Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-08
PHASES of the Nicaragua Treaty

1t is about certain that the Senate will
refuse to change the rules which require
treaties to be considered with closed
doors. The committee to which the matter
was referred has reported against con-
sidering the pending treaties in open
Senate.
The only one Of the treaties which ap-
pears to have many friends in the Senate
is the Nicaragua canal treaty. 1t was
favorably reported yesterday. 1t is by
no means certain, however, that il will
be ratified. While there is much to be
said in favor of it there is as much, If not
more. TO be said against it.
The reasons in favor of it have been
stated frequently, and are familiar TO the
public. The reasons against it are grad
ualIy becoming apparent. The very
strong and rather noisy lobby, which has
gathered at Washington in its interest,
has created a suspicion that there is job
of some kind in 1t.
The treaty provides that this govern
ment shall pay Nicaragua $4,OO0,0O0 for
the right-Of-way for the canal; 1t also pro-
vides that the interests of private holders
in the ceded land shall be purchased by
the United States. Who are the private
holders, and what price will they put on
their property? These are questions that
ought to be answered even before the dis
cusslon Of the treaty is entered upon.
May it not be that spectators have either
purchased. or acquired the right to pur-
chase. about all the coded tract? If they
have they would compel the United States
to pay very pretty sum to get rid Of
them.
What reason is there in this govern
meRt paying Nicaragua anything for the
right of way? The canal will be of i'm
mepse benefit to that country, and, be-
sides Nicaragua is to have one-thlrd OF
the canal tolls. the concession held by
Menocal and his friends, which was about
as valuable as that which our govern
ment is to obtain by the treaty, cost moth
ing. 1t looks queer that this government
is asked to pay for what little while ago
Nicaragua was glad to give away? And
if the treaty is ratified, will not MenOcal
and his friends put in claims amounting
to millions tor alleged damages. They
will assert, if there is a chance OF getting
ANYTHING, that their scheme was ruined
by this government.
There is another thing that must be
considered. The ratification of the treaty
will amount to the abrogation of tie
Clavton-Bulwer treaty without notice to
England. Even if England does not
resent such treatment, and does not
object To the treaty, the tact that we
committed breach of good faith will be
a bar to the negotiation of treaties with
England or other foreign countries in the
future.
1t is urged that England has already
broken the ClaytOn-Bulwer treaty by
making a settlement on the coast OF Hon.
duras. 1t is claimed, in answer to this,
that the treaty expressly gave England
the right to make that settlement. That
being the case this country has no right
under that treaty to acquire territory in
Central or South America without Eng
lands consent. If, however, the treaty
were abrogated England would feel at
liberty. doubtless, to acquire territory in
Central and South America. Any at
tempt to do so, no doubt, would meet with
a protest from this country. 1t can be
readily seen that the question of the rati-
fication of the canal treaty is not without
difficulties.