The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1913-07-23
WILSON'S FIRST
ACT MAKES HI!
P!OteCtOTate Plan For NiCara-
qua Commands Attention
PEACE IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Idea Advanced by Administration
Would Practically Make Of Nicara.
qua a Ward of the United States.

Would Practically Make of Nicara.
qua a Ward of the United States.
The administration proposal to es-
tablish by treaty what amounts to an
American protectorate over Nicaragua
is being generally accepted as the
most far reaching step in the foreign
policy of the United States since the
Spanish-American war.
AS President Wilson's first piece of
executive craftsmanship in the realm
of foreign affairs the proposal laid be-
fore the senate foreign relations COM
mittee by Secretary of State Bryan
excited great interest and much ap-
proval. The prospects for the sue
cess of the administrator plan
seemed bright. =,
The arrangement with Nicaragua is
assured of strong Republican support,
including that of Senators Lodge and
Root. With the support of the presi-
dent it is considered almost certain
the plan also will receive the
acquiescence of the Democratic mem.
bers.
While diplomatic and official Wash
ington were greatly interested in the
immediate effect of the Bryan pro-
posal upon Nicaragua their attention
was directed chiefly to the larger
aspect of the proposed treaty rela-
tions with this southern republic. The
impression was general that Mr..
Bryan's present proposal is merely
step in the evolution of policy which
inevitably will provide a more sub
stantial an; general control by the
United States over Central America.
II is certain that the experience Of
the direct protection of the United
States by the single republic of Mic
aragua will have a remarkably calm
ing effect on the revolutionary move
ments and upon political disturbances
in all the other countries of Central
America. The certainty of internal
peace in this section will go far, it is
believed, toward maintaining the
stability of Honduras and Salvador,
Nicaraguas neighbors on the north.
OF Costa Rica on the south there is
little cause for anxiety.
An important fact in the proposed
arrangement is that not only will the
peace and progress of Nicaragua be
assured but by the terms of the treaty
the United States will be able to ex.
ercise the upper hand on the Gulf of
Fonseca. The waters of this gulf on
which the United States is ceded a
naval base wash the shores of Mica
ragua and those of Salvador and Hon
duras as well. In every disturbance
in and between those three republics
the waters of the gulf have started
many a filibustering expedition.
The possession of the gulf is also a
great stride toward securing that con-
troll of the Caribbean by the United
States which in most quarters has
long been regarded as inevitable and
essential.
The Mexican situation alone has
served to convince not only the new
administration at Washington and the
Democratic party in congress, but the
American public as well, that the
United States has grave RESPONSE
bilities to the rest of the world and
duties to itself in the region south of
the Mexican border. The approach
ing opening of the Panama canal and
the knowledge of the vast changes to
be worked on the commercial and
naval system of the United States
with reference to both Europe and
Latin America have also served to
make clear to the country the neces
sity of decisive and firm policy in
the region which separates the canal
from continental United States.