The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-31
N>s~ssSAN ~


by Great Britain in Central Ameca, would sppear g be
what he more than once speaks VI as he state Of things
existing the time OF its conclusion but TINS govern
ment does not understand that at the date Of the treaty
Great Britain had any possessions ~
the Belize with its dependencies as the same are dened
by her treaties with SPAIN are 10 be CONSIDERED as Dsh
possessions territory IN Central America lnat y .ns
nosshc construction Of the declarations exchanged
between the then Secretary Of State Mr. ana the
British minister Sir Henry Bulwer at the time OF eAchang
ing the ratification of the convention
Independently Of that cogen consideration, THIS govern
meot spposes that as matter of mere fact the state OF
things existing in this respect at the time OF me eoncu
sion of the convention thing OF indsputabe notore
~ will not do her Majesty government the injustice OF
presumng that when the Earl OF Clarendon speaks OF
possessions Of Crest Britain in that quarter OF OF por
tons OF territory occupied by III he intends 70 DC under
stood as meaning anything but ftgh possessions and
yghfM oeeupation-that is possessions ana oecupauon
based upon the principles and coniormed to the public
law which govern the international relations OF the Chrs
tan States of Europe and America
Had Great Britain that time any such possessions or
occupation in Central America II So i must have con
sisted either in her relation TO the Mosquito Indians or 70
the Belize, or TO the Bay Islands.
Firstly AS to the Mosquito coast il is not understood
that Great Britain lays claims to any possessions
or any erritory there. All she is supposed to claim
the right TO protect the Mosquito Indians II cannot be
alleged by her that those Indians constitute or are cope
tent constitute an independent State admissible as sach
into the family OF sovereign powers Nor is II pretended
by Great Britain that in the on behalf Of those
Indians she herself can without contraventon OF the urea
y assume exercise political sovereignty in any part OF
the Mosquito coast Her Maestys government considers
itself under obligations of honor to protect the persons OF
those Indians nothing more and declares that II is ready
and DESTROYS be relieved of that duty IN any manner when
shall honorably the, future condition OF those In
dans Without entering here into discussion OF the ques
ton whether the convictions of duty thus entertained by
the British government are well or ill-ionnded, seems
sufficient TO say that there Is nothing in that branch othe
subject which merits the solemnty OF an arbitration by
some third power which ought to be regarded as inca
pable OF being settled at any moment by direct
nf
the United States.
Nor is il apprehended that her Maestys government is
disposed to claim possession, either in her own name d.
recy in that of the Mosquito protecorate OF the port
of San Juan de Nicaragua 1t cannot but be admitted
that that port old possession of Span her 70
which as indispntabe as to Vera Cruz or Panama
that she had port of entry and fort at or near ha
place SO 1Lg rs she retained the sovereignty OF Cena
America and that then her rights of sovereignty there
and of territorial possession passed TO the rpapc OF Cen
trail America 1t true that at subsequent PERIOD ana
shortly before the date of the treaty In question:
British force landed at San Juan expelled the authorities
the Satp Of Nicaragua which then held possession fit
and retained 1t awhile against that State IN the
of the Mosquito Indians 1t Is true Great Britain az
forwards renqushed the place to the socaed people OF
Grcytown but the original taking of it was her act
that is she in the words of Lord Clarendon placed
people under her projection in possession OF San Juan
protectorhp exercised and in the name of such persons
the Mosquito Indians would it plain amount to prac-
teal sovereignty If admissible, under the name of pro-
tecorshp for ofhe contracting parties to the conyen
ton i. would be equally for the other and the United
States might be impee for controlling reasons to under
take proectorshp of Indians other persons in
Central America. 1t is not supposed that Great britain
desires into any such line of policy of conflicting
protecorhps in that quarter or contends for any con-
ructon of the treaty leading TO such consequences and
of course difficulty between the two governments is
apprLended this point any more than in regard to the
general ratio4 Of the treaty to the Mosquito Indians
Secondly As to the Belize i being conceded that IN
pursuance of the explanations nterchanged between sr
Henry Rqwer and Mr. Clayton, Great Britain not pre-
cluded by any stipulation with the United States rom con-
| e.. tAa, he rnht
which she acquired from SPAIN il woan seem, also, that
there il nothing in that part of the subject which By
the two governments TO say TO the world that hey
settle by themselves for, although II common
10 English books of geography and Others to give TO the
Belize the appelation of British Honduras still IT is too
well knowR TO admit of dispute that the Belize is not and
was any part % Honduras and her MaJestys gov
will not il is assumed matter Of course found
on any pretensons of extended territory IN
that qqaFer to the prejudice of the territorial integrity OF
the republic OF Hl pdpras
Finally there remains the question of the Bay Islands
which there more of controversy at least in APP
pearsnca.
due perfect frankness to say that the act Of her
Maesty government establishing late the year 1861
and in apparent contradiction the express letter Of the
convention Of 1885, colony at the Bay Islands has len
dsagfeeable impression the minds Of the government
and the people Of the United States.
Possessing Great Britain does numerous colonial es-
Establishments in all parts Of the world many Of them in the
West Indies it has not been read what inducements
of interest she have had TO establish colony
der the peculiar circumstances Of the time in the nsgnih
cant territory of the Bay Islands
Nor on looking back beyond the fact Of her Msjestys
warrant establishing the colony of the Bay Islands and
considering the state OF things existing in that quarter
the date of the conventions Of 1850 does this government
well see on what ground il be maintained that Great
Britain that time had possession Of the Bay Islands
which could be deemed righu either respects her
gagements with the United States the territorial
eighty Of the republic Of Honduras.
do not understand the Earl Of Clarendon positively 10
that the Bay Islands dependencies Of the British
settlement the Belize He indicates to be sure incl-
u a.. D.ss.a
such claim but he comedies at the time that IL Is
| "debatable question
Tho President does not permit himself for moment 10
entertain the idea that the Earl Of Clarendon will insist
upon any claim Of right in Central America incompatible
with the most sacred respect for all stpulaons OF treaty
understood by her Majesy government or course he
looks TO what the rghtfu OF British title
the Bay Islands suggested by the Earl Of Clarendon He
finds them 10 the Statement from the Foreign Office Of
/ May 2, 1854 communicated to Mr. Buchanan and by
! him transmitted to this department
Her Maesty government admits In that paper that Ru-
atan claimed and miarily occupied by the former
republic OF Central America the rights
SPAIN but asserts at the time adverse British claim
manifested by acts Of authority military and civil and by
| actual possession
Occasional acts OF military authority by the captains Of
British hips-owar or Of civil authority by the superiu-
endent Of the Belize insufficient 1t is obvious 10 de-
ermne claim OF title rs against the counter claim OF the
republic OF Central America the State Of Honduras.
No REIMBURSEMENT Of title by the latter is alleged except
in certain declarations reported have been made by the
Central American commandment at Truxo who, whatever
he may have said could have power to cede away the
territory Of Honduras.
The occupation of Ruatan BY British subjects az Its
origin and character described in the settlement pre-
seuta none Of the conditions Of riphpl possessiop Its