The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-03

Yours, very respectfully !. ,rrs prcUAN,N
Hon VIM l.. NANCY, &c, &c4 &c.
a*I Mr. buchanan 10 Mr. Marcy
IExlractl
mo. OIL LEGATION or THE UNITED SrArEs,
London, February is, 1885.
SIR Since the ministerial crisis all public business has
been suspended in this country except such relates TO
the existing war with Russia From conversation which
casually had with Lord Aberdeen the day before the
vote against his ministry in the House OF Commons, was
confirmed in the belief that the Central American question
would have been settled had he remained in power few
weeks longer
Yours very respectfully JAMES BUCHANAN. .
Hon. WIN. L. MARCY, Secretary Of State
Mr.. Marcy 10 Mr. Buchanan y
mo- lo4l DEpARrMEsT or STATE
Washington August 6, 1855.
Sfa: The President is anxious to have the questions
which have been raised the ueaty between tho United
States and Great Britain of the 10Th Of April 1885, settled
If possible least brought distinct issue before
yon retire from your mission The negotiation cannot be
committed 10 any who well understands the subject
in all its bearings you do or who can SO ably sustain
aud carry out ihe views OF the United States.
The President has been unwilling manifest impotence
The delay which has attended this negotiation while her
Majesty was engrossed by the war with Rus
STA but he deems to be but reasonable that it should
be urged conclusion. 1t important that the United
States should know the positions Great Britain is deter
mined to maintain relative 10 the Central American ques
tons - ETA s
need not express to you the surprise the President felt
learning the of her Majestys government pre-
scented you in Lord Carendons statement Of the % Of
May 1854 in regard Ruatan and the other islands,
sutng what may be looked upon the British coli
ony of The Bay Islands These views considered BY
this government only contrary to the spirit but d.
ecty at variance with the clear language of the conven
ton of 1850. ~ n.
After the very cogent argument contained in your able
reply TO that statement the President is unwilling to be-
txal
by Lord Clarendon relative to Ruatan will be adhered
IL stipulation explicit in terms and SO clearly applca
be to the Bay islands is to be nulied by interpretation
every other provision in that instrument far it inn
poses obligations upon Great Britain, may, in the
way aud with equal plausibility, be defeated
Should Great Britain refuse 10 Withdraw from Ruatan
and the other islands the Of the State Of Honduras
her determination that respect could not but be regarded
by the President noncompliance with the stpuations
of the treaty 1850 The fact that these islands part
Of Central America is unguestonable, and the stpula-
tons of the convention directly applicable TO them
that there seems to he no room for raising question OF in
depreciation.
After what was said to you by Lord Aberdeen when
the head of the British government it is to be hoped that
the British pretenson TO hold Kuaan will be abandoned
II Great Britain still persists in holding these islands and
in maintaining colony there, her determination ID that e
feet should be distinctly announced, that this govern
may longer be left in doubt as 10 her intentions
On this point you Instructed to ask of her Majesys
government explicit declaration. a
The main nducement which this government had, as
you have well observed for entering into this treaty,
prevent Great Britain from acquiring exercising do
minion in Central America but this object entirely de-
feaed by the Interpretation which the British
proposes TO give to that instrument While the United
States excluded fcom occupying coonzng, exer-
cisng any dominion any part OF Central America II
be admitted that the restriction not imposed
on Great Britain.
You are therefore directed TO declare explicitly her
Majestys government that the President after fun
sideration Of what alleged in Lord Carendons state
OF the I'd Of May 1854 cannot entertain doubt but
that Great Britain solemny bound by the FIRST article Of
the convention OF $50 mol to occupy or ioru or colo
any Of the islands the Of the State of Honduras
known described the Bay Islands, and that he
poets she WILL in fuflnent Of the stpuations of that
treaty abandon the possession she holds OF this part
of Central America "
II would be superAuous 10 enlarge upon the views you
have taken OF the British protectorate over the Mosquito
Indians The groundeness Of the British pretensions TO
exercise control or dominion in Central American affairs
under the shadow of this proectorae clearly demon
strated in your remarks In reply Lord Carendons
statement supersede further discussion the subject
What effect these remarks have produced on the British
is yet known. lfthey have received the
consideration due to them, am they will open the
way the peaceful adjustment Of these embarrassing Cen
trial American questions
1t is not strange that Lord Clarendon should manifest
reluctance TO have the foundation Of the British
proectorae the Mosquitoes explored but the rights
claimed under II necessarily 10 have called for the
animation which you have given 10 the subject The re-
suit Of that examination shows that the Mosquito king
dom, political State is, 10 any view Of Il, what Lord
Pamerson acknowledged IL 70 be-a fiction. Upon
this admitted fiction Great Britain now attempts estab-
lsh substantial sovereign power extensive region
in Central America and when required by the United
States withdraw from the exercise Of this power in
pance with the stpulatons OF the convention OF 1850,
she endeavors to escape from her obligation do by
designating the dominion she exercises protecorate
procctorae necessarily implies the actual existence
OF sovereign authority in the protected power but where
there Is in fact such authority there be pro-
tecorate. The Mosquitoes convenience TO sustain
British petensions but cannot be regarded sovereign
State Lord Palmerson as was eynced by bis remark 70
Mr. Rves took this view OF the political condition Of the
Mosquitoes and rs obviously correct that the British
should not be surprised the United States
consider the sabject in the light
II the cohident belief Of The United States that this
fiction of Mosquito Kingdom had been disposed Of by the
convention bat very much To their SURPRISE II Is nov re-
sorted the basis OF British dominion exien-
siye region Of Central America.
Admitting that the convention did not require the abso
lutte pronunciation Mosquito protectoraie imposed
Is admitted restrictions upon H. After the conclusion Of
treaty II could be used for the purpose Of occupy
ing terrifying, coonizing any part OF Central America,
for the purpose OF assuming exercising dominion over
the same.
Great Britain will not think, contend That II has been
thus practically restricted since the ratification Of the
yenon OF 1850 There Is visible power civil or milf
tary the Mosquito territory but that which Is exercised
by British subjects
II Is understood and indeed asserted by the British gov
eminent that the proecorate only used for the security
of the rights Of the Mosquito Indians and that IL is ready
TO abstain from further Interference In that country when
these rights be In proper manner GUARANTEED TO
those Indians.
those Indians with which neither Great Britain the
United States has any business to interfere exceptin friend
~ conference with Nicaragua
Were this the only difficulty In carrying ont the