Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-15
OTHER NATIONS PROFITING BY UN-
Gle SANS PROCRASTINATION
GETTING GREAT CONCESSIONS
ENGLISH ACQUIRING RIGHTS THAT
WILL BE EMBARRASSING.
British Government Evidently En-
,cournyin. Its Subjects to Secure
These Concessions With
View to Future DiplO-
matte Advantage.

Washington. Dec. A.-The United States
government is likely to have considerable
trouble in Nicaragua when 1t comes to
build a canal, if it ever does. becaus" OF
numerous concessions which the president
of that republic has granted to EnGilsh
citizens and syndicates, Tor several OF
them are in direct competition and will
interfere with the construction of the oltch
ana the transportation business OF the
COMPANY. 1t would be wise, therefore. II
President Mckinley were to enter Il pro-
test and file his objections before those
people enter actively into business ana
invest capital in their enterprise one
company has u contract and mohopoN
of the wharfage business at 6rcyto"h'
another has the exclusive right of nari-
cation on the San Juan river. which Is 10
be Il part of the great waterway; Il 'iiiru
has the exclusive right of navigation on
Lake ManaGua, which is also to be Il part
of the canal and another has concessions
for IL railway across the country hithoSO
exactly upon the line which the engineers
have marked ont for the canal. II is ditti-
cult for our government to defend It's
right to protest against these concessions
because we have procrastinated so long
in regard to the construction OF the cah;ii.
We have had concessions extending from
1854 until the present date, and 1t is about
time that the government OF Nicaragua
lost its patience and gave somebody else ii
chance. 1t is also difficult for our gov
ernment to bring this matter to a focus
because We have no minister III Nic'FdSu''
now. for reasons that We're explained in
the presidents message, although a nou:
| fication can be sent through the represent
ative of The Greater Republic of Cen
trail America in Washington.
From diplomatic point of view 1t seems
clear that the British government mas en-
couraged. if it has not nstigated' It's
subjects to obtain the concessions referred
TO because it will give them a good excuse
for taking part in any controversy lhht
may hereafter arise over the canal PucS-
tion. If our government would step out
of the way the British would construct
the canal in short order, and are only
waiting for an opportunity to do so.
Some weeks ago u question was submit
ted to William ". Ashby, United States
consul at Colon. as to the amount of work
that has been done on the Panama canal.
In reply, he says:
1T is true that some work has been done
on the canal within the last few years. and
as the efforts of the engineers in charge
have been confined to certain limits Il per
son VINO has not crossed the isthmus for Il
wear or two would be impressed with the
idea that a considerable amount of prog
ress had been made. whereas Very little
has been done beyond keeping the ditch in
order The Culebra cut. which was con-
sidered so formidable at one time, now
really seems remote possibility NO 9TH
er work has been done along the line with
| the exception of the mouth Of the canal On
the Panama side. An immense wharf is
being constructed there by the canal peo-
| pie. but in my Judgment it has more ref
|