The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-27
CORINTO SEIZED.
British Marines fake Quiet
Possession of the NiCaT-
aguan Port.
NATIVE TROOPS WITHDRAWN
Nicaragua Protests Against Several
Features of the Ultimatum
Will Not Pay.


n WASHINGTON, April 27, 1Ss5.-Nicar-
aqua has refused to accept the British
ultimatum This information was COM
municated Ao Rear Admiral Stephenson
at a late hour last night. The three
days given Nicaragua to make reply hav-
ing expired at midnight Friday, the Brit
ish forces at once took possession of the
town
The garrison az Corinto, which consist
ed of a small force of $50 or 200 men, was
withdrawn to the interior. leaving the
British in peaceable possession of the
town
No opposition was made to their land
ing but it is stated by those familiar
! with the Nicaraguan programme that
any attempt on the part of the British
4 forces to penetrate TO the interior or, in
short. to leave the environments of Cor
into. will be resisted by Nicaragua. Great
excitement is reported to exist, not only
at Corinto and Maragua. but throughout
kthe republic.
WILL NOT PAY.
1t is now said positively that Nicaragua
will not pay the $4,000 indemnity de-
manded by Great Britain. Should this
! determination be adhered to. the occu-
patton of Corinto by the British Govern
ment may be indefinite. The British ulti-
matum provided not only for the pay
ment of $4,000 smart money" to pro-
Consul Hatch. but it included also
ssr of English subjects who were arrest
s ] 4 and taken to Managua with Mr.. Hatch.
81 nd provides further that a joint COM
ssion shall be established to fix the
age which resulted to those and other
british subjects as a result of their ar
est and expulsion from the republic.
The reading of the ultimatum. so far
sAAhe commission is concerned, is that it
i'll consist of one representative each
s,kIreal Britain and Nicaragua, the
member mot to be citizen of any
1efS,sn 1gen IN State" Various interpreta-
Woove been given to this qualfca-
- -
strues it to apply to citizen either Of
the Urited States or Central or South
America. The British contention. unofii-
cially stated here, is that it refers only
to citizens of Central and South America.
These countries are denominated as
states in European diplomacy and not
to the United States, which is usually
referred to by the term United States"
WILL NOT AGREE.
So long. however, as Nicaragua sus-
tains her own Interpretation. she will not
agree to the establishment of com
mission to consist of two Europeans and
one citizen of her own country. She feels
that such commission might assess
damages amounting to millions of dollars
and that she cannot afford, therefore, to
be bound by such decision. The ques-
ton now arises, what will Great Britain
do? Since it is contended that the pay
ment of the "smart money complies
only with part of the ultima tum, it is
obvious that her forces may remain IN
pOSSeSSlOn OIL OOTlulO uliliA SOllle QSCloiOn
has been reached regarding the claims
of the other British subjects If Near
aqua declines, as it is positively asserted
that she will, to agree to commission,
unless citizen of the United States be
a member thereof, the British. under
present conditions, must continue in oc
cupation of Corinto. This gives them a
foothold on Nicaraguan territory which
they may retain for years unless a COM
promise of some nature be reached.
THE TOWN OF CORINTO.
The town of Corinto is so situated as to
be just entirely surrounded by water. 1t
bridge 600 yards in length. The Corinto
soldiery and people removed to the main
land across this bridge. The town has
a population of about 1000 souls Many
of the inhabitants are foreigners, prin-
cipally Americans, Germans, Italians and
British, engaged in trade. 1t is the prin-
cipal port of entry for Nicaragua.
The Nicaraguan Minister was an early
and anxious viscitor at the State Depart
ment this morning. but failed then to
see Secretary Gresham. VINO had driven
out to Woodley to consult the President
and who was mets there by Secretary
Carlisle and other Cabinet officers. 1t
is anticipated that in the course of the
day some authentic staterlent of the adj
ministration's position ~ be given out.
Shortly after twelve o'clock Secretary
Gresham returned to the city from
Woodley and had an interview with DR..
Guzman at the State Department.
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