The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-16
British Colonization In Central America.-Re-
port OF the senate Committee on Foreign


Relations.
In all probability the report OF Mr.. Mason to which
aluson has already been made in the columns Of the
Unioa will accelerate solution of those vexed ques-
tons which sprung from the apparently conflicting Ian
guage of the Clayton Bulwer treaty. and the secret gloss
attached to it by the negoiiators. The report presents
exhaustive analysis Of the subject, and submits every
possible point for the udgmen, of the Senate That udg
ment. presume. will conclude the controversy. so that
the public may anticipate the end Of discussion which
has not excited interest commensurate with its i'm
portance.
The committee were instructed TO report the treaty
of 1850 had been violated by those Of British aggres
sion Central America of which much has recently
been heard; and in pursuing this inquiry they had to
determine the effect of British colonization in Belize
and in the islands Of the Bay OF Honduras The rights
OF Great Britain respect the Belize settlements are
Investigated with great research and the result Of the
animation is given in the following declaration
In OF these stringent sipuations, thus soemnly
contracted and eairmed the OF the British gov
eminent, the committee clear in their opinion that
the English settlements the Belize have
whatsoever The sovereignty and dominion
Spain the whole territory preserved unmpared
by these concessions, Nothing yielded but what pub
icsts the 'aseful domain and that only for certain
restricted and limited purposes"
Having established by irrefragable proof that the rights
OF Great Britain 10 the Belize settlements only rights
of and POSSESSION. and not of DOMINION sovER
EIoSTY, the committee proceed to ascertain the locality Of
these settlements in respect to the Central American
States 1t will be remembered that the National Inei
geneer newspaper, behalf OF ex-Secretary Clayton
coniended that the Belize settlements were included
within the province Of Yucatan, and could be called
part OF Central America" This position was assumed
with the most dogmac and defiant tone, and we were
challenge TO produce authority in conflict with it.
The report OF Mr. Mason, stated in our issue OF the
l3lh, relieves OF the trouble OF refung the argument,
OF the Hegeneer, and establishes beyond question the
assertion OF the Union that the Belize settlements are
within the State of Guatemala To cite but one author
ity produced by the committee in support of this posi-
ton, we invite the attention OF the Ineiiigsacu to the
following from letter addressed by Secretary
Webster in 1s4i to VIM. s. Murphy, esq., confidential
agent of the United States to Central America:
"In 1885 the government OF Genital America asked for
the mediation OF this government with that OF Great Britain
with view restrain the British settlers Belize, Hon
dura from the passing upon territory beyond the con-
allotted to them by the treaties between Great Britain
Spain in regard TO that settlement Central America so
far its territory embraced by the limits mentioned
in those covenants, HAVING, COURSE
rBg SPAIN"
Thus against the perempiory assertion OF the Inteii-
gsner we have the authority of Mr.. Webster for the
opinion that the Belize settlements embraced within
the limits of CENTRAL AMERICA.
From the premises thus established, the report deduoes
and announces the following conclusion in respect TO
the fret branch Of their inquiry
The committee, from the informal before hem en-
terrain decided opinion that the British sctemsnts at
Belize. defined by the treaties with Spain, lie within the
territory OF the republic Of Guatemala, and so equally
leon titute he
the fact whilst the committee not prepared TO say
that the engagements OF the treaty of 1880 would require
tha those settlements shall be abandoned and dcontjn
ued the part Of Great Britain yet this governn ent
would Just OF plant against any extension
OF the limits OF these setem beyond those prescribed
by Spain or further allowed by the republics where
they may be found and that in any enlarge
change the character Of those settlements by any mode
OF jurisdiction, would be in violation OF said treaty"
The report OF the committee is not ess clear and
elusive in regard the British colony OF the Bay islands
After citing The treaties OF 1883 and 1856 between Spain
and Engand prove that "al claim and preension of
the latter power to these islands definitely re.
nouncedn the committee proceed to establish the fac, that
they belonged the republic Of Honduras and therefore
form part OF Central America land in consequence, any
occupation or colonization OF these islands would be a
violation Of the treaty OF the 10th OF April, $780, In
addition, the committee make ih. alternative declara
/ ton n#.4
In the OF s being asceained hereafter that these
British settlements Honduras Bay lie in whole part
north and west Of the proper boundaries OF Guaema ala