The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-03
Mr. Buchanan 10 Ay. Nancy er
mo- so.l LEGATION THE UNITED srArEs,
4 : Land suIi aLarl OF

London, September IL 1855.
SIN: have the honor Of transmitting you the copy
Of mote which this day addressed to Lord Clarendon
on the Central American questions in obedience 10 your
instructions Of the 9th utmo tho lo4 shall Of course
be anxious TO learn whether has received the Presidents
appreciation II has been prepared with much care my
purpose having been to employ conciiaory language
far this might be done consistently With the Presidents
instructions and the attainment of the objects which he
had in view, w.
Yours very respectfully,
@.@ JAMES BUCHANAN.
Hon. WIN. L. NANCY, Secretary of State,
--
Mr.. Buchanan 10 Mr.. Clarendon
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
M#t4, London, September Ill 1855.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister
plenpocntay of the United States has been instructed by
the President again to call the attention OF the Earl OF
Clarendon her Majesys principal Secretary OF State for
Foreign Affairs to the Central American questions pending
between the governments under the convention OF the
10Th of A pril. 1850.
firing from his mission, to request from the British gov
eminent statement of the positions which it has deter
mined to maintain in regard TO the Bay Islands, the ter
rtory between the Sbnn and the Sarsoon well as the
Belize settlement and to the Mosquito proectorae The
long delay in asking for this information has proceeded
from the Presidents reluctance to manifest any mpatience
this important subject whilst the attention OF her Ma
estys government engrossed by the with Russia
But than year has already elapsed since the ter
minaton of the discussion these questions and as the
first session ola Congress is rapidly approaching the
President does not feel that he would be justified in any
longer delay.
Whilst il is far from the purpose Of the undersigned to
reopen the general discussion he has been instructed TO
communicate the Earl of Clarendon the conclusions
which the President has arrived upon the whole
After having carefully reviewed aud reconsdered all the
Earl of Clarendons statement Of the I'd Of May, 1854 the
President has expressed his unwngness TO believe that
the positions which he conceves TO be rather indicated
therein than finally adopted will be adhered to by the
British government.
1t was in his opinion the manifest intention of the
venton exclude both the contracting parties from hold
ing occupying well as from acquiring territorial pos
sessions in Central America and that this not
clothed in ambpu language but is set forth in explicit
The United States have bound themselves moi 10
acquire any such possessions and Great Britain has stpu
lated not to "asnme orexercise any dominion
part OF Central America Indeed without such recpro
cal engagement mutually whatever would have existed
between the Of the contracting parties Whilst
the United States excluded from occupying coopzng,
exercising dominion any part of Central America
IL cannot be admitted that the restriction imposed In
the very same language is not equally applicable to Great
Britain.
Tue President therefore confidently believes that Great
Britain Is bound by the first article of the convention Of
1850 withdraw from the possession she holds of
Ruaan and the other Central American islands the
OF the State of Honduras well as from the terri
tory in Central America between the Sibun and the Sars
toon which has been eucroached upon bv her Maestys
subjects He is also Of opinion that The possession Of the
British government at the Belize should be restricted TO
the limits and objects specified in the treaties between
Great Britain and Spain of 1888 and 1876.
In regard the alleged proieciorate the so-caed
Mosquito kingdom; The President has instructed the
dersgned say IL his confident belief that this pro-
ectorate had been finally disposed of by the convention
IL ia therefore much to his regret that he finds il is still
continued the basis Of British dominion
sive region in Central America.
Even although Great Britain admits that the convention
has imposed restrictions the protecoraie claimed yet
she still continues TO exercise the dominion the
Mosquito which she had done before its date In
deed at the present visible power, civil mill
;ary exists 10 the Mosquito territory except that which is
exercised by British subjects Notwithstanding the
ton expressly prohibits both parties from using any pro-
lection which either may afford any State people, for
the purpose OF occupying, terrifying colonzng the
Mosquito coast or any part OF Central America or for the
purpose OF assuming exercising dominion the
The declaration of the British government that this pro-
tectote Is only employed for The security of the rights Of
the Mosquito Indians and that IL is ready to abstain from
further interference Ia country whenever these rights
in proper manner be guaranteed to them, cannot be
recognised by the United States having any foundation
in the convention. The President considers this TO be
question between Nicaragua and the Indians within its
has any right interfere except in friendly conference
with the authorities Of that State.
Having thus distinctly presented 10 the British govern
ment the views Of the OF the United States In
regard TO the obligations imposed by The convention Of
1880 tie President feels assured that the Earl Of Caren
don WILL with characteristic pukness be equally explicit
Ia presenting the views Of the British government In
gard to these obligations
In conclusion The undersigned Is instructed state that
the President does doubt that The interest the
countries and their mutual desire mantan existing
friendly relations will alike inspire each party with
ciiatory spirit and enae them TO all obstacles
10 satisfactory adjustment OF Tho Central American ques
tons.
The undersigned has the honor the Earl Of
Clarendon the OF his distinguished consideration
JAMES BUCHANAN.
The Right Honorable The Earl Of cL.RrSDoS,
&ey &c, &c.