, 1900-02-16

ragua for the construction of a canal
to be owned and fortified by the United
States, and in return for this the Uni
ted States guaranteed to protect ant
defend Nicaragua in her rights to the
territory, coasts. and ports.
This treaty came directly into col,
lision with England's pretensions. It's
contents became known and 1t was
heartily %applauded for its thoroughly
American one. The country vas plac-
ed squarely upon the Monroe doctrine,
But at this time the Polk administra-
ton went out of power, and the treaty
was never submitted TO the senate fol
ratification. President Taylor recalled
Mr.. Hise and T.. G. Squire was appoint
ed envoy to Nicaragua in his place. BY
President Taylor and Secretary Clay
ton the canal was regarded entirely as
a commercial enterprise, and scarcely
a thought was given to its importance
as a national waterway. Mr.. Squire
was instructed to work for a neutrali-
~ "AiA h'A ~ \
the country in e%ntangling alliances"
But upon his arrival in Central Amer
lea. and making inquiry as to the real
claims of Great Britain, Mr.. Squier be-
came an advocate also of the Monroe
doctrine. He secured concessions from
Nicaragua, and also got from Hondu-
ras valuable strips of land on Tigre
island, to be fortified by the Unite
States to defend Fonseca bay. Then
the English asserted their claim on
Tigre island for the indemnity claim
ed from Honduras. and hoisted the
British flag. Squier gave the English
six days to abandon the island. Mat
tiers were just at this point when Sec
rotary of State John NJ. Clayton tried
his hand at diplomacy, and negotiated
the now famous Clayton-Bulwer trea-
ty.
Various reasons have been advanced
to account for the apparently singular
craftsmanship which framed that trea-
ty. President Taylor, it appears. dar-
ed not risk the indignation Of the
country if he backed down before the
demands Of England. At the same
time, not having a majority support in
congress, he could not risk a conflict
with Great Britain. Secretary Clayton
undertook to find a way out Of the diff
fculty by Immediately coming to a
definite and secret understanding with
England. Mr.. Abbott Lawrence, an
American representative. was in
structed to confer with Lord Palmer
ston in London. Everything proceed
canal and railway. Mr.. Lawrence,
however, insisted that England should
%relinquish her claims to Mosquito and
Tigre island. the points commanding
and controlling the ends Of the propos-
ed canal. Lord Palmerston was obdu-
rate, and Lawrence set himself to ex-
anime the history and legal status OF
the British claim. He went through a
mass of evidence, and at last reported
to Secretary Clayton; After a careful
examination Of the Mosquito claim
with the protectorate of England. l
can see no ground for it to rest upon
either in history, public law, or JUS
tice."
But Secretary Clayton refused to be
warned and L~awrence's bulky histori-
cal rebuttal of E%ngland's claims was
buried in the archives of the state de-
partment and the Clayton-Bulwer trea-
ty was signed. In this treaty as the
senate ratified it England gave up her
claims to Mosquito and the Bay ISL
ands. Secretary Clayton's "dossier" OF
private notes has been construed by
England to reserve Mosquito from the
stipulations of the convention, although
the Mosquito coast is named express
ly in the treaty. On various grounds
from that date to the present the Uni
ted States has striven to obtain from
that the treaty is a nullity. President
Buchanan was directed by congress to
demand its formal ~abrogation, and
took the stand that Great Britain had
violated it by her subsequent claims to
territory in Central America. Presi-
dents Grant and Arthur and Secreta-
ries of State Blaine and Frelinghuysen
took the same grounds, declaring that
In any case, as there was a misunder-
standing as to the terms Of the treaty,
it should in fairness be abrogated.
Soon after the signing Of the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty an English warship
appeared off Greytown and exacted
from Nicaragua a recognition Of the
protectorate of Mosquito. Matters
reached a crisis when the Anglo-Mos-
quito custom-house officials attempted
to collect port dues from an American
vessel, the Prometheus. Dues were re-
fused and an English man-of-war fir
ed on the American ship. Webster,
then secretary Of state, laid the matter
before the English government, and so
the first issue was drawn on the con-
struction of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
less than a year after it was promul-
gated. Great Britain yielded a point
apparently and long negotiations en-
sued. In the end England held to her
construction Of the treaty and congress
did not admit the justice of it. Secre-