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

occupied &c by either q the parties was as you know
twice approved by the government ID neither
derstood BY them By either Of the neeoators
include the British settlement In Honduras (coninony
called British Honduras distinct from the State Of Hon
duras nor the small sand in the ncighborhood Of that
settlenent which may be known as It's dependencies.
To this settlement and 10 these islands the treaty
negotiated was not Intended BY either Of apply
The ute 70 them IL il now and has been any intention
throughout the whole negotiation 10 leave as the treaty
leaves "iihout denying affirming In any way med
ding with The same, just as IL stood previously.
The Chairman OF the Committee on Foreign Relations
Of the Senate the Hon. w. r. King, informs that the
Senate perfectly understood that tie treaty did not in
eiude British HondaraS Such haying been the mutual
understanding 10 the exception Of the settlement OF Be
lie and ~ dependencies irn the operation OF the treaty
the only question relative this settlement and its de-
Tendencies in reference the treaty that now arise is
10 what the settlement of Belize It's dependencies
or IN other words 10 what British Honduras and lie
dependencesf Her Majesiys government certainly
dersood that the settlement OF Belize as here alluded TO-
the settlement OF Belize established in 1886 and il is
more warranted IN this conclusion from The fact that the
United States had IN lS4I Sent consul 10 this settlement
which consul had received bis exequatr from the British
gosernmenta circumstance which constitutes recogni-
ton BY the United States government Of the settlement Of
BRUSH Honduras under her Majesty IL then existed
Her Naestys government states this because il
perceves that Mr. Buchanan restricts the said settlement
within the boundaries 20 which il confined by the
treaty OF 1856; whilst her Majestys government only
has 10 repeat that the treaties with Old Spain cannot be
held as matter OF course TO he binding with respect 10
all the various detached portions OF the old Spanish Aner
can monarchy but has also observe that the treaty
1885 put end by subsequent state OF war be-
tween Great Britain and Spain that during that the
boundaries Of the British settlement in question
srged, and that when pence established between
Great Britain and Spaia treaty Of political nature
relating 10 territorial limits revived those treaties between
Great Britain and Spain which had previously existed.
Her MGjestys government In stating this fact declares
distinctly al the time that il has projects OF poii
cal ambition ACKNOWLEDGMENT with respect the settle
ment referred to and that i will be its object to to
some prompt fair and amicable arrangement with the
States in the vicinity of British Honduras for regulating
the limits which should be given to it and which shall not
henceo be extended beyond the boundaries assign
cd TO them
As to Ruaian and the adjoining islands all that can be
debatable them is whether they island dependen
ces OF Belize attached TO Central American State
Now, IT cannot be disputed that whenever Ruaan has
been permanently occupied either in remote recent
times, by anything than a military guard or flag
staff, the occupation has been by British subjects
IL true that the republic OF Central America declared
that Il had had flag flying in that island from 1921 to
1885, but this fact merely rested that republics deca
ration and all that is positively known is that when the
BRUSH government were aware that foreign flag fly
ing al Rnatan British shp-ofwar sent TO haul 1t
down. and since that time attempt has been made
establish IL but the contrary, when three
occasions complaints have been brought by the citizens OF
Central American States against the settlers in Ruaan
the commandment Mt Truxo, the commandant has refer
red them TO Belize, telling them that the island
British. aa-
II is moreover a fact that Ruaan has been Of late
years without any instgaon the part of her Maestys
government spontaneously occupied by British subjects
and that the superintendent of Belize has been in the habit
OF visiting the island, appointing the magistrates IN IL
and generally managing its affairs In going back to an
Gent times il is also well known that in 742 the English
we're formally settled at Ruaan and that in the atlas of
the West Indian islands published by Jelres the Kings
geographer in 1896 Rattan Ruatan is coored Brit
sh possession and although this island and that of Boz
nacca have doubtless been, various times left
Pied and at Others claimed held by other powers 1t is
certain that in 1888 1884, and s4o Great Britain only
asserted her right 10 the but declared her intention
10 maintain that right by force
These circumstances without entering further into the
subject win al least prove that the preensions of Great
Britain 10 consider Ruaan and Bonacca dependencies Of
Belize is OF long standing and existed certainly the pc
statement observes that Ruaian occupied in 1850 by
Great Britain. .#...'
But If Ruaan that time known to occupied by
Great Britain a settlement Of Belize and the United
States government Notwithstanding considered IL TO have
been portion Of Central America and thereby compre
hended in the treaty, which Belize and lis dependencies
Were not the United States government would beyond
doubt have openly stated that did not consider Ruaan
included in the term ISLAND Dependencies and Great
Britain therefore justified since no such exception
was made, in deeming that her claim Rnaan part
OF the Belize settlement about 10 be disputed.
Her Masys government deems that il has BY the fore
going observations furnished adequate reply the
statement OF Mr. buchanan and proved that the oblga
ions OF the treaty have in respect been nngod But
having performed this duty her Majcsys government dc
sres say that Ii would be far its satisfaction 10
arrange on fair terms any differences OF opinion with the
sion and argument respecting such differences.
III has also no difficulty In adding that although IL did
not by the treaty OF 1850 abandon the right Of
Britain 70 protect the Mosquitoes yet II did intend to re-
duce and limit the exercise Of that right The practical diff
ference between Great Britain and the United States with
regard to the only mutually important portion Of Mos
quonnmeiy, that portion which the construction aud
condition Of the canal which formed the origin aud basis
OF The treaty OF 1850 appess very small indeed That
difference does not upon the point whether Great
Britain should retain her protection the port and
town OF San Juan and the northern bank Of that river but
upon the conditions which that protection should lie
Withdrawn.
In short the practical question at issue relative to Grey
town and that part Of The Mosquito country bordering
upon the river San Juan u.s. not whether Great Britain
should, directly or indirectly, exercise dominion the
same but whether Nicaragua, other equally indie
pendent State hond obtain possession her in man
ner consonant with the honorable obligations OF Great
Britain the peace OF the Central American continent and
the safety from persecution Of the Mosquito Indians
the other hand whether Nicaragua should be put in
possession Of that territory In almost certain 10
produce hosties between Nicaragua and Costa Rn and
TO lead to the persecution and destruction Of The MOSQUITO
peope-an alternative to which Great Britain could not
consent and which the OF the United States
could have motive In requiring
II is true that in that more remote portion Of the Nos
quito territory where the chief King of the Mosquitoes
himself resides British consul agent also resides and
this resicn may oentimcs be called upon 10 give his
opinion or advice 10 the Mosquito government is usual
when weak governments in alliance with strong ones
more especially when those strong agreed 10 pro
iect the weak from external aggression and NAV
therefore reasonably expect have such influence over
their policy may prevent them FROM giving Just reext
Tor Invasion IL true also that Engishmen NAV thus m
IN the councils Of the King Of Mosquito acting as his min
isies but Engishmen and Americans both hold the same
position 10 The Sandwich islands The government OF which