Evening star., 1897-01-23
The NICARAGUA CANAL
Warm Remarks in the Senate About Minis
ter Rodriguez's Letter.
Mr. Villas Said IL Dealt q Death HIow
TO the Bfll-Mr. Morgan speaks
Of s.Blac mail"

The sensation developed in the Senate
yesterday by the presentation OF a letter
from Minister Rodriguez. by Mr. sherman,
as told in The Star. formed the subject OF
the debate on the Nicaragua canal hill until
adjournment
After The Stars report closed yesterday
afternoon, Mr.. Morgan said the American
people would not quietly give up the right
10 control that great waterway. whatever
clamor may be raised for a peace treaty
with Great Britain. The presentation of
this letter, coming from the Secretar, OF
State, meant that the President of the
United States had determined that the
pending Nicaragua canal bill was not TO be
allowed to pass. That was a remarkable
tnreat and Yet ii was so In line with prev
lous executive action that Mr.. Morgan said
ne felt quite prepared for the interference.
MT White suggested that the letter had
been sent by the Secretary OF State TO the
committee on foreign relations for it's pri-
Sate information. and the chairman ,AF.
in the Senate
Mr.. Morgan said the real cause for the
appearance OF this Rodriguez letter was
that it proposed a renewal of the Freling-
huysen-Savalla treaty. by which we We're
TO pay Nicaragua SU06o
Referring to the Clayton-Bulwer treaty,
Mr. Morgan said it was not worth the pa
per 1T was written on. He proceeded to
discuss the Frelinghuysen-Savalla treaty
Mr.. Morgan referred 10 the position of Mr.
sherman as to treaties affecting the canal.
Il will say" interjected Mr. sherman
that l favor the Nicaragua canal
Mr.. Morgan said he believed in going
ahead irrespective of this protest He did
not think the United States should pay a.-
Wh,Wo Tor concession which ii now pos
sessed.
Mr.. Morgan said the letter of Mr.. Rod
riguez was in effect notice to the Senate
not to pass the Nicaragua canal hill
N af ha In aS.
hour. Just the bill is about 10 pass
asked Mr. Morgan. 1T is because she has
some strong power standing behind her"
He said this was a serious moment in the
Senate 1t was being rendered "a halter
with which to hang itself for at least live
years. The United States had stood by ST.
ien.iy Whiie the British occupied Corinto.
Ana now this proposition of blackmail was
presented. which threatened to destroy the
bill He expected and awaited a mo1lou
TO recomIlit the bill.
Mr. Morgan said inquiry should he
started. 1t was useless for him TO propose
an inquiry. as the State Department would
decline TO answer This movement of
Rodriguez was inspired by the British gov
ernment, exclaimed Mr.. Morgan. land he
was sent here for that purpose"
Mr. Hale answered that he did not con-
slider the assertion justified. He felt. too.
mat the word 'blackmail' was III chosen
and that Nicaragua's motives We're not
open to such insnuations
Returning to the Nicaragua canal debate
minister of a friendly power had dealt a
death blow to the pending canal bill. lie
tcok exception to the statement that
'blackmai'' was implied by the ,ommuni-
cation just presented. The letter of Minis
ter Rodriguez, he said, was dignifed and
respectful. addressed tc the proper branch
OF the government. the State Department
He could not believe the Senate would dis
regard a communication of this grave i'm
portance, coming from tie representative
of friendly power.
The document which formed the basis of
senator Morgans remarks in the Senate on
the Nicaragua canal yesterday was z COM
munication from Senor J. ID. Rodriguez.
minister Of the Greater Republic of Central
america. 1t was a typewriter paper of
several pages. dated at the greater rcpub-
lies legation headquarters in this city Jam
uary IL, 1897. 1t was presented to the Sell
ate by Senator Sherman, chairman of
the committee on foreign relations having
heen forwarded to him by Secretary Olney
Senor Rodriguez in his commune alton saws
ne has examined the various NICARAGUA
canal bills and finds that they are AT ya:-I-
ance IT matters of detail with the stipuls-
tions OF the contract OF April ~ 1857 he
tween Nicaragua and the canal companv
AFTER criticfsing various details of the bills.
Mr. Rodriguez says he does not question
the good faith of the authors of tie various
bills, and adds that he is .mpelled 10 ihe
course which he is pursuing with the hooe
OF protecting just rights. The doc,ment
closes in the following words: 1T seelns
evident tnat the company is unable 10
raise money to fulfill its contract unless
the United States of America furnish il
herewith and since that contract excludes
The possibility of attaining that result the
undersigned having been duly authorized TO
DO SO. proposes to his excelency th,. Sec
fetary OF State. that the two governments
relying upon the favorable disposition of
the government of the United States shall
come TO a direct understanding on the sub
Ject on the basis of the Savalla- -Frclinghuy-
sen treaty, with such notifications as may
pe agreed upon, and endeavoring TO reach
a just arrangement with the Maritime
canal Company of Nicaragua so that n
may renounce concession whose condi-
uons 1t is unable to fulfill''