The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-03
Mr.. Laurence 70 Loyd Paimersion.
usngp STATES LEGATION,


unite with the United States la guaranying the neutrality
Of a shp-eanal railway, other communication % be
open TO the world, and comnon 10 az nations Nay oeg
the favor of these inquiries and to express
the wish that may receive II before two o'clock o-mor-
row, 80 as to send Il out by this weeks packet
that Nicaragua Is ia dispute win Costa thca
the hand about her boundary and with the Mosqu
tos the other about their Sovereignty have no pur
pose to enter upon those questions only desire 10
know the views Of her Maesys government on The qaes
think that Great Britain and the United States heal
these breaches by kind Offices and that the Indians can pc
provided for in satisfactory 10 Nicaragua and
Great Britain and far better for them than the equsoca
position they now occupy. III
need not assure your lordship that the United States
have Interior purposes in view They frankly discaim
all intention Of obtaining territory in Central America and
have doubt would be willing to mutually agree with
Great Britain neither to SETTLE annex colonize forty
am, &c, ABBOTT LAWRENCE
Vscount PALaEnsros, &c.
~ Lord Palmsrstoa 70 Mr.. Laurence.
FoREIGs OFrcE, Nov, 10, l849
Ny DEAR SIR have received your letter of the 9Th,
written in accordance with what passed in converse
ton in the morning Of that day and hasten to reply to
your inquiries.
With regard to the first part of your inquiry, beg to
that her Maesys do not intend TO occupy
or COLOMBO Nicaragua Costa Rca the Mosquito coast
any part OF Central America.
With regard to Mosquito however close political con-
nexion has existed between the Crown of Great Britain
and the State and Territory of Mosquito for period Of
about centuries but the British government does
claim dominion in Mosquito. sG ##i
With regard to the second part of your inquiry, beg to
that her Majesty will feel great pleasure in
combining and cooperating with the government of the
United States for the purpose assisting S operations Of
any company which may be formed with view TO establish
commercial communication by canal railway between the
Atlantic and Pacific the shmus which divides the
northern and southern portion Of the American continent
both by obtaining local security for the works while in
progress and when completed and in and by placing
such communication through the means of political
rangemens beyond the reach OF moestaon disturbance
obstruction by OF international disputes which
may at amy time unfortunately arise upon the condition.
moreover that such communication should at all times be
open and accessible for the Of all nations upon
equal terms for all Her Maestys government would feel
that the union of two great powers for the accomplishment
Of object Of such general utility and tending much
assist the diffusion of civilization and to strengthen the
foundations of international peace would be honorable
to the concerned in such arrangement the
suit would be advantageous to the commercial interests Of
the world at large. ~ s8
With regard 10 the port Of Greytown at the mouth Of
the river ST John, her Maestys government would fully
undertake to obtain the consent OF Mosquito to such
rangements as would render that port entirely applicable
and the principles above mentioned to the purposes of
such sea-to-sea communication. 6
You advert in your letter to the differences which have
arisen between the republics Of Nicaragua and Costa Rc
in regard to boundaries and to other matters and
suggest that the joint influence Of Great Britain and
the United States should be employed heal by their good
Offices the breaches which have interrupted the friendly
ations Of those two contiguous States Her Msjestys gov
eminent would upon every account be glad to join with
the United States in eecing such reconciliation and the
because the cordial corporation of both Of those
republics would be essential for the satisfactory completion
OF the contemplated undertaking
have only further TO say that her Maestys government
have received with great satisfaction your that
the United States have Interior purposes in view in
gard to these matters; that they frankly dclam all in
enton of obtaining territory in Central America and
that you have doubt that they would be willing to en-
into mutual agreement with Great Britain neither to
SETTLE annex, colonize ortfy that country and
with equal frankness you that into such mutual
agreement her would be equally ready
to enter. lsfv .t f4 SILL $3.50 Z. 600 a5AE t
lam, &c, PALMERsToN \
Amor LAWRENCE, Esq, &c. &c, &c.
Mr.. Marcy TO Ar. buchanan.
0 tEruaets
mo. AL DrpARruExr on STATE,
Washington, June IL, 1854
SIN: The perusal of Lord clarcndon's reply to your
statement in regard Central American affairs does not
encourage hopes OF a speedy adjustment Of them.
still indulge the hope that by the array Of facts and
guments bearing the questions in difference in regard to
Central American affairs the government OF Great Britain
will be induced to abandon the main positions assumed by
Lord Clarendon in his statement Of the I'd umo.
This government yield to the preenson that
the treaty of the 10th OF April $780, only prospective
In its operation and that Great Britain retained the right
hold to all she than had claims 10 have had
in Central America. IL certainly expectation that
she came under obligations to the United States by that
instrument 10 withdraw from interference In Central
American affairs and this expectation is sustained by the
oil There Is Tor difference
of opinion TO the position hs should in future 10
regard to Belize British Honduras. 1t not the OBJ
eet of the President you will perceive by your general
instructions to direct you TO insist that by the Clayton
and Buwer treaty she bound 10 abandon the posses
sion Of the Belize She had right TO occupy for specific
purpose small district OF country the shore Of the bay
of Honduras but had sovereignty IT, The charac
ter OF this right and the extent Of territory 10 which APP
piled both clearly defined In her treaty with Spain Of
1888 If this territory could be fairly considered within
the limits Of Central America then the British posscson
of VA by trfatv nd
might consequently claim the abandonment of the British
occupation and dominion it. The assertion of the
claim upon Great Britain 10 abandon Belize as territory
included In the treaty Is embarrassed by two considers
tons First by the notes which passed between the nego
ators Of the treaty at the time OF exchanging Publications
and second by the doubt TO its geographical position
being within the limits of Central America
Discovering the part OF the British government
disposition escape from what here regarded the
obvious spulatops Of the treaty, the President would
have you avoid embarrassing the negotiation by urging 80
questionable matter right derived from the treaty
the surrender of Belize lie does not therefore instruct
you nsist upon applying the spuaton Of the treaty
TO that territory but You viii resist the British preten-
sion TO extend 1t 10 any part OF Central America, be-
yond the limits fixed TO 10 the Spanish treaty OF 1886
You WILL also resist the British pretonsion regard that
territory of her colonies She acquired sover-
eign rights in Belize under her treaties with Spain. Her
treaty with Mexico In 1926 only continued the limited
right she had from Spain, and the very fact Of treating
with Mexico for the continuation Of her usuuct OF Belize
clear acknowledgment that the sovereignty 1t
was In Mexico at that time.
While you will abstain from claiming the surrender OF
the possession Of Belize under the Clayton and Bulwer
treaty you will resist the prctension of Great Britain to
regard Il colonial possession with sovereign rights or
To beyond designated the original