Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-26
WOES OF NICARAGUA.
The Little Republic Finds Herself In
Uncomfortably Close Quarters.
United States Will Hot Pre-
vent Seizure Of Corinto
Having No Constitutional Presidents 10
Guide Us In the Matter.

WASHINGTON, April e6.--Tho very latest
information reoeivad here Is to the efYec
that there will DO no change In the atti-
tuds assumed by Niosrsgus toward the
British ultimatum, and confident belief 10
expressed that the British will occupy
Corinto today to enforce their demands.
Late last night wellknown diplomat
received private information from con.
noctions In New York city to tho effect
that Nicaragua had decided to refuse to
acccde to Great Britain's ultimatum and
would resist IL. DIR. Guxman, tho Nioar-
Aguan minister, has not received any In
formation from his government respect
ing the matter, but he is OF tho opinion
above.
Last Hopes Shattered.
Nicaragua's last hope of assistance from
the United States In her controversy with
Great Britain, to prevent the seizure OF
Corinto, vanished yesterday afternoon.
DIR. Guzman. the Nicaraguan minister
who had been waiting with intense anxiety
to see Secretary Gresham, was finally sue
cessful about 8 o olook. when the secretary
came from the White House, where he
mad been in consultation with President
Cleveland, presumably on the same sub
ject The interview was very short.
In five minutes the minister emerged
from the secretary's Office. looking very
depressed. He refused to say q word as TO
what had taken place, but 1t can be stated
that the secretary gave him to understand
very clearly that the United States would
not interfere In the case as 1t stands. So
there arc now three courses open to Near
augua, namely, to pay the indemnity, to
permit tho occupation of Corinto or fight
and the next II hours must find what
choice Is to be declared, for the British
troops are to land today at Corinto.
The position taken by the president In
this matter is that the dispute Is one en-
tirely between Great Britain and Nicar-
aqua, In which the United States has no
call to interfere. Thus, there had been
committed no injuries to American in
terests In Nicaragua should there be shown
a disposition by Great Britain to acquire
Nicaraguan territory.
On each Of those points favorable as
surance has been had from Great Britain,
and all, 1t Is said, that can now be done Is
to watch the course Of events. This deci-
sion was not hastily reached, for the en-
tire subject Of our relations to the coun-
tries of Central and South America was
considered and discussed very carefully by
the president with his constitutional ad-
visers, and there has been made q close
scrutiny Of the precedents that might suf-
flee for our guidance.
Upon these preoedents rests tho decision
OF the administration to refrain from In
reference between Great Britain and
Nicaragua at this stage Of the proceedings.
How 1t Was Brought About.
In behalf of Nicaragua, though without
success, 1t would appear that 1t has been
urged that the occupation Of Corinto by
the British troops would be In direct vio.
lation of the Clay yton- Bulwer treaty be.
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain. A provision OF that treaty prohibits
British occupation of Central American
territory.
Article l covenants that the United
States and Great Britain agree 'that
neither will ever erect or maintain ANY
fortifcarion In Nicaragua or In the
vicinity thereof, or occupy, or fortify, or
colonize or assume q protectorate over
Nicaragua or the Mosquito coast or any
part OF Central America"
1t Is pointed out that this Is even more
binding than the Monroe doctrine, as the
latter Is principle asserted by the Unired
States. while the treaty Is an agreement
to which Great Britain Is a party. There
have been individual claims on both sides
Of the water that the Clay ton Bulwer
treaty was abrogated, yet the governments
have never formally abrogated 1t.
A resolution was introduced In the last
senate to abrogate II, adjudicating that
those who oppose 1t could consider 1t In
force. The terms, 1t is held appear to be
very definite against Great Britain's SOC
cupying" or exercising any dominion over
Nicaragua"
Nicaraguans' Argument.