The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-17
FROM THE CAPITAL
LATEST NEWS FROM WASHINGTON
Tho SieurnEunn Treaty md Its Relations to
This GOvsrnmrnt-Annlysis Of tho
lIcnsuro-Coigross ossionnl Notes OK
Intercst-Lcsislntivo Points.

WASHINGTON, Dec, l5.-Tho Senator
have received the Nicaraguan treaty, nn'
its terms, though known in outline, hov'
created general sensation, II not aston
ishnent. it was known, MS announced II
the message, that under tho treaty th'
United States acquired tho right to bullt
canal across Nicaragua, but it was ,lo
understood tliat with this accession there
was actually ceded to the United States O
strip Of territory extending three miles
on each side Of tho proposed canal from
ocean to ocean. This strip, Six miles in
width, becomes part OF the domain ol
tho United States, and carries with IL the
right to fortify It and protect it with gar-
risons, ships and armies. ,.rz =,
These latter features were made public
to-day by tho New York Times, while the
Senate was discussing the subjec! OF
making treaties public. Under what are
considered here rs the safest estimates OF
cost, based on, surveys made for the Gov.
ernment, the figures for the completed
canal. including interest, aro placed at
But the money cost OF the
proposed work does not enter into the
sensation created by the treaty. This
arises from Tho iaet conceded by our
authorities, that all tho rights acquired
by the treaty, and all the purposes de.
clared by it, are in direct contrayention
Of all tho agreements OF the Clayton
Bulwer treaty rs still interpreted and in
sisted upon by Great Britain. ~. rs,
AS is well known, in the opening OF
President Garfield's administration, Mr..
Blaine opened a vigorous correspondence
with Minister Lowell looking TO the abro-
CATION OF that portion Of the Clayton. .Bul.
wer treaty which stood in the way oil the
United States doing exactly what it is now
10 do under the present treaty
with Nicaragua. 70 this proposition Lord
Granville's first note closed by declaring
hat "ller Sajesty's Government RELY
With confidence upon the Observance OF
al the engagements Of that treuty" Clay
gfE8t'
In 4 second letter, writing specifically OF
III" Nicaragua Canal project, Mr.. Blaine
,aid: -.5 -, :: -
"ltis earnestly hoped by the President
hat the conscientious now presented
will have due weight and influence with
Her Majesty's Government, and that the
notifications Of the treaty desirel by the
United States will be conceded in the same
riendly spirit in which they arc asked.
The following is summary ofthe changes
Necessary to meet the views OF this Gov
"First-Every part OF the treaty WHICH
orbids the United States fortifying the
anal and holding the political control Of
t in conjunction with the country in
which it is located, to be canreled,
,Second-Every part Of the treaty in
which Great Britain and the United Slates
gree to make no acquisition of territory
n Central America to remain in fullfprcc,h
When Mr.. Blaine retired, the questions
II modifying or abogating the treaty re-
NAMED unsettled. In fact, the DISCUSSION
'ver them had only begun. Mr.. Freling.
luysen continued tho correspondence,
'nly to be constantly assured by Lord
innville that Great Britain could not
gree that the treaty had been violatedon
ler part; that she did not regard any fea-
IRE Of it rs abrogated, and that he ex-
'ectcd tho United States to abide by the
compact, to which she had given solemn
onsent. Now, without further notice,
reaty is laid before the Senate which |
'vowedly sets at naught every provision
II the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, and, in the
natter Of acquiring territory, even yio-
atrs one OF the notifications whic4, Eng
and was asked TO make.
The general criticism upon tho treaty
iere is not SO much as to what it seeks to
accomplish, rs TO the fact that It has the
appearance OF a deliberate violation Of a
reaty with friendly power pending cor
'espondenco upon the question of pfocur-
ng its modification. And as all our naval
authorities agree that we would be prac.
ically helpless to execute the treaty at
present and must continue for some years
Q come, provided any one OF the great
european powers should attempt to pre-
'ent action on our part, there are many
Sho feel that the proposed treaty, il rati.
led, might lead to placing ns for the time
'eing, at least, in very unpleasant, iinot
mortifying position. !