The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-01
THE CANAL CONCESSION
Nlcsrssuan Congress- Had to Act With Much
Promptness.
WOULD HAVE HAD NO POWER 1oAcI TODAY
Mica rngun. Honduras ana salvador
sense to Icxist ~ Independent
states and Combine In One. +
lspeclaI plspasch 70 me POSE,

Washington, October Sl.--There appears
80 have been good reason for the prompt
action OF the Nicaraguans In ratify.ng the
new agreement entered into by President
zelsya with Messrs Eyre and cragin for
the NcaSguan canal concession.
Nicaragua will cease today to exist as
republic and aQy future action respecting
foreign concession in connection with the
canal will have to be taken by the United
States nj General America, comprising
what will hereafter be known as the States
OF Honduras Salvador and Nicaragua. Any
further negotiations by the United States
government in regard To the Nicaraguan
canal will therefore have 10 be with this
new republic. The recent activity Of
Messrs. Eyre and cragin i'm securing tho.
agreement with the president OF Nicaragua
and the promptness displayed by the Nica-
raguan congress in ratifying the agree
ment can. therefore, be well understood.
AS understood here. these gentlemen
have not actually obtained the concession
for building the canal-this is not admissi>
BILE under the present term OF contract with
the Maritime Canal company. but an OPP
tion, which gives them the right to con-
struct the cAlal when the contract now
held by the MARITIME Canal company
lapses. But whatever may be the technical
name for the agreement which has been 10,
Gently entered into, there is little doubt
that Messrs. Eyre and Cragin have OBJ
tanned from the Nicaraguam government an
important and valuable privilege which
ba,,a ~ ysls,r ,1,.o
comes for the United States government to
take hold of the project.
After today the National and interna-
tional affairs of Nicaragua, Honduras and
Salvador will be conducted by s provisional
government. This government will be in
aug Irated today and Will be located at
Amapala, Honduras. In accordance with
the new constitution recently agreed upon
by these three countries, "a provisional gov
eminent. comprising delegate from each
of the three States, to sit at the point
named, is to have the consfol of all Ma
tional and international affairs until March
10 next, when a president of "Estados
Unidos de Centre America" is to be elected.
The delegates from the three countries
which will hereafter be known as States,
are DR.. Galleger, from Salvador; DIR. Cor
onol Matus, Nicaragua, and DR.. Ugarte,
from Honduras. The presidents respect
lively of Honduras, Salvador and Nicaragua
will hereafter be known as governors. and
the congresses will become legislatures, as
with Our own States.
By granting to another country the right
10 build the Nicaragua canal provided the
contract now held by the Maritime Canal
CEmDany laDSPS a result of failure
carry out its terms. Nicaragua has greatly
embarrassed the administration. Through
Minister Merry, stationed at San Jose. and
the American consul ait Managua the au-
thorities have learned OF the presentation
of the agreement entered into by the gov
rnment with Messrs. Eyre and Cragin TO
the Nicaraguan legislature ami of the re-
suit from the developments. No details
however, have yet come officially. TIE
embarrassment OF this administration lies
in tie fact that it has Endorsed the pro-
ject of the Maritime Canal company and
bills are now pending In congress .proffer-
ing government aid in the construction OF
the canal. one of which 1t is expected will
pass during the coming session.
From the way tho authorities talk 1t Is
evident to their minds that the new COM
pany interested In the canal has simply
come in 10 copplicste the situation and
one of the officials sail that he believed
| that it could be bought out and 1T was to
obtain such a result that II negotiated
the agreement 1t has made with the Mica
| ragtsn government. Article AS Of the con-
cessions given to the Nicaraguan Canal
| company provides bsat II AT the expiration
! of ten years 1.-THE work should not pa con-
pleted so as to have tsIe maritime earsi
| ba'ween the two oceans opsned. la cons:i,
/, eration Of the great CAPITAL the csrnnany
! MY have invested Ia the enterprsEe ara
! the good willard ability 1t ray havs shesn
| any difficulties encountered. the rsprStc
! b'rAs itself to ccncede new extension
! Furthermore, the contract provides that
! ''ths State bip.s itself not 20 make any
/ subsequent concession fer TIE cpening CT
1 the canal between the two rcesns during
/ TIE term of the present concession"