Doc. No. 75. 



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States did not recognise the right of the British government to blockade 

 or to seize the premises or the property of these weak repubhcs for the 

 debts of private individuals; that these claims did not grow out of torts, 

 but contracts^ and illustrated it by the forcible seizure of a vessel, as show- 

 ing his idea of a tort. To which Lord Palmerston replied, that before re- 

 questing the admiralty to furnish this naval force for the said purposes, 

 he had consulted the law authorities of the Crown, who had given him 

 the opinion that the government would be justified in taking such a 

 course; but he added, that at the same time it was a question susceptible 

 of argument. Mr. Lawrence then told him, that in order that he might 

 understand fully the views of the United States, he would read to him 

 his instructions on this subject in full, which he then took from the table 

 and read through. He then told him (Lord Palmerston) that he should 

 address him a communication on this subject, in which he should request 

 from her Majesty's government a disavowal of the act ol Mr. Chatfield in 

 the seizure of Tigre island. To which he replied, that he had already 

 sent orders to abandon Tigre island, and to leave it just where it was 

 before it was taken possession of by Mr. Chatfield, placing it, however, 

 within the discretion of the admiral to do what seemed to him right; and 

 that he was ready to give an early answer, in time for the next steamer, 

 to any communication that might be addressed to him. 



Mr. Lawrence endeavored to press upon Lord Palmerston the necessity 

 of an early settlement of this question; that it was very likely to be made 

 a subject for discussion on both sides; and the sooner a conclusion was 

 reached, the better for all parties concerned. He stated expressly that the 

 government of the United States would not be prevented from making 

 treaties with the Central American States in consequence of seizure of 

 territory or claims set up by Great Britain, and from executing those trea- 

 ties according to their tenor; that there was a feeling existing in the Uni- 

 ted States and in Central America that Great Britain desired to possess 

 herself of territory not only for colonization, but also to command the 

 keys of the great proposed canal; and that from the public newspapers, as 

 well as from private sources of information, he had gathered that there 

 was a body of men inclined to secure the canal in the hands of British 

 subjects; and he asked Lord Palmerston whether this were really so. To 

 this Lord Palmerston replied, that there was such a party; that he had 

 been often spoken to on the subject; that he had given no encouragement 

 to any such idea, but had said that, if accomplished at all, it must be 

 done by Great Britain and the United States, and dedicated to the world 

 at large; that in his declaration that her Majesty's government did not in- 

 tend to settle, annex, colonize, or fortify any part of Central America, he 

 was sincere, and the government would ceirry out those sentiments; that 

 after all, it seemed a very small matter for two great nations to disagree 

 about; that he fully appreciated the desire, often expressed by Mr. Law- 

 rence, to maintain the most friendly relations between the two countries j 

 and that he responded entirely to his desire, then and often before ex- 

 pressed, to settle all difficulties amicably. 



Mr. Lawrence said, that since he had had the pleasure of meeting Lord 

 Palmerston, he had seen the official agents of Costa Rica and of I^icara- 

 gua, and had put to them certain hypothetical propositions corresponding 

 with his note of the 14th of December; to which the agent for Costa Rica, 

 having full authority, responded most heartily, and, as he thought, thank- 



