104 



Doc. No. 75. 



States. I say to the government await my action with full confidence^ for 

 matters are most urgent and cannot be procrastinated. English agents 

 and influence, under the experienced direction of the British consul- 

 general, Frederick Chatfield, resident here, are ahve and at work, both in 

 Central America and at London, to produce resuhs most inimical to the 

 interests of the United States, and to embarrass and obstruct my negotiations 

 here. 1 have reference to the Mosquito question, and British occupation 

 of the territories of INicaragua and of all the ports on both sides of the 

 State, which may give them the control of any com.municalion in that 

 State between the two oceans. 



######### 



P. S. — I do not mean to be understood that the English have actually 

 taken possession of the territories of Nicaragua and all her ports; but that 

 she designs at no very remote period to do so, I have every reason to be- 

 lieve, from facts and evidence to which I have access here; her object 

 being to have possession of the only practicable route for a ship canal from 

 sea to sea, and the possession and command of the ports on each side, a-t 

 which the terminations of said canal must (if ever) be made. In this 

 view, immediate action is necessary and important. \ am now engaged in 

 negotiating with Nicaragua on this subject at this time, and shall be care- 

 ful to guard and secure the interests of the United States— our citizens ef- 

 fectually^ if it can be done. ##*#*# 

 Most respectfully, 



E. HISE. 



The Hon. the Secretary op State 



of the United States of America, 



Mr, Hise to Mr, Clayton, 



Washington, September 15, 1849. 



Sir: Since my despatch of the last was written and forwarded , 



I have concluded two treaties of amity and commerce: one with the State 

 of Honduras, and the other with the State of Nicaragua. These treaties 

 are precisely similar in their provisions with the treaty which I had pre- 

 viously concluded with the republic of Guatemala, and they each contain 

 in substance the provisions of the treaty between the United States and 

 the federation of Central America, which had expired by its own limita- 

 tion in the year 1836. Except in the treaties which I have made with the 

 above named States, it is provided that they shall be of perpetual obliga- 

 tion between the contracting parties, unless either should give notice to 

 the other, after the lapse of twelve years, counted from the date of the 

 exchange of their ratifications, of their intention to terminate the same. 

 It was my intention also to conclude similar treaties with the States of San 

 Salvador and Costa Rica, but I was prevented from executing this inten- 

 tion by the causes which will appear in my correspondence with those 

 States, to which your excellency is respectfully referred for information on 

 this subject. 



Our commerce with the States of Central America, for most obvious 

 reasons, must progressively increase, and our intercourse with them 

 now begins to assume an aspect of much importance^ because of the im« 



