The sun., 1901-01-02
'ISTHNIAN WATERWAY.
Senior Calvo on the Rights and Inter-
ests Of Costa Rica.
HISTORY OF CANAL EFFORTS
Minister Declines to Discuss the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty While 1t Is an
Open Question Between
us and England.

Washington, Jan. 1.-The Costa Rican
minister, Senior Calvo, said in the course
Of general talk on Nicaragua canal
affairs that one of the most satisfactory
features of the extended negotiations so
tar 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, but for many years
they were brought into controversy, it
being claimed that Costa Rica had no
sovereign territorial rights over any por-
tion OF the route and that at most her
interests could be satisfied by compensa-
tion. This brought about the use of the
name "Nicaraguan canal" which seems
to leave out of account the rights which
Costa Rica has i'll the waterway. The
minister points out that the period of
controversy has now been satisfactorily
closed and that there appears TO be NO
disposition in any quarter to question
Costa Rica's rights in the canal route.
In this connection Mr.. Calvo recalled
the long efforts toward building the canal,
dating back to 1858, in all of which Costa
Rica had been strongly favorable to the
pIOJeCt ullu lhNdTldDly ndu Deeu TecOS-
nized as a necessary party to the UNDER
taking. After the treaty of limits was
signed, fixing the boundary between
Nicaragua and Costa Rica, gifted
Frenchman named Felix Bailly made his
appearance in Central America and nego-
tiated for canal concession. 1t was not
known at the time. but has since become
well established, that Mr.. Bailly was ex-
ecuting part of the plans Of Napoleon
Ill. to gain foothold in Mexico and Cen
trail America and to control the great COM
mercial waterway across the isthmus.
A concession was granted, three parties
signing it jointly-M. Bailly and the gov
ernments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
This clearly Indicated the recognized in
tcrests of Costa Rica in the canal No
work was done on the concession, how
ever, and it lapsed. Later on another
Frenchman, Nj. Chevaler, negotiated a
second French concession, also believed
to be in the interests of the French plans
concerning Mexico and Central Amer
lea This concession also lapsed for want
of work being done. and also through the
termination of the French projects in
that part of the world.
Costa Rica's Position.
The question of Costa Rica's rights
first came up after the early concessions
had lapsed, and for 13 years there was
much negotiation and controversy over
the border line and the effect this would
have upon the canal The treaty Of linz
its had defined the boundary. Init the
actual laying ont of lines never had occur
red, 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,
however, the interest of Costa Rica in
the waterway was recognized by tho e;l-
nal authorities, and second concess on
was granted by Costa ltica There have
been several arbitrations on the boundary
question, first by President Cleveland as
TO the treaty of limits and more recently
by an American engineer designated by
this government to actually lay ont thn
boundary lines. The line finally was
agreed to and run last July, and as now
marked on the official surveys it leaves
10 further room for doubt of Costa
Rica's territorial and sovereign rights in
connection with the waterway. Since
then all of the negotiations have rcebg-
nized the interests of both the govern
nents along the canal route. and Costa
Rica is no longer i'll the position of con
tending for an interest which is not gen
orally conceded by all parties concerned.
Mr.. Calvo has not heard from his gov
ernment since the report Of the isthmi IN
canal commission was made public. Tie
officials and the public generally iii
Costa Rica are deeply interested in tic
fate of the project, for it means much 10
their future development and the use Of
Costa Rican labor and products during
the period Of construction. The minister
does not wish to discuss the Hay-Paunte,
fote treaty while it is an open question
between the United States and Great
Britain. He says. however, that he does
not share in the statement made that The
interests of Nicaragua and Costa Rica
We're overlooked during the discussion OF
the treaty. On the contrary. he regards
this treaty as properly one concerning
the relations of the United States and
Great Britain and not concerning thnil
relations with Nicaragua and Costa Rita
so that it is natural that the discussion
should have centered upon the mutua
interests of the first two parties to tlIe
Clayton -Bnlwer treaty and later the Hay
pauncefote treaty.