The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-09-07
THE JAPANESE
Want to Construct the Nicaraguan
Canal Independent of Us.
Japan's Aggressive Policy May Get Her
Into Trouble With the United States
The Administration VIII Resent Any
Interference With the Project.


NEW YORK, Sept "a special to the
Herald from Washington, says: Japan,
not content with an interference with
President McKinley's Hawaiian annex
alton policy, now has designs upon the
Nicaraguan canal. According to semi
official advices just received here from
Nicaragua the Japanese government is
secretly negotiating with the diet of
the great republic of Central America,
which recently met in Salvador, for
the construction of the Nicaraguan ca
nal, Independent and in defiance of the
interests and influence of the United
States or other nations.
This action of Japan, taken in con-
nection with her recent attitude in re-
gard to Hawaiian annexation, is of the
greatest significance, showing, as it
does, to 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 Mic
araguan canal project, as it did in the
case of the Hawaiian annexation
treaty, goes without saying.
If Japan can encompass it, accord
ing to the Nicaraguan advices received
here, she would like to obtain the abro-
cation of the treaty rights possessed
by the United States in relation to in
ter-oceanic transit and the forfeiture
of the American canal concession from
Nicaragua, and to Immediately make
u e l..
republic of Central America, giving
her control of the canal route through
Nicaragua. In the negotiations Costa
RIGA 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 quar-
tiers that England, which has always
been anxious to acquire at least joint
control of the canal, might be working
in collision with Japan in the "bicker-
ing" with the diet now understood to
be in progress, but nothing has yet
come to the surface to indicate that
she has encouraged Japan in the move.
1t is said that the agent of the Mica
raguan canal here has laid the facts be-
fore Mr.. Hitchcock, the president of
the canal company, in New York, with
the suggestion that the state depart
ment be appraised of the secret negotia-
tons that are now being carried on be-
tween Japan and the diet. Senior Ze-
laya, the president of Nicaragua, it is
understood, has admitted to close per-
sonal friends that Japan is negotiating
with the diet, but in each case he ad-
vised the strictest secrecy.
A private letter just received in this
city from Nicaragua says:
Among the Americans in Central
America the belief is general that the
Greater Republic of Central America,
which is represented in its diplomatic
affairs by diet composed of three
members lone each from Nicaragua,
Salvador and Honduras was organized
principally in order that Nicaragua
might absolve herself from individual
responsibility as a nation and thereby
abrogate her inter-oceanic transit
treaty with the United States.
1.-THE so-called Greater Republic
resenting the failure of the United
States to recognize the Greater Repub-
lie ION receiving Senior Rodriguez as
minister) and in failing to accredit a
United States minister to the Greater
Republic is likely to try and make a
treaty with Japan, granting her con-
cessions for the construction of the
canal.
1.-The United States minister here be-
heves that when this news reaches
Washington the state department will
send note to Japan asking if she is
seeking to interfere with out treaty
rights in the premises The Ameri-
cans in Nicaragua believe that the
United States government will
insist that her inter-oceanic treaties
with Nicaragua, COST Rica, Honduras
and Colombia are yet in force, al
though the diet claims that Nicaragua
and Honduras are no longer separate
and individual nations, and are there
fore irresponsible.
Although state. department officials
will not admit that any information
has yet come through official channels
to confirm private advices on this sub
Ject, there are reasons for believing
that the authorities have been watching
Japan's movement in Central America
with more or less suspicion for some
time past.
Battle of Sedan Anniversary.
BERLIN, Sept. 3.-The anniversary OF
the battle of Sedan was celebrated
here with much less enthusiasm than
usual, the evident desire being to di.
vest the anniversary of all elements ir-