Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-19


map the Republic OF Guatemala and on that of the d
parment OF Vera Paz contained in the atlas is atogeh
within the limits Of Vera Paz" Now the first obserr:
ton which have TO make in regard TO this authority
that map engraved by order Of the President Of Al
United States including the Canadas within our ON
limits would not be regarded by any sensible in
foreign nation much proof to show that We were Ell
titled 10 the Canadas and the next remark | have
make is, that no northern and western boundary
Guatemala is laid down these maps The underlined Ia
proves nothing, and the pretenson that the Rio Hond
in the department Of Vera Paz is too absurd in IL
eyes If any acquainted with the preieasog
Guatemala to be credited for moment The map itse
shows that Belize is not in Guatemala In the State ID,
partment was map to which this committee ought
have had access but of which they knew nothing whc
proves that the British had obtained the survey OF Guatt
maa found in her archives in 1926 that is six year
before the maps relied made 1t is entitled Ma
OF Guatemala reduced from thesuryey in the archives
that country" 1T was published January 18TH 1896 b
Arrowsmth the royal photographer. Great Britain WI
about TO make a treaty with Mexico and to obtain frol
Mexico confirmation of her title TO the settlements
Belize, derived from the Spanish treaty of 1856 Ii
important for Great Britain to ascertain how far Gua
mala might have any claim TO the Belize terrtory B
Britain had equally recognised and favored them j.
1t was nmateral to her whether the Belize was stu "a
in Mexico Guatemala, either Of them would uni L
tatngy have recognised the grant made by Spain OF
useful domain" in British Honduras granted BY le
treaty with Spain Of 1856. She sought to know "
which had the right to grant it, and she ascertane
yond all possible doubt from the archives not OF
Mexico but Of Guatemala herself that the British e-
ments at the Belize in Yucaan Arrowsmiths Up,
reduced from the survey, in the archives Of Guatem to
which ~ referred shows that Vera Eaz is abog
miles s4sfh of the rio DO AMI BslizL river, re
that Peten and not Vera Paz is the northern tsince
Of Guatemala Vera Paz is far south of The w ys'
Belize called from the cid English bvccane' Wltlacs,
who first harbored in British Honduras On that map
furnished frem the survey Of Guatemala herself the Be-
lie settlement extends at least fifty mics south of the
ri IF
eighty miles south Of the mouth Of the R lIondo Like
every other map made by Guatemala olunder her
yeys it has but little preension to scient arrangements
but it is represented conveying just lea of the then
existing state of geography in Guatemala, md of her
claims as exhibited by her original urvey. win
send the map to the chairman Of the comntee if he
quests it, and it is said to have been Of the very
maps made by order of the British Government to
tain from what country they should obtain confirmation
OF the Spanish title of occupancy granedo the British
settlers by the treaty Of 1856, it the yer best evidence
that Guatemala had claims whatever tohe Belize for
Great Britain could repeat easily has obtained the
grant Of the useful domain III the Belize fim Guatemala
as from Mexico Having thus ascertaned tat Guatemala
had claims, she proceeded to negotatesith Mexico
and, on the Goth of December afterward she made
treaty with Mexico Of which the following is the l4th
article:
ARTICLE xIv.-The subjects Of his Briannic Majesty
shall on no account pretex whatsoever disturbed
moested in the eaceable possession and exee Of whatever
rights privileges, and immunites they havet any
Joyed within the limits described and laid dom in
ton signed between his said Majesty and linking Of SPAIN
on the 18th Of july 1856, whether such rh privileges
and mmupes shall be derived from the SITUATIONS Of the
said convention, from any other coneessa which may at
any time have been made by the King Of spfn his predc
eessor to British subjects and settlers redig and following
their lawful occupations within the limits aDresad the two
contracting parties reseryng however for fitting
opportunity the further arrangements Of thlarticle
No such treaty made with GGatemla that We ever
heard Of We see by this treaty that Great Britain ad
mitel that the eminent domain which Sain had lost by
reyolution hnd de uron he
seek to rob Mexico Of the sovereignty the country
she gained nothing by the treaty which Spain had not be-
fore granted to her and she sought only the grant Of
the useful domain or merely the rights e On old settler
there was not civilized nation earth that would have
refused 10 concede much as Mexico i'd If she had
thought Guatemala had any right to he territory she
would have applied to her make the grant, and
that State could well have refused to confirm the grant
OF lands held under her limits for any other private
special purposes she could have refused to make the
same concession which Mexico made The rights ofGreat
Brtan under the treaty of 1885, occupy the land and
to cut wood and mahogany Greet mills 10 it,
Gsh upon the coast ret their ships at the adjoining
islands aud territories embraced in the triangle described
IN that treaty and to occupy those islands when the
ronto would not permit them TO remain the main land,
were rights which could not be Invested by that very
voluton which Great Britain had encouraged without
manifest dishonor TO the local government. If Great
Britain had sought TO seize upon the territory she could
much more easily have forced the concession Of il from
the little State Of Guatemala than from Mexico greatly
superior Power
The next authority relied upon by the committee is
hearsay evidence, and not allowed to know the
name Of the witness. The report says And the
mittee informed that the official map of Yucaan
subscribed by Senior Negra as Of that pro-
vince, published in lS4S the southern boundary Of that
State is established the parallel of eighteen degrees
north latitude" If this be true it only proves that the
British settlements at the Belize had encroached further
upon Yucatan and Mexico than we had supposed. IT.
however, this fact is adduce1 to prove that Guatemala
extends to the eighteenth degree of north latitude
proves too much and it possibly be truesor then
Guatemala would include the celebrated Bacaar and the
Tort there established the north limit Of the British
settlers 1t is not pretended that on this map which the
committee never saw, Yueatan is bounded by Gua-
temaia; and If the who gave this information will
produce the map will stake the whole issue between
inc committee and myself the fact that the southern
boundary Of Yucatan win appear by it to be on British
Honduras or Belize
The next and last authorities relied upon by this com
mtee to prove that British Honduras lies in the State Of
ouatemaa are sail more remarkable. This part Of the
report IS 50 extraordinary in its character that dare not
attempt 70 state the substance of il lest should do
the committee Injustice will speak by the book lest
follows:
In 1891 tie State Of Guatemala made large grant Of
and 70 company condition Of actual settlement in the
nelghborhood Of the Bay Of Honduras when the British
authorities OF Belize nterposed and forbid the settlement
cohson LED the Government Of Central America make il
the occasion Of special commission England settle
ADJUST ihs respective rights Of the republic Of Guatemala and
OIL Great Britain in reference the British settlements in
this quarter This fact was communicated 10 the Govern
ment Of the United States by NJ Alvarez Secretary FOR For
egn Affairs Of the Central American Confederation, in DIES
patch TO The Secretary Of State dated December 3d. 1884
and the good Offices Of this Government with the British
Court were soccdr the proposed collation. In that des
Pon ne secretary OF State reminded Of the avowed police
OF ms Government concerning European colonization
the American continents, Is referred to the aggressions
cncroacnmen az Belize upon the territory 9 Central Aereo
The mission, it.appcars, was fruitless.
Government, ind