Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-07
OPPOSITION TO
THE NEW TREATY
May Delay Ratification, but No.
Strong Enough to Defeat Il,
DISCUSSING F0RTlFICATI0NS
Leading senators at First Opposed
Now Say IL IL All Right Nor
gan ON Amendments.

New York, Feb, IA special to the
Herald from Washington says:
Immediate ratification Of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty permitting the con-
struttIon Of an lsthmIan canal by the
United States need not be expected.
Just enough opposition has developed to
the provision prohibiting the construc-
ton Of Notifications at the entrances 70
the proposed. canal TO provoke discus
sion and thus delay action on the trea-
~ 4 careful canvass made Of the
Senate does not indicate, however that
this opposition is sufficiently strong 10
either secure the adoption Of an amend
ment providing for Notifications or to
prevent the ratification Of the treaty
without such an amendment Leaders
on both sides appear to be well salts
fed With all the provisions Of the trea-
ty and they viii try 10 have II ratified
without amendment
The principal advocates OF an amend
ment On favor Of military defenses are
Senators Mason and Allen. who are
rarely IN sympathy with anything
done by the administration. When the
treaty was first read yesterday Sena-
tor Lodge seemed 10 think such an
amendment was desirable. but after
conference with other senators this az.
tcrno0n he said the matter should be
very carefully discussed before either
the foreign relations committee or the
Senate took action.
a meeting Of the committee on for
eign relations has been called for to-
morrow TO consider the treaty. Leading
members Of this committee are quite
willing to accept the treaty as II stands
but the discussion may develop enough
opposition to delay report for another
week
Suggestions that Secretary Hay was
tricked by the Lord Pauncefote are
laughed at by the leading members Of
the committee who have known OF the
negotiations and reasons for adopting
the articles prohibiting the con-
struction Of Notifications.
II Is argued on behalf OF non-for-
tilication that, with an agreement
signed by all the powers OF the world
for the absolute neutrality OF the canal
IN time Of war as well as peace, no de-
lenses Will be necessary. The moral OBJ
legations incurred by each nation sign
Ing the naturalization agreement viii
be as effective as guns IN preserving the
neutrality. Any nation violating the
agreement viii have all the rest Of the
world against H.
Those who think defenses Of the ter
mini Of the canal are necessary DO not
consider that permanent Notifications
are essential. In time Of war, 4 Is ar
gied, the United states could. Il neces-
sary, send a fleet OF battleships 10 each
OF the entrances and thus be able TO
physically force neutrality n for any
reason II was feared II could not be
morally enforced.
To those who point out that Great
Britain is physically able 10 control the
Suez canal by her strong defenses al
Gibraltar, the answer is made that with
naval base az San Juan, Puerto Rico.
and the probable acquisition Of the
Danish and Galapagos Islands. the
United States will be IN a IS good position
10 offer military resistance 10 any at
tempted violation Of the neutrality OF
the Nicaraguan canal as Great Brit
ain is connected with the Suez canal
Discussion over the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty may delay somewhat final action
on the Nicsraguan canal bin. but Il IS
the opinion ~ Messrs. Morgan Aldrlch
and other leaders In the Senate. and
Mr.. Hepburn and other leaders In the
House. that 70 will not prevent the final
passage " the bill this season.
II the treaty is ratified In It's present
shape an amendment Will have TO be
made 10 the pending bill eliminating the
provision contemplating the erection
OF Notifications at the termini Of the
canal II any delay occurs II will be
over these amendments.
Senator Morgan, the author OF the
pending bin in the Senate says there is
no necessity for a radical amendment
OF the Hay Pauncefote treaty.
There are some men In the Senate"
he said who would propose an amend
ment Of the ten commandments n they
were sent in here by God Almighty
Himself. ! do not believe any material
amendment 70 the pending treaty Is re-
Qulred TO protect our rights IN the canal.
All this talk about the terrifying Of the
canal FOR the protection Of our Interests
IN case OF war Is. TO say the least. with
out reason. and should not receive con-
sheraton"
Senator Plat. Of New York, said;
what Is the necessity Of fortified
tlons II you are going 10 have an inter-
national agreement for absolute neu-
trality2 | can seen no reason for an
amendment, and DO not believe there
viii be any
Representative Hepburn. chairman Of
the House caucus, in charge Of the
Nicaraguan canal bill, SAID tonight he
did not care 70 discuss the treaty and
its bearings on the canal until he had
had an opportunity TO study It, and
determine just what rs different pro-
visions meant.
There win be no change in the present
plans Of the committee Mr.. Hepburn