The herald., 1897-09-03
To Secure Control of the
Big Canal
AMBITIOUS LITTLE JAPAN
DICKEEING WITH THE GREATER
REPUBLIC
It Goes Without Saying That the
United States Will Resent Any
Interference

Associated Press Special wire.
NEW YORK, Sept. "A special to the
Herald from Washington says: Japan
not content with an interference with
President McKinley's annexation policy,
now has designs upon the Nicaragua
canal. According to semi-official ad-
vices Just received here from Nicaragua,
the Japanese government is secretly ne
gotiating with the Diet of the Greater
Republic of Central America which re-
Gently met in Salvador, for the construc-
ton of the Nicarag qua canal, Independent
and in defiance of the interests and in .
fuence of the United States or other ma
tions.
This action of Japan, taken in connec-
tion with her recent attitude in regard to
Hawaiian annexation, is of the greatest
significance, showing, as 1t does. to the
authorities, that there is no limit to the
ambition of the nation, and her aggres-
sive policy may yet get her into trouble
with the United States. That the admin
istration will resent any interference
srith the Nicaraguan canal project as it
did in the case Of the Hawaiian annexa-
tion treaty, goes without saying.
If Japan can encompass it, according
to the Nicaraguan advces received here,
she would like to obtain the abrogation
Of all treaty rights possessed by this
United States in relation to inter-oceanic
transit and the forfeiture of the Ameri-
can canal concessions from Nicaragua
and 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 assent to a violation of a
treaty right.
1t has been suggested in some quarters
that England, who has always been
anxious to acquire at least joint con-
troll of the canal, might be working in
collusion with Japan in the "dickering"
with the Diet now understood to be in
progress but nothing has yet come to
the surface to indicate that she has en-
couraged Japan in the move.
1t Is said that the agent of the Nicara-
guam canal here has laid the facts before
Mr.. Hitchcock, the President. of 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. President Zelaya
of Nicaragua, 1t is understood, has ad-
mitted to close personal friends that
Japan is now negotiating with the Diet
but he advised the strictest secrecy.
A private letter just received in this
cfty 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 Diet composed
OF three members, one each from Nicara-
qua, Salvador and Honduras, was or
ganized principally in order that Nicara-
qua might absolve herself from individ-
ual responsibility as nation and there
by abrogate her inter-oceanc transit
treaty with the United States.
1.-THE so-called Greater Republic, re-
senting the failure of the United States
to recognize the Greater Republic Tin re-
ceiving Senior Rodriguez) and its failure
to accredit United States Minister 70
the Greater Republic, is likely to make
treaty with Japan granting her con-
cession for the construction of the canal
1.-The United States Minister here be-
lieves that when this news reaches
washington the State Department will
send 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
inter-oceanic treaties with Nicaragua.
Costa Rica Honduras and Colombia 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 will
not admit that any information has ye.
come through official channels to con-
firm private advices. there are reasons
for believing that the authorities have
been watching Japan's movements In
Central America with more or less sus-
;o;o f1r nf