South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-01

right to the United States to inter
Vene if necessary FOR the preservation
OF peace and order.
1t is betraying no state secret to
say that the benefits conferred upon
the United States through this COM
pact far outweigh the obligations For
the sum of 100000, which will al
low Nicaragua 10 achieve economic
stability and TO pay off d large part
of her national debt. the United
States goes for towards settling some
of the most VeNatiOus problems con-
neCted with Latin-America
At one blow the possibility OF a
rival - the Panama canal is forever
eliminated If such possibility
seems chimerical and visionary, let
il be remembered that short-sighted
persons only 40 years ago laughed at
the idea that more than one trans
continental railroad in the United
States ever would be necessary. No
one can foresee the mighty develop
ment of Oriental trade. via the
Panama canal. in the next generation.
Suppose Germany or France should
obtain the right from Nicaragua to
construct a competitive canal 1 years
from now. or. if this might seem 10
be "a clear infringement of the Monroe
doctrine. suppose that Nicaragua
herself should decide to build il with
European capital. a great part of
the value of the Panama canal would
vanish into thin air and the United
States could never hope TO regain
even a fraction Of its heavy invest
ment on the isthmus. The pending
treaty with the little republic clears
the decks of this possibility.
There is an ideal site for a naval
base in the Gulf of Fonseca and the
protection and defense Of the canal
makes it imperative that the United
States should possess it. Experts say
1t is second in Importance only to
Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. and that its
fortihCatiOn will go far towards
eliminating all chance OF an attack
on the canal from the Pacific side.
The extension of the Platt amend
ment to Nicaragua is really an appli-
cation of President Wilson's policy as
November. He is trying To drive out
outlined i'm his Mobile address last
European cOncessionaries from Latin
America. The Nicaragua treaty will
prevent the republic from granting
any foreign concessions. or even from
contracting foreign loans without the
consent of the United States. This is
guarantee of the financial independ-
ence OF Nicaragua and its effects
1titAtlN w ldl ItdtlllE. IT Will QlS-
courage revolution in n state which.
even for a full decade before the DAYS
Of Zelaya. was a hotbed OF revolution.
Nicaragua is anxious 10 have the
treaty ratified She does not sacri-
hce anything in the pact. except the
right to build a canal al some time in
the future As a matter Of fact, the
United States does not want to pre-
vent canal from being built over
the Nicaraguan route if the trade of
the world demands IL. But she wants
the right 10 build it herself and to con
troll IL in the manner that she con
trolls the "big ditch" at Panama.
The NiCaraguan treaty is a UNIQUE
document but il would not be sur
prising If number OF pacts were ne
gotiated with other Central American
nations that will be the same in prin-
ciple. II is a practical extension Of
the Monroe doctrine and goes far to-
wards making Pan-Americanism a
reality instead Of a theory.