Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-05
American Rights in Nicaragua.

Disclosure of the concern of the
United States Government regarding
the situation in Nicaragua, where a
revolutionary movement Is In prog
ress against the established regime.
has been made in the course OF state
lnents from the highest sources. 1t is
made plain that the United States re-
cards the situation in that country as
inimical to American national defense
and trade interests, and has moved to
protect them by landing marines.
The fact has been somewhat over
looked that in 1914 a treaty was
signed between the United States and
Nicaragua whereby the latter govern
ment granted to the United States in
perpetuity exclusive rights for the
construction, operation and main
tenance of an interoceanic canal
across Nicaraguan territory, and also
leased to the United States for term
Of ninety-nine years certain islands in
the Caribbean Sea to enable it to pro-
tect the Panama Canal and the con-
templated Nicaragua Canal, in addi-
ton to the right to establish a naval
base in the Gulf of Fonseca. For these
rights the United States agreed to
pay to Nicaragua $4,000. 900.
Official opinion has been expressed
that the success of the revolution in
Nicaragua might ultimately threaten
the rights granted to the United
States by the treaty Of 1914. This is
denied by a spokesman in this city for
the revolutionary party OF Nicaragua.
1t must, however, be assumed that the
American administration has specific
knowledge upon which to base it's
declaration Of policy in the explicit
terms that have been employed. No
overt act has been committed yet.
This Government, however, is justified
in taking into account the fact that
one of the reasons advanced for the
revolutionary movement in Nicaragua
is the allegation of undue American
influence in the affairs of that state.
In addition to the concern of the
United States Government regarding
its own rights under the treaty of
1914, it is pointed out that all Ameri-
can interests in Nicaragua would be
threatened by revolution and the con-
sequent anarchy in that country. The
dominant commercial interests there
are American. Nationals of this coun-
try have heavy investments in lum-
Der, fruit and mercantile lines.
Furthermore, American citizens are
greatly interested in the financial set
Elements now being made between the
Nicaraguan government and its cred
itors. Certain collections of customs
under an American official serving the
Nicaraguan government by an agree
ment between that country and the
United States, effective though not in
the form of a treaty, are being applied
for the reduction of this debt.
The fact that no move has been
made by this country for the compile
ton of the canal project does not
lessen it's rights or the grounds for its
concern regarding the possibility of
the reputation of it's treaty agree
ment in Nicaragua by a revolutionary
organization. Though dormant, that
right is still of the highest value, serv-
ing as a protection against any other
power utilizing the Nicaraguan route
for canal purposes. The United States
may eventually elect to exercise the
privilege of canal construction. Its
authority to do so must not be put in
jeopardy. and it is entirely within its
right to safeguard that privilege by
actions which are to be interpreted as
an insurance against reputation by
Nicaragua.