The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-12-31
CLAYTON-BULwER TREATY.
All Indications Point to It's Abroga-
ton Within n Very short
Time.

little doubt that Great Britain will
agree to abrogate the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty. The temper of the cabinet and
public opinion, which largely influences
the governments policy, points to such
action, though no definite understand
ing with the United States has yet
been reached.
Great Britain desires that the Mica
raguan canal be constructed, and is
willing that the United States should
control if the United States guarantees
it's neutrality and safeguards British
interests.
The reports from Washington that
the British ambassador there, Sir Jul
liam Pauncefote, has been instructed
to negotiate the abrogation of the
treaty. are Incorrect, though 1t is likely
he will soon receive instructions to that
effect.
The impression here is that the Brit
ish foreign office and the United States
charge d'affaires, Mr.. Henry White, in
cidental to his visits to cabinet minis
tiers, will arrange the basis Of action.
Mr.. White spent part of the week with
the marquis of Salisbury at Hatfield
house and he went Friday with his fam
lily to spend Christmas week with the
duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth
house. Derbyshire, the country seat
of the duke, who is lord president Of
the council. There Mr.. White will meet
another influential minister, Lord
George Hamilton, the secretary of
state for India. Anglo-American ques-
tions naturally will be discussed.
London Dec. 24.-The question of
the Clayton-B1lwer treaty is freely dis
cussed in the morning papers. The
Daily News and Daily Chronicle pub
lish editorials asserting that Lord Sal
isbury fought to get some concession
in return for consenting to abroga-
ton" The Daily Chronicle points out
that the canal would make the United
States n great naval power in the far
east, increase American naval strength
in the Atlantic and alter to England's
disadvantage the carrying trade to the
far east.
Washington, Dec. 24.-It is accepted
as little short of certain in the best in
formed official and diplomatic circles
that negotiations will be opened at an
early day toward so modifying the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty as to meet the
conditions of the present day concern
ing American construction and control
of the Nicaragua canal. But while re-
cent events on both sides of the water
have made this more OBVIOUS, the Brit
ish ambassador, Sir Julian Pauncefote,
has not up to the present time re-
ceived any instructions to open nego-
tiations on this subject nor is there
any intimation that instructions are
about to be received
1t will be recalled that the presi-
dents recent message, referring to
American construction of the canal,
was misinterpreted by the English
press to mean that the United States
intended to disregard the Clayton
Bulwer treaty and go ahead with the
canal without reference to England.
This view was promptly disavowed by
officials here. Since then there has
been about time for the official mail to
reach London and this doubtless per-
mits fuller clearing up of the errone-
Gus impression that the English press
and public and possibly the officials
took of the presidents references to the
canal.
1t is felt that this better understand
ing may naturally lead up to in!truc-
tons from the foreign Office to take up
the whole subject, but. as stated. no
such instructions have been received up
to this time and there is no intimation
that they are about to be given.
The state department originally did
not contemplate n formal opening of
negotiations to secure the desired
amendment of the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty until congress had made some
progress at least towards the enact
ment of the Nicaraguan canal bill. the
department wishing not to be placed in
the false position of negotiating for an
object which congress might. before
the conclusion. deem to be undesirable.