The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06
CANAL NEGOTIATIONS.
British Capitalists TO Take "a Hand IN
the Nfcaraguan Enterprise.

Washington Special in Chicago Post.
Agitation the Nicaragua canal will
follow close upon the contamination OF the
bond deal. Officials pretend TO be mystifled
and disturbed over discoveries that the En-
glish are plotting for the control OF the
canal, and they are predicting a special
message from the President TO Congress on
the matter. There is no mystery about the
canal business. Readers OF the Evening
Post were fully advised two months ago
of the efforts of J. r.. Bartlett. the New
York fnancier, 10 get English backing for
the canal. and that his efforts were likely
to succeed. Heavy contractors and CAPT.
talists agreed 10 give bond 10 complete the
canal for sum less than ss9.00o.000. Armed
with this guarantee, Mr. Bartlett went TO
eight months interesting the kings OF Lon
don finance and trade in the scheme. and
securing the friendly cooperation OF the
The capitalists wanted a guarantee OF the
neutrality OF the canal as primary con-
Ciayton-Bulwer treaty. In order to rein
state that treaty fully the English formally
abandoned the Mosquito strip. the chief ir-
ritating feature in the way or harmonious
understanding on the subject between tho
United States and Great Britain. That DONE
negotiations went on swimmingiy. but were
interrupted seriously by the report OF the
canal commission late In November, and
later by the Presidents Venezuelan mes
sage, which threatened for a time TO dis
turb the relations between the two ma
away, and now il would appear that Brit
ish agents are at work in Nicaragua 10 the
end that the. canal may be still further
Anglicized. Just how far they have sue
ceeded cannot be stated. but as they are
unquestionably proceeding with the acqui-
essence of the American canal crowd-Bart
lett, Miller, Hitchcock, Ell al 1t would not
be violently strainng probabilities TO sug.
gest that NEGOTIATIONS 90 the very highest
Importance are under way.
Mr.. Bartlett assured his London friends
that the attitude Of the administration at
Washington to the proposed construction
of the canal with English money under
American direction was entirely friendly.
Confirmation of that view must have been
obtained. for the question was discussed In
all it's international phases in the London
press for several months, and running
through the entire discussion was the idea
that the Cleveland administration was en-
trely willing to enter into further agree
ment If necessary, guaranteeing the abso-
lutte neutrality Of the waterway.
If the President contemplates special
message to Congress on the subject. as
claimed. il would be only natural to as.
sume that ii will be on the lines Indicated
viz. friendly to the theory OF cooperation
in the construction of the canal.
MIR. Bartlett, who for more than year
has been the whole thing" in the Mica
raguan canal project. is recognized by the
something Of a genius an organizer. al
though he is not familiar figure 10 the
mutitudes. He reorganized the Lead Trust.
the I.inseed oil Trust and several other big
properties that required heroic financial
treatment on broad lines. The canal peo-
pie went to him last fall very sick man
would call on "A high-priced specialist and
surrendered everythng-visible assets fu-
ture prospects and all-into his care. IL
was only on the condition that he should
be absolutely untrammeled that he would
have anything TO do with the cana. and tho
men who had 100000 or 100000 tied up
I'm the enterprise agreed to his terms Mr.
Bartlett thereupon wound up his other
business and has since devoted his entire
time and energy 10 the canal project
This is the first time the true inwardness
OF the canal situation. down TO a recenr
period. has been made public. Whatever
NAV occur i'm the near future with regard
to the Nicarauga canal Will have direct
relation TO the facts above printed.