The New York herald., 1879-12-18
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
Important Interview Between Admiral
Ammen and General Grant.
CONCESSION AND CAPITAL ASSURED.
General Grant viii Make 1t "the CrOwnins
Effort Of His Life"
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ]

people of Philadelphia far greater general interest,"
80 far as the American people are concerned has
centred in the meeting between the ex-
President and Admiral Ammen and the settlement
of the Nicaragua canal project. In this great
scheme since General Grants name has been men
toned in connection with it, universal public Curl
osity has been felt Therefore when the private
telegram this morning announced the fact that
Admiral Ammen had left Washington to meet Gen
eral Grant here it clearly evident that
the crisis in the canal question. so far as
the United States concerned, had arrived.
The Admiral reached the Continental Hotel at six
O'Clock to Keep his engagement to dine with Gen.
oral Grant. The dinner. which was purely social
one, lasted about an hour and half. after which.
the Admiral and the ex-Presdent being alone.
their coffee discussed the prospects of the Nicaragua
canal project At nine o'clock the party drove Mayor
stokiey's house to attend the reception. Admiral
Ammen found at the house Of James s. Biddle,
after his return from the Mayors and. despite the
lateness of the hour, courteousy received the
HERALD correspondent and conversed for some time
very frankly regarding the great project in which
General Grant. Engineer Menocal and he
deeply interested The interview naturally took
the following shape:-
INTERVIEW WITH ADMIRAL AMMEN.
HERALD Commemorative universal interest
felt in the action taken to be taken. regarding
the organization of the Nicaragua Canal Company
must be at once my apology and my excuse. Ad-
miral. for seeking this interview. VIII you en-
tighten me?
Admiral AaszEN with good nature)-It is a subject
very to my heart. assure you. and am
glad to tell you what know.
HERALD CoRRxsPoNDENT-Genera Grant is unquali-
nedly favorable to the Nicaragua route is he not?
Admiral AMMEN-He has so expressed himself.
HERALD CORRESPONDENTS he then consented
10 accept the presidency of this canal company?
Admiral AMMEN-A direct answer to your ques-
hon should only with propriety from the
General himself. but If you will permit me
to answer at some length I think I
can satisfy your curiosity fully. You must
Know then that your inquiry resolves itself into
propositions and conclusion namely ly:-First can
the desired concessions be obtained from Nicaragua
Second can the capital necessary to build the canal
be secured? II these be answered strictly in the
affirmative General Grants assumption of the pres
dency is assured fact.
HERALD CoRREsPoNDENT-The proposition would
appear to assume the form of q syllogism Admiral.
In which the two premises are to be established be-
fore the conclusion can be assured. Suppose
consider them. Then let know about the con-
cessions.
IMPORTANT POINTS
Admiral AMMEN-Sehor L. dc Franco, the Nicara-
guam Minister to Italy. has just been to
Washington. and the personal friend Of
the President of Nicaragua Senior Franco
Is authorized to guarantee all that is desired. He
knows the temper Of the people thoroughly and
sures that the leading men of the nation, irre-
spective Of party faction clearly the great
vantages which such canal would be to their country
and will heartily cooperate. The matter had
already been laid before the National Congress. and
before the last sdvices left the concessions
good assured. The President Of Nicaragua is
moving with great energy in the matter. because
he has discovered that the agents of certain
foreign governments in his capital employing
every method to prejudice the Nicarauguan people
against the project. Even the rival nations Of the
peninsula sending agents to Nicaraugus in the
hope of defeating the Nicaragua scheme but their
efforts have amounted to little. The selfnterest Of
the critics is too evident to deceive many.
HERALD CoRRKsPoSDEsT-What, then, shall we
say, in brief, of what may call our minor pre-
mise?
Admiral AMMEN-That it is assured. Indeed, to
speak more frankly, we almost know that it Is on
the road to You may say that we have not
the slightest anxiety.
HERALD CORRESPONDENT That obstacle to Gen.
eral Grants acceptance being disposed Of. please
digress enough to give the chief point of these
concessions.
Admiral AMMEN-The Details without which
the Information you could not be prop
eriy laid before your readers, cannot be gone
into on this occasion. 1t would also be prema.
ture. The canal is however. to be under the
absolute management. the company paying to the
nation hxed royalty. Obi The financial part of
the undertaking has been figured out to a nicely.
We know the revenue that the canal would produce
and exactly what the company could afford to pay.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Right here l wish to say, parenthetically, as IL
heen inf n mi in
this canal project which never personally sought
went to Paris Mt the urgent request OF General
Grant, and the apparent defeat of the United States
delegation compelled me to "show my hand"
20 to speak. and the number of trumps I
had In Now I am committed and. of
course. can't back OUT but you will do me per-
sonal favor by stating that am not q prospective
officer or member of this canal company that will
die with my name on the navy list. and that have
other ambition. We may now 20 on to the second
premise.
TROUBLE ABOUT CAPITAL.
HERALD CoRnEsPoSDEST-Yes. sir; the financial
premise. which may properly enough, 1 fancy, be
called the major.
Admiral AMMES-Upon this score after the con-
sultatons that have been had in Washington during
the past two weeks. speak unequivocally
French capitalists alone will furnish the money.
The money can be had with equal readiness
from Great Britain. and number Of leading
bankers in the United States have agreed
10 raise the funds in this country. I
do not speak at random when 1 say
that the amount be raised thrice over
know that l am dealing with very large figures
but know whereof speak when assure you that
the financial question no longer is an obstacle.
HERALD CoRREspoSDEST-H have properly fol-
lowed you, Admiral. the public announcement of
General Grants assumption of the presidency OF tho
Nicaragua Canal Company merely awaits the arrival
Of the official copy of the decree Of the Nicaraguan
government. This "scrap Of paper alone prevents
you from stating what has already taken place. in
fact. Do follow your
Admiral AMMES-You do. He will certainly accept
tho duties OF the office.
HERALD CoRREsPoSDENI-The concession being