New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-23

AMERICAN DIPLOMATS WAR
sHIrS TO LEAVE THE
CARIBBEAN SEA.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l
! Washington, April 22-There are no new Of
fetal developments here in regard TO he contro-
versy between Great Britain and Nicaragua
If any significance should b. ltta9h Il to the
withdrawal of Admiral Meddes squadron from
the Caribbean Sea it ought to be on account OF
the fact that explicit and satisfactory assur-
ances have been received from Great Britain
that she does not intend II proceed To eX-
tremites in enforcing her eX-parte and unac-
knowledeed demand on Nicaragua for porey
indemnity on account Of alleged wrongs suffered
by British subjects at the hands Of the Mica
raguan authorities. 1t was unfortunately hinted
however by certain officials to-day that Mica
Iagua ought to accept the withdrawal of Ameri-
can vessels hint that she mast settle
with Great Britain" irrespective of my sym
pathy or moral or other support she might have
hoped or expected to receive from he United
States
While the state Department appea-s to have
taken firm stand against the acquisition bI
Great Britain of Nicaraguan territory. and 10 BE-
confident that she has no purposa or intention 10
lombard Nicaraguan ports, another matter Of
a good deal of doubt. That is. whether Great
Britain Is 10 BE- permitted to sequcster the Gus
toms revenues Of the Republic I'm order to en-
force the payment Of allcAl claims of British
subjects which have never been the subject n
investigation or adjudication by any impartial
tribunal. 1t has been said in a. tentative SORT Of
way by officials of the State Department that
such action would not be A violation OF inter
national law of preccdents. but thus far no
official Of that department has furnished prece-
dent or cited A doctrine Of international law
which would Justify the seizure of the Mica
raguan custom houses in order To- satisfy an ox-
parte claim for indemnity on account Of alleged
injuries to her subjects.
How such seizure of custom-houses and ad-
ministration of the revenue laws would Ice prac-
ticable under the circumstances without a mill
tary occupation of Nicaraguan ports It !s i'm
possible to imagine in the absence OF any at
tempt to explain the process and the Adniuistra-
tion Is alleged t. have set its face like flint
against such occupation by Great Britain or any
other foreign Power
The diplomatic representatives from Central and
South Amer1ca-and in a certain sense those from
the Continent of Europe as welfare water. .ng
with no little interest the development - the
strained relations between Nicaragua and Great
Britain growing out of the expulsion II Pro-Con-
sui Hatch and other English subjects from Blue
fields last summer The Nicaraguan Minister TO
the United States. Dr. Guzman frankly says that
he has no information from his Government as -
the course It Will pursue IN the matter nor has ne
any idea what the result will De-. Some - the
other diplomats representing Latin n-AmeTiCan
countries are hoping that Nicaragua Will decline
10 pay the indemnity until forced % DO 8" at ihe
cannons mouth. man who hae lived In the@"
countries for many years. and who is entirely
familiar with the sentiment Of IN" people. In con-
versation this morning this subjec'. said: All
the Spanish Americans are curious TO know What
position the United States viii take in tins af-
fair VIII she permit British iruuclads g. shell
GreytOwn? VIII she allow Britth marines 20
take possession Of the custom-house AT ''uuto
and collect the revenues to an amount "aualIlnE
the indemnity These are thc questions that fan
from the lips If all the Central and South Amer-
cans when Nlcaraguas trouble with Great Britain
is discussed No one seems abl" 10 answer them.
and DOUBT If Secretary Gresham himself has
fully decided upon his line Of policy
What will be- the effect in those countries
should the United States remain passiv" and al
low Great Britain to collect IN" money after her
own fashion. provided she does not seize any part
Of Nicaragua's tcrTitoryY
such Indifference would greatly iujuIc the pres
ige II the United States in all the countries 10 tne
south Of us. These countries look upon Tn" graf
Republic Of the North. as they term IA" United
states. as their big brother. They defer a great
deal d. the United States. They have modelled
their several Federal constitutions after that n
this country. and they make concessions To Our
neoDc or rather t. our Government. that they
fatiy refuse to the Of the world and even 10
each other II the United states remain supine in
This matter II viii chill the enthusiasm or the
Latin Americans for their big brother of IN"
North and II VIII be many years before the feel
ing u irritation growing out or il VIII pr ie
moved"
"But what do they expect the United states 10
do? This country cannot engage in war with
England because Nicaragua refuses I" pay "A
claim which Great Britaii insists IS a jus: ono.
Are not the Central and South Americans too
hasty in believing that this country can con
stanty inter1ct herself into all their differences
/ with other nations?
"Tbe Iatin-American countries" was the re
niv "do not desire to drag the United States
inio a war with Great Britain or any other
country unnecessarily II W0uld hot De ~
nected I'm tho present case. What ihey DO eX-
meet and they will be bitterly disappointed II
their expectation Is not realized. IS that Inc
United States will use their good offices t. haN"
,ha di@ruItv amicablv settled The United States
can do a great deal either In III" direction OF
reducing the Indemnity or In making i'sS harSf
the method Of collecting IT, so thdt Ni'a'aenn =
/ rid may not be too greatly humbIed S""-
ro,arv Gresham knows precisely what IN" SCUM
| Americans would Ike. ana they beiieN" tha' ne
Will without being prrsumptuous' 50 interest
himself in the affair as not I" an'aeoI"e ~ 'icd :
/ britain and vet satisfy our I.atin- American
nelghbore that he is not indiff"rtht 10 tIltir u,
/ combinations with other and greater ha.,onS;
corretarv Herbert has ordered AdrlraI MeduP
| a. eo,1 the cruiser Minneapolis 10 Kingston 10
take 800 tons of coal which renamed IN c''I,''
| at ,h.t nor, when the fleet sailed fcr san '"-
| ,oinoo Tho New York Columbia. Atlanta, i'd-
leigh and Cincinnati VIII sail directly from C%oloh %
Tor XIV west. where nearly 1000 tons oi W. We,
Virginia coal have been sent Tor thel uS'' t,u
! Nou yor. and Columbia will spend onN i,W
d,s t Xo, west and will then hurry 10 the
/ York Navy Yard to prepare for their cruise
IL the KiH celebration winch occurs on 'u's' ..ns
~ Secretary Herbert says that , Tlr ., w, t br,
sels will return to Colon from N'S "'N'' "'
/ all the others will come North.
mo ,.-.or-,.r, THE CANAL, ROUTE