Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-21
The layton=B ulwer Treaty;
(By a Special Contributor.)

In the many discussions about the
Monroe Doctrine, n particularly in the
consideration that is given to the Nj
,caragua canal, there are many allu-
sions to the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. But
these illusions are generally vague, and
while 1t Is often taken for granted that
the reader or nearer knows all about the
treaty. it Is doubtful If many people
have any clear idea of 1t.
( The treaty was made just half a GEN.
fury ago and was intended to remove
amy impediments that might exist to the
construction of the canal at that time.
THE great influx of gold seekers to Cali
fornia in 1S4S made apparent the urgent
need of a shorter route between the At
lantic and the Pacific states. According
ly the United States, in 1S49, entered
unto an agreement with Nicaragua for
the construction of a anal from Grey
town (now San Juan) up the river to the
lake, and from thence to the Pacific
ocean.
At this time, however, Great Britain
claimed a protectorate over the Mos
quito Indians, who occupied the whole
eastern coast of Nicaragua, including
the site of Greytown. Although this
claim was not admitted by the United
States, it was deemed advisable to pro-
vide against opposition or the part of
England, and accordingly Mr.. Clayton,
the secretary of state General Taylor be-
ing president) requested Of the English
government that it would withdraw it's
pretentions so far a. to allow the United
States to proceed with the work. This
request was not acceeded to by Great
Rritain. hMf If 1pran6 RI nnfor into a
treaty for a joint protectorate over h
canal. The prime minister of Great
Britain at the time was Lord John Rus
sell and Lord Palmerston was foreign
secretary. but as the treaty was direct
~ negotiated by Mr.. Clayton and the
aBritish minister at Washington, Sir H..
L. Bulwer, it is known as the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty. 1t was signed at Wash
ington April 10. 1850. and the notifications
were exchanged on the 4th of July Of the
same year. The words Of the preamble
| are:
THE governments of the United States
and of Great Britain hereby declare that
neither the one nor the other will ever
obtain or maintain for itself any exclu-
sive control over thes said ship-canal;
agreeing that neither will ever erect or
maintain any Notifications commanding
LIN - VI III lIC fANiIAAly VI
occupy. or fortify or colonize, or assume
or exercise any dominion over Nicara-
qua, Costa RIGA the Mosquito coast OF
any part of Central America, nor will
either make use of n protection which
either has or may nave to or with any
state or people. for the purpose of erect
ing or maintaing any such Notifications,
or of occupying, fortifying or colonizing
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito
coast, or any part of Central America, or
l. NJ a I'M ~ nvnrotatrO nnn n ion
over the same; nor will the United States
or Great Britain take advantage of any
intimacy, or use any alliance. connection
or influence that either may possess, with
any state or government through whose
territory the said canal may pass, for
the purpose of acquiring or holding, d.
rectly or indirectly, for the citizens or
subjects of the one. any rights or advan-
tages in regard to m or naviga-
ton through the said canal which shall
not be offered on the same terms to the
citizens or subjects of the other"
Many provisions of the treaty have
been interpreted differently by the two
nations hat We're parties to it. and much
controversy has been the result. In par
ticular the United States has objected to
the exercise of dominion on the part of
Great Britain over Belize or British Hon.
duras. and has claimed that the lain
tenance of such authority has released
the United States from it's obligations.
AS far back as 1884, Mr. Frelinghaysen,
secretary of state, claimed the release Of
the United States for the reasons
First, that the consideration of the
treaty having failed, its object never
having been accomplished, the United
States did not receive that for which
they had ~covenanted; and, second, h a
| Croot Rrifain has narSiSfQnt1V violated
her agreement not to COLOMBO the Cen
trail American coast"
Yet despite the disputes regarding it
the United States has not violated its
part of the agreement sufficiently to pro-
luce any considerable trouble
m1rr pEn CROSS SOHIETX