Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-03
CENTRAL AMERICA

The treaty negotiated ut Washington in 1850.
between the United States aud Great Britain pro-
N'ues that the latter power shall not occupy, for
N.Y. coonIze or assume jurisdiction over any part
oil central America. 1t is alleged that British
coiony mas recently been established in certain
little islands off the coast of Honduras, in viola
ton of the aforesaid treaty stpulations, and Mt
the instance of Gen. Cass, resolution has been
adopted ia the United States Senate, calling on
the President for any information he NAV possess
nthe subject The New York Express. which
appears to be well informed 10 reference IN the
matter, states that these islands were British
Islands prior to the treaty of Washington, and in
exercising dominion and authority over them.
Great Britain exercises no new authority nor do
mlnion, but only what she had before. For
some years they were under the British Colonial
government at the Belize, but this government
at distance was incouyenient. aud the people.
therefore, resolved themselves into a colony.
which has been recognized.
In this Belize possession (says the Expressl
there is but little doubt, we think, that the Br-
fish trading companies there have been pushing
their dominion" far beyond what the Spanish
permission to trade intended or grants. What
that grant was, we cannot now say, exactly; but
we are sure they have been pushing into the in
terror more and more, and an eye upon their
movements there will do no harm. The Belize
has been for many years the principal entrepot
of English goods for Central America, and the
capital employed in the trade was at one time us
high as e2,000000 1.-TWO millions sterline.)-
Upon certain islands in the Bay of Honduras, and
long before the treaty of Washington, the British
have had like possession, of which this treaty
did not dispossess them. These islands, distant
from the Belize, have been within year or two
formed into separate colony and if the treaty
of Washington did not dispossess them, there is
no doubt that, being pre-existing British possess
sions, they had right to the benefits of the Bri-
fish Government.
We are very ged, however, that General Cass
has moved ia the matter. Give us Iight-gye
us inormation--but we do not think he will oct
much in Washington We do not imagine that
our Government has had any negotiation with the
British Government" on this subject: for, if we
rightfdlly understand the subject there was
nothing to negotiate about. The true sources of
light are in London, or to come from our officials
ID Central America, particularly from Guatemala
and such officials we have in Honduras or the
Baize. il we have any there nevertheless give
us all the light there Isl All we know at present
is that, on about the 18th of July last, proc
lamation emanated'from the SUPPLEMENTARY of
Belize. constituting the island of Ruatan and its
dependencies British colony, uuder the designa-
ton of the COLONY of the Bay Islands" The |
allegation is that these islands had been wrested
from the republic of Honduras, their rghtful
owner, and had been British dependencies in spite
of the Clayton and Bulwer Treaty. 1t is we'll it
understand all this: but it will be found, we
believe TINT Great Britain has been exercising
no new authority or dominion; only doing there
what for years aud years she has been doing on
the Belize, and on the like authority from Spain
or her colonies.