The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-12
TIE NTCARAGUA CANAL.

While the president did not literally
commit himself to the Nicaragua canal
route, he made it clear that the con-
cessions of the Maritime Canal Com
pany must be considered seriously, and
this fact has been interpreted as a
very helpful boost to that enterprise.
For the time being, at any rate, the
schemes of the Panama Canal Company
to enlist the services of our govern
ment in an endeavor to lift their pro
ject out of the mud, are far from hope
full. The fact that a considerable por-
ton of the Panama canal has already
been dug is overbalanced by other con-
siderations that need not be mentioned
here. The fact is, the Nicaragua route
is the only one meant when the sub
ject of an isthmian canal is preached.
The next question on the program is
that Of national or international con-
troll. Party platforms and party lead
ers have pronounced emphatically in
favor of exclusive ownership and con
troll for the United States, despite the
provisions Of the Clayton Bulwer treaty
of 1850 which makes obligatory a Joint
control by the United States and Great
Britain of any Central American canal
1t is proposed, therefore, to abrogate
this treaty, and it has been asserted
that an understanding has already been
entered into between the respective
governments with that purpose in
view This aeeavtiO,, l,o,,,o,,a,. ,.o..+,,
upon very doubtful authority, and
there seems to be no knowledge of any
such understanding in London.
| What the president said of exclusive
control in his message created surprise
in England, but Henry Norman thinks
there is no danger of serious misun-
Outstanding on this point He has
excellent reasons to say that the two
governments are in accord upon the
principle of a solution of this problem.
| 1t will be found either in a neutraliza-
ton of the canal, which would be the
best possible way, or in some kind of
| arrangement which would leave the
canal open to England in all circum-
| stances except when at war with the
United States" This is a scoop" for
Mr.. Norman. Nobody else has the
news.
| Meanwhile it is instructive to observe
that several of the strongest admins
tration newspapers, especially those in
| the west, have come to the conclusion
that exclusive American control of the
canal would not be wholly advantage
Gus to the United States. The reasons
they give are military, and it should be
remembered that the primary purpose
Of the canal is military. There is much
dispute as to its commercial value, and
! the prospect is that it would not be
financial success for many years
after it is built. But in any case, what
ever Notifications and garrisons might
be deemed necessary to defend the
canal its safety after all, would de-
pend upon our supremacy upon the
sea. England and the United States
combined could keep the canal open
and maintain its neutrality against the
world and land fortifcations and gar
risons would be unnecessary.
In case Of a breach with England, the
control of the canal would still be a
question of sea power and the situation
would not be materially different from
what it would be if the canal belonged
to the United States alone. With
Jamaica as base, it would be possible
for England to blockade the canal, and
this blockade would have to be taised
not by the American army but by the
navy.