River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-24
NICARAGUA TREATY
PLAN CONSIDERED
IS ABSORBING TOPIC OF CONVEX.
SATIoN IN OFFICIAL WASH
INGToN SINCE SATURDAY.
PRESIDENTS HAND is SEEN
Belief Is That Bryan's Idea of Pro.
tectorate Is Administration POLL
cy-Plan Is outIined-Desired
ny the Banana Republics.

Wy lHS BAHAMA hepupllCSs
Washington, July %. - Secretary
Bryan's plan for the extension of the
protecting wing of the United States
over Nicaragua preached to the for.
eign relations committee of the sen.
ate Saturday with the approval OF
President Wilson, has become the alb.
sorbing topic Of Diplomatic and con.
gressional consideration.
While official utterances have not
given the purpose of the administra,
ton toward Central America, members
of the senate evince a growing convic.
ton that the principle to be applied to
Nicaragua is one thst the Wilson ad.
ministration would be glad to see ex.
tended to the other Central American
republics.
VIII Not Discuss Plan.
Members of the foreign relations
committee who wero present when
Secretary Bryan unfolded his plan
Saturday, continue to assert they can.
not discuss the new developments.
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 ca.
nal rights, and naval base site in
exchange for a payment of $3,000,000
in gold. The latter project, to ex-
tend a virtual protectorate over Mic
aragua, has assumed the character OF
an international policy which members
of the senate are discussing with EN-.
phatic expressions of opinion. 1t is
believed that Senators Bacon, Clarke
of Arkansas and some other influential
members of the foreign relations com.
mittee will take general attitude OF
opposition toward the Bryan-Wilson
plan; while Senators O'Gorman, Bur
ton and several others are known to
favor many of its essential points.
No Guarantee of Debts.
Mr.. Bryan has not proposed, it is
understood, that the United States
shall assume or guarantee the debts
of the republic of Nicaragua. The de-
sire of Nicaragua for control of it's
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 rela'
tions committee when it came before
that body in the form of a definite
treaty agreement.
Mr.. Bryan's plan calls for definite
statement of policy that would guar.
antee Nicaragua's independence,
would guarantee the control by the
United States of that country's deal
ings with foreign nations, and would
put into definite terms the recognized
principles of the Monroe doctrine, pro
hibiting foreign nations from securing
@ foothold on the American continent.
To Watch Debts.
1t is understood, however, that the
only agreement on the question of the
international finances of Nicaragua
would be embraced in that part of the
treaty by which Nicaragua would bind
itself not to assume or contract any
public debt" in the discharge OF
which 'the ordinary revenues of the
nation, after defraying expenses of the
government, shall be inadequate"
Under this guarantee Of financial
stability, it is believed, Nicaragua
would find it possible speedily to re.
wise her fiscal system, and secure for.
eign aid for necessary public develop,
ment.
The only specific payment to be
made by the United States is the 3d..
100000 in gold to be paid for exclusive
canal rights over the Nicaragua
route, and the naval bases in the bay
of Fonseca and on the Great Corn and
Little Corn islands in the Caribbean
sea.
The Plat Amendment.
The Plat amendment under which
the United States became the virtual
protector Of Cuba, adopted in 1901, re.
ceived much Democratic support. Mr..
Bryan proposes to incorporate almost
without change the general language
of this provision in the Nicaraguan
treaty. Many Democratic senators de-
clare that the policy proposed would
be but a strong announcement of the
attitude already announced by Presi.
dent Wilson as to the maintenance OF
independence and stability OF govern
ment in the American republics.
Chinese Province Secedes.
Hong Kong, China, July 21.-The