The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-01

ImpoH rant from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Ac-
| tion OF England and France In the Central
American Imbroglio.
Our Washington dispatches, published this
morning are of the highest Importance. They
announce that England and France have united
| in addressing note to our government, of an
| imperative character, taking ground in favor of
| carrying out the convention between Costa RIGA
| and Nicaragua. under which Nj. Felix Belly and
| his associates are to construct an interoceanic
| canal and calling upon the United States
under the provisions of the Clayton-Bulwer
| treaty, to unite with them in maintaining invio-
late the neutrality of the Isthmus. We are
inclined to place confidence in this information,
as ii obtains ample confederation, not only from
the tone of the recent articles in the London
and Paris papers which are regarded as the or
gans of the government, but also from the letter
of Lord Malmesbury to M. Belly, in which the
English Secretary declares that 81 the stpula-
tons of the treaty between Great Britain and
the United States of the 10th April, 1850, COM
monty called the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, WILL in
my opinion. apply to this scheme (Belly's pro-
| jecteu canal) ii carried out
Ii is already sufficiently evident that the back
ing and filling of the Nicaragua government and
its Minister, Senior Jerez, upon the subject of the
Cass-Yrisarri treaty, was part Of the general
policy adopted for the purpose of giving time to
| perfect the understanding with the English and
French governments the announcement of which
is now made. What the organs of those govern
ments chose to designate as the aggrandizing
spirit of the United States is to be checked, and
henceforth we are to he called upon to play Sc
condary part in shaping the destinies of the con-
tiguous States, the dominant power being GEN.
tered in the hands of that European alliance
which we were warned, three years ago, had in
view not only the regulation of the affairs of the
Old World, but also of the New. This Anglo
French alliance, having carried out the first por-
ton Of its programme, is now, according to our
| information, prepared to enter upon the second
| act; and whilst the Cabinet at Washington is adj
vised of the utimatum arrived at, the fleets Of the
| combined Powers are on their way to give ply
| steal effect to the fiat which has gone forth.
1t is useless to deny that the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty on its face appears to give coloring to the
position assumed by England and France in
favor of M. Bely's contract. But England has vio
lated the spirit of this treaty from the first, and
even to-day the Mosquito protectoratc pretension
is practically kept up as much as il ever was.
II is. therefore, somewhat impertinent in her to
quote the provisions of a treaty which she has
never carried out in good faith-which she has
tacitly confessed was trick to try and over
reach the United States, and which is only now
quoted as an excuse for an active interference
in Central American aflairs-the very object the
convention was designed on our part to prevent.
Ar for the White and Vanderbilt qliarrels, the
American public feel no sympathy for either Of
them. II the contract for opening the communi-
cation had been held by enterprising American
citizens, who desired to carry out the work as
legitimate enterprise, and not as fancy stock
speculation, the blunders of the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, 70 far a. they affect the Isthmus commu-
nication would never have been practically felt.
Now, the stupidity Of former administrations and
the miserable quarrels Of parcel Of spectators,
| have enabled England aud France to interpose
and initiate policy Of interference in the affairs
Of this continent adverse alike to the interests,
| honor and character of the United States
We have every confidence in the courage and
| capacity Of the President to meet the occasion
| as il deserves The presence OF the combined
| fleets in the waters of Central America can have
no effect in coercing the United States into
position.other than that she might see fit volun-
| tarily to assume. Whatever rights our citizens
may have must be protected at all hazards; nor
| can we permit England and France to go one
step beyond that point which affects our safety
| or our honor. But il cannot be concealed that
| the time has arrived when practical solution
| must be had Of the delicate subjects which sur
round this Central American question. That
solution may force the United States to the adop-
| ton Of that aggrandizing policy which they are
| now falsely accused Of When upon 40 slight an
| excuse as the carrying out Of contract between
| N. Belly and other adventures and q petty
! State of Central America, the combined fleets
| Of France and England are crowded forward to
| menace us, il becomes a grave consideration
| whether our safety does not compel us at
| once to place our political and geographical
borders in a state Of defence. Menaced from
abroad. the United States may be forced to see
| that we should at once be possessed Of the key
| TO the Gulf-Cuba; and that protcctorate, or
| even the annexation Of Mexico, is necessary for
our more perfect security. Up to this day the
| United States do not own a foot Of ground they
| did not purchase; but combination Of the des-
potic Powers Of Europe against us may compel
us TO hasten our destiny, so az to present on the
continent of North America an unbroken front
| TO the attacks Of our foes
We have no doubt that il is true, az stated
that Sir Gore Ouseley fastened his departure so
as to leave Lord Napier the difficult task Of ex-
| planning why II has been deemed necessary on