Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-21
The Inter.Oceanic Canal and the
Monroe Doctrine.
ATTITUDE OF THE ADMINISTRATION.


Ever since the congress of De Lesseps at
Paris, which resulted in the selection Of Pana-
ma as the route for inter-oceanic canal commu-
nication, the position Of President Hayes in re-
gard to the matter has been well known. He
has favored ION account of the reports Of our
engineers who made the surveys 5n the 18th
mus,) the N1caraguan route. 1t has also been
well known that the President believes in the
Monroe doctrine as to American supremacy on
this continent. The President, it is believed,
has ethe united Support of his Cabinet in his
position on the questions involved, with posi-
bly, the exception of one member, who is not in
hearty accord Herewith. Since De Lesseps went
to Panama and commenced active preliminary
work for his canal this subject has been consid-
cred by the President and his advisers The in
formation and
CORRESPONDENCE CALLED FOR BY CONGRESS
is being prepared as rapidly as possible, but as
to furnish all that Congress wants, necessitates
In one or two cases, communication with our
be some delay. Most of the information wanted
Is, however, now In the files of the Navy and
StatL departments, and is being put in shape.
1t is stated that the President in communicating
with special message taking most decided
views under the Monroe doctrine. Although
the Presidents views are decided enough to suit
is somewhat doubtful If he will send a message
announcing them to Congress. At any rate, 1t
has not been decided to do So In considering the
whole question material obstacle to the United
States grabbing De Lesseps by the throat and
saying that canal shall be built only by way
of the Nicaraguan route, is found In
THE CLAyToN-BULwER TREATY
between the United States and Great Britain,
ratified July 4th. 1850. This treaty, it is true,
referred especially to the Nicaraguan route,
guaranteeing its neutrality and the protection,
by the United States and Great Britain, of any
article of the treaty, however, has a wider
significance. 1t is as follows: "The govern
ments OF the United States and Great Britain
having not only desired in entering into this
convention to accomplish particular object
{he construction and neutrality of a canal by
way of Nicaragua), but also to establish
general principle, they hereby agree to extend
their protection, by treaty stipulations, to any
other practicable communications, whether by
canal or railway, across the isthmus which con-
meets North and South America and especially
to the inter-oceanfc communications, should the
same prove to be practicable, whether by canal
or railway, which are now proposed to be estab-
lished by the way Of Tehuantepec or Panama.
Ia granting, however, their joint protection to
article specified, it is always understood by the
United States and Great Britain that the parties
constructing or owning the same shall impose no
other charges OF conditions of traffic thereupon
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
otker state which is willing to grant thereto
such protection as the United States and Great
Britain engage to afford"
Under this article Of the treaty, the Panama
route not having been shown to be impractical
BILE, 1t Is considered very doubtful by the PreSi-
dent it Is understood, If this government has
any right to interfere, especially If De LeSSepS
intends to recognize in full the provisions Of
this treaty as it is said he does. For this reason
it is very doubtful If the administration will
assume any decided position until Congress
acts and the intentions OF De Lesseps are efrec-
tualy known.
THE CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE AND ADAMS.
Another published statement Is that the send
Ing of the KearSarge and Adams to cruise in the
waters on either side of the ISthmus of Panama.
is proof positive that the American eagle Is
ru fled and is about to scream. This Is untrue.
The presence of those vessels In the waters
mentioned has no significance whatever, and
they did not sail under sealed orders One be-
longs to the North Atlantic, and the other to
the North Pacific squadron, and they are only
on general cruising. The statement that Sec
retary Thompson has purchased coaIng stations
on either side Of the IsthmuS, Is also unfounded.
He could make no such purchase without
from Congress and an appropriation
1t Is barely possible that II nothing was doing
on the 1sthmus, that the Kearsarge and Adams
would not have been sent out; but they are not
on any significant or warlike mission, and
De Lesseps need not be frightened. good deal
Of bunc0mbe has been published on the subject
nj the ISthmfQn nQnals4