Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-29
Lord John Russeips Letter about Mica

The following is the letter of Lord John
Russell to Mr.. Champion, which was commu.
nicated by the President to the Senate Of the
United States, on Thursday last, agreeably to
a resolution Of that body:
LONDON, January 10, 1853.
SIR: In treating of the affairs Of the Mos.
quito, must, in the first place, refer you to a
despatch of Lord Malmesbury of the 9th July.
1852, upon this subject.
1t is evident that since Great Britain first
assumed the protection and defence of the Mos
quito Indians, the position of all parties has
changed.
FIRST. Spain, instead of exercising absolute
sovereignty over Central America, and prohibit
ing all commerce on the coasts under her sway,
has entirely lost her dominion over the cont,
nent, from Cape Horn to Florida.
Second. The Mosquito Indians, instead of
governing their own tribe according to their
own customs furnish name and title to Euro
peans and Americans, who carry on trade at
Greytown and along the coast of Mosquito &C.
cording to the usages Of civilized nations.
Third. Great Britain, instead of having an
interest in the defence of the Mosquito Indians
for the sake of rescuing part of the territory Of
Central America from Spanish control and OBJ
tanning an authority for her commerce, has no.
other interest in Mosquito than that which is
derived from honorable regard for her old
connection with the Indian nation of Mos.
quito.
Her Majesty's Government has for several
years endeavored to suit her engagements to
the altered circumstances of the case, but every
proposal that has been made with this view had
encountered some insnperable obstacle. The
contentious in Central America between Mica
ragua, Costa Rca, and Honduras, the absence
OF any authority with which any permanent
agreement could be made unfounded jealous;es
of Great Britain, and various other circum-
stances have prevented settlement of this
veXatous question.
In conformity with the opinions stated in
Lord Malmesbury's despatch of July 18th, to
which | have already referred you, / have to
state that the Committee of Government of
Greytown are in fact the real power that ex-
erclses authority in that part Of Central Anne
RIGA. To her Majestys Government it would
be matter of Indifference whether that au-
thority was exercised in the name of the King
OF Mosquito or in the name Of Greytown itself;
but it is desirable that what is apparent should
be made to conform as far as possible with
what is real What is apparent is, that the
King OF Mosquito exercises sovereignty over
Greytown; what is real is, that he had no au.
thorty there whatever but that committee of
Europeans and Americans carry on the gov
eminent Of that port.
What her Majesty's Government, therefore,
would consider good and final arrangement
would be-
lst. That Greytown should be free and indie
pendent port, connected with Mosquito by such
relations of friendship and alliance as may be
agreed upon.
I'd. That indemifcation or advantages equi.
valent to those laid down in the project of con
vention of the 30th of April, 1852, shall be
assured to Mosquito in return for its with
drawal from its present position in regard to
Greytown.
B. That Great Britain and the United States,
without guaraniying Greytown, should be
ready TO. act in concert to defend the indie
pendence of the free city or port of Greytown
from whatever quarter it might be attacked.
What is essential and of immediate impor.
lance is, that the authorities Of Greytown should
be ready to assume either unqualified indepen-
dence, with an engagement to defend Mosquito,
or qualified independence, owing allegiance
and support to Mosquito
For tins purpose some person qualified TO
treat should proceed at once to Greytown.
Whether naval officer of her Majesty or a
civil one would be the filter person to be en-
trusted with this mission, / must leave you to
decide. 1t would be desirable If the Govern.
ment Of the United States should concur in
these views, that a new convention, in the
place of the unaccepted project of agreement
OF April, 1852, should be proposed and con-
cluded, and that person similarly qualified
should be sent by this Government at the same
time, and for the same object
! have only further to say that the indemnity
to Mosquito might possibly not be made in
money, but in greater security for a certain
fixed territory within which the free port of
Greytown, assisted by her Maiesty's ships-of
war, might manage to defend the Mosquito
nation.
The Governorgeneral Of Canada and the
authorities in other Of her Maiesty's North
American possessions have made from time
to time agreements somewhat similar. The
President of the United States has frequently
made conventions with Indians to the like
effect.
The popularity Of this case is, that certain
neighboring States deny altogether the indie
pendence Of Mosquito, and the Mosquito ma.
ton are liable every day to new incursions
upon their territory: We can make no com.
plete provision against this danger Our policy
IS to do all that honor and humanity require
IN behalf of the Mosquito nation; but We in
tend to adhere strictly to the treaty Of Wash.
ington of the 10Th April, 1850, and not TO
assume any sovereignty either direct or in.
direct, in Central America.
j. RUSSELL.
Memorandum IN Mr.. Eueretrs Handcrifino.
Mr.. Champion authorized me to communi-
cate this to Congress in any way I thought
proper.