The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-04-06
ENGLAND'S THREAT,

qua, Offensive TO American Statesmen
1t Involves a Menace to the Monroe Doc
| trine, and Will Justify the United States
I'm AbrogatinE Entirely the Clayton-Bul-
wer Treaty.
WASHINGTON, March 2p.-The full
text of Great Britain's ultimatum to
Nicaragua, as published by the United
Press, was read with intense interest
by such senators and representatives
as are especially familiar with foreign
| affairs and who still remain in the
city. The prevailing tone of all the
comments made was one of Indignation
and resentment. 1t was asserted that
the ultimatum, though nominally ad-
dressed to Nicaragua, was evidently
but most directly for the United
States. No mere technical de-
mails of intended affront to
the United States by the clause
excluding any American state from
the arbitration commission" it was
claimed, could stand in view of the
language of the demand itself. The
SNApuldIlOh eo SOLolI Z 40 IL I
threat to this government, a direct as
sault upon the doctrine of President
Monroe, and a to the construc-
tion of the Nicaragua canal. The in
juries complained of by Great Britain,
it is pointed out, occurred, if at all,
before the'withdrawal of Great Britain,
from any further interference in the
matter of the Mosquito territory af-
fair, when she threw the Mosquito
chief on the tender mercies of the
Nicaraguan government and declared
that she refused any attempt to exer-
else suzerainty over that territory.
Now England comes back upon
Nicaragua to secure a Judgment that
will give her a foothold in the Pacific.
Her claim is clearly one that cannot be
indorsed by the United States, still
less her protfered method of enforcing
it. Should England send a war ship
to G%reytown for the purpose of collect
ing the revenues of the N~icaraguan
government in liquidation of the $751;
900 fine assessed against that little re-
public and the United States we're to
acquiesce in this proposition, it would
be within the power of England to so
arrange matters 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 that was prominently ex-
pressed was that the administration,
in the negotiations 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 express this fear assert
that Great Britain has long ago vio-
lated this treaty, and that when the
time arrives SO to do the United States
will be justified in repudiating it alto
gether. Under that treaty the United
States agreed with England that
neither country should ~cOlonize the
isthmus or erect any Notifications
guarding the approaches TO any canal.
1t was a virtual abrogatiOn of the Mon
roe doctrine, so far as it related to that
territory, and an agreement in which
the United States had everything to
lose and England all to gain.
Several prominent members of con-
gress strongly contended that any at
tempt to renew the treaty, even in re-
sistance to England's present claims
against Nicaragua, would be fatal to
the policy of the United States.
The hope and anticipation were ex-
pressed that the administration would
be able to see its way clearly in this
matter, and that vigorous steps would
be taken to preserve the rights of
Americans in Nicaragua Independent
of this treaty. A remedy, it was sug-
gusted, was at hand, which would
render it impossible for England to
carry out its present assumed policy
without the commission of an overt
act unfrien6ly to this country. The
last congress passed an appropriation
of $50, 900 for a survey of the Nicara-
guam canal. This survey was author
lied to be made under treaty provi-
sions with the Nicaraguan govern
ment which protected the United
States in its occupancy OF Nicaraguan
territory for that purpose. If Great
Britain attempted to occupy any
of the ports of Nicaragua for the pur-
pose of collecting its fine, Greytown
would probably be the point selected,
that point being the one that con-
trolls the mouth of the San Juan
river and the N~icaraguan canal.
The canal company now holds
the cohesion from the Nicara-
guam government granting it the
absolute control of the of
the San Juan river, and any attempt
on the part of Great Britain to collect
the revenues of that port, would of
necessity interfere with the rev.
enues of this American COM
pany. 1t was proposed. therefore, that
the administration should at once
send the engineers authorized by
congress to Nicaragua for the
purpose of making this survey.
This would be a mission of peace I'M
der all the privileges of a treaty and
authorized by an act of congress-. 1t
was also suggested that this board of
engineers should be conveyed to Grey
town on a United States man-of-war,
and that the vessel so sem should re-
main at the mouth of the river, where
the American flag would loat as a no.
tice t. all nations to keep their hands
off.
Soma proDoSitionS 70 this affaot If *