The San Francisco call., 1897-07-30
ENGLISH INFLUENCE.
1t May Be at the Bottom of the OBJ
lection Raised to Captain
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WASHINGTON, D. c., July 29-Eng-
lish influence may be at the bottom of the
objection raised by The Greater Republic
of Central America to Captain Merry as
Minister to Nicaragua, Costa Rica anl
Salvador. Confirmation of the report OF
au animation made by the Diet OF the
Greater Republic that Captain Merry Is
Objectionable was received at the State
Department to-day. No specific charges
against Captain Merry have bpen made,
but measures have been taken by the de-
partment which its officials hope will re-
suit in overcoming the objections raised
by the Diet and cause Captain Merry's re-
ception. For the present the new Minis,
ter will remain in Washington and will
not proceed to his post until the depart
ment has definitely learned that he will
be received.
When Captain Merry was seen tonight
by The CALL correspondent he declined 10
discuss his case other than to say that the
matter was in the hands of the STATE De-
partment 1t is understood, however,
that both Captain Merry and the depart
ment have reason to believe that the
Diets unwillingness to receive him is
dentially to Senator Perkins in February
last in regard to the Nicaraguan canal,
and which, through inadvertence was
published in the Congressional Record by
Senator Morgan as part of his speech on
that subject In that communication
Captain Merry said (referring to the COM
munication of Minister Rodriguez to Sec
retary Olney obiecting to the Nicaragua
canal bill then pending in Congress):
II wired you yesterday as follows:
Rodriguez action probably authorized.
Think President ZelaYa holds concession
valid. Suggest cabling The reasons for
the opinion expressed are based on the
following facts: About four months
since Hon. Lewis Baker, Minister to
Nicaragua, assured me positively that
President Zelaya had told him just before
he left to inform the United States Govern
ment that whenever it actively aided the
canal company, the Nicaraguan Govern
ment would grant all additional time
needed; that it wanted the canal, and
would do everything possible to aid it.
Unless Zelaya has had very recent radi-
cal change of heart, 1 cannot think he
would have authorized Rodriguez to send
such letter to Olney as he did, especially
when, by application to the company, he
could have obtained anything fair and
reasonable.
THAT the writer of that letter is not
sincere or knows very little about the
canal question is proven by his suggest
ing to Mr.. Olney the renewal of the
Zavala-Frelinghuyse treaty. which Cleve.
land has already condemned as 'an en-
tangling alliance As to the British in
fuence, [ am confident it is constantly
at work in Nicaragua against US. gen.
tleman of European birth, but an Ameri-
can citizen, known TO me for thirty years,
wrote ME from Managua two or three
times during 1895 and 1896 that England
was making stringent efforts to get foot
hold in Nicaragua through various agen-
cies, one of them the English bondhold-
ers of the Nicaragua debt IN London.
about $500, 900. have written particulars
to Senator Morgan of the deal they have
made with the Nicaraguan Government
by which they have secured an export tax
of / cent per pound on all coffee for their
benefit, and are authorized to send a resi-
dent agert to Nicaragua to collect it !;
really, | believe, political agent of the
British Government.
~ have also written Senator Morgan
of concessions given TO Englishmen for a
railroad from San Ubaldo ION Lake Mica
ragua) to the Atlantic, at the same time
passing law permitting the Zelaya Gov
erDment to sell the Government railway
from Corinto to Granada, on the same
lake, for one million dollars gold, thus
aiding the English syndicate in obtaining
an interoceanic transit near the canal,