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Doc. No. 75. 



be formed. I have, therefore, (the State of Nicaragua taking the initia- 

 tive,) addressed a letter to the several States, which is appended, (E,) 

 and which will farther explain the plan I have suggested. I am happy 

 to say it has been favorably received on all hands, and that commissioners, 

 fully empowered, are daily expected in this city to consult upon the 

 matter. 



With regard to Guatemala and Costa Rica I am unprepared to speak. 

 They are both at present under British influence, and may become, in 

 fact, what they are now virtually — British provinces. In the former State, 

 Carrera has been recalled and intrusted with the control of the arms of the 

 State; but the country is hostile to him, and I should not be surprised to 

 hear of his overthrow and death within a very short period. If there is a 

 coUision with San Salvador, I regard such result as almost certain. The 

 people of that State, the stronghold of the old spirit of union, have along 

 and bloody account to settle with the Indian chieftain. 



Having some time since ascertained what could be effected, and deter- 

 mined upon my own course upon the matter ol the proposed treaty with 

 this republic, I addressed a letter to the consul general of Prance resident 

 in Guatemala, a copy of which is enclosed, (P.) It will be seen that it 

 is written in the past tense, in order that it may be more likely to secure 

 prompt attention. My object (which, however, requires no explanation 

 further than what the letter itself conveys) was, to secure the co operation 

 of Prance in time to enable its action to appear nearly simultaneously 

 with that of the United States. I have not yet received an answer, but 

 shall expect one by return courier. I have reason to believe that my 

 suggestions will be complied with to their full extent. The light in 

 which Prance looks upon the English operations in Mosquito is shown 

 in a letter from the French consul, addressed to the government of 

 Nicaragua. I have not written to Mr. Poussin, as proposed in my letter 

 to the French consul, not doubting that the department will communicate 

 with him if deemed proper. 



Upon the 1 2th of August I addressed a letter, (H,) and have since 

 forwarded a duplicate, to the commander of the American squadron on 

 the Pacific. I was induced to take this step, not so much for the specific 

 reasons set forth in the letter, as with the design of preventing the con- 

 templated further encroachments of Great Britain on the western coast of 

 Honduras. The simple presence of an American armed vessel would go 

 far to disconcert her plans, for she has hitherto relied much upon the 

 supposed indifterence of nations # * # whose 



opposition she might not wish to encounter. Honduras, in common 

 with the other Central American States, it is alleged owes certain 

 debts to British subjects, contracted wholly or in great part under the 

 old federation. The amount is some $300,000; and * * # 



this indebtedness is made the pretext for whatever high-handed measure 

 she may find it convenient to adopt. Our recent acquisitions on the 

 Pacific, the opening of a route across the isthmus of Panama, and the 

 proposed canal across Nicaragua, have made her dread American prepon- 

 derance on the Pacific. In pursuance of her settled policy, she has there- 

 fore determined to get possession of some commanding point, which shall 

 enable her to hold a check upon, if not prevent, this ascendency. Now, 

 upon the whole western coast of North America there is no point so admi- 

 rably adapted for these purposes as the bay or gulf of Fonseca or Concha- 



