Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-19
NATIONAL CANAL POLICY
REPORT SUBMITTED BY SENATOR
MORGAN.
Discussion of the Hepburn Bill and
Our Relations With Gem
trail America.

Senator Morgan, chairman of the Senate
committee on interoceanic canals, to which
was referred the preliminary report of the
isthmian canal commission, has submitted
a partial report thereon in connection with
the protocols of agreements with Costa
Rica and Nicaragua, relating to the pro-
posed canal, which were submitted recently
to the Senate In the course of the report,
which was prepared by Senator Morgan
and approved by the committee, it is said
that the statement of the Walker commits
sion and the protocols referred to have a
direct bearing upon what is known as the
Hepburn bill, now on the Senate calendar.
Policy of the United States.
THAT bill is a declaration Of the policy
Of the United States,' the report reads,
''for a canal under control of this govern
ment 1t is the law of necessity, rather
than the expectation of profit or advan-
tage to the United States, that compels us
to construct, own and control a ship canal
through Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and
the geographical relation of those states to
country and the prestige of the United
States among American governments point
to us as the power that must incur the eX-
penditure and be invested with the au-
thority to control the canal as a marine
highway lOT SHIPS OF all ndtlOHS. lie DIS
sured profits of this enterprise, in money,
calculated a basis that is even much
larger than is indicated in any report that
has estimated the cost, are a sufficient JUS
tifcation for the expenditure that is neces-
sary to acquire the right of way and con-
Struct the canal
Duty of This Country.
GAS the basis and condition precedent Of
the accomplishment of this great task Of
duty the United States must first acquire
from Costa Rica and Nicaragua, by agree
ment, the right to construct, own, control
and manage the canal. In doing this we
must fully recognize their sovereign in
dependence and authority over those coun-
tries, respectively, and deal with them
without any attempt at enCrOachment on
their national rights
After discussing briefly the Hepburn bill,
the report proceeds:
This duty Chat of constructing the
canaD enjoined on the President is a dis
tinct recognition of the sovereignty of those
states and their ownership of the country
through which the canal is to be construct
ed. The President is not empowered or
advised to encroach upon the sovereignty
of those states. The acquisition Of the
severe .gn ownership of tract of country
including the line of the canal would sep
arate Nicaragua into two parts, between
which the sovereignty of the United States
would be interposed.
IAN act more fatal to her autonomy cam
not be conceived, and if her government
bad the power to do this under her con-
stitution, which forbids any cession of ter
ritory to a foreign state, the severance Of
her territory by such mutilaton would de-
stroy its territorial integrity and with 1t
the republic. Such effect is beyond the
purpose of the House bill and Is unnecessary
to the enjoyment of any privilege or right
that relates to the ownership, control
management of the canal.
THE House bill deals with our own ma
tional policy, defining it clearly, and writes
1t on the statute book, which is the highest
record Of the political and international
policy of the United States.
'In making this declaration Of the policy
and purposes of the United States and in.
supplying the President with the means
of executing the law. the House bill pro-
ceeds on the assumption that there are no
obstacles In the way Of It's full, just and
peaceful enforcement. This line Of action
ccmmends itself to all who sincerely de-
sire to execute the will Of the American
people In the construction Of a ship canal.
placing Its ownership, control and manage
ment in the government Of the United
States If the Senate shall confer with the
House in the passage Of this bill it will be
a movement Of such force as Will draw
after it the settlement Of any international
difficulties that may exist without friction
or danger to the peace and good will that
exists between the United States and other
ne tons"
Treaty of 1867.
The report declares that by the treaty OF
1867 between the United States and Mica
ragua the United States Is prohibited from
exercising a permanent military occupation
of that state; but I'VE have the right to en-
ter Nicaragua with military forces to pro-
tect canal through that state, at the re-
quest Of Nicaragua"
Attention is directed to q treaty between
Great Britain and Nicaragua that contains
the Identical provisions of our treaty Of
1867. IF that treaty remains. the report
says, Nicaragua cannot grant US the own
ershp control and management OF a canal
in her territory that is free from all mill
tary Interference control by Great Brit
ain"
The Clayton Bulwcr Treaty.
The report then discusses at length the
operation Of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. and
refers to the Hay-Pauncefote treaty now
pending in the Senate. The House. the re-
port maintains, has the right to expect the
Senate to take action upon the pending ca
nal bill, and such action lis the proper way
in which to preserve the honor and true
dignity Of the United States" Proceeding,
the report says the passage of the Hepburn
bill by dn almost unanimous vote In the
House must have called for protest from
Great Britain If that government considers
that any right of hers is in conflict with
that measure. If the passage Of that meas
ure through the Senate calls forth such a
protest then will be the appropriate time for
its consideration and for taking measures
to answer it. Until then we can never
know the grounds of the objection that
Great Britain may choose to make.
The Senate, engaged in a negotiation
with Great Britain which may or may not
result in an agreement. cannot afford to re-
fuse to consider a bill SO important to the
country the House bill No. 1888 merely
to await the pleasure of one-third Of that
body. The Senate, as part of the treaty.
making power, has no more just right to
suspend legislation on this subject than the
President, who Is the other part Of that
power has to suspend legislation by his or
DER
Adverting to any supposed relation Costa
Rica and Nicaragua may have to the
Clayton Bulwer treaty, the report declares:
"These states were not prohibited by the
Clayton-BulWer treaty from disposing of
canal privileges or their entire territory, If
their people so desire, to the United States
or to any other power, for the reason that
they are not parties to that treaty. If such
was the purpose Of that treaty it failed. not
only for that reason, but also because it
was fragrant usurpation on the part of the
great nations that made the agreement, and
was condemned as it still is reprobated, by
the morality Of nations.
Whether we will abide by and perform
such a covenant is a conflict between NOR
oil nd hot