The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-22
SENATE DOORS.
OPEN ON THE
]. CANAL DEBATE.
Senator Lodge Explains Fully tho
L Several Amendments to tho Hays
Pauncefote Treaty. Z
ALL IMPORTANT BUT SIMPLE.
Not Dictated by Hostility to Ene-
land-Clayton- -Bulwer Treaty Not
& In Accord With Our Policy,

Vi III y e Z
WASHINGTON. Dec. ai-senatep
Lodge. who had charge of the Hay.
Pauncetote treaty In the senate, to-
day made the following statement:
"The senate amendments IRE very
Important, but they are also very sins
Pile, although there seems to be some
misunderstanding in regard to them.
owing to the fact that all the debates
upon the treaty took place behind
closed doors. Now that the amend
ments and votes have been made public
by order of the senate. 1t may not DO
amiss to explain them briefly:
let me say first, that the amend-
ments We're not dictated by hostility
toward England. and still less were
they in any. degree q reflection upon
the secretarytof state.w patriotism,
purity OF purpose, knowledge, accom-
pllshments and high achievement in
dealing with foreign nations. ESPECIALLY
in China, are fully and cordially recog-
nized by men OF all parties and ,all
shades OF. opinion in the senate.
Necessary for Our Interests.
1.-THE. amendments were made by the
senate solely because in Its opinion
they were necessary for the interests OF
the United States for the. avoidance OF
any question us to the control Of tho
canal, and consequently. for the sake
of peaceful and harmonious relations
with the rest OF the world on that sub
ject in the future. The vote by which
they were adopted shows this. The
second, or Davis amendment, passed by
a vote of 65 to II. and the other two
were adopted without division.
q "'The; first amendment is a slmple
declaration that the Clayton -Bulwer
treaty ceases to exist. and is superseded
by the Hay -Pauncefote treaty, The
object Of the Ttfar vas t5 remdVe shea
former as an obstacle to the construc-
tion of the Isthmian canal. The Amer
lean people desired TO be rid Of tho
Clayton Bulwer treaty finally and be-
yond question. This is q reasonable
and proper wish, and to fulfill It iB ths
purpose OF the amendment
Purpose of Davis Amendment.
rUnder article II of the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty as 1t stood we were clearly
bound ,if engaged in war. to permit a
hostile fleet, II it succeeded inside the
three-mile zone, to pass unmolested
through the canal. 1t was a solemn
promise 10 permit hostile fleet to use
the canal. If we meant to keep 1t then
it was a promise no nation ought to
make, If We knew that We should not
keep 1t in time of war; then it was only
honest and fair to relieve ourselves of
the obligation in the treaty itself. This
was the purpose of the second or Davis
amendment, which entirely disposes Of
any such promise.
Europe Must Not Meddle.
THE third amendment strikes oue
article III, by which we engaged to
invite other nations 10 adhere to tho
treaty. and thereby became parties to
1t. Had there been no Clayton -Bulwer
treaty We should have negotiated with
no one except Costa Rica and Nicara-
qua as to building the canal. With
England, owing to the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, we were obliged to treat, but
as We expect Europe to keep out of this
hemisphere, 1t seemed to the senate un-
wise, however. excellent and liberal tho
intention, to invite EUROPEAN nations
to share In an American treaty. and
{ thus give them the right to meddle In
American affairs ut any point.
Such are the purposes Of the three
amendments, which in no way derogate
from the Intention Of the United States
that this canal shall be n neutral high
way for the worlds commerce.
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