The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-25


| sosfntions IN Cent~ai America-Sorren-
der OF the Bay Islands.
| Advices from Honduras via Havana to the
| sd December confirm the report by the last
| steamer from the Isthmus, that the English
Minister in Central America, Mr.. Wyke, had
| concluded negotiations with Honduras-G first,
for the surrender of tie Bay Islands, and sec
ond, for the extinction Of the so-called Mosquito
! Protectorate in the territory claimed by Hon
duras. 1t will be remembered that conventions
| to this effect were signed in London in August
1866, between Lord Clarendon and Don Victor
| llerran, the Plenipotentiary of Honduras.
That regarding the Mosquito Protectorate was
sufficiently acceptable to the Honduras govern
ment, but that providing for the surrender of
| the Bay Islands was coupled with so many re-
strictions that its ratification was declined. 1t
provided that the people should be practically
Independent of the Honduras government
while under its nominal sovereignty In other
words the people Of the islands were to have
their own municipal laws-they were to pay no
duties, not to be taxed except for
Purposes Of their own, nor to be called
| on for military service. Slavery was to be pro-
hibited forever. nor were any Notifications to
be erected ON the islands.
Honduras regarded the surrender Of the
islands, under such restrictions, as of no prac-
teal value, and an insult to her rights, rather
than recognition of her ancient and un-
! doubted sovereignty. She declined, therefore,
as we have already said, to accept the conven-
TONS In this she was supported by the clear
| Iy expressed sentiment of the Senate Of the
United States. in its action on the Clarendon
Dallas treaty. in which the principles of these
conventions were more or less distinctly recog
nized That treaty was rejected, in so far as it
| implied any concurrence in the attempt of
| Great Britain to fetter the absolute dominion
| of Honduras over the islands. The govern
ment of that country thus received the moral
supper, of the United States in the stand which
| ii bad taken.
So things remained until, on the 18th of De-
| cember last, MI. Wyke was despatched to Hon
duras in order To renew the conventions, if pos
| sible, and carry them in their original form;
| or, failing in that, TO so modify them as to
meet the views of the Honduras government.
According to our advices, he was driven to
the latter expedien., and finally revised the
conventions to the following oifect:-
/. The Bay Islands are restored to Honduras
without condition, except that the people estab-
lished in them shall retain their actual landed
| end other property, and such as elect to do so
shall be regarded as British subjects, under the
came conditions as other British subjects resid-
ing in other parts Of the republic.
e. The territorial limits of Honduras are recOg-
nized as being those which she has always claim
ed, extending southwark as far as Cape Gracias
Dios and the river Wauks; and, if a joint com:
mission provided for in the settlement) shall
find any Mosquito Indians in the territory in
question they shall have q sufficient reservation
set apart for them within which they must re-
tire within. c stipulated time--the government
of Honduras to pay sum not exceeding S., 900
per annum towards their maintenance and civil
| lization.
3. All pending claims of British subjects on
Honduras to be settled by arbitration COM
mission for that purpose to meet in Guatemala,
instead of Belize, as provided in the Clarendon.
Herran convention.
Such are the essential results of The new
negotiations. They have yet to receive the
ratification Of the Legislature of Honduras, Of
which there can be but little doubt, since 1t is
understood that that body is fully in accord
with General Guardiola, the newly elected
President. Whether they will be acceptable
to the British government, however, remains
to be seen. 1t is barely possible that Mr..
Wyke ventured on the arrangement without
sufficient instruction and authority; but this is
not likely. Under all the circumstances, we
are inclined to believe that Great Britain has
finally and judiciously determined to abandon
her offensive pretensions in Honduras and
Nicaragua. But we prefer to reserve our con.
gratulations on her wisdom in this respect I'M
til we really see the English flag struck on
Ruatan, and the Mosquito Commission actually
in session. 1t is certainly time that Great Bril-
tain should recognise the fact that whatever
alliances of policy she may make on the Euro
pean Continent, they are but as wisps OF
straw to the ligatures by which she may attach
America to her in case her policy towards this
country shall be open, LIBERAL consistent and
sincere. The day probably is not far distant
when she may need our active sympathy and
support; and to gain these, let her wipe out her
Mosquito protectorates, and finally dispose of
all needless and irritating questions between
the two countries. Let her recognise the fact
that the United States has legitimate Cont
mental policy in no way contravening Euro
pean interests, which she should be allowed to
follow out without offensive and unnecessary
Intervention.
The Question OF the Succcssion-vVhat
VIII be Done at Charleston.
! As only a very short time-but little more
thaD f,ra roopths uy;I1 a1anco hofnro Tho yroof