The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-21
Hoped Same Principle Will
Be Extended to the Other
American Republics
COMMITTEE DECLINES
TO DISCUSS POLICY
Understood United States Will Not
Assure or Guarantee Debts of
Republic-Protectora Talk
Creates Discussion

plan for the extension of the protecting
wing Of the United States over Nicaragua,
broached to the Senate foreign relations
committee yesterday with the consent and
approval of President Wilson, has be-
come the absorbing topic of diplomatic
and congressional consideration While
official utterances have not been given of
the administrators purpose to outline a
general policy toward Central America.
members of the Senate evince a growing
conviction that the principle to be applied
TO Nicaragua is one which the Wilson
administration would be glad to see ex-
publics.
Decline to Discuss Subject
Members of the foreign relations COM
mlttee who were present when Secretary
Bryan unfolded his plan Saturday, con-
tinued today to assert they could not dis
cuss the new development Teh original
Nicaraguan treaty has been the subject
of open discussion among senators. This
compact, however, did not go further than
to guarantee the United States exclusive
canal rights and naval base site in ex-
change for a payment of S3,000,00O In gold.
The-latter project, to extend virtual
protectorate over Nicaragua, has assumed
the character of an International policy,
which members of the Senate are discuss
ing with emphatic expressions of opinion.
1t is believed that Senators Bacon. Clarke
of Arkansas. Borah and other influential
members of the foreign relations commit
Tee will take a general attitude of oppo-
nt-1 1rd Rrxfa M lalQ n
while Senators OGorman, Burton and
several others are known to favor many
of it's essential points
Secretary Bryan has not proposed, 1t Is
understood, that the United States shall
assume or guarantee the debts of the
republic of Nicaragua. The desire of Mica
ragua for control of its customs resources
by the United States so that 1t could Sc
cure loans to refund its pressing debt, has
been known for some time and met the
opposition OF the Senate foreign relations
] scosnmittee. wfleb IT. came before that body.
in a form of a definite treaty agreement.
Secretary Bryans plan calls for a definite
statement of policy that would guarantee
Nicaragua's Independence, would guaran-
tee the control 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
tinent.
Contract No Public Debt
It is understood, however, that the only
agreement ipon the question Of internal
finances of Nicaragua would be embraced
I'm that part of the treaty by which Mica
ragua would bind herself not to assume
or contract any public debt" in the dis
charge of which ''tlie ordinary revenues of
the nation, after defraying expenses of
fhp os1f cIaan ha f,.a fe
Under this guarantee of financial stabil-
ILL., 1t is believed Nicaragua would find ii
possible speedily TO revise her fiscal sys-
tenn. and obtain foreign aid for necessary
public development.
The only specific payment to be made by
the United States is the $3,000.000 in gold
to be paid for perpetual exclusive canal
rights over the Nicaraguan route, and the
naval bases in the Bay of Fonseca and
on the Great Corn and Little Corn islands
in the Caribbean sea
Nicaraguas finances have been the
cause of repeated attempts at negotiations
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 Nicaragua with
agreement was made by Nicaragua with
$l,500,000 was secured and Nicaragua vol
unfairly placed its custom house adminis-
tration in the hands of an American.
Former President Taft was asked to
recommend a competent administrator
and under his suggestion w. j. Ham was
employed by Nicaragua under the terms
of the private loan agreement. The Platt
amendment under which the United States
became the virtual protector of Cuba,
adopted in 1901. received much democratic
support Secretary Bryan proposed to in
corporate, almost without change, the
general language of this provision In the
Nicaraguan treaty. Many democratic sem
ators declare the police proposed would
be but strong pronouncement of the at
titude already announced by President
Wilson as to the maintenance of independ-
ence and. stability of government in the
America republics.