The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-23
NICARAGUA RIPE.
Ready to Be Plucked by the
United States.
Strong Sentiment FavOring An
nexatiOn Prevails.
AFRAID TO ASK TT.
Political Situation Holds Back
Her Statesmen.
Think Proposition Should Em-
anate From Washington.

Chicago Feb. 23.-Discussing the
pending Nicaragua canal treaty, L. E.
Cooley, the well known engineer, said
today that perhaps the easiest way out
of the confusion would be for the Uni
ted States to annex Nicaragua. Not
long ago Mr.. Cooley visited Nicaragua
as a member of a contracting syndf-
cate to investigate the feasibility of the
Nicaragua canal route. During his stay
he talked with all the high officials of
the Nicaraguan government. Abiding
to his observations in Nicaragua he
said:
THE impression I acquired while in
Nicaragua was that the people of all
classes, including the highest officials.
were ready and anxious for annexation
to the United States. 1t might be asked
If such is the condition of public sem
t1ment in Nicaragua why it is that the
country does not propose annexation to
the United States. 1 asked this ques-
tion of a high official of the Nicaraguan
government and was answered that
there were SO many rivalries and con-
hlcting political interests that if the ad-
herent OF any one faction proposed an
nexaticn all the other elements would
imm ediately pounce on him and try to
make it appear that he was trying to
sell the country out. Any proposal by
an officer of the Nicaraguan govern
ment looking toward annexation to the
United States would probably be util-
lied TO begin a revolution.
"A high official of the Nicaraguan
government asked me what the gov
ernment of the United States would
ask in the matter of a right of way
1 told him that we would expect to
have a right of way under United
States control. He remarked that he
believed the proposition to annex the en-
tire country of Nicaragua would not be
unpopular and that it would be accepted
as readily as the proposition to Ameri-
canize a small portion of the country
through which the canal might pass. !.
1.-The same high official whom have
quoted above asked me what kind OF
labor would be brought into Nicaragua
to construct thereanal. told him THAI
undoubtedly any treaty that would be
made with the United States in regard
to the matter would be observed, and
thatsI had no reason to believe that the
government of the United States would
be inSiStent about the introduction or
any particular kind of labor, especially
If it was against the accepted policy Of
the Nicaraguan government. / said in
addition that the chances were that TO-,
600 white laborerS would come into the
country to build the canal and if they
that together they would Americanize
the country if the Nicaraguans were
not careful. To this the rejoinder was
that such a tendency would be weIcom-
ed by all the people, as it is recognized
that such an infusion Of Americans into
Nicaraguan politics would insure inn
munity from revolutions.
4 took measures to confirm the state
ment made by the official with whom I
conversed and found that he had in no
degree Over-estimated the sentiment
among the people. I was also convinced
that to be popular the proposition of
annexation should emanate from the
United States government and not from
any Nicaraguan official"