Evening star., 1915-12-05

porters OF what amounts to the protec-
torate of the United States. The lib
erals. being out and not likely to get
IN so long as the marines remain, are
of course hostile to the protectorate
It Is difficult to get entirely dispas-
sionate testimony in regard to affairs
in any of the disturbed Central Amer
lean countries, but there is fair de-
are familiar with the situation that the
administration of the conservatives is
fairly good one, certainly as good as
Nicaragua has had for many years
President Diaz. it is reported, defies the
threats of assassination and rides
about openly.
The United States has no particular
interest in either the conservative
group or the liberal group nor is 1t
concerned about the different indiyid-
uals who aspire to control 1t took the
present group as the best that could
be had in very complicated circum-
stances. In consequence of this course
1t is able to point to some actual prog
ress toward order and stability. and
some genuine improvement in the con-
dition of the mass of the population.
The conference committee of Secre-
tary McAdoo's American financial con-
ference last spring reported that the
present government of the Republic Of
being periodically administered with
due regard for the welfare of its citi-
zens and the upbuilding and develop
ment of the country, affording at the
and property and for the investment
of outside capital.
This 1eft-handed Endorsement of dol
lar diplomacy Is justified by the prog
ress that has been made under the
protecting presence of the marines and
the administrative measures of the
New York banking group, which put
several million dollars into Nicaragua
as an investment. The experience per-
haps thus far has been the only profit
able feature of the investment. yet
under the policy of the Washington
administration the investment Is Sc
cure.
One of the principal agencies Of
progress has been the control of the
flcials who had served in the Philip
pines. These are not the official rep
resentatives of the United States. but
are the representatives of the bank
ers who lent Nicaragua money. Col
lector General Ham, according to the
best information obtainable, has given
the Nicaraguans a square deal in tho
collection of the customs duties. All
importers have been on the same plane.
While those who formerly were ia
vored were not pleased at the new
policy, they have found it quite easy
to adapt themselves to it, the more
SO since they know that none of their
rivals is getting the best of them.
The whole population has benefited
by this American administration of the
customs, because the revenues, in
spite of the economic crisis, have been
sufficient to meet most of the urgent
needs in the way of governmental
expenses.
The government. it is reported, has
been able to pay about $250,000 of
claims growing out Of the revolution
ary disturbances. of which more than
$150.000 was recommended by the
mixed claims commission, and were of
claims not exceeding 800 each. The
payment of these small claims recon-
ciled very many poor persons to the
administration.
The control of the railway by the
banking syndicate also has been help.
When the bankers acquired 81 per cent