The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-02
CANAL MATTERS MIXED
Maritime Company Has But
One Year to Begin.
And the Eyere-Cragin Con-
cesSiOn Is in the Way.

New York. Nov. IA dispatch to the
Herald from Washington says:
There appears 60 nave been good rea-
son for che prompt action OF the Nicara-
guam congress in ratifying the new agree
ment entered into between President Zela-
va, with Messrs, Eyere and Cragin for the
Nicaraguan canal concession.
Nicaragua will cease today to exist as
a republic and any future action respect
ing foreign concessions in connection with
the canal will have to be taken by the
United States of America, comprising
what will hereafter be known as the
states of Honduras, Salvador and Near
aqua. All further negotiations by the
United States government in regard to the
Nicaraguan canal will therefore have to
be with this new republic. The recent
activity of Messrs. Eyere and Cragin in
securing the agreement with the presi-
dent OF Nicaragua and the promptness
displayed by the Nicaraguan congress in
ratifying the agreement can therefore be
well understood.
LAS understood here, there gentlemen
have not actually obtained abe concession
for building the canaI-t3lis is not admis-
sible under the present terms Of the con-
tract with the Maritime Canal company
but an option, which gives them the right
to construct the canal when the contract
now held by the Maritime Canal company
lapses. But whatever may be the tech
meal name for the agreement which has
been recently entered into, there seems
little doubt that Messrs. Eyere and Cra-
gin have obtained from the Nicaraguan
government an important and valuable
privilege, which will have to be considered
when the time comes for the United States
government to take hold of the project
after today the national and internal
tional affairs Of Nicaragua, Honduras and
Salvador will be conducted by a provis-
ional government. This government will
be inaugurated today and will be located
al Amapala, Honduras. In accord>Ace
with the new constitution recently agreed
upon by the three countries a provisional
government comprising a delegate from
each of the three states, to sit at the
point named, is to have control of all ma
tional, international and internal affairs
until March 10 next, when president of
"EstaGos Unidos de Centre America" is
10 be elected. The delegates from the
three countries, which will hereafter be
known as states. are DR.. Gallager, Saliva
dor; Coronel Matus, Nicaragua and DR..
Ugarte, Honduras. The presidents re-
spectively of Honduras, Salvador and Nj
caragua will hereafter be known as gov
errors and the congresses will become
legislatures, as with our own states.
suur m NJ
right to build the Nicaragua canal pro-
vided the contract now held by the Mar
thine Canal company lapses as a result
of failure to carry out its terms, Nicara-
qua has greatly embarrassed the admin
istration. Through Minister Morry, sta
toned at San Jose. and the American con-
sui at Managua, the authorities have
learned of the presentation OF the agree
ment entered into by him with Messrs
Eyere and Cragin, to the Nicaraguan leg
islature, and Of the resulting develop
ments. No details, however, have yet
come officially.
The embarrassment of the administra-
ton lies in the fact that IL has Endorsed
the project of the Maritime Canal COM
pany and that bills are now pending IN
congress providing government aid in the
construction Of the canal, one of which,
it is expected, will pass during the COM
ing session.
From the way the authorities talk, Il
is evident to their minds that the new
company interested in tho canal has SIM
ply come in to cOmplicate the situation
and one Of the officials said that he be-
lieved it could be bought out and that it
was TO obtain such a result that il neEo-
tiated the agreement il mad made with
the NicaraSuan government. Article IS
Of the concessions given to the Nicara-
guam Canal company provides that If at
the expiration OF ten years. 1.-The work
Should not be completed so as 70 have the
maritime communication between the two
oceans opened. in consideration Of the
great capital the company may have in
vested 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"