The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1898-12-10


credited envoy and granting exeuua.
lures to Consuls commissioned unde,
its authority, that recognition was
qualified by the distinct understanding
that the responsibility of each of the
competent sovereign republics toward
the United States remained wholly I'm,
affected.
This proviso was needful inasmuch as
the compact of the three republics was
at the outset an association Wherein
certain representative functions were
delegated to a tripartitc commission
rather than a federation possessing
centralized powers Of government and
administration. in this view of thei,
relation and the relation OF the Iynitea
states to several republics. a change
in the representation of this country
in Central America was neither rerop-
nl2ed by the executive nor initiated nv
Congress; thus leaving one Of our en-.
voys accredited as heretofore separate
~ to two states Of the Greater Repub-
lie. Nicaragua and Salvador, and to q
third state, Costa Rlca, which was
not party to the compact: while orr
other envoy was similarly accredited
to the Union stated as Honduras. and
non-unlon stated as Guatemala. The
result has been the presentation of
credentials only to the president OF
Costa RiCa. the other having been re-.
ceived by the government of Guate.
mala.
Subsequently the three associated re
rubics entered into negotiations for
making the steps forecast in the orig.
inal 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.s
ment and legislature. Upon ratitlca-
ton by the constituent states the first
of November last was fixed for the new
system to go into operation. Within
few weeks thereafter, the plan was
severely tested by revolutionary move.
ments arising. with consequent de-
mand for unity of action on the part
OF the military power Of the federal
states to suppress them. Under this
strain the new union seems to have
been weakened through the withdrawal
Of its more important members. This
government has not officially advised
of the installation of the federation and
has maintained an attitude Of friendly
expectancy, while in no wise relin.
gushing the position held from the out
set that the responsibilities Of the sew
eral states towards us remained unal-
tered by their tentative relation among
themselves.
NICARAGUAN CANAL.
The Nicaraguan canal commission,
under the Craftsmanship of Rear AID.
miral John G. Walker. appointed July
"a, 1897, dnder the authority of pro-
vision in the sundry civil act OF June
4th Of that year, has nearly completed
Its labors, and the results Of its ex-
haustlve inquiry into the proper route,
the feasibility and the cost of construc.
ton of an interoceanc canal by Mic.
araguan route will be laid before you.
In the performance of Its task the com.
mission received all possible cour.
tesy and assistance from the govern.
ments Of Nicaragua and Costa Rica,
which thus testified their appreciation
OF the Importance of giving speedy
and practical outcome to the great pro.
ject that has for SO many years en-
crossed the attention of the respective
countries.
AS the scope Of the recent inquiry
embraced the whole subject, with the
aim OF making plans and surveys for q
canal by the most convenient route II
necessarily included review of the re-
suits OF previous surveys and plans,
and in particular those adopted by the
Maritime Canal company under Its ex-
listing concessions from Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, so that to this extent those
grants necessarily held an essential part
in the deliberations and conclusions OF
the canal commission as they have .
held and must needs hold in the discus
sion OF the matter by congress. Under
these circumstances and in view OF
overtures made to the governments OF
Nicaragua and Costa RIGA by other
parties for new canal concession, pre-.
dicated on the assumed approaching
lapse OF the present contracts Of the
Maritime Canal company with those
states, 1 have not hesitated to express
my conviction that considerations Of
expediency and international policy as
between the several governments inter-
ested in the construction and control
OF an interoceanic canal by this route
require the maintenance of the status
quo until the canal commission shall
have reported and the United States
shall have had the opportun-
lty to pass finally upon the whole mat
ter during the present session, with
out prejudice by reason of any change
in the existing conditions. Nevertheless,
It appears that the government Of Mic
aragua, as one Of its last sovereign acts
before merging Its powers In those OF
The newly formed United States OF Cen
trail America, has granted an optional
concession to another association, to
become effective on the expiration OF