Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-11-05
The Panama Canal Question.
WASHINGTON, October q.


The President to-day sent to the Senate
the report OF the Secretary OF State in an
aver to the resolution of October II inquir-
ing what steps the Government had taken
to protect the rights of the United States in
the Panama Canal.
Secretary Blaine, in his communication to
the President, reports that having learned
since the adjournment OF Congress of the
rejection by Colombia OF the protocol nego-
tiated by the representatives OF the United
States with that Republic, which it was
hoped would secure treaty satisfactory to
both, and being informed by the Minister Of
the United States in Colombia that the Cow
ernment Of Colombia, by its public acts, was
ayowing its desire TO terminate the treaty of
1916, and appeal to the powers of Europe
for Joint guarantee Of neutrality OF the
Isthmus and sovereignty Of Colombia, the
Department addressed letter Of instruction
to the United States Minister at London.
An identical note was sent TO each OF the
American Ministers in Europe. Secretary
Blaine, in his letter Of instruction, says:
I" 1t has fallen under the observation OF
the President, through the current state
ments Of the European press aud other usual
channels Of communication, that the great
powers of Europe may possibly be con-
sidering the subject OF guaranteeing
the neutrality OF the lnteroceanic
Canal now projected across the 18TH
mus Of Panama. The United States
recognizes proper guarantee OF neutrality
ds essential to the construction and success
full operation of any highway across the
lsthmus OF Panama, and more than third
of century ago this Government took every
step that Is deemed requisite In the prem
ises. The necessity was foreseen and
abundanty provided for long in advance Of
any possible call for the tualeXercise OF
power. In 1916 memorable and important
treaty was negotiated and signed between
the United States OF America and the
Republic Of New Grenada, now the
United States OF Colombia. By the forty
fifth article Of that treaty, in exchange
for certain concessions made to the United
States, we guaranteed positively and efi-
eaciously perfect neutrality OF the isthmus
Of any interoceanic communications that
might be constructed upon or overit for the
maintenance OF free transit from sea to sea,
and we also guaranteed the rights OF sover-
eighty and property OF the United States of
Colombia over the territory of the isthmus,
as included within the borders of the State
OF Panama. In the judgment OF the Presi-
dent, this guarantee given by the United
States of America does not require REIN
fOrcement, or accession, 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 no contingency now foreseen
or apprehanded in which such vindicaton
would not be within the power Of this Ma
ton.
II the foreshadOwed action OF the Euro
pean powers should assume tangible shapes
} 1t would be well for you TO bring to the
notice Of Lord Granville the provisions OF
the treaty of 1916, and especially its thirty
fifth article, and to intimate to him that any
movement in the sense OF supplementing the
guarantee contained therein would neces-
sarily be regarded by this Government as an
uncalled for intrusion into field where the
local and general interests OF the United
States OF America must be considered before
United States OF Colombia alone, Which has
already derived and will continue to derive
such eminent advantages from the guarau-
; tee OF this Government. 1t is not the wish
nor purpose OF the United States to inter-
fere with any commercial enterprise in
which the citizens or subjects OF any for
, eign power NAV see fit to embark under
lawful privileges. The fact thai the stock
and franchises of the Panama Canal
or the Panama Railway is being owned
. In Europe, either in whole or principally, Is
: no more subject OF complaint on the part
j of the United States than is the circumstance
1 that the stock Of many Of its own great lines
= of railway is largely held abroad. The pol
i icy Of the United States is one of peace and
0 friendly intercourse with every government
and people. This disposition is frankly
avowed, and it is moreover abundantly
shown in the fact that our armaments, by
= land and sea, are kept within such limits as
4 to afford no ground for distruSt or suspicion
of menace to other nations. The agreement
, entered into by this Government in 1S46 was
/. manifestly in the interest OF peace, and the
. necessity imposed by circumstances upon
= the United States OF America to watch over
0 o highway between its twocoasts was so i'm
. peratve that the resultant guarantee was
, the simplest Justice TO the chief interests
p concerned. Any attempt to supersedC
= that guarantee by agreement between the
European powers. which maintain vast
/. armies and patrol the sea with immense
. fleets, and whose interest in the canal and
:, its operation can never be so vital and SUI
= = preme rs ours, would parake OF the nature
q" OF an alliance against the United States, and
would be regarded by this Government ai
: an indication of unfriendly feeling. ltwoud
o be but an inadequate response to the good
d will we bear them, and to our cheerful and
l. constant recognition of their own rights oi
n domestic policy, as well as OF those resulting
v from proximity, or sprlnging from neigh
= borly interests.
In his address upon taking the oath oi
J. office, the President distinctly proclaimed
G. the position the Government would holt
s, upon this question, and IL the European
Cabinets have failed to observe and give du
heed to the declarations then made 1T ma,
be well for you on some proper occasion Il
call the attention of the Minister of Foreigl
g Affairs to the language used by the Presi