Evening star., 1900-12-06
Mr.. LODGE INIERROGATED
EXPLAINS PROVISIONS OF THE HAY
PAUNCEFoTE TREATY.
Interprets the Amendment Proposed
by Foreign Relations Committee
FOrtifcntion of the Canal.

During the consideration of the Hay
I Pauncefote treaty in the executive session
of the Senate yesterday afternoon Senator
Lodge subjected to Imany questions
during the presentation of his explanation
of the treaty. Senator Beveridge asked
whether it was not true that the abroga-
ton of the Clayton -Bulwer treaty, as pro-
vided for in the pending treaty, would have
the effect of permitting Great Britain to ac-
qurs property in the area affected.
Senator Lodge replied in the negative,
saying that it was we'll known to all that
the Ha"-Pauncefote treaty, while abro-
eating the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, so far as
it applies to the United States and binds
this country. still leaves England bound to
it's terms. For this reason he was sure
there need be no apprehension on that
score.
Senator Lodge discussed the amendment
suggested during the last session of Con-
gress by the committee on foreign relations
providing that none of the provisions of the
first five sections of the treaty should be
construed as applying to measures Wh1ch
the United States may find it necessary to
take for securing by its own forces the de-
fenSe of the United States and the malute-
nance of public ORDER The Senator urged
that this amendment had the effect of gi"-
ing greater assurance to our own people
and was a necessary safeguard.
Popular Misrepresentation.
At this point Senator Lindsay of Ken
lucky interjected a question: and in doing
so made quite a statement as to what he
said he considered a popular msapprehen-
sion as to the effect of the amendment. Il
find" he said, that most people appear TO
think that this amendment provides for the
fortitication of the canal, whereas 1t does
nothing of the kind, as a reading of 1t Will
demonstrate" He then quoted from the
amendment, showing that it applied specl1-
llN- To, nn1 iinnc Z I1d N
article of the treaty. He claimed that 1t
only provides in the most general way for
,he protection of the rights of the United
States He called attention to the fact
that while the treaty of Constantinope ap-
plying to the SueZ canal had been used as
the basis of the pending treaty, only TIE
first seven articles of it had been inCorpn-
rated in the Hay-Pauncefote agrcement,
leaving out article 10 of that agreement,
which gives to the Khedlve Of Egypt the
right to defend the interests of that coun-
try in connection with the Suez canal.
No Power to Fortify Given.
Replying, Senator Lodge said he had not
contended and he did not contend that the
amendment conferred specifically the power
to fortify the canal The great benefit of
the amendment was found he said, in that
fact that it applies to the first copied from
the Constantinople agreement providing
that the canal shall be free and open in
time of war as in time Of peace to the ves-
sells of commerce ard of war of all ma
tionS." The amendment he further said,
was substantially in the language of article
10 of the Constantinople treaty, and there
fore might be expected to serve the same
purposes intended to1be subserved by that
article with reference to the SueZ canal.
In conclusion he urged early action on the
treaty as of great Importance, because of
the general desire to go on with the Nicara-
qua canal legislation. He did not, however
indicate any time for taking a vote upon
either the treaty or the committee amend
ment.
Mr.. Money Opposes the Treaty.
Senator Money of Mississippi made brief
speech in general opposition to the treaty,
but indicating that he might vote for it if
the amendment was retained, though not
satisfied, he said, that the amendment
would make the document entirely salts
factory. Upon the whole, he thought the
United States would best promote it's own
interests by proceeding to. construct the
canal without asking the aid or consent of
any other country.
During the executive session, in which
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty was under con-
sideratlOn, several comparatively unimport-
ant treaties with other countries largely
South American were laid before the Sen
ate and referred to the committee on for
eign relations. Some Of these were reci-
prOcity treaties and others extradition
agreements. One of them was a reciprocity
agreement with Ecuador, and another a
treaty with Denmark, providing for reci-
procity with the Island of Santa Cruz.
Later In the day a second executive ses-
sion was held. but no business was trans
acted beyond the reference of several nomi-
| nations to the proper committees
CCkIATND CDNE NNkINI IINrc