New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-29
4 VAR SCARE.

an ostcniatiOus display OF ACTIVITY III ''Hii
American affairs The President has received
from Secretary Gresham Mr.. BayardS dis-
matches IN relation 10 the Mosquito R">ervA-
ton complications. and from Secretary Herbert
q memorandum showing how completely me
Navy is prepared for any emergency on H'h'r
coast. II is reported In Washington that the
Columbia and the MarblchoId are Ia be- "rd'r'"
AT once from Kingston To Bluohclds ana thAt
the Montgomery may bc sent from Mobile I"
ioin them there: ard. furthermore. that The "ii-
tire North Atlantic squadron is 10 be- prepared
Immediately for a West Indian cruise. II j. also
rumorcd that the san Francisco viii b. sent 10
the Gulf of Mexico instead Of The Mediterranean.
,ho, the Casino will be- diverted from The South
Atlantic 10 the West Indies. and that III" MIN
ncapos Is To be- prepared for sen with all hls'e.
The President Il reported 10 be- very mnch III
earnest on the subject ~ American control az
the Nicaragrl Canal. and a strong passage 'n
Central American affairs Is anticipated In his
message.
There are unnistakabc signs ~ something
Ike "a war scare in naval circles II Is evident
that the officials In the tw" departments ar"
anxious 10 create an impression mat ihy are
fully prepared for crisis III foreign r'lat'hs'
Otherwise they would not proclaim their pur-
poses and activities with flourish "f trIinpetS.
This furry Of excitement In Washington ana
all this hustle of noisy preparation IN the navy
Yards may simply prove 10 he stage ceViccS
for advertising In advance some commonplace
biz Of theatrical defamation in the PRESIDENTS
message This mysterious naval demonstration
excitos suspicion because it is So obviously arii-
fetal and ovcrdone
One explanation Of this diplomatic and naval
activity which has been offered j. the refusal
of Great Britain 10 abandon It's guardian
ship Of tho Mosquito Reservation. III dis
match from ManaglIa 1t Is stated that Lord Kim
bcrlcy has declined to recognize Nicarasuan
sovereignty over the Reservation. That Is plain
IL wrong. since In the Treaty Of Managua nego-
tiatcd many years ago and subsequently made
the basis Of arbitration by the Emperor Of Aus
tria that sovereignty is explicitly conceded.
What is more plausible is the explanation fur
nishcd from Washington that Great Britain has
shown a disposition TO offer resistance to the
practical annexation Of the Reservation by Mica
ragua. and has informed Mr.. Bayard that it
cannot consent to the abolition Of local
autonomy. Probably connected with this
also is resentment Al the recent Danish
mcnt Of Hatch, the British Vicc-Consul al Blue
nominal sovereignty Of Nicaragua and for com
plctc home rule in the Reservation. Nicaragua
is now in possession Of the territory. having
driven out the Mosquito Chief and his negro
officials. and is bent upon establishing It's Gus
toms line on the seabOard and upon governing
the country In the usual Spanish-Amcrican meth
Cd 1t Is against this policy Of annexation that
Lord Kimberley is reported to be taking firm
~
II this be the basis Of the contemplated naval
demonstration, 1t is not very serious business.
The NicaraglIans are in control Of the territory,
and Great Britain Is not likely to drive them
out by force. In any event n large fleet is not
needed at Blueficlds. where there Is population
Of only four thousand Jamaica negroes and
Mosquito Indians. with score or two ~ for
eign merchants The concentration Of The North
Atlantic Squadron that stOrm-swcpt coast.
where there Is not a harbor TO be found, would
be fantastic performance. a single glnboat
would suffice to represent the American flag In
any circumstances that may arise. II the Brit
ish Government undertakes to land marines to
displacc Nicaraguan officials. and 10 exercise
authority over any portion of the Reservation.
the State Department can accompany It's protest
with decisive action in relation To the Clayton
Bulwer treaty. Intervention in that territory Is
| forbidden by the treaties between the United
States and Great Britain. II II occurs. II should
be followed at once by the abrogaton of the
treaty and by population Of all obligations for
n Ioint proteclorate Of the nteroccanic canal.
! What is needed Is firm. vigorous. sclfrc
speeding diplomatic policy. Naval demonsira-
tons are prccntous displays Of department
energy, but unless they are justified by strong
American diplomacy on the traditional lines of
the Monroe Doctrine they are spectacular per
formances rejecting little credit upon the Gov
eminent There may be crisis impending in
Central American affairs. but we are not look
ing for anything mt all serious We would glad
ly support the Administration In any strong
| stand for American rights or ume-honorsd poll