The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-12

1880 respecting which her MaJesys government learnt,
for the first time from Mr. Buchanan that view had been
taken BY the present government of the United States DIFF
erent from that of the preceding governments The treaty
arose out OF the various projects which had been started
for commercial communications Central America
between the Atlantic and the Pacific and especially bad ref
erence to the scheme of shpcana by the river St. John
and the Lake Nicaragua The main object Of the treaty
TO provide security that such lines Of commercial
communication through whatever part OF Central Amer
they might pass should be free for the Of all nations
and should not fall under the exclusive control of any
power
These objects and purposes clearly explained and sta
ted in the first article which is as follows
"The governments Of Great Britain and the United States
hereby declare that neither the the other will
obtain maintain for itself any exclusive control the
said shp-canal agreeing that neither will erect
maintain any Notifications commanding the same, or In
the vicinity thereof occupy fory or COLOMBO or
assume exercise any dominion Nicaragua Costa
ica the Mosquito coast any part of Central America
nor will either make use OF any protection which either af
fords may afford any alliance which either has
may have TO with any State people, for the purpose
of erecting maintaining any such Notifications, of
occupying terrifying, or coonzing Nicaragua Costa Rea
the Mosquito coast any part Of Central America of
assuming or exercising dominion over the same Nor will
Great Britain the United States take advantage of any
either may possess with any State government through
whose territory the said canal pass for the purpose OF
acquiring holding directly indirectly for the subjects
citizens OF the one any rights advantages in regard
to navigation through the said canal which
shall not be offered on the same terms to the subjects or
citizens of the other.D
questionable Interpretation of this article that each
government prohibited from doing what the words Of
the article explicitly declared that neither government
should thereafter do but that both governments retained
the rights which they had previously enjoyed where those
rights not expressly limited or abandoned.
With regard especially to the protection which, for
long of time the British government has afforded
to the Mosquito Indians this article far from requiring
that protection to- cease acknowledges its existence and
contenpates its continuance for the article that
neither party will make of any protection which it
pose OF erecting or maintaining any Notifications or OF
cnpying forying, or coonzing the countries therein
specified" The treaty therefore, does not require existing
protection cease but only forbids using such proec
ton for certain specified purposes
l repeatedly informed Mr.. Buchanan that it was the
wish OF her Majesys to Withdraw from the
protectorate OF Mosquito provided they would do with
honor securing adequate provision for the King and the
Indians of that country that Ruatan possession of
her Maestys and that, her Majesty's govern
ment could not to abandon the proectorate of
Mosquito, or TO give up the island of Ruaan merely
10 pursuance of Interpretation given by the govern
ment of the United States to treaty, which nerpre-
ation her Maesys government did not admit the most
usual, well the most friendly, course to pursue,
to refer the meaning of the treaty to the decision of
third power.
This offer made by me to Mr. buchanan by the d.
recon of her Majesys government it several times
renewed and discussed between Mr. Champion ought
undoubtedly, according to his Instructions to have
muncated Mr. Marcy, at the time when he received it,
my despatch of the 10th November giving account of
my conversations with Mr. Buchanan but his not having
often assured that every thing which had passed be-
tween had been duly reported to his government am
therefore, at loss to understand how 1t happened that the
President should stated by Mr.. Marcy have been in
duced only by collateral incidents infer that arbitration
by third power of the difference between the two govern
ents in relation to Central America had been proposed
by her Majesty's government
misconception has however taken place which Is TO
be regretted of the delay which 1t has occa-
stoned but this has been rendered comparatively unim
portant by the despatch Of Mr. Marcy and the of
proceeding which he proposes for the adoption Of the
two governments. Her Msjesty's government being
spicous the President to preserve unimpaired the
friendly reations of the two countries prepared to
enter into negotiations these matters with sincere de-
sire to bring them to speedy and satisfactory conclusion
Mr. Marcy is correct when he states that Great Britain
lays claim to any possession territory the Mos
quito coast and her Majesys government consider now
they always have considered that the future condition
of the Mosquito Indians for which her Maesys govern
ment bound in honor to provide might be assured by
direct negotiation.
1t not coutended nor never has been contended that
the British government consistently with the stpuatons
OF the treaty of 1885, could in the of the Mosquito
Indians take with military force and hold San Juan de
Nicaragua any other point in Central America and
her Maesy government agree with Mr. Marcy that such
proceeding would be rreconcabe with the independence
and neutrality of the sthmus and would render the treaty
nugatory the United States but such pretsnsion has
been advanced and such proceeding has been con-
With respect to the district of Belize her Msestys gov
consider that the only question to be determined
regards Central America that OF the boundary between
nent Of that question nsnrmountable difficulty need be
| anticipated.
With respect Ruatan and the other Bay islands these
at different periods have been held by Great Britain
well by Spain and having been again occupied by
British settlers formal possession taken Of Ruaan in
1889 by Great Britain which has been nninerrup-
eddy maintained. The population increased fast and
gstrates were from time TO time appointed BY the super
uendent of Belize until 1882 when these islands received
regular form Of colonial government solely for the pur
pose OF their better internal administration but Great
Britain did not thereby acquire any territorial rights that
she did not previously possess.
The government Of the United States however maintain
that supposng the Clay treaty only
prospective in its operation these islands part
| the British dominions earlier than 1851.
II the differences between the two governments on this
subject be arranged by direct negotiation there
why they might not form the matter Of
| reference TO a third power.
Her Msestys government have learned with satisfaction
that you instructed to enter into communication with
in respect TO Central America in order 10 ascertain in
tho first place whether existing differences cansot be
promptly terminated by direct negotiation, and II they
cannot be settled then 10 discus the conditions OF arb
traton those points Of difference which this method
| of settlement may be requisite or applicable.
This is the which her Maestys government has
throughout been willing adopt and have accordingly
the honor to inform you that am prepared to enter into
the proposed communication and trust that confer
frankness which as Mr. Marcy Justly observes Is dictated
by the interests OF Great Britain and the United
States. am, &c,
CLARENDON.
THE REACTION IN IOWA,