The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-03
Slnlemenl "a Ia. Buehanan

ISlateaeMi for M. buchanan
The substance of the submitted her Maes gov
eminent by Mr.. Buchanan may be briefly stated fol-
lows:
l. That Great Britain prior April 1850 was Sin pos
session Of the whole Of Central America from the Rio
ondo the port and harbor Of San Jaan dc Nicaragua
eep that portion OF between the Sarsoon and Cape Hon
dur together with the adjacent Honduras island OF Rua
TAM
g That the government of the United States does not
understand under what title Great Britain having aban-
doned the greater part OF those possessions in 1886
sumed them subsequently, does il know precisely at
what period the protecorate Of Great Britain Mosquito
re-eslablished the first in,imaon which the United
States government had received the subject being from
an American agent in 1912 and that moreover, Captain
Bonnyc and other authorities had represented
the Mosquito shore extending far tho river and
Of San Juan dc Nicaragua which latter the panards
bad considered place Of much Importance and the key TO
the Americas
3, That it appears TO the United States government
that Spain in virtue of the treaty Of 1885, had right to
object 10 Great Britain establishing herself on the Mosquito
coast assuming the prolecorate OF Mosquito and that
Great Britain had by her treaty with Mexico recognised
that the former colonies OF Spain stood in the posi-
ton with respect TO other Suites as old Spain herself and
inherited the advantages Of the ancient treaties Of the
mother country that the United States government had
always contested the claim Of Great Britain TO all the pos
sessions held by her in Central America with the excep
ton Of that portion OF the settlement Of Belize which is
situated between the Rio Hondo and The Sbun that it
had always resisted the right Of Great Britain establish
protecorate the Mosquitoes and that itad learned
with great surprise and regret that the British forces had
in lS4s expelled the Nicaraguan authorities which held the
port and town Of San Juan de Nicaragua in virtue Of the
old Spanish rights and had then hoised thereupOn the flag
of The Mosquitoes.
That Nj. Monroe when President Of the United States
had in 1923 announced in public message Congress
that the American continents not henceorth be
considered subject to colonization by European powers
That no claim the part Of Great Britain 70 act in
the under the authority OF the Mosquito Indians
could be well founded inasmuch that race even II
conquered by SPAIN sayages Who according to the
practice and principles Of AL European nations which had
ever acquired territory the continent Of America had
no title to rank independent States in the territory they
occupied but had Claim to occupancy thereon such
territory being the dominion OF the dscoveer oft or even
Of the discoyerer OF territory the continent though
far distant from it, by whom alone this claim mere oe-
cupancy the part Of the Indians to be exngushed
by purchase the advance OF the white settlement rem
dered it necessary.
And finally, that Great Britain, having declared by
treaty in 1850 that she would neither COLOMBO ortify oc-
eupy, dominion over, Mosquito or Central
America, was thereby, at all events bound to withdraw
her protection from the people and territory of the Mos
qliios and moreover to deliver up aaan which was an
but which, nevertheless had recently been colonized and
occupied by Great Britain.
Such are the main points brought forward BY Mr.. Blu
chanan in the statement which lie has delivered to her Ma
jesys government
If in speaking Of the possessions held BY Great Britain
previous TO 1850 the of Central America, Che
settlement Of Belize excepted) Mr. Buchanan that
his expressions should apply thai district which is cali
cd The Mosquito country il proper that her Maestys
never held any possessions whatsoever in the Mosquito
country. But although Great Britain held no posessions
in the Mosquito country she undoubtedly exercised great
and extensive influence the protecting ally Of the
Mosquito King, that King chief having occasionally
been even crowned al jamaica under the auspices Of the
British authorities.
scarcely expect that Great Britain should enter into any
explanation defence of her conduct with respect
committed by her nearly forty years ago in matter in
which no right or possession Of the United States in
volved 1900
The government Of the United States would il is con-
ceyed be mneh and justly surprised the government OF
Great Britain question the proprety Of any
of its own longpsst by which territorial right Of
Great Britain had been affected; would the American
people consider any justification explanation of such
acts 10 foreign Saes consistent with the dignity and in
dependent position of the United States The government
OF the United States therefore, will be surprised the
government of Great Britain absains on this occasion
from entering into ythng which might appear
PLANTATION defence OF its conduct with regard its long,
established protectorate Of the Mosquitoes. y
With respect to any right any interference on the
government Of Old Spain the subject of the Mosquito
protecorate IL be observed that since the peace Of
1915 that government has raised any question with
respect to this proeciorae and as for Great Britain hay
log by her treaty with Mexico recognised, principle
that the engagement between herself aud Spain
cessary transferred TO every fraction of the Spanish
arcby which now exists may exist distinct and
independent basis her Majestyis government must en-
trely deny this assumption Great Britain in her treaty
with Mexico, simply stipulated that British subjects should
not be worse oil under Mexico independent than under
Mexico when Spanish province IL natural In recog
nising the Independence of Mexico that Great Britain
should make such stipulation but the fact of her doing
eessuy and that she did conceive that she would have
enjoyed under any general principle the privilege she
gained iori and the stipulation indeed the treaty ITSELF
proof that Mexico considered inheriting the
obligations or rights Of Spain hb
But admitting that il may In some cases he expedent
although not obligatory TO recognise the rights and ob
cations of Old Spain vested ia the Spanish Amer-
States and allowing that in conformity with that
ocy Great Britain might have thought proper to receive
concerning Mosqrito the OF those neghbor
ing republics which have successfully America on
the ruins OF the Spanish empire, then IL may be OBJ
served that no remonsiranoe made by any OF such
pubics for many years after the protectoue Of Great
Britain over Mosquito had been fact well known them
and moreover that when such made
ney made with similar pre,ensons not by one only
but by several OF those governments Bsomuch that III the
Mosquito Indians at this moment withdrawn alto
gether from the portion Of America which they now In
habit and if 1t permitted the States OF Spanish
origin TO inherit each respectively the claims of their pa
reu State II would still be question which of The
claimants the territory thus left unoccupied would OF right
devove Whilst II Is certain that such withdrawal With
out previous arrangements, would lead alike
d,sadyangeous the real interests the several States
aud to the general prosperity OF Central Aerca herself
Thus much with reference the conduct and position OF
Spain and tile Central American States with regard the
British proectorate in Mosquito but with respect to the
condu aud position Of the United States relative thereto
Mr. Buchanan Is mistaken Ia thinking that the United
States government has Always contested and resisted the
position assumed by Great Britain the Mosquito coast
1t may be true that the United States informed
OF the position of Great Britain In respect 10 Mosquito
until 1872 but they then informed Of H. and yet
there OF their having alluded this question
their communications with her Majstys government up
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