The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-31
TREATY AFFORDS
NAVAL STATION
Base Of West Coast Of Mica
ragua Would Be Secured
by Pending Treaty.
RATIFICATION IS LIKELY
instrument Also Would Give United
States Exclusive Right to,
Canal Construction.

The United States will secure a perpet-
ual and exclusive franchise for the build
ing of an interoceanic canal through
Nicaragua, and also o naval station, to-
gether with several small islands on the
Pacific coast
This is insured through the decision
just reached by the Wilson administra-
ton to support the treaty negotiated In
the closing days of the Taft administra-
ton between this country and Nicaragua
II was learned yesterday that Secretary
Bryan has asked the Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations to ratify the treaty.
There are few minor changes.
Through the ratification OF this treaty
the Nicaraguan route will be forever
closed to every nation except the United
States. While there never has been any
serious proposition for a European ma
ton to revive the old Nicarasuan canal
plans and construct an interoceanic
highway to compete with the Panama
Canal. talk of this character has en,an-
ated from Europe of and on. These re-
ports, while not taken seriously by om-
Gals in the United States, have had
bad effect in Central America. They
have received considerable credence
there. and have served as basis for
many schemes by which II was sought
to advance the interests Of some Central
American revolutionary faction or state.
The Taft administration decided that
both as a means Of removing an irri-
tant in Central America and securing
a guarantee against any competition to
the Panama Canal that IL was advisa-
BILE for the United States to obtain this
exclusive privilege. The belief is held
by many that at some future time II
may be found practicable and profita-
BILE to construct across Nicaragua a
canal for light draft vessels only.
West Coast Naval station.
The concession for naval base in
the Bay of Fonseca, on the West coast
is not Of more immediate importance
even than the exclusive grant for the
canal right of way.
The Gulf of Fonseca is one OF the
few bodies of water on the West coast
Of the North American continent which
affords ample and deep harbor facilities
Ii often has been called the finest
harbor or constellation OF harbors on
the West coast of the Western Hemis-
phere"
The waters Of this gulf washed the
shores of three Central American re-
publics-Honduras. Nicaragua, and Sal
vador. The gulf is about fifty miles
long and thirty wide, with a double
entrance from the ocean. The bay is
filled with a number Of small islands
of volcanic origin. From any point In
this bay easy access may be had to
the shores of any of the three republics.
Possession OF a naval base site on the
Gulf of Fonseca is regarded as of vital
Importance TO the naval interests of the
United States. in view OF the approach
ing opening OF the Panama Canal Upon
the completion Of the canal the United
States battleship feet will spend about
half of each year on the Pacific Coast
At present there Is no place to which
the feet can repair on the West coast
for maneuvers. target practice. or other
exercises which affords anything like the
proper facilities In view of the eXpecta-
ton that the attention of the navy is to
be more and more taken up with affairs
in the neighborhood OF the Panama
Canal the possession of an adequate ma
val station. with good anchorage. on the
West coast of Latin-AmeriCa is most de-
sirable.
This naval base on the West coast will
be the complement of the big naval sta
ton which the United States has in re-
cent years been establishing on the is
land of Guantanamo on the eastern side.
In return for these concessions the
government of Nicaragua is to receive
100000 in money, to be applied for pub
lie works or public education in that
country.
1t is believed the treaty will be rati-
fed.