The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-05
UpSETS THE TREATY
NICARAGUA DENoUNcEs THE
 IsTHMIAN PACT oF '67.
Startling Communication Thought to Be Inspired from Europe-Docu- ment Appears to Presage Re-
 fusal to Renew old
 Agreement

Washington Special to Chicago Chronicle.
 The State Department today made pub lie an extraordinary communication from the Government of Nicaragua denouncing the treaty of 1867 under the terms of which the United States were empowered to construct an interoceanic canal across the territory of Nicaragua
 The letter was received at the depart ment from the hands of the Nicaraguan Minister on October 24 with diplomatic assurances that it was not meant to af- feet the friendly relations between the two countries It was withheld from the public until today and in giving 1t out the department carefully refrained from attempting to explain its meaning. Hays Silence is Portentous.
 Secretary Hay and his assistants re- fuse positively to state whether the de- nouncement means that Nicaragua Is pro pairing to decline to renew the treaty af- ter its expiration on Oct. 24. 1902, and thus put in the way of this Government an obstacle to the fulfllment of a national plan to construct an interoceanic canal, which may precipitate unfortunate com plications. The Nicaraguan Minister, Don Luis F. Corea, assures the department that his Government desires the conclu- sion of new treaties, but in some quar- ters this Is regarded as a diplomatic fic- tion, which will not be hard to discover when the Secretary of State attempts to open negotiations for a renewal of the treaty.
 A story is current today that Nicaragua was persuaded to denounce the treaty of 1867, through the influence of some Eu- ropean power which Is jealous of the i'm dependent spirit with which this Govern ment has forced Great Britain to put aside the Clayton Bulwer treaty and submit to the dictum of the Senate that the proposed canal shall be an American water way and that the United States shall reserve the right to police 1t in time of peace and fortify it in time of war.
 Germany May Be a Foe.
 It has been apparent to Washington for a long time that Germany has been dis posed to regard the Monroe doctrine with more or less contempt, and. while not at- tempting to openly violate it's provisions has engaged in questionable enterprises which, If carried to fulfllment, would pro- yoke much diplomatic correspondence at least. Whether Germany is enough in- terested in the isthmian water way to in- terfere with American plans Is purely problematicai. At the State Department 1t Is that she Is not.
 On the other hand, Great Britain is in- terested. She has been forced into a very humiliating position and the hum ble manner In which the Salisbury minis try has submitted to the hard terms dic- tated by the Senate after having first de- clared that if the Hay-Pauncefote treaty was not accepted the Clayton Bulwer pact would continue in force as the only diplomatic agreement concerning the con- struction and control of the canal Is causing suspicion that British influence hnffnpn 0f ko the treaty of 1887 by Nicaragua
 Salisbury Has Private Plans. That That sort of diplomacy is peculiarly 6rltlsn By appearing to accept the Senate's terms and agreeing to the ab- rogation of the Clayton Bulwer treaty salisbury caused mum rejoicing in cer- tam o1nc1al circles in Washington and at the same time lulled all suspicion as to the unknown purposes of his Govern ment
 u It will be recalled that Nicaragua and costa Rica, the two countries through must pass. sent diplomatic inducements or the Hay-Pauncefote treaty to Wash ington Secretary Hay was charged at the time with having sought these in- dorsements for the purpose of bolster ing his much criticised treaty. In any event, Nicaragua is on record as having given her official sanction to the treaty. Undoubtedly. British influence had as
 
 ment as Secretary Hay had. Indeed, there has always been a suspicion in the minds of some Senators that Lord Pauncefote obtained 1t for Hay through Of the Secretary of State. British in- fuence has always been stronger in Nic- aragua than American influence.
 Amounts to a Termination.
 The effect of the Announcement of the treaty of 1867 is to cause it to expire Nicaraguan Government practically serves notice that it will not enter into any protocol for a continuance of its provisions after that date. Therefore, if rights and privileges which they now enjoy on the isthmus they will have to enter into new treaty obligation with Nicaragua.
 If 1t is true: as suspected that Great Britain Is behind the Announcement just made public 1t will probably be found to be true that Nicaragua Is prepared to enforce terms on the United States which this Government will not accept. The little isthmian republic has evinced a disposition in the past to act in bad faith. For more than a year Washing ton has heard great deal about the terms which 1t was preparing to demand as quid pro quo for the concessions which she would give to this Government.
 Costa Rica Will Follow.
 
 ency of Nicaragua, although maintain ing an independent government. She can be depended upon to do anything Nicaragua demands of her.
 Tho silence of the State Department the attitude of Nicaragua Is regarded as significant. Undoubtedly MT. Hay has views about the episode and It's meaning; Nicaragua long ago came to the conclusion that the anxiety of considerable element In the United States to construct the isthmian canal meant that she could impose better terms than are guaranteed in the treaty of 1867. It Is believed that Great Britain has taken advantage of the state of public opinion in Nicaragua to accomplish a coup. which she believes, if t is properly managed. will eventually enable her to dictate better terms than those which she accepted from the United States Senate.
 The lrost alarming possibility of the situation Is that Great Britain and per- haps c Germanv have bound themselves