New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-17

| FOREIGN OFFICE-THE AFFAIR kEEfS
SECRETARY GRESHAM EXTREMELY
BUsY-GREAT BRITAIN SAID TO
BE AFTER CORN ISLAND
NICARAGUA WILL
PROBABLY PAY
UNDER PRO-
TEST
London April 1s-"The Globe" to-day asserts
that Great Britain will refuse 10 accept the
! answer Of the Nicaraguan Government to the
British utimatum and will take immediate steps
to enforce her demands. 1t is ascertained how
ever that this statement emanates from the En-
change Telegraph Company. inquiry at the
Foreign Office this afternoon resulted In a re-
fusal Of the officials to divuge the purport OF the
official communication to Nicaragua or to fur-
n.sh any information whatever concerning the
matter in the absence Of Lord Kimberley and Sir
Edward Grey Under Foreign Secretary, both Of
whom are in the country. The Exchange Tele-
graph Company's statement, therefore. Is un-
authorized
The payment of the S75 900 damages demanded
by Great Britain for the expulsion of Mr.. Hatch
is now due. the tre allowed having expired to-
day. 1t Is believed that Nicaragua. rather than
resort to war. will pay the money demanded
she VIII, however, pay III unlcr protest, anu
sist thai IT has been wrung from her arbitrarily
and by force. and that in thus yielding to the
inevitable she cannot be understood agreeing
that the claim is a just until it shall first
have been passed upon by commission of arbi-
tration.
In regard TO the report that Secretary Gresham
had Informed the English Government that the
bombardment Of Groytown. Nicaragua. would be
considered act inimica 10 the interests Of the
United States. The Morning Post tomorrow
will print the following:
Inquiry shows that there is certainly no question
OF the bombardment OF Greytown and that such a
question has never been raised between the Gov
ernments OF Great Britain and the United States.
Washington. April IS CSpeciaD.-Nicaraguan af
fairs received considerable attention at the State
Department to-day. At no time recently has
Secretary Gresham been buster. He had to deny
himself 10 all visitors except members Of the
Diplomatic Corps. as ne was occupied most Of the
time in framing important dispatches subordi-
nate officials Of tho State Department said.
ENGLAND'S MIND PROBABLY MADE UP
In the course of the afternoon the representa-
tives u n number Of South American Republics
called az the department. conspicuous among
whom was Minister Guzman. of Nicaragua. Mr..
Guzman had heard nothing from London or his
own country as 10 how England viewed Mica
ragua's reply to her ultmatum and sought in
formation from Secretary Gresham The head OF
the State Department was reticent in his re-
marks TO whether he had heard from Am
bassador Bayard From what could be learned
from other sources there seems TO he little doubt
that Mr. Bayard has advised the State Depart
ment Of Great Brtains rejection OF Nicaragua's
counter proposition and OF her determination To
insis, upon a more satisfactory answer. It ap-
IN ba ali England
failed to decide upon future course. having had
Nicaragua's answer for three days and. knowing
the position taken In the controversy by this
country that Lord Kimberley should neglect to
inform Mr.. Bayard of his conclusions. 1t is ad
mitted at the State Department that the Secre-
tary will learn what Great Britain proposes To- do
almost as soon az her officials agree upon pro-
grammc. With small Powers she exhibits little
II any hesitation In a decision. and IT is reason
able to assume not only that she has made up
llgcncc In relation thereto Is now in the posses
sion Of Secretary Gresham.
There is good ground for believing that Min
lister Guzman and the other Central and South
American representatives. VINO visited the state
Department to-day were made acquainted with
Great Britans latest plans in Nicaragua. Al
though reticent as 10 what England had decided
on state Department officials were reasonably
communicative To other features OF this I'M
portant question II was said among other
things that long Great Britain does nOtninS
which can be construed as unfriendly act t.
the United States. this country cannot properly
take exception to her efforts 10 secure redress
for real or alleged grievances i'm Nicaragua. Os
tcnsibly England is only demanding that which
II is the right Of any Power To exact OF another
under circumstances similar to those which exist
The terms Of her demand may be severe. and
such thu, Mica aqua cannot conveniently comply
with them, but the fact would not affect the prin
ciplc at stake. 1t was intimated that this coun-
try was jealous Of any foreign Interference in
hut I'm
manifested by some overt act a disposition To
seize territory this country must keep hands off,
watching affairs closely In the mean time
Great Britain. II was said. was fully aware or
the fact that the United States viewed with
much concern any ntcrmeddl!ng on the part OF
herself or any other European Power In the ar
fairs OF the republics of this Continent. Informa-
ton to this effect har several times been COM
municated 10 the Secretary OF State for Foreign
Affairs. and on one recent occasion with much
emphasis II also said that only few days
ago Lord Kimberley sent assurances through Mr.
Bayard that England contemplated no step In
Nicaragua Which .nimical to the interests
or policy Of this country. Seemingly these as
eurances are regarded as sincere at the state De-
partment At the same lime. however. Great
Brltain's movements are of keen interest to the
authorities
MOVEMENTS OF ADMIRAL MEADE's FLEET.
Well-informed persons attach importance to the
movements Of Admiral Meades feet at this time.
and note the fact that two vessels of the Pacific
Squadron are not distant from Corinto. II is re-
Carded more than accidental that the entire
North Atlantic fleet should have anchored off
Colon just one day before the expiration OF the
time given to Nicaragua to make her reply 10
England's ultimatum. Naval officials attempt to
make light of the incident. and say that the fleet
has been due at Colon for some time and that It's
going there In accordance with Admiral
Mcades original programme 1t Is true that
the squadron detailed 10 visit certain
ports In the West indies and Central Amer
lea at fixed dates before Admiral Meade left
Ncw-York, but it Is probable, If not equally
true, that the authorities then knew that
demand was to be made by England on
Nicaragua. and April u was set as the day when
the ships should be at port convenient TO Grey
town. Colon Is only go miles from Greytown-a
short days stcamlng Admiral Meade has with
him the New-York. Columbia. Minneapolis, Ra-
leigh and Cincinnati Il seems reasonable To as-
sumo that his movements have been deliberately