Evening star., 1898-12-05


toward this gratifying outcome.
In my last annual message the situation
was presented with respect to the iiplo-
matte representation of this Government in
Central America, created by the association
of Nicaragua, Honduras, and Salvador un-
der the title of the Greater Republic CT
Central America and the delegation Of their
international functions to the Diet thereof.
While the representative character of the
Diet was recognized by my predecessor
and has been confirmed during my Admin
istration by receiving its accredited envoy
and granting exequaters to consuls COM
rnissioned under its authority, that recogai-
tion was qualified by the distinct under
standing that the responsibility of each of
the component sovereign Republics toward
the United States remained wholly un-
affected
This proviso was needful inasmuch as
the compact of the three Republics was at
the outset an association whereby certain
representative functions were delegated to
q tripartite commission, rather than fed
Grafton possessing centralized powers CT
government and administration. In this
view of their relation and of the relation
of the United States to the several Reput-
lies change in the representation o. this
country in Central America was neither
recommended by the Executive nor initiated
by Congress; thus leaving one of our en-
voys accredited as heretofore separately to
two States of the Greater Republic, Nicara-
qua and Salvador, and to third State
Costa Rica, which was not party to The
compact while our other envoy was sirni-
larly accredited to a union State-IIondu-
ras-and a non-union state-Guatemaia
The result has been that the one has pre-
sented credentials only to the President
of Costa Rca the other having been re-
ceived only by the Government of Guate-
mala.
Subsequently, the three associated Repub-
lies entered into negotiations for taking
the steps forecast in the original compact.
A convention of their delegates framed for
them federal constitution under the name
of the United States of Central America,
and provided for central federal govern
ment and Legislature. Upon ratification by
the constituent States, the 1st of Novem-
Der last was fixed for the new system to
go into operation. Within a few weeks
thereafter the plan was severely tested by
revolutionary movements arising, with a
consequent demand for unity of action on
the part of the military power of the fed
eral States to suppress them. Under this
strain the new Union seems to have been
weakened through the withdrawal OF its
more important members. This govern
ment was not officially advised of the in
stallation of the federation and has main
tanned an attitude of friendly expectancy,
while in nowse relinquishing the position
held from the outset that the responsible
tiles of the several States toward us re-
nlained unaltered by their tentative rela-
tions among themselves.
Nicaraguan Canal Commission
The Nicaragua Canal Commission, under
the craftsmanship of Rear-Admiral John G.
Walker, appointed July ~, 1897, under the
authority of a provision in the sundry civil
pleted its labors, and the results of its ex-
Eaustive inquiry into the proper route the
feasibility. and The cost of construction of
an interoceanic canal by a Nicaraguan
route will be laid before you. In the per
fCrmance of its task the Commission re-
ceived all possible courtesy and assistance
from the Governments of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, which thus testified their ap-
probation of the importance of giving a
speedy and practical outcome to the great
project that has for so many years en-
crossed the attention of the respective
countries.
AS the scope OF the recent inquiry en-
braced the whole subject with the aim of
making plans and surveys for a canal by
the most convenient route, it necessarily
Included review of the results of previous
surveys and plans, and in particular those
adopted by the Maritime Canal Company
under Its existing concessions from Mica
ragua and Costa RIca. so that to this eX-
tent those grants necessarily hold as es-
sentlal part in the deliberations and con-
| clusions of the Canal Commission as they
nave held and must needs hold in the dis
| cGsslon of the matter by the Congress.
Under these circumstances and in view of
oVertures made to the Governments Of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica by other parties
ior new canal concession predicated On
the assumed approaching lapse of the con-
tracts OF the Maritime Canal Company vi h
those states, L have not heSitated to ex-
press my conviction that conSidera tons of
expedlency and international policy as be-
tween the several governments interested
III the construction and control of an inter-
oceanic canal by this route require the
maintenance or the status quo until the
lanai commission shall have reported and
the United States Congress shall nave had
the opportunity to pass finally upon the
whole matter during the present session,
without prejudice by reason of any change
In the existing conditions
Nevertheless, it appears that the govern
hlent OF Nicaragua, as one of Its last sover-
eish acts before merging its powers in those
or the newly formed United States of Cen
trdl America, has granted an optional con-
cession to another association, to become
effective on the expiration of the present
grant 1t does not appear what surveys
nave been made or what route is proposed
under this contingent grant so that an ex-
animation of the feasibility of it's plans is
necessarily not embraced in the report of
the canal commission. All these circum-
stances suggest the urgency of some def
mite action by the, Congress at this session
II the labors of the past are to be utilized
and the linking of the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans by practical waterway is to be re-
allied. That the construction of such
maritime highway is now more than ever
indispensable to that intimate and ready IN
accommodation between our eastern and
western seaboards demanded by the annex
alton of the Hawaiian Islands and the pros
pectiVe expansion of our Influence and COM