New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-11
CANAL TREATY DEF ENDED.
STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WILL ABB
ROGATE TEE CLAYToN-BULWER
CONVENTION IF RATIFIED
rBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TR1BUSr-l

IBT TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.l
washington. Feb I0.-The vehement opposi-
-, which has developed IN some quarters 10
H. Hay-Pauncefote convention, cancelling the
,-sc-ions OF the CIayton-Bulwer Treaty
.rasnst the construction OF American trans
,s,broian canal by the United States Govern
,s7- was net to-day by the State Department
.snctioning the following statement. made by
ore Of its high officials and intended to have
N The force Of authoritative publication
t-a-, the Department:
norton Of the public and OF the press seem
- have an altogether erroneous idea OF the
lion OF The United States II relation TO the
rrs-ton- Buiwer Treaty. It is generally assumed
nat .hat treaty is now extinct and that the
t5-v-Psuncefote convention, now before the
s--a-s either revives il OF confirms its provi-
- The fact is that this treaty made fifty
-sars $40. has never been questioned its
se-ce and validity By any English Cabinet nor
Nv aay American Cabinet, except that Of Presi-
sent Arthur Nj Frelinghuysen alone Of all
ne Secretaries OF State who have had 10 deal
,-f+r ne matter cOniended that the treaty
,os6able but his argument has not commended
-salf 70 any other Secretary OF State. and had
"a IftrIe effect when il was put forward that il
vas soon dropped and has never been renewed.
re position Of Mr. Blaine Is enormously stated
n he The same as that OF Mr.. Frelinghuysen.
bur il Is il fact. the same that OF the pres
err Secretary OF State MI Blaine took the
ground that while II has been repeatedly ad-
rlztred both sides n the controversies OF
many years that the engagements Of the treaty
were ruisunde-standingly entered into imper-
secrly couprehended. ContradictOrily interpreted
I'd Of except by negotiation, and that ii had
ssrved an admirable purpose ultimate re-
course on the part Of either government to
cheek apprehended designs in Central America
or the part OF the other. Mr.. Blaine said:
The present proposal OF this Government is TO
free il (the Clayton-Bu-wer Treaty. from those
intended IL should be, fun and perfect settlement
tor al time OF al possible issues between the
Central America
Z the present treaty is rejected by the Senate
NJ so amended 70 make its ratification i'm
nossible. fall back upon the Clayton Bulwer
treaty and are bound by its provisions. how
ever Objectionable they may BE- It is, Of
course always in the power OF a nation, Of
n individual. 10 repudiate its obligations and to
decline u De bound by them when they become
6ssgreeabe OF Instantaneous, but this course
n action IS usually as expensive in the one case
as in the other The traditions Of American
Diplomacy are those Of strict and honorable full
Hoent Of every international obligation, and
row that & satisfactory and straightforward
issue from a situation which had become intol-
cradle Is presented 70 the Government OF the
United States, 81 is not believed that il will be
rejected
As 10 those who pretend 10 see in this 18TH
raian canal convention alliance with Great
Britain. i may be said that the only alliance
which now binds Us 70 Great Britain is the
r-arioa for half q century has felt 10 be disad-
vantage 70 Us, and OF which at last, by great
good fortune, We are now able 70 rid ourselves
4 competent authority OF the State Depart
nent declared to-day that the Clayton-Bulwer
Treaty would be found 70 have disappeared COM
rleteIy upon the ratification OF the Hay-Paunce-
fore agreement, the first article Of the latter
absolutely multiplying the exceedingly objectiona-
BE first article Of the former, well the
succeeding six articles. while the second arti-
Gle q the new treaty effectively displaced the
eighth article OF the 1850 convention In other
words the United States was not prevented
hereafter from occupying, terrifying. colonizing
or exercising any dominion over any part Of
Central America for the purpose OF maintain
ing naval force in that vicinity 20 enforce the
canars neutrality although by Rule Of the
new treaty's second article, no Notifications
could be erected adjacent 10 or commanding the
eenaL