The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-20


tailors.
The New British Minister for Mexico
the Central American Questions.
The accounts from Central America which |
we publish to- day, inform us that Mr. Wyke,
the British Minister to the several Central
American republics, has concluded his nego-
tiations there, and that he is now on his way to
England to receive instructions for his new
mission to Mexico.
The Central American imbroglio took its rise
years ago, in policy on the part of England
which impelled her to send Chatfeld to the
Isthmus republics, and Elliot to Texas during
her independent existence, in order to initiate
a policy and feeling in the countries south of
us, adverse to the increasing power of the
American Union. This led for time to the
"coquetting" of Sam Houston with England
against us, which was put an end to by the an
nexation of Texas, and to long contention,
diplomatic and political, in London and in the
Central American States, which the Clayton
Bulwer treaty was designed to bring to close.
This result was not Immediately produced, for
the remnants ofthe old feeling of antagonism still
stuck to England, and she claimed an interpre
tation of the new compact which We could not
by any means admit When it was proposed
to abrogate this ineffective treaty by the action
of Congress, this was stopped by the plea that
if the Clayton-Bulwer arrangement were set
aside there would be no impeachment of any
kind to England's doing what she chose in Cen
trail America.
In order to settle the difficulty without rails
ing the point of honor between the two go
vernments, it was suggested that England
should arrange all the matters in question by
separate negotiations with the several Central
American republics; and it has been stated
that such an understanding existed betweenher
cabinet and our own. The upshot of the mat
ter is, that action on our part on the Clayton
Bulwer mistake, was delayed, and Mr.. Wyke,
the British Minister in Central America, has in
a short period of time negotiated three treaties
two of which settle points on which we were at
issue with England. His first treaty was with
Guatemala, by which certain claims of ter
ritory for the Belize settlement are con-
coded by the republic. Here we had
no question. The next treaty was with
Honduras, by which the Bay Islands are re-
turned to that republic without the obnoxious
object, which eliminated the sovereignty of
Honduras, while they were evidently pointed
at the United States The third and last treaty
has been negotiated with Nicaragua, by which
the folly of a Mosquito protectorate has been
wiped out, and the recognition of the sove-
reignty of Nicaragua over that territory con-
summated.
These movements indicate change on the
part of England in her Central American
policy, which, if carried out in good faith, will
be productive of benefit to the interests of all.
Mr.. Wyke is now on his way to England to re.
ceive instructions for his Mexican mission. In
Central America he has exhibited the re.
verse of Mr.. Chat6eld's policy. If in Mexico
he plays the same part to that established by
Mr. Otway, and which has created such intense
dissatisfaction everywhere except in Spain and
with the Pope, it is very probable that Mexico
may soon emerge from that scene of anarchy
and strife which now desolates her, and take
the position which the policy of both the Uni
tedStates and England desires she shall occupy
We do not want to annex Mexico. There are
thousand reasons why such an operation would
be undesirable to us. But we desire to see her
under stable and enlightened government;
one consonant with the spirit of the age and
the growing tendency of the Mexican people
towards liberalism in matters of State and
Church; one which shall insure her peace at
home and her respect for the obligations of
international comfy; and finally, one which
shall open her immense natural resources to
the commerce and industry of the world.
If Mr.. Wyke goes to Mexico animated by
such intentions, and guided by such instruc-
tons as his course in Central America lead us
to expect, we have no doubt that we shall see
a united action there between the representa-
tives of the two countries that will soon put a
stop to the mistaken policy now pursued by
Mons. Gabriac, the French Minister in Mexico.
Whatever may be the motives of Mons. Ga
briacs course, its results have been equally
disastrous to the foreign and domestic interests
in that republic. His own countrymen have
not escaped the universal Disaster and when |
their representations to the Imperial govern
ment. against him have been sent to
him for explanation, his constant reply
has been the libel that his accusers
are set Of red republicans, who
hate him because he represents the Empire. |
But his plea that his policy is necessary to
counteract the southwark march of the United
Statssfalls before the evidence Of facts; andhis