New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-24
THE TREATY AND THEC CANAL
COMPLICATIONS CAUSED BY MINISTER
RODRIGUEZ'S LETTER
MANY SENATOR'S BELIEVE THE PROTEST OF THE
GREATER CENTRAL AMERICAN REPUBLIC TO
RE INSPIRED BY ENGLAND-IF IT KILLS
THE CANAL BILL. HOSTILITY TO
THE ARBITRATION TREATY
WILL BE INTENSIFIED
WILL BE INTENSIFIED.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIRuNEl

WILL BE INTENSIFIED
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIRUNE
Washington. Jan. 23-That the protest
tered yesterday by Senior Rodriguez, the repre-
sentative OF the Greater Republic OF Central
America. against the passage by Congress OF the
pending Nicaragua Canal bill will have highly
damaging effect the fortunes OF that meas
ure seems clear from the general tone OF COM
ment in Congress on the Minister'S contentious.
Many members OF both houses who favor the
construction OF a canal under guarantee and
supervision OF the United States still re
luctant to vote for any bill whose provisions
would be held by the Nicaraguan Government to
invaidate the concessions made by it to the
present Maritime Canal Company.
Senator Morgan challenged the opposition In
the Senate yesterday to make motion to re-
commit the pending bill. and found no one ready
to join issue with him; but no quorum was pres
ent al that late hour and an effort to recommt
would have been useless. The Ala bama Sena-
tor WILL Of course. fight recommit tai to the bit
ter end but unless the mood Of the Senate
changes before the question comes up again next
Tuesday 1t is evident that 1t will be extremely
difficult to get a majority OF the Senate TO vote
to continue the consideration OF the Morgan bill
until tho new phase OF the question which Sehor
Rodriguez's communication raises can be inves-
tigated. 1t is matter OF conjecture how long
the bill will remain in the committee II recon-
mitted but II once sidetracked It Is not probable
that It can be reported again in time to be acted
at the present session.
EFFECT ON THE ARBITRATION TREATY.
Quite as important the effect on the Nicara
qua Canal bill Itself is the influence which the
Rodriguez letter is likely to have upon the OIL
-Pauncefote arbitration treaty. Whether
basis for the opinion exists not. many Sena-
tors believe that the new position assumed by
the Central American Powers is the result Of
British influence, and the effect Is to cause those
who hold this belief to stand aloof from any
alliance with England
Mr.. Morgan I'm yesterdays debate repeatedly
and emphatically charged that the protest or
the Central American Minister was inspired ny
interests in Nicaragua hostile TO the United
States. and declared that until the designs or
Great Britain the canal project had bee!
fully uncovered his vote would not be cast Tor a
convention which would submit to arbitration
the question OF American control or the isthmlan
canal route The letter. II It succeeds in killing
the Canal bill. will have the effect or exciting
further doubt AZ 10 10 the possible scope anu
operations OF the arbitration treaty, ana VIII
to that extent delay and embarrass mai acton
on the pending convention.
Representative Hepburn. OF Iowa, chairman OF
the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce. which reported the Nicaragua canal
bill TO the House. said to-day speaking OF the
disclosures made in the communication or senior
Rodriguez. which was read in the Senate yester-
day: "Of course. If Rodriguezs statements are
substantiated-that is II the Maritime Canai
Company has forfeited Its concesslons-u is
hardly likely that the Congress OF the United
states would vote a loan to the enterprise Per-
sonally have opposed the bill. and have always
thought It violated the spirit II not the letter or
the concession granted by Nicaragua. The con-
cession provided that no outside Government
should control dominate the canal This Dill
practically places the canal under the control
and protection Of tho United States Govern