Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-25
DOMESTIC.

DOMESTIC.
The Rights of the Eni;ed States In the
Panama Canal.
WASHINGTON, October 24th.-The Presi-
dent to-day sent to the Senate the report of
the Secretary of State in answer to the reso-
luton of October 14th, iuquiring what steps
the Government had taken to protect the
rights of the United States in the Panama
Canal Secretary Blaine, in his communica
ton to the President, reports that having
learned since the adjournment of Con-
gress of the rejection by Colombia of
the protocol negotiated by representa-
tives of the United States and that
Republic, which it was hoped would secure
treaty satisfactory to both, and being in
formed by Minister of the United States in
Colombia that the Government of Colombia,
by its public act, was avowing its desire to
terminate the treaty of 1916 and appeal to
the powers of Europe for a joint guarantee of
neutrality of the Isthmus and the sover-
eighty of Colombia, the department ad-
dressed a long letter of instruction to the
United States Minister at London, and an
identical note was sent to each of the Ameri.
can Ministers 10 Europe.
Blaine's letter is dated June 24th last. In
it he says:
The United States recognizes proper guarantee
of neutrality as essential to the construction and
successful operation of any highway the 18TH
mus of Panama. and more than third OF a century
ago this Government took every step that is deemed
requisite in the premises. In the Judgment OF the
President this guarantee given by the United States
OF America does not require reinforcement, or ac-
cession or assent from any other power. In more
than one instance this Government has been called
upon to vindicate the neutrality thus guaranteed,
and there is contingency now foreseen or appre-
hended in which such vindication would not be
within the power OF this nation. Ii the foreshad-
owed action OF the European Powers should assume
tangible shape, it would be well for you to bring
to the notice of Lord Granville the provisions OF the
treaty of 1876 and especially OF its 35th article, and
to intimate to him that any movement IL the sense
of supplement.ng the guarantee cont ined therein
would necessarily be regarded by this Government
as annued for intrusion into field where the local
and general interests of the United States of Amer
lea must be considered before those of any other
Power, save those OF the United States OF Colombia
alone The President deems it due to frankness to
be still more explicit on this subject and to an
nounce the views OF the United States Government
with somewhat Of detail to the end that no uncertain
ty shall exist to the integrity OF our motives or the
distnctness OF our aims. II would be our earnest
desire and expectation to the worlds peaceful
commerce enjoy the same just, liberal and rational
treatment II regards the political control
of such canal as distinguished from its merely adj
ministrative or commercial regulation that the
President feels called upon to speak with drectness
and with emphasis. During any war IN which the
United States OF America or the United States OF
Colombia might be party, the passage OF armed
vessels OF hostile nations through the canal at Pan
anna would not be more admissible than would the
passage of the armed forces OF nation over the
railway lines joining the Atlantic and Pacific shores
of the United States or OF Colombia, and the United
States OF America VII insist upon her fl9ht 10
take all needful precautions against the posi-
bili.y of the Isthmus transit being in any
event used Extensively against her interest upon
the laud or upon the sea: Inc possessions OF .ne
United States upon the Pacific coast are imperial in
extent and OF extraordinary growth. Even at the
present stage of development they would sup
ply larger part o. the traffic which would seek adj
vantage of the canal. The States of California and
Oregon and the Territory Of Washington, larger in
area than England and France, produce for export
more than ton Of wheat for each inhabitant, and
the entire freghts demanding transportation east
ward are already enormous. The crops are
augrnenting, the population and products OF the
Pacific slope are Increasing upon vast scale, the
railway system connecting the Gulf OF Mexico with
the interior and with the great lakes is being
ranily extended thus affording additional facilities
for enlarging the commerce that must seek the
coast line to the Pacific, Of which the projected
canal at Panama will form part, and be as truly
channel OF communication between the Eastern
and far Western States as our transcontinental
railways. 1t is the perception Of this domestic
function of the long sought waterway between two
seas that border Republic, which has caused the
project to be regarded OF vital Importance by
this Government. The history OF the enterprise Is
marked from the outset by the numerous eXpedi-
items which have from time to time been sent out
by the United States at large expense to Xoore the
various routes and thus facilitate the work when
the time should be ripe and the vast capital be
Forthcoming for the undertaking. II the proposed
canal a channel Of communication near TO
countries Of the old world, and employed wholly, or
almost wholly, by their commerce, it might very
properly be urged that the influence of European
powers should be large and justly common
surate with their interest With the exercise
tha I1nited Statpg p1,lll find n
fault especially if assured of the usual participation
in the peaceable enjoyment OF the commercial
facility so offered The case, however, is here re-
versed and an agreement between European States
to Jointly guarantee neutrality and in effect control
the political character Of highway OF commerce
remote from them and near to US, forming sub
stantially part of our coast line and promising to
become the chief means of transportation between
our Atlantic and Pacific States, would be eXtraor.
binary procedure, and would be necessarily viewed
by this Government with the gravest concern. The
policy OF the United States Is one OF peace friehdy
intercourse with every Government and people.
This disposition is frankly avowed, and IS, moreover
absndantiy shown in the fact that our armament by
land and is kept within such limits as to aHord
no ground for distrust suspicion OF menace to
other nations. The agreement entered into with
this Government in Is was manifestiy IN the IN
terest OF peace, and by the circumstances OF the
position the United States OF America was 10 watch
over the highway between its two coasts. This was
SO imperative that the resultant guarantee was
the simplest Justice to the Chief interests
concerned. Any attempt to supersede that
guarantee by an agreement between Eu-
ropean powers which maintain vast armies
and immense fleets, and whose interests III
the canal and its operation can never be so
vital and supreme as ours, w5uld partake OF the
nature OF an alliance against the United States and
would be regarded by this Government as an indica-
ton of unfriendly feeling. ltwould be but an In
adequate response to the good will we bear them
and their people and our cheerful ana constant
recognition of their rights Of domestic policy,
of those resulting from the
proximity Of or spriDgiDg from their neigh
borly interests. The graf European powers
have repeatedly united in agreements such as guar
aDtees of neutrality touching the potlcai oounGa-
ries of States ike Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzer
land and parts Of the Orient, where the locaiitlts
were adjacent where the interests involved CON
cerned them nearly and deeply. Recognizing tnese
facts the United States has never offered 10 take
part in such agreements, or to make any agreement
supplementary TO them. While thus observing the
strictest neutrality with respect to compfca-
tons abroad, it is a long settled s conny,c-
tension to our shore of the political system by
which great powers have controlled and determined
events in Europe would be attended with danger to
the peace and welfare OF this nation. While
the Government of the United States has no
intention of initiating any discussion upon this sub
ject it is proper that you should be prepared, IN
case of concerted action conference, or exchange
of opinion thereon, between the great powers OF
Europe, TO communicate to the Governm ent to
which YOU are accredited the views of the President
as frankly and fully as they herein set FORTH and
at suitable time in your personal and friendly in
tercourse with your colleagues Of the diplomatic body
at London you may find it proper to give discreet
expression to the poity and motives Of your Govern
ment in the premises, you may not have to
represent the position of the United States
as the development Of new policy, or
the inaugural of advanced aggressive steps, to be
taken by this Government It's nothing more than
the pronounced adherence OF the United States to
principles long since enunciated by the highes. au
thority of the Government, and now, in the judg
ment of the President, is firmly inwoyen as an nte
grail aud important 1T OF our national policy. In
President distinctly proclaimed the position which
the Government Of the United States would hold
upou this question, aud ii European Cabinets have
failed to observe give due heed to the declarations
then made it may be well for you, on some proper