The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-24
THE NICARAGUA CANAL
The Controversy Is Taken UP
by Lord Salisbury.
TO MAKE A FRESH START
The Two Governments Will Meet On
High Grounds-No Obstacles Will
Be Put in the Way of Uncle
Sans Pet Project.


Nicaragua canal question has been
taken up by Secretary Hay and Lord
Salisbury in a practical rather than a
controversial way. 1t is not believed
that either Of these statesmen is anx-
ious to attempt to unravel these tangled
skeins Of diplomacy with which the
Clayton Bulwer treaty has been en-
meshed in the course of so years. They
will prefer to make fresh start in a
spirit of mutual accommodation and
good feeling. The practical business
now in hand is that of adapting the
Clayton Bulwer treaty to new condi-
tions affecting the interest of both
countries.
The commercial interests of the world
and the highest ends of civilization will
be promoted by the construction of a
waterway through Nicaragua. One
country may be more directly inter-
ested than the other in the completion
and control of the inter-oceanic canal,
but both England and America will
benefit commercially by the opening of
the waterway and neither can have any
adequative motive to hampering or re-
tarding a great work which will con-
tribute to the progress and civilization
of the world. On this high ground the
two governments can meet and devise
practical measures fer facilitating the
| construction of the canal and for pro-
viding for it's control and maintenance
as a neutral waterway open at all
times to the shipping and navies of
all nations. This is a policy which
they are now endeavoring to carry
| out in an enlightened and progressive
spirit worthy of the genius of the An
glo-SaXon race.
The relative interests of the two
| countries, both in the construction and
| the control of the inter oceanic water
| way have changed materially since the
| Clayton Bulwer treaty was negotiated
so years ago. This is a point which
| England's statemen of the highest
standard heartily admit. Since 1850 the
| Suez has been opened and it is under
| British control. 1t provides direct COM
munication with India and Australia
| and is the PRINCIPAL link in the chain
| which connects England and her east
| ern colonies.
| Influential EnGlishmen do not hest
tate to say that from a strictly British
| or imperial point of view the projected
| Nicaragua canal is less important now
than it was in 1850. England's interest
| in it Is mainly commercial, since it will
| supply shorter and more direct commu-
1tti LUIS WITH ttinB anu tllb west
| coast of North and South America. On
the other hand the truth is recognized
| in Eneland that Americas interests in
| the Nicaragua canal have aterially
| increased since the negotiation of the
Clayton-BulWer treaty. 1t is now es-
| sential as military work for uniting
| the Atlantic, gulf and Pacific coasts
| and for concentrating the naval forces
| AS a power with possessions in the
East and West indies it will be an es-
| sential link in the American imperial
| system as the Suez canal Is in the
British empire. -r
This change Of balance in the inter-
ests of the two countries in the Mica
ragua canal has direct bearing upon
| the two questions of construction and
| control which are affected by the
treaty of 1850. It justifies the substi-
tuition of single in place of joint con-
| troll as the necessary condition for the
construction Of the work by the Ameri-
can government. English statesmen
frankly concede that if the American
government supplies the capital re-
| ouired for the enterprise the treaty OF
| 1850 ought. in Justice. to he revised sc
as to allow the United States to con-
troll it's own work. Under the Clay
| tOn-Bulwer treaty the Americans
would be debarred from landing even a
| cornoral's guard of marines for the pro-
| lection of its property at either end OF
| the canal.
The attitude of the British govern
| ment when properly approached and
asked to revise the treaty of 1850 in a
soirit Of accommodation may be fore
| cast with certainty. The government
| has no desire to ohstruct the construc-
| ton of the canal. It wishes to have the
| canal completed and nnened as speedily
as possible in the interest of the worlds
| commerce. 1t prefers to have the
| United States government undertake
the work because this is the only meth
| cd of economical construction by whicf
the cost can be kept dow and low tolls
| secured
The Panama enterprise has warned
| British ministers that private com
| pany cannot undertake so great work
! without a vast increase of expenses
| They are convinced that the success OF
the Nicaragua canal as an engineering
| and financial undertaking will be i'm
! practicable under the management OF
| a private company, whereas. with q
| credit of the United States government
| behind it the bonds will be f1oated
| above par and the enterprise be re-
| leased from the burdens of high rates
| of interest. On this account the Brit
| ish government will readily consent tc
| alter the treaty SO as to allow the
| United States to construct the canal
and be responsible for it's regulation
| and control.