The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-04-29
TII BRTTIS1IT C13TITl
The News That They Have Taken
Possession Confirmed,
UNCLE SAM WILL NOT INTERFERE.

UNCLE SAM WILL NOT INTERFERE.
Our Government Recognizes the Right of
Great Britain to Demand Indemnity for
the Indignities to Consul Hatch, and Has
Advised Nicaragua TO That Eheot.
WASHINGTON, April 20.-Dispatches re-
ceived by the Associated Press from Lon
| don and Costa Rica throw a good deal of
| additional light on the attitude Of the ad-
| 1ninistration in regard to the Nicaraguan
incident. 1t is evident that both the Uni
/ ted States and the Central American re-
publics were anxious to secure a peaceful
| settlement of the difficulty by the pay
ment of the indemnity demanded by Great
Britain for the expulsion of Consul Hatch.
President Yglesias, of the republic of
Costa Rica, if the cable advices are correct,
offered to contribute a portion of the
money, while the state department. here,
through Ambassador Bayard, at London,
arranged for an extension of two weeks in
which the money could be raised If Nicara-
qua would agree to settle on this basis.
1t is not known exactly what representa-
tions were made to the state department
here by Nicaragua or Nicaraguas repre-
sentative to induce Secretary Gresham to
cable Mr.. Bayard these instructions, but
as the popular feeling in Nicaragua was
| all against yielding, 1t is believed that the
| government at Managua concluded, out
/ of Difference to it and possibly as a means
Of its own preservation, to stand out in
the hope of ultimately inducing if pos
/ sible, the active Intervention of the United
/ States. 1t is said that the state depart
ment has along advised Nicaragua that
the expulsion of Consul Hatch was an
otfense that no self respecting country
could overlook, and that prompt repara-
tion was due Great Britain
| When hampton and Wiltbank, the citi-
zens of the United States, were expelled
| from Bluefelds last July for alleged com
| plicity in the very conspiracy to defy Mic
araguan authority on the Mosquito coast,
in which it was said Consul Hatch was in
| volved, the sentiment in this country was
strong, and the state department took
such vigorous steps that hampton and
| Wiltbank were not only permitted to re-
| turn, but were restored to all their rights
| and property and public ball was given
in their honor. At that time it was be-
'lieved that Nicaragua would show the
same willingness to furnish redress to
England that she did to the United States.
But by continued delay matters were al
lowed to reach the acute stage, and Great
Britain, in accordance with the terms of
her ultimatum, seized Corinto to enforce
| the payment of the indemnity claimed to
be due her.
Much interest is manifested in diplo-
matte circles in the situation. Secretary
Gresham drove out to Woodley yesterday
| aftnrnnOn and had n 1nnnr
with the president On his return the sec
retary of state declined to give out any
thing. The fact that the United States
has been officially advised of the occupa-
tion of Corinto by the British is, however
definitely ascertained. The situation in
| Nicaragua, with the British occupying
Corinto, and that port declared closed by
the Nicaraguan government, presents pos
| sible complications. From the best infor-
nation obtainable it seems almost certain
] that the administration will not attempt
any interference with the dispute between
| Nicaragua and Great Britain as long as
the latter confines itself to the collection
of the indemnity.
The United States has maintained in
the past that European powers could, in
all their dealings with South and Cen
tral American countries, conduct their
disputes in their own way as long as they
did not seek to overthrow existing govern
ments, set up monarchies or protectorates
or acquire territory. Such was the sub
stance of the notice served by Secretary
Seward on France and Great Britain with
regard to Mexico in 1862.
If the occupancy of Corinto fails in its
object, and Great Britain should declare
war on Nicaragua it is said that the ad-
ministration would still decline to inter-
fere so long as the war was carried on not
for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Great Britain
or the acquisition of territory, but for the
sole purpose Of collecting the indemnity.
To go beyond that, however, the admins
tration, it is said, would consider viola
tion of the Monroe doctrine, also an ex-
press violation Of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty, and would not be tolerated
1t is pointed out that for the United
States to interfere to prevent England
from carrying out the present method OF
collecting the debt would be equivalent tc
declaring virtual protectorate over Mic
aragua and would commit this govern
ment to police with regard to the Central
and South American countries that would
keep her involved in endless broils witt
European powers. 1t would give these
/
of other countries and taking refuge be
hind the skirts Of the United States. II
other words all diplomatic correspondence
relative to those states would practically
be carried on through Washington. Be
sides it would greatly embarrass this gov
ernment in the enforcement of its own
claims against these countries.
But it is not believed in official circles
that Nicaragua will carry her resistance
much further. Public sentiment in Mic
aragua, it is believed, has compelled Pres
ident Zelaya to make n show Of resistance
and to issue his appeal to the world, but ii
is confidently believed that rather than
suffer the seizure of other ports or bonn
bardment she win comply and pay the in,
demnity. There is some difference here
as to the declaration of Nicaragua that
Corinto is closed as a port OF entry will be
recognized.
Nicaragua Was Using Us.