The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-02
CLAIMS IT'S RIGHTS
Costa RIGA Wants in on That
Canal Deak
LONG EFFORTS RECALLED
Gifted Mr. BaiIIy Was the
First to Take Action.
LONG EFFORTS RECALLED

Washington, Jan 1.-The Costa Rican
minister. Sesor CaIvo, said today in the
course Of a general talk on Nicaraguan
canal affairs, that one of the most sat
isfactory features Of the extended ne
gotauons so far as Costa Rica was con-
cerned was the universal acceptance Of
that counry's substantial rights and in
terests 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 contro-
versy, it being claimed that Costa Rica
had no sovereign territorial rights over
any portion Of the route and that at
most her interests could be satisfied by
compensation. This brought about the
use Of the name Nicaragua canal"
which seems to leave out Of account the
rights which Costa Rica has in the water
way. The minister points out that the
period Of controversy now has been sat
isfactorily closed and that there appears
to be no disposition in any quarter to
question Costa Ricas 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 has been strongly
favorable TO the project and Invariably
had been recognized as a necessary party
to the undertaking. 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 negotiated for a canal concession. It |
was not know at the time, but has since |
become well established. that NJ. Bainy /
was executing a part of the plans of
Napoleon III to gain a foothoId in Mexi-
co and Central America, and to control
the great common coal waterway across
the isthmus. A concession was granted
three parties signing it jointly. NJ. Baillv
and the governments Of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica. This clearly indicated the
recognized interests Of Costa Rica in the
c. NAL No work was done on the con-
cea sion, however, as it laDsed. Later an
other Frenchman, NJ Chavelier. nego
hattd a second French concession. also
believed to be in the interests Of the
Erenoh plans concerning Mexico and Cen
trail America. This concession also
lapsed for want of work being done and
also through the termination of tbe
French pr ojects in that part Of the world
The question of Costa Rica's rights first
came up after the early concessions had
apsed and for thirteen years there was
much negOua tons and controversy over
the border line and the effect this would
nave upon the canal The treaty of lin
It's had defined the boundary but the ac-
-ual lying out Of lines never occurred
and this gave rise to the controversy
Maritime Canal company Nicaragua was
-he first to grant the concession. Later
however, the interests Of Costa Rica. in
-he waterway were recognized by the
anal authorities and a second concession
was granted by Costa Rica- There have
been several arbitrahons on the bound
ary question, first by President Cleveland
rs the treaty Of limits, and more recently
by an American engineer designated bv
his government to actually lay out the
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 R.ca's
erritorial Sovereign rights in connection
With the waterway. Since then all of {
he negotiations have recognized the in
erests of both governments along the
anal route. and Costa Rica is no longer
n the position Of contendiRg for an in +
crest which is not generally conceded by
III parties concerned I
Mr.. Calvo has not heard from his gov a
eminent since the report Of the Isthmian c
anal commission was made public. The t
fhcials and the public generally in Costa '
Rca are deeply interested in the fate of r
he project for it means much to their G
uture development and the use of Costa I
acan labor and products during the /
eriod of construction. The minister does 2
lot wish TO discuss the Hay-PauncefotA c
realty while it IS an open question be- b
ween the United States and Great Brit e
IN He says, however. that he does not
hare in the statements made that the in
crest Of Nicaragua and Costa Rica were
verloolled during the discussion of the
realty. On the contrary, he regards this
rea & ~ properly one concerning the re-
atoms of the United States and Great
britain and not concerning their rela-
Ions with Nicaragua and Costa Rica. so
hat it IS natural that the discussion
hould have centered two parties to the
layton-Bulwer treaty, and later the
treaty