The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-06
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
ashington. July A. 1s5

Washington, July 4. 1850
SIR 1 have received the declaration you were in
sructed by your government TO make to me- respecting
Honduras and its dependencies copy OF which is here
10 subjoined.
The language Of the first article Of the convention con-
cuded on the 10Th day OF April last, between the United
States and Great Britain, describing the country not to
be occupied, &C. by either CT the parties, was, you
know, twice approved by your government and il was
neither understood by them. nor by either of US, Qhe
negotiators to include the British settlement in Hon
duras, Commonly called British Honduras, as dis
tnc from the State of Honduras,) nor The small
islands in the neighborhood of that settlement. which
may De known as It's dependencies. To this settlement
and these islands, the treaty we negotiated not
intended by either OF us TO apply. The lille 10 them il
now, and has been my intention throughout the whole
negotiation to leave as the treaty leaves it, without de-
nying. affirming. or in any neddling with the same,
just as 1t stood previously. The chairman of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations Of the Senate the Hon
William r. King, informs that the Senate perfectly
understood that the treaty did not include British Hondu
as" IL understood TO apply to, and does include all
me Central American States OF Gualemala' Honduras
San Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa RIGA. with their
just limits and proper dependencies The difficulty that
now arises seems 10 spring from the use IN our conven
ion, OF the term Central America, which adopted
because VIscount Palmerston had assened to il, and
used as the proper tem-we naturally supposing that
on this account il would be satisfactory to your govern
ment but your government now intend to delay the
exchange OF Publications until shall have fixed the
precise limits OF Central America. must defer further
action until have further information both Sides 10
which al present we have Of resort and which
certain could obtain before the term fixed for
exchanging the Publications would expire 1t is not to
be imagined that such is the object OF your government
for mol only would this delay but absolutely de-
feat, the convention
Ofcourse, alteration could be made in the conven-
ton, as il stands, without referring the TO the
Senate and do not understand you having authority
10 propose any alteration But, future OCCASION
conventional article clearly stating what the limits
OF Central America, might become advisable.
There is another matter still important, which
the stpuations OF the convention direct that shall
no v In dol
mine and desire you TO invite the attention OF your
government TO it" the distance from the two ends Of
the canal within which vessels OF The United States
Great Britain avesing the said canal SHALL case Of
war between the contracting parties be exempted from
blockade detention, capture by either OF the bege-
ents" The subject is OF deep INTEREST," and shall
be happy receive the views of your government in
gard to il soon II may be convenient for them de-
eide upon il.
renew TO you, sir, the OF the distinguished
consideration with which have the honor to be your
obedent servant,
JOHN M. CLAYTON.
To the Right Honorable Sir Henry L. BuLwkn SC, Sc.