The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-09
Sent to President of Co,
in New York.
Central American Republic Said to
be Working Against UNI
ted States.

NEW YORK, September 1.-Tht
Herald's Washington special says
Japan, not content with it's interfer.
ence with President McKinley's Ha.
waiian annexation policy, now has de-
signs upon the Nicaraguan Canal. Ac-
cording to semi-official advices just re-
ceived here from Nicaragua, the Jap
anese Government is secretly negoti-
ating with the Diet of the Greater Re-
public of Central America, which re-
Gently met in Salvador, for the con-
struction of the Nicaraguan Canal in
dependent and in defiance of the in
terests 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
great significance, showing as it does
to the authorities that there is no limit
to the ambition of the island 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 Mica
raguan Canal project, as it did in the
case of the Hawaiian annexation
treaty, goes without saying.
If Japan can encompass it, according
to Nicaraguan advices received here,
she would like to obtain the abroga-
ton of all treaty rights possessed by
the United States in relation to inter-
oceanic transit and the forfeiture of the
American canal concession from Mica
ragua and Immediately make a treaty
..4I. to e h. in
of Central America, giving her control
of the canal route through Nicaragua.
In the negotiations Costa Rica has not
been consulted, it being well known
she would not assent to a violation of
the treaty rights.
It has been suspected in some quar-
ters that England, which has always
been anxious to acquire at least joint
control of the canal, might be working
in conjunction with Japan in "dicker-
ing" with the Diet, which, it is now un-
derstood, is in progress, but nothing
has yet come to the surface to indicate
she has encouraged Japan in the move.
/ am told the agent of the Nicaraguan
Canal here has laid the facts before Mr..
president of the canal COM
pany in New York, with the Suggss-
tion that the State Department be ap-
prised of the secret negotiations that
are now being carried on between Jap
an and the Diet.
Senior Zelaya, President of Nicara-
qua, it is understood, mas admitted to
close personal friends that Japan is
negotiating with the Diet, but in each
case he advised the stricteSt secrecy.
For further information as to how the
negotiations are regarded by Ameri-
cans in Central America l quote from a
private letter Just received from Mica
ragua:
among the Americans in Central
America the belief is general that the
Greater Republic of Central America,
which is represented in it's diplomatic
affairs by a Diet composed Of three
mem bers Zone each from Nicaragua,
Salvador and Honduras), was organ
lied principally in order that Nicara-
qua might absolve herself from indi-
vidual responsibility as a nation, and
thereby abrogate 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, is like
" to try and make treaty with Japan,
granting her concessions for the con-
struction of a canal.
''The United States Minister here be-
lieves that when this news reaches
the State Department will
send a note to Japan, asking if she is
seeking to interfere with our treaty
rights in the premises. Americans in
Nicaragua believe the United States
will insist upon her interoceanic treat
les with Nicaragua, Costa Rica and