The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-08
OFFICIAL.
A PROCLAMATION.

WnEREAs \ Convention between the United
States Of America and her Britannia majesty, for ia
cilitsting and protecting the construction of ship
canal between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and
Tor other purposes, concluded and signed at
Washington ON the 10Th day of April last, which
Convention is. word for word, as follows:
Conpeniiom Lel,ceen the United States Of fine
rica and her Britannie Majesty.
The United States of America and her Britannia
Majesty, being DESTROYS Of consolidating the rela-
tions OF amity which happily subsist between
them, by setting forth and fixing in convention
their views and intentions with references to any
means of Communication by shipcanal which may be
constr between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans,
by the way Of the river San Juan de Nicaragua, and
either both of the lakes OF Nicaragua or Managua
To any port or place the Pacific ocean: the Presi
dent of the United States has conferred full powers
ON John nj. Clayton Secretary Of State OF the Uni
ted States and her Britannia majesty on the Right
Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council,
knight Commander Of the Most Honorable Order
of the Bath, and Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Pienipotentiary Of her Britannia majesty to the
United States Tor the aforesaid purpose and the said
plenipotcntiarics having exchanged their full pow
ers, which found to be in proper form, have
agreed to the following articles:
ARTICLE /.
The governments of the United States and Great
Britain hereby declare, that neither the the
other will ever obtain or maintain for itself any
exclusive control the said ship canal; agree
ing that neither will ever erect or MAINTAIN any
Notifications commanding the same or in t e Vi
cinity thereof occupy. or fortfy or COLOMBO, or
assume exercise any dominion over, Nicaragua,
Costa RIGA, the Mosquito coast, or any part Of Cen
trial America; nor will either make use Of any pro-
lection which either affords or may afford, or amy
alliance which either has or may have TO or with
any State or people, for the purpose OF erecting or
maintaining any such fortihcations or of occupy
ing, terrifying, colonizing Nicaragua, Costa
RIGA, the Mosquito coast, or any part OF Central
r., ntSty.r prs,Inn
over the same; will the United States or Great
Britain take advantage OF any intimacy, or use
any alliance, conncxon, or influence that either
NAV posscss with any State or government through
whose territory the said canal may pass, for the
purpose Of acquiring holding, directly or indi-
rectf for the citizens subjects of the one any
rights or advantages in regard to commerce or
navigation through the said canal which shall not
he offered the same terms to the citizens or sub
lects OF the other.
ARTICLE H.
Vessels of the United States or Great Britain
traversing the said canal ehall, in case Of war be-
tween the contracting parties, be exempted from
blockade, detention. or capture by either Of the
belieercnts; and this provision shall extend to such
a distance from the two ends of the said canal
may hereafter be found cxpedient to establish
ARTICLE
In order To secure the construction of the said
nal the contracting parties engage, that il any
such canal shall be undertaken upon falr and equi
table terms by any parties having the authority OF
the local government or governments through
whose territory the same may pass, then the per-
sons employed in making the said canal, and their
property used, to be used, for that object, shall
be protected, from the commencement OF the said
canal to its completion, by the governments OF the
United States and Great Britain, from unjust de-
tenton, conhscation, seizure, or any violence what
5ocver.
ARTICLE Nv.
The contracting parties will use whatever ntu'
encc they respectively exercise with any states, or
governments, possessing, or claiming TO possess,
any Jurisdiction or right the territory which
said canal shall traverse which shall be near
the waters applicable thereto, in order to induce
such states or governments to facilitate the con-
structio of the said canal by every means in their
power. And furthermore, the United States and
Great Britain agree to use their good ofnces wher
ever or.howcver il may be most expedcnt, in order
oprocurc the establishment of two free ports ono at
each end of the said canal
ARTICLE v.
The contracting parties further engage, that
when the said canal shall have been completed
they will protect it from interruption, seizure, or
+. unjust confscation, and that they will guaranty
the neutrality thereof, 30 that the said canal may
forever be open and Free and the capital invested
therein secure. Nevertheless the governments OF
the United States and Great Britain, in according
their profectio to the construction OF the said ca
nal, and guarantying its neutrality and security
when completed, always understand that this pro-
lection and guaranty are granted conditionally,
and may be withdrawn by both governments, or
either government, if both governments or either
government, should deem that the persons or com.
establish such regulations concerning the trafhc
thercupon contrary to the spirit and inten-
ton of this convention, either by making unfair dis
examinations in favor of the commerce OF one OF the
contracting parties the commerce of the other,
orby imposing oppressive exactions or unreasonable
tolls upon passengers, vessels goods, wares, mer-
chandse, or other articles. Neither party however,
shall Withdraw the aforesaid protection and guar
anty without first giving Fix months notice TO the
other.
The contracting parties in this convention en-
gage 10 invite every state with which both either
nave friendly intercourse to enter into supulaops
with them similar TO those which they have en-
tered into with each other to the end that all other
states may share in the honor and advantage OF
having contributed to work of such general in
terest and importance as the canal herein contem-
plated. And the contracting parties likewise agree
that each shall enter into treaty stpulations with
such of the Central American states as they may
dccm advisable, for the purpose OF more efiectuaIy
carrying out the great design OF this convention,
namely, that OF constructing and maintaining the
said canal q ship communication between
the two oceans for the benefit of mankind on
equal all, and of protecting the same; and
they ALEC agree that the good offices OF either shall
DE employed, when requested by the other, in aid
ing and assisting the negotiation OF such treaty
s,ipulatons and should any differences arise TO
right or property over the territory through which
the said canal shall pass between the states or gov
ernments of Central America, and such differences
should in any way impeae or obstruct the execution
of the said canal the governments OF the United
States AMI Great BRIAN VIII use tncf Boou oHCcs
to settle sch differences in the manner best suited
t promote the interests OF the said canal, and 10
strengthen the bonds of friendship and alliance
which exist between the contracting parties
ARTICLE VII.
II being desirable that no time should be unne-
ces.arjly lost in commencing and constructing the
said canal, tho Governments of tho United States
and Great Britain determine TO give their supper,
and encouragement to such persons or company as
may first offer to commence the same, with the
eessary capital the consent of the local authorities,
and such principles ss accord with the spirit and
intention Of this conventions and II any person or
company should already have, with any State
through which the proposed ship canal may pass,
contract for the construction such canal ss that
specified in this convention, TO the supnlations of
which contract neither Of the contracting par
ties in this convention have any just cause to oh
jcct and the said persons or company shall, more
over have made preparations, and expended time,
money and trouble on the faith of such contract,
il is hereby agreed that such persons or company
shall have priority of claim, over every other per-
IN tIC q