National Republican., 1885-01-17


responsibility?
Newspapers ana Foreign Affairs.
The pending Nicaraguau canal treaty
has caused hccditor5 Of the press through
out the country to brush up their histori-
cal knowledge aud to exercise their brains
in II now channel. Upon tho whole, the
press has graspod the subject and is wrest-
ling with the elements and details with n
degree of forco that is both oreditablc and
gratifying. Tho average American news
paper Of this age is entitled 10 tho credit,
which it sometimes receives, Of possJ ssng
the requisite comprehension, crudition,
and ability to enable it to hold its own
in the discussion Of tho practical affairs
Of this mundane sphere. In the dis
cussion Of one phase of the diplomatic
questions involved or mixed up with
the canal treaty, however, there appears
some misunderstanding of ono Of tho
leading facts in relation to tho defunct
Clayton Bulwer treaty. Some Of the
newspapers regard that one.sided instru-
meut as q subsisting compact between tho
governments Of tho Uuited States and
of Great Britain, of tho Same binding
force now as 1t was n third of century
ago. Other newspapers assume that tn o
treaty is not to be regarded now, because
"notioe has been given to Great Britain"
that tho United States wants to bo re-
leased from the bargain. And still other
newspapers are urging tho giving of
such notice to Great Britain if IL has not
already been given.
As a matter of fact no stipulation for
its abrogation WAS made in the Clayton
Bulwer treaty. With reference to the
binding character and the expiration OF
the convention of 1850, the comprehen-
siyo letter of Secretary FrolinGhuysen to
Minister Lowell dated May 8, 1882,
plainly exhibits tho views of the govern
ment of the United States. In that docu
mont the ultimatum of this government
was stated explicitly, based upon a
careful summary of the history of
the long. g.drawn-out correspondence upon
this general subject between the two
governments. Since that date the posi-
tion Of this government has been stated
repeatedly, and with amplification and
emphasis. The following excerpts from
the aboye.specifed letter are to the point
The president believes that the formation
ora proteCtorntc by European nations over the
isthmus transit would be in conflict with q
doctrine which has been for many years as
serted by the United States. This sentiment
| is properly termed doctrine, as 1t has no pre-
scrlbed sanction aud It's assertion is left to the
cXigency which may invoke It, 1t has beer
repeatedly announced by the executive dc
partment Of this government and through the
utterances of distinguished citizens: 1t Il
cherished by the American people, and has
been approved by the government Of Grea
Britain.
The Clayton. Bulwer treaty was concluded
to secure thing which did not exist, ant
which now never can exist. 1t was TO secur,
the contraction of canal under the grant o
1919 from Nicaragua that the United State
consented to waive the exclusive and yaluabl,
rights which had been given to them; tina
they consented to agree with Great Britain
that they would not occupy, fortify colonlze, o
assume dominion over any part Of Contra
America, and that they consented to admi
her maIesty's government at some future da.
to a share in the protection which theyhaye
exercised over the lsthmus Of Panama.
The President does not think that the Unite,
states are called upon by any principle o
equity to rcrirs those provisions ofthe Clayton
Bulwer treaty which were specially dppiicdbi
to The concession Of august, 1919, and appl
them to any other concession which has beef
since or may hereafter be made. The cond
tions Of lss2 are not those of 1852. The peopl
of the United States have now abundance G
surplus capital for such enterprises, and hay
no need to call upon foreign capitalists Tn
legislative branch of the government of tn
| United States may also desire to be free Il
place the credit OF the United States at tn
service Of one or more of these entel
prlscs, The President does not feel himseI
warranted in making any engagement @
any admission respecting the extinct provision
of the Clayton.Balwer treaty which would pre-
vent or interfere with such purpose. on tn
contrary, irankness requires him to say that d
the persons who held the grant which the Tn
ted states understood to be accepted by tho tw
governments under tho treaty have not tea
r!cd out the proposed enterprise" the Unite
States esteem themselves competent to reflIs
t. afford their protection Jointly with Grei
Britain 10 any other persons or company, an
hold themselves free hereafter to protect an
ilteroceanc communication in which they
their citizens may become Interested in sue
way as treaties with the local sovereign powe
may warrant and their interests may require,
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