Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-03
TRYING TO GET CONTROL OF THE
NICARAGUA CANAL.
IS NEGOTIATING IN SECRET.
MAY YET FIND HERSELF IN TROU-
BILE WITH UNCLE SAM.
40 Doubt That the Administration
VIII Resent the Interference
Organization of "Greater
Republic" Possibly Part
of Japan's Scheme.

Wasln.. .gton, Sept. Japan, not content
With an interference with President Nc
Sinleys Ha aHaiian annexation policy. now
,as designs upon the Nicaraguan canal.
According to semi-otficial dispatches just
received here from Nicaragua, the Japan
ssc government is secretly negotiating
UhE the diet of the Greater Republic of
Central America. which recently met in
Salvador, for the construction of the Nj
cGraguan canal. Independent and in deli
ance of the interests and influence of the
United States and other nations.
This action of Japan. taken in connec-
tion with her recent attitude in regard 10
Hawaiian annexation. is of the greatest
sibnificance. showing, as is does, to the
authorities that there is no limit 10 the
ambition OF tine nation. and her aggres-
sive policy may yet get her in trouble
with the United States. That the admin
istration 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 it, 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
concessions from Nicaragua. and to i'm
mediately make a treaty with the diet of
the Greater Republic of Central America
giving her control OF the canal route
through Nicaragua. In the negotiations
Costa Rica has not been consulted. it be-
ing well known that she would not assent
10 violation of treaty rights.
1t has been suspected in some quarters
that England, which has always been
anxious to acquire at least joint con-
troll of the canal. might be working in coll
fusion with Japan in the ''dickering' with
AZ
but nothing has yet come to the surface
10 indicate that she has encouraged Japan
IN the move.
A private letter just received in this city
from Nicaragua says:
Among Americans in Central America
the belief is general that the Greater Re-
public of Central America, which IS rep
resented in its diplomatic affairs by a diet
composed of three members Zone each from
Nicaragua, Salvador and Honduras) was
organized principally in order that Nicar-
aqua might absolve herself from individual
responsibility as a nation, and thereby
abb ogate her interoceanic transit treaty
with the United States.
THE So-called Greater Republic resent
ing the failure of the United States to
recognize the Greater Republic ION receiv-
ing Senor Rodriguez as minister) and it
TO the Greater Republic, is likely to try
and make a treaty with Japan. granting
her concessions for the construction of the
canal.
THE United States minister here believes
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 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 state department officials will
not admit that any information has yet
come through official channels to confirm
private advices on this subject there are
reasons for believing that the authorities
have been watching Japan's movement In
Central America with more or less suspi-
rion for some time past.