The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-24
ALLEGED CANAL LEAGUE
Nicaragua. Costa Rica. and Eng
land Said TO Have United.
The Reported Purpose TO Force
America to Either adopt a NeutraI
Waterway or Abandon the Project.
MuddIe said 40 Have Been Brought
About by the Panama Agents.

The latest development in the Isthmian
Canal situation is an alleged attempt at
q league between Nicaragua, Costa Riea.
Great Britain and The Panama Canal
Company, with the motive of forcing the
neutrality of the projected waterway on
the cDited States, and the hope, on the
part Of the Panama lobby. that this Got-
ernment viii be made to see the futility
of constructing a neutral canal when the
Colombian ditch Is nearly completed
These statements are made on the All
thority of prominent Senator who is a
member of the Committee on Inter-
Oceanic Canals and who has as3s-ccys ia
yored the Nicaragua route and an all
American waterway. He was somewhat
indignant this morning over new develop
ment which he claims to have discov-
cred, and stated that every third man in
the corridors On the Senate side of the
Capitol was in the employ OF the Panama
Company. The galleries are filed with
lobbyists in place OF spectators" said ne,
and these people will kill the Nicaragua
measure if given leeway.''
According 10 this Senator. the recent re-
fusal of Costa Riea and Nicaragua to con-
slider themselves bound by the protocol
signed by them, vas originally prompted
by the Panama Canal agents.
Il have talked with both Minister Caiyo
and Minister coFea," said he, in an en-
deavor TO get at the bottom OF this Jangle.
and, from what ! learned. | am assured
that the Panama lobby is behind the whole
scheme I admit that the Secretary Of
State was UuTise il so wording the pToto-
col as to make it void in the event Of any
Senate amendment being attached to the
Hay -Padncefote Treaty in the hope that
the construction OF the vague clause in the
protocol would not be noticed. But the
sharp legal counsel attached TO the lobby
soon discovered the srI or
a statement was theE made to Messrs.
Galyo and Corea, setting forth the fact
that by the amendments TO the treaty the
United States had made the protocol null
and void. as the latter specified that the
treaty must be adopted as signe,i by Secrs-
tary Hay and Lord Pauncefofe Mr. Hays
idea in this was probably TO show the us.-
leSsness OF the Senste's changing or
amending the compact Il was tiIen shown
10 the representatives Of Cossa Rica and
Nicaragua that the United States had no
idea of constructing q neutral canal and
furthermore proposed TO erect foTJhe2-
tons at eifaer entrance. thus establishing
q sovereignty over both republics.
1T was further proposed that both
Governments protest against tie treaty
as sdopte1 since the amendments were a
breach of faith, both Governments being
IN favor of a neutral canal and opposed
10 fortihcations It was intimated that
Great Britain would back any objections
raised. and it was further pointed out
that since Colombia was completing a
neutral fanal. without Qualifications. d
protest from Costa Rica and Nicaragua
would force the United States into line
Now these matters might never have
been made public save that the interests
OF the Panama people and the two re-
publicS are anything but identical
Nicaragua and Costa Riea want wat
erway, but they desire an unfertiaed
canal, and one that viii remain neutral
They realize that Colombia is striving 10
have the Panama ditch completed This
viii be neutral canal, and. IN the event
OF the United States deciding in favor
OF the Panama route. both Costa Rica
and Nicaragua would be left outside For
this reason 5he republics are somewhat
diplomatic in protesting against the
amended treaty. but one word from Greas
Britain would decide the question, so far
as they are concerned.
Whether they viii get this or not I
do not know, but they arc waiting. In
the event of the Panama lobby again
meeting defeat IN this coup I have no
doubt that il has other cards sup its
sleeve and VIII spend millions TO play
them.
AS matters look now, 1 fear that we
cannot get any canal legislation at this
session"
VI. Hutin, President of the Panama
Canal Company, has left the Arlington
during the Christmas recess and is in New
York. He viii return on January J. and
is quoted as having said that if his COM
pany vas not successful in getting the
United States to take the Panama ditch.
ii would be satisfied in defeating the
Nicaragua measure.