The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-19

The following message from the President Of the United
SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON Feb Is, 1858.
transmit report from the Secretary Of State, EN-
odng the substance OF recent communications made by
the Minister of her Britannia Majesty to the Department
Of State the subject of the inter oceanic canal by
the treaty between the United States and Great Britain
OF the 18th April 1850 and the relations of Great Britain
10 the protectoae OF Mosquta which she her
self desrous of relinquishing terms consistent with
her honorable engagements to the Indians of that
IN consequence OF these communications, and other
considerations stated in the report 1t is deemed advis
able by the department that diplomatic relations
with the States of Central America should be placed
higher and more efficient footing ana this meets
my appreciation
The whole subject is of so much delcacy and i'm
portance that should have preferred so near the close
of my administration not to make it the subject of
executive communications but inasmuch the
proposed cannot even if deemed expedent by my sue
cessor take effect for twelvemonth unless ap
preparation is made by this Congress- have thought it
duty to submit the report Of the department to the
require expression somewhat in detail of the grounds
on which it is recommended. MILLARD FILLMORE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT STATE, !
WASHINGTON, Feb IL, 1883
Sir-Recent communications have been made to this
Department by the British Minister, relative to the af
fairs Of Central America of which deem it my duty TO
report to you the substance
II may first be proper to observe that the relations of
the United States with some of the states ofCentral Ams
rca have of late years assumed importance wholly
out Of proportion to the political consequence of these
small republics the extent of commercial inter
course with them which is inconsderabe This Importance
grows chiefly out of the fact that of the ad-
yantageous routes of inter oceanic communication lies
through this region. The public policy of the United
States presents few objects at the present day
interest with direct expeditions. and economical line
OF intercourse between our Atlantic coast and the
bers of the Union the Pacific. It was mainly to eff
feet this object that the treaty Of April 49, 1885,
gotated between tho United States and Great Britain
by this treaty the high contracting parties bound them
selves to their influence with any State States
or governments possessing claiming to possess any
jurisdiction the territory which the proposed ship
canal may traverse or which shal! be the waters
governments 10 facilitate the construction thereof by
every means in their power And they also agree to
sne gooa Gce % ~r OF it. may be most
free ports at each end OF the canal 1t also stpu
lated by the treaty of April 49, 1850 that if any
the territory through which the said canal
shall pass, between. the States governments
of Central America and such differences should any
way impede or obsruct the execution OF the said canal
the governments Of the United States and Great Britain
would use their good Offices to settle such difference in the
canal In the execution Of this stipulation certain pro
positions were agreed BY this department and the
their object settle the territorial controversies which
existed between the States and bordering
the line Of the canal These terms OF settlement were
agreed to by Costa Rca but did prove to Nj
caragua In making these propositions to the States in
the only object has been to secure as Jar ns
possible the passage Of the canal through and the
same civilized State in order to preclude the evil too
jurisdiction and to exercise the influence and mediation
Of the United States which had been invoked by the par
ties in controversy in the manner best calculated to
promote their respective interests The conflicting claims
Of Great Britain and Nicaragua with reference to Mosquito
among the difficulties which embarrass this subject.
These difficulties arise principally from the fact that tho
port Of San Juan Del Norte the outlet Of the ca
nal is claimed TO belong to the Mosquito territory
BY the first article Of the treaty of 10th April 1850
the parties agree that neither the nor the other
will erect maintain any fertilization commanding
the canal in the vicinity thereof fortfy colon
Costa Rca the Mosquito coast any part of Centra
America But the relations Of Great Britain Mosquito
and the Mosquito Indians whom she claims have
exercised protectoIate for long of years. re
mal ed under this treaty somewhat indeerminate The
town has been given by Great Britain though claimed as
within the limits of pr0tcctorate has for about
been really governed in the name Of the tuAB king Of
Mosquito by committee of five American citizens chosen
by the people. Nicaragua claims the rightful
egnty this port from which her authorities were,
after brief possession, elected by British force in
January 1s48-and the whole Mosquito region of
which however, it is maintained by Great Britain
that Nicaragua at any time had possession In
formation has lately been at this
the Minister of her Britannia Majesty that the company
which had contracted to build ship the 18th
of Nicaragua having found it impossible carry
the plan originally contemplated has resolved propose
TO the government Of Nicaragua modification Of that
plan with the view Of constructing canal Of smaller d
ensions than those specified in the contract and the
British Minister has been instructed to intimate to this
rect Her Masstys government would feel themselves at
liberty under the seventh article Of the treaty of April
49, 1850 TO withdraw their protection from that company
and to transfer it to any other company which should
undertake canal on the original plan, it being deemed
of the utmost importance by the British government that
the great conception inter oceanic canal adapted
the accommodation of the vessels cf the whole commercial
world, should net dwindle down to ordinary transit
Se be- dssue Vau The s
Minister has also been Instructed to signify to this 6
parment that since Great Britain rs assumed the pro-
lection and defence Of tho Mosquito Indians the position
Of all parties had changed SPAIN instead Of exercising
absolute sovereignty over Central America, and prohibit
ing all the coasts under her sway has
tirey lost her dominion all parts Of this continent
The Mosquito Indians, instead of governing their
tribe according to the custom Of their furnish only
and title by which foreigners trading at San Juan
del Nore and along the Mosquito coast according to the
uages of civilized States exercise the effective govern
In consequence Of those changes Great Britain instead
of having formerly interest in the defence of the
Mosquito Indians for the sake of exempng part of the
territory Of Central America from Spanish control
thereby obtaining admission for her commerce, has
other interest in Mosquito but such she derives from
honorable regard to her old connections with the Mos
quito ration of Indians II has been further stated to the
Department by the British Minister that her Majesty 8
engagements to the actual state of the case but that every
proposal to that effect has encountered nsuperabe obsa
clcs The contentious in Central America, between Mica
ragua Costa Rca and Honduras the absence Of any
thory with wbcha permanent agreement could be made
and various other causes have hitherto prevented set
tlement Of this vexaous question. The British govern
regards the Committee of Government of San Juan
del Nore above referred fact the only real power
which exercises authority that part of Central America
1t would be matter Of Indifference to Great British
whether that authority exercised in the name o
| the King of Mosquito, in the of the city
| Of San Juan del Norte itself But it is desired
by the British government that the apparent state
things should be made to conform 10 the reality, which
is not the case, the government being nomnally
carried in the of the King of Mosquito, while Il
is really exercised by the committee organized at San
Juan del Norte or Greytown under popular election
What the British government would consider good and
final ustment would be-Frst, that Juan del Norte
Greytown Shouts be free and independent port
neced with Mosquito by such relations of friendship and
alliance may be agreed upon. Secondly that indem-
nGcaton or advantages equivalent to those laid down
in the project Of the 18th April 1852 should
be assured to Mosquito in return for its withdrawal from
its present position in reference to San Juan del Norte
Thirdly, that the United States and Great Britain with
out formally San Juan del Nore should be
ready to act In concert to Tie independence Of the
free city or port in whatever quarter may be attacked
The British government deem essential that the city and
port Of San Juan del Norte Greyown should be esab
shed either state Of unqualified independence with
engagement to defend Mosquito or qualified indepen