The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-16
OUR TREATY WITH NICARAGUA.
It Apparently Bound the Two Countries
TO Build the Interoceanic Canal.

WASHINGTON, January l6.--Tne compile
cations between Nicaragua and Costa Ri
en-. growing out of boundary disputes af-s
fecting the Nicaragua Canal Company'ss
concession, were discussed again today by
the Senate in secret session; and the COM
mittee on Foreign Relations was instruct
ed "to inquire into what steps have been
taken under the act of Congress entitled
An act to incorporate the Maritime Canal
Company of Nicaragua approved Febru-
airy 90, 1889, and what are the present
conditions and prospects ofthe enterprise,
and consider and report what in its opin-
ion the interests Of the United States may
require in respect to that intcroceanic
communications"
The Senate also made public the treaty
signed December 1, 1854. between the
United States and the Republic of Near
aqua, providing for the construction of an
interoceanic canal across the territory OF
that republic. 1t appears that this treaty
(of the ratification Of which there is no
evidence) bound the United States and
Nicaragua to build the canal.
In his message accompanying the treaty
President Arthur said:
"The negotiation of this treaty was en-
tered upon under conviction that it was
imperatively demanded by the present and
future political and material interests
of the United States. The establishment
Of water communication between the At
lantic and Pacific coasts of tho Union is
necessity, the accomplishment of which,
however, within the territory of the United
States is physical impossibility. While
the enterprise of our citizens has respond
ed to the duty ofcreating means ofspeedy
transit by rail between the two oceans,
these great achievements are inadequate
to supply most important requisite OF
national union and prosperity. l
may add that the canal can be construct
ed by the able engineering corps of our
army, under their thorough system, cheap
er and better than any work of. such mag
nitude can in any other way be built"
The treaty itself is made up of twenty
FIVE articles. The first and second ar
ticles are:
Article 1.-The cana! shall be built by the United
States Of America and owned by them and the Republic
OF Nicaragua, and managed rs hereinafter provided.
Article ll.-There shall be perpetual alliance be-
tween the United States Of America and the Republic
OF Nicaragua and the former agrees TO protect the In
tegrity OF the territory Of the latter.
Other articles provide that the canal
shall lie Of the largest class Of ship canals;
that the United States shall have the free
use of Lake Nicaragua that the United
States shall pay for private lands used;
that a strip of land 2lls miles wide be set
apart for the work and owned by the two
contracting parties; that no custom house
charges shall be imposed by Nicaragua
upon vessels passing through the canal;
that Nicaragua shall protect the canal
employees; that the United States shall
furnish the money and build the canal,
railway and telegraph lines and equipment;
that it shall have exclusive. control Of the
canal construction and that the canal shall
be managed by a joint board; that the
profits from tolls shall go, one-third to
Nicaragua and two-thrds to the United
States that the canal shall be begun in two
years and be completed in ten yesrs; that
the United States shall aid by its good
Offices, if desired, in securing the union of
the five Central American republics; and
that the United States shall lend Near
aqua 100000 to make internal improve
mcnts, to he lien on the canal