The Van Buren press., 1900-02-10
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
Text of the Treaty Just Signed by
Secretary Of State Hay and
Lord Pauncefote.
ANOTHER OBSTRUCTION THUS REMOVED,
The Rules for Its Conduct ana NAM
te,npce are Practically the Same
as Those Applying TO the suez
CanaI-Open 10 All In Times Oh
Peace or War.

Washington, Feb. THE following
IS the next of the new treaty negotiat'
ed in relation to the construction OF
the Nicaragua canal:
The United States of America and hei
majesty, the queen of the United hlhs
dom of Great Britain and Ireland EN-
press OF India, being desirous to facllila'e
the construction of ship canal 10 con
meet the Atlantic and Pacific oceans aul
to that end remove any objection Which
nav arise out of the convention OF Aprn
10 1850 commonly called the Clayton-Bui'
Wer treaty, to the construction OF such
canai under the auspices OF the govern
ment of the United States, without l"r
pairlni the general principle OF neu,
tralization established in Article WILL oi
that convention, have for that purpose
appointed as their plenipotentiarles' inc
president of the United States, John nay,
secretary of state of the United States !
and her majesty, the queen Of Great
Britain and Ireland, empress of INDIA
Rt Hon. Lord Pauncefote G, c. b., q. g.
M G.. her majesty's ambassador extra
ordinary and plenipotenuary to the Unit
ed states: -.. ,,
other their full powers which were touhg
to be in due and proper form, nave agreeu
upon the following articles;
Article |. 1t Is agreed that the canal
NAV be constructed under the auspices %
the government of the United States,
either directly at its own cost or by gu
porations, or through subscription to 0i
purchases of stocks. or shares, ana that
subject to the provisions of the pfeseni
convention, the said government shdi
have and enjoy all the rights incident
TO such construction, as well as the eh'
elusive right of providing for the regull'
tion and management of the canal
Article H. The high contracting parties,
desiring to preserve and MAINTAIN the
general principle" of naturalization es-
taplished in Artile VIII. OF the Clayton.
Bulwer convention, adopt as the basis OF
such naturalization the following rules,
substantially as embodied IN the conEpH-
tioa between Great Britain ana certain
other powers, signed at Constantlnoplo,
October 49, 1888, for the free navigation
of the Suez maratime canal; that Is 10
say. -
l. The canal shall be free and open In
time of war as in time OF peace TO ulg
vessels of commerce ana OF war OF al
nations, on terms of equity, so that there
shall be no discrimination against any ma
tiom or its citizens or subjects In respect
of the conditions or charges of trailic or
otherwise.
Z, The canal shall never be blockaded,
nor shall any right of war be exercised
nor any act of hostility be committed
within IT,
not reVictual, nor take any stores In the
canal. except so far as may be strictly
necessary, and the transit of such vessels
through the canal shall be effected with
the regulations in force. and with only
such intermission as may result from the
necessities Of the service. Prizes shall be
in ali respects subject to the same rules
as vessels of war Of the belligerents.
4. No belligerent shall embark or disem-
bark troops, munitions OF war or war
like materials In the canal except In case
Of accidental hindrarce of the transit,
and I'm such case the transit shall be re-
sumed with all possible dispatch, ID,
.. The provisions Of this article snail
apply to waters adjacent to the canal,
within three marine miles of either end
Vessels of war of a belligerent shall not
remain in such waters onSerthan twenty
fodr hours at any one time, except IN case
of distress, and In such case shall depart
as soon as possible, but a vessel Of war
of one belligorent shall not depart with
in twenty-four hours from the departure
of vessel of war of the other belligerent'
6. The plant, establishments, buildings
all works necessary to the construction,
maintenance and operation Of the canal
shall be deemed to be part thereof, for
the purposes of this convention, and IN
tims of war, as in time of peace shall
ENJOY ample immunity lINHl NNAUNh VI IN
Jury by bolligerents, and from acts cal
culated to impair their usefulness as part
OF the canal
I. No fortlhcations shall be erected COM
mandlng the-canal or the waters adjacent.
The United states, however, shall be at
liberty TO maintain such military police
along the canal az may be necessary to
protect It against lawessness and disor-
der
Article III The high contracting par
ties will. Immediately upon the exchange
of the ratihcatons Of this convention,
brinS II to the notice Of the other pow
ers and invite them to adhere 90 IT,
Article w. The present convention shall
be ratified by the president Of the United
states. by and with the advice and con-
sent OF the senate thereof and by her
Britannia majesty ana the ratillcatlons
shall be exchanged at Washington or at
London within six months from the date
hereof, or earlier II possible,
In faith whereof, the respective plenl-
potentiares have signed this convention,
and thereunto affixed their seals,
Done In duplicate at Washington, a, ~,
February ., 1900. -
lSignedl JOHN HAY,
PAUNCEFOTE,
The presidents letter of tWnsmittol
is as follows;
10 the Senate; | transmit herewith, with
n view to receive the advice and consent