Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-07
will Probably Delay Action
For the Present.
BE NO FORTIEICATlONS
At the Entrance as the Law of Neu-
trality Will Protect the Canal in
Case That United States Should 60
to War.

New York, Feb. IA special to the
Herald from Washington says: Imme-
diate ratification of the Hay-Pauncefoce
treaty permitting the construction of an
isthmian canal by the United States need
not be expected. Just enough oppose
tion has developed to the provision pro-
ribiting the construction of fortiiications
at the entrances to the proposed canal to
provoke discussion and thus delay action
Oh the treaty.
A careful canvass made of the senate
does not indicate, however, that this OPP
position is sufficiently strong to either Sc
cure the adoption of IN amenoenlent pro-
viding for Notifications or to pre-
vent the ratification of the treaty with
out UGH an amendment. Leaders on
both sides appear to be we'll satisfied
with all the provisions of the treaty and
they will try to have it ratified without
amendment.
The principal advocates of AZ amend-
nent in favor of military defenses are
Senators Mason and Allen, who are rare
ly in sympathy with anything done by
the administration. When the treaty was
first read yesterday. Senator Lodge seem-
ed to think such an amendment was de-
SRA bile, butt after conferences with ether
majors this afternoon. he said the mat
ter should be very fully discussed before
either the foreign relations committee or
the senate took action.
A meeting of the committee IN foreign
relations has been called for tomorrow
to consider the treaty. Leading MEM
bers of this committee are quite willing
to accept the treaty as it stands but the
discussion may develop enough opposi-
ton to delay a report for another weak.
Suggestions that Secretary Hay was
tricked by Lord Pauncefote are laughed
at by leading members of the committee,
who have nov of the negotiations and
the reasons for adopting the articles
prohibiting the construction Of ortitica-
tions.
It is argued in behalf Of non-fortiffca-
tlons that, With an agreement signed by
all the world for the absolute neutrality
of the canal in time Of war as we'll as
peace, no defeAses will be necessary. The
moral obligations incurred by each ma
ton signing tile naturalization agreement
Will be as effective as guns in l'reserv-
ing the neutrality. Any nation violating
the agreement VIII "a all the rest of
the world against it.
Those who think defenses of the ter
Tlll4l Gil t!lG canal dT& necessary QO HOT
consider ti.at permanent Qualifications
are essential. In time of war. it is ar
gued, the United States could, if neces-
sary, sa1l Il fleet Of battlesaips to Zach
of the entrances and Thus oe able to pays
icaIly force neutrality If for no other
reason, ii was feared that it could not
be morally enforced.
TO those who point out thai Great Brit
ain is physically able to control the Suez
canal by her strong Gefenses at Gibral-
tar, the answer is made that with a
naval base at San Juan. Porto Rico, and
the probable acquisition of the Danish
and Galiopogosa islands, the United
States will be in as good position to offer
military resistance to any attempted
revolution OF the neutrality of the Mic
canal as is Great Britain.
The discussion over the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty may delay somewhat the ac-
ton on the Nicaraguan bill but it is the
opinion of Messrs. Morgan. Aldrich, ana
other leaders in the senate and Mr..
Hepburn and other leaders in the house
that 1t will not prevent the ina passage
of the bill this session.
If the treaty is ratified in it's present
shape an amendment will have to be
made to the pending bill eliminating the
provision Contenl plating the erection OF
Notifications at the termini OF the can
al. If any delay occurs it win be over
these amendments. Senate Morgan
the author of the pending bill in the
senate, says there is no necessity for a
radical amendment Of the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty.
There are some men in the senate
The said, "who would propose an amend
ment to the ten commandments if they
were sent in here by God Almighty him
self. / do not believe any matsria'
amendment to the pending treaty is re.
CURED to protect our rights in the can
al. All this ak about the forttfying
of the canal for protection of our inter-
ests in case of war is. to say the least