Doc. No. 75. 



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your despatch. Lord Palmerston was not inclined to a conversation with 

 me on the subject of Central America^ but sought rather to keep the Uni- 

 ted States at a distance on the question ^ and to bring the powers of Cen- 

 tral America to an immediate or early acquiescence in his arrangements. 

 Nevertheless, I obtained an interview, though not till after repeated soli- 

 citations. To my direct question, If the British government designed to 

 appropriate to itself the town of San Juan de Nicaragua^ or any part of the 

 so-called Mosquito territory? he answered emphatically^ ^'No; you know 

 very well we have already colonies enough." The remark was just. 

 The masses of the British colonies are becoming relatively too weighty 

 for the central government. British statesmen perceive it; and one eve- 

 ning, when the ownership of Vancouver's island was the subject of de- 

 bate in the House of Commons, the House was counted out, so indifferent 

 were the members to the whole question. I could not but proceed and 

 ask Lord Palmerston, In whose hands is San Juan de Nicaragua at this 

 time? He replied, ^' For the present, in those of English commissioners." 

 Is not this, then, I said, an occupation by England? His answer was, 

 Yes, but this occupation is temporary." 



Having your d(;spatch in my hand, I very concisely gave him reasons 

 on which the opinion rests, that there is no such body politic as the king- 

 dom of the Mosquitos; that, if there were, its jurisdiction does not reach 

 to the river San Juan; and even if it did, that no right of exercising a pro- 

 tectorate belongs to Great Britain. 



Without entering into any argument, he replied, that Costa Rica might 

 claim San Juan as well as Nicaragua. And he did not in the least dis- 

 guise his strong disinclination to restore the port; insisting, however, that 

 any purposes the United States might have in reference to connecting the 

 two oceans by a commercial highway, would be better promoted by the 

 policy which he is pursuing than in any other way. And, in reference 

 to the whole subject, his words were, *^^you and we can have but one 

 interest." 



The interview was very short, and came to an end abruptly, as he was 

 summoned to a cabinet meeting; and he has shown no desire to renew it. 



The next day I asked the minister of Costa Rica if his country had 

 ever claimed the port of San Juan. He said never; it claimed only the 

 southern bank of the river. The port of San Juan had always belonged 

 to the province or State of Nicaragua. 



While Lord Palmerston did not invite me to renew the subject with 

 him, he had a long interview with Mr. Castellon and Mr. Marcoleta, con- 

 versing with them for two hours in Spanish, which language he speaks 

 extremely well. The substance of his remarks to them was, that England 

 desires to cultivate friendly relations with Nicaragua, but at the same time 

 is determined not to restore the port of San Juan. 



Mr. Castellon, on the eve of his departure for his country, addressed 

 me a note, insirmating the idea of the annexation of INicaragua to the 

 United States. Scrupulous not to involve the administration of the Pres- 

 ident, I could have wished the letter had been addressed to Washington; 

 but I thought an instant answer essential, and I theretbre sent him, on 

 the 1 4th of July, a note of which I enclose a copy. I trust it will seem 

 to you precisely such as you could have wished and would have directed, 

 had there been time to consult you. 



On the 1 6th of July Lord Palmerston addressed a formal note to Mr. 



