The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-16


absolute naturalization of the canal as respects
| the Eupopean powers, which can in no other
| way be certainly attained and lastingly assured
Another consideration forcibly suggest the
necessity of modifying the convention under
| discussion. At the time 1t was agreed TO
| Great Britain and the United States were the
| only nations prominent in the commerce OF
| Central and South America. Since that time
| other leading nations have greatly enlarged
| their commercial connection with that coun-
| try and are to-day contending for the suprem-
| acy in the trade of those shores. Within the
| past four yea indeed the number OF French
| aud German vessels landing on sthe two coasts
| of Central America far exceeds the number
| of British vessels. While, therefore, Great
| Britain and the United States may agree TO do
nothing and according to the present conven-
| ton each remains bound to the other in COM
| mon helplessuess third power or fourth or a
| combination of many may step in and give d.
| rection to the project which the Clayton-Bul-
| wer treaty assumed was under the sole control
| of the two English speaking nations. Indeed
| so far as the canal scheme now projected at
| Panama finds national sponsor or pt iron 1t
| is in the republic of France and the non-lnter-
| vention enjoined upon this country by the
| Clayton Bulwer treaty, If applied TO that canal,
| would paralyze the arm of the United States
| in any attempt to assert the plain rights and
| privileges which this government acquired
| throu a solemn treaty with the repuollc OIL
| Colombia anteI ior to the Clayton-Bulwer con-
| vention, so that the modification OF the treaty
| of 1850 now sought is not only to free the
| United States from unequal and inequltaole
| obligations to Great Britain, but also to en-
| power the government to treat with all other
| nations seeking foothold on the Isthmus on
| the same basis of impartial justice and
| independence. One of the motives that
originally induced this government to assent
| to the Clayton Bulwer treaty not distinctly
| expressed in the Instrument but inferable
| from every line of it, was the expected aid OF
| British capital in the construction OF the
| Nicaraguan canal. That expectation has not
| beeu realized and the changed condition OF
| this country since 1850 has diminished, II 1t has
| not entirely removed from consideration, any
/ advantage to be derived from that source.
/ Whenever in the judgment OF the United
/ States government the time shall be suspicious
| and the conditions favorable for the construc-
| ton of the Nicaraguan canal no aid VIII be
| needed outside of the resources OF our own
/ government and people, and while foreign
| capital will always be welcomed and never
| repeled it cannot henceforth enter as an
| essential factor in the determination OF this
| problem.
1t is earnestly hoped by the President that
| the considerations now presented Will nave
| due weight and influence with her maJesty's
| government and that the notifications OF the
| treaty desired by the United States will be
conceded in the same friendly spirit IN whlcn
| they are asked.
The following is a summary of the changes
necessary to meet the views OF this govern
ment:
First--Every part of the treaty which for
| bids the United States fortifying the canal and
holding the political control of it in conlunc-
ton with the country in which it IS located 10
| be cancelled
i Second-Every part of the treaty in which
| Great Britain and the United States agree to
make no acquisition of territory in Central
America TO remain in full force AS
an original proposition this government
| would not admit that Great Britain and the
/ Init ad Ctato cbCrfd hp tfla OASIS
even negatively with respect to territorial ac-
uuisition on the American continent and
would be unwilling to establish such prece-
dent without full explanation. But the treaty
contains that provision with respect to Central
America and If the United States government
should seek its annulment it might give rise to
erroneous and mischievous appre hension among
| people with whom this government desires
| to be on the most friendly terms.
| The United States has taken special occasion
to assure the Spanish american republics
to the south of us that we do not intend and
do not desire to cross their border or In any
disturb their territorial integrity and we snail
not willingly incur the risk OF misunoer-
standing by annuling the clauses in the Clay
| ton Buiwer treaty which forbids such step
/ with Central America. The acquisition OF
military and naval station necessary for the
| protection of this canal and voluntarily ceded
to the United States by the Central American
4 States not to be regarded as violation OF the
! provision contained in the foregoing.
Third-The United States will not object to
maintaining the clause loosing to the estab-
lishment of a free port at each end OF whatever
canal may be constructed if England desires 1t
to be.
Fourth-The clause in which the two gov
ernments agreed to make treaty stipulations
for Joint protectorate If whatever railway OF
| canal might be constructed at Tehuantepec or
4 Panama has never been pefected. No treaty
stipulations for the proposed end have been
suggested by either party although citizens OF
the United States long since constructed
railway at Panama and are now engaged IN II q
same work at Tehuantepec. 1t is falr pre-
sumption in the judgment of the President
that this provision should be regarded as ooso-
lete by the now action and common consent OF
the two governments
Fifth-The clause defining the distance from
either end of the canal where in time OF war
captures might be made by either beillgerent
on the high seas was left incomplete and the
distance was never determined. In the judg-
ment of the Pretident speaking in the interests
| of peaceful commerce this distance should be
made as liberal as possible and might with adj
vantage as a question relating to the high seas
and common TO all nations be matter OF stipu-
laton between the great powers OF the world
In assuming as necessity the political con-
troll of whatever canal or canals may be con-
structeG across the Isthmus the United States
will act in entire harmony with the govern
ment within whose territory the canals shall be
located. Between the United States and the
other American r6puOIlCS tnoro can 10 uO
hostility no jealousy, no rivalry, no dstrust.
This government entertains no design in con-
nection with this project for Its own advantage
which is not also for the equal or greater adj
vantage of the country to be directly and I'm,
mediateiy affected Nor does the United
States seek any exclusive or narrow CONNER
cial advantage. 1t frankly agrees and will
by public proclamation declare
at the proper time in conjunction with the re-
public on whose soil the canal may be located
| z hoc rir nd nrivilpcop the
tolls and obligations for the use of the canal
shall apply with absolute impartiality to the
merchant marine of every nation on the globe,
and eqaally in time of peace the harmless use
of the canal shall be freely granted to the war
vessels of other nations. In time OF war, aside
from the defensive use to be made OF 1t by the
country in which it is constructed and by the
United States, the canal shall be lmpartialiy
closed against the war vessels OF all belllger
ents. Il is the desire and determination OF the
United States that the canal shall be used only
for the development and increase of peaceful
commerce among all the nations, and shall not
be considered a strategic point in warfare
which may tempt the aggressions OF belliger-
ents or be seized under the eompulsion of mil
itary necessity by any of the great powers that
may have contes us in which the United States
has no stake and will teke no part.
If it be asked why the United States objects
40 the assent of European governments to the
terms of the neutrality for the operation of the
canal my assurance is that the right to assent
implies the right to dissent, ynd thus the whole
question would be thrown opon for contention
as an International issue. 1t is the fixed pur-
pose of the United States to con6ne it strictly
and solely as an American question to be dealt
with and decided by the American govern
ment.
In presenting the views contained herein tc
Lord Granville you will take occasion to say
that the government of the United States seeks
this particular time for the discussion as most
oppJrtune and suspicious. At no period since
the peace of 1888 have the relations b~tween
the British and American Governments been
SO cordialand friendly as now, and | am sure
her Majesty's government will find in the
| now suggested and the propositions
now submitted addition al evidence
of the desire of this government to remove all
| possible grounds of controversy between two
nations which have SO many interests in com,
mon and so many reasons for honorable and
| lasting peace.
You will at the earliest opportunity acquaint
Lord Granville with the purpose of the United
States touching the Clayton-Bulwe treaty
and in your own way you will impress him full
ly with the views of your government. | refrain
from directing that copy of this instruction
he left with his lordshiD, because in reviewing