Doc. No. 18. 303 



No. 15. 



United States Legation, 



London, July 14, 1849. 



(Sir: 1 have had the honoi of receiving your note of the 12th of July, 

 proposing to me questions of very grave itnport. In reply, I beg leave to 

 say that "the United States, in their policy towards Central Amercia, have 

 no selfish purpose^ and no reserved ambition of territorial aggrandizement. 

 We seek to promote, by our friendship, the independence, prosperity, 

 nnion, and territorial rights of the several States of Central America. VYe 

 ■wish for ourselves, from friendly and commercial intercourse with you, 

 no benefits but what may be shared on equal terms by all the maritime 

 nations in the world. We share your desire to see the port San Juan de 

 Nicaragua restored to Nicaragua, of which State it forms a part; and to 

 see your harbors, rivers and lakes formed into a safe channel of commerce 

 between the tv/o oceans. To this end we are using, and shall use, what 

 influence we may possess with other powers. 



The recovery of the port of San Juan de Nicaragua can be best pro- 

 moted by the policy to be pursued by Central America itself. The inter- 

 vention of the United States in your behalf has been delayed by the 

 unhappy dissensions which have existed among the Sates of Centra! 

 America itself. Compared with the great maritime powers of the world, 

 you are weak. The security of your rights rests, therefore, more on the 

 principles of justice than on physical strength. You need the sympathy 

 and esteem of the civilized world. 



Two things become, in consequence, of the utmost importance, in 

 order that you may win that sympathy and enjoy the security that will 

 spring from the possession of it. The one relates to diflerences with other 

 States of Central America about territory. I cannot but exhort you to 

 setde among yourselves, if it be possible, the disputes about boundaries 

 which still exist among you. These disputes tend to foment discord, 

 perpetuate disunion, and invite foreign interference. I cannot but urge 

 you, if possible, to adjust these difliculties among yourselves at once by 

 negotiation, if it be possible, if not by arbitration. 



The next point relates to the use of the river and port of San Juan de 

 Nicaragua, if restored to you. It is plain that Costa Rica must then con- 

 duct its foreign commerce, both of imports and exports, in a great meas- 

 ure, through the ports of Nicaragua. The United States allow Canada to 

 conduct its imports and exports through New York, or any other United 

 States port, without paying any duty whatever. I cannot but think that 

 the position of Costa Rica, which now operates so much to the detriinent 

 of Nicaragua, would be materially changed, if that State could see itself 

 assured of the enjoyment of this privilege. 



The good will of the nations of Europe and America would also be 

 attracted to you, if they could receive the assurance that in all time to 

 come the great inter-oceanic highway through Nicaragua will be open to 

 the transit commerce of all the world, free from all impost for the benefit 

 of the treasury of Nicaragua. 



I repeat to you, the United States wish to see the States of Central 

 America independent and prosperous. If you can be in a state of concord 

 among yourselves^ and can be free from foreign intervention^, you will, 



