The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-14
THE CANAL AGREEMENT.
Text OF the Protocol With Nicaragus
and Costa Rica.

0n0 Costa Rica.
The following is the text OF the diplo-
, matte agreement recently arranged be-
tween the Government of the United States
and the Governments of Nicaragua and
Costa RIGA, the preliminary to treaty for
the building OF the Nicaragua Canal, and
not heretofore published:
1T is agreed between the two Govern
ments that when the President of the
United States is authorized by law to ac-
quire control of such portion OF the ter
ritory now belonging to Costa Rica as
may be desirable and necessary on which
to construct and protect canal Of depth
and capacity sufficient for the passage of
vessels of the greatest tonnage and draft
now in use. from a point near San Juan
del Norte, on the Caribbean Sea, via Lake
Nicaragua. to Brito. on the Pacific Ocean,
they mutually engage to enter into ne
gotiations with each other TO settle the
plans and the agreements. in detail, found
necessary TO accomplish the construction
and to provide for the ownership and con-
troll of the proposed canal.
AS preliminary to such future negotia-
lions II is forthwith agreed that the
course of said canal and the terminals
thereof shall be the same that we're stated
in treaty signed by the PlenipOten-
tiaries Of the United States and Great
Britain on February ), 1900, and now
pending in the Senate of the United States
for confirmation. and that the provisions
OF the same shall be adhered to by the
United States and Costa Rica.'
During the course of his speech in exc
cutive session Saturday and Monday last,
and which has not been made public,
Senator Morgan said of the agreement:
These treaties and protocols-those
with Nicaragua and Costa Rica-present
fully the diplomatic situation bearing on
the question Of the exclusive control by
the United States and under their aus
pices and the regulations and manage
ment of ship canal from Brito to Grey
town, through Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
As matters have turned out since the
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty was sent to the
Senate. these protocols are the key to the
situation respecting our exclusive right
to construct, own, control, manage, and
regulate a canal through those States
ut will be seen that the protocols are
substantially Identical in language with
the first section of the House bill, and
publics and the United States that they
will not refuse the concession defined and
described in that measure, but will treat
with US as to the terms on which they
will be granted. Nicaragua and Costa
Rica have decided for themselves and in
their own right the question in the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty about which there has
been serious controversy in this debate,
the clause in section Of Article II, that
no Notifications shall be erected COM
manding the canal or the waters ada
cent
THE simplest suggestion of their rea-
SONS for this wise provision establishes
its necessity to them.
An enemy strong enough to capture
them would convert them into facilities
for the perpetual occupation of their coun
try"
IF the United States should erect and
man such Notifications the sovereignty of
these States would cease at these places. or
would become an illusion or shadow of
authority that a paramount military
power would soon dispel. And when the
United States is est olished in such fort
resses they will become our possessions
which are open to attack by an enemy
of the United States with whom Nicaragua
and Costa Rica are at peace.
We have no right to ask or expect
from these States any concession that ex
pose them to such risks, however able We
are to take care of them. Our pledges
to that effect would never be violated,
nor would we ever use the Notifications
against them for purposes Of aggression;
still they are fully within their duty when
they insist that we shall not make iaili-
tary camp of their country