, 1897-09-03

New York, Sept. "A special to tl1
Head from Washington says: Japan,
nCt content with an interference Witi
President McKinley'S Hawaiian anneXa-
zion policy. now has designs upon the
N.caraguln canal. According to SEMI
official advices just received here from
Nicaragua. the Japanese government is
secretly negotiating with the diet OF the
Greater Republic Of Central America.
which recently met in Salvador, for the
consideration of the Nicaraguan canal
independently OF the United States or
.oiher nations.
This action OF Japan, taken in con-
nec,ion 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
aggressive policy may yet get her in
trouble with the United States. That
he administration will resent any inter-
ference with the Nicaraguan canal pro-
.ject, as it did in the case Of the Hawaiian
annexation treaty, goes without saying.
II Japan can encompass it, according
to the Nicaraguan advices received here.
she would like to obtain the ~abrogation
o. all the treaty rights possessed by the
United States in relation to ~interoceanic
transit and the forfeiture OF the Ameri-
can canal concession from Nicaragua:
to Immediately make a treaty with
the diet of the Greater Republic OF Cen
trail America, giving her control OF the
canal route through Nicaragua. In the
negotiations Costa Rica has not been
consulted. it being we'll known that she
would not accent to a violation Of the
treaty right.
1t has been suspected in some quarters
that England, which has always been
anxious to acquire at least a joint con-
troll Of the canal, might he working in
collision with Japan in the dickering
with the diet now understood to be in
progress, but nothing has yet com to
she surface to indicate that she has en-
Outraged 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 o. the
canal company. in New York, with the
suggestion that the state department be
apprised Of the secret negotiations that
are now being carried on between Japan
and the diet.
Senior Zelaya, the president OF Mica
ragua, it is understood, has admitted to
close personal friends that Japan is now
negotiating with the diet. but in each
case he advises the strictest secrecy.
A. private letter just received in this
city from Nicaragua says: Among
Americans in Central America the belief
is general that the Greater Republic Of
Central America, which Is represented in
its diplomatic affairs by a diet composed
OF three members Zone each from Mica
ragua. Salvador and Honduras) was or
ganized principally in order that Mica
ragua might absolve herself from indi-
vidual responsibility as a nation and
thereby abrogate her i%nteroceanic transit
treaty with the United States.
The so-called Greater Republic, re-
senting the failure OF the United States
20 recognize the Greater Republic ire
ceiving Senior Rodriguez. 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
concessions for the construction o: the
canal.
THE United States minister here be-
lieves that when this news reaches
Washington the state department will
send a note to Japan asking If she is
seeking to interfere with our treaty
rights in the premises. The Americans
in Nicaragua believe that the United
States government will insist that her
~interoceanic treaties with Nicaragua,
Costa Rica, Honduras and Columbia are
yet in force, although the diet claims
that Nicaragua and Honduras are no
longer separate and individual nations,
and are therefore Irresponsible"
Although the state department officials
will not admit that n information has
yet come through official channels to
condirm private advices on this subject.
there are reasons for believing that the
authorities have been watching Japan's
movements in Central America with
more or less suspicion for some time
rast.