Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-08
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,


SIR: ! have received the declaration you were In
sructed by your Government to make to me respecting
Honduras ands dependencies acopy Of whichs hereto
subjoined
The language of the first article of the convention
cued on the 10th day of April last between the United
States and Great Britain describing the country not
be occupied &C. by either OF the parties was, as you
know twice approved by your Government; and 1t was
neither understood by them, by either OF us, 1.-THE
negotiators to include the British settlement in Hon
duras, Commonly called British Honduras, as dis
tinct from the State of Honduras,) nor the small
islands in the neghborhood of that settlement which
may be known as its dependencies To this settlement
and these islands, the treaty negotiated was not
intended by either of us TO apply The title to them
and has been my Intention, throughout the whole
negotiation leave the treaty leaves it, without de-
nying affirming, or in any way meddng with the same
just as stood previously The chairman of the Com
mttee Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Hon.
William r. King informs me that g the Senate perfectly
understood that the treaty did not include British Honu
the Central American States Of Guatemala Honduras
San Salvador Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, with their
just limits and proper dependencies The difficulty that
arises to spring from the USE in our conven-
tion of the term "Centra America, which we adopted
because Vscount Palmerston had assented to it. and
used it the proper termwe naturally supposing that
this account it wond be satisfactory to your Govern
ment; but If your Government intend TO delay the
exchange of ratification until shall have fixed the
precise limits of Central America must defer further
action until have further information both Sides to
which present have means of resort and which
it is certain could obtain before the term fixed for
exchanging the ratfcations would expire 1t is not
be- imagined that such is the object of your Government
for not only would this delay but absolutely de-
feat the convention.
OF course, alteration could be made in the conyen-
ton, stands without referring the same to the
Senate and do not understand you having authority
propose any alteration But some future OCCASION
conventional article, clearly stating what the limits
of Central America, might become advisable
There is another matter still more important, which
the stpulatons Of the convention direct that shall
settle but which you have instructions to deter
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 traversng the said canal SHALL in case of
between the contracting parties be exempted from
blockade detention capture by either of the beger
ents." The subject of deep interest; and shall
be happy to receive the views of your Government in
regard it it may be convenient for them
to decide upon it.
you sir the assurances of the distinguished
consideration with which have the honor to be your
obedent servant, JOHN NJ CLAYTON.
To the Right Hon. Sir HENRY L. BULwER sc.