New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-28

IBX CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE-1
London. Jan. 27.-There has been no renewal
of negotiations respecting the revision OF the
Clayton-BuIwer convention through the Ameri-
can Embassy. but it IS not improbable that the
question will be taken up at an early day, when
instructions are received from the State Depart
ment. Both the Ambassador and the Secretary
of the Embassy now properly retcent. con-
tenting themselves with the statement that the
subject has not been brought TO the attention
of the Foreign Office through their instrument
talty.
The truth about the matter was told a year
ago in these dispatches; informal overtures were
made to Lord Salisbury for revision Of the
treaty in accordance with the altered conditions
OF the question Of interoceanic transit. and were
met in just and concillatory spirit. The re-
suits of these conferences were communicated
to the State Department. and draft OF the
Clayton-Bulwer convention prepared in
Washington after consultations between Colo
mel Hay and Lord Pauncefote. This draft was
not signed, but was probably sent TO the For
eign Cfice and is now pigeonholed there
The principles agreed upon last year. as
bled in these dispatches. were the single control
Of the canal by the United States and the
adoption of the Suez regulations for keeping
the waterway open in peace and under the
guarantee of neutrality. The signatures alone
required for the settlement OF the question
There is no reason to doubt that Lord Sails
bury's opinion respecting the advisability OF
substituting a single for dual control OF the
canal across either the Isthmus Nicaragua
remains unchanged. II free to act upon the
question on Imperial or commercial grounds he
would sanction the revision Of the old treaty
on American lines. with guarantee that the
waterway should be regulated on the Suez prin-
ciples.
Z II 10
year ago. and it is Cana1a that now stands IN
the way with even greater power Of resistance
! Canada Is displaying splendid loyalty to the
mother country in a grave Imperial crisis by
sending troops to South Africa No British
/ Prime Minister in these circumstances can agree
/ to settle the canal question II Canada insists
upon connecting 1t artifciaIly with the Alaska
/ boundary and other controversies and having
/ them adjusted simultaneously
| 1t is Canadian opposition that keeps the Hay
| P.uncefote draft OF the revised treaty in
! pigeonhole of the Foreign Office The Canadian
veto served to block the negotiations a year ago;
/ the Canadian volunteers for service IN South
/ Africa now impart additional power to that veto.
/ American diplomacy. meanwhile has increased
its resources; II has placed the Foreign Office
under heavy obligations for substantial service;
: it has taken up the open door question In China
/ and worked out a settlement paper with the
j Japan of the English principle.
/ The State Department has therefore vantage
( ground upon which TO press for the revision OF
/ the canal treaty on the practical principle that
one good turn deserves another. Canada can
block the way. however if her Ministers persist
( in enforcing their veto power. Sir Wilfrid Lau-
! rier is to-day the leading Colonial Imperialist
I Cecil Rhodes being in enforced retirement at
Kimberley. If he is capable OF rising above the
D Of Fr0fa
rialist view OF the canal question and perceive
that it will be an advantage for the Empire as
a whole to have the treaty Of 1850 revised and
adjusted to altered conditions. If he be merely
a local and provincial Premier he will raise
objections. talk about the give and take princi-
pie, demand a harbor in Alaska and remain a
dog in the manger The settlement of the canal
question in reality depends upon Laurier's
capacity for demonstrating that he is true
Imperialist and not a local statesman who sees
only Canada wher he talks about the interest
of the worldwide Empire
THE Spectator to-day has an admirable artt-
Gle on this important subject. advocating the
abrogation revision Of the Clayton-Bulwer
convention as a matter of enlightened self-in-
terest on the part of England and contending
that while Canada must be treated with all pos
sible consideration. she ought to be willing to
make sacrifices for the welfare OF India. Aus
tralia. New-Zealand. South Africa and the En-
pire a whole
The effect of the abdication OF the Emperor OF
China and the succession OF boy OF nine is not
yet clear in relation to the American open door
policy. Shanghai dispatches are suspiciously
vague and it is impossible to make out what has
happened. The apparent result of the new edice
is the creation OF regency in the hands Of the
Dowager Empress. who has been nominally act
ing through the Emperor; but there may be un-
expected sequeis In a counter revolution and
foreign complications The selection of Hsu
Tung, most bigoted reactiOnary. as tutor to the
successor to the throne Is an indication that the
cause of reform and progress has been set back
and that the Government will be Influenced by
anti-foreign tendencies The American policy
will not be promoted by these mysterious In
trigUes; indeed. 1t Is already suspected that
Russia has instigated these changes and IL fs
an open secret that Secretary Hays chief dim
Guilty in securing a European guarantee OF the
open door principle lay in ST. Petersburg These
Chinese complications. which England Is not
prepared TO counteract. increase the Importance
of American cooperation. The Foreign Office
is now largely dependent upon the State De-
partment for the enforcement Of the open door
policy. and is not in good position for declin-
ing a reasonable request for the revision OF the
canal treaty.
American questions are kept in the back
/ ground by the English press. but diplomatic
circles here do not lose sight OF them. What Is
/ expected by the keenest observers In the diplO-
/ matte groups as the first sequel to the occupa-
ton OF the Philippine Islands and American
/ championship OF the open door policy Is the
/ ptrchasA Of no Danish West Indies with