The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-11-29
From the New York Herald, Nov. 18th.
Important from New Grenada--A Brit.
ish Fleet Ordered to Operate against
the Republic. s%A. A.A SIS

i;a Fleet Hss.S Ordered to Operate asains
Our latest intelligence from the Isthmus i
of an important and interesting character. 1
makes us acquainted with fact of some con
scquence-the rupture of diplomatic relations
between England and New Grenada, and the
dispatch Of the British West Indian Squad
ron to operate against that republic. The
facts OF the controversy which has given rise
to this serious step are detailed in the cor
respondence which has taken place between
the British Charge d'Affairs, Mr.. Griffith
and the New Grenadian Secretary of Foreign
Affairs, Senior Limo de Pombo.
The Macintosh claim which is the origin
of tine controversy, is an old and somewhat
celebrated one. 1t arose under the Column
bian confcderacy, more than 80 years ago.
and amounted. at the time when the confed-
eracy was dissolved, to 81, l2O, 560-a sum
which was duly recognized by the Columbi-
an Plenipotentiaries. By treaty made be-
tween Great Britain and the Republic of
New Grenada, the 18th of December, 1851,
but which did not have any binding influence
till August 8, 1885, the republic bound it
self to pay half the capital and interest of
this debt. Subsequently, on November "a,
1893, another treaty or agreement was en-
tered into between the same powers, in ref
erence to the same subject; but as it was not
approved by the Congress OF New Granada,
Great Britain signified her resolve to annul
it and to fall back upon the treaty of 1851,
and instructed her charge at Bogota to insist
upon prompt and exact fulfilment Of the
conditions of the latter.
Mr.. Griffith, the Charge, by his official
note of September Is, notified the Granada
all government of his instructions. COnsid-
cradle correspondence followed between the
Charge and Limo de Pombo, the one justify
ing the claim, and the other asserting it to
be unjust and oppressive. Mr. Griffith con-
tlnued to demand the payment of 1886,
1854, until the 9Th of October, at which
time he notifies Mr.. Pombo that diplomatic
relations are br ken off, and that the British
West India Squadron is ordered to visit the
waters of New Granada, and enforce pay
ment of the Macintosh claim.
The action on the part of the powerful gov
eminent of Great Britain against weak one
like that of New Granada, is one which can
not be approved or justified. But it is most
remarkable at this time, as evidencing in
connection with other facts, the existence OF
a regular precOhcerted plan of action by
England, France and Spain against Central
America, South America and Mexico. Spain
has recently taken it into her head to try
and enforce the payment Mexico of her debts
to the Spanish bond-holders; and while she
is preparing an armada at Havana to make a
descent upon Vera Cruz. England recollects
that she too has some claim against Mexico
for indemnity to one or two British subjects,
whose interests are said to have been injured
by the action of the Mexican Government.
And thus Mexico is menaced at once by two
powers-their principal motive being to OBJ
tain..a foothold there, from whence they might
operate to prevent Vidaurri's idea of Sierra
Madre republic, with its ultimate annexation
to the United States
80 too, when treaty was made between
the United States and the Domican republic
by which the bay of SANTANA was to be c.
ded to us as station for our ships-ts rati-
fcation was prevented by the combined &C
ton OF the English, French and Spanish
Consuls at San Domingo, and the latter off
cial set on foot lnatriculating scheme by
which Domnicans are to be converted into
Spanish subjects, and the republic is to be-
come again an appendage to the crown CT
CASTLE.
So also is it now in regard 10 the republic
ofNew Granada. The English government
has become apprehensive lest, owing to the
Panama massacre of the 18th of April last,
(for which it is now said an indemnity of
3OO,O0O has been demanded by its Conmiss-
ioner,) assume military occupation Of the
lsthmus; and so, resolved also to have her
finger in the pie where anything Of that
kind is to be done, England S suddenly sez-
cd with en- eleventh hour resolution to see
justice done to Mr.. Macintosh, and, in case
the Granadian government should refuse to
recognize his claim or pay it promptly to
send feet to operate against the republic.