New-York tribune., 1900-12-22
Mr.. LODGE ON THE TREATY
AMENDMENTS EXPLAINED by THE
MASSACHUSETTS, SENATOR.
NOT DICTATED BY HOSTILITY TO ENGLAND
HE SAYS BUT NECESSARY FOR PRO
lection OF AMERICAN INTERESTS.

washington. Dec Ex-senator Lodge who
had charge Of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty in
ne Senate. to-day made a statement regarding
she amendments adopted.
The Senate amendments" he said. ARE very
important but they are also very sin;nle al
though there seems TO be some misunderstand
ing in regard 10 them, owing to the fact that all
,he debates on the treaty took place behind
closed doors Now that the amendments and
votes have been made public by order of the
Senate, IL may not be amiss to explain them
briefly.
Let me say, first, that the amendments were
not dictated by hostility toward England. and
still less were they in any degree a reflection on
the Secretary Of State, whose patriotism, pur-
.v Of purpose, knowledge, accomplishments and
high achievement in dealing with our foreign
relations. especially in China, are fully and cor
sa1ly recognized by men Of all parties and all
shades OF opinion in the Senate. The amend
rnents were made by the Senate solely because
IN its opinion they were necessary for the in
terests Of the United States, for the avoidance
Of any question as to the control Of the canal
and consequently for the sake of peaceful and
harmonious relations with the rest of the world
m that subject in the future. The vote by
which they were adopted shows this The sec
ond. or Davis amendment passed by a vote of 65
10 l.. ana the other two were adopted without
division
sUPFRsEDEs CLAYToN-BULwER TREATY
The frst amendment is a simple declaration
shat the Clayton -Bulwer Treaty ceases to exist
sna is superseded by the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty The object of the latter was TO remove
the forner as an obstacle TO the construction of
the isthmian canal Some good judges thought
that the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty did this COM
Ylstey as il stood. Others believed that certain
portions Of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty still re-
NAMED in force. To allow this doubt to continue
would have been a grave mistake The Ameri-
can people desired to be rid Of the Clayton-BuI-
zer Treaty finally and beyond question. This is
a reasonable and proper wish, and TO fulfil it IS
the purpose Of the first amendment.
PURPoRT OF DAVIS AMENDMENT.
Under Article II of the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty as il stood We were clearly bound, if en-
gagged in war. TO permit hostile fleet If it sue
oseded in getting inside the three mile zone, TO
pass unraolested through the canal This may
or may rot he practical question. and il is of
No consequence whether il is or not 1t a
solemn promise 10 permit hostile feet TO use
the canal That promise either intended TO
keep or else We made il knowing that under the
stress Of We should break it. If we meant
20 keep H. then II was a promise no nation ought
10 make If we knew that we should not keep il
in time Of war then ii was only honest and fair
10 relieve ourselves Of the obligation in the
treaty itself This the purpose Of the sec
ond. or Davis. amendment, which entirely dis
poses Of any such promise, and which follows
exactly in principle and almost exactly in
wordE.bArt5cIe X of the Suez Convention, which
reserved similar rights TO Turkey, whose inter
est n me Suez Canal is trivial compared to ours
.n that proposed in Nicaragua.
TO AVOID ENTANGLEMENTs-
The third amendment strikes out Article III,
by which engaged TO invite other nations TO
adhere TO the treaty, and thereby become parties
10 1t. Had there been no Clayton Bulwer Treaty
we should have negotiated with no one except
Costa RIca and Nicaragua TO building the
canal With England. owing to the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty, we were obliged TO treat, but, as
expect Europe 10 keep out of this hemi-
sphere, il seemed TO the Senate unwise, however
excellent and liberal the intention TO invite Eu-
Topean nations TO share in an American treaty,
and thus give them the right TO medde in
American affairs at any point.
Such are the purposes Of the three amend
.nents. which in no way derogate from the in
tention Of the United States that this canal
shall be neutral highway for the worlds COM
1nerce."
DO you think England will accept or reject
these Senate amendments?" the Senator was
asked
That is a question" he replied that 1 have
been asked many times and which 1 DO
not think IL would be right or proper for me
70 express opinion. But think can
with propriety say q word as to our view Of the
amendments 1t is well recognized in interna-
tional law that when the conditions under
which e treaty has been made have radically
changed and new conditions and new demands
have arisen this fact is an ample ground for
seeking abrogation or modification of the
original instrument. The American people de-
sire 10 build and mean TO build and control the
isthnian canal They recognize that the Clay
ton-bulwer Treaty, ade nifty years ago, under
conditions no longer existent, stands in the way
They have no desire TO clear il from their path
IN E violent fashion by formally denouncing ii
or by passing laws and taking action in contra
Tention Of its provisions. They wish TO remove
y by anlica bic arrangement in a suitable and
becoming manner The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty
was framed for this object. The Senate IS part
of the treaty making power and treaties sent TO
y Tor ratification not strictly treaties, but
projects for treaties. They are still inchoate-
IN the exercise OF its undoubted rights. without
me slightest reflection upon any one and with
Out shadow Of hostility TO friendly nation,
1he senate. continuing the negotiations begun
by Ny Hay offers three new propositions TO
england They ask her 20 omit the clause in
Ellng other NJ lions 10 adhere, which does not
touch her a. ali. They ask her TO conform TO our
eesfes BY agreeing in unnistakable language
70 Inc supersessiOn OF the Clayton-BulWer
treaty by the y-Pauncefote Treaty, which is
tne whole purpose Of the negotiation. They ask
her nnally, 10 accept in this treaty the reserva-
uon o. rights in time Of war which she granted
70 turkey IN the SueZ Convention. and OF which,
g ne present possessor Of Egypt, she is now
"ersef the beneficiary.
FAIR PROPOSITIONS TO ENGLAND
These propositions are all essential TO Aneri-
can interests. AMI are fair. reasonable, friendly
ana IN no sense offensive. England's interest in
haVlng the canal built. be il great or small is
second only 10 that Of the United States for she
slone has. like the United States. large pos