New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-22
RRJTISH IDEAS ABOUT NICARAGUA.


There are some things quite remarkable in an
editorial of THE London Economist or Decem-
hcr 10 regarding the Nicaragua Canal Well
considered and kindly suggestions nave peeh
made by other British journals to the erect 'ha'
Great Britain may wisely offer TO ser asioe I'LL!
claims growing out of the Clayton Bulwer
Treaty. But scarcely any other )ourhai mas
zone 10 the length Of saying that any British
rights secured by that treaty have IN the IapSe
of vears become worthless and obsolete ana
NAV far better be replaced by perfectly eoou
understanding with the American Government.
Considering the position or "lhe Ecohon''s'
with respcct TO British administration, and also
British finance. which Is not infrequen'ly soine-
thing more imperous and imperial thah the
British Imperial Government. the language vi
that journal may be quoted;
II ia only in time Of war that claim 10 JOINT
control could be of any value, ana !, Is Jus 20
time OF war that such a claim wouid become
lucrative. Treaties are suspended by war II II
suited the Americans to let us through thty
would let us through and II IT did not SUIT ,ilei
they would stop us. either by Selling our Ness,s
or II our fleet proved too strong for tnal' Wy
sinking an old coal ship in the canal. we coulu
no more prevent that than they couid proven.
nur hlocking the channel OF the Hooghly. IL
may be said that in such an event our posses,
sions on tho Pacific Coast. British Colunbia anu
no
they would be now. or II we we're on paper JON.
proprietors and controllers OF the canal we
can if are strong enough deiend our racing
seaboard from the Pacific when we can feacn
bv two other routes. through the lsthmus OF
Suez and round the Cape, and II we are no.
strong enough We cannot de1end them al dl. II
IS quite useless to blink the facts. If the neces-
sitv of war with America should ever be iorceu
upon us we must fight America on the Atlantic;
and the existence or non-existence OF o caliai
between the Atlantic and the Pacific Will make
very little difference. while our paper rlgMs 10
go through II will make none Whatever we
hold it. therefore. foolish to MAINTAIN nose
paper rights at the risk OF alternating the good
Will Of the Republic. and Of provoking its people
to a course which Is perfectly possible. though II
has never been discussed suppose the AineI-
cans who have now formally given up their
objection TO colonies. being sincerely anxious
for their canal which is vital to the prosperity
Of their Pacific States. and getting tired of dis.
cussions about treaties should conquer Central
America. which neither has nor processes 10
have any power Of resistance. what should we
do then? We certainly should not fight our
cousins for the sake of those turbulent little re-
publlcs. and II Washington controlled them IL
would control their internal navigation, too. IT
is foolish. and very dangerous besides. TO contend
with facts and the plain fact is that If the
United States wish to reign on the coast of Cen
trial America they are so placed that they can
reign. and nobody can prevent them without an
effort which the stake at issue Is not worth.
The ca nal between the Atlantic and Pacific If it
is ever constructed. will be American.
| 1t Is not surprising that nobody has discovered
| the possibility Of an American decision to reign
! IN Central America, because nothing has ever
| occurred even to suggest an American desire for
such power and responsibility. The open and
friendly purchase Of territory from Central
American States sufficient to give this country
entire control and guardianship Of canal
across the lsthmus has been recently proposed in
Congress but In a spirit quite excluding the idea
OF unfrlcndliness toward either OF those States
II is not to be supposed that abrogation by any
Central American State Of rights formerly
granted will take such form as to invite active
interference by the United States. and without
such reason this Nation Is not In the least likely
10 treat either OF those States In any other man
the most friendly manner proposal TO pay
fair price for territory now useless nike 10
Costa RIGA and TO Nicaragua could not pe re-
garded with disfavor, especially as the great