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Before this instruction was written, Mr. Lamar had concluded a treaty with Nicaragua which was a transcript of the Cass-Yrisarri treaty, with the addition of the modifications which Nicaragua had proposed. Mr. Lamar stated that his motive for so doing was that Sir W. Gore Ouseley had adopted these very modifications, and he thought the United States might on reconsideration accept them. since otherwise no treaty could be made. (MSS. Dept. of State.)

As to Walker's expeditions, see Mr. Cass, Sec. of State, to Mr. Molina, Nicaraguan min., Nov. 26, 1860, MS. Notes to Cent. Am. I. 177.

The British Government disapproved the insertion by Sir W. Gore Ouseley, in his treaty with Nicaragua, of an engagement on the part of that Government to prevent the organization of filibustering expeditions in British territory against Nicaragua, and declined to ratify the treaty. not only because the article had no real meaning so far as Great Britain and Nicaragua are concerned, except as a simple concession." but also because it had been used by Nicaragua as the basis of an attempt to require a similar concession from the United States. (Lord J. Russell to Sir C. L. Wyke, Aug. 15, 1859, Cor. in relation to the Proposed Interoceanic Canal, 130; 50 Br. & For. State Papers, 267.) "You will impress upon Count Walewski that we want nothing of Nicaragua which is not honorable to her, and which we have not a fair right to demand. We shall, under no circumstances, abandon the determination that the transit routes across the Isthmus shall be kept open and safe for all commercial nations." (Mr. Cass, Sec. of State, to Mr. Mason, Apr. 12, 1859, MS. Inst. France, XV. 412.)

With regard to the proposal of arbitration, it may be stated that it was suggested by Lord Clarendon to Mr. Buchanan in a conversation in November 1854. Mr. Buchanan, in reply, "playfully observed that it would now be difficult to find an impartial umpire, as they had gone to war with our arbitrator, the Emperor of Russia." The subject was again mentioned by Lord Clarendon a year later, when Mr. Buchanan made the same reply. Neither Mr. Buchanan nor his Government regarded Lord Clarendon's remarks as intended to convey a formal offer of arbitration; and it appears that Mr. Crampton, who had been directed to make such an offer, overlooked that part of his instructions and failed to communicate it till the end of February 1856. (Blue Book, Corre spondence with the United States respecting Central America, 1856, 296-303.)

The subject was renewed by Mr. Crampton's successor at Washington, Lord Napier, who stated to Mr. Cass officially, although not instructed to do so, that her Majesty's Government "regarded the principle of arbitra tion as the ark of safety for nations differing as to the sense of treaties." and that he did not doubt that his Government would gladly refer the decision of all controverted points to the decision of any one of the European powers." General Cass, as reported by Lord Napier, answered that he did not repudiate the principle of arbitration on all occasions; he had invoked it, and would do so again where it seemed justly applicable;" but that in the pending matter it was declined by the United States because, in the first place, the language of the treaty was so clear that in his opinion there ought not to be two opinions about it. “We say black is black," remarked Gen. Cass, "but we think that you say that black is white." Besides, said Gen. Cass, it was a mere question of the interpretation of the English language, concerning which no foreign government was so competent to decide as the United States and

England, who possessed that language in common; and, finally, the Senate of the United States had accepted the treaty in the sense that it stipulated for the absolute withdrawal of all British protectorate or possession in Central America. He had himself separated from some of his party and voted for the measure on that understanding, and on no other would the treaty have had a voice in the Senate or in the country. (Blue Book, Correspondence respecting Central America, 1856–60, 62–63.)

4. ARRANGEMENT OF 1858-1860.

§ 356.

By a convention between Great Britain and Honduras, signed by Sir Charles Lennox Wyke and Señor don Francisco Cruz at Comayagua, November 28, 1859, Great Britain recognized the sovereignty of Honduras over the Bay Islands and over the district occupied by the Mosquito Indians within the frontier of Honduras, whatever that frontier might be. Provision was at the same time made for the preservation of any interests of British subjects by grant, lease, or otherwise, obtained from the Mosquito Indians in lands situated within the district in question, and, in order that this stipulation might be made effective, provision was made for the appointment of a mixed commission to investigate the claims of British subjects arising out of grants, or leases, or otherwise.

49 Brit. & For. State Papers, 13.

For a further account of this treaty and the proceedings of the mixed com-
mission, see Moore, Int. Arbitrations, II. 2106.
"Aside from the well understood doctrines of this Government as to any
new acquisitions of American territory by European powers, it seems
unquestionable that the Clayton-Bulwer treaty precludes the acquisition
of those islands by Great Britain. The intentions which are imputed,
therefore, to that power, looking in that direction may well be discred-
ited. Still they should awaken the attention and arouse the vigilance
of this Government. Even should the tendency you report toward the
alienation of the Bay Islands take another direction, it would, of course,
be impossible for us to remain indifferent or to acquiesce in any other
European power acquiring any of them." (Mr. Evarts, Sec. of State,
to Mr. Logan, Mar. 4, 1880, MS. Inst. Cent. Am. XVIII. 73.)

66

By a convention between Great Britain and Nicaragua, signed by Sir Charles Lennox Wyke and Señor Pedro Zeledon, at Managua, January 28, 1860, Great Britain recognized the sovereignty of Nicaragua over the district occupied by the Mosquito Indians within the frontier of that republic." The convention looked to the ultimate formal incorporation of the Mosquito Indians into the Republic of Nicaragua, and provided for the preservation of the rights of British subjects to lands within the district under grants or leases from the Mosquito Indians.

50 Brit. & For. State Pap. 96; Moore, Int. Arbitrations, II. 2106.

For the Wyke-Aycinena convention between Great Britain and Honduras,
signed at Guatemala, April 30, 1859, see Correspondence in relation to
the Proposed Interoceanic Canal (Washington, 1885), 294.
For an explanation of the failure of Sir William Gore Ouseley's mission,
and the instructions given by Lord John Russell, Aug. 15, 1859, to Sir
William's successor, Sir Charles Lennox Wyke, by whom the treaties
above mentioned were concluded, see Correspondence (1885), 130: 50
Br. & For. State Papers (1859, 1860), 267. See, also, Mr. Cass, Sec.
of State, to Mr. Dallas, min. to England, Aug. 11, and Aug. 12, 1859,
MS. Inst. Gr. Br. XVII. 208, 209, urging the importance of a speedy
settlement.

With reference to the mission of Sir C. L. Wyke, see Mr. Cass, Sec. of
State, to Mr. Clarke, min. to Cent. Am., Oct. 1, 1859, and Feb. 18, 1860,
Correspondence, &c., 121, 124; Mr. Cass, Sec. of State, to Lord Lyons,
confidential, Feb. 21, 1860, MS. Notes to Gr. Br. VIII. 287.

"Our relations with Great Britain are of the most friendly character. Since the commencement of my Administration the two dangerous questions arising from the Clayton and Bulwer treaty and from the right of search claimed by the British Government have been amicably and honorably adjusted.

"The discordant constructions of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty between the two Governments, which at different periods of the discussion bore a threatening aspect, have resulted in a final settlement entirely satisfactory to this Government. In my last annual message I informed Congress that the British Government had not then 'completed treaty arrangements with the Republics of Honduras and Nicaragua in pursuance of the understanding between the two Governments. It is, nevertheless, confidently expected that this good work will ere long be accomplished.' This confident expectation has since been fulfilled. Her Britannic Majesty concluded a treaty with Honduras on the 28th November, 1859, and with Nicaragua on the 28th August, 1860, relinquishing the Mosquito protectorate. Besides, by the former the Bay Islands are recognized as a part of the Republic of Honduras. It may be observed that the stipulations of these treaties conform in every important particular to the amendments adopted by the Senate of the United States to the treaty concluded at London on the 17th October, 1856, between the two Governments. It will be recollected that this treaty was rejected by the British Government because of its objection to the just and important amendment of the Senate to the article relating to Ruatan and the other islands in the Bay of Honduras."

President Buchanan, annual message, Dec. 3, 1860. (Richardson's Messages and Papers, V. 639.)

5. MR. SEWARD'S COURSE.

§ 357.

"It is the policy of the United States Government to keep the Nicaragua transit open to the commerce of the world, and to discourage its interruption by the visionary schemes of adventurers."

Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Riotte, No. 60, Sept. 8, 1863, MS. Inst. Am.
States, XVI. 367.

As to Mr. Seward's action in 1862, with reference to the Panama route, see
supra, § 339.

By Art. XIV. of the Clay-Colindres treaty, between the United States and Honduras, concluded at Comayagua, July 4, 1864, stipulations, similar in terms to those embodied in Art. XXXV. of the treaty of 1846 with New Granada, were made with reference to interoceanic routes in Honduras, and particularly to the way to be constructed by the Honduras Interoceanic Railway Company. The guarantee thus given does not imply that the United States are to maintain a police or other force in Honduras for the purpose of keeping petty trespassers from the railway.” (Mr. Fish, Sec. of State, to Mr. Baxter, min. to Honduras, May 12, 1871, For. Rel. 1871, 581; Mr. Fish, Sec. of State, to Mr. Torbert, min. to Salvador, March 20, 1871, For. Rel. 1871, 691.)

Suggestion as to
Tigre Island.

"It seems obvious that the renunciation by the parties to this instrument [the Clayton-Bulwer treaty] of a right to acquire dominion in Central America was intended to prevent either of them from obtaining control over the proposed ship-canal. At the time the treaty was concluded, there was every prospect that that work would not only soon be begun, but that it would be carried to a successful conclusion. For reasons, however, which it is not necessary to specify, it never was even commenced, and at present there does not appear to be a likelihood of its being undertaken. It may be a question, therefore, supposing that the canal should never be begun, whether the renunciatory clauses of the treaty are to have perpetual operation.

"Technically speaking, this question might be decided in the negative. Still, so long as it should remain a question, it would not comport with good faith for either party to do anything which might be deemed contrary to even the spirit of the treaty.

"It is becoming more and more certain every day that not only naval warfare in the future, but also all navigation of war vessels in time of peace must be by steam. This necessity will occasion little or no inconvenience to the principal maritime powers of Europe, and especially to Great Britain, as those powers have possessions in various parts of the globe where they can have stores of coal and provisions for the use of their vessels. We are differently situated. We have no possession beyond the limits of the United States. Foreign colonization has never been favored by statesmen in this country either on general grounds, or as in harmony with our peculiar condi

tion. There is no change or likely to be any in this respect. indispensable for us, however, to have coaling stations under our own flag for naval observation and police, and for defensive war as well as for the protection of our widely-spread commerce when we are at peace ourselves. This want, even for our commercial marine, is nowhere more sensibly felt than on the track between Panama and San Francisco. The question then occurs what points beyond our jurisdiction would be most eligible for this purpose?

"Whatever opinion might be entertained in regard to any other sites, there would be no question that Tigre Island would be exceedingly desirable for that purpose.

"Under these circumstances, you will sound Lord Clarendon as to the disposition of his Government to favor us in acquiring coaling stations in Central America, notwithstanding the stipulation contained in the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. In doing this, however, you will use general terms only, and will by no means allow it to be supposed that we particularly covet Tigre Island. You will execute this instruction at such time and in such way as to you may seem best, and inform the Department of the result so that the United States minister to Honduras may be directed to proceed accordingly.

"It is supposed that you may probably be able to introduce the subject to the Earl of Clarendon's attention by suggesting that a negotiation with a view to the special end mentioned might be made an element in a general negotiation for settlement of the northwestboundary question and of the conflicting claims of the two countries which have arisen during the late rebellion in the United States."

Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Adains, min. to England, April 25, 1866, Correspondence in relation to the Proposed Interoceanic Canal (Washington, 1885), 14.

Mr. Adams, June 2, 1866, answered that he had in a casual way brought the subject to the attention of Lord Clarendon, who stated that he would refresh his recollection of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and look the whole thing over." (Correspondence, etc. (1885), 15.)

June 12, 1867, Mr. Seward enclosed to Mr. Adams a copy of a dispatch just received from Mr. Rousseau, United States minister resident in Honduras, in relation to the desire of the United States to obtain Tigre Island as a coaling station. Accompanying the dispatch was a map. Mr. Adams was instructed to bring the matter, in such manner as his discretion might approve, to the attention of Lord Stanley. (MS. Inst. Gr. Br. XXI. 219.)

Treaty with Nicaragua, 1867, and other treaties.

June 21, 1867, Mr. Seward being Secretary of State, a treaty, commonly called the Dickinson-Ayon treaty, was concluded between the United States and Nicaragua, containing stipulations similar to those embodied in the unratified Cass-Yrisarri agreement. The ratifications of the treaty were exchanged at Granada, June 20, 1868. By Article XIV., Nicaragua grants "to the United States, and to their

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