Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-22
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington. February 16. l85

Washington. February 16, 1853.
10 The President of The United States:
SIR: Recent communications have been made
to this Department by the British Minister re-
lative to the affairs of Central America, OF
which L deem Tiny duty to report to you the
substance.
1t may first be proper to observe that the rela-
tions OF the United States with some of the States
OF Central America have of late years assumed an
import snce wholly out of proportion to the poll
tical consequence Of those small Republics, or the
extent of our commercial Intercourse with them
which is inconsiderable. This importance grows
chiefly out of the fact that one of the most advan-
tageous routes of nteroceanic communication lies
through this region. The public policy of the
United States presents few objects at the presen,
day, OF equal interest with direct, expeditions,
aud economical line of intercourse between oul
Atlantic coast and the members of the Union ON
the Pacific.
1t was mainly, to effect this object that the
treaty Of the 10Th April, 1850. was negotiated be
tween the United Suites and Great Britain. By
this treaty the high contra rting parties bound
themselves to their influence with any State
OF States, or Governments possessing or claiming
to possess any jurisdiction or right over the terri
tory which the proposed ship canal may traverse,
or which shall be near the waters applicable
thereto, In order toinduce such States or Govern
ments to facilitate the construction thereof by
every means in their power; and they also
agreed to use their good offices, wherever or how
ever it may be most expedient, in order to pro-
cure the establishment of two free ports, one at
each end of the canal.
1t was also stipulated by the treaty of 10Th
April, 1850, that if any differences should arise
as to right OF property over the territory through
which the said canal shall pass between the
States or Governments of Central America. and
such differences should in any way impede or OBJ
struct tile execution of the said canal, the Co
vernments of the United States and Great Britain
would use their good offices to settle such differ
ences in the manner best suited to promnte the
interests of said canal.
In execution of this stipulation certain propo-
sitons were agreed upon by this Department and
the British Minister in the month of April last
having for their object to settle tho territorial
controversies which existed between the States
and Governments bordering on the line of he
canal. These terms of settlement were assented
to by Costa RIGA, but did not prove acceptable
to Nicaragua.
la making these propositions to the States in
terested, aud in all the negotiations carried on
by this Government, the only object has been to
secure, as far rs possible, the passage of the canal
through one and the same civilized State, in Or
derto preclude the evils too likely to arise from
and to exercise the influence and mediation OF
the United States, which i'd been invoked by
the parties in controversy, the manner best
calculated to promote their respective Interests
The conflicting claims of Great Britain and Nj.
caragna with reference to Mosquito, are among
the difficulties which elnbarrass this subject.
These difficulties arise principally from the fact
that the port of San Juan del Norte. the eastern
outlet OF the canal is claimed to belong to the
Mosquito territory. By the treaty of April 9th,
1850, the two parties agree that neither the
one nor the other will ever erect or maintain anv
fortifcation commanding the canal, or in the Vi
entity thereof, or occupy, or fortify, or coonise,
or assume or exercise any dominion over Mica
ragua, Costa RIGA, the Mosquito coast, or any
part OF Central America. But the relations of
Great Britain to Mosquito, and the Mosqu ito In
dams, over whom she claims to have exercised
protectorate for long course of years, remained
under this treaty somewhat indeterminate The
port of San Juan del Norte, to which the name
OF Greytown has been given by great Britain,
though claimed as within the limits of this pro-
has for about year been really govern
ed in the name of the titular King of Mosquito by
a committee of five American citizens chosen by
the people. Nicaragua claims the rightful sove-
reignty over this port from which her authori-
ties were, after a brief possession, elected by a
British force, in January, l943, and over the
whole Mosquito region; of which, however, it is
by Great Britain that Nicaragua
never at any time had possession.
Information has lately been received at this
Department from the Minister of Her Britannia
Majesty, That the company which had contract-
cd to build a ship canal across the Isthmus of
Nicaragua, having found it impossible to carry
out the plan as originally contemplated, has re-
solved to propose to the Government of Nicnr-
aqua a modification of that plan, with the view
Of constructing a canal of smaller dimensions
than those specified in their contract; and the
British Minister has been instructed to intimate
to this Department that, if this nfornatian should
prove correct, Her Majesty's Government would
feel tn emseives at liberty, under the 7th article
Of the treaty OF 10th of April, 1850, to with
draw their protection fr ON that company, and to
transfer it to any othsr company which shou ID
canal on the original plan it being
deemed of the utmost importance by the British
Government that the great conception of an utter
oceanic canal, adapted to the accommodation of
The vessels ofthe whole commercial world should
not dwindle down to an ordinary transit route for
eoasting vessels which to distant nations would
be comparatively destitute of value.
The British Minister has also been instructed
to signify 10 this Department, that since Great
britain first assumed the protection and defence
Of the Mosquito ludans the position of all parties
had changed. Spain, instead of exercising abso
lutte sovereignty over Central America, and pro-
hibiting all commerce on the coasts under her |
sway, has entirely lost her dominion over NIL |
parts OF this continent The Mosquito Indinns
instead OF governing their own tribe according to |
the customs of their race. furnish only name |
and a title by which foreigners. irading ut San
Juan del Norte, and along the Mosquito coast, |
according To the usages of civilized Stntes. exs,-
else The effective government OF The country. In