116 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



Mr. Clayton's nervousness and evident desire to adjust the 

 matter speedily as possible. 



In the very midst of these diplomatic troubles, news of the 

 Tigre Island incident arrived, and instantly popular excite- 

 ment throughout the United States arose to feverish height. 

 Indeed, Mr. Clayton himself, who hitherto had been struggling 

 to overcome the natural suspicions aroused in his breast by 

 Great Britain's persistent determination to cling to Mosquitia, 

 was thoroughly angered. His hopes for a satisfactory conclu- 

 sion of a treaty were wholly dispelled by this unfortunate 

 event. However, Great Britain's pfom"pt disavowal of the 

 act restored harmony in Washington, though it left the coun- 

 try in a passively sullen mood. Negotiations were resumed 

 and hurried along, and on April 19 the treaty was signed. 

 In brief it provided : 



(1) Neither the United States 8or Grea^TBrifoin shfrll ever 

 obtain or maintain for itself anv exclusive control over the 



i 14. i *"^ K ~1 ~Z~" * 



proposed ship canal. 



(2) Neither power shall ever erect or maintain any for- 

 tifications comrnajidillg_iiai^^ vicinity thereof. 



(:)) NYither power shall ever occupy, fortify, eoloiii/e, 

 assume, or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa 

 Rica, the coast, or any part of Central America, nor shall 

 either make use of any alliance or protection that either 

 affords or may afford, or make use of any intimacy, con- 

 nection, or influence that either may possess, to gain that end. 



(4) Great Britain and the United States shall mutually 

 guard the safety and neutrality of the canal, and invite all 

 other nations to do the same. 



(5) Great Britain and the United States will extend their 

 aid and protection to any canal company, having proper 

 authority and working under fair and reasonable terms. 



(6) In order to establish a principle the two powers will 

 also extend their aid and protection to any other practical 

 means of transit across the isthmus, either by canal or rail. 



Neither Mr. Clayton nor Sir Henry Bulwer was fully sat- 

 isfied with the convention. The Secretary of State felt 

 troubled by his failure to persuade Great Britain openly 



