Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-16
THE NICARAGUA TREATY.
Construction of the Canal Assured-Pro-
visions for Reciprocal Trade.

NEw YORK, Dec. l5.
The New York Times prints this morning
the leading provisions of the Nicaragua
treaty.
The preamble reciies its object to be to
maintain and improve tie good understand
ing and friendly relations which now happily
exist between the two governments, promote
the commerce of their citizens, and make ar
rangements with respect TO = ship canal be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by the
river San Juan, Lake Nicaragua and thence
to the Pacific ocean to the harbor of Brito.
The United States undertakes to construct
in accordance with survey and plans al
ready partially made, under and by direction
of A. G. Menocal, civil engineer of the United
States navy, TO be Immediately completed
and perfected with all possible dispatch, a
ship canal suitable for all the demands and
requirements of commerce. 1t is to begin at
the port of San Juan de Nicaragua. known AS
Greytown and to intersect the San Juan river
near the Rio Colorado, and proceed by the
river San Juan to Lake Nicaragua and across
that lake TO the mouth of River Del Media and
thence TO the Pacific ocean at the harbor of
Brito.
In consideration of this undertaking on the
part of the United States, the republic of
Nicaragua is to cede, grant and convey to
way through her territory along and across
the water highway and in addition there
to in perpetuity a strip of land three miles
wide on each side of the said canal, together
with the ports and harbors at San Juan de
Nicaragua or Greytown and Brito, respect
lively, on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The
absolute ownership, management and control
of the canal is to be in and exercised by the
United States, but the republic of Nicars1 ua
is to have one half of the tolls levied and
collected on the commerce of the canals.
The lands granted to the United States be-
come its property and part of its domain.
The republic of Nicaragua, however, retains
certain rights of police regulation TO prevent
if necessary, smuggling or illegal importation
into her own territory.
The greater part of the treaty relates to
the boundaries of the land granted to the
United States and the provisions relating to
police regulation thereof. The tolls are to
be regulated by the United States aud col
lected by its officers at the ports of entrance.
| The government of Nicaragua is, however,
to have the power of keeping a permanent
commission of agents with the right to in
spect operations, to ascertain the tonnage of
vessels, to examine the accounts and report
thereon but not to interfere in the supervis
ion, government, management, direction and
administration of the canal.
With the right of eminent domain, the
United States, of course, has power to make
whatever provision she may deem necessary
for the protection and defence of the canal
Therefore she can build forts and make
whatever provision for defence the exigen-
cies may demand, but she undertake not to
employ or use any of these or her armed
forces against the Central American States
friendly to Nicaragua, save, of course, for
the protection of her own property.
There shall be no discrimination against
Nicaragua in canal tolls,
The only returns which Nicaragua obtains
in return tor these valuable concessions to
the United States is the development of her
natural resources and her share of the canal
tolls, These advantages will undoubtedly be
considerable.
There is also to be reciporocity in the trade
between the two countries, and in all respects
the commerce of the two nations is to be on
an equal footing. Nicaragua is at all times
to assist in maintaining the security of the
canal and engages to the utmost of her ability
to protect the same. Regulations relating to
the boundaries of Costa Rico where the lands
granted by Nicaragua to the United States
touch the territory of the former State, will
have to be made in treaty with the govern
ment of that country.
Treaties have been concluded between the
United States and Guatemala, COSTA Rica and
the United States of Columbia, and some of
the provisions in the convention with Costa
Rica may relate to the boundaries.