156 THROUGH THREEFOLD TENSION 



ence to San Juan and claimed by Honduras, 

 was also occupied by a British garrison. 



In New Granada, at about the same time, 

 the American charge d affaires displayed a like 

 activity, and in 1846, without instructions, con 

 cluded with the government of that state a 

 treaty of far-reaching importance. By its pro 

 visions the government and citizens of the 

 United States and their property secured free 

 dom of transit across the Isthmus of Panama 

 in return for a guarantee by the United States 

 of the neutrality of the isthmus, and the fur 

 ther guarantee of the sovereignty and property 

 of New Granada in the said territory. This 

 treaty remained pending in the Senate until 

 after the British movements in Nicaragua in 

 1848. In June of that year the treaty, with the 

 advice and consent of the Senate, was duly 

 ratified. 



With this favorable position secured in respect 

 to the Panama route, the Polk administration di 

 rected its attention to the situation in the region 

 of the Nicaragua route. A charge d affaires 

 was sent to Central America to ascertain the 

 condition of affairs. He readily obtained from 

 the Nicaraguan Government, which was highly 

 indignant at the activities of Great Britain, a 



