The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-03

NEW YORK. Sept, IA special to the
Herald from Washington says; Japan,
not content with an interference WIN
President McIlinley's Hawaiian anneXa-
ton policy, now has designs upon the
Nicaragua canal. According % semi
Official adylces just received here from
Nicaragua, the Japanese government is
secretly negotiating with the diet of the
greater Republic of Central America,
which recently met in Salvador for the
construction OF the NIearagaaH canal
Independent and In defiance Of the inter-
ests and influence OF the United States
or other nations.
This action OF Japan, taken in connec-
ton with her recent attitude In Tegard
to Hawaiian annexation, Is Of the great
est significance, showing as 1t does, 10
the authorities that there Is no limit to
the ambition Of the nation and her aG-
Gressve policy may yet sc, her in trouble
with the United States. That the adj
mlnistration VIII resent any interference
with the Nicaraguan canal project as II
did In the case OF the Hawaiian anneSa-
tlon treaty, goes without saying.
II Japan can encompass 1t, according
to the Nlcaraguan advlces received here
she would like u obtain the abrogatlon
OF all treaty rights possessed by the
United States in relation to inter-
transit and the forfeiture OF the Amerl-
can canal concession from Nicaragua
and to Immediately make a treaty with
the diet OF the greater republic Of Cen
tral America, giving her control nf the
great route through Nicaragua, In the
negotiations Costa Rlca has not been
consulted, II being well known that she
would not assent to violation OF treaty
right.
II 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
collision with Japan in the "dlckering"
with the diet now understood to be tn
progress, but nothing has yet come TO the
surface to indicate that she has enconr-
aged Japan in the move.
1t is said the agent Of the Nlcaraguan
canal here has laid the facts before Mr..
Hitchcock, the president OF the canal
company in New York, with the sugges-
ton that the state department be ap-
prised of the secret negotiations that are
now being carried on between Japan and
the diet Senior Zelaya, the president OF
Nicaragua, II is understood, has admit
ted to close personal friends that Japan
81 negotiating with the diet, but In each
case he advised the strlctest secrecy.
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
diet composed of three members Zone
each from Nicaragua, Salvador and
Honduras). was organized principally In
order that Nicaragua might absolve her
self from individual responsibility as
nation and thereby abrogate her inter
oceanic transit treaty with the United
States.
THE so-called greater republic" rep
resenting the failure Of the United States
20 recognize the greater republic ION re-
celving Senior Rodriguez as mlnister) and
1t failing to accredlt United States
minister to the greater republic Is likely
to try and make a treaty with Japan,
granting her concessions for the con-
strnction uf the canal,
'The United States minister here be-
lleves that when this news reaches
Washington the state department Will
send note 10 Japan asking II she IN
seeking to interfere with our treaty
rights in the premises. The Americans
in Nicaragua believe the United Stated
government will insist that her inter-
oceanic treaties with Nicaragua, Costa
Rlca. Honduras and Colombia are yet in
force. although the diet claims that Mica
ragua and Honduras are no longer sepa-
rate 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 suspicion for some time past.