Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-29
GOING TOO FAR.
England Has Almost Insulting
Tone to Uncle Sam,
In Her UItimatum to Nicaragua in
Demand for $4,000 Fine.
She May Find That Uncle Sam Can Also be
Independent.

| Washington, March 2S.--The full text
of Great Britain's ultimatum to Mica
ragua, published this morning, was read
with intense interest by such senators and
representatives in the city as arc cspeci-
ally familiar with foreign affairs, and the
prevailing tone of all the committees was
one of Indignation and resentment. 1t
was asserted that tho ultimatum, though
nominally addressed to Nicaragua, is
evidently intended for every American
state, most directly for the United States.
| No more technical denials Of the in
tended aifront to the United States by the
clause excluding any American state from
the arbitration commission, IL was claimed,
could stand in view Of tho language of tho
demand itself. That stipulation Is con-
strued as studied threat to this govern
ment; n direct assault upon tho doctrine
Of President Monroe. and menace to the
construction Of the Nicaragua canal
Tho injuries complained of by Great
! Britain, it was pointed out. occurred, II
at all, before the withdrawal of Great
Britain from further interference In the
matter of the Mosquito territory affair,
when she threw the Mosquito chief on tho
| tender morcies of Nicaragua and repudi-
atcd the attempt to exercise suzerainty
over that territory.
"lf the government of Great Britain"
said one senator. lever had any claim
against the Nicaraguan people. for dam
ages of this sort that claim should have
been brought forward at the time this
question was settled by MIR. Bayard
through the negotiations pursued under
the administration of Secretary Gresham.
1T is clear to me that Great Britain
only surrendered her claim in this matter
because she imagined she saw q better op-
portunity to grasp a partial control Of the
Pacific by her proposed cable between
Vancouver and Australia, via the Ha-
waiian Islands, by the occupation Of
Neckar island.
In this matter, the consent Of the
United States Senate was not obtained
and England was baked. Now, England
comes back upon Nicaragua to secure
Judgment that will give her foothold In
the Pacific. Her claim Is clearly one that
cannot be endorsed by the United, States,
still less her proposed method Of enforc-
ing it.
Should England send war ship to
Groytown for the purpose of collecting
revenues of the Nicaraguan government,
in liquidation of the S75, 900 fine assessed
against that republic, and the United
States to acquiesce In the procedure, IL
would be within the power of England
to so arrange matters as to prohibit the
trade and commerce Of the United States
from entering that country entirely, and
what is of vastly more Importance To-
practically stop all operations with regard
to the canal"
One fear prominently expressed, today,
was that the administration in the nego-
tiations that this matter Is bound to bring
about might plead the Clayton Bulwer
treaty as an estoppel against the claims
of Great Britain. Those who expressed
the fear asserted that Great Britain had
long ago violated this treaty and when
the time arrived to do SO the United
States would be justified in repudiating
it altogether
This treaty, it was said, was virtual
abolition of the Monroe doctrine, so far as
it related to that territory. The hope
was expressed that vigorous steps would
be taken to preserve tho rights of Ameri-
cans in Nicaragua, independent OF that
treaty.
The remedy it was suggested was ut
hand which would render 1t impossible
for England to carry ont its present
assumed policy, without commission OF
an overt act unfricndly to this country.
The last Congress passed an appropriation
of $50, 900 for the survey of the Nicaraguan
canal.
This survey was authorized under the
treaty provisions with the Nicaraguan
government. If Great Britain attempted
to occupy any ports of Nicaragua for the
purpose of collecting Its fine, Greytown,
which controls the mouth of the San Juan
river, would probably be the port selected.
The Canal Company holds concession
from the Nicaraguan government giving
it absolute control Of the commerce Of the
San Juan river, and any attempt ON the
part OF Great Britain to collect the reve-
nues of this port would interfere with the
revenues of this American company.
1t was proposed that the administration
at once send the engineers authorized by
Congress to Nicaragua for the purpose Of
making this survey; that these engineers
should be conveyed to Greytown on
United States man war, and the vessel
should remain at the mouth Of the river.
Some propositions to this effect, 1t Ia I'M
derstood, were subsequently made by tho
officers of the Canal Company who met
the President and some Of his cabinet ad-
visers, today.
At the meeting OF the trustees Of the
New England Agricultural society at
Boston. Thursday, Francis II. Appleton,
ESQ.,, of Peabody, WAS elected president
Of the society, to I'll the vacancy caused
by the death of Hon. Daniel Needham.
1t was voted by the executive officers Of