The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-24
UNCLE SAM EYING JOHN BULL.
THE BRITON TRYING TO BULLDOZE
NICARAGUA.

Uncle sam May Take a Hand IL John
Tries 10 Put the Thumb Screws on
Too Tight-Sicaragua Not in Con-
ditiOn 10 Pay the s75, 900 Demanded
as Indemnity for the Expulsion of
Hateh-A Clause Intended to shut
the United States Out in Case of
Arbitration.
Washington, March 23.-There is abso-
Lutte authority for the statement. not
withstanding guarded and technical de-
nials. that Great Britain's demand upon
Nicaragua is of such character as to
merit very grave consideration on the
part of the government of the United
States. Inspection of the text Of Great
Britain's demand. a copy of which was
brought to Washington by Minister Bar
rios. the special agent sent to London by
Nicaragua, discloses the fact that the
conditions imposed upon this feeble and
impeeunious republic are harsh in
the extreme.
Great Britain demands f15.OOO Cs175,OOo)
smart money" to be paid down within
seven weeks, that is to say, before April
'16 next. for the affront to the British
crown implied in the alleged wrongful
expulsion Of the British pro-consul, Hatch.
from Bluehelds. This is an imperative
demand. There is no suggestion of arbi-
tration or loophole offered for compro-
mise or delay. Next, Great Britain in
sists that the claims Of Hatch and other
British subjects for damages alleged to
have been sustained shall. be submitted
to a mixed commission of three-one to
be appointed by Nicaragua, one by Great
Britain. and the third to be selected by
them, but mot to be a citizen of any
American republic" The stipulation, as
originally given out by the Nicaraguan
representatives,. was mot to be citizen
of the United States"
This statement gave opportunity for a
technical denial on the part of the British
representatives. who said that no such
undiplomatic and insulting discrimination
had been made against the United States.
But that Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil,
and other American republics are in
cluded with the United States in the
embargo does not render the fact that
the United States is deliberately shut out
from participation in a matter of this great
importance to the integrity of the Amer
lean continent any the less serious.
Our interests in Nicaragua, especially in
regard to the problem Of a trans-isthmian
canal, are so great that the presentation
| Of excessive demands, impossible of i'm
mediate compliance, to be followed per-
! haps by the seizure of territory as a
! guarantee of payment have brought the
! United States face to face with a COM
plication which, taken in connection with
the Venezuelan boundary question, as
sumes Importance of the first magnitude.
The immediate question that may con-
front the administration relates to the
extent to which Great Britain shall go in
enforcing the prompt payment of this
money knowing that Nicaragua can spare
no such sum from It's treasury, which.
like those of most of the Latin-AmericaR
nations, barely suffices to meet current
! expenses. 1t remains to be learned whether
Nicaragua can make the pecuniary apoi-
ogy required, or give any satisfactory as
surances of its 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 Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty the United States will
have a right to know in advance just
/ what Great Britain proposes to do.
/ No such serious International problem
has been presented to a recent administra-
| ton as the present one.