The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-01
CENTRAL AMERICAS PROTEST..
1t May BE Ignored by Sending Capt.
MerrN to Costa Ricn.

WASHINGTON, July 31.-The State De-
partment officials are trying to unravel the
tangle which the Nicaraguan mission
has got into since Captain Merry, of Cali
fornia, has been pronounced persona non
grata by the Diet of the Greater Republic
of Central America. 1t appears that when
Rodriguez was received by President
Cleveland the President stated that the
treaties with the states comprising the
new government would be continued and
the United States would look to the states
for the fulfllment. This position, it is UNI
derstood, has since been confirmed by the
State Department and in dealing with those
countries treaties made with the separate
governments iare considered in force and
binding. Neither the President nor the
State Department wished to take any steps
which might be considered as Directing to
the organizations the several govern
ments of Central America into single
government, so long as this step was to
their interest, but at the same time the ad-
ministration did not want to abroSate our
treaties with these governments by the rec
ognition of one minister accredited from all
the states involved. In this connection 1t
Is said that way may be found by this
government to overcome the protest of the
Diet of Central America, which, as now
constituted, includes the governments of
Nicaragua, Salvador and Honduras, by
sending Captain Merry to Costa Rica and
having the United States legation estab-
lished at the capital of that state, Costa
Rica being one of three states of the mis-
sion TO which he was accredited. 1t is
said at the State Department that there Is
no way in which this government can send
a minister to the greaer republic of Central
America, as there is provision of law
or appropriation for a minister and even
If this was done, Costa Rica and Guate-
mala, which have not yet Joined the fed
,se-t@
the United States, as Costa Rica is now
included with Nicaragua and Salvador and
Guatemala with Honduras. BY sending the
minister of the three TrSt named republics
TO Costa Rica and the minister to the last
two to establish his legation in Guatemala
the matter might rest until there could be
further legislation or until the Central
American states adjusted their form of gov
eminent.
The recent treaty by which the five states
agreed to form government may never
be ratified. so it is said by those who have
received reports from that section. BY the
terms of the treaty the chief of the five
alphabetical order and serve one year. 1t
has since been learned that the President
of Costa Rica has said that this would not
be satisfactory. and that he would not con-
sent to il unless the terms of the treaty
were modified so as to allow him to be chief
for six years and then the head of the
government to go to Guatemala for six
years. While it is not known. that the Pres
ident of Guatemala has Joined with Costa
hica in this matter. those well informed
concerning the situation in Central America
think that both countries will refuse to RI IT,
fy the treaty and that the scheme for a
Central American union with all these
states will fail. 1t is also said that the fall
ure of the five states to organize may have
Cts effect on the Greater Republic of Central
America and letters from Central America
intimate that it is doubtful If the Diet so
called. can be much longer maintained 1t
was with these features in view that the
suggestion was made that Captain Merry
SHOULD be sent to Costa Rica until the af-
fairs of the several governments were set
raised against him are withdrawn. Before
another minister is appointed 1t is believed
that this government will urge the with
Grawal Of the objections and there may be
considerable diplomatic correspondence on
the subject before there is a final settle
N