Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-02-02
The Mosquito QuestiOn-LOrd John
RusselHs Dispatch.
Lord ,I0lr. Russell to Mr. Champion.

LONDON, Jan. 10, 1853
Sir-In treating of the affairs of the Mos.
quito, | must in the first place refer Won to the
dispatch of Lord Malmesbury of the 9th of
July, 1852, upon this subject. 1t is evident,
that since Great Britain first assumed the
protection and defense of the Mosquito Indians.
the position ofall parties has changed
First-Spain, instead Of exercising absolute
sovereignty over Central America, and pro-
hibiting all commerce on the coasts under her
sway. has entirely lost her dominion over the
continent from Cape Horn o Florida.
Second-The Mosquito Indians instead of
governing their own tribe according to their
own customs, furnish name and title to
Europeans and Americans who carry on trade
at Greyrown and along the coast Of Mosquito,
according to the uSages of civilized nations.
Third-Great Britain, instead of having an
interest in the defense Of the Mosquito Indians,
for the sake of rescuing part of the territory
of Central America from Spanish control, and
obtaining ar authority for her commerce, has
no other interest in Mosquito than that which
is derived from an honorable regard for her old
connection with the Indian nation of Mosquito.
Her Majestys government has for several
years endeavured to suit her engagements to
the altered circumstances of tie case; but every
!
has encountered some insuperabe obstacle
The contentious in Central America between
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, aud Honduras; the
absence Of any authority with which any per-
mancut agreement could be made: Infounded
jealousies OF Great Britain, and various other
circumstances, have prevented the settlement
Ot tins veXati0us question.
In conformity with the opinion, stated in
Lord Malmesbury' dispatch of July 6, to which
| have already referred, | have to state that
the committee of government of Greytown are
in fact the real power that exercises authority
in that part of Central America. To her
Maiesty's government it would be a matter of
indifference whether that authority was eX-
ercised in the name of the King of Mosquito,
or in name of Greytown itself. But it is desr
able 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 itself
What is real is that he had no authority there
whatever, but that the committee OF Euro
| peans and Americans carry on the government
/ of that port.
What her Majesty's government, therefore,
should consider a good and final arrangement
would be: First that Greytown should be a
free and independent port, connected with
y
alliance as may be agreed upon. Second, that
! indemnifcation, or advantages equivalent TO
| those laid down in the project of convention
of the 18th OF April, 1852, shall be assured 70
Mosquito in return for its withdrawal from its
present position with regard to Greytown.
| Third, that Great Britain and the United
| States, without guaranteeing 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 ofimmedate importance
! is that the authorities of Greytown should he
ready to assume either unqualified independ-
/ ence, with an engagement o defend Mosquito
or qualified indepenneuceo owing allegiance and
support 10 Mosquito. For this purpose, some per-
son qualified 10 treat should proceed at once 10
! Greytowu. Wheeler naval officer Other Males
| ~ service or civil one would be atitter PER-
son to he entrusted with this mission, must
/ leave you to decide. ItwOuld be desirable, il The
| government OF the United States should con
/ cur in these views, that new convention, in
! place of the uuaccepted project of agreement
! of April, 1852, should be proposed aud conclu-
/ ded, and that a person similarly qualified
/ should be sent by this government at the same
/ lime and fr the same object.
have only further 10 say that indemnity to
Mhelutto EItL DoSctuil Dc ubl lllitue III mon
| cy, Tut IN greater security for certain fixed
! territory within which The free port of Grey.
town, assisted by her Majestya ships Of war
might unnage To defend the Mosqdito nation.
| The Governor General of Canada and author
/ tiles in other of her Majesry's North Ameri.
! can possessions have made from time TO time
! agreements somewhat similar. The President
OF the United States has frequently made
| conventions with the Indians to the like effect
1 The pecnliArity of this case is that. certain
/ neighboring States deny altogether the indie
pendence at Mosquito, and the Mosquito ma.
ton are liable every day to new iucursions
| upon their territory. We can make ~ com
! plete provision against this danger. Our poll
/ cy is TO do all that honor and humanity re-
/ quire in behalf OF tie Mosquito nation. But
we intend to adhere strictly 20 the treaty OF
/ of Washington Of the 10Th April, 1850, and
not TO assume any sovereignty, either drect
or indirect, in Central America.
J. RUSSELL
MEMORANDUM IN Mr.. EVERETT Hal DwNITiN0.
Mr.. Champion authorized me 10 cunmuni-
cate this to Congress in any way thought
proper.