Washington sentinel., 1899-01-21
THE NICARAGUA CANAL SCHEME.
Syyen.

ADEt Gle
Oh the making and suggestion Of ship
canals there is no end. The majority Of
these schemes advance no further than
the suggested stage. Such a fate, how.
ever, win hardly overtake the long
talked Of Nicaragua Canal, which
proposes to link the Atlantic with the
Pacific via the Republic of Nicaragua.
Though nothing definite is at present
| settled as to the means by which the
waterway is to be finance ] and en-
glneered to complete It, it is more than
probable that now the United States
have adopted policy OF acquiring ex-
North American territory, the Republic
will find some practical means of
carrying the canal TO a successful issue
in fact, the attitude Of the United
States towards the scheme IS fore
shadowed by President McKinley's
message to Congress. The construction
OF the Nicaraguan Canal IS now more
than ever indispensable" and our policy
more imperativelv than ever calls for its
control by this Government" more
than ever indispensable" is strong
language when we consider the occasion
of it's use. Iu fact. the construction OF
this waterway will place New York
more on a par with, say, London, in
making it more oil centre for over sea
trade, either East or West. Thus, at
present, the voyage from New York to
San Francisco, excepting, Of course, the
transhipment route across the Panama
Peninsula, is a lengthy one OF 10000
miles, and this, when the Nicaraguan
Canal is I'M fat aceOMbH. will be
shortened TO 900 miles. New York
to the Philippines will then become a
mere journey Of $500 miles, while not
far from the due east and west line
across the Pacific, joining the Western
entrance to the Canal with the Philip.
pines, are the Sandwich Islands.
Now, if this pro able shortening of
the sea route between the eastern sea.
board OF the United States and the ports
Of China, Japan, &C., signifies anything
at all, 1t means that the North American
Republic will become a most important
factor in the Pacific, both naval and
commercial. Apart from the reduction
Of the length OF the voyage il must also
| be remembered that in the Sandwich
| Islands the United States possess a sort
Of hallway house, which must prove of
| the greatest assistance in their efforts at
development in the Pacific. In a way
British shipowners will reap some bene-
| fit from the completion of the canal, but
| il will, Of course, be IN the direction Of
Increasing the efficiency Of the steamer
at the expense OF the sailing vessel. The
ubiquitous tramp has made an attempt
to oust the sailer from the EnglishSan
Francisco trade, owing to coaling diff
culties, however, only with a scsnty
measure OF success, But, with the canal
to assist them, the steamships will drive
another nail in the coffin oI the rapidly
vanishing sailing vessel. Still, perhaps
it Is a little premature to take it alto
gether for granted that the canal, which
has been before the public for the last
half century, will be constructed without
delay or hIndrance. To begin with,
several American syndicates, practically
ofprivate capitalists, have obtained from
the Nicaraguan Government certain
valuable concessions, cOnterring upon
them privileges, &c, which are not void
until the expiry of the assigned period
allowed to them for construction. One
company secured its lease and rights in
1889, and they lapse in 1899; but another
syndicate appears to have secured a sort
| OF transierence Of these concessions the
first named company having obviously
| failed to construct waterway from sea
TO sea. In fact, it would appear as # the
Financing genus oi the Americans has
recognized the possibilities Of the
scheme, and exploited them to the full
| with the view of awaiting events, and
the canal becoming more dis3ensa'
! bic than ever
Thus. if the United States determine
! upon the construction ofthe Canal, there
will have to be a clearing up Of the
situation, a process which, IN all proba-
! bility, can only be arrived at by the
| payment OF some tall" cCmpensatiOns.
But even supposing that no iusuperable
| difficulty arises in this direction, there
| is Just the possibility ol international
complications arising, So far back as
| 1880. what is now styled the CLAYTON
| Bulwer Treaty was signed. Clayton was
the then American Minister Of State,
4 and Bulwer was Sir Henry LyttCn
Bulwer, who acted as the British Dlen-
/ iporentiary in the matter, This treaty
debars England and the United States
from obtaining complete control over
this long suggested canal, aud provides
that the vessels Of both nations in time
Of peace and war should be free while
traverslug the waterway from capture
detention. or blockade, &c. So far as