The San Francisco call., 1913-07-21
Members of Senate Believe
Administration. Favors the
Principle for Rest OF
Central America
BRYAN WOULD NOT
GUARANTEE DEBTS
Secretary Hopes to Put Into
Definite Terms Idea of
Monroe Doctrine

WASHINGTON. July 20.-Secretary
Bryan's plan for the extension of the
protecting wing of the United States
over Nicaragua broached to the for
eign relations committee of the senate
yesterday with the consent and ap-
proval of President Wilson. has become
the absorbing topic of diplomatic ana
congressional consideration.
Members Of the senate evince q grow
ing conviction that the principle to
be applied to Nicaragua is one that the
Wilson administration would be glad
to see extended to the other Central
American republics.
The original Nicaraguan treaty has
been the subject OF open discussion
among senators. This compact did
not go further, however. than to guar
antee the United States exclusive canal
rights, and a naval base site, in ex-
change for a payment of $4,000, 600 in
gold.
AN INTERNATIONAL POLICY
The later project, TO extend a virtual
protectorate over Nicaragua, has as
sumed the character OF an international
policy, which members of the senate
are discussing with emphatic express
sions of opinion 1t is believed that
Senator Bacon and Senator Clarke of
Arkansas, and some other influential
members of the foreign relations COM
mittee Will take a general attitude OF
opposition toward the Bryan Wilson
plan; while Senator O'Gorman. Senator
Burton and several others are known to
favor many others of it's essential
points.
Secretary Bryan has not proposed, it
is understood, that the United States
shall assume or guarantee the debts of
Nicaragua
The desire of Nicaragua for a control
of its customs resources by the United
States so that It could secure loans TO
refund it's pressing debt, has been
known for some time and met the op-
position of the senate foreign relations
committee when it came before that
body in the form of a definite treaty
agreement
GUARANTEE OF INDEPENDENCE
Secretary Bryan's plan calls for a
definite statement of policy that would
guarantee Nicaraguas independence,
would guarantee the control by the
United States of that countryS deal
ings with foreign nations and would
put into definite terms the recognized
principles of the Monroe doctrine, pro-
hibfting foreign nations from securing
a foothold on the American continent
1t is understood, however, that the
only agreement upon the question Of
the International finances of Nicara-
qua would be embraced in that part
of the treaty by which Nicaragua
would bind herself not to assume or
contract any public debt" in the dis
charge of which 1.-The ordinary reve-
nues of the nation, after defraying
expenses of the government, shall be
Inadequate"
NAVAL BASES TO BE BOUGHT
The only specific payment to be made
by the United States is the 1900, 900
in gold to be paid for exclusive canal
rights over the Nicaraguan route and
the naval bases on the bay of Fonseca
and on the Great Corn and Little Corn
islands in the Caribbean sea-
Nfcaragua's finances have been the
cause Of repeated attempts at negotia- :
tions with the United States.
After the failure of the effort to
have the United States take charge of
the custom houses. an agreement was
made by the republic with New York
bankers whereby loan OF $1,50O.000
was secured and Nicaragua voluntarily
placed its custom house administra-
tion in the hands of an American. w.
]. Ham, who was recommended by
President Taft
The Platt amendment, under which
the united States became the virtual
protector of Cuba, adopted in 1901. re-
ceived much democratic support.
Secretary Bryan proposes to incor-
porate, almost without change. the
general language of this provision in
the Nicaraguan treaty.