The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-07-07
SAYS Germans ARE
AFTER CANAL, TOO.
Nicaraguan Minister Springs Sen
sation in Senate Committee
Hearing.

WASHINGTON, June % Attempts
by German interests 70 outolq the
United statcs Cor rights 20 construct an
interoeeanic canal across NiSAfagnh
were revealed today 10 the schate for,
eign relations committees br Nicarpg
ian Minister Chamorro. The pHpisteF
said Gcrmans had urged that the a..
0o0,000 offered by tho United States
for canal rights and other eonccssions
was not enough.
Brown Brothers and Seligfnan & 70.
Of New York, Bankers, alleged 10 be
prominent figures in the control Of the
Nicaragpap National bank and the
Nicaraguan railway, were asked 70
bring in all papers hearing on those
| questions, Charles A. Conant Of New
York and Ernest u, Wends, said 10 be
he 6paucial agents Of the. NiePragnFn
republic, also were invited Their
| Testimony may have some etfegt on the
proposed treaty by which the, UpitCd
states would pay Nicaragua 5000 900,
establish Protectorate and guorRrtee
| fair elections. in return for, rights, 70
construct an iRteroeeanie canal esta9-
lish naval oases and other eoaeessiouF,
Minister ChamorTo told the commit.
tee that sentiment in his country was
overwhelming IN favor Of the treaty.
Senior Rafael Cuadra, the NicaragIan
minister Of finance, win appear before
the committee Thursday to make adj
ditional arguments for the treaty.
Chsmoro Canses surprise. a
Senior Chamorro s statement was me-
cefved with surprise and led 70 rlueh
speculation among members of the
lcommittce after he left the capital.
Some members uRderstood him TO, inaan
that Germany had officially approached
the Nicaraguan, government, and tae
minister 3 difficulty in speaking Eng
lish prevented his statement from be-
ing entirely clear. IS
II was recalled tonight that no ma
tion could expect TO build n canal
across Nicaragua to rival that at Pana.
ma withoat expending hHndreds of NTH
lions of dollars, and the opinion was ex,
pressed that Germany hardly awouIl he
likely to engage in such an enterprise,
That private banking institutions, no
matter how rich, should seriously con
template suck an Undertaking when
there Is some question rs to whether
the canal across Panama ever win pay,
was regarded as extremely doubtful,
Senior Chamorro was not spseifc
abort the German affair, but, he tried
to make it plain that whoever nade
IL took pains to show Nicaragua that
the United States was TO get much
more than she was eatitled Ito, fer
| lie appeared before the eommittee
particularly to speak Of the political
effect upon Nicaragua of the provisions
IN the treaty by which the United
States would assume a protectopate
over the country aud guarantee fair
elections there as in Cuba. His testi
mony. members said, was most inteS
esting. .1a. .H.., 5,.s
| The minister was questioned at some
length about the American marines now
in the Republic. He answered a direct
inquiry by saying that no request had
been made by him TO send the marines
to Nicaragua some time ago. Ho said
however, that he believed their pres
ence might be desired by the Nieara
guau President, Adolfo Diaz, The ma
riDes, he explained, occupy the Mica
ragua White House, and the American
flag flies there, but the President doe
not now reside in that dwelling, TIL
marines now guard the NicaraQuan rail
road. which is controlled bv New Yorl
banking institutions, he said,
According to Senior Chamorro. formeI
American Minister Weitzel played !
part in the selection of Disz as thu
conservative candidate, and that Welt
eel at the time was secretary to thu
Nicaraguan council Of state which 80
lected Diaz. for President g..p ,e... -,