The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-30
(sneclal Corresnondencel

Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Raw
Inns remarks on the Nicaragua canal
bill last week were thoughtful, and
gave evidence of close examination OF
the subject. His amendment was de-
teated, but his arguments were closely
listened to and received with express
sions of approval. He said: Several
senators take the position that the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty is not in force,
and that nothing should be done by the
senate or by the president in recogni-
uon OF its validity. L have not been
able TO appreciate the ground upon
which they make that claim. Certainly
the subject matter of that treaty was a
proper subject matter TO be dealt with
between two independent nations If
the United States has within its compe-
tent, constitutional authority recog-
nized, and the president, with the adj
vice and consent of the senate, has
Seen fit to recognize the rights which
Were accorded to Great Britain in the
provisions of the treaty, / ann unable
to understand or appreciate why the
obligations OF that treaty would not be
of binding force upon the United States.
Since the ratification OF that treaty in
1850 it has time and again been recog-
nized by the diplomatic authorities of
liz DA11NESf ny MI 4SAeNiAASr - II
Frelinghuysen, and by others who have
made elaborate presentations Of rea-
sons 10 Great Britain as an inducement
why she should abrogate or modify the
provisions OF that treaty.
'.The president, in his message deiiv-
cred in December last, called attention
to the construction of the Nicaragua
canal, and in the course Of that mes
sage asserted that it ought to be a ca
nal under the control of the government
of the United States. 1t seems to me
that Great Britain apprehended that
under the recommendations thus made
by the president there was a purpose
on the part of the United States to ig-
more or disregard the rights which were
accorded under that treaty to Great
Britain.
1T is proposed by this bill, first, to
buy the questionable concessions made
TO the Maritime Canal company of
Nicara qua Il is proposed then to
leave it TO the discretion of the presi-
dent of the United States TO suspend
all operations under the provisions of
this bill at any time and under any cir
cumstances which may appeal to him
as sufficient reason to thus cause him
to make such order of suspension
We propose by this bill TO turn over
to the executive authority the question
as 10 whether this canal shall or shall
not be constructed under any circum-
stances. as to whether or not it shall
be constructed and put into operation
under the Limitations and in accordance
with the provisions of the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty; and we are proposing to do
that in the face of a declaration made,
IL is claimed upon the highest author
ity, an authority standing nearest to
the president, that it is his purpose that
this canal snail be constructed and op-
Grated in subordination to the provis-
ions of that treaty.
L think 1 have pointed out here that
If this canal is constructed as it is pro-
posed TO be constructed under this bill
and in subordination to existing treaty
obligations, it can be OF no military or
naval advantage to the United States
but VIII be source of danger and
weakness. The greatest naval power.
or strong naval power, at war with
the United States, could seize and hold
the canal, put its fleets there to go into
the Pacific and into the Atlantic to
sweep our commerce from those oceans
at its pleasure, and we would be power
less to prevent it If this canal is con-
structed and put in operation under the
provisions Of this bill. It seems to
me that there is no such urgency after
this matter has been awaiting final