Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-19
PALMERSTON ON THE NON-RATIFICATION
OF THE ALLAS-CLARENDON TREATY.

OF THE DALLAS-CLARENDON TREATY.
In the House Of Commons on the evening of May
20, Mr.. Dsrae rose TO make inquiry OF Her Majes.
tys government respecting the ratification Of the
treaty entered into by Her Majesty and the govern.
ment of the United States in reference 20 Uoniuras
should be glad to observe, il the noble lord at the
head of the government could state to the house the
reasons why that treaty has not been ratified Gnd
should wish that he would also inform Us whether
gotatons are still pending upon tho subject. and
whether any papers with regard TO 1t are 10 be laid
| upon the table of the Housed
| Lord Pslmerston-ln answer to the right honorable
gentleman, have to state that in the course OF last
| summer two treaties were concluded by her Majss.
TVS Government-the with the Republic Of Hon
duras the other with the Government Of the United
States. The object OF the treaty which We entered
into with Honduras was, among other things, the
sion TO her of what called the Bay Islands, name
w. Ruatan, Bouacca and two three other smaller
islands These islands were, under the provisions Of
the treaty coded to Honduras rpoa certain conditions
which Her Majesty's Government deemed it neces
sary to impose for the security and we'll being Of such
British settlers as had property within them.
The treaty also provides that the islands in question
should not be allowed to fall into the possession Of
any great maratiIne power that no Notifications
should be erected upon them, but that they should
continue to be-that which they hitherto have been
inoffensive and military stations.
The treaty which we concluded with the United
States divides itself into two distinct parts. The
first part contains the article of the treaty which
Great Britain aud the United States were IN agrea TO
propose to Nicaragua and Costa Rico for the purpose
Of settling the differences which have arisen between
the Spanish American States in Central America,
and for the future regulation Of the Mosquito Indians
The other part Of the treaty contained the condl-
tons of an engagement between England and the
United States, and one Of these articles was to this
effsct-that whereas convention had been conclu
ded between Great Britain and Honduras, whereby,
on certain conditions. the Bay Islands had been
coded to Honduras Great Britain and the United
States engaged hencefOrward to acknowledge these
Islands part of the territory Of Honduras. This
treaty was signed by my noble friend at the head OF
the Foreign Department lord Clarendon) and Mr.
Dallas, the American Minister here. This treaty
vas sent to Honduras and Washington respectively
for the ratification Of those governments. We have
not yet received an official notice from Honduras
whether the treaty to which have allsded has been
ratified or not by the government Of Honduras. We
have, indeed heard privately that some technical
difficulties have prevented its ratification, but We
have NO official information on the subject.
The treaty with the United States was referred, Of
course to the Senate. The Senate proposed several
alterations 10 that treaty. Some of these alterations
very great Importance. The treaty. amended,
was sent back to this country with tho ratification Of
the government Of the United States, and We were
asked TO adopt those alterations. Now, of course,
the Senate of the United States have an undoubted
right to modify and alter any treaty with which they
are not satisfied and which may b-cone the subject
of discussion. But the ratification of treaty by
sovereign Power means that that sovereign power
adopts and rafes By its signature the engagements
taken in ts behalf by authorised diplomatic agents.
and to ratify treaty which, having been altered by
another power is no longer the treaty that was con-
cuded by an authorized diplomatic ageat, would oe
against all rule and against all the principles OF dlpio
"ouo usage. Therefore, even if the British govern
ment agreed to adopt the alterations in the treaty
maoe oy the Senate after its signature, it would De
necessary that fresh treaty should be concluded
Adopting thoss changes, aud that this usw treaty
Countries.
There were several changes made in the treaty,
none Of them, as have stated, uuimportapt, but,