Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-15
THE PANAMA CANAL.
A Demand for a Protest Against ITS
Construction by the United States
Government.

government
a hearing took place on Tuesday before
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on
the subject generally of the proposed
Panama ship canal, and especially in regard
to the joint resolution introduced in the
House December IS, by Representative
Crapo, of Massachusetts, declaring that the
construction of such canal under the aus
Pices of and through a charter from any
European government is hostile to the ee-
tablished policy of the United States, Is In
violation OF the spirit and declarations of
the Monroe doctrine, and cannot be sane
toned or assented TO by the United States
Government. Besides the members of the
committee there were present of those
interested In the discussion Representative
Crapo, the author of the joint resolution !;
Senior JereZ, the Nicaraguan Minister
Captain Eads and his counsel. Mr.. A. Thorn
dixie RIces editor of the North An1serscda
RevIeao; Admiral Ammen, Captain Phelps,
and Mr.. Webb, OF New York.
Mr.. Rice, In the course of his remarks,
said that he had recently been In France.
and his sympathies had been enlisted by the
scorn and indifference with which the ideas
OF American interests aud American inter-
ference was met. He regarded the Crapo
resolution as intended for more active thar,
previous declarations Of like import, and as
saying to the promoters and supporters of
the Panama scheme, "we, the United States
of America, propose to safeguard the inter
est, and to control tke commerce OF our own
State. ANY one assuming this control, or
any portion of it, does so at his own peril ~
II such resolution were passed and COM
municated to the French Government, It
would then devolve on that government to
define officially its present and future atti-
tude toward the Panama project, and p9r-
haps In Difference to friendly
power, some restraining influence might
be applied calculated to discourage the
enterprise of De Lesseps. He believed 1t
was time that the official and popular Amer
lean view of the situation were forced upon
the French public, which had been kept In
singular ignorance of them. He read an
extract from letter to Admiral Ammen
from gentleman in France referring to the
subsidizlng of the Paris press to the extent
of 800, ,000 and stating that Mr.. Moves the
American Minister, while left entirely with
out instructions on the subject, had In his
private capacity denounced the scheme, and
that it was time that the views of the Amer
lean Government were officially made
known. In Mr. Rice's view 1t mattered little
whether the American opposition to the
Panama scheme be evolved from the Mon
roe doctrine. The policy that resists en-
croachment is the policy of all the nations of
history.
The Chairman asked Mr.. Rice whether he
had any information as to what NJ. de Les
seps would do in the event of the United
States protesting against his scheme.
Mr. Rice replied that he had always un-
derstood M. de Lesseps' position to be that
the matter was entirely outside the PROV
ince of the United States, and that no re-
gard would be paid to United States inter-
ference.
Mr.. Crapo expressed the views which had
induced him to offer his resolution. II
the American Government should allow for
eigners to construct and control an inter-
oceanic canal it would find itself, perhaps,
In few years In the same position in which
the English Government found itself in re-
gard to the SueZ canal, and would have to
purchase a controlling interest In it.
Mr.. Rice, Of the committee, asked Mr..
Crapo whether the Clayton -Bulwer treaty
interfered With the ability of the American
Government to assume control of any inter-
oceanic canal that might be built. Mr.,
Crapo did not think It did. He did not see
anything in the Clayton -Bulwer treaty that
would interfere with the United States
Government charteringsand controlling an
interoceaDic canal company. If the CLAY
ton Bulwer treaty was in force at all, its
effect would only be to prevent discrimina-
tion against England.
Mr.. Rice remarked that the contracting
parties to that treaty stipulated that neither
should acquire any dominion or control
over any interoceanic canal in which the
other did not ehaIe. The complaint against
De Lesscps' scheme was that It was being
carried forward under French corporation,
chartered by the French Government,
whereby the French Government had ac-
quired or assumed a dominion or control
over the project. Aud, he asked, If the
Americank Government would be assuming
dominion and control In the same sense by
chartering corporation to build an inter
oceanic canal, and whether 1t was not
hampered in that regard by the Clayton
BuIwer treaty.
Mr.. Crapo replied that on general princi-
pies the Clayton-Bulwer treaty ought to be
abrogated.
Mr.. Rice-But until It is abrogateds
Mr.. Crapo - The English Government
would not have any just cause of offense If
English commerce had the use of the canal
on the same terms as American commerce.
The resolution does not contemplate favor
ing of any canal route. 1t does contemplate
putting the same expression Of disapproval
on any canal scheme carried on under the
auspices Of any foreign government. IL is In
fall harmony with the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, and England stands with US in that
position.
Mr.. Rice-But does England stand with
us in the terms to the resolution proposed2
Mr.. Crapo-The Clayton Bulwer treaty is
hostile to the policy OF the American idea.
Mr.. Rice-If the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
were abrOgated, we should then be left
alone, not only against De Lesseps' scheme,
but against ANY such foreign scheme; and IL
France were to go forward against our op-
position, disunited from that of EngIand)
to superintend and control De Lesseps'
Qahannn WA ohnrYld al hawa 20
England from sending her navy and taking
possession of the strong points on the 18TH
mus. Is not that where the abrogation of
the Clayton Bulwer treaty would leave us?
Mr. Crapo-Perhaps that would be so.
Still, am heartily in favor of the abroga-
tion of that treaty, and l think that the ac-
tion OF the committee in reporting a resolu-
tion to that end was wise.
Senor Jerez, the Nicaraugan Minister,
being called upon by the Chairman to ex-
press any views he wished to present, said
through an interpreter that 1t was not his
province to express any official opinion on
the subject, but that he had no objection to
give his personal opinion. He had always
believed the policy of the United States
Government In regard to the inter oceanic
canal to be Just and right. That policy had
been well expressed in the two messages
OF President Hayes. 1t was geographical
question, because the opening of the inter-
oceanic canal would be merely an extension
of the coast line of the United States. In
his opinion, therefore, Mr.. Crapo's resolu-
tion was right and proper.
Admiral Ammen, Captain Phelps and Mr.
Eads gave their views briefly. but In the
same general direction, and Mr.. Webb ex-
cused himself from presenting bis views, en-
account of want OF preparation, but said
that he would try and be present at the
next meeting of the committee on the sub
ject.
The Chairman said the committee would
be very glad to have his views as a repre-
sentative of American commerce, and the
further hearing of the matter was postponed
until Tuesday next.