Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-14
DEsERET EVENING NEWS FRIDAY, DECEMBER IA

we have no possessions IN the vicinity
Of either terminus Of the canal. 70
make It effective. II this view is correct
we would have to acquire territory on
both coasts. Senator Elkas seems 10
have had this In mind when he offered
this further amendment
Nothing IN this treaty shall he con-
strued 10 prevent the United States
from acquiring sufficient security and
sovereignty, or 10 prevent II from
building. operating. maintaining con-
trolling and defending the said canal
referring 20 the proposed Nicaragua
canal. or Tor any other purpose that
the United States may deem for It's
best interest"
The Clayton. Bulwer treaty OF 1850
between this country and Great Britain,
prohibits either OF the two powers from
extending It's dominion over any por.
ton Of Central America, or from exor-
cislng exclusive control over any
canal across the American isthmus, II
stipulates that the two powers shall
enter into a sort Of partnership In the
matter Of protection Of any such canal
The Hay Pauncefote treaty let's the
whole world into this partnership to
some extent, by providing that there
shall be no discrimination against any
nation or rs citizens or subjects IN
respect Of the conditions or charges Of
traffic. or otherwise"
There is an impression that the canal
ought to be built without any previous
agreement whatever, with Great Brit
ain or with any other nation. but In in
ternational relations, as In the internal
politics Of any country, everything is
nowadays done by compromises and
" the question is OF building an in.
ternational highway OF commerce, the
rule cannot be ignored The Gear Of
Russia, indeed, viii build railroads and
dig canals through his own territory,
for strategic purposes, without con-
ferring with anybody But the Nj
caragua canal Is not TO be military
highway. II is not a short cut through
the United states territory. It is to be
constructed through a country which It.
self has treaties which other powers.
the Importance OF which will be mater
tally affected by the proposed enter
prise other powers have rights in the
matter that cannot be honorably lg-
nored.
Such considerations underly the de-
mands for the naturalization Of the
canal The advantages OF this are
thought 70 be many. II the canal be
neutral, this country would be relieved
OF the burden Of defending It, and the
people would be saved many millions
which otherwise must be spent on ships
and Notifications, II would lessen the
chances Of Intervention in a future war,
since neutral commerce would not be
lntorfered with. 1t would prevent the
construction Of a competing canal, since
there would be no discrimination
against any other nation,
The number Of amendments proposed
In the Senate indicates the importance
attached to the treaty There should
be no false step taken at this time. Tn
less everything Is perfectly clear and
above board now. future complications
are sure to arise. Great Britain and
France have had much friction over the
Suez canal The Nicaragua canal
should not be made another so-called
problem" bringing to mankind, like
the gifts Of Prometheus in the myth,
both the blessings Of industry and the
horrors OF war.