The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-28
THE NICARAGUA MIDDLE.

A Washington dispatch says that the ad-
ministration has at last mapped out a
definite policy in respect to the MOSQUITO
trouble on The coast OF Nicaragua This
new policy leaves Chief Clarence without
national standing. The dispatch says:
Nicaragua is considered the only treaty.
power and the sole source OF government,
With her all relations concerning American in
Ierests In the reservation are 10 be had, and
Clarence and his advisers are to be treated
as purely local authorities, subordinate to and
under the constant restriction OF Nicaragua in
all matters.
This seems to be the only policy that the
administration could adopt and we are glad
that it has been adopted. The Chief
Clarence is kind of marionette. pulled TO
and fro by the British Government. with
the presumed purpose to cover designs to
establish colony near the canal route.
The people of the United States ara
familiar with the main provisions of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty of 1850, providing
that neither Government should occupy
Nicaragua or any portion thereof.
Twelve years later, when our Government
was supposed by England to be in the
throes of dissolution, miserable little
treaty was made by the British with Mica
Tagus, creating local government, with
national powers, within the territory of
Nicaragua. This is the arrangement so
often spoken Of as the treaty of Managua.
Among other powers conferred on the
Mosquito Indians was the right to
fix duties on foreign imports along
the Mosquito coast of Nicaragua.
A minor provision of the Managua
treaty was the payment of $4,000 a year to
the Mosquito chief. The assumption is
not unkind that Great Britain would not
have imposed such treaty upon Nicara-
qua had not the United States been en-.
gagged in life and death struggle within
her own borders. 1t is only within a few
years that the attention of the people OF
the United States has been called to the
preposterous treaty of Managua by the
tics of the Mosquito chief. The precise
ground upon which the British Govern.
ment based its right to back up the Mos.
quito chief against the government Of
Nicaragua has not been generally known
1t would seem that the definite policy
which the American administration has
resolved upon should begin with the re-
quirement that this treaty of Managus
SDOuIQ 10 dOIORhtou' IL the treaty is con
sistent with the Clsyton-Bulwer treaty II
may be enforced. Ii it is not consistent
with the Clayton-Bulwer treaty one or the
other should be thrown out. 1t is not very
important to the United States which goe.
by the board. The Monroe doctrine /,
our natural law and treaties that conflict
with it are temporary in the nature Of
things.
A Washington dispatch dated August
gives currency to a report that Genera
Barrios has been sent to England to secure
an amendment to the Managua treaty &C
as to recognize the right of Nicaragua &c
assert her supremacy over the Mosquito
Coast. This is the straight way out OF the
tangle. General Barrios' mission will
doubtless be successful unless England i.
determined at whatever Icost to establish
post of observation near the route of the
proposed canal.