Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-01
zELLAYA ON THE CANAL.
President Of Nicaragua Wants Americans to
Build Il.
Would Rather Deal with the U. q, poverp-
ment Direct Than with the Pres
ent Canal Company.

New York. Feb. 1.-The Herald to-
day prints an Interview with President
! Zellaya of Nicaragua obtained by its
correspondent in Managua
Nicaragua would prefer dealing d.
rectly with the United States" said Eel
laya, ''in the matter of canal across
our country. The Canal company has
not lived up to its obligatlons--those
included in the concession, and we con-
slider that 1t has deceived us, and we
believe that further dealings with 1t
would only result in further deception.
For this reason. we would prefer deal
ing directly with your government.
knowing that that is stable. which the
canal company is not.
I'VE consider that the concessions
which are now held by the canal COM
pany expired some time ago and that
they are therefore void, although the
canal company thinks differently.
is"The Tipapa Canalizalion Is one of
the most striking Illustrations of the
failure, of the company to keep its
agreements and the chief features of
the arrangement made with Mr.. Baker
the retired United States minister.
Mr.. Baker was to have taken up the
Tipapa Canalization with the canal
company on his return to the United
states, and falling to reach some sort
of an understanding with the company
he was to have endeavored to have had
the matter submitted to arbitration
But the arrangement has been cam
eelled by Congress, and l consider that
the action of Congress was brought
about through the influence of the
canal company which does not wish
to be called to account.
I'VE would have no objection to the
Congress of the United States passing
bill looking to the support of private
capital in building a canal, but when
1t came to the United States, actually
controlling the canal this government
would have something to say about
that. But i'm the event of a possible
transfer of control the matter could be
discussed by this government and the
United States. The protest that was
made when the last Nicaragua canal
bill was pending in the Senate was
made at the instance of the diet--the
greater republic of Central America
one or the provisions of the concessions
preventing the transfer of the control
OF canal to any government without
the consent of Nicaragua
The missionfof Mr.. Morgan Ia ig-
nored by this government. I believe
he has been privately requested by
study of the proposed canal and canal
matters and to make n report along
these lines and on matters in genera.
MI Morgan brought with him recon-
mendations directed to the American
legation, for which special considera-
tons have been extend ID on the part
OF this government.
Mr.. Bakers mission on the part of
this country In the United States which
has now been set aside has been COM
monty misunderstood. considered Mr..
Baker man OF influence, and who
with every prospect of carrying them
through with success. Mr.. Baker rep
resented that he would be able to form
a syndicate which would buy from us
our railroads and our lake steamers.
we desired to dispose OF these to pri-
Vate parties in order to raise money
sufficient to enable us to pay our Eng
iish debt. Our total debt. by the way
Is about Sc 100000 In this money. What
OF the political condition of the coun-
tryY canal or communication from the |
interior to the Atlantic coast is what
we neeu TO settle us politically. as well
as In other ways.
EITHER would allay the restlessness |
ana would end desires for revolution. |
Az property would appreciate. The |
CONSERVATIVES property and the liber- |
ans property would 20 up In value to-
''hb tbr Wfotc country WOULD
take on a new aspect. A canal would |
unify all the people and all political |
uneasiness would be lost in the i'm |
proved conditions OF business. Let us
but get an opening for the passage out
OF our products and the whole country
would become prosperous.
We are glad TO have Americans
come In. They are able an energetic.
rhey viii help us to build up the coun-
Try We consider our country to have
as great natural attractions az any In
central America, II IN larger than
costa tica and more capablein develop
fnent In every way. Costa Rica has in
san Jose very fine city, but we have
several. They are many miles apart,
nut commercial communication between
them would knit the country together
very strongly and soon give Il a lead
ing place in this part OF the world,
would the concession granted to the
Atlas company interfere at all with
the operation Of n ranal?'
NOT at all. The concession was grant
"a 10 the company for navigation right
On the San Juan river, an II IL not
such as to retard the construction of
canal. This government tonk pond