New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-02
THE NrC1RAGUAN CONTROVERSY.

THE NIC4RAGUAN CONTROVERSY.
The diplomatic complications with Great Brit
ain over the Nicaraguan scaboard have clearly
defined historical background The Mosquito
coast WAS discovered by Columbus. but the Span
iards considered it worthless and made no settle
mcnts from the san Juan 10 Cape GraciaS. In
thc seventeenth century buccaneers found refuge
In It's sheltered ;agoons and hybrid race OF
Indian African breed took possession of the terri
tory The British flag was raised on IN" coast,
and q chief was induced by traders 10 20 10
Jamaica and 10 accept a crown. BY treaties ne
potiatcd with Spain in 1883 and 1856 England
abandoned all claims 10 any portion Of the Cen
tr3l American coast but retained the priVih."
of emitting logwoOI in what is now Belize. or
British Honduras When the five republics were
established after the revolt against Spain me
ENGLISH hammered anew with the chiefs of Mos
Quitoland and restored the proectorate. which
mad never been anything except uSurI'aiion
From 1870 10 1S4S the State Department at
Washington never ceased 10 dcnouncc English
pretensions based upon mock corona'ions nj he
lie and Bluefields and upon compactS between
the Governor of Jamaica and tipping Indian
chiefs
When the Nicaragua Canal was proposed after
quito Indians at the insigation Of British agents
took possession Of GrcytOwn on the prrtrNt tiil'
II was included in their territory. The Nlca
racuans drove out the intrndcrS but were subSc
ouently forced 10 retire Not only was the port
rcocclpied by the Indians but the British also
ottcu,p,cd 10 take possession Of an island in the
Gulf Of Fonscca on the Pacific coast Nicaragua
placed itself under the protection Of the ni'd
| bDnlpdrIpI
can man-of-war. and serious complications arose
which were temporarily adjusted by tn" ncgoa
ton Of the Clayton-Bulwcr Treaty. the most
sensnlesS diplomatic agreement into which the
United States Government ever entered with Il
foreign Power. Mr.. Clayton compromised III"
Monroe Doctrine 10y admitting Great Britain I"
an equal share IN the proicctoratc of any inter
oceanic canal which might be opened in Mica
ragra: and he did this in order 10 secure III"
withdrawal Of all English claims TO sovereignty
over the coasts Of Central America. An "xlriva-
giant price was paid for concessions which were
no, carried ont in good faith by Great Britain.
Even before the ratlfcationS We're exchanged
the British Government disavOwcd It's intention
Of applying the convention To English settlements
In Honduras Instead Of abstaining from terri
torlal ACQUISITIONS it established new settlements
enlarged lIS uOlililll Ill 'I'"''
| a Crown colony there in violation of lis covenant
with the United States and in defiance OF me
Monroe Doctrine From 1850 TO 1860 II chung
/ tcnaclously 10 It's protecoratc over the Mosquito
coast and then abandoned It's pretcnsIons under
conditions which left II at liberty 10 intervene as
the guardian Of the indians. If local autonomy
! were withheld by Nicaragua. The treaty OF
Managna. which was subsequently submitted 10
/ the Emperor " Austria as an arbitrator. nom
! inay recognized the sovereignty Of Nicaragua
/ over the Mosquito Reservation; but 1t created II
State within State. and left IL under The control
! Of aliens from Jamaica, who Wcr" ready 1T every
/ turn 10 assert their rights as British subjects.
/ The Reservation had chic, who was chosen
from the hereditary royal line, flag and a Gus
toms tariff Of It's own; It's own magistrates ana
| legislators; and Grcytown on the edge OF the
southern frontier was a free port. All these de-
tails were arranged and ordered by England ana
/ involved intervention in Central American af'
fairs. All these conditions were aniagOnslic 10
the Monroe Doctrine.
During the last two years the Nicaraguans have
! occupied the Territory and then recaincI pos
session Of IL after temporary cjcctment. Chi"f
! Clarence and his officials have been expelled, and
England has recognized anew Ncaragua's sovcr-
eighty over the Territory, as had previously been
done in the treaty Of Managua. 1t has made n
demand for an indemnity for the imprisonment
Of It's Pro-Consul and other subjects. and has
also proposed commission for The settlement OF
other claims arising from recent occurrences.
| While there has been no attempt TO rcinStatc
Chief Clarence by force, Lord Kimberley has left
open various questions connected with the
! change in the government Of the Reservation.
| Possibly he has dupcd Secretary Gresham, but
| there Is no proof Of II in the fact that an ndcm-
ish subjects. Nicaragua ought to pay reason
| able bill Of damages for claims Of that sort; and
the Mosquito Reservation Is well worth an III
! dcmnity. The Monroe Doctrine has nothing 10
do with such claims. There may be reason 10
suspect that England will initiate the example Of
the United States and lombard Greytown, or
| will attempt 10 obtain concessions from Mica
| ragla, which will cmbarrass the American Gov
eminent In the construction and control Of the
! canal; but we do not share these approximations.
II the State Department has aided Nicaragua
i'm obtaining complete control and jurisdiction
over the Mosquito coast. II has acted on the lines
Of the Monroe Doctrine It's main object should
| be 10 prevent the revival OF the prOtcctOratc
which Great Britain has been exercising over the
Reservation. and to forestall any assumption OF
! European authority over Central America. Any
! Drctepsions ar that lid should I've followed I'M