The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-10
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

President Hayes Message on the Inter-
Oceanic Canal Project.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-The following is
the text of President Hayes message, sent to
the Senate yesterday:
To the Senate:
1 transmit herewith the report of the Secre-
tary of State and accompanying papers in re-
spouse TO resolution adopted by the Senate
February IL, requesting copies of all cores
foreign government since February 1869, re-
speeding ship canal across the isthmus be-
tween North America and South America to-
gether with copies OF any projected treatie s
respecting it which the Department of State
may have proposed or submitted since that
date to any foreign power or its diplomat G
representatives. In further compliance with
the resolution of the Senate, 1 deem it proper
to briefly my % SRn8n s. t. tt the
ton of the inter-oceanic canal by any route
across the American isthmus. The policy of
this country is a canal un1er American con-
troll. The United States cannot consent to
surrender this control to any European power
or to any combination of European powers
If the existing treaties between the United
States and other nations, or the rights of SOW
ereignty or the property of other nations stand
in the way of this policy, contingency which
is not apprehended, suitable steps should be
taken by just and liberal negotiations to
this subject consistently with the rights of the
nations to be affected by it. The capital in
vested by the corporations or citizens of other
countries in such an enterprise must in a great
degree look for protection to one or more Of the
great powers of the world. No European
power can intervene for such protection with
out adopting measures on this continent which
the United States would deem wholly inadmis-
sibe If the protection of the United States
is relied upon, the United States must exercise
such a control as will enable this country to
protect its national interests and maintain the
rights of those whose private capital is en-
barked in the work. An inter-oceanic canal
across the American isthmus will essentially
change the geographical relations between the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States
and between the United States and the rest of
the world. 1t will be the great ocean thor
oughfare between our Atlantic and our Pacific
shores, and virtually part of the coast line of
the United States. Our own commercial in
terest in it is greater than that of all the other
countries, while its relations to our power and
prosperity as nation, to our means of de-
Tense, our unity, peace and safety, are mat
tiers of paramount consideration to the people
of the United States No other power would
uuder similar circumstances fail to assert a
rigatful control over work so closely and vi
tally affecting its interest and welfare. With
out urging further the grounds of my opinion, /
repeat, in conclusion, that it is the right and
duty of the United States to assert and main.
tain such supervisors and authority over any
inter-oceanic canal across the isthmus that
connects North and South America as will
protect our national interests. This | am
quite sure will be found not only compatible
with but promotive of the widest and most
permanent advantage to commerce and civil.
ization. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
Executive Mansion, March 8, $780,