The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-29
THE NICARAGUA AFFAIR
WHY ENGLAND REFUSED TO RECOG-
ME- HER At BLUEFIELDS.
TIN Banishmen, 81 the British Vice Con-
sui, r. ID. Hatch, the Cause OF the
Troub G.

4 Britains refusal TO approve the ne"
| Nicaraguan local government at Biue-
! fields the banishment OF the British VICE
Consul, T.. u. Hatch, plays somewhat
| prominent part. when the Mosquito III,
dian rule was overthrewn FOX second
| time last August, the United states ielt
| confident that full justice would be done
| TO foreign property holders as soon as
| the impetuous ardor OF the NlcaraBuaIS
| had "A chance 10 cool. In the earlier con-
| hicts between the Nicaraguans ana the
| Mosquitoes Tor those claiming to be Mos
| quito Indians). commencing IN FeDruary
/ or the present year, Great Britain and
/ the United States succeeded II prevent
| ing excessive measures. II was Whlle
| this country. with England, was restrain
| ing Nicaragua, that those Inhabitants,
under the youthful chief. Clarence, as
/ ruler overthrow the temporary military
| rule.
RECOGNIZE NICABAGUA.
IT so happened that just at this mo-
! ment the United States, through ltS dlplo-
| matte channels, was recognizing the lull
sovereignty OF Nicaragua over the MOS
! quito territory, in terms more explicit
| than had heretofore been used in nego-
! tfatiOns based on the Clayton-Bulw
| treaty, and that General BarriOs had been
| received by England as a Nlcaraguan en-
| Voy, largely upon United States repre-
| sentatiOns, 10 negotiate convention
which would place Great Britain In an
/ attitude similar 10 that of the United
! States Then Nicaragua undertook 10
! crush out the latest Clarence rebellion
! 6y drastic measures. Clarence and many
| OF his supporters fled, but others. includ-
/ ing several Americans and Englishmen,
] remained at Biueheids, and were taken
! under arrest 10 the capital, MandBua,
! where a decree was issued Danishlhs
! them from the country. While the legal
/ ity Of this action under Nicaragua con-
/ stitution was never impeached, the United
/ States regretted the proceeding, as II
| was clearly calculated TO embarrass the
! negotiations which would pracucally
/ abrocate the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
Among the prisoners banished was the
! British Nce-Consul at Bluehelds, Edwin
! j.. Hatch, who, however, had not been
| recognized by Nicaragua, and j. ;. Lamp
! ton and E. y. Wiltbank, American plant
| ers These three men were active par
! tcipants in the Clarence rebellion. Lamp
| ton and Wiltbank have subsequently been
/ pardoned and permitted 10 return 10 Blue
fields.
REFUSED TO PARDON HATCH.
1t is understood that the Nicaraeuans
! have been unaffected by the repeated ana
/ persistent demands Of Mr.. GOsling the
/ British Minister TO extend a similar par
! don to MIR. Hatch, and that this IS one or
! the real causes OF Great Brltdms pres
ent attitude. Mr.. Hatch owned property
| at Bluehelds. which was coniscated. The
! question of the right of Nicaragua TO re-
! fuse 10 recognize Mr.. Hatch as "A British
| consular official is also said to be in
| yOlved
For several weeks officials Of the state
| Department have been aware of the Sc
rious turn the Hatch affair had taken.
! and ii is known that Minister Baker was
! under instructions 10 exercise his good
/ offices in inducing the Government at
| Managua 20 receie from It's position and
10 Tsstore Mr.. Hatchs belongings and to
| extend TO him recognition as NlCe-Consul
/ with the assurance that the United States
| would use every proper effort 10 prevent
| any future successful resistance to Mica
| Taguan sovereignty at Bldehelds Great
! Britain. meanwhile. 10 give an implied
| guarantee that Alr Hatch would not be
/ active In further conspiracy 70 restore
| the rule Of young Clarence The United
| states could well undertake this response
! bility on account ot the interests she has
al stake In securing the successful ac-
| Complishmeut of General Barrios mis-
! sion IN England, which could not fail to
result I'm giving the United States an in
! contestable tide 10 any inter-Oceanic canal
that might be built over the Lake Nicara-
| qua route.
VIII FoRcs TIN IseUF
1t is probable that with the appearance
| OF the Columbia and British WaT-sh.p
/ at BlueheldS the NlcaIaguau DUN. rae
/ ment win be Impressed with The advon-
/ tagcs that would accrue from implicitly
! following Secretary Gresham's advice.
| and that Mr. Hatch viii be promptly
| included in tie terms If amnesty. which
! were granted 10 Lampton ana Wiltbauk
| Those Americans, 1t is known, We're
| pardoned only at the peremptory insis-
tence Of Secretary Gresham, who de-
! manded that the summary PROCEEDINGS
| which characterized their arrest and
banishment should be followed by a fair
| trial and what had been done with
| out due process Of law, should be- accom-
! plished in deliberate, legal way The
| request that similar Justice be done i'm
| the case of Mr.. Hatch. IL is understood
| was ignored by Nicaragua and Great
! Britain has resented the apparent dis
| elimination. Secretary Gresham is conf
| dent that serious trouble viii be avoided.
! Nevertheless. the United States has been
| preparing for emergencies.
LIG 81 " or S KENGrH
1t is stated that Admiral Walker. since
| his return from Hawaii has been con-
| stanuy engaged Tor the past two months
| in famllarlzng himself with the Central
! American question. Ii Is said thar ne
! has planued-lu case OF emergency of
! course-a scheme of operations al the
| eastern entrance of the proposed Nicara-
| guam canal and car gulf ports as a basis
| and further has arranged programme
| for the movements OF the Pacific SQUAD
! ron, with the new cruiser Olympia as
! flagship, and the Philadelphia. Btnning-
! ton, Boston; Newark, aud the Old cuisers
/ Marion, Adams, Alert and Ranger as
| consOrts. IL is the intention OF the
| Navy Department 10 send the Benuing-
! ton TO the west coast OF Nicaragua in d
| few days. No other vessels Will proba-
| bly, be sent south, either on the Atlantic
| or Pacific coast, Immediately, although
! every available vessel Will be hed I'm
readiness 10 proceed TO sea promptly upon
! tnc receipt OF tcteSfdpnlc orders.
| The British North Atlantic fleet con
| sists of ten vessels-the Blake. Buzzard.
! Canada, Cleopatra. MaGcienne. Par
| fridge, Pelican. Mohawk. Tartar and
| Tourmaline. OF these the Blake. which
! is the only one of considerable fight
| ing power, at last accounts was at Hail
| fax. with several other vessels of the
| feet.
There are two small British cruisers i'm
| the West Indies, but the Mdrblehead and
! Montgomery would easily Outclass them
| 1t Is the custom OF the British fleet 10
| rendezvous in the West Indies every win
! ter. and during the present winter. at
| least, II Is the announced naval policy or
! the United States TO maintain a similar
| fleet Of superior strength in the same
waters, as an evidence that American
! interests are not to be lightly leopard
/ iZed.
! SECRETARY GRfsHAM's OVERTURE.
! Secretary Gresham in person called at
| the British legation tO-day-a very unusual
! prOceeding-and not nnu llr GOslng,
! the charge d'alfaires, there, and learning
| that he was only slightly indspOsed,
| drove o. his resid nee 10 lay before him
! the dispatches he had received.
ssCREIARI MdRTOA'S KEPORI.