The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-23
ENGLAND rs WILLING.
Will Put No Obstacle in the Way of
the Nicaragua Canal

New York, Jan 23.-The Tribune's Lon
don correspondent writes:
The Nicaragua canal question has
been taken up by Secretary Hay and
Lord Salisbury, in practical rather
than a controversial spirit. 1t is not
probable that either of these statesmen
is anxious to attempt to unravel the
tangled skein of diplomacy with which
the Clayton Bulwer treaty has been en-
meshed in the course of so years. They
will prefer to make a fresh start in a
spirit OF mutual accommodation and
good feeling. The practical business
now in hand is that of adapting the
Clayton ulwer treaty to new condi-
tons affecting the interests 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 Central America
One country may be more directly in
tereSted that the other in the compile
nal but both England and America will
benefit commercially by the opening of
the waterway and neither can have any
adequate motive for hamperfng or re-
tarding a great work which will contri-
butte to the progress and civilization of
the world. On this high ground the two
governments can meet and devise prac-
teal measures for facilitating the con-
struction of the canal and for providing
for it's control and maintenance as u
neutral waterway, open at all times to
the shipping and navies of all nations.
This is policy which they are now ell
deavoring to carry out in an enlighten-
ed and progressive spirit worthy of the
genius of the Angio-Saxon race.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
The relative interests of the two coun-
tries, both in the construction and in
the control of the interoceanic water
way, have changed materially since the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty was negotiated
so years ago. This is a point which Eng
lish statesmen of the highest rank
frankly cOncede. Since 1850 the SueZ
canal has been open and it is now prac-
tically under English control. 1t pro-
VideS direct communication with India
and Australia and is the chief link in
the chain of imperial possessions depend
ent upon sea power. influential Eng
lishmen do not hesitate to say that
from a strictly British or imperial point
of view the projected Nicaraguan canal
is less important now than it was i'll
1850. EnglandS interest in it is mainly
commercial since it will supply shorter
and more direct communicate tons with
China and the west coast of North and
South America On the other hand the
truth is recognized IN England that
Americas interests in the Nicaragua
canal have materially increased since
the negotiation of the -BuIwar
treaty 1t is now essential as a mill
itary work for uniting the Atlantic,
Gulf and Pacific coasts and for concen-
trating the naval forces AS a power
with possessions in the East and West
1nOleS, II VIII De an eSS6nlld4 INK III Ills
American imperial system as the Suaz
canal is in the British empire This
change of balance in the interests of the
two countries in the Nicaragua canal
has a. direct bearing upon the two Ques-
tions of construction and control which
are affected by the treaty of 1850. The
attitude of the British government when
properly approached and asked to re-
wise the treaty of 1850 in a spirit of ac-
commodation may be forecast with con-
fdence.