100 



Doc. No. 75* 



Mr. Hise to Mr. Buchanan, 



[Extracts.] 



Republic of Guatemala, CITY OF Guatemala y 



December 20, 1SI8. 

 gjf^. m % # # # # # # # 



The States of Nicaragua , Honduras; and San Salvador j have each pub- 

 lished to the world protests against the British occupation of the Mosquito 

 country and the port of San Juan. I have in my possession printed 

 copies of these protests. I confidently expect that the government of 

 Guatemala (when there is one in being) will also concur in such protest. 

 Costa Rica is said to be under British influence. I have learned from 

 report merely that the ports of San Salvador have been blockaded by the 

 British man of-war Championj the object being to compel the State of 

 San Salvador to pay her p7^o rata portion of pecuniary demands held by 

 British subjects against the former federal government of Central America. 



I will say here that I deem it to be necessary that an American man-of- 

 war should occasionally make its appearance in the ports of Central 

 America, to inspire the people and governments of these States with due 

 respect for our country. 1 regret to say that the commerce of this country 

 is almost entirely monopolized by the British. English merchantmen are 

 constantly in their ports, and English men-of-war constantly hovering 

 on all their coasts, and I have Bot known or heard of one American 

 merchantman or man-of-war being in any of the ports of Central America 

 since I have been in the country, or in its neighborhood. It is clear to 

 my mind that Great Britain designs to become the owner and occupant, by 

 force or stratagem, of the ports on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of rs'ica- 

 ragua, which will be the points of termination of the canal communication 

 between the two oceans, as contemplated to be constructed by the route of 

 the Rio San Juan de Nicaragua and lakes Nicaragua and Leon to the 

 Pacific. 



This is believed, by the most intelligent men who have given the sub- 

 ject much investigation, to be the most if not the only practicable route for 

 a canal between the two seas from Darien to Tobasco. Our acquisition of 

 the ports of California has tempted the English to lay their hands on the 

 ports of this distracted country, which they will undoubtedly seize,, in my 

 opinion, unless prevented by the firm interposition of our government. I 

 will send to the department such documents as I may procure here thai 

 bear on this important subject. 



Would it not be advisable to give me authority to m.ake treaties with each 

 and all the States of Central America, equally with Nicaragua, to secure 

 the right of way over and through such communications, by land or 

 water, between the oceans as now exist, or may be hereafter made through 

 her dominions? I think I can treat with all these States by means of 

 (X)mmissioners sent f>y their governments to Guatemala for the purpose. 

 But it is certain that I cannot visit the capitals of the other States for the 

 purpose; for such is the enormous expense of travelling in this country 

 that I could not afford it, were my salary even doubled. But I doubt not 

 they will send commissioners here, with ample powers to treat. San Sal- 

 vador has addressed me on the subject of a commercial treaty in writing. 

 I have answered, requesting that they send a commissioner to Guatemala. 



