Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-09-07
CANAL SEEMS ASSURED.
Nicaragua and Costa Rica to
Enter Into Treaties.
10 DECLARES MINISTER OALVO.
The Two Isthmian Republics In
Harmony on the Question OF the
United States Construction and
Operation of the Great waterway.

United States Construction and
Operation of the Great waterway.
New York, Sept THE Tribune this
morning has the following from its
Washington correspondent:
The governments of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica will, as soon as the senate
has passed the canal bill now pending
in that body and which has already pass
ed the house, negotiate the necessary
treaties that will enable this govern
ment to construct the isthmian canal
through the territory of the two repub-
lies. This government has not been of
hcially informed that the government of
Nicaragua has forfeited the concession
granted to the Cragin-Eyre syndicate,
but unotlicialy that information is in
possession of the state department. Min
lster Calvo, representing the Costa Rican
government in Washington. knows this
concession has been forfeited and is CON
vinced that Nicaragua has endeavored
to clear the way for negotiations with
this government that will result in the
construction of the canal by the United
states at the earliest possible day.
Concessions Out of the Way.
''The Maritime company's concession,
which expired by limitation on Oct. o,
1899, was followed by the immediate
operation of the concession granted to
the Cragin-Eyre people. Under that con-
cession the proposed new company was
required to organize within six months
from the date named and within four
months from the date of the organization
of the company to pay to the govern
ment of Nicaragua 100000. that being
the balance due on the bonus of $500
200 which was agreed to be paid for the
concession. Under the most extreme
limit of time that amount of money came
due on Aug. 10 last. 1t was not paid.
and on the very next day the Nicaraguan
government, acting under the forfeiture
clause of the contract with the company,
.orfeited the contract and declared the
contract to be null and void This ac
ion wipes out all private concessions
granted by Nicaragua and leaves the
way clear for any future action she may
desire to take. The department is CON
vnced that Nicaragua now believes that
the canal can only be constructed by the
United States and that the granting OF
private concessions only postpones active
prosecution of this great work.
Two Republics In Harmony.
Nicaragua and Costa Rica are work
lng together in harmony. Fortunately,
The boundary dispute between these two
countries has been amicably settled. and
the utmost good feeling exists between
them. President Zelaya of Nicaragua is
preparing for u visit to Costa Rica. 1t
will be an official visit and will celebrate
The settlement of all troubles between
the two countries. During that visit the
canal question will be discussed and a
plan will be agreed upon that will be
satisfactory to both countries. All this is
to be arranged before the American con-
gress meets, so that when the state de-
partment begins negotiations for n treaty
there will be no delay in coming to terms
on that proposition.
'Senor Calvo said in discussing this
question. that he did not believe any
treaty could be negotiated so long as leg
lslation has not been enacted authorizing
the construction of the canal by this gov
ernment and affording assurances to Nj
caragua and Costa Rica that if the treaty
Is negotiated the canal will be built If
the senate at the coming session does
pass the canal bill, then, Minister Calvo
says, there will be no trouble in nego-
tiating a treaty in short order that will
receive the approval of the United States
Rica and Nicaragua.
Minister Calvo says that his govern
ment stands ready to enter into canal
compact with the United States. and he
has informed the officials that Nicaragua
also is prepared to do anything that may
be required to give this government
clear title, so far as territory is concern
ed, in the matter of canal construction.
1T is not admitted either by the depart
ment or by the ministers that negotiations
are now under way, but it is believed
that treaty is now being considered, 50
that the preliminaries will be out of the
way by the time the senate has passed
the canal bill, and the president can
transmit to the senate II convention that
may be ratified before March t. thereby
avoiding the long wait between the ex-
piration of one congress and the assem-
bling of another. The construction of the
canal by the United States government is