The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-01-04
NICARAGUA AND
THE OPEN DOOR
Shipping Illustrated Sees COnnec-
ton Between Zelaya lncident~
and Oriental Question.

ohipplhH ihustIdNSu, HluTlIiInc
journal, traces connection between
American Intervention in Nicaragua
and the trouble so many think threat
ening in the Orient. From Japan to
Nicaragua appears far cry, but the
Shipping Illustrated points out why, in
its opinion, Japan and Great Britain
have their eyes upon the Niearaguan
canal route and supposes a desire on
the part of those maritime powers to
have an Atlantic.Pacifc canal indie
pendent of the one America is digging
across Panama.
1t will be remembered that for some
time it was a question whether Panama
or Nicaragua would be selected by the
government, both having strong advo-
Gates in America. The Nlcaraguan
project was started in 1890 and work
was carried on until 1899 by n British
syndicate, which abandoned the work
when the American government decid-
ed to complete the work begun by the
French at Panama.
The Isthmian trade has developed
to such an extent, however, that there
has been a revival of the Nicaraguan
talk. The Tehuantepec railroad has
done an amount of business far sur
passing expectations and it is seen now
that any transisthmian route for trade
will receive patronage. Shipping Illus
trated says, in part:
"The difficulties and delays and I'M
anticipated expense in connection with
the Panama Canal have, moreover, led
to such doubts as to its successful &C.
complishment that fresh Investigations
have since been made of the Nicaragua
route looking once more to its success
full exploitation, whether by English
or other capital. This was the condition
when the latest revolution in Nicara-
qua broke out and it seems to have
been recognized by some eminent Amer
leans as well as by men of other ma
tons, conversant with canal possibili-
ties, that the result of the revolution
might have a bearing upon canal pos
sibilities. 1t was not unnatural, in
view of her well-manifested enterprise
in maritime affairs, to suspect Japan
of having an eye to the chance Of a
canal, such as that across Nicaragua,
which would not be controlled by the
United States, and this suspicion was
the more possible of being entertained
when it was remembered that Japan
had close treaty of friendship with
Great Britain.
| Under these circumstances and the
principles of the Monroe doctrine, it
| follows as matter of. course that,
while much public attention may not be
ostentatiously paid by other nations to
the present expedition of American
, forces to Nicaragua, the movements and
results of this expedition are being as
| closely, if not more closely, watched
abroad as at home. 1t is of interest to
note that American railroads are said
| to have been the chief benefciaries of
the japanese transpacific enterprise
stimulated by her lavish shipping ssb.
| sides in recent years, and it is evident
that if she had a Nicaragua canal at
her disposal, operated with the same
paternal care in favor of her own mer.
chant marine as has been the manifest
wish of the Japanese government in
other lines, Japanese steamers would
speedily find their way to the Atlantic
in increasing fleets. If only they were
permitted to do so, in fact, there seems
little doubt that the japanese could be
easily persuaded by British interests to
not only gladly construct the Nicaragua
Canal, which they could perhaps do
more cheaply with their own labor than
any other nation, but would monopolize
its transit facilities to the exclusion of
competitors.
These are things not talked about
in the japanese press, because the
| PATRIOTISM of the people forbid the
arousing of suspicion in matter of
such moment and of such importance
to other nations as to merit their re.
sentiment, but special advices TO Ship.
| ping illustrated have intimated the
possibilities herein outlined and il has
been also limited that if possible q
Nicaraguan canal restricted to Japan
csc and British shipping may be Q
thing of the future. The principal rea
son why it may not be possible is the
| opposition of the United States, for
of course, this country might feel lik,
resenting any such competition az
Nicaragua with Panama. Still, how
could il be av0idedf
1.-The Monroe doctrine could hardly
exclude Japanese or even British CAPT
tai from investment in Nicaragua
which, although not exclusively q
white republic, is certainly independent
The latest statistics showed popula
ton of about 100000, "of whom about
threequarters are mixed blood and the
rest Indians, besides the Mosquitoes
who are mostly In a savage state. -
| With such population IL Is not likely
that Nicaragua would command much
attention from any other nation II II
were not for It's geographical position
aud natural products. IL il the largest
of the states Of Central America, has
long seaboard on both the Atlantic
aud Pacific oceans, lies between y de-
gTees 40 minutes and 10 deg north
latitude and between hs degrees Al
minutes and ~ degrees 81 minutes west
longitude, aud contains AN area Of 81,
4