The record-union., 1895-06-03
Especial Correspondence of Associated Press
Copyrighted, 1895.

Copyrighted, 1880
MANAGUA (Nicaragua). May 1Sth.-If
the British had occupied Corinto q little
longer than they did they would have
been able to capture a British steamer,
the Debay, which arrived there two days
ago, loaded with a full supply of modern,
improved field artillery, rifles and am
munition for about 5000 officers and sol
diers of the Nicaraguan army, and Adj
miral Stephenson would thus have been
able to collect the $4,000 claimed by
Great Britain as indemnity from Nicara-
qua without any difficulty.
The British warships sailed away on
May 18th, and this most valuable cargo
arrived at Corinto on May 10th, under the
British flag, to the great delight of the
Nicaraguan authorities, who feared that
the supply of war material would fail into
the hands of the British. 1t is considered
more than likely that Admiral Stephen
SON would have seized and detained the
Debay until the indemnify was paid, and
there Is great deal of rejoicing here at
its escape, tor it would have made an adj
mirable substitute for port and customs
duties of Corint0, which the British Ad-
miral was prevented from collecting by
the fact that the Nicaraguan Government
declared the port closed shortly after it
was occupied by the British.
Nobody here doubts that had the Brit
lsh Admiral captured this supply of war
material and satisfied the Britons' claim
against Nicaragua by its sale, that the act
would SO thoroughly have Inundated the
present Government Of Nicaragua as to
have caused its overthrow at once by
revolution. 1t is not doubted that Ad-
miral Stephenson could have taken pos
session OF the Delays cargo, in spite of
the fact that the steamer was under the
British nag. as the war material was pur-
chased Ia Germany III 1894 by the present
Government of Nicaragua.
Then again, people here insist that
Great Britain was deslrous OF obtaining q
coaling station ON the island OF Corinto,
and another coaling station on Corn Is
land, near the Atlantic entrance of the
proposed canal through Nicaragua, and
then Great Britain would have been able
to control both entrances of the ap-
proacheS TO the canal 1t is claimed that
the intention OF Great Britain was 10
cause the overthrow of the present Gov
ernment of Nicaragua, and to place i'll
power native Nlcaraguans OF her own
choosing, and there are some prominent
natives of this country who are very fond
OF Great Britain.
1t is claimed by the initiated here that
Admiral Stephenson and several Of his
officers, when at Corinto on April 10Th,
just before they actually took armed Dos
session of the port and island, publicly
declared to many persons, among whom
was w. L. Tisdale, United States citi-
zen, and the agent of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, that the Monroe
doctrine so often referred to in the United
States press and by the people is myth;
that the United States would not and
could not, II they desired, enforce it, and
it is added that the British asserted that
the occupation OF Corinto was intended to
test the question. 1t should be said in
conclusion, however, that it has been de-
MED that there was any truth in the story
that the British officers made such state
mentS.
The export of the coffee crop of 1894
now is SO clearly completed that fair
estimate can be made, and it is expected
TO amount to 100000 pounds, against
II, 100000 last year. The season for gath
ering coffee and preparing for the market
has been very favorable, and the quality
is unusually good. The price in Earope
and in the United States for good to best
qualities is from II to % cents (gold) per
pound. The export tax.is cents Mica
raguan currency per pound, if exported
from San Juan Del Sur or via the San
Juan Del NOrte River. This one-half
cent per pound difference in favor of Co.
rinto, although seriously against the in
terests of many Of the coffee estates in the
Departments of Choutals, Granada and
Riva, is for the purpose OF influencing
shipments to be made over the national
railroad, extending from the town of
Granada to the port of Corinto. The ag-
gregate of this tax TO the Government Of
Nicaragua this year will be, at the pres
ent rate OF exchange, about S132, 900 (gold). |
This money is usually advanced to the |
Government by bank, and exporters 60
10 that bank for their tax certificates and
permission to ship.
Mercantile and all other kinds of busi-
ness in Nicaragua appear to have re-
vived to their former activity since the
evacuation of the island of Corinto by
the British, and many of the soldiers,
volunteers and enlisted men in Mica
ragua's army for defense against British
advance into her territory have returned |
to their usual occupations. The Govern
ment, however, is actively preparing TO |
submit to arbitration all questions at |
issue between Nicaragua and Great Brit
ain that have arisen out OF Nicaragua's |
successful efforts in 1898 and 1894 to main
tain her sovereignty over the Mosquito |