Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-03-05

against the right OF Great Britain, under the
Treaty. to extend the limits of her settlements
in Honduras. 1t says that what is now the ex-
tent Of claim or pretension on the part of Great
Britain, either in regard to the territory or do
minion on the Gulf of Honduras, the commit
tee have been unable to satisfactorily ascertain.
In the unsettled condition of the country, pend
ing hostilities between Spain and the Colonies,
it is very manifest that, whether with or without
the sanction of the British Government, the
settlers there pushed their occupancy far be-
yOnd the southern limits assigned to them by
treaty, and it now appears that right is assert
ed to maintain such occupancy, as it stood in
1921, when the colonies were dismembered
from Spain. These are questions properly be-
longing to the respective Powers, Who claim on
the one hand or contest on the other-that is to
say, Great Britain and Guatemala But the
question of dominion is of a different character,
and it is one in the Opposition of which this
Government can never be Indifferent. Whether
it shall ultimately be determined that the Eng
Or Guatemala, the question remains the same
as regards the United States; ana as connected
with this inquiry the committee have consider
ed it incumbent to express an opinion as to the
character of the tenure by which these settle
ments are enjoyed by British subjects.
The report proceeds to say that the anoma-
lous character of these English settlements is
well illustrated by the legislation of Great Britain
concerning them and alludes to certain statutes
wherein it is clearly admitted that they are not
within the dominion of Great Britain, it having
been necessary to provide by special legislation
fer the punishment of crimes committed there
by British subjects. The report quotes the
law of third George in 1917, and says:
'But this act could not be craried into effect
at the Belize, because it was found that there
was no island there in the dominion of his Ma
iesty, nor plantation, colony, dominion; fort, or
factory to which the Kings commission could
be directed, and of course it was found necesSa-
nv. by an amendatOry act passed in 1919, to
substitute a special tribunal created thereby at
Belize, for the trial Of offences, the same being
rendered necessary, as recited in the act, ''be
cause of the great delay and difficulty of re-
moving offenders in Honduras for trial in Eng
land, or to any of his Majesty's Islands, planta-
tons, colonies, forts, or factories, such crimes
do oltentimes escape punishment" These
statutes clearly showing that as late as the year
1919, the Parliament of England did not claim,
or recognize the English settlement at Belize as
being within the dominion of Great Britain;
and secondly, that England had no established
authority there, even of the grade of plantation,
fort or factory"
= The report then goes on to give the opinion
of the committee as follows:
'On the whole, the committee therefore report
as their opinion to the Senate: That the islands
of Roatan. Bonacca, Utlla, Barbant, Helena,
and Morat, in and near the Bay of Honduras,
constitute part of the territory of the Republic
of Honduras, and therefore form a part of Cen
trail American and in Consequence, that any oc-
cupaton or colonization Of these islands by
Great Britain would be violation of the treaty
of the 10Th of April, 1850.
"The committee, from the information before
them, entertain decided opinion that the Brit
ish settlements at Belize, as defined by the trea-
ties with Spain, lie within the territory of the
Republic of Guatemala, and so equally constl-
tute part of Central America Should such
be the fact, whilst the committee are not pre-
pared to say that the engagements of the treaty
of 1850 would require that those settlements
shall be abandoned and discontinued on the
part of Great Britain, vet this Government
would have Just cause of complaint against any
extension of the limits of those settlements be-
yond those prescribed by Spain, or as further
allowed by the republics where they may be
found; and that in any manner 10 enlarge or
change the character of these settlements by
any mode of jurisdiction, would be in violation
of said treaty-NafiORal Lltettigencer.