Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-04
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
Overtnres for Convention to Effect Its
Building by the United States.


AS an incident of the brief revolution
In the Mosquito district Of Nicaragua.
early in 1899, the insurgents forcibly
collected from American merchants du-
Ties upon imports. On the restoration
OF order the Nicaraguan authorities
demanded a second payment of such du-
nes on the ground that they were due
10 the titular government and that
their diversion had aided the revolt
This position was not accepted by us.
After prolonged discussion a compro-
mise was effected under which the
amount of the second payments was
deposited with the British consul at
San Juan del Norte in trust until the
Two governments should determine
whether the first payments had been
made under compulsion to de facto
authority. Agreement as to this was
not reached, and the point was waived
by the act Of the Nicaraguan govern
ment in requesting the British consul
to return the deposits to the merchants
Menacing differences between sever
al OF the Central American states have
peen accommodated, our ministers rem
dering good offices toward an under
standing.
The all-important matter of an inter-
oceanic canal has assumed a new phase
Adhering to it's refusal to reopen the
question of the forfeiture of the con-
'iaSe VI tHe maritime Sdnal company,
which was terminated for alleged non
execution in October, 1899, the govern
ment of Nicaragua has since supple
mented that action by declaring the So
styled Eyre-Cramin option void for
non-payment of the stipulated advance
Protests in relations to these acts have
been filed in the state department and
are under consideration Deemine it.
self relieved from existing engage
ments, the Nicaraguan government
shows disposition to deal freely with
the canal question either in the way of
negotiations with the United States or
by taking measures to promote the wa
terway.
Overtures for a convention to effect
the building of a canal under the aus
pices of the United States are under
consideration. In the meantime the
views of the congress upon the general
subject, in the light of the report of
the commission appointed to examine
the comparative merits Of the various
trans-isthmian ship canal projects may
be awaited.
+ commend to the early attention OF
the senate the convention with Great
Britain to facilitate the construction of
such canal and to remove any obiec-
ton which might arise out Of the con-
yention commonly called the Clayton
Bulwer treaty.
The long standing contention with
Portugal. growing out of the seizure of
the Delagoa Bay railway, has been at
last determined by a favora BILE award
Of the tribunal of arbitration at Berne
to which it was submitted The amount
OF the award whict was deposited in
London awaiting arrangements by the
gov >rnments Of the United States and
Great Britain for it's disposal, has re-
Gently been paid over to the two gov
ernments.
A lately signed convention of extradi-
tion with Peru as amended by the SEN
ate, has been ratified by the Peruvian
congress.
Another illustration of the policy of
this government to refer international
disputes to impartial arbitration is
seen in the agreement reached with
Russia to submit the claims on behalf
OF American sealing vessels seized in
Boring sea to determination by Mr.. r.
NJ. @. Asser, distinguished statesman
and jurist of the Netherlands.
Thanks are due to the imperial Rus
sian government for kindly aid rem
Sered by its authorities in eastern 81.