Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-07-26

J ibL ENIhAL AMERICAN QUESTION
ihh NtooriATioSs BETWEEN cRE.r nRfr
! -PoLicro oF HONDURAS AND Tx eRE.r PowERs or Ku
" ~
i From hs London Times L.iy l21
Inc iol'oring memorandum, drawn up by the repre-
sentauVes of Honduras will be submitted to the
uves Of the different European Do wers accredited % he
Majesty as explanatory Of the policy Of Honduras on th
Interest," w hu0peah
The geographical position of Central Americ, be,vs.,
e u'uc ava racine oceans gives to that country
SPs''' interest 'n the ewes of commercial nation.
oe rr'Sbshuent OF adequate lines Of nteroceanic cou
muncaou through it, territories bv means Of r,,wys
or eahs or both il object OF universal importance
uteat Britain and the United States recognising it, i'm,
porAhee have made IL the subject OF a special cony,n
hon concluded in the the year 1850 in Artel WIZ ~
Nhch hex establish as general principle" and ,pree
her protection, by treaty stpuations" all
practicable communications whether by canal or r,w,y
across the isthnus which connects North and Soutb
America" ~ ~
They also declare that such communication. .,,
to the subjects and ciiz.ns Of Great Britain and tb
TED States on equal terms should be open 10 m. sh
cts asd citizens Of every other State which is willing to
grant .her-sc .sch prosectoa Gre.t B.io and IN.
United States engage to afford"
No", although several lines Of interocesnic comnup
catoh nave been designated each having its earnest sup
poers yet II u the opinion Of competent Judges that tn
line recently proposed through the State OF No,dn-ss
from Puerto Cabalos to the Bay of Fonseca possesses
ga sdSsntages over any other that has vet been sus
gesied for a railway
The commission TO which its examination was consBat
rep-ted that the natural condition Of the country its
general sau6y and abundant resources not less than
cspac'ous, safe and altogether une1ceptions harr AT
both entremites distinguish this line a. combining The
obvious and primary requisites tor ADEQUATE and p.
mHisnt interoceanic communication And Captain FItz-
roy Il ~ IN his report to Lord Clarendon on the subject
alter general review OF the various routes concludes
that this recently proposed line through Honduras ap
pear 10 him more promising permanently important
mus ~ ~
To facilitate the construction Of a work promising so
great advantages the government OF Honduras has con
a la MI at,I.. II
ties to whose emterpze the world indebted for the dis
eoNery and exploration Of the This charter r.co
- IN their fullest extent the principles laid in the
TonSehuoh oet~een Great Britain and the United States
IL offers equal facilities to the whole world and is NOT en-
numbered by stipulaons which might restrict the use,
u,hes ot the work or give to any nation the slightest
| advantage over another.
- Ihs charter, which ratified BY the Legislative
Chambers OF Honduras, and proclaimed a. law of the
state Oh the 2sth OF April 1854 provides (Ar s Sec a.
eat the government OF Honduras shal open negotiations
win TIE various governments with which il NAV have re-
auons Tor their separate recognition of the neutrality
and for the protection OF the route and to preyen
misunderstanding or JEALOUSY it furthermore provides
that the treaty stipuAtons with each and all govern
ment IN respect to the said shall be in terms the
| same" ~
In defereuce these indications the =.
Honduras accredited Great Britain france and the
United States have draughed article which hev con
ceve might be appropriately appended TO all trass NJ
amity and commerce that Honduras NAV h.xs ,b 60
fortune to make With the great maritime Eu1ope
ana America In framing they have folio ed out the
connected with the proposed transit all nations on equal
terms-viz the recognition OF the undsputed Sovereignty
o honduras over the line OF the road the guarantee Of il
heutrty and its protection against violence and inter
rupuon. The government Of Honduras doas not .n,c;
pate that circumstances will arise to REQUIRE snv f
TIE Powers which may enter into these stipulaons to
pAeuca iorce to their guarantee but it is not TO be
Iouned that the fact OF their existence would give TO
Honduras great moral support and contribute 10
the proposed route OF transit useful and secure
PROPOSED ARTICLE.
lnasmuch 4 contract was entered iuto hv The -,,-
inent OF Honduras and company eutled the Hondpr,s
Inieroeeanc Railway Company for the purpose OF con-
recung railway from the Atlantic Pacific oceans
through the territories Of Honduras which contract VA.
ratified by the constitutional powers OF the state and
Claimed, as Law on the 2sth day OF April 1854; and
s'nee by the terms OF article s. OF the said contract
the government of Honduras with the view 70 s,cur
the route herein contemplated from all interruuon and
disturbance from any under any circumstances
engages To open negotiations with the various govern
es with which II may have relations for their senar,t
recognition OF the perpetual neutrality and for the proec
tion CT the Aforesaid route; .theretore 20 rs-rv ,
| obligations thus incurred -
l. The government OF Honduras agrees that the right
o way or transit over such road or anv other
'hSt may be constructed within its territories from sea 70
sea- snail be at all times open and free the government
ana subjects Tor ciuzens) of reat Britain for all sxl
purposes whatever and tolls duties or charges of nv
KIND shall be imposed the transit of property belong
ing to the government Of Great Britain or on the npb
nc malls sent under authority OF the same nor upon t
subjects or ctzensl of 1.-THE British Crownl and all
u p"d1ce manufactures, merchandise, other proper
passing from one 70 the other in either direction
shall not be subject to any import export duties what
ever and shall oe secure and protected from all intsrrup
uoh or uetenuon on the OF the State; and finally a.
an evidence OF its disposition accord to the travel and
commerce OF tAe world all the advantages resulting from
It's position in respect to the two great oceans Honduras
OF her own good WILL engages TO establish the ports AT
the extrenues OF the contemplated road as free pors for
| all the purposes Of commerce and trade
2 In consideration Of these concessions in order to se
cure me construction and Permanence Of the route or road
herein contemplated and also to secure for the bens6t
mankind the uninterrupted advantages OF such commu
eson IRON sea TO sea- Grea Bauj recognizes the rights
O sovereignty and property of Honduras and over the
ne OF said road, and for the reason Guarantees
lively and etcaciousy the entire neutrality OF the sane
SO long as 'Great Britain shs enjoy privileges eonce
ded 10 IL VI the preceding section Of is article And
when tie proposed road shall have been completed (Crs.
Bntan) equally engages, in conjunction With Honduras
70 protect the same from interruption seizure Or unjust
| proceed. 10y
BKLfzE AND irs DEPESDENcEs DEyNED BY SIR oEoRgy
| 1886.
| To NE Editor Of tie London TTtsss
. SR-lord Clarendon, in his note to NJ. Buchanan of
May p 1854 blue Book, p. 274 uses the following Ian
| guage:-
As to Ruatan and the adjacent islands. all that can be
debateabe as TO them whether they are leland depen
State. ''
In the year 1886, Sir George Grey then her Majesty,
secretary OF state Tor the Colonies n official teter To
Mr. 5. Coke gentleman connected with a British com
pany, entitled The Eastern Coast Of Central America
commercial and Agricultural Company, defined the boun-
| daiies Of Belize $ follows
FROM the Rio Hondo the north to the river Sarstoon
on the south and as far vest Garbots Falls on the
ryer Belize, and line the meridian 10 strike Oh
me ko hondo on the north aud the Rio Sarstoon on
the south The British crown claims also the waters is
lands and bays lying between the cosst thus defined and
toe meridian Of the eastcrmost point o Lighthouse reef
/ Litter Of Sir Gcorge Grey 70 s. Core E,g V,re-y5>,
| 1886.
Here we have minute definition Of the boundaries Of
belne lts ea.'ermo'' limits u the meridian OF Light
house reel which, according the Admiralty chats is
iu longitude 81 2O w Of GrecnWch or upWards OF 90
miles TO The westward Of Ruatan-that is TO say the
boundaries thus defined only DO not include Kustan
but do not come within 6p miles Of it in any direction
H. then, "Ruatan and the sdiccnt isandsr are island
dependencies Of Belize, how and when did thev become
sol That they we're not regarded IN 1886 i proved
by Sit George Grays despa ch 30 Mr. Coke Have tbev
been purchased sncc acquired by conquest or treaty -
| II not. what right has Great Britain there? IS
| July 10.
From hs London Tines B,iy lO1
The English have been for a century and hsf such an
adventurous people they have acquired or assumed rights
o sovereignty ON 80 many points Of the earth. surface
that vety ew years espse without our governments being