The times., 1898-12-06

powers of government and administra-
tion. In this view of their relation, and of
the relation of the United States to the
several Republics. change in the repre-
sentation of this country in Centra.
America was neither recommended by the
Executive nor initiated by Congress;
thus leaving one of our ENJOYS accredited
as heretofore separately to two States of
the Greater Republic, Nicaragua and Sal
vador, and to third State, Costa Rica,
which was not party to the compact,
while our other envoy was similarly ac-
credited to a union State-Honduras-an
a non-union State-Guatemala. The re-
suit has been that the one has presented
credentials only to the President of Cos
ia Rica, the other having been received
only by the Government of Guatemala.
Subsequently, the three associated re-
pub!ics entered into negotiations for tax
ing the steps forecast in the original COM
pact. A convention of their delegates
framed for them federal constitution
under the name of the United States Of
Central America, and provided for a CEN
trail federal government and Legislature
Upon ratification by the constituent
states, the 1st of November last was fix
ed for the new system tc go into opera
ton. Within n Few weeks thereafter the
plan was severely tested by revolutionary
movements arising, with n consequent de-
mand for unity of action on ,ha mart of
the military power of the fedora, states
TO suppress them. Under this strain the
new union seems to have been weakened
through the withdrawal of its more iI.1-
portant members. This Government was
not officially advised of the installa / al of
the federation and has maintained an at
titude of friendly expectancy. while in
nowise Il iinquishing the position he'll
from tha outset that the resp '1sirilitias
of the several states toward us remained
unaltered by their tentative relations
among themselves.
TIE NIcARAGUAN CANAL.
The Nicaragua Canal Commission, un-
der the chairmanslip ~ Rear Admiral
John G. Walker. appointed July "a. 1887.
under the authority CO a ro- sion in the
sundry civil act cf June of that year.
has neariy coi1p,,'.eu its iabors, and the
results OF its exhaustive inquiry into the
proper ron1e. the Feasibility. and the cost
of construction of an interoceanic canal
by n Nicaraguan route will be laid before
you. In the performance OF it's task the
Commission received all possible courtesy
and assistance from the governments of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica,. which thus
| testified their appreciation of the impor-
tance of giving a speedy and practical
outcome to the great project that has
for so many years engrossed 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 canal by
the most convenient route. II necessarily
included review OF the results of pre-
vious surveys and pans. and In particular
those adopted by the Maritime Canal
Company, under its existing concessions
from Nicaragua ard Costa Rica, so that to
this extent those grants necessarily hold
as essential a part in the deliberations
and conclusions of the Canal Commission
as they have held and must needs hold
in the discussion of the matter by the
Congress. Under these circumstan and
in view of overtures made 10 the Govern
ments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica by
other parties for a new canal concession
predicated on the assumed approaching
lapse of the contracts Of the Maritime Ca
nal Company with those States. | have
not hesitated TO express my conviction
that considerations of expediency and in
ternational policy as between the several
governments interested in the construc-
ti0n and control of an interoceanic canal
by this route require the maintenance o.
the status quo until the Canab Commits
sion snail have reported and the Unite,l
Duties ,pAlEitS1 sidli nave hau Atit pp-
portunity to pass finally upon the whole
matter during the present session, with
out prejudice by reason of any change in
the existing conditions.
CONGRESS- URGED TO ACT.
Nevertheless it appears that the Gov
ernmeni of Nicaragua. as one of its last
sovereign acts before merging its powers
in those of the newly formed United
States of Central America, has granted ar
optional concession 10 another association
TO become effective on the expiration oi
the present grant 1t does not appeal
what surveys have been made or what
route is proposed under this contingent
| grant so that an examination of the feast
! bility of its plans is necessarily not en-
braced in the report of the Canal Commits
! sion. All these circumstances suggest
/ the urgency of some definite action by the
| Congress at this session If the labors o.
| the past are to be utilized and the linking
| of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by {
practical waterway Is to be realized. Tha
| the construction of such maritime high.
| way is now more than ever indispensabl ble
| to that intimate and ready intercommuni
| cation between our eastern and western
seaboards demanded by the annexation OF
| the Hawaiian Islands and the prospective
| bI u
| in the Pacific. and that our national polio,
now more imperatively than ever call:
1 for its control by this Government, are
propositions which l doubt not the Con
| gress will duly appreciate and wisely ac
upon.
| CHILEAN CLAIMS.
| A convention providing for the reviva
of the late United States and Chilea,
claims commission and the consideration
of claims which were duly presented II
| the late commission but not cons.deret
because of the expiration of the time lin
| tied for the duration of the commission
was signed May "A. 1897. and has remain
! ed unacted upon by the Senate. Tt
term therein fixed for effecting the ex
| change of ratifications having elapsed
| the convention falls unless the time b,
extended by amendment. which l am en-
| deavoring to bring about, with the friend
| ly concurrence of the Chilean govern
| ment.
| AMERICA IL THE FAR EAST.
The United States has not been an in
different spectator of the extraordinar,
| events transpiring in the Chinese EN-
pire, whereby portions of its MARITIME
| provinces are passing under the contro
of various European powers: but tn
| prospect that the vast commerce wh.cl
the energy of our citizens and the ne
| cessity of our staple productions for Chi
nese uses has built up in those region
may not be prejudiced through any ex
| elusive treatment by the new OCCUPANT
has obviated the need of our country be
| coming an actor in the scene. Our posi-
tion among nations, having a large Pa
cific coast and a constantly expanding
| direct trade with the farther Orient, give
us the equitable claim to consideration
| and friendly treatment in this regard