Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-26
MUSTPAY OR FIGHT.
Uncle Sam Will Give No Help
to the Nicaraguans.
LEFT TO MEET THE BRIT0N ALONE.

LEFT TO MEET THE BRITON ALONE.
Monroe Doctrine Does Not Apply in This
Case. Says the Washington Administra-
tfon-Some Precedents That Rave Been
Hunted Up, Showing Our Own Action in
such MaticrS-Sewards Interpretation
Of Our Position-Nicarssua Gives No In
dications Of Submitting and the British
Have Probably Landed.
WASHINGTON, April 26-Nicaragua's
last hope Of assistance from the United
States in her controversy with Great
Britain to prevent the seizure of Corinto
has vanished. Dr. Guzman. the Nicara-
guam minister, who had been waiting
with intense anxiety to see Secretary
Gresham, was finally successful, when the
1ecretary came into the department yes
terday afternoon from the White House,
where he had been in consultation with
the president, presumably on the same
subject. The interview was very short.
In five minutes the minister emerged
from the secretary's Office. looking very
depressed. He refused to say word as
to what had taken place, but it can be
stated that the secretary gave him to un-
derstand very clearly that the United
States would not interfere in the case as
it stands.
Position Taken by the President.
So there were three courses open to Mic
aragua, namely: To pay the indemnity,
to permit the occupation of Corinto, or to
fight, and twelve hours to decide what to
choose, for the British troops were to
land at aybreak today at Corinto. The
position taken by the president in this
matter is that the dispute is one entirely
between Great Britain and Nicaragua, in
which the United States has no call to in
terfere unless there should be committed
acts injurious to American interests in
Nicaragua, or there should be shown u
disposition by Great Britain to acquire
Nicaraguan territory. On each of these
points a favorable assurance has been had
from Great Britain and iJ is said all that
can now be done is to watch the course of
events.
Found What tho Precedents were.
This decision was not hastily reached,
for the entire subject of our relations to
the countries of Central and South Amer
lea was considered and discussed careful
ly by the president with his constitution
nj advisers, ami there has been made n
close scrutiny of the precedents that
might suffice for our guidance. These
have been found in at least three cases.
The first WAS fully set out in the message
of President buchanan to congress in
1859 in that portion relating to Paraguay.
For several years preceding this message
the United States had had great difficulty
in maintaining friendly relations with
Paraguay, the latter country being then
under the dictatorship of DIR. Lopez, who
was carrying out a policy CT excluding
the rest OF the world from his country by
the most drastic measures.
How We Gave Humble Pic to Paraguay.
He had, as President Buchanan stated,
upon the most frivolous and even insult
ing pretex;s refused to ratify the treaty OF
fri cndship and commerce concluded with
Paraguay; had seized and appropriated
in IL violent and arbitrary manner the
property OF American citizens residing in
the country: and finally the Paraguay
ans had fired upon the United States
steamer Water Witch in 1853 and killed
the hclmsInan while the vessel was max
ing peaceful survey OF the Parana river
10 determine it's fitness for steam naviya-
ton. Tho president being clothed by
congress with necessary power sent ma
val expedition up the Parana river to the
capital Of Paraguay and compelled ample
apologies from the president, the payment
of an indemnity of SiU, go to the family of
the seaman who was killed, and finally
secured the ratification of the treaty.
Decisive Upon One Point.
The application of this case to the
Nicaraguan situation is not exact, but It
is regarded as committing the United
States to- the recognition of the principle
of the right to demand an indemnity for
the abuse of United States officers, and
therefore could not consistently deny
the same right to Great Britain. The
second case which was relied upon as u
precedent grew out Of the difficulties en-
countSred by Spain, France and Great
Britain in their relations with Mexico in
1863. These nations asserted that they
had been placed by the arbitrary and vex-
atious conduct of Mexico under the me-
cessity OF exacting from the authorities
of that country n more effective protec-
tion for the persons and properties of
other states, as well as the execution of
obligations contracted with them by
Mexico and therefore they had combined