Mais les vasseaux de Sa Majesté ne saisiront pas la propriété de l'ennemi chargée à bord d'un bâtiment neutre, à moins que cette propriété ne soit contrebande de guerre.

Sa Majesté ne compte pas revendiquer le droit de confisquer la propriété des neutres, autres que la contrebande de guerre, trouvée à bord des bâtiments ennemis.

Sa Majesté déclare en outre que, mue par le désir de diminuer autant que possible les maux de la guerre et d'en restreindre les opérations aux forces régulièrement organisées de l'Etat, elle n'a pas, pour le moment, l'intention de délivrer des lettres de marque pour autoriser les armements en course.

Paris, le 29 Mars, 1854.

Le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, DROUYN DE LHUYS.

CORRESPONDENCE between Great Britain and The United States, respecting Central America.-1854-1856.

[Continued from Vol. XLII. Page 153.]

No. 175.-Statement for the Earl of Clarendon.

London, January 6, 1854. WHEN the negotiations commenced which resulted in the conclusion of the Clayton and Bulwer Convention of the 19th of April, 1850, the British Government were in possession of the whole extensive coast of Central America, sweeping round from the Rio Hondo to the port and harbour of San Juan de Nicaragua, except that portion of it between the Sarstoon and Cape Honduras, together with the adjacent Honduras Island of Ruatan.

The Government of The United States seriously contested the claim of Great Britain to any of these possessions, with the single exception of that part of the Belize Settlement lying between the Rio Hondo and the Sibun, the usufruct of which, for a special purpose, and with a careful reservation of his sovereign rights over it, had been granted by the King of Spain to the British under the Treaty of 1786.

The progress of events had rendered Central America an object of special interest to all the commercial nations of the world, on account of the railroads and canals then proposed to be constructed through the Isthmus, for the purpose of uniting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Great Britain and The United States both having large and valuable possessions on the shores of the Pacific, and an extensive trade with the countries beyond, it was natural that the one should desire to prevent the other from being placed in a position to exercise exclusive control, in peace or in war, over any of the grand thoroughfares between the two oceans. This was a main feature of the policy which dictated the Clayton and Bulwer Convention. To place the 2 nations on an exact equality, and thus to remove all causes of mutual jealousy, each of them agreed, by this Convention, never to occupy, fortify, or exercise dominion over any portion of Central America. Both parties adopted this self-denying ordinance, for the purpose of terminating serious misunderstandings then existing between them which might have endangered their friendly relations.

Whether The United States acted wisely or not, in relinquishing their right, as an independent nation, to acquire territory in a region on their own continent, which may become necessary for the security of their communication with their important and valuable possessions on the Pacific, is another and a different question. But they have concluded the Convention; their faith is pledged; and under such circumstances they never look behind the record.

The language of the Convention is properly mutual, though, in regard to The United States, it can only restrain them from making future acquisitions; because it is well known that, in point of fact, they were not in the occupation of a foot of territory in Central America. In reference to Great Britain, the case is different, and the language applies not only to the future, but to the past; because she was then in the actual exercise of dominion over a very large portion of the eastern coast of Central America. Whilst, therefore, The United States had no occupancy to abandon under the Convention, Great Britain had extensive possessions to restore to the States of Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

And yet the British Government, up till the present moment, have not deemed proper to take the first step towards the performance of their obligations under this Convention. They are still in the actual occupancy of nearly the whole coast of Central America, including the Island of Ruatan, in the very same manner that they were before its conclusion. This delay on their part surely cannot proceed from any obscurity in the language of the Convention. Article I declares that the Governments of The United States and Great Britain agree that neither will "occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or assume, or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito Coast, or any part of Central America." And from abundant caution, in view of the Mosquito Protectorate, the Article

Mais les vasseaux de Sa Majesté ne saisiront pas la propriété de l'ennemi chargée à bord d'un bâtiment neutre, à moins que cette propriété ne soit contrebande de guerre.

Sa Majesté ne compte pas revendiquer le droit de confisquer la propriété des neutres, autres que la contrebande de guerre, trouvée à bord des bâtiments ennemis.

Sa Majesté déclare en outre que, mue par le désir de diminuer autant que possible les maux de la guerre et d'en restreindre les opérations aux forces régulièrement organisées de l'Etat, elle n'a pas, pour le moment, l'intention de délivrer des lettres de marque pour autoriser les armements en course.

Paris, le 29 Mars, 1854.

Le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, DROUYN DE LHUYS.

CORRESPONDENCE between Great Britain and The United States, respecting Central America.-1854-1856.

[Continued from Vol. XLII. Page 153.]

No. 175.-Statement for the Earl of Clarendon.

London, January 6, 1854. WHEN the negotiations commenced which resulted in the conclusion of the Clayton and Bulwer Convention of the 19th of April, 1850, the British Government were in possession of the whole extensive coast of Central America, sweeping round from the Rio Hondo to the port and harbour of San Juan de Nicaragua, except that portion of it between the Sarstoon and Cape Honduras, together with the adjacent Honduras Island of Ruatan.

The Government of The United States seriously contested the claim of Great Britain to any of these possessions, with the single exception of that part of the Belize Settlement lying between the Rio Hondo and the Sibun, the usufruct of which, for a special purpose, and with a careful reservation of his sovereign rights over it, had been granted by the King of Spain to the British under the Treaty of 1786.

The progress of events had rendered Central America an object of special interest to all the commercial nations of the world, on account of the railroads and canals then proposed to be constructed through the Isthmus, for the purpose of uniting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Great Britain and The United States both having large and valuable possessions on the shores of the Pacific, and an extensive trade with the countries beyond, it was natural that the one should desire to prevent the other from being placed in a position to exercise exclusive control, in peace or in war, over any of the grand thoroughfares between the two oceans. This was a main feature of the policy which dictated the Clayton and Bulwer Convention. To place the 2 nations on an exact equality, and thus to remove all causes of mutual jealousy, each of them agreed, by this Convention, never to occupy, fortify, or exercise dominion over any portion of Central America. Both parties adopted this self-denying ordinance, for the purpose of terminating serious misunderstandings then existing between them which might have endangered their friendly relations.

Whether The United States acted wisely or not, in relinquishing their right, as an independent nation, to acquire territory in a region on their own continent, which may become necessary for the security of their communication with their important and valuable possessions on the Pacific, is another and a different question. But they have concluded the Convention; their faith is pledged; and under such circumstances they never look behind the record.

The language of the Convention is properly mutual, though, in regard to The United States, it can only restrain them from making future acquisitions; because it is well known that, in point of fact, they were not in the occupation of a foot of territory in Central America. In reference to Great Britain, the case is different, and the language applies not only to the future, but to the past; because she was then in the actual exercise of dominion over a very large portion of the eastern coast of Central America. Whilst, therefore, The United States had no occupancy to abandon under the Convention, Great Britain had extensive possessions to restore to the States of Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

And yet the British Government, up till the present moment, have not deemed proper to take the first step towards the performance of their obligations under this Convention. They are still in the actual occupancy of nearly the whole coast of Central America, including the Island of Ruatan, in the very same manner that they were before its conclusion. This delay on their part surely cannot proceed from any obscurity in the language of the Convention. Article I declares that the Governments of The United States and Great Britain agree that neither will " occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or assume, or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito Coast, or any part of Central America." And from abundant caution, in view of the Mosquito Protectorate, the Article

Mais les vasseaux de Sa Majesté ne saisiront pas la propriété de l'ennemi chargée à bord d'un bâtiment neutre, à moins que cette propriété ne soit contrebande de guerre.

Sa Majesté ne compte pas revendiquer le droit de confisquer la propriété des neutres, autres que la contrebande de guerre, trouvée à bord des bâtiments ennemis.

Sa Majesté déclare en outre que, mue par le désir de diminuer autant que possible les maux de la guerre et d'en restreindre les opérations aux forces régulièrement organisées de l'Etat, elle n'a pas, pour le moment, l'intention de délivrer des lettres de marque pour autoriser les armements en course.

Paris, le 29 Mars, 1854.

Le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, DROUYN DE LHUYS.

CORRESPONDENCE between Great Britain and The United States, respecting Central America.-1854-1856.

[Continued from Vol. XLII. Page 153.]

No. 175.-Statement for the Earl of Clarendon.

London, January 6, 1854. WHEN the negotiations commenced which resulted in the conclusion of the Clayton and Bulwer Convention of the 19th of April, 1850, the British Government were in possession of the whole extensive coast of Central America, sweeping round from the Rio Hondo to the port and harbour of San Juan de Nicaragua, except that portion of it between the Sarstoon and Cape Honduras, together with the adjacent Honduras Island of Ruatan.

The Government of The United States seriously contested the claim of Great Britain to any of these possessions, with the single exception of that part of the Belize Settlement lying between the Rio Hondo and the Sibun, the usufruct of which, for a special purpose, and with a careful reservation of his sovereign rights over it, had been granted by the King of Spain to the British under the Treaty of 1786.

The progress of events had rendered Central America an object of special interest to all the commercial nations of the world, on account of the railroads and canals then proposed to be constructed through the Isthmus, for the purpose of uniting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.