The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-24
NEW Annexation SCHEME.
SAID THAT NICARAGUA WOULD
LIKE TO he TAKEN IN.
Engineer Cooley Says That People
and oficIsIs There Would We'll
come the Proposition From the
United states. but Cannot Make lt.

CHICAGO. Feb. 3 Discussing the pend
ing Nicaragua canal treaty. l. c. Cooley.
the well known engineer. said today that
perhaps the easiest way out Of the con-
fusion would be for the United States 20
annex Nicaragua. Not long ago Mr..
Cooley visited Nicaragua, as a member OF
a contracting syndicate, TO Investigate tho
feasibility % the Nicaragua canal route.
During his stay he talked with all The
high officials OF the Nicaraguan govern
ment Abiding 20 hts observations Ia
Nicaragua, he said
''rhe impression acquired while In
Nicaragua was that the people ~ an
classes, including the highest officials, were
ready and anxious for Annexation 90 tho
United States. IL might be asked, If such
Il the condition OF puh,ic sentiment IN
Nicaragua why Il is that the country does
not propose annexation 20 the United
states. ! asked This question OF high Of
ficial OF the Niearaguan government ana
was answered that there were 40 many
rivalrfes and conflicting political interests
that II the aaherent OF any enc faction
proposed aBncxation. all the other elements
would Immediately pounce on him and try
20 make Il appear that he was trying to
eel the country out, Any proposal by an
official OF the Nicaraguan government,
looking toward annexation 20 the United
states, would probably be utilized 10 begin
revolution,
"A high otllcial Of the Ntearsguan gov
eminent asked me what the government
OF the United States would expect IN the
way OF right OF way I told him that
we would expect to have a right 81 way
under United states control He remarked
thai ne believed : psoporition 20 annex tho
entire country Of Nicaragua would not be
unpopular, and that IL would be accepted
as readily as the proposition 20 Americana
iEe small portion Of the country through
which the canal might pass
The same high official, whom I have
quoted above. asked mo what kind Of labor
would be brought into Nicaragua To con-
situct the canal. | told him that, un-
doubtedly, any treaty that would ho matia
with the United States In regari 20 tho
no reason 10 believe that the government
OF the United States would he insist.nt
about the Introduction of any particular
Kind o. labor especially II II was against
the accepted policy Of the NirAraguan gov-
eminent. | said. IN addition. that tho
chances were that 1000 white lahorers
would come into the country 10 build the
canal and, II they remained here would
bring others. ana that together they would
aguans were not careful To this the re-
toinder was that such a tendency would he
welcomed by all the people. as II IL rccog-
nised that such an infusion Of Americans
into Ntcnraguan politics would insure ffn-
munity from revolutions.
II took measures to confirm shs state
ment made by the official with whom con-
I versed, and found that h. had IN no 40.
! gree overestimated tho sentiment among
! be popular. the proposition or annexation
! should Cmanate from the Unitea states
| government and not from any Ntcaraguan
| official"