The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-07-22
BRYAN'SNICARAGUANPLAN
PROPOSAL CREATES INTEREST.
Understood That United States Will
Not be Responsible for Debts
of Little Republic.


of Little Republic.
Washington, July 2O.-Secretary
Bryan's plan for the extension of the
protecting wing OF the United States
over Nicaragua, broached to the
foreign relations committee of the
senate yesterday with the consent
and approval of President Wilson.
has become the absorbing topic of
diplomatic and congressional consid-
GRAFTON. While official utterances
have not been given, of the purpose
of the administration TO outline a
general policy toward Central Amer
lea, members of the senate evince n
growing conviction that the principle
to be applied to Nicaragua is one that
the Wilson administration would be
glad to see extend to the other Cen
trail American republics.
Members of the foreign relations
committee who were present when
Secretary Bryan unfolded his plan
Saturday, continued today to assert
they could not discuss the new de-
velopment.
The original Nicaraguan treaty
has been the subject of open discus
sion among senators. This compact
did not go further, however, than to
canal rights, and a naval base site.
in exchange for a payment of So
100000 in gold
INTERNATIONAL POLICY.
The later project, to extend a vir-
tual protectorate over Nicaragua.
has assumed the character of an in
ternational policy, which members
OF the senate are discussing with
emphatic expressions Of opinion. 1t
is believed that Senators Bacon.
Clarke OF Arkansas, Borah and some
other influential members Of the for
eign relations committee will take
the general attitude Of opposition to-
ward the Bryan Wilson plan: while
Senators O'Gorman, Burton and sew
eral others are known to favor many
of its essential points.
Secretary Bryan has not proposed
II is understood, that the United
States shall assume or guarantee the
debts of the republic Of Nicaragua
The desire of Nicaragua for a control
OF its customs resources by the Uni
ted States so that ii could secure
loans to refund its pressing debt, has
been known for some time. and met
the opposition OF the senate foreign
relations committee when il came
n
definite treaty agreement
Secretary Bryan's plan calls for n
definite statement Of policy that
would guarantee Nicaragua's inde-
pendence, would guarantee the con-
troll by the United States OF that
country's dealings with foreign ma
tions and would put into definite
terms the recognized principles of the
Monroe doctrine, prohibiting foreign
nations from securing footholds on
the American continent.
1t is understood, however, that
only one agreement upon the uues-
uon OF the international finances
OF Nicaragua would be embraced in
that part Of the treaty by which Mica
ragua would bend herself not to las
sumo or contract any public debt" in
the discharge of which "the ordinary
revenues Of the nation. after defrav-
ing expenses Of the government
shall be Inadequate"
REVISE FISCAL SYSTEM.
Under this guarantee Of financial
stability, however, il is believed
Nicaragua would find il possible
speedily to revise the fiscal system
and secure foreign aid for necessary
public development. The only speci.
States is the $3.OOO,0C0 in gold tc
be paid for perpetual exclusive canal
rights over the Nicaraguan route and
the naval bases In the bay of Fon.
SEGA and on the Great Corn and LIT.
tie Corn islands In the Caribbean sea
Nicaragua's finances have been the
cause of repeated attempts at nego.
tations with the United States. AT.
ter the failure of the effort to have
the United States take charge of the
customs houses, an agreement was
made by 'he republic with New York
bankers, whereby a loan OF $1,000.
600 was secured, and Nicaragua vol
unfairly placed its customs house ad.
ministration i'm the hands of an
American. Former President Taft
was asked to recommend n CONNIE
tent administrator, and under his
suggestion w J. Ham was EMPLOYED
by Nicaragua under the terms of the
private loan agreement.
LIKE CUBAN RULE.
The Platt amendment under which
the United States became the virtual
protector of Cuba, adopted in 1901
received much Democratic support
Secretary Bryan proposes to incOr-
porate almost without change the
general language of this provision
In the Nicaraguan treaty. MANY
Democratic senator's declare that the
policy proposed would be but a
strong pronouncement of the attitude
already announced by President VIII
son as to the maintenance OF inde-
pendence and stability of government
In the American republics.