Evening star., 1902-03-06
ATTEMPTED HOLD UP,
Action Of Nicaragua and Costa
RIGA Governments.
EFFECT ON CANAL
DIPLOMATIC INITIATION GIVEN
BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
Gossip on the Matter by Friends Of
Both Routes in Con-
gress.
EFFECT ON CANAL

The announcement that the governments
of Nicaragua and Costa Rica have declared
that their understanding with the United
States as to the terms on which they would
agree to the building of a canal through
/ their territory has ceased to be in force is
generally regarded as an attempt to hold
up this government at critical moment
in the canal proceedings. 1t is understood
that the administration in very diplomatic
language has already given Nicaragua and
Costa Rica to understand that this is the
only rational explanation of their conduct
that is possible. 1t is not believed that
any serious complication can arise from
this hitch in the relations between these
governments, for many reasons. There is
no intention on the part of men who have
the canal matter in control and who favor
the building Of the proposed interoceanic
waterway through Nicaragua to counte-
nance any unreasonable demand on the part
of the Central American governments. 1t
is well known that at the present time the
only source of funds for the building of the
canal through Nicaragua is the United
States government, and no serious PROPOSE
ton to construct a cana! there is under con-
sideration by any private corporation. NO
possible reason can be OWNED for this at
titude on the part of the Central American
governments. except vague hope that
United States by taking this course.
Gossip on Both Sides.
While the friends Of the Nicaragua canal
project are quite confident that Congress
will decide upon that route in preference to
any undertaking at Panama, yet they do
not fail to show chagrin that at so critical
a time as the present these Central Ameri-
can governments should do anything 70
xan ctr np.h nftH HefY fyo
rying out their desire to locate the cana!
along this most northern route. Ne mhers
OF the Senate committee on interoceanlc
canals do not care to discuss this matter
for publcat tion, as it involves the relations
of this government with the governments of
Nicaragua and Costa Rca, but they Will
not tolerate for an instant any attempt to
gain an undue advantage in this transac-
tton by the governments that control the
canal route. The advocates of the Pana-
ma route are very we'll pleased with the
announced attitude of the governments that
control the opposition project and ara look
ing for it to develop to such an extent that
it will cause sufficient of a hitch to allow
them to make the claim before the Senate
that there is as much likelihood of delay
by building the canal on one route as on the
other. One of the greatest obstacles to
building a canal along the Panama route is
the fact that the title Of the canal is SO in
volved that it is believed by many that it
would take years to straighten it out and to
ma as would warrant it in beginning
work.
OF course there are engineering difficult
ties that are urged against the Panama
route, but in view of the report of the 18TH
mian commission these difficulties are not
regarded so serious an obstacle as are
the difficulties in getting title. In view Of
these circumstances it is believed by adVo-
Gates CT the Nicaraguan route that both
Nicaragua and Costa Rica will very shortly
see that 1t is weakening their own cause
and make an announcement of such a ma
| ture that will satisfy every one IN Congress
that it will not seek to place obstacles n
the way of anything that this government
undertakes looking to the building OF a
canal there
No Committee Meeting Today.
There was no meeting OF the Senate COM
mittee on interoceanic canals this morning
no witnesses being on hand to be heard 1t
is expected that tomorrow some represent
ative of the Maritime Canal Company will
be here from New York In order to testify
concerning matters that the committee has
not completely covered. 1t is expected that
Mr. Thomas 3. Atkins who for very many
years has studied the question Of the prob
able traffic that would come to the Nicara-
qua or Panama canal, will be here and go
before the committee. The committee has
not yet been able to secure entirely SatiS-
factory data concerning the exact differ
ence between the two routes in attracting
traffic and In relation to the advantages of
the more northern route in carrying freight
between the eastern and the western coasts
Of the United States. 1t is well known that
the Nicaraguan route by it's more northern
location will save several hundred miles in
the voyage between New York and San
Francisco. and that 1t will allow very per-
ceptible advantage in the way of saving Of
time, but the degree of this advantage has
not been as fully proven as it might be de-
sirable to have done in order that the COM
| mittee may present the matter in the most
| satisfactory form to the Senate Mr.. At
kins Is regarded as an extremely reliable
authority on this subject and it is believed
that when he comes before the committee
he will present such figures as will prove
highly satisfactory to the advocates of
the Nicaraguan route. He has always been
connected with the project for a canal
through Nicaragua. and his preference will
be shown for that route.