Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-25
TALKING 1T OVER
Conference on Nicaraguan Affairs at
the State Department..
GREAT BRITAIN'S DEMAND FOR Cash
Uncle Sam viii Stick by the Mon-
roe Doctrine.
MIR. GRESHAM'S POLICY

M II. u II T. > ID "A M > PO Lie
There is nothing absolutely new developed
In connection with our foreign complica-
tions, but the impression seems to be grow
ing in diplomatic circles that the Bluefelds
matter presents more serious aspect than
&C ssip on the subject for the past few days
/. has indicated. 1t is stated that the i'm
preston that Mr.. Cleveland has been dis
posed to modify the attitude of the State
Department both with regard to this and
the Spanish incident is not really warrant
ed. Apparently the State Department has
reason to believe that Nicaragua will not
accede to the demands of Great Britain,
and 1t remains but for England to make
the attempt to enforce those demands for
trouble to grow out of the matter, which
will involve the United States at once.
- Will support the Monroe Doctrine.
1t is predicted in quarters where the pre-
diction is liable to be based on information
II at Nicaragua will not yield and will feel
secure in the support Of the United States
against any military aggression by Eng
land. 1t Is assumed that England having
declared herself firmly in the matter will
make display of force, and no statement
made by England to our representative has
y.
administration at Washington Is said not
to be at all in doubt, and Notwithstanding
statements to the contrary, which have
been made, Mr.. Gresham and Mr.. Cleveland
appear to be in perfect accord upon a
policy of firm support of the Monroe doc
triEe. There are reasons to believe that If
England makes display Of force to Mica
ragua the United States will interfere at
any cost. 1t is certainly expected at the
State Department that there will speedily
be some interesting developments in this
matter.
The Allianca Incident.
No further communication has been re-
ceived from Spain with relation to the
Alliance incident, but 1t Is fully expected
that as soon as it can be done without too
great a sacrifice of dignity the Spaniards
will make ample apology for the offense.
There does not seem to be a disposition on
the part of the State Department to resent
the language used by the Spanish minister
as vigorously as the alleged and very
doubtful offense Of Mr.. Thurston was
Itreated.
The talk of passports being furnished the
Spanish minister is dying out, and while it
is believed that his stay in this country
will be short, it is not thought that his re-
tirement will be the result Of any request
from the State Department, but will be the
voluntary act of Spain, and the dispatch
from Madrid today announcing the selec-
ton of his successor is regarded as ac-
curate. 1t was denied today that there Is
any friction between Mr.. Cleveland and
his Secretary of State on account of the
demand which Gresham made for immedi-
ate reparation for the firing upon the
American flag.
Conference mt the State Department.
DR.. Guzman, the Nicaraguan minister,
was at the State Department this morning.
although this is not diplomatic day, and
the inference is that he has heen consult
ing Secretary Gresham respecting the Brit
ish ultimatum. 1t is evident that the State
/. Department Is deeply concerned in this
matter, and a statement from Ambassador
Bayard explaining the purposes of Great
Britain Is anxiously looked for. 1t is now
recalled that when Mr.. Bayard, last year.
at the time of the Blueelds trouble, Sc
cured from the British government an as-
surance that 1t had no desire 20 interfere
with the politics of Nicaragua, 1t was dis
tinctly stated that Great Britain reserved
the right to secure redress for the oppres-
sion Of British subjects. Not much heed
was given to this qualification last year,
but 1t appears to have suddenly assumed
an Importance as large as the original is
|, sue. namely. the right of Great Britain to
assert protectorate over the Mosquito
reservation.
As for the British ultimatum, 1t Is not be-
lieved that our government can object to
the creation of commission of fair COM
tanned by British subjects in Nicaragua,
and the issue appears to have narrowed
down to the demand of an indemnity of
$to.oO for the expulsion of Mr.. Hatch, the
British consular agent at Bluefields. 1t is
felt here that in the present depressed
financial condition of Nicaragua this is
rather an exorbitant demand, but aside
from this there is already a disposition to
examine into the matter further and ascer-
tain whether the Nics>aguan government
did not act entirely within its rights in ex-
pelling the consular agent.
The Expulsion of Hatch
This question will turn on facts that
= should not be difficult to ascertain. 1t
was charged by the Nicaraguans that
Hatch, who was not a diplomatic officer
and SO could claim no exemption on that
score. took an active part in the political
turmoil at Bluefields and did much to Sc
cure the overthrow of the Nicaraguan gov
ernment in the town and the reinstatement
Of Chief Clarence.
If this were true, then, under ordinary
conditions, there would be little doubt of
the right of the Nicaraguan government to
expel him from the country. But the con-
oitions in Bluefields at the time We're not
ordinary, for, according to the British con-
tentiOn, the Mosquito reservation was act
ually under British protectorate up to the
date Of the Mosquito convention, which re-
solved upon the Incorporation of their lands
into Nicaragua, and that before this latter
date the Nicaraguan government could not
lawfully exercise any such right as that of
expulsion or the oppression of British sub
jectS In the reservation. Hence, the de-
mand in the case of Hatch is entirely Diff
ferent from any other case on record and
1t is felt at the State Department that it
will require the exercise of great caution to
safely determine upon line of policy that
will not lose for the United States the re-
spect of the smaller republics of this hem
isphere. and at the same time will not vio-
late any of the established principles of in
ternational law and equity.