The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-03
THE NICARAGUAN ROUTE
Favored in the Report Of the Inter-
oceanic Canal Commission.
Unanimously Recommended by the
Observation-Disclosures of the Body to
BE Made the Subject of Special
MessnEe to ConErcss-Rumorso of n
Treaty Cnuse Much Comment.

z
The report of the Interoceanic Canal
Commission, which was handed to the
President on Wednesday. viii be trans
mitted to Congress with a special mes
sage from Mr. Mckinley concerning canal
legislation after the annual message has
been delivered. In its report the commits
sion unanimously recommends the Mica
raguan route and will give in detail its
reasons for believing that it is the more
practicable. The report treats the sub
ject of an interoceanic canal exhaustively,
basing its comments on yoluminous re-
ports from its field parties. A state
ment from NJ. Hutin, the President OF the
Nicaragua Canal Company, pointing out
the claimed advantages of the Panama
route and stating the terms on which the
company's property rights and concessions
may be obtained by the United States
Government will accompany the commits
sion's report.
A sensation was created among the
members of the diplomatic body on the
report that the Secretary of State and the
Nicaraguan Minister had Saturday signed
a treaty for the transfer of rights in Mica
ragua to enable the United states to own
aud control the proposed canal The mat
ter was discussed among diplomatic rep
resentatives yesterday and all who ac-
cepted the report as true expressed as
tonishment that this Government and
Nicaragua had negotiated a convention
that in their opinion was in violation OF
the Clayton Bulwer. Treaty that Great
Britain should have rights in any trans
isthmian canal. 1t was claimed by these
diplomats that in advance of ratification
of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty the new
arrangement was a refusal to recognize
the rights Of Great Britain under the
Clayton Bulwer convention and practi-
cal abrogation of the agreement.
Some of the members of the diplomatic
body made cautious enquiries on the sub
ject of Government officials on whom they
called socially during the day and learned
that they were mistaken in their impress
sicn that a treaty had been signed Sat
urday. The truth is that the paper to
which the Secretary of State and the
Nicaraguan Minister had attached their
signatures. is only preliminary state
ment or protocol that does not require the
ratification of the Senate.
1t is not binding on either country in
advance of canal legislation by Congress.
and, according TO Government officials, it
will have no force unless the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty is abrOgated The ar
rangement may be described as state
ment of the terms on which Nicaragua is
willing to transfer rights to this Gov
ernment to enable it to construct IN Inter-
oceanic canal across the Nicaraguan ter
ritory Officials decline to make any dis
closures regarding these terms, but the
agreement provides for the transfer to
the United States Of territorial and police
rights embracing the canal route and
sufficient adjacent land.
Ii was learned last night that the atti-
tuda of the Government regarding diplo-
matte features of the canal question is
that canal legislation cannot be proper
ly and legally enacted until the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty has been formally abro-
gated or the Hay-Pauncefote convention
ratified by the Senate. 1t is contended
that one of these things must be done
before Congress authorizes the construc-
ton of a canal by the Government. Abro-
CATION may be had in two ways, accord
ing 10 information obtained by Times re-
porter: by diplomatic negotiation with
Great Britain of treaty OF abrogation,
OF by the adoption by the Senate
and House of resolution de-
elaring the Clayton Bulwer conven-
tion not in force and effect. The Sen
ate alone, it is claimed, cannot declare
the treaty abb ogated: the House of Repre-
sentatives must concur. For the Govern
ment to undertake the construction of an
interoceanic canal in advance OF the alb
rogation Of the Clayton Bulwer arrange
ment would, it was said, be an afront to
Great Britain.
Considerable concern is manifested in
! certain influential Government quarters
over the action of Congress On the Hep
burn Canal bill which ignores the exis-
| tencs of the Clayton Buiwer Treaty. The
House has passed the bill, and il is set for
special order in the Senate on Decem-
ber 10. Between now and that date the
attitude of the Government will be more
/, fully developed