New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-19
CANAL DIPLOMACY.
ENGLISH COMMENTS ON THE PRESI-
DENTS ESSAGE-AMERICAN con-
troll IN NICARAGUA WITH
SIrEZ PRINCIPLES


London. December :.
When Or. Wharton's International Law" was
published in America a dozen years ago one OF
the English quarterly magazines published an
81 precia;ive review If II and expressed the hope
that some painstakirg publicist would compNe a
similar dices; of British diplomacy. The author
Of that review perceived the value Of that work
as a practical manual Of American diplomacy
end assumed confidently that 1t would enable
American writer's especially OF the press. TO dis
cuss intelligently and al short notice the most
intricate and obscure points Of foreign policy.
He regretted that there was not similar digest
Of British diplomacy. because he understood how
useful would be such a compilation Of prece-
dents and passages from important State papers
n giving form and direction to public discussion.
was reminded Of this shrewd Scotch review
er's comments when the Venezuela question was
suddenly raised a few years ago. The Guiana
boundary dispute was one of a series Of frontier
controversies In 4 worldwide empire. The pre-
else issues OF fact were not understood in Eng
land nor were the bearings Of the Monroe Doc
trlne upon il intelligently discussed. American
opinion was definite and we'll Informed because
there was volume of Wharton's Digest" in
every great newspaper office. The current Eng
scatter brain Yankee expedient Of twisting the
Hons tail and working up the Irish vote in a
Presidential election. There was no recognition
o, the inherent force Of an American tradition
which for over seventy years had been silently
operatire 10 maintain and 10 perpetuate republi-
can institutions IN the New World. There W as
no apprehension OF the essential fact that Brit
fish encroachments upon Venezuela were the
only exception TO the application Of a principle
which had exempted the Western Hemisphere
from European colonization during a period
when the Powers were extending their con-
quests and multiplying their dependencies in
Asia. Africa and the South Seas While Ameri-
cans understood clearly the bearings Of their
policies and diplomacy. there were hazy notions
prevailing among Enghshmen respecting every
uoint IN controversy. when their favorite Ameri-
can statesman. whom they had been flatterng
for a dozen years. suddenly turned and threat
ered 70 make war upon them over the Vencz-
uea boundary and the Monroe Doctrine.
There has been q similar reminder this week
Of the lack OF p practical manual OF diplomacy
which would enable writer's for the English
press % discuss with cearness and precision at
short notice any question Of foreign affairs
President McKinleys Message contained a dis
unct declaration That the construction Of the
Nicaragua Canal had become more than ever in
dlspensable and that American policy more than
ever called for It's control by the United States
Government Many English journals were
startled by the absence Of any reference TO the
CLAYTON Bulwer Treaty. which for nearly fifty
years had been the chief thread in the tangled
sken OF canal diplomacy Some Of them under
took 10 hit off ~ random the essential points OF
one Of the arges; and most confusing chapters
in the diplomatic relations Of England and Amer
lea Naturally much Of the firing was in the air
The whole subject terra incognita to most Of
these hasty Investigators; and If The London
Times had not supplied the right cue with sing l.
lar perspicacity and good sense there would have
been much mischievous and ignorant discussion
Q, a foreign question Of the first importan e to
the commercial interests Of England and
America
HASTY NEWSPAPER COMMENT
T. Is only necessary % cite one or two illus
trations. since these English comments upon the
Presidents Message have been fully telegraphed
70 Now-York by the Associated Press under its
admirable London management Mr. Alfred
Harnswor-hs Mail in its e1gerLess TO pre-
vent the ersnaring Of the sleeping British lion
righteousness: The canal cannot come under
the sole control Of the United states without
violating a solemn trea.y with this country-a
treaty under which England abandoned her old
dream q q British Nicaragua Canal. and sur
rendered her territory on the Mosquito coas'
IN order 10 a6nit the United states into full
rights % partnership IN the undertaking. This
.nconEruous account Of thu origin of the Clay
ton-Bulwer negotiations is accom- anied by eX-
pressions Of disappointment and surprise be-
cause the President has proposed the principle
OF single control seeing that Joint control by
them and ourselves would be at once an emole-
matte and tangible instance of the new partner
ship u interests between the nations.
The Globe" IS even more suspicious than The
Mai" Us the canal" il asks. "to be an Amerl-
can river. the passage OF which Will he impeded
by the enactments of tie home tariff? II mat
is really what is implied cannot but foresee
grave differences between the two Govern
ments" il would hardly be possible 10 ma'ch
the absurdi;y Of this suggestion that the Amerl-
cans may be intending 20 enforce high fro-
teotionst tariff against transit trade al each
end % tho Nicaragua Canal, but II woulu De
easy 20 multiply expressions Of distrus; ana uH-
certainty from the provincial press respecting
the new policy OF single control ptoc'a''''N ~
the President These protests are based IN 'he
main upon the assumption that the lh''eo
States Government intends deliberate renuh'la-
tion % treaty obligations and furthermore 'nA'
tho neutrality OF the canal for merchant anu
way ships viii not be guaranteed undef sins'e
control by the United States The salient po'n'
is not perceived that the Clayton Buwer treaty
IN It's present form is Of no value TO either coui'
Try and has only operated to retarn and prevent
the construction Of TIE cana,
A sTATEsMANLIKE VIEW
Il rlcas,,,e 10 turn from these hasty ana
ll-inforp,ca comments upon canal policy TO me
Authoritative oni-ion % a Journal like The
Times " which n this instance knows what IS