The sun., 1900-02-06
NICARAGUA OUR OWN CANAL
Obstacle to American Control of
Isthmian Waterway Has
Been Removed.
A CONCESSION BY ENGLAND
Secretary of State Hay and Embas-
sador Pauncefote Have at Last
Signed a Convention Which
Abrogates the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty.
A CONCESSION BY ENGLAND

Washington Feb. 5.-The HayPaunce-
fote treaty, amendatory of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, relative to the construc-
ton of the Nicaragua canal, has been
signed at the state department by Sec
retary Hay and the Right Hon. Lord
Pauncefote of Preston for Great Britain.
Though the consummation of the treaty
occupied some time owing to the neces-
sity of comparing the two drafts, there
was very little formality about the cere-
mony, and a convention that is expected
to be, for the United States at least of
the most farreaching importance and
value came into being without any the
atrical surroundings.
The agreement just signed provides in
substance as follows:
The United States is granted the right
to build and control exclusively the wa
terway joining the Atlantic and Pacific
and the provision of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty providing for joint control is an
nulled
The neutrality of the canal is pledged
| by both of the signatory parties, both in
| times of peace and war.
| The United States promises not to
| build fortifications at either approach of
the canal and to permit free passage Of
| ships at all times to both merchantmen
and war vessels.
The great maritime nations will be ask
ed to pledge themselves to the preserva-
tion of the canals neutrality.
| 1t is thought that this convention will
hurry action in congress and result in the
early passage of one of the two canal
bills, the Hepburn bill in the house or the
Morgan bill in the senate.
What London Thinks.
A dispatch from London saysS
"While the publication of the dispatch
from Washington regarding the annul-
ling of the Clayton Bulwer Nicaragua
canal treaty and substituting for it the
-Pauncefote treaty caused consider
| able surprise, it was fully confirmed at
the war Office. 1t is intended to publish
the terms of the new convention in
Washington and London simultaneously,
but the impression exists that it will first
be given TO the senate, though it is be-
lieved it contains nothing of Importance
not included in the Washington dispatch.
; 1.-The apparent celebrity in reaching an
agreement is explained by the fact that
the whole matter was practically settled
between Secretary Hay and ambassador
Pauncefote in 1898, and had not the
Alaska dispute cropped up it is probable
the powers would have signed the CON
vention. Since then it has been in abey-
ancc. About a fortnight ago, III conse-
quence of the attitude of the senate. Mr..
Joseph III. Choate, the United States
ambassador here. received instructions to
cndeavor to press the conclusion of the
old negotiations. AS Il result of his cf-
J forts the British cabinet considered the
matter, after first having. submitted the
J convention to Canada and receiving the
] Dominion's sanction to grant the United
! States request
> "rhc attitude Of the cabinet consisted
/ in the belief that the Clayton Bulwer
J treaty was made when the conditions
: governing the nations were so utterly
: different that il was now out of date and
impracticahlo. Taking this into consid-
! Grafton, and, believing the present most
inopportunc time for bargaining and hag-
: Cling. the British ministers decided TO
/ give the United States a free hand. 1t
? can be definitely said, however, that this
? decision is based to no little degree on
: the principle of III do you good turn,
but remember it when YOU have the
chance to do me one though this scarce
. ~ merits being called even a verbal I'M
derstanding and finds no place in the con
vention.
:. ''Though the cabinets action has
' scarcely been published long enough to
!. admit of serious criticism, it is believed
: it will meet with the approval of the ma.
4 jority after the government gets an op
\ portunity of publicly explaining its mo
: tiyes, as set forth in the foregoing, moth
ing of which has yet appeared in Eng
land