or jealousy, it fur-
thermore provides, that the treaty stipulations with
each and all Governments in respect to the said route
shall be in terms the same.'

" In deference to these indications, the representatives
of Honduras, accredited by Great Britain, France, and
the United States, have draughted an article which they
conceive might be appropriately appended to all treaties
of amity and commerce that Honduras may have the
good fortune to make with the great maritime Powers
of Europe and America. In framing it they have fol-
lowed out the earnest wish of their Governments to
concede all useful privileges connected with the pro-
posed transit to all nations on equal terms—viz., the
recognition of the undisputed sovereignty of Hon-
duras over the line of the road, the guarantee
of its neutrality, and its protection against vio-
lence and interruption. The Government of Hon-
duras does not anticipate that circumstances will ever
arise to require any of the Powers which may enter into
these stipulations to give practical force to their guaran-
tees ; but it is not be doubted that the fact of their ex-
istence would give to Honduras &great moral support,
and contribute to make the proposed route of transit
useful and secure.

" PROPOSED ARTICLE.
" Inasmuch as a contract was entered into by the
Government of Honduras and a company entitled the
Honduras Interoceanic Railway Company, for the pur-
pose of constructing a railway from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Oceans, through the territories of Honduras,
which contract wai ratified by the constitutional powers
of the State, and proclaimed as a law on the 28th day
of April, 1854 ; and since, by the terms of article 5,
sec. 6of the said contract, the Government of Hon•
duras, with the view to secure the route herein con-
templated from all interruption and disturbance from any
cause, or ender any circumstances, engages to open ne-
gotiations with the various Governments with which it
may have relations, for their separate recognition of the
perpetual neutrality, and for the protection of the afore-
said route ;' therefore, to carry out the obligations thus
incurred :

"1. The Government of Honduras agrees that the
right of way or transit over such route or road, or any
other that may he constructed within its territories,
from sea to sea, shall be at all times open and free to
the Government and subjects (or citizens) of (Great
Britain), for all lawful purposes ,hatever, and no tolls,
duties, or charges of any kind shall be imposed on the
transit of property belonging to the Government of
(Great Britain), or on the public mails sent under autho-
rity of the same, nor upon the subjects (or citizens) of
(the British Crown) ; and all lawful produce, manufac-
tures, merchandise, or other property belonging to
subjects (or citizens) of (Great Britain) passing from
one ocean to the other, in either direction, shall
not be subject to any import or export duties what-
ever, and shall be secure and protected from all
interruption or detention on the part of the
State ; and finally, as an evidence of its disposition
to accord to the travel and commerce of the world all
the advantages resulting from its position in respect to
the two great oceans, Honduras, of her own good will,
engages to establish the ports at the extremities of the
contemplated raad as free ports for all the purposes of
commerce and trade.

"2. In consideration of these concessions, in order to
secure the construction and permanence of the route or
road herein contemplated, and also to secure for the
benefit of mankind the uninterrupted advantages of such
communication from sea to sea [Great Britain], recog-
nises the rights of sovereignty and property of Honduras
in and over the line of said road, and for the same reason
guarantees positively and efficaciously the entire neu-
trality of the same, so long as [Great Britain] shall enjoy
the privileges conceded to it in the preceding section of
this article. And when the proposed road shall have
been completed [Great Britain] equally engages, in con-
junction with Honduras, to protect the same from in-
terruption, seizure, or unjust confiscation, from what-
soever quarter the attempt may proceed."