Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-01-08

rra;,s Il ;!,c convention, tnd the governments OF
Central American States wuuil by the mere aet OF
o,c,gs;.r sign away their rights to The territories "
yYI,.h they are siiuAuH. -,
1hn I,r,,h Government share tn. conviction Of the
president ri the United S,a;e- that the interest Ut III
two countries and their muaI d'sire t" n'fii'ain tx
listing friendly relations, will alike 'lsprc "nch par!
with cuuciut"ry sp'rli, aud enable t'r'l l" oyer
come all obstacles 10 satisfactory adjustment al Zen
trial American questions. The lirii" government! see
lm rr.s-una why 1t should be Otherwise. ~" 'r,rls
government neither have the wish L" eX'eht 'i,t mn
its III their pnIsvs sion. or The sicre n ne'' 'ue
in that quarter nor would any British interest," De pro-
melted iu ST. fuin.: bit the British government "e
not prepared 10 contract either the one or IN" DINER III
pursuance of the Interpretation OF II cnhfrn'"' ~
which Interpretation they cannot sunser' ,.c.r,
The undersigned requests MIR. Buclahah " acCeP'
Tue "'Su'""'' VI '''' CLAREyDoS.
Foreign Office, Sept. %, 1857.
| NH BUCHANAN TO LORD cLARESD0S. -.
| The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and MIN
ister Plcnipotrntary Of the United States, has tue
honor To acknowledge the receipt Ut the more III NV
Earl OF Clarendon, her ma rsyS principal S'eie'"is
of State for Foreign Affairs dated on the ISL, u'1' III
reply to the note of the undersigned OF Tie iitn u'
in reference to the Central American qmrsooIs oe
tween the two Goveruments aud he VIII NOT i"n w
transmit copy OF the same by the next s'c'A'e u
In. Secretary of State nj Washington. -.
Whilst far from intending remow the general ulS-
Gu sson of these questions. which ms a'rehuy oo
single observation in regard to the Earl Oh Ciaren
ons remarks, that if the convention OF iih VI APn
1850, had intended thut Great Britain shoniu VIII
draw from her possessions III Cen'ral Aa'.,v,
would have contained in specific terms Il renuGcla
ton" to the effect, "and such Remuneration" wouiu ho
have been left rs Il mere matter of Inference
Now it appears to the unders gned that an engage
ment by party not ITO occupy or exercise H"''
ion" over territory of which that party is la actua
possession ut the date of tho engagement IL equVa-
lent i'm nil respects agreement To withdraw from
such territory. Under these circumstances TINS Is
not IA mere matter of Inference, because inc one
proposition is necessarily and isepnrabE lhF"i'e"
in the other, and they merely alternative modes
of expressing the idea. In such ease I" WIFI
draw is not to occupy aud not 10 occupy Is hece"Sa
rilv TO withdraw.
The undersigned needs no apology for briefly ad'
vcrting 10 another argument OF the EA:l O C!hrch-
dom because il has now for tho first time been adj
vaured lie that if the proposition i the Uni
ted States government were sound, ana the c"nvci-
ton was intended interfere with the state OF thigs
existing at the time of its conclusion and to impose
upon Great Britain to Withdraw from portions OIL Ter
ritory occupied by it, similar obligation would DC
contracted by the other States ncccdS to the con-
ventoi, tunder the dtl arlice,l and tho government
of the Central American States would, by the mere
Of accession, sign away their rights 10 tue tcr'o
ries in which they are situated.
Combining himself strictly to this view o the SUD
irct the Undersigned would observe that, n"twl;h-
standing the general terms employed by the conven-
tion an examination of its provisions, and espechily
of the sixth article itself will prove it never intended
thar the Central American States should become JOINT
parties to this treaty with tho United States, Great
Britain and other governments exterior 10 Cehtrai
America. ThcSe States the sub ccts on which Tie
guarantees Of thu convention We're 10 act, ANA the eA-
clu>nn of all other powers from the occupancy OF
Central America, with not only 10 the secur.
~ of this canal, but all other canals and rail roads
across the I.,hinii-, one of the main objects To
be accomplished by the treaty.
The Eurl of Clarendon hns himself intlmaed how
absurd il would be for the Central American govern
mcmt I" recome parties to this convention according
Ia the An .rlcAn construction. Ii would, however,
he none the less absurd according to the British con
strucilun; because then no Central American State
could ncccde to the treaty without continllg tse Tor
ever within lis existing Boundaries and agreeing not
to add TO it's territory and extend its occupation UNI
der any possible circumstances which might urse IN
the future.
Besides, were it possible for Nicaragua, for exam
pie, become party 10 this JOINT conVentinn she
would then take upon herself the extraordinary OBJ
legation her own influence with herself, ander
the fourth article to induce herself Ia facilitate the
construction ui the canal nnd t" her good offices
To procure for herself "thr establishment OF two free
ports one q, each end Of the cana both these ports
ncinr Within hes owu limits. Consequences Almost
equally extraordinary would result from other por-
tiu,s III the convention.
The umdcrsgn has the honor to renew to the Earl
of Clarendon the assurances oi his distinguished con-
sileruliun. JAMES BCCHANAN,
Legation of the U. States. London, Oct. !, 1919.