The Chilean delegates abstained from voting on this proposition, as on that of arbitration. The delegates of the United States at first opposed the absolute limitation of the right of conquest; but finally voted for it on the condition that it should have effect only during the existence of the treaty of arbitration, which was to run for twenty years; and thereafter till the nations should withdraw from it.1

International Library.-Before separating the Conference adopted unanimously the following resolution:

"Resolved. That there be established at such location in the city of Washington as the Government of the United States may designate, to commemorate the meeting of the International American Conference, a Latin-American Memorial Library, to be formed by contributions from all the Governments represented · in this Conference, wherein shall be collected all the historical, geographical, and literary works, maps, manuscripts, and official documents relating to the history and civilization of America, such library to be solemnly dedicated on the day on which the United States celebrates the Fourth Centennial of the discovery of America." By an amendment to the resolution, the name was to be the " Library of Columbus."

The Conference adjourned on the 19th of April, 1890. As in the case of so many previous American Congresses, the recommendations of this one have for the most part come to naught.

INTEROCEANIC CANAL.

Soon after the establishment of the independence of the Spanish-American Republics, the United States, as well as other States, European and American, were occupied with schemes for the construction of a ship canal across the isthmus which connects the two American Continents. It formed one of the proposed subjects of discussion at the Panama Congress of 1826. Clay, in his instructions to the commissioners to that Congress, said:

1 Records of the Conference, II. 1122-1152. And the whole question of Arbitration, Ib., 954-1152.

"A cut or canal for purposes of navigation somewhere through the isthmus that connects the two Americas, to unite the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, will form a proper subject of consideration at the Congress.

*** In the present limited state of our information as to the practicability and the probable expense of the object, it would not be wise to do more than to make some preliminary arrangements. The best routes will be most likely found in the territory of Mexico or that of the Central Republic. The latter Republic made to this Government, on the 8th day of February of last year, in a note to which Mr. Canaz, its minister here, addressed to this Department, a liberal offer, manifesting high and honorable confidence in the United States.' ***If the work should ever be executed so as to admit of the passage of sea vessels from ocean to ocean, the benefits of it ought not to be exclusively appropriated to any one nation, but should be extended to all parts of the globe upon the payment of a just compensation or reasonable tolls. What is most desirable at present is to possess the data necessary to form a correct judgment of the practicability and the probable expense of the undertaking on the routes which offer the greatest facilities.

"Measures may have been already executed or be in progress to acquire the requisite knowledge. You will inquire particularly as to what has been done or may have been designed by Spain or either of the new States, and obtain all other information that may be within your reach, to solve this interesting problem."

***

In 1828, Bolivar, President of the Republic of New Granada, gave to Lloyd and Falcmar a commission with a view to construct a roadway between the two oceans. The next year, the King of the Netherlands, in behalf of a private company, made arrangements with Central America for the cutting of a canal, "to be opened on the same terms to all nations."

On the 5th of March, 1835, the Senate of the United States adopted a resolution requesting the President to open negotiations with other nations, and particularly with the governments of Central America and New Granada, with the view of protecting by treaty stipulations, either individuals or companies who should undertake to open communication between

1 House Reports, 30th Cong., 2d Sess., No. 145, p. 244.

the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; and insuring "the free and equal navigation of the canal by all nations." Similar resolutions were adopted by Congress in 1839. Charles Biddle and John L. Stephens were successively commissioned agents by Presidents Jackson and Van Buren between the years 1836 and 1839, but with no permanent results. Stephens reported in favor of the Nicaragua route. On the 8th of January, 1845, the government of Nicaragua gave Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, then a prisoner in the fortress of Ham, power to organize a company for the construction of a new route for the commerce of the world to be called "Le Canale Napoleon de Nicaragua." After the escape of Louis Napoleon from Ham, in the following May, a pamphlet was published at London under his name, entitled "The Canal of Nicaragua, or a Project for the Junction of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by means of a Canal."

In concluding a new treaty with New Granada (since 1862, the United States of Colombia), December 12, 1846, the government of the United States succeeded in introducing an article (the 35th) giving effect to the previous resolutions of Congress.2

Although England had taken no active part in the projects for the construction of a Central American canal, she was not an uninterested spectator of what was taking place there. In 1841, the English Government sent a ship of war to San Juan del Norte, at the mouth of the San Juan river, to announce the protection of England over the lands of the Mosquito King, her ally, and to erect the Mosquito flag. In 1847, the Nicaraguans were driven away from San Juan del Norte, and the name of the town was changed to Grey Town. In giving instructions to Mr. Hise, soon after this event Mr. Buchanan, Secretary of State, said:

"The object of Great Britain in this seizure is evident from the policy which she has uniformly pursued throughout her history,

1 H. R. 30th Cong., 2d Sess., No. 145. Squier's Nicaragua; John L. Stephens Incidents of Travel in Central America.

2 Supra, p. 183.

3 British Accounts and Papers, Vol. 65, Mosquito Correspondence; Ex. Doc. No. 75, Vol. X., 31st Cong., 1st Sess. pp. 1-91, 118; Senate Ex. Doc. No. 194, 47th Cong., 1st Sess., p. 111.

of seizing upon every available commercial point in the world whenever circumstances have placed it in her power. Her purpose probably is to obtain control of the route for a railroad or canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by way of Lake Nicaragua.*** The government of the United States has not yet determined what course it will pursue in regard to the encroachments of the British Government. ***

"The independence as well as the interests of the nations on this continent require that they should maintain an American system of policy entirely distinct from that which prevails in Europe. To suffer any interference on the part of the European Governments with the domestic concerns of the American Republics, and to permit them to establish new colonies upon this continent, would be to jeopard their independence and ruin their interests. These truths ought everywhere throughout this continent to be impressed upon the public mind; but what can the United States do to resist such European interference whilst the Spanish-American Republics continue to weaken themselves by divisions and civil war, and deprive themselves of doing anything for their own protection."

The acquisition of California by the United States, in 1848, and the subsequent discovery of gold in that territory gave an increased interest to the projects for constructing a water-way through the Central American Isthmus. In this year, 1848, Aspinwall, Stephens and others obtained from the government of New Granada the concession of the way for a railway across the Isthmus of Panama. This road was finished and opened to traffic in 1855. On the 27th day of August, 1849, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Joseph L. White and others formed at New York a company called The American, Atlantic and Pacific Company, to whom the government of Nicaragua granted the right to construct a ship canal across the territory of that State.2

At about the same time-June 21, 1849- Mr. Hise, who had been sent to Central America as Chargé d'Affaires, concluded a treaty with Nicaragua, but without the authority of his

1 Wharton's Digest of International Law, I. 287-288.

2 Correspondence relating to proposed Interoceanic Canal, p. 195. This volume of correspondence published by the government in 1885, is a reprint of Senate Ex. Docs. No. 112, 46th Cong., 2d Sess.; No. 194, 47th Cong., 1st Sess., and No. 26, 48th Cong., 1st Sess.

government, by which the United States were to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over any route through the territory of that State.1

The Hise treaty was not acceptable to President Taylor, and was not submitted to the Senate; though it was held for some time as a means of influencing the policy of England.

At this time the Nicaragua route was thought to be the most feasible one for a ship canal; but an obstacle now presented itself in the fact that the mouth of the San Juan river, and hence the eastern terminus of the canal, was under the dominion of England. England had, moreover, a settlement on the mainland further to the north, called the Belize, or British Honduras, and she claimed the Bay Islands, situated in the Bay of Honduras as dependencies of Belize.

The government of the United States, alarmed at this preponderance of British influence in Central America, cast about for the means of counteracting it. To oust England from her strong position by force was felt to be much too grave an undertaking, even were the United States disposed to attempt it. But the American statesmen of that day were, as a rule, only intent on securing a free transit across the isthmus not under the exclusive control of any European nation. They resolved, therefore, upon a peaceful and conciliatory policy; if England could not be got rid of, yet she might consent to act in conjunction with the United States in guaranteeing the proposed isthmus transit. Under instructions from Mr. Clayton, Mr. W. C. Rives, who was on his way to Paris, had an interview with Lord Palmerston, in which Mr. Rives said to him with reference to the British claim of jurisdiction over the Mosquitos :

"That the United States had no disposition to intermeddle in any pragmatical spirit, or with views in the slightest degree unfriendly to Great Britain, with that question, but they were necessarily parties to it in their own right; that citizens of the United States had entered into a contract (the Hise treaty) with the State of Nicaragua to open, on certain conditions, a communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by the river San Juan and the Nicaragua Lake; that the Government of the

1 Correspondence relating to proposed Interoceanic Canal, p. 94.