The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-03
sta,msnt for he Earl Of Clarendon.

Satemsat for Me Earl a Clarendon.
When the negotiations commenced which resulted in
The conclusion OF the Clayton and Buwer convention OF
the 18th OF April 1885, the British government in
possession OF the whole extensive of Central America
sweeping round from the Rio Hondo to the port and har-
Dor OF san Juan de Nicaragua except that portion of II
between the Sarstoon and Cape Honduras together with
the adjacent Honduras island of Ruatan.
The of the United States seriously contested
the claim OF Great Britain to any OF these possessions with
he single exception Of that part Of the Belize settlement
lying between the Rio Hondo and the Sebun the usuruct
OF which for special purpose and with careful resersa
on OF his sovereign rights IL had been granted by
the King Spain to the British under the convention Of
1886. &s
The progress Of events had rendered Central America
object OF special interest to all the commercial nations or
the world of the railroads and canals then pro-
posed TO be constructed through the shmus for the pur
pose ofunting the Atlantic and Pacific
Great Britain and the United States both having large
and valuable possessions the shores OF the Pacific and
extensive trade with the countries beyond it natu
raj that the should desire to prevent the other from be-
ing placed In position 10 exercise excueye control in
peace or in war any OF the grand horoughiares be-
tween the two oceans. 1a
This main feature of the policy which dictated the
Clayton and Buwer convention To place the two nations
on an exact equality, and thus remove all OF
tual jealousy each of them agreed by this convention
never to occupy, fory, exercise dominion over any
portion of Central America Both pa ties adopted this
sefdeuying ordinance for the purpose of terminating
rons misunderstanding then existing between them
which might have endangered their friendly relations
gushing their right independent nation to acquire
territory in region their continent which may
become necessary for the security of their communication
with their important and valuable possessions the Pa
cc is another and different question But they have
concluded the conventions their faith is pledged and,
der such circumstances they look behind the record
The language of the convention il properly mutual,
though regard the United States it can only restrain
them from making future acquisitions, because it is well
known that in point of fact they not in the occupa
ton of foot of territory Central America In refer
he is nd
gune applies not only to the future but the past because
she was then in the actual exercise of dominion over
large portion OF the eastern coast of Central America
Whilst, therefore, the United States has occupancy to
abandon under the convention Great Britain had exten
sve possessions to restore to the States of Guatemala
Honduras, and Nicaragua. @# E. a.s fa&
And yet the British government up till the present mo-
ment have not deemed it proper to take the first step to-
wards the performance of their obligations under this
yentiou. #rG
They are still in the actual occupancy of nearly the
whole coast of Central America including the island OF
Ruaan in the very that they before its
conclusion This delay their part surely cannot pro-
coed from any obscurty i'll the language Of the
ton. a.A @aZ aaa
The frat article declares that the of the
United States aud Great Britain agree that neither will
"occupy forfy coonize, exercise any
dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rca the Mosquito coast
or any part Of Central America And from abundant
caution in view of the Mosquito proectorate the article
proceeds as follows Nor will either make of pro-
lection which either Affords may afford any alliance
which either has, may have 10 with any State or
colonizng Nicaragua Costa Rca the Mosquito coast OF
amy part Of Central America or of assuming or exercising
dominion over the same
This rendered into plain English is that the parties
shall not exercise dominion any part Of Central Amer
either directly or Indirectly either by themselves or in
the name of others -a
Ii has been said that the first article of the convention
acknowledged by implication the right of Great Britain to
the Mosquito protectorate-a right which the United
States have always contested and resteda right which
would continue Great Britain that entire control
nd nth uf
nicaton between the two oceans which it the very
object of the convention abolish and TO defeat that
equality between the parties in Central America which
its special purpose secure Surely the United States
could never have been guilty Of such suicidal absur
dity.
But admitting for the sake of argument merely that
the United States have acknowledged the existence Of this
protccorate 1t would be difficult restricted in its
ii has been by the convention to conceive for what object
of the least Importance 1T could be employed IL assuredy
could not be for the purpose Of occupying he Mosquito
coast "of assuming exercising dominion the
same because this has been expressly prohibited by the
convention. |
Great Britain has not even retired from the island of
Ruatan, in obedience the convention Here question
possibly arise from any alleged Mosquito protectorae
This Is clearly Central American island belonging 10 the
State of Honduras and but thirty miles distant from her
port of Truxlo IL the convention plainly embraces any
object whatever this must be Ruaan and yet Great Brit
ain has not only continued occupy this island but since
the date of the convention she has actually established
colonial government It, and not over ii alone, but
adding thereto five other neighborng islands the Gen.
American coast converted them all the
ish colony Of the "Bay Islands, Public sentiment Is quite
unanimous in the United States that the establishment Of
this colony Is papabe violation both Of the letter and
the spirit OF the Clayton and Buwer convention.
Ruatan Is well known to be island of great value and
Importance account of its excellent barbor which
along that coast Indeed IL has been described by
Spanish author las the key of the Bay of Honduras and
the focus of the trade of the neghborng countries Such
is its commanding geographical position, that Great Brit
ain in possession of IL could completely arrest the trade OF
the United States in its passage 10 and from the sthmus
In vain may the convention have prohibited Great Britain
from erecting maintaining any Notifications command
ing the Nicaragua canal in other portions OF Central
America If she shall continue TO exercise dominion
"the Bay Islands" ...
The United States now only ask that this contention
shall be faithfully executed by both parties They wish
that every of communication the shmus
shall be opened not merely for their benefit but for
that Of Great Britain and the whole world In this
spect they would not If they could acquire any peculiar
advantages because these might the jealousy and
disrust of other natione
The rights and duties Of tho respective parties have been
asceraned and determined by the itself but
the Justice OF the previous claim Of Great Britain 10 her
possessions in Central America has been since asserted in
high quarters it may not be improper present the views
of the government Of the United States upon this subject
always denied the validity of this claim They believe
that Great Britain has surrendered nothing under the con-
venton which she would not voluntarily have DONE from
her magnanimy and Of justice, as soon as the
question brought home TO her serious consideration
Ii would be vain labor to trace the history of the
portions Of Central America previous TO her treaties with
Spain of 1888 and 1885, This connexion, doubtless org
from her desire break down the monopoly of trade
which Spain so ieaously enforced with her American colo
nies and TO introduce into them B tish manufactures
The attempts of Great Britain to accomplish this object
a,lk H.