Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-02-10
British Honduras.

by Mr.. Clayton. then Secretary of State,
bu, their attempts have utterly failed
In view of what has been said on the
subject, and the interest which our Peo-
Pile have in the matter we copy the fol-
lowing description of the country and
the history of the British possession of
it, from the Home Gazette. II is en-.
titled to all confidence, coming as i, does
from neutral paper, and one that never
mis-represents matters of this kind.
"lf the reader will turn to any map Of
Mexico and the West Indies. he will find
that the laud sweeps in bold. irregular
semi-circle from the Capes of Flori da
TO the extreme verge Of the peninsula of
Yucatan; being partially shu, in at the
mouth Of the semi circle by the Island of
Cuba. Embraced within this extraor-
binary curvature lies that large body of
water known as the Gulf of Mexico
IL a vessel should sail in direct line al
most due south from Mobile, the first
land the mariners would meet with, after
crossing the Gulf, would be the promon-
tary of Yucatan. Doubling this Cape
and still sailing South, they would coast
the western edge of Yucatan and 3alize,
and finally come to an anchor in the Bay
of Honduras. In the territory lying be-
tween the Balize river and the river
Honda on the north, the English nave
enjoyed ever since lT42-frst by forci-
BILE possession, and afterwards by spe-
cial grant from Spain--,he privilege Of
cutting logwood; the logwood cutters, by
law passed in Parliament, in 1890.
having The same privileges in imports
and exports as an English colony; the
Spaniards claiming the sovereignty of
the country and the English acknowlejg.
ing their rights. By the treaty OF 1888,
the British agreed to abandon Ruatan
and other islands off the coast, and to
confne their settlements wholly 10 the
Balize. Ibis agreement was not, how
ever, carried into effect until three years
afterwards. In l796 the British again
took possession of Ruatan, but were ex-
PEELED the following year by the Span
iards. By the treaty of 1914, Spain
stipulated with Great Britain to permit
English subjects to occupy Balize. or
British Honduras, as il is now most fire.
quently called. and an island in the vi.
cinily; bu. only for the purpose Of cui-
Ting logwood and mahogany, and on no
account with view to permanent settle
men,. Subjec. to these conditions, the
English have continued 10 hold The ter
riiory between the Balize river and the
Honda ever since; and conscious Of the
invalidity of their title 10 absolute pos
session, they have latter!y sought TO ge,
il confirmed by the Court at Madrid
When the Central American Revolution
took place in 1921, the title of Spain to
the island Of Ruatan and others passed
over to the small Republic of Honduras.
In 1880, regarding with contempt the
weakness of this small commonwealth,
the English superintendentat Balize took
posse ssion of Ruatan in the name of his
sovereign. The time for permanent oc-
cupancy was, however, considered pre-
mature by his government, and the ACT
was disavowed. Eleven years later,
another superintendent again took forcl.
BILE possession of the disputed island, and
hauled down the Republican flag. The
&C, this time was recognised by the Eng.
lish government, and to the protest Of
Honduras, the reply of the superintend-
ent was, that he had acted in obedience
! 10 orders. Possession was subsequent
Iy kept up in loose sort Of way. by es-
tablishing some negroes on the island
but i. was not formally recognized as .
dependency Of Balize. until 1851, a yea
after the Clayton and Bulwer treaty was
ratified. In this treaty. which was fol
the establishment Of a ship canal between
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. it was
stipulated that neither of the contracting
parties were to make settlements on thu
coast of Central America; but this wa.
not intended to apply TO the existing Sc,
dement, Of the British at Honduras ane
the dependent islands.
! Now with regard to the Balize or Brit
I ish Honduras, as distinguished from thu
State Of Honduras, there is no doubt that
by treaty with Spain. the English have
certain definite rights in the territory
similar to what farmer may have.wht
occupies land by contract from the own
4 er for an indefinite period, but wi,hou