The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-09
NICARAaUA'S LOAN.

1t appears that probabilities with re-
spect TO the ratification by the U. s.
Senate Of the protectorato treaty with
Nicaragua are getting brighter. It will
be remembered that when Secretary
Bryan and President Wilson first ne.
gotated that treaty. there was very
pronounced sentiment against it among
the Democrats in the Senate. A good
many of the Republican Senators we're
quite ready to assent to the ratifica-
tion Of that treaty, since it merely
pushed to somewhat greater length the
activities that were developed during
the Taft administration with respect
to Nicaragua. But the Democratic
Senators were ficrcely opposed to it,
and the treaty was withdrawn for the
time being. They were holding to
their old antipathies, and had not been
disciplined
1t is probable, however, that the dis
ciplining of the Senators in the tariff
bill legislation and their prospective
disciplining on the currency bill have
been effectual in subduing the spirit
of obstinacy and opposition on the
Democratic side Of the Senate to Presi.
dent Wilson 8 desires; so it is likely
that anything that he may proclaim to
those Senators as his policies and his
wishes will be agreed to by them, in
place of being opposed as the treaty
was before
A special indication of the gain of
the administration in this respect is
shown in the negotiation by Nicaragua
Of loan Of $2,o00,000, the money to
be supplied by New York bankers. II
is assumed on what is called "pretty
good evidence that our State Depart
ment has given assurances to the bank
ers that the negotiation of this loan
will be agreeable to the administra-
tion, and that it will be backed by the
administration and be secured as part
Of the treaty referred to.
The advantage to the United States
in this proposition is the securing of
the Nicaraguan canal route, which
would forever dispose of any likelihood
Of competition in an opposition 18th
milan canal; for as we reckon it, the
Atrato route is impracticable, by rea-
son Of its great length and by reason
Of the small supply of water at the
point of transfer to the Pacific stream
relied upon to make the connection. A
great many years ago small ditch
was dug connecting the two rivers high
up in their courses, so that canoes
could pass from one to the other. This,
however, is quite a different PROPOSE
tion from handling ship canal traffic.
And since it was found impossible for
any combination or any nation to build
an Isthmian canal until the United
States took hold Of 1t, the likelihood
Of any such canal being built on the
Atrato route has infinitely diminished
by reason Of the existence Of the canal
already built.
So far as we are concerned, we are
glad to see this prospective brighten
ing of the prospects Of the ratification
Of the Nicaraguan treaty. We
should be glad to see the treaty rati-
fled precisely as it was submitted; and
since Nicaragua itself applied for the
protectorate which is a part Of that
treaty, there could be no possible OBJ
lection on the part Of any of the Latin
American nations to that treaty on the
ground that it would infringe upon the
rights or invade the sovereignty of
Nicaragua or Of any other of those
states. 1t is a good bit Of negotiation
and would be to the advantage both Of
this country and Of Nicaragua, but it
would be death blow to the admins
tration's pretense Of horror at "dollar
3inlomapy -