The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-21
AMERICAN FLAG
To CANAL
CONTINUED from Psge one.)

Washington. July 21.-Secretary
Bryans 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 with the consent and approval or
! President Wilson, has become the alb
sorbing topic of diplomatic and con-
gressfonal consideration. While Off
cial utterances have not been given of
the purpose of the administration to
outline a general policy toward Cen
trail America, members of the senate
evince a growing conviction that the
| principle to be applied to- Nicaragua
! is one that the Wilson administration
| would like to see applied to other
/ South American states.
! The members of the foreign rela-
| lions committee who were present
when Secretary Bryan unfolded his
plan continued to assert they could
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,OOO,OOO
gold. The project to extend virtual
protectorate over Nicaragua has as
| sumed the character of an interna-
tional policy which members of the
senate are discussing with emphatic
expressions of opinion. 1t is believed
senators Bacon, Clarke OF ARKANSAS
and some other influential members
of the foreign relations committee will
take a general attitude of opposition
toward the Bryan-Wilson plan, while
Senators O'Gorman, Burton and sew
eral others are known to favor many
of its essential points.
Secretary Bryan has not proposed,
it is understood, that the United States
shall assume or guarantee the debts of
the republic of Nicaragua. The desire
a control s.
toms resources by the United States
so that it could secure loans to refund
its pressing debt, has been known for
some time and met the opposition of
the senate foreign relations commit
tee when it came before that body in
the form of a definite treaty.
Monroe Doctrine in Definite Terms.
Secretary Bryan's plan for a def
mite statement of policy that would
guarantee 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 secur- |
ing foothold on the American CONT |
nent. 1t is understood, however, that |
the only agreement on the question of
the International finances of Mica
ragua 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 reve-
nues of the nation, after defraying eX-
penses of the government shall be in
adequate
Under this guarantee of financial
stability, however it is believed Mica
ragua would find 1t possible speedily to
revise her fiscal system and secure
foreign aid for Nicaraguan public de-
velopment.
The only specific payment to be made
by the United States is the 100000
gold to be paid for 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-
Nicaragua's finances nave been the
cause of repeated attempts at negotia-
tons 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
whereby a loan of 81, 500, 900 was Sc
cured and Nicaragua voluntarily placed
is customs house administra ton in the
hands of an American. Former Presi-
lent Taft was asked to recommend a c
administrator and under his 6
suggestion w. J.Ham was employed by /
Nicaragua under the terms of the pri- q
yate loan agreement The Platt amend {
nent under which the United States
became the virtual protector of Cuba, f
adopted in 1901. received much Demo- g
.ratic support. Sc cretary Bryan pro- I
,oses to incorporate almost without t
,hange the general language of this I
in the Nicaraguan treaty. v
Many Democratic senators declare the
policy proposed would be but strong I
of the attitude already :
announced by President Wilson as to
he maintenance of independence and 8
liability of government in the Ameri- {
an republics. :