114 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



power should occupy a position that would enable it hereafter 

 to exercise so controlling an influence over the commerce of 

 the world, or to obstruct a highway which ought to be dedi- 

 cated to the common use of mankind." The convention 

 concluded with Colombia three years previously contained a 

 special clause calling for a guarantee of neutrality of the pro- 

 posed isthmian transit route. No other ideas of the political 

 status of an interoceanic ship canal had ever been enter- 

 tained, indeed, the very essence of the dispute that at that 

 time bade fair to involve the two nations in war, was fear on 

 the part of each that the other was seeking to gain for 

 itself the monopoly over the Nicaraguan route. 



When once it was understood by both Mr. Clayton and 

 Lord Palmerston, as revealed by their correspondence, that 

 neither power actually sought this monopoly over the canal, 

 the way was at once cleared of the most formidable obstacles 

 to the conclusion of a treaty. England's stubborn determi- 

 nation to maintain her foothold upon the east coast of Nica- 

 ragua was still an annoying factor in the negotiations ; yet 

 Mr. Clayton had reason to believe that, as soon as both nations 

 had given a pledge not to seek exclusive control of the pro- 

 posed route connecting the oceans, Great Britain's object in 

 maintaining her territorial interests in Central America, 

 would vanish, and she would then voluntarily and gladly 

 disembarrass herself of her charge. 



Having in mind a policy thus broad and liberal, yet sub- 

 servient to his country's best interest, Mr. Clayton entered 

 upon the negotiations of a treaty with Great Britain desirous, 

 of obtaining no exclusive privileges in Central America that 

 should be incompatible with the just rights of other nations ; 

 he was intent only on preparing the way for the construction 

 of a great international highway that should be open to the 

 world's commerce upon terms equal to all. 



Final negotiations were immediately begun upon the ar- 

 rival in Washington of Sir Henry Bulwer (January, 1850). 

 At first Mr. Clayton persisted in his representations that un- 

 less Great Britain were willing to abandon her Mosquito pro- 

 tectorate he did not believe the neutrality of the canal could 



