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


We know from the letter of Mr. Dickens, acting Secre
tary Of State, Of the 10th of june 1885, to this John
Gando that the subject Of the letter OF Alvarez mus
have been made cabinet question; for the Secretary
pledged himself in that letter that it should be brought
the consideration of the President Picture TO yourself
then, General jackson and his cabinet in sessions the
senator from Michigan, then being Secretary OF War; oe
cupes the third the cabinet table John Forsyth
produces the letter Of Alvarez and reads it, do not be-
eve he soedh his fingers with the speech of Senior Ami
a to his constituents in Central America, or with the let
tiers of John Gaindo, whom the committee have digni
ned with the OF the Minister" Don Gdliado.
when Mr. Forsyth read the passage Of the letter Of Al
yarez declaring that " it had always been the policy OF
the United States prevent and resist European settle
ments in America and that the aggressois and encroach
ments Mt Belize dangerous and alarming violation
OF this principle" what do you suppose the appear
ance and language Of General jackson, who came into
power upon the adverse principle supported by party
which violently denounced the Monroe doctrines Clay
instructions to Ponsett, and the authors of the Panama
mission especially, and all their works The Senator
from Michigan doubt ustained the Monroe doctrine
and the principles fthe Panama mission. But how
II about that the mission of John Galindo the speech
of Senior Annta and the letter Of Secretary 4Lcarez
all treated with perfect contempt or at dast passed over
IN perfect silence? We know that General Jackson re-
fused to take any notice Of the subject he did of the
application Of the Government of San Salvador asking
| admission into Union.
/ But this letter OF Alvarez when carefully examined
oonclusiyely shows that the Central American Govern
ment at the time did not pretend that the boundaries of
the British settlement under the treaty 1856 with
aries should be according the letter Of the Convention
OF 1856" They did not complain Of the British settle
ment within those limits but they did complain Of
encroachment beyond those limits hy than forty five
leagues" They expressly admitted the limits of Belize
which, they said, dentely fixed by the treaty Of
1885, and they admitted tho Mexican title ''highdo
main over the territory of Belize, by saying that the
original treaty limits had been ratified in 1926 by the trea
ty between Great Britain and the Republic Of Mexico Tey
John Gando to England to complain of the
Element ~a the limits Of the treaty, but ofthe eacroach
beyond them and the passage cited by the commit
from the letter of Alvarez to prove that the settle
ment of Belize within the treaty limits, upon the
territory Of Central America proves directly the reverse
it shows that only the aggressoas and croacheats at
Belize upon tint territory As consider this despatch
of NJ Alvarez concusiyely admitting that British Hon
duras, within the treaty limits not in Central Amer
the 30h of December 1884, ask the reading of
that letter.
1t then read by the clerk, follows
sDEPARTsEST or FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
ST.. SALVADOR, DECEMBER 30, 1884
SIR short time since the authorities Of the State Of
Guatemala granted for purposes of settlement sundry lands
situated in the neighborhoodo the Bay Honduras
pany, whose object to form national establishment upon
them As however the authorities Of Belize in
formed Of this they declared that the lands in question
were within their jurisdiction their property and they
which now justly belongs to them.
This extavagant pretension plainly contrary to the
ycnton of 1886 based upon that OF 17S3 between their Bril-
tannic and Catholic Maesties, which deeely fired The
fnes Of Belize win chieh tie inhabitants 10 keep them
which convention having been ratified by the epec
between Great Britain and the Republic Of MEXICO, il
clear without entering into questions Of another description
that the boundaries should be according to the letter Of that
COW pon.
The inhabitants Of Belize yo hare exceeded he established
limits by than forty fire leagues, found their pretensions
upon the circumstance OF their having occupied the lands in
controversy prior to the Independence Of Central America
But such violation Of existing treaties persisted in despite
the earnest repeated reonsanees o the Spanish auho
rites give those Of Belize lawful right to consider
that their which they have in fact usurped.
San affair Of such magnitude has he Government
J ~
Caet and the Vice President Of this Republic does
that through your honorable conduct the the
United States may make the most pointed limitations to the
courto his Majesty the subject and that he viii take
lively the end that the rights of nation, who
sister and friend Of that Of the North may not be violated
The mediation of the President viii doubtless give greater
weight 10 the representations which commissioner may
make the British Governments and this Republic would deem
such decided proof Of friendship and Of
for her rights Safer me- upon this OCCASION to remind
you that il has always ohjectof the policy Of the Uni
ted Srtes that there should European settlements upon
the American continent and that the aggessions and
croachmen Belize upon the territory Of Central America
dangerous and alarming violation of this principle,
1t belongs greatand happy Republic to place herself
in the Of policy interesting to the American
States and uphold with her rights in hepresence
/ Of England.
Meanwhile have honor tender to your Excellcncy
the distin ushod the consideration with
which your Excellencys very devoted and obedent
servant, an. ALVAREZ.
'Thc SECRETARY oF STATE
"of the Department Of Foreign Affairs CT the
Government Of the Republic Of North America
Will auu that even the letter oil John dhndo al
ms that the British entitled to occupy the town of
Belize, though do consider his letter compromi
ting any interest for he disregarded all historical truth
and did not America any thing else.
letter Of Mr. Murphy the Secretary Of State proves that
he was mpostor and never accredited England
commissioner from Central America but only from
the little State of Guatemala.
have now examined every authority cited by the
mee and by each Of them have proved that the report
the committee is All these authorities prove
the Belize TO be in Yucatan, and nearly oil contain the
admissions of Guatemala herself that the conclusion Of
the committee is utterly destitute Of foundation.
Notwithstanding the committee state in one part of
their report that from the information before them they
entertain decided opinion that the British settlements
Belize, defined by the treaties with SPAIN lie within
the territory Of the republic of Guatemala and equally
constitute part of Central America yet they evidently
doubt whether " the information before them was su-
cent establish that fact for in the very next para
graph they add that Gin the Of its being ascertain
ed hereafter that these British settlements on Honduras
Bay lie in whole in part north and west Of the proper
boundaries Of Guatemala though they would not in such
form any part Of Central America and thus are not
within the strict engagements Of the treaty vet that an
colonies other establishments there by Great
Britain any other European Power must necessarily
excite the anxious Of this Government and
would if persisted in lead to consequences Of
pleasant character"
IA the committee thus themselves doubtful Of the
! 'decided opinion" they expressed, | will proceed to
strengthen their doubts and to refutc their opinion by
giving them the information which not before them.
Their report says that by o the European geogra-
piers Spanish these British settlements are spoken
Of as in Yucatan." The first authority to which shall
refer them they have denied that Spanish
have spoken IS the Dctonario Geoorap4ico Of Don
Antonio de Alcedo published at Madrid in 17sG quote
from the English edition. translated by Thompson in FIVE
volumes quarto, London 1922