The record-union., 1898-12-11
CLAYTON TREATY, AND
WHAT IT MEANS.

In the United States Senate on Thurs
day a resolution was introduced re-
questing the President to enter into ne
gotiations with Great Britain for modi-
fication of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty,
in order to remove any obstacle to the
ownership or construction Of the Nicar-
aqua Canal by the United States.
The Clayton-B -Bulwer treaty was con-
cluded in 1850, under Taylor's admins
tration. Interoceanic communication
via one Of the isthmian routes had long
been a subject of speculation among
thinkers. The treaty was negotiated to
settle the question of the control of
a contemplated canal. Mr.. Freling-
huysen, Secretary of State in 1882, said:
''It was concluded to secure thing
which did not exist, and which now
never can exist''-referring to a lasting
protectorate.
In 1916 New Grenada, by treaty, gave
as free transit across the Isthmus of
Panama, and under that grant the Pan
anna Railroad was built. In 1849 we
concluded treaty with Nicaragua for
the opening of a ship canal through
that State, from Greytown to the Pa
cifc. On the east coast of Nicaragua
lay the Mosquito Indian territory, rum
ming far along that coast, and in such
jurisdiction was Greytown; but the
place itself was occupied and controlled
by subjects of England.
But the United States did not concede
fhat the Mosquito Indians had any such
rights over the territory as would work
our exclusion for a canal terminus, and
we likewise denied Great Britain's right
TO extend protectorate over the terri
tory. This dispute might have led to
a war. To avoid it the Clayton Bulwer
freaty was concluded
That treaty practically established a
5oint protectorate by England and the
United States over the Mosquito coast,
for the purposes of promoting the con-
struction of the canal, the travel to
California then making such a water
way b prominent need.
AS Mr.. Frelinghuysen expressed it in
his celebrated letter to Lord Granville,
s'The United States offered. to England
an equal share of all it had in that re-
gion, in order that no time might be
lost" in beginning the canal work.
Through no fault of the United States
time was lost, and the concession
failed, so the canal was not begun. He
therefore notified the English Govern
ment, through Lord Granville. that
s'the President of the United States did
not think this country called upon in
law or in equity to revive the pro-
visions of the treaty. which were appli-
cable only to the concession of 1S49,
nor that it is called upon to apply the
provisions of the treaty to any other
concessions thereafter or hereafter to
be made
In short, sharp sentences our Secre-
tary then went on to inform England
that the United States held itself free
from the provisions of the treaty, be-
cause the original purpose for which it
it was conceded that there We're some
provisions of the treaty which might be
advantageously retained, such as those
for free port at each end of the canal.
and for the definition of the distance
from either end, without which only
might captures be made in time of war
In short this nation was willing TO keep
alive the second article of the treaty,
but as TO joint protection by the two
nations Of any new persons who might
undertake to build the canal. the United
States held itself under no obligation.
We now have once more the PROPOSE
tion to formally, and by agreement,
Rbrogate the first article of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, it being understood that
Great Britain has never acceded fully
TO our views concerning the binding
character or the scope of the treaty
The article in question, therefore, and
TO which the Senate resolution of last