The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-10-25
THE PANAMA CANAL
Secretary Biaine's Report Trans
mitted to the President.
The Secretary's Opinion Upon Mat
tiers Relating to the Great Ditch.

Il
The United States and That Canal.
Washington. Oct. 24.-The president
to-day sent to the senate the report of
the secretary of state. in answer to the
resolution of Oct. IA, inquiring what
steps the government had taken to pro-
tect the rights of the United Strtes in
the Panama canal.
Secretary Blaine in his communica-
tion to the president, reports that hav-
ing learned since the adjournment of
congress of the rejection by the Column
bia of protocol, notified by the represen-
tatives of the United States, and that
the republic which it was hoped would
secure treaty satisfactory to both, and
being informed by the minister of the
United States in Columbia that the gov
ernment of Columbia by its public acts
was waving its desire to terminate the
treaty of '46 and appeal to the powers
of Europe for joint guarantee of neu-
trality of customs and sovereignty of
Columbia.
The department addressed long
letter of instruction to the United
States minister at London, and an
identical note was sent to each of the
American ministers in Europe.
Blaine's letter is dated June oath,
last, and in it he says: 1.-THE United
States recognizes the proper guarantee
Of neutrality, is essential to the con-
struction and successful operation of
any highway across the Isthmus of Pam
anna, and more than a third Of a GEN.
tury ago, this government took every
step that it deemed requisite in pre-
misses. In the judgment of the presi-
dent this guarantee given by the United
States Of America don't require rein
forcement or accession, or assent from
any other power. In more than one in
stance this government has been called
upon to vindicate the neutrality thus
guaranteed, and there is no contingency
now foreseen or apprehended in which
such vindication would mot be within
the power of this nation.
The possessions of the United States
upon the Pacific coast are imperial in
strength and Of extraordinary growth.
Even at this present stage of develop
ment they would supply the larger part
Of the traffic which would seek advan-
tage of the canal states of California
and Oregon and the territory of Wash
ington-larger in area than England
and produce for export more than ton
of wheat for each inhabitant, and the
entire freights demanding water trans
portation eastward, already enormous,
are augmenting each year with an ac-
celebrating ratio, while the population
and products of the pacific slope are
thus increasing upon vast scale, the
railway system connecting the Gulf of
Mexico with the interior and with the
great lakes being rapidly extended,
thus affofding additional facilities for
commerce must seek coast
line to the Pacific, of which the pro-
iected canal will form a part and be
as truly a channel of communication
between the eastern and far western
states as our own trans-continental rail-
ways. 1t is the perception of this long
sought war Of way between the two
seas that border the republic which has
caused the project to be regarded as of
vital Importance by the government.
If the foreshadowed action of the
European powers should assume tang.
able shape it would be well for you to
bring to the notice of Lord
Granville the provisions of the treaty of
'46. and especially of its 35th article, to
intimate to him any movement in the
sense of supplimenting the guarantee
contained therein would necessarily be
regarded by this government as an un-
called for intrusion, interfered where
the local and general interests of the
United States Of America must be con-
sidered before those of any other power,
save those of the United States. of Col
umbia alone. The president deems it
due to frankness to be still more ex-
plicit on this subject, and to elucidate
the views of the United States govern
ment with somewhat Of detail to the
end, that no uncertainty shall subsist
to the integrity Of our motives or dis
tinctness of our aims.
1t is as regards the political control
of such canal, as distinguished from its
merely from its administrative or
commercial regulation. the president
feels called upon to speak with direct
ness and with emphasis during any
war In which the United States Of
America or the United States Of Co.
lombia might be party. The passage
of armed vessels Of q hostile nation
through the canal at Panama would be
no more admissible than would the
passage of armed forces of q nation
over the railway lines joining the At
lantic and Pacific shores Of the United
States or Of Colombia, and the United
States of America will insist upon her
right to take all needful precautions
against the possibility of the Isthmus
transit being in any event used often.
sively against her interests upon the
land or upon the sea.
Mckay and the Comstock.
New York, Oct. PA Wall street
reporter says: California speculators in