The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-12
NEW YoRK RgDLD, MokfDAY MAY II, 1855


np6xtant Dscument frsm Kn2lsnd THE
Bay Islands.
We pubEeh in another column q copy OF the
Queens warrant constituting the Islands OF
RuataA, Bonacca, &C., colony Of the British
crown. This document was communicated to
Parliament on the 5sh Of April, in answer to
motion made for its production, by Mr.. Miiner
Gibson. ON the 18th OF March. Although long
and technical, it contains points Of great sigoi.
ficaace, especially when taken in connection
with the line of defence adopted by Great
Britain against the charge OF having violated
the "Clsyton and Bulwer convention"
That convention, it will be remembered,
was negotiated in April, $780, and ratified aad
proclaimed in July Of the same year. It's lead
ing stipulation was that neither party ''thould
occupy or COLOMBO any portion Of Central
America"
This warrant bears the date Of March 20,
1852, and was carried into effect July II, Of
the same yesr-two years after the convention
a. there h NO ambiguity in the words OCCUPY
or colonize," it follows that the act Of Great
Britain was prima tacie violation of the con
vention. The only question which could be
raised was this" Do these islands come pro.
perly within the denomination Of Central
America %
But Great Britain does not attempt to
dispute the fact that from their geogra.
phical and political relations they are
naturally and historically part Of Hondu-
Yas, first Province and afterward
State of Central America. She does, however,
allege that they were dependencies of her es-
tablishment OF Belize, and az such exempted
from the operations of the convention Of 1850,
by the terms Of a sort OF private memorandum
made between Mr.. Bulwer on one hand and
Mr.. Clayton on the other, to the effect tina: the
treaty should "not be construed to apply to
Belize and it's dependencies" Without discus
sing the points whether such an e1poss facto and
altogether personal understanding, (Which was
not communicated to the Senate until years
after the treaty was rati6ed) can be regarded
az in any way binding upon the United States,
it is sufficient for our present purpose to
know that the warrant Of the Queen affords
conclusive proof that at the time it was issued,
viz: March, 1852, the British government did
not regard these islands as in any way de-
pendent on Belize It follows, therefore, that
the position which it has assumed is altogether
an afterthought.
The warrant says that it has been repre-
sented to the Queen that certain islands in the
Bay Of Honduras are inhabited by British sub
jects, and that she has therefore undertaken to
furnish them with government and erect
them into colony. Had they been under the
government Of Belize then the necessity of q
government for them would not have existed;
they would already have been q colony. Had
the British government in 1852 regarded these
islands az part, or as dependency Of Be-
lie, then the warrant would have said that
the government of the islands, as part of
an existing establishment, was inadequate, and
that some necessity had arisen for separating
them and constituting them distinct colony
In such case there would naturally and of
necessity have been some reference to an ex-
listing or pre-existing order of things, and to
the circumstances which had brought about the
necessity Of the change.
As we have said, but one conclusion can be
reached, in view Of this document, viz: that
the whole pretence now set up in regard to
these islands is an aftsrthought, and that
neither at the time Of the negotiation Of the
Clayton and Bulwer treaty in 1850, nor even
30 late as the issue of this warrant in 1852, did
Great Britain regard these islands as Deepen
dent on Belize.
But even If she had regarded them as rich,
the question of fact still remains open; al it
has been proved a hundred tins that they
always and undisputably belonged to the pro-
vince and State Of Honduras until forciIly,
in time of peace, and without shadow Of right,
or even decent pretext, occupied and COLI
nized by the British crown.
Great Britain has no right in Belize, except
the permissiye one Of cutting logwood and
gathering the natural fruits of the soil, being
expressly debarred by the treaty under the
authority of which she enjoys this narrow pr.
vilege, from any exercise of sovereignty. She
certainly could have no wider privile yes in
the dependencies" Of Belize than in Belize
Itself; and being bound not to exercise sove-
reignty in one, could certainly not assume or
exercise it in the other.
Thus, under every view Of the case, and
upon her own showing, she has colonized the
Bay Islands in violation of solemn treaty
stipulations, and in contempt Of the rights Of
the Central American States. There is no
evading the Indictment and but one course
remains open-the restitution Of the islands to
Honduras, or the abrogation Of the unprece-
dented and, in our opinion, unconstitutiop, II
treaty, on the value of which the organization
Of the colony of the Bay Islands is significant
commentary.
A TRACT FOR THE TMEs-The Times is exer-
cised on the "tract controversy" and being
exercised has spoken right out! This event