The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-25
OCCUPY CORINT0.
Britain's Intention If Nicara-
qua Fails to Settle.
Our Own Government Worried 0vera
Possible Winding Up In War.

WASHINGTON, April 25. "A 6,7patch
from Managua states that Commander
Stokes of II. M. s. Royal Arthur, which
Swan, has handed the Nicaraguan min
lister of foreign affairs. N. Matus. Great
Britain's ultimatum.
1t gives the government OF Nicaragua
three days in which TO settle the claim
made by Great Britain, falling which set
Element England will blockade the port
Of Corinto and also Lar troops and 90
cupy the city.
Corinto Is the heaviest import point In
Nicaragua. The imports there for lS9i.92
were 5000, Sos, whilo all imports to other
points did not exceed s50o,00 It Is evil
dent from this why the British chose
Corinto for their stroke. Almost one-half
of the imports at Corinto are from Great
Britain. SO that the British seizure OF the
custom houses will result In their receiv-
ing the customs dues from British mer-
chant ships. The British imports for
1912 were e.. 1872, Col; those Of the United
States came second, at 81 97. $50; CTR
many, 81. 042, 055; France, s99S, l4i. The
rest Of the import trade was with neigh
boring South and Central American coun-
tries.
What May Follow.
The diplomatic representatives OF the
Central and South American republics arc
very much disturbed by the last feature OF
the case (the meeting OF bond obligations),
for they fear that it opens a vista OF nd
less trouble and aggression in the future.
Their idea Is that once Great Britain Is
permitted without interference to collect
this special indemnity, she will" avail her.
self of the excuse offered by the failure OF
Nicaragua TO meet her interest payments
on foreign debt to assume the task OF
collecting this forcibly In the same
manner, Notwithstanding the fact that
the failure may be brought about by her
own seizure of the customs receipts. which
were to be applied to the payment OF this
interest.
or course this would necessitate the oc-
oupation OF Corinto until the original in
demnity shall have been collected, which
would only add to the financial distress OF
Nicaragua, and should she be unable, as
seems likely. TO meet this last demand,
the occupation may be prolonged so In
definitely as TO amount TO q pernanent
occupation Of the territory.
This is the reasoning Of the South
Americans, and they find individual
cause for apprehension In the fact that al
most all of those little republics owe
sums of money to European bondholders
on account Of interest or principal OF ma
tional debts, and they fear that for the
first time the principle may DO laid down
and enforced that a European government
may assume the collection of debts owing
to It's citizens as individuals, and not to
the European nation, q doctrine which
they assert would be particularly obnox-
ious II applied TO some Of the states Of the
American Union, which have dcfaulted in
their debts to foreign bondholders.
United States Interested.
IL il felt here that the present situation
is one justifylng apprehension and anx.
iety on the part Of our own governments.
While it Is not expected hat the Near
aguan government will offer any armed
resistance to the landing Of the British
forces, still IL Is feared that during the
time the town Of Corinto Is occupied by
the foreigners the natives may be re-
strained with difficulty, and the close con-