The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-03-27
England's Designs on Mica.
ragua.

w ASHlNGlON1 NkolNA -
absolute authority for the statement,
Notwithstanding guarded and techni-
cal denials, that Great Britain's de-
mand upon Nicaragua is of such a
character as to merit very grave con-
sideration on the part of the govern.
ment Of the United States. lnspec-
ton of the text of Great Britain's
demand, a copy Of which was brought
to Washington by Minister Barrios,
the special agent sent to London
by Nicaragua, discloses the fact that
the conditions imposed upon this fee
bic and impecunious republic are
harsh in the extreme.
Great Britain demands $4,000
pounds (S75,o00) smart money to be
oaid down Within seven weeks, that
is to say, before April Is, next, for
the affront to the British Crown I'M
Piled in the alleged wrongful expul-
sion of the British, pro-consul, Hatch,
from Blue6elds. This is az impera-
tive demand. There is no suggestion
of arbitration or !loophole offered for
compromise or delay. Next, Great
Britain insists that the claims of
Hatch and other British subjects for
damages alleged to have been sus.
tanned shall he submitted to a mixed
commission Of three-one to be APP
pointed by Nicaragua, L by Great
Britain and the third to be selected
by them, but mot to DE a citizen Of
any American Republic" This stip-
ulation, as originally given out by
the Nicaragua representatives was
"not to be "a citizen Of the United
States This statement gave oppc:-
tuaity for a technical denial OIL the
part of tie British representatives,
WHO said that no such undip!omatic
and insulting discrimination had been
made against the United States.
But thar Mexico. Chile, Venezuela,
Brazil, and other American Republics
are included with the United States
in the embargo does not render the
fact that the United States is delibe-
rately shut out from participation III
a natter Of this great Importance. to
the integrity Of the American CONT
nent any the less serious.
Our interests in Nicaragua espe-
cially in yega;d to the problem Of a
traasistImian canal. are so great that
the presentation Of excessive de
mands, impossible Of immediate com
~pl;ance, to be followed perhaps by
the seizure of territory as a Suaran-
tee of payment, have brought the
United States face to lace with a com.
plication, which taken in connection
with the Venezuelan boundary ques-
ton, assumes Importance Of the first
magnitude The immediate question
that may confront the administration
relates TO the extent 20 waich Great
Britain shall! go III enforcing the
prompt payment of this money,
knowing hat Nicaragua a spare no
such sum from It's treasury. which
like those OF most Of the Latin-Amer-
lean nations. barely s%uflices to meet
current expenses 1t remains to be
learned whether Nicaragua can make
the pecuniary apology required or
give any satisfactory assurances OF
it's future payment. Little doubt is
expressed that Great Britain will
seize something as security in case
of "a default and under the terms OF
the Clayton-Bnlwer treaty, the United
States Will have a right to know in
advance just what Great Britain pro
poses to do. No such serious inter
national problem has been presented
to a recent administration as the pre-
sent one