New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-23

AN UNEXPECTED TURN IN NICARAGUA
CANAL AFFAIRS
THE GREATER REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AMERICA
OBJECTS TO MEASURES PENDING IN CON
GREss on THE GROUND THAT THEY
WOULD INvALIDATE NICARAGCAN
CONCESSIONS - THE ISSUE
TAKEN Up BY SENA-
tnr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
TOR MORGAN.

(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRTBUNE1
Washington, Jan. 22.-The debate on the Mica
ragua Canal bill took a rather novel and surpris-
ing turn to-day. when a letter from Senior Rodri-
guez the diplomatic representative Of the Great
er Republic Of Central America. was transmitted
to the Senate. in which a pointed protest was
made to the State Department against the pas
sage Of the Morgan or any other Canal bill now
pending In Congress. on the ground that 1t would
make void the existing Nicaraguan CONCESSIONS
Mr. Morgan took up the new issue raised. and
devoted the greater part Of the afternoon to com
batting the contention started by Senior Rodri-
guez. incidentally denying his authority as Min
lister Of the Central American Federation TO deal
with diplomatic question arising between an
Individual member of that Federation and the
United States. The Alabama Senator's speech
took wide range, involving discussion OF the
validity Of the Clayton Bulwer treaty. and OF
the terms Of the Frelinghuysen treaty with
Nicaragua withdrawn from the Senate by Mr.
Cleveland during his first Presidential term. The
Canal bill finally went over until Monday
THE PROTEST RECEIVED.
Just as the Vice President laid before the senate
nj . o'clock the unfinished business the tlcafag''a
Canal bill. Mr. Sherman sent 70 the desk iefte"
from the Secretary of State transmitting comnu-
nication from Mr.. Rodriguez. the Minister from
the Greater Republic of Central America. IN that
subject II called attention to the frienlinlp OK
pressed by the United States for those repIbl's
and the interest displayed in endeavoring to 'ring
about the construction of ar Is'hmlan canal Al
the same time II pointed out that the provis-
ions Of all the bills pending in Congress were in
contravention OF the contract between the Govern
ment of Nicaragua and the Maritime Canal Com
pany. and that II Congress were to attempt 10
carry the provisions of any OF these bills II
would vitiate that coHtract The Minister SgIeS' eel
a renewal OF negotiations between the United
States and the Greater Republic along the lines Of
the treaty negotiated with Nicaragua by Secretary
Frenghuysen
The moment this document read Mr.. Morgan
his feet. He declared that Congress knew
nothing officially of such Government az the
Greater Republic Of Central America.
Thc Minister Is accredited to the United States"
said Mr.. Sherman.
I'm one sense yes" said Mr.. Morgan. He has
been presented the door OF the Government. has
been bowed in and permitted to take sea- among
the diplomats. but We know nothing. beyond news
paper reports. Of the existence OF the Government
he Is said to represent We know from this same
source that this Confederation, this Diet. has no
control over the internal affairs of any Of the
States; that 1t controls only in diplomatic affairs
with other Governments. | informed by the
newspapers that In receiving this Minister the
President OF the United States said that OF
the rights Of the United States with respect to any
OF the three Governments thus consolidated could
accented having changed.
the President made this statement and ! may add
that this Confederation has no effect In legislative
sense on the attitude OF the United States toward
Mr. Morgan said the Secretary of State had not
Informed the Senate whether or not the commun-
cation OF Mr. Rodriguez met with his approval.
but had left them entirely In the dark and ne char
acterzed the communication as the impairment
Intrusion Of a Minister the effect Of which might
be to defeat the passage of the pending bill. Mr.
toned TO threats from high officials. and this one
did not alarm him.
10 the Clayton Buwer Treaty and particularly
called the attentio, of the Senator from Ohio ,lIr
that report drawn up by the former Senator from
Vermont Mr Edmnnds, and approved by the Ser
this treaty was In no way obligatory upon the
Mr. Sherman interposed to remark that he hcsi-
tated to answer the remarks OF his honorable friend
be discussed in executiv" session.
THE PRESIDENT DENOUNCED.
Mr.. Hoar Hep. Mass also expressed his opinion
that the discussion trenching upon executive
business. which Mr.. Morgan replied that IL this
were 80. he was SHINING most grievousy, for his
recollection was that the seal of secrecy had been
removed and everything relating to this CLAYTON
Bulwer report had been printed for the
OF the Senate and the public. He spoke OF the
Frelinghuy sen treaty IA one OF The mosi splendid
accomplishments Of American diplomacy and con-
demned In strong terms the action OF President
Cleveland in his first annual Message i'm Withdraw
ing mat treaty from furthcr consideration. lie
complained. and thought every Senator had a right
to complain thai so imE9rsn transacton the
Greater Republic Of Central America had been
accomplished without any communication to the
Senate ''''
"Who knows" he said, what Hammered uba,
this man received In the Blue Room NJ Tho
WINE fiouss NAT ki1d or a Senate Is this
which viii undGrnRs to egislate upon matters
posed egsIa ion is based is wtnhe from pro- be
senate. of the United States by the Secretary OF
Mr. Hale explained that until rhts ,,,
neither he nor any of his associates had known
COMPLAINT of no
~" 81 ~ Ii'.nr % ~ ' VI ''e government
Neither did l." said Mr. Morgan. with married.
emphasis He repeated his assertion that II his
bill were rc,ol'h,tt,u ana the arbitration treaty
wa he ,ntImatcd thar he deav W. st t out.
Rodriguez protest was instgated by Great Rrain
a country which never iaiied TO push its way but
nav, ~, v,,. s suhiects wheraaS "eaer lalle,
Cuba filled with those who had died simply
because they were American citizens and their
oioVeriHi,t't sn,'iro IA 10 r, Mr Morgan
.ao,nr rbn yoiiId move IN recor,nI, ,bf II, TIC