Evening star., 1895-04-24
A PACIFIC BLOCKADE
Local View Of England's Intentions
Toward Nicaragua.
THREE DAYS GIVEN FOR SETTLEMENT
It is Believed That Payment Will
Be Made.
IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES

A special cable dispatch to the New York
Herald from Managua, Nicaragua, says:
Commander Stokes of H.M.S. Royal Ar
thur, which is at Corinto with the Satellite
and Wild Swan. arrived here this evening,
and at the end of the conference, which
only lasted ten minutes. handed the Mica
raguan minister of foreign affairs. NJ.
Matus. Great Britain's ultimatum.
Minister Matus communicated with me
and authorized me to cable to the Herald
the substance of the ultimatum. 1t gives
the government of Nicaragua three days in
which to settle the claim made by Great
Britain. falling which settlement England
will blockade the port of Corinto and also
land troops and occupy the city. A meet
ing Of prominent Nicaraguans is being held
now to decide upon plan of action. The
general opinion Is that Nicaragua will ar
range to pay the indemnity demanded by
Great Britain. Everything is quiet in the
capital. Men anxious to serve In case of
resistance to the English demand are offer
ing themselves in large numbers.
President Zelaya has cabled Lord KIM
berley, British secretary of state for for
eign affairs, asking him to defer hostile
demonstrations until the proposition of
compromise sent by Nicaragua through the
Salvadorean minister in London can be con-
sidersd.
Approaching Climax.
The London Chronicle says that the dis
patch of British men-of-war to Corlnto
shows that the Nicarasuan affair is ap-
preaching a climax. Nicaragua, 1t adds,
obviously relies upon American sympathy,
but surely II America takes these small
communities under her wing, she must
see that they maintain international OBJ
servances. The Monroe doctrine Is proper
enough in its way, but 1t will hardly pre-
vent a European power, which is not de-
strous of territorial aggrandiZemeIit,~ from
exacting reparation for insult and outrage.
A Victoria, B. c., dispatch says: The
rumor that the Royal Arthur, .he flagship
of the Pacific squadron, is to lombard
Corinto, Nicaragua, is not credited in naval
circles here. Officers of the Nymphe say
they heard the same thing at San Fran
cisco, and laughed at 1t. The Arthur is
expected here shortly.
Pacific Blockade.
The understanding in Washington Is that
the blockade will begin next Saturday, Civ
ing Nicaragua three full days Intervening
to yield to the demands in every particular.
There is good reason to believe that the de-
mands will not be altered, reduced or COM
promised in the slightest particular, one of
the main purposes of Great Britain being
to administer lesson to Nicaragua. and
indirectly to all southern republics. as to
British methods Of redress.
The maneuver will probably be pa
-
care being taken to bring Nicaragua's COM
merce to standstill and yet to leave for
eign commerce as free as ever. 1t Is said,
however. that Nicaragua's coast commerce
is very small so that Great Brltain's pa
cifc blockade may develop into a more
forcible move in order to make it effective.
Proposed Landing of Marines.
AS to the landing of British marines at
Corinto, which Is now understood to be
part of the program, it is stated by officials
that this will not menace or endanger the
interests of the United States or other for
eigners.
The case of the British bombardment of
Alexandria is cited to show the British
policy toward foreigners at a threatened
point. In that case Great Britain wished to
strike Egypt, but to do so she was COM
PEELED to injure some foreign interests at
Alexandria. Notice was therefore given
that foreign interests would be protected
with every precaution possible, and IL they
were injured an incident to the attack,
compensation would be made. Subsequent
ly the few foreign interests which suffered
were voluntarily remunerated by Great
Britain.
1t is said the same policy will prevail at
Corinto. Great care will be taken to pro-
tect foreign interests, and should the lat
ter suffer indirectly they will be compen-
sated for loss.
bassador, has not been advised by the home
government as to the contemplated block
ade and landing Of troops. But in British
circles this course has been accepted as
Great Britain has given to the United
States have been to Ambassador Bayard
in response to inquiries.
Attitude of the Administration.
The apparent unconcern displayed by
officers Of the administration in regard TO
the critical state Of affairs in Nicaragua
is generally accepted as an indication that
there is a satisfactory understanding in
the matter between Great Britain and the
United States. Great Britain has assured
the United States that she has no designs
upon Nicaraguan territory, and that It's
demands for reparation for recent insults
will be enforced without affecting the
rights and interests of the United States in
any possible way.
This statement is made on good authority
as an explanation of the apparent indiffer-
Cnce of the United States to the steps re-
Gently taken by Great Britain to enforce
the payment of the Hatch indemnity of
$4,000. In other words, Nicaragua must
settle that affair without assistance from
the United States. The recent movements
OF our warships show conclusively that
this country does not propose to interfere
in the matter. All the warships that were
in the vicinity of Nicaragua on the east
side. were ordered home few days ago
with full knowledge that Great Britain pro-
posed to take extreme measures with
Nicaragua unless her demands were met.
United States Interests Unprotected.
United States interests on the west coast
of Nicaragua ara similarly unprotected
There are three British warships in the
harbor of Corinto and no United States
naval vessels anywhere in the vicinity
The nearest ships are the Alert at Panama,
and the Monterey. at Acapulco, Mexico. 1t
is said positively at the Navy Department
that neither of these vessels has been or
dered to Corinto. If such orders were Civ
en- they could not be executed by either
vessel under four days. The Monterey is
proceeding slowly south under moderate
steam, and in course of time may put into
Corinto. Although 1t Is likely that she
will visit that port, it is not at all certain.
Present indics tions are that the purposes
Of the British fleet at Corinto will be fully
consummated before the Monterey gets
there, even IL she is going.
Sir Julinn's Assurances.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British am
bassador, had an interview with Secretary
Gresham at the State Department this
morning and assured him, SO 1t is under
stood. that United States interests in Mica
ragua would be fully respected under all