The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-31
The Nicaragua Treaty.

canal suitable for all the demands and
requirements of commerce, from the pert
of San Juan de Nicaragua or Greytown,
according to surveys and plans already
partially made, to the Pacific Ocean at
the harbor of Brito. In consideration
the Republic of Nicaragua Is to cede to
the United States the right of way
through her territory, and in addition
thereto a strip OF land three miles wide
on each side of the canal, together with |
the ports and harbors of Greytown and
Brjto.
The United States is to control in the
management of the canal, and the Re
public Of Nicaragua is to receive one
half of the tolls levied and collected. |
Both powers engage to protect the canal
and the United States assumes TO defend
Nicaragua from invasion.
The pending of this treaty before the
Senate for ratification has called forth
much discussion, and the division be-
tween those who are friendly and those
who are opposed to the treaty is not on
party lines.
The objections to the treaty are %
that it imposes on the United States the
expenditure of an enormous sum of
money, the cost of the canal being esti-
mated at $4,000, 900: ~ that it con-
ficts with the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
with England, and ~ that it is not in
harmony with the Monroe Doctrine.
The United States are so rich that the
question of expense has given place in
the discussion of the treaty to the other
questions.
| In conservative editorial which we
| find in the New York Tribune it is in
| timated that the draft of the Nicaragua
treaty is in terms, an evasion of the
Clayton Bulwer treaty. The latter pro-
vides, among other things, az that
neither Great Britain nor the United
States shall obtain or maintain exclu-
sive control over any interoceanic canal
in Central America; (2) that neither
power shall erect or maintain fortitica-
tions commanding the same, nor exer-
else any dominion over territory; (3)
that neither Power shall make use of
any protectorate or alliance for the pur-
pose of fOrtifying, colonizing or occupy
ing territory; and a. that neither Power
shall use its influence with any State or
Government for the purpose of acquir-
ing or holding for its citizens or subjects
any rights or advantages in regard to
commerce or navigation which shall not
be offered to the citizens or subjects of
the other power on the same terms. The
! Tribune finds after a careful reading of
the Nicaragua treaty, % that the United
States Government does not obtain an
exclusive, but a joint contr4' over the
canal; ~ u does not secure the privi-
lege Of erecting Notifications. nor of
exercising sovereignty over territory;
| (3) it does not make use of the proposed
protectorate or alliance for the purpose
of fortifying, colonizing or occupying
territory; and a. the general rights and
advantages in regard to commerce or
navigation are practically offered to
British and American shipping on the
same terms.
On the subject of the naturalization
of the canal the new treaty is, we sup
pose, purposely silent Under the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty the neutrality and
freedom of the canal was guaranteed
but such stipulation is not desirable
now. A declaration in the convention
with Nicaragua tina. the United States
in case of war would Sc ze and hold the
canal was probably omitted out of re
gard for the obligations of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, but no one doubts that
such course would be followed should
the exigency arise.
The Monroe Doctrine which was an
nounced in message of President
MONROE sent to Congress in December
1923, affirmed that 1.-The American CONT
nents, by the free and independent con-
dition which they have assumed and
maintain, are henceforth not to be con
sidered as subjects for future COLOMBIA
ton by any European Powers" and de-
fined the policy of the United States as
one that would ''leave the parties to
themselves in the hope that European
Powers will pursue the same course"
In negotiating the present Treaty the
Government, while seeming to desire to
exclude European Powers from getting
foothold on the continent, has not been
slow to establish itself.
The arguments in favor of the ratif-
cation of the treaty are based upon the
benefits to commerce which an unin-
terrupted waterway connecting the
/. Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, by route
greatly shortening the distance between
each, would afford and it is contended
that in :he event of war.such canal as
that contemplated by the treaty would
be invaluable 1t is claimed that the
opening of the canal would have re-
vivifying effect on American shipping
and would compel the enlargement of
our navy and it's maintenance on re-
spectacle footing. The questions in
volved are serious and no step should
be taken except after mature delibera-
ton. Perhaps it would be best to post
pone action until the new administra-
ton has been installed.