Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-01
OUR SOUTH AMERICAN POLICY
What the Presidents Message VIII Saw
on the Subject.

Washington Special to St. Louis Republican.
The President has not had a chance to
say anything officially about his South
American policy since last December.
when he discovered that Mr.. Blaine when
Secretary of State, was following his own
Ideas rather than those of the administra-
ton. He firmly insisted that Mr.. Blaine
should not compromise the administra-
ton. Whatever may have been fhe policy
of his predecessor in relation to the Chilli
Peru trouble, his own policy was
one of fair dealing and no un-
timely interference with either of these
powers. In the message which will
be read to Congress next Monday the
President will make clear the difference
between the policy begun by Blaine and
his own. This Will be of special interest
inasnuch as it is by no means unlikely
that Congress may further examine into
MIR. Blalne'S peculiar conduct. The Presi-
dent of course will not allude to the Blaine
correspondence, although it has mostly
been made public since the latest message.
But General Arthur wishes to have his
own policy clearly understood and set forth
in an official paper. The President will say
that he has desired that the representa-
tiYes of the United States to Chill should
be of a pacific and dignified character
He did not desire that Chill should be led
to infer that there were any covert threats
when Mr.. TrescOtt asked whether the ar
rest Of CalderOn was intended as an insult
to the United States. The President will
also suggest that the Monroe doctrine does
not in his view extend to the prevention
of commercial undertakings which are the
work of private citizens. When, how
ever, European governments enter the
American continent for the purpose of
supplanting Republican institutions, then
it viii be time enough to talk about the
Monroe doctrine.
The President Will not say ANYTHING
about the interOceanic canal scheme eX-
cept to Indicate his opposition to any
schemes which will involve the name or
good faith of the United States. He does
not believe that De Lessons should be
driven from the isthmus by armed force
He will express no hostility to the ener-
getic Frenchman's plans, although he may
suggest that it would be a good thing for
the United States if the De Lesseps plan
was met and matched by another con-
trOlled entirely by American capital. The
President believes that the ClaytOn-Bul-
wer treaty, which gives England with
ourselves a joint control over any inter-
oceanic canal that may be built across
Central America should be modified, but
he doubts whether such notifications can
he secured by bullying the British Gov
ernment. If negotiations should fail the
government could give the necessary six
months notice and terminate the prOtec-
tOrate.
General Arthur, however, does think
that any canal across Central America
should be jointly protect by the United
States and the country through which it
passes. He does not think, however, that
the treaty can in any way affect the Pana-
ma route. and that, in fact, it could only
affect a route which will never be adopt
ed-that across Nicaragua, under the
grant of 1919. The President believes also
that the United States is not likely to offer
its sole protection to any canal that may
be built. He will express his hope of am
early and amicable understanding with
Great Britain. The President will dismiss
Mr.. Blaine's grand international Congress
scheme. with the simple suggestion that
it is the policy of the United States to per-
NIT other governments to make the first