Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-29
LIKELY TO SETTLE UP.
Nicaragua Cannot Long Resist the
Demands of Great Britain.
United States Facing Many
/. Possible Complications.



WASHINGTON, April s9.-The situation
IN Nicaragua with the British occupying
Corinto. and that port declared closed b.
tho Nioaraguan government presents
many possible complications.
From the best information obtainable 1
seems almost certain that the administra
tton will not attempt any interference
with the dispute between Nicaragua and
Great Britain as long as the latter con.
flnes itself to the collection Of the indem
nifty.
The United States always maintained
In the past that European powers could,
I'm their international dealings with
South and Central American countries.
conduct their disputes In their own way
as long as they did not seek to overthrow
existing governments, set up monarchies,
or acquire territory. Such was the sub
stance Of the notice served by Secretary
Seward ON France and Great Britain
with regard to Mexico in 1862.
II the occupancy Of Corinto fails in its
object, and Great Britain should declare
war on Nicaragua 1t is said that the ad-
ministration would still decline to inter
fere so long as the war was carried on not
for the aggrandizement of Great Britain
or the acquisition of territory, but for the
sole purpose Of collecting the indemnity.
To GO beyond that however. the admins
tration, it is said would consider viola
tion of the Monroe doctrine also an ex.
press violation Of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty and it would not be tolerated.
1t is pointed out that for the United
States to interfere to prevent England
from carrying out the present method of
collecting the debt would be equivalent to
declaring a virtual protectorate over Mica
ragua and would commit this government
TO policy with regard to the Central and
Southern American countries that would
keep her involved In endless broils with
European powers It would give these
states the privilege Of resisting just claims
OF other countries and taking refuge be-
hind the skirts Of the United States. In
other words, all diplomatic correspondence
relstive to those states would practically
be carried on through Washington. Be-
sides. 1t would greatly embarrass this gov
ernment In the enforcement Of Its own
Claims Against These Countries.
But it is not believed in official circles
that Nicaragua will carry her resistance
much further. Public sentiment in
Nicaragua, it 10 believed. has compelled
President Zelaya to make q show Of re-
sistance and to issue his appeal to the
world, but 1t Is confidently believed that
rather than suffer tho 3elzure Of other
ports or ombardment she will comply
and pay the indemnity.
There Is some difference of opinion here
as to whether the declarations of Nicar.
aqua that Corinto is closed a. port Of
entry will be recognised. It Is plainly
within the power Of any country to close q
port In time OF peaoe. and Senator Nor
gan has expressed the opinion that In this
way Nicaragua could prevent England
from collecting revenue. but this country
has always maintained, and In this we
have beeu sustained by international GUS
tom, that in order to close the port an Of
fective blockade must be sustained. Eng
land insisted upon this when the United
States declared the Confederate ports
closed during the war.
For the purpose Of learning the real
situation respecting affairs at Corinto,
DIR. Guzman sent telegram Of inquiry to
his government. Yesterday q dispatch
came In reply to the minister of foreign
affairs at Managua, confirming the report
that the British are in possession, the dis.
patch saying: "Corinto Is today under
the British flag"
The minister does not know whether his
government has declared Corinto q closed
port. but he is Of opinion that such steps
have been resorted to. DR.. Guzman made
. negative reply when asked whether he
had any news as to whether his govern.
ment had changed its attitude and had
taken any steps to satisfy the demands set
forth in the British ultimatum.
: Friendly Aid Profered.
Dispatches from London and Costa Rica
make it evident that both the United
States and the Central American republic
were anxious to secure peaceful settle
ment Of the difficulty by the payment of
the indemnity demanded by Great Britain
for the expulsion of Consul Hatch.
President Yglesias Of the republic of
Costa Rca, II the cable advices are cor
rect, offered to contribute portion of the
money, while the state department. here,
through Ambassadors Bayard at London.
arranged for an extension Of two weeks In
which the money could be raised IL Nicara-
qua would agree to settle on this basis
Secretary Gresham drove out to Wood.
ley yesterday afternoon and had a con.
sultation with the president 1t was
thought that some official statement would
be made but, upon his return, the seore-
sary declined to give out anything. The
fact that the United States has been offi.
cially advised of the occupation OF Corinto
by the British is, however, definitely ascer.
tained. From present indications. ALI the
correspondents In the case will be held by
che state department. until the incident is
elosed.
Chitral 0isturbers Captured.
SIMLA. April 9.-Sher Afzul, who, after
the murder Of his nephew, the Mehtar of