New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-25
THE PANAMA CANAL.
THE UNITED STATES AND COLOMBIA.

teet the rights OF the United States IN the Panama
Canal
Secretary Blaine, in his communication to the
President. reports that having learned the adj
journment of Congress of the rejection by Colombia
OF the protocol negotiated by the representatives OF
the United States and that Republic, which it was
hoped would secure a treaty satisfactory to both
and being informed by the Minister of the United
States in Colombia that the Government of Colom-
ba by its public acts was avowing its desire to
terminate the treaty of 1916 and appeal 10 the Pow
ers OF Europe for joint guarantee of the neutrality
OF tn lsthmus and the sovereignty of Colombia the
Department addressed the following letter of in-
structon to the United States Minister in London.
An identical note was sent to each of the American
Ministers in Europe. The following is a copy OF the
letter referred 10:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHINGTOS, June II, 1881.
JAMES r. LOWELL, Esq, etc., LoH9oH.
Sir: IL has fallen under the observation OF the Pres-
dent through the current statements Of the European
press and other usual channels of commuucaiign That
u great powers Of Europe may possibly be c9nsiderng
the subject Jointly guaranteeing the neutrality OF the
nteroceanic canal now projected across the Ismns oil
The United States recognizes proper guarantee of
neutrality essential 20 the construction aud success.
I'M operation OF any hghWay aeioss the lstlnu1 Ii
Panama; and more than tbird OF century ago tis
Government took every step that u deemed requisite
In the premises The necessity f0reseen and ahund-
anty provided for long IN ADVANCE OF any possible can
for the actual exercise Of power . $50
IN 1876 memorable ana important treaty
was negotiated and signed between the United
States ~ America and the Republic OF New
Grenada, the United States of Colombia. BY the
thrty-hh article Of that treaty in exchange for certain
concessions made TO the Uniied states we guaranteed
the I-thmts and Oi any interoceaDc communications
thAt might bo constructed II for the malneh-
guaranteed the rights OF sovereignty and property Of the
United states OF Colombia the territory Of the 18th
nu' as inclnded within the borders oil the 5a'e Oh
Panama
In the Judgment Of the President this guarantee given
by tire United States Oi America does not require re-
enforcement accession assent from any other power
In than instance this Government has been
and there II no contingency torcseen or appre-
hended IA which such vndicatioh would not be wilmn
the power Of this Nation.
There has naver been the slightest doubt the part
Of the United states a. TO the purpose or extent OF me
obligation then assumed by which Il became surety alike
nerce whatever landway or waterway that might
be opened from sea u aea aud for the projection 81 e
territorial rig1ts 81 Colombia from aggression or inter
ercuc. Of any kud Nor has there ever been room 20
nh , 10 Z, To-, Go"firart witch The limited
states obtained from the o the Ishmus territory
te ibe fcrrshldowcd action II the European Powers
should tangible shape II would be wen oF you 20
t a, IN and espeeIallv of MS thirfy-nfth article
and 10 intimate 10 him that any movement IN The sense
~ ~ r,-lsd by tbis GoVcrnment "a an an
called Tor intrusion into field where the local and
general interests of United States ~ America must
he cans'dcrrd be ore thoss any other power
tose af the Uacd states Colombia alone, which mas
ALREADY derived aud will derive, such emi
neut advantages the guarantee ~ tins Government
Tire Preside M deruIs n due frankne-s 10 be still
IN r. rXpuit ihis subject and o. cinciIae the views
al the United Government VITA s"lewh nat OF de-
tail 10 the end that uncertainty shall subsst as 20 the
Integrity 81 the dsinctness Of our aims
IL not the wish or the purpose oil tue United states
To Interfere with any commercial enterprise IN which the
citizens subjects 81 any foreign power may see nj to
The act stock and nchses " tho Panama Canal
the Panama Railway being owned IN Europe either In
whole or principally. subject OF complaint
Oh the part Of the United tnan l. tne Circumstance
that the f",s "i many OF - own t4l 'iney Oh r@"aS
Is largely held abroad sleh ownership WIN ne attend
ant rights, the United states amply secured by the
laws of the land; and the lsthmus Is doubly secured
iiarlufee NJ the United states Nor m time Of
does the United states seek 70 nave any exclusive
privileges accorded American ships in respect to
precedence tolls through IN iHleroctalf canal any
American goods IN transit over tue Paunma Railway
under the exclusive control OF an American corpoFhuh
mo extent ~ the privileges OF Amenrau citizens and
Sll,,, tjlrns aud ships n would be our earnest
desire AMI expectation 10 dre the words peaceful
~ rr,s Inc uaiItiral cnntrol VI -llch a canal ma
distu guisnod from its merely administrative COM
mrr,ial regulation thst the President feels called
mon 10 speak with directness and with empLn-
of Arlcrica or the United States OF Colombia
vessels OF hostile nations Through the Panama
would De- admissible than would be the passage
OF the armed forces al hostile Nation over the railway
lines onug the Atlantic and Pacific shores ~ tle UGited
states or of Colombia And che United slate of America
viii insist upn rght 10 aKr al nccdtui precautions
ar,inst the poSsiuiiity Of the Isthmus transit
being In any event used Extensively against
Tbr Two rcpnnirs brfwcca which the guarantee Of
neutrality and possession exists have analogous condi
tons with respect 10 iLrT territorial extension Both
have ong line ~ coast On either to protect
well n TO improve The United states
tfaordlnary growth. Even at their present stage Of
Development they would supply the larger part Of the
traffic which would seek the advantage OF the
canal. The states 81 California md Oregon and
the Territory q Ma'nlnson', -, larger ~ area
a ton II wheat Tor each inEahiHnt, and the entire
fregbts demanding water transportation eastward
cefating while the population and products 81
TIE Pacific slope are thus Increasing nppn vast scale
railway system connecting me Gun OF MeAc9 WIN INC IN
terror and with tho great lakes Is being rapidly extended
thus Afurdng additional facilities for charging the
that must seek the coast he 70 he Facbc OF
which the projected canal at Panama Wl form part
and be truly channel ~ communication
between the Eastern and ia. Western States our
own t-nnsconiinental railways II u the perception ~
the tomcstir function Of the long-'ought waterway
between the two that border the Republic which
hiss caused the project 90 be regarded as OF vital import
ance by this Government. The history OF the enter
prise II marked rom the outset WIN ne numerous espe
dtOus which have from tint To time been sent out ny
the United States at large eNpcnse to survey The var
ous routes and thus facilitate the work whom the time
should be ripe and the vast capital be forthcoming Tor
the undertaking
n The proposed canal were 10 be n channel Of com
mmication near the countries OF the om World and
employed wholly or almost wholly by thcir commerce
10 might very properly be urged that the influence OF the
European towers should he large and justly comnen-
influence the United states could find no fault especially
II assured OF equal participation in the peaceaole enjoy
ment OF the commercial facilities afforded
The case, however, Is here reversed, ana M agree-
ment between the European states to Jointly
guarantee the neutrality and In effect control the
political character OF highway Of commerce
remote from them and near a. us forming subSantlay
part Of cnast line, and promising TO become tho
chei channel Of communication between our atlantic
aud Pacific States would be extraordinary procedure,
and would necessarily be viewed by this Government
with the p1aYest concern.
The poll y OF the United States Is OF peace and
friendly intercourse with government anu people
This disposition 4, frankly ayowed and Is. more9yer
abuDdanty shown by the TACT that our arAnents ny lane
aud kept whn such limits as To afford no ground
for dsrus or suspicion Of 10 other nations Tie
agreement entered into by the Government IN 1916 was
mnifcsty In the interest Of peace and the necessary mn
posed by circumstances upon the United states OF
America to watch over highway between ITS TWO
cOtsts was imperative that the resultant guarantee
the smpeat Justice TO the chief Interest concerned
.-LtL. IL