Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-04

Question.

The Arbitration OF shs Central Americas
Question.
TO the Senate Of the United States
] transmit report from the Secretary Of
State, with accompanying papers. in answer to
the resolution of the Senate of yesterday f
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WAsHINoToN, February 29, 1856.
TO the President lQf the United States S
The Secretary Of State, to whom was re-
ferred the resolution of the Senate of Yesterday.
requesting the President, il in his opinion, it
be not incompatible with the public interest, to
inform that body whether any offer has been
made by the Government of Great Britain to
the Government of the United States to refer
to the arbitrament of some friendly power or
otherwise, the questions in difference between
the two Governments, upon the construction
Of the convention Of 4ih July, 10th April, I
1850, with any correspondence touching or
concerning such proposed arbitration" has the
honor to lay before the President the papers
mentioned in the supjoined list, which contain
all the information in this department called
for by the resolution.
All which is respectfully submitted.
w. L. MARCY.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Feb. 20, 1856.
List Of papers accompanying the report of the
Secretary Of State to the President, Of the
29M Of February, 1856
Mr.. Buchanan to Mr.. Marcy, (extract) No
vember 81, 1854.
The same to the same, (extracts, November
2, 1855.
The same TO the same, (extract,) November
8, 1855.
The same to the same, (extracts,) February
5, 1856.
The same to the same, (extract,) February 8,
1856.
Mr.. Champion to Mr.. Marcy, (extract, Feb
ruary 81, 1856.
Lord Clarendon to Mr.. Champion, November
10, 1855
Mr.. Buchanan to Mr.. Marcy
Extractl
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, November 81, 1854.
In the course Of the conversation, he init
mated that it might be desirable to have the
opinion of third power on the true con-
struction of the Constitution. To this
playfnly observed that it would now be
difficult to find an impartial umpire, as
they had gone to war with our arbitrator,
the Emperor Of Russia. This was, however,
but mere intimation on his part. then
urged upon him, as strongly rs / could,
the reasons which thought ought to induce
the British Government to relinqnish the Bay
islands to Honduras. He replied, that these
al rIs af IL n
Britain, and the only question with them was
whether the national honor did not forbid this
course.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN. "
Hon. WILLIAM l.. MARCY,
Secretary of State.
Mr.. Buchanan TO Mr.. Marcy.
[Extractsl
mo. 80. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES
London, Novenber2, 1855.
According to the appointment mentioned in
my last despatch, met Lord Clarendon yes
terday afternoon at the Foreign Office.
In the course of the conversation, observed
10 MIN lnab tne most serious dlfnculty between
the governments might arise out Of the Central
American questions. He said that when two
governments disagreed about the construction
of a treaty, the best and most natural mode
was to refer the question to third power At
an early period of the negotiation he had
made this suggestion; but had iocularly re.
piled that the Emperor of Russia was the only
power sufficiently independent to act as an
impartial Umpire in the case, and they had
gone to war with him.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Hon. WILLIAM L. MARCY,
Secretary Of State.
Mr.. buchanan TO Mr.. Marcy.
[Extract.l
No. l0l. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES.
London, November 9, 1855.
SIR: had an interview with Lord Claren.
don on yesterday by appointment.
He then said-about these Central American
questionable best mode of settling them is
by arbitration. replied there was nothing to
arbitrate. He said the true construction Of the
treaty was a proper subject for arbitration. /
told him / did not consider it a question for
construction at all--the language was plain
and explicit, and / thought this would be the
almost unanimous opinion Of the American
people; but, in writing 10 you should mention
what he had now said, as had done what he had
said at our former interview.
Yours, very respectfully,