The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-12
THEY FEAR ABSORPTION
THINK WE HAVE DESIGNS ON
THE AMERICANS.
SECRET COMPACT WITH BOLIVIA
Scare Doubtless Had Its Origin in Reports
Started by Europeans Holding Interests
in Our Hemisphere and Dreading
Union of the REPUBLICS.

Union Of the Republics.
Mexico City, Sept 11.-Prvate advices
received here from Brazil snow that the
Government has been greatly Influenced
by the accounts regarding the alleged
secret understanding between the Boil
Wan and the United States Government,
by which the latter power was to take
over the territory ON the Upper ANA
zon claimed by Bolivia. a region rich in
rubber. 1t is alleged in Rio de Janeiro
that American naval officers have re-
Gently thoroughly surveyed the region
and sent the secret reports to Washing
ton.
1t was first charged that Mr.. Bryan.
United States Minister to Brazil, was
a party to the agreement with Bolivia,
but it is now said that the Bolivian
Secret agent, named Uthoff. made the
agreement with the United States Con
sui at Para. There is some doubt about
this, but such is the belier Of the Bra
lillian newspapers and people, and the
Argentine press has begun, assisted by
European residents, to set up the cry
that the Colossus of the North is moving
southwark and intends to control and Ill
timately annex all South America.
So diligent has been the propaganda
of this story that the newspapers in
Mexico OF the clerical stripe have taken
it up editorially. predicting the absorp-
tion of all this hemisphere by the greedy
and land-hungry Americans, who are
acquiring lands in Brazil and Peru, and
who will soon be able 10 afford the
Washington Government a pretext for
attempting to overthrow the South
American Governments.
The Buenos Ayres Standard, controll-
ed by British subjects. asserts that
President Rocas' visit to Brazil was TO
consult with the President of that coun-
try, with a view to mutual defense
against the Yankees.
There is no doubt that the Spanish
and European Governments generally
have given their organs in Latin-Ameri-
ca the hint to publish articles designed
to embitter South and Central America
against the United States and break
up the growing sentiment in favor or
Pan-Americanism wmcn Is greatly
dreaded by European commercial inter
sts so strongly intrenched in South
America, where American interests have
few newspaper champions and defend
ers. 1t is shrewdly calculated by persis-
tent newspaper attacks on the United
States that the Americans can be got
ten into high disfavor, and that the CON
cessi0nS will be refused them.
The journey Of William McElroy Cur
tis, formerly of the Bureau of American
Republics to Peru and Bolivia, is re-
ported to be in the nature or a secret
mission for his Government. There is
Il profoundly suspicious sentiment de-
veloping in Latin-America regarding the
designs of the United States, whose
power is dreaded and whose administra-
ton is accused of cherishing imperialistic
projects ON this continent. The remark
able nanimity of the Mexican clerical
sheets and the South American journals
Of all classes in dealing with this mat
ter makes it clear that it is a pre-ar-
ranged campaign with a view to exciting
ill-will against the Americans of the
great republic of North America.
REGRETTED At WASHINGTON.
Washington, Sept. 1.-THE rumors of
possible combinations among the States
Of Central and South America directed
against the United States, are received
with some concern by the officials here.
Nearly year ago this spirit of distrust
on the part of the Latin-American peO-
pie was first exhibited in the semi-offi-
cial discussions by the press of the Uni
ted States of Colombia, of a proposition
to combine the nations of South and
Central America. In that case the os-
tensible purpose was to resist unjust
demands for indemnities by foreign
States. But incidentally during the
discussion, it appeared that the scope
of the combination would be broader than
this and there was more than one inti-
nation of a deep-seated distrust on
the part of the United States. Two or
three events have occurred since that
discussion to strengthen this feeling
First there was a decision adverse to
Colombia in the Cerruti case and as
President Cleveland was the arbitrator
that unpopular decision was charged
against the United States.
Then last spring came the cruise of
the United States gunboat Wilmington
up the Amazon and the Orinoco. These
voyages were undertaken from Inno-
cent scientific and commercial motives.
Commander Todd, of the Wilmington,
found that there were no charts of these
vast rivers and consequently was obliged
to take soundings as he proceeded. In
cldentally he was enabled to make
rough running charts Of the river that
may be of value to commerce hereafter.
Ills actions We're, however, misinter-
preted by some of the natives, though
in the end Captain Todd is believed to
have perfectly satisfied the Brazilian