New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-17
MR.. CARNEGIE ON TREATIES
DIFFER FROM CONTRACTS BFrwvr.
INDIYIDUALS-WHY BRITAIN SuOr,
NOT INCREASE HER REsPoN-
SIBILITIES.


To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: "Anglo-Saxon' is quite right
favor Of arbitration for the settlement - !"
ternational disputes. when these arise. BIN, -
none the less solicitous to prevent treaties an an
which disputes are likely to arise. An ounce !.
prevention here is worth many pounds az c,~. "
1t is true that Russia only denounced ma.
the treaty. but 1t was the part I named ~
which debarred her from entering the p' sas
Sea; true. also. that form Of approvaI N-
enacted by the London Conference.
The point is that treaties betwsan 49,,
differ from contracts between individuals :.
a contract becomes onerous to one OF tn
ties II would not be considered honorabIa =
him to ask release. thus throwing ma, -
other party the onus OF ungracious ras,.-S
with treaty nations can. and do. ask ra,s..-
without dishonor when conditions change
IL IS common for nations to disregard. ~ =.
clare abrogated. or to suspend or rno6's-
treaties. During the Revolutionary War NO
tered into treaty with France HamiIto, ~
clear that under the changed conditions we w.
released from the stipulations of the treaty. ana
General Washington issued his proclamation :
that effect That is a pretty good examnIa - -
us to follow with the CIayton-BuIwsr T... .u'
1t was made to obtain canal; it failed n !.
| so, and there an en4 ~
Here is 81 example from Eri.air
1913 commercial treaty was made WITH ~
ana Galy ratified by the Senate BY il we h.,
rights to trade with St. Helena, but withor,
ASKING our consent Britain closed that no-.
In 1911 a convention was entered into h.
tween Britain and the United States reeuIatf,,
the warships upon the lakes Britain -
1887 disregarded this. and increased a.
naval force far beyond the treaty. Iir,i, rr,.s
out asking the United States. Sailing vs,,.1.
were then in use, and it did not provide -
steam war vessels. The convention is no 1or~s.
applicable to the case. Conditions have chanrsS
1t has become dead letter
France furnishes a memorable i,s+.. .
changed conditions affecting treaty NapoIsm
III engaged to defend Rome and the temno,,
power Of the Pope When conditions cbana.s
France changed also. and Europe recognizes
that France could not be expected to adbs-a !.
the treaty.
Britain expects the United States to cor-
troll the canal We should not be worthy SON.
| OF our sires if we did not
/ PROFESSOR Lawrence, of Cambridge TInivars,,,,
IN MS International Law" combating ssors-
tary Of State FreItnghuysen's contention TIA.
britain had disregarded the Clayton-BuIvar
I Treaty. says: IF the United States ba5
commended that it has grown so great since ,ba
Treaty Of 1850 was signed. and her interests -
! the canal are so superior to those of anv otba-
Power that they ought to have a preponderatirs
! voice in determining the rules to be adontad
such position would have been inn.
/ pregnabIe.''
IL is not as enemy Of Britain but a.
friend that urge she should refrain from, IN
creasinS her responsibilities upon the American
/ Continent The closer union Of orr English
/ speaking race. for which long. will be hast.
| ened and strengthened by Britain understand
/ ing clearly that the American people mean to
attend TO matters upon this side, as thew grow
in power so will this racial instinct grow.
/ Divided responsibilities and powers IN this
American canal the last thing Britain
should seek Her policy should be to say to her
kin here. You manage your part Of the race
/ upon the American continent. and we win at
tend to it elsewhere; not rivals. but JOINT man
ayers. keeping each to his department and
above all, steering clear Of collision with each
other. There is room in the world for both.
The ablest men Of both parties in Britain
! understand the situation. The press may howl
+ for season. but the Republic will get just what
1t wishes in regard to this or any other Ameri-
/ can question We need no help from any ma
/ ton, not even from Britain to manage this
continent in the future and we don't need
her money to build the canal. either. now. Con-
! ditions have changed
/ ANDREW CARNEGIE.
| New-York. Dec. 10