New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-09
CANAL TREATY'S PROSPECT
MEMBERS OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE CONFIDENT OF
RATIFICATION.
RATIFICATION.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


Washington. Feb S-while the Senate Com
nittee on Foreign Relations is preparing to
make an elaborate report sustaining the Hay
Pauncefote Canal Treaty, opinion in Congress
seems TO be coming more and more to admit
the wisdom and policy of the agreement
The opposition te ratification does not so far
count single Senator Of recognized expert
ence in foreign affairs. And the fight against
the treaty does not in the opinion Of its friends.
promise to be half serious as that made
against the treaty with Spain a year ago.
Chairman Davis and his associates On the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations are sansuine OF
securing in due time the necessary two-thrds
majority.
SUEZ CANAL REGULATIONS.
The parallel instituted by the terms Of the
new treaty between the Suez and the proposed
isthnlian canal lends interest to the provisions
of the Constantircple Convention Of 1898, on
which have been modelled the rules for the
government OF the new interoceanic waterway.
The Constantinopie agreement was signed by
representatives of the Governments of Great
Britain. Germany Austria Hungary, France,
Spain, Italy. Russia. Holland and Turkey. Its
essential articles follows
Article / The Suez Maritime Canal shall al
ways be free and open IN time of war and in
time of peace, to every vessel of commerce or
CT war, without distinction of flag. Consequent
iy the high contracting parties agree not in any
way to interfere with the free use Of the canal,
in time Of war as in time of peace. The canal
shall never be subjected to the exercise of the
right of blockade
Article II. The high contracting parties
oertake not to interfere in any way with the
security of that canal and its branches. the
working of which shall not be exposed to any
attempt at obstruction.
Article III. The nigh contracting parties like
wise undertake to respect the plant, establish
ments buildings and works of the maritime
canal and Of the fresh water canal.
Article ". The maritime canal remaining
open in time of war as free passage, even to
the ships of of belligerents. according to
The terms of Article / of the present treaty, the
high contracting parties agree that no right OF
war, no act of hostility, any act having for
its object TO obstruct the free navigation of the
canal, shall be committed in the canal and its
ports of access as we'll as within radius of
three marine miles from those ports, even
though the Ottoman Empire should be one OF
the helligerent Powers
Vessels of of belgerents shall not
victusl take in stores in the canal and its
ports Of access, except in so far as may be
strictly necessary. The transit of the aforesaid
vessels through the canal shall be effected with
the least possible delay. in accordance with the
regulations in force, and without any other in
PERMISSION than that resulting from the neceSS1-
ties Of the service. Their stay at Port Said and
in the roadsteed of Suez shall not exceed twen-
ty-four hours except in case of distress, In such
case they shall be bound to leave soon as pos
sible An interval Of twenty-four hours shall
always elapse between the sailing of a belliger-
ent ship from of the ports of access and the
departure of a ship belonging to the hostile
Article V In time of war belligerent Powers
shall not disembark embark within the canal
and its ports OF access either troops, munitions
materials OF But in case of an acct
dental hndrance in the canal, men may be en-
barked dsenbarked at the ports Of access
by detachu1ents not exceeding thousand
men, with corresponding amount of war ma
terial.
Article vi Prizes shall be subjected. in all
spects, to the same rules the vessels of war of
belligerents.
Article VII. The Powers shall not keep any
vessel of war in the waters of the canal Qnclud-
ing Lake Timsah and the Bitter Lakes). Never
theless, they may station vessels of war in the
ports of access Of Port Said and Suez, the num-
Der Of which shall not exceed two for each
Power. This right shall not be exercised by
belligerents
Article VIII The agents in Egypt Of the sig
natory Powers of the present treaty shall be
charged TO watch over Its execution. In case or
any event threatening the security of the free
passage of the canal, they shall meet on the
summons of three of their number under the
presidency Of their doyen, In order to proceed to
the necessary Notifications. They shall inform
the Khedival Government Of the danger which
Government may take proper steps to insure the
protection and the free use of the canal. Under
any circumstances they shall meet once a year
TO take note of the due execution of the treaty.
They shall especially demand the suppression of
any work or the dispersion of any assemblage
either bank Of the canal the object effect
Of which might be TO interfere with the liberty
and the entire security of the navigation
Article XII The high contracting parties by
application Of the principle of equality re-
CARDS the free use of the canal, principle which
forms one of the bases of the present treaty,
agree that Of them shall endeavor to OBJ
tain with respect TO the canal territorial COM
mercial advantages or privileges in any inter-
national arrangements which may be concluded
Moreover, the rights of Turkey the terri
torial Power are reserved.
Article XVI The high contracting parties
undertake te bring the present treaty to the
knowledge of the States which have not signed
IL, inviting them TO accede to it,