The times., 1899-12-06
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
A Statement of the Facts in tn,
Case.

tHAe.
The contract Of the Maritime Canal
Company Of Nicaragua Vas declared for
feited by the Nicaraguan Government on
the 10th Of October. on the ground of non
fulfllment within the ten years term
stipulated in the contract The Maritime
Canal Company has lodged a protest
against this action, alleging rights in the
premises which appear worthy of Consid-
Grafton. This Government expects tlat
Nicaragua will afford the protestants full
and fair hearing upon the merits OF the
case.
The Nicaragua Canal Commission, which
had been engaged upon the work of eX-
animation and survey for a ship canal
route across Nicaragua, having completed
its Iabors and made its report, was dis
solved on May 81, and on June 10 a Hew
commission. known as the Isthmian Canal
Commission was organized under the
terms of the act approved March >. 1899,
for the purpose of examining the American
Isthmus with a view TO determining the
most practicable and feasible route for
ship canal across that isthmus, with it's
probable cost, and other essential details.
This Commission, under the presidency
of Rear Admiral John G. Walker, L. S n.
(retired) entered promptly upon the work
e
examinations in Nicaragua along the route
of the Panama Canal and in Darien from
the Atlantic in the ueighborhood of the
Atrato River, to the Bay of Panama, on
the Pacific side. Good progress has been
made but under the law a comprehensive
and complete investigation is called for
which viii require much labor and con-
siderable time for its accomplishment.
The work will be prosecuted as sXpedi-
tinrg1H- ae pnCCiHip and q made .
the earliest practicable date.
The great importance of this work cannot
be too often or too strongly pressed upon
the attention of the Congress. In my Mes
sage of a year ago l expressed my views
OF the necessity Of a canal which would
link the two great oceans to which 1
again invite your consideration The rea-
sons then presented for early action are
even stronger now.
A pleasing incident in the relations OF
this Government with that of Chile oc-
Cured in the generous assistance given
to the warship Newark when in distress
in Chilean waters. Not alone in this way
has the friendly disposition OF Chile found
expression That country has acceded to
the convention for the establishment of
the Bureau of the American Republics, in
which organization every independent State
of the continent now shares
The exchange of ratfcations of a con-
ventiop for the revival OF the United States
and Chilean Claims Commission, and for
the adjudication of claims heretofore pre-
sonted but not determined during the life
of the previous Commission has been de-
layed by reason of the necessity for fresh
action by the Chilean Senate upon the
amendments attached TO the ratification
of the treaty by the United States Senate.
This formality is soon 10 be accomplished.
Our Interests in China.
In view Of disturbances in the populous
| provinces of northern China, where are
many OF our citizens, and of the immi-
nence of disorder near the capital and to
ward the seaboard, a guard Of marines
was landed from the Boston and stationed
during last winter in the legation com
pound at Peking. With the restoration OF
| order this protection was Withdrawn.
The interests of our citizens in that vast
/ Empire have not been neglected during
| the past year. ATequate protection has
! been secured for our missionaries and some
/ injuries TO their property have been re-
dressed.
! American capital has sought and found
| various opportunities of competing to carry
out the internal improvements which the
! Imperial Government is wisely encOur-
aging, and to develop the natural resources
of the Empire. Our trade with China has
continued to grow, and our commercial
rights under existing treaties have been
everywhere maintained during the past
year. as they Will be in the future
The extension OF the area open to in
! ternational foreign settlement at Shanghai
and the opening of the ports of Nanking,
Using tao OKiao chao). and Ta-lien-wan to
foreign trade and settlement viii doubtless
afford American enterprise additional IA
ciIities and new fields, of which it Will not
be slow TO take advantage.
In my Message to Congress of Decem-
Der 5, 1898, I urged that the recommended
tions which had been made to the Speaker
of the House OF Representatives by the
Secretary Of the Treasury on the lith Of
June. 1888, for an appropriation for com