I may add, he will find them when he arrives there. In these it will be seen, in an explicit form, the views and determinations of my government in respect to the various matters comprehended in Mr. Chatfield's despatch; and with him, in consonance with the usages of the count y and the principles of international law, that the government of San Salvador will understand itself. The President is surprised at the tone and expressions of paragraph five of your communication. It comprehends a direct menace of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the State; and if your subsequent conduct shall unfortunately disturb the friendly relations between Great Britain and San Salvador, my government protests from that moment against the damages and prejudices which may result, and will make its voice heard where its rights shall receive attention. In these terms I am ordered to answer your letter; and I am, sir, &c., &c., &c., To Admiral HORNBY, &c., &c., &e. R. PINO. A-3. MINISTRY OF GENERAL RELATIONS OF SAN SALVADOR, SIR: Mr. Phipps Hornby has directed to this ministry the note of which a copy is appended. As this communication involves a threat which, if carried out, may affect the interests of Nicaragua, Honduras, and San Salvador, the President has directed me to send copies to the governments of the first of these States, so that such means may be taken as shall be found necessary to impede the hostile measures which Mr. Hornby has indicated. I take this opportunity, &c., &c., &c., Hon. E. GEO. SQUIER, &c., &c., &c. R. PINO. A-4. ABOARD THE ASIA, SIR: I have received your official letter of the 27th ultimo, which I am obliged to characterize as evasive and insulting, and I have, therefore, only to make known to your government that I shall shortly take such measures as shall show you that I am not only authorized in my operations, but also that I have the power necessary to give effect to whatever measures a just and wise policy shall require. I am, &c., &c., PHIPPS HORNBY. To the SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS of San Salvador. A-5. ABOARD HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SHIP ASIA, SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I have arrived in this bay in her Britannic Majesty's ship Asia, of S4 guns, bearing my flag. The ob ject of my visit is to inform myself personally of the relations which exist between the State of Nicaragua and Great Britain, with a view of maintaining friendly relations where they exist, and of giving aid and protection to British subjects and their in erests wherever requisite. It is with great regret that I have to call the attention of your government to a subject which militates against a good understanding between our respective countries, and which it is my duty to point out. A series of articles have appeared, from time to time, in the papers of Nicaragua (more or less under the control of the government,) which reflect generally and particularly upon the British government and its respectable representative, Mr. Chatfield, as also holding up the English nation, collectively and individually, to public indignation. Such language is improper and unjust, and I bring it thus officially before your government, believing that it will make use of its influence over the press to restrain, in future, all offences of this nature, and from publicly manifesting a spirit so unfriendly towards a nation and people which has the liveliest desire to maintain friendly relations with the State of Nicaragua. It is my intention to return to Realejo in a few days, when I hope to find in the hands of her Majesty's vice consul a satisfactory answer to this communication. I have the honor, &c., &c., &c., PHIPPS HORNBY, Vice Admiral, &c. To the SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS of Nicaragua. A-6. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, Leon, March 22, 1850. SIR: Your communication of the 19th instant has been received and laid before the Supreme Director of the State, who has directed me to answer as follows: That the government of Nicaragua has always endeavored to maintain. the best relations of friendship with all foreign governments, and has given Great Britain repeated proofs of the moderate principles which govern it; and, notwithstanding the most disagreeable differences which have arisen in consequence of attacks upon its rights, it has sought only the means which enlightened reason dictates to sustain them; and the press of the State, in making known the well-founded complaints which have originated in circumstances which cannot have escaped your penetration, have never descended to insults to the British government, its representatives or subjects, individually or collectively: even more, it has refrained from noticing the real insults with which Mr. Chatfield has treated the government and people of Nicaragua. The foreign press, and even the most respectable part of that of England, recognises the justness of the cause and complaints of Nicaragua, and have expressel themselves in the strongest manner; and the Supreme Director reg ets that you should suppose that English subjects and the English nation are here held up to public indignation, when there is nothing which can be cited in proof of the charge, unless it be the fact of the simple announcement of such acts as have been committed in the port of San Juan de Nicaragua, the island of Tigre, and elsewhere. He equally regrets, sir, that you should endeavor to excite him to an act so unconstitutional, and contrary to principles universally recognised, as that of attacking the liberty of the press guarantied by the laws, which the government is bound to respect, or otherwise itself suffer the just reprehension of the press. The Director believes that if British subjects are reached by the press, they are able to make use of the same instrument to repel whatever they may find adverse to them without the liberty of writing being thought, in England or Nicara gua, a cause of enmity between the two countries, but, on the contrary, an element of friendship, for augmenting those amicable relations to which you have expressed your attachment. With the hope of having satisfactorily answered your letter, I am, &c., &c, &c., To Vice Admiral HORNBY. S. SALINAS. B-1. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have been informed by the government of Honduras that you have signified your intention, under certain contingencies, of reoccupying, on behalf of her Britannic Majesty, the island of Tigre, in the Bay of Fonseca, disoccupied by your orders on the 26th of December last. It cannot be unknown to you that this island was formally ceded to the United States on the 28th of September last, which cession has been virtually accepted by the government of the United States, and that therefore its occupation by you, as a measure of compulsion against Honduras, must prove of no effect, while there is reason to believe that it would tend further to complicate questions of difference between the United States and Great Britain, now happily arranged or in course of amicable adjustment. Should the intention which you have indicated to the government of Honduras be carried into effect, it will become my duty to protest in the strongest terms against the measure, and take all proper means to vindicate the rights and honor of my government and country. Such a step would, sir, as I have already had occasion to observe, "be regarded as an act of aggression and the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States." I have further the honor to inform you that the flag of the United States has been planted in the island of Tigre, in accordance with the terms of the convention between the republic of Honduras and that of the United States. I have, sir, &c., &c., TO PHIPPS HORNBY, Esq., Rear Admiral, &c. E. GEO. SQUIER. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th of March, by which I learn for the first time, with reference to the island of Tigre having been ceded to the United States on the 28th of September, 1849, that the cession has been accepted by your government. You are further pleased to inform me that the flag of the United States has been hoisted on that island. As I apprehend the occupation of Tigre island by the United States is a question which will be settled between our respective governments, I consider it unnecessary to go into any particulars on the subject. I have the honor to be, &c., &c., &c., E. GEO. SQUIER, Esq., P. HORNBY, Rear Admiral, &c. Chargé d'Affaires of the U. S. in Central America. C-1. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: In conformity with the treaty between the United States and Honduras, concluded on the 28th of September, 1849, and with the decree of the supreme government of Honduras emitted on the 9th of October of the same year, I hereby direct you to raise the flag of the United States in the island of Tigre, and to keep it flying at the usual hours until you receive further instructions from this legation. By this act the island will for the time being be placed under the sovereignty of the United States, but until further orders no change will be necessary in the local administration of the island. I am, sir, &c., &c., To the COMMANDANT of the island of Tigre. E. GEO. SQUIER. C--2. ISLAND OF TIGRE, SIR: In virtue of your orders I have raised the flag of the United States in this island, seizing the first moment to do so after communicating with the supreme government of Honduras on the subject. Upon being raised it was saluted by two discharges of musketry. About 11 o'clock this day a launch arrived here, bringing the British admiral and some of his officers, who returned after having examined the island. I take this occasion, &c., &c., To Hon. E. GEO. SQUIER, &c., &c., &c. EUSEBEO CRAESMA. [No. 34.] Mr. Squier to Mr. Clayton. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, San Juan de Nicaragua, June 25, 1850. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 8, by the hand of Mr. James Cross, conveying the announcement of the conclusion of the negotiations with Great Britain in respect to the proposed ship canal and other collateral matters; and also granting me the indulgence which I had previously asked, for the purpose of visiting the United States. A large mail, destined for me, was lost some days ago in the wreck of barque Lucy Ellen," off the coast of Costa Rica. This castastrophe was alone wanting to fill up the list of accidents which have befallen the correspondence of the department with this legation. In consequence of the information contained in your despatch, I have addressed the enclosed letter (A) to the government of Honduras, in rela tion to the island of Tigre and the pending convention of that State. A. SAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA, SIR: I have great pleasure in enclosing to you a copy of the treaty recently concluded between the United States and Great Britain in respect to the proposed ship-canal, Musquito coast, and other matters of high interest to the Central American States. It will be perceived that by this treaty Central America will henceforth be relieved from any danger on the score of territorial aggression. The precautionary measures, therefore, which have been taken in respect to the Tigre, are no longer necessary; and as the canal company are now free to make such arrangements with Honduras as may be for the mutual interest of both, the special provisions in the treaty in respect to the canal may be dispensed with, and the treaty reduced to the ordinary form of a treaty of commerce, amity, and friendship. As the time fixed for the ratification has expired, it may be well to open a new convention. This may be done upon my return in September. The flag of the United States will therefore be considered as withdrawn from the Tigre from the date of the reception of this communication. I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without conveying to your excellency my warmest congratulations upon this happy result, in the feli citous language of the Secretary of State of the United States, in convey. ing to me the announcement of the final conclusion of this treaty: "Central America, capable as she is of sustaining the population of a great empire, united in herself and exerting her best energies for the devel opment of her great resources, may date the commencement of a career of unexampled prosperity from the date of the ratification of this treaty." It is only necessary to add that the treaty is now ratified. With high, &c., E. GEO. SQUIER. To his Excellency the SECRETARY OF FOREIGN RELATIONS of Honduras. |