The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-23
NICARAGUA PACT RATIFIED.
SENATE APPROVES TREATY WITH
CENTRAL AMERICAN RE-
PUBLIC.
United States Acquires Perpetual OPP
ton OH Canal Route and Hundred
Year Lease for Naval Base at Bay
OF FOnscca at Cost Of $4,000, 900.

washington, req. Io.-Ino senate
late today by a vote Of 55 to Is rati-
fled the long pending and persistent
ly opposed Nicaraguan treaty, where
by the United States would acquire a
perpetual option on the Nicaraguan
canal route and a 80 year lease of a
naval base in the Gulf OF Fonseca for
$3,OOO,OOO
Included in the ratification. resolu-
ton was a provision declaring that
the United States in obtaining the
naval base does not intend to violate
any existing rights in the Fonseca
gulf of Costa Rica, Honduras and Sal
vador, which had protested against
the proposed acquisition.
Five Democratic senator's voted
against the treaty. They were Cham
berlain. MARITIME, Clark Of Arkansas,
Thomas and Vardaman. Republicans
who voted against ratification were
Borah, Clapp, Cummins, Gronna,
Jones, Kenyon, Smith of Michigan,
Nelson, Norris, Smith of Michigan,
Smoot and Warren. Fifteen Republi-
cans joined the administration forces
in support OF the treaty. They were
Brandegee, Cole. Dillingham;, DUPONT,
Fall, Gallinger, Harding, Lippitt,
Lodge, Mclean, Page, Poindexter,
Sutherland, Wadsworth and weeks
Immediately after the senate had
acted, Senior ChamElerro, the Nicar-
aguan minister, said he would at once
communicate with his government
and that he expected ratifiction Of the
convention by his government would
soon follow and exchanges made to
put the treaty in force.
The treaty provides that the United
States shall have exclusive proprietary
rights III ,perpetuity for the construc-
ton and operation of an interoceanie
canal through Nicaragua. Details of
;lthe, terms are to be agreed upon
3Nhenever the United States expresses
= AcansI Eorstbe
protection of the rights SO obtained,
the United States is granted a 80 year
lease. with the privilege of renewal for
another 80 years, of the Little Corn
and Great Corn islands in the Car
ibbean. On the same terms the
United States is granted lease
for naval base, the site to be select
ed, on the Gulf Of Fonseca. For these
privileges the United States agrees to
pay s3,GG0,000 to Nicaragua.
The proviso added to the rati-
fication resolution, calculated to satis-
~ protests of other Central American
governments, is as follows:
That whereas Costa Rica, Salvador
and Honduras have protested against
the ratification of said convention in
the fear or belief that said convention
might in some respect impair exist
ing rights Of said States; therefore, it
is declared by the senate that in ad-
vising and consenting to the rtaifica-
ton Of the said convention as amend
cd such advice and consent are given
with the understanding, to be exS
pressed as part of the instrument
OF ratification, that nothing in said
convention is intended to affect any
existing rights Of any Of the said
named states"
Senator Clark of Arkansas led the
democratic opposition to the treaty
while the Republican opposition was
most vigorously asserted by Senators
Eorah and Smith of Michigan.