The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-02-18
The clarton-Rulwsr Trs.tr.


In view of the interest now conferred upon Mic
aragua, it my be interesting 10 republish resams
Of the Clayton Bulwer Treaty which we find in
Badstreets. Many people have forgotten the
provisions Of that treaty
In June, 1Si9, Mr.. Hise, who had been appointed
charge affairs to the Central American States,
under the administration Of Polk. negotiated
treaty with the state Of Nicaragua, which secured
TO the United States or 10 company of the citi-
zens thereof, the exclusive right and privilege to
mako, construct and build within the territories
OF the state Of Nicaragua canal or ca e
nails or road roads either railways or turupikes
or any other kind Of road, for the purpose Of open
ing convenient passage and communication be-
tween the Caribbean sea and the Pacific ocean,
before the reception Of this treaty by the State
department a new charge 4 affairs had been CON-
missloned to Central America in the person OF
MI oquier, who was instructed by Mr.. Clayton the
head Of the new Wing administration of Taylor
(which succeeded the Democratic administration
OF Polk to claim no peculiar priyileges-no ex-
elusive rlght-no monopoly OF commercial inter-
course" and in case charter or grant of the
right of way had been "incautiously or inconsider-
ately made before his arrival to seek to have the
same properly modified. Mr.. Squier succeeded in
ms mission, the Hise treaty was suppressed, and
treaty negotiated by Mr.. Squior and embodying
the views of the administration, was sent 10 the
SENATE for ratification. Shortly afterwards nego-
tations were opened with the English govern
ment, which resulted in the Clayton Bulwer treaty
concluded April 10, 100 Three months after the
conclusion Of the treaty the short-lived admins
tration of Mr. Clayton gave place to one headed
by Mr. Webster.
The preamble of the Clayton Bulwer treaty de-
elares the desire OF the respective governments OF
the United states and Great Britannia consolidate
the relations OF amity existing between them BY
setting forth and fixing in a convention their
vievs and intentions with reference TO any means
OF communication by ship canal which may be
constructed between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans by the way of the river San Juan de.Nicar-
aqua, and either or both of the lakes of Nicara-
qua or Managua to any port or place on the Paci-
fic ocean," The first article declares that neither
the one or the other will ever obtain or maintain
for itself any exclusive control over the said ship
canal, "0r occupy or fortify colonize or assume
or exercise any jurisdiction Nicaragua, Costa
Rico and the Mosquito coast or any part of Cen
| tral America "nor take any advantage of any
intimacy use any alliance, connections or iuhu-
ence that either may possess with any state or
government through whose territory the canal NAV
pass for the purpose of acquiring or holding di-
rectly or Indirectly for the citizens subjects of
the any rights or advantages in regard to COM
merce or NAVIGATION through the said canal which
shall not be offered on the same terms to the cit-
zens or subject of the other" The contracting
parties further "engage to invite every state
| With which both or either have friendly inter
course into stipulatons with them similar to those
which they have entered into with each other,r
and in particular to enter into treaty stipulatons
with such of the Central American states as thew
may deem advisable "for the purpose of carrying
out the design of the convention Finally, the
1
entering into the convention having been not only
"to accomplish particular object but to establish
| general principle" they agree to extend thor
protection by treaty stipulations to any other
practicable communications, whether by canal or
railway, across the isthmus which connects North
and South America" After she ratification of the
| treaty certain memoranda were exchanged between
the negotiators to the effect that the stpulstons in
the first article did not apply to the British settle
ment in Belize, though the fact of governmental
| control was not admitted on the part of the
| United States. As will be seen from what pre-
| cedes, the treaty embodied very completely Mr..
Claytons policy of not claiming any peculiar priv
ileges or exclusive rights. The privileges already
gained were surrendered aud the future action Of
the United States in Central America was limited
| by a compact with European power.
One further circumstance remains TO be noted
in connection with the story of the negotiation of
the treaty. Its immediate object appears to have
been to utilize concession made by the state of
| Nicaragua in 1870 In that year Nicaragua made
| a grant to an American company organized for
the construction of an interoceanic eanal-a grant
| accompanied with various favors and privileges)
of all such portions of the territory claimed by
that state as the company might require. The aid
of Great Britain was sought, both because of the
| difficulty of obtaining the necessary capital In
i the United States, and because without Englands
countenance the canal could not be built owing TO
the fact that the mouth of the San Juan river was
held | y people protected by Great Britain. Sur
| veys were made on both sides with view of de-
termining rs to the practbility of the canal, and
| favorable reports were made. a combination OF
British capitalists and American stock holders was
contemplated; but the enterprise finally fell
| through, and the concession obtained was never
utilized and has, 1t seems been since superseded
by grants to other companies.