Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-12-12
CONVENTION BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES AND GREAT
BRITAIN.
CONCLUDED APRIL 10, 1850.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
APROCLAMATION.

\ UNITED STATES OF AMERlCA.
APROCLAMATION.
Whereas a Convention between the
United States of America and her Brit
tanic Majesty, for facilitating and pro-
tecting the construction of ship canal
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
and for other purposes, was concluded
and signed at Washington, on the nine
teenth day of April last, which Conven-
ton is, word for word, as follows:
Convention betpeen the United States of
America and her Brittanic Majesty.
The United States Of America and
her Brittanic Majesty, being desirous
of consolidating the relations Of amity
which 80 happily subsist between them,
by setting forth and fixing in n conven-
ton their views and intentions with ref
.ercncc to any means of communication
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oc-
cans. by the way of the river San Juan
dc Nicaragua, and either or both Of
the lakes of Nicaragua or Managua, to
any port or place on the Pacific ocean !;
the President of the United States has
conferred full powers on John M. Clay
ton, Secretary of State Of the United
States and her Br,tanic Majesty on
the Right Honorable Sir Henry Lytton
Bulwer, member of Her Majesty's
Most Honorable Privy Council, Knight
Commander of the Most Honorable Or
der Of the Bath, and Envoy Extraordi-
nary and Minister Plen,potentiary Of
her Brittanic Majesty to the United
States, for the aforesaid purpose and
the said plenipotentiaries having exchan-
ged their full powers, which were found
to be in proper form, have agreed to
the following articles:
H Article |.
The governments of the United States
and Great Britain hereby declare, that
neither the one nor the other will ever
obtain or maintain for itself any exclu-
sivc control over the said ship canal |;
agreeing that neither will ever erect or
maintain any Notifications commanding
the same or in the vicinity thereof, or
occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or assume
or exercise any dominion over Ncarag-
ua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast, or
any part Of Central America nor will
either make use OF any protection which
either affords or may afford, or any alli-
ancc which either has or may have to
or with any State or people, for the
/, purpose of erecting or maintaining any
such Notifications, or of occupying, for
tiiying, or colonlzing Nicaragua, Costa
RIca, the Mosquito coast, or any part
Of Central America, or Of assuming or
exercising dominion over the same !;
nor will the United States or Great
Britain take advantage Of any intimacy,
or use any alliance, cOnncxion, or influ-
( ence that either may possess with any
State or government through whose ter
ritory the said canal may pass, for the
purpose of acquiring or holding, direct
ly or indirectly. for the citizens or sub
jects of the one, any rights or advantages
(, in regard 10 commerce or navigation
] through the said canal which shall not
be offered on the same terms to the cili-
zcns or subjects of the other.
4 Article II.
\ Vessels Of the United States or Great
Britain traversing the said canal shall,
! in case of war between the contracting
! parties, be exempted from blockade, de-
/ tention, or capture by either Of the bel.
| ligerents ; and this provision shall ex-
! tend to such distance from the two
/ ends of the said canal as may hereafter
be found expedient to establish.
/, article Ill.
II In order to secure the construction OF
the said canal the contracting parties
engage, that, if any such canal be I'M
dertaken upon fair and equitable terms
| by any parties having the authority OF
the local government or governments
/ through whose territory the same may
! pass, then the persons employed in max
ing the said canal and their property us
ed, or to be used for that object. shall be
( protected, from the commencement Of the
said canal to its completion, by the gov
ernments Of the United States and Great
Britain, from unjust detention, confisca-
ton, seizure, or any violence whatsoev-
! er.
! Article Nv.
! The contracting parties will use what
ever influence they respectively cxer-
else with any State, states, or govern
ments, possessing or claiming 10 pos
sess, any jurisdiction or right over the
VI WbiCh eiiC buiu
erse, or which shall be near the waters
applicable thereto, in order to induce
such states or governments to facilitate
the construction of the said canal by ev-
cry means in their power and further
more, the United States and Great Brit
ain agree TO use their good Offices, wher-
ever or however il may be most expedi-
ent, in order to procure the establish
ment oft~ o Tree ports, one at each end
ofthe said canal.
II Article V.
The contracting parties further en-
gage that, when the said canal shall
have been completed, they will protect
il from interruption, seizure, or unjust
confscation, and that they will guaran-
ty the neutrality thereof so 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 nc
cording their protection to the construc-
ton ot the said canal, and guarantying
it's neutrality and security when COM
pletsd, always understand that this pro-
lection and guaranty are granted con-
ditionally, and may be Withdrawn by
both governments, or either govern
ment, u both governments. or either gov.
eminent, should deem that the persons