The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-03
Japan Is Intriguing for Possession of
the Concession, 1t Is said, and Is
Backed by British Money.
PROJECTORS WANT TO SELL
WILLING TO DISPOSE OF THEIR IN
TERESTS FOR $4,O0O,OOO.
Private Mint Reported to BE Prepar-
ing to Flood the Country with 10
Cent Silver Dollars.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-Some concern Is
felt over the reported Japanese intrigues
with relation to the Nicaraguan canal The
story is that Japan is preparing to give
financial backing to the construction OF
canal, and that preliminary thereto
1t proposes to take the concessions granted
by the Nicaraguan government to the Amer
lean corporation off the hands of that COM
pany, reimbursing the projectors for the
money they have already eApended-some
$4000,000. 1t is known that the American
Canal Company has been trying for three
years to dispose of its concessions, and it Is
not surprising to hear that its representa-
tives have been negotiating with Japanese,
but it is not believed that dangerous head
way has been made in that direction. Eng
land is still the quarter from which cash is
expected to be furnished If foreign help is
to be called. AS readers of the Journal
know, arrangements were at one time prac-
tically comnleted by j. r. Bartlett of New
York, for $50, 600 to $S0,0o0,00o in London
for the construction of the canal, and the
deal in its last stages was broken of on
account Of the Cleveland Venezuelan mani
festo. 1t is understood that attempts have
been made within the last few months to
renew these negotiations where they were
dropped by Mr.. Bartlett, and ii is not inn
probable that considerable figuring has
been and is still going on in London and
New York in connection with this matter.
The great navigation and international
banking companies of England were to be
heavily Interested in the project, as out
lined oy Mr. Bartlett, and as these concerns
have branches and connections in the
Orient it may be that the supposed desire
-, feff. .fuwa
canal building is based on a misapprehen-
sion and that the Japanese are only minor
allies Of English financiers in this enter
prise That big fish are moving about in
Nicaraguan waters admits of no doubt, and
the agitation below the surface is not fa-
vorable to American interests. The i'm
trIguing which has been proceeding, with
the sympathy and connivance OF the Gem
tral American states, against Captain Mer-
ry, the recently appointed American minis
ter TO Nicaragua, may be mentioned as an
instance connrmatory of this statement.
And then there are many other things in
dieating plainly the drift of sentiment on
the isthmus against America 1t is i'll the
air.
rhe New York Herald's correspondent
here says: Japan, not content with an in
reference with President Mckinleys
Hawaiian annexation policy, now mas de-
signs upon the Nicaragua canal Accord
ing to semi-official information just re-
celved here from Nicaragua the Japanese
Diet of the greater republic of Central
America, which recently met in Salvador.
for the construction of the Nicaraguan
canal Independent and in defiance of the
interests and influence of the United States
or other nations. This action of Japan,
taken in connection with her recent attitude
in regard to Hawaiian annexation, is of the
greatest significance. showing, as II does
10 the authorities, that there is no limit to
the ambition of the nation, and that her
aggressive policy may yet get her into
trouble with the United States That the
administration will resent any interference
with the Nicaraguan canal project, as 1t
did in the case of the Hawaiian annexation
treaty, goes without saying.
If Japan can encompass 1t, according to
the Nicaraguan advices received here, she
would like to obtain the abrogation of all
treaty rights possessed by the United
States in relation to interoceanic transit,
and the forfeiture of the American canal
concession from Nicaragua, and to imme-
diately make treaty with the Diet OF tka
her control of the canal route through
Nicaragua. In the negotiations Costa Rica
has not been consulted, it being well known
that she would not assent TO a violation Of
treaty rights.
1t has been suspected in some quarters
that England, which has always been
anxious to acquire at least joint control
of the canal, might be working in collusion
Diet now understood to be in progress, but
nothing has yet come to the surface to in
dicate that she has encouraged Japan in
the move. 1t Is said that the agent of the
Nicaraguan canal here has laid the facts
before Mr.. Hitchcock the president of the
canal company In New York with the sug-
gestion that the State Department be APP
prised of the secret negotiations that are
now being carried on between Japan and
the Diet. Senior Zelaya, the President OF
Nicaragua, 1t is understood, has admitted
TO close personal friends that Japan Is
negotiating with the Diet but in each case
he advised the Strictest secrecy