The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-25
British Troops to Land at Co.
rinto and Seize Customs
Receipts.
COMMERCE WILL BE CRIPPLED
South American Republics Fear
Other Debts May Be Collected
in Similar Style.

Official information has been received as to
Great Britain's belligerent steps in Mica
ragua. British troops are to be landed at
Corinto. Custom-houses are to be occu-
pied and British officers are to exercise the
functions of collectors of customs. At the
same time Nicaraguan local commerce is
to be crippled by blockade. The United
States coast defense vessel Monterey is
still at Acapulco, about 500 miles north of
Corinto. She is expected to sail south
ward very soon, but no special orders have
been sent her since she sailed from San
Diego.
Reports from Nicaragua confirm the
statement that the blockade of Nicaraguan
ports by Great Britain means that she is
exacting her demands. The understand
ing IS that the blockade will begin next
Saturday. There is good reason to believe
that the demand Will not be altered, re-
duced or compromised in the slightest
particular, one Of the main purposes of
Great Britain being to administer q lesson
to Nicaragua and indirectly to all the
South American republic as to the British
methods of redress.
As to the landing of British marines at
Corinto, 1t is stated by officials that this
will not menace or endanger the interests
of the United States or other foreigners
The case of the British bombardment of
Alexandria is cited to show the British
policy toward foreigners at threatened
point. In that case Great Britain wished
TO strike Egypt, but to do so she was com
PEELED to injure some foreign interests at
Alexandria. Notice was, therefore, given
that foreign interests would be protected
with every precaution possible, and if they
were injured as an incident to the attack
compensation would be made. Sub
sequently the few foreign interests which
suffered were voluntarily remunerated by
Great Britain. 1t is said the same policy
viii be used at Corinto.
Great care will be taken to protect for
eign interests, and should the latter suffer
indirectly they will be compensated for
loss. Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British
ambassador, has not been advised by the
home Government as to the contemplated
blockade and landing OF troops in Mica
ragua but in British circles this course has
been accepted as certain for some time.
Such assurances as Great Britain has given
TO the United States have been TO Embas-
sador Bayard in response to inquiries.
Corinto is the best port OF the Central
American States on the Pacific Coast It
is most important to Nicaragua, as it is the
terminus Of the line of the Central Rail-
road.
The port of San Juan del Sur has
harbOr of average size and is in commune
cation with Lake Nicaragua by macadam
road built by the New York and California
ST q Sc Ia Loa
import point in Nicaragua. The imports
there for 1892 were $6,0O6, 805, while all
imports to other points did not exceed
$500, 0OO. 1t is evident from this why the
British chose Corinto for their strike.
Almost one-haf of the imports at Corinto
are from Great Britain, so that the British
seizure of the custom-house will result in
their receiving the customs dues from
British merchant ships.
The British imports in 1892 were 81
AZ, 601. Those of the United States came
second at 81, 497, $40; Germany, 81, 042, 055;
France, 1898, IA. The rest of the import
trade was with neighboring South and
Central American countries. The i'm
ports Of San Juan were $198. $40. AS the
CorintO imports average about $500, 900
monthly, it would not take long for Great
Britain to appropriate the SIS, 900 indem-
nifty demanded.
The tariff rates of Nicaragua are such that
the $6,006, 805 of imports in 1891 yielded
81, 058, Alb in custom duties Most of this
was collected at Corinto. At this rate the
receipts at Corinto would reach S75. 900
within thirty days unless commerce was
diverted to other ports.
1t is a significant fact that the largest
part of Nicaragua's foreign debt is repre-
sented by bonds held in London and paw
able there in 1899. This foreign debt aggre-
gates 50, Joe, 225. The London holders have
thus far received the interest on the bonds
very promptly. If, however, Nicaragua is
crippled by the seizure of her customs re-
ceipts it may react by failure to meet the
interest on the bonds held in London. The
diplomatic representatives of the Central
and South American republics are very
much disturbed by this late feature of the
case (Jhe meeting of bond obligations), for
fear it opens a vista of endless trouble
and aggression in the future.
Their idea is that once Great Britain has
been permitted without interference to
collect this special indemnity she will
avail herself of the excuse offered by the
failure of Nicaragua to meet her interest
payments on foreign debts to assume the
task Of collecting this forcibly in the same
manner, Notwithstanding the fact that the
failure may be brought about by her own
seizure Of the customs receipts which were
to be applied to the payment of this in
terest. OF course, this would necessitate
the occupation of Corinto after the original
indemnity shall have been collected, which
would only add to the distress of Nicar-
aqua, and should she be then unable, as
seems likely, to meet this last demand, the
occupancy may be prolonged SO in
definitely as to amount to permanent
occupation Of the territory.
This is the reasoningo Of the South Ameri-
cans, and they find individual cause of APP
prehension in the fact that almost all of
these little republics owe sums of money
10 European bondholders on account of
interest or principal of national debts, and
they fear that for the first time the princi-
pie may be laid down and enforced that
European Government may assume the
collection of debts owing to its citizens as
individuals and not TO the European ma
tlons.a doctrine which they assert would |