AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14237, 7 December 1909, Page 4

AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.

The diplomacy of the United States is weak whenever it attempts to do what the Senate may disapprove ; but it is notably strong and somewhat unconventional whenever it works hand-in-hand with tho desires of the treaty-making Chamber. In Central America we have a rather noteworthy object lesson of the thoroughness with which the businesslike authorities at Washington remove any little difficulties which threaten the success of their great projects. This particular object lesson is especially interesting to New Zealand, because of our inevitable relations with the Panama Canal and our consequent concern in all that affects its uninterrupted possession by an orderly and friendly Government. Were it not for the investments made by the Washington Government at the isthmus, where the great " cut" has already swallowed £50,000,000, is estimated to devour another £25,000,000, and will probably require £100,000,000 to finally complete and equip, Nicaraguan parties would probably be pursuing their revolutionary form of politics without any serious interference from American marines. But it has been considered for some time that it is detrimental to American interests to permit political anarchy to hold sway between the great domain of the Washington Government and the narrow zone which crosses Panama. For not only will ships pass through the canal, but in the natural order of things railways will run to it. American trade and travel will be interfered with by anarchy in Central America. For some months it has been asserted in American circles that a tacit arrangement had been arrived at between Washington and < the strong and orderly Government of Mexico for the latter to undertake, with American support, the policing and control of the turbulent Central American States. Of these turbulent States Nicaragua, under Zelaya, is the ringleader in offending; recent events have apparently given the United States and Mexico the required opportunity