The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-15
The Nicaragua Canal Endangered

Further informatio concerning the
reported efforts of British capitalists
TO gain possession of the Nicaragua
canal leaves little doubt of the correct
ness OF the earlier rumOrs to this effect.
1t is said now with directness of tesu-
mony that rich Englishman named
Morgan. representing syndicate of
British capitalists. which already has
control of most of the rail and canal
ways in Nicaraeua has recently been
suggesting to the Nicaraguan authori-
ties that the United States and the
Nicaragua Canal company are alto
gether too slow i'm their work upon the
trans-isthmian waterway, and that the
tions. the weakness of our present puni-
justifable method of voicing Mica
ragua's displeasure. According to the
Washington Post, which gains It's in
formation from sources in the state
department.. the proposition of this man
Morgan and his syndicate is substan-
TALLY that the government OF Mica
ragua withdraw the concessions grant
ed to the American company and grant
new concessions to a British company
for the construction of the canal. 1t is
suggested that if this should appear to
be too nraZen an Interference with the
rights of the United States, men of
straw of NicaraEuan birth might be put
at the head of the new company while
British financiers controlled its actual
operations and pulled the strings which
would govern the movements of the ma
tive officials.
Under the Clayton Bulwer treaty.
very unfortunately as it may some day
prove, the United States is committed
to the principle that 1t shall enjoy no
advantages in connection with the
Nicaragua canal not shared by Great
Britain. That treaty declares in so
many words that neither government
will ever obtain or maintain for itself
any exclusive control over the said ship
canal" But If England. working be-
hind individual British capitalists, shall
make any effort to overstep the plain
intent of this treaty. then we shall have
just cause to consider that ill-advised
part of the treaty cancelled, and shall
have to consider whether it will he to
American interest to continue this
equality of opportunity with nation
5000 miles away, a nation which we de-
clare shall not hereafter colonize on the
American hemisphere, a nation which
we have good reason to believe must
every little while be kept by show Of
force down to the letter of its interna-
tional agreements. In commenting
upon this possible phase os the Mica
ragua canal problem. the Washington
Post very justly observes:
If by corrupt methods or by political in
ducements a British syndicate should per-
suade the Nicaraguan officials to annul
their concessions to the American COM
pany and make new ones TO Il British COM
pany, question would be presented differ
ent from that presented In Venezuela. ac-
cording to President Cleveland's defn-
ton of that question. in the particular that
the United States might feel called upon
TO interfere without regard to the atti-
tude of the existing government of the
country affected The United States. it is
believed, would not in such Il case permit
the Monroe doctrine to he construed
narrowly as to justify the increase of
European power in Central America. con-
trary TO the interests of the United States.
even with the consent of the officials who
might temporarily shape the policy of the
country in which such aggressons took
place. If the efforts of British capitalists
to secure the annllllment of the Ameri-
can charter seem likely to produce tangi-
Bile results, representations of a serious
nature are likely to be made by the state
department to the governments of both
Nicaragua and Great Britain against cx-
tension of British influence in the con-
struction of the canal. ''
This is one of the possible contingon-
cies in our foreign outlook which re-
double the need of a Republican execu-
tive and senate; for with all depart
ments of the government under Repub-
lican control there is little likelihood
that there would be a repetition of Mr..
Cleveland's mistake, as shown in his
Venezuelan correspondence. of limit
ing the scope of the Monroe doctrine
to cases involving open force. 1t at
least Is certain that Republicanism is
committed to American control of the
Nicaragua canal, and the time for a
vigorous assertion of this necessity may
be nearer than we think