The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-09

convention bearing date the 9th day of August 1896,
between her Britannia Majesty and the republic of Hon
dus constituted and declared free territory under the
sovereignty of the said republic of Honduras stipulated
that the two contracting parties do hereby mutually
engage to recognise and respect In all nufe time the in
dependence erd rights Of the said free territory as part
Of the republic 81 Honduras - 1AA@N, i III
Upon examination Of this convention between Great
Britain and Honduras OF the 9th August 1885, il
territory under the sovereignty OF the republic of Hon
duas il deprived that republic Of rights without which
sovereignty them could scarcely be said to exist
1t divided them from the remainder of Honduras, and
gave to their Inhabitants separate government of their
own with legislative, executive, and judicial officers,
elected by themselves 1t deprived the government Of
Honduras Of the taxing power in every form, and ex
empted the people OF the islands from the performance
of military duty except for their exclusive defence.
1t also prohibited that republic from erecting fortihca
tos upon them for their protection thus leaving them
open to invasion from any quarter and, finally it pro
yided that slavery shall not at any time hereafter be
permitted to exist therein a#Hsn
Had Honduras ratified this convention sa would have
ratified the establishment of State substantially indie
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
its original FORM should have been bound ito recog
Mise and respect in all future time these spuations TO
the prejudice of Honduras Being in direct opposition to
the spirit and meaning of the Clayton 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 to these
parties do hereby mutually engage 10 recognise and
spect the islands of Ruatan Bonaoo Utla Barbarea,
Helena and Morat situate in the Bay of Honduras and
off the coast of the republic of Honduras as under the
sovereignty and part of the said republic of Hondu
ras. .A
Great Britain rejected this amendment assigning the
only reason that the Publications of the convention of
the 9th August 1885, between her and Honduras had
not been exchanged owing to the hesitation of that
government" Had this been done it is stated that cher
Majesy's government would have had little difficulty in
agreeing to the modification proposed by the Senate,
which then would have had in effect the sgnfca-
ton the original wording Whether this would have
been the effect whether the circumstance of the
exchange of the notifications of the British convention
with Honduras prior in point of time to the ratification
of treaty with Great Britain would in effect, -
have had q the sgnifcaton the original word
ing, and thus have nullifed the amendment of the
Senate may well be doubted. 1t is perhaps, fortunate
that the question has arisen .e# .a aE.
The British government Immediately after rejecting the
treaty amended proposed to enter into treaty
with the United States similar in all respects to the
treaty which they had Just refused TO rati the Uni
ted States would consent to add to the Snate clear and
unqualified recognition of the sovereignty of Honduras
the Bay Islands the following conditional stipula
ton Whenever and as the republic of Hon
duras shall have concluded and ratified treaty with
Great Britain by which Great Britain shall have coded,
and the republic of Honduras shall have accepted the said
islands, subject to the provisions and conditions contained
in such treaty" t4 Ng@#
| This proposition was of course rejected After the
Senate had refused to recognise the British convention
with Honduras of the 27th August, 1856, with full
knowledge of its contents it impossible for
cessary ignorant of 'the provisions and conditions
which might be contained in future convention between
the same parties to sanction them in advance
The fact is that when two nations like Great Britain
and the United States, mutually DESTROYS they
and trust may be- of maintaining the most friend
y relations with each other, have unfortunately conclu
ded treaty which they understand in directly op
pote the wisest is to 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 adjusted to the atisac
ton Of both parties. The time spent in discussing the
meaning Of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty would have
been devoted to this praseworhy purpose and the task
would have been the easily accomplished because
the interest of the two countries in Central America Is
IDENTICAL being confined to securing safe transs all
the routes across the Isthmus.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments, shall neverthe
less not refuse to contribute to any reasonable
of the Central American questions which is not pract
cy inconsistent with the American Interpretation of the
treaty overtures for this purpose have been recently
made by the British government in friendly spirit
which cordially reciprocate but whether this renewed
effort will result In success am not yet prepared to
press opinion. brief period will determine
With France our ancient relations of friendship still
continue to exist. The French government have in
eral recent instances which need not be enumerated
cyinced spirit of good will and kindness towards
country which heartily reciprocate. 1t is notwth
standing much to be regretted that two nations whose
productions of such character to invite the most
extensive exchanges and feest commercial intercourse
tons of trade against each other Our commercial treaty
with France is in this respect exception from trea
ties with all other commercial nations ealousy levies
discriminating duties both tonnage and articles
the growth produce manufacture of the country,
when arriving in vessels belonging to the other.
More than forty years ago, on the Sd March, 1915,
Congress passed act offering to all nations to admit
their vessels laden with their national productions into
the ports of the United States upon the terms with
vessels provided they would reciprocate to
similar advantages This act confined the reciprocity to
the productions of the respective foreign nations who
might enter into the proposed arrangement with the Uni
ted States. The act of May a. 1928, removed this
restriction and offered similar reciprocity to all such
vessels without reference to the origin of their cgoe
Upon these principles, commercial treaties and
angements have been founded except with France and
let hope that this exception may not long exist
Our relations with Russia remain, as they have ever
been, the most friendly footing The present Empc-
ro well his predecessors have failed when
the occasion offered to manifest their good viii to our
country and their friendship has always been highly
appreciated by the government and people of the United
States aeats 5taate. Il
With all other European governments except that of
Spain, relations peaceful could desire.
regret to say that progress whatever has been made
since the adjournment of Congress, towards the settle
ment of any of the numerous claims of citizens
against the Spanish government Besides the outrage
committed flag by the Spanish -figate Ferro
lana the high seas off the coast of Cuba in March,
1855, by firing into the American mail steamer III Dora
do and OBTAINING and searching her, remains unacknow
lodged and unredresscd The general tone and temper Of
the Spanish government towards that of the United States
much to be regretted Our present envoy extaord
nary and minister plenpotenay to Madrid has asked to
T.