The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-09

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the British government That expressed its
willingness TO concur in all tho amendments made by the
Senate with the single exception Of the clause relating 70
Ruatan and the other islands the Bay OF Honduras The
article in the original treaty, submitted the Senate
after rectng that these islands and their inhabitants
"havng been by convention bearing date the 9th day
Of August 1885, between her Britannia Majesty and the
republic Of Honduras, constituted and declared free Ter
rtory under the sovereignty Of the said republic Of Hon
duras stipulated that "the contracting parties do
hereby mutually engage TO recognise and respect in all
future time the independence and rights Of the said free
Territory as a part of the republic Of Honduras"
Upon an examination OF this convention between Great
Britain and Honduras of the 9th August 1856, was
found that whilst declaring the Bay Islands 10 be "a free
territory under the Sovereignty Of the republic Of Hon
durss deprived that republic OF rights without which
its sovereignty them could scarcely be said TO exist
1t divided them from the remainder Of Honduras and
gave 70 their inhabitants separate government Of their
own, with legislative executive, and judicial officers,
elected by themselves. II deprived the government OF
Honduras Of the taxing power in every form, and ex
empted the people OF tho islands from the performance
Of military duty except for their own exclusive defence
II also prohibited that republic from erecting fortidca
tons upon them for their protectonthus leaving them
open invasion from any quarter and finally pro-
vided bat slavery shall not at any time hereafter be
permitted to exist therein"
Had Honduras this Convention, she would have
ratified the establishment Of State substantially inde
pendent within her limits, and State At all times
subject to British influence and control Moreover had
the United States ratified the treaty with Great Britain in
it's original form, should have been bound 70 recog
mise and respect in all future tme these spuations
the prejudice Of Honduras Being in direct opposition to
the spirit and meaning Of the Cayton and Buwer treaty
understood in the United States the Senate rejected
the entire clause, and substituted in its stead simple
recognition Of the sovereign right Of Honduras 10 these
islands in the following language
The contracting parties hereby mutually engage
h ss S
and on the c'as OF the republic OF Honduras as under the
Great Britain rejected this amendment assigning the
only that the racations of the convention of the
9th August 1866, between her and Honduras had
been exchanged owing 10 the hesitation of that govern
ment" Had this been done is stated that "her Maesys
government would have had little difficulty in agreeing 10
the proposed by the Senate which then would
have had IN effect the sgnhcation the original
wording" Whether this would have been the e6ect
whether the mere circumstance Of the exchange Of the
ratncaons OF the British convention with Honduras prior
In point Of time 10 the ratification Of treaty with Great
Bstan would ''in effect have had "the signiGca
ton the original wording thus have nullHed the
amendment of the Senate may well be doubted 1t is,
perhaps, fortunate that the question has arisen
The British government Immediately after rejecting the
with the United States, similar all respects TO tho
treaty which they had just refused ts ray the United
States would consent to add TO the Senaes clear and
unqualified recognition of the sovereignty of Honduras
over the Bay Islands the following conditional stpula
tom
whenever and as soon republic of Honduras shall
have concluded and ratified treaty with Great Britain by
which Great Britain shall have ceded and the republic of
provisions and conditions contained in such treaty.
This proposition was, Of course, rejected After the
with Honduras of the 27th August, 1855 with full
ledge of its contents II impossible for me- necessarily
ignorant OF "lhe provisions and conditions which might
be contained in future convention between the
parties, TO sanction them in advance.
ABRoGAr1oy or CLAYTON BrLwER RECOMMENDED
The fact is that when two nations like Great Britain and
the United States mutually desrous as they and
trust ever may be, OF maintaining the most friendly rea
tions with each other, have unfortunately concluded
treaty which they understand in directly opposite
the wsest 10 abrogate such treaty by mutual
consent, and to commence anew. Had this been done
promptly all difficulties in Central America would most
probably this have been usted 10 the satisfaction Of
both parties. Tho time spent in discussing the meaning
Of the Clayton and Buwer treaty would have been dcvo
od
been the easily accomplished because the interest Of
the in Central America is identical being
confined to securing safe anss over oil the routes across
TIE CENTRAL AMERICAN Qur2u1oSs.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments shall neverthe-
less not refuse 10 contribute any reasonable adjustment
OF the Central American questions which not practically
inconsistent with the American Interpretation OF the treaty
Oycrtures for this purpose have been recently made by
the British government, In a friendly spirit, which
daily reciprocate but whether this renewed effort will
resul in success am not yet prepared 10 express
opinion. A brief period will determine.
RELATIONS WITH FRAscE-cumxKRcIAL INSTRUCTIONS
With France ancient relations friendship st con
tinue The French government have Ia several
recent instances which need not be enumerated evinced
spirit Of good will and kindness towards country
which heartily recprocate. II s notwithstanding much
be regretted that nations whose productions o
such character invite the extensive exchanges
and freest commercial intercourse should continue to
force ancient and obsolete restrictions o trade against
each other Our commercial treaty with France IL IN this
respect exception from treaties with all 9th
mercial nations II iealousy levies discriminating duties
both tonnage and on articles the growth produce,
manufacture Of the country when arriving vessels
More than forty years ago on the Sd Of March 1916
Congress passed act offering 10 all nations 10 admit
their vessels laden with their national productions into
the ports OF tho United states upon the same terms with
own vessels provided they would recprocate 10
similar advantages This act confined the reciprocity 10
the productions Of the respective foreign nations who
might enter INTO the proposed arrangement with the Unit
ed states The act OF May "a 1S2s removed this restrc
without reference 10 the origin Of their cargocs Upon
these principles our commercial treaties and arrange
ments have been founded except with France and let
hope that this exception may not long exist
Our relations with Russia remain, they have
ror as well his predecessors have never failed when
the offered manifest their good will
country and their friendship has always been highly appre
ca;cd by the government and people of the United States
OR DIFFICULTIES WIN
With all other European governments except that OF
regret say that progress whatever has been made
since the adjournment of Congress- towards the settle
against The spon,sb sovsrpmen, Rssdes The on1sgs
committed on our Tag by the Spanish war frgae Ferro
lana on the high sess Oh the coast Of Cuba in March
1855. by firing into the American mail steamer " Dora
do and OBTAINING and searching her remains unacknow
lodged and unredrcsscd Tho general tone and temper Of
the Spanish towards that Of the United States
are much 90 be regretted Our present Envoy Extraord
nary and Minister Penpoenary TO Madrid has asked 10
be recalled and i is my purpose TO send out mes Min
ister 10 Spain with special instructions all questions
pending between the two governments and with deter
mnation 70 have them speedily and smcably adjusted h
ster urges tho just claims Of citizens the notice OF
the Spanish government he Is mot with the objection
that Congress have made the appropriation
mended by President Polk In his annual message Of De
cember ls47 o be paid to the Spanish government for
the purpose OF distribution among the claimants IN the
Amistad case" similar recommendation was made Wy
my immediate predecessor in his Of December
1888; and entirely concurrng with both in tho opinion
that this indemnity is Justly due under the treaty with
Spain OF the 27th october, 1926 earnestly recommend
such appropriation 10 the favorable consideration
Congress.
TREATY WIN rTfp1a
treaty OF friendship and commerce concluded nj
Consiannoplc the 18th December, 1886, between the
United States and Persia the ratlca,ons Of which
exchanged Consannople the 18th June 1851, and
the treaty proclaimed by the President the 18th
August 1857 This treaty II Ia believed will prove be.
nefcia American commerce. The Shah has manifest
ed disposition 30 cultivate friendly relations
with our country and has expressed strong wish that
should be represented at Tcheran by minister pleni
potcntiary; and recommend that appropriation be
made for this purpose.
orR RELATIONS WIN cgIyA
Recent occurrences Chins have been unfavorsble
revision Of the treaty with that empire Of the Sd July,
1874 with view 10 the security and extension Of our