Evening star., 1900-12-11
FIVE HOURS ON THE TREATY
A LONG ENEtITIVE SESSION OF THE
SENATE.
The Question of Secretary Hays Re-
signing - Denial by Senator Frye
Ways in Which Leaks Occur.

The Senate spent almost five hours yes
| terday In executive session considering the
y-Pauncefote treaty. There were five
six speeches made, some of them by
senators who had not spoken hitherto upon
the treaty. and others by senators who had
previously expressed themselves. Among
the latter We're Senator Morgan, who re-
turned to his former speech. celebrating
somewhat his position as to the effect Of
the Clayton-Buwer treaty. He took issue
with Senator Teller as to the purport of
the first clause of that treaty. claiming
that it applied only to Great Rritain's
right to fortify the Nicaraguan canal itself.
Senator Teller replied at some lengib. as
serting that the provision was Of more gen.
eral import, as, he said any one could as
certain for himself by reading President
Buchanans views upon the subject when
he was minister to England The declara-
ton then made showed painly. he satd
that England had attempted to extend her
right beyond the immediate vicinity of the
canal. Mr.. Teller then proceeded to again
elaborate the views upon the general sub
United States should construct the canal,
If at all. regardless of the English position,
and without going through the formality
of ratifying the pending treaty
During the day speeches were made by
Senators Money, Stewart Frye and others.
Senator Stewart announced that he was for
the treaty without amendment and Senator
Money that he was against the treaty in
any form He wanted the canal built as
much as any senator could, he said, but
he considered the pending treaty less than
an insult to the intelligence of the Ameri-
can people. He had no doubt that If proper
diplomatic efforts should be made 1t would
be possible to secure the complete abroga-
ton of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, and
that Was what he wanted. He did not, in
deed, believe the people Of this country
u he fj-fAI 1nn" fitrn
of that instrument remained among exist
ing interna'i 'ional obligations.
The convention, he said, is contrary to
the wishes of the people of the United
Sta tes, and they could be satisfied only by
definitely erasing it once and forever
There also should be new conventions be-
tween the United States and Nicaragua and
Costa Rica giving absolute control of the
waterway to this country. He wanted no
partnerships with any country in owner
ship or management of the canal when
built.
The possibility of Secretary Hays resign
Ing in case of the foreign relations COM
mittee amendment to the treaty should pre-
vail having been alluded to, Senator Frye
said he was in position to make the official
denial Of that report. The Secretary had
no such intention. Mr.. Frye announced
himself as favorable to the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty. He said that deny the effect Of
the Ciayton-Bulwer treaty as much as we
may, 1t still is on the international records
of this country, and Is given more or less
recognition by every administration that
has to deal with the question OF the con-
struction Of an isthmian canal. 1t had been
a constant source Of vexation In connec-
ton with the canal subject, and he appre-
hended that 1t would continue to be such
until that portion Of 1t relating to the
canal should be disposed of. He was salts
fed. for instance. that the canal would
have been constructed during the adminis-
traton Of President Arthur If the old ne
gotiation had not been in existence.
Senator Chandler asked Senator Frye to
make Secretary Hays position with refer
ence to resigning public. but the Maine
senator declined, saying that he was only
authorized to make the statement to the
Senate.
Mr. Chandler retorted that to do that was
equivalent to giving it to the public, and
the Senate then <lapsed into discussion of
the ways in which their executive secrets
get into the newspapers.