Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-02-24
rae rsrERoCEAyIC CANAL.
The Views Of President Hayes
Regarding t. Treaty Compli.
cations.

wAsu1soroS, February 24.-It IL re.
ported that President Hayes, in commu.
nicating to Congress the information
and correspondence called for BY the
two Houses in regard to the subject Oh
interoceanic canals, will take advantage
Of the opportunity to send in q sprciai
message expressing his W views. IL
is known that no favors the Nicaragua
route, ON account Of tho preference
given to II by our engineers after eIam-
lining II and the rival routes across the
Isthmus, and Il is also we'll known that
he believes In the Monroe doctrine as to
American supremacy on this continent.
but Il IL doubtful whether he will
announce his views in a special message
to Congress at present. At any rate It
has not yet been decided to do So
although the President has substantially
the united support Of his entire Cabinet
In his position on the questions
involved. A formidable obstacle In. the
way OF any official declaration by the
United States against De Lesseps' pro.
jet, and tho announcement that q canal
shall not be constructed by any
other than the Nicaragua reuts. Is
found In the Clayton.B ulwsr Treaty be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain, ratified July 4. 1850. This
treaty. 1t IL true, referred especially to
the Nicaragua route. guaranteeing it,
neutrality. and the protection o. the
United States and Great Britain OF any
parties who may construct 1t; but ths
eighth article OF the Treaty has . wider
significance. It is as follows: "The
Governments OF the United States and
Great Britain having not only desired
ON entering into this convention to nc.
complish o particular object, the con.
struction and neutrality Of q canal 6y
the way Of N~icaragus, but also TO estab.
lish o general principle, they hereby
agree to extend their protection, by
treaty stipulation. to any other practic,
able communication, whether by canal
or railway, across the Isthmus, which
connects North and South America, and
especially to the inter.oceanic oommun.
ications, should the same prove to be
practicable, whether by canal or railway,
which are now proposed to be sstsb.
lished by the way Of T~shuantspeo or
Panama. In granting, however, their
joint protection to any such canals
or railways as are by this arti-
Gle specified, It 10 always under
stood by the United States and Great
Britain that the parties constructing or
owning the same shall impose NO other
charges or conditions OF traffic thereupon
than the aforesaid Governments shall
approve Of as just and equitable, and
that the same canals or railways being
open to the citizens and subjects OF the
United States and Great Britain on
equal terms, shall also be open on like
terms to the citizens and subjests OF
every other State which is willing to
grant thereto such protection a. the
United States and Great Britain engage
to afford" Under this article OF the
treaty the Panama route not having
been shown to be impracticable. 1t II
considered very doubtful by the Prosi'
dent II this Government has any right
to interfere. especially II Lesssps intends
to recognize in full the provisions OF
this treaty, as It 10 said he does. For
this reason It 10 very doubtful u the Ad.
miuistration will assume any decided
position till Congress acts and the inten.
tons Of Lesssps are effsotually known.