Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-25
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
PRETTY PLAIN TALK ON THE
PANAMA CANAL.
The Attitude of the United States
Clearly Presented-The Guarantees
of 1S46 AmpIe-NO Need OF For
eign Interference.

WASHINGTON, October M.-The report
of Secretary Blaine to the President in
response to the Senate resolution, inquiring
what steps the government had taken to
protect the rights of the United States in
the Panama canal, states that having
learned Of the rejection by Colombia
of the protocol, which it was hoped
would secure a treaty satisfactory
to both countries, and that Colombia
avowed her desire to terminate the treaty Of
1916 and appeal to the European powers for
a joint guarantee Of the neutrality OF the
Isthmus and the sovereignty of Colombia,
a letter of instructions was sent Minister
Lowell in the premises. A copy Of this
letter is appended and is a long and vigor-
GUS document.
It sets forth that the U nited States recog-
nize proper guarantee of neutrality as es-
sential to the construction and successful
operation OF any highway across the 18TH
mus OF Panama, and that they took
every step necessary to this END more
than a third of a century ago. By the
thirty-fifth article of the treaty of 1846 the
government guaranteed positively and eff
ficaeiously the neutrality of the Isthmus
and the sovereignty of the United States
OF Colombia. In the judgment of the
President this guarantee does not require
reinforcement or accession or assent from
any other power. This government has
already vindicated the guarantee thus
given, and no contingency is fore
seen or apprehended in which
q similar vindication would not be within
the power of this nation. There never had
been the slightest doubt on the part of the
United States of the purpose or scope Of
the obligation then assumed, nor of the
advantages accruing to It therefrom.
Mr.. Lowell is instructed that, in the event
OF the foreshadowed action of the European
powers taking tangible shape, it would be
well for him to bring to the notice of Lord
Granville the provisions of the treaty of
1916, and to intimate that any movement In
the sense of supplementing the guarantee
contained therein would necessarily be
regarded by this government as an
uncalled for intrusion in a field where
the interests OF the United States of America
must be considered before those of any
other power, excepting alone the United
States Of Colombis. The fact that the stock
and franchises of the Panama Canal and
Panama Railway are owned in Europe does
not affect the question at all. They are Sc
cured by the existing guarantee equally
with the property OF the citizens Of the
United States.
Upon the political question at issue, the
letter says that during any war involving
either the United States of America or Co
lonlbia the passage of armed vessels of a
hostile nation through the canal at
Panama would be no more admissible
than would the passage of the armed forces
! of such nation over the Panama Railway,
and the United States will insist upon their
right to take all needful precautions against
the possibility of the Isthmus transit being
used Extensively against her interests upon
land or sea. The letter claims that the
Panama canal, by reason of completion, is a
| line of communication between our Allan
tic tnd Pacific coasts as clearly within our
control as our trans-continental railways.
The Government of the United States has no
intention Of initiating any discussion upon
this subject, but deems 1t proper that its
| representatives abroad should be prepared
to meet the issue, II presented by European
action. The letter is dated June 24th.