The Daily Missoulian., 1913-07-21
PROPOSED PRoTEcToRATE OVER
NICARAGUA AssoRes MA
= TioN's ATTENTION.
OPPOSITION IS MANIFEST
Bacon, Clarke and Other Influential
Members Of Forsisn Relations Com
mittee Will Oppose Plan While
o'corman, Burton and q Few Others
viii Support It.

Washington, July 2O.--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 be-
come the absorbing topic Of diplomatic
and congressional consideration. Mem
bers Of the senate evince growing
conviction that the principle to be ap-
piled 70 Nicaragua is one that the
Wilson administration should be glad
TO see extended to the other Central
American republics. The original
Nicaraguan treaty has been the sub
1ect Of open discussion among sena-
tors. This compact did not go fur
ther, however, than to guarantee the
United States exclusive canal rights
and q naval base site in exchange for
payment Of $3,00o,O0O in gold.
The later project to extend a vir-
tuaF protectorate over Nicaragua has
assumed the character Of an interna-
tional policy which members of the
senate are discussing with emphatic
expressions Of opinion. 1t is believed
That Senators Bacon. Clarke of Arsan-
sas and some other influential mem
bers Of the foreign relations committee
will take a general attitude of OPPOSE
tion toward the Bryan Wilson plan.
While Senators O'Gorman, Burton and
several others are known to favor
many others of it's essential points.
Not to Guarantee Debts.
Secretary Bryan has not proposed,
1t is understood, that the United
States shall assume or guarantee
debts of Nicaragua. The desire of
Nicaragua for control of it's customs
sources by the United States so it
could obtain loans to meet it's press
ing debts has been known for some
time, but it met the opposition of the
foreign relations committee when it
came before that body in the form of
a definite treaty agreement.
Secretary Bryan's plan calls for
definite statement of policy and would
guarantee Nicaragua's independence.
would guarantee the control by the
United States of that countrys deal
lngs with foreign nations and would
put Into definite terms the recognized
principles of the Monroe doctrine. pro-
hlpltlng foreign nations from securing
foothold on the American continent.
u Is understood, however that the
only agreement upon the question of
the International finances of Mica
fagua 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 the ordinary rev
ennes Of the nation, after defraying
expenses of the government, shall be
Inadequate"
A Single Payment.
The only specific payment to be
made by the United States is the
$5,Voo,O00 IN gold to be paid for exelu-
slve canal rights over the Nicaragua
route and the naval bases on the bay
of Fonseca and on the Great Corn
and Little Corn islands in the Carib-
bean sea.
Nlcaraguas finances have been the
cause Of repeated attempts at negotia-
tlons with the United States. After
the failure of the efforts to have the
United States take charge of the Gus
toms houses, an agreement was made
by the republic with New York bank
ers whereby loan of s1,50o,O0o was
obtained and Nicaragua voluntarily
placed it's custom house administration
IN the hands of an American, w. ].
Ham, who was recommended by Presi-
dent Taft.
me Plat amendment under which
the United States became the virtual
protector of Cuba. adopted in 1901, re-
ceived much democratic support. Sec
retary Bryan proposes to incorporate
almost without change the general
language of this provision in the Mica
raguan treaty.