The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-15
FRANCE md the Canal.


To be perfectly frank about 1t, we have
q suspicion that the little State of Mica
ragua has peddled and sold canal treaties
and concessions all over the world rather
continuously for fifty years. But If this
! I've true. there is equally no doubt that
these agreements and conventions in the
last analysis must all be considered as sub
ject 10 the consent of the paramount
American power, which II is fair to assume
has not been formally appended to the doc
uments. That foreign governments have
understood the necessity for such consent
cannot be doubted, in the light of Secre-
tary Olney's plain notice to Lord Sails
bury in a cognate matter in 1895 and in
view of many similar declarations By his
predecessors.
The mere fact of the Monroe Doctrine
and of the determination of this country,
fully announced during eighty years. 10 en-
force it at any cost have been tantamount
TO general warning TO Europe shat when
the time should come for us TO connect our
Eastern and Western coast lines by means
of canal across Central America We
would build fortify. and defend it. and
utilize 1t as a necessary base for our naval
operations. Under these considerations we
think il a waste Of words to argue against
fears and conjectures that any one or more
of the Old World powers win step in to in
terfere in our national movement in
Nicaragua. The eobwebs of diplomacy
which has been too often amateurish .and
inefficient. when II has not been Senal and
corrupt, might as well be swept away now
as at any future time, and the great and
unalterable purpose of the American peo-
pie TO build, own, control, fortify. and de-
fend the Nicaragua Canal, and to strictly
exclude enemies from 1t in tiEae of war, an
nounced TO the world by formal act OF
Congress.
If England, France, or any other Eu-
ropean power should elect to accept such
declaration as casus belli the issue
might as well be settled now as ten years
hence. Soon or late. we are sorry TO he
lieve our rights as the umpire of the con-
tineBt Will have TO be INDICATED by the
sword The fact that an American nd
miDistration, representing a great ra-
tional party, has been found willing TO
surrender the historical policy of the coun-
try and to accept British suzerainty over
all our relations with the other States OF
America has led to strong conviction
abroad that the day is at hand when the |
Monroe Doctrine barrier to the acquisition |
by Europe of territorial possessions on this |
side of the Atlantic may be removed. |
har to
mote colonization schemes in Brazil, and /
there are many other signs pointing TO the |
prospect that if we are to maintain our
traditional position and influence We shall |
have to fight for 1t.
Among other old contract obstacles said |
TO be in our way in securing control of |
the necessary canal territory in Nicaragua.
a treaty between that State and France. |
executed in 1853, is mentioned One of the |
articles of this agreement is as follows:
1.-THE Republic Of Nicaragua by the present |
treaty. grants TO FSance and TO French subjects as
well to French property, the night Of transit I
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, through |
the territory of this republic. by all natural and
artificial routes or means Of communication or
land or sea which exist today may hereafter
exist be constructed under the authority Of
the Nepubiic OF NICARAGUA 10 De enjoyed OF USED
in the same manner and on the same terms by
both parties and their subjects and citizens re-
spectively. In general, the Republic Of
Nicaragua bind itself to grant France and French
subjects the same rights and privileges IN every
respect as 10 tra-st and the price OF transit, as
well as all other rights. privileges, or advantages
wbsSocver relating 10 the passage or employment
OF troops. relating TO any object whatever.
which today or may hereafter be granted or
given TO be enjoyed by the most favored nation"
Assuming the treaty quoted from to be
alive, IL would be difficult to find anything
In its terms obstructive of our intended
movements. It grants to France the right
to build canal across Nicaragua, but the
latter failed to avail herself of the privi-
lege and started TO construct waterway
across Panama instead. We are unable TO
see any reason in equity or international
law why the treaty OF 1859, or the stupen-
dous De Lesseps blunder, or swindle, or
both combined, should endow the French
Republic with any prescriptive or other
right to occupy and utilize the whole of Cen
trail America or to prevent the paramount |
power of the hemisphere from doing what
IL and the other American States con-
cerned may choose to 70 in that region.
The Gordan knot in the canal business is
plainly in evidence. II is oniy TO be
hoped that Congress will have the wisdom
and courage to cut IL.
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