The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-01
A NATION is BORN
United States of Central
America Begins Business.
Includes Nicaragua, Honduras
and San Salvador.
THEY BECOME STATES
And Their Presidents Are Re-
duced to Governors.
Change May Affect the Nicara-
guam Canal Project.

New York, Nov. IA Herald dtsparcn
from Washington says:
There appears to have been good reas-
on for the prompt action of the Nicara-
guam congress in ratifying the new
agreement entered into between Presi-
dent ZeIaya with Messrs. Eyre and Cra-
gin for the Nicaraguan canal conces-
sion.
Nicaragua will cease today to exist as
a republic and any future action re-
specting foreign concession in connec-
ton with the canal will have to be ta-
ken by the UNITED States of Central
America - comprising what will hereaf-
ter be known as the states of Honduras,
Salvador and Nicaragua Any further
negotiations by the United States gov
ernment in regard to the Nicaraguan
canal will therefore have to be with
this new republic. The recent activity OF
Messrs. Eyre and Cragin in securing the
agreement with the president of Nicara-
qua and the promptness displayed by
the Nicaraguan congress in ratlfy1ng
the agreement can therefore be Well un--
derstOod.
AS understood here, these gentlemen
have not actually obtained the cOnceS-
sion for building the canal-this is not
admissible under the present terms of
the contract with the Maritime Canal
company-but an option, which gives
them the right to construct the canal
when the contract now held by the Mar
thine Canal company lapses: But
whatever may be the technical name
for the agreement which has been re-
Gently entered into, there seems little
doubt that MeSsrs. Eyre and Crag1n
have obtained from the Nicaraguan
government an important and valuable
privilege, which will have to be consid-
cred when the time comes for the Unit
ed States government to take hold of
the project. After today the national
and international affairs of Nicaragua,
Honduras and Salvador will be conduct
ed by a provisional government. This
government will be inaugurated today
and will be located at Amapala, Hondu-
ras. In accordance with the new con-
stitution recently agreed upon by the
three countries, a provisional government
comprising delegate from each of the
three states, to sit at the point named is
to have control of all national, internal
and international affairs until March Is
next, whe.- a president of EstadOS
Unidos de Centre America is to be elect
ed. The delegates from the three coun-
tries, which will hereafter be known as
states are DR.. Gallagor, Salvador; Dr.
Coronel Matus Nicaragua and DR.
Ugarte, Honduras. The presidents re-
spectiveIy of Honduras, Salvador and
Nicaragua will hereafter be known as
governors and the congresses will be-
come legislatures, as with our own
states.
In granting to another company the
right to build the Nicaragua canal pro-
vided the contract now held by the Mar
itime Canal company lapSeS as a result
of failure to carry out its terms, Mica
ragua has greatly embarrassed the ad-
ministrat ton. Through Minister Mer-
ry, stationed at San Jose and the Amer
lean consul at Managua, the authori-
ties have learned of the presentation of
the agreement entered into by him with
Messrs. Eyre and Cragin to the Nicara-
qua legislature, and of the resulting de-
velOpments. No details, however, have
yet come officially. The embarrass-
ment of the administration lies in the
fact that it has endorsed the project of
the Maritime Canal company and that
bills are now pending in congress pro-
vIding government aid in the cOnstruc-
ton of the canal, one of which it is ex-
pected will pass during the coming ses-
sion.
From the way the authorities talk. it
is evident to their minds that the new
company interested in the canal has
simply come in to complicate the situ-
alton and one of the officials said that
he believed it could be bought out and
that it was to obtain such result that
it negotiated the agreement it had made
with the Nlcar3guan government. Arti-
Gle 48 of the concession given to the
Nicaraguan Canal company provides
that If at the end of ten years. the work
should not be completed so as to have
the maritime communication between
the two oceans opened, in consideration
of the great capital the company NAV
have invested in the enterprise and OF
the good will and ability it may have
shown and the difficulties encountered
the republic binds itself to concede a
new extension. F'urt thernaOre the con-
tract provides that 1.-The state binds if
self not to make any subsequent con
ceSSlonS for the opening of the canal
between the two oceans during the term
OF the present concession