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

which the President has arrived upon the whole
that ID the intention OF the convention
o. The 18th OF April 1885, to exclude both the contracting
pa ties from holding occupying, well from acqur
ing territorial possessions 10 Central America and that
consequently, Great Britain Is bound 10 withdraw from
possession she holds Of Ruaan and other Central
American islands the Of The State of Honduras as
well as nom the territory 10 Central America between the
Sbun aud the Sartoon that the possession of the Brit
sh government at Belize should restricted the limits
and objects specified in the treaties between Great Britain
and Spain Of 1883 and 1886 and that the professionals OF
The so-caled Mosquito kingdom was finally disposed OF by
the convention. #Naa
The undersigned observes with satisfaction that while
thus expressing the opinion of the President OF the United
States the several points thus enumerated Mr. Buchan
announces that IL is far from his purpose reopen the
general discussion upon them. Her Masys government
had indeed ref aimed from pursuing that discussion by
plying to Mr. Buchanans note OF the I'D OF July, 1854
because appeared TO them that the connu ton OF the
correspondence likely to lead any satisfactory
conclusion and her Majesys government still of
that opinion the undersigned viii con6ne his
Mr.. Bnchanans present note within the limits as
those which Mr.. Buchanan has prescribed 10 himself
In answer therefore to the questions put by Mr. Bu-
chanan the undersigned has the honor him that
her Maestys government adhere the opinion which they
have uniiorm held that the convention Of April 10 1850
merely prospective in its operation and did not in
any way interfere with the of things existing at the
time OF its conclusion II 1t had been intended 70 do
there be question but that in conformity with what
the undersigned believes to be the universal ruen regard
10 instruments OF this nature II would have contained in
specific terms renunciaon the part Of Great Britain
OF the possessions and rights which up the conclusion
of the convention she had claimed TO maintain, aud such
Remuneration would not have been left matter OF
inference.
Neither can her Maestys government subscribe the
position that the convention did not bear he meaning
attached to by the United States it would have imposed
upon the of the United States selfdeuying
obligation which not equally contracted by Great
Britain and IT,. such state of things could not have
been in the inicnlon of the contracting partS because
the convention did bear the meaning attached to by the
United States, il would then have imposed upon Great
Britain the obligation possessions and rights
without any equivalent remuneration The part OF the
United States II the Of the United States
complain in the OF the rs present.
ing unilatera character unavorabe 10 the United
States with much greater might the government OF
Great Britain in the other case ii the assumption OF the
United States to be acted upon the construction OF
the convention complain Of it pIeudcial to England
But looking to the object which the contracting parties
had in view the conclusion OF the convention namely
the security of the proposed shpcanahe British govern
ment consider that the design Of the contracting parties
was not 10 disturb any state OF things then existing but
to guard against the future creation OF state OF things
which might by possibility interfere with the security of
the propo ed canal That such the true design OF the
convention is obvious from the provision in the sixth ar
Gle BY which the contracting parties engaged to invite
every State 10 enter into stpulaons with them similar 10
those contained in the convention But if the position OF
the United States government were sound and
ton Intended to interfere with the state Of things
listing at the time of its conclusion and TO impose upon
Great Britain to withdraw from portions OF territory
pied by il similar obligation would be contracted by
other States accedng the convention and the
ments OF the Central American States would by the mere
act of accession sign away their rights 10 the Territories
r.
The British government share the conviction of the
President OF the United States that the interest Of the two
countries and their mutual desire 10 maintain existing
friendly relations will alike Inspire each party with con-
catory spirit and enable them all obstacles
10 satisfactory adjustment of Central American ques
tons The British government see reason why it
should be otherwise The British government neither have
the wish TO extend the limits of their posse sons The
sphere of their influence in that quarter would any
British interest be promoted by doing but the British
prepared contract either the or
the other in pursuance OF the Interpretation Of
ton, to which Interpretation they cannot subscribe
The undersigned requests Mr. buchanan accept the
80 CLARENDON.
The Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN, &c, &c, &c
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
ts... s... st London, October a, 1855.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister
plenpotentiary of the United Staies has the honor to
acknowledge the receipt OF the Of the Earl Of Caren
don her Maesy principal Secretary OF State for Foreign
Afars dated the 2sh utimo in reply TO the of
the undersigned OF the lllh ultmo in reference the
Central American questions between the governments
and he will fail transmit copy Of the by the
next the Secretary Of State at Washington
Whilst far from intending the general discus
sion of these questions which has already been exhausted
the undersigned in passing would make single observa
ton in regard the Earl of Carendons remark, that II
the convention Of the 18th April 1850 had intended that
Great Britain should withdraw from her possessions in /
Central America ait would have contained in specific
terms remuneration" to tina, effect and such renunca
ton would not have been left as mere matter of In
ference ##-t
Now, 1t appears TO the undersigned, that engage
men by party not TO occupy" cor exercise any do
mnionp over territory OF which that party is In actual
possession, the date Of the engagement Is equivalent in
all respects to agreement 10 withdraw from such terri
tory Under these circumstances this is not mat
ter Of inference because the proposition necessarily
and neparaby involved in the other and they merely
alternative modes Of expressing the idea 10 such
to withdraw 10 not to occupy and not to occupy
necessarily TO withdraw.
The undersigned needs apology for briefly adverting
TO another argument of the Earl OF CLARENDON because
has for the first time been advanced He states that
IL the position Of the United States government
sound and the convention intended interfere with
the state OF things existing the time OF its conclusion
aud 10 impose upon Great Britain 10 withdraw from por-
tons OF territory occupied by IL similar obligation would
be contracted by other States accedng 10 the coayenton
[under the 9th article and the governments Of the Gem
trial American States would by the Of accession
sign away their rights the territories in which they
situated
Confning himself strictly 10 this single view Of the sub
cc the undersigned would observe that Notwithstanding
the general terms employed by the convention cxamt-
nation OF It's provisions and especially of the sixth article
itself will prove il intended that the Central Amer
States should become joint parties TO this treaty with
the United States Great Britain and other governments
exterior 20 Central America These States the subjects
which tue guarantees OF the convention to act and
the exclusion Of all other powers from the occupancy Of
Central America with view the security not only OF
this canal but all other canals railroads the 18th
mus, Of the main objects TO be accomplished by
the treaty.
The Earl of Clarendon has himself indicated how absurd
would be for the Central American governments 10 be-
joint parties to this convention according 10 the
American construction IL would however, be the
less absurd according to the British construction because