The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-11-10
GERMANY TO TEST
MONROE DOCTRINE
Report That Nicaragua Canal Is
to Be Buill-RlvaI 10 the
Panama Ditch.

NEW YORK, October Golf rumor
is to be believed Germany has stolen a
march on the United states, aud has
quietly succeedcd in seriously comph.
eating mnttors in Central America. II
is definitely stated here that German
capitalists, presumably with the SYM
pathetic backing Of the German Gov
eminent, have succeeded in getting a
concession from the government of
Costa Riea for the construction Of a
canal running from sapoa south by
southwest to Salinas Bay, and thence
| into the Gulf of Papagayo, on the Pa
cific Coast. The northerly end of the
canal would follow the course of the
Sapoa River, and the total distance
| to be cut through is not more than
| twenty miles. Tho canal would join
Lake Nicaragua with the Pacific, and
presumably il would be possible to
make the San Juan River, which
connects Lake Nicaragua with the
Atlantic navigable. The distance
from San Carlos on Lake Nicaragua
to Greytown (San Juan del Norte), on
the Atlantic, is about 100 miles, the two
towns being connected by the San Juan
River, which for half its distance is on
the line Of the proposed Nicaraguan
Canal.
1t is said that President Jiminez OF
Costa Rica has thoroughly approved
of the plans, and that there will be nc
difficulty in obtaining the consent Of
the Nicaraguan government to the plan
The consent of the latter will be neces
sary, as the San Juan River practically
forms the northern border between
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, though tht
Sapoa River on the western side rum
almost due north and south, chiefly
through Costa Rican territory. Sapoa
the outlet on tho Nicaraguan Canal, il
| however, in Nicaragua, while Salina
Bay is on the boundary line. No diff
} ficulty is expected to be raised b.
Nicaragua.
Small Capital Needed.
The capitol needed is said to b
J only $5,o00.000, though even If tn
] sum were $5O,000,000, the importane
of the canal would seem to be wei
worth the expenditure as it is obviou
that the plans would seriously interior
WIN liC tushiFl Odudis 10 ANU
400 miles to the south. With the OF
j ception of the proposed cut from Sapo
the proposed route follows very closet
4 the old line Of the Nicaragua Cana
which ran from Greytown to Ochol
D on the San Juan, and thence to Sa
B Carlos, on Lake Nicaragua. The wes
ern end of the canal joining LAX
n Nicaragua. with the Pacific, reached tn
j Pacific on Nicarsguan territory &
Brito, which is thirty miles to the mort
T of Salinas Bay,
= The proposed canal of the German
;, would naturally cost an infinitesimi
= sum compared to that which the Unite
- States has expended on the Panan
~ Canal. It will be much shorter an
more advantageous commercially
u tramp steamers and sailing vessels. II
tolls therefore, would be comparative
At light. The canal is said to be for Il
M accommodation of light draft ship
cruisers and torpedo boat destroyer
NJ and will be neutral in case of war.
5 Serious Situation Created
:, Reliable information from Washin
y ton states that the United States go
eminent as long ago as last spring sci
n diplomatic agent to Costa Rica
learn how far negotiations with h
Germans had proceeded, and wheth
= it were true that German engineerr
n parties had done any work in the hi
to the south of Sapoa. This agent h
:, only recently returned, and is said
~ be making q full report to Preside
Taft.
The Importance and significance
this German plan can hardly be ovt
estimated. Whether the United Stat
n can claim that Costa Rica and Nit
ii ragua have no right to make conc
I'LL sions of this nature to an Europe
power without full consultation wi
OF Washington is a question that Wou
ar involve the most delicate diplomat
let negotiations. The United States dc
cir not exercise a protectorate over
~, States in question, and to strength
ew the Monroe doctrine to cover such
ed ease might be considered very dt
at gerous. There can be no donbt ii
IA. the Germans would not miss such
a. opportunity, and that canal built !
ma der such circumstances would lead
ny endless political trouble, Germa
flp would gain n commercial and politi
he footholl IN Central America fr
ur which it would be extremely dific
.oa to Gust her.
o Monroe Doctrine Questioned.
The danger of the situation lies
the possible Interpretation of the Nj
zoe doctrine, which during its OK
enee has served as a possible ca
belli on more than one occasion.
nj last occasion on which II was inter-
4 ted By the United States TO serve
" own purpose was when Secretary
nsy Ia 1895, during President Ols
II, land : Administration, stated that =
Fer day the United States la practices
for sovereign On this continent, and
yer, DAT Is Law upon tho subjects 70 VI
, Il e0nhnea ita Interpolation. =
nen Interpretation caused considerable
ess pIies 70 1FeAt BFitaial Nho ~
AS lime haa 3 dispafe Wiih YeaeEnela
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