The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-03-04
Obj 4ailp @a1ettt.
r
ALFRED SANDERS. EDITOR.
DIPLOMATIC oBscuRITY.

DIPLOMATIC OBscURITY.
Diploma,ists are proverhsai for Tying g
o,erreach each other, but the Clay ton- Bull
wer treaty is singular instance IN which
both the astute nego,iators were mutually
outwitted. Mr.. Clayton was confident thai
he had gained an advantage over Sir Henry
Bulwer. Her malesty's embassador wac
equally certain that he had triumPhed over
the American Secretary. The result Is that
there are ,wo interpretations OF the treaty,
one American and one Enghsh. Such is
the consequence of yielding TO diplomatic
traditions, and dealing in general aud there
fore cloudy phraseoiogy, instead OF using
the plain words OF common sense and COM
mon honesty, The Chief beauty Of public
document like treaty, that is as far ss style
is concerned, sagh, 10 be the utmost stiains
able iucidity oil language, and Il learned up
lomatists are such inveieraie logomaehst.
that they cannos descend 10 simplicity, they
should get some person TO translate Their
m.sty diversions into a language that could
be understood by common people, and aeaat
the me anng OF which no two men OF con-
mon sense coald older We Like what Mr,
Wilson, one OF The Massachusetts Senators,
SAID in gard 10 this pom. IA his speech IN
the Senate q few days since -
Il, seems TO me that upon question OF
such magnitude. requiring the future aetion
of such Governments as England aud
America, the purposes Of the treaty should
have been sc, forth in precise, exact, and
clear language. The terms OF the treaty
are tha, G reat Britain and the United States
mutually agree that they will not occupy,
foriiiy, COLOMBO, or assume OF exercise
dominion over any part of Central America.
A, the time the treaty was formed Great
Britain held proiectorate over the Mos
quito coast, under which she claimed control
over the seacost of Nicaragua. She claimed
that she had held this protectorate for near
IL two centuries, and that she held il for
the benefit of perishing tribe OF Indians on
the coast OF Nicaragua. Al that time Great
Britain held the Belize, under the treaty OF
1856 with Spain, which was sanctioned by
the Mexican Government In 1926.
These treaties with Spain and Mexico
gave Britain only possessory rights between
the Rio He ndo and the Siboon. Her settlers
had crossed the Siboon, the Southern boun-
dary, and extended themselves 10 the Sar-
s,oon. At the same time Great Britain
claimed to hold the Bay Islands.
Ii III was the intention Of the negoiiators
Of the treaty tina, Great Britain should give
up the control OF the territory between the
Sarsioon and the Siboon, that should have
been clearly and distinctly incorporated in
to the treaty. If il was the intention OF the
nego,ia.ors that she should give up the col
ony OF the Bay Islands. that should have
been incorporated into the treaty. II il was
the intention OF the negotiators that the
proteciorsie over the Mosquito coast should
be nothing but "the shadsw OF naine," II
should have been clearly and distinctly
provided for by the terms OF the treaty. Yes,
sir, say that. If MIR. Clayton and Sir Henry
L. Bslwer had the same objects in view; II
they understood each other; if they under
stood the treaty alike, and intended that the
United States and Great Britain should un
derstsnd il alike, then the objects OF the
treaty should have been so specifically sci
forth that neither Of these rival nations
iesious as both Of them are OF each other,
tenacious as both of them are OF their own
rights and interests-should seek TO shelter
itself under the general terms Of the phrase
ology of the instrument, from It's treaty obli'
cations"