The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-02
COSTA RICA'S RIGHTS
INTEREST OF THE REPUBLIC IN THE
PROPOSED IsTHMIAN CANAL.
Minister CaIvo Says IL Has Not Been
Overlooked or Ignored--rhe First
Concession Granted.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 1.-The Costa Rican
minister, Senior Calvo. said to-day. in tie
course OF general talk on Nicaraguan
canal affairs. that one of the most salts
factory features of the extended negotia-
tions, so far as Costa Rica was concerned.
was the universal acceptance of that coun-
try's substantial rights and interests IN
the isthmian waterway. There never has
been any doubt of these rights on the part
of Costa Rica- For many years they were
brought into controversy, ii being claimed
that Costa Rica had no sovereign territor-
ial rights over any portion of the route.
and that at most her interests could bc
satisfied by compensation. This brought
about the use of the name "Nicaraguan
canal" which seems to leave out of ac-
count the rights which Costa Rica has in
the waterway The minister pointed out
that the period of controversy now mas
been satisfactorily closed and that there
appears TO be no disposition In any quarter
to question Costa Rica's rights Ia the canal
route.
In this connection Mr.. Calvo recalled the
long efforts toward building the canal.
dating back TO 1855. in all of which Costa
Rlca had been strongly favorable 10 the
project and invariably had been recognized
as a necessary party TO the undertaking.
After the treaty of limits was signed, FIX
ing the boundary between Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, gifted Frenchman, named
Felix Bailly, made his appearance In Gen.
tral America and negotiated for a canal
concession 1t was not known at the time.
but has since become well established that
NJ. Ballly was executing a part of the plans
OF Napoleon III TO gain a f0othold IN Mex
leo and Central America and 10 control the
great commercial waterway across the
isthmus. A concession was granted three
parties signing II Jointly-M. Baily and the
governments OF Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
This clearly indicated the recognized in
terests Of Costa Rica in the canal. No
work was done on the concession, however,
and IL lapsed Later another Frenchman,
M Chavaiier, negotiated second French
concession. also believed TO be in the in
terests OF the French plans concerning
Mexico and Central America. This conces-
sion also lapsed for want Of work being
done. and also through the termination
OF the French projects in that part of the
world.
The question of Costa Ricas rights first
came up after the early concessions had
lapsed, and for thirteen years there was
much negotiation and controversy after the
border line and the effect this would have
upon the canal. The treaty of limits had
defined the boundary. but the actual lay
Ing out or lines never had occurred. and
this gave rise TO the controversy When
the concession was granted TO the Maritime
Canal Company, Nicaragua was the first
to grant the concession. Later the inter-
recognized by the canal authorities, and a
fsecond concession was granted by Costa
Rica- There have been several arbitra-
lions on the boundary quAtion, first by
President Cleveland, as TO the treaty OF
limits, and more recently by an American
engineer. designated by this government,
to actually lay out the boundary lines
The line finally was agreed 10 and run last
July, and as now marked on the official
survey IL leaves no further room for doubt
of Costa Rica's territorial and sovereign
rights In connection with the waterway
Since then all or the negotiations have
recognized the interests Of both the gov
ernments along the canal route. and Costa
Rica is no longer in the position of con-
tending for an interest which is not gen.
orally conceded by all parties concerned
Mr. Calyo has not heard from his gov
eminent since the report OF the isthmian
canal commission was made public, The
officials and public in Costa Rica generally
are deeply interested In the project for
IL means much 10 their future develop
ment and the use of Costa Rican labor and
products during the period OF construction
The minister does not wish 10 discuss the
Hay-P auncefote treaty while IL is an open
question between the United States and
Great Britain. He says however, that
he does not share in the statements made
that the interests OF Nicaragua and Costa
Rica were overlooked during the discus
sion of the treaty. On the contrary. he
REGARDS this treaty properly one con-
corning the relations Of the United States
and Great Britain, and not concerning their
relations with Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
so that II is natural that the discussion
should have centered upon the mutual in
terests of the first two parties TO the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty, and later 10 the Hay
Pauncefote treaty.