Arizona weekly citizen., 1881-10-30
WEEKLY CITIZEN.
SUNDAY, OCT. 30, 1881
THE PANAMA CANAL.

It is evidently the purpose of the ad- ministration to enforce the Monroe doc Urine in relation to this great improve ment, not for the purpose of preventing the construction of the canal, but to prevent the continent being brought into any European entanglements. It would never do for this country'to admit that European powers have the right to. guarantee neutrality on this side of the globe. The United States can glve sui ticient guarantees to establish the neu- trality of that canal. As well might the United States assume to guarantee the neutrality of the Suez canal as for the various European powers to assume to protect the Panama canal. The people of this country will justify and support the administration in enforcing its views upon this question.
 4 Washington dispatch says that the President has sent to the Senate the re- bort of the Secretary of State in answer t. the resolution of October l4th, in- quiring 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 proto- col negotiate sd by the representative of the United States, and being informed by the Minister of the United States n Colombia that the government of Co lombia, by its public acts, was avowlng it's desire to terminate the treaty Of IS46 and appeal to the powers of Europe for a joint guaranty of the neutrality of the Isthmus and the sovereignty of Colom- bia, the department addressed a letter of instructions to the United States Minister at London, and an Identical note was sent to each American Minister in Europe. Secretary Blaine, in his let ter of instructions, says: "It has fallen under the observation of the President, through the current statements of the European press and the other usual channels of communication that the great powers of Europe may ossibly be considering the subject of oltly guar anteeing the neutrality of the inter- oceanic canal now projected across the Isthmus of Panama. The United States recognizes that a proper guaranty of neutrality is essential to the construc- ton and successful operation of any highway across the Isthmus Of Panama. More than a third of a century ago this corsrnmeut took every step that Is deemed requisite in the premises. The necessity was foreseen and abundantly provided for long in advance of any pos sible call for the actual exercise of power"
 In 1S46 the memorable and important treaty was negotiated and signed be- tween the United States and New Gran ada, now the United States of Columbia. By the forty-fifth article of that treaty, in exchange for certain concessions made to the United States, we guaran- teed positively and efIicaciouslyt 10 pro tect the neutrality of the Isthmus of any inter-oceanic communication that might be constructed upon or over 1t, for the maintenance of free transit from sea to sea-" and we also guaranteed the rights of sovereignty and property III the United States of Columbia over the ter ritory of the IsIhmus, as included within the borders of the State of Panama. In the judgment of the President this guaranty does not require re-enforce- ment or accession, or assent from any other power. In more than one instance this government has been called upon to vindicate tbe neutrality thus guarau- teed, and there is no contingency now foreseen or apprehended in which inc vindication would not be within the power of this nation. If the foreshad- owed action of 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 1S46, and especiallyits th1rty-ffth arti- cle, and tckhtimate to him that any -' mo 0senent in the sense of supplement- ing the guaranty contained therein would necessarily be regarded by this government as an uncalledfor intrusion into the field where the local and gen eral interests of the United States of America must be considered before those of any other power.