Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-05-01

has sanctioned the principle of tho
right of a European nation to collect
an indemnity for u national insult Of
fered to 1t by an American nation, or
to secure redress for abuse or ill-treat-
ment Of its citizens and infrngements
on their property rights, II can safely be
predicted that 1t will not under any
circumstances permit any European
government to attempt by the display
of force to collect moneys owing by the
South or Central American states to
indiciduals on account Of moneys lound.
In 1881 Secretary Blaine wrote to Unit
ed States Minister Noyes at Paris at 4
time when the French government was
about to undertake n demonstration
against Venezuela to force that coun-
try to meet payments to French bond.
holders on account Of the national debt,
that the government of the United
states would regard with grave ankle
ty an attempt on the part Of France to
force by hostile pressure the payment
by Venezuela OF her debt to French
citizens, and even before this the doc
trine had been well established, notwlth-
standing the pressure that was brought
to bear by the great financial centers
of Europe to have their governments
undertake the collection of debts owing
to them. In the case above referred to,
warning was quite sufficient to cause
the effort to fail. Therefore there is no
ground for apprehension OF a forclble
attempt by the British to collect debts
owing by Honduras to British bond
holders on account of a government
loan, and this same doctrine may be at
this time of great comfort to many OF
the small republics OF this hemisphere
that have been obliged by the stress OF
hard times and revolutions to default
in the payment OF the interest and
principal OF their national debts. The
q. Ha.H 4. a.
Is that there Is no rule OF international
law authorizing the exercise OF force
to collect individual debts. and that
persons who take bonds Issued on ac-
count OF the national debt of an Ameri-
can republic must take chances Of their
collection in the ordinary way, putting
themselves on footing with the inhab-
itants Of the country borrowing the
money.
At the state department the news
that Nicaragua would pay the $751; 900
indemnity within fifteen days after the
departure OF the British troops was
seemingly expected, though no direct
adylces had been received by the de-
partment. In fact, Minister Baker is
now in Costa Rica, and there is very
little communication between the gov
eminent und the legation AT Managua.
IT was learned at the department that
the acceptance by Nicaragua of the
terms which have been proposed does
not mean that the affair Is settled. 1t
is understood that Ambassador Bayard
throughout the controversy has had TO
encounter the difficulty which Is still
presented.
The British government wants the
money paid in the presence OF the
British fleet at Corlnto, or while the
fleet is till there. and the troops are in
possession of the town. The British
government, according to the state de-
partment officials, wants the payment
made as though under duress. 1t Is
hoped, however, that the d1Ter made at
the suggestion OF the United States.
and which Managua advices say has
been satisfactory to the Nlcaraguan
government, will be agreed to by Great
Britain. though no assurance TO this
effect has been received. II appears In
this connection that the threat OF revo-
luton in Nicaragua has given the
United States an opportunity 10 urge
with more force peacable settlement
of the present difficulty, as such result
OF the British occupation might serious
ly threaten the lives and the property
of United States citizens. As TO the
possible arbitration of the remaining
questions in the dispute between Great
Britain and Nicaragua II IL understood
that the United States expects to be
represented and that request by Me
aragua that the United States be repre-
sented will probably not be refused
by Great Britain. This. It is said, Will
not be allowed to interfere with the set
Element of the 1880 pounds claimed
by payment within two weeks as pro-
Dosed