The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-26
SOUTH AMERICAN COMPLICATIONS.
A Prominent Naval Officer Relates
some of His Experiences.

Washington. March 25.-Diplomacy is
stiH on tap here and every day brings for
ward another subject for discussion by
opponents Of our foreign policy. Every
man In this community who has read
page or more Of International law stands
ready and anxious to yield up his views
on the pending international complications
which appear TO be causing certain self
constituted defenders Of American rights
in South America so much anxiety. Rear
Admiral Jouett Of the navy is one of the
best posted men in the service on interna-
tional law, and his views are interesting
and instructive.
1T is extremely fortunate" said Rear
Admiral Jouett, that the delicate and Sc
rious questions with which this govern
ment now has to deal in Nicaragua have
not arisen in connection with Panama.
II the government OF the Uni
ted States Of Colombia should
expel a British consular officer and
Great Britain should demand indemnity
and should proceed TO enforce it's demand.
it IS hard to tell where the trouble would
end"
Admiral Jouett has seen fifty years Of
naval service. More than half Of that time
he was upon the ocean. He has partici-
pated IN many memorable episodes, both
before, during and since the late war.
Particularly will he be remembered for
the prominent part he took in the suppress
sion Of the great rebellion on the isthmus
in 1886 and there is perhaps, no naval Of
ficer who is so familiar with the condi-
ton of affairs in that much troubled sec
ton. He is, moreover, Of experienced and
positive views regarding the value of &C
curing naval stations upon the adjacent
coasts and 1t is but natural that to the
present complications he has given great
deal of thought
Il particularly emphasize the danger of
trouble with a foreign power at the
Isthmus of Panama" he continued, be
cause the United States has a treaty with
the United States of Colombia which
seems to have been forgotten in the pres
ent controversy and yet It is, to my mind,
the most remarkable treaty to be found
in all our diplomatic history. 1 refer TO
the treaty with New Granada. now Col
ombia ratified in December, 1886 In that
treaty it is expressly stated that the Uni
ted States positively guarantees the per-
feet neutrality of the isthmus, and not
only this. but it guarantees the rights and
sovereignty and property which Colombia
may have and possess over the isthmus."
How came such a treaty to be negotia-
ted?"
Il do not know At that time California
was to US an undiscovered country and
there was certainly no railroad across the
isthmus. Yet, for no reason that could
have been then apparent, except from a
prophetic point of view, the United
States was made responsible for the neu-
trality of the isthmus and for the preser-
walton Of Colombia from INVASION
HAS it ever been enforced?"
Yes, but not as against any foreign
power. In 1886 l received telegraphic or
ders to leave New Orleans and proceed at
once to Colon, where the revolutionists
had destroyed millions of dollars worth Of
property, mostly American, and had clos
ed the railroad, making transit across the
isthmus impossible. On the way down
made myself familiar for the first time
with this remarkable treaty to which l
have referred 1 realized then how broad
it was. 1t justified me, in fact, in going to
almost any length. When reached Colon
found the railroad closed. l gave notice
TO the superintendent that at 3 O'clock on
the following day if he would have his
engines and cars ready, would see that
train was started and conveyed across the
isthmus. He was on hand and so was l.
The United States had five ships
there and nearly thousand men. We
opened the railroad and we kept it open
for five months. In that case, however,
we dealt with revolutionary forces. Co
lombia was unable to cope with them
and demanded of us the assistance which
she had been promised in the treaty What
would have been the result If she had
been at war with a European nation and
had made the same appeal to US is a
question. 1t is, however, a question
which We may have to meet any day, so
long as the treaty stands. And the most
remarkable thing about 1t is" continued
Admiral Jouett, "that the United States
does not to-day, so far as / am aware,
interested in the Panama railroad, in a
pecuniary sense, to the extent of q sin
gle rail. The entire concern is in the
hands of the French, and yet we are sup
posed to guarantee that 1t shall not be
interfered by any nation. The POSSIBLE
tiles for complications and troubles over
the existence of the treaty are enor-
NOUS
What is the situation with regard to
Nicaragua"
I'VE have a treaty with Nicaragua by
which we agree to extend our protection
to any route of communica ton across the
isthmus through that republic, and we
guarantee its neutrality and Innocent use.
We also agree to employ our influence
with other nations to induce them to
guarantee such neutrality and protection
Across Nicaragua, however, no route of
communication has been established. as
there has been across the isthrnus al
Net2s0o
actly similar. II. as tke nawspapers
state. Great Britain has advised us that
she win not attempt to seize any terri
tory in Nicaragua by way of PREPARATION
for damages, a very disturbing factor
has been removed from the situation.
We could hardly interfere with her ef-
fort to collect damages for what is said
to be a just claim, for we have ourselves
set a precedent by bombarding Gfeytown
in 1858 Even if Great Britain should
take possession of the custom house at
Greytown the act would not be without
precedent, although, in that case, we
would have to be very watchful to see
that the camel, after putting his nose
in at the window, did not enter with his
whole body
win there be trouble in connection with
the Alliance affair?'
u think not. There is a rebellion in Gu
ba. A Spanish gunboat was policing the
shores of Cuba directly contiguous TO
the province which is in Instruction. This
is the duty of a navy. When the gunboat
evidenced a desire to speak the Alliance
by hoisting colors, steaming towards her
and firing lee gun. which is a friendly
signal, the merchantmen should have
stopped to learn the meaning of the in