Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-26
The QUESTION
1t Is Taken Up by Secretary Hay
and Lord Salisbury.
an ACCOMMODATING SPIRIT EvIyCED.
England's Interest In the Canal Mslnly
Commercial, but 1t Il Almost Essep-
tial ~ Military Necessity 10
the United states

London, Jan. 24.-The Nicaragu
canal question has been taken up b.
Secretary Hay and Lord Salisbury il
a practical, rather than contrOver
sisl, spirit. 1t is not probable tina
either OF these statesmen is anxious y
unravel the tangled skein Of diplomac!
with which the Clayton Bulwer treat,
has been enmeshed in the course OF 81
years. They will prefer to make
fresh start in spirit OF mutual accom-
mediation and good feeling. The prac
tical business now in hand Is that o.
adapting the Clay ton -Bulwer treaty tt
new conditions affecting the interests
OF both countries
The commercial interests OF the
world and the highest ends OF ciyiliza-
ton will be promoted by the construc-
ton of a waterway through Central
America. One country may be more
directly interested than the other in
the completion and control OF the in
teroceanic canal, but both England,
and America will benefit commercially
by the opening Of the waterway, and
neither can have any adequate mo-
tive for hamperng or retarding the
great work which will contribute to
the progress and civilization of the
world. On this high ground the two
governments can meetand devise prac-
tical measures for facilitating the con-
struction OF the canal and for prov.d-
ing for its control and maintenance
as a neutral waterway, open at all
times to the shipping and navies Of all
nations. This is policy which they
are now endeavoring to carry out in
an enlightened and progressive spirit,
worthy of the genius of the Anglo
Saxon race.
The relative interests of the two
countries, both in the construction
and in the control of the interoceanic
waterway, have changed materially
since the ClaytonB ulwer treaty was
negotiated, 80 years ago. This is
point which English statesmen of the
highest rank frankly concede. Since
1850 the Suez canal has been open, and
it is now practically under English
control. 1t provides direct communi-
cation with India and Australia and is
the chief link In the chain of imperial
possessions dependent upon sea power.
Influential Engllshmen do not hesitate
to say that from q strictly British or
imperial point Of view the projected
Nicaragua canal is less important now
than 1t was In 1850.
England's interest In 1t Is mainly
commercial, since it will supply short.
err and more direct communications
with China and the west coast Of North
and South America. On the other
hand, the truth is recognized in En-
gland that Americas interest in the
Nicaragua canal have materially in
creased since the negotiation ef 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.
This change Of balance in the in.
terests OF the two countries in the
Nicaragua canal has direct bearing
upon the two questions Of cOnstruc-
ton and control, which are affected by
the treaty of 1850. 1t justi6es the sab
stituton of single in place Of joint con
troll as the necessary condition of the
construction of the work by the Amer
lean government, English statesmen
frankly concede that If the American
government supplies the capital re-
quired for the enterprise the treaty of
1850 ought, in justice, to be revised so
as to allow the United States to con
troll its own work, Under the Clayton
Bulwer convention the Americans
would be debarred from landiap even |
n corporaIs guard of marines for the
protection Of It's property at either end
OF the canal
British ministers are convinced that
the success of the Nicaragua canal as
an engineering and financial undertake.
ing will be impracticabe under the
management of private company,
whereas with the credit of the United
States government behind 1t the bonds
will be hoated above par and the en-
terprise be released from the burdens
Of high rates Of interest On this &C.
count the British will readily consent
to alter the treaty so as to allow the
United States to construct the canal
and to be responsible for its regula-
49, "-,l sast~nl
Poison In Cheese.
Joplin, Mo-, Jan. 24-Ptomanes in
cheese caused the serious illness of 10
persons In East Joplin. Five families
bought cheese from grocer and all Of