Honolulu Republican, Volume IV, Number 494, 11 January 1902 — CANAL RIGHTS IN NICARAGUA [ARTICLE]

CANAL RIGHTS IN NICARAGUA

WIDE POWERS FOR UNITED STATES AMERICAN LAWS AND COURTS TO RULE IN SIX MILE WIDE TERRITORY. Further Details of Protocol Recently Arranged With Southern Republic —Cost of Sweeping Concessions Is Far Below What was Anticipated—Arrangement With Costa Rica Probable. WASHINGTON. Jan. 3.—Some of the main features of the protocol between the United States and Nicaragut referred to in President Zelaya's message to Congress give the complete American jurisdiction and the establishment of American courts, civil and criminal, throughout a zone six miles wide, extending from ocean to ocean, and including the proposed termini, Greytown, on the Atlantic, and Brito, on the Pacific. The entire policing of this large tract also is placed in the hands of the United States. Besides the authority of American courts and of the American police in the six-mile zone, the chief features of the protocol are in giving a lease in perpetuity of this tract to the United States and at the same time giving an American guarantee that the independence, sovereignty and integrity of Nicaragua shall not be disturbed by the rights thus conferred upon the United States. No exact information is obtainable as to the price specified in the protocol as payment to Nicaragua for the grant to this country. It can be stated positively, however, that this price is much less than was expected when the negotiations began, and it is considered by officials as reasonable. It is understood that at the outset the view in Nicaragua was that $20,000,000 would be a proper figure for the grant to this country, and about $5,000,000 for Costa Rica's grant. But while there is no information as to the final sum in the protocol, it is known to be far short of the above figures. As the cession takes the form of a perpetual lease, it is probable that the protocol includes the feature of an annual rent as part payment. A protocol with Costa Rica identical in form with that with Nicaragua except in the matter of price and territory leased has been in course of negotiation, and it is understood that a satisfactory conclusion will be reached with that Government.