The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-07-24
The Secretary of State
Would Make United
States Sponsor,
COULD INTERVENE
Plan Similar to That Adopted
for Cuban Government
in Platt Amendment.

iuiCPtoA po i
speeding the details of Secretary Bry-
ms proposal for a virtual protector
ate over Nicaragua. Most of the dip
lomatic representatives of the powers
are absent from Washington and con-
sequently no views are available. The
keenest interest, with some points
of opposition. has been aroused in
the Latin-American circles to the
suggestion that the plan be extended
to cover all territory neal the Pana-
ma canal zone. Salvador recently
made objections to the N~icaraguan
treaty in it's original form and Costa
-Rica more recently objected to GER
tain provisions relating to the pro-
posed canal route. Europe's interests
r chiefly in the investments here
of citizens in enterprises and securi-
ties of Latin America.
Plan to be Endorsed.
Strong support developed in the
Senate for Wilson's policy of protec-
lion and supervision over Nicaragua.
An informal poll of the committee
on foreign relations Indicated the
treaty proposed by Bryan will be APP
proved with a safe margin of votes
and will come init the Senate backed
by the influential members of both
political parties. 1t became known
that the proposal doesn't bind the
United States to n obligation for
outstanding debts of Nicaragua.
Would Insert Clauses.
To insert these clauses, identical
with those of the Platt amendment in
regard to Cuba, was Bryan's proposal
upon which he sought advice and
consent of members of the Senate
committee. Mr.. Bryan Informed the
senator's that he spoke for the presi-
dent, who has given his whole-heart-
ed and enthusiastic support TO the
plan. Furthermore, the government
of Nicaragua not only is agreeable
to the proposal, but is, in fact, the
originator of it.
1T was at the request of special
commissioner from Nicaragua that
Mr.. Bryan took the proposal under
consideration and laid it before the
president for his approval. This APP
proval, 1t is understood, has been
given without the slightest reserva-
ton by President Wilson.
This step is regarded as the key
stone of the Wilson administrations
policy toward the weaker Latin-Am-
cream states.
II Knox treaty for the rehabilita-
ton of ~Nicaragua's w%retched financial
system failed of ratification in the
Senate. The adoption of the Bryan
Wilson plan is extremely likely, how
ever, as it contains none of the pro-
visions for linking the United States
government to American bankers
which many Senators found obiec.
tionable.
The new administration considers
this proposal as the simplest and
most effective and the safest means
of extending to Nicaragua the helping
hand which the republic so sorely
needs. Not only has the propose
beer adopted as general principle an6
policy. but it is expected that it will
meet the approval of republicans.
In presenting his proposals frankly
to the Senate comittee, Mr.. Bryan
went at length into the present con.
dition in which the government anc
people of Nicaragua find themselves
Mr.. Bryan informed the Senators
that the government of Nicaragua is
In a most precarious state and thai
prompt measures are necessary If il
is to be preserved. The great need
of the government now is money
The effect of the Plat amendment
to be incorporated in the Nicaragua
treaty, upon conditions in Cuba has
been such as to rebound to the credi,
of the United States, to the satisfac.
ton of the business interests and to
the qualification of all the peace.
loving and law-abiding peope of the
republic.
Nicaragua is so situated in the
heart of Central America that the
adoption of the administrations pro.
posal will immeasurably strengthen
the position of the United States in
that region. 1t is believed that once
the treaty is in force it will act a
as a preventative. in a large degree
OF revolutionary disturbances and
other forms of political violence in
those other Central American coun.
tries that have been subject to the
same Ills as to have brought Nicar-
aqua to her present pitiful state.
Washington, d. ca new pol
icy toward Nicaragua. involving the
virtual control of the affairs of that
republic by a United States trust pro-
~tectorate, similar to that now exer
cised over Cuba, was outlined by
Secretary Bryan at a conference with
members of the senate foreign rela-
lions committee.
Mr.. Bryan's proposal. coming as a
surprise to most of the members of
the committee, has been taken by
many senator's as the first pronounce
ment of a general policy on the part
of the administration to extend AM
erican control over the countries sur
rouding the Panama canal, to assure
the stability of Central American
republics and the sanction by the
United States of their relations with
other great powers.
Secretary Bryan went before the
committee with a revised draft of the
proposed N~icaraugan treaty, intro
duced first in the Taft administra-
ton, by which the United States
would secure exclusive canal rights
across Nicaragua and a new naval
base in exchange for $3. 00O.O 600 gold