The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-07-20
Plan includes Exclusive
Right to Construct Canal
Across Republic.
INDORSED BY WILSON
L. s. Also to Receive Naval
Base on Gulf of
FOnscca.
COUNTRY NOW NEAR RUIN
Control Will Be Similar to
That Now Exercised
Over Cuba.
BY WILSON
COUNTRY NOW NEAR RUIN

WASHINGTON. July 10 Secretary Of
State Bryan laid before the Senate COM
mittee on Foreign Relations to-day a
proposal TO establish by treaty what
amounts to an American protectorate
over the Republic Of Nicaragua THE
SrN correspondent is able to give the
details Of this important step by the
Democratic Administration "a step
which not only affects Nicaragua
vitally but is significant in regard to
the policy of the United States toward
Latin America generally under the new
Administration.
Secretary Bryan proposed t. incor.
porate in the pending treaty with Mica.
ragua three clauses of the so-caled
PLAT amendment" which CONSTITUTES
the effective control that the United
States now exercises over the Republic
of Cuba.
The treaty with Nicaragua to which
the vital clauses of the platt amend
the closing days Of the Taft Admins
tration and provides for the payment
by the United States of $4,000, oO0 to
Nicaragua. In return Nicaragua ccdos
to the United States the eXclusiv. right
to construct an interoccanic canal
across that country, thus forcclosinS
this route To any European Power. and
in addition gives the United states a
naval base on the Gulf of Fonscca and
several unimportant islands on the At
lantlc coast OF Nicaragua.
PrOtertOrate Clause added.
Secretary Bryan. To thc great sur
prise and disappointment of certain
disturbing elements In Latin America,
several weeks ago gave his enthusiast
tic approval to this treaty and now
proposes to go still further hy adding
he vitaliz!nG clauses of the rlatt
amendment. These clauses. a. they will
read in the proposed Nicaragua treaty,
are as follows:
article !. That the Government OF
Nicaragua shall never enter intu amy
treaty or other compact with any foreign
Power or Powers which will impair or
tend 10 impair the Independence of
Nicaragua, nor in amy manner authorize
or permit any foreign Power or Powers
to obtain by colonization or FOR military
or naval purposes or otherwise lodCment
in or control over any portion of said
country.
Article II. That said Government shall
not assume or contract any public
debt to pay the interest upon which and
TO make reasonable single fund provision
for the ultimate discharges of which tho
ordinary revenues of the island. after
defrayine the current expenses of govern
ment. shall be Inadequate.
Article III That the Government Of
may exercise the right to intervene FOR
the preservation of Ncaraguan inde-
pendence. the maintenance of govern.
ment adequate for the protection of life,
property and individual liberty"
Wilson EavOrs Project.
To insert these clauses Identical with
| those Of the Plat amendment in regard
to Cuba was MIR. Dryan's proposal upon
which he sought to-day the advice and
consent OF members of the Senate COM
mittee. Mr.. Bryan informed the Scna-
tors that fr spoke for the President.
| who has given his whole hearted and
, enthusiastic support To the plan.
Furthermore. the Government of Nca-
| ragua not only is agreeable to the pro-
posal but is In fact the originator Of it.
II was at the request Of special CONF
missioners from Nicaragua that Mr..
/ Bryan took the proposal under con-
! sderation and laid II before the rrcsl-
| dent for his approval. This approval.
| II Is understood. has been given with
out the slightest reservation 10y Prcsi.
dent Wilson.
To-days step is regarded as the key
note of the Wilson Administration
policy toward the weaker Latin Amori-
can States. II seems to indicate
! clearly that President Wilson and
Secretary Bryan have reached the con-
clusion long maintained hy the TAFT
Administration that the helping hand
OF the United States must be extended
to the Central American republics III
| the hour Of their need.
The difference between the policies 1T
, the two adminstratio ions is largely ono
! OF method. The Taft Administration
! negotiated the Knox treaty with
| Nicaragua. which provided for the
future financial and political stability
of the Central American republic by
means OF the approval of certain loan
/ contracts with American bankers II
/ the Taft plan was step toward tho
establishment of an American pro-
, tcctoratc over Nicaragua the Bryan
proposal is little short of "A leap in that
direction.
senate HI"rL"d k"oH Treaty.
! The Knox treaty tor the rchabiita.
! ton OF Nicaragua's wrecked financial
system failed Of ratification in tho Sen.
ate. The adoption of the Bry Wilson
plan is extremely likely, how ever, as
II contains none Of the provisions for
linking the United States Government
to American bankers, which many Sen.
a,ors found Objectionable.
The new plan does not contain the