The record-union., 1894-03-20
curate presentation of such news to its
many thousands of readers.
THE MOSQUITO RESERVATION
AGAIN.

mus should be guaranteed by the two
nations.
John M. Clayton, who negotiated the
treaty on our behalf, was then Secretary
OF State. Very soon the compact was
| assailed. and it was charged and has been
to this day, that Mr.. Clayton was out
generated. But up to the time of his
death, in 1856, he defended it with great
vigor.
1t is conceded that it is an ambiguous
compact and subject to possible interpre-
tations to our commercial injury.
Now, since the British marines have
been landed on the mainland of the Mos
quito Reservation, the clause OF the treaty
agreeing that neither Government shall
occupy, fortify, colonize or exercise do
minion over that coast, or any part of
! Central America, has been brought out
anew for discussion. AS the RECORD
UNION the other day explained at some
length, England has also treaty with
the Mosquito chiefs, guaranteeing them
independence in the reservation. Mica
caragua has repeatedly attempted to take
advantage of lapses in the chiettancy to
plant her authority over the coast and
has continuously claimed that it is under
her protectorate, having passed 10 her
from England in 1850. Her latest attempt,
1t is said, is the cause of the present land
ing of the British troops.
But, it is replied, the English of Jamaica
are colonizing the reservation; the Ja-
malca negroes are the actual controllers
on the coast, and the present English ac-
tivity is simply in their interest. This
treaty of retrocession to Nicaragua in
1860 was the same treaty made by Eng
land with the Mosquito KING for his in
dependence, and is known as the treaty
of Managua. A dispute arising as to the
true meaning of this treaty, the.Emperor
OF Austria was appointed arbitrator, and
he decided that it gave Nicaragua a nomi-
nal sovereignty only over the reserva-
4
ton, with the right to raise the Near
aguan flag, but not TO interfere in any
way with the local government, or with
foreign commerce.
Nicaragua finds just now that the
| Mosquito ruling chief is missing, and
forthwith sends in troops to control the
succession, it is charged. The MOSQUITO
authorities now prevail upon England to
interfere, and the warship Cleopatra there
| upon lands her marines.
Now comes the question. "How about
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty ?" It ante
dated the treaty of Managua; what right
had England, then, to land troops except
10 protect the interest of her subjects, and
it is alleged that the landing was not for
that purpose, but in response to an ap-
peal by the Mosquito authorities, as al
ready stated.
II happens that Blueields, where the
landing took place. is but seventy miles
distant from Greytown, the Atlantic
terminus of the Nicaragua canal. If Eng
land may plant a colony and a military
force SO near as that, what about the
safety of American interests controlling
the canal, since the English have the
reputation. established through long
period. that wherever they plant the butt
of a musket there the red coat remains.
We do not apprehend any difficulty
over this incident. We agree with the
Courfer-Jou'nat that recent history
proves that England will not quarrel
with the United States about such mat
ters; that she wants no trouble with US.
We disagree with the New York press,
which sees in the incident the gloved
hand of trickery against its capitalized
interest in the canal.
The probabilities are that the action of
the Captain of H. NJ. S. Cleopatra will be
Cancelled and that the British Govern
ment will express its regret that the
commander acted as he did. If not this.
then it will be agreed and put into Dip
lomatic note. that the landing shall not
be construed adverse to our treaty or
commercial interests, and that it shall
not be permanent or for other purpose
than that of fulfilling obligations,
and that the United States may, if it de-
sires, land an equal force. though it is
unlikely that we VIII do anything of the
kind or put in jeopardy any of the
friendly relations we have with Mica
ragua.
Since the foregoing was written dis
patches are at hand saying that Ameri-
cans at Bluefelds commend the British
Captain for landing marines and that a
testimonial has been presented to him
by them in token of thank kfulness. 1t is
added that the landing would have been
sanctioned by the American Admiral on
the Kearsarge had that unfortunate
United States ship not laid her bones on
Roncador Reef while she was en- route
for the Mosquito coast; that both Ameri-
CAL anu Lily toSAuSAIs III tHe EeS6rVa-
ton petitioned the foreign Consuls in the
reservation to ask the British commander
to drive out the Nicaraguans, which he
did after they had violated pledge to
vacate. When the advices closed the
English, Americans and natives were
contemplating the formation of Provis-
ional Government of Independent char
acter. This news indicates that the REC
ORD UNIONS view of the situation is